Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

New Winter Storm Threatens More Snow, Travel Disruptions; U.S. Military Killed survivors of Boat Strike; Lawmakers Warn Second Boat Strike Could Be a War Crime; Mangione Lawyers Fight to Exclude Key Evidence in Trial; 4 Dead, Including 3 Children in California Mass Shooting. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired December 01, 2025 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Vaccine safety without detailing exactly what that action means. They also say they're going to take a different approach to other vaccines, including requiring more data before approval. Also looking at the framework for the seasonal flu shot, looking at combining vaccines the way we often get flu and covid vaccines at the same time.

Or does that mean even longer term vaccines like the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, which we've been getting as one shot since 1971? So a lot of questions here. But this this memo coming out and really suggesting a new way for the FDA going forward.

He also concludes the memo by saying he's open to rigorous debate. But if anybody doesn't agree with these principles, they should tender their resignations.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Vegas debate. But if you don't agree, go away.

TIRRELL: Yes.

BERMAN: All right. I'm not sure that's a vigorous debate works, but I appreciate you reporting on this, Meg Tirrell.

TIRRELL: I'd like to vigorously debate you on this. I'll tender my resignation.

BERMAN: Thank you very much. Thank you very much for your report. I'm sure this could be a big deal. So you're going to stay with it.

A brand new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Kill everybody. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denies reports he gave that order, but he's now being accused of possible war crimes in one of those strikes on an alleged drug boat. Some Republicans are joining Democrats demanding a full accounting of Hegseth's actions.

Travelers, beware. About half the country facing a frightful winter storm, promising to bring misery on the roads and in the skies.

Plus, Luigi Mangione, back in court, his lawyers trying to get major evidence thrown out in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. What is in the backpack that police say tied him to the murder?

I'm Sara Sidner with John Berman and Kate Bolduan. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So winter has not officially started yet. But this morning, tens of millions of Americans are already facing record-breaking snow and ice conditions. A major winter storm is set to hammer the northeastern part of the United States starting today.

And with it, unfortunately, means more travel headaches for people already facing it. Delays and cancellations at airports across the country. Travelers already saw more than 12,000 delayed flights and over 1,000 cancellations over the weekend.

So far this morning, there have been more than 1,000 delays and upwards of more than 160 canceled flights. CNN's Pete Muntean is live still. He's never left Reagan National Airport for us.

Pete, it was first from the ramp up to the very busy holiday travel time heading into Thanksgiving. And now we're talking about the reality of dealing with winter, traveling in winter weather, even before it is winter. What are you seeing?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Perfect storm. Pardon the pun, Kate. You know, AAA tells me that Monday is becoming a bigger travel day when you consider that Sunday was anticipated to be the biggest of the Thanksgiving travel rush.

TSA anticipated about 3 million people passing through TSA security checkpoints like this one here at Reagan National Airport on Sunday. That would likely put the numbers in the top 10. But the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday number have been paltry by comparison.

They will not even make it in the top 10. So we will see as these numbers come out. We usually anticipate those from the Transportation Security Administration around sometime now.

The big headline, though, is the cancellations driven in part by this snowstorm in the Midwest. Milwaukee, Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway, Minneapolis, Detroit have all been hard hit by the cancellations. In fact, Saturday was the fourth biggest day for flight cancellations we have seen this year.

Sunday, about half that. Today, we're only in the hundreds. But the day is still young.

And the Federal Aviation Administration warning of ground stops and possible compounding issues for snow and wind in some major metro areas. I want you to listen now to passengers who say they've really been taking all of this in stride because they simply have no choice given the weather.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was expecting it to be busier for Thanksgiving weekend, but the traffic getting in was a little bad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pretty easy, pretty smooth. I mean, there's a few people in line, but it's going pretty quickly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've experienced some long lines, some rough traffic getting in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: San Francisco, Newark, Chicago Midway, Chicago O'Hare, all on the list for possible ground stops today. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, they just added Palm Beach to that list as well. We'll see as the day goes on.

You know, passengers in that sound bite mentioned traffic getting into the airport. The traffic here at DCA was kind of a nightmare yesterday, extending all the way out of the airport arrival loop onto Route 1. That was causing a lot of issues for folks not just here, but also Dallas-Fort Worth.

There's construction there. That, along with the big numbers of people trying to make it to the airport, had airport officials warning travelers to show up at the airport 60 to 90 minutes ahead of when they would originally get there.

[08:05:00]

It is hard to do when you already have busy Thanksgiving travel plans.

Kate, you and I are always on time to getting to the airport.

BOLDUAN: I mean, let's not talk about how we -- how we manage ourselves in an airport, OK? Let's just leave ourselves out of this. But do you see what's happening, John?

Do you see what's happening now? Pete's going to say you have to arrive yesterday to get to your flight today. I see where this is going, Pete Muntean. I see where this is going.

BERMAN: This is like Pete Muntean's Super Bowl, by the way, right now. This is Thanksgiving travel season, so.

BOLDUAN: Yes, you're the best, Pete. Thank you.

BERMAN: Happy to be part of it. I'm glad you made it back. I was pretty sure you were going to say I can't make it back because of travel issues.

BOLDUAN: Unfortunately, I made it back.

BERMAN: Your words, not mine.

All right, the growing question is this morning, did the Trump administration commit a war crime? This concerns a reported second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean after the first strike left survivors.

Now, President Trump says he himself, he does not know what happened. But the president says that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says he did not want them. Those were the president's exact words.

Now, the reports have led to a bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill with Republican-led committees in both the House and Senate now opening investigations. Let's get right to CNN chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto for the latest. Again, I was struck by the fact that President Trump says, I don't know what happened.

And Pete said he didn't want them. So what do we know about what actually happened?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: And Trump said he wouldn't have wanted a second strike on survivors as well. I mean, that gets to what you said. Right.

Correctly, John, is that there's been bipartisan question and to some degree outrage at this strike. And to be clear, there were already bipartisan questions about the strikes prior to this particular one. Questions about the legal justification for using deadly force against -- against these drug boats.

Now you have this second issue. And the first strike killed a number of those on board, but not all of them. And that U.S. forces carried out a second strike to kill the survivors. That's key because the law of war is such that not only do you not kill the wounded or the survivors of a strike, but you have some obligation to give them medical care. And if folks at home are watching this and saying, oh, but they're alleged drug dealers, et cetera. I mean, go to the Vietnam War, World War II.

U.S. medics provided medical care to wounded soldiers of enemy forces. You know, this is about the law of conflict. So now you have bipartisan investigations both in the House and the Senate.

And keep in mind, these are Republican led investigations, of course, John, because they have the majority in both the House and the Senate. And it speaks to broader questions about these operations. Right.

Because as I said at the start, there were already questions. There were already demands from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers prior to this for the administration to better articulate its legal justification for any of these deadly strikes. And they have not been satisfied with those answers.

Among their sources of dissatisfaction is that there's been no written legal justification given, which, as I understand it, speaking to folks on the Hill, is required for this sort of thing. So, you know, listen, it's going to be a major issue for not just this administration, but also the Defense Department as these investigations go forward. BERMAN: And again, as Senator Angus King just said, the facts will largely dictate this. If there was a second strike, if there was a strike on survivors, that in itself may cross a line there. Then the question is who authorized it?

These are questions that will, I think, be answered over time.

Jim, meanwhile, President Trump, we're learning, had some conversation with the Venezuelan leader. And this is happening sort of separate from this but connected.

The Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro, what's going on there?

SCIUTTO: So President Trump acknowledged that he had a phone call. He didn't describe the phone call, and he wouldn't say whether it was a good or a bad one. He said it was just a phone call similar from Venezuelan officials.

They won't say what was said or whether any progress was made there. But I think, John, that this is part of -- it's become sort of standard to this whole Venezuela military buildup, right, that you have a buildup, but then you have a phone call. You have the president over the weekend saying consider Venezuelan airspace closed, but then saying, hey, don't take that to mean that U.S. strikes are about to follow. There's been a -- there's been a theater quality to this operation, right, because you have a good fifth of the U.S. Navy right off the coast of Venezuela right now. A force commensurate with at least the possibility of ground operations or even an invasion, which hasn't been used.

And it seems that the administration's hope is just the appearance of that force and threats like we're going to close the airspace will be enough to push Maduro from power. That hasn't happened yet.

There were questions over the weekend because Maduro hadn't been seen publicly, but then he showed up at a public event there.

[08:10:00]

So he certainly hasn't left yet. It raises another question, John, right? Like what is the actual goal of this? Is the U.S. on the verge of major military action in Venezuela or is this for show, hoping that that show of force is enough to force him from power? We just don't know.

But we do know they're talking. What was said in that call? Was it an invitation to leave the country?

Perhaps. We haven't seen Maduro take that yet.

BERMAN: These are questions that members of Congress themselves are asking right now. Jim Sciutto, great to see you this morning. Thank you very much for your reporting on all this -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Still for us, an important hearing today in the case against Luigi Mangione. The evidence his attorneys are trying now to make sure a jury never sees.

And there's also a manhunt underway in California after a horrific mass shooting takes place at a child's birthday party. Children are among those killed. And the latest that we have now in the public plea from police to help finding the killer.

And a car is sent just flying into a home on Thanksgiving, directly into a teenager's bedroom while she was sleeping. What happened here?

We'll be right back.

[08:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: Happening soon. Accused UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione is due back in a Manhattan courtroom today. The key pre-trial hearing for Mangione is set to get underway in just a bit now.

The 27-year-old's attorneys are fighting to exclude several pieces of key evidence that prosecutors say link him to the murder. CNN's Kara Scannell is outside the courthouse for us. What can we expect today in court?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Sara. Yes, Luigi Mangione's lawyers are here today to try to get some key evidence thrown out of this case. The focus is when the police first approached Mangione at that McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

And what his lawyers argue is that the police violated his rights by searching his backpack without a warrant and also questioning Mangione without reading his Miranda rights. That's the right to remain silent. So they are trying to get some of this key evidence thrown out.

And what was in that backpack and things that they want to keep away from a jury when this case does go to trial is they found a gun, they found a silencer, and they found a notebook with Mangione's writings. That notebook is what authorities have called his manifesto, and they say it goes to the motive for this alleged shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione wrote in that notebook, whack the CEO at annual parasitic bean counter convention.

He also wrote, "It conveys a greedy bastard that has it coming." Another statement his lawyers want to keep away from a jury is when Mangione was first approached by police, he gave them a fake identity. He said his name was Mark Rosario. That is the same name that authorities say was linked to the person they believe was the shooter who rented a hostel room in a hotel -- or in a hostel in New York a few days before the shooting.

So that is another key piece of evidence they want to keep out. Prosecutors say that everything was handled properly. They anticipate they could call as many as two dozen witnesses to try to show that this was all handled by the book. Now Mangione is going to be in the courtroom. He did get permission to wear a suit instead of a prison jumpsuit for these hearings. He also has asked the judge for permission to have at least one of his hands unshackled so he can take notes.

The judge has not yet ruled on that. But this hearing could last several days -- Sara.

SIDNER: We're looking at the December 19th, 2024, video. That was just stunning that the world saw happen. And this case is certainly of major public interest.

I know there's a lot of people out there waiting to see what happens in this case. Kara Scannell, thank you so much. I do appreciate your great reporting for us this morning -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: More coming up, including some nasty storms causing deadly flooding and landslides across Asia. Just look at this mess. Communities just devastated and the death toll still climbing.

And a couple allegedly used a spy camera hidden in a Mickey Mouse T- shirt to win more than one million dollars at a casino.

[08:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: So right not in California a manhunt is underway after a mass shooting at a child's birthday party. Officials in Stockton are asking for the public to help in this.

The gunman killed four people, including three children. Eleven other people were wounded, and they're still investigating the motive as they search for the killer. Let's get the very latest from CNN's Julia Vargas Jones, who's been tracking this since it happened.

And Julia, what are you learning?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, now 36 hours after that shooting, Kate, and the suspected shooter still at large. It all happened just before 6 p.m. on Saturday in the banquet hall in the northern part of the city, where investigators were told this family gathering of 100 to 150 people was taking place to celebrate this child's birthday. Officials are urging the public for help with information as detectives are trying to piece together a motive here.

Investigators are saying they're exploring all possibilities at this point, including that this wasn't someone acting alone, but they stress that they don't believe that there is any further danger to the community. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF PATRICK WITHROW, SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: We're confident that this was not a random act. They walked into this area and was probably looking for somebody in particular. Why they did that, what they're part of, who they are, we don't know.

But this was not somebody who was unacquainted with them, we don't believe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS JONES: Now, the sheriff added that he would not comment on whether or not this incident was gang-related, Kate, until they have, quote, all of the facts. Now, a host of agencies are assisting in the investigation now, including California Highway Patrol, the Department of Justice in California, the ATF, and the FBI. Now, of course, the most tragic part of this incident, as you mentioned, is the age of these victims.

You know, those four killed were so young, kids just 8, 9, 14 years old, and a 21-year-old. It is unclear if they all belong to the same family or not, but at least one of them was a student in the Stockton Unified District whose parent is a teacher there, according to CNN affiliate KCRA. Those 11 other people who were wounded and taken to area hospitals, we don't have any updates on their conditions at this point or any details about their age there.

But yesterday, a Stockton area faith community got together to hold a vigil to honor and pray for the lives lost there, pray for those injured as well, and to stand with the community -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, a community hit hard once again, but also they're in the midst of trying to find who did this before more violence can happen. Julia, thank you so much for that -- John.

BERMAN: All right, gas prices dropping to their lowest level since 2021, even as people complain of high home energy costs.

And in searching the wreckage of these burnt apartments, more than 100 people killed, dozens, though, still missing after those historic and horrific fires.

[08:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: Happening today, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Russia as the Trump administration is pushing to end the war in Ukraine. This morning, the Kremlin has confirmed that Vladimir Putin will, quote, receive Witkoff for talks. As of now, it is unclear if President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will also be on that trip.

Witkoff's Moscow visit comes on the heels of high-level talks with Ukrainian officials. You'll remember that happened in Florida over the weekend. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sounded optimistic after the meeting, President Trump sharing that sentiment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ukraine's got some difficult little problems. We have some difficult problems, but I think Russia would like to see it ended. I think Ukraine, I know Ukraine would like to see it ended.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just said that Ukraine has a little bit of problems.

TRUMP: Well, we have a corruption situation going on, which is not helpful. It's a good chance we can make a deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is live on the ground in Kyiv for us. Nick, what are you hearing about from there?