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White House Says Midterms Look Bleak; San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is Interviewed about Trump's Comments; Christa Pike Conscious After Surviving Execution; Threats Made Against Cornell University Accuser; Cornell University Senior Elliot Scheuer is Interviewed about Outrate on Campus. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired October 07, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: The dog was not having it. In all, five separate rescues were attempted by officials and did not work. In the end, he saved himself. He got to dry land one paw at a time. No humans required. Until a couple -- a couple then found him in a nearby roadway and cleaned him up. My goodness.

So, a monster catch for several New Hampshire fishermen. A bluefin tuna -- I mean, when the reveal takes this long, you know it's big. A bluefin tuna weighing in at more than 1,100 pounds. That shattered the 13-year record by more than 150 pounds. The men say that they knew it was a hefty haul, but they didn't realize just how big it was until daylight and that they had broken a record. The prized catch is now headed to market and, well, it's going to be a price.

A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Newly leaked audio of an embattled Republican Senate candidate saying his biggest problems are coming from White House policies.

The death row inmate who survived what was supposed to be an execution by lethal injection is awake and talking. A hearing this morning could determine whether that state will try again.

And then, direct hit. The gulf coast is bracing for hurricane impact from an increasingly powerful storm. You can see the track right there, taking it over populated and sensitive low-lying areas.

Sara is out this morning. I'm John Berman, with Kate Bolduan. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

BOLDUAN: So, the president is hitting the road again today and facing a new and pretty dire assessment from inside -- from inside the party. A White House ally now telling CNN that Republicans are not just worried about what is to come in the midterms, they are now fearing a, quote/unquote, bloodbath.

With that in mind, the president is headed to another historically safe Republican bet, Texas. He's traveling there for the third time in a month. He'll campaign alongside Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who's locked in a tight race with Democratic candidate James Talarico. And this is the first time, really, that Trump will be sharing the stage and campaigning with Paxton since leaked audio was obtained by "Axios" of Ken Paxton privately blaming the Iran war and gas prices for his campaign troubles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEN PAXTON (R), TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE: It's not tariffs. It's the war, it's gas prices, it's diesel. When it's over $6 a gallon for diesel, I mean it's -- put money, they have a lot of trucks that are diesel. People are feeling the pinch.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Problems for the Republican Party right now extend beyond Texas. A top political forecaster has now moved two more Senate races toward Democrats. Alaska goes from toss up to lean Democrat. South Carolina goes from safe Republican to likely Republican. These are, of course, projections.

CNN's -- predictions, estimates, you know, forecasts, if you will.

CNN's Alayna Treene is live this morning at the White House for much more of what is to come today.

Alayna, how does the White House think the president's midterm travel blitz is going so far?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, I think what you heard from Ken Paxton there on that leaked audio is exactly what his advisers know as well and what many Republicans are saying, perhaps not publicly. And, obviously, Paxton did not say that publicly. That was audio obtained by "Axios." But they recognize just how damaging this war has been, particularly to Republicans across the country in some of these tighter battleground races and the impact, really, of these high gas prices that it's had on candidates in those races as well.

As for your question, Kate, about how it's going. Look, the president is -- they believe that he has one true way that he can help Republicans on November 3rd, which is all about turnout. You've heard the president now repeatedly say at almost every rally he's been to that he wants his voters, and specifically his fiercest supporters, to pretend that he's on the ballot. The strategy there is, again, turnout energy, ensuring people who typically, you know, might vote in a general election, but not often in a midterm election, well, their hope is that the president can get them to the polls on Election Day.

But what's interesting is, they're not necessarily sending him to a lot of these really tight battleground districts, these more purple districts, the swing districts in some of these states. He's going to a lot of red states and also a lot of red districts as well. If you just look at where he's been the last couple days, you can see it on your screen with this map. He's been to Texas today. You mentioned it will be his third time there just in one month. But he's also been to Ohio, Oklahoma, Alabama, Nebraska, all states he has won in the last three general elections. If you asked Republicans, Kate, a couple months ago, if they thought that he would need to be spending his most important resource, which is time and energy in some of these red areas, they would say, no, that's a waste of time.

[09:05:10]

But that's where he's going because he's really on defense in trying to help these Republicans get across the finish line.

So, there's a lot of work to be done. And yes, behind the scenes, I think from all the conversations I'm having, I know our colleagues here at the White House, my colleagues, Kristen and others, are speaking with Republican operatives. They're saying the same thing, that the mood is only worsening, it's not getting better, with just 27 days or so, Kate, to go until these elections.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Thank you so much, Alayna Treene, at the White House for us this morning,

John.

BERMAN: All right, the president also has been facing some backlash over the last day from something he said about Iran potentially targeting some major U.S. cities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And again, remember, with the war, it's just artificial. It's a little bit high. It's a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They could take out a city. Let them take -- let it -- let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. That's -- this is a very small price to pay, and it's going to be over with very soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right, with us now is the mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria.

Mayor, thanks so much for being with us.

You've called on the president to retract those remarks and apologize. Have you heard back from the White House?

MAYOR TODD GLORIA (D), SAN DIEGO: No. And I think we saw the president asked that question yesterday, and he simply just walked away. And that's really distressing. You know, folks are afraid when the commander in chief of our nation suggests that, you know, obliterating my city or Los Angeles would somehow be acceptable. As he said, a small price to pay. That's why he needs to take these comments back or certainly clarify and admit that this was a misstatement and that he, obviously, understands that San Diego is critical to our nation's economy and national defense.

BERMAN: I think supporters of the president, some of them, are saying, he wasn't suggesting blowing up San Diego would be a small price to pay. What he was saying is that the rising fuel prices are a small price to pay, so they claim, for trying to fight -- the rising fuel prices are a small price to pay for reducing Iran's nuclear capability. Does that cast it in a different light?

GLORIA: Well, John, I think we've been here before where the president's statements are often confusing. And that's very frustrating because these are careless comments by a man who has a very serious job. But if what you just said is true, that is also actually very offensive. Every moment spent talking about obliterating two American cities is a moment not spent talking about our affordability crisis.

And what Americans know is that this president has said the affordability crisis is a hoax. That's also equally very troubling as people look at soaring housing prices, gas prices, utility prices. For the president also to say, you know, not a big deal, that's not correct. And America's mayors understand almost universally that this is the biggest issue that Americans are facing right now and that cities are having to tackle.

BERMAN: Now, this statement was made at a rally in Nebraska. I'm wondering how you found out that he said it and what your immediate reaction was.

GLORIA: Well, that's -- the truth is, John, I saw it and I thought it was artificial intelligence. I thought it was A.I. That it wasn't real. It took a minute or two to sort of figure out that, you know, it was real. And then further to get the context. And when you see the context, you know, it's -- a straight read of that sentence does suggest that he doesn't think the second and eighth largest cities in this country are any big deal if we were to lose them.

So, it took a while to believe that it was real. And this is not what a commander in chief should say. Once it was real, it was very obvious that something had to be said. And I spoke out. I know my colleague in Los Angeles spoke out. And heartening -- very encouragingly, mayors across the nation have reached out to me to say, you know, hey, I'm sorry this has happened. You know, we stand with you. And I think that's largely because we're focused on solving real problems, like the affordability crisis, not sort of off-hand comments at political rallies.

But, John, if I can say, it is -- as troubling as the president's comments were, the other thing that was troubling about that video is the applause from the audience. You know, I would like to think that people in my city would not applaud for the destruction of a city in Nebraska. And I would hope that the president of the United States wouldn't kind of engage in rhetoric that would divide our country. I realize these are polarizing times, but it shouldn't be unclear that we would all support each other as part of a -- as being fellow Americans. So, that was equally troubling and something that we really need to think about why we're there right now --

BERMAN: Yes.

GLORIA: And that that -- that line deserves applause. BERMAN: I suppose -- it's unclear whether they were applauding at the

idea that fuel prices are a small price to pay for trying to reduce Iran's nuclear capability. But we can't know. And the president's syntax there very much at issue.

Quickly, I want to ask, because the USS Abraham Lincoln, San Diego, a great military city, due back in port today in San Diego after a 320 day deployment. Secretary Hegseth, the secretary of Defense, will be there. What do you want to hear from the secretary and the administration as the Abraham Lincoln returns home?

[09:10:02]

GLORIA: Well, I'd like to say here that this administration is going to take the concerns of the sailors and the families seriously. As you guys have done reporting about, we've heard stories that are very troubling about what this extended deployment has done for these folks. And let me just be very clear, that is not a small price to pay. They have paid a very significant price for the president's war in Iran.

And so, I think the first thing we say is, as we always do as San Diegans, as a proud military town, is we say, thank you for your service. But in this case, given that there's so much stress and trauma, I want to make sure that these folks are supported. My city and our residents are going to look after our neighbors. But certainly, it's the responsibility of the Department of Defense and the Veterans Affairs Administration to do everything possible to support these sailors and their families. It's the least our nation can do. And it is -- we should -- there is no price too high to pay to serve those who serve our nation.

BERMAN: San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, up early for us after I know what must have been a late night with the Padres hanging on to fight another day. So, thank you for being with us this morning.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Also this morning, Christa Pike's attorneys say that their client is not only conscious, but that she's also speaking from her hospital bed. The Tennessee woman was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of a 19-year-old, Colleen Slemmer, but Christa Pike survived the botched execution one week ago. And just hours from now, there's going to be an emergency hearing in her case.

CNN's Ryan Young is in Nashville, standing by with much more on this.

Ryan, what are you learning?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Kate.

Look, I was just here last week when this execution was partially stayed at one point. And then, of course, they went through with that execution starting at 7:30. And then they -- not only did they do that first dose, but then there was a second dose 40 minutes later. And so many people talked about the fact that while she was there, you could hear her sort of talking about her arm burning. Now we learned from her attorneys she's talking again, which is a surprise to so many people.

But listen to this. They also said that despite the severe damage she endured to her arms, she's still handcuffed and shackled to her hospital bed.

There's so many questions about how today will move forward. We actually went inside the courthouse to try to learn how this proceeding will move forward. But so far, there's not a lot of information on this because a lot of people who have been watching this play out believe that this is like the first time this has ever happened.

So, today, this court hearing will start at 11:00 local time, 12:00 Eastern. And we should find out how her attorneys plan to ask the court to preserve all the information in this case, especially when it comes to the efforts (ph) about how this moves forward. So much has been shrouded in sort of secrecy in terms of what happened, in terms of communication, how things move forward. But at the same time, her attorneys have been praising the hospital for the life-saving efforts to save Christa Pike's life.

We're not sure how this will move forward, and we've been trying to talk to the government as well, trying to figure out from the governor's office or from the state corrections facility about how they plan to move forward with this case. And so far, no one has stepped toward the mics. But that's part of the process that we've been working on for the last week and a half or so, trying to figure out exactly how this will go forward in the next few hours.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, Ryan Young, let's see what does happen when they head into the court. Really appreciate it.

John.

BERMAN: All right, just in, the woman at the center of the investigation of the alleged gang rape at Cornell University has received multiple death threats. That is according to her attorney. Including, he says now, a swatting incident where police drew guns on her family.

And rapidly intensifying. The gulf coast bracing for impact from what could be a powerful hurricane. We're getting a new forecast just in.

And standing by for the long-awaited refilling of the Reflecting Pool. These are live pictures of said Reflecting Pool right now. No water inside yet after months of futility and failed repairs and a $14 million renovation. When that water does go back in, what color will it be?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:18:05] BERMAN: New developments surrounding the investigation at Cornell University. The attorney for the former student, Jane Doe, says she has been receiving death threats and swatting incident. At least one swatting incident where police drew guns on her family and a friend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS GIUFFRA, ATTORNEY FOR JANE DOE: Just before I got on with you, somebody called her, made a threat to shoot up her house, shoot her, her mother, her father. She's calling the police as we speak now. I'm absolutely appalled that this has gone so far that people are doing this. But I see this fire of hate that's being fanned lately, and I'm just shocked.

She's had regular, nasty emails calling her names, threatening her. She had one yesterday with three emojis with Colt 45's on them saying she should be killed and things like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: I want to get right to CNN's Gloria Pazmino, who is in Ithaca, New York, where Cornell University is located.

Gloria, bring us up to speed on the latest from there.

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, certainly very concerning comments from Jane Doe's attorney regarding these swatting incidents and these phone calls, threats that her and her family have received. We're also hearing from Jane Doe's attorney talking about what he believes the fraternity and its members were up to in the days after the incident and during the investigation by the university.

We have known for the past few days that there are recorded phone calls, that there are recorded interviews by police investigators and some of the members of the fraternity. We know that Jane Doe herself recorded some of these phone calls. But we're also hearing her lawyer suggested the fraternity was working together as this process was going on to essentially get on the same page about their story as an attempt to protect the group and its members.

Take a listen.

[09:20:01]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS GIUFFRA, ATTORNEY FOR JANE DOE: The whole fraternity had meetings to try to cover this up and to, you know, be part of the conspiracy of silence. And that's really frightening that this happened. I mean, these guys, there are 57 people who got that group chat, and not one of them, other than the person who leaked it to her, did anything. Nobody walked out of those meetings and said, hey, this is wrong, we're going to the police. We're throwing these guys under the bus and holding them accountable. All they were interested in was protecting the fraternity, protecting their fraternity brothers, and keeping it as business as usual. (END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: And, John, I want to talk about the mood here on campus. We've been here for the past few days. There was a student town hall yesterday where students gathered to have conversation, discuss ideas, share their personal stories of sexual assault, but also come up with strategies about how to demand accountability from the administration of the university.

And we also have some brand-new reporting this morning regarding a faculty meeting that was held yesterday afternoon with university administration officials. We heard some of the questions that faculty and staff are asking, and they're looking for guidance. But I have already heard from some faculty members this morning that they felt that the forum was not really conducive to conversation. The questions were vetted. They were not able to ask their questions directly to the president, who was present in this meeting. So, there still remains a lot of frustration about how the university is responding and how they are trying to communicate in this moment.

John.

BERMAN: Gloria Pazmino for us in Ithaca this morning. Gloria, thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: And joining us right now is Elliot Scheuer, a senior at Cornell University, to talk more about just where things are and have gone.

Elliot, thanks for being here.

This sit in today, what are you hoping this brings about?

ELLIOT SCHEUER, SENIOR, CORNELL UNIVERSITY: I'm hoping that this brings about student solidarity. And it's a very symbolic representation of the horrors that Jane Doe had to endure for seven hours. I think that there is a lot of smoothing over of the language of sexual assault or sexual violence, but it's important to remember that she endured this for seven hours. And I think that's a clear representation of what students will be sitting there thinking about today.

BOLDUAN: Do you feel that school officials are now listening to you all? Where are you on this?

SCHEUER: No, I don't believe that school officials are truly listening to us. take the protests on Monday, for example. It was amazing to see so many students show out and show their support, show their solidarity. But the school has such stringent protesting restrictions that I think the only reason that protest was made possible and not cracked down upon was because there's just so much media attention and because the school doesn't want to tarnish their name anymore.

So, I have yet to see anything from admin that shows me that they are actually listening to what students want to come out of this.

BOLDUAN: Now, Elliot, if you could speak to the school president today, what would you ask of him?

SCHEUER: A couple of things. I would ask for fair disciplinary procedures. We should not have students expelled for protesting, but let to remain on campus for alleged rape. We should not have the interfraternity council on campus. They take up a lot of space. They sort of create this culture of rape and excessive drinking that does not serve the best interests of students learning and students having a positive college experience. And I would ask for resignation from him. I think that he has handled this case terribly. I think that he himself was part of a fraternity when he was in school. And I think that that culture of fraternal life runs deep within the administration. And so, it does not come as a surprise that his actions and policies and direction of the university has protected fraternities, even though it is known that they don't support students in positive ways.

BOLDUAN: The fact that the school is now bringing in a former deputy attorney general of the United States, Sally Yates, to investigate school policies. The way that the school officials have put it in announcing this is that she will "lead a comprehensive, independent review of how the university prevents and responds to sexual harassment, sexual assault and related misconduct on campus."

Does that give you hope? Does that bring you any assurance?

[09:25:00]

What do you think of it?

SCHEUER: Yes, I think that, you know, when this event first came to public knowledge or campus knowledge at least in 2024, the school set up a task force. And we've seen task forces around a number of different things. And while this is a little bit more actionable than a task force, the school seems to move at very slow paces. So, this is a great long term idea to actually investigate all of these policies, but I would say from town halls, from hearing from students, so many students already have amazing ideas about where these policies are falling short, where they are not supporting students. And so I think listening to students who are already -- they know these policies back and forth. And so, the school can act quickly about cases like this. They can revoke the degrees of those involved in this case. They can expel those who have not yet been expelled. And so, there are immediate steps the school can take that don't require a long and drawn out investigative process.

BOLDUAN: Elliot, thank you for coming on this morning. It's good to hear from you.

SCHEUER: Yes, of course.

BOLDUAN: John.

BERMAN: All right, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran has lost complete control of the Strait of Hormuz. So, why are we not seeing big drops in gas or diesel prices yet?

And nearly a dozen people hurt after a crash on a hayride. New reporting on what might have caused it.

And tonight, 7 p.m., join me for a very special "OFFICE HOURS." I'm going to be joined by former Trump communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin, Chuck Rocha, who is helping the James Talarico campaign in Texas. You can join us live, submit questions, ask them anything about what it's like to be inside the campaign. Seven p.m., cnn.com/officehours.

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