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USS Abraham Lincoln Returns Home; Hurricane Threatens Gulf Coast; Democrats Surge in Midterm Polls. Aired 1-1:30p ET

Aired October 08, 2026 - 13:00   ET

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

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BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Flashing red, and not in the way that Republicans are hoping for. Some brand-new CNN polling just 26 days before the midterms, with numbers that are rough for President Trump in states he won easily back in 2024.

Plus: the calm before the storm, states of emergency declared along the Gulf Coast, as Hurricane Isaias gains strength. We have the latest on the forecast track.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: And the long-awaited homecoming. The USS Abraham Lincoln, the carrier strike group, will soon return to California after a deployment that lasted close to 11 months.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

SANCHEZ: We start this afternoon just three weeks and five days until the midterm elections, and new CNN polling in the critical Rust Belt paints an ominous picture for Republicans' chances in November. In a key Senate race, Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown leads Republican Jon Husted by six points.

And in the governor's race, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is trailing Amy Acton by eight. Her victory, notably, could make history. Ohio has never before elected a female governor. This is a state, we should note, that President Trump won by 11 points back in 2024.

Let's go live with the White House with CNN's Kristen Holmes, where advisers are paying close attention to this polling in these races.

Kristen, the White House, the president and his aides typically dismissive of polling. Where are they on where things stand right now for Republicans?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's impossible to ignore these polls outright.

Now, of course, there's a sliver of hope -- and we have talked about this before -- among these political operatives that MAGA has always underpolled, and that is something we have seen in previous elections.

But the fact that they are giving so much money to these various races, they are watching these races so closely, and I have political operatives telling me that they believe that this could be a bloodbath come November when it comes to these midterms, and it's not just in Ohio.

I want to show you some of the polling from Iowa as well. This is a state in which President Trump won handily. Look at the race for Senate here. You have Ashley Hinson versus Josh Turek, 45 percent to 43 percent. No clear leader here. We're within the margin of error.

And that's the same when it comes to the Iowa choice for governor. You actually have the Democrat leading here to the Republican, Rob Sand at 51 percent to Zach Lahn's 42 percent. Now, the big question, of course, being why. Why are you seeing this repeatedly across the country?

And it comes down to the same thing. It is the economy, stupid. Take a look at how voters view the economy currently in these two states, Ohio and Iowa. The top part here is that Trump policies have increased costs. Who believes that? Well, in Iowa, 76 percent of voters believe that is true, in Iowa, 74.

Tariffs are a bad thing for the state. We know that they have affected both Iowa farmers, as well as manufacturing in Ohio; 58 percent of voters in Ohio believe that they are a bad thing for Ohioans, in Iowa, 55 percent.

The cost of living, economy, top issue, 49 percent in Ohio, 48 percent in Iowa. That's actually lower than what we have seen nationally. Now, when it comes to the Senate specifically, now, keep in mind this. Republicans had long thought that there was a huge likelihood that they could lose in the House, but that they would hold on to the Senate.

Now, every day that passes seems less and less likely, or at least more on the line, that they could in fact also lose the Senate. So I do want to show you this. The most important issue for voters when it comes to the Senate, in Ohio, the economy and cost of living, 49 percent, 48 percent in Iowa. Then you have democracy, immigration, the war in Iran.

It is just so telling, when we think back on the 2024 campaign, one of the things that President Trump's advisers told me over and over again was that they believed the economy would always be the top issue and that people were hurting from inflation and that the president, Joe Biden at the time, was the one who was going to be blamed.

Now they find themselves in the exact same situation. But one difference is that you have a number of these voters across the country, independents, Republicans, who blame the war in Iran directly for what they are feeling at the gas pump or at the grocery checkout line.

[13:05:10] And that itself also leads to blaming this administration.

SANCHEZ: Kristen Holmes from the White House, thank you so much for that update -- Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, let's talk about this now with CNN political director David Chalian.

So, David, Kristen just ticked through a lot of the new polling there. What are the biggest takeaways?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, her point about the economy is the biggest takeaway about why we are where we are.

I mean, when you have three-quarters of likely voters in red states like Ohio and Iowa saying the president's policies have increased costs, three-quarters of like -- when is the last time you saw three- quarters of likely voters anywhere agreeing on anything? It's not just that they're expressing their dissatisfaction with the economy.

They're tying it, Brianna, directly to his policies. That's why we're seeing in a state like Michigan Mike Rogers on television with an ad saying he disagrees with the tariffs and we're not -- we can't be at war with Canada.

You are seeing Republicans looking to separate themselves from some of these policies that voters believe have made their lives more expensive.

KEILAR: Yes, we will see if that separation, if it ultimately works, right?

So Democrats right now, they have this momentum. Can they capitalize on it? Can Republicans rebound?

CHALIAN: Yes.

Well, certainly, we have got a few weeks to go here, and there's no doubt. Also, I would say, when you ask, can Republicans rebound, Donald Trump is obviously at his political low point of his career, and the economy is such a massive concern, and voters are very, very dissatisfied with where things are.

That is the environment. So I don't know how much of a rebound, because I don't -- I don't see something out there that can upend what just the environment is of this. Now, Republicans have a big money advantage, and they're trying to infuse that onto the airwaves, and that may potentially in some races mitigate a potential loss if they can really sort of demonize their opponent or paint them outside of the mainstream in a way that causes voters to stick with the Republican.

And you talk about the Democrats' momentum. I'm not even sure, Brianna, that this -- like, the political environment being what it is because the Democrats have done something or have something on offer to voters that the country is clamoring for or gathering around. I'm not even sure most voters would know sort of what Democrats are necessarily offering right now.

It's just that Republicans are in charge of the White House, the House, and the Senate. Midterm elections tend to be a referendum on the president. The economy is the top issue, and everyone feels sour about it. So it's just a toxic brew for Republicans, and Democrats are standing there to perhaps be the beneficiary of that.

But by no means, if you look at sort of where the Democratic Party brand is or some specific candidates that are out there that may be having trouble, even in this advantageous environment, are sort of lighting the world on fire, it is an adjudication from the American public that we will likely see that comes down to the president and his performance.

KEILAR: So Trump was in Texas again last night. He's gone to Texas quite a bit here, Alabama Saturday. There's a tele-rally tonight.

If we could play like a little word association game here, if you could pick like one or two words to describe the president's impact on this midterm cycle on the vote right now, what would it be?

CHALIAN: It is -- one word. He...

KEILAR: Or two or three. I will give you three.

CHALIAN: His negatives hang around as a very significant weight around Republicans right now. It is keeping depressed...

KEILAR: Anchor?

CHALIAN: ... as an anchor there, if you will. But I will say something else, and this is their -- the White House's theory of the case, why he's going to these places.

He also does have a proven ability to juice turnout on his side. And so going places and trying to take -- talk to voters and say, this is about me, I am on the ballot, you have got to show up and cast a ballot for the Republican, so that the Democrats don't impeach me or come after me or so that we can -- it's not that will have no effect.

I think, in some places, Donald Trump being there and saying, wake up, my supporters, I know things don't feel great, but you have got to get out and support me, that may have some effect. I don't know if it's going to have enough an effect in the right places when you look at battle for control of the Senate or the House, because those -- like, the battle for the House, Brianna, is playing out on a lot of evenly divided turf.

KEILAR: Yes.

CHALIAN: You know, it's -- so that is a tough thing to do.

In the battle for the Senate, it's playing out on a lot of red turf, and they are hoping his presence will take the enthusiasm gap that we see, Democrats very enthused, Republicans not, and try to enliven Republicans to show up. KEILAR: Yes, voters will tell us, is he an anchor or is he a balloon,

right?

CHALIAN: There you go.

KEILAR: We're going to know. And where does that actually work?

CHALIAN: Exactly, definitely will.

KEILAR: We will see.

David, thank you so much.

CHALIAN: Thank you.

KEILAR: Really appreciate it.

CHALIAN: Yes.

KEILAR: Still to come: bracing for impact. We have the latest on Hurricane Isaias as it barrels toward the Gulf Coast.

Plus, ICE agents get new marching orders here. What they're being told to do is the midterms are coming closer.

And then, later: Russia carries out its single deadliest attack on Ukraine this year, striking two public buses.

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We have that and much more coming up on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

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SANCHEZ: Right now, millions of people across the Gulf Coast are bracing for impact. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season is strengthening as it quickly barrels towards the U.S., Isaias already clocking wind speeds of 85 miles an hour, expected to intensify into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane tonight.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has put 25 counties under a state of emergency, with some already issuing evacuation orders. Preparations up and down the coast are ramping up by the hour, as emergency crews are now being mobilized.

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This is new video showing the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Task Force making final preparations before the 88-member team deploys to Tallahassee to help relief efforts.

Another major concern we're watching, the storm could threaten to knock some U.S. oil refineries offline. Most of America's refining capacity is concentrated in the Gulf, and any disruption could push gas prices even higher.

Let's go to CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar, who's tracking the forecast.

Allison, where does it look like it's going to land?

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, so the real question is, how much more does it intensify here over the next 24 hours?

We have already started to see these numbers tick up, the sustained winds now 85 miles per hour, gusting up to 105. Another thing that's ticked up is that forward speed, now moving at about 10 miles per hour. That is eventually going to turn more to the north as it makes its way closer to the U.S. coast, intensifying up to a very high-end Category 2 storm.

Right up around 110 miles per hour is where the Hurricane Center expects it to peak. Keep in mind, 111 is Category 3, so this is going to be awfully close to potentially being a major hurricane. It is expected to make landfall late Friday right here along the Gulf Coast, where all of those watches and warnings are already in place in anticipation of the storm continuing to strengthen up until landfall.

Storm surge is going to be highest in this orange-shaded here, essentially from Biloxi all the way over to Port St. Joe, where you could be looking at five to seven feet. But even the areas on the east and west side, you could be looking at three to five or even four to six feet, which is still destructive in its own right.

Here's a look at the timeline. By tomorrow morning, especially late tomorrow morning, you will already start to see some of those outer bands begin to spread inland. Obviously, as we go through the afternoon and the evening, they are just going to become more frequent and they are going to become stronger as the storm continues to slide off to the north.

After it makes landfall, the concern now becomes inland areas. Even places like Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, areas that are well away from the coast, are likely to pick up very heavy rain and gusty winds. And the maximum wind threat is actually going to be right there along the coast where we anticipate landfall. That's where you're looking at those hurricane winds.

But even farther north, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery could be looking at 40- to-60-mile-per-hour wind gusts. Rain is certainly going to be the most widespread concern, especially for folks inland. You're looking at a lot of areas that could get four to six inches of rain, including places like Atlanta and Montgomery, but even some isolated spots right there along the coast not out of the question to get six or even 10 inches of rain before this is all said and done.

Also, another component is going to be severe thunderstorms, the potential for damaging winds and even tornadoes, not just Friday, but also into Saturday, as that storm system continues to push north into other areas like Georgia and South Carolina. Could also be looking at some potential there from the severe thunderstorms.

From there, you also start to see other states, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia really starting to see some of the moisture spread into those areas. This isn't just going to be a problem right there along the coast. There are going to be a lot of states seeing impacts from Isaias.

SANCHEZ: And that's why it's a great idea to download the CNN Weather App. You see it on your screen that Q.R. code right there. It comes in very handy at a time like this.

Allison Chinchar on the Weather Center, thank you so much.

Up next: sailors aboard the USS Lincoln about to step back on U.S. soil for the first time in more than 10 months. We will take you live aboard the aircraft carrier as it prepares to dock in Coronado Bay, officially ending its near-record-long deployment.

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KEILAR: Three hundred and twenty-one days at sea, 265 without a port call, much of that in a war zone, but now finally the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln is coming home.

In just a few hours, the aircraft carrier strike group returns to the California coast after enduring a near-record-long mission to support the war with Iran. The crew's twice-extended deployment saw issues with supplies, living conditions, and even mail. But, today, all of that is over.

And CNN's Pamela Brown is on board the Lincoln as it's approaching the coast there.

Pam, this is really an emotional moment for these sailors.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Yes, so emotional.

I keep hearing it feels like Christmas today. You see some of those sailors behind me in their dress whites. They are here. They are ready to be reunited with their family members. And there's also some jitters going on. I just talked to two moms on board here who haven't seen their kids in 10.5 months. And they say they're nervous in a way of reintegrating and becoming a mom again.

This has been a historically demanding deployment. It started off as a typical deployment, where there will be several port visits, and then it turned into this ship going into the front lines of combat, really being pushed to the brink.

But the sailors I have been speaking with said they're so proud of themselves for overcoming the obstacles, for getting the job done and making it to today, a day that they were wondering if it would ever come. In fact, they all made T-shirts, I was told, that said "Someday" on it.

Well, that day has arrived, and I spoke to two sailors about what this means to them and how they were able to get through these last few months with the camaraderie with each other. They say they're best friends, and they really leaned on each other throughout. Let's listen.

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SETH ROFFEY, USS LINCOLN SAILOR: This deployment has been one of the hardest things in my life. And to have somebody going through the exact same thing as you outside of work and inside of work and being able to work through it, reading Scriptures together, praying together, working out together, it's -- I'm just truly, truly blessed.

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TAHJ RIDDICK, USS LINCOLN SAILOR: Yes.

Some of the hardships outside of work, personal relationships, and then here it's just like -- it seems like we can relate to like who we were before the Navy, you know? So it's a big adjustment for us, and a lot of things, we may not fit in so very well or be uncomfortable or adjusting to.

We hit workout goals, you know? We got -- he benching 300 pounds.

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN: Nice. That's nice.

ROFFEY: We wouldn't be -- yes. Together, we hit a lot of goals, personal and physical.

And I just -- before we end this, I just want to say I'm truly blessed to have a friend like this, and I'm happy that we have been through it together from the start.

RIDDICK: Yes, brother, I'm truly flattered, man. Love you, brother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: We have seen so many dynamics like that throughout, and they're friendships for a lifetime, that's for sure -- Brianna.

KEILAR: And, Pamela, we understand that there were -- there are 122 new babies that these sailors will be meeting for the first time born during their deployment. I mean, they must be getting ready, I'm sure, to give mom a break there from diaper duty as they come into port.

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BROWN: That's right, yes, 122, including the air wing. And I interviewed one of the dads last night, Joey, and actually he's been taking classes here on the ship to prepare for dad life. He's a brand- new dad. His daughter is now 10 months old. He was learning how to change diapers and hold a baby. He said he had no idea.

And he said -- quote -- "I am terrified of becoming a dad, because I never have had to be one, and now I will as soon as I step off of this ship." But he also said he is so excited. He cannot wait to meet his daughter for the first time, Madeline Grace (ph). There's going to be so many tears flying today as these new dads will be reunited with their children they have never met. They're going to be the first ones off the ship, for good reason, Brianna.

KEILAR: Oh, that's wonderful.

Joey, you're going to do fine. You're going to be fine.

Pamela, thank you so much for that. Really appreciate it.

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN: I asked him -- really quick.

KEILAR: Yes.

BROWN: I said: "Are you -- do you think it's going to be harder to change a diaper or this 10.5-month appointment?"

He was like: "Absolutely, changing a diaper solo. I'm terrified."

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN: He's got a good sense of humor about it.

KEILAR: All right, that's going to serve him well.

Pamela, thank you so much.

Next, reporting that you will only see here on CNN, the new orders being given to ICE agents just weeks before the midterms.

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