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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pours $1 Million into Abdul El-Sayed's Final Push in Michigan; Interview with Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI): Politico: Stevens Offers Little Help to El-Sayed in Michigan State Race; Alex Murdaugh Back in Court as Murder Retrial is St for Next Year. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired October 16, 2026 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez is aggressively campaigning for Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed here in the final weeks before the midterm election. And AOC is also giving money to his campaign, transferring a million dollars into the Abdul for Michigan Fund from her significant campaign reserves. The unusually high transfer for a House member backing an out-of-state Senate race, yet another sign of the importance Ocasio-Cortez is placing on a potential El-Sayed win.

Let's talk about this now with Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens. Thank you so much. Of course, you were unsuccessful against El-Sayed in the primary, and you were a very important voice.

REP. HALEY STEVENS (D-MI): By a pinch.

KEILAR: By a pinch.

STEVENS: Yes, by a pinch.

KEILAR: And you were a very important voice in your state. And I think also on this race and the issues that are facing Michiganders. So we really wanted to talk to you about this.

[15: 35:00]

There's this new piece that's in Politico. It's titled, "Haley Stevens is everywhere except on the trail for El-Sayed." Tell us why you aren't. Is that a you-driven thing? Or is that an El-Sayed-driven thing?

STEVENS: No, you know what? Look, I'm out there with Democrats. You know, I'm doing an event with Hakeem Jeffries and Christina Hines tomorrow in Detroit.

We have a ton of leaders from the city coming in, including Keith Williams, who's the chair of the Black Caucus, former State House Speaker Joe Tate. And that's amazing. And who's Christina Hines?

She's going to be the first woman to ever represent Michigan's 10th congressional district in the House of Representatives in Macomb County. And so I'm doing what I do really well, which is win house races. I flipped my congressional seat, becoming the first Democrat since the moon landing to hold my seat in 2018.

Flipped a Trump seat, held it in 20. And that's the leadership that I'm showing right now. And it's great to see colleagues, sleeves rolled up.

Alex Ocasio is a really dynamic person in many respects. You know, I've never earned her primary endorsement, so maybe that's why I'm not out there with her per se. And she's out there still talking about the primary.

But yes, we got to go and win general elections. And hey, that's what's going on. It's great to see that her $1 million is welcome.

I know we're a big tent party. And Abdul is also getting money from Chuck Schumer. Some of that was part of that saying $70 million that they talked about from the primary.

So it's good stuff. Dems are fired up. It is unbelievable to see people campaigning in Northern Michigan up in our upper peninsula.

We haven't had a Democrat elected up there for a federal race in well over a decade. Callie Barr is also running within the margin of error in a Trump plus 16, and so this could win.

KEILAR: And I wanted to give you a chance to highlight all these other races, because in fairness, you are. You're putting in the work on them. But if you're talking about a big tent party and you're talking about Abdul El-Sayed, the most important person possibly to be in that tent with him really could be you.

Has he asked you to join him on the trail?

STEVENS: Well, you know, he's got this great thing going with his campaign team. A lot of people who've worked alongside him, you know, Max Glass, he's been known in Democratic politics for a long time. And, you know, I've known Max and they're doing their deal.

And look, it's a Senate seat. It's a Senate seat. So the reason I mentioned Max is, you know, maybe they want to take that advice.

I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes. You know, Ocasio, I don't know her endorsement. You know, she's out there talking about how Abdul won this great big primary.

You know, I don't know what she's, you know, her main focus is, if it's trying to, you know, run for the next big thing or what she really cares about. I don't endorse against sitting Democrats, right? That's never been my deal.

But there are some certainly in our party that get into that and us versus them. Hey, this is the nominee. This is the big ticket.

I love being out there. You know, I'm also deeply, deeply focused on, you know, who my coalition is. And, you know, that is the black voters.

That is working class Michiganders. And I got to finish off my term in Congress. I got bills to pass.

So, you know, giddy up. Let's, you know, let's get to November and let's see Democrats win. And it's amazing to see, you know, that all the folks who've come out, Lisa Blunt Rochester, was also campaigning for --

KEILAR: Also important in that coalition, certainly that you put together was Jewish voters, right? And you are now some of the people who backed you, who helped fund your campaign. And obviously, I know you care about this race. You ran for this position, right?

But people who funded your race, they can't get behind or they're not at this point getting behind El-Sayed. Some of them are, they're going over to Mike Rogers. They have some big policy issues where they cannot get behind El-Sayed.

What would it take for them to trust him as a candidate? What are they saying to you about what it would take? Or is there nothing that is going to allow them to go there?

STEVENS: Yes, look, there are new coalitions forming. Make no doubt about that. In Michigan, we've got late primaries.

This was a big one. That's why I was saying, oh, you know, it was a close race for the primary. And, you know, I loved being in that race.

I'm grateful to be wrapping up my four terms in the Congress. Grateful to see, you know, where these elections go. But, you know, there are 83 counties in Michigan.

[15: 40:00]

And the most beautiful thing that is about to take place is the vote. You know, everyone wants to prognosticate who's saying what, little empirical quotes here and there. There's a fully exercised electorate in Michigan.

470,000 people voted in my congressional district in 2024. We have very high turnout. And so it's going to be amazing to watch these votes come in. And I really encourage everyone --

KEILAR: Are they going to be votes for your party? I mean, you say there's a new coalition, and that's something that you've said a lot. Does that include you and your supporters in the Democratic tent?

You're talking about a big tent, and yet we're not seeing a big tent. So tell us about that coalition. What is that new coalition?

STEVENS: Yes, look, I think it's something that you just showed, which is big events in Marquette, Michigan, in Northern Michigan, a more rural place. You see Sean McCann running in Michigan's 8th district, or excuse me, not 8th. He's in the 4th, and he's going to flip it. And he's in Kalamazoo, right? And so I'm interested in the Democrats that are coming out who are going to be voting for our Senate nominee, who are going to be voting for Sean and Jocelyn Benson and Garland Gilchrist for Secretary of State. It's exciting.

Democrats are the exciting party. Always have been, always will be. Why?

Because we're the party that says you matter, right? That your access to affordable healthcare matters. That when 65 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, putting grocery bills on credit cards, seeing Donald Trump sell us down the river, it's not working for us.

So look, I'm being totally respectful. I am really excited about what's going on here. I do recognize there are some voices, some people who haven't maybe moved in the way that everyone would expect.

But on the other hand, we have candidates who are doing the work and showing something new. We have Barack Obama coming in with Jocelyn Benson and our statewide ticket. Abdul's going to be there.

That's exciting. It is excitement. It is not drama.

And I'm thrilled to showcase a little bit of what's going on here in Michigan because I love my state so much. I love what we're all about. We need fighters for manufacturing jobs, lowering costs and making sure that everyone can have access to affordable healthcare.

KEILAR: All right. We will be watching your state, and we appreciate your time today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens. Thanks.

STEVENS: Thank you.

KEILAR: And we'll be right back.

[15: 45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: The murders of his wife and son gripped the nation and set off podcasts, books, documentaries. And today, Alex Murdaugh was back in a South Carolina courtroom for a critical hearing on his retrial. In May, the state Supreme Court overturning his murder convictions after finding the trial was tainted by the county clerk's influence on jurors.

Now Murdaugh's defense team wants to get additional DNA testing done and his lawyers filed another motion related to the murder weapons, which were never found. CNN's Dianne Gallagher has the latest now from court -- Diane.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We were expecting the possibility of some fireworks at this urgent hearing that was scheduled just based on the tone and the number of filings between the state and the defense since our last pretrial hearing back in August. But I'm not sure what happened in that courtroom can be described as anything other than a scolding from Judge Debra McCaslin. Seems really just a bit sped up with the theatrics and the bickering that have really come to define this case for so many people who have been watching it unfold through the news or podcasts, documentaries or made for TV movies.

She made it abundantly clear that she's not putting up with delays or tactics to try the case anywhere except her courtroom.

JUDGE DEBRA MCCASLIN, SOUTH CAROLINA CIRCUIT COURT: You both have an April 5th deadline, OK? And to be honest with you, I don't care what happened in the first trial, all right? Quit telling me about stuff that y'all did to each other during the first trial.

I don't care. I will not allow these proceedings to become a circus. And I will not permit anyone involved in this case to use this courtroom as a platform for publicity or theatrics.

I just didn't fall off the turnip truck.

GALLAGHER: Now on to the legal proceedings. The defense got a win on further independent DNA testing despite the fact that it may use up the remainder of the sample. She said that it's the defense's right to test it and that if it is relevant to their case, if unknown DNA under Maggie Murdaugh's fingernail or from her cell phone that was found on the side of the road could identify or exclude another person involved.

Now other items like turning over Faro and cell phone data were agreed upon, but McCaslin did deny a broad defense request to receive and review all 300 blackout casings in custody with state law enforcement from surrounding counties since the murder. She called it speculative and said they could though review the raw data if they wanted to do that.

[15: 50:00]

Now on to that bombshell motion where the defense alleges that the state has convened a grand jury related to the crime scene and the missing murder weapons. The judge agreed with the state that until or unless a certain legal threshold is met, those proceedings are secret. Now if that threshold is triggered, they must share that information with the defense.

And McCaslin finished in fiery fashion telling both the defense and the state they could not respond to the final motion she wanted to reach. She then corrected the record from statements that the defense made in an earlier hearing that Murdaugh had passed a polygraph test related to the murders. Something that did not in fact happen. Now Murdaugh was in court today.

He was attentive but he did not speak. Our next appearance is here in Lexington next month and then after the new year we will begin to hold these appearances in our new home for the Murdaugh case in Sumter.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DEAN: Dianne Gallagher, thank you for that.

Still ahead, Tesla unveiling what it says is a flying car, but how close are you to seeing it in your rearview mirror and will you need a pilot's license? That's next.

[15: 55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Some new details now about Pope Leo. Four days after surgery on his lung to remove a cancerous nodule, we're learning that the Pope spoke with Russia's president from the hospital in Rome. The Pope expressing his, quote, deep concern over a grave humanitarian situation in a Russian occupied city in Ukraine.

He also urged Putin to implement a local ceasefire for evacuations and aid delivery. The Kremlin confirmed the call.

DEAN: We're also seeing the first images of the Pope after that surgery -- scene right here -- celebrating mass at a makeshift hospital chapel. Leo led mass at midday on Friday with off-duty medical and nursing staff and thanked them for their work, caring for him and others who are sick.

Roads where we're going. We don't need roads. Pretty soon. Maybe that's not just a Back to the Future reference.

Elon Musk showing off Tesla's new Roadster. But this car, which I guess is what we call it, doesn't just stick to the pavement.

KEILAR: No, it can climb impossible heights. Well, whatever that one is. I mean, that's impossible to me.

DEAN: Is that real? Is that AI?

KEILAR: That's real.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: I think it's real.

KEILAR: OK, and even it can take off in the air before landing gracefully back to Earth. Even George Jetson would be proud. Musk says the sci-fi ride will go into production in 2020 -- Pete Muntean, 2028.

DEAN: Is that AI? What are we doing?

MUNTEAN: We call this in the TV biz a deep tease.

KEILAR: What is that? Is that for real 2028?

MUNTEAN: That's what it sounds like. I mean, the big thing and the question now is, is this an airplane? Is this a car?

DEAN: What is this?

MUNTEAN: Is this something else? I asked the FAA about it. And the answer so far is pretty revealing.

This is the statement that I got back from them. They say, "The Tesla vehicle does not meet the FAA's definition of an aircraft." So it sounds like it's not an airplane.

So it does not mean that you will need a pilot's license for something like this. The big thing here, you have to sort of consider the historical context. We've been talking about flying cars for probably 100 years now.

This is one of my favorites. The Taylor Aerocar, probably approved back in 1956, at least by the federal government.

DEAN: This one.

MUNTEAN: This one. The problem with these is that they're not very good cars. They're not very good airplanes. This doesn't really end up catching on.

So this was really referenced. I know it's pretty bulbous and kind of goofy, right? This was referenced by Musk, you know, like we've been promises for a long time.

Tesla says they were able to do this. And we have to show this sort of half pipe stunt again with four essentially suction, a four nozzle suction system that will keep the car sort of adhered to the road.

DEAN: Wow!

MUNTEAN: Yes, right? At what point do you have to be inverted in the car? But it's beside the point.

And then there's this 10 nozzle pressurized gas system, sort of like the system that's used to maneuver like a space capsule in space to essentially have it do this 180 degree roll there and then land back on the ground. Seems like mostly propulsion, not really sustained flight. I would call this more.

I say this as a pilot. I would call it falling with style.

DEAN: OK.

KEILAR: I love that part, though. Doesn't it look cool? And I want my car to do that.

I want like that. It looks like there's a dry ice machine coming out from underneath your car.

DEAN: It is like the future.

KEILAR: The flux could totally turn on my flux capacitor and get me some dry ice.

MUNTEAN: Can we get to the question about whether or not this is going to happen?

KEILAR: Oh, yes.

MUNTEAN: And I want you to listen to what Elon Musk said here, because actually the audience, it's some good journalism. SpaceX and Tesla usually pretty elusive when it comes to answers from the press. People in the crowd shouted some questions.

And I want you to listen to those.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it street legal?

ELON MUSK, CEO TESLA: Yes, yes, depends on your street. But it'll be a viable car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When do you want to get it to customers?

MUSK: We enter production in 2028, actually.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually, for real.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: OK, so that last part is a reference to the fact that the Tesla Roadster, this design was promised back in 2017 to be put in production in 2020. So it's been this big, long nine year wait for this. So we'll see if this actually happens.

Some pretty big deposits required for this $250,000 for one of the versions. And the one that can fly like that, there's only invite only is what they say. So we'll see.

DEAN: OK.

KEILAR: You don't have to get to whatever that mile per hour was in back --

MUNTEAN: 88.

[16:00:00]

KEILAR: 88. You don't have to get to 88 miles per hour.

MUNTEAN: Although this does do zero to 60 in a second, which is pretty cool.

KEILAR: Oh, wow. That is cool.

DEAN: Thanks, Pete.

KEILAR: We could keep going. But "THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts right now.

END