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Officials Identify Suspect In California Fertility Clinic Explosion; Biden Diagnosed With Aggressive Form Of Prostate Cancer. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired May 18, 2025 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:01]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EVA LONGORIA, ACTRESS: All your moves. Look at it. It is making a sauce.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's great, yes, Eva?

LONGORIA: Look at this. What's happening? It's like magic in front of our eyes. This is so crazy. Just by moving the fish.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just like moving.

LONGORIA: Oh, my gosh.

In this traditional version, it's as simple as that.

Wow. That is a super rich sauce.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes?

LONGORIA: It just melts in your mouth, very creamy. And you can taste the beauty of the fish. It's so fresh.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Oh, that looks so good. All right. A new episode of "EVA LONGORIA, SEARCHING FOR SPAIN" airs tonight at 9:00 Eastern and Pacific only on CNN.

All right. Hello, again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We continue to follow breaking news and new details into that deadly bombing at a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. The suspect of that attack is now being identified as 25-year-old Guy Bartkus. Police say he is a resident of Twentynine Palms, a city located about an hour's drive from the location of the attack. Investigators believe the suspect intentionally set off a bomb in a car near the fertility center on Saturday. Authorities are also looking into writings and recordings the suspect may have left behind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AKIL DAVIS, FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF LOS ANGELES: The subject had nihilistic ideations, and this was a targeted attack against the IVF facility. Make no mistake, we are treating this, as I said yesterday, as an intentional act of terrorism. We are tracking a possible manifesto out there, and it's part of our ongoing investigation. We believe he was attempting to live stream it. And yes, that is also part of our investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Authorities believe the suspect was the sole person killed in the explosion. Four other people who were injured in the blast have been -- treated, rather, and released from area hospitals.

We've got team coverage of this breaking news. CNN security correspondent Josh Campbell is with us, along with Stephanie Elam at the scene.

So, Stephanie, let's begin with you. What more are we learning from investigators?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I just want to give you this vantage point here, Fred. You can see down here there's still activity. This part of the street is closed off as the investigation continues. They have spoken about how large of a debris field from this blast there was on Saturday. I remember it happened at about 11:00 in the morning on Saturday. And I want to introduce you to Art Lewis. He lives around the corner.

Art, you heard this all happening. Tell me what happened inside your place when this happened.

ART LEWIS, LIVES NEAR EXPLOSION SITE: Inside, I was just doing my thing. Having CNN playing in the background. Miss Fredricka Whitfield was on the air, and then all of a sudden it was a huge just bang. And it was a different type of bang than what we usually feel here when there's earthquakes, which are very common here. And our natural thing to do is always to leave the building. We left the building, but then we realized really quick, when we looked towards the street, it wasn't the earthquake.

ELAM: What did you see? What did you see outside?

LEWIS: The smoke billowing from the IVF center, which we didn't know at the time that's what it was.

ELAM: And what did you feel? Like what did -- what was it? Did you feel it in your chest? Did you feel it around you? Did things in your building break? What happened?

LEWIS: All the above. Felt it in the chest, actually pieces of plaster and paint started coming down in flakes in my place. Statutes were slightly moved because that's how much it jarred, because I live that close, which is right behind you.

ELAM: And so tell me about this area, though. You say you walk by this location several times a week. I mean, knowing that, how does this feel for you, knowing that this could have happened when you were on your walk?

LEWIS: Very shaken up because just on Friday, I came to the cancer treatment center. And I walked right by there. So less than 24 hours after I did that this happened.

ELAM: Yes. So you walked by there to get your cancer treatment because you're -- you said you're a five-time survivor?

LEWIS: Yes.

ELAM: So you come by here every single day. What is it normally like on the street?

LEWIS: Just your typical busy street. Indian Canyons are very main thorough to come into Palm Springs. So the Desert Regional Medical Center is here. A lot of treatments happen there. Triage, emergency, as well as the cancer treatment center. So I walked by this road that were on each time, sometimes drive, sometimes walk.

ELAM: Are you -- do you have any fear of what, you know, the safety of your building because you are so close? You pointed out to me how close it is. Do you have any fear of the safety of your building?

LEWIS: No, we don't have the fear of the safety of the building. If something was going to happen, it would have already happened. So things here are built very well because we're parallel with the San Andreas Fault. So I'm not concerned about that.

ELAM: Do you feel that the city is safe after all this, with the latest that we've heard?

[16:05:02]

LEWIS: I feel the city is safe. But for us locals, which I've lived here for 10 years, yes, we're still in shock. It's -- we're stunned. I'm scared to walk down this street again. I know it's still not open yet. My immediate street was closed yesterday. They opened it after the press conference, as they said. But I'm going to be very afraid to walk down this street to go to the cancer treatment center for a while.

ELAM: Yes, I can see your eyes kind of welling up when you talk about it. You're still shaken from this?

LEWIS: Uh-huh. Very much so. There's some of us in my building, they won't come out still. I came out here only to -- so that people could get a perspective from the locals who live here.

ELAM: Well, we are so glad that you're OK, Art.

LEWIS: Thank you.

ELAM: And so, Fred, you can hear just how shaken up people are here because of this blast happening on what should have just been a normal Saturday in Palm Springs, where people enjoy a slower style of life out here.

WHITFIELD: Yes, well, thank you, Art, for coming out even though he is still very much rattled by this.

Stephanie Elam, appreciate you, too.

Josh, to you, what more are you learning from your sources?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that authorities have now identified the person they believe was responsible for that explosion that Stephanie just described there, but their work is far from over.

Officials just a short time ago released the photo of the suspect, 25- year-old Guy Bartkus, a resident of the nearby Twentynine Palms area. And the FBI wants the public to look at that photo and to provide any information that people out there might have about this individual. They're still trying to piece together where he was in the hours leading up to that explosion that occurred just around 11:00 a.m.

Now, law enforcement source told me that officials are aware of an audio recording that was posted online from someone who described that he was planning to attack an IVF facility. I have to tell you, this is a very rambling, oftentimes incoherent recording where the person airs, you know, various grievances but specifically describes his anti-IVF beliefs, calling himself anti-life. And so authorities are trying to determine if that is indeed associated with this incident.

I'm also told from a law enforcement source that they believe that the person who died in the explosion, the lone person that died, the suspect here was indeed responsible for that bombing. So that work is happening. And even as that occurs, the forensic examination continues because as we just heard there in that powerful interview from Stephanie, just the sheer size of this explosion, which was felt from miles around, the head FBI agent here in Los Angeles said that they have never seen a bombing like that in Southern California.

Debris from the chassis of that vehicle from some of the nearby buildings shot up in the air hundreds of feet. What does that mean for investigators? They have this large debris field that they're having to go through in order to try to gather any possible evidence.

I can tell you, having worked bombing investigations as an FBI agent in the past, investigators are looking for the smallest of clues. Something -- sometimes something as small as your fingernail could be the piece of evidence that authorities need in order to try to track where a specific device came from. So there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes right now, even as authorities say, they don't believe there's a continued threat there in the area.

WHITFIELD: All right. Josh Campbell, thank you so much. And Stephanie Elam as well. Appreciate it.

All right. And now --

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News. WHITFIELD: This breaking news. Former President Joe Biden has just

announced that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Let's get straight to the White House and senior reporter Betsy Klein with more on this -- Betsy.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Yes, Fredricka, the White House, excuse me, the office of former President Joe Biden issuing a statement just moments ago that the former president has been diagnosed on Friday with what they described as an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

I want to read you this statement again from Biden's personal office. It says, "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of nine with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management." The statement goes on to say that Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.

Of course, President Biden is 82 years old, and of course, there has been so much scrutiny around the former president's health and his mental acuity and fitness for a second term in office. That is the subject, of course, of a new book from our colleague Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, as well as something that was really underscored by the release of the Hur tapes earlier this week.

So again, we are -- we've asked the White House for comment on this development. We will bring more details to you as soon as we have them. But again, former President Biden, diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones -- Fredricka.

[16:10:09]

WHITFIELD: All right. Still so many questions.

Betsy Klein, thank you so much. Of course we'll talk more about it and I'll be able to give you some of the questions that I have right off the top, but for now, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

WHITFIELD: All right. More on this breaking news just in to CNN.

[16:15:02]

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. That's according to a statement from his office.

Let's get back to CNN's senior reporter Betsy Klein at the White House with how this message has been conveyed. What more do you know?

KLEIN: Yes, Fredricka, about 10 minutes ago, we received a statement from the personal office of former President Joe Biden announcing that Biden had been diagnosed on Friday with what they described as an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

I want to read you that full statement. It says, "Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of nine with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management." The statement goes on to say that Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.

Of course, former President Biden is 82 years old, and there was so much scrutiny around his mental acuity and physical fitness to serve a second term back in July of 2024, during the presidential campaign. Of course, the former president ultimately dropping out of the race after that debate. And, of course, all of that is the subject of a brand new book from our colleague Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson out this month that is really generating a lot of headlines, as well as the release of audiotapes from the former special counsel, Robert Hur, audio of the president struggling to recount certain dates and names.

But of course, this is a somewhat optimistic diagnosis. They say the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, allowing for effective management. But of course it is quite serious if it has spread to his bones. Again, they're describing it as an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Fredricka.

We have reached out to the White House for comment from the Trump administration on this development, and waiting to hear more from President Biden and his family as the time goes by.

WHITFIELD: Right. All of those words seem to be very alarming. But then, like you mentioned, the statement being pacified by some optimism of a type of treatment that might be available. I know you're going to continue to do some reporting, and we'll check back with you.

Thank you so much, Betsy Klein, for helping to break that news.

All right. Our Dana Bash is also on the line with us.

And so, Dana, from the information that Betsy is just conveying that this prostate nodule was discovered, do we know anything about the -- a history involving any kind of prostate related problems or nodules prior to this diagnosis that is now being announced and shared that this is an aggressive form of prostate cancer?

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Hi, Fredricka. Not that we know of. Look, when you're talking about a president, a former president and his medical health, we are theoretically should know a lot, if not everything about it. So if there was a history that he personally had, we, you know, would likely know about it.

And, you know, listen, as, you know, I mean, we all have people in our families who, particularly men, men of a certain age who get tested regularly for prostate cancer. And as we saw in the statement, they get a Gleason score and that determines whether or not they have prostate cancer and if so how aggressive it is.

Like Betsy said, the thing that clearly is very concerning is that it has spread to his bones. But look, this is also a man who has had a son who died from cancer. Now, former President Biden says that they believe that the reason Beau Biden got cancer, very different kind of cancer, brain cancer, was because of exposure to burn pits while on a military mission. We never know. And we won't know if that's, you know, for sure, 100 percent.

But what we do know now is that the former president is very lucky in this sense. He has the best care that pretty much anyone could get. And there's no question that he is going to be -- they're going to find the best care as they say in the statement. And the idea, as you were saying, Fred, that it seems to be the kind of cancer that would respond to hormones, that's a very, very big deal, regardless of whether or not it is in his bones or not.

[16:20:05]

WHITFIELD: I think we lost that signal with Dana Bash. We'll try to reestablish.

Thank you so much, Dana.

Also with us, David Axelrod.

David. I mean, this is striking, shocking news. Yes, he is of a certain age, 82, and prostate related problems can certainly arise at about this stage of life, but that his diagnosis, according to that statement, would come on Friday and it's, with the use of aggressive form of prostate cancer, hormone sensitive, but still allowing for effective management. How is this news hitting you?

DAVID AXELROD, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL COMMENTATOR (via phone) Well, I mean, it comes at such a stressful time for President Biden, as you guys pointed out, that Jake and Alex's book just came out. It's getting a lot of attention, a lot of reflection on his decision to run again, and that the rehashing of all of that can't be pleasant for him. But this supersedes all of that, obviously.

And, you know, he's not a stranger to medical crises. He dealt with two brain aneurysms earlier in his life, and almost lost his life as a result of that and was able to soldier through that. He obviously has experienced a lot of tragedy in his life as well, with the loss of two children, one by car accident, and his wife, his first wife, and of course, the death of his son, Beau. He's, you know, Joe Biden is the unluckiest lucky man on the planet.

He's lived an incredible life of service. You know, 50 years of it but has also experienced untold tragedy. And I just, you know, whatever your political persuasion, whatever your feelings are about how his career ended, whatever you think, this is a good and decent man who has served his country, and we're all pulling for him.

WHITFIELD: Yes. I mean, as you mentioned, this comes at a time when there is so much and continued attention, you know, placed on his mental acuity and stability, as well as ahead of this book release. And you mentioned there's been a lot of discussion about it.

His medical condition now, his announced medical condition now, do you believe that silences or delays a lot of conversations about his, you know, last year and a half of his presidency for now?

AXELROD: Yes. Well, I mean, I think those conversations are going to happen, but they should be more muted and set aside for now, as he's struggling through this. Yes, it's, I just, it is -- it shouldn't be stunning because prostate cancer is so common among men. At his stage in life, most men, if they live long enough, deal with prostate cancer. But -- and it's great news that they think that it's manageable but jarring nonetheless.

You know, the thing, Fred, is that people who serve in these offices they sort of become embedded in our lives. And you know, and this is a reminder that no one is immortal. And so it's jarring, and I had the opportunity to serve with Vice President Biden for two years in the White House. And I was around when some of the concerns about health, Beau's health. Later on when I was working as a consultant to the campaign Beau's health came to the fore, and I just feel for the family, you know, because it's one more thing to struggle with right now.

WHITFIELD: Sure. David Axelrod, thank you so much. Jarring, your word jarring is indeed fitting.

All right. Also with us right now on the line, Ana Navarro who is a co-host of "The View," former President Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, were on "The View" last week.

Ana, I mean, jarring is the word that David Axelrod just used. How would you describe how this news hits, given that yours was one of the last big interviews with him last week, ahead of his diagnosis?

[16:25:11]

ANA NAVARRO, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR (via phone): Look, I think jarring is the word that applies to anybody, any family, that gets the news that somebody you love you have cancer. It's, you know, it's always jarring when you hear that diagnosis, Fred. It's happened in my family. And you know, it comes with fear. It comes with uncertainty, wanting to figure out what the plan is, what the next steps are. What the possibilities are for treatment, what you know, I mean, there's so many questions that come with that one diagnosis.

I will tell you, one of the things that I know Joe Biden has going for him is his very strong faith, his incredible optimism, and also this family, this strength of family that have gone through so much together. He's got a loving wife of decades and decades and decades. They have gone through so many ups and downs. He's got children and grandchildren, a sister, just such a wide array of people who love him and will be with him at a time like this.

And I think it's part of the reason both cancer, the accident with his first wife that cost the life of his first wife and his baby daughter. It's part of the reason why Joe Biden is a compassionate, decent man that we know. And it's part of the reason why he doesn't lose his optimism because he knows that from sometimes the depths of sorrow and the biggest challenges, you will emerge.

And so, look, the Joe Biden we saw, I saw a couple of weeks ago on "The View," the Joe Biden I've known for almost three decades is a man who I know will fight, is a man who will have people who love him in his corner, is a man who will have the best medical advice. And these are things that he does not take for granted because he knows. He knows not every American has the best medical advice and the best medical treatments available.

And he knows not every American has the family structure that he has. And I think that's why he tried so hard to bring health care to Americans and why time and time again, we show -- we saw him show his heart to America. We saw him hug people who had diagnoses like this. We saw him hug family members who had lost somebody because of everything he has gone through. So, you know, I just joined, I think, most Americans, hopefully all Americans, in praying for him and wishing him well and knowing that prostate cancer today, many forms of prostate cancer are very treatable.

And you can have many more years of life afterwards. I have dealt with it in my family. And I know, you know, I know Joe Biden hasn't given up his entire life. He's not going to give up now.

WHITFIELD: Yes. You talk about his strength in his faith and in his family. He's a devout Catholic. Jill Biden was there on the set with him as he joined you and the other ladies on "The View." I mean, speak to me about, you know, too, about your recollection even during that interview of how I just remember one moment where she really stepped in and chimed in to help underscore, you know, his commitment to public service, and his record. You know, and his record to truth.

Talk to me about what that moment was like as she not necessarily completing his sentences, but trying to complete the narrative of who Joe Biden is.

NAVARRO: Well, I think a lot of us who are married know that it's not infrequent for spouses to complete each other's sentences. I also think Jill Biden is Joe Biden's strongest advocate. Unconditional love of so many decades. And I think, you know, look, I think the last year, all of the attacks on him, the gossip, the suppositions, all of these things, I think were very hurtful to her as a wife, as a spouse, who supports and loves her husband. And so, you know, I think that's what you saw come out.

And I think we've all seen Jill Biden because Joe Biden has been a public servant his entire adult life. My entire adult life. Since I've been in this country, Joe Biden has been part of the arena. [16:30:00]

He's been in the Senate. He's been a vice president. He's been a president. And I think we've all seen him age. I've known him. I am a friend of Joe Biden. And I have known him for 25, 30 years. And, certainly, the man who was at the view two weeks ago is not the man that I knew 20 years ago.

We've seen him age. We've seen his steps become more faltering. We've seen his voice lose some of his strength. But in it -- with -- throughout all of it, it's always been the same good, decent public servant committed to America, committed to democracy Joe Biden that I have known practically my entire adult life.

WHITFIELD: Ana Navarro, thank you so much. Thanks for sharing your viewpoint here, as were all just learning of this announcement coming from former President Joe Biden's office. That he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. That diagnosis coming on Friday. And in that statement saying that it is --

NAVARRO: Bye, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Bye, thank you so much, Ana, for joining us. And that his diagnosis is a hormone-sensitive condition which does allow for effective management.

So, while this statement is quite jarring, as David Axelrod put it, it also ends with some optimism that there might be a type of management for this diagnosis. We'll have so much more right after this.

[16:31:40]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, more on this breaking news coming into CNN. The office of the former President Joe Biden has just announced that the former President has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. That's according to a statement released from the office.

Let's get back to CNN Senior Reporter Betsy Klein at the White House with more that you're learning, Betsy.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER AND WRITER: Well, Fredricka, we have learned from this statement that came in earlier this hour from the personal office of former President Joe Biden, that Biden has been diagnosed with what they described as an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

I want to read you this statement again from the personal office of former President Biden. It says, last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule, after experiencing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of nine with metastasis to the bone.

While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management. It goes on to say that Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.

Now, a source familiar with his plans tells me that the former President is in Wilmington, Delaware, this weekend. Of course, former President Biden is 82 years old, and questions about his physical health and mental acuity were driving forces behind his decision to step away from the 2024 presidential race in July.

Of course, there are some cause for optimism here that the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive as far as treatment, but very concerning that it has indeed spread to his bones. Of course, the President has had a brain aneurysm in the past, and his family is no stranger to cancer. Of course, son, Beau, died of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer, back in 2015.

Now, President Biden has largely stayed under the radar since leaving office, but we've seen him slowly start to reemerge. He was on the view earlier this week on May 8th, and he also attended the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican back on April 26th.

Also, of course, the Cancer Moonshot, a cause so dear to former President Biden and his family, established it after Beau Biden's death, back in the Obama administration. And then, relaunched it in 2022 with the stated goal of ending cancer as we know it.

I also want to go back to some of this physician's letter from his doctor, Kevin O'Connor, that was issued in February 2024 that sort of lays out some of his other health concerns. The President, at the time, was being treated for obstructive sleep apnea, of course something that is quite common for older adults.

He had nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, AFIB. He has high cholesterol that he is being treated for, as well as acid reflux and seasonal allergies. As well as that stiffened gait which, of course, was a result of a fractured foot.

But we are tracking this quite closely, asking the President's office for any more information. We, of course, have also reached out to the Trump White House for any reaction to this news -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, let us know if you learn anything new on that. Thank you so much. Betsy Klein at the White House.

All right, also with me right now is Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt. He is a urologist, a surgeon. He specializes in treating prostate cancer. Doctor, I understand you're out of Orlando as well, right?

DR. JAMIN BRAHMBHATT, UROLOGIST, ORLANDO HEALTH: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much for being with me. All right, so how do you assess this news, based on the statement coming from Joe Biden's office that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has advanced to his bones?

BRAHMBHATT: Yes. Obviously, we're in shock because he is our former president. But when I was going through my results on my computer tab as I was leaving the office today, I'm on call today, I had two patients that, tomorrow, I'm going to tell them the exact same news that Joe Biden got, you know, earlier this week.

[16:40:04]

BRAHMBHATT: So, you have to take a step back. Like, prostate cancer is very common. Like, over 300,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S. a year. Because there's such a high volume, there's a lot of research dedicated to, like, its treatment.

He -- unfortunately, it's already spread to his bones. But if you look at the thousands of men that are diagnosed with the same type of prostate cancer as him, the good news is there's some great treatment options. And from what I hear, currently, they're saying it's hormone sensitive, which means the treatment options are even more for him. So, the prognosis in the general man that we find this is actually pretty good.

But at the same time, you have to take a moment to pause because everything is personalized to the patient. So, you have to take into account what the reporter mentioned, all the different conditions that he has. You want to make sure that the treatments you're giving for prostate cancer don't compromise the other health issues. So, everything has to be tailored to the individual, to the patient. And in his case, President Joe Biden.

WHITFIELD: Exactly. All of my follow ups, based on what you just said, that I'd like to ask you, though. So, even with that statement that it's hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management. What are the treatment options, when you're talking about those characteristics?

BRAHMBHATT: So, the treatment options initially start with, like, putting a brake on the cancer. And that's done with medications that pretty much -- we call it male menopause or, like, they're called androgen deprivation therapy. So, you try to stop the hormones that feed the cancer. That's how it initially starts.

Then, what the next treatments could include steroid treatments. There's immune therapies that can be done. There's also medicines that target, like, things in the bones. But all of those are medical management. Rarely there's an option of surgery or radiation. There's all these different medications that can be taken through the I.V. or by mouth to help control the cancer based on where it's spread.

WHITFIELD: So, when you say medical management so that he remains comfortable. Is that what I'm getting here?

BRAHMBHATT: Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK.

BRAHMBHATT: So, -- yes, with the -- with the treatments that are out there for when it's spread to the bones, it's very difficult to get the cancer to zero or cancer free. So, what you try to do is either slow it down to continue the quality of life that he has. But, theoretically, if he responds great to all the treatments and the -- even the stuff in the bones can decrease or stay stable.

So, really, it's too early to tell. Over the next few months is a better way to tell. And, really, it's going to be based on how he responds. So, they're saying it's hormone sensitive, but really you don't really know how sensitive it is until you start doing repeat lab work. And then, start doing repeat imaging to see how he is truly responding internally, when it comes to these cancer treatments.

WHITFIELD: OK. And so, those treatments that you just described, you really are talking about arresting the cancer but not necessarily getting rid of it.

BRAHMBHATT: Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK. And that he's 82. How would that dictate how he and his medical team make a decision about the treatment options?

BRAHMBHATT: I think -- I think -- he's not my patient. But if I had a patient like him with all the medical stuff that he has, including whether it's the physical or the mental, you know, you really have to take that into account.

Because all these treatments do have potential side effects. One of the biggest side effects that I see in my patients that get these hormone treatments could be cognitive changes. So, you have to kind of balance that. People can also get issues with fatigue and weight loss.

But when he has stuff in his bones, he's also at higher risk for fractures. So, it is -- it is a very sensitive conversation. But, initially, what we do is we try to get very aggressive in the treatments. And then, either we pull back if he's not responding or if he's getting symptoms.

But, initially, it's a very aggressive intervention. It's, like, all right, let's see what we can do. Yes, there's side effects. But, right now, if it is in his bones, if we want to extend his quality of life or extend his life, then perhaps firing all the missiles, in this case, maybe the better way to go. And then, kind of retract as we need.

WHITFIELD: All right, this conversation very enlightening. Dr. Charminar Brahmbhatt, thank you so much for joining us. Coming from Orlando.

BRAHMBHATT: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Also with me now, CNN Political Commentator Van Jones. And, Van, I wonder how this news hits you, that we're just now learning based on a statement coming, an announcement coming from the office of the former president, Joe Biden, that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Heartbreaking. Heartbreaking, heartbreaking. You know, this is a guy that has already been through so much with his own children. And he's just been, you know, someone who has so much empathy for other people in the exact scenario that he has been in.

Look, I remember being in the White House with him after Teddy Kennedy's funeral.

[16:45:03]

JONES: You know, Senator Ted Kennedy had died of brain cancer. And he was holding court to just -- people were just devastated to lose Ted Kennedy. And just the strength of the guy who was a friend of his that he'd lost, and he was trying to hold the whole White House together. And this is a guy who he knows pain. He knows suffering. He knows how to show empathy.

But now the country's got to show empathy for him. He's somebody who -- you know, I'm glad to hear that there's some medical support for him. There needs to be some prayer support for him and just some love support for him.

He's been a servant of this country. Good, bad and otherwise longer than most people have been alive, in this country at this point. And I'm praying for him.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Do you think this was a difficult decision for him to make, to reveal something so private? Yes, he has been in public service for decades. But especially now after being on "The View" last week, you know, defending his legacy, joined by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. Even in the face of so many conversations about him, about his fitness in the last year and a half of his office. Do you believe this was a difficult decision for him to make, to share something so private?

JONES: Well, you know, I know it would be for me. And I also think, you know, he's been criticized for not being forthcoming even with his son, you know, Beau Biden, who was going through pretty bad cancer. And the family was pretty close-lipped about it, obviously. Biden is being criticized for and the family's being criticized for being, you know, not forthcoming right before the last election about his possible cognitive issues.

So, maybe he decided it's better just to get things out in the open, in response to some of that. But, you know, it's hard to know. These are desperately personal decisions. And I don't care how old you are. When somebody says aggressive cancer, that is not a welcome comment or piece of information from your doctor.

And it -- certainly, when you've got to pick up the phone and then call grandchildren, got to pick up the phone and call other relatives, close staff and let them know. And you got to deal with their reaction. Which I'm sure he had -- he'd have to do all that before they announced it publicly. That's taxing itself. And that's the challenge itself.

And so, I -- you know, I don't know why he made the decision that he made. It may blunt some of the criticism coming his way this week with the release of Jake Tapper's book, or at least put that criticism in a different light. That this is an -- you know, he's a legend. But he's elderly. And, you know, as we -- as we criticize his legacy, we also got to hold the man.

WHITFIELD: CNN Political Commentator Van Jones, glad you could be with us. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. We're going to take a short break. Again, breaking news is that the former president, Joe Biden, his office, has released a statement, saying that he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. Much more after this.

[16:48:30]

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WHITFIELD: All right, this breaking news just in to CNN, a stunning announcement. Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. That's according to a statement from his office.

The statement reading, last week, Joe Biden, President Joe Biden, was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule, after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of nine with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management.

Joining me right now is Journalist Ron Brownstein. Ron, I mean, this is stunning. A stunning announcement. The diagnosis just coming on Friday. Your assessment of this news.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, first, I mean, obviously, you know, a personal concern for him and his family. This is someone who has really lived their life in the public eye.

I mean, you know, he was elected president, Fredricka, 50 years after he was first elected to elected office in New Castle County, Delaware, in 1970. And I once calculated that was the longest span for anyone ever elected president between their first office and ultimately gaining the White House.

And as a result, he's kind of lived his whole life in the public eye, and that life has included a lot of loss. I mean, the loss of his first wife and child in the -- in the 1970s. He had a brain aneurysm right after he ran for president in the 1988 campaign. That probably -- that might have killed him if he was still an active candidate. And it had occurred somewhere in a, you know, a rural hamlet in Iowa or New Hampshire. Obviously, the loss of his son.

So, this is someone we have seen suffer and go through very human experiences on the public stage for a very long time.

[16:55:00]

BROWNSTEIN: I would think, if nothing else, one thing that unites former presidents is they don't want to be in the center of the political crossfire anymore. And Biden, to an unusual extent, has been with Trump wanting to keep him there and basically blaming anything that people don't like about conditions in the country now on Biden.

And Democrats in the midst of this very heated debate about whether he should have stepped aside earlier and whether he's ultimately responsible for Trump's return to the White House. Maybe this kind of allows him the peace and space to kind of -- both sides kind of take a step back and allow him, I think as former Presidents almost all do, to try to begin getting on with the next stage of his life.

WHITFIELD: Yes. If it doesn't silence, I guess, that criticism, just using the word of, you know, Van Jones, maybe it would blunt, --

BROWNSTEIN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: -- I guess, some of the criticism, particularly of his last year and a half. I mean, that would be the grace, you know, that would be extended to him.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes, there are -- there are -- you know, there are legitimate issues and perfectly appropriate for people to debate. You know, what his capacity was and, you know, whether he should have run again. And whether he should have announced sooner. And how much difference it would have made. I actually think it would not have made that much difference in the result.

I mean, the history is that when people are unhappy with the way things are going, they take it out on the President's party, whether he runs again or not. So, I think he's getting kind of an inflated share of the blame for what happened in 2024.

But either way, as I said, you know, former presidents generally don't want to be in the eye of the storm. They don't want to be a source of political contention and debate. And you see Republicans want to -- have wanted to keep Biden, you know, in the spotlight, much the way Republicans did in the early 1980s after Carter.

When the public has a negative verdict on a president, the other side wants to keep pointing fingers at him. And basically saying, well, if you're unhappy now, it's really because of things he did, not things we're doing.

And then you have this whole Democratic debate. But, you know, there's a person underneath all of that. You know, it's not just a concept. There's a person. And it's a person who we have seen face loss with grace and dignity in the public eye for a very long time.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BROWNSTEIN: And probably now deserves more space to, you know, go through whatever he has to go through.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

BROWNSTEIN: And hopefully come out of this into the next stage of his life.

WHITFIELDE: And I wonder, Ron, in under a minute, if you will. He's been very public now about sharing this very private journey, new journey. Do you believe that he will be as transparent about the kinds of treatments that he entertains? That he does embark upon? Because there might be, you know, quite a few options since it is hormone sensitive, allowing for effective management, according to the statement.

BROWNSTEIN: Yes. Look, I think Biden, as I said, has always lived his life in the public eye and has always thought there was a value in showing other people going through difficult times, that even people at the pinnacle of power face these problems. And, ultimately, it's a very human, you know, part of the human condition.

And everyone has to deal with it. I mean, he was certainly very open about the loss of his son, which is about as painful an experience you can have, you know, on this earth. So, I would expect no less, as he deals with this facing his own -- his own health challenges.

WHITFIELD: All right. Ron Brownstein, thank you so much. I appreciate you.

And thank you, everyone, for being with us today. Stay tuned for more continued coverage of our breaking news. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Jessica Dean is up next.

[16:58:33]

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