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Trump Takes Midterm Campaign Blitz To Ruby Red Kentucky; "No Kings" Anti-Trump Movement Shifts Focus To Rally Voters To Polls; Pope Leo Leaves Hospital Days After Lung Cancer Surgery; Massive Protests Rock France. Investigators Search for Motive in Oregon School Shooting; Republicans on Defense as Democrats Seek to Flip Key Seats; Democrats Battle for First Texas Senate Win in 38 Years; Kilauea Erupts Again in Hawaii. Aired 1-2p ET

Aired October 17, 2026 - 13:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:00:30]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A midterm blitz. High-profile politicians, including the President, are holding rallies across the country with just over two weeks to go until the midterm elections.

And demonstrations are happening across France, with some turning violent. An estimated tens of thousands of people took to the streets as President Emmanuel Macron asks for everyone to remain calm.

Plus, the Pope has been released from the hospital. What's next for the leader of more than one billion Catholics after his cancer diagnosis?

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

All right, just 17 days until voters decide control of Congress in the midterm elections. And today, both parties are once again barnstorming the campaign trail, trying to boost candidates in tight races. In the next hour, President Trump will rally supporters in Ruby Red Kentucky, as he continues his campaign swings through conservative strongholds.

Last night, he addressed his base in North Georgia, downplaying growing concerns about the economy and inflation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, you know, when they talk about affordability, yes, it's a word they made up, affordability. Well, they're the ones that cause the affordability. You know what it is right now? The golden age of America.

(APPLAUSE)

And this has been considered by, I think, almost everyone to be the most successful two years. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meantime, thousands of No Kings voter rallies are taking place across the country today as the anti-Trump movement now shifts its focus to promoting mass voter turnout for the midterm elections.

CNN has team coverage on the campaign trail. Alayna Treene is with the President in Kentucky and Rafael Romo is in Georgia covering the No Kings anti-Trump rallies. Let's get started with Alayna in Kentucky.

So, Alayna, what can you tell us about the President's rally in Northern Kentucky today?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, Fred, the President is making his way over here to Truist Arena. We are in Northern Kentucky, specifically Highland Heights, Kentucky.

What's interesting about this place is it's actually the district where President Trump's longtime Republican foe, Congressman Thomas Massie, this is his district. So I will say this is a solidly red place, a solidly red district.

But what's interesting about it as well is that it actually borders Kentucky and it's part of the Cincinnati media market. The reason I say that's interesting is because we know that the President's political operation and his entire team is really focused on Ohio. They have some very competitive races there in the Senate, as well as for the governor's race.

So Trump has been doing a lot to try and boost Republicans and try to, you know, help them win against Democrats on November 3rd. But I do want to read for you, we did hear actually from the President. He was posting on social media as he made his way over here on the plane.

He said he's heading to Kentucky, will be landing soon. He said that there's a big crowd. I should note, actually, this is a very large arena, but it is not entirely full. There are a lot of empty seats here today. So just keep that in mind.

But then he said, it's so good. He said he was referencing coverage by a Republican streamer, RSBN. He said their coverage is so good that perhaps he doesn't even want to get off Air Force One so that he can keep watching it.

But, look, some other things I want to point out about the President's visit here today. As you mentioned, this is the red site. That's actually where a lot of the President's rallies have been in recent weeks. That's by design.

The President's political operation wants him to be able to hold rallies where he'll have a full crowd and made up of attendees by his fiercest supporters. And part of the reason they're doing that, of course, is because, one, they do want him to have a big crowd. But the other part is the President's message, which has been throughout this entire time he's been traveling the country, has been to pretend that he's on the ballot. That's really designed to encourage his fiercest supporters to show up on November 3rd. That continues to be the strategy that they are really buying into, that they are investing in, this idea of perhaps they cannot, Fred, convince some of these more independent, moderate- leaning Republicans to show up or independent voters to show up, but they can try and get as many of the President's fiercest supporters out there.

All of this is really about turnout. And you're going to hear the President deliver that message again today here in Kentucky, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Alayna Tree, we'll keep checking with you. Thanks so much.

[13:05:04]

Let's go to Georgia now, where Rafael Romo is covering one of the No Kings, Get Out the Vote rallies. Rafael, help us understand the shift in the focus for these rallies right now.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka, we are standing at one of the busiest intersections in northeast suburban Atlanta. This is the Freedom Corners here in East Cup County. As you can see, dozens and dozens of people are gathering here in a rally to ask other people to exercise their right to vote.

You can see right there, "Your Vote Matters 2026." Some of the messages that we're seeing here, this gentleman here. On the one hand, you see "No Kings, Donald Duck would be better than Donald Trump." And on the other side, it says, "No Kings. They want 1939 Germany. Let's give them 1789 France." Of course, referring to the French Revolution back then.

Now, I'm going to show you, they have managed to gather people at all four corners here. And this is a very busy intersection, as I said before. And Georgia is a very important state. And nationally, the main focus is on the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Jon Ossoff, the incumbent, and his Republican challenger, Mike Collins.

And it is so contested that President Trump has felt compelled to come to the state to campaign for Collins. He was actually here last night in Georgia, and he stopped in Dalton, Georgia. And he spoke about Jon Ossoff. And he focused more on style than substance.

This is what he say -- that we -- what he had to say. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: The people of Georgia are going to defeat your weak, arrogant, hate-filled, radical left senator who is really -- I call him Pee-wee Herman. Pee-wee Herman looks like Pee-wee. His name is Jon Ossoff. Highly overrated.

Somebody said, he's a good-looking man. I don't think he's a good- looking man. I actually think Mike Collins is a good-looking man. And he's all man. He's all man. I'm not sure about Ossoff.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Just wanted to give you an idea, Fred, the number of people attending this rally. As you can see, people are lined up all the way to probably half a block away from here. And you see the same amount of people at all corners.

"No crown," this sign says, "for a clown." There's another one that says, "vote blue." But the organizers are telling us that this is -- I asked specifically, is this a bipartisan rally? And they say, this is a nonpartisan rally.

Another race generating a lot of attention here in Georgia is the one for the governor's office. On the Democratic side, Keisha Lance Bottoms. And on the Republican side, we also have a Republican businessman, Rick Jackson, who has the endorsement of President Trump.

Fred, now back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Covers it all. Rafael Romo, thanks so much to you and all the reporters on the campaign trail right now.

All right, still to come, Pope Leo heading home. The latest on his discharge just four days after lung cancer surgery and what it means for Sunday's traditional blessing.

And from the cost of living to concerns about democracy, reasons why French protesters are flooding the streets.

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[13:13:18]

WHITFIELD: Pope Leo is out of the hospital just four days after undergoing lung cancer surgery. The 71-year-old walking, as you see, he's waving, he's shaking hands with well-wishers at Rome's Gemelli Hospital before heading back to the Vatican. Doctors deemed the Holy Father ready to leave after reviewing blood tests and an x-ray. This is the first health scare since Leo was elected Pope last year.

CNN's Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb joining us now from Rome. Christopher, I mean, Pope Leo, is he expected to make a swift return to his duties? I mean, these images of him looking so spry after surgery sends a clear message that he may indeed be fit to carry on with those plans?

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Fred. The Pope looking pretty well when he left the hospital. Hard to believe that he had lung surgery just a few days ago on Tuesday. And, of course, that lung cancer diagnosis as well.

But the Pope, you know, greeting the well-wishers, speaking to a young Ukrainian girl who had been treated for cancer in Italy, getting in the car, smiling. He's now back in the Vatican. And we are expecting him to make his first public appearance tomorrow, Sunday, at the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.

So it is expected that he will get back to his duties pretty soon. The Vatican has canceled all public audiences for him until the 20th of October. You know, the bigger picture is that the Pope's surgery and then lung cancer diagnosis has come as a huge shock to people in the Vatican.

[13:15:04]

There is obviously a lot of uncertainty because we don't know the final results that will show if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and what treatment, if any, is needed. But the signs today are pretty encouraging. Fred?

WHITFIELD: I mean, very encouraging. He looked amazing. So he always has a very, you know, hefty big schedule. But he also had been really looking forward to this travel plans next month to Latin America. I know it's soon. He just got out of the hospital. But what's the messaging being sent from the Vatican right now? Is that potentially still on?

LAMB: Well, Fred, the message from the Vatican, at least for now, is that the trip is going ahead. The Vatican News Agency has released an interview with the surgeon who operated on Pope Leo, and he says there's no clinical reason why the Pope can't undertake this travel, which came as a big surprise. I mean, the Pope is scheduled to make 14 flights from November the 6th to November the 17th.

He's due to go to Peru, which has got some high altitude places on the agenda for the Pope. So a lot of people were asking, could this trip go ahead? The Vatican seemingly saying it's still on. And the surgeon who operated on him clearing the Pope for travel.

WHITFIELD: Wow. This this man is Superman, isn't he?

All right. Well, we know things could change. But, you know, keep us posted. Christopher Lamb, you're in the know. You let us know. Thank you.

All right, straight ahead, violent demonstrations across France. Protesters say that they are fed up with the high cost of living and poor conditions in the country, schools. That's why right now live pictures. They're out in the streets and they're out there in big numbers. We'll go there live for the latest.

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[13:21:25]

WHITFIELD: Happening now, massive protests turning violent across France. There are a variety of demonstrations happening in the streets of Paris as police fire tear gas. Protests spread as far east as Strasbourg, where police clash with demonstrators there. And what began as student protests over poor conditions in schools has now been joined by trade unions and other activists demanding the government address the high cost of living in France. With us now is CNN Senior International Correspondent Melissa Bell in Paris there. Melissa, I mean, it's evening there, but that has not deterred protesters. In fact, it seems like it's heightened tensions.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. If anything, these kind of scenes have been repeating all the more since night has fallen across Paris. Things are being burned by protesters still. Riot police are trying to take them on and get some sense of calm back to the streets of the French capital. It's pretty thick with tear gas. The air is still at this hour.

And what we've seen over the course of the day is that all across the French capital, but actually all across France with some pretty violent scenes between the police and the protesters. And as you mentioned a moment ago, Fredricka, this has really ballooned way beyond the initial student protests and the student demands of better funding for high schools to include demands by public health care workers.

It's about the state of France's welfare state. But much more than that, this has really broadened today into a massive protest about the cost of living. So think back a few years to the yellow vest movement that so rocked the first term of President Macron's presidency.

This is what we saw again this Saturday, people wearing those high visibility jackets, taking on the police in a protest that has become about this general discontent, dissatisfaction, fury over the cost of living. And a great deal of damage we've seen being done on the streets of Paris, as I say, looting.

We've seen shops being broken into, fires set. And the police really struggling even at this hour to try and get things back under control, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Wow. I mean, that's incredible. It's incredible how much it has expanded. I mean, it started off pretty aggressive with the protests about schools, but it's extraordinary how it end -- how volatile it's become.

BELL: I think that's right. I mean, you know, the French really do protest better and more than most. But what we have seen, I think, because the government was quite slow in responding to those initial demands, because there was this general dissatisfaction here in France, because we're heading into an election here, Fredricka, where it looks as though the far right is set to do extremely well.

It looks as though the far left is set to do extremely well. It is the center, the moderate parties, the ones governing now, that are struggling. And all of this, I think, is a part of this unrest that you're seeing on the streets of France (INAUDIBLE).

BELL: Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. All right. Melissa Bell, thanks so much. Be careful out there. And of course, the sounds a lot of you are hearing, there's flashbangs to try to disperse the crowds. All right. Thanks, Melissa. We'll check back with you.

Today, these scenes of chaos and violence also being seen in Lyon, the third largest city in France, where protesters wearing masks, set the tourism office on fire. For a country that welcomes roughly 100 million visitors each year, nationwide protests could significantly impact tourism.

With us now is Sophie Gacheny. She is a tour guide in Paris and also has more than 17,000 followers on Instagram. She's joining us now from Paris. Great to see you.

[13:25:06]

Obviously, you're in home. It's safe, but you're probably hearing a lot of what's going on outside as well. I mean, what have you been witnessing, experiencing throughout the city?

SOPHIE GACHENY, FRENCH TOUR GUIDE: So, basically, today it was like we had different Paris inside of the city of Paris. What I mean is that we had, as your colleague said, on the Place de la Republique, it was pretty violent because, like, this is what happened now for the past few years in Paris. We have very, very big police troubles when it comes to strikes.

But, for example, I followed the walk from the Place de la Republique to Place de la Nation. And it was a very, like, very warm atmosphere. People were walking, were dancing in the street, listening to music. Like, it was also a feeling of, like, people gathering in order maybe to get some hope to create a better world and maybe to get a better future in 2027.

WHITFIELD: Wow, like in solidarity. So, I mean --

GACHENY: Yes.

WHITFIELD: -- these protests in general, though, I mean, they're taking place all over the country. From Marseille to Lyon, as I just mentioned, you know, with one of the offices being burned. And there, right there in your city in Paris.

So, Paris is also, you know, a huge tourist attraction. I mean, much of France is. But are these protests interfering with tourist experiences?

GACHENY: So the thing is that maybe, like, what happens is that people from the U.S. or wherever in the world, they have the feeling that it's happening everywhere in Paris because the media is going to show only the big, like, scenes with fire and everything.

But actually, when we have a strike, the law in France is that the police has to, like, basically the unions have to declare the manifestation. And the police has to say yes or no to the route. So, basically, when you are in Paris, you are able to know where the strike is going to happen. And so, it's never everywhere in the city. So, basically, you just have to choose not going into this part of town when the strike is happening.

WHITFIELD: Wow. So, I mean, it's relatively organized, even though it looks like disarray. But you're saying, you know, I guess tours might have to be adjusted. They may know certain parts of towns -- you know, part of town to go to because demonstrations are happening elsewhere.

So, then, what about for businesses, hotels, the shops, people who run the buses, the subway even? I mean, is there a lot of money that's being lost even with these adjustments?

GACHENY: Yes, you're right because, basically, of course, when your store, your boulangerie, your restaurant, whatever, is, like, on a major street where the strikes are happening, of course, you have pretty bad consequences. Your colleague was talking before about the Yellow Vest Movement.

And, actually, many stores during this movement that happened in 2018 had to close the business and had to end with their business because they were suffering from all those closing days. So, yes, of course, it's a reality.

WHITFIELD: Wow. It really is. Well, you painted a great picture for us, you along with our colleague, Melissa Bell, there in Paris.

Sophie Gacheny, thank you so much. Be safe.

GACHENY: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right, still to come, what we're learning about the young victims of the Oregon school shooting, as well as the heroic stories of the people credited with helping to end the attack.

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[13:30:00]

WHITFIELD: New today, police are searching for a motive after they say a 16-year-old former student opened fire at Silver Rail Elementary in Oregon Thursday, leaving a community shattered. Three children and a young teacher identified as 25-year-old Megan Lambert were killed all inside a special needs classroom.

The police chief says a hero father who heard the gunshots forced his way inside the school and then fired at the shooter multiple times. A fourth grader describes what it was like as the attack unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KALANI JOURNEIGH, 4TH GRADE STUDENT: That we might die. There's kind of a weird feeling and all of us were screaming and we were all like really scared.

(END VIDEO CLIP) WHITFIELD: CNN National Reporter Nick Watt is live for us in Bend, Oregon. Nick, what's the latest in the investigation?

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL REPORTER: Well, listen, as the police chief said last night, we all want to know the motive, but we may never know the motive. The shooter, of course, is dead. There was a search of his home. They took away some electronics, computers to try and understand what was going through his mind, what drove him to this heinous act shooting kids and teachers in the school behind me.

One focus, of course, will be the gun, this pump-action shotgun, this sort of beginner shotgun that was, we're told, bought by the shooter's mother. So, that will be a line of inquiry, like how did the kid get a hold of this gun? We're also hearing, as you mentioned, Fred, some more details about just how this went down.

So, first of all, a guy driving a pickup truck past the school noticed the shooter throwing the shotgun over and then climbing over the fence. He then called 911.

[13:35:00]

Then as you mentioned, there's this hero father guy who had two kids at the school, Kaylub Giamanco, he got his legally licensed pistol out of his glove box and followed the shooter in, engaged with him, shot him multiple times. Now, the other detail we're hearing is already, before Kaylub Giamanco got in there, one of the teachers had thrown her cell phone at the shooter and was grappling, was wrestling with him when Giamanco came in, shot the shooter multiple times, put him to the floor.

Now, the one thing we know also is that this maybe could have been worse. Now, the shooter got off 15 rounds. He had another 44 rounds in his pocket and in his backpack, this, according to police. But let's talk about the victims, two of the young victims. We have not been told their names. The families do not want to release them. But we do know Rome Sommer, who was just five years old. And also, as you mentioned, Megan Lambert, that 25-year-old teacher, local to Bend. This, say her family, was her first job. This was her dream job. Fred.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Also, tragic. And then, you know, you were talking about the mother of the 16-year-old who purchased the gun. Still unclear how it ended up in the hands of the 16-year-old. You did actually speak, however, with the mother, right? What did she tell you?

WATT: Yes, we did. Listen, she was sitting on the balcony of her apartment, smoking, crying, looking just, as you would expect, absolutely shell-shocked. She said, I miss my boy. He was a good boy. I'm sorry. You know, we asked if she had any message for the parents of the kids who were killed by her son. And she said, I wish I could have done something. I'm so sorry for them. So, I also asked, all right. How did he get the gun? And she wouldn't comment on that. As I say, that is going to be, as it is in so many of these school shootings, a focus. How did this 16-year-old get his hands on that weapon? Now, in Oregon, he is allowed to possess that gun. He can't buy it. He is allowed to possess it. But here's the other thing we know. This was the 36th school shooting, K-12, in this country so far this year. And there will be more, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Nick Watt, thank you so much.

WATT: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: Still to come, Texas has been deep red for decades. So, why are key midterm races suddenly looking more competitive? We break down what's shifting.

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[13:40:00]

WHITFIELD: All right. With control of the House and Senate up for grabs, Democrats are campaigning hard in key states where Trump won in 2024 in hopes of swaying voters to vote blue in the upcoming midterms. In Texas, a Grammy-winning Tejano star is trying to sway Latino voters in a border district Republicans currently hold.

And in Michigan, Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is trying to win a state that will be critical for control of the Senate. He just got a million-dollar campaign boost from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. We have reporters on the campaign trail in both states.

Let's start with Gloria Pazmino in Michigan, where Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed is about to hold a town hall event. What can you tell us about this race?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fred. You know, over the past few days, we've been crisscrossing the state of Michigan following Abdul El-Sayed as he campaigns. You know, we're coming down to the wire here before the general election.

And today, we are in Midland. And let me tell you a little bit about this county here in Michigan. It went for Trump back in 2024. He won the county by more than 50 percent of the vote. But these are the places where El-Sayed has been focusing on in the past few days.

In fact, we spent several days with him traveling to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, also very much Trump country, where he was reaching out to voters, holding town hall events, and getting some help from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was there to campaign with him. He's had large turnouts at these events. There are several people here today waiting for a chance to hear him speak. And we'll see what questions voters want to ask him.

But there's a line of people waiting to get into the door here. And I spoke to a couple of those voters just a short while ago. They told me that they are very concerned about the cost of health care. I spoke to a woman who told me that she is a health care biller and that part of her job is just to see how much medical debt people actually go into when their health insurance doesn't cover their health care needs, Medicare for all being the primary sort of cornerstone agenda item for Abdul El-Sayed. So, she is here to listen to him speak and also to support him.

I also spoke to another woman who told me that she is worried about the high cost of living. And some people that don't like that there have been moments throughout this race where things have gotten very negative between the Republican candidate, Mike Rogers, and El-Sayed, who is the Democratic nominee. So, a very closely watched race, likely a very close race.

The primary was very close. We'll see how El-Sayed does in just a few days. But we expect him to continue campaigning throughout the state. Like I said, we have been crisscrossing from the Upper Peninsula down to Detroit and now here in Midland County watching him speak to voters. Fred.

[13:45:00]

WHITFIELD: OK. And that town hall is minutes, hours away?

PAZMINO: That's right. He is expected to arrive here any minute now where he'll be taking questions from the crowd. And from here he's making a few more stops in the area.

WHITFIELD: All right. Let us know what's said. Gloria Pazmino, thank you so much. All right. Let's go to South Texas now. And Carolina Peguero is there. What can you tell us about this House race there in this border town of McAllen, Texas and the tone of things?

CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Fred. Definitely also another tight race here in District 15. I've been here for the past week talking to voters on both sides. Democrats and Republicans and also independents. Some are considering to shift their vote blue while I also spoke to those MAGA Trump supporters that are hoping to turn out like they did for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

I also attended several rallies. One of elected already Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz who was supported by the other Republican candidates running in other major districts here in southern Texas and also with Speaker Mike Johnson. They all say to the crowds, to the Trump voters to not listen to the polls.

While I attended last night a rally for the Mexican Tejano singer Bobby Pulido who had a big crowd, spoke to a lot of voters that are looking for change here in this border town and in the Rio Grande Valley as well as students that they're scared for the community, for young citizens because of the high diesel prices, school prices and business owners that are also worrying about keeping their workforce and sustaining their businesses. I spoke to both candidates and I want you to take a listen to what they said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MONICA DE LA CRUZ I (R-TX): Down here in south Texas, we are a common-sense community. We believe in south Texas that we can have a secure border and we can also have common sense immigration reform. As you know, enforcement, it is a directive that comes from the White House. Legislation comes from myself and others in Congress. That's why I have co-sponsored the most comprehensive bipartisan piece of legislation, the Dignity Act, that will help with the very complex immigration system.

BOBBY PULIDO, (D) CANDIDATE TEXAS 15TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Look, all these policies that they sold us on, they sold us on the idea that if you got rid of undocumented people, life would get better for everybody. It's not true. Immigration is economic, remember that. It's economic here. We need to fix this issue because people are being used as a political football, going from one extreme to the next, and we can't have that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEGUERO: It's something that is amongst all voters here, whether if you're Republican or Democrat, here in the border town of McAllen in the Valley is the border and immigration enforcement as well as the economy as well as just affordability in general.

And according to the latest polls from Texas Southern University, these three major races that are running in southern Texas, the Democrats have a lead overall and with 48 percent of the Latino vote, while both candidates are continuing to do stops, including Bobby Pulido has his last Quinceanera, what he has been campaigning on, and also his last concert of his career if he wins for Congress. Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. all so fascinating. Carolina Peguero, thank you so much for that.

So, it is hard to believe just 17 days until the midterm elections and traditionally red Texas appears to be in play with Republicans on the defense in a state that they have dominated for decades. The Senate race has garnered national attention as Democrats hope to break a 38- year losing streak for the seat and with control of the chamber at stake.

Let's discuss now with Jeremy Wallace. He is a politics reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Great to see you, Jeremy.

JEREMY WALLACE, POLITICS REPORTER, HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Well, great to be on, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, what is happening right now that makes these races look so competitive more than anybody has ever seen in years?

WALLACE: Well, it's been happening over the last six years, really. If you see our voter registrations have grown like crazy, particularly in really key blue areas. Think of Houston and Harris County and Bexar County and San Antonio. Those places have grown so much more than the rest of the state in terms of total registration of voters. And so, that has been shifting things quite a bit for Republicans.

[13:50:00] The playbook has really been thrown into the scrapper over these last six years for Republicans. Republicans used to be able to win Harris County and in Bexar County. They're not going to do it this time. Now, they're looking at these places.

I had one Republican tell me they'll be lucky to see if Ken Paxson didn't get 40 percent of the vote in Harris County, the biggest county in Texas that every Republican used to win. 40 percent, he's not even going to get that. That pretty much tells you why this race is so tight. He's going to lose big there and he's got to make that up somewhere else in the state. And I'm just not sure where he's going to go to find those votes.

WHITFIELD: Wow. That's fascinating. Population increasing, demographics have also changed, which is the kind of picture that you're painting. So, what are you hearing from voters as to what is driving their decisions?

WALLACE: Look, right now, a lot of it has to do with the economy. You know, as you heard down there in South Texas, I was down in South Texas for a part of the week too, and heard the same thing. People are saying, look, it's not just about the border. People, you know, look, we're happy that the border is secure now, but throughout Texas, everybody's like, look, the price of gas is outrageous for everybody, obviously.

But in Texas, you're going to understand more people, there are more diesel-powered pickup trucks than any other place in the country. That means we're getting hit harder in those rural communities that they're trying to get from the rural areas into the cities. They're paying a lot more money for gas, sometimes double to triple what they were paying just a couple of years ago. And I think that pressure is really what is driving a lot of the people I'm seeing, at least out there.

And you can see both Ken Paxson and James Talarico, their messages are all about trying to help people's pocketbook. That's what they're all focused on right now.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And so, when we zero in on those races, Ken Paxson, James Talarico, the governor's race between Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa, I mean, again, we're talking about gas, diesel, the economy overall, which, you know, kind of are the dividing lines. But are those candidates crafting anything particularly unique about their messaging to appeal to these voters who you say are all focused on those very things?

WALLACE: Yes. One of the biggest issues that I think is really looming over Republicans is the issue of data centers. You know, Texas has been one of the leaders in bringing data centers here. And it was just a year ago that Governor Greg Abbott and Ken Paxson and other Republicans were rolling out the red carpet for these, not knowing where we were going to be now, which is where like in those rural areas, which are traditionally Republican areas, people are upset.

You know, there's a lot of these have gone in really fast and really quick. And people feel powerless. And so, you see Gina Hinojosa particularly has run a lot of powerful ads about how Greg Abbott is to blame for this. Hold him responsible. I think that message cuts through in some of those rural parts of Texas where they just don't want this in their community.

WHITFIELD: Yes. I mean, it is just so shocking when you look at the polling. I mean, neck and neck races across Texas. Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle. Thank you so much. Really enjoyed your perspective.

WALLACE: Thank you. Appreciate it.

WHITFIELD: Still to come, Pope Leo getting back to work. Can you believe it? So, quickly after his lung surgery, we'll have a live report from Rome straight ahead.

And here's a live look at Kilauea in Hawaii's Volcano National Park. Yes, it is very active. A pretty extraordinary view right there. The USGS says the volcano's latest eruptive episode began early this morning with lava reaching up to 150 feet in the air. I mean, it's dangerous, but wow, what a spectacle. We'll be right back.

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WHITFIELD: As President Trump ramps up his midterm blitz to rally the Republican base, tonight on The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper, senior correspondent Donie O'Sullivan examines the cracks emerging in the MAGA movement. Some of the president's most loyal supporters have begun to question their allegiance on issues like the war in Iran, data centers, and the Epstein files. Donie has traveled the country to find out exactly what's driving former Trump diehards to break with him. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On a Saturday afternoon here in Maysville, Kentucky, a traveling anti-A.I. data center group made up of Tea Party activists pulled into town.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are responding to this huge data center overreach, what looks like an invasion across our country. This explosion.

O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): They're here because an A.I. company believed to be Meta is hoping to build a massive data center. Meta has not confirmed this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not all progress is good, all right?

O'SULLIVAN: President Trump recently, I think he said, you know, communities that don't want A.I. centers want to stay backward or something like that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did. I did hear that.

O'SULLIVAN: When you hear that, how did you feel?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said, well, I guess I'm going to be backwards and poor. But I also want to reiterate that not everything the president does do I agree with, but not everything my husband does do I agree with.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm Republican, but due to his stance, I feel he's going to cost the Republicans, the House and the Senate, maybe not big --

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