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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Melissa Now A Category 5 Hurricane As It Approaches Jamaica; U.S. Flight Delay Chaos Deepens As Shutdown Drags Into Fourth Week; Mamdani Rallies With Sanders And Ocasio-Cortez As Democrats Close Ranks Around NYC Mayoral Nominee; Arrests Made In Louvre Jewelry Heist By French Police; Biden In Boston To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award; Javier Milei's Party Wins Argentina Midterm Election. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired October 27, 2025 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[04:33:08]
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Jamaica is preparing for what could be the strongest ever hurricane to make landfall in the island nation. Hurricane Melissa is forecast to strengthen to a rare Category 5 storm before hitting Jamaica later today.
The U.S. National Weather Service warns damaging winds and heavy rainfall will cause catastrophic and life threatening flash flooding and landslides in the coming hours. It is the intensity and also the slow moving nature of this storm that is really adding to the uncertainty and concern for Jamaicans, many of whom have never experienced a hurricane of this magnitude. Here's more for the mayor of Kingston.
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ANDREW SWABY, KINGSTON, JAMAICA MAYOR: We have never had the experience of a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane. This is going to be huge. And I would say to persons who are lowland area, you know your area, you have seen what and I'm just encouraging you to find somewhere safe. You may not want to go to the shelter, find a family member or a friend and stay right at the storm there.
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HILL: CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam is in Kingston, Jamaica. He has a closer look now at what to expect in the coming hours and days.
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DEREK VAN DAM CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hurricane Melissa is strengthening once again. Conditions are really starting to deteriorate as expected here in Kingston, Jamaica. We're getting this kind of first taste of the gusty wind, some of the palm trees starting to sway back and forth and of course the heavy rain is just now beginning. And that is the concern about this hurricane, this slow moving catastrophe that will unfold in this island nation over the coming days.
This will be a long duration event that has the potential to drop months-worth of rain in a matter of a couple of days and that will most certainly lead to catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, mudslides.
[04:35:04]
On top of that, we have the potential, according to the National Hurricane Center, to experience hurricane force winds in excess of 24 hours. Imagine that a whole day of winds in excess of 70, 75 miles per hour, that is just so intense. It doesn't give any of the residents here any time to come out and assess the damage, assess the situation and try to recover. It is going to be this long duration rain and wind event and storm surge event that could isolate this island nation of 3 million people for several days with the National Hurricane Center warning of communities being isolated because of the heavy rain and flash flooding for days.
We need to rush to completion our protection of life and property. If you haven't already done so, these are the critical moments. What we're seeing is a slight westward jog in the projected forecast landfall point. So that would bring Kingston, where I'm located, into some of the worst rain, but perhaps spirit from the strongest of winds. Remember, you can hide from the wind, but you need to run from the water. CNN Meteorologist Derek Van Dam, Kingston, Jamaica.
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HILL: Well, we are now 27 days into the U.S. government shutdown, nearly a month of uncertainty for federal workers and the most pressing question for many is when they will see their next paycheck. There is also growing concern for the more than 40 million Americans who rely on food assistance, what's known as SNAP benefits, as funding for that vital government assistance program is in jeopardy.
The Trump administration now says it will not tap into billions of dollars in contingency funds to cover benefits next month if this shutdown continues. The USDA's website posting a message which reads in part will be no benefits issued November 1st.
Meantime, officials are also warning that flight delays and cancellations will only get worse the longer this continues. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says Americans should, quote, call the Democrats amid the frustration. More than 50 staffing shortages have been reported since Friday morning at air traffic control towers across the country. CNN's Rafael Romo has more on the problems facing the industry.
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RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What may explain in part the shortages of air traffic controllers this weekend is the fact that Friday marked first full paycheck missed by some federal workers since the government shutdown began. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier in an interview that
there were 22 notices of understaffing around the country on Saturday, adding that, quote, that's a sign that the controllers are wearing thin.
Also on Saturday, the tracking website FlightAware listed more than 5,400 flight delays nationwide, with the Dallas Fort Worth airport hit particularly hard since the shutdown began October 1st, there have been about 200 air traffic control staff shortages reported at FAA facilities, more than four times the number seen during the same period last year.
In an interview with Fox News, Secretary Duffy also said he's concerned airports around the country may see more staffing shortages during the upcoming week.
SEAN DUFFY, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: So what I see coming forward as we get to Monday, tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday, that you're going to see more staffing shortages in towers, which means you're going to see more delays, more cancellations, and then you see more Americans frustrated at Democrats and they'll say, open up the government. Enough is enough.
ROMO: How much of a concern is it for you as a traveler?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot. It's a big concern.
ROMO: You tell us why.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, because I'm thinking that if I weren't getting paid, I would be very angry and it would be very difficult for me to do my job. And that's a critical function. And I'm hoping that somebody is taking care of them. So I'm flying today on sheer faith.
ROMO: And Secretary Duffy also said that more air traffic controllers are calling in sick. He also expressed concern that some may need to resort to food banks after missing paychecks. We also have to consider that bad weather is affecting parts of the South. So that may also explain some of the delays we may see this weekend and over the week. Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.
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HILL: A record number of New Yorkers casting their ballots in the city's mayor's race in the first weekend of early voting. The city's Board of Elections says 164,000 people voted over the weekend. That's more than five times the number of people who voted early during that same period four years ago.
The highest turnout in Brooklyn and Manhattan, each one accounting for about 30 percent of early voters. Early voting runs through November 2nd. Election Day is November 4th. The race's front runner, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, addressed supporters in Queens on Sunday, joined by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders. Mamdani had words for one of his biggest critics, President Trump. [04:40:00]
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ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE: While Donald Trump's billionaire donors think that they have the money to buy this election. We have a movement of the masses.
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HILL: CNN's Gloria Pazmino was at that rally and has more from the event.
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GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zohran Mamdani just wrapping up his speech here tonight alongside Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, encouraging his supporters to go out there and continue to campaign. He told them here tonight that they should not take any of this for granted.
He said he expects his opponents to continue spending millions of dollars over the next nine days to oppose his campaign. He asked him to continue to go out and canvas for his campaign over the next few days until Election Day.
Now, he also spoke about his campaign promises to freeze the rent, to make the city buses fast and free, and to provide universal childcare. He talked about how that has been the core tenet of his campaign and how he is hoping that support he has been able to get so far will enable him to deliver on that promise.
He also talked about President Trump. He said that this election is a choice between democracy and oligarchy. Oligarchy, a reference to the former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his millionaire and billionaire donors which have been funding his campaign and donating to super PACs that are opposing Mamdani's campaign.
He talked about how this campaign was about working class people echoing many of the same messages that we have heard from Bernie Sanders, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. You could really feel in the reaction of the crowd and in what they were saying, this fight that the Democratic Party is having right now, whether or not they should talk more to the left or more to the center as they try and figure out how to oppose President Trump.
Another interesting point that Mamdani said here tonight. He said that when he started this campaign, he went out and talked to voters who had supported Donald Trump for a second time because of the cost of living. He said that heard from New Yorkers who were willing to support Trump over that issue. And he said that Trump so far has failed to deliver and that's the uniting message of this campaign, he said here tonight.
There is still a few more days to go until the general election, which is on November 4th. Thousands of New Yorkers have already cast their ballots. Mamdani telling me earlier today he is not taking any of this for granted. He will continue to campaign until the last minute. Gloria Pazmino, CNN, New York.
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HILL: French police now have two suspects in custody who they say are linked to last weekend's crown jewel heist at the Louvre museum. According to local media reporting one man was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport while trying to leave the country. Here's CNN's Melissa Bell with the latest from Paris.
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MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A breakthrough in the case around the heist at the Louvre museum last Sunday morning. Two arrests were made on Saturday night in France according to the Paris prosecutor's office, including of one man who had been preparing to leave France at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
100 investigators have been working on this since the break in at the world's most visited museum last Sunday morning. And the fear had been that the suspects might have left the country. In the end, it was here that they found these two. According to French press reports, the man preparing to leave the country had been trying to get to Algeria. They are say French media reports two men in their 30s.
The prosecutor's office is not giving much more away and the interior minister is urging caution as they continue to build their case. But clearly very good news for the BRB, the French unit of police that has been looking into this case and under a great deal of pressure to come up with some results.
For now, we understand that there isn't much word on where the jewels might be, but certainly the fact that two men have been taken into custody. Good news after a week of desperate searches for some information that might lead them to some conclusions in what's been described here in France as the break in of the century. Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
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HILL: One person is dead, six others injured following a shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. The gunfire broke out on Saturday night during homecoming celebrations at historically Black College near Philadelphia. Authorities are still piecing together what happened here, but say it does not appear to be a planned campus attack.
There is a suspect in custody on a weapons charge. Investigators still trying to determine, though, what led to the shooting.
[04:45:00]
Still ahead here, a war of words between the governor of California and podcasting heavyweight Joe Rogan. A closer look at the rift and why it's making waves online. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:50:00]
HILL: Former President Joe Biden receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston. Biden, of course, served as a U.S. senator for Delaware from 1973 through 2009, after which he became vice president through 2017, then, of course, was elected president in 2020. Mr. Biden received the award as part of the institute's 10th anniversary celebration and used that occasion to sound this warning.
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JOE BIDEN, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Teddy believed in the power of our democracy to pull our nation through the worst of moments. And folks, we can't kid ourselves. We are in one of those moments right now. In my over 50 years of elected public life, this is the worst I've seen it. If Ted were here today, he'd still be fighting like hell, but his optimism would be surely tested because, truth be told, our very democracy is at stake, in my view.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: California Governor Gavin Newsom, meantime, one of President Trump's fiercest critics, is now embroiled in yet another very public feud, this time with one of the world's most popular podcasters, Joe Rogan. The two are criticizing and challenging one another. CNN's Elex Michaelson explains the rift.
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GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D) CALIFORNIA: Well, you start with Joe Rogan. I'm going to start cursing.
JOE ROGAN, PODCASTER AND COMEDIAN: He wants to be president so bad.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The governor of the most populous state and the host of one of the most popular podcasts are feuding.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Gavin Newsom.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): California Governor Gavin Newsom, who hosts his own podcast, has invited Joe Rogan onto his show and publicly asked to be invited onto Rogan show.
NEWSOM: Joe, why won't you have me on the show? He won't have me on. It's one way. And he has guests coming and attacking and bashing, but he will not have me on the show, period. Full stop. He should have me on the show. Come on my show, Joe.
ROGAN: I think I'll probably vote for Bernie.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Rogan expressing support for Bernie Sanders presidential run in 2020. ROGAN: It's stand up. It's funny stuff.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): And backed President Trump in 2024. He's criticized some of his policies in recent months.
NEWSOM: What we're experiencing is America in reverse.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): But Rogan doesn't seem impressed by a potential Newsom presidential run in 2028.
ROGAN: You can't ruin a city and then go on to ruin a state and say, guys, that was just practice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know.
ROGAN: Once I get it as a president, I'm going to fix it. I fix it all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, it's so crazy, but he's such a great politician. I mean, he's so smooth. You think so?
ROGAN: No, no, I think he's terrible.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Rogan attacking Newsom's job performance in California.
ROGAN: You have the highest unemployment, you have the highest homelessness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're playing with Hollywood's.
ROGAN: What is missing? You killed Hollywood. Like Hollywood doesn't exist anymore. It's literally gone.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Newsom responding to Rogan on X, posting, California is the fourth largest economy in the world, but number one in manufacturing, farming, new business starts, tech and VC investments, Fortune 500 companies, public higher education. I could invite me on anytime, Joe Rogan.
ROGAN: It was all that before you were there. It was all that forever. It's because the weather's perfect, man. It has nothing to do with you.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Newsom's team posting this photo on X, writing that quote, little Joe is snack size because he can't handle full size debates.
NEWSOM: I'm not afraid to go. I'm punching Joe Rogan, OK? That son of bitch not used to that. And he's going to dismiss it. He's going to laugh it off. I mean, you know, tough guy, all that, but. But he's going to have me on.
Here's a guy who celebrated by dynamics just this week.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Newsom debated Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Fox News in 2023.
NEWSOM: You are making a damn dent.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): And hosted conservative guests like Charlie Kirk on his own podcast.
NEWSOM: I'm debating these sons of bitches. I'm out there on these right wing shows, so I'm not scared to do that. Where the hell is the Democratic Party? Where's our equivalent of Turning Point USA?
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Newsom's team doubled down, repeating the stack size. Slap on X. Joe Rogan is a snack sized podcaster who can't stop talking about me. Obsessed. Crush? No, thank you. But is too scared to have me on and let his audience hear the truth/
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's talking some shit on Twitter.
ROGAN: I know. It's like, you think that's going to work? Like, that's so stupid. Like, this is such a bad look.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROGAN: It's such a bad choice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a little desperation in it.
ROGAN: But it's just stupid. It's like, this is a bad strategy. Like, I probably would have had him on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROGAN: But now I'm like, what are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a fun version where you just do it and cook them. You know.
ROGAN: He'll cook himself.
MICHAELSON: Governor Newsom has been very clear that Democrats need to attract young male voters. And he thinks podcasts is a big way to do that. And nobody does that more than Joe Rogan. During his interview with then candidate Trump last year, he got 60 million views on YouTube alone. Elex Michelson, CNN, Los Angeles.
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HILL: And an important programming note for you. Elex Michelson's new show, "The Story Is" launches today right here on CNN. You can catch the premiere at 9:00 p.m., LA time. That's 5:00 a.m. Tuesday in London, noon in Hong Kong. His first guest will be the man you just heard so much about. So much from rather and about California Governor Gavin Newsom.
[04:55:04]
Argentina's President Javier Milei vowing to push ahead with what he calls necessary reforms after his party claimed a significant victory in Argentina's nationwide midterm election on Sunday, winning nearly 41 percent of the vote. The main opposition party receiving 24 and a half percent.
It gives the President's party 64 seats in the lower house of the National Congress, 31 for the opposition. U.S. President Donald Trump had made clear that his support was there for the Milei government. The election was also seen as a de facto referendum on the Argentine president's policies.
Thanks so much for joining us for this hour of CNN's Early Start. I'm Erica Hill in New York. I will see you on the other side of this break at the top of the hour. Stay with us.
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