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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Senate Votes To End Shutdown; Shutdown Air Travel Nightmare; SNAP Benefits Hang In The Balance; White House Hosts Syrian President For First Time; At Least 10 Killed In Car Blast Near Delhi Metro Station. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired November 11, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:24]

BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. I'm Brian Abel. Thank you so much for being with us. It is Tuesday, November 11th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington, D.C.

And straight ahead on EARLY START.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The longest government shutdown in history, now set to end, after the United States Senate approved a bill to reopen the federal government.

SEN. ANDY KIM (D-NJ): What just happened in the Senate chamber was an absolute disgrace.

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: The Trump administration is ramping up its mandate for airlines to preemptively cancel flights.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm exhausted, I am tired, I am mad. I had to call the customer service. They couldn't give me anything.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Millions of Americans remain in limbo, uncertain if or when their SNAP payments or food stamps will arrive.

GOV. MAURA HEALEY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: The president may have made a choice to starve Americans, but I'm not going to let that happen here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

ABEL: We begin here in Washington, where the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is a step closer to ending. Eight members of the Democratic Caucus joined Republicans in approving a bill to fund the government, but Democrats did not get their key demand. An extension of government subsidies for people who get their health insurance through Obamacare. Instead, Republican senators promised a vote on health care reform sometime next month. The bill now goes to the House, where a vote is expected Wednesday. President Trump has indicated he supports the bill and wants the

government to reopen. But here's what lawmakers are saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JACK REED (D-RI): We made it clear that this not just the health care issue, but the whole issue. I think it was remarkable when the president tried to use SNAP as the punishment to force us to capitulate. I mean, you are literally taking food away from children while you're feasting at Mar-a-Lago. That is not the image that I think that will sustain the president.

SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI): I realize Democrats are doing everything they can to blame Republicans for their failed health care system. We need Democrats to stop denying reality and work with us in good faith to fix this horribly broken system.

SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): The cost of health care is entirely on the lap of the Democrats. This is Obamacare we're living under.

I'm quite willing to talk to my fellow Democrats because I want something that passes. I want something that actually lowers the cost of having health coverage for the average American family.

(END VIDOE CLIP)

ABEL: You saw him working hard there in all those sound bites. Here's more from CNN's chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju on Capitol Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The longest government shutdown in history now set to end this after the United States senate by the narrowest of margins, approved a bill to reopen the federal government. It would reopen a large part of the federal government through January 30th of next year. Other federal agencies would be open until September 30th of next year, and Democrats and ultimately had to give in to their chief demand that led to the government shutdown. That was to extend subsidies expiring under the Affordable Care Act that people use to pay down their health insurance. Democrats have said that must be dealt with immediately because of the health care crisis in this country. People seeing their premiums skyrocket. And they said that millions of Americans would be hurt unless Democrats got language in the funding bill dealing with this issue.

That did not happen. What they did get was a commitment for a vote in December in the United States senate on a health care bill that has not yet been drafted. The catch, though, is that bill has virtually no chance of becoming law. And that's what's causing so much anger on the left flank of the party, including Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey, who told me as he was leaving the vote, he was more frustrated than he has been in years.

RAJU: What is your level of frustration now, seeing this bill pass without any real assurance that the health care subsidies will be extended?

SEN. ANDY KIM (D-NJ): Well, look what just happened in the senate chamber was an absolute disgrace. I just -- I can't stress it enough. Just -- it was very profoundly disturbing to be there in that chamber where, you know, Senator McCain famously was able to stop the Republicans from gutting the Affordable Care Act. That's what got me to step up the run for congress. Like I literally ran for Congress in 2018 to protect our health care, to protect the Affordable Care Act.

[05:05:00]

And I just -- I'm really gutted right now.

RAJU: And do you think the Democrats who backed this, they made a bad mistake?

KIM: Well, look, I would just say I certainly have a deep and profound disagreement on a lot of this, but shame on the Republicans for turning their backs on so many people and putting us in this place as a country where we have to see millions of Americans wondering whether or not they're going to be to afford health care.

We're the richest, most powerful country in the world. We should never have to put people in this kind of place.

RAJU: Now, this bill passed 60 to 40. Eight Democratic senators voted to supply those critical votes. Remember, in the United States Senate, you need 60 votes to advance legislation because legislation less than 60 votes can be blocked through a filibuster in the senate. That's what Democrats have done, 14 times prior to the passage of this piece of legislation. But the eight Democratic senators, some of them who are retiring, some of them more moderate senators, some of them who had -- simply had -- were fed up with the government shutdown, said this is the best deal they could get. They are pointing to the fact that food stamps will now be funded through September of next year. They're pointing to the fact that they got provisions in the bill to deal with, to reinstate federal workers who were fired by the Trump administration during the shutdown, and they say that they fought as hard as they could on health care.

And it was Donald Trump's refusal to agree to any extension of health care subsidies that there was really no point in dragging this on and seeing Americans suffer in so many different ways without any real sense that a health care bill could eventually become law with this president. They believe they're winning politically on this issue, and that will be an issue for voters in next year's midterms.

But still, there is so much frustration at the rank directed at those eight members and even at Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader who actually opposed this bill and voted no on it, but nevertheless shows you how much anger there is within the ranks over this deal, which now has passed the United States Senate and will pass the United States House by Wednesday and then move over to President Trump's desk.

Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: The Senate vote to end the shutdown doesn't bring immediate relief for tens of millions of hungry Americans whose food stamps are cut off.

On Monday, the Trump administration continued its fight to keep from paying SNAP benefits during the shutdown, arguing before the Supreme Court that complying with last week's federal court order to fund the program would jeopardize shutdown negotiations.

Meanwhile, another federal judge lambasted the White House for sending what she called threatening letters to states, which began processing SNAP benefits amid the chaos, some Democratic governors say they will not let their constituents starve.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. MAURA HEALEY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: My message to every SNAP recipient out there is this forget the noise that you're hearing from Donald Trump. Forget the noise about further appeals to the Supreme Court. I want you to know, because of the actions that we took, your SNAP benefits have been restored to your cards. Go out and buy the food that you need to feed your family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Meanwhile, U.S. air travel remains a mess right now because of the shutdown. Massive delays were reported across the U.S. on Monday. Some of the highest were in Chicago, where arrival delays averaged about five hours. And that's with just a 4 percent reduction in services. The FAA is mandating that number go up to 6 percent today at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports and even higher later this week. It likely means more delays for travelers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The uncertainty of like, not having any control, no matter how organized you are, because you might get there and its just not available to you is a little scary, especially when you have a whole life that you have to get home to.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm exhausted, I am tired, I am mad, I had to call the customer service. They couldn't give me anything. Yeah, I'm tired. I just want to sleep. It's been. No, it's not okay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: We are following developments on a deadly blast outside a courthouse in Islamabad, Pakistan. At least 12 people have been killed and more than a dozen injured, according to hospital officials. A source tells CNN the explosion is being investigated as a potential suicide attack. No one has claimed responsibility for this attack yet. It comes less than a day after a military college was attacked in northwest Pakistan. A powerful arctic blast is slamming much of the U.S., bringing

dangerous lake effect snow to the great lakes and record-breaking cold across the east. More than a foot of snow has buried parts of my home state of Michigan, Indiana and the Chicago area, knocking out power and snarling traffic.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In neighborhoods that wasn't plowed too well, but I saw the guys. They hit like six deep, eight deep. They're all going down the roads trying to get everything done. You know, doing the best they can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:10:02]

ABEL: And that same polar air is pushing deep into the South with freeze warnings stretching down to Florida and record lows expected Tuesday morning.

Forecasters say the deep freeze will peak on Tuesday but will be short lived, with temperatures due to rise by midweek.

The president of Syria is now the country's first head of state to ever visit the White House. Monday's meeting with President Trump comes as Ahmed al-Sharaa looks to reverse his country's isolation on the world stage.

CNN's Alayna Treene has the latest on this historic visit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: In what was, frankly a remarkable moment on Monday, President Donald Trump welcomed Syria's President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to the White House, and this was the first time that a Syrian Head of State had ever visited the White House in history.

Now, it comes after al-Sharaa had previously led an al-Qaeda backed rebel group to oust and overthrow the Assad regime, which had ruled for nearly half a century. He then appointed himself president in January.

And President Donald Trump had some kind words and complimentary words, really, for the Syrian president following their meeting. Listen.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's a very strong leader. He comes from a very tough place, and he's tough guy. I like him. I get along with him, the president, the new president in Syria, and we'll do everything we can to make Syria is successful, because that's part of the Middle East.

TREENE: Now, the president used similar rhetoric when talking about the Syrian president during their first meeting. They actually met back in May when President Donald Trump was in the Middle East. They had tea while they were in Saudi Arabia.

And look, this is quite remarkable, and also a once unthinkable meeting, because previously, Al-Sharaa had been associated with al- Qaeda, but he also had a $10 million bounty on his head as a jihadist.

And so, a very big moment in time for these two leaders, and for the Trump administration's part, they really seek Syria and ensuring that they have more economic stability moving forward, as a key part of their plans for a longer-term Middle East peace deal, whereas Syria was really looking for a couple of things.

One, the easing of more sanctions. We should note that the president had previously lifted changes sanctions on Syria, but they decided to lift those sanctions for another 180 days.

But also, Syria wanted to show essentially, that they are reversing that position of Syria's previous isolationism. And I think Monday's visit to the White House, of course, accomplishment -- accomplishes that goal.

And so, as we look forward, we'll have to see what this relationship could look like and whether the easing of more sanctions, something Syria desperately wants, is still on the table.

Alayna Treene, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: The Syrian president's visit is not sitting well with some members of the Republican Party. For example, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posting a tweet with a wanted poster of al-Sharaa directly calling him a terrorist. She also called on President Trump to focus on domestic, not foreign, policy.

When asked by CNN about Greene's criticism, President Trump suggested she had lost her way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I don't know what happened to Marjorie. She's a nice woman, but I don't know what happened. She's lost her way, I think. But when somebody like Marjorie goes over and starts making statements like that, it shows she doesn't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Greene later responded to the president's remarks, saying, quote, I haven't lost my way. I 100 percent America first and only.

Coming up, India is on high alert after a deadly car explosion near a popular landmark, and government officials are starting to suggest this was a deliberate act.

Plus, after 20 days behind bars, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison. When we come back, the latest on Sarkozy's attempt to appeal his criminal conspiracy conviction. Plus, why President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to throw out the

jury's finding in the E. Jean Carroll lawsuit.

You're watching EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:18:28]

ABEL: At least 10 people are dead and dozens more badly injured after a car explosion in Delhi, India. It happened Monday near a metro station at the historic Red Fort monument. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, but some top-ranking officials are suggesting it was a deliberate act.

CNN's Mike Valerio is following all of this live from Beijing.

Mike, what's the latest?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, among those top officials, Brian would be India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who even though there is no single person or single group that has been singled out for this attack, Narendra Modi is saying that this was a deliberate act. Saying in part earlier today in neighboring Bhutan, quote, our agencies will get to the bottom of this conspiracy, calls it a conspiracy, going on to say none of the conspirators will be spared and all those responsible will be brought to justice.

The initial images that you're seeing there in our report were taken by an eyewitness who turned his camera into selfie mode. Just harrowing images there. One of the epicenters of Delhi.

We also heard from some man who was stuck in a traffic jam when this explosion happened. Listen to how he described those moments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): At around 6:55 p.m., vehicles were moving slowly in the traffic jam, and suddenly, a big blast happened and my car window blasted and fell on another vehicle. I was thrown away with the impact and my seatbelt was also damaged. Now I have pain in my back. I don't know how the blast happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:20:03]

VALERIO: Similar descriptions of the sheer force of that explosion. So, this case is being investigated, Brian, under an anti-terrorism law. North Delhi's deputy commissioner of police revealing that fact to CNN. And also, we heard from a physician who works at nearby Lok Nayak Hospital. Around 30 people badly injured from the effects of that blast. And he said that many people are, quote, not in a position of recovering.

So, we're watching to see if the death toll -- heaven forbid not -- but we're watching to see if it does take a turn for the worse and increase even more. It was a slow-moving vehicle stopped near a red light around 6:42 p.m., and then the explosion. Six vehicles also torched in that blast, three auto rickshaws set on fire.

Now the effects of this, Brian, important to keep in mind, not confined to just one city, but really spread to the entire country. Nearly the entire country, I should say of 1.4 billion people. According to an official with India's central industrial security force, a heightened posture of alert certainly maintained among airports, railway stations, government buildings and heritage sites across the country.

So again, in some wrapping up here, even though no single person or group has been implicated for being responsible for this attack. India's defense minister also said today the results of their investigation will be will be revealed soon, will be made public soon. So, we should be getting more details as to what investigators know as they uncover more details, Brian.

ABEL: With some serious security implications based on that investigation.

Mike Valerio for us in Beijing. Mike, thank you.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been released from prison pending his appeal trial. Sarkozy was convicted in September of criminal conspiracy related to the financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. Sarkozy insists he's innocent and still faces restrictions on his travel and who he can contact.

CNN's Melissa Bell has the latest from Paris.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONENT: The former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, is back at home after serving 20 days in a Parisian jail, the very first time a former French leader had served time behind bars since the end of World War II. It was just a few weeks ago this autumn that Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of conspiring to fund his 2007 election run, with money taken from the Libya of Moammar Gadhafi. He had been sent almost immediately to jail.

He's now been released pending an appeal to that ruling. So, he'll be able to wait out that time at home.

He described his time in jail to a French court on Monday as grueling. What we understand from French press reports is that Nicolas Sarkozy only ate yogurts for the 20 days he served behind bars, for fear that other inmates might have spat on his food. We expect the appeal to that conviction to come sometime in the spring, possibly in March.

Nicolas Sarkozy will be at home and still facing certain conditions, including the fact that he's not allowed to leave France during that period. He's also not allowed to contact any of the other witnesses involved in the case surrounding that 2007 campaign financing. He's also not allowed to contact France's current justice minister, Gerald Darmanin, who visited him back in October.

So, a certain number of conditions on his being allowed to serve that time, pending the appeal back in his own home.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: Still ahead, President Trump issues dozens of new pardons, including some to allies accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election. We'll tell you who's on the list.

Plus, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend and accomplice in that brutal sex trafficking ring is getting special treatment in federal prison. That's according to a whistleblower with details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:28:31]

ABEL: President Trump has pardoned a long list of allies who either supported or had some kind of role in the plans to overturn the 2020 election, which he continues to falsely claim was rigged against him. They include his former attorneys, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and dozens more. Those pardons, though, only apply to federal charges, not state charges, which many on that list still face.

The White House says, quote, "These great Americans were persecuted and put through hell by the Biden administration for challenging an election, which is the cornerstone of democracy."

A top-ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee says Ghislaine Maxwell is getting preferential treatment in prison. Maxwell was convicted of carrying out a sex trafficking ring with Jeffrey Epstein.

M.J. Lee brings us the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

M.J. LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is hoping to reverse her fortunes with help from President Donald Trump.

REPORTER: Would you consider a pardon or a commutation for Ghislaine Maxwell if --

TRUMP: It's something I haven't thought about. It's really something. It's something -- I'm allowed to do it.

LEE (voice-over): Trump, when asked, has repeatedly not ruled out the possibility of leniency for the late Jeffrey Epstein's notorious right-hand woman. According to a whistleblower who is making new allegations. Maxwell is currently working on filing an application for a commutation.

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): She's basically being treated like an honored guest at a Trump Hotel rather than a federal prisoner.

LEE: Congressman Jamie Raskin, the House Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, says the whistleblower also claims that.