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One World with Zain Asher
New York City Voters Choosing Their Next Mayor; Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney Dies At 84; Outspoken Anti-Crime Mayor Carlos Manzo Assassinated; Day 35: Shutdown Ties With Longest In American History. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired November 04, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:48]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. government has been shut down for 35 days and talks are finally starting to pick up. So, who will blink first?
The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY BLACK, CHAPLAIN OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE: Today inspire our lawmakers to unite in putting out the fire of this government shutdown that
has already burned far more than anticipated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Sources tell us that good news could be on the way. We're live in Washington.
Plus, the polls are open. Which party has the momentum in key races across the country?
Also ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wolf -- Wolf, I simply don't accept the premise of your question. I just think it's
hogwash.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Regardless of politics, few can deny that the man was a force. We remember Dick Cheney with CNN legend and my colleague, Wolf Blitzer.
And later, introducing Sir David Beckham. Why the football star is receiving one of Britain's highest honors.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is on assignment. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
The U.S. is now just hours away from setting an infamous record that neither the White House or either political party wants to own. The
government shutdown now in its 35th day is on track to become the longest in American history come Tuesday night.
And while some lawmakers insist that real momentum is building for a deal, the Senate is now voting on a funding bill for the 14th time that is
expected to fail.
Speaker Mike Johnson is still refusing to call the House back into session, and top congressional leaders are getting in front of the cameras, but not
talking to each other.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): Over the past 34 days of the shutdown, the Republicans have been the only ones working in good faith to end the
shutdown and get everyone paid and get the services flowing again. And we have voted that way 14 times. That's on one side of the screen. On the
other is the Democrats.
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): We will sit down with any Republican who is prepared and good faith to find a bipartisan path forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: And it's all happening as many anxious Americans are either working without a paycheck or going without critical food aid needed to
survive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rather than myself having like a full plate of food, along with my kids, I'm making sure that they have a full plate of food and
their bellies are full. And I may have either less or I may not eat what they are eating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The government shutdown and hardships on a lot of families. We just got to do what we have to do to make sure we have what we
need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meantime, even after two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to restore at least partial SNAP benefits, the president is
now saying he won't do it until the shutdown is resolved, leaving tens of millions of the most vulnerable Americans without a basic form of survival.
This is also Election Day in America, not for Congress or president, but for a slew of important state and local offices. And even though Donald
Trump is not on the ballot, political analysts say it will be a key test of how voters feel about the first nine months of a second term.
One of the most eagerly watched races is for Mayor of New York. Polls show Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani with a solid lead over former Governor
Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Donald Trump has repeatedly called on New Yorkers to reject Mamdani's progressive ideas and even took the radical step of endorsing a Democrat
Andrew Cuomo in the hope of stopping Mamdani.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC MAYOR CANDIDATE: We are on the brink of making history in our city. On the brink of saying goodbye to a politics of
the past, a politics that tells you what it can't do and really what it means to say is what it won't do. And to usher in a new era in this city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: With more on both the shutdown and Election Day across the U.S., we welcome CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House and Omar Jimenez in
Queens, New York. Omar, I'll come to you in just a second.
[12:05:08]
But, Alayna, the president is keeping a close eye on this race here specifically in New York City, his hometown. And he is weighed in, not only
on social media, but by that, I don't know if we should describe it as surprising, endorsement last night of Andrew Cuomo.
What are you hearing from the White House? What specifically is the president saying now?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: I mean, Bianna, if we went back in time to five years ago, and I were to have this exact same conversation
with you that essentially President Donald Trump had endorsed Andrew Cuomo for mayor of New York, but really for any other position, you wouldn't
believe me.
I'd remind you that Cuomo used to be one of his biggest foils during the coronavirus pandemic, but clearly, we are in a very different time.
And what's so fascinating about this post from the president yesterday was that not only is he saying, you know, vote for Andrew Cuomo and
independent, but who was previously we should note he was running as a Democrat, but lost that democratic primary to mom Donnie, which is why he
had a run as an independent.
But he -- there's still also a Republican in the race. And this is what the president said. He essentially said that he believed New Yorkers should go
out and vote for Cuomo. He said, whether you personally like him or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him and hope he does a
fantastic job.
But one of what was even more interesting about this is what he said about Sliwa and some of his posts and regarding the race today. He said that
essentially, you know, he was criticizing Sliwa, the Republican's beret that he wears, but he said if they vote for Curtis Sliwa in this race,
voters, that it is essentially a vote for Zohran Mamdani.
Look, I think in many people, I think, you know, have been making this point as well that in some ways, this is a gift for Mamdani. Part of the
campaign and what he's been saying for weeks now is that essentially, President Donald Trump wanted Cuomo to win.
And last night, that's kind of what the president said by telling people to go and vote for him. So this is very fascinating.
And some other quick things to note as well about this. The president has said previously, and he reiterated this in the last couple of days, that if
Mamdani does win, that he could potentially withhold funding from New York City over this. We'll see if that's actually something that happens.
And we'll have to see what the relationship looks like. And one other key part of this, to all of this, which is just, you know, so political when
we're talking about this race as it relates to the president's point of view, is that there are Republicans as well, making that kind of argument
that perhaps if Mamdani wins, it does look like, you know, he's up in the polls, he's currently leading both of his challengers, that it could
potentially be good for Republicans to have someone like Mamdani as the key foil for the Democratic Party, because what Mamdani is doing, he is
energizing Democrats in a way that really, the Democratic Party and people who are in it currently, lawmakers, have not been able to do. They haven't
been able to distill a message and energize people the way that Mamdani has.
And a lot of Republicans are hoping maybe that means they can use him as a foil for next year's midterms, all to say the president has weighed in and
he is very, you know, notably going and saying vote for Andrew Cuomo, the independent in this race, and not Sliwa. So there you have it.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And the president, I believe over the weekend, when asked about Mamdani, said that he would rather vote for a bad Democrat than as he
describes Mamdani, a communist.
And as you noted, Republicans are trying to paint Mamdani as the direction and future --
TREENE: Right.
GOLODRYGA: -- the Democratic Party is headed in.
I do now want to go to Omar Jimenez, who is talking to a lot of voters. Omar, you heard from Alayna about how the president and Republicans are
trying to portray this election. What are you hearing from voters themselves as they're going in to the voting booths and casting their
ballots?
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We're just getting a chance to talk to some folks. One man I just spoke to off camera here a moment ago said
that he voted for Andrew Cuomo, but then the rest of the ballot was for Republicans because he did not want Mamdani in office.
So that will be a really interesting dynamic to watch as this day unfolds because polls to this point have shown Mamdani with a sizable lead. But
many critics of Andrew Cuomo telling him to drop -- or Sliwa, excuse me, Curtis Sliwa to drop out. Many of those calls were because they believe
that Andrew Cuomo would pick up some of the votes for Sliwa.
We have not seen any dropout to this point. So that dynamic will be incredibly key. Just to give you an idea of where we are, we are in Queens,
New York, one of the five boroughs here in the city. We've been monitoring the vote as it's come in little by little over the course of the day.
Pretty calm at the moment right now.
But what we have seen at another site completely packed and this comes on the tail end of what has been incredibly increased voter enthusiasm that we
saw over the course of early voting. More than four times, just about four times the amount of early votes that we saw over this period as opposed to
the same period in 2021, Bianna, so something we will be watching to see if that enthusiasm carries over to Election Day as well.
[12:10:19]
GOLODRYGA: Yes. Good weather as well, bringing out a lot of voters too. Omar Jimenez, Alayna Treene, our thanks to you.
And do stick with CNN for complete coverage of today's elections across the United States starting in about five hours' time.
Well, Dick Cheney has seen several -- has seen Washington at several different levels, serving four Republican presidents, as well as becoming a
powerful Republican in Congress. And then finally becoming one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history.
He passed away Monday at the age of 84. At this hour, flags at the White House are at half-staff in his memory.
In a statement, his family says he died from complications related to pneumonia, as well as cardiac and vascular disease. Here is how he's being
remembered.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE CHILL, REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: He was a politician. He was a bare-knuckled politician. So he had that kind of reputation. Not like
that's a bad thing.
STEVE WATERS, REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER: I think he was a patriot. I think he loved this country. I think he was a -- a stalwart Republican. And
he'll -- he'll be missed.
JAMES DAVIS, VIRGINIA VOTER: Well, first off, personally, I remember him for one of the greatest things I think he ever did, was shooting a lawyer
in the face and then getting the lawyer to take the blame. That's amazing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Well, Wolf Blitzer takes a look back at Dick Cheney's life in and out of politics.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Gradually, I realized that the person who was best qualified to be my vice presidential nominee was
working by my side.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): For most of his adult life, Richard Bruce Cheney was the ultimate Washington insider.
DICK CHENEY, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: That I will well and faithfully discharge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The duties of the office on which I am about to enter.
CHENEY: The duties of the office on which I'm about to enter.
BLITZER (voice-over): Named as George Bush's running mate in 2000, Dick Cheney quickly forged a public identity as a no nonsense disciplined
gatekeeper, a powerful politician to whom and through whom access and influence flowed.
But his appearance at the very highest levels of government was by no means his first time in the national spotlight.
He began his public service career in the Nixon administration, working in several White House jobs dealing with the economy.
After President Nixon resigned because of Watergate, Cheney worked for the new president, Gerald Ford, eventually becoming his chief of staff. When
that 29-month presidency ended, Cheney returned to the land he loved, to his home in Wyoming, but it was a very short stay.
Elected as a state's only member of the House of Representatives, Cheney returned to the Capitol and served for a decade in Congress. He was in the
Republican leadership hierarchy when the first President Bush chose him to be his secretary of defense.
CHENEY: Faithfully discharged the duties of the office.
BLITZER (voice-over): In charge of the Pentagon, Cheney was almost instantly engaged in two of the American military's largest and most
complicated operations since the end of the Vietnam War.
First, he led the removal of Panama's Manuel Noriega from power, and then Operation Desert Storm. The American and allied response after the invasion
of Kuwait by Saddam Hussein.
CHENEY: We have, in effect, destroyed most of the Iraqi army. We have taken out most of the infrastructure. The lights are out in Baghdad.
BLITZER (voice-over): His experience and steadfastness were of critical importance, and those traits were not unnoticed. Out of government for the
first time in years during the Clinton administration, Cheney became head of the giant oil services company, Halliburton. It was a job that kept him
steeped in defense and foreign policy, and a role that later became a lightning rod for his critics.
By the time his old boss' son secured the Republican presidential nomination, Cheney's health was a major concern, three mild heart attacks
and a quadruple bypass before he was 50. Doctors gave him a green light. But shortly after the 2000 election, he suffered another mild heart attack.
CHENEY: I've got a doctor that follows me around 24 hours a day. That comes with a job as a vice president.
BLITZER (voice-over): Cheney quickly became a target for Bush administration critics, especially for convening oil and energy industry
representatives to a White House meeting and then declining to make public any contents of the sessions.
And later, after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, he became at times invisible to the public. Only a few people knew where he was for much of
the time.
But behind the scenes, Cheney was a driving force behind some of the biggest controversies of the Bush administration, including the second war
against Saddam Hussein's Iraq.
[12:15:01]
In 2007, I asked him about mistakes made and concerns among some Republicans that the war had damaged the Bush administration's credibility.
CHENEY: Wolf, I simply don't accept the premise of your question. I just think it's hogwash.
BLITZER (voice-over): Cheney's health problems returned after he left office for a time drastically altering his appearance. Another heart attack
in 2010 prompted doctors to implant a battery-operated device to help his heart pump blood. His health seemed to stabilize after a 2012 heart
transplant at the age of 71.
Cheney largely disappeared from public life until emerging at the site of the January 6th insurrection one year after it happened.
During a moment of silence on the House floor, Cheney accompanied his daughter, Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, also a member of the select
committee that investigated the attack. He was warmly greeted by the House speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
CHENEY: In our Nation's 246th year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.
BLITZER (voice-over): Later that year, Cheney tried to help his daughter's struggling primary campaign after she came under fire from former President
Trump and has devoted supporters over her work on the January 6th committee.
CHENEY: He is a coward. A real man wouldn't lie to his supporters.
BLITZER (voice-over): When Trump ran for president again in 2024 against Vice President Kamala Harris, Cheney joined his daughter in endorsing the
democratic nominee.
LIZ CHENEY, FORMER UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Dick Cheney will be voting for Kamala Harris.
BLITZER (voice-over): American politicians have no shortage of critics, and Dick Cheney was no exception.
But there were just as many, perhaps more who saw him as a resolute, disciplined loyalist who wound up becoming one of the most influential and
powerful vice presidents in American history.
CHENEY: The most important thing that -- that any vice president needs to know is to understand what it is the president he works for, wants him to
do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: As you just saw, Wolf Blitzer covered Dick Cheney's time in Washington extensively. And he joins me now. Wolf, it is good to see you.
You know, given Cheney's extensive evolution throughout politics in Washington first serving in Congress, then becoming Secretary of Defense,
serving as Chief of Staff, the youngest ever in that position, and then ultimately vice president, what would you describe as the pivotal moment
for him in terms of a lasting legacy politically and policy-wise?
BLITZER: Well, probably, and this is when I first got to know him, when I was CNN's Pentagon correspondent during the first Gulf War Operation Desert
Storm, he was the Secretary of Defense. General Colin Powell was the Chief of Staff. And they -- that's when they really, both of them, became famous
on a daily basis doing briefings at the Pentagon. And I attended all those briefings, did a lot of interviews with him.
And I think that's when he really got known as -- as a leader. He was doing an amazing job as Secretary of Defense, leading the U.S. troops in -- in
Iraq to liberate Kuwait after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. And I think that's what really got him going.
And then after 9/11, working to try to kill the al-Qaeda threat, the other terrorist threats that were clearly evident here in the United States.
GOLODRYGA: And, Wolf, as complex as his legacy was and the criticism that he and the Bush administration received over faulty intelligence leading up
to the Second War in Iraq, it's notable that he stood by all of their decisions and their policies and defended them by also suggesting that they
help protect the United States from any future subsequent attacks.
You've interviewed him many, many times. Were you surprised by his defiance against so many who said this administration had made many mistakes?
BLITZER: Yes. He -- he was not convinced that the administration had made many mistakes. He was convinced that the administrations that he worked for
were working to protect the American people from an international terror threat, led by al-Qaeda, as we all know.
And he -- he was trying to prevent another 9/11 terrorist attack that destroyed so much of New York and -- and caused so much damage to the U.S.
And that's what he felt was the goal. And that's why he didn't believe there were a lot of mistakes that were made. He thought that there were a
lot of successes that were made him.
When I interviewed him and asked him some of those tough questions, he reacted very angrily and he was strongly defending all of those decisions.
GOLODRYGA: He came into public service as a staunch conservative and he would say that he exited and died as a staunch conservative as well.
Having said that, though, Wolf, were you surprised in all the years that you knew him when he came out publicly? I know he voted for Trump in 2016.
But during his second term, he came out and spoke out against him, defying where the majority of the party was on this issue and then said publicly
that he voted for Kamala Harris. What did you make of that?
[12:20:03]
BLITZER: Well, I was someone who had covered him for so many years. It was shocking to me to even think of the possibility that Dick Cheney would vote
for a Democrat to be elected president of the United States. It was a -- it was a major surprise.
And I think it was largely because of Trump's attacks on his daughter, Liz Cheney, and then a congresswoman who was part of that -- that committee
investigating the -- the attacks on the U.S. Capitol.
And it was -- it was a total surprise. But I give him a lot of credit for going with his gut, going with his instinct, defending his daughter, and
supporting the democratic nominee. That was clearly something he wanted to do he didn't -- he had the courage to do so.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. He said he did it because he put country before party.
Wolf, can I just also say, seeing all those videos and images of you and from past interviews with Dick Cheney just covering such important moments
in our history as a reminder, there you are, of how lucky we are to have you every day, but especially on days like this.
Wolf, good to see you, my friend.
BLITZER: So nice of you to say that. Thank you very, very much. And I will just make one point. When he was Defense Secretary, he appreciated, with
those of us who were accredited journalists at the Pentagon, were doing, he supported us, he answered our questions on almost a daily basis of those
press briefings. He never suggested we should only report what the Pentagon officially releases and press releases.
He knew that we had a job to do. He was a strong defender of a free press. And I will always appreciate that in covering him.
GOLODRYGA: So important. He may not have liked all of your tough questions --
BLITZER: He didn't.
GOLODRYGA: -- but you how important it was --
BLITZER: Yes.
GOLODRYGA: -- for First Amendment and for journalists who do their job.
All right, Wolf. Good to see you. Thank you.
BLITZER: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, coming up for us, the assassination of a mayor who had spoken out against organized crime, sparks outrage in Mexico. We'll have a
live report for Mexico City when we return.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): He's just a vile creature. The worst thing on the face of the Earth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Nancy Pelosi like you've never heard her before. The former House Speaker lets rip with some choice words about President Trump. Why
she said it, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Protesters in Mexico are taking to the streets for a second consecutive day to demand justice and call for an end to violence. This
comes after the assassination of a mayor who was a strong critic of organized crime.
[12:25:05]
Carlos Manzo was gunned down Saturday while attending a Day of the Dead Festival. He was the mayor of Uruapan, often called Mexico's avocado
capital.
The 40-year-old had expressed fears about his safety, saying just two months ago that he did not want to be another crime statistic. Mexico's
president is promising justice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT (through translator): A full investigation is underway. In addition to the arrests already made,
including one individual who was killed during the events, the Michoacan prosecutor's office is leading the inquiry with full backing from the
federal security cabin.
As I assured his family and now reiterate publicly, there will be no impunity. The investigation will continue until both the direct
perpetrators and those who ordered this execution are brought to justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CNN's Valeria Leon joins us from Mexico City. And, Valeria, what is the status of the investigation right now?
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the status of the investigation right now is that the federal government hasn't identified the attacker
yet. They only know that it's a 17-year-old, but he didn't have an idea with him. So, still now, we don't know who the aggressor is.
But the hundreds that march in Michoacan protesting the murder of Mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, they have blamed the government and more broadly the
political party, Morena, for the killing that occurred on Saturday in this public event.
And this morning, it was President Claudia Sheinbaum, who presented a new security strategy aimed at curving violence in the state of Michoacan.
These plans include an alert button system for local mayors.
Although, Carlos Manzo had repeatedly asked for more support during the 14 months he was in office. The federal government is now taking tough
reaction against violence in the state, but Carlos Manzo was known for speaking out against violence, vowing to take tough measures against
criminals.
Carlos Manzo had previously been part of Mexico's ruling party, Morena, but ran as independent when he became mayor.
And since taking office in September last year, he had repeatedly criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum's strategy to curve cartel violence,
calling it a failure. He criticized her for relying on intelligence work instead of directly confronting organized crime.
Manzo often denounced these groups for extorting avocado and lime producers the backbone of this city's economy. Uruapan has been called for Mexico's
avocado capital because it fits in the heart of Michoacan's growing region.
And the industry has seen rapid growth due to the U.S. demand, making avocado production a target for organized criminal groups.
Manzo frequently demanded more support from federal authorities, but on Saturday, he became the third mayor killed in Michoacan in the past five
months, and the seventh since 2022.
In an interview in September, Manzo said he didn't want to end up as just another mayor on the list of those executed. And now, we're seeing that
federal officials said that he had been under protection since December 2024, and his security was reinforced in May with local police and 14
National Guard officers.
But, you know, anything of this help, and now we're seeing this -- this crime, and that has prompted march and protest all over the state of
Michoacan.
GOLODRYGA: And tragically, his fear became a reality. Valeria Leon, thank you so much.
Well, the American politician known as being one of the most skilled and effective democratic leaders in recent memory has some very strong words
for the current occupant of the Oval Office.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Trump is, quote, the worst thing on the face of the Earth.
In an interview with CNN's Elex Michaelson, Pelosi was discussing Thomas Jefferson's vision of the United States and the separation of powers and
how it contrasts with Trump's expansive view of his own authority.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: He's just a vile creature. The worst thing on the face of the Earth but anyway.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you think he's the worst thing on the face of the Earth?
PELOSI: I do. Yes. I do.
MICHAELSON: Why is that?
PELOSI: Because he's the President of the United States, and he does not honor the Constitution of the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: She really didn't hold back there in that interview.
Meantime, the former speaker is expected to make an announcement of her own about her political future following the Proposition 50 vote in California
tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: When people start as in the press speculating she's going to run and she's not going to run, and other people file or say they're going to
run, you know what that does? That gives me so much support.
[12:30:04]
People calling me saying, I'm for you, I'm for you, I'm for you, representing organizations, representing communities that some of these
people are leaders in, but calling and saying if you go, I'm with you. So it is a -- it's a lovely thing to see the friendship.
I have no doubt that if I decided to run, I would win. That -- that isn't even a question. It isn't arrogant. It's confident.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Nancy Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987 and has won every election since then.
Well, still to come on "One World."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID BECKHAM, FORMER ENGLISH FOOTBALLER: Being an East London boy, you know, growing up in Leytonstone, something that I could never have imagined
happening to me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: We'll tell you all about David Beckham's proud moment, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
The U.S. government is poised to shatter its previous record for the longest shutdown in American history in just a matter of hours.
And despite talk by some lawmakers of momentum for a deal on Capitol Hill, there's little real sign that Democrats and Republicans are any closer to
ending their budget standoff.
Meantime, after the Trump administration said it would restart partial SNAP benefits following rulings from two federal judges, the president now says
that that won't happen until the shutdown is resolved, leaving tens of millions of the most vulnerable Americans without critical help to buy
food.
[12:35:03]
Time now for "The Exchange." My conversation with Democratic Congressman John Garamendi. He joins me now from Fairfield, California. Congressman, it
is good to see you.
So here we are about to set another record that no one should take pride in. The first set during the first Trump administration in his term then.
The Republicans are putting the blame squarely at Democrats saying that all they have to do is pass a continued resolution as C.R. bill and then the
negotiations can start once again once the government reopens.
I know Democrats have a different view and are blaming Republicans for this. What do you make of the impasse at this point? Do you think that the
president is just waiting to see how elections tonight pan out?
REP. JOHN GARAMENDI (D-CA): Well, I think we're going to start with this how we got here. Republicans ran through massive tax cuts, most of which
went to the corporation super wealthy and paid for it by taking away benefits that every day Americans need.
But first on the list is the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Those expire in December, but you have to sign up for insurance now and people are
receiving their insurance at two, three, four times the expense way beyond the ability of people to pay and they're going to lose healthcare and
there's more in the future. So this is about moving forward.
Now, if the past is an indicator of the future, the Republicans refuse to negotiate on the big ugly bill. They refuse to negotiate all the way up to
this moment on this continuing resolution and all the Democrats are looking forward to.
And we have legislation on this is to extend the subsidies, the tax credits for two years and make some modest reforms in who gets those subsidies.
The Republicans refuse to negotiate even on that. They want us to go ahead and vote for a continuing resolution and there is no -- no guarantee
whatsoever that, A, the president would honor any commitment, and secondly, that the Republicans would honor the commitment.
So let's get it done. Get it done. One paragraph today. We come back and vote this thing out on Thursday.
GOLODRYGA: What are you saying? What are you hearing from constituents who even if they are sympathetic to the democratic line are saying at this
point, this is impacting their bottom lines. They're either federal employees and are now not getting their paycheck perhaps for the second
time in a row. You're seeing the congestion at airports right now. It's really potentially having an impact on the economy as well.
I can't imagine that they view Democrats at this point as -- as the favorable party just for no other reason than not being able to negotiate
something. Is this not an issue where you could see a pocks on both Houses from frustrated constituents?
GARAMENDI: Well, certainly the public is rightfully very upset. Not just those that are not getting a paycheck, those that are working without pay.
Yes, they're upset and they should be upset.
But let's get real here. There is no reason that this could and has happened. We beg the Republicans back in September, let's sit down and talk
about this extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. They refused to discuss it whatsoever.
And the real line here is the Democrats want to make sure that there is healthcare available to Americans that are in need. And there's more to
come. The cuts on the Medicare program are going to occur next year. So there's a real difficult path out ahead.
But this need not happen. This need not happen. It is absolutely clear that Trump didn't negotiate at all when he called the leaders in. All he did was
to berate the Democrats. No negotiations at all. No negotiations to this moment.
As I said before, there's some movement in the Senate. The question is when were those negotiations and when will the bill actually be approved? My
notion is negotiate now at this moment. You don't need to be in Washington. You can do it over the phone, get it done, get the staff to write up the
language and we'll come back at the end of this week. And we can solve this particular problem and frankly kick the can down the road another three or
four months.
GOLODRYGA: I have to ask you about elections tonight specifically what's on the ballot in your state of California and that is Prop 50, a measure that
would temporarily suspend California's independent redistricting commission and allow the legislator to draw new congressional maps, perhaps even given
Democrats five additional seats.
That potentially includes your own district though. Given that your district could potentially see fewer Democrats under these proposed lines,
where do you stand on this issue?
GARAMENDI: Well, I am certainly in favor of the legislation. It's very simple. Stop Trump, vote for 50.
[12:40:01]
Trump initiated this war in Texas when he demanded that Texas redistrict and give him the Republicans five new seats. And so we're following
California with the other side of the line and we're saying, OK, if that's what Trump wants to do, then we can do it in California. Prop 50 is that.
And as I said, stop Trump. This if this doesn't happen, keep in mind that Trump will control the Congress all the way through the next election. And
up until the voting of the -- of the final votes before the House of Representatives and the Senate. Think about what they did in 2021. This is
an extremely important, not just for policy, but also for the security of the next election.
And the Republicans are indicating that they're perfectly willing to go back down the line not with a January 1st riot at the Capitol, but rather
by controlling Congress, they're able to control the future of this nation.
And we're going, no. We're going to fight this out now in California. Prop 50 is likely a pass. We'll have new lines. My district will be somewhat
more difficult than it is today, as will the other Democrats were taking the safe democratic seats. And they're going to be a little weaker. But
nonetheless, we have a very good argument to make and we will make it.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. You know, critics are calling this a -- a partisan power grab. We can continue this conversation as this proposition is expected to
pass tonight. And we'll continue to follow these important races.
Congressman Garamendi, thank you so much for your time.
GARAMENDI: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: And finally for us, arise Sir David Beckham.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To receive the honor of knighthood, Sir David Beckham, for services to sport and to charity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: One of Britain's most celebrated football players, David Beckham was knighted earlier today by King Charles at Windsor Castle.
After the ceremony, the 50-year-old former England soccer captain said that he was especially pleased that the honor was for his charitable work as
well as football.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BECKHAM: You know, my -- my dream as a -- as a young boy was always to become a professional footballer. Play for Manchester United and represent
my country, and luckily enough, I got to do that.
But, you know, everything else that has come with, you know, my career and -- and what I've done, and obviously, the philanthropic work that I do. You
know, I think that that's what's special about today. It's not just because of my sport. It's because of the philanthropic work that I've done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Beckham is an ambassador for UNICEF and the king's foundation. He retired from professional football in 2013.
And by the way, you might have recognized the music during the ceremony. It's "Golden" from the Netflix animated movie "KPop Demon Hunters." They're
very alkaram (ph) at the castle as they say. Surprise he didn't get that honor before.
Congratulations. Well-deserved to David Beckham -- Sir David Beckham.
All right. That does it for this hour of "One World. I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. I'll be back in about 15 minutes time with
"Amanpour." African Voices Changemakers is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:00]
(AFRICAN VOICES CHANGEMAKERS)
[13:00:00]
END
