Return to Transcripts main page

The Situation Room

Patel Says, FBI Thwarted Violent Halloween Weekend Attack in Michigan; FAA Says, Staffing Shortages, Delays at Nashville and Austin Airports; Judge Signals She'll Intervene in Fight Over SNAP Food Help. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired October 31, 2025 - 10:00   ET

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

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, breaking news, a potential terrorist attack foiled. Multiple people are arrested in Michigan after the FBI stops an alleged plot to carry out a violent attack this Halloween weekend.

[10:00:00]

Plus, SNAP uncertainty, more than 40 million Americans could face a food crisis, as funds for the federal food assistance program are set to expire. How food banks and grocers are stepping up to feed struggling families.

And deadly floods, two people are killed after hours of heavy rain sent water rushing through the streets of New York.

I'm Pamela Brown. Wolf Blitzer is on assignment. You are in The Situation Room.

And we begin the hour with the breaking news, FBI Director Kash Patel says his agency prevented what he's calling a potential terrorist planned for the Halloween holiday weekend in Michigan.

Let's go live now to our Brynn Gingras. Brynn, we've learned that multiple people have been arrested. What else do we know here?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, very thin on the information, Pam, I got to be honest with you. I got to tell you, so many reporters at CNN are making phone calls trying to connect the dots exactly what is going on here, what the FBI director, Kash Patel, is talking about in that post, but they have not released any more information.

What we know is that he said that there was a thwarted attack that was plotted to happen over the Halloween weekend, and as a result, multiple people have been arrested. The big questions here are, was -- how far along was this plot really in its developmental process? Like was it actually going to happen this weekend? Where are the potential targets? And, of course, who might be involved? Are we talking about domestic terrorism? Are we talking about inspiration from overseas terrorists?

So, these are all questions that we are asking our sources, and we are coming close to getting a little bit more detail, but not there quite yet. But, of course, we'll bring that to you.

What we also know, Pam, this morning is that Dearborn officials in Michigan, which is a suburb of Detroit and Inkster, both have confirmed, and the FBI in Detroit field office as well, that activity was taking place investigation by FBI officials happening in their cities. They put out a public alert saying, listen, people can relax, take -- you know, there is no need for alarm, that those investigations were happening in their cities by the FBI.

So, we know that they are happening in those two towns, active investigations by the FBI, but, again, not much more detail about that. Of course, this is Halloween, October 31st. Again, I've been saying it hearkens for me just being in New York, that incident that happened back in 2017, that, you know, attack, terrorist-inspired attack that happened along the Westside Highway in New York, killing eight people. So, this is a day, as you know, Pam, so many law enforcement on high alert. And, of course, this sounds like a potential terrorist attack was thwarted.

So, we're working to get more details and as soon as I get them, we'll bring them to you.

BROWN: We all are. I was making calls too before the show, trying to get any more details. I know you're working the phones too, Brynn. Hopefully, we can learn a little bit more. Thanks so much for that.

GINGRAS: All right.

BROWN: So, just to try to better understand what we know and put into context, I want to bring in Daniel Brunner. He's retired FBI special agent and president of the Brunner Sierra Group.

Daniel, first of all, just how unusual is this for the FBI director to send out a tweet like this that a potential terrorist attack was stopped, was averted without sort of more details, so we're left hanging here a little bit?

DANIEL BRUNNER, RETIRED FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, we've learned, I think, with this administration and with this FBI director, that the norm of what has always been is in, especially with social media, is not the normal with him. He likes to tweet out information quickly, immediately.

Listen, to one point, to one extreme, I understand, it brings, you know, understanding of what is happening, because there's a lot of FBI agents probably working right now near the site where the alleged incident occurred. So, there's going to be a lot of questions. So, in the lack of, you know, having answers, he put it out there.

Now, normally, the public affairs office for the Detroit office will typically put something out, or the public affairs office for FBI headquarters. So, normally the FBI director doesn't tweet information. We've already learned. Sometimes they can get, you know, get himself in trouble where he puts out information that isn't exactly accurate. So, now we're not seeing evidence, we're not seeing information as to what this incident occurred, but we're seeing some incidents of, you know, individuals and obviously Dearborn Police Department putting out information to their locals, letting them know that they are handling the situation.

BROWN: Yes. So, what is going on, do you think, behind the scenes right now with the FBI, because you have this and we're waiting to learn more, but also just the overall heightened security posture around an event like Halloween?

BRUNNER: Well, especially around events like this we always stood up a minimized command post in Newark to be prepared for a situation to immediately bring in all the resources needed to incident command.

[10:05:00]

This was -- if this was done, normally, you have a 6:00 A.M. operation done in Michigan, which means that this was an investigation that was occurring. This was an imminent incident that was suddenly, probably given to them as a tip last night.

So, this was probably a planned operation at 6:00 A.M., and this is typically what they want to do in an FBI investigation, is they want to get as much information and evidence against the individuals that are conducting this alleged attack, and to almost to the point where they're about to conduct the attack. So, if they're about -- if they're planning it, they don't want to get it too early because that'll not be enough evidence. But if they're planning it and getting everything ready, if there were undercover agents, they're gathering evidence, if there was electronic surveillance, they're gathering all the conversations.

So, there's a lot of data coming in, and I'm sure that we're going to get more information once a press conference is held later today.

BROWN: And tell us more about just the timing of this Halloween. I know a lot of parents are looking out this and thinking, well, you know, we're going to go trick or treating tonight with our family. Should we be on heightened alert? What do you make of the timing?

BRUNNER: Well, I think that anytime, you know, we're out with our family, especially events like this that are large gatherings of people, groups of people, you should undoubtedly be a little bit more aware of your surroundings. People that are completely enclosed and not paying attention to their surroundings, that's a little bit -- it adds a little bit more danger. But events like this, where there are large gatherings of people, I don't think anybody should not go because they feel afraid. I don't think anybody should change their way.

The FBI, local police department, state officials, they're all working really hard and they're aware of these large events. Thanksgiving, Christmas, we're coming up on a lot of different times where there are large gatherings of people.

So, keeping yourself aware of your situation, listening to law enforcement and having a plan to be prepared to get out of a situation, think about that. When you go to an event, don't put yourself in a corner. If you know you're going to be like okay, if a situation happens, let's go this way, let's go to the left. Listen to law enforcement. Listen to your federal authorities. That'll be the best way.

BROWN: Sad you even have to think about that, but in this day and age, you do.

Daniel Brunner, thank you so much. I appreciate you coming on.

Still ahead here in The Situation Room, there are growing concerns this morning that the government shutdown could cause major disruptions to air travel nationwide. Air traffic controllers are going weeks without being paid and there are already staffing shortages today.

And there's worry that one of the most devastating effects of the government shutdown is about to hit. Millions of Americans could be left wondering how they're going to put food on the table with SNAP and WIC benefits begin to run out in several states.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never thought in a million years I would be in line to get some food.

REPORTER: What is that feeling like?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, it's humiliating, you know? I've been working for 30 years in my career. I've had to apply for unemployment. I haven't done that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Breaking news, the FAA has reported its first two air traffic controller staffing problems for today resulting in delays at two airports in Nashville and Austin, Texas. Travel is basically becoming untenable at major airports across the country amid this government shutdown. Air traffic controller staffing shortages caused significant delays throughout yesterday spanning from Washington, D.C. to Texas, Colorado, and California. At Orlando International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration warned of delays as much as six hours.

Air traffic controllers are considered essential government workers, meaning they're working without any pay.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says some have called in sick and protest while others are taking time to work other jobs.

I want to bring in CNN Aviation Correspondent Pete Muntean. So what's going on at these airports and what about what Sean Duffy said, people calling in sick in protests or not going because they're working another job?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: There is nothing organized taking place, at least at the union level. But, of course, if you're an air traffic controller and you're not getting paid right now, it's further incentivized to call out sick. And they are already very stressed, pushed to the max, working, many cases, six day weeks of ten-hour shifts because there's a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

These two latest staffing shortages at Austin and at Nashville are the 295th and 296th shortages we have seen since the start of this shutdown. That's four times greater than a year ago. Yesterday was some of the best proof yet that we have seen that there needs to be an end of this shutdown soon. More than 7,000 flight delays reported Thursday, according to FlightAware, New York's LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark topped the misery map primarily due to bad weather.

But staffing shortages caused the FAA to impose delays for flights heading into Dallas-Fort Worth and Reagan National Airports outside of D.C., two major airports, then Orlando International Airport came into the picture, had one of the most dramatic air traffic control staffing alert we have seen in the last month.

And this is what went out around 6:00 P.M. Eastern daylight time last night, saying that airlines can expect a period of time later in the evening when no arrivals will be able to land, as there will be no certified air traffic controllers available at Orlando International Airport.

Now, a source familiar with the situation tells me the FAA was able to get some controller supervisors into the radar facility there. That's so key for flights arriving and departing Orlando International Airport, so that flights could still get in there. But at one point, flights to Orlando were delayed more than three hours because of the shortage.

[10:15:03]

It is the perfect example of why all major airlines are now calling on Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution to get air traffic controllers working with pay again.

Vice President, JD Vance and Transportation secretary Sean Duffy met with airline CEOs during a White House roundtable yesterday, and they were flanked by some major airline CEOs. Here is what United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said after that meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT KIRBY, CEO, UNITED AIRLINES: It has been 30 days. I also think it is time to pass a clean C.R., use that as the opportunity to get into a room behind closed doors and negotiate hard on the real and substantive issues that the American people want our politicians on both sides of the aisle to solve. But let's get a clean C.R. and get that negotiation done behind closed doors without the pressure and without putting the American workers and the American economy at risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Everybody's starting to sound like a member of Congress. I heard so many people yesterday who were stuck on delayed flights. It was especially bad in New York. And today, air travel's expected to tick up as it's a Friday. It's also Halloween, a lot of people making this a three-day weekend.

Thankfully, a lot of this is happening when air travel numbers are relatively light. It's the shoulder season, as they say in the travel world. Right now, things are usually pretty dipped down when it comes to the numbers ahead of the Thanksgiving travel season. And we heard yesterday there was a lot of concern about Thanksgiving on the horizon. And Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says, if this shutdown continues and air traffic controllers and TSA workers, by the way, continue working without pay, he says the travel rush during Thanksgiving could be what he calls a disaster.

BROWN: Wow. I know I've been thinking about it. I've already had my flights booked and everything.

MUNTEAN: Yes, top of mind for so many.

BROWN: Just hoping and praying they get their act together.

I also want to ask you about what happened on this JetBlue flight, where 15 passengers were taken to the hospital.

MUNTEAN: This is intriguing and this is a mystery that's sort of still unfolding right now. We've heard from the National Transportation Safety Board that they're aware of this incident on JetBlue Flight 1230 yesterday. It was going from Cancun, Mexico to Newark, and about halfway over the Gulf of Mexico, the flight experienced what the FAA calls a flight control issue, and the plane then diverted to Tampa.

It's sort of unclear what precipitated then. Was there something in the cockpit that took place with the autopilot? Did it disengage? We know from the flight tracking data that this flight descended about a hundred feet in about seven seconds time, and that 15 people were taken to the hospital. It seems that this happened in cruise flight, which is another reminder to always wear your seatbelt even if the seatbelt sign is off.

So, we know the FA is investigating this. The NTSB is aware of this. We will see if they trigger an investigation. The NTSB tells me it sounds like a lot of minor injuries here, so this might not rise to the level of an NTSB investigation. Of course, though, a lot of intrigue here and we have seen over and over, turbulence incidents. This may or may not be a turbulence incident. We just don't have enough information yet.

BROWN: All right. Pete Muntean, as always, thanks so much.

MUNTEAN: Anytime.

BROWN: We appreciate it.

And coming up here in The Situation Room, a last minute push by Democratic-led states to keep SNAP benefits flowing for millions of Americans, the case they're making to keep people fed even as the government remains shut down.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:20:00]

BROWN: Happening now, a federal judge is signaling she will intervene in the fight over the Trump administration's decision not to tap into emergency funding for the federal program that provides food assistance to millions of Americans. The program is set to run out of money to tomorrow. And several states are suing the Trump administration after the Agriculture Department said it had no plans to make use of the emergency funds.

Yesterday, U.S. Judge Indira Talwani said, quote, right now, Congress has put money in an emergency fund for an emergency, and it's hard for me to understand how this isn't an emergency when there's no money and a lot of people needing their SNAP benefits.

Joining us now is CNN Legal Analyst and former Federal Prosecutor Elliot Williams. All right, so what options does the judge have here in this case?

ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: The judge -- any judge can compel or direct the government to take an action as appropriate. And that's ultimately what the parties are suing for, suing the government, the federal government, to direct those funds and make them available. And the judge can do that.

BROWN: So, what about if you're not in one of the states suing though?

WILLIAMS: Well, I mean, it would, that's a great question. You know, if you're not in one of the states suing, presumably, it might be presented nationwide, but it's just hard to see how that would play out.

BROWN: Because we just don't know yet, right?

WILLIAMS: We don't know yet, yes.

BROWN: So, walk us through the Trump administration's argument why they say they can't use this funding.

WILLIAMS: Right. And they haven't given a ton of explanation as to why, other than saying that the funds, those emergency funds that we're talked about, are not available, and they haven't given a rationale.

Now, there's certainly a question as to whether what we have presented here is actually an emergency. And they've said in comments that pointing at Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, that is the type of emergency that might be presented, not a government shutdown.

Now, in their argument or in their lawsuit, the states say that by not presenting these funds, regardless of the emergency rationale, you're talking about an entitlement here that Congress appropriated and therefore people ought to be able to get those funds.

BROWN: And we've seen the administration move money around to fund other programs, like WIC. We've seen what they've done trying to pay the troops, right, even using a private donor for that. So, how would that play into this case?

WILLIAMS: And that's exactly the point that the states make in the case, that there are other places in which funds have been made available, like, you know, WIC being an obvious one, which is another nutrition program put out by the government, but also spending on behalf of other government priorities.

[10:25:05]

Again, the federal government has made clear here, or at least, you know, the executive branch has made clear, the White House, it's made clear here that they simply are not able to make those funds available, full stop.

Now, at some point, they're going to have to respond formally to this lawsuit and put on paper what their rationale is for not -- assuming the case goes on further, put in on paper their rationale for not making the funds available.

BROWN: So, if this judge rules in the state's favor, what would that mean for the immediate future of SNAP benefit recipients?

WILLIAMS: Now, if the judge ruled in the favor, immediately, the benefits would be -- because they could -- the judge could compel the government.

BROWN: But, I mean, but how quickly -- I guess my question is --

WILLIAMS: I mean, right away, it would be immediate. It would absolutely be immediate. The problem is that then the federal government, the executive branch might just appeal it.

BROWN: They can put a stop on it.

WILLIAMS: Yes. And they can appeal it up to -- you know, up to the appeals court and maybe even the Supreme Court.

BROWN: So, how quick could that switch be? You know, I mean, we're talking about people who are really going to be in need of their food benefits. And how do you see that playing out?

WILLIAMS: Quite quickly. Again, if the government is directed to take an action, a court can compel the government to take that action right away. The government -- but the government is also allowed to appeal that decision, which could also take some time.

Now, it's -- you know, things happen very quickly, you know, when we're talking about lawsuits and so on, but -- you know, and there's also the further question of, you know, does it make it all the way up to the Supreme Court. That's many, many steps down the road. But let's see how this plays out, yes.

BROWN: There's the legal aspect, but also the political aspect, right? If the judge says this emergency funding needs to be used, and then you fight that for these, you know, 42 million people who are looking --

WILLIAMS: And there's just one there's an open question as to what constitutes an emergency. Life comes at us very fast right now in this era where a lot of actions are being taken by the government on an emergency basis. And courts are having to decide what is a legitimate emergency. Well, this judge now is going to have to say, wait a second, is a government shutdown the kind of emergency on par with natural disasters that could allow -- that would require the government to take a major step?

BROWN: That's a really good point. All right, Elliot Williams, thank you so much.

Just ahead here in The Situation Room, the president is turning up the heat to end the government shutdown. He's calling on Republicans to go nuclear and kill the Senate filibuster.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:00]