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President & First Lady To Make Women's Health Announcements; Michigan Senate Race Takes Bitter Turn For Rogers & El-Sayed; Supreme Court Backs Decision To Throw Out Plea Deals For 9/11 Defendants. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired October 19, 2026 - 11:00   ET

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

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[11:01:09]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer with Pamela Brown and you're in The Situation Room.

We begin this hour with breaking news. Right now, President Trump is over at the White House about to make what's being described as a major announcement on women's health issues. With the First Lady in attendance, they're expected to sign a new executive order establishing a dedicated women's health arm of the National Institutes of Health. The goal is to boost research and fast track cures.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Now this is the second major initiative the First Lady has spearheaded in her husband's second term. And it comes at a crucial moment. With just two weeks until the midterms, a brand new ABC News-Washington Post-Ipsos poll shows that more and more Americans are struggling to afford health care. We're talking 65 percent. That is up from 56 percent back in February.

And in a troubling sign for Republicans, polls show that voters trust Democrats more to handle the issue by 23 points. CNN's Kristen Holmes is at the White House. Kristen, what more are you learning about this new initiative?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're going to be signing this executive order. Melania Trump, the First Lady, posted on X what she says her goals are for this executive order on women's health, which is going to create these two various entities that are meant to boost research and focus on women's health. So she says the goals are more research funding, using A.I. to speed up discoveries for women's health, accelerating drug approvals for women, as well as ensuring accessible and affordable care. That's obviously key to the polling that you just tapped onto right there. And then shifting stigmas on women's health.

And what we know about it in general is, as I said, two separate entities. One is going to be creating this White House task force. The other is going to be creating a new division at the National Institutes of Health. One thing to keep in mind here, this isn't exactly a new effort. First Lady Jill Biden made this a centerpiece of her time when she was here as first lady. And in fact, today actually repeals that executive order that Joe Biden had signed, that she had been a champion of, and replaces it with this new executive order. And most of what Jill Biden had done had been scrapped by the Trump administration early on in the tenure.

So who's on this women's health task force? Well, this is going to be chaired by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who obviously has a lot of input or could have a lot of input on this, given that she just had extensive treatment for cancer. And she has just been cleared on that. But it's also going to have the head of Health and Human Services, Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr. Oz. And they are actually scheduled to have their first meeting later today after this announcement.

BROWN: All right. And you see First Lady Melania Trump and her husband, President Trump, walking there to the podium. We'll continue to monitor this. Kristen Holmes, thank you so much. Wolf?

BLITZER: And happening now, we're only 15 days, yes, only 15 days away from the midterm elections. We're watching all of this very, very closely as President Trump is preparing to hit the road once again as part of his Republican campaign blitz. He'll be hitting a different state every day this week, starting tonight with a rally in Kansas. The push comes as his approval ratings hit a new low. But will his visits give Republican candidates a midterm boost? This comes as President Trump and Republican campaign -- Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers ramp up their attacks on the Democrat, attempting to tie Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood. But El- Sayed is firing right back. Here's CNN's Jeff Zeleny.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: With two weeks left in the midterm election campaign, the Michigan Senate race, which is at the center of the fight for control of the Senate, is taking on a decidedly negative and dark turn. Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate, spent the weekend criticizing his Democratic rival Abdul El-Sayed for not fully disavowing, in his view, the El-Sayed comments about the Muslim Brotherhood. But we caught up with El-Sayed in Flint on Sunday. He said he clearly condemns them, he is not a part of them, and he turned the conversation back to the economy.

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ABDUL EL-SAYED (D), MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE: My name and my faith are not the reason you can't afford your gas. My name and my faith are not the reason you can't afford your groceries. My name and my faith are not the reason you can't see a doctor. I mean, chances are, if you're seeing a doctor, they might actually have my name and my faith.

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ZELENY: There's no question that Michigan is at the center of this fight for control of the Senate, because Democrats must hold on to their current seats, including the open seat here in Michigan, as well as pick up four additional seats. Now, Abdul El-Sayed would be the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. He is not focusing on that. He is focusing on the economy. He said that is what voters here are concerned about and care about. Mike Rogers, of course, a former member of Congress, has been trying to distance himself from the President and the President's policies. President Trump has pledged to visit Michigan before the campaign is over. Abdul El-Sayed said he welcomes that visit. He thinks it shines a light on the Trump policies.

Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Detroit.

BLITZER: And a special thanks to Jeff for that report. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Well, former President Barack Obama is defending Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on social media. He calls a Justice Department investigation of her citizenship, "appalling." In a lengthy post, the former president accuses the Trump administration of weaponizing the federal government, writing, "The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president." So let's bring in CNN's Brian Todd. What more can you tell us?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's extraordinary that the former president did this, Pamela. He did this yesterday on social media. It could have to do with the timing of that search of Ilhan Omar's home. That search was conducted a week ago today on October 12th. I'm going to get to that and the timing in just a moment. But let's take a look again at some of the other comments that former President Obama made on social media regarding that search. Here's one thing that he said in addition to what Pamela just read, "The fact that any president or any administration is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar's political views, because if this becomes the new normal, there's no reason to believe it will stop with her or that future presidents in either party won't do the same," from President Barack Obama.

Now, this CNN has previously reported that that search of Ilhan Omar's home a week ago had to do with an investigation into whether her father might have lied about her age when she obtained her citizenship in the year 2000. But she has vehemently denied that any wrongdoing occurred regarding her citizenship, saying that she got that legally in the year 2000. She immigrated from Somalia. Here is what her attorney had to say about the search and about this investigation. "This vindictive, retributive and politically motivated criminal investigation into one of the President's chief congressional critics violates Representative Omar's constitutional rights and threatens the separation of powers."

Now, this statement came from the Department of Justice in, you know, to try to justify its search and to explain what it was doing there. "Our attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations as they always do." This is according to a spokesperson for the Department of Justice in a statement to CNN. "Leaking a letter to the press right after sending it is not good faith. It is a publicity play." So they're, again, accusing Representative Omar and her allies of leaking some of this material. But it is extraordinary that they conducted this search, Pamela, less than 60 days before an election.

The Department of Justice usually avoids doing that for, you know, to avoid the appearance of any political maneuvering here. But they did this on October 12th, less than a month before the midterms, when, of course, Ilhan Omar is running for reelection.

BROWN: Yes, they typically don't. But I guess they got senior leadership sign off to do this. How are other Democrats defending Congresswoman Omar?

TODD: Well, the House Democratic leadership is saying that this is, "deeply disturbing." They are saying that this is a weaponization of the Justice Department. So they also are coming out in defense of Representative Omar. We're going to see how this maybe affects her standing in the polls back in Minnesota as she runs for reelection. But again, extraordinary. The former president of the United States calling out this administration in a Sunday post on social media gets a lot of attention and a lot of buzz right now.

BROWN: All right, Brian Todd, thank you so much for bringing us the latest there.

And still ahead, what we know about the deadly rappelling incident at a college football game where the military was being honored.

[11:09:58]

BLITZER: And struggling seniors, food, health care and gas prices are making things especially tight for so many senior citizens. And 2027 isn't expected to bring any relief. We'll make it make sense just ahead right here in The Situation Room.

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BLITZER: New this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court is rejecting an appeal brought by alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants accused of plotting the terror attack. Justices are backing a Pentagon decision to throw out plea deals for conspirators. CNN crime and justice correspondent Katelyn Polantz is with us right now. What more can you tell us, Katelyn?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the question before the Supreme Court and other courts has been can there be a trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the two other defendants that have been accused of plotting the 9/11 terrorist attack? These men have been in detention by the U.S. since 2003, and they have been facing criminal charges in a military court since 2008. So it's been 20 years of long-running issues here.

The reason that this question went before the Supreme Court just now and the Supreme Court says we're not going to take up this case is that there had been a plea deal that was possible for these men that would have taken the death penalty potentially off the table for them. That plea deal was rescinded by the former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and the courts were going to get involved. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other defendant wanted the courts to withhold that plea deal.

The courts have said that's not going to be the case. It's OK for the Defense Secretary to unwind any plea deal to put these men back toward the path to trial. And so what the Supreme Court did today is that they're backing the Pentagon decision to throw out those plea deals, and they're sending things back to the military court to say, head towards trial. The trial date is 2028 for these men, but it has been long-running, and the question of whether that will hold is a big one, one that we really don't know how it will play out in the future.

BLITZER: Let's see what happens. All right, thanks very much. I can't appreciate it very much. Pamela?

BROWN: All right, Wolf, happening, now we are taking a closer look at the cost of living for older Americans in 2027. Senior citizens and other Social Security recipients will get a 3.6 percent bump in their monthly payments next year. It is the largest cost of living adjustment since 2023. But with annual inflation at 3.7 percent, that increase may not be enough. So that's where we turn to CNN Business senior reporter David Goldman here to make it make sense. David, today's question, seniors are getting a bump in Social Security benefits. Is it enough?

DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: Yes, it doesn't look like it right now, does it? I mean, if you have a 3.6 percent benefit and inflation is 3.7 percent, well, that is not enough to make up for the difference. And this is a common occurrence in Social Security benefits. We know that in 2026, we had a 2.8 percent increase, but so far this year, inflation is up 3.1 percent. And so, you know, we haven't closed the books on 2026 yet, but it's not looking good.

Now, if you have, you know, an average paycheck that you're getting, an average benefit check that you're getting, it was about a $56 per month increase this year. And that got you to around $2,100. And that's pretty good. And you're going to get $75 in an increase on average next year. And that's around $2,146. And that sounds pretty good, except remember, that's not the only thing that you have to consider.

Inflation is something that you really need to take into account. And in 2022, inflation was 8 percent and you only got a 5.9 percent increase. In 2025, a 2.6 percent increase in inflation. Social Security benefits grew 2.5 percent. There are some years where you beat inflation, but overall, you're really losing out over the course of the past decade. It's not the only thing that you need to consider. Also, Medicare premiums are going up another $17.90 this year.

That ate 32 percent of your Social Security increase this year. A third of your Social Security benefit increase is going to that increase in Medicare. So, you know, the buying power of those benefits is really decreasing around 14 percent according to the Senior Citizens League. That isn't fun. And at 13.7 percent, well, you know, that works out to around $296 over the course of 10 years per month. That means that you have around $300 per month of less buying power than you had in 2016.

That's on average. That is not what any senior wants to hear. Now, another thing that they don't want to hear is that this fund that is allowing people to get so much in their benefit increases is going to dry up in 2032. And if that happens, the average benefit for seniors is going to decline 22 percent. What does that look like? Well, with a projected 3.5 percent increase in benefits, you'll have in 2032 around $2,500 per month.

[11:20:26]

Without it, it's going to be less than $2,000. That's less than people are getting on average this year. And so this really needs to get addressed by Congress. Right now, there's not a ton of political will to do it, but this is why seniors really have to be concerned about 2032 coming around, Pam.

BROWN: All right, David Goldman, thank you so much. And if you need David to make it make sense, e-mail or send a selfie video of your question to makeitmakesenseatcnn.com. We're going to have more news after this break.

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[11:25:24]

BROWN: All right. We have a warning up front about this story right here. Viewers may find the video disturbing. Military investigators are trying to fig out what went wrong after a service member died in a fall from the Alamodome rafters? It happened Saturday just before a college football game honoring the armed services and veterans and was part of a pregame rappelling demonstration. But something went terribly wrong and the service member died at the hospital.

A National Guardsman in the nation's capital is expected to be OK after getting shot last night. Police say several guard members saw a fight break out and they were trying to break it up when one of the people fighting pulled out a gun and started shooting. The suspect was also shot but is expected to be OK.

And the mystery of Amelia Earhart lives on. An expedition to find clues about her fate has apparently come up empty. Researchers went to a remote island in the South Pacific where satellite images had detected an object that could have been her lost plane. But the search team found nothing. She and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared in 1937 during her attempt to become the first woman to fly around the world. Wolf?

BLITZER: And happening now, Ukraine assesses the damage from an overnight barrage of Russian ballistic missiles and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says once again his country got no warning at all from its so-called partners. Tensions between Washington and Kyiv are clearly spiking right now. Over the weekend, Ukraine defied President Trump and launched one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia this year, hitting an oil terminal.

And that comes after President Trump signed an executive order to suspend sanctions on Moscow and buy diesel fuel from the Russian regime that illegally invaded Ukraine. Joining us now is the former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker. Ambassador Volker also served as the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine negotiations during President Trump's first term.

Thanks so much for joining us, Ambassador. The President says this waiver on sanctions is in the U.S. national interest. Do you agree?

KURT VOLKER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Well, he hasn't explained how it's in the U.S. national interest. And I would say that it's certainly going to put money in the Kremlin's coffers. It's going to prolong the war in Ukraine because Russia can continue that. And we have every reason to think that Russia will continue to assist Iran as well. So I don't see how this is actually helping the U.S. and it hasn't been explained.

BLITZER: The President, President Trump is defending the deal by saying, and I'm quoting him now, "I am in the process of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine and don't want to do anything that will drive foolishly Russia away from the bargaining table." Does that strike you as a valid reason to waive these sanctions?

VOLKER: Quite the opposite. If there's any indication that Russia is actually at the bargaining table, which I doubt, it's because of the pressure that they feel. It is the finances. It is the economy. It is Ukraine's long-range strikes that are hitting their refineries, their energy capacity, and it is their losses on the battlefield. Without that, Russia would have no incentive whatsoever to end this war. So in order to get to an end of the war, and that's what President Trump says that he wants, he wants to end the war, we need to see more pressure on Vladimir Putin, not less.

BLITZER: What does a move like this say to our European allies who are also trying to pressure Russia right now to end the war?

VOLKER: Yes, it says very much that you're on your own. And in fact, the U.S. may be undermining what the efforts are that you're taking. They are trying to ratchet down any consumption of Russian oil and gas down to zero in 2027. They are funding Ukraine's state budget. They are buying American weapons and ammunition to supply them to Ukraine. They are borrowing against Russia's frozen assets to provide that money to Ukraine. They're doing everything that they can.

The U.S. has not put any money into assisting Ukraine since President Trump took office in the second term. So they are doing a lot. And then to see that the U.S. is adopting a posture that will actually provide money to the Kremlin, that is really rather dismaying for our European allies.

[11:29:57]

BLITZER: It certainly is. A source is telling CNN, ambassador, that Ukraine has now run out of missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile system. And that leaves Ukraine clearly much more vulnerable --