Return to Transcripts main page

The Lead with Jake Tapper

Thousands of Flights Delayed or Canceled Due to Shutdown; GOP Quickly Rejects Sen. Chuck Schumer's (D-NY) Offer to Reopen Government; U.S. Military Strikes Another Boat in Caribbean, Killing Three. Stefanik Slams Hochul Over New York Affordability In Campaign Launch; Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, And Bad Bunny Among Top Grammy Nominees. Aired 6-7p ET

Aired November 07, 2025 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to The Lead. I'm Jake Tapper at Ronald Reagan National Airport, just outside Washington, D.C. The Lead tonight, thousands of delays in cancelations shocking the nation's air travel system and economy after the FAA and the Trump administration reduces 4 percent of all flights across 40 major airports, including this one, one of the most aggressive symptoms yet of the 38th day government shutdown. Cancelations today have now surpassed 1,000, and there have been upwards of 4,000 flights delayed. The car rental company, Hertz, is reporting a significant uptick in rentals today, but many travelers have been left without any backup options.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says this could just be the start of disruptions, even if the shutdown comes to an end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN DUFFY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: If the government opens on day one, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No. The union is telling me it's going to take time to get them all back in today,

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democratic of New York, presented a Democratic plan, a proposal to end the shutdown in exchange for a year-long extension of Obamacare subsidies, but Republican Senate Leader John Thune called the offer a non-starter.

Joining me here at Reagan National Airport is CNN's Aviation Correspondent Pete Muntean. And, Pete, this is just day one of the flight cancelations, just day one. How broad is the impact so far?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, the mandate from the Trump administration is to cut 4 percent of flights starting today. It started at 6:00 A.M. then it goes up on Tuesday to 6 percent, then Thursday to 8 percent, and then next Friday to 10 percent. So, this is going to have a sweeping impact for a long period of time.

And airlines are not happy about this. They feel like this whole idea that air traffic controllers are in crisis and that the number of flights needs to be throttled back is sort of a created crisis, and it's really thrown things into chaos for airlines as they're trying to get the word out to passengers.

Airlines tell me that they're essentially dealing with this as if they would deal with the cancelations of a major snowstorm or a blizzard if it comes through. The only difference is, usually, that is localized in one area. This is an across the board cut across the country.

And then on top of that is the fact that there are still air traffic control staffing shortages today. We've seen about 25 air traffic control facilities in the U.S. show up as short staffed on the FAA's list, and it's everywhere from Houston to Austin to even the control tower here at Reagan National Airport. And that is why there's a four- hour delay for flights coming in here to DCA.

The good news is that we have heard primarily from passengers that things have remained relatively smooth, and it's primarily one of the reasons why you don't see a lot of passengers camped out, stranded in the airports right now. They have gotten the word from airlines that their flights are preemptively canceled, although this is causing a lot of pain for the airlines, which are a huge economic driver.

TAPPER: So, if members of Congress don't fix this, and this continues into next week, what's going to be coming down the road for travelers?

MUNTEAN: Well, the fact is that it'll just be more of the same and it'll get worse. You know, when you talk about cutting 10 percent of flights from airline schedules, that's like the worst day of cancelations we've seen in the last year over and over again. That is a big chunk of flights for the U.S. airlines, and we're talking a big chunk of passengers too. By my back of the napkin math, we're talking about maybe 300,000 passengers or more were impacted by this cut today, and it only gets worse from here on out.

So, the other thing is Thanksgiving's on the horizon. And so when you get to next Friday, if there's no deal by then and the airlines are forced by the Trump administration to cut 10 percent of flights all in the name of safety, then we're in the two week window of Thanksgiving and that's when air travel really begins to ramp up with, of course, the day before Thanksgiving being the busiest travel day of the year. And we'll likely see an all-time TSA record besting the 3 million mark.

TAPPER: Any words of wisdom for those of us who have to travel in the next few days?

MUNTEAN: It's going to be hard. The good news is at least the airlines are doing this preemptively. They're doing this ahead of the game so you're not showing up at the airport and then finding out your flight is canceled.

The big thing here is to just be so, so patient and to be in high communication with your airline, make sure you're checking their website, make sure you have the app downloaded, make sure you're signed up for texts and emails, and if you can, book a flight. If you've not booked early in the day, that leaves you with the least chance, statistics show, for a delay or cancelation. Usually, the airlines are able to essentially press reset overnight. And then don't check a bag. Always carry on. It makes it so much easier for you to pivot if your flight or plans crumble and things fall, you can go to the next thing more easily.

TAPPER: Yes. But don't be one of those people that brings a giant suitcase and tries to wedge it into the overhead.

MUNTEAN: And especially here at DCA, where there are a lot of regional jets. They have small overhead bins.

[18:05:00]

You need to obviously pack a little smart.

TAPPER: Yes. Pete, stick around.

MUNTEAN: Yes.

TAPPER: Let's bring in Captain Jason Ambrosi. He's the president of the Air Line Pilots Association. So, Jason, it's the first day of these widespread cancelations impacting 40 of the major airports across the country through the weekend at least, including this one I'm in right now, Ronald Reagan National Airport. What are your fellow pilots telling you so far about the ripple effects that these cancelations might be causing?

CAPT. JASON AMBROSI, PRESIDENT, AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION: Well, look, first, it's great to be with you, Jake. I'm not just a pilot, I'm also a passenger. I flew out of DCA this morning back here to Atlanta. I can tell you that my pilots are telling me that they stand with our brothers and sisters at air traffic control and the Transportation Safety Administration. So, the fact that they are still not getting paid, that there is no end in sight to this, is just frustrating beyond belief.

TAPPER: So, right now, we're at cancelation of 4 percent in 40 airports, but as Pete just laid out, that's going to go up to 6 percent, then 10 percent. The Transportation Department said it could go up to 20 percent. Do you worry at all about the deteriorating safety of air travel during this period?

AMBROSI: Well, look, this ongoing thing, we're over four weeks now. This shut down has added a lot of uncertainty and risk into the system just because of these folks aren't getting paid and they're worried about how to put food on the table. So, that risk, if that risk goes up, you know, it affects the safety margin. Therefore, that's what the FAA is telling us is why they're bringing down this level of flying, is to make sure that we keep the system at the safety level that we enjoy in the United States.

But, obviously, as this progresses, no one's under any illusion that this isn't going to get worse, and that they won't have to bring down more flying to keep the system safe.

TAPPER: Pete?

MUNTEAN: Captain Ambrosi, it's Pete Muntean with CNN, and I want to ask you a little question here about what Transportation Secretary Duffy said here at Reagan National Airport earlier today. And he said the number of cuts, the percentage of cuts was really more of an art than a science, and it's a bit arbitrary. I just want you to listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DUFFY: To those passengers that are upset, listen, call your Democrat senator. 14 times they voted no to open up the government.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: So, I guess the question is this. When you think about how this is playing out, do you think that the airlines are really being used here, that they're having to inflict this travel pain on passengers for political games?

AMBROSI: Look, I'm a pilot. I'll leave the political analysis to others in D.C. there. But I can tell you that we don't know what facilities may have been most impacted by day. And, you know, our brothers and sisters at air traffic have been saying that as this drags on that they're going to have to, in order to keep the safety margin, reduce capacity. So, it may be an art, but, again, I'm not the expert on that.

TAPPER: Captain Jason Ambrosi, thanks so much, sir. I appreciate it.

Let's bring in Adam Stahl. He is the TSA acting deputy administrator. Adam, we've heard in the past few days about TSA officers who have had to take second jobs, who have had to resign all together because of the strain of missed paychecks. What are you hearing from TSA officers right now?

ADAM STAHL, TSA ACTING DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR: Yes. First, Jake, thanks so much for having me. So, you're 100 percent correct. These officers have really showcased tremendous dedication, professionalism, and resilience. And I want to start with that. They've really done an incredible job for the past three, seven days without getting paid. But to your point, they are frustrated. This has had very real financial impacts on them.

We spoke to two TSA officers, specifically one has $40 left in their bank account. The other is literally sleeping in their car. Many are getting their eviction notices as well. So, this is not only having very real significant impacts for the American traveler but also very real significant impacts financially, acute impacts for our TSA officers around the country.

TAPPER: How long will it take the TSA to get back up and running in full capacity once the government is reopened?

STAHL: Yes. So, we're really focused on operational continuity and so we're taking this, of course, day by day. But we're confident, you know, once, hopefully this ends imminently that we can get back to normal order, but it may take some time. But we're focused again on operational continuity, focused on the mission of ensuring safety and the security of our skies every single day.

TAPPER: What do you say to travelers who might be fearful that staffing issues could potentially cause safety and security problems?

STAHL: Sure. I want to say at the outset, the administration, the secretary, myself, we're deeply, deeply committed to the safety and the security of the American people.

[18:10:03]

That's the number one, security. And so we're going to be -- remain committed to that. There will be, however, a significant inconvenience. That inconvenience, we've seen isolated impacts at select airports. You know, Houston had a two-hour wait time last week. As every single day continues, we expect that inconvenience to grow and those lines to grow as well.

And so we're really imploring folks particularly, Senate Democrats, to come back and reopen the government so we can get back to normal order.

TAPPER: Yes. So, Minority Leader, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer put an offer on the table that if Republicans agree to extend the Obamacare subsidies through -- for one year you know, they're about to expire at the end of this year, for one year, Democrats will vote to reopen the government. John Thune called it a non-starter. What do you make of the politics at play here?

STAHL: You know, I'm really focused on transportation security and keeping our skies safe. But that should be done, frankly, and that's the position of the White House, of course. That should be done during, not in spite of the government and normal Congressional order.

And so we're, again, focused on the safety and the security of our skies, protecting our people as well, and American travelers, and that should be the focus for everyone, getting back to normal order and really ensuring the safety in the security of our skies. Frankly, our TSA officers shouldn't be a political pawn, a political bargaining chip, and that's what we're really focused on, again, every single day.

They're feeling the effects of this financially, personally. They're also human beings like you and I. They have families and they have checks to pay. So, again, we're focused on that. And we really are calling for Congress, Senate Democrats to really get back to normal order.

TAPPER: Adam Stahl, thanks so much.

Breaking news from Capitol Hill, the Senate is now voting on a bill that would increase the number of federal workers who would get paid during the shutdown. We're going to go there next. Plus, a big update today on those food stamp or SNAP benefits that 42 million Americans rely on, the Trump administration taking action to comply with the court orders, to fully fund food stamps.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:15:00]

TAPPER: A live look at the U.S. Senate floor right now as the Senate votes on a bill introduced by Senator Ron Johnson, Republican of Wisconsin, that would allow pay for federal employees working during the shutdown. Senate Democrats and Republicans still have not reached any deal to open the government and all probabilities sending the shutdown into a 39th day, furthering the record that's already been set for the longest shutdown in the history of these United States. It takes that title from the 2018, 2019 shutdown, also during President Trump's presidency, though the first one. That shutdown lasted 35 days. That was sparked by a fight over funding for Trump's border wall and ended after ten air traffic controllers didn't show up to work, and that caused delays at several hubs, and that led to a deal being made before the end of the day.

Prior to that, in 2013, a government shutdown lasted 16 days. House Republicans were demanding that President Obama roll back Obamacare. There was also a lengthy shutdown that started in December 1995 when then-President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich could not agree on a long-term spending bill. 21 days later into the New Year, the shutdown ended when Congress accepted a budget proposal from President Clinton.

So, how and when will this current shutdown end? Let's bring in CNN Correspondent Arlette Saenz on Capitol Hill for the latest on negotiations. Arlette, where do negotiations stand? Is the desperation so many Americans feel, whether it's travelers or people on food stamps or these workers not being paid, or the people whose Obamacare premiums are about to skyrocket for whom the Democrats say they're fighting, is that getting through to anybody in leadership?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jake, leadership on both sides of the aisle will acknowledge those problems, but these efforts to try to end the government shutdown, any negotiations are really deadlocked. Right now, the Senate is voting not on a plan to reopen the government but on a plan from Republican Senator Ron Johnson to pay federal workers during this shutdown.

Now, some Democrats had expressed concerns about whether this bill that had been laid out would, in fact, cover all furloughed workers. Republicans have said that they would amend this if it does pass this procedural vote, amend this to include all federal workers, but right now, it's unclear whether enough Democrats will actually get on board to advance this procedural measure.

And it all comes as both sides, Democrats and Republicans, have really expressed a lot of frustration about where these talks to end a shutdown stand. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier today did unveil a Democratic counter proposal to Republicans. He said that Democrats would vote to reopen the government, if that also included a one year extension of the expiring Obamacare subsidies.

But any Republican who's talked about extending those subsidies has said that that needs to be done with reforms to the program, so that really, that proposal from Schumer, was a non-starter with Republicans up here on Capitol Hill. Then you also think about even if it passed the Senate, the House would even have a much more difficult job in trying to corral the House Republican caucus together, and that is why House Speaker Mike Johnson has been very non-committal about ever bringing up a vote on these Obamacare subsidies.

So, right now, there still appears to be both sides digging in on their positions. It does seem like they might be staying in over the weekend. That's something President Trump urged them to do. But there really doesn't appear to be a clear resolution in sight for ending the shutdown, even as there are bits and pieces of talks happening behind the scenes.

TAPPER: All right. Arlette Saenz on Capitol Hill, thanks so much.

The warning from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as the U.S. military carries out yet another deadly stroke on a boat in the Caribbean, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:20:00]

TAPPER: We're back live at Reagan National Airport, just outside D.C., one of the many U.S. airports seeing flight cuts and delays amid this government shutdown.

Meanwhile, in our World Lead, on Thursday, secretary of defense, or as he prefers to be called secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, announced another deadly U.S. military strike on a boat in the Caribbean. It's a boat he says was trafficking narcotics. All three people aboard were killed, the Pentagon says.

This is now the 17th known strike with approximately 70 people killed since the Trump administration's first boat strike in early September.

Let's bring in retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former military attorney, Professor Rachel VanLandingham. Professor, Hegseth, posted on social media about the latest strike, and he wrote, quote, to all narco-terrorists who threaten our homeland, if you want to stay alive, stop trafficking drugs. If you keep trafficking deadly drugs, we will kill you, unquote. I'm not really sure if I've ever seen a secretary of defense say that about somebody that was, until a few months ago, considered criminal. Are these strengths legal?

LT. COL. RACHEL VANLANDINGHAM (RET.), U.S. AIR FORCE: No, Jake, and thanks for having me. They're actually murder. They're what's called extrajudicial killings. And this is not just the moral view, it's the legal view. It's the view of American law is that drug smugglers, even once they are given their due process and convicted in court, are not eligible for the death penalty.

So, here, we have the administration simply calling it a war, calling these folks combatants, when, in fact, they're just simply militarizing what has hereto for been a law enforcement operation militarizing so that they can exploit and abuse the use of deadly force in the American people's name against individuals who do not pose an imminent threat to our country.

TAPPER: Sources tell CNN that the Justice Department informed Congress last week that President Trump, as far as they're concerned, can continue these deadly strikes without Congressional approval. So, I mean, is that it? I mean, are there any legal avenues at this point that can have the administration at least explain in detail what they're doing and what the evidence is of the intelligence, or even stop these strikes from happening?

VANLANDINGHAM: Well, we have, you know, the American people putting pressure on the government through things like the 7 million folks that marched a few weeks ago. But we did just see a failed attempt by Congress and it failed along party lines, even though we had two Republicans voting to support a bipartisan introduced measure to stop the president, say, you know, you're not authorized to deploy troops to hostilities in Venezuela. We saw a similar failed attempt by Congress a few months ago regarding the actual boat strikes themselves.

So, there really is about those in on Capitol Hill looking at their moral compass and looking at their legal compass and setting it on true north to say, hey, wait a second. This is not a war. We don't just to get -- we don't give the executive branch the ability to be judge, jury and executioner and commit murder in the American people's name.

So, I mean, I think there has to be a lot more. There needs to be greater stomach on Capitol Hill really to stop this. Because right now, the president is doing what he can do and he is going to continue to do it until someone tells him to stop.

TAPPER: So, it's not as though there's like evidence that these are 70 El Chapos, right? I mean, we just don't know who they are. Last week after Pentagon officials briefed members of Congress about these strikes, Democratic Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs of California, she said that the Trump administration -- she asked the Trump administration about why they let two survivors of these strikes, why they returned them to their home countries, and she was told, quote, they could not satisfy the evidentiary burden, unquote, to keep them or to try them or to prosecute them.

So, explain this to me. The Trump administration has enough evidence to kill these people, but not enough to hold them and prosecute them?

VANLANDINGHAM: Yes. It's strange that as perverse as it sounds, it's because they're destroying the evidence when they're blowing up these alleged drug runners, right? The submersible that they've destroyed and the boats, if they had drugs on them, which, you know, let's give credit where credit's due. I believe our intelligence community is incredibly brilliant, and they're able to precisely identify if these individuals are actually drug runners, but then they're blowing them up instead of what they used to do, which is interdict and then prosecute.

So, they're destroying the very evidence that they're using. And, of course, we, I mean, we have reason -- well, there's something called due process and checks and balances. We like to believe them, but trust, but verify, right? But meanwhile we can't even verify the fact that these actually are drug runners.

But I really, Jake, think it gets to the moral and legal point of even if they are drug runners, they are not terrorists who are about to engage in imminent violence against the American people. Yes, the drug scourge is a threat to the United States long-term, but that's where criminal law enforcement comes in. And it doesn't allow the president per international law nor domestic law to simply say, okay, we're now at war and we're just going to simply kill them.

TAPPER: Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Rachel VanLandingham, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

As the government shutdown crosses thousands of flight delays and cancelations, it is also forcing one man to make multiple backup plans so he doesn't miss his cancer surgery. This is just one of the many stories of people who are impacted by this government shutdown. The latest on the disruptions, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:30:00]

TAPPER: Right to our National Lead, staffing shortages are prompting delays at airports nationwide with airlines slashing 4 percent of flights at 40 major airports today, as ordered by the Trump administration, and officials warning of even more cancelations in the coming days, the ripple effect of this 38th day government shutdown, the longest in the history of these United States.

Let's check in with CNN's Ed Lavandera, who's monitoring the situation at Dallas, Fort Worth International Airport. Ed what's going on where you are Hearing announcement, please make.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Jake. Well, the ripple effects of this slowdown in the air system hasn't really manifested itself here. You know, we're seeing wait times around 25 to 30 minutes here in security. Many of the flights have not been canceled. This is an airport that normally has about 2,000 incoming and outgoing flights per day. If you look at the flight board here showing many of the flights on time, but what we are hearing from people here is a great deal of concern about what is coming in the days ahead, and also a great deal of concern for the TSA agents who are working without getting paid.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONNIE BROWN, TRAVELER: I'm concerned for my ex-fellow co-workers at TSA that they get their jobs going again, and they get their paychecks.

ERIKA LOWERY, TRAVELER: I am saddened. I am dismayed for those that I see now working without getting a paycheck.

[18:35:04]

I don't want to work without getting a paycheck, and yet they're showing up every day and doing so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: So, Jake, as I mentioned, a lot of people are really concerned about what's coming. They're still out here traveling today. But they're concerned about what's going to happen in the days ahead. Are they going to be stranded somewhere? Is it going to be difficult to get back from wherever they're going this weekend? That really is the concern here, as the threat of more flights being canceled in the days ahead continues to grow. Jake?

TAPPER: All right. Ed Lavandera at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport, thanks so much.

Here with me now is Chip Lowe. He's the local council vice president for the Association of Flight Attendants. And, Chip, anyone who flies knows that flight attendants play a pivotal role in keeping the travel experience smooth. How have these shutdowns, how have the canceled flights impacted travel attendants, flight attendants?

CHIP LOWE, LOCAL VICE PRESIDENT, AFA UNITED: Yes. So, you know, the main way that it's affecting us right now, just like you're having a canceled flight as a passenger, it's a change to our schedule. So, maybe we're going to work thinking we're going to lay over in one place and now we're laying over somewhere else, or we're coming back the next day.

So, it's -- you know, it's an inconvenience. It's not as much of an inconvenience as it is to our, you know, fellow colleagues who are TSA agents and the ATC, you know, air traffic controllers who are coming to work with no pay. But, you know, it's a bit of an inconvenience that we're working through.

TAPPER: So, the staffing issues with TSA agents and air traffic controllers are real. They have now not been paid for more than a month. Is it safe to fly?

LOWE: Yes, it's still safe to fly, right? But, you know, every piece of stress on an individual or in the system, right, that adds risk. And we don't want risk in the system. So, the steps that they're taking right now to reduce air traffic, right, that is to ensure safety and security. But, you know, we're really hopeful that there can be an end to this government shutdown soon, that those healthcare subsidies can be extended and we can kind of be done with this and go back to normal. That's what we want as flight attendants. And we're pretty sure that's what, you know, the majority of Americans in the traveling public want. TAPPER: It doesn't -- I mean, Schumer proposed that he said Democrats would vote to reopen the government if the Obamacare subsidies were extended for a year, and the Republican leader of the Senate, John Thune, said, that's a non-starter. So, what's going to happen? I mean, is your union pushing one side or the other to exceed to the other side's request?

LOWE: No. I mean, we're here to, you know, advocate for our members and flight attendants. But I'll tell you as a union, right, those are concerns that we have for our members and for other union members. So we do believe it's important.

TAPPER: The Obamacare subsidies?

LOWE: Correct, yes. But at the end of the day, you know, what we really want is an end to the shutdown, you know? And that's up to the politicians, right, to decide, Congress to decide. But, you know, we're concerned about safety and security at the airports, our schedules being back to normal. And, you know, yes, that's selfish, right, for us as flight attendants and crew members. But also it means that you'll be able to get to your important events on time. So --

TAPPER: What do you -- what should travelers know? What's your advice for travelers? Because even if this government shutdown were to end today, which it won't, or tomorrow, which it won't, these disruptions are going to have an effect for a while. What do you want travelers to know?

LOWE: Yes. You know, anytime there's any piece of the system that gets disrupted, it takes a long time to clean up. But we want you to be proactive, right? I know it's silly, right? But download the airline app, check the airport website, do everything you can. This isn't one of those times you should just show up to the airport last minute. So, be proactive. Even though you're proactive, things are still going to go wrong. There's still going to be delays. Yes, they're cutting back the schedules, they're cutting back air traffic, but there's going to be things that we can't predict. So, bring your patients.

And I think, you know, kind of our personal plug as flight attendants is be kind to one another. It's an easy thing to do. When I've been coming in, even through employee security, right, I know that I'm looking at a TSA agent who hasn't had a paycheck in a while, right? And this is --

TAPPER: October 1st was the government shutdown. That's when it started. It's crazy.

Chip Lowe, thank you so much. I appreciate it.

As lawmakers fight on Capitol Hill, millions of Americans are going hungry because of the shutdown. How has feeding low income people, children, how has this become political? That story's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00]

TAPPER: An important update in our Politics Lead now, the Department of Agriculture announced this afternoon that is working to fully fund food stamp benefits for November in order to comply with a federal court order. The news comes as millions of Americans have been living in limbo, forced to ration their food.

CNN's Rene Marsh spoke with one family dependent on snap or food stamp benefits to buy groceries and put food on the table.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ONITA NORRIS, SNAP RECIPIENT: Get the top teeth. That's enough soap. I thought I heard that thing.

Food is the last thing that we should have to be stressed out about.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In Martinsburg, West Virginia, mornings move fast for Onita Norris, a single mom juggling two toddlers, a dog, breakfast and a full-time job. The government shutdown has made life even harder, disrupting SNAP, the federal food assistance program she relies on, to feed her kids.

NORRIS: It'll be, you know, meatless meals and things that obviously you can stretch a lot longer.

I work 40 hours a week. I work for the state and I'm on government assistance, because I'm still not making ends meet, unfortunately. It hurts because it's like I'm not -- I don't want to be on it but I need it.

MARSH: Norris earns $2,800 a month.

NORRIS: Rent, for instance, $1,475.

MARSH: After paying bills, she's left with barely a hundred dollars for gas and anything else. SNAP, also known as food stamps, added $265 a month to her budget for food.

What is the difference of having this $265 versus not?

NORRIS: 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 just for the sake that they are getting enough.

[18:45:09]

MARSH: So, moms having to sometimes skip a meal or curb.

NORRIS: Yes. Whoo. Yeah. It feels like I'm failing them because I am trying. I'm trying to do all that I can, and of course, as a human, you get frustrated and I never want my kids to see that or feel like I'm taking that out on them for something as simple as dinner.

LEIGH FLEMING, CCAP/LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRY: Do you need a gallon of milk?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, ma'am.

FLEMING: Okay.

MARSH (voice-over): We visited this food pantry in Berkeley County, a place that's voted for Donald Trump in every election he's been on the ballot. Nearly a quarter of the people here live below the poverty line and now furloughed federal workers are lining up alongside families who rely on snap.

FLEMING: You could see how busy we are. Our waiting room is filled up. We doubled our typical weekly amount of households.

MARSH (voice-over): A judge Thursday said the administration should resume paying the benefits in full. Friday morning, the Trump administration appealed that decision, but by Friday afternoon, the administration said it would pay states the full SNAP payments.

NORRIS: Mama's improvising because I don't want to -- I don't want to use up all of y'alls milk.

MARSH (voice-over): Families like Norris's are now waiting for the balance to show up on their cards.

NORRIS: I just don't understand how we've come to a point where we're using food in politics and being essentially political pawns.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARSH: Just when SNAP recipients will officially receive their funds really depends on what state they live in. Some states may need a little bit more time. But some people could get their funds loaded into their accounts as soon as this weekend. But now that the Trump administration is paying full SNAP benefits for the 42 million Americans who need it, it is unclear what that will mean for their appeal. Seeking to reverse the judges order for full benefits to be made -- Jake.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: All right. Rene Marsh, thanks so much.

And Ashley Davis and Xochitl Hinojosa are back with me.

And, Xochitl, so the Trump administration had said that they were going to appeal the judges order. And then they didn't. And then they are having -- they're fully funding SNAP. What does that say to you, if anything, if you're reading the tea leaves of how this is ever going to end?

XOCHITL HINOJOSA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think them appealing the judges order would have been catastrophic in a moment that we're in. When you just heard that story and people cannot get -- it's not that people can't necessarily buy Christmas presents this Christmas. It's that they can't get the basic needs for their families.

And there's so many people that are struggling right now. And I think that they are finally understanding the repercussions that this will have, not only on Trump and the politics of it, but the lives that its impacting right now.

And stories like that, you just heard. Look at those babies. You know, just looking at them and just thinking that someday they might not have something to eat. The mom's not eating, and she's not necessarily doing stuff for herself to provide for her children.

And there are families like that all over the country. So, I think that's what's happening right now with the Trump administration.

TAPPER: So, this also kind of gets into the issue of affordability. And we heard President Trump earlier today on the show talk about how affordability is a Democratic hoax.

But Elise Stefanik, the congresswoman from New York, launched her gubernatorial bid today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, POLITICAL AD)

AD NARRATOR: New York is facing an affordability crisis. Kathy Hochul made New York the most unaffordable state in the nation. Unaffordable rent.

Elise Stefanik will make New York affordable and safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: So, Stefanik taking the Mamdani mantle of affordability. Except instead of blaming, you know, Republicans, she's blaming the Democratic governor.

ASHLEY DAVIS, FOUNDING PARTNER, WEST FRONT STRATEGIES: No, absolutely. Elise and I go back to the Bush administration, and she's very smart and she's very politically smart. And she knows she read the tea leaves of what's happening. But the best thing that's happened to her is that Mamdani won.

I mean, the fact that she has an ability to potentially win in a blue state such as New York as governor is because of that.

TAPPER: Because of Mamdani?

DAVIS: Yeah.

TAPPER: Just using him as a foil. Tell me more.

DAVIS: Yeah. No. She can -- she's going to be able to attack him and his policies for the next, obviously, year. But also, I think that she'll be able to run against the extremism of what he is. It's just a good platform.

HINOJOSA: Well, I think -- it'll just depend whether or not he can get stuff accomplished. And if he can't, I think that then Republicans will have that argument to make. But if he does, and if he is able to do critical things in the city, then I think that that just shows you, you know, running on costs and having a successful agenda like that will make him successful in the future.

DAVIS: If she doesn't go too far, right, like goes back to kind of where she started when she first ran for Congress --

TAPPER: Back when you know her?

DAVIS: Yeah. Did you like that?

TAPPER: Yeah.

DAVIS: I think that she could probably get some moderate Democrats if Mamdani goes too far.

[18:50:01]

You're exactly right.

TAPPER: So, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE is capitalizing on Mamdani's victory by recruiting police officers to leave the NYPD. We're also seeing the Houston police officers union do this, putting up a -- NYPD, ae you disgusted with the election of Zohran Mamdani? Join us. The Houston Police Department is hiring police officers.

What do you think, Xochitl?

HINOJOSA: I don't think this does anything. If you are part of the NYPD, let me just tell you, it's sort of like the FBI. You are proud to be part of that law enforcement.

You're not going to go anywhere else. You're not going to go to Houston. You're not going to go to anything. I understand what they're trying to do here, but I do believe that New Yorkers, and especially folks who are working for the NYPD, will stay there and they will serve regardless of who is mayor.

DAVIS: Also, this is this whole argument, jake, that people are just going to leave because he was elected, or because they're going to leave America because Trump was elected. I mean, it's just picking up your life and leaving. Yes. Rosie O'Donnell left and whoever else. But like for everyday Americans to leave -- and leave their state is like, not. I mean, that's very difficult.

HINOJOSA: Especially New Yorkers.

DAVIS: I just don't buy the argument.

TAPPER: New Yorkers are very -- what's the word? Snotty about the fact that they're from New York. They're very --

DAVIS: The police officers generally.

TAPPER: Yeah.

HINOJOSA: They're definitely not going to a place like Texas. I'm sorry. DAVIS: No.

TAPPER: But speaking of New York, Hochul, Governor Hochul of New York, has been quietly preparing for weeks now for the possibility that President Trump is going to send the National Guard into New York city. She has reportedly set up a virtual war room to stop, or at least delay any federal incursion.

How do you see that playing out, if that does actually happen? I mean, you think a Stefanik is happy about the foil of Mamdani? Trump is super happy.

DAVIS: Absolutely. And I still don't think that Democrats fighting law and order is a good message. I mean, I know Newsom is doing really well on this message, but I just -- if there's a lot of crime in New York City and he's helping -- look what happened in D.C. I live in the city. You live in the city. And I was like 100 percent fine with the national --

TAPPER: Weren't really in our neighborhoods, were they? The federal law enforcement? I mean, they were --

DAVIS: They were where we work.

TAPPER: Right. Sure. But they're more downtown, southeast. I mean, like, it didn't really impact us. But that said -- but that said also.

Yeah. No. That said, Brian Todd went to Anacostia and interviewed a woman and she was like, happy that there was a presence.

DAVIS: And also our mayor was like, pretty good with accepting it.

TAPPER: Yeah, that's true, Mayor Bowser. She also had a curfew for teens because there was actually that scene that I saw some liberals posting it about, like National Guard versus protesters and D.C. government, Mayor Bowser was like, no, those -- those teens were out of control.

DAVIS: Yeah.

HINOJOSA: They were. And what I'll say here is that I don't think Democrats can avoid talking about crime. I do think that they need to take it head on. Some people, in some places, people feel unsafe.

It's similar to when in the Biden administration, Biden ignored immigration. What ended up happening? Trump then defined immigration, defined open borders, and then won.

Democrats cannot avoid immigration. They cannot -- they cannot avoid crime, or they will lose in the upcoming election. So, they need to talk about what they're going to do in order to fight.

TAPPER: Perfect. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it. Have a great weekend.

The history that was made when the Grammy nominations were announced today, and the artists who were shockingly snubbed. That story is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC VIDEO CLIP)

[18:47:32]

TAPPER: All right. Finally, from us in our pop culture lead, the Grammy nominations are in, and Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine noms, including album of the year, record of the year, song of the year. Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny and Sabrina Carpenter were also top nominees.

Let's bring in CNN's entertainment correspondent Elizabeth Wagmeister.

Elizabeth, the Recording Academy invited over 3,000 new members to its 2025 class just days ago, expanding the pool of qualified voters. Did that affect this year's nominations?

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. So, Jake, really, over the last five years, the Recording Academy has taken great lengths to diversify its voting body. And as you said, they just added 3,800 new members who will vote for the 2026 Grammys. And we are seeing a reflection of that diverse voting body in the nominations.

You saw a huge morning today for rap and hip hop music there, with Kendrick Lamar leading the pack, and of course, with Bad Bunny getting six nominations, a huge year for Latin music, which is typically ignored at the Grammys.

Now, part of that, 3,800 new members is for the first time in grammy history, the Latin Recording Academy has been invited to vote this year. Now, of course, Bad Bunny, as you know, has been the talk of the town not just in Hollywood, but also in D.C. because he's going to be the Super Bowl halftime performer.

And today, Jake, he makes history as the first Spanish language artist to be nominated in the major three categories, all in one year.

TAPPER: I can't help but notice that Taylor Swift is missing from these nominations. What is that about?

WAGMEISTER: Don't feel too bad for Taylor Swift. She was not snubbed. We can clear that up right here. Jake, I know you are a Swiftie.

She actually wasn't eligible. Her new album, "Life of a Showgirl", came after the eligibility window. So maybe next year for Taylor Swift. I -- in fact, I will say this right now, this time next year, Jake, we will be talking about Taylor with the Grammy nominations.

TAPPER: Okay. That is a big relief to my daughter and my wife and by extension, me.

Elizabeth Wagmeister, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Coming up Sunday on "STATE OF THE UNION", I'm going to be joined by

the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Also, we have a big exclusive with California Governor Gavin Newsom, fresh off his redistricting win on Prop 50 and perhaps the beginning of his presidential campaign. That's Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and noon Eastern only on CNN.

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, X and on the TikTok @jaketapper. You can follow the show on X and Instagram @TheLeadCNN.

If you ever miss an episode of THE LEAD, you can watch -- watch the show on the CNN app.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts now. I will see you Sunday morning.