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Cardinals Prepare for First Round of Voting to Elect New Pope; Nuclear Powers India and Pakistan on the Brink of War; Real I.D. Now Required for Air Travel Within U.S. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired May 07, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: We begin with breaking news this morning. Two nuclear powers on the brink of war, India carrying out its deepest strike into Pakistan in more than 50 years, saying it's targeting terrorists. But Pakistan says dozens of civilians are dead in the attack and it will respond. Our live report coming up.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, history unfolding before our eyes. The papal conclave begins the secret vote to select the new leader of the Catholic Church. All eyes on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel for a puff of that white smoke.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Have you checked your license this morning? Well, get at it. Real I.D. day is here. What it means for lines at the airport likely today, and what also happens if you need to fly without one.

I am Kate Bolduan with the Sarah Sidner and the John Berman. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Happening now, Cardinals from around the world are in Vatican City preparing to undertake a secretive process that's been happening in the Catholic Church for hundreds of years while millions around the globe watch and wait. That process, the conclave to pick the next pope. It begins in just a few hours when those cardinals will cast their first ballots.

But right now, they're taking a break after a special mass inside in St. Peter's Basilica this morning, Cardinal Giovanni Batista, the dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered the homily, calling for unity and appearing to urge cardinals to follow Pope Francis' path.

CNN Anchor Erin Burnett is at St. Peter's Square this morning. What a beautiful morning it is. Erin, what is happening there right now? Where it is this afternoon?

ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, this afternoon. And I will say, Sara, as you and Kate and John we're beginning the program, it was pouring rain and now the sun has come out. It has been that sort of a day, absolutely beautiful though at this moment. And the cardinals are at the Casa Santa Marta that is this sort of. Dorm like hotel, where they're going to be staying and sleeping during the entire conclave, where they're sequestered.

Sara, they've already had their iPhones and their iPads confiscated, taken away. They are now sequestered from the outside world. There was a mass here just hours ago, where as you point out, it was interpreted from the cardinal giving the homily that they were pushing towards diversity, following the footsteps of Saint Francis, referring to a firm and profound communion in diversity, important words. The cardinals were there. They concluded the mass.

And right now, Sara, they're at Casa Santa Marta and they're having lunch in a dining hall style and they are going to have that lunch. Then they are going to head to the Pauline Chapel and then the Sistine Chapel, where they are going to take the oath of secrecy, the profound oath to go into the deliberations for the next pope, and then that's going to happen in the Sistine Chapel.

Sara, just to give you a sense, I've got this sheet here printed out. This is a list of all 133 car cardinals in the order in which they're going to be sworn in. So, they're sworn in an order. Each of them takes the oath, then they will cast the first vote.

Now, that vote is going to come behind me, so behind me is St. Peter's Basilica, right over my left shoulder, behind that building, is the Sistine Chapel. You can't see the chapel quite from here, but you can see a bit of the chimney, and that's the chimney where in just a few hours we're going to see the first smoke.

As you said, that smoke anticipated to be black, which would indicate that there is no pope yet. That's because it's the first vote. That's the only vote today. And then from then on, there will be four votes a day until there's a pope.

But the vote today, Sara, is crucial because that's the vote where frontrunners may get up to 30 votes of the 133 votes of cardinals, anybody who they say who gets up between 10 and 20 could be a contender. It really sets the stage for the cardinals on who will be the next Pope. But a moment that has such importance, as you all know, not just for the 1.4 billion Catholics around the world, but for a World War, we're talking about a possible war between India and Pakistan, the largest land war in Europe since World War II, with Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the political instability and rise of authoritarianism.

The role of the pope much more broadly than the Catholic Church is going to be a crucial one, and that is what they're going to be in the Sistine Chapel.

[07:05:00]

And to think about that, Sara, underneath some of the most glorious art in the world, having this conversation and this first vote expected just hours from now where I am.

SIDNER: I know it is highly unusual. You've been talking to Father Beck this morning. It would be very unusual if that first puff of smoke is white. But if that were to happen, that whole place goes wild. People come from everywhere to celebrate a new pope.

Erin Burnett, I'm glad you're there. I'm glad we'll be checking in with you throughout the morning. Thank you so much. John?

BERMAN: All right. We do have more breaking news. Erin, just mentioned that this major escalation between two nuclear armed neighbors, India carrying out the deepest strike in Pakistan in more than 50 years. Video shared on social media shows the moment of impact from one of those strikes. India says it was targeting, quote, terrorist infrastructure in the wake of a tourist massacre in the disputed territory of Kashmir. Pakistan has denied any involvement in that.

Now, Pakistan's military says, India strikes killed at least 26 civilians, including children. And security sources there say five Indian Air Force jets and drones were shot down during this attack.

Now, Pakistan is vowing retaliation. This is a serious situation, one of the worst we've seen in the region in years.

Let's get right to CNN's Nic Robertson, who's in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, for the very latest. Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, good morning John, and good afternoon from here. It was just round about lunchtime today, just before lunchtime here that Pakistan officials held a national security committee meeting. That's the top government officials along with the top security officials, the prime minister following that, said that the Pakistan army was entitled to act in self-defense, he said with, quote, corresponding actions. He also said that the Pakistani army should avenge the death of innocent civilians. Among the dead, government officials are saying, was a three year-old girl. Among the damaged properties was a seminary.

The head of that seminary is the leader of a group called Jaish-e- Mohammed, who actually claimed a terror attack inside Indian controlled Kashmir in 2019. Back then it was a suicide bomber killing 40 Indian security forces in that attack. That appears to have been the site of one of India's targets. India has not provided Pakistani officials, as far as we've been told, with evidence of the alleged involvement in that massacre of 26 civilians, neither have they provided information about their allegations in this attack, that they say that they were preempting a terror attack.

However, the leader of that seminary, the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed, they're called, he says that ten of his family members, including children, were killed in the strike. But his most recent Telegram posting was a threat against India. His organization has a track record of targeting India.

So, a lot to unpack, but the words of the prime minister after that security committee meeting are very powerful. It is emotive that women and children are among the dead and injured. It is emotive that a mosque has been hit. It is emotive that this strike has been the deepest into Pakistan since 1971. But quite the move that the military move that Pakistan has vowed to take, that next isn't clear. But, certainly, this lays the way open for significant escalation, John.

BERMAN: Yes, combustible ingredients here. You have two powerful militaries and decades frankly of grievances.

Nic Robertson in Islamabad monitoring the situation, stand by, we will come back to you for more. All right, Kate?

BOLDUAN: Also coming up for us, starting today, Real I.D. is in effect at airports nationwide. What that means for you if you are planning to travel anytime soon.

And a quote for you, the most dangerous situation you could have, new CNN reporting coming in overnight of an air traffic controller on duty the day communications went dark at Newark Airport and they're speaking out.

And Motown legend Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by four women in a $50 million lawsuit.

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[07:10:00]

BOLDUAN: So, as of today, your standard driver's license isn't going to cut it at the airport. You must now have a Real I.D. to board a plane for travel within the United States. Those I.D.s are marked with a star or a flag in the upper right corner. So, what is this all going to look like at the airport today? CNN's Danny Freeman will find out and is there for us at Philadelphia International Airport this morning.

And Danny, TSA says, if you don't have the right I.D. right now, you're still going to be okay. But walk us through all of it.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And that's right, Kate. That was the big headline that we learned yesterday that if you did not have a real I.D. or a passport, something along those lines, you would not be turned away. You'd still be able to board a plane. We've seen that in action today. But there is a caveat. If you come to the airport today and moving forward without that real id, without that little star on your driver's license, you will be potentially subject to extra screening.

And what I'll tell you about what we've been seeing here so far this morning, it's actually been pretty smooth. The main thing that we've seen is if folks don't have a Real I.D., they've been presented with this pamphlet right here by the TSA.

[07:15:02]

And there's been a TSA agent basically all morning checking, do you have a passport, do you have a Real I.D. This one says, the I.D. you presented is not Real I.D.-compliant. You will need a Real I.D. or other acceptable form of identification for your next flight or you may expect delays. So, that's been the biggest difference that we've seen at the airport. And then, of course, some folks have been going to get some of those additional screenings. But like I said, Kate, here at PHL, it's been actually pretty smooth. But I will say we have seen a tremendous amount of passports here. I mean, I don't think I've ever seen in this domestic terminal, and I've been here quite a lot, so many people carrying passports into the line for a spot like this. That shows you a little bit of the shift that's going to be happening.

Remember some acceptable forms of identification if you still have not gotten your hands on that license with that gold star, U.S. passport or passport card, permanent resident card, or a veteran health identification card.

The idea is that this 2005 law that was passed, the Real I.D. Act back then, it was also about enhancing security measures for identification. So, these enhanced federal I.D.s are good enough to get you on that plane.

But, again, the federal government still wants you to go out and try to get that Real I.D. In the past two days I've been at DMVs, primarily in New Jersey, just across the river here. There was a big scramble to get those I.D.s, but at least at the airport here at PHL, incredibly busy airport, so far, things have been smooth, Kate. If that changes, I'll be sure to update you guys.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. I saw a video of some very long lines in Chicago as well, of people trying to get these enhanced IDs now, so, you know, it definitely is happening.

It's good to see you, Danny. Thank you so much. Sara?

SIDNER: What about using my student I.D. from the 90s?

BOLDUAN: I don't think so. And your library card don't work.

SIDNER: All right, just checking. Thank you, Kate, for that update. I needed that.

All right, the first boats carrying Chinese goods with 145 percent tariffs have arrived in the United States and the cargo looks a lot different. What you can expect and the shortages you may see on the shelves for certain items coming soon.

And the largest measles outbreak in this country in 25 years, rising above 830 cases in multiple states, why experts say that number could actually be much higher. Those stories and more ahead.

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[07:20:00]

BERMAN: All right. This morning, will it be the pause heard round the world, the continued pause? The Federal Reserve will announce its latest decision on interest rates today. The president desperately wants the Fed to lower them to inject juice into the economy, but the Fed has voiced concerns that the president's tariffs could be inflationary, which argues against lowering rates. They are in a bit of a bind.

CNN's Matt Egan in Washington. I know the Fed chair must get nervous every time he sees you in Washington. It means he's got to announce a big decision.

MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: No, I don't think he's nervous when he sees me. It takes a lot to get Jerome Powell nervous. But, look, you're right, the Fed is kind of in this impossible situation right now, no good options. To your point, they may want to cut interest rates, but that could make inflation worse. That could drive prices even higher. And they can't raise interest rates right now because that could kill jobs, some of which are already on the line.

And so that's why Wall Street is expecting the Fed is going to do absolutely nothing today. Market is pricing in a 97 percent chance of no change in interest rates at today's meeting, just a 3 percent chance of a cut. Even next meeting in June, there's a relatively low chance of an interest rate cut. And, again, that's because of what's happening in the trade war and all of this uncertainty.

Now, this is disappointing news for borrowers, right, because interest rates are still high. They've come down a bit, but they're still elevated. And so that means it is still an expensive time to get a car loan, to try to pay down credit card debt, to try to get a mortgage.

And, look, the president of the United States, he's been very clear about what he wants to see here, right? President Trump has repeatedly said that he wants the Fed to cut interest rates. He even called Jerome Powell a major loser last month. Take a listen to this exchange on Meet the Press the other day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTEN WELKER, NBC NEWS HOST: Today's strong jobs report likely means -- not clear, but likely means the Fed is less likely to lower interest rates.

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Well, he should lower them. And at some point he will. He'd rather not, because he's not a fan of mine, not -- you know, he just doesn't like me because I think he's a total stiff and, you know, it's just one of those things. He should lower them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

EGAN: So, you heard the president suggesting that Jerome Powell won't lower interest rates because Jerome Powell does not like Trump. Listen, he went on to then signal that he does not plan to try to fire Powell. That, of course, would be a nightmare for markets. He's signaling he wants to wait him out and try to replace Powell next year.

But, look, John, at the end of the day, the bottom line is the Fed does not have a magic wand to fix what ails this economy, right? And that is tariffs and this chaotic trade war and all of this uncertainty. And so I think the Fed is going to have to be on hold for at least a bit longer now.

BERMAN: Yes. And, of course, that we will be listening to Jerome Powell this week to figure out how he talks about the tariffs and how he explains what the Fed sees going forward. That probably more important than the decision itself today, which seems pretty certain.

Matt Egan, great to have you there, keep us posted. Kate?

BOLDUAN: Ahead for us, the secret conclave to elect a new pope begins today in just hours, actually.

[07:25:03]

How soon can the world expect to see that famous white smoke from the Sistine Chapel? We'll take you there.

And Newark Airport entering a tenth day without a fix to the mess of delays and cancellations that it's been experiencing, and new CNN reporting from someone on duty the day air traffic controllers lost communications with planes in the air.

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[07:30:00]

SIDNER: This week, a massive meeting is set in Geneva between top Trump officials and their Chinese counterparts to discuss the growing.