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CDC in Turmoil After Chief Fired, Top Leaders Resign; Families of Two Victims Killed in Church Shooting Speak Out; Million Expected to Travel for Labor Day Weekend. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired August 29, 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]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The vaccine standoff that has left the Centers for Disease Control and chaos. Who is in charge this morning and what does it tell us about Secretary Robert Kennedy's plans for vaccines that so many depend on.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: A big sister, a sports lover, an overwhelming loss. The families of the eight and ten-year-old students killed in the shooting in a Minneapolis church this week, remembering their children while calling for action as survivors speak out.

And a fiery debate leading to an all out brawl, lawmakers in Mexico shoving, swinging, one aide actually ending up in a neck brace. What led to that fighting?

Kate Bolduan and Sara Sidner are out. I'm Erica Hill along with John Berman on this Friday morning. This is CNN News Central.

BERMAN: And breaking overnight a standoff at the Centers for Disease Control apparently over the future of vaccines in the U.S. It's not clear who's in charge this morning after the just confirmed director was fired and four senior officials resigned in solidarity. Dozens of supporters and CDC employees gathered outside the Atlanta headquarters cheering and saluting them. One of those officials told CNN people should be asking key questions to Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEMETRE DASKALAKIS, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CENTER FOR IMMUNIZATION AND RESPIRATORY DISEASES: I think that another important thing to ask the secretary is has he been ever briefed by a CDC expert on anything, specifically measles COVID-19 flu? The answer is no. So, no one from my center has ever briefed him on any of those topics. Yes, he's getting information from somewhere, but that information is not coming from CDC experts who really are the world's experts in this area.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, the four officials who resigned, they resigned in protest after Secretary Kennedy moved to fire the CDC director, Dr. Susan Monarez following clashes over vaccine policy. We have learned that Kennedy will name Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O'Neill as acting director.

Let's get right to CNN's Jacqueline Howard for where things stand right now. Jacqueline?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Well, John, where things stand, CDC employees say that they are still feeling confused, they're still feeling turmoil around this sudden shift in leadership. Keep in mind, all of this is happening just weeks after CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez was confirmed. Now, as you said, John. She has been ousted and we understand that Kennedy has tapped his deputy, Jim O'Neill, to serve as acting director.

But just yesterday at that ceremony, that clap out that happened outside of CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, I spoke with current CDC employees at that rally, and they told me that they hope that the new leadership will understand the importance of putting science first. And we also heard that from the CDC officials who are stepping down. Here they are talking about the importance of keeping politics out of public health. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DASKALAKIS: What makes CDC great are the people that make CDC up, the scientists, everyone that makes this a family and it's a family that defends our country and the health of our children and the health of adults.

DR. DANIEL JERRIGAN, FORMER DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CENTER FOR EMERGING AND ZOONOTIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Let's get the politics out of public health. Let's get back to the objectivity and let the science lead us because that's how we get to the best decisions for public health.

DR. DEB HOURY, FORMER CDC CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER: We haven't been as effective, because we've had staff cuts, program cuts, and then political interference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD: And, John, when I spoke with CDC employees at that rally yesterday, I asked them what concerns them the most about this turmoil, and they said they worry the most about science being suppressed. So, that's a message they have for the incoming leadership.

BERMAN: And what's known about the incoming acting head. And this is just in advance, by the way, of key vaccine advisory panel meetings.

HOWARD: Exactly, yes. So, think about the timing of all of this. But what we know about Jim O'Neill, we do know he has had a history at the Department of Health and Human Services.

[07:05:05]

He worked there under the George W. Bush administration. And we also know that he has spent years as a technology and biotech investor in Silicon Valley. And then just recently in June, that's when he joined HHS under the Trump administration. And now, John, we're expecting him to step in as acting CDC director.

BERMAN: All right, we will be watching. Jacqueline Howard, thank you very much. Erica?

HILL: There are new details this morning about the two children killed in this week's school shooting in Minnesota. The families of ten-year-old Harper Moyski and eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel, releasing statements and painting a heart wrench in picture of their loss.

Investigators meantime continue to pore through hundreds of pages of writings from the shooter who one official says was, quote, obsessed with the idea of killing children, and we're also hearing directly from the children who survived, talking about those frightening moments inside the church.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHLOE FRANCOUAL, SHOOTING SURVIVOR: The teacher was in the middle of saying our prayers, and then we heard a just one shot. It felt -- I smelled smoke before everything, but I heard one shot. I thought it was a firework like everybody else. The second shot was just everybody just covering their ears. The third shot was when everybody started ducking low. And all these shots were like slow until the fourth shot. It started getting faster and faster, and then that's when everybody took into action.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: What was that action?

FRANCOUAL: When -- some kids, they hid under the pews the whole time. And some ran off to the pre-K room. That's what I did. And in the pre- K room, everybody started to help, especially the kids and all the older buddies. We all started to help, like putting tables on the doors, locking the doors putting all this stuff on the doors as much as we could.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Kids jumping into action in ways they should never have to. John?

BERMAN: All right. With us now, CNN Law Enforcement Contributor and retired Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI Steve Moore. Steve, thanks so much for being with us.

You have time to look through these writings left behind by the shooter, extensive writings. What stood out to you?

STEVE MOORE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTOR: What stood out to me are the fact that he himself discussed the fact that he had many run- ins for violent threats. That to me, you know, begs the question, what were they doing about those things? If the shooter himself was concerned that their writings and their threats would keep them from buying weapons, from keeping them on a watch list, then somebody outside of that should have been concerned also. BERMAN: Yes. You note this shooter seem conscious of that, even avoiding talking to therapists. What does that tell you?

MOORE: Well, it means that he was aware that there were certain protocols that would keep him from being able to buy weapons, maybe even be taken into custody. There were so many things. He knew he was walking a line between, you know, talking about his threats and getting caught beforehand, and he wanted to make sure he stayed on, you know, the safe part of that line.

BERMAN: And, Steve, you've worked in the past when you were at the FBI on shootings at religious institutions. What did you learn with those and how does this compare?

MOORE: You know, I had one case where there was a shooter who was in some cases similar to this one, in that the person had these homicidal ideations that were just -- they were obsessing on, and as is this -- as was this shooter. And in the case -- excuse me, in the case where I was working, this person actually at one point in their life self- reported, went to a mental hospital and said, I have this overwhelming desire to shoot people. In the end, he didn't get the help he needed, they released him and he went and shot a group of kids at a preschool.

This person was having the same homicidal ideations and actually said, you know, I wish they would catch me, but he never went far enough to actually turn himself in to get the help.

[07:10:03]

BERMAN: Steve Moore, thanks so much for your insight on this tragic, tragic event. Erica?

HILL: There are new details this morning about the Trump administration's plans for an immigration crackdown in Chicago. The large scale operation we're learning that could be underway very soon.

And if you're traveling this Labor Day weekend, well, tip for you, you might want to leave early. Also what you should and should not do if you want a stress-free holiday.

And a little warning to the evildoers out there, beware, a Florida man catching a criminal in the act, detaining the suspect until police arrive. Perhaps it was the Batman P.J.s that gave him a little extra mojo.

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BERMAN: All right. It is on the holiday rush, people trying to get out town for this long holiday weekend. If they're lucky enough not to be working, bless you all. No resentment here.

Let's get right to CNN's Pete Muntean at Reagan National Airport this morning. You are home away from home, Pete. What are you seeing?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Not the sexiest of holidays, John, especially if you are laboring on this Labor Day weekend. Although it is still huge depending on whether or not you have kids in school already. The TSA says today will be the biggest day for air travel nationwide. 2.91 million people expected a TSA checkpoints, like the Terminal 2 north checkpoint here at Reagan National Airport nationwide. That is not a record. We are not going to bust any huge numbers. The number to beat about 3.1 million, but it is still pretty big.

The FAA anticipates 51,000 flights being handled by the nation's air traffic controllers, and today, so far, so smooth. Now, there was a bit of an issue yesterday at Newark Liberty International Airport. There was a radio frequency outage at the Newark Approach Control Facility, which has been plagued by problems.

Even still, so many people getting out. And AAA says there's a big emphasis on domestic destinations, Orlando, Seattle, New York folks trying to get in a little short getaway, but also international destinations, especially for folks on the East Coast where it's easy to get to places in Western Europe, like Rome and Dublin, also if you're on the West Coast maybe going to Vancouver.

I want you to listen now to AAA's Aixa Diaz who says, so many folks are just trying to squeeze this last one in of the summer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AIXA DIAZ, MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER, AAA: It is the last probably guaranteed long holiday weekend for most people until Thanksgiving. Labor Day really is that last hurrah for many travelers.

Now, again, it depends, A, if you have children and, B, are they back in school or not?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Okay. The worst times to travel are later today. AAA says between noon and 8:00 on the roads, so many people driving and the gas prices are pretty low, they're about what they were same time back in 2021, tomorrow will also be bad for driving, a lot of folks putting off the road trips until tomorrow afternoon. So, tomorrow between 10:00 and 6:00 is what AAA says is kind of the worst time to hit the roads.

We are not totally out of the woods yet when it comes to air travel. And the FAA has already posted this preliminary alert for thunderstorms impacting airports, Boston, Houston, Miami, they could be impacted today. So, we will see as things go on, although I just checked FlightAware, the delays in cancelations relatively low as we start out this Friday Labor Day rush.

BERMAN: That is good news. I just want to disagree with the very first thing you said. I think Labor Day is the sexiest of all holidays, maybe save Arbor Day.

Pete Muntean at Reagan National Airport this morning, thank you very much. A CIA expert who helped prepare President Trump's team for his summit with Vladimir Putin is fired just days after the meeting. The officers cover seemingly blown by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on social media.

And former Congressman and now inmate George Santos has a message from behind bars, I'm mad as hell and not taking it anymore.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

HILL: The NFL season officially kicks off in just a week. The Cowboys already making huge headlines, trading all Pro Pass Rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers after a much publicized contract dispute.

CNN's Andy Scholes joining us now. So, maybe not the best morning if you're a Cowboys fan, I guess?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I mean, Erica, if you know any Cowboys fans or maybe work with any, maybe give them a hug or buy them a pumpkin cream cold brew this morning because it is rough being a Cowboys fans these days. Dallas trading Micah Parsons to the Packers for Defensive Tackle Kenny Clark and two first round picks.

Parsons only 26 years old and is the second player ever along with Reggie White to have 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons, would never trade that type of player, right? Well, Jerry Jones says they need to stop the run, and he tried to further explain why he did so last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY JONES, DALLAS COWBOYS OWNER AND G.M.: We did think it was in the best interest of our organization, not only the future, but right now, this season as well.

You know, I'm very, very excited about the prospects of what we've done for the Cowboys here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. If you would've told a Dallas fan a year ago they were going to trade Micah Parsons or Luka Doncic, they would have told you were crazy. Well, they both got traded in a seven-month span. Parsons and the Packers, they play at the Cowboys Week 4.

All right, the U.S. Open, meanwhile, Coco Gauff was fighting back tears in the first set as she once again struggled with her serve. She double faulted eight times, but she battled to beat Donna Vekic in straight sets to move on to the third round. And after the match, she remained emotional and gave a shout out to Simone Biles for being there to support her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) COCO GAUFF, 2023 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: Thank you.

That brought me a little bit of calm just knowing her story with all the things she went through mentally. So, she's an inspiration, surely, and, you know, her presence definitely did help me today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Kyle Schwarber. Meanwhile, a night to remember the Philly slugger becoming the 21st player ever to hit four home runs in a game. Amazingly, this is the third time it's happened this season. Eugenio Suarez and Nick Kurtz did it as well.

But Schwarber, he had a Phillies record nine RBIs in this game. He now has 49 homers on the season. The Phillies won 19-4 in what Schwarber called a fun night there in Philly.

[07:25:04]

All right, and, finally, college football season is off and running. South Florida pulling off an upset of 25th ranked Boise State last night, but this Florida fan was not impressed. She was out cold in the fourth quarter. A few moments later, she was awake and fans were letting her know that she made the broadcast sleeping there.

HILL: Yes.

SCHOLES: But, Erica, going to be no sleeping tomorrow. It's going to be one of the best Saturdays ever in August for college football. You got Texas versus Ohio State, Florida State versus Alabama. You're also going to have Clemson versus LSU, certainly going to be a great day. I cannot wait.

HILL: Yes. The men in my house are very excited for that. And does this mean since you have all that excitement that you're not going to need, what did you say, a pumpkin cream cold brew, you're not going to need that extra little hit in the morning, you just got the football?

SCHOLES: Oh, I love me a pumpkin cream cold brew soda.

HILL: Really?

SCHOLES: I will be getting one tomorrow morning preparing for the day of college football.

HILL: Okay. We'll send you some pumpkin cream cold brew on a Monday. When you need an extra, pick me up too. Andy, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Just ahead here, the major immigration crackdown reportedly coming to Chicago as soon as next week. We've got the new reporting.

And Batman captures burglar, sort of.

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[07:30:00]