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Trump Threatens Another National Emergency in DC; NY Gov. Hochul Endorses Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor; Two People Arrested after Explosive Device Found Under Local Fox TV News Van In Utah. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired September 15, 2025 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Today, President Trump issuing a new threat for the nation's capital. In a social media post, he vowed to declare another emergency if local police don't cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The president has touted his initial 30-day takeover of the city's police department as a success, saying that it reduced crime.

But now that his order has expired, he's calling out DC's mayor, who recently said immigration enforcement will not be handled by the city's Police Department.

Let's talk about this now with retired Army Major General Randy Manner. He's the former acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. General, I wonder what you think of this, because the expectation, I think at least of some of the members of the Guard here in Washington was that this mission was going to be wrapping up rather soon. And we should note that the last time the president, you know, threatened to federalize, it was deploying the Guard. So that's kind of the cognitive leap you might think he would take here. What do you think this would mean if he did take this step?

MAJ. GEN. RANDY MANNER (RET.), FORMER ACTING VICE CHIEF, NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU: It's very likely that he would continue to use the National Guard in the capacity that he has been using them. The unfortunate thing is everyone knows is that this is the only National Guard that he can do this with, which is the DC National Guard.

Again, if this is indeed a police operation, they should not be using military personnel whatsoever. They are not trained for this mission. And in fact, have been just walking around. And quite frankly, as we know, they're being called the national landscapers because they are doing a lot of busy work, which is not the way we're supposed to be treating our young men and women in uniform. Morale is not good, despite what the administration might say, and it will continue to drive a wedge between the people of the District of Columbia and those young men and women in uniform.

[15:35:00]

KEILAR: They are -- there have been a number of members of the Guard laying mulch to considerable expense. We should mention it does cost a lot of money to have them in Washington.

What do you think about, you know, now he's talking about immigration, right, that this is an immigration issue. The reason he federalized or that he stated he was federalizing law enforcement in Washington was for crime. What do you think about the conflation of these issues?

MANNER: Clearly, he's changing the target. He's changing the justification. Again, if that is the case, then he needs to ensure that the appropriate federal law enforcement officers are there to execute their duties and responsibilities. And, again, to let the Guard go back home to their home states and to their civilian jobs and to their families. Again, if it is truly a, whether it is a security issue or whether it is a immigration issue, use the appropriate tools that is resource of which the military on active duty armed is not the solution.

KEILAR: Sources familiar with the sort of workings of this are telling CNN that President Trump shelved his plans to target Chicago in his domestic crime push after advisors warned him that sending in troops to help with local law enforcement without buy-in from the state's governor could create legal headaches that they want to avoid. What do you think about that calculation by the administration?

MANNER: I'm actually surprised at it. It seems like one guardrail might still be intact to prevent the president from moving troops into states and cities where they are not welcome. So I applaud the efforts of the governor of Illinois and the mayor.

As we know, though, this is not what might potentially happen in Tennessee. where the Republican governor is apparently acquiescing to the desire of the president to be able to potentially move troops into a blue city, into Memphis. Again, it's interesting to note for all the viewers that the governor of Tennessee did not unilaterally ask for, apparently, and did not, in fact, move the soldiers of the Guard into the city by his own authority. So this is rather interesting about what is happening there, if indeed it does unfold.

KEILAR: Yes, so how unusual is that? One, using the Guard for law enforcement is just unusual. But in terms of the process of a request, walk us through that.

MANNER: So the way it's supposed to work is if there is a local emergency, the mayor would request assistance from the governor, the governor would then move any other resources that are at the state level for law enforcement to back up that city or town, as well as, of course, other counties or cities within the state.

If that state was overwhelmed, the governor has two options, ask for assistance from other states, from law enforcement, which is what they typically do first, and then only at the last resort might they call in the National Guard of their own state into their own area.

It's extremely rare. The number of times is very few. If the National Guard is predominantly used, number one, as a strategic reserve for the U.S. military, for overseas, and then number two, to help save American lives in times of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and so on. None of those things are taking place right now. Obviously, not in Illinois, not in DC. And I would say that even though there is a law enforcement opportunity to work with the mayor of Memphis, this is not a military operation.

KEILAR: Retired Major General Randy Manner, thank you for being with us.

MANNER: Thank you so much.

KEILAR: And the head Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani, landing a key endorsement in the race for New York mayor. We'll have that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Zohran Mamdani is getting a big boost in the race for New York mayor. The Democratic nominee now has the endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul. Her announcement was published in the New York Times, raising the ire of President Trump, who called it a shocking development, a very bad one for New York City. Hochul's endorsement makes her the latest high-profile Democrat to back Mamdani's campaign, as other key figures in the party have remained on the sidelines.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino is in New York watching this race for us. So, Gloria, what are you learning?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boris, this was an endorsement that us here in New York City who have been covering this race were wondering if it was going to come at all. And we say that because the governor had really just refused to support Zohran Mamdani ever since he won the Democratic mayoral primary back in June.

And she had really taken some distance from him so it wasn't clear if she was actually going to support him but she did exactly that last night in an op-ed published in the New York Times saying she believed that Zohran Mamdani was the best candidate to tackle the biggest issue she believes of this race and that being affordability and the cost of living here in New York City.

Now this was hardly a full-blown political embrace Hochul made it very clear in her op-ed that she doesn't agree with Mamdani on everything. Specifically, she singled out public safety, his criticism of Israel. But she did say that she believes he will be a good partner in helping to protect New York City from Trump's administrations and its attack on New York City. Take a listen to both Hochul and Mamdani reacting to the endorsement.

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[15:45:00]

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): Made it very clear that we have differences, but I also believe that he brings us a sense of optimism and the can- do spirit, a positivity that I believe our city needs at this time.

ZOHRAN MANDANI, (D) NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL CANDIDATE: You know, I'm excited to welcome Governor Hochul to our movement and to show the partnership at hand between City Hall and Albany in fighting to make the most expensive city in the United States of America affordable, and in fighting back against an authoritarian administration that seeks to tear apart the very fabric of this city. And this is a time for unity. It is a time for strength, and it is a time to speak in one voice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: Now, Boris, that last line you heard there from Zohran Mamdani, no question a reference to the fact that there are still two high-profile Democrats here in New York who have yet to endorsement. That is, of course, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer. Both of them represent parts of Brooklyn, and both of them have so far held back their endorsement of Mamdani, have gotten a lot of criticism for doing so. So it's going to be interesting to watch the next few weeks to see if they follow in line now that the governor has endorsed mayoral candidate Mamdani -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Gloria Pazmino, thank you so much for that update.

Coming up, two people are in custody after an explosive device was found under a local TV news van in Utah. We have the latest after a quick break.

[15:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Two suspects have been arrested for allegedly planting an explosive device under a local Fox TV news van in Utah. According to court records obtained by CNN affiliate KUTV, the device, quote, had been lit but failed to function as designed. It was discovered in Salt Lake City on Friday, just two days after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in nearby Utah Valley University.

CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter is following this story for us. Brian, what are you learning here?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Yes, the FBI and local bomb squads searched a home belonging to the two suspects on Friday night. They found additional explosives, along with firearms, illegal narcotics, and other paraphernalia, according to those court records. Those two men now in custody.

And, you know, when you look at the images taken by local Utah news crews, images of the home, you see some signs outside that might point to some sort of political motivation here. There are anti-Trump slogans on some of the signs outside the home. But we do not know much more about the suspects or about any actual motivation.

It is noteworthy that the local news van was belonging to the local Fox station. You know, there are lots of Fox affiliates across the country that don't have any direct ties to the pro-Trump Fox News Channel. They are owned by different companies, and this local station actually was owned by Scripps. However, that Fox branding has sometimes caused confusion in the marketplace, and one does have to wonder if these suspects were motivated, in part, by seeing that Fox branding.

And more broadly, of course, this is part of a very serious concern about targeting of members of the media, as well as other individuals in this environment where political violence is increasingly becoming normalized. FOX 13 in Utah, by the way, says it is working closely with law enforcement and its risk management team to ensure the safety of its employees.

KEILAR: And this explosive device appears to be another example of a surge in threats against members of the media.

STELTER: Right, you were talking earlier about security concerns for elected officials, and those same concerns exist for public figures of different kinds, like political activists and social media influencers, and yes, journalists as well, figures who are not elected but are still high-profile, who still end up making enemies as well as fans.

I think what we're going through right now is a little bit of an echo of what we saw across corporate America in the wake of the United Healthcare CEO's murder. Many companies reevaluated security in the aftermath of that crime. And now we are seeing figures like YouTube stars reevaluating security, political activists wondering if they should go out in public and hold live events.

And I think this speaks to something broader that's concerning about the American debate going forward. You know, if the perceived risk is too high, if the cost is too steep to be a public figure, to be a member of the media, to be a political advocacy person out there, to be someone running for office, then people are going to retreat from public life. You know, fewer people are going to choose roles that are high profile. They might put them in harm's way. They might choose other professions.

And all told, all to all, you know, down the line, everyone's worse off if America becomes a more sheltered in that way, more isolated in that way, if people choose not to be out in public as public figures. So this case in Utah, first the killing of Charlie Kirk, and now this apparent bomb that thankfully did not go off underneath a local news cruise vehicle, it speaks to a concern that's palpable for many kinds of people who have high-profile roles across the United States.

KEILAR: Have you been hearing anything recently from members of the media or even just speak to what you've heard over the last several years about increased concerns about security -- Brian?

STELTER: Well, that's a great point. It's not happening in a vacuum. This is not new in just the past week. Unfortunately, this has been something that has been going on for years. And, of course, the greatest response, the greatest way to address these security risks, the greatest way to hold people accountable is through the legal system.

You know, I remember a case just very personally about five years ago about somebody who was stalking my family, and because the government got involved, because there was an arrest, because there was a court process, justice was served, and it was a deterrent. It had a deterrent effect. So I think That's what's important in the case of Charlie Kirk, is what happens -- it's important in all these cases -- to see there actually be accountability when people are endangered.

[15:55:00]

KEILAR: All right, Brian Stelter, thank you so much for that.

Ahead misbehaving tourists in Venice: why two visitors were just banned from the city next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: Venice, Italy, is world famous for its maze of winding canals, its boats. But did you know that you can actually get banned from the floating city, so-called, for taking a dip in the canals?

SANCHEZ: I didn't know. Did you?

KEILAR: I did not know that.

SANCHEZ: Neither did this British man and his Romanian girlfriend who were forced to cut their vacation short and return home to the UK after gondoliers reported them for swimming in the Grand Canal.

[16:00:00]

The pair was also fine more than 500 bucks each and expelled from Venice for 48 hours.

This unnamed couple is not alone. More than 1,000 badly behaved tourists have been sanctioned and expelled by the city so far this year. Only about 10 of those have been for swimming. To be fair, in none of this footage, am I seeing no swimming signs? You would think that there would be an indication that you can't go in a body of water.

KEILAR: OK, but the Grand Canal, it's like the 405. Don't go in that.

SANCHEZ: It looks fun.

KEILAR: "THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts right now.

END