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Major Airports Brace for Rush of Weekend and Spring Break Travelers; Gulf Allies Warn Trump Against Using Troops to Seize Kharg Island; Iran War, Higher Costs, and Poll Numbers Loom Over CPAC. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired March 26, 2026 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ... And the judge overseeing this case was receptive to Maduro's argument that the U.S., by not issuing a license to allow those lawyers to receive payments from Venezuela, was something that was potentially impeding his defense. The judge heard arguments from both sides of prosecutors saying that the Maduros are plundering the wealth of Venezuela. They said they could get by with a court-appointed attorney, which would be paid by U.S. taxpayers.

But the judge said that this case is beyond normal. This would require the prosecution and the defense having to get resources in Venezuela, having to talk to witnesses there. And so he said that, you know, a person's right to defend themselves is paramount. He said that the Maduros right now do not seem to pose any kind of national security threat, which is the basis for the U.S. imposing sanctions on Venezuela and the Maduros.

So the judge was exploring out loud ways that he could potentially issue an order requiring the U.S. government to issue a license to permit the lawyers to get paid by Venezuela. The prosecutor saying they didn't think the judge had that authority. But the judge said that he was going to think about that. He was not going to dismiss the case today.

He said if he did order the U.S. government to grant that license and he did not comply, then he said he would consider arguments again about dismissing the indictment. So a lot still hanging in the air there over how this is going to be resolved. But the judge seeming more receptive to Maduro's arguments and trying to find a way to get the government of Venezuela to get that money to Maduro so he could put on his defense. Judge said he would issue a decision soon -- Boris.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Kara Scannell live for us outside the courthouse. Thank you so much.

Still ahead, long lines, frustrated travelers, more call outs from TSA officials as Congress fails to agree on a deal to fund DHS. We're going to speak with the general manager of the world's busiest airport about how Atlanta is preparing to avoid another potentially chaotic weekend. Stay with us. [14:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: The world's busiest airport had the highest rate of TSA agents calling out from work yesterday. Homeland Security reports 40.6 percent of TSA staff at Atlanta's airport did not show up on Wednesday. Today, its website advises people to allow at least four hours to get through screenings. Atlanta's airport is also apparently using ICE officers for more functions than earlier in the week.

Today, they were seen training with TSA as well as checking IDs at checkpoints. Joining me now is Ricky Smith, the general manager of Hartsfield Jackson, Atlanta International Airport. Sir, thanks so much for being with us. As we get ready for another weekend with spring break and full swing for many.

What can flyers expect out of Atlanta?

RICKY SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER, HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Well, I mean, I think flyers can expect a duplication of last weekend. Sunday was probably one of the busiest days we've had in terms of extended lines, and we expect to get closer to that this coming Friday and Saturday leading into Sunday. You know, there's a difference between what we're going through now, which is almost closer to normal.

This is kind of the middle of a spring break. We had the college level spring break last weekend, and this upcoming weekend, we'll be moving into the K through 12 spring break. And that'll bring kind of a unique challenge in that there'll probably be a lot of kids, more kids in the lines.

And so we'll have to make sure that we do whatever we can to make sure those kids are having as enjoyable experience as possible.

SANCHEZ: TSA workers are set to miss their second full paycheck tomorrow. I mean, that's only going to make the situation worse, isn't it? Are you anticipating that the percentage of call-outs is going to rise?

SMITH: Well I would hate to predict that, but I will say this. Those that are showing up are just showing amazing courage and commitment to public service. I mean, just imagine if we didn't have the 60 or so percent workers that are coming in, this story itself would be a completely different story.

And so we can focus on the call-outs, which is obviously a factor, but I think we should also take this time to commend those that are coming in just to make sure that people can get where they're trying to go.

SANCHEZ: No doubt. They're obviously going above and beyond, given the circumstances that many of them are facing and the reporting that we've heard about some folks having to do desperate things to make ends meet. To that point, some 500 TSA officers have quit since the partial shutdown began. There was also a shutdown at the end of last year that strained a lot of federal workers. Do you know how many may have quit from your airport? And do you expect that after the shutdown ends, there might be some lag in bringing employment for TSA officers at your airport fully back online?

SMITH: So I'm hearing we haven't had the level of resignations here that perhaps some other airports have experienced. Although we've had higher than normal call-outs, we haven't had as high a level of resignations. Be that as it may, you know, once Congress decides how to reconcile their political differences and reopen TSA for payment, it's still going to take like 12 to two weeks to get this money back into the system.

And so during that time, I would imagine TSA employees will begin coming back knowing that their pay, that their payments will come back online. But it could be 12 days to two weeks before TSA employees begin to get paid.

[14:40:00]

SANCHEZ: On the note about lawmakers reconciling their political differences, we just got some reporting a few moments ago that Senate Majority Leader John Thune was hoping that there would be some resolution before the end of the day today, before lawmakers head home for a recess, a two-week recess tomorrow. What's your message to lawmakers?

SMITH: Well, I mean, I'm not a politician, I don't play one on television, so I'll let them work out their political differences. I'll simply say that, you know, we have the best aviation system in the world, despite what we're going through. And a lot of that has to do with our commitment to making sure that our public can travel safely and with the level of convenience.

And that's quite -- that's not what we're showing right now. And so whatever we can do to make sure that our TSA workers resume their paychecks, and we can reduce the wait times at checkpoints so these lines will get shorter and our public can travel and continue to live the expectations that they've enjoyed over the last many years. But the fact of the matter is, if we don't open the checkpoints at a larger capacity, then we will continue to experience the inconvenience that passengers are experiencing.

SANCHEZ: Ricky Smith, we're grateful for your time. Thanks for joining us.

SMITH: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: As President Trump says Iran is begging to work out a deal, Gulf nations are raising concerns. We're going to explain why America's Middle East allies fear that a quick exit could leave them worse off than before the war began.

[14:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Today, President Trump pushing back on reports that he's desperate for a deal with Iran. He says he doesn't care about reaching one and that the U.S. has, quote, other targets we want to hit before we leave. He made those comments as U.S. Gulf allies raised concerns about a quick U.S. exit, possibly leaving them worse off than before the war began.

We're joined now by Michael Allen, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for National Security. He's also the former senior director for counterproliferation on the National Security Council. Thank you so much for being with us.

There's a senior Gulf official who says that allies in the region are also urging the administration against putting boots on the ground to occupy Kharg Island or to remove Iran's enriched uranium because they're worried it could result in high casualties and it would prompt Iran to retaliate against the infrastructure of those countries in the Gulf. How should the administration be hearing those concerns?

MICHAEL ALLEN, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH FOR NATIONAL SECURITY: Well, I think the Gulf Arabs didn't want us to get into this conflict in the first place. But now that we're in it, they want us to finish it and finish it right. I think to that, it means taking or reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

But it doesn't mean, I believe, these ground operations that could possibly go after Kharg Island or the missing AGU. I think not only would that invite additional shots by the Iranians onto their own energy infrastructure, it might distract the war on so long that things escalate. What they want the most is to get back to business as usual.

Over the years, they have become more interested in their economy than hardcore geopolitics. They have artificial intelligence, data center aspirations they're pursuing with the United States. So they want to end the war responsibly.

They don't want Iran to be stronger as a result of this, but they don't want it to escalate too much.

KEILAR: How are you looking then at these movements of the 82nd Airborne and these two Marine expeditionary units? Do you think that boots on the ground in some capacity are likely, and what would that look like?

ALLEN: Yes, I think it's very possible in the case of Kharg Island. You've seen there's footage of the president talking about that in the 1980s. He's clearly interested in it.

He had it bombed two Friday nights ago. So I think he may believe that he can take Kharg and take his own hostage, if you will, as a condition for, we'll release this once you help us reopen the straits. I still don't know that he's going to do it at the end of the day.

I think there are other ways maybe to achieve that type of outcome, maybe by saying no tankers should show up at Kharg Island or we'll target them. So he may find an alternative short of ground troops in order to try and get new leverage over the Iranians. So I don't know that he's made up his mind absolutely to do that.

But as you say, these troops coming to the region are certainly capable of doing it.

KEILAR: After a briefing on Iran yesterday that the House Armed Services Committee received, the chairman, Mike Rogers, was very frustrated. He said they're moving troops into the CENTCOM and combatant command. And we want to know more about what options they're considering.

And we aren't given any details. This is one in a series where we feel like the administration needs to be more forthcoming when they send folks over here. Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace says she stormed out of the briefing. She was exasperated by the lack of clarity.

That's been a bipartisan frustration, as we've talked to members of Congress, that is shared. I wonder, since you worked in the White House during a time of war, how the White House should be looking at these bipartisan complaints they're getting.

ALLEN: Well, Congress is never happy with the amount of information they get. They always want more, but they do have a constitutional responsibility. Maybe the administration is correct in not wanting to have too big of a room, too many people in there because of leak risks.

[14:50:00]

But they need to find a format that works for the Congress and works for the administration, where they brief someone, be it the Gang of Eight, so in other words, the top national security leaders. Maybe that's extended a little bit for a few other committees. But they need to find a format that works for them, because ultimately what you want is a Congress that's supportive or at least knowledgeable about what you're up to.

They're often, especially of your own party, they say things like, if you want us to be there on the landing, you better have us on, on the takeoff. And that's their way of saying brief us early, don't expect us to defend you when things go wrong if you've cut us out of the planning.

So I think it's wise for the administration to figure out a way to give more info.

KEILAR: Michael Allen, thank you so much for your analysis. We do appreciate it -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour. The Trump administration is loosening some environmental regulations on gasoline in an attempt to lower prices at the pump. Typically, the U.S. requires suppliers to switch to a so-called summer blend of gas during high travel months. The summer blend reduces smog caused by auto exhaust, but it's also more expensive to produce. This year, the EPA is easing its requirements for the blend, which could lower the price by about 13 cents a gallon. The EPA will also allow a higher blend of ethanol gas known as E15 to be sold this summer.

Also, data shows the Iran war is having an impact on mortgage rates. Rates have risen for four straight weeks. They're back up to 6.38 percent after briefly dipping below 6 percent last month for the first time in years. Real estate experts say higher borrowing costs and a weakening job market are making buyers more cautious.

And the National Park Service declaring today that D.C.'s famous cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom. This year's peak arrives earlier than expected, thanks to warmer weather in the region. The cherry trees at the tidal basin were gifted to the United States by Japan in 1912, symbolizing friendship between the two nations. The trees draw thousands of visitors each year.

Still ahead, CPAC, it's one of the biggest Republican gatherings of the year, but the Iran war is dividing many in the party that once was united around Trump's America First message. We're live with reaction when we come back.

[14:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Right now, right wing figures and influencers are gathering at one of the biggest conservative conferences of the year, CPAC. This time last year, the group got together and President Trump had just pulled off an unthinkable political comeback. His right hand man, Elon Musk, was wielding a chainsaw on stage while touting cuts to federal spending. This year, Trump's poll numbers have tanked, along with the Republican Party's chances of holding on to both the House and Senate in the midterms.

Government debt is also growing, and the war with Iran is deeply unpopular and testing party unity. CNN's Steve Contorno was at last year's CPAC. He's back again this year. What's the mood like this year, Steve?

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Boris, it is like night and day. Last year, CPAC was this electric, jubilant atmosphere coming off those 2024 electoral victories. Trump gave this hour-long, triumphant speech.

The mood here this could not be different against the backdrop of this Iran war that is increasingly testing the loyalty of his movement. And we have seen this threat addressed throughout the day already. Several of the speakers urging conservatives to stick together, to focus more on attacking Democrats than on attacking each other.

But when I spoke with attendees here this morning, their anxieties were on full display. Take a listen to what they said.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SHASHANK YALAMANCHI, CPAC ATTENDEE: This isn't, you know, what I voted for. What I voted for was domestic policy change at home and realistic foreign policy. So I'm just hoping we can get it all wrapped up soon.

CONTORNO: Are you concerned about those divisions going into a midterm election and what that eventually means?

MICHAEL REAUD, CPAC ATTENDEE: No, I trust President Trump wholeheartedly. And whatever he decides he thinks he needs to do, we're backing him. That's what we voted for.

Iran needs to be held accountable. And after that, he's going to put us Americans first again.

ALEXANDER SELBY, CPAC ATTENDEE: I think they would get destroyed in the midterms. I just, I get the vibe. A lot of people I knew who just voted for Trump because they thought it was cool in like high school are just now just being like, I can't stand the guy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CONTORNO (on camera): Now I talked to CPAC Chair Matt Schlapp this morning ahead of this event, asked him about some of these divisions, especially over the Iran war. And he said, look, yes, the party is divided. You're always going to have some divisions over military action, but this is a group that supports President Trump -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: Steve, I'm curious about the perspective from that last young man that we saw you speak to is the general sentiment there that the midterms are not going to go well for Republicans.

CONTORNO: Yes, that's absolutely a concern. Now there's certainly time until November to get everyone back into the tents. But just listening to these speeches on the stage, you can definitely hear the concern that right now Republicans are more focused on defining what MAGA is, defining what America first means versus focusing on winning and beating Democrats.

And perhaps that's something that can be addressed in the coming months. But right now, those tensions ...

END