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Battle on Birthright Citizenship; Abbey and Christine Romeo are Interviewed about Autism. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired April 02, 2026 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

REP. MARLIN STUTZMAN (R-IN): Oil to flow back through the Straits of Hormuz. And as Iran is put back in their place and the ability for ships to move through there, I think that that's what he's referring to.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I follow you on social media. Great tweeter. Thank you for the work that you do there.

You wrote yesterday, "stopping the war with Iran right now would only result in them rebuilding their terrorist government and continuing to be a nuclear threat. President Trump is determined to keep our country and the world safe."

On the nuclear threat, you know, all kinds of watchdogs say Iran's got about 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, nuclear material, buried in Isfahan. It's still there. It was there before the war began. It's there now. And last night the president said, I think the plan is to watch it by satellite.

Do you think that that is satisfactory? Does that satisfy you? If the United States ends this war and there's still 400 kilograms of enriched nuclear material in Isfahan, is that a win?

STUTZMAN: Not as long as this regime is still in power. I mean, we should never trust this regime. This has been going on for 40 years. And if the IRGC and the ayatollah are still in power in Iran, it will always be a problem because these guys are -- they are true believers that if you don't agree with them and their religious beliefs, that they are going to some -- either, you know, eliminate the person or they're going to get a nuclear bomb in order to leverage the rest of the world. And so, I think that this -- there has to be a regime change here.

I am not afraid to say it because we know that this regime has been a --

BERMAN: Oh, so, Congressman --

STUTZMAN: Yes.

BERMAN: I didn't mean to interrupt, but you said there has to be a regime change. Does that mean you don't think there has been? Because the president said last night there was regime change.

STUTZMAN: Well, and, again, I mean the president knows a lot more than I do and who he's talking to and how he is, you know, negotiating with the people in Iran. So, if he is comfortable with a new person that's taking power, then that's -- that is a new leadership in Iran. And I think that that's what's important.

We can't let the old guys stay in power. We have to let the Iranian people have their country back. It also creates an ally in the Middle East. It brings stability to the Middle East.

You know, watching the gulf states stepping up through this conflict is really remarkable. This wouldn't have happened ten years ago. And to have Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Israel, all working for the same goal here to take off the head of the snake is truly remarkable. And I think that that's -- that's what I mean when I say there's got to be somebody new.

BERMAN: Congressman, very quickly, CNN and others reporting last night, the president is having discussions out loud about the possibility of replacing Attorney General Pam Bondi. One quote from the article, "frustrated by the backlash and anger in the base over the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Trump has asked people about replacing Bondi. He's also fumed she hasn't investigated enough of his political opponents." One possible replacement would be Lee Zeldin, former New York congressman, EPA administrator. What do you think of Pam Bondi? Should she continue as attorney general?

STUTZMAN: Well, again, I'll let President Trump make that final decision. But I know I do hear some frustration on Capitol Hill from other members that things aren't moving the way that they should be, at least getting answers out and understanding what the process is. And I get it, you can't -- you can't just, of course, lay out a complete game plan to the general public, or even to members of Congress, which we know that secrets are harder to keep in Congress than anywhere else. But, you know, there has to be a movement here. And I know that there is frustration.

And I'd like to see, you know, some action taking place. It feels like a lot of things are bottled up over at the Department of Justice. If she can show otherwise that, you know, she deserves to keep the job, I'm sure President Trump is going to make that decision. And, you know, we're willing to listen and watch. Ultimately, it's the president's decision.

BERMAN: All right, Congressman Marlin Stutzman, of Indiana, we do appreciate your time this morning. Thank you so much for being with us. Great to see you.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, ahead, a fiery crash at a toll booth. What the New Hampshire governor did to help in this car crash that involved a comedian known for his work on "Bob's Burgers." And it's World Autism Awareness Day. And I had a truly delightful

conversation with Abbey Romeo, one of the stars of "Love on the Spectrum," and her mother. You'll want to hear her message about autism. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:38:41]

BERMAN: All right, President Trump made an historic trip to the Supreme Court. The first ever president, we believe, to sit and listen to arguments before the court. This was over birthright citizenship and his executive order to severely limit birthright citizenship. So, how did the arguments go? How did the president's trip go?

With us now, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

So, if his goal was to go there and maybe sway the court, you know, to his side, what are the prediction markets saying?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: The prediction markets viewed yesterday as an absolute train wreck for the president of the United States. And that matches what a lot of analysts believe after listening to those arguments yesterday.

Take a look. Chance that Trump's birthright order takes effect before August. On Tuesday it wasn't so hot to trot. It was 20 percent. But somehow it went through the basement. Look at this, now just a seven percent chance according to the Kalshi prediction market that, in fact, that birthright citizenship order takes effect before August. So, the people who are putting their money where their mouths are very much agree with the analysts who think that what happened yesterday in the Supreme Court was no bueno for the president of the United States.

BERMAN: All right, how have Americans' attitudes, how have they changed over time on this specific issue?

ENTEN: Yes, you see this seven percent here. Very low that the chance that Trump's birthright citizenship order will, in fact, take effect before August. And the American people very happy about that, because this has been one of the biggest switches that we've really seen in politics when it comes to something as important as birthright citizenship.

[09:40:05]

Take a look here. Birthright citizenship. Favor, opposed. Back in August of 2010, in fact, what you saw was the plurality, 50 percent opposed it, favor, 47 percent. But that favor number, way, way up over the last decade and a half. Now we're talking about a very nice 69 percent, in fact, of Americans favor birthright citizenship. That oppose number has absolutely fallen to just 31 percent. This is one of the most popular issues that we see right now in the American public. The American public very much in favor of birthright citizenship for children born to immigrants here illegally.

BERMAN: What about shifting views on immigration?

ENTEN: Yes. OK. So, you see this 69 percent that favor. This is part of a larger story in terms of immigration and Americans liking it. Say immigration is good for the U.S. Look at this change from 2024 to 2025, 79 percent overall of Americans say that, in fact, immigration is good for the U.S. A big jump up from when Joe Biden was president back in 2024. Even among Republicans, look at that, 39 percent. Now 64 percent -- 64 percent of Republicans say that immigration is good for the U.S. And more than that, this 79 percent, record high. A record high percentage of Americans now say that immigration is good for the United States of America.

BERMAN: For Republicans, it went from a minority issue to a majority?

ENTEN: That's exactly right. This is a huge jump, 39 percent to 64 percent.

BERMAN: That's fascinating. All right, how about the president's approval on the issue of immigration?

ENTEN: OK, so you see immigration becoming more popular. Trump's stances on immigration going the exact opposite way, becoming less popular. Look at this. Take a look. Trump's net approval rating on immigration. January of 2025 it was plus seven. Way down here. Look at that. A 20-point shift, negative 13 points. Independents, from plus three, they liked Trump at the beginning of his term, two thumbs up. Now look at this, down through the floor, negative 24 points.

So, the bottom line is, immigration becoming more popular. Trump's stances, the exact opposite way, becoming much less popular.

BERMAN: A 27-point shift among independents.

ENTEN: Huge.

BERMAN: Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you, my friend.

BERMAN: Got a lot of news. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:46:39]

SIDNER: It's World Autism Awareness Day, set by the United Nations to raise global awareness, foster acceptance and support for those who are neurodiverse. The CDC found that Autism Spectrum Disorder impacted one in 31 children who were eight years old in the U.S., about one in 100 globally.

Awareness and acceptance needed more than ever in the wake of unfounded theories about what causes autism and what those with autism are actually capable of. One person breaking barriers and redefining what most people think about autism is Abbey Romeo. She's a musician and a master milliner, which is pretty amazing. That's a hat maker for those who are not aware. And you've probably seen her on this fantastic show, "Love on the Spectrum." I'm obsessed. The show just returned for season four on Netflix.

Abbey and her mother, Christine, are here with us now.

So, first to you. How old were you when you were diagnosed with autism?

ABBEY ROMEO, STAR OF NETFLIX'S "LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM": I was diagnosed with autism at age two and a half because my mom put me in preschool very early, and I noticed that I had -- was ignoring the other kids. I would put everything in my mouth. And the school called my mom up and said that they couldn't guarantee my safety.

SIDNER: What did that feel like when you heard that?

A. ROMEO: Well, the reason why I put everything in my mouth was because it's called tactile input. It was a sensory thing. And then the school said I couldn't go there anymore. And then later I went to an autism school and I started hearing the word autism at that school.

SIDNER: OK.

A. ROMEO: So, when I was nine years old, I was riding in the car with my mom and I turned to her and asked her, do I have autism? And she said, yes. And we both started to cry. And autism made me feel very frustrated and angry.

SIDNER: How have you dealt with it now?

A. ROMEO: It seems to have been a blessing in disguise. That's an idiom.

SIDNER: It is. I do want to ask you, we were talking earlier, what are some things that trigger you? Things that you just don't like that bother you that you've noticed?

A. ROMEO: I don't like wearing turtlenecks. I don't like the sound of babies crying. I don't like the bright heat and the sun. Those are all big triggers.

SIDNER: I don't like turtlenecks either, just FYI. And I don't love bright sun, although I've lived in it my whole life almost. But these are some things that we can all understand.

What are some things for you, as a mother, when you learned of her autism, why did you cry? What was it that sort of made you feel low?

CHRISTINE ROMEO, AUTISM ADVOCATE: She was nine years old at the time of that, and so she was a little bit older. And I had shied away from using the term autism because when she was diagnosed, you know, 25 years ago, it was such a big diagnosis, a sentence, so to speak. And I -- she had so many splinter skills that I didn't believe it. I mean I didn't think it was my -- my perception of autism was more the high support needs. So, the diagnostic criteria has changed since 2013. And so now we've embraced other neurotypes, which is great (ph). But at that time, with that education, it seemed very scary and a very daunting future.

SIDNER: Yes. And we've learned so much about autism and capabilities. I mean, you're a star in a show, honey.

A. ROMEO: Oh, that means a lot to me.

SIDNER: You've done a lot already. Can you tell me what it's like being on that show and what the reaction from people has been?

A. ROMEO: It's -- people get -- you would be starstruck to see it.

[09:50:04]

SIDNER: I am.

A. ROMEO: And it makes me so happy because when I was a kid I felt I spent most of my life feeling isolated and lonely.

SIDNER: And now that's changed?

A. ROMEO: It's changed a lot.

SIDNER: What do you want people to know about experience autism and also how to treat you?

A. ROMEO: That there are many different levels of autism. Like, as you can see, for me, my biggest struggle is language. I have had 22 years of speech therapy to be able to talk just like this. Other people with autism have no language problems. They have no speech. And there are people with autism who can't talk at all. Can't even say one word. So, they use devices for language. So, my type of autism is -- but is I had my own language. I would repeat things from TV, which is called echolalia.

SIDNER: That's so interesting. So, you would -- you started learning and repeating things that you're seeing on television. Now you're on television and people are probably doing the same thing with you.

A. ROMEO: Oh my God.

SIDNER: It's kind of amazing what's happened. It's kind of full circle.

A. ROMEO: Yes.

SIDNER: And what do you struggle with as a parent and sort of what advice do you give other parents who are trying to navigate this as well?

C. ROMEO: Well, that's a big part of it is the navigation of the interventions. What do we do? How do we help our kids? I get direct messages almost every day about, what can I do? And I always say, well, what type of autism? How is it presenting? Because the diagnostic criteria kind of leaves us in an open field, in a vast landscape. And so I'll say, do they initiate social interaction? If they're actually initiating, that's, to me, one pocket. This is just my experience. She wasn't initiating. She was totally in her own world. So, we were trying to just open up that door to get her into this world. And then we could work on communication. So, how we enter -- how we did speech, how we did O.T. was sort of tailored to what I was seeing happening to her. It was a very collaborative process.

But today I would say a diagnosis doesn't mean what it meant to me back in the day because it's so different now.

SIDNER: Yes.

C. ROMEO: You don't despair. Investigate everything. Talk to other parents. You know, be a detective and don't be afraid to fight for the services that you think your child needs.

SIDNER: I think that those are all such incredible gifts to people, too, don't despair.

C. ROMEO: Yes.

SIDNER: And there are things out there to learn.

C. ROMEO: A hundred percent. I mean especially for the new parents, the two, three, four, five year olds, seven years old, those were very dark years for me.

SIDNER: Yes.

C. ROMEO: This wasn't -- this was not what I had growing up with her. And I was a single mother too.

SIDNER: Incredible.

C. ROMEO: So, I had my hands done.

SIDNER: You've done an incredible job. And you are incredible.

A. ROMEO: Thanks.

SIDNER: Now, it is high-fiving OK with you or are you -- OK, let's do it. Thank you.

A. ROMEO: You're welcome.

SIDNER: It was my absolute pleasure to meet both of you. And you're going to help a lot of people.

A. ROMEO: Thank you so much. It means so much to me.

SIDNER: Thank you.

A. ROMEO: Thanks for making me feel good and supporting me.

SIDNER: You are amazing. I don't have to say anything. Everybody knows Abbey.

Abbey and Christine Romeo, thank you so much. And Abbey has a lot of skills. She sings and she knits. She made me

this hat, which I will don because it's cold in here.

BERMAN: Yes.

SIDNER: This works. She made this with her own hands.

BERMAN: That was nice. That was a wonderful discussion.

SIDNER: Amazing. It really was.

BERMAN: She is amazing.

SIDNER: So much to learn.

All right, Kate, over to you.

BOLDUAN: Awesome person.

BERMAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Let's -- here's an update on a story that we've been following. New details on a scary crash in New Hampshire. We now know that Eugene Mirman, a comedian and voice actor on the show "Bob's Burgers," was in that car and was seriously hurt. How he survived, though. I mean the governor of the state happened to be passing by, and some of her security detail jumped in when they saw the crash, pulled Mirman from the fiery wreckage. The governor even grabbed a fire extinguisher to help put out the flames. Mirman's agent now says that he did suffer, though, serious injuries, but is, quote, "grateful to be on the mend." Police say they are still investigating what led to that crash.

Customers at one gas station in California are now facing an eye- popping price at the pump, $10 for a gallon of premium for regular unleaded there. The price at that station in Gordillo (ph), on the big sur (ph) coast, is $9.40. The gas station owner says his prices are always higher than what you see around because they don't have power and they run on generators. The average price per gallon in California right now is $5.89 a gallon.

And an update on a friend of our show, four-time Olympic medalist Mikaela Shiffrin. She's breaking records left and right. We know that, of course. And now she's also breaking her own awards. She just broke her trophy. Mikaela posted, we'll show you this, she posted about it on Instagram. Caption reading, "oopsie! Unfortunately not an April Fool's joke." It's the glass trophy that she won for her record-tying sixth World Cup title, the biggest annual prize in ski racing. She was on -- just on the show this week with that very trophy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Congratulations.

MIKAELA SHIFFRIN, SIX-TIME WORLD CUP WINNER: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: Not like you need it from us, but, geez, that's amazing.

SIDNER: That's the closest I've ever been to an award like this.

BOLDUAN: Exactly.

SHIFFRIN: If you want to, pick it up.

BOLDUAN: Mikaela Shiffrin, everyone.

SIDNER: I know. If --

(CROSS TALK)

BERMAN: Sara Sidner.

BOLDUAN: No, Sara!

[09:55:01]

BERMAN: World champion.

Thank you all so much for being with us.

BOLDUAN: We love you.

SIDNER: I'm scared.

BERMAN: We're not going to break anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Apparently --

BOLDUAN: It was not us. It was not us.

SIDNER: I don't know. We don't know that for sure. I could have started the crack.

BERMAN: She was so conserved.

BOLDUAN: Shush (ph).

BERMAN: Actually, Kate was like going to lunge over and grab it from you.

SIDNER: I know. Listen, everyone in the control room was like, no.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

SIDNER: So, I just -- I'm going to use this little hat to like completely disappear just in case it was me.

BOLDUAN: If you're going to break an award, break your own.

BERMAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Just put it that way.

BERMAN: Honestly, better her than us. She did confirm, though, that it was not an April Fool's joke. She really did break it.

SIDNER: She really broke it.

BOLDUAN: She still rocks.

SIDNER: She does.

BOLDUAN: She still rocks.

SIDNER: She don't need the award. She's amazing just without all that stuff.

BERMAN: It's -- she makes it be like 10,000 degrees in here and you're wearing a hat right now.

BOLDUAN: I didn't --

BERMAN: It's your -- yes, it's so hot.

BOLDUAN: He means because of this -- the -- my radiance. It has nothing to do with the temperature.

BERMAN: All right, thank you all for being with us.

SIDNER: She's hot, in case you didn't know.

BERMAN: This is a balmy CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "THE SITUATION ROOM" up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)