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Millions of Americans Hit the Roads as Gas Prices Near All-Time Highs; Republicans Revolt Over Trump's $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Fund; Comer: Former Epstein Assistant Named 3 Alleged Abusers. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired May 22, 2026 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

MEENA DUERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When I was telling people that we were coming to do this story, a lot of people thought I was kidding. They were like, nicotine? That's disgusting.

ERIN OPREA, FITNESS INFLUENCER: We're so brainwashed.

DUERSON: Yes.

OPREA: We're all told it's been bad. That's what we've all been told our whole life.

DUERSON: What do you say to people who think it's incredibly dangerous that you're promoting nicotine?

OPREA: I say that's OK, you can believe that but then go study. And then once you've researched and you've learned and you've listened to both sides of it, then come back and let's talk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN HOST: Packed roads and crowded airports, a record 45 million Americans set to travel for the Memorial Day weekend, and they'll be paying a premium for both gas and airfare.

Plus, coming up, rare Republican pushback on Capitol Hill. President Trump facing backlash from his own party over his nearly $2 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund, set to be funded with taxpayer money.

And an emotional farewell, famous friends and so many fans watching Stephen Colbert taking his final bow at the Ed Sullivan Theater.

I'm Danny Freeman with Fredricka Whitfield. Sara, John, and Kate are all out today, but this is still CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: And it is Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. Millions of Americans are packing their bags, hitting the roads and skies for the nearly 40 million drivers filling up their gas tanks this long weekend. They may get sticker shock. Gas this morning is $4.55 a gallon on average. And right now it's the first time in almost four years that gas in all 50 states tops four bucks a gallon. The last time that happened was 2022.

AAA expects a record 45 million Americans to travel for Memorial Day, but there's little relief from the high prices if you are going by air. Airline tickets have been climbing too as roughly four million people are flying this long weekend. The airlines are continuing to grapple with supply shortages over the war in Iran.

CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich is live for us in Ridgefield, New Jersey, tracking all of this for us. Vanessa, I mean, what are you hearing from travelers?

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, Fredricka, AAA is expecting a record 45 million travelers this holiday season, 39 million of those traveling by car, filling up at gas stations across the country, just like this one here in New Jersey. The national average, as you mentioned, you're talking about $4.55 a gallon. That is up more than 50 cents in just the last month and up more than $1.50 since the war broke out with Iran at the end of February. This is the second highest gas price for Memorial Day travel on record, only to be beat in 2022 when prices were $4.61 a gallon. Drivers here, it is still early, Fredricka, but drivers here have been telling us they're actually cutting back on travel this Memorial Day weekend because of the higher gas prices, but also because of higher prices across the board. Here's what a few drivers told me earlier this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEXTER DRABADO, NEW JERSEY RESIDENT: I'm not really like traveling a lot because of the gas prices. So, you know, just limiting my travel around New Jersey because it's too much, you know, because it's $2 before. Now it's like $4 more.

COURTNEY BURNS, NEW JERSEY RESIDENT: I think it's pretty much expensive everywhere right now. Groceries, everything, mortgage.

YURKEVICH: Are you going to still do summer trips?

BURNS: Yes, I got a couple trips planned, but, you know, overall, I think, you know, the budget's a little tight this year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YURKEVICH (on camera): So some travelers deciding not to travel at all this holiday weekend, but maybe some upcoming trips still planned for the rest of the summer. We're at a point where every state in the United States has an average gas price of over $4 a gallon. Even in some of the more affordable states for gas prices, Mississippi, Georgia, Indiana, you're still looking at an average of more than $4.

And then there are about seven states across the United States where gas prices are over $5. So you have California, you have Hawaii and Oregon. In terms of the rest of the summer, if this war continues, if the

Strait of Hormuz, which is the reason why gas prices are so high, if that Strait of Hormuz is still closed for a duration, Gas Buddy is expecting that the average price for gas from Memorial Day to Labor Day will be $4.80 a gallon. So drivers here very aware of these higher prices and making decisions, accordingly, starting the summer out, maybe staying at home, staying local to try to save a little bit of money -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Right, trying to conserve. All right, Vanessa Yurkevich, thank you so much -- Danny.

[08:05:00]

FREEMAN: Joining me now is Patrick Dahan. He is the head of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy. Patrick, thank you so much for joining us and for helping understand, I guess, what's going on in terms of gas and travel for this holiday weekend.

I guess, are you surprised to see that a record number of people are going to be traveling this holiday weekend despite these rising gas prices?

PATRICK DA HAAN, HEAD OF PETROLEUM ANALYSIS, GASBUDDY: Well, traditionally, when gas prices go up in such a sharp motion for a sustained period of time, it really doesn't matter how much you spend on gas. It really doesn't matter how much you spend on motorists. It really does take motorists a lot more to want to hit the road.

And our survey found that there is going to be a slight drop in some of that summer travel. But Americans hold very steadfast. When you look at gas prices in the summer, the three months that Americans get to take off time from school and work, when we're talking about some of the best weather over the course of the year, Americans really aren't going to slow down much when faced with gas prices at these levels.

Even if prices go higher, the fuel index of what we're experiencing is still dramatically better than 2008 when people started to get out their bike, walk, and do those types of things. Americans are still only spending about six minutes to buy a gallon of gas. Back in 2008, it hit almost 11 minutes to buy a gallon of gas.

FREEMAN: Well, I imagine, especially after such a cold winter, at least here in the Northeast, a lot of people are looking forward to getting out any way that they can. But Patrick, I'm curious, gas is at or above $4 in now all 50 states. We've heard a few different proposals on ways to try and lower prices, including suspending the federal gas tax.

I guess I'm just curious from your perspective, outside of the Strait of Hormuz reopening and the war coming to an end, is there anything the government can actually do to ease pricing pressure here?

DA HAAN: Yes, Danny, I mean, this is a great question. The Trump administration's basically pulled every lever that it can from the Jones Act waiver to the E15 waiver to a summer gasoline waiver. None of the waivers really has much impact when you're talking about so much of the world's supply being choked through the Strait of Hormuz.

So the federal gas tax, if Congress does approve it, that would add up to about $0.18 a gallon of potentially lowering prices in diesel for $0.24. But even at $0.18 reduction, you're still talking about gas prices well in excess of $4 a gallon. And by the way, the longer the Strait remains closed, we still could see the national average climbing through the summer. July 4 could feature a national average of over $5 a gallon should the Strait of Hormuz remain closed.

And that's really what we're hinging on the entire summer. Whether we see record prices, really all it has to do with whether the Strait is closed or open.

FREEMAN: Yes, the dog days of summer coming very quickly. Patrick, I'm curious, are there any tips that you have for drivers to maybe ease some of that pain at the pump this weekend or beyond? You know, I guess at least in the northeast, if it's rainy, you won't have to use too much AC.

DA HAAN: Yes, you know, Danny, the number one thing, the easiest thing most Americans can do, it's like getting a free gallon or two every time you go to the gas station is simply trying to drive more fuel efficiently. Reducing speeds even slightly on the highway going 70 or 65 instead of 75 can drastically improve the amount of miles you get out of a single tank of gasoline. So even if you're around town, obviously avoiding rapid acceleration, making sure your vehicle's maintained.

But the number one factor -- and again, a lot of folks overestimate what difference they can make is simply just trying to drive more defensively and slowing down.

FREEMAN: All right, wise words for everyone, especially on this busy travel weekend. Patrick Da Haan, thank you so much. Really appreciate it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Danny, still ahead, a Republican revolt against President Trump's anti weaponization fund now putting his policy plans in jeopardy. Could the White House back down?

And Jeffrey Epstein's former assistant speaking out, testifying before Congress, claiming that she was a victim, too, and revealing the names of three alleged abusers.

Plus, Starbucks pushing fitness along with your caffeine fix. Why the coffee chain is now selling a weighted vest?

[08:10:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, this just in. Sources say the White House has no plans to make any changes to President Trump's $1.8 billion, so-called anti weaponization fund despite the growing backlash from Republicans on Capitol Hill. The fund would use taxpayer money to compensate people who claim that they have been unfairly treated by the U.S. Justice Department. That could possibly include January 6th defendants who attacked police officers and the pushback from Senate Republicans is growing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): I do not support the weaponization fund as it has been described.

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA): We need more information on it. I just don't know how this puppy dog will work.

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): This is I mean, this is just stupid on stilts. This is bad policy. It's bad timing and it's bad politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Betsy Klein is live for us now at the White House. So, Betsy, you've just learned that there's a new statement coming from the White House. What does it say?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, Fredricka, President Trump has held this virtual vice grip over Republican lawmakers during his second term, but Senate Republicans now openly in revolt after this $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund is at risk of derailing a major legislative priority for this White House.

[08:15:00]

So you might recall earlier this week, the Justice Department unveils this fund that it says will provide compensation to allies of President Trump who say that they were unfairly investigated by the Justice Department.

Senate Republicans immediately lashing out. We heard from Senator Mitch McConnell, who described it as, quote, a slush fund to pay people who assault cops and, quote, morally wrong. And now the White House deploying acting attorney general Todd Blanche to Capitol Hill yesterday for some damage control in what, by all accounts, was an incredibly tense meeting.

At stake here is this massive immigration enforcement package. It is going to provide tens of billions of dollars for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with Border Patrol. And they have tied this weaponization fund to that broader package.

There's so much frustration that they decided to link those two. And the Trump administration, we are learning, has no plans to make any immediate changes to that. That is according to two sources familiar with the matter.

But I want you to watch this very notable exchange as President Trump was asked whether he's losing control over Senate Republicans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But are you losing control of the Senate, sir? Are you losing control of the Senate, Senate Republicans?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know. I really don't know. I can tell you I only do what's right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Now, all of this comes after President Trump has taken aim at incumbent senators. And we saw that as Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lost a competitive primary over the weekend. And then President Trump opting against endorsing Senator John Cornyn of Texas in his race.

All of this as Republicans are also standing up to Trump over his ballroom package. That broader immigration bill was also supposed to include security funding that, as of now, is expected to be stripped from that package.

WHITFIELD: All right, Betsy Klein, thank you so much for that.

All right, a new report projects the U.S. labor force could lose more than one million workers over the next 15 years. And AI is not the only major factor at play.

And a judge dismisses charges against a former assistant principal in the case of a six-year-old student who shot his first grade teacher.

[08:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREEMAN: We have new details this morning about the House Oversight Committee's interview of long-time Jeffrey Epstein assistant, Sarah Kellen. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer says Kellen provided three new names of alleged abusers in Epstein's network. In 2007, federal prosecutors labeled her a potential Epstein co- conspirator, but Kellen told congressional investigators that she is an abuse survivor herself.

CNN's Annie Grayer is in Washington. Now, Annie, you spoke to Comer after that closed-door interview. Tell us, what did he say?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Yes, Danny, this is some of the most candid that I've heard from Chairman Comer and that he said Kellen provided them with really substantive information that's providing them with potential new leads to go down and new names of potential alleged abusers for them to look into. Now, this interview happened behind closed doors, and Comer is not revealing the names of the three individuals, but he says that his committee is going to be working to release this transcript of the closed-door interview as quickly as possible. Take a listen to how he framed it all to us yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY), HOUSE OVERSIGHT CHAIRMAN: Of all the people that we've interviewed thus far, this was by far the most substantive and productive interview that we've had. She gave us three names of people that were involved in abuse. These were new names for us.

So we'll be releasing the transcript as quickly as possible.

GRAYER: Can you share the names of those abusers now?

COMER: We'll get them as quickly as possible. And it's still going on, so I don't want to do that. You'll find out very soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRAYER (on camera): Now, Kellen is considered a controversial figure in Epstein's orbit because, as you mentioned, she was listed as a potential co-conspirator back in 2007. But in her closed-door interview yesterday, she laid out in great detail how she was actually a victim of Epstein's abuse. And we received her opening statement to see those specifics there.

And she was asked a lot of questions about her experience as a victim of Epstein's abuse. She was also asked about her views on Ghislaine Maxwell, who is Epstein's co-conspirator, currently serving prison time. And she was asked what her views were on Maxwell and if Maxwell should be moved to a lower security prison.

Kellen said no, according to a Democrat in the room. She was also asked if she believed that Maxwell should receive a presidential pardon. And Kellen also said that she didn't believe that either.

Now, this gives -- all of this gives the committee a lot of new information to look at. But at least one Democrat in the room, Raja Krishnamoorthi, told reporters after that while Kellen was forthcoming in some areas, because she was in the room voluntarily, she didn't have to answer all of the committee's questions. And because she has so much potential information for the committee, they may consider wanting to call her back under subpoena.

But a lot of information for the committee to go through before their next big interview with former Attorney General Pam Bondi next week.

FREEMAN: Yes, a lot indeed. Fascinating developments. Annie Grayer, thank you for that great reporting. Really do appreciate it.

All right, coming up ahead, the world's top health organization giving a briefing right now on that deadly Ebola outbreak. We have new details on how it's impacting travelers.

[08:25:00]

Plus, Stephen Colbert turns the lights off for the late show's run. The must-see moments and guests from his curtain call after quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, new comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning on negotiations to end the war with Iran. Rubio struck a cautiously optimistic note while speaking at a NATO conference in Sweden and said the U.S. is still waiting to hear back from Iran as those talks continue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: We await word on those conversations that are ongoing. There's been some slight progress. I don't want to exaggerate it, but there's been a little bit of movement.