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Trump Hits Campaign Trail as New Polls Show Tight Senate Races; New York Times Reports, Men in Alleged Cornell Gang Rape Denied Wrongdoing; Mortgage Rates Hit 7.28 Percent, Biggest One-Week Jump in Four Years. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired October 02, 2026 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: President Trump back on the campaign trail today, part of his midterm blitz across 17 states in the lead up to the election amid record low approval and high anxiety. New numbers showing some races are closer than ever.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: We are standing by for one of the most important reports on jobs, not the stock market, but jobs before the election, with wages falling behind inflation.

And a man who was adopted, spent decades searching for his roots. What he found? His biological father is not only around, but a yacht rock legend with one of the most recognizable voices on Earth.

Kate is out today. I'm John Berman with Sara Sidner. This is CNN News Central.

SIDNER: Happening now, President Trump preparing to hit the campaign trail again today, stumping for midterm candidates in ruby red states he won decidedly just two years ago. He heads to Alabama this morning after stops in Texas and Oklahoma in the last 24 hours. It may seem atypical for Trump to visit states that are typically Republican strongholds, but the trips may be necessary because polling is showing GOP candidates in some red states need all the help they can get.

In Iowa, there's no clear winner now in the Senate race, with Democrat Josh Turek ahead two points against Republican Ashley Hinson. It's a similar story in Texas. Again, no clear leader, with Democrat James Talarico two points ahead of Republican Ken Paxton. The numbers support a new CNN analysis this morning that the combination of an increasingly unpopular president mixed with a slate of strong Democratic candidates makes the battle for control of the Senate completely up for grabs.

CNN's Alayna Treene, at the White House this morning, what are you learning?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, Sara, I think your point that the president, we've seen him over the last two days now really travel to these deeply red states. Yesterday, he was in Oklahoma and Texas, and today he's going to Alabama, again, all very red states.

But as you mentioned, it's something that the president himself has acknowledged is important for him. Yesterday, when he was speaking during his remarks at some of these rallies, he said that these races that he is rallying in these deep red states are not consequential, particularly for control of Congress, even though some of his advisers argue they are. But he said he wanted to visit firstly Oklahoma anyway to see his supporters. He said similar things about his visit to Alabama tonight.

I will tell you, Sara, I've been speaking with, of course, his political advisers about this. They say it is a little bit atypical, that some of these visits to these red states are a bit of outliers, and that for the next 30 or so days in the lead-up to the midterms, the president is going to be traveling for the better part of them, and that he is going to be really spending his time mostly in these battleground states.

But even then, they're going to be sending him to more conservative districts. And that's because when you look at his approval ratings, they're very low right now, lower than any time during his presidency, both this term and during his first term. When you look at the economy, when you look at gas prices, his handling of foreign affairs, his approval numbers are even lower there.

And so some of the strategy from behind the scenes from his team has been send him to conservative areas where he can do more help than harm. By sending him to some of these more purple swingy places, it could potentially not be as helpful for these candidates.

Now, the president also talked in Texas yesterday, and what was interesting about this was, of course, what he's doing to try and push Ken Paxton across the finish line to win that Senate seat in Texas.

It is notable that Republicans are spending so much money and so much time in Texas. And it also comes, as we heard Ken Paxton on leaked audio obtained by The New York Times, essentially saying that some of what the president has been doing, particularly that midterm convention in Dallas last month, could've been more hurtful to him.

Now, CNN's Kristen Holmes actually asked the president about that leaked audio yesterday. Trump said that he hadn't spoken with Paxton about it, but then he was asked by someone else about whether or not -- you know, why would he be going to Texas if Paxton is criticizing him? And what the president said there was that it's a big election there and Republicans have to win it. And it just goes to show, I think, just the concern that there is in deep red Texas.

But, look, Trump yesterday, while in Texas, talked about Paxton specifically, shouted out to him and at one point actually said that he could be a pain in the ass sometimes.

[07:05:07]

I want you to listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Ken Paxton was at my side more than anybody. And I have to always remember that because he could be a pain in the ass sometimes, I'll be honest.

Is he here, by the way? Oh, there he is. Good. I didn't even know if he's here. I don't care.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: So, guys, you can see there, I mean, this is typical of what we've heard the president say. He's been -- he's come to quite typically criticize Paxton while also saying you need to vote for him anyway, that he's the only choice in Texas.

But I do think as well, Sara, his closing message, the president, in Oklahoma yesterday was really the one that is notable. He said, you've got to get out and vote. We're worried about Michigan, we're worried about Texas, we're worried about a few states. So, it just gives you a sense of where their mind is right now in the lead-up to the midterms.

SIDNER: Yes. It's telling that he's saying that he's worried because he's been saying that everything is great and fine.

Alayna Treene, thank you so much for your reporting this morning. John?

BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight, for the first time, we have learned what some of the men named in the investigation into the alleged gang rape at Cornell University have been saying. Their accounts are in detailed records obtained exclusively by The New York Times from the university's formal Title IX investigation. Those records show all of the men denied wrongdoing not long after the alleged incident was first reported.

New York's Governor Kathy Hochul has named the state's Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor now in the case, and we're standing by for a press conference from both the governor and attorney general this morning. It'll be interesting to see and hear what they say their mandate is now.

In the meantime, CNN's Brynn Gingras here with the very latest. And The New York Times with sort of the account from the men now.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. We haven't heard from them. We knew they were g- being interviewed as part of that Title IX investigation, but we haven't heard anything they had to say, right?

The New York Times basically breaks it down saying that they, are, their accounts differ, contradict each other, and in many times are contrary to what Jane Doe's statements were to police at that time. In part, they say that she didn't appear intoxicated inside that bedroom in the Chi Phi fraternity. Also, they say, many of them, that she wasn't even slurring her words. One told investigators that he actually was a victim because he received oral sex from Jane Doe while he was, quote, too incapacitated, to consent to that. So, four of the fraternity brothers said it was consensual. Three said that they didn't even involve themselves in sexual contact.

Now, we actually have in our possession a disciplinary -- Cornell disciplinary panel summary, 99 pages. This is after the Title IX investigation was completed, and it's heavily redacted. But one of the fraternity brothers involved in this and who was questioned said that after seeing the messages on that Snapchat that we've heard all about, he went into the room and asked, he says, Jane Doe and one of the men who were in that room if they were okay.

They said they were. They gave the affirmative. And then he said, quote, I was sorry that maybe if it wasn't consensual and she wasn't -- if she was victimized, I was sorry for not stopping it, that I'm sorry I couldn't tell if she was under the influence, just sorry that I felt like if something actually bad happened, I didn't stop it.

So, we're getting a lot of denials. We have reached out to -- we're trying to find some attorneys for some of these people who are named in that civil lawsuit, can't get into contact. But two of the attorneys have flat out denied any of their clients' wrongdoings at this point.

I want to go to the conclusion of that disciplinary hearing where we know two people were expelled. According to that document, one man was found to have violated school policy against sexual exploitation and sexual assault. A second man was found responsible for attempted sexual exploitation, but not found responsible for sexual assault.

Okay, so bring this all together. Again, the question remains, could charges have been filed? That is still what remains. Hopefully, that's what this attorney general now getting involved in this case, at least that's what the governor is hoping, she finds answers. She's pushed aside the county district attorney. He has no authority now in that jurisdiction to investigate this case. It's all on her.

It's interesting. This is the first time I think that's happened for a case, a sexual, you know, assault case.

BERMAN: Look, it'll be very interesting to hear from both of them later this morning, the governor and the attorney general, what they think, what they've seen, what they're looking for still.

Brynn Gingras, you're all over this, thanks so much for being with us this morning.

All right, quote, I couldn't let everybody else die, the hero pilot in the Middle East plane attack speaking out for the first time from his hospital bed.

And critical data on jobs out very shortly this morning. The big question, how much wages are falling behind inflation?

And epic yacht rock reveal. A man who was adopted finds out his biological father is actually Michael McDonald.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I finally said, are you Michael McDonald? And he said, yes, I'm afraid so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:10:03]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: This morning, if you are looking to buy a home, it just got significantly more expensive again. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate spiked to 7.28 percent, the biggest one-week jump in nearly four years. Rates are now at their highest level since November 2023. Worry about inflation and the economy have persisted as voters prepare to head to the polls. The final jobs report before the midterm election comes out next hour.

CNN's David Goldman is here. I guess first we need to sort of look at these mortgage rates. This is a fear for politicians, obviously, but for the general public, as they go about trying to figure this out, what is causing this enormous jump? It couldn't just be inflation.

DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: It is inflation, and it's the bond market, too, and those are related because, I mean, 7.28 percent.

[07:15:00]

This is a frozen home market. It was frozen before this. But now, if you're trying to buy a new home, and you have to contend with thousands of dollars a year in extra home payments, it may not be affordable to you anymore, maybe wasn't affordable before it was 7 percent. This is a real difficulty for so many people that are looking to buy and looking to sell. And what it's done is it's just locked in the home market.

If you live in a home and you're at a comfortable rate, you're not going to sell. And if you're looking to buy, how can you afford it? And that has raised the cost of living for so many people. You can see just kind of a straight line up for mortgage rates since the inflation crisis.

There's a little bit of an easing, you know, just over the past few years, but then it's back up again during the Iran war. Why is that? Because inflation is higher, and that sent bond rates higher. Mortgage rates are tied to bond rates, and here we go.

But the thing is that, you know, yes, we have 3.4 percent inflation.

SIDNER: Yes.

GOLDMAN: How are people affording that? They're dipping into their savings. That's the key. Because, you know, you got to put it on a credit card. You got to dip into your savings to afford any of this stuff. How do you have money to afford a home?

SIDNER: Now, we have the jobs report that is supposed to be coming out shortly. GOLDMAN: Very shortly.

SIDNER: What are you -- what is the sense there of what we might see? Because the last jobs report was actually pretty robust.

GOLDMAN: I know. And this sounds confusing to so many people.

SIDNER: Yes.

GOLDMAN: It's like, well, that was just some bad news, right? So, what's with the good jobs market? They're related. The economy is overheating. That's why we have high inflation. That's why we have high bond rates, and that's why we have a pretty decent job market. 90,000 jobs is okay in this environment, but 4.1 percent unemployment is what we call full employment.

Now, it has been a little topsy-turvy over the past, you know, few months. So, you know, you've seen some downs, you've seen some ups.

SIDNER: Right.

GOLDMAN: We're at a point right now where any job growth is good. There is such few -- there's -- the immigration policy in this country is such that if we have any job growth, because there's no labor force growth, it's a pretty decent thing for the economy.

SIDNER: All right. We will wait and see what those numbers are.

David Goldman, it's like a mixed bag again with this economy.

GOLDMAN: Always.

SIDNER: I don't think that's changed in years. I really do appreciate it.

GOLDMAN : Thanks.

SIDNER: All right. We've got new reporting that President Trump has gotten foreign policy advice from Elon Musk's A.I. chatbot. That story is coming up.

And you will hear from the hero pilot who was stabbed by his co-pilot on that plane bound for Israel as new video emerges from the chaos in the cockpit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BERMAN: New this morning, the airline captain who thwarted a suspected hijacking is speaking out for the first time. He was badly injured while trying to fight off an attack from his co-pilot on the way from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Officials say he saved the lives of more than 170 people on board.

Let's get to CNN's Nic Robertson live in Jerusalem with what he's saying this morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, we've got to hear from him for the first time because he's been speaking with India's prime minister, Narendra Modi. So, this is the man who, until a few days ago, his friends would have just described him as a father of two, happy, jovial kind of chap. But, of course, now everyone sees and recognizes h- him as a hero who saved so many people on that flight.

But what you get to hear in his voice here, in his own words, is just how he realized that he was not just fighting for his own life in a pool of his own blood, but fighting for the lives, to save the lives of everyone on the plane.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. SMIT MACHCHHAR, HERO FLYDUBAI PILOT: Sir, I've been flying planes for the last 17 years, and I've been a captain for the last 11 years. And even if I shut my eyes, I know what is happening in the plane. And when I was on the ground, I realized that the aircraft was falling down, and I knew in that moment, one last push, Smit. Just do it. The door is right there. And even at that time, he was beating me up. And then I just opened it, sir. And then everybody came, and everybody else also played an equal role in this.

I was telling, sir, that I was doing this for my life, but at the same time, I knew that I cannot let everybody else die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON : And even then, when he has opened the door to save everyone else, he is just moments from death. The people who treated him the dentist on the plane who treated him, saved his life, said he was bleeding out so quickly, he was moments away from death.

Now, his wife has also spoken today, spoken about the shock of the moment of finding out. She was asked, Have you yet talked to him about this event, going through the details of it? And she says, no, I just -- I can't do that right now. I don't want to make him have flashbacks. She is pretty confident, though, he will speak out about it.

And as you heard him there, a pilot for flying planes for 17 years, a captain for 11 years, he's described -- previously described his job of flying as a dream job. That's what he always wanted to do, winning the accolades of people here in Israel, but also in the Emirates as well. And we heard from a senior Emirati official today describing this attack as a terrorist attack.

BERMAN: I have to say, I mean, this man, no doubt, is he a hero in many nations, but certainly to those 170 people on board.

[07:25:00]

Nic, thank you very much.

All right, coffee and chocolate prices poised to possibly spike. How the powerful El Nino weather event could be to blame.

And an adopted man waits much of a lifetime to meet his biological father. What happens when it turns out to be a Doobie Brother?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: We're just 32 days away from midterm election, but who's counting? Well, a lot of folks are. Apparently, President Trump is as well.

[07:30:01]

He is hitting the trail for several GOP Senate hopefuls in some surprising states. Today, he heads to Alabama after stops in Texas and Oklahoma.