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Trump Administration Announces Airstrikes against ISIS Target in Somalia; Philadelphia Mayor States Casualties from Medevac Plane Crash in Northeast Philadelphia May Increase; Black Boxes from Aircraft that Collided Midair Near Washington D.C. May Provide More Information about Crash; Trump Administration Preparing to Revoke Legal Status of Migrants Who Entered U.S. Under Biden Era Program; Firefighters Indicate Palisades and Eaton Fires in Southern California Now 100 Percent Contained; Republican Senator Bill Cassidy Questions Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on His Stance on Vaccines During Senate Confirmation Hearing; CNN Series Profiles NBA Career and Death of Kobe Bryant. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired February 01, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:00:51]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We start with this breaking news. The U.S. striking an ISIS target in Somalia. President Trump making the announcement a short time ago. CNN's Alayna Treene is in Florida, where the president is spending the weekend. Alayna, what's behind this?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Well, Fred did hear from the president, as you mentioned, saying that he has made precision military strikes in Somalia on different terrorist groups, namely ISIS, or excuse me, just on ISIS. But this is what he posted to Truth Social this morning about this. He said, quote, "This morning I ordered precision military airstrikes on the senior ISIS attack planner and other terrorists he recruited and led in Somalia. These killers, who we found hiding in caves, threaten the United States and our allies. The strikes destroyed the caves they live in and killed many terrorists without in any way harming civilians."

Now, Fred, we did also receive a statement from the new secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, who also confirmed that he had authorized these strikes, as well as noted that no civilians were harmed. This is what he wrote. He said, quote, "At President Trump's direction and in coordination with the federal government of Somalia, I authorized U.S. Africa Command to conduct coordinated airstrikes today targeting ISIS Somalia operatives in the Golis mountains." He added that "Our initial assessment is that multiple operatives were killed in the airstrikes, and no civilians were harmed. This action further degrades ISIS's ability to plot and conduct terrorist attacks," going on to say that such terrorists threaten the United States and its citizens.

Now, I do want to address something that the president mentioned in his post as well. He attacked the former president, Joe Biden, as well as his administration for what he argued was their inability to carry out such strikes on the ISIS attack planner. Now, I will note that military strikes in Somalia have been happening over the past several years. They have been described as routine. We know that the Biden administration carried out a series of military strikes in Somalia, targeting both ISIS as well as Al-Shabaab terrorists. This is also something we know that the Biden administration back in 2022 had the Pentagon approve, allowing more U.S. troops in the area to target such terrorists. So, again, this is not something that is entirely new, but it is new to the Trump administration, and also them confirming and really touting that they had successful strikes today. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, Alayna Treene, thanks so much.

All right, now to Philadelphia, where officials there held a press conference on the deadly medical jet crash that killed all six people on board.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER, PHILADELPHIA: We can also confirm that at least one other person perished in this tragedy, and this individual was in a car. We can confirm that there are also a number of other victims who were injured in this incident, and they are being treated in area hospitals, and thus far, our count is that there are 19 injured victims. But again, this is not etched in stone. The investigation is ongoing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Officials warn the casualties from this crash could climb, adding it could be days before they know the totals for certain.

We're getting a look at the carnage that devastated a neighborhood. A crater can be seen alongside burned-out cars, what looks like twisted metal resting on the roof of one car. The Philadelphia mayor explaining the medical jet was only in the air for a matter of seconds before exploding into a fireball. CNN's Danny Freeman is in Philadelphia. Danny, you were at that press conference. What more can you tell us?

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fred, and we've been talking about it all afternoon. That press conference was truly harrowing, not only because we got that update that a seventh person was killed in this tragic air crash. There were the six people on board that plane, and then a seventh who was just in a car here on Cottman Avenue behind me, where that crash occurred.

[14:05:07]

But also, as you noted, there is still concern, as Mayor Cherelle Parker said, that number of fatalities is not etched in stone. The Philadelphia officials that we heard speak, they said, if you are in this area and you fear that you might be missing someone, please call 911. Please let them know, because they're going through the process right now of sifting through that wreckage. And they've been doing that really all day today. The NTSB is on the scene. We've seen the FBI on the scene, local Philadelphia crime scene units.

And I just want to illustrate something to you, Fred, real quick here. The crash happened a couple blocks away from here, but right here on the ground, you can see a little canister right there that is labeled "Jet Rescue" with crime scene tape around it. There are a number of these types of materials and debris on the ground in all directions. And it just goes to show you just how widespread this debris field was.

But Fred, I just want to go back and just go over what we do know at this point about what happened here. At 6:00 p.m. last night, just after that, a flight took off, a medical transport jet took off from northeast Philadelphia airport, which is just a couple miles from where we're standing. It was flying to Missouri en route to Mexico, which is the home country of all the six people who were on board. There were two pilots on board, a doctor, a paramedic, and a child who was a pediatric patient, and her mother. And that child was here in Philadelphia to get treated at Shriners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia for an illness. And they were then heading back, as I noted, to Mexico, when this fatal accident or crash, I should say, happened.

And as you noted, we've been reporting on it, that flight only in the air for about 40 seconds before nosediving here behind me on Cottman Avenue. We're still waiting at this point for some clarity from the NTSB as to what went wrong here. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, Danny Freeman in Philadelphia, thank you so much.

All right, on to Washington, D.C., as officials work on recovery efforts along the Potomac River. We're learning that investigators in the deadly collision, midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter could have initial findings from the black boxes as early as today. A source familiar with the investigation tells CNN that high level readouts from the onboard voice and data recorders could provide key clues into the altitude of both aircrafts.

CNN's Brian Todd is joining us live now from Reagan National Airport. Brian, what more are you learning?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, regarding that information that you just gave about the data from those black boxes and what it could provide, specifically, they could learn whether the Black Hawk helicopter was adhering to the 200 foot height restriction that's in place for helicopter traffic in that helicopter corridor just east of here, just east of Reagan National Airport. Under those rules, helicopters have to be at or below 200 feet above the ground when they're flying in that corridor just east of here. The question is, was that Black Hawk helicopter at that height or below it? And CNN has previously reported that according to flight tracking data, it showed, it appeared to show that that helicopter may have been flying maybe as high as 100 feet above that 200 foot restriction, and may have been veering off of its prescribed course. So that data from the black boxes that you just described that we may

be getting as early as today, maybe could clarify some of that information. Where was that helicopter in relation to the rules that state where it should have been in that corridor over Reagan National Airport?

Some other developments today regarding the recovery operation. We are expecting the arrival of barges and cranes on the Potomac River sometime today, according to investigators. Those are coming from the Virginia Beach area south of here. They have to come up the Potomac River, up the Chesapeake Bay, and then up the Potomac River. So they should be getting here, they said, maybe sometime today. They have not arrived yet, as far as we know. So those will be critical, because they cannot recover more bodies, they say, until they can lift that fuselage out of the water. They need those cranes and barges to do that, because the water is only about eight feet deep where the plane hit. And some of that plane, unfortunately, probably drove several feet into the riverbed. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Brian Todd at Reagan National Airport, thanks so much.

All right, let's get more perspective. I'm joined now by former air traffic controller and associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Michael McCormick. Michael, great to see you. So, as we learned that there may be some readout information coming from some of these voice and data recorders. What will be important, in your view, to hear to have a better understanding of the communication between these aircrafts and the control tower?

[14:10:01]

MICHAEL MCCORMICK, FORMER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER: We already have the record data of the voice communications between the aircraft and the control tower. What I'm curious to see now, and I think is vital to see now, is what is the conversation that took place inside the cockpit of the American aircraft? That will give an idea of what actually was transpiring on board. The same would hold true for the Black Hawk. If we could get voice recordings and cockpit recordings out of Black Hawk, that would be vital to figure out what were the pilots intent? What were they trying to do? What did they see? What didn't they see?

WHITFIELD: OK, because in some of the radio tower communications, we did hear an acknowledgment coming from the Black Hawk pilot that, yes, eyes are on aircraft, but I guess we keep hearing now that there isn't a distinction between what aircraft that pilot may have seen. Was he looking at that one that they ended up colliding with, or was it perhaps another aircraft that was coming in for a landing behind it? Will this kind of communication offer any kind of clarity to that?

MCCORMICK: Absolutely. If we could just know what the pilots thought they were looking at and what they thought they were avoiding, that would make a big difference in terms this investigation.

WHITFIELD: It's a very stressful job to be an air traffic controller, and that there was one working that evening when sometimes there are two. But then we're also hearing that in recent times, it is not unusual to just have one. So can you kind of set the scene for us, kind of give people an understanding of how this one air traffic controller is keeping an eye on the helicopter traffic, as well as the commercial air traffic, and what that would be like for that individual?

MCCORMICK: The control tower team at Washington national airport is actually composed of four to five controllers, and they're working on several different operational positions at the time with different levels of responsibility. For instance, one controller is working all the aircraft taxiing in and taxiing out. Another controller is working all the aircraft that are landing and departing, and then another controller could be working the helicopter traffic in and around the vicinity of the airport.

They need to be in close coordination with each other as they go about their business, but they're also assisted by technology such as surface radar systems that track the aircraft on the ground and provide alerts in the event that an aircraft strays where it shouldn't go. And additionally, they have tower radar displays that monitor all the traffic in the airspace around the airport. So when you put this tower team and these tools together, you have the ability to form situational awareness that you can update in real time in order to establish and maintain the separation between the aircraft.

It's not unusual for any air traffic control facility to go from a split sector, as they call it, two different positions of operation into a single sector, which they did at Washington National at that time. They took the helicopter sector. They combined it with the tower sector. That actually could have been a good thing, because that meant the controller working the aircraft also had situational awareness on the helicopters in the airspace, whereas previously they would have had to coordinate closely with each other in order to maintain that situational awareness.

WHITFIELD: So many critical details have yet to be uncovered and discovered with the kind of data collecting information that they're now poring through.

If I could shift gears now to this plane crash involving a medevac plane in Philadelphia last night that, after 40 seconds, you know, 40 seconds after takeoff, it would simply fall from the air right into the city streets and community there in Philadelphia. I want you to listen to audio now that's coming from air traffic control just moments before the crash. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Medevac med service, northeast tower. Medevac med service 056 northeast tower, are you on frequency?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stand by, one. I'll get back to you when I can.

We have a lost aircraft. We're not exactly sure what happened, so we're trying to figure it out. For now, the field is going to be closed, so no inbounds or outbounds probably.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So we're hearing this for the first time that the pilot would say, I'll get back to you when I can. It almost sounds as though, or should we infer that that pilot knew that there was a problem inside that 40 seconds before it would plunge?

MCCORMICK: Fredricka, I worked at Philadelphia for 10 years, so I'm very familiar with the airspace and the procedures getting out of northeast Philadelphia airport.

[14:15:03]

And I've worked in many aircraft both in and out of northeast Philadelphia airport. What occurred yesterday evening was, in fact, that the aircraft was cleared for takeoff from a two-four northeast Philadelphia airport, got airborne, and was switched from northeast Philadelphia airport control tower over to Philadelphia approach control. That aircraft never made the communication change over to Philadelphia approach control. So that's why northeast tower is trying to call the medevac aircraft several times without getting a response.

And the other conversation that you heard, we'll get back to you as soon as we can, was actually the controller at northeast airport talking to the Philadelphia approach controller, telling them, we don't know what's going on, and we'll get back to you as soon as we find out. So the last, the last communication with the Learjet was acknowledging the switch from northeast Philadelphia to Philadelphia approach.

WHITFIELD: So sad, just happening so fast. All right, Michael McCormick, really appreciate your insight. Thank you so much.

MCCORMICK: Thank you. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Coming up, President Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China are expected to go into effect today. A live report from Florida straight ahead.

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[14:21:12]

WHITFIELD: Sources tell CNN the Trump administration is preparing to revoke the legal status of migrants who entered the U.S. under a Biden era program. The move could affect about a half-million migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba, Venezuela, and Haiti. Those migrants arrived during President Bidens term under a humanitarian parole program and were allowed to temporarily live and work in the U.S.

I'm now joined by John Sandweg. He is the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, under President Obama. John, great to see you. So your reaction to this plan to revoke the protections for these migrants and possibly deport them? JOHN SANDWEG, FORMER ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL, DHS: Fredricka, on one

level, it is not terribly surprising to me. The president is trying to execute a mass deportation. The biggest challenge he faces, in addition to the resource limitations at ICE in terms of arresting large numbers of migrants, is the backlogs in the immigration courts. I think the president has some plans down the line where he's going to try to invoke this alien enemies act to get around the immigration courts, but in the short term, he needs to focus on, ICE needs to focus on populations that can be deported without seeing the judges.

And I don't want to make this too complex, but because these people were paroled into the United States and because they just recently entered the United States, ICE believes it can just revoke the paroles and then deport them. I think the other reasons this population is vulnerable is because ICE has good information about where they are. Typically, these people are checking in with ICE as they go through the process.

So look, on one hand, you could sit here and say, boy, its stunning that Biden, the United States government gave these people permission to come in. They didn't cross the border illegally. They came in legally with permission from the government. It seems really unfair for the government to arrest them. But from an operational perspective, I understand why the administration wants to focus on them. They're low hanging fruit, easy to arrest, easy to deport.

WHITFIELD: But can he just unilaterally revoke this parole under this program? Doesn't it still need or would it need congressional review or approval?

SANDWEG: Well, it wouldn't need congressional review. I mean, this was all done with without congressional approval in the first instance, which is why I think the Trump administration is frustrated by it. But traditionally, when the agency, the executive branch traditionally will parole some individuals in. They can do that for humanitarian reasons. They can do that for other reasons. Traditionally, you can cancel that at any time.

I do think, Fredricka, we're going to get some court challenges here. The reason being is that the Biden administration created this program. These people applied, they went through the process, they came in the right way. They crossed the border legally with permission. And suddenly now they're getting arrested and deported. The government is revoking its promise. It'll be a very interesting legal fight. I certainly, like a lot of the things that are happening in immigration, do expect it to be resolved in a federal court.

WHITFIELD: OK, and now separately, but somewhat related, "The Washington Post" is now reporting that the Trump administration is working to give immigration officers access to databases containing information on unaccompanied migrant children. Congress passed a law during Trump's first term to prevent the federal government from doing that. So what concerns you about this possible change, Fredricka?

SANDWEG: Fredricka, again, as we go forward, the challenge -- right now, the agency had the last week they've been focused on criminal populations. But you run out of those targets very quickly. The reality is, is that there are not that many immigrants who get arrested for committing crimes in this country. The ones who do ICE generally picks up when they are in jail or in prison. So you have a very small --

WHITFIELD: Now we're talking about children. We're talking about unaccompanied children. And its the databases that has information about them.

SANDWEG: Yes. What I was going to say, though, is you run out of those targets quickly. So what ends up happening is you're looking for other populations that are easy to arrest.

[14:25:01]

And I think what would concern me here is that you start looking at the unaccompanied migrant children and start thinking that might be a source for the next wave of the mass deportations. Historically, ICE does not want anything to do with unaccompanied minor children. They're handed over. They're not housed by ICE. They're housed by the Office of Health and Human Services, the Office of Refugees. But the bottom line is, I think what would concern me here is, why does the administration want this information to ICE? Are they thinking about this for the next round of targeting having exhausted the criminal targets? Where are they going to go next?

WHITFIELD: John Sandweg, thank you so much.

SANDWEG: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Coming up, after nearly a month of Palisades and Eaton fires, California are now 100 percent contained. We'll have a live report from Altadena on the cleanup efforts following those disasters.

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[10:30:16]

WHITFIELD: All right, a couple of updates now we want to bring you on the southern California fires. A drone pilot will avoid jailtime after agreeing to plead guilty to charges of recklessly operating his drone that damaged an aircraft that was fighting the Palisades fires earlier this month. The so-called super scooper aircraft was left with a gaping hole. It had to be taken out of commission for days. Under the plea agreement, Peter Tripp Akemann will have to complete 150 hours of community service and support of the fire relief effort.

Also, after nearly a month of crews working relentlessly, the Palisades and Eaton fires are now 100 percent contained. But much remains to be done. L.A.'s emergency management warns that burned debris contains hazardous, toxic materials. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones joined the EPA for a firsthand look at the cleanup effort.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sifting through Altadena's ashes, what were once homes now piles of toxic waste. The cleanup after the deadly Eaton fire is just beginning.

HARRY ALLEN, ON-SCENE COORDINATOR, EPA: So we put a white x to mark that. Weve checked it, and it doesn't have anything dangerous in it.

JONES: Weeks after flames decimated thousands of homes and businesses, crews in hazmat suits roam the ruins, the Environmental Protection Agency carrying out what they call phase one, a painstaking process, removing all that is hazardous in the fire's aftermath.

ALLEN: They're common goods from your house, paints from your shop. They may be oils from your garage, propane from your grill. These are the kinds of materials we're looking for and will remove if they're if they haven't been burned.

JONES: Harry Allen has been with the EPA for more than 20 years and helped in the recovery after major wildfires.

ALLEN: Napa Sonoma, Woolsey fire here in L.A., Lahaina, yes, this one is larger than those.

JONES: But this time around, another danger lurking amidst the rubble -- partially damaged batteries.

ALLEN: Inside that battery, it can get hot and the gas can ignite and cause a fire.

JONES: Just on its own?

ALLEN: On its own. And if you watch videos of this, they look like little roman candles, if you're familiar with that firework, and the fire comes out like a jet from the battery, and it can be very harmful.

JONES: Once EPA crews remove these dangerous items and dispose of them safely, phase one is complete.

What happens after that?

ALLEN: Once that phase one is fully completed, phase two can start, which is either public or private contractors will come in and remove the debris from each property.

JONES: The scope of the disaster and the magnitude of the work ahead now coming into focus. On these blocks gas and power just starting to come back online. Beyond them, thousands more residences await.

How long to complete all of the Eaton fire area? I mean, this is a whole community.

ALLEN: We don't know how long it's going to take, but we've gotten a lot of pressures and direction to complete the work faster than we normally would. And so were ramping up our staffing to try to meet those goals.

JONES: For those displaced and who are ready to start rebuilding, those goals cant come soon enough. (END VIDEO TAPE)

JONES (on camera): And Fred, about 1,000 workers from the EPA are already on site now doing that kind of cleanup. And here at the community in Altadena, we are at the Pasadena community job center. It's been a hub for aid distribution. Just around the corner, we're hearing that 175 workers from this community and beyond are now being trained in disaster work so that they can come in after the EPA and start getting those people back into their homes. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, that's incredible. All right, Julia Vargas Jones, thank you so much.

Coming up, RFK Jr.'s HHS secretary confirmation hearing remains up in the air after hours of Senate hearings. A congressional reporter who attended those hearings joining us with analysis.

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[14:39:08]

WHITFIELD: All right, this week, President Trump's pick to lead Health and Human Services faced a contentious confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was grilled by senators over his past false claims about vaccine safety and if he trusts the science behind them. Here's CNN's Meg Tirrell.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: One of the most notable things out of these two days of confirmation hearings for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Was something that he didn't or wouldn't say, which was that he accepted established science showing no link between vaccines and autism. This was something that multiple senators pressed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on, most notably Senator Bill Cassidy, who is a physician and is the chair of the Senate Health Committee, which hosted the second day's confirmation hearing. Here's an example of one exchange between those two on this topic.

[14:40:00]

SEN. BILL CASSIDY, (R-LA): If you are approved to this position, will you say unequivocally, will you reassure mothers unequivocally and without qualification, that the measles and hepatitis b vaccines do not cause autism?

ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY NOMINEE: Senator, I am not going into the agency with any --

CASSIDY: That's kind of a yes or no question, because -- so if you're, because the data is there. And that's kind of a yes or no. And I don't mean to cut you off, but that really is a yes or no.

KENNEDY: If the data is there, I will absolutely do that.

CASSIDY: Now there is the data, just because I used to I used to do hepatitis b, as I said, I know the data is there.

KENNEDY: Well then then I will be the first person, if you show me data, I will be the first person to assure the American people that they need to take those vaccines.

CASSIDY: Now, what concerns me is that you've cast doubt on some of these vaccines recently, I mean, like last few years, but the data, and I could quote some of it, the data has been there for a long time.

TIRRELL: So Cassidy really pleading there with Kennedy to say, not that he's going to go in with no preconceived notions, but in fact, to accept that the science is already established on this point.

There was another topic that Republicans in particular were looking for assurances on from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and that was abortion. Of course, during his own presidential campaign, Kennedy expressed a belief that women should have more access to abortion than Trump and many Republicans believe they should have. And Kennedy did provide assurances to those Republicans in these hearings that he would implement whatever policies President Trump wants to put in place on abortion. But that also led to Democratic senators calling him out on his previous stances. Take a look.

SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN, (D-NH): Mr. Kennedy, I'm confused. You have clearly stated in the past that bodily autonomy is one of your core values. The question is, do you stand for that value or not? When was it that you decided to sell out the values you've had your whole life in order to be given power by President Trump?

KENNEDY: Senator, I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy, that we can't be a moral authority in this country.

HASSAN: So, but that isn't what you said back in New Hampshire.

KENNEDY: Senator, I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy.

TIRRELL: And finally, a major point really just stemmed around Kennedy's apparent grasp of the concepts and the agencies that he would be overseeing as Health secretary. Several senators from both sides of the aisle quizzed him on differences between Medicare and Medicaid, and asked him for specific policy ideas along those lines, and it seemed like many senators were left feeling like he didn't have enough of a grasp on those concepts.

But really, a lot of eyes now are on Senator Bill Cassidy, because in addition to serving as the chair of the Health Committee, he also serves on the Senate Finance Committee, and that is the committee that's going to take the initial vote on whether to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination. We heard from Cassidy at the end of the Health hearing that he was really struggling with how to vote because of the issues around vaccines, and he said that Kennedy might be hearing from him over the weekend.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Meg Tirrell, thank you so much.

All right, for more now we're joined by Lindsey McPherson, a congressional reporter at "The Washington Times" who attended RFK Jr.'s hearings. Lindsey, great to see you.

OK, as we just saw a sample of that. RFK Jr. grilled by Democrats and Republicans who tried to establish that he's not qualified, that he lacks basic knowledge of some distinctions, like the differences between Medicare and Medicaid, for example. Will all of that cripple his chances.

LINDSEY MCPHERSON, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, "THE WASHINGTON TIMES": It is certainly holding him back at this moment. I think it's too soon to say it will cripple it. Certainly, among Democrats, I think it's going to be hard for him to find any support among Democrats, particularly on the Finance Committee. Ron Wyden, who is the top Democrat on the Finance Committee, has already said that he doesn't expect any Democratic votes for him on that panel.

So that does go back to the point where Bill Cassidy, a Republican on that panel and the chair of the Health Committee that had the other hearing, his vote is very important in terms of advancing him to the floor, and then on the floor. Then there are several other Republicans to watch if he makes it that far, as well as some Democrats who may or may not vote for him. But it's more likely to be a party line vote.

WHITFIELD: Some of the sharpest attacks, as we saw, you know, came from Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, Pensions. He's also a physician. The senator has remained steadfastly loyal to Trump, but says he's struggling with this nomination, and might have to have a conversation with Kennedy throughout the weekend.

Do you think, Cassidy's loyalties to Trump will outweigh his, I mean, clear concerns that he has about RFK Jr.?

[14:45:09]

MCPHERSON: No, I don't think for Cassidy, Trump loyalty is a factor here really at all. He is up for reelection this year, so that is something to be considered, and the idea that if he were to oppose Trump, that would have some political ramifications potentially. But I think for him it really is, as he made clear in those exchanges, about the medical science and whether -- and he made this clear in his closing argument at the last hearing, was that he wants to make sure that the megaphone that RFK already has as a public figure, somebody who ran for president, is well known, has a big following, but would have even bigger following in this role, if confirmed that he's going to use that and advance science that's been proven. And particularly, you saw the exchanges about autism. I think it was very frustrating for Senator Cassidy and others that he hasn't looked into these long held studies and that he hasn't accepted the science and that he still needs to be shown data, and he hasn't done the research.

So is there an opening? Yes, I think he has provided an opening for him to come out more clearly about this. And I could see in the form of whether it's a public press conference, a letter or something, that there might be something Kennedy would have to put out to get Cassidy's vote, and I think there's an opening for that. But he is definitely, I think, struggling with this because of his profession as a doctor, and the actual health ramifications.

WHITFIELD: Similar to all the other nominees, if four Republicans vote against him, he's not going to get through. If Cassidy continues to sound very skeptical, we saw on the Pete Hegseth nomination, it was Collins and Murkowski who were willing to give a thumbs down. Who might be the other three Republicans who would who do not seem to favor RFK Jr. if Cassidy, indeed, is a thumbs down?

MCPHERSON: Well, certainly Collins or Murkowski wants to watch here again. They were on the Health committee. And their questioning was relatively light compared to Cassidy's in terms of -- but they did both mention vaccines as an issue for them that they're watching and that they want assurances from him on. So I think that they are still key swing votes.

And then, a senator who has been obviously quiet on a lot of these nominations is Mitch McConnell, the former Senate GOP leader. He actually had polio. And so the polio vaccine was a big issue that Kennedy has affirmed his support for that. But I think he might have other questions, too. And because he doesn't really talk to the press now, we don't get as much insight into where he is. And he was kind of that last surprise vote there with Hegseth, so we could see again where he maybe is a swing vote to watch as well.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lindsey McPherson, thank you so much.

MCPHERSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:52:24]

WHITFIELD: It's been five years since the tragic death of Kobe Bryant. Tonight, the new CNN original series "Kobe, The Making of a Legend," continues. CNN's Bill Weir has a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, the next man I'm going to introduce has it all -- youthfulness, talent, got lots of money, about to get married. Come on up, Kobe.

BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Long before the five NBA title parades, the MVP awards, and Olympic gold --

KOBE BRYANT: USA is back on top. This is what it's all about.

WEIR (voice-over): -- Los Angeles fell in love with this kid at first sight. His dad, Jellybean Bryant, was an NBA first rounder and journeyman pro who played and coached around the world. So, on courts from Italy to Philly, the prodigy dribbled and dreamed of being better than dad and everyone else.

BRYANT: I was in the airport on my way up here. And people would come up to me and say, hey, do you play basketball? And I'd say, yes, you know, I play basketball. And they'd say, well, what team do you play for? I'm used to saying Lower Merion High School. So, I'm in there, I'm like, well, I play for Lower Merion High -- no, you know what? I'm in Los Angeles.

WEIR: And this sports crazed town embraced that kid like a member of the family, like few other athletes ever. I was a sports anchor in L.A. the night Kobe proposed to Vanessa, and every station in town sent traffic helicopters over their house, live coverage to mark the momentous occasion. We had no idea how he would evolve as a family man, as a player, and how Vanessa would end up as a fierce defender of his legacy.

WEIR (voice-over): In 2003, when he was charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old desk clerk at a Colorado resort, he insisted it was consensual. And his wife's very public support helped keep the public very much on his side.

BRYANT: I'm innocent. I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery.

WEIR (voice-over): His defense team and the media tore into his accuser's personal life. There were multiple death threats. And when she was no longer willing to testify, the case was dropped and Kobe would apologize to her in writing.

But he would also harness his pent-up anger and drive into a new alter ego he called Black Mamba, a snake so deadly it strikes fear at first sight.

[14:55:02]

SCOOP JACKSON, SPORTS JOURNALIST: The next month, he did 81, he came back with that. He won his first championship without Shaq, once he became the Mamba. He won his second championship without Shaq, once he became the Mamba. He finally won the MVP, once he became the Mamba.

WEIR (voice-over): But off the court, Kobe would shed Black Mamba and transform into a girl dad, doting over his four daughters with obvious, infectious love right to the end.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kobe Bryant did not invent girl dad. He just perfected it. It just felt like the future was limitless for him.

ANNOUNCER: CNN breaking news.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then in a heartbeat, it all stops in the most horrific way imaginable.

WEIR (voice-over): It's been five years since a helicopter accident took him, his daughter Gianna, and seven others. We remember the lives lost, and the legacy of Kobe, a name forever in the debate over all- time greats. Bill Weir, CNN New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The three-part CNN original series, "Kobe, The Making of a Legend," continues tonight at 9:00 p.m. right here on CNN.

Straight ahead, the latest on the deadly medical jet crash that killed at least seven people in Philadelphia. A live report coming up.

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