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Feds: 100-Plus Immigrants Arrested In Raid On Underground Nightclub; Rubio: This Week Is Very Critical In Ukraine Peace Negotiations; Democratic Representative Jeffries And Senator Booker Hold Sit-In On Capitol Steps. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired April 27, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Two football fields long and it is like a haunted mansion underwater.

It's been underwater for about two decades. Famously, the folks who sank it messed up, and it sank on its side. Then a hurricane came in about 2005. It fixed the boat. It lifted it upright.

The second dive, we moved about six miles. We went to the Duane. This is a Coast Guard Cutter. One of the cool things about the Duane, it is sort of a thin vessel and on the sides of it, you almost get this waterfall of fish. Hundreds and hundreds of fish all moving up and down the side of this wreck.

We saw this really big hawksbill turtle. They're gorgeous and hilarious and also not shy around people. So we got to swim with it for a while and check out what he was doing.

I spent so much of my days talking to people. One of my favorite things about diving is that nobody can talk to you. You can't hear anybody.

Diving is an amazing way to connect with Mother Nature, and to forget about all the crazy stuff that's happening on land or in your personal life. It is a fantastic way to be in the moment and to hang out with your friends and goof off.

Did a handful of dives and right now we are kicking back, enjoying the reward, playing some dominoes, food and booze is on the way.

Look at that. I had an amazing time, especially bringing a camera crew out here to document some of it, to share it with folks. It was unforgettable.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Boris Sanchez with the winning assignment there.

Be sure to join us for "My Happy Place." You can catch all your favorite celebs as they take you to their happy place. The new CNN Original Series. Actor, Alan Cumming kicked things off in the Scottish Highlands for the premiere episode tonight at 10:00 P.M. Eastern, right here on CNN.

[15:01:52]

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Hello, and thanks for joining me on this Sunday. I'm Erica Hill in New York, in for Fredricka Whitfield.

(POLICE OFFICER making announcement)

HILL: More than 100 immigrants in Colorado Springs detained after Federal authorities say they raided an underground nightclub overnight. Active duty military members were also at that club. Federal officials say they seized drugs, including cocaine and so- called pink cocaine, during the raid.

Authorities also say the DEA and other agencies have been surveilling the club for months and documented drug trafficking, prostitution, and also a number of gang members there.

CNN correspondent Julia Vargas Jones is following all of these developments for us. So, Julia, what more do we know about this raid? And also the fact that they had apparently been surveilling this place for some time.

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they had, Erica, so that took place around 3:45 A.M. this morning. About 200 people were inside at the time. Of those 200 people, about a dozen active military personnel, those are now in custody of the Army Criminal Investigation; about a hundred immigrants.

We are not sure the specific way that the DEA described them, that they were illegal aliens. They are now in custody of ICE. Those seizures as well, multiple handguns. The DEA really making a show of this, posting all of these videos on social media showing the handguns, Mexican passports on some of the tables after those patrons were taken out of that nightclub.

Listen to how the DEA agent in charge of this operation described those seizures.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN C. PULLEN, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, DEA ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION: When the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor and we did find cocaine. It looks like some pink cocaine or the Tusi, and there was a little bit of other drugs, but we haven't had time to test everything. But there were dozens of small packages of drugs that they've recovered so far that I have personally seen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VARGAS JONES: And Erica, as you mentioned, months long investigation, that special agent telling the media that MS-13, Hells Angels and Tren de Aragua had been observed during that investigation in that nightclub. In total, about 300 officers participated in this raid of multiple agencies, including ICE, DEA, Homeland Security, as well as U.S. Marshals and members of the El Paso and Douglas County Sheriff's Department. Some of the individuals that were arrested during this raid had

outstanding warrants for their arrest, and we can very much expect more arrests coming as the investigation continues.

HILL: And Julia, what more do we know about in terms of the investigation focusing on this club in particular?

VARGAS JONES: Well, we don't know much about it. They have described it as an underground nightclub, Erica. It is unclear what that means. If that was an empty space that didn't have any kind of business license to operate, or if it didn't have a liquor license, or if it is because of the illegal activity that they say they had been observing for months in that location.

[15:05:05]

We have reached out to multiple people connected with that address to try and figure out exactly what was going on in that nightclub, and we will make sure to keep you posted as we find out more.

HILL: Absolutely, Julia. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Turning now to Washington as President Trump closes in on the 100-day mark of his second term, we will be marking that milestone on Tuesday.

A new CNN poll out this morning shows his approval rating dropping to 41 percent, that is the lowest for any newly elected president at the 100-day mark in at least seven decades. It is not just his overall approval numbers that are on the decline, the President's handling of foreign affairs, for example, is now at 39 percent approval. That's down from 42 percent just last month.

And it comes as Trump's top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, says there will be a, "very critical week" ahead in determining whether the U.S. continues its efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.

CNN's senior White House reporter, Kevin Liptak joins us now. So set the stage. There is a lot. There's a lot on the President's plate, on this administration's plate, specifically when we are talking about diplomacy efforts, focusing in on what's actually top of mind this week. What should we be watching -- Kevin.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, you know, I think the President, as he approaches this hundred-day mark has been voicing some frustration that at least on this one big goal of trying to resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine, he has not been able to come up with a negotiated settlement. And you see that in the Secretary of State's comments today, essentially saying that there is concern, that the President is concerned that he and his team could essentially be wasting their time trying to bring these sides together to end this war.

You'll remember President Trump said initially that he would be able to resolve it within 24 hours of taking office. Obviously, that deadline came and went. And now, as we near this hundred-day mark, it is clear that the President does sort of want this to be solved. He wants to take it off of his plate.

And there is some concern, I think, that the two sides aren't necessarily negotiating or talking to the U.S., at least in good faith. Listen to more of what Rubio said this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: This is going to be a very critical week. This week is going to be really important week in which we have to make a determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in, or if it is time to sort of focus on some other issues that are equally, if not more important in some cases.

But we want to see it happen. There are reasons to be optimistic, but there are reasons to be realistic, of course, as well were close, but we are not close enough.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIPTAK: So I don't think it's any coincidence that his sort of week deadline is coming on the same week as the President's hundred-day mark in office. He has told his advisers that he wants this resolved by that time. Obviously, that doesn't look like it is going to happen. What we will see the President doing on that day on Tuesday is making a trip to Michigan to speak at a rally.

You know, we haven't seen him do much of this travel inside the United States since taking office. This will only be sort of the second official event that he has done outside of Washington since taking office. He will be speaking in Macomb County. That's obviously a center of American auto making. That's another big bucket that the President is trying to sort of reinvent as President with these trade deals, with his tariffs.

But again, that's another area of frustration for him that he hasn't been able to start these talks with China, to negotiate sort of this grand trade agreement. So all sort of areas to assess as the President reaches this milestone of his second term in office.

HILL: Yes, absolutely. Kevin Liptak appreciate it. Thank you.

We do want to get you up to speed on some new details we are learning about that Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Video showing a massive explosion there earlier today. Israeli officials say the attack was targeting what they say was a Hezbollah facility in the Lebanese capital. The Lebanese Civil Defense, it now says it has extinguished fires caused by the strike. No injuries reported as of now.

The attack itself happened after the IDF advised civilians to evacuate the area. Lebanon's President condemned the strike. Back in November, of course, Israel and Hezbollah entered into a ceasefire, although the IDF has carried out a number of strikes since that time.

New surveillance video shows the moments before a massive, deadly explosion at a port in Southwest Iran. That explosion sent workers running from the area. Authorities there still have not revealed what caused the fire. That also sent huge towers of smoke into the sky on Saturday.

Unconfirmed reports, however, suggest the possible presence of a chemical used to make missile propellant. You can see the fire spreading that as it -- people running in this video here. The powerful blast killed at least 40 people, injured at least a thousand others, according to state media. About 80 percent of the fires had been contained. Iranian state media reported, and then aircraft doused the site with seawater as emergency workers were hoping the blaze would be fully extinguished by this afternoon.

[15:10:10]

Still to come, new details on the investigation into a deadly car ramming attack, which targeted a crowded festival in Canada. What authorities are now saying about the accused driver.

And up next, Democratic leaders try to show they're ready to stand up to the Trump administration by sitting down on the steps of the Capitol.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:15:09]

HILL: Happening right now, Democratic House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Cory Booker holding a sit-in on the steps of the Capitol. They have been at it for the last eight hours. They are there to protest Republican efforts on a budget reconciliation bill which they believe will harm everyday Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): I just keep wanting to reinforce the why. This bill that is being put through, my senators and my congresspersons, is going to achieve the benefits of who? They are cutting for this, but what do they --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The billionaires.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): It's a GOP tax scam, and it is based off of what they previously did in 2017. They actually, moved the bill through the House and Senate, Donald Trump signs it into law, down to the previous administration. What it set in motion -- legislation where 83 percent of the benefits would go to the wealthiest one percent.

And now, they are doubling and tripling down on that approach.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Joining me now, congressional reporter for Punchbowl News, Max Cohen.

Max, nice to have you here. So, we saw -- that were some of the earlier moments, right, from earlier today with Hakeem Jeffries and Cory Booker. They've been having other lawmakers stop by, other guests, if you will.

At the end of the day, what is this -- what does this kind of event achieve for them?

MAX COHEN, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, PUNCHBOWL NEWS: Sure. I think what this is, is to show the Democratic base that even though Democrats are in the minority in Congress and don't control the White House, they are still trying to fight to stop Republicans trying to cut programs like Medicaid, and there is not a lot legislatively that we know Democrats can do.

So this kind of, I wouldn't quite call them stunts, but they are made to get media coverage and show the American people, hey, look, even though Democrats might not have the power, they are trying to bring attention to what they see as negative aspects of GOP legislation.

HILL: So -- and we know they are getting plenty of backlash, right, from their constituents, because we see it at all of these town halls. There is this push to do more. And then the answer ends up being, well, we can only do so much, you know, we are in the minority.

I just want to play some of what we've heard from around the country recently. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do something more. I'd like you and I will vote for you if you are brave and you do what we need. We need him impeached. We need him removed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is the plan to stop this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want you to show fight and you are not fighting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want you to be straight with us. How do we go to the next level to fight this?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So what are we doing? We need to fight back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: You know, I am hearing in almost every -- from almost every bit of sound that we played is the word "fight," right? And there has really been this sense of, hey, Democratic lawmakers, we are tired of hearing you say that you don't have the power. Do something. Stand up. Fight.

Give me the reality here. Right? One of those town hall participants was saying, hey, be straight with me. So, Max, let's be straight with our viewers. What can Democrats do in this moment that would maybe satisfy some of what they are hearing from their constituents?

COHEN: Yes, it is a very good point. I think specifically on this reconciliation bill, Republicans can pass this bill without any Democratic votes. So if House Republicans and Senate Republicans stick together over the next couple of weeks, they will enact this plan, which still is not formally unveiled yet, but will likely cut taxes and cut government spending in a big way.

What I think Democrats are trying to do is to turn up the pressure on some of the more politically vulnerable Republicans, because a lot of this bill will be paid for, likely by cuts to Medicaid, which is a largely popular program that impacts many Americans regardless of party.

So I think the reality is there is little Democrats can do, but they are trying to stake their claim to make the vulnerable Republicans' lives as difficult as possible by zeroing in on Medicaid and saying, this is a tax scam that only benefits the wealthiest of Americans.

HILL: Is there a sense that that messaging is resonating because Democrats have consistently had trouble with cohesive messaging? This seems to be one that they're aligned on.

COHEN: I think that's another great point, is that the Medicaid messaging, I would say, is hitting home pretty well, because we are seeing some of these at risk House Republicans over the past couple of weeks, write public letters to their leadership saying, I cannot vote for a bill that cuts Medicaid funding for most vulnerable Americans.

So I think this is hitting home, and some of those Republicans who are going to be up for tough reelection in 2026 are feeling that this vote perhaps end their political career. So I think Democrats could force some changes to the reconciliation bill, but honestly, realistically, Republicans are going to pass some bill without any Democratic support, and it is going to become law this year.

HILL: Yes, Max. Appreciate it. Good to have you here. Thanks.

COHEN: Thank you.

HILL: Just ahead, a tragedy in Canada as voters there prepare to head to the polls. What could the impact be?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:24:31]

HILL: At least 11 people are dead, dozens more injured after a driver plowed a car through a crowded street fair in downtown Vancouver, Canada last night.

Hundreds of people were celebrating an Annual Filipino Heritage Festival when that incident occurred. Here is one witness describing what he saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSHUA POLINTAN, WITNESSED INCIDENT: From over there, from like the start right there, he just pushed the gas all the way through the whole block right there, crashing into, like, everyone in his way. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: CNN's Paula Newton joining us now from Canada's capital with more.

Understandably, Paula, this is a country in mourning today.

What more do we know about the incident and the person who authorities say they took into custody?

[15:25:10]

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Well, I think when you listen to that witness, right, I mean, so many people still can't believe what they saw, what they witnessed and some what they lived through. And that's if they were lucky.

I mean, look, the description, Erica, is again of this SUV plowing into dozens of people. Police say that 11 are confirmed dead, but unfortunately, they say that may rise. There are dozens still in hospital, many critically ill at this point in time.

I think, Erica, what was stunning from police though is people wanted to know who is the suspect? What is the motive? They said, in fact, that there was no danger to the public right now. This did not involve terrorism. They could rule that out, but that the suspect who they refused to identify right now is someone that is known to them because they had had certain incidents with him regarding mental health situations. They would not go any further, but did say that the suspect will be charged shortly.

Now, in the midst of all of that, Erica, this is supposed to be the last day of campaigning for a national election that's going to happen tomorrow. Of course, very solemn moments, none more so from the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.

I want you to listen to him and his reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter. Those families are living every family's nightmare.

And to them and to the many others who were injured, to the Filipino Canadian community and to everyone in the broader lower mainland, Vancouver, I would like to offer my deepest condolences and my wishes for strength and compassion in this tragic time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: And given that compassion, all the party leaders are modifying their schedules. There aren't going to be any hoopla rallies. I mean, as I said, these will be solemn occasions.

I do want to point out, the police say that while, look, everything was secure, Erica, they did have barriers there. They really did go through the security protocols that you would normally go through for an event like this. Police called it a watershed moment, saying that all operations from this moment forward will change, that it is likely to include large events in Vancouver, including the World Cup, which a few of the games will be held in Vancouver next year.

You know, Erica, police said again, look, this is going to be one of the darkest days in the city's history.

HILL: Yes, understandably. Paula, really appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, as Paula just mentioned, of course, this horrific incident happening just a day before a crucial election in Canada. The Liberal Party trying to hang on to power after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped down. The figure looming largest, however, in this election, President Trump, his threat to annex Canada has shaken the country and united voters in many ways.

With us now, "New York Times" Canadian Bureau Chief, Matina Stevis- Gridneff, who joins us from Ottawa.

It is so good to have you with us. You know, it is really seen, at least from my understanding here. You know, below the border there, that this is seen as a referendum in many ways on which of these candidates can best stand up to Donald Trump.

MATINA STEVIS-GRIDNEFF, "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CANADIAN BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely.

I mean, I think that is the person who is on everyone's mind is going to vote is President Trump. It obviously, includes other concerns Canadians have. We know that Canadians are worried about affordability, about the broader economy, and who is best positioned to see that through the next period of time, but it is clear that President Trump is sort of ever present and what is important to note is that this is focusing people a lot on the personalities of the two big party leaders.

It comes down to personal business because, as we know, doing business with Donald Trump is so personal.

HILL: It certainly is.

I mean, just -- can you put into context too, for our viewers how much the threats and even the pushback that we've seen from Canada, right, how much that has changed the conversation in Canada when it comes to this election?

STEVIS-GRIDNEFF: Radically. Erica, I've been speaking to pollsters here, and they've told me they have never seen anything like this. In fact, I have spoken to one who has global polling experience, and he says it is one of the biggest political upsets he has seen in his career.

Up until January, the conservatives and their leader, Pierre Poilievre, were absolutely killing it. They were 25 percentage points ahead. It was a done deal that this was going to be the next government of Canada. He was going to be the Prime Minister.

But after the election of President Trump, his Inauguration, Justin Trudeau stepping down and both the tariffs by the United States on Canada and President Trump's threats to Canada's sovereignty, the polls flipped, and we are in a situation now where we have a country that is going to vote tomorrow with the liberals just ahead.

Mark Carney, just ahead of Pierre Poilievre.

[15:30:00]

HILL: Such a dramatic shift. There is also -- you know, we've been talking, of course, here in the U.S. about all of the uncertainty, which is rippling across the globe because of these tariffs, because of the big question mark over any deals with President Trump.

But we know that Canada has already been impacted, right, by these tariffs. There is talk about the car parts that we are dealing with, right, threats on the steel issues, threats on lumber -- all of that coming into play.

Canadians are also going to the polls with a lot of concerns about their personal economic situation.

STEVIS-GRIDNEFF: That's right. Absolutely.

We have seen over the past decade, and particularly since the pandemic in this country, very similar problems to Americans and other parts of the developed world, inflation, housing crisis, affordability crisis and a general decline in the standard of living in what has long been known as one of the world's greatest, most prosperous nations.

The two leaders vying for Canadians' votes tomorrow are proposing radically different approaches to solving the same problems, the economy, and who is going to stand up to President Trump?

HILL: It is a lot to watch.

Matina, really appreciate you joining us this afternoon. Thank you.

STEVIS-GRIDNEFF: Thanks for having me.

HILL: Still to come here, a check on the sector of the nation's economy, which hits closest to home, real estate. Some surprising trends when you take a look at who is buying right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:55]

HILL: Worries about a recession, recent stock market selloffs -- all of these together along with all of that uncertainty is really putting a damper on the spring home buying season.

The stock and bond markets have been on a roller coaster ride, as you know, since President Trump announced that wave of sweeping tariffs. And of course, since the bond market influences mortgage rates, these tariff headlines are really causing the biggest jump in 30-year mortgage rates in almost a year.

Joining me now for some perspective is Joel Berner. He is senior economist at realtor.com.

Joel, good to have you with us today. So even before the concern and the uncertainty that came through with the announcement of these tariffs, home buying in 2025 was off to a little bit of a slow start. Why is that?

JOEL BERNER, SENIOR ECONOMIST, REALTOR.COM: Yes, so really mortgage rates are the big issue, and before mortgage rates were a little bit elevated for other reasons, the continued fight against inflation has kept the Federal Reserve from cutting rates. And you know, uncertainty in the market has kept the gap between the 10-year Treasury yield and the mortgage rate a little bit higher than it usually has been in years past.

But then when these tariff announcements came and uncertainty just kind of trickled through the market, we saw an even greater jump in mortgage rates and that is really slowing things down right now.

It is pretty interesting if you look at the March existing home sales figures, which came in really low, lower even at an annual rate than all of 2024, which was itself the lowest year since 1996. What's hidden in that March slowdown is that the high end of the market is actually performing quite well.

Homes over a million dollars are selling more, and homes under about half a million or so, those segments are really slowing down and it is because of the affordability crunch being placed on first time home buyers and entry level buyers right now.

HILL: Yes, absolutely, as we see, right -- it is always the people at the top of the market who have much more wiggle room, even these rise in prices that we are seeing, inflation as you mentioned, inflation, that of course doesn't hit them in the same way as people who are counting a little bit more, you know, their weekly income and trying to make it work as they set aside money, right, for that down payment.

When we look at that, the stock market has been so concerning to a number of people. I mean, I've spoken with people who have pulled money out because they are worried about it. Maybe they were using it to try to save, not just for retirement, to try to make a little extra money even for a down payment.

How much is that hitting potential home buyers?

BERNER: Yes, I think it is. There is a lot of people on the margin who were hoping to use some gains from their stock market investments as a down payment, especially first time home buyers, because the big disadvantage for a first time home buyer is that they don't have a home already that they've built up equity in, that when they sell it, they can flip that into equity in a new home. All of the equity at the purchase time for a first time home buyer is

from cash that they can round up. And for a lot of folks, that cash has been stocked away in the stock market and has been performing well for several years, and now in recent months, has really kind of slowed down, really tanked, and then sort of recovered, but it is still unclear where it is going to go going forward.

So the stock market really impacts just how much cash people feel like they have to make a purchase and how confident they feel about taking on a new expense, like a mortgage payment going forward.

The country is so large, so many different housing markets, if you will. You mentioned the difference in sort of higher end price tag homes, lower end. What about regionally? What are you seeing in terms of the markets across the country? Are certain areas hotter than others right now?

BERNER: Yes, very much so. The northeast especially is hot. The northeast is where inventory has recovered the least since the decline following the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas in the south and west, inventory is almost back to where it was before the pandemic. In the northeast, it is still a lot lower.

And so homes are being snatched up in places like north New Jersey really quickly, and in places like Florida, they're sitting on the market for a whole lot longer. So it really depends on just how the inventory recovery is happening.

And there's a couple pieces to that, there's relisting of homes that were bought and sold during the pandemic period that are coming onto the market now and being available where they were being snatched up so quickly before, and also new construction. Building has been happening a lot more in the south and west than it has in the Northeast and Midwest, and so there's a lot more new affordable inventory.

[15:40:10]

And what's kind of interesting is, even as existing home sales fell pretty hard in March, new home sales picked up considerably and picked up at lower price points than it was before, a year ago and a month ago as well.

So in the new home space, it is behaving completely differently and people are able to find some deals on lower priced new builds with lower mortgage rates and incentives attached to them as well. And in the resale market, things are being very much bogged down by mortgage rates.

HILL: Yes, it is a lot to take in. Joel, really appreciate it. Thank you.

BERNER: Thanks for having me.

HILL: Still to come here, as she now deals with a breast cancer diagnosis, Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles reveals the life-saving skill passed down through her family for generations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:45:31]

HILL: It ain't just Texas. Starting tomorrow, Beyonce's Grammy winning "Cowboy Carter" is coming to stadiums across the U.S. and Europe. The highly anticipated tour kicking things off in L.A. at SOFI Stadium, likely with more than 16 carriages marking her first of 32 shows across both continents.

Demand by the way for tickets is so high, a record setting fifth show was added in both L.A. and New Jersey. Her genre-bending album "Cowboy Carter" also led Beyonce to becoming the first Black woman in this century to win Album of the Year at the Grammys.

Meantime, her mother, Tina Knowles, is revealing a breast cancer diagnosis and using that moment to warn women not to skip their mammograms, not even one.

She said that after accidentally skipping one, she was unfortunately diagnosed with stage one breast cancer, which she has been treated for, but she is also talking about the story of being the matriarch in a family that began its lineage in Galveston, Texas as enslaved people.

Now the family is living a life their ancestors likely could not conceive of, and, Knowles says, with something handed down to her by her mother and her grandmother, that really helped to lift the family's sense of self during segregation through to this day. It is all about having a useful skill, she said when she spoke with Sara Sidner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): She says her mother lived in a state of fear for her children, but focused on her master craft, sewing to make sure that her children never looked poor. That craft was handed down to her children.

SIDNER: How many of Destiny's Child clothes and Beyonce's clothes did you end up sewing or having being involved with?

TINA KNOWLES, AUTHOR, BEYONCE'S MOTHER, FASHION DESIGNER: Oh, I started styling them maybe, maybe six months into their singing career. And I did both, I sewed and I styled them.

SIDNER: I have to ask you about one of the particular outfits that is iconic.

KNOWLES: Okay.

SIDNER: And that is the "Survivor" outfit.

KNOWLES: Oh, yes.

SIDNER: That everybody talks about.

KNOWLES: That was so much fun.

(DESTINY'S CHILD SINGING)

SIDNER: Where did that idea come from?

KNOWLES: Well, actually, Beyonce saw something B.C. with Raquel Welch.

SIDNER: Oh, yes?

KNOWLES: And she had this fur bathing, you know --

SIDNER: Yes, it's a little tiny furs.

KNOWLES: Yes. Yes. It was a lot tinier than theirs. I made theirs more. But she saw that and she was like, oh, that would be great for "Survivor." And so this guy Jaime (ph), who was incredibly talented, he and I made those together.

SIDNER (voice over): She also worked to ensure that her daughters' relationship with one another was as tight as one of her sewing stitches.

SIDNER: Tell me about how you forged those relationships, because you have one daughter who is the most famous female recording artist in the world, like there is no other like her. And then Solange also has a talent. But how do you, as a mother, make them both feel that they are special?

KNOWLES: Well, I think one of the things is that you look at them as individuals because they were very, very different. She's very, very different. And I think how I forged that relationship with them is I was terrified when Beyonce turned around 10. She might have been 10 or 11, and she was in the singing group, and the kids would say to Solange every day, be quiet, Solange. Because she would try to choreograph, and, you know --

SIDNER: She's bossy.

KNOWLES: -- she wanted to be involved. She bossy, too. But she -- and they didn't want her involved. And then I started noticing that Beyonce would allow them to talk to her like that, or she would say, okay, mom, can you get Solange out of here because she's doing -- and I'm like, wait a minute, this is her house, and you've got to be nice to her. And I told her all the things, you know, how important it was for her.

But finally I realized that they weren't listening, and I saw a wall between them coming, and so, I got them in therapy. And --

SIDNER: And no BS.

KNOWLES: Yes. And it was really early because my family was like, you going to make those girls crazy? Cause, you know, in --

SIDNER: Yes.

KNOWLES: -- especially in the Black community back then --

SIDNER: You didn't do therapy?

KNOWLES: No, you didn't.

SIDNER: People don't do it now.

KNOWLES: Right. But that -- back then --

SIDNER: Wow.

KNOWLES: -- it was really taboo.

SIDNER: Yes.

KNOWLES: And even my husband, he was like, I just don't know if they're too young for you to do that. And I'm like, I'm not asking. I'm going to find somebody. And I found this wonderful therapist, child therapist. And it's funny because he told Beyonce all the things I had told her, but she listened from him.

SIDNER: Right.

[15:50:05]

KNOWLES: Even though she hated therapy, she hated going. Solange loved therapy. She loved talking and, you know, expressing herself. And the outcome was great. It was really great because they have been super tight since.

SIDNER: I had no idea.

KNOWLES: Yes.

SIDNER: And it's such a beautiful gift that you gave to them.

KNOWLES: Yes.

SIDNER: Because they are clearly tight.

KNOWLES: Yes, they are very tight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: And our thanks to Sara for that report.

Eva Longoria is back in the new CNN Original Series "Searching for Spain," where she travels across the country to see how Spain is dominating the world's culinary scene and showcasing the various cultures throughout Spain. Her first stop in this adventure, the region of Catalonia. Here's a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What a wonderful day to come to the capital of cava.

EVA LONGORIA, HOST, "SEARCHING FOR SPAIN": I know I'm very excited. There's a lot of excitement happening.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today is the phylloxera party and I have here, because we dress yellow.

LONGORIA (voice over): This region was originally famous for red wine, but in the late 1800s, the vineyards here were devastated by a yellow parasite called phylloxera.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Phylloxera is the nightmare of everybody winemaker because it attacks the roots and it was a -- really disaster.

LONGORIA (voice over): The diseased vines were grafted with hardier ones from America. And winemakers crafted a sparkling white, that was the start of a whole new industry.

LONGORIA: That's the bug that just did it all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: We are getting the party started here tonight on CNN. Be sure to join us for the premiere of the all new CNN original series, "Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain." That's tonight, 9:00 P.M. Eastern and Pacific.

Still ahead here, he is not first, he is not last, the surprising joy and celebration of the NFL's so-called Mr. Irrelevant.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:56:52]

HILL: Well, we can finally put a pin in the 2025 NFL Draft. After seven rounds, 257 picks, THE final player for this year's draft IS finally selected.

As the last player picked, Kobee Minor, defensive back from Memphis, joins a select club known as Mr. Irrelevant.

CNN's Don Riddell joining us now.

Don, who is not at all irrelevant, I will note, you spoke with a number of Mr. Irrelevant recently. What can this gentleman now look forward to that he is part of this very special club.

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT HOST: Erica, yes, I absolutely Love Mr. Irrelevant. I've been writing about it for cnn.com this weekend. It is, I think, one of the most exclusive and definitely unlikely clubs in all of sports. They've been doing it since 1976. So Kobee Minor becomes the 50th Mr. Irrelevant. And a lot of people

might not know what comes with it. So they are celebrated. They are celebrated because although they might seem last, they are by no means least.

So he will be heading off soon to Newport Beach in California for a week, where he will be wined and dined, roasted and toasted. The guys who have been in his position before tell me that you just have to lean into the fact that they're going to poke a little bit of fun at you, but they're going to make you feel very, very special.

Of course, the NCAA player, the best of the year gets the Heisman Trophy. They will get the Lowsman Trophy. It is the trophy that shows somebody fumbling the ball and dropping it. But they will have a great time.

And whatever comes in, Minor's NFL career, and it may not come to that much, but whatever happens, he will be a member of this club forever, and it really is a fraternity. These players really lean into it. They celebrate each other. They say that the experience of being a part of it is absolutely priceless.

And by the way, he might become very relevant. Remember Brock Purdy a few years ago? Two years after he was Mr. Irrelevant, he was playing in the Super Bowl.

So you know, this is by no means the end of his career, even though he is last.

HILL: No, it is certainly not, and if we just take a moment, too, to think about how hard it is to be Mr. Irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, as you think about all of these kids who play football.

I also wanted to talk to you about the other football, the soccer, if you will, a little bit of a Hollywood story continuing here for Wrexham. So, I mean, full disclosure, I really got into these rankings and how it works thanks to Mr. Ted Lasso.

This is a huge deal for Wrexham.

RIDDELL: This is massive. Yes, so Wrexham are a once proud club from a once thriving city in Northern Wales and they had really fallen on hard times.

So in 2021, you may remember Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the actors, they came in and they took over the club. They themselves didn't really know very much about football or soccer, as you would call it, but they saw the potential. And what an extraordinary vision they had, because in three consecutive years now, this team has been promoted.

Now, this is something that American sports fans won't be familiar with. But in the U.K. and in Europe, you have promotion and relegation, which means if you're good enough, you can go up a division and if you're not very good, you can head in the opposite direction. But they have now gone up three divisions in three years, which means

they're now just one step short of the Premier League, which is absolutely extraordinary that they've been able to do it and do it this quickly.

I spoke to McElhenney a couple of years ago, and he was like, people were sort of doubting the vision, and he was saying, well, why wouldn't this be the plan? Like, if you can do it, why wouldn't you try to do it? And he did say, at some point they are going to run into sovereign nation wealth, like those are the kind of teams that they're going to be up against. And I would say, they are getting close to that point now.

But I mean, it is just an incredible story and everybody that's a part of it just is still pinching themselves, I think.

HILL: I mean, it really is. And I love -- I mean, I love a good story like that, too. So not irrelevant there either.

Don, I appreciate it. Great to see you. Thanks.

[16:00:44]