Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

U.S. Senate to Hold Saturday Session to Vote on Tax and Spending Bill; Senator Josh Hawley Indicates He Will Vote Yes on Tax and Spending Bill Whereas Senator Susan Collins Will Vote to Allow Debate on Bill; Video Shows ICE Agents Prying Illegal Immigrant from Tree During Arrest; Jeff Bezos's Marriage to Lauren Sanchez Takes Place Amid Extravagant Events in Venice, Italy; Astronauts from Three Countries Dock at International Space Station for First Time in Their Nations' History; Former Astronaut Interviewed on Her Career and Future of NASA; Clarksdale, Mississippi, Birthplace of The Blues, Profiled for Its Musical History. Aired 2-3p ET.

Aired June 28, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

JUDGE GLENDA HATCHETT, HOST, "THE VERDICT": -- see the tape the CNN released early on of him beating her and dragging her down the hallway. But the point is, he's not being charged for domestic violence. That is not one of the charges. And they know that that's a problem. And they, the defense has admitted to all of that.

So at the end of the day, do you have a situation where you can show that there was racketeering? And to have racketeering, you have got to choose two, two crimes, and you've got to show that people worked in concert to carry it out.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: So while very unconventional, it sounds like you are also saying it was very wise from the defense point to not call witnesses, obviously to not call, you know, Diddy, because that, you know, he was subjected to cross-examination that wouldn't probably go well for the defense. But it sounds like because the burden of proof is on the prosecutors, you think it's wise that the defense did not call any witnesses?

HATCHETT: I think I think that they took a gamble on that. And I think that they, after they had -- you think about it, we're talking about what, 34 witnesses over 28 days. But they did very aggressive cross-examinations on those witnesses. So it's not like they didn't have an opportunity to put forth some information.

So having said that, having said that, they made a calculated decision that it was probably wise for them not to put up witnesses because then the prosecution has another chance to then cross-examine them. So at the end of the day, we're talking about one charge of racketeering, which could cause you to be in jail for life. The sex -- the sex trafficking, the two counts there, could take you into jail for life.

WHITFIELD: OK.

HATCHETT: Now, the transportation for purposes of prostitution could be, you know, 10, 15 years. But there's a lot at stake in this case.

WHITFIELD: Yes, a lot at stake.

HATCHETT: And if they don't win, we can count on the defense appealing this case.

WHITFIELD: A lot at stake this week. And we'll see. I mean, jurors have a lot to consider.

HATCHETT: They have a lot to consider.

WHITFIELD: All the way around. Judge Glenda Hatchett, always great to see you. Thank you so much.

HATCHETT: I hope that was helpful. Its' very complicated.

WHITFIELD: It is all complicated.

HATCHETT: Very complicated.

WHITFIELD: That's why we have you. Thank you.

HATCHETT: I love being here.

WHITFIELD: Great to see you.

All right, hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

And at any moment now, senators will convene for a rare Saturday session on Capitol Hill for what could be a pivotal day for the president's sweeping agenda. Live pictures right now. This hour lawmakers are gathering in the Senate chambers as they prepare for a key vote to advance the president's so-called big, beautiful bill. Republicans released the full text of the giant 940-page bill just before midnight. They can only afford to lose three votes in today's expected procedural vote. And just moments ago, CNN spoke with two holdout senators who now say they will vote to advance the bill.

We've got a team of correspondents covering today's developments. Betsy Klein is at the White House. Lauren Fox and Manu Raju both on Capitol Hill. Let's get started with Manu Raju on Capitol Hill. What more are you learning, Manu, about at least two Republicans who were on the fence who are now in support of moving forward.

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, both of whom had raised serious concerns about the Medicaid cuts that are part of this bill, the impact that it could have on their constituents, the impact on rural hospitals in particular.

Collins said that she will vote on the first procedural vote to move ahead with this bill. She will vote yes on that first procedural vote. She says she wants to give deference to the Senate majority leader, John Thune, who schedules the votes on the Senate floor. But she said that she's still uncertain how she'll vote on final passage. Hawley, on the other hand, much different. He said that he is now a

yes on this bill because even though he had raised concerns for weeks about the impacts that these cuts could have back home, he said the changes that were made to this bill, including delaying a cut to how states can finance their Medicaid programs, cuts he was concerned with could impact his state, he said by that delay, in addition to some relief money that was added to this bill, that is enough to get him over the finish line, even though he has still some concerns about how this could down the line impact Missouri.

But with those two senators there, the question is going to be how some of the other senators could come down, including Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and others, conservative senators who are worried that this bill does not cut funding enough.

But there's the one big reason why there is a significant push to get this bill over the finish line now, worries that if this is delayed, opposition will grow. That's what Senator Kevin Cramer, someone who supports this plan, told me just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: How much harder will this make this bill, to pass this bill, if you guys have this hanging out over the recess?

[14:05:00]

SEN. KEVIN CRAMER, (R-ND): Well, it doesn't get easier, in my view. I don't think -- I mean, we're doing hard stuff. We're doing big, hard stuff that that is a violation of years, in some cases, decades of history of bureaucratic overspending. And there are more people that feel entitled to government funds than ever before. And it is time for us to do the big things and do the hard things. But back to your point, it's not going to be easier the longer it hangs out for sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: And that's a big reason why there is a big effort right now to get this on Donald Trump's desk by July 4th. This bill, so sweeping in nature. And in addition to those deep spending cuts, also a multitrillion dollar overhaul of the United States tax code would infuse hundreds of billions of dollars in new funding on defense programs, funding Donald Trump's deportation policies, border security policies as well, including -- it also includes a $5 trillion increase in the national debt limit, and real concerns that this could lead to trillions of dollars in more deficits as well over the next several years.

But still a key question. Perhaps they got those two senators on board with that first procedural vote. Other senators still concerned about the impact that this could have on the budget deficit, which is why it is still uncertain at this hour if they have the votes to open up debate, get this out of the Senate, and then get it back to the house. Major hurdles ahead for Trump and Republican leaders.

WHITFIELD: All right, Manu, we'll check back with you. Thank you so much.

Lauren Fox also on Capitol Hill. So Lauren, I mean, that is a lot. But still we're really just at the beginning, aren't we.

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And there's a lot of things to watch in the hours ahead. Obviously, Republican senators are going into this really critical lunch where behind closed doors, they're going to be able to hash out some of these key differences. They're going to be able to voice concerns.

But at some point, and I think Kevin Cramer was starting to make this point, you have to decide, are you going to vote for this or are you going to be against it? And if all goes well in that Republican lunch, if leadership feels confident that they have the votes to go to the floor and get on to this bill, that is the current plan.

Now, again, it's really unclear whether or not they're going to come out of this lunch feeling that confidence. But if they do, they could potentially vote on that very first step later this afternoon.

Once that gets started, though, there's a lengthy debate that has to take place. Then they would begin what is known as a vote-a-rama. That is a marathon of controversial votes. Democrats and Republicans can force those votes for hours upon hours upon hours. That could even go through the night. So there's so much uncertainty right now about the timing of this, when lawmakers have to make final decisions.

And we should note that there are still ongoing discussions happening with the Senate rule arbiter, the Senate parliamentarian, about whether or not some of these provisions are going to satisfy strict budget rules. So so many moving parts right now. Thats why this lunch, really critical behind closed doors.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lauren Fox, thank you so much.

Let's go to the White House. Betsy Klein is there. So Betsy, is the White House starting to feel confident with some of these, I guess, indicators that a couple more are on board?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE PRODUCER: Certainly some cautious optimism, but it is a critical moment for all of the reasons that Manu and Lauren just laid out on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue. This sweeping tax and spending package, the White House believes, is really the key to unlocking the president's domestic agenda. And it is critical right now that they get this passed while they have control, Republican control in the House and Senate.

The president keenly aware of all of these hurdles and the uncertainty here. And for that reason, President Trump spending a very rare weekend here in Washington. He is working the phones, making and taking calls, speaking to Republican senators and staying engaged in this process.

Now, he was changing course on a planned trip to New Jersey to his golf club, but instead, the president is spending a little time arriving just after 9:00 at his Virginia golf club. But the president held a big event at the White House on Thursday, pushing for this bill, where he called out those who might consider voting no, saying they were, quote, grandstanders and not good people. He also said on Medicaid, that very critical sticking point, he claimed that it would be left the same. But of course, there are major policy changes to Medicaid. There will be funding cuts. Millions could be left without health insurance. And the reality is there are other deep policy divisions within the Republican Party on the scale and scope of this package.

Now, the president has been softening a little bit on that July 4th deadline that he put in place. He said yesterday, quote, it's important, but it's not the end all. Of course, the White House watching all of this very closely.

WHITFIELD: Of course. All right, Betsy Klein at the White House, thank you so much. We'll check back with all of you as news merits. Thank you.

[14:10:03]

All right, now a dramatic new video showing a woman being detained by federal agents near a Home Depot in west Los Angeles. In this video shot by a bystander, the woman, who is a street food vendor, is seen clinging on to a tree as police try to pry her, and while other bystanders are demanding the agents identify themselves. Rafael Romo is joining me right now to help us through video that, you know, it says a lot, but it doesn't say everything. What is going on here?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thats right. It's become viral for a reason, not only because of what you just showed, but because of the actions of bystanders before and after the moment we just showed us, Fred. It is a video that gives the public a glimpse into the tactics being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as they face enormous pressure to arrest as many undocumented immigrants as possible on a daily basis.

The cell phone video was shot by a woman in west Los Angeles on Monday. Alec Le Blanc says that she was running errands around 10:30 in the morning when she saw a young woman being chased down the street by an older man wearing street clothes, a tactical belt, and a neck gaiter covering his face. At one point, the young woman being chased clings to a tree in what appears to be a last effort to avoid detention. She is being identified as Selena Vanessa Hernandez Ramirez. This is the moment when she's pried off the tree by the agent, as captured by Le Blanc's cell phone camera.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have an I.D. and warrant to take her?

(CROSS TALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Are you kidding me, old man? What you're doing is kidnaping. What you're doing is kidnaping.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMO: And Fred, shortly before the woman was taken away, an SUV had pulled up with more agents wearing face coverings and hats. They were all armed with guns. Le Blanc says the agents appeared to be confused as to how to handle the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALECA LE BLANC, WITNESS: They were kind of mumbling to each other like, you know, like I said, like the older gentleman is like, OK, what are we going to do now? Like, how do we handle this? He had tried to, like, yank her off the tree. And those of us who were kind of witnessing it were like, no, no, no. Like you're not going to like, yank her, yank her anywhere.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Of course, we reached out to officials about the incident. In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security told CNN that during operations on June 23rd, CBP encountered Selena Vanessa Hernandez Ramirez, an illegal alien from El Salvador, for being unlawfully present in the United States. Despite verbal harassment by members of the public, the officers ultimately detained this illegal alien and placed her under arrest.

According to the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, Selena Vanessa Hernandez Ramirez came to the U.S. two years ago with her partner Carlos and their now four year old son, Javier, hoping to build a better life. She worked hard selling tacos on the streets of Ladera Heights in Los Angeles, doing what she could to support her family. And, according to Le Blanc, Hernandez Ramirez does not have an attorney yet, but she is on the waitlist to get one from two legal organizations.

But it's also very interesting to see, in addition to her being yanked from the tree, how the bystanders are not afraid to confront those agents, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Right. And it almost appeared as though one of the people who was videotaping also tried to put herself in between the agents or the people trying to arrest the woman. So it's quite precarious.

All right, Rafael Romo, thank you so much.

All right, coming up, lightning at America's busiest airport Friday bringing travel to a stop as severe weather ripped across the south. Now millions of people are on alert for even more severe storms today.

Plus, live pics out of Venice right now. It just goes on and on. The champagne continues to flow. The boats are moving, as are lots of other fabulous people and forms of transit. All of this surrounding the nuptials of the Bezos.

And after a trailblazing career in space exploration, a NASA astronaut in an orbit of her own retires from the agency. I'll talk to Jeanette Epps about her remarkable career next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:18:56]

WHITFIELD: All right, a nightmare scenario for thousands of drivers on a mountainous West Virginia highway. They were left stranded for more than eight hours Friday after heavy rains caused a mudslide, which blocked a storm drain, and then led to flooding on that turnpike. With no detours set up, traffic was backed up for 12 miles. People were stuck there overnight with no food, water, or information on what caused the backup. The West Virginia Parkway Authority says it is taking full responsibility for failing to reroute traffic. The governor has ordered an investigation into the incident.

And severe storms ripping through parts of the south. Video captured heavy lightning at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The storm bringing quarter inch hail and causing a ground stop. About 450 flights in and out of the city had to be canceled. And sources tell CNN that because of that huge hail that hit the airport, more than 100 Delta aircraft will need to be inspected before they are allowed to fly.

[14:20:03]

Major cities from the Midwest to the northeast are still under threats of severe storms today. CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar has the forecast.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: More than 50 million people are under the potential for severe storms today across two separate areas. We're looking at the northeast as well as portions of the Midwest. Now, the threats themselves remain the same. The biggest threat is going to be the potential for damaging wind gusts up around 60 to even 70 miles per hour. But we also can't rule out the potential for some large hail and even an isolated tornado or two. Places like Minneapolis stretching back to Rapid City and even across portions of the northeast.

Now, the timeline for these storms is going to be a little bit different. We'll already see a lot of storms developing late afternoon into the early evening across portions of the northeast, but it's going to be much later into the Midwest. We really don't see the strongest thunderstorms develop until after about 8:00, 9:00 this evening. They'll continue through the overnight hours, so even 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 in the morning, you're still going to have these strong thunderstorms making their way across portions of the Midwest.

And then as we head into Sunday afternoon, you're still going to see the potential for some strong to severe thunderstorms. There's also the concern for flooding across some of these areas. So anywhere you see the green color here has the potential for excessive rainfall. This even includes areas outside the potential for severe thunderstorms, especially across the Ohio Valley, Mississippi Valley, and portions of the southeast won't necessarily have the bigger threat for severe thunderstorms, but do still have the potential for some flooding. Once we transition into Sunday, we're still looking at the potential for some severe thunderstorms. It's just mainly going to be focused across the Midwest at this point. So Minneapolis, Marquette, Green Bay, stretching back into Omaha and North Platte. But the threats themselves remain the same tomorrow that we're seeing today.

WHITFIELD: All right, Allison Chinchar, thanks so much.

All right, as U.S. senators on Capitol Hill debate what will and will not make it into President Trump's agenda bill, American families tell us those lawmakers' decisions on proposed cuts to Medicaid could mean life or death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COURTNEY LEADER, DAUGHTER RELIES ON MEDICAID: It's not a luxury. This is not a luxury thing. Like I am not -- I do not have my daughter enrolled on Medicaid so that we can have fancy things. I have my daughter enrolled in Medicaid so that we can keep her alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:26:46]

WHITFIELD: All right, this hour the U.S. Senate is back in session as Republicans race to pass President Trump's package of tax and spending cuts before his July 4th deadline. CNN's Annie Grayer is now on Capitol Hill. Annie, what is happening right now?

ANNIE GRAYER, CNN REPORTER: Well, Republican senators are meeting behind closed doors as they try and figure out a path forward here. And we've seen a lot of developments just in the last five or so minutes. So Republican Senators Josh Hawley and Susan Collins have both come out saying that they will support moving this bill forward. Collins is just at that first hurdle where she's willing to support debate in the first vote for this bill, whereas Hawley said he's a yes on all of it. So that's a huge win for the president and his team and the Republican leadership trying to push this bill forward.

And then at the same time, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is another key moderate Republican here, just came out saying he is against this bill. So we are seeing a lot of moving parts right now. A reminder that Republicans can only lose three votes and still have this pass.

Now, Leader John Thune caught up with us going into this meeting and said that he is hopeful that Republicans will be able to start voting on this soon. But the timing is still unclear.

And remember, there have been -- there's been a long debate here between the more moderate and conservative wings of the Republican Party, both in the house and the Senate. But right now we're focusing on the Senate, and moderates want to protect Medicaid, to protect the impact that their states are going to face, and while the more conservative wing wants to make as much cuts as possible.

So part of the way that Republicans were able to get more moderates like Senator Hawley and Collins on board, who have been very adamant that they need to protect Medicaid in their states, is Republicans added this fund for rural hospitals that will help offset some of the costs here. And Republicans have also changed the provider tax. They've lowered it and also changed when it's going to -- they've delayed when it's going to go into effect. So that's really helped bring some of the more moderates on board.

We're going to figure out what's going on with Senator Tillis specifically. But leadership is going to be weighing all of this. Remember, this is all what's going on in the Senate. What passed in the House a few weeks ago is a very -- looks like a very different bill. And we actually just saw Republican Congressman David Valadao, who is moderate, who's been very concerned about the Medicaid cuts affecting his state, said he's against what the Senate is discussing right now.

So when you start to look at the calendar here, Trump wants us on his desk by July 4th. Senators are working through the weekend trying to get this done as soon as possible. It's going to have to go back to the House who has a lot of concerns with this version of the bill.

WHITFIELD: Yes, long way to go. All right, Annie Grayer, thank you so much for that latest increment.

All right, still to come, we'll take you to the Bezos wedding extravaganza, and it is an extravaganza right there in Venice. Celebrities were spotted in some kind of late evening wear, if you will. Thats what some people are calling it. Some even saying it was lingerie. Others pajamas. You decide when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:34:25]

WHITFIELD: All right, we're going to head back out to Venice, because there are still goings on there. Yes, the nuptials happened yesterday, but the party continues. And our Melissa Bell is in the middle of it all. Even though she was just moments ago with the protesters, because there are people who have turned out who have said they don't like the idea of this extravagant wedding taking place. As you take your position, Melissa. But now you found yourself perched back on a boat with the stars there on this gorgeous ride, and Jeff Bezos and his new bride Lauren are nearby.

[14:35:02]

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're, in fact, just in that boat right ahead. We're in a sort of speed chase with the paparazzi. They had come out of their boats, waved to everyone, but they've now gone back inside, sadly, Fredricka, just before we started chatting. It's the boat just ahead.

This is the happy couple now heading to their final party. It is the third day of celebration, of course, and it has been an extravagant party. No expense has been spared. And whilst this is an unusual scene, insofar as we're actually very many of us following us, what you have seen over the course of the last few days is these vaporettos full of paparazzi. They've been on the shore, they've been in the boat just hoping to catch a glimpse either of the happy couple itself or many of their a-list celebrities.

So it has been something quite spectacular for many bewildered tourists who found themselves here over the course of the weekend, either to see this sort of spectacle. And again, were right up alongside it, Fredricka. This is the boat of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez-Bezos now, carrying them to their final party. You can see them there just through the window, waving at people. They're waving at us.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness. I mean, Melissa.

BELL: They're now heading to their last party.

WHITFIELD: Oh hello people. I mean, Melissa, I said last time you find yourself in the middle of it all, and here you are, I mean, really in the middle of it all. You have, you know, closer access than anybody right now to the Bezos. And I'm talking about your closer than even their guests are to the Bezos.

So wait a minute. So I saw them all wearing pajamas, lingerie, very fun kind of post-party wear. What's the theme here? Where are they going? What's going on?

BELL: Well, they had this last bash had been due to happen at a place called Misericordia. It's a beautiful sort of venue in Venice where they often hold parties, a sort of medieval structure. It had to be moved. So the newlyweds that you're seeing now are on their way to the Arsenale, which is this sort of big shipyard, also medieval, where they're going to hold their final bash, and where it's simply going to be easier for authorities to keep, not just us and the paparazzi currently involved in this high speed chase down the canal as we try and follow their boat, but also, of course, the protesters.

As when we spoke last time, Fredricka, we were in the middle of them. That protest has now wrapped up. But the protesters had been very clear. Their plan had been to disrupt this wedding as much as they could in order to have the world hear their many different claims. And there were a number of them that they were arguing for.

So this is a loss you're going to see of the newlyweds, because they're going to be at the Arsenale. It's going to be very hard for anyone to get there. And what we've also seen over the course of the last three days is really the guests respect those NDAs. You'll have seen very little in the way of pictures from inside the actual venues. We, the press, the paparazzi have been kept at bay. The protesters have been kept at a safe distance. And in the end, this, when you consider the cost, eye-poppingly expensive wedding has gone on without a glitch. I mean, they've gone from venue to venue. The celebrities came, the dresses were admired, the crowds swooned and, never actually did the protesters manage to get close to them or disrupt any of the events while they took place.

So I think for the organizers of this wedding, this finale will come as a huge relief, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. OK, so everyone else has been denied access, but not vous, Melissa Bell. You are there in the center of it all. Oh, my gosh. So now what about, look at these folks here. They get a surprise glimpse right alongside you in that boat that just went by. So the general public has just -- and then I see people on the bridge there. The general public tourists are getting like a bonus. If they see them.

BELL: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Yes, tell me about that. That's incredible.

BELL: Imagine, imagine -- I've spoken to so many people on holiday months ago, had no idea they were booking it during the weekend of this wedding extravaganza. They'd been a little worried. In fact, Venice has gone about its business, but there would have been many bewildered tourists who came across either a protester or a scene like this one, and/or passing Tom Brady in the streets of Venice. I mean, that's not bad, right? You come for a weekend and you happen to bump into Tom Brady. I mean, I would go for it.

WHITFIELD: Yes, me, too. I wish I were there. And, you know, maybe the next time any number of us plan something in Venice or Paris or something like that, they'll happen to be an extravagant wedding just like this one that unfolds before our very eyes. Oh, my gosh, Melissa, what a great vantage point, and what wonderful moments of happenstance that you happen to take us for along the ride. We're living vicariously through you.

And congratulations to the Bezos who are on that beautiful boat right there now that they have -- yes, just really carried off this incredible three-day extravaganza, but it's not over yet. And Melissa is going to let us know what happens next as they wrap it all up.

[14:40:00]

Melissa Bell, you're amazing there in Venice along the canal. Arrivederci, for now. Ciao.

BELL: Arrivederci.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: All right, thank you, Melissa.

Coming up, there's more. A historic first in space exploration as a new crew of astronauts sets foot on the International Space Station.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:04]

WHITFIELD: History in the making. Astronauts from three countries docked at the International Space Station for the first time in their nations' history. The Axiom Four crew successfully touched down Thursday morning, carrying astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, back to space for the first time in more than 40 years. The operation is elevating space programs across the globe. During the Axiom Four's 14-day mission, the crew will conduct microgravity research and tech demonstrations before returning home.

All right, someone else familiar with milestones in space is an astronaut in a league of her own. Astro -- aerospace, rather, engineer and former NASA astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps. She spent 235 days in space and 232 days aboard the ISS, earning the record for the longest time spent in space by an African American. And after 16 incredible years of service, Epps has now retired from the agency.

In 2009, Dr. Epps was selected as only one of nine members of NASA's 20th astronaut class, which is affectionately nicknamed the Chumps, before launching on ISS Expedition 70. On March 4th, 2024, Epps served as a lead capsule communicator in NASA's mission control center, and during her nearly eight month stint with SpaceX crew eight, Epps conducted hundreds of scientific research experiments. Truly a groundbreaking mission to round out an incredible career.

And Dr. Jeanette Epps is joining us right now. Congratulations on an incredible journey. Thank you so much for being with us.

DR. JEANNETTE EPPS, RETIRED NASA ASTRONAUT AND AEROSPACE ENGINEER: Thank you for having me. Thanks for those wonderful words to you.

WHITFIELD: So how do you characterize your out-of-this-world career?

EPPS: Well, I'm truly blessed to have been able to do all the things that I got to do. And I say I got to do. I was very privileged to be selected for the astronaut corps, to have worked at so many different illustrious places. And, you know, what I like to say is that a lot of work consistently over time, thank God it paid off.

WHITFIELD: I mean, through your time at NASA alone, I mean, you've seen the agency grow and evolve. And so as you look ahead for that agency, you know, where do you think NASA still needs to go?

EPPS: Well, I think NASA is working on going back to the moon through the Artemis Program. And I think that's exactly where they need to go. It's going to be a great time in space. Right now is one of the best times to be involved in space exploration. We have so many companies popping up because they believe we're going back to the moon. They want to be a part of it. There's companies that are looking at mining asteroids. They're looking at mining resources on the moon as well.

So right now we're conducting a lot of experiments in low earth orbit. All of those experiments will help us get back to the moon and stay on the moon. And everything that we do on the moon will eventually help us get to Mars. So I think NASA has positioned itself very well. And then we also have a bunch of commercial companies added on that will help us get into space and stay there.

WHITFIELD: So even with that, this administration has proposed a 24 percent cut to NASA's funding in 2026. So how do you see that kind of cooperation between NASA and the private enterprise being able to reach those goals that you talk about?

EPPS: Well, NASA has participated in many different programs, commercial programs. Of course, SpaceX, of course, working with Northrop Grumman to get Cygnus cargo ship to the space station. So I think in the future, even though there's going to be cuts, I think we'll continue strong to get our astronauts to the moon and stay there. We have a bunch of commercial companies that are working to get there as well and helping us build different habitats for the moon, landers for the moon. So I think working together, commercial and NASA, I think we'll be able to do a great job and continue to support our astronauts in low earth orbit on the moon and beyond.

WHITFIELD: OK, on April 8th, you know, after you gave a speech at the Corcoran High School, which is your alma mater, Syracuse mayor Ben Walsh and the county executive, Ryan McMahon, declared the day Jeanette Epps recognition day. What does it mean to you to be able to continue to represent and give back to your community where you grew up and inspire the next generation?

EPPS: Well, it's very humbling to go back home because everyone knew you way back when.

[14:50:00]

They knew when I was an awkward teenager, even just determining that I wanted to be an aerospace engineer, and on that track. And I'm grateful for Syracuse that they said, yes, you can do whatever you want. And they supported me through all of that. And then going on to the University of Maryland, where I had incredible support. So I'm deeply humbled and grateful that I'm able to give back everything that they've put into my life. So it's a great experience to be able to go back home and make my city proud.

WHITFIELD: Wonderful. You make America proud. Dr. Jeanette Epps, thank you so much. Congratulations on an amazing, storied career, and all the best on your next chapter post-retirement. We know there's more.

EPPS: There is more.

WHITFIELD: There is more. Can't wait. Thank you.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:55:34]

WHITFIELD: All right, for the second year in a row, CNN asked viewers to send in their favorite cities across the country. And hundreds of you responded. And our travel team narrowed the list to your top ten. CNN anchor Laura Coates went to number nine on your list, the birthplace of blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

LAURA COATES, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Clarksdale is kind of a hidden gem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I believe that Clarksdale special, we were the U.N. of the world because we had some of everybody here.

COATES: You have such a diverse community. And the music unites everyone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it does.

COATES: Everywhere you go in Clarksdale you start to hear some blues music playing. I hear it now.

Clarksdale is known as the birthplace of the blues. Legends like Ike Turner, Sam Cooke, and Muddy Waters were either born or grew up here in the heart of the Mississippi Delta.

(MUSIC)

COATES: I headed downtown to visit one of the most important landmarks in blues folklore -- the crossroads, which plays a crucial role in the mythology of blues legend Robert Johnson.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said that Robert Johnson wanted to learn how to play guitar. So he talked to the devil and he said, I'll make an exchange. You have my soul. Let me learn how to play the blues.

COATES: They say it happened right out there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thats what they.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is your fourth play with slaw and beans.

COATES: This looks good.

Clarksdale's connection o the blues is so strong that even the blues heavy hit movie "Sinners" is set here. In the film, two brothers returned to their hometown to open a juke joint for aspiring musicians.

The mojo bags from "Sinners."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You still got that mojo bag?

COATES: Those of you who have seen the movie, you know why this is a protector.

Our trip wouldn't be complete without a stop at the nation's first museum dedicated to the blues.

Talk to me about the influence of blues on other genres.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It touched every genre and literally changed the way that we hear all the music.

COATES: I mean, Led Zeppelin is included in this museum.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Blues is the roots, and Willie Dixon said the rest is the fruits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back in the day, when people had a hard day's work in the field or wherever they come from, they would come in and, so to speak, lay their burdens down and enjoy the magic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going to a juke joint and watching blues is a very personal experience, and one that can't be recreated because you're seeing it live.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can forget about the troubles, forget about what you left outside those doors and come in here and just relax. It's therapeutic.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

WHITFIELD: And Laura Coates is joining us right now. So of course, Laura, besides the music, I mean, what was the highlight of Clarksdale?

LAURA COATES, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, first of all, I was told that Michael B. Jordan was going to be there. But then I was, OK, fine. It's OK.

(LAUGHTER)

COATES: But I'll tell you, Clarksdale was such a surprise. The people were fantastic. They had tamales there that were amazing. The music made you move at every single minute and hour that you were there. Everyone was coming from far and wide to hear the really connective tissue of music, which is the blues. I went there with an open mind. I left there with a playlist. I left there with marching orders on people I need to discover and learn more about. And I left there with a feeling that the blues uplifts.

WHITFIELD: Yes. Oh yes, I mean, there are stories being told through amazing music. I mean, hey, that was a great ticket to get.

COATES: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And we are along for the ride with you. Laura Coates, great to see you. Thank you so much, and thanks for taking us to Clarksdale, Mississippi. And you can see the full list of Americas best towns to visit in 2025 at CNN.com.

Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

All right, President Trump's sweeping agenda faces a pivotal moment today. Right now, senators are convening on Capitol Hill for a rare Saturday session. Lawmakers are gathering in the Senate chambers as they prepare for a key vote to advance the president's so-called big, beautiful bill. Republicans released the full text of the giant 940- page bill just before midnight. They can only afford to lose three votes in today's expected procedural vote. And just moments ago, North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis told CNN he remains a no on this bill.