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Senate Dems Force Reading of 940-Page Trump Mega Bill; Trump Celebrates "Big Victory" After Spending Bill Advances; Interview With Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); U.N. Nuclear Watchdog: Iran Could Restart Enrichment Within Months; Jury Deliberations Set To Begin In Criminal Sex Trafficking Trial. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired June 29, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:43]

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

And right now, Democrats in the Senate are trying to pump the brakes on President Trump's so-called great Big, Beautiful Bill. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is forcing every word of the 940-page bill to be read aloud. That process, starting nearly 15 hours ago, after it cleared a key hurdle.

Senate Republicans narrowly voting late Saturday night to advance the mega bill full of Trump's priorities. Senate GOP Leader John Thune spending hours scrambling to get support from holdouts opposed to some of the bill's provisions, as well as its price tag and projected increase to the federal deficit.

Ultimately, two Republicans, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky, joined with Democrats in opposition.

CNN's Julia Benbrook is on Capitol Hill following the very latest for us. Julia, great to see you.

Just moments ago, we also got some pretty big news about Senator Tillis. And again, he was one of the holdouts, one of those who said no to proceeding with this measure. So what can you tell us now about him?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you mentioned, Republicans took a major step toward passing President Donald Trump's massive domestic policy agenda bill. But there were two Republicans who opposed advancing it. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

And then just within the last few moments now, we are learning that Tillis will not seek reelection in 2026. I want to pull up part of his statement for you now where he explained this thought process.

He said it's something he's been thinking about for a while, adding, quote, "In Washington over the last few years, it's become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species."

He had been voicing concerns about this so-called one Big, Beautiful Bill, specifically, any changes to Medicaid and how those would impact his constituents.

And as he opposed it, Trump put out several tweets or several social media posts on Truth Social about Tillis specifically, saying that he was making a big mistake and that he would meet with anyone who was looking to primary Tillis.

Now Fred, this is a multitrillion dollar spending package, and it would boost spending on the military and border security. It would lower federal tax cuts, and then it would also downsize some of those government safety net programs, including Medicaid.

WHITFIELD: Ok. And it is a lot.

So now what with this process?

BENBROOK: So after they passed that major procedural hurdle last night, Democrats are using a delay tactic. They are having the clerks read this bill. The entire bill. It is a 940-page bill. So they have been at this for hours through the night, nearing the end as we speak.

But then it will move into a debate portion. And Democrats and Republicans will have equal opportunity of time to debate. We do expect Democrats to likely take their full time, and Republicans may only take a portion of that.

But then we move into vote-a-rama, and this is a chance for different amendments to be discussed, some of them political, some of them more substantial. And it's often a time for the Democrats, in this case, to put the majority party, which is Republicans right now, on the record on several different things. Then we could see a vote on final passage.

But it is still far from over at that point. Then it goes to the House again, where Speaker Mike Johnson has already outlined that there will be a lot of challenges if there are changes to the bill, because they had so many issues getting it across the finish line the first time.

So after it gets through the Senate, if it gets through the Senate, all eyes turn to the House and they have a July 4th self-imposed deadline of getting it to Trump's desk for a signature.

[14:04:50]

WHITFIELD: Everyone eat your Wheaties. That's for sure.

All right, Julia Benbrook on Capitol Hill, thanks so much.

So President Trump is celebrating the advancement of his tax and spending bill, calling it a great victory in a late-night social media post. He's also lashing out at the two Republican senators who voted against advancing the bill.

CNN's Kevin Liptak is joining us now from the White House. So Kevin, we now know the update on Thom Tillis and how that incoming from the president may have influenced his decision, even though he says he's been thinking about it a long time.

So what is the reaction right now about the process and that news from the White House?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, Fredricka, I think its clear President Trump is facing enormous pressure to see this bill get across the finish line, because remember, it really contains the. Entirety of his domestic agenda, whether it's more spending on immigration enforcement, whether it's extension -- an extension (ph) of those tax cuts.

And what you see President Trump doing is really framing this as a loyalty test for Republicans. And in fact, just yesterday, the White House, in a message to Capitol Hill, says that a failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal.

And its clear President Trump viewed Thom Tillis as committing that ultimate betrayal when he voted against this bill. Of course, Tillis says that he had been considering retirement for quite some time, but I don't think you can remove the context from it, which was those threats that you heard from President Trump over the course of the day yesterday, promising to support a primary challenge to Tillis in North Carolina.

He wrote on Truth Social, "Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the primary against Senator Thom Tillis. I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks looking for someone who will properly represent the great people of North Carolina, and so importantly, the United States of America."

So President Trump, making very clear that he was very prepared to put his weight and the political weight of his supporters behind a Republican who would potentially have challenged Thom Tillis in North Carolina.

It's all part of this pressure campaign that President Trump has been waging, really intensifying this week. But going back several months to try and get Republican senators behind this bill.

He's been working the phones. He's been working the golf course. That's one of the reasons he stayed back here in Washington. He was on the course yesterday with Republican senators.

But it's very evident that that pressure campaign will have to continue. This bill still has a number of hurdles to go before it makes the president's desk, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kevin Liptak, thank you so much from the White House.

Joining me now is Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar. Senator, great to see you.

SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): Well, thanks Fredricka for having me on.

WHITFIELD: Wonderful. I'm glad you could squeeze us in.

It's a lot. It's been a very busy weekend. So now that this, you know, sweeping spending bill has gotten through the procedural vote, for hours, clerks have read the 940-pages aloud. What are you hoping Americans who listened to the oration will learn about this process and the proposal?

KLOBUCHAR: So people need to know that this so-called Big, Beautiful Bill is really a big, beautiful betrayal of the American people, and they know it.

A Fox News poll found that 60 percent of Americans think that this is a bad bill. It's bad for them, that it helps the wealthiest on a 2 to 1 margin. And they're right.

It takes 17 million -- the Senate version is worse in this way -- 17 million people off of their health care, $900 billion in Medicaid cuts and half of the seniors who are in assisted living in our country are on Medicaid. So many families know the date when their loved ones retirement savings end up, and they need Medicaid. That is a program that's been there for people that need it. And so that piece of this that's horrible.

And then food assistance, 4 million people off of their food assistance and that includes the bulk of them, seniors, veterans, people with kids.

So this is a pretty outrageous bill. And the thing that really bugs me, Fredricka, is that it adds $4 trillion to the debt, up from $3.4 trillion over in the House bill. So it's gotten worse. And that's going to mean higher mortgage rates, interest rates.

So those are the things that I'm going to talk to my colleagues until the very last hour, because especially in the Midwest, this bill is a bad deal for the American people. And they should be voting with their constituents instead of trying to rubber stamp the president because they're afraid of him.

WHITFIELD: So there are many ways in which to look at it. I mean, the plan extends nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts, including living up to Trump's campaign promise of no taxes on tips; funding deportations, another campaign promise; cuts or changes to Medicaid and SNAP as you just underscored.

[14:09:51]

WHITFIELD: So, you know, tell us why you did vote "no" in the procedural and what -- of those concerns that you have, what kind of modifications would you be willing to make or able to make?

KLOBUCHAR: Well, I voted "no" because I don't think this bill is ready for prime time. And I think that you've got a situation where they should start over, or at least when you talk about those tax cuts, you know, we can keep in the tax cuts for people making under $400,000 a year. That is the vast majority of all Americans.

The problem with this thing is that it gives multimillionaires a $400,000 tax cut. So what you could do is if you got rid of the tax cuts, the major add on tax cuts from last time and this time on people making over $400,000, you could save $2 trillion.

You could put that into debt reduction. So our debt isn't sitting there on our kids and our grandkids backs. You could put it into housing and child care, and of course, you would make health care more affordable instead of putting in place Medicaid cuts.

So a budget is really a choice. Who are you going to help? And they have chosen to help the very wealthy instead of standing with their constituents.

Energy prices alone, affordable energy -- electricity is projected to go up $400 a year from this bill for the average American in the Midwest.

Really bad deal for so many who rely on rural hospitals. Over 300 rural hospitals are closed. The debt is so huge in this bill, Fredricka, that it triggered automatic Medicare cuts of $500 billion under the law.

WHITFIELD: So when you have Republicans like Thom Tillis, Rand Paul and Ron Johnson among those who have expressed some apprehensions about the bill, how do you find openings perhaps with them, whether it's in arm twisting, handshakes, collaboration, especially with the backdrop of President Trump's posted threats, whether they be veiled or otherwise?

KLOBUCHAR: Very good question. And they have repeatedly said -- Josh Hawley said that the Medicaid cuts were immoral. They are going to have a chance to do good because we have the power to bring up amendments and say, ok, let's do some sensible things.

Instead of these Medicaid cuts, let's get rid of some of the tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. That's a choice. And they're going to be able to vote on it, because we're going to put forward amendments.

So they have the power even at the end of this bill, they are going to have the power to get rid of the $900 billion in Medicaid cuts. They're going to have the power to change this so we're not shifting all of these burdens on food assistance to the states. Red state, blue state governors, they know that's bad.

41 states have balanced budget amendments and suddenly were going to say to them, hey, North Carolina, you suddenly have over $500 million for food assistance that you're going to have to pay for, or people are going to go hungry. Hey, Texas, you're going to have over $1 billion.

And that is exactly what this bill does. It's a fraud because the actual debt add-on is $4 trillion. WHITFIELD: Are you worried that a July 4th kind of looming deadline

will lead to buy now, pay later?

KLOBUCHAR: I believe that the problem with this bill is that our Republican colleagues are more afraid of the president than they are in working with their constituents.

The White House even said it last night. They said voting against this bill, in their words, would be a betrayal of the president. And they're threatening primaries, all kinds of things. I think they should be more worried about betraying the American people.

And so many of our Republican colleagues care about the debt, the ones in rural are especially focused on making sure that we've got rural grocery stores, which, by the way, half of the counties that only have one grocery store are in the Midwest. So they better vote their constituents.

And this was a procedural vote. It got us on the bill. Then we had the bill read because there's no way they could have read it because it's 940 pages. Now we're in the middle of debate, and we are going to have the chance to have these amendments. So they could still change this bill.

WHITFIELD: Senator, I know this has been a particularly taxing weekend for you and for many. This, of course, it's taking place on Capitol Hill and of course, the burial of your good friend and colleague, Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and their dog, Gilbert, who were killed in what authorities are describing as a politically-motivated assassination. So I know you attended Friday's ceremonies for her.

[14:14:45]

WHITFIELD: But then in Washington yesterday for procedural vote while she was being laid to rest in Minnesota. And I'm wondering a, how did you manage all that? How are you managing that? And, you know, what are your hopes and thoughts about added protections for people in public service?

KLOBUCHAR: Sure. First of all, it's not really about me, and it's not really about elected officials. This was a moment to remember an incredible woman and her husband, Mark. This was a moment, in their kids words, to make sure we step back and look at what is their memory.

And their kids who wrote this beautiful thing just a few days after the murders actually said, you know, if you want to do something good, it could be big or small.

They said, pet a golden retriever. They love dogs, Melissa and Mark. They said, plant a tree to make a more beautiful, beautiful world. They went through a number of things people can do.

But mostly their memory, as expressed by the archbishop in Minnesota, what was a deeply religious service yesterday was in, you quoted Pope Leo, the new pope, who said politics should be the highest form of charity.

So to me, that guided me through this weekend, because if you want to do good for the world like Melissa Hortman did, if you want to do the right thing, then you better not be hurting regular people.

And she worked her whole life. And they found in her purse when she was murdered, they found one of the -- of Francis' prayers about being an instrument of peace and being a tool of good.

So she was a deeply religious person, taught Sunday school at her Catholic church. And for me, that kind of faith, while this tragedy and this murder was horrific, and yes, we need more security and there's all kinds of things I have long supported in changes for our security, they should also be about looking in the mirror, some of my colleagues, and saying, why do we have these jobs if not to help people in that we represent?

Why do we even seek these jobs? Why do we even get elected if it's not to do good in the world? That is Melissa Hortman's legacy. And I hope that our colleagues look at those prayers, as a bunch of faith leaders that were here yesterday with Reverend Warnock reminded us, you know, read your scriptures.

WHITFIELD: Senator Amy Klobuchar, really appreciate you being with us today.

And I know the Hortman family is very grateful to have you in their corner and be such a dear friend. Thanks so much.

KLOBUCHAR: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead, a new assessment of the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog now saying Iran could restart enriching uranium, quote, "in a matter of months", end quote.

Plus, after more than six weeks of testimony, jurors in the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial prepare to deliberate the case.

And the Georgia teen who was sucked out of his home by an EF-2 tornado and thrown out of the second-floor bedroom, is now celebrating a major milestone. He'll join me live to discuss his remarkable journey.

[14:18:15]

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WHITFIELD: All right. New today, the head of the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog says Iran could restart enriching uranium in a matter of months. Rafael Grossi's comments appear to back an early assessment from the Pentagon's defense intelligence agency that suggests U.S. strikes did not destroy the core components of Iran's nuclear program.

CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, is in Jerusalem for us. So, Nic, even as we get these comments on Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel is holding high level meetings on Gaza today. So what are we learning about that potentially?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. Fred, there seems to be a lot of shifting ground and rhetoric here in Israel at the moment. And it is focused around Gaza, and it does seem to point towards a shift, potentially towards maybe a deal with Hamas over Gaza, maybe.

So what has the prime minister said? He had a meeting where he was addressing the internal security Shin Bet just in the past few hours. And he told them that the sort of victory in Iran had created new opportunities, and he used some language that he hasn't used before.

He said out of those opportunities, making the priority, first, getting the hostages out of Gaza. That's the first time he's used that kind of language. He previously talked about defeating Hamas. And then as a result of that, getting the hostages.

Now he's putting the hostages first it appears. The family forum representing the hostages say that this is positive. Finally putting them first. This is what they've always wanted him to do. So that's a change in rhetoric.

You have as well, the law courts that were going to be having testimony from Prime Minister Netanyahu this week about these allegations of corruption that he's facing.

[14:24:44]

ROBERTSON: They put his testimony on hold for a whole week, which again, seems to hint that the prime minister has some highly-important things scheduled coming up.

Of those top officials that the prime minister is meeting with at the moment include Ron Dermer, a top confidant, if you will, who's expected to go to Washington, D.C. just in the next few days.

It's creating that speculation that perhaps alongside President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu really is moving to a deal.

And another surprise announcement coming from the government today, announcing that those communities around Gaza, the places that Hamas overran October 7th, like Kfar Aza, Nir Oz, Berri (ph), that the government no longer sees a security concern there. And they're saying as of the end of the next month, any families who were relocated and funded by the government to live elsewhere in the country will lose that funding.

This is the first time the government has indicated they don't see a security threat around these communities. And those communities are saying, hold on a minute, we think that this is a dangerous move.

However, if this is the case, it's no longer a security threat, then get the hostages home. That to them means an end to the war.

So a lot seems to be changing at the moment. I would emphasize "seems to be". A lot of it's new, Fred. WHITFIELD: All right. Nic Robertson in Jerusalem, thank you.

All right. Coming up, more than six weeks of testimony from 34 witnesses. And tomorrow, the fate of Sean "Diddy" Combs will be in the hands of the jury. What to expect from the upcoming deliberations.

And we're continuing to follow the developments on Capitol Hill as the U.S. Senate works towards a final vote on President Trump's agenda bill. We'll bring that to you live as it happens.

Stay with us. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

[14:26:42]

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[14:30:55]

WHITFIELD: All right. Live pictures right now. We're keeping a close watch on Capitol Hill, where U.S. Senate Democrats are trying to slow down the passage of President Trump's agenda, forcing every page of the nearly 1,000 specifically, like 940 pages of this mega bill being read aloud. And after that, a marathon debate on the measure will begin. And of course, we'll bring all that to you as things unfold.

Meantime, things could start unfolding in a different way tomorrow, jury deliberations in the criminal sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. They've already heard the closing statements, and now the jurors will be getting some instructions.

This comes after the panel heard hours of closing statements from the legal teams. The defense argued that the prosecution exaggerated its case against Combs, and has only shown evidence of his sexual preferences and personal drug problems, not a criminal enterprise. The prosecution accuses the defense team of blaming the victims and urge the jury to find Combs guilty.

The music mogul has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering, conspiracy and sex trafficking. And if convicted on all counts, he could face up to life in prison.

With me now is Judge Ashley Willcott. She's with me. She's been watching all of this, as all of us have, but from a different lens as a judge.

So in your view, the judge tomorrow, these things will be kind of boilerplate, right? They'll give instructions to the jurors. The jurors have had the weekend to digest the closing statements.

What kind of instructions are they going to get to help them? Kind of, you know, stay focused on the charges and whether the evidence has been presented?

ASHLEY WILLCOTT, TRIAL ATTORNEY: Fredricka, great question. Theoretically, those instructions are going to be, quote/unquote, simple, for the jury to follow to understand what the law is. But keep this in mind. Youve got five counts, including racketeering, the definition isn't necessarily simple. So, there was a lot of work by both sides in the judge to say, lets simplify the instructions as much as possible. Jury, you're going to hear about each of the five counts and what you have to find as a matter of law based on the facts, as you find them to convict of one or none or all or some of these charges.

WHITFIELD: The judge will also, after giving instructions, the judge will also be open to hearing any kind of questions that jurors may have. Is that something that, you know, both sides, the attorneys, prosecutors are concerned about, or are they hoping that these jurors feel like they have complete knowledge of everything, instructions that there's nothing to muddy anything up?

WILLCOTT: I think that every attorney regardless of your side, prosecution, defense, you want to make sure the jury understands what they're tasked with. You want to make certain that they understand what each definition is. So, I would say both sides welcome it. So as long as they have the opportunity for input as to the response, because they want to make sure that whatever the judge's response is fits with what they believe, the law says.

WHITFIELD: The body of the jury is really fascinating. It's very diverse, actually. We're talking about eight men, four women ranging in ages from 30 to 74. They're represented by a physician's assistant, a deli clerk, a charity worker, massage therapist, actor, scientist and social worker, just to name a few. That can be advantageous for the defendant no matter what, right? Because you've got a variation of people who may not all have what you know, have an opinion one way or the other.

But do you feel like the prosecution or the defense did a better job presenting or defending the case to influence this kind of juror?

WILLCOTT: I think that both sides did a phenomenal job with what they had. I think strategically, the defense said, okay, were not going to present any evidence of course, P. Diddy is not speaking. He chose not to testify.

It was a powerful, charismatic closing. Maybe that kind of charisma speaks more to a diverse jury than the prosecution saying, here's the law, here's what we proved, here's what you need to find.

[14:35:07]

So, it's hard to say, but I will say this because of the diversity of the jury, I think they are going to have a lot to talk about, to figure out where they stand on what they find factually.

WHITFIELD: All right. Judge Ashley Wilcott, great to see you. We'll all be watching all week long.

WILLCOTT: It's going to be a big week. It will.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thank you so much. Great to see you. All right. Still ahead, he was thrown from his home when a powerful

EF-2 tornado tore through his neighborhood. His injuries almost killed him. But today, Malachi Chaney and his family are celebrating an odd, defying survival and remarkable recovery. They're my guests, next.

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[14:40:27]

WHITFIELD: All right. This next story is hard to believe. It's nothing short of miraculous.

A Georgia teenager who was sucked out of his bedroom by a powerful tornado saw his house for the first time. He saw it this week. He nearly died in the entire journey. Nineteen-year-old Malachi Chaney was tossed 300ft into the air and thrown into a field behind his house. An EF2 tornado tore through his neighborhood in Henry County, Georgia, in May and completely leveled his family's home. As you see right there, it's just left in a pile of debris.

Tray Chaney, Malachi's father, also survived and yelled for his sons name after crawling out of the debris. None of them knew what hit them, but something hit them really hard. The teen actually suffered a traumatic brain injury, multiple facial fractures, broken ribs, and a punctured lung. Malachi is now recovering after spending ten days, including his birthday, in the ICU.

And joining me right now is Malachi and his father, Tray Chaney.

So great to see both of you and a belated happy birthday.

MALACHI CHANEY, SURVIVED POWERFUL EF2 TORNADO: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, you look amazing. You have been through it. I mean, how are you feeling?

M. CHANEY: I just feel grateful to God that I'm still here. I mean, hearing the type of injuries that I suffered and what actually happened to me, I'm just grateful every day and just have a different outlook on life now.

WHITFIELD: Really?

M. CHANEY: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Tell me about that outlook on life now.

M. CHANEY: Just way more positive. Way more grateful for my family, my friends and the opportunities that I get and the different people that I cross. And just always grateful for God honestly.

WHITFIELD: Wonderful.

Daddy -- I mean, you are -- you are so happy. You know, obviously and so relieved. I mean, this is life-changing for all of you, but what's remarkable -- many things are remarkable here. But Malachi doesn't even remember the what happened. And in a way, you're telling me just moments ago, you don't either, except that you woke up under some debris.

TRAY CHANEY, MALACHI CHANEY'S FATHER: May 29th, 2025, 3:30, it just -- it just hits different for us because like I said, when we came back in, that maybe around 3:00. I was sitting on the edge of my bed. Malachi, like he always does that, I'm going to go play my video game.

WHITFIELD: Were you expecting a storm?

T. CHANEY: We wasn't expecting a storm, but I know when I sat on the edge of that bed, the rain didn't sound like the rain. The wind didn't sound like the wind. And before you know it, it sounded like it was a train in my house.

But my walls were flying towards my face. My TVs, my dresses, and the last thing I remember is waking up, facing the mud bloody with sheets around me because I was sitting on the edge of the bed when I looked to my left. The whole house was gone, the roof was gone in my neighbors' yard, but when I looked the first words out of my mouth is where's Malachi? Where's my son?

So, while the neighbors were running up to me saying, Trey, you need to calm down, you -- I said, it's not about me. Where's my son? He was in the house. We had a beautiful day that day. Now he's gone.

So thinking about that time frame, it might have been 45 minutes to an hour before the neighbors actually found him.

WHITFIELD: That's a long time.

T. CHANEY: My wife --

WHITFIELD: And you had been hurled 300 feet away.

T. CHANEY: Yeah. My wife, his mother was pulling up. You know, maybe around four-ish. And we still hadn't found Malachi, but he was thrown 300 feet in the woods behind my house.

WHITFIELD: And he was unconscious, right?

T. CHANEY: Yeah.

WHITFIELD: And so when we look at the pictures of the debris field of your home, all the other houses in the neighborhood are intact, yours was the one that was hit by this tornado. So, Malachi, you're at the hospital, unbeknownst to you, you're there for quite a while. I mean, is, and he's unable to verbally communicate, correct.

T. CHANEY: Yeah. He wasn't able to verbally communicate. Spending two weeks in ICU between ICU and our regular rooms at Grady hospital.

WHITFIELD: What were your concerns or worries at that time?

T. CHANEY: Oh, it was the toughest. I don't wish this on nobody. I don't wish this on no parent. Me and my wife, Aisha. We really are still battling with PTSD, trauma, but seeing our son, you know, our 19-year-old son who's independent, we raised him to be an amazing, incredible kid. Finished his freshman year in college at Savannah State University to see him in that state, it was -- it's the toughest thing and it's even tough still talking about it. But the beautiful part is -- look at him now.

[14:45:01]

WHITFIELD: He is here.

T. CHANEY: He's living and breathing.

WHITFIELD: And you're communicating.

And so, what was that moment of turnaround for you? I know for the first time you went back to your home this week and you saw it, and it looks very similar to the day that, you know, that that tornado came through, right.

What were your impressions? What are your thoughts? How is it you that allows you or fuels you, that beautiful family picture to kind of move forward now or be hopeful moving forward?

M. CHANEY: Well, I never forget because at first you and mom were very hesitant on me like seeing the house, but I was very urgent. On wanting to see what I had survived.

WHITFIELD: Why was that important?

M. CHANEY: Because I -- hearing the story of me being someone who survived a 300-foot toss is like insane. And the fact that I became a lucky human being to survive something like that is just crazy to me. So I wanted to see what I had survived.

And when the car had pulled up for the first time, I'll admit I did say, holy, you know what? In the car. But just seeing it, I remember not -- not like feeling too emotional to the point where I'm crying or anything, but I was very shocked just seeing, like. And the memories of the five years that we were at that house, since I was in ninth grade to my senior year -- well, my freshman year of college, it was just like all the memories of those five years just went by.

Just like that. And it was just a -- it was a shock. But once again, a grateful feeling to just be there to see it.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. Well, we are so grateful that you are here. We were able to talk and reflect. You still have those beautiful memories of your home as a family. I mean, it's such a wonderful blessing to see you both.

And, Tray, for you -- I mean, you were used to being kind of the center of attention as a star of "The Wire". You know, that's kind of an aside here, but you're here, you know, to support your son.

T. CHANEY: You know, I wanted to make a point that none of that stuff like I seen our life flashing a snap of a finger, but fame, money, houses, cars, my perspective on life has changed. Malachi's perspective on life, his mother's perspective on life has changed. Having my wife and my son, that's what's more important.

And that's the message that I want our family, the Chaney family, you know, to put out there into the world. Life is important. Cherish your loved ones because you never know when the next time you're going to see them, or you never know when something tragic happened. You know, right now, like I said, it's a long road to recovery.

We're all healing. We're all in therapy. Even though, you know, we see Malachi like this on the outside. Still, with those type of injuries, is certain things as a family that we have to continue to deal with and get past, you know, with the doctor visits with, you know, the neck brace, the brain injury.

But I will say this, Shepherd Center is really -- they brought the energy back. I always say Grady Hospital were the ones that saved our sons life through the grace of God. Shepherd Center brought that energy back to where he's ready to just get back to being 19-year-old Malachi Chaney.

WHITFIELD: Beautiful, beautiful.

T. CHANEY: Yeah.

WHITFIELD: So great to see you both.

Tray and Malachi Chaney, thank you so much. All the best.

T. CHANEY: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: I want to shake your hand. I want to touch you. But at the same time I'm like I don't want to hurt you. You're awesome.

Thank you so much. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:53:07]

WHITFIELD: The second year in a row. Here we go. We're going for a ride.

CNN asked viewers to send in their favorite cities from across the country, and hundreds of you responded. And our travel team narrowed the list to your top ten.

CNN's Coy Wire joins us now. You got number six on the list.

Where are we going?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Put it up to number one.

WHITFIELD: All right.

WIRE: Love them all. I'll say that about all the great towns across this country.

WHITFIELD: I love it.

WIRE: But Petaluma, California, it's like, what do you get when you mix classic cars, classic movies, Star Wars and incredible cuisine, you're about to find out. Petaluma, California, coming up.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WIRE (voice-over): An hour north of San Francisco, in the middle of Wine Country, lies the peaceful town of Petaluma.

Known for its architectural preservation and great restaurants, but once a year, that peace is interrupted by this.

For 20 years, classic car enthusiasts have been gathering here to salute George Lucas's 1973 film "American Graffiti", which was shot right here in Petaluma.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your car is uglier than I am. That didn't come out right.

BRIAN AZEVEDO, PRESIDENT, CRUISIN' THE BOULEVARD: It was founded in '05 by a bunch of classic car guys that wanted to bring that era back to the community, and it's just grown ever since for my.

KEN CRAWFORD, CLASSIC CAR OWNER: My first show was like in 2006, and I've been addicted ever since.

WIRE: Lucas chose Petaluma as a filming destination because the town had maintained its all-American vibe, a vibe that hasn't changed in the 52 years since the movie premiered.

KEVIN FOSTER, CLASSIC CAR OWNER: Small towns are dying every day, right? And I think one of the unique things of Petaluma is it's kept its grassroots of who it is the Petaluma River. Once a vital transportation corridor for farmers, is now more of a recreational attraction.

[14:55:05]

If classic cars and kayaks aren't your thing, you could always pedal Petaluma. Also on the water.

Old waterfront warehouses have been turned into boutiques and small craft businesses, while art installations dot the shoreline.

But farming is still big business in the area, and that means great food.

That's phenomenal, all locally sourced, true farm to table town.

From downtown to a galaxy far, far away, film enthusiasts can geek out on another George Lucas creation.

Yes. ANNE NEUMANN, PRESIDENT & CEO, RANCHO OBI-WAN: Welcome to Rancho Obi- Wan. We are the world's largest Star Wars collection.

WIRE: Oh my gosh!

All right. Rest of the shoot is called off. I'm not leaving. I'll be here for a few months.

NEUMANN: So the Darth Vader here is the helmet was screen used in "Return of the Jedi.

WIRE: In the movie?

NEUMANN: In the movie.

WIRE: Those were C-3PO's hands.

NEUMANN: Yes.

WIRE: Worn in the movie?

NEUMANN: Yes.

WIRE: From movie props to models, Lego sets to fan made art, your eyes cannot focus on just one thing. It's something you just have to see to believe.

May the force be with you.

NEUMANN: You're welcome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(LAUGHTER)

WIRE (on camera): Oh my gosh, if you are the curious sort of person that loves incredible cuisine, it's there in the heart of wine country, but not in the busy areas.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

WIRE: And it's just has this allure to it. You feel like you're stepping back into time if you decide to go, may the force be with you. You will not regret Petaluma.

WHITFIELD: And also with you. I like it, and I love the bit with the classic cars.

WIRE: Vroom, vroom.

WHITFIELD: Vroom, vroom.

WIRE: All right, thanks so much Coy Wire appreciate it.

And,, of course, you can go to CNN.com for the full list of America's best towns to visit in 2025. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)