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Obama To Rally For New Jersey Gubernatorial Hopeful; Trump Administration Ordered To Fund Food Stamps Despite Shutdown; Pentagon Shifts To Pacific Strikes Targeting Drug Trafficking; Trump Denies Making Decision To Strike With Venezuela; Food Stamps Set To Run Out For Millions Of Americans; Food Stamps Set To Run Out For Millions Of Americans; "The Hidden Homeless" Airs Tomorrow At 8:00 P.M. ET/PT; Rescue Group Founder Helps Neglected And Abused Animals; Parade In Mexico City To Honor Deceased Loved Ones. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired November 01, 2025 - 17:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:00:36]

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean here in New York.

Millions of Americans have lost access to federal food benefits today because of the government shutdown, which has now dragged on for more than a month.

Two federal judges have said the Trump administration must tap into emergency funds to provide at least some benefits to American families.

President Donald Trump posting, quote, "Our government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available." And went on to say, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.

And on Capitol Hill, the House still out of session, Senators have left for the weekend. If the shutdown lasts through Wednesday, it would become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

Outside of Washington, two high-stakes governors races are drawing power players to the campaign trail. Former President Barack Obama in Virginia and New Jersey today rallying for Democratic nominees Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey.

Let's bring in CNN's Arlette Saenz, who's in Newark, New Jersey where they are waiting for former President Obama to speak.

Arlette, it is years after he has left office, and he is still what appears to be the closer for Democrats when it comes to big races.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jess. President -- former President Barack Obama still is one of the Democratic Party's most sought-after surrogates as Democrats in both the governor's races here in Virginia and New Jersey are having him out to campaign on the final weekend before the election.

In just a short while, president, former president Obama will meet here with Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, really trying to energize voters in this final weekend of early voting.

And he offered a bit of a preview of his message when he campaigned with Democrat Abigail Spanberger a bit earlier today and criticized Republicans on a host of issues, including their handling of the government shutdown.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: While they're helping the wealthiest, most powerful people in the country consolidate more wealth and more power, your bills are still going up. And you're waiting longer at airports because there aren't enough air traffic controllers. And the program helping your kid with special needs was just gutted.

So that is what's happening.

And the good news is there is something you can do about it. Right here, right now. Because you've got a candidate for governor who's got a track record of getting stuff done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, former President Obama's appearance here in New Jersey comes after there has been a wave of high-profile Democrats to campaign with Sherrill.

That includes former transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, who was just in the state, Governor Josh Shapiro, Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Sherrill's Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli has downplayed the appearances for those Democrats, saying that he doesn't think it's going to make much of an impact in this election.

Of course, he hasn't earned the endorsement of President Donald Trump, but Trump has not come to campaign for him in New Jersey, instead holding a tele rally for him just last week.

DEAN: And Arlette, have you had a chance to talk with voters there in New Jersey? It's one thing about what we're talking about on TV. It's another thing about what voters are actually talking about when you go to these rallies.

SAENZ: Yes. You know, in my conversations with voters here in New Jersey over the past week, the economy is still a top concern. A lot of the things that they point to are the high property taxes in the state, high cost of living. And then there's that issue of rising utility costs.

New Jersey has been feeling that quite acutely, and that's something that's come up over and over in these conversations and something that could extend into the midterm elections, Jess.

DEAN: All right. Arlette Saenz there in Newark, New Jersey where we await former president Barack Obama. Arlette, stand by. We'll come back to you. Thanks so much.

We are joined now by David Axelrod, CNN chief political analyst and former senior adviser to President Obama.

David, it is always great to have you on. Thank you for coming on the week before these elections --

[17:04:47]

DAVID AXELROD, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Good to see you. Thank you.

DEAN: -- so we can talk through some of this.

I want to start first with -- with the -- with President Obama, someone of course, you worked with closely for years and years. He is still the guy that Democrats look to, to be the closer, to really drive home the last message before people go to the polls. What do you make of that?

AXELROD: Well, he's good. He's very, very good at this. That's the first thing.

Look, he inspires people. He believes deeply in fundamental principles of democracy.

He believes deeply that government should work on behalf of people and not itself or special interests. He -- there are certain things that he has stood for from his entry into national politics that is a through line to what he said today on that stage.

And I think -- and his belief that at the end of the day, in a democracy, the power does rest with people. And the most elemental way to express it is through elections, which is why he's out there today, which is why he's generally out there before elections. And he's urging people to channel their -- channel their concerns into action and into voting.

And he's -- he's very, very good at that because he believes it and he's eloquent in stating the case.

DEAN: And President Obama has now been out of office and watched as former President Trump has returned to office for his second term as Democrats have struggled to figure out how to find their way back to relevance with voters who've been giving them some of their lowest popularity marks ever.

Well -- I know obviously you all talk. I don't want to betray any confidence here, but -- but how does he think about this and his role in the party going forward?

AXELROD: Well, he's always been -- he's struggled since he's left and especially through the Trump years to find the proper way for a former president to deal with these situations. He always said Jess, when we were in the White House, he once said to me you know, the Bushes, the two former presidents have taught me a lesson in how to be a former president, because I know they don't agree with everything I've done, but they want to give me the latitude. They know I was elected and they want to give me the latitude to do those.

And he's -- and when he -- and Trump got elected, he said, I'm only going to speak out when I feel like fundamental principles, constitutional principles, principles of our democracy -- when and if they're being infringed.

Well, I think you can see that they're being infringed quite a bit. And so you ask me, how does he -- how does he feel? How does he think about it? I think he's deeply concerned about it. And he said so again today.

But there again is the fundamental belief that the thing to do about it is to get out and vote and elect leaders who are going to take us in a different direction. And that's what he's resolved to do.

DEAN: And David, we're also obviously watching these New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races. These are off year elections. And I'm curious how you look at these.

In New Jersey, the Democrats, in theory, have -- should win there. In Virginia, the polls show a similar thing. But we don't know until the voters tell us exactly what happens. But how are you evaluating this election?

AXELROD: Well, Democrats should win. You know, New Jersey is a little more complicated because you have a Democratic governor there, not particularly possible -- popular after two terms and a state with a tradition of not returning the party to the state house for a third.

So there are competing impulses for change in New Jersey. There is a, I think, an impulse for change at the national level, but also some somewhat of an impulsive for change at the state level. And that makes this a more complicated race.

Virginia has a Republican governor, but more than that, Virginia has -- borders the capital. 100,000 Virginians have lost their job or more because of the actions of this administration.

I think that that is a more hospitable environment. And therefore, I expect, that that margin will be larger -- larger in Virginia.

DEAN: And David, I've lost audio of you, so hopefully you can still hear me because I do want to ask you one last question.

AXELROD: Yes.

DEAN: Ok. You can, I know you've spoken with Zohran Mamdani. Of course, running here in the mayoral race in New York City, which has become such a flashpoint, I think, for the Democratic Party.

[17:09:47]

DEAN: He is a Democratic socialist. Obviously, Zohran Mamdani is a very, very different Democratic candidate than Abigail Spanberger, even Mikie Sherrill, of course, in New Jersey. Those are different types of candidates.

But he's gained so much momentum and he's really captured the moment here in New York. How do you see him as he fits in with the future of the Democratic Party?

AXELROD: Well, look, if you look at his race there is -- there are -- there are some similarities between the way his race is run and the closing arguments that you see in Virginia and that you see in New Jersey.

We have a country where a lot of people are concerned about affordability and the ability to not just pay their bills, but put some money away and about the prospects for their kids.

And Mamdani has focused like a laser on that issue of affordability. And that's why he is in the position that he's in. He started at 2 percent. The other is that he is, you know, he's a -- at the end of the day, he's a very kind of positive, joyful candidate who gives people a sense of possibility, whether you agree with his -- all of his solutions or not. I think that is another element of his success.

So, you know, my advice to Democrats would be not to -- not to engage in sort of fretting about, whether, you know, the Democratic Socialist brand or title or whatever, and just look at what the guy has done in this race and ask why was he successful?

Democratic Party has to be much more focused on the day-to-day economic concerns of everyday people for whom things have not been working for a long time.

And Donald Trump promised to change that. He hasn't. And that's created a great opportunity for Democrats if they come up with real solutions and persuade people that this, in fact, is the focus of their attention.

DEAN: Yes.

David, always great to have you. Thanks -- thanks so much for being here. We appreciate it.

AXELROD: Good to see you, Jess. Thank you.

DEAN: You, too. You, too.

AXELROD: Thank you.

DEAN: And be sure to stay with CNN for results from all the critical races across the country. Our election night coverage begins Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN and of course, streaming on the CNN app.

Still ahead, growing uncertainty over emergency funds to keep millions of Americans from going hungry.

Plus the U.S. military ramping up its efforts to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. How the Pentagon is using dozens of navy ships and aircraft to deter trafficking, and not just in the Caribbean.

Also, we're going to go live to Mexico City for a closer look at celebrations for Dia de los Muertos.

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

[17:12:30]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DEAN: Today, millions of Americans lost access to food stamps. On Friday, two judges ruled the Trump administration is required to use emergency funds to pay for November's SNAP benefits.

Judge John McConnell saying in part, quote, "It is beyond argument that irreparable harm will begin to occur if it hasn't already occurred in the terror it has caused some people about the availability of funding for their family."

But it's still not clear when or if families will get the full benefits. Food banks across the country now scrambling to provide for these families, and federal workers going without government pay during the shutdown.

Let's bring in CNN's Julia Benbrook. She is traveling with the president, who is in Palm Beach, Florida for the weekend. Julia, what have you heard from the president and the administration over this ruling?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, taking a quick step back here, you know, as this government shutdown drags on, there are several key dates that we're paying attention to. And this is one of them that impacts about 42 million Americans. It is the date when funding for SNAP benefits is set to lapse.

As you mentioned, two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must tap in to billions of dollars of an emergency fund that would at least partially pay for SNAP benefits in November.

These rulings reject an argument from the Department of Agriculture that they could not use a contingency fund in order to do this. In fact, here's a moment from the head of that department, Secretary Brooke Rollins, before the rulings. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE ROLLINS, SECRETARY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: So there is a contingency fund at USDA, but that contingency fund, by the way, doesn't even cover, I think half of the $9.2 billion that would be required for November SNAP. But it is only allowed to flow if the underlying program is funded. It's called a contingency fund, and by law, contingency funds can only flow when the underlying fund is flowing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: So, as she pointed out there, we do know that this fund alone will not take care of everything. The agency says it has about $5.3 billion in it. And each month, in order to fund the SNAP program, it takes somewhere between $8 billion and $9 billion.

When it comes to how President Donald Trump himself is reacting to these rulings, he says that his government lawyers do not believe that they have the legal authority to pay with the money available.

He added this quote, "Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible."

[17:19:50]

BENBROOK: Now, even with these rulings, millions of Americans will likely see a delay with this lapse in funding, as it would take time to get the money flowing once again.

Both of these judges also pointed out that the USDA could access another bucket of funding, $17 billion there, in order to pay the benefits in full. But that decision is currently up to the administration.

DEAN: And Julia, just to be clear, with all knowing all of that, we're now just kind of in limbo because it doesn't sound like the Trump administration has made -- do they appeal this, do they not? We're still in limbo with this ruling.

BENBROOK: There are still questions, yes. I think Trump's social media posts, I believe that is the only thing we have heard specifically about this since the rulings came out.

And he's essentially saying that he wants to see more clarity and that there will likely be a delay in getting these payments out, even if they move forward.

DEAN: All right. Julia Benbrook with the latest from West Palm Beach, Florida. Thank you so much.

Coming up, President Trump is denying claims he's decided to strike targets within Venezuela. What we know about the U.S. military's plans to target alleged drug traffickers in South America.

[17:21:00]

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DEAN: The Pentagon is shifting its strategy in targeting alleged drug trafficking boats coming from south America. A source telling CNN more airstrikes will happen in the eastern Pacific Ocean moving forward.

Administration officials think they have more evidence linking cocaine transport to the United States from those western routes, rather than through the Caribbean Sea.

Intelligence shows the drug is far more likely to be trafficked from Colombia or Mexico, rather than Venezuela.

Former assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Juliette Kayyem, is joining us now. She's also a CNN senior national security analyst.

Juliette, good to see you.

This shift in strategy, from the Caribbean now to the eastern Pacific Ocean on the other side of the country, what does that signal to you?

JULIETTE KHAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: It's not a shift in strategy. I think the White House is trying to, sort of trying to distract people.

The strategy is extrajudicial killings -- maritime killings based on some evidence that these people are drug dealers. But we know now that the evidence, at least according to Congress that has been briefed, is pretty weak.

So they're continuing the extrajudicial killings. There's not -- these are not people that are being picked up by the Coast Guard.

They're just now shifting to another ocean. And that -- what that tells me is also that the evidence that initiated this to go after areas around Venezuela was pretty weak from the beginning.

I'm not saying anything we haven't heard from both inside the Pentagon and of course, senators from both parties that have been briefed on it. So the shift is just a shift in place rather than a shift in strategy.

DEAN: And you mentioned some senators were briefed this week on the strikes. I know in your former positions, you were involved in briefings and making sure information was shared, what information needed to be shared, what information didn't need to be shared.

Help people understand what that process is like. What Congress should be getting about this and what they are getting about this?

KHAYYEM: Well, look, I mean, part of this is because the White House has been so public about it. So it's not like these are being hidden, that this is some covert operation. Each of these is being announced quite publicly by the president and Secretary Hegseth.

Normally you would either have the intelligence committee briefed or depending, even the military oversight committees.

And you brief on two things. One is what is the basis of the information that would justify an extrajudicial killing like this? And I'm being direct with my language because that's essentially what these are.

And then that gets to the second point, which is that being said, are there alternatives to that? Because there's a difference between -- between saying, well, you know, we're at war and this is the only alternative. These are waters that are, well regulated, well observed. The Coast Guard for decades has been doing drug extraditions.

So what is it about it now that justifies this kind of military action? And the White House has come up with nothing now. I mean, they have now admitted, at least according to what we're hearing from Congress, that they do not have specific information about individuals on these boats, nor have they explained why other alternatives are not being used.

You generally go to extra judicial killing when there's no other alternatives available.

DEAN: And, Juliette, do they have to explain themselves on this. Is that, you know, is that what is standard here?

KHAYYEM: It would be I mean, for a variety of reasons. One is, as I said, its already public. And congress would demand it.

The second is these are covert operations that are normally at some stage shared, at least with what's traditionally called the Gang of Eight, which is the intelligence community. The White House has -- we understand, has given some of those briefings to only the Republican side, which is generally not how it's done in the in the intelligence committees.

But more importantly, there is a massive military buildup in the Caribbean. 14 percent of our navy is now there as of -- as of midnight last night.

[17:29:41]

KHAYYEM: The FAA essentially has a -- has a, you know, potential military action, basically, a sort of rule about what kind of aviation can occur in that area. That is new.

I mean, there's a lot going on near Venezuela that is part of these killings. The White House is absolutely denying that that this is leading to war. But then they're not explaining why is this happening?

We have the picture up in terms of all the military, all the Navy assets that are there now, what is another explanation?

I have talked to a couple of people in the military, certainly, remember, for the war in Iraq, you know, you don't build up a military like that unless you plan on using it. And if there is an alternative explanation, the White House is not providing it.

DEAN: Right. I did want to ask you about that, because, as you point out, that we do have quite a build up there in the Caribbean, and the president has aggressively denied these claims he is -- wants to strike targets within Venezuela.

If that's the case, if he is not doing that, what other explanation would there be for such a much -- such a naval presence there? KAYYEM: Yes. Let me -- let me give one benign -- not benign, but one example is that it sort of scares, right?

DEAN: Yes.

KAYYEM: Venezuela and his leadership enough that there would be some sort of uprising. There is a very strong resistance movement as we -- as we know now in Venezuela. That would be one explanation.

The other explanation is that the White House is not telling the truth. And that -- and that just has to be said at this stage. I can't in my history of 20 years in this field, seeing a military buildup like this with no explanation that doesn't lead to some military action. If there is another alternative or another explanation, again, the White House is not giving it at this stage.

DEAN: All right. Juliette Kayyem, thanks so much. We appreciate it.

KAYYEM: Thank you.

DEAN: Yes. As the government shutdown drags on for more than a month now, nonprofits that help elderly Americans get groceries and food are facing an uphill battle as well.

We are going to talk to one of the leaders of Meals on Wheels about the obstacles they are facing to feed some of our country's most vulnerable. When we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:36:39]

DEAN: The government shutdown is threatening to cut off access to food for millions of American seniors. And now, federally funded aid groups are working to ensure seniors receive what is often their only meal of the day.

Meals on Wheels says nearly 13 million elderly Americans struggle with hunger every year. The group helps seniors who are homebound and can't shop for their own groceries or prepare their own meals.

I want to bring in Josh Protas. It's the chief -- he is the chief advocacy and policy officer for Meals on Wheels. Josh, thanks for being here with us.

On this important day, November 1st, of course, marks when this funding does run out, and we are now waiting to see what this ruling exactly will mean.

In the meantime, organizations like yours are left in a little bit of limbo. What is -- what is the situation right now for you all?

JOSH PROTAS. CHIEF ADVOCACY AND POLICY OFFICER, MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA: Well, thanks so much for having me on, Jessica.

Actually, even before the shutdown, seniors were facing a crisis. One in three Meals on Wheels programs report keeping a waiting list with an average wait time of four months, sometimes up to two years, for an older adult who is in need of nutritious meals and moments of connection, they may have to wait. So, this is before the shutdown.

Since the shutdown, the funding stream for Meals on Wheels programs through the Older Americans Act has essentially been put on pause. And at the same time, we are seeing a surge in demand because of the loss of SNAP benefits that starting today, until the federal government, USDA, starts issuing those benefits.

So, it's really a perfect storm of crisis for seniors and programs are left with little recourse.

DEAN: I don't -- I certainly didn't know. I was ignorant of this. How many seniors out there are in need of just getting basic meal and interaction from people, and these are our neighbors, and you know, oftentimes mothers and fathers, or, you know, so many people that we know in our communities, it's really surprising how many people are in need right now.

PROTAS: It is surprising, and I think that's part of the problem is that seniors don't really get the same kind of attention that other populations do. And unfortunately, so many seniors have been struggling in the shadows and silence.

Our programs, providing both home delivered meals and congregate meals. And I should point out, it's not only the meal itself, but it is those moments of connection that deal with the real problems of social isolation and loneliness. We are currently serving about 2 million seniors a year, but we estimate that there are at least another 2.5 million low-income, food insecure older adults who were not serving.

So, we are serving less than half, and with the lead in information you shared, 13 million older adults are struggling with food insecurity.

DEAN: Yes.

PROTAS: And when we don't address this problem, it really costs us much more, because we can feed a senior for an entire year and provide those moments of connection for about the same cost as one day in a hospital or 12 days in a nursing home. And we know that when we meet their basic needs, seniors can remain independently at home where they want to be living with dignity and out of more costly health care and long-term care settings.

DEAN: Yes. And you mentioned this. People know -- I think a lot of people know Meals on Wheels, but they may not know that it is federally funded through the federal government.

[17:40:04]

And so, this funding, the shutdown definitely impacts you all.

PROTAS: It's a huge impact. Meals on Wheels and the senior nutrition program network. It's really a great example, a shining example, of a public private partnership. About a third of the funding comes through the Older Americans Act, and that's matched by state and local and private contributions.

But without the federal -- the federal piece of that, programs cannot run. Nine out of 10 of our programs indicate that they get some type of federal funding, and for more than 60 percent of those, it's half or more of that budget.

So, when the federal funding is delayed or stops, programs have to make very tough, almost impossible choices. Most of the programs are telling us that without the federal funding, they are either going to have to cut congregate meals, home delivered meals, or layoff staff. And we know that some programs are already making those tough calls.

And at this moment again, until that kicks back in, are you all talking with local organizations there? Are you talking -- you mentioned nursing homes and hospitals? Are you worried that because there won't be -- you know, there is no certainty of those meals getting to the seniors and that touch point that they may need more access to hospitals or senior centers, things like that?

Yes, absolutely. At the local level, Meals on Wheels providers are talking to their community partners. I think a lot of community partners are seeing a surge in need, both because of the shutdown impacts, but also the cuts to Medicaid, the cuts to SNAP that are increasing hunger and hardship for so many Americans. And community- based organizations are really scrambling. They want to do the best they can to serve their communities, but they just don't have enough resources to do so. And now, with the shutdown and the loss of those federal dollars, it's making things even more difficult.

DEAN: Yes. Listen, we talk a lot about the shutdown and the politics of it, but the bottom line is, a lot of Americans all across in red states and blue states are being very impacted by this.

Josh, thank you so much for helping us learn more about this. We appreciate it.

PROTAS: Thank you.

DEAN: The homeless crisis in New York City has reached record levels, and it's been a key issue in this year's mayoral race. But little has been mentioned about how this crisis impacts the city's most vulnerable. Its youth.

And tomorrow night, CNN's "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER: THE HIDDEN HOMELESS", delves into the crisis from the eyes of one young singer trying to make it on her home -- on her own, while also dealing with homelessness. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IMANI MILES, SINGER, FEATURED IN CNN'S "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER: THE HIDDEN HOMELESS: I hadn't made music in a while, honestly, because it's really hard, there is not really good place to do it. So, I went to the shelter restroom, and I closed the little window that we have in there. What I do is I just, literally, I'm on my phone like this, but I'm playing a piano, and yes, I just started to make the lyrics as I went.

A lot of people don't know this too, but there are also a lot of really talented homeless people. They just don't have the funds or the means to be able to fully express it.

It almost feels as if I'm stranded, and I can't see how I could have landed in a place where I know I don't belong on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: "THE WHOLE WITH ANDERSON COOPER, THE HIDDEN HOMELESS" airs tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Pacific, only here on CNN.

Still to come tonight, Congresswoman Nancy Mace, accused of berating a group of police officers at the airport. We'll tell you what the police report said when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:48:29]

DEAN: Congresswoman Nancy Mace, allegedly berated police officers at Charleston International Airport, Thursday morning, at one point, cursing at them. That's according to a police report. The alleged confrontation happened over a request that officers escort Mace to her flight.

CNN obtained security video, showing Mace arriving at a sidewalk entrance in a dark gray sedan, and police say that vehicle is different than the white car that they were told she would arrive in that day.

A different video provided to CNN by the airport shows Mace at the TSA checkpoint. It was during this time, police say Mace began loudly cursing at them.

CNN has reached out to Mace's office for comment. She has said publicly in the past that she has had threats to her security. Her director of operations told CNN, "Apparently, simply arriving at an airport now makes you headlines if you are leading the race for governor. Mace is running there in South Carolina.

The FBI is investigating an intentional explosion at a Harvard Medical School building. No one was reported injured, but an officer responding to a fire alarm at the Goldenson Building early this morning saw two people running away from the area. That officer tried to stop them before going upstairs to the fourth floor to investigate what might have set off the alarm. Authorities now looking into it, an arson team says the blast appears to have been deliberately set.

The top five CNN Heroes of 2025 have been announced. You get to choose who will be named the CNN Hero of the Year. Over the next few weeks, we are going to bring you their stories. You can then vote for your favorites. And tonight, you'll get to meet Tim Woodward from Animal Rescue Corps.

[17:50:00]

He is dedicated his life to saving forgotten and abused animals, helping them find new forever families. Take a look.

TIM WOODWARD, CO-FOUNDED ANIMAL RESCUE CORPS: We see animals living in conditions that I would have never imagined before doing this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got a little dog down here in this crate. Hi, mama.

WOODWARD: Their physical condition is incredibly debilitated. It can be very gruesome.

Your average shelter is used to taking animals in one or two at a time.

We pull in large numbers of animals from a crisis situation. We'll work with law enforcement. They will designate us as an agent of law enforcement to go onto the scene to seize those animals.

You are OK. See?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Look at that smile.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

WOODWARD: We bring a very tight, trained team, including a state- licensed forensic vet, vet techs, as well as an intake team, and, of course, our trained handlers.

They are in five different pop-ups. We'll split them up, two, two, and two.

WOODWARD: We're kind of the midway point between where they came from and where they will find their forever home.

We'll get you all fixed up.

So, for the time that they're in our care, we try to make sure that they are becoming healthier.

WOODWARD: What are you doing, huh?

And we try as best we can to prepare them for life in a home.

The change in the animals is always remarkable. They come out of situations where they have no trust, and then with time and attention, they begin to literally blossom.

You're getting out of here.

We've rescued well over 10,000 animals.

Where is that tail at?

My hope is that they have the best life possible and forget all about where they came from.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DEAN: And you can go to cnn.com/heroes right now to vote for Tim for CNN Hero of the Year. Or any of your favorite top five heroes, you get 10 votes per day every single day to help the heroes who inspire you the most.

Still to come tonight, right now, millions of people around the world are celebrating Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. We are going to take you live to Mexico City with a look at this 3,000-year-old celebration.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[17:57:13]

ELENA RIVERA, MIGUEL'S GRANDMOTHER IN PIXAR'S COCO. Dia de los Muertos is the one night of the year our ancestors can come visit us. We've put their photos on the ofrenda so their spirits can cross over. That is very important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: And that was Disney Pixar's "Coco", giving us a brief definition of Dia de los Muertos, which translates to the Day of the Dead. It's one of Mexico's most important celebrations.

Over the course of three days, families will honor deceased loved ones with marigolds and decorate altars to help guide them back to the living world.

CNN's Valeria Leon is in Mexico City for all of it. Tell us about the celebrations.

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jessica, the main streets in Mexico City are bursting with joy and color. This is the annual Day of the Dead parade.

And as you can see here, is representing people from all over Mexico. This is a traditional dancing from the state of Veracruz. We' are listening to this music and following it. These beautiful ballerinas characterized as Catrinas. You know, in the center of all of this is the figure of La Catrina.

As we can see now, this tall, beautifully dressed woman is a skeleton with flowers in her head. This is the way the Mexicans are honoring the dead in this important celebration in Mexico.

And the Catrina was created more than a century ago, but this famous Mexican cartoonist known as Jose Guadalupe Posada, and it was later that this muralist, Diego Rivera painted the Catrina in one of his most famous murals. And that's when this name of La Catrina, that's now internationally renowned, is known in Mexico.

As we can see, this just people from Mexico, but also we found people from all around the world.

I'm joined now by Steve. He is British. He is his first time in Mexico City. And Steve, what a time to be in Mexico City right now. Please share with us your impressions on this celebration, and, of course, a parade.

STEVE, BRITISH TOURIST IN MEXICO CITY: Thank you. Well, I'd say, mucho gusta, I like it very much. So, it's really fantastic. It's very gray in London at the moment. So, we've come here to so much color and culture. And yes, it's fantastic. It's that Day of the Dead, but it's a celebration of life. So, thanks.

LEON: Exactly. That's quite right. You know, it's a celebration of life. And this idea or this belief behind this special tradition comes from the Aztec period. You know, the Aztecs believe that dead was only the beginning of life. And this tradition and this belief steals, of course, leaves on across the country. And, of course, right now, in Mexico. City with this Day of the Death Parade.

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This is the ninth consecutive year of this parade, and we are, of course, enjoying this moment as well, as the thousands of people gathered here to witness this colorful parade. Jessica.