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New Mexico Offers Free Childcare For Qualifying Families; Moon To Pass In Front Of Mars In Occulation On Tuesday Night; College Football Playoff Announce Today. Aired 6-7a ET

Aired December 04, 2022 - 06:00   ET

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

[06:00:26]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Buenos dias and welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. I'm Boris Sanchez.

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Boris. I'm Amara Walker. And we are in the final hours of the Georgia Senate race. And both Senators Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker work to get their supporters to the polls. We'll tell you where things stand in these crucial last moments.

SANCHEZ: Plus, liquid hot magma rolling toward a major highway on Hawaii's Big Island. The latest incredible images from the Mauna Loa's volcano and why some visitors are still being allowed to get up close to the eruption.

WALKER: And it's the end of the road for team USA after the men's soccer team is knocked out of the World Cup. We are live in Qatar with more on the legacy the team leaves behind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES GRIMES, SURVIVOR: I was determined to swim until my arms and legs could not, you know, hold my body up no more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: And we're learning more about the 15 hours a man spent treading water in the Gulf of Mexico after plunging off a cruise ship, including how he fell and his close encounters with wildlife. All that and more just ahead on CNN THIS MORNING.

WALKER: Hey, Boris. Good morning, everyone. It is Sunday, December 4th. Thank you all, especially you, Boris, for waking up this morning.

SANCHEZ: It was -- it was a challenge but we made it. We're here and we're grateful to have you.

WALKER: Well, we begin this morning with the U.S. Senate race in Georgia as the candidates make their final push for votes ahead of Tuesday's runoff election. CNN polling shows Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock with the slight edge over Republican challenger Herschel Walker. Now, Warnock is at 52 percent as you can see compared to 48 percent for Walker.

SANCHEZ: Both candidates are out on the campaign trail trying to rally their supporters. Warnock spoke with union members yesterday promising to stand up for workers, while Walker greeted supporters outside a college football conference game.

WALKER: More than 1.8 million people have cast their ballots by Friday. Many stood in long lines to take part in early voting. And election officials say there is a chance we won't know the outcome of the race on Tuesday. Here's what one official told our Pamela Brown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GABRIEL STERLING, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE: We're preparing for, you know, it being a very tight race. I anticipate we may not know on Tuesday night. It just -- it really depends because it's up to the voters and they're showing up in groves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Now, this Georgia race will not determine who controls the Senate. Democrats already won that but the stakes are still high. A win for Warnock and Democrats would give them an outright but slim majority.

WALKER: CNN national politics reporter Eva McKend joining us now live from Atlanta. Hi there, Eva. What is the latest this morning?

EVA MCKEND, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER: Well, good morning to you both. Senator Warnock closing out the weekend with a more aggressive campaign schedule. Just two days left until the votes are counted and he really stuck to the main themes of what he has long argued as his case for reelection, that he has worked with Republicans, and that Herschel Walker is not suited to serve in the United States Senate.

He often says, listen, Walker was a great football player but that he is ill prepared for the awesome job of being a United States senator. He spoke with union members and then he also held a big rally with the AAPI community. That is a community that is often said to be overlooked. But really no community can be overlooked in this battleground state where the margins are so thin. Take a listen to Senator Warnock yesterday on the trail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D), GEORGIA SENATE CANDIDATE: I'm not mad that he doesn't know what he's talking about. I'm mad that he doesn't know what he's talking about and he thinks he ought to be a United States senator.

He's running for the Senate. He's not just your uncle talking at the family reunion.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MCKEND: Now, for his part Walker did not hold a formal campaign event yesterday but he did greet supporters. The media was not allowed to ask questions and has not been able to do so for two months. Walker's campaign, though, dinging Warnock for missing two key Senate votes in the past weeks, one on same-sex marriage and another on the rail strike.

[06:05:00]

But we do know where Warnock stands on those issues. We have not been able to ask Walker where he stands on these key issues. Walker for his part though will appear in Loganville later today. Back to you.

WALKER: Eva McKend, appreciate it. Thanks so much. And be sure to join us on Tuesday evening for our election night coverage of the final Senate race. Coverage starts Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Well, members of Congress are facing some key deadlines before the end of the year. Their to-do list includes tackling the debt limit and keeping the government running.

SANCHEZ: Let's take you to Capitol Hill now with CNN congressional reporter Daniella Diaz who joins us live. Daniella, walk us through some of the details here, some of the issues that lawmakers still have to deal with.

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Amara, you said lots of agenda items. These are essential items that Congress needs to pass during this lame duck session, that session we call after the midterm elections, before the new Congress comes in. And the main issue, Amara and Boris, that Congress needs to address is funding the government.

Right now that is set to expire on December 16th. If there is no funding for the government that will trigger a shutdown. Government employees will not be able to go to work, will not get paid. That is crucial for Congress to address.

Before then Democrats and Republicans here on Capitol Hill have not been able to agree on a government deal. That is part of the problem. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi telling you last week that if they're not able to agree on a deal they could possibly trigger the same spending levels next year and do another continuing resolution. Democrats, of course, not wanting to do that but they need to reach a deal.

The other thing that is currently running up against the clock is the debt limit. You mentioned that. It seems that Democrats are not eager to address this during the lame duck. They want to toss this possibly to a possible House speaker Kevin McCarthy who is expected to -- who is running, of course, for house speaker, Republicans are taking the majority next year. And it's not clear when the nation will run up against its debt limit. That clock we're not entirely sure about that. But it does seem unlikely that Congress will address it during the lame duck.

Another thing Congress needs to address is the National Defense Authorization Act. It is legislation that sets policy for the Defense Department, triggers funding for the Department of Defense. That is why Democrats and Republicans need to address that before the end of the year, another thing they are doing.

So lots of agenda items crucial. And I didn't even mention the same- sex vote to protect same-sex marriage in the nation in the House on Tuesday. Of course, that is expected to pass and it will go to President Joe Biden's desk so that is at least one thing that we know this week is happening. Boris, Amara.

SANCHEZ: No shortage of items on that list. Daniella Diaz, thank you so much.

Let's talk politics now with senior political correspondent at "The New Republic" Daniel Strauss. Daniel, thank you so much for getting up early for us this Sunday morning.

Unlike last year's Georgia runoff, this one is not going to determine control of the Senate, Democrats already have the majority. How do you think that might impact turnout in the Peach State?

DANIEL STRAUSS, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW REPUBLIC: I mean, it's a good question partially because Democrats going into these final few months of the election were hoping that this race would determine control of the Senate. They were pessimistic that they would have a surplus of seats like they do now.

But the real question -- what we've seen so far in the early vote is turnout. And the fact that this is not -- the outcome of this race does not depend on whether it controls the Senate may have affected how the turnout has shaped up. We've seen a slightly lower number of African-American voters than in past elections in this runoff right now.

I don't really know for sure if that is an advantage to either Walker or Warnock. It's a bit of a surprise to me given that Democratic enthusiasm coming out of this midterm election is higher than expected.

But look, the other thing about this is that Democrats are framing this as more a referendum between Warnock and Walker, and less about control of the Senate or sort of their ability to pass their agenda. This is, in their view, an argument between an incumbent Democratic senator who is experienced and qualified for this position, and a former football player who is out of his depth. And that's the argument they're making right now.

Again, given that we know who the next governor of Georgia is going to be, we know that Democrats control the Senate, we shouldn't be that surprised if turnout is slightly lower among key groups for Democrats than I think their party would have expected or like going into this runoff.

SANCHEZ: So, Daniel, as far as control of the Senate, that's already determined. But how might winning this seat for Democrats or Republicans impact the dynamics of the next Congress? STRAUSS: I mean, for Democrats it gives them an opportunity to not have to worry about two of the usual sticking point senators in their caucus, Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin.

[06:10:04]

That extra vote means that they don't have to worry and check in with those two senators constantly. And they both have helped slow down or delay legislation and priorities of the Biden administration.

For Republicans, I mean, the answer is pretty obvious here, right? That more Democratic seats means that there is less of a chance for them to slow down the Biden administration's agenda and there is more of a question about what they can do and what deals they have to make with Democrats in the next congress.

SANCHEZ: Daniel, I want to ask you about the impact former President Trump might have on turnout come Tuesday, because ahead of this runoff he is calling for the -- quote -- "termination" of the constitution and constitutional laws. This is on Truth Social. He's calling for the 2020 election to be overturned. This was after the release of some internal Twitter emails showing that there was deliberation inside the organization in 2020 over how to handle this "New York Post" story about materials that were found on Hunter Biden's laptop.

If you recall, during the last runoff election, Republican turnout was hampered by Donald Trump, you know, making all these claims about election fraud. Do you think he's now, again, making it harder for Herschel Walker?

STRAUSS: I mean, we've seen -- the indications are that, yes, Trump is not as much of an asset as he was in the first few months of his presidency. Now that he is a former president, now that he is pushing outlandish and ridiculous ideas like ignoring or overturning the constitution, he has become a bit of a liability for Republicans.

And we can see that he's not a draw right now for Walker and he's not coming to the state often to campaign for him. That's really the big tell here that he is not -- he's either too much of a liability to risk what energy he might inject into Republican voters in Georgia or that he's just not bringing the crowds and the enthusiasm that he used to for Republicans.

SANCHEZ: And notably candidates that he fought against, that he primaried, people like Brian Kemp and Raffensperger, the secretary of state in Georgia, they won by significant margins so it's interesting to see that dynamic play out there. Daniel Strauss, thank you so much as always for the time.

STRAUSS: Thanks so much.

WALKER: And this morning, huge amounts of lava continues to flow from Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano in Hawaii, and it is creeping closer to a key highway that connects the east and west sides of Hawaii's Big Island. For now the DKI highway, it does remain open and it has attracted sight seekers who have flocked to the area for the historic lava show. The volcano began erupting late last Sunday night, springing back to life for the first time in almost four decades. CNN's David Culver is on the scene with the very latest.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boris and Amara, good morning. And behind me you can hardly see what is the base of Mauna Loa. And you're looking towards the direction of where the lava flow is at its nearest to us. That is about two and a half miles away right now, moving rather slowly about 25 feet per hour. But the concern is that it is still moving this direction.

And one thing you'll notice is that are these plumes that look like smoke but they're not, because they're acidic gasses. And they are partly concerning for some of the officials in that they could potentially cause issues for folks with respiratory issues. And if it becomes too concentrated, it could become an issue for the water community as a whole but we're not there yet.

And so, folks are still coming out and officials are accommodating that. In fact, they even turned this roadway here, which was a side road that had two lanes going one each direction into one way. And so people are able to come, pull over on the side, get out. Some have lawn chairs, some just standing in stillness, others taking pictures and just trying to appreciate what is a sight that is incredibly rare and one that is awe inspiring to take in.

And yet you also have people who have come out who are locals who see this in the cultural and really spiritual significance and they're bringing their own offerings. From leis to flowers to even rosemary one woman brought out. So for them it's something that deserves a lot more respect than most would think.

And as we continue out here, I want to show you the direction that is really perhaps the most alarming potential here. Now, we're not there yet either but given it's a couple of miles away, the lava coming this direction could cross over this side road and onto what is a major intersection, really a major thoroughfare. This is a highway called Saddle Road that connects one end of the Big Island to the other.

[06:15:02]

And if that gets cut off it will be a logistical nightmare. So, they're watching it closely and for now they feel like it's safe enough for folks to still come out here to enjoy it but they say that can change really, Boris and Amara, over the course of just a few hours. They say it's so unpredictable and as of now it's a beautiful sight but they know it can be destructive.

WALKER: David Culver, incredible stuff. And, I think, I mean, while it's safe I definitely would be one of those people bringing my lawn chair and just hanging out there and watching that spectacular view. It's just really incredible.

Well, team USA's run at the World Cup is over. The team fell to the Netherlands in the first round of the knockout stage.

SANCHEZ: Yes. CNN world sport anchor Don Riddell joins us now live from Qatar this morning. Don, disappointing for the United States but when we look back at this team, how do you think the squad will be remembered?

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Well, I don't think we'll be remembering them, guys, because they're kind of just get and going. They always knew that this World Cup is a bit of a stepping stone towards 2026 which they are co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. And they came into this tournament as one of the youngest in the field with basically no World Cup experience. And they have learned so much while they've been here. And they've been so impressive.

Of course, it didn't go their own way against the Netherlands. And really the difference was the finishing. Because the U.S. actually had the better amount of possession in this game, they had just as many shots on target as the Dutch but Holland just knew how to pull the ball away and the American team didn't.

They came into this tournament knowing that they lack really an out- and-out striker, somebody who can get in goals. And although they got that late one from Haji Wright, which briefly made it interesting, they really were just in a different class to the Dutch team who now go on to play Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Afterwards, you know, the players and the coach they were reflecting on what they've achieved by getting here. Weston McKennie, who is one of their star players, said that what they have achieved in the last four years by getting to this point has completely changed the way that the rest of the world regards U.S. soccer. And they man they call Captain America, he's not actually the captain of the team but he kind of the talismanic influence, Christian Pulisic had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIAN PULISIC, AMERICAN SOCCER STAR: I'm really proud of this team, how far we've come. You know, I hope we showed a lot of people what we can do. And really it's a shame, I thought. You know, we deserve more from this tournament. And at the end of the day we couldn't get it done but I think there's a lot of things we can be proud of.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: Yes, well played team USA. They got out of the group. Of course, half of the teams here didn't manage even that and they had some really good performances while they're at it.

WALKER: And, Don, I have to ask you because the other headline is Pele, the Brazilian superstar and his health, a lot of fans concerned. And, you know, a lot of us know that he is one of the most famous athletes in the world. But for those who may not be, you know, as aware explain to us just how important of a figure he is to the sport.

RIDDELL: Well, he won three World Cups at a record young age and really became the first global superstar athlete at a time, you know, when that just wasn't a thing. So, you know, he is regarded as arguably the greatest football player of all time. And it was really interesting to see how the football world reacted so fast to that news yesterday.

It seems to have been a bit of a false alarm. The news was that his treatment for colon cancer wasn't going well and his health was deteriorating. He has come out and said on social media that he is strong and he has a lot of hope. And he is urging his friends to keep calm and be positive. But we saw in Qatar within really an hour of the news, you know, drone show displays, you know, neon signs kind of displays and spreading positivity and love for Pele and, you know, sending him all the best.

SANCHEZ: Just a giant in the sport and really an ambassador for soccer. Here in the United States too he played for the New York Cosmos and popularized the sport here. So, we hope he gets better soon. Don Riddell, thank you so much for the time.

WALKER: Well, nearly 40,000 people are in the dark across parts of North Carolina. Why the local sheriff's office believes this is a criminal act. Also, police in Idaho have received thousands of tips in the case of four college students found dead in their home. But they still have no suspects. Why they say they're now on rumor control as they work to solve this case.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:23:43]

WALKER: This morning authorities in North Carolina are investigating a massive power outage affecting nearly 40,000 residents as a criminal occurrence. The Moore County sheriff's office says utility companies began responding to different substations and discovered evidence indicating intentional vandalism had occurred. A spokesman for Duke Energy says crews were experiencing multiple equipment failures. And for now various law enforcement agencies are providing additional site security.

And authorities are investigating the killings of four University of Idaho students who were found stabbed to death last month. And they say they have received thousands of tips from the public but they have not located the murder weapon nor have they identified a suspect.

SANCHEZ: And now in an effort to clear up false information that has been spreading about the case police this week debunked several rumors about the victims. CNN's Camila Bernal has the details.

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Boris, Amara, there is so much speculation on this case. But in part it is because it's been three weeks and we still don't have a motive, we don't have a suspect, we don't have a weapon. And so, of course, a lot of people are frustrated and have a lot of questions. Authorities trying to clear up some of these questions.

[06:25:02]

They say they are aware of a sixth person on the lease of the house, but they now say they talked to this person and they moved out of the house before the school year began so they don't believe that person on the lease is involved in terms of the crime. Now, they have also cleared a number of other people. They cleared the two surviving roommates, other people that had interactions with Kaylee and Maddie.

There was someone at the food truck that came up on surveillance video. There was a driver that brought them home. Police clearing those people as well.

And then they're also clearing a very confusing part of all of this. Because they have always said that this attack is targeted, but what they are now saying is that they are unclear of who was targeted. Was it the house that was targeted or was it the students that were targeted? They're still trying to figure that out.

And in their latest release, they put out a statement saying this, "There is speculation, without factual backing, stoking community fears and spreading false facts." So what authorities are asking now is, hold on, wait for this investigation, let us do our work and then we will release the information. They are saying that they are making progress but a lot of it is behind the scenes. And so, of course, this community is still waiting and it is in part why they're still so frustrated. Amara, Boris.

SANCHEZ: A wild story there. Camila Bernal, thank you.

The Alabama man who fell off a cruise ship into the Gulf of Mexico on Thanksgiving eve is now sharing his amazing story. He tells CNN he is blessed to be here.

WALKER: He sure is, right? James Grimes remembers being naked and treading water in those high waves, quite choppy waters actually, and wind for more than 15 hours before he was finally rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. But he says the sheer will to live along with strength from God kept him alive. CNN's Leyla Santiago has more.

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amara, Boris, there are still a lot of questions as to how 28-year-old James Grimes of Alabama ended up in the middle of the ocean by himself swimming for hours on end until he was rescued. He understands why folks say this is kind of unbelievable, but he calls it a miracle.

And here's how he lays out the timeline. He says Wednesday night he was on the cruise ship with his family, they've been planning for about two years, a group of about 18 of them. He was having some drinks but says he was far from inebriated but the last thing he remembers was around 10:30 that night when he was with his family.

His family reported him missing the next day and he wasn't rescued until 8:00, around 8:30 the very next day. So that means he was in shark infested water just swimming, hoping someone would come to save him. And he says he was very much mindful of his surroundings. Always keeping an eye, he saw quite a bit of jelly fish while he was out there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRIMES: I know I swam through two schools of -- big schools of jelly fish. At one point, I was swimming and I could just write the slime off of my arms and just slinging it. And I had one attacked to the back of my neck. Got a pretty little spot there but -- yes, I can remember going through the jelly fish. And actually, I was opening my eyes in the water because out there I did pretty much got adjusted to the water. And I was looking around, you know, seeing what was out there with me the whole time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANTIAGO: He acknowledged that a key part to his survival was staying positive. As he mentioned, he knew help would arrive. He just wasn't sure exactly when it would be and he said he would do things to try to stay positive like sing songs. I asked him exactly which song, by the way, he was singing. He said he was singing "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" but he would switch it up a little bit and in his lyrics he would say "I wish I were sitting on the dock of the bay."

So, he definitely, definitely was trying to keep hope alive and that clearly worked for him. He is also very grateful. He is hoping to next year to head down to Louisiana to meet the coast guard officer who rescued him and shake his hand. Amara, Boris.

WALKER: I would have been singing "Staying Alive" because I don't know what else would have kept me going. Leyla Santiago, just an incredible interview. Gosh, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Such an incredible story.

WALKER: Have you been on a cruise before?

SANCHEZ: I have. They are very, very high from the water.

WALKER: Exactly.

SANCHEZ: So that was quite a fall, number one. Number two, he doesn't remember exactly how it happened. Last seen by the bar. He was naked in the water. How did it happen? That's what I want to know.

[06:30:00]

Don't they have surveillance footage on this cruise --

WALKER: Exactly. Great minds. I was thinking the same thing because, well, I've been on a cruise once. I probably don't ever need to go on again. But I did notice that it's not that easy to fall overboard. And the fact that he was naked, I mean, that's -- that just raises a whole different host of questions.

But look, he's alive. And yes, he's blessed.

\SANCHEZ: Yes, it's -- it is a miracle. But again, we have to shout out the incredible work of the Coast Guard. I mean, they are heroes and you see it in a crazy example like this.

WALKER: To be able to have found him in the water is just, yes, remarkable. All right, still ahead, free childcare sounds too good to be true,

doesn't it? How one state is easing the burdened families that we know all too well. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALKER: Right now, American families spend an average of about $10,000 a year on childcare. But one state just eased that financial burden for some parents.

[06:35:08]

SANCHEZ: In New Mexico, voters recently voted yes to make a program that offers free childcare permanent. And as CNN's. Renee Marsh reports, even families making a decent amount of money are eligible.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, thank you. OK.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Alicia Fout, a mom of three, was forced to make some tough decisions before New Mexico became the first state to offer free childcare to the majority of its population this May.

ALICIA FOUT, MOM RECEIVING FREE CHILDCARE: I learned, you know, which bills I could forego every other month to keep up with the financial needs of my children.

MARSH: Nationwide, the average cost of childcare for families has outpaced the rate of inflation in 2021. Childcare sucked up 30% of Fout's monthly income. The financial stress not lost on her 8-year-old son.

FOUT: He remembers struggling. And mom, going to food banks and going to these charity places to have assistance to pay for the bills, he was worried about how much something would cost.

MARSH: She found a temporary solution in a New Mexico pilot program that provides free childcare.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good job. Thank you. Now, wash your hands. She now has an extra $370 per month. But with the state's temporary funding for the program set to expire next June, a permanent solution came during the 2022 election when 70 percent of voters in New Mexico, one of the poorest states that consistently ranks among the worst for child well-being, approved a constitutional amendment to fund early childhood care using a portion of the state's windfall from oil and gas production revenue. New Mexico is now the first state to guarantee early childhood care as a constitutional right.

GOV. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (D-NM): We're going to fully fund child care for every New Mexican.

MARSH: A willing governor, state lawmakers, and determined child advocates were the blueprint for providing free childcare for families making up to 400 percent of the federal poverty line. That's about $111,000 for a family of four.

ELIZABETH GROGINSKY, SECRETARY, NEW MEXICO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE DEPARTMENT: What New Mexico has done means that it's possible in many states.

MARSH: For 12 years, child advocacy groups use the wide range of tactics to get permanent funding for child care enshrined in the state's constitution.

AMBER WALLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN: It was years' worth of op-eds and blogs to raise public awareness. It was working with policymakers to educate and to have them understand just how important these early childhood years are. And then when it came down to it, it was really hundreds of thousands of contacts with voters.

MARSH: Fout says her son no longer worries about money and is excelling in school and she has since gotten a job promotion with higher pay. Something she said she didn't strive for before because a bigger salary meant less subsidies and higher childcare costs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARSH (on camera): Well, Boris and Amara, it is Congress that has to give the final approval before the state of New Mexico makes any changes to its state constitution. I did speak with New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich's office, and they say that this is on track to be approved. And they actually hope that this will all be squared away by the end of this congressional session. Boris and Amara?

WALKER: It would be amazing if this was adopted nationally. Rene Marsh, thank you.

Coming up, a phenomenon in outer space. We'll explain why people across the country won't be able to see Mars for 30 minutes next week.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:40:00]

SANCHEZ: Just a few days from now, people across the United States are going to get a glimpse of a rare astronomical site in occulation. The moon is going to pass in front of Mars for about 30 minutes, blocking light from the Red Planet.

WALKER: How cool is that? Joining us now to discuss is Janet Ivey. She is the president at Explore Mars and creator of the TV children's series Janet's Planet. In fact, she's on a planet right now. Good to see you this morning.

JANET IVEY, PRESIDENT, EXPLORE MARS INC.: Thanks for having me, guys. How are you?

WALKER: Great, great. So, this is so exciting. I mean, what should we expect to see in those 30 minutes? IVEY: You know, it's unfortunate the southeast of the United States is not going to get a glimpse of this. They're going to need to be online watching some other astronomers. But it's going to be -- it's going to be like the moon is going to simply kiss at the Mars and it'll take a couple of seconds for it to completely disappear behind the moon. And then you'll see it -- it'll be below the moon on the left side. And then after that 30 minutes, you'll be able to see Mars on the right side of the Moon.

So, it's just -- it's just a little kind of like covering happens when the orbital mechanics are just so -- the moon passes in front of a lot of planets and just happens to be on the right elliptic pathway here that will -- it'll cover up Mars. So, a rare occurrence for certain.

SANCHEZ: Yes, Janet, I also wanted to ask you about the Orion spacecraft. It's set the splashdown next Sunday. NASA is preparing it -- preparing to bring it back with a so-called skip entry into the Earth's atmosphere. And it's the first time they've done that with a passenger spacecraft, right?

IVEY: Oh, absolutely. And you know, Orion has been doing marvelously considering it's Artemis 1 sat up there and do her two hurricanes. But it just went to its furthest point further than any human space-rated spacecraft -- or human-rated spacecraft has ever gone almost 268,000 miles from Earth. It's headed back. It's going to go back into the lunar sphere of influence. It's going to go around and get a little bit of a gravity assist. Meaning, it's like going to orbit and then going to be slingshot at home. And it's going to be coming in hot.

But engineers have learned a lot on this mission. And so, it's going to be fantastic to watch it splashdown. We'll just be that much closer to going to the moon and on to Mars.

[06:45:26]

WALKER: Yes, speaking of getting closer to being on the moon. So, if the Orion landing -- or I guess if this -- if this entire mission is successful, which it looks like it's on track to be, NASA will then launch Artemis 2, right, which means that there will actually be humans on this next flight. And it's as soon as 2024. So, what can we expect on that Artemis 2?

IVEY: Well, again, it's like they've learned so much. They're going to be taking in all of the data. You remember, there are mannequins on they're actually registering, you know, the amount of radiation. And that's important, and especially for how far away from Earth it got, and especially important as we look forward to going to all the way to Mars with humans.

Now, this Artemis two won't land on the moon. It's simply an orbital mission around the moon. But again, just steps and steps closer. And I kind of think this amazing, rare occurrence of this occulation is sort of a great metaphor that the moon is going to cover up Mars this week. But Mars is just waiting patiently by going, it's okay moon, you can have your day. But humans on Mars in the future is definitely the goal. WALKER: Wow. Really interesting stuff.

IVEY: I know.

WALKER: I'm trying -- I'm trying to process it. There's the delay for me. I'm like, wait, OK, wow, that's pretty incredible, Janet. Thank you so much. Good to see you.

IVEY: Thank you. Bye, bye.

SANCHEZ: Still to come this morning, a big night on the gridiron. Several teams fighting for their place in the college football playoff. We'll tell you who came out on top and who faltered on the big stage next.

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WALKER: Who's in? Who's out? The four teams for the college football playoff will be announced at noon Eastern today.

SANCHEZ: Coy Wire joins us now live. Coy, there is one team in particular that is sweating it out this morning.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It's not your Syracuse Orange, Boris. They're long out of the equation. But the question is what happens to number three TCU? They were burned by the College Football Playoff Committee once before, left out back in 2014. Now, they're hoping history doesn't repeat itself.

Check out quarterback Max Duggan leaving it all on the line, rallying his team from 11 points down in the fourth. The senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa lost his starting job in the preseason due to injury, but he's fought his way back to being a Heisman candidate. 95 yards rushing on the game time drive, completely exhausted, Duggan completes the two-point conversion to send the game to overtime.

But that's where Kansas State would pull off an incredible goal-line stand. Twice they were denied from the one-yard line. Then they turn around, Kansas State, and pulls up the game-winning field goal, ending TCU's perfect season. Duggan crushed afterwards, but hoping they still make the playoff.

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MAX DUGGAN, QUARTERBACK, TCU: I think we got in. We would give, you know, one heck of a fight. And I think, you know, our competitors will take over and things of that sort, but I just -- yes, I don't know. I wanted that one really bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Big 10 title game now. Number two Michigan steamrolling unranked Purdue. Donovan Edwards was like Pamplona, a running bull. 25 carries, 185 yards in that touchdown, your big 10 title game MVP as well. Jim Harbaugh's Wolverines were teams out. The winningest program in college football history, winning its second straight conference title. Michigan is just two wins away from its first national title now since 1997.

Number one, Georgia facing number 14 LSU in the SEC championship game. And you knew things weren't going to go well for LSU when Georgia's first points were scored by their special teams. Christopher Smith taking a blocked field goal 96 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs dominated in every phase and the ball was bouncing their way as well. An interception off of a helmet, batted around, and into Smael Mondon's hands. The defending champs roll 50 to 30 in the win.

All right, we end with history being made yesterday. University of Chicago coach Julianne Sitch becoming the first woman to lead an NCAA men's soccer team to a title. Look at the celebration as the Maroons beat Williams College 2-0, winning the division national title. Players (INAUDIBLE) with drink running alongside her. She said afterwards, all the credit goes to the team. These guys have never had a female coach before, but they embraced me as one of their own. She was an assistant on the women's team previously. This is her first year as the men's head coach.

WALKER: Go Julianne.

SANCHEZ: I love to see -- yes, go Julianne. I love to see history being made, even though she was trying to run away from that Gatorade bath.

WIRE: She relented.

SANCHEZ: Coy -- quick question for you, Coy. With the college football playoff, does this mean that Alabama might sneak in? Is Nick Saban really the Terminator?

WIRE: They have a chance. But there's never been a two-lot team to hop in. We'll see if the committee is still let's TCU remained in the Final Four.

SANCHEZ: All right, Coy Wire, always great to see you.

Stay with CNN. We'll be back in just moments.

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WALKER: We are just one week away from announcing the 2022 CNN Hero of the Year who will be chosen by you. For the past few weeks, we've been reintroducing each of our top 10 so you can vote for your favorites. And today, we spotlight top 10 CNN Hero Aidan Reilly who is tackling the national food insecurity and hunger crisis.

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AIDAN REILLY, TOP 10 CNN HERO: I spent those first few weeks honestly in a state of depression. All the plans I've been making the progress were suddenly no longer viable. We ended up seeing an article about farmers having to throw out their food. Like, mountains of potatoes in someone's backyard or milk just being dumped into the dirt. And we would see lines of people miles and miles long, thousands of cars lining up to get a bag or a box of groceries.

We called up, my friend, and we just said, why don't we join forces calling food banks, calling farms. We called a whole bunch, a couple of hundred. We quickly put together what was a fully functioning organization with young people, mostly students, average age of 21, volunteering their time when the y can to help feed people that they might never meet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: Make sure to go to cnnheros.com to vote for your favorite CNN Hero of the Year. You can vote up to ten times a day every day until December 6. The next hour of CNN THIS MORNING starts now.

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