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CNN This Morning
Millions Of Veterans Facing Food Insecurity; Baby2Baby Providing Essentials To Families Devastated By Disasters; Butterball Turkey Talk-Line Opens For 44th Year. Aired 7:30-8a ET
Aired November 27, 2025 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[07:30:00]
LT. COL. JIM WHALEY, U.S. ARMY (RET.), CEO, MISSION ROLL CALL (via Webex by Cisco): So that we can heighten the awareness of the struggle that some of the veterans across our nation have and do our best as a country to stop this. It's embarrassing, right, as a country as powerful and as rich as ourselves that we have veterans that on occasion get used as politics pawns and that are left behind in the process of achieving the American dream.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Um, is it embarrassing for the veterans themselves? And I'm trying to understand the psychology of this. You serve your country, you do tours, you come back and you end up in a food line or struggling. Do they struggle reaching out for help?
WHALEY: Oh, absolutely. Veterans are wonderful about helping other people and they're great about helping other veterans. What they kind of fall short on is sometimes helping themselves.
So to your point, going to a food bank or going to a church food bank or something like that is difficult for them, right? They have great pride in their service. America has great pride in the service of our members in the military across our nation. So, of course, they feel reluctant to do that and ask for help, but it's important for organizations like ourselves to bring awareness to it and there is wonderful veteran support organizations across our country that are helping veterans.
And, you know, it -- obviously, it's just a portion of our population. Most veterans do very well. They go into our community. They're coaches, they're lawyers, they're doctors, businessmen. But we're still leaving some of our brothers and sisters behind and we don't like that, and we're doing our best to bring awareness to that and try to fix it.
CORNISH: OK.
Jim Whaley, thank you so much for speaking with us.
WHALEY: My pleasure.
CORNISH: And straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING we've just learned that FBI officials will have an update on that National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C. That's going to be in the 9:00 hour. Stick with CNN for the latest information.
Plus, the death toll rises. Rescues are ongoing at multiple Hong Kong high-rises as crews try to put out this devastating fire that is still smoldering a day later.
(COMMERCIAL)
[07:36:55]
CORNISH: Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. I want to thank you for joining me on CNN THIS MORNING. It's half past the hour. Here is what's happening right now.
This morning at 9:00 a.m., the FBI will give an update on the two National Guard members shot just blocks from the White House yesterday. They remain in critical condition this morning after what officials say was a targeted shooting. The suspect, who is in custody, is from Afghanistan. He came to the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome.
And rescue crews searching for hundreds of people still missing after the deadly fire that ripped through multiple high-rise apartment tower in Hong Kong. Now, that fire is still smoldering 24 hours later. Overnight, firefighters actually pulled an elderly man from the 31st floor of one of those buildings. At least 55 people have been killed. While the exact cause of the fire is unclear, three employees of a construction company were working on those towers -- well, they have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
And holiday travelers were able to avoid nasty weather heading into Thanksgiving. They might not be so lucky coming home. A storm system over the Pacific Northwest will morph into a cross-country storm. That means heavy rain and snow could impact more than 1,000 miles of the country. We're going to have more on that in a moment.
But first, this. The devastating California wildfires earlier this year left many families struggling. But one group has been helping moms who lost everything with basic supplies for their kids, and CNN's Julia Vargas Jones has their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): As the Palisades Fire ravaged through her neighborhood, Jen says she and her three daughters had just minutes to escape the devastating flames.
JEN, LOST HOME IN PALISADES FIRE: We left and then the next day we found out that our home was gone.
JONES (voiceover): In the harrowing days that followed, Jen turned to Baby2Baby, a nonprofit that provides essentials to children, often in times of need.
JEN: They offered help without me having to ask and retained my dignity.
JONES (voiceover): Baby2Baby has responded to more than 100 disasters, providing relief to children and moms nationwide.
KELLY SAWYER PATRICOF, CO-CEO, BABY2BABY: We've distributed half a billion basic essentials to children in need across the country.
JONES (voiceover): When families are left with nothing, Baby2Baby's fire relief and disaster relief bundles help them get back on their feet, packed by volunteers with essentials like clothes, toys, and even a handwritten note.
MICHELLE MONAGHAN, ACTRESS AND BABY2BABY "ANGEL": There's schools that come here. There's businesses. There's church groups.
JONES (voiceover): They are supported by a variety of people, including "WHITE LOTUS" star Michelle Monaghan.
JONES: When you became a new mom --
MONAGHAN: Yes.
JONES: -- what were some things that you were surprised that were so important that you didn't know before?
[07:40:00]
MONAGHAN: It's a universal theme for all new moms. It's overwhelming becoming a new mom physically, mentally, emotionally. What I, in particular, love about these newborn kits -- these maternal health kits now that Baby2Baby is providing is that it is giving support of the very things that we need. Just the very basic essentials.
PATRICOF: It's postpartum care, educational resources, breastfeeding supplies, diapers and hygiene items for the baby.
NORAH WEINSTEIN, CO-CEO, BABY2BABY: So we always are trying to remember that while there's such a link between the baby and mom, we need to take care of the mom and her mental health in order to support the baby.
JONES (voiceover): But for families like Jen's what matters most is the human connection that comes with every box.
JEN: I have so much gratitude. I -- it's such a humbling experience to go from being the ones to help others and then to have to show up and ask for help for not only yourself but your whole family. I am forever grateful to Baby2Baby.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CORNISH: OK. And we're continuing to follow the latest on the tragic shooting of two National Guard members here in Washington, D.C. They remain in critical condition this morning.
Now, CNN spoke with one man who actually witnessed the aftermath of the shooting, which happened just blocks from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PATRICK, WITNESSED SHOOTING OF NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS: I popped out and just saw -- just saw shattered glass everywhere from the bus stop. I saw one person lying on the ground. My attention was fixed to the National Guard who is laying down on the ground bleeding from his head, unfortunately. So very, very traumatic to see. Um, he seemed conscious and, you know, like he was moving his arms around and talking to the MPD officer who was there assisting him.
But -- and then what caught my eye next was to the right of him there was another I assume National Guard -- I saw the boots and the pants -- and they were administering CPR to him. So that's when I knew, like, this was serious. I mean, it really scared me when I saw the National Guard emblem on the back of -- on his -- on the back of him when he was hunched over to the side.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So the Army Secretary also announced on social media he has visited those two Guard members in the hospital, saying, "My heart breaks for them, their families, and those impacted by the horrific attack in our nation's capital."
And we are expecting an update from the FBI, which is investigating this, this morning at 9:00.
And new today, security now boosted at Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York because of this shooting in D.C. The NYPD says that there are no credible threats to the big event.
CNN's Leigh Waldman has a look now at how the police there are actually preparing to keep the parade crowd safe.
LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, and happy Thanksgiving, Audie.
We have seen NYPD all morning long up and down this parade route. They were here yesterday with canines in place making sure that the thousands of people who are here in the city watching the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are safe and secure as they take in those festivities.
Now, we know that there's a lot about security on people's mind given what happened in Washington, D.C. yesterday, but the NYPD police commissioner says that there is no known connection between what happened there and the city here.
Meanwhile, people here have been lining up since about 4:00 a.m. trying to secure their spot. And you can see some of those crowds here ready to take in the magic and wonder of the parade.
We've got several birthdays -- people celebrating here who are front row, hoping to see some of their tried and true favorite balloons and floats, along with some of the new faces that have been unveiled, like Buzz Lightyear, Mario, and also Pacman. If you're a Labubu fan -- that craze that has taken over this past year -- we're going to see giant Labubus making their way down the streets of New York. It's going to be absolutely incredible.
Months and months of work goes into making sure that all of these balloons are in prime condition ready to delight the people here, but also everyone who is watching at home, Audie.
CORNISH: OK. That's Leigh Waldman. Thanks.
All right. What would Thanksgiving Day be without a turkey trot to kick off the holiday? We're going to go to Atlanta because we're just moments away from the start of the Thanksgiving Day half-marathon. So will the cold temperatures be a welcome change for the runners?
We're going to ask our very own meteorologist Derek Van Dam who is also a runner and is in the race. I don't want to interrupt you here, Derek, but can you tell us if this is good running weather?
[07:45:00]
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Oh, it's absolutely freezing. I've got every single piece of gear on. And look, everyone is pushing towards the front of the start line, which is right behind me here. People are getting amped up -- you hear the crowd -- because we're just minutes away from the start of this Atlanta half-marathon. We've already sung the National Anthem. The vibes are high. The weather is freezing but everybody's excited to be on the road because the sun is going to make the big difference here.
But yeah, this meteorologist is working for his turkey and gravy this morning, Audie, and I'm just so amped to be here and being able to show this. Do you hear that? Apparently, it's start time.
CORNISH: Derek, you need to start running.
VAN DAM: It's go time. Audie --
CORNISH: Yeah.
VAN DAM: -- can I take you along on this --
CORNISH: Yeah, please do. It's the closest I'm going to get to running.
VAN DAM: We're doing something I think --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shout out to Charlie.
VAN DAM: This is something I don't think we've ever been able to do before.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, let's go, let's go.
VAN DAM: Here it goes. This is the start line.
CORNISH: OK. Go, Derek.
VAN DAM: Vibes are high. Look at the American flags -- they're blowing. That means that the windchill here is nasty. OK, starting the race and feeling strong and excited to be doing something I've never done before in my career. And hopefully my arm doesn't get too tired from holding the camera and hopefully this shot is steady enough for television, Audie.
CORNISH: Yeah. Well, I mean, now we're speaking to you as a runner -- a southern runner who is complaining about the cold. Can you talk about the conditions here?
VAN DAM: Well, OK. So the cold is taking my breath away, so I'm more concerned about not being able to talk properly in about 20 minutes time (audio gap).
CORNISH: Oh. It looks like we're --
VAN DAM: I've got to conserve my energy, Audie. That's the real important part here.
CORNISH: All right, Derek. We've got to leave you; otherwise I'm going to see you at the very back of the pack and I'll feel bad about that. So we're going to hear from Derek later.
And if you missed any of that conversation or, frankly, any part of the show, check in with us later. We're a podcast. Just scan the QR code now to find it. CNN THIS MORNING is available anywhere that you get your podcasts.
And next on CNN THIS MORNING, when it comes to preparing your Thanksgiving meal, what should you do if you, you know, didn't prepare for your Thanksgiving meal? We're getting a Butterball expert on the line just for you.
Plus, do you add marshmallows to your sweet potato casserole? Is it stuffing or dressing? We've got all our Thanksgiving traditions. We're going to quiz the group chat next.
(COMMERCIAL)
[07:51:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I forgot to take my turkey out of the freezer and I'm hosting Thanksgiving. This is a 24-pound turkey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: OK. So let's say you've got a frozen turkey this morning. Honestly, you might be in trouble. But the good news is that Butterball's iconic Turkey Talk-Line has been open for its 44th year and clearly, for good reason. One in five hosts say they're actually intimidated by the idea of cooking a turkey. And, of course, we've all seen images of turkeys being, like, overcooked and then other ones that are trying to catch fire because you all think you can deep fry. Please don't.
But to help you feel more confident, Butterball has released a pair of Thanksgiving pants that feature utensil pockets, among other things, to help you be the host with the most.
We're going to talk about that and more in a moment but first, I want to talk about this with Bill Nolan. He's the supervisor of the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. Good morning, Bill. Thanks for being with us.
BILL NOLAN, SUPERVISOR, BUTTERBALL TURKEY TALK-LINE (via Webex by Cisco): Good morning, Audie. Thanks for having me and happy Thanksgiving.
CORNISH: Happy Thanksgiving.
So I assume this is kind of your Super Bowl. You have been -- you're the supervisor there. What kinds of things do people call and ask about the day of?
NOLAN: You know, this is our Super Bowl and we look forward to it all year long. We give up our Thanksgiving to talk to our customers. We've got a staff of 52 people here answering phone calls, answering texts, answering emails, answering -- chatting with people.
And historically, the number one question we've always gotten from the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is how to thaw your turkey. At this point, it's the day of so if somebody has not thawed their turkey -- and we will, believe it or not, get people that forgot to thaw it. Maybe had to run out at the last minute and get a frozen turkey.
We have a cold water method of thawing a turkey, which will expedite the process, and you can actually thaw a large turkey in several hours. It's about one pound every 30 minutes in cold water. So if you get it in early in the morning you can still have turkey this afternoon. Butterball.com has plenty of times as far as plugging it in in our turkey calculator.
CORNISH: Yeah.
NOLAN: How long it would take to thaw. But give us a call and we're happy to talk to you.
CORNISH: Um, I'm wondering about the merch because these pants have pockets. But my real question was are they flammable? Because I feel like the thing I see on social media are those people who try and deep fry and get themselves into trouble.
NOLAN: Yeah, they are not flammable. You know, the pants were a big, big hit with us this year -- the Thanksgiving hosting pants -- and they're really unique, you know. Because I'm a chef by trade and I know that when I'm in the kitchen cooking if I have my chef pants on and a chef's coat, I tend to actually cook a little bit better, believe it or not. I mean, you feel like, you know, you're dressed for success.
And the holiday host -- or the Thanksgiving hosting pants were really a big hit with the pockets for utensils and with the turkey print on the -- on the fabric and everything. And very, very popular for us this year. CORNISH: Uh, one more thing I want to ask you. Thanksgiving is a strange meal because it's very high-stakes and yet, you're cooking something that most people don't cook the rest of the -- like, the whole rest of the year. And then also, like, people are trying to talk to you at the same time. There's multiple courses.
I mean, do you just deal with people on the line who are just freaked out? Like, is there an emotional component to the hotline?
NOLAN: There is a huge emotional component to the -- to the Talk-Line this time of year, especially today. Because you're right -- we've all hosted before. When I hosted my house for some reason everybody needs to be in the kitchen. And I am fine with people in the kitchen with me when I'm at home but, you know, you've got to move around.
But that's why we're here, you know, at the Butterball Turkey Talk- Line. People call us up and a lot of times it's a panic, you know. What am I going to do? There's too many people there.
[07:55:00]
The turkey -- and you say people don't do it all the time, but a turkey is the most simple thing in the world to cook. We say a pan for a flat rack, 325 degrees. Brush the turkey with oil. Into the oven. It's going to take you anywhere for a 14-pound turkey about three hours to cook it.
We have those charts available on Butterball.com and you can call us at 1-800-BUTTERBALL. We can tell you cooking time. But it's very -- the most important thing though is take the temperature of the turkey to determine doneness as well as best eating quality. In the breast, 170 degrees; in the thigh down below the leg, 170 degrees.
People will say my turkey is dry. I've had this is media interviews before -- you know, why is my turkey dry? Because you probably overcooked it.
CORNISH: OK. Bill Nolan with advice, emotional support, pants. I appreciate it, Bill. Thank you so much. Good luck with the calls today.
NOLAN: Thank you for having me. Happy Thanksgiving.
CORNISH: So the turkey may be the star of the show, but we all have our Thanksgiving traditions. Some are starting the morning by burning off a few calories before the big feast with a turkey trot. Many are looking forward to a day of football in front of the TV. There are three NFL games scheduled to kick off.
And then there's the great debate over side dishes. So do you say stuffing or dressing? I'm turning it to the panel. There are other questions about the sweet potato casserole, the marshmallows or not the marshmallows.
BRYAN LANZA, SENIOR ADVISER, TRUMP 2024 CAMPAIGN: All these decisions.
CORNISH: Yeah. Tell me.
LANZA: Look, I'm from the West.
CORNISH: I think it's regional. Yeah, you're from California.
LANZA: Well, it's always been stuffing. Yeah. I didn't find out what dressing was until I moved to the East Coast. It's always been stuffing.
CORNISH: OK. Anybody else? I had a thesis that it's stuffing in the bird, dressing out of the bird? It's a compromise.
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I usually call it stuffing. I've -- yeah, either way, it's stuffing.
CORNISH: Don't act like I'm crazy. I had southerners here the other day and they took me to task.
The other thing is pies. In my household --
LANZA: Yeah.
CORNISH: -- there's a lot of piemakers and some of them are really into their pumpkin and sweet potato pies. And I'm like, please, just make apple. I'm sorry, honey. Just make apple. And I'm wondering for you guys what's your preferred desserts.
LEIGHTON: Pecan.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Yeah.
CORNISH: And you say pecan. I hear you. What else?
COLLINSON: Oh, I'm good for apple. I'm not a big fan of pumpkin pie.
CORNISH: Really?
COLLINSON: We'll serve it, but I don't really like it.
CORNISH: You're the person who just quietly moves --
COLLINSON: Yeah. I've gone to the cheese plate.
MEGHAN HAYS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST, FORMER WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF MESSAGE PLANNING, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION CONSULTANT: Yeah, we have apple pie.
LANZA: Yeah. Look, my wife -- like, she makes an amazing pecan pie. So I'm very happy with that.
CORNISH: Nice.
Can I ask what your traditions are day after? I know one of the things I think about is, like, it feels like a day to take a beat, take a breath, talk about what you're grateful for, but really spend time with family. And sometimes that is -- it's like sports versus the movie versus just sitting around.
What do you -- do you have any traditions?
LEIGHTON: You know, I think the biggest tradition is take the leftovers and make sandwiches out of them.
CORNISH: Oh, really?
LEIGHTON: Yeah.
CORNISH: Yeah.
LEIGHTON: That's a -- you know, do that and sit around and talk, and enjoy each other's company, especially if it's been a while since you've seen somebody that's part of your family or your circle of friends. And that's kind of what we do.
CORNISH: Yeah.
How do you guys spend your weekend -- Thanksgiving weekend?
HAYS: When I was younger in high school my mom and I would get up and go to the mall at 6:00 a.m. for Black Friday. It was just so fun to do. And then we'd come home and we'd make leftovers, and we'd sit with the family and do those sorts of things. So that's what we used to do growing up.
LANZA: Yeah. We shop -- you know, online shopping. My wife's -- we're pretty good at that. And then we eat leftovers. We use the waffle maker --
LEIGHTON: I do.
LANZA: -- and put some of the stuffing in it and just do things a little bit different. But yeah --
CORNISH: I'm sorry, waffles and stuffing? Say more.
LANZA: Oh yeah. We use the waffle press machine to put the stuffing in there --
CORNISH: Um-hum.
LANZA: -- and cook it there. So that becomes sort of the bread for the rest of the day. It's delicious.
CORNISH: I just learned something. Look at your face. You're like I want to try that.
COLLINSON: That's my new Thanksgiving.
CORNISH: Yeah.
You guys, we're almost at the end of the show. I do want to ask you about your group chats because things get -- feel quite towards the end of the week. But when we come back it's kind of off to the races again. What are people talking about in your world?
LEIGHTON: So in my world they're talking about the 250th anniversary of the United States coming up.
CORNISH: This early? It's next year.
LEIGHTON: Right. But Ken Burns had his documentary and --
CORNISH: Oh, right.
LEIGHTON: -- that documentary kind of propelled -- you know, coming from a family of historians, that was kind of the thing that --
CORNISH: There.
LEIGHTON: -- propelled us in that direction.
CORNISH: Yeah.
Stephen, you?
COLLINSON: I got a lot of support this weekend. Caps hockey tomorrow. The Caps against the Leafs.
CORNISH: Of course.
COLLINSON: Go, Leafs! College football. A big weekend in college football.
CORNISH: Yeah. So that's the -- that's the group chat.
COLLINSON: That's what we're chatting about, yeah.
CORNISH: A bunch of hockey stick emojis. OK.
It's really not fair. You're in the same chat.
HAYS: So we -- well, I have a different chat. What's rocked the political operatives and the political media world is the Ryan Lizza and Olivia Nuzzi chat that seems to be unfolding with all these different parts happening and --
CORNISH: This big breakup of a media power couple which hinged on an alleged affair with RFK.
HAYS: Most are alleged affairs --
CORNISH: Yeah.
HAYS: -- happening and the journalistic ethics that's happening is the latest instalment from Ryan Lizza. But people don't seem to be paying for his Substack, so that's also part of this. It's just that is dominating every single of my group chats.
CORNISH: In the group chats.
A few seconds for you, Bryan.
LANZA: Yeah. Mine is boring. Banning pickleball. Apparently, it's getting too loud in neighborhoods.
CORNISH: We shouldn't have buried that.
LANZA: Yeah.
CORNISH: OK, yeah.
[08:00:00]
LANZA: You have cities across the country that are now starting to ban pickleball because it's getting very loud. California is the first one. They're now starting to put noise reduction machines at the pickleball courts because the rackets hitting the balls is getting too loud. Carmel by the Sea is banning it. Let's ban pickleball.
CORNISH: Well, I'm also scared of pickleball people so I'm glad you told me that. I'm ahead of the game.
You guys, thanks so much for talking with me. We had a real mix of news today.
Thank you for being with us. Please know that CNN's "THANKSGIVING IN AMERICA" special is up next.
