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Senate Dems To Block Data Center Bill They Say Has No Teeth; Trump: "Data Centers Are Going To Be Very Popular"; Could Democrats Win S.C. Senate Seat For First Time Since 1998?; Passengers Arrive In Israel After Violent Incident & Diversion; Flight Dropped 17,400 Feet In Just Two Minutes. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired September 30, 2026 - 12:00   ET

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

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DANA BASH, CNN HOST, INSIDE POLITICS: Campaign politics collides with the Senate vote on an issue both parties say they want to fix.

I'm Dana Bash. Let's go behind the headlines at Inside Politics.

There are 34 days until the election, and we are tracking the races, candidates, and stories that could shift the balance of power in Washington and across the country. Here's what's on our midterm radar. First up, a Democratic edge in the crucial Michigan Senate race. A new Marist Poll out today shows Abdul El-Sayed with a seven-point lead over Republican Mike Rogers among registered voters, and for many in the Wolverine state, the choice is about someone who isn't on the ballot. When asked what their vote for Congress is mostly about, 42 percent of Michigan voters say it's against President Trump, while just 20 percent say it's for him.

And now to new audio obtained by the New York Times, capturing the Texas Republican Senate nominee's blunt take on President Trump's midterm convention in his state. It starts with someone asking Ken Paxton at a private fundraiser whether he is a little bit of a drag. Although, it's not clear from the audio who he refers to, Ken Paxton says this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEN PAXTON, (R) TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE (voiceover): So, to be honest with you, the numbers -- when we did that convention, it dropped our numbers. Everybody's numbers dropped. Right now, yeah, not good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: The Paxton campaign says this is more manipulated nonsense from the New York Times to create a story that doesn't exist. And in just a few hours, President Trump will unveil a massive foreign investment that happens to be in a crucial Senate battleground state. South Korea will invest $200 billion in the U.S. starting with 54 billion on an Alaskan pipeline project. Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, who's in an incredibly tight race against Democrat Mary Peltola, will be at the White House for the president's announcement.

And Senate Democrats are poised to block a new bill on data center costs that more -- that passed more than unbelievably unanimously, almost unanimously, I should say, in the House. Top Senate Democrats say the bill is too weak and requires regulators to only quote, consider new protections. But perhaps there's a little bit more going on here. It is sponsored by Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted, who polls show is losing to Democrat Sherrod Brown.

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SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Republicans' toothless data center bill completely misses the mark.

SEN. JON HUSTED (R-OH): Together, we can send this bill to the president's desk for his signature today and prove to the American people we heard them that we're doing something to actually help lower their prices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Sherrod Brown has made data centers a top issue in the campaign. I'm joined by a terrific group of reporters to talk more about this. There's Inside Politics, and then there is Inside Politics. Abby Livingston, I'm going to start with you, and I mentioned the House vote, and I just want to show what we're talking about. This is a bill again that Jon Husted in the Senate is a sponsor of. It passed 417 to three. That's like nothing passes by that kind of huge margin.

There are only three Democrats who voted no. But the reason is because it is such a hugely divisive and, frankly, nonpartisan issue to try to do something about the various issues that voters have with data centers. This, in particular, deals with energy and energy costs. And what Democrats now are saying, Abby, is that well, it's just a baby step. It doesn't go too far -- go far enough. But Chuck Schumer has his eye on the prize, and the prize for him is getting the majority back in November's elections, and he just simply doesn't want to hand Jon Husted a win on an issue that they are hitting him the most on in Ohio, and this is the ultimate inside outside game.

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ABBY LIVINGSTON, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, PUCK: Absolutely, and Chuck Schumer has certainly won a lot of Senate seats over the years, and it certainly benefits to have -- this as an outstanding issue for Democrats because even though Democrats are empowered in the Senate because of the rules, they're really not responsible for a lot of what's happening out there. I don't think it was a coincidence that Husted is the name on the bill that's supposed to help him.

But as much as this issue is outstanding -- and just one other thing, I had sources, Republican sources, tell me that meeting in Washington right now is just so counterproductive for Republicans because it just shows they're not being able to get things done, and so this really is a conundrum for Republicans. BASH: And Adam, I just want to kind of explain just how big of an issue this is, particularly in this Ohio Senate race, which we're talking about for lots of reasons, not the least of which it is one of those key important Democratic pickups. If they have any chance of winning back the majority in the Senate. Let's watch some of Sherrod Brown's ads against the incumbent Republican senator.

(PLAYING VIDEO)

BASH: So, you know, it's kind of campaign/election year 101. If you're John Thune and you know that he's in trouble, you give him a bill that passed overwhelmingly in the House, as I showed. Put his name on it so he can go home and say, well, at least I'm trying. I'm fighting for you in Washington, and look, what I just did.

ADAM WREN, CO-AUTHOR, POLITICO PLAYBOOK: Yeah, Dana. And if this doesn't pass, he can go back home and say, you know, Democrats stop this from happening. Look, you know, victory has a thousand fathers, and defeat is an orphan. But the truth is, a number of politicians across the aisle back data centers when they seem like a good way to champion economic development. Sherrod Brown among them.

You look at neighboring Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, also championed data centers before, you know, signing restrictions on them and stopping development. And so, this is sort of a shared defeat here across the board at a time when AI and data centers are increasingly unpopular among voters. So really, this is sort of the last best shot that Husted has going down a home stretch in a race that, you know, MAGA Inc. insiders have told me, you know, they've been long concerned about Husted and his team whether he can get across the finish line in November.

BASH: Well, let's just show a poll, recent poll. This is Marist, very recent, and it does show -- Seema, I'm going to come to you. Sherrod Brown with 51 percent of support, Jon Husted 43 percent. Again, Sherrod Brown is trying to get his -- or an old seat back, trying to get back to the Senate. Jon Husted was appointed to fill J.D. Vance's seat, and he wants a full term.

SEEMA MEHTA, POLITICS REPORTER, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: Right. And I mean, I think this just shows like where we are with the Senate race or in control of the Senate right now. Because six months or a year ago, I think Democrats were kind of optimistic that maybe they could retake the House, but people really weren't talking about the Senate being in play, and now they really are.

So, and this will determine the final two years of President Trump's term, you know, who has control of that body as well as the House. And I just think it shows the stakes in the race. And you know, in terms of the bill, you know, the question is, is it just Democrats, you know, saying that it's toothless, or is it, you know, part of the broader strategy, really of trying to help them regain control in the Senate.

BASH: And as they have been, they are up against -- they, the Republicans in trying to sort of shape the narrative, maybe even pass legislation that helps bolster that. They're up against the president of the United States, who, of course, we talked about yesterday, had this big AI summit at the White House. Abby, here's a little bit of what the president said about data centers.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You're going to see data centers are going to be very popular because this is the group, and they're the ones that want, and they're also the ones that want to see communities that are safe and happy, and they're going to make communities very, very happy. Otherwise, they'll be forced to go overseas or other locations.

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BASH: Abby?

LIVINGSTON: This is just another example of the president messaging things that are not popular with the voters, and it is really putting Republicans down ballot in a bind. And on top of this, the AI database center issue has moved so fast that the Congress hasn't been able to react quickly because Congress never reacts quickly, and they are absolutely running out of time to counter this messaging.

BASH: All right, everybody, stand by. Up next, Democrats have not won a South Carolina Senate seat this century. I'll speak with Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who is running for Senate, who thinks she can change that this year. And later, last call at a West Hollywood bar and restaurant.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just becoming increasingly tough to operate in this state and in this city, so we decided to close.

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BASH: A closer look at how California's economy will factor into tonight's CNN governor's debate. Stay with us.

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BASH: A sign of the times for Republicans. South Carolina's Senate race is on the battleground mat. Just last week, the Cook Political Report moved it from solid Republican to likely Republican. It's a race between Republican Senator Darline Graham, who replaced her brother Lindsey after his sudden death, and Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician.

Dr. Andrews joins us now. Thank you so much for being here. The last time Democrats thought they could make South Carolina a battleground was 2020. The candidate was Jaime Harrison. He spent $130 million in a state where Democrats hadn't cracked 40 percent since 2008. In the end, he got less than 45 percent of the vote. What makes you confident your candidacy is different?

ANNIE ANDREWS, (D) SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE CANDIDATE: Well, I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for having me. 2026 is a different political environment than 2020. Folks in every corner of South Carolina are feeling the impacts of policy decisions that are being made by a broken Washington machine. You know, I've been in every corner of the state, talking to voters about their concerns, about expensive healthcare that is difficult to access. There concerns about record high gas and diesel prices, and this election is about much more than political party. It's really about paying your bills, and our message is resonating.

You know, I come at politics from a totally different perspective. I've been a practicing pediatrician for 20 years. I'm a proud mom of three public school kids, and I'm in this race to be an independent voice for South Carolina and to go up to Washington D.C. roll up my sleeves, work across the aisle to solve these problems.

BASH: Your opponent, as you know, is using some of your past videos from as recently as 2024, just two years ago, to brand you as woke and extreme. Here's just one example.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I talk about the problem with white women because number one, I am a white woman, therefore I feel comfortable talking to my fellow white women. And number two, electorally we are the problem. So how do I know there's a problem with white women? I didn't just invent this. I'm also not the only person talking about this, but the problem is clear, and the data don't lie. In 2016, 47 percent of white women voted against a white woman for president and instead voted for Donald Trump.

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BASH: South Carolina is almost 70 percent white and majority women. Is that a winning message?

ANDREWS: You know that video is in response to what happens when we elect people who have no problem infringing on women's access to reproductive freedom, reproductive healthcare. That video is about a frustration that I believe that women need to band together and work to elect leaders who are willing to protect our right to reproductive healthcare, who are willing to fight for policies that help hardworking moms across South Carolina, single moms that help work to lower childcare prices, lower healthcare prices, lower grocery prices.

I have three growing children, and my grocery bill keeps getting higher and higher and higher. So that video is about looking at candidates and evaluating not based on party, but based on what policies they support and how those policies will affect our lives. BASH: How does your race not against Lindsey Graham, who passed away, but against his sister, a white woman who has very different policies and prescriptions, even and especially on the issue of abortion, as you mentioned. In a conservative state, how does that change, how you're approaching this, and does it give you more of a challenge in getting that message that you just talked about across?

ANDREWS: So, I think the biggest difference between my opponent Darline Graham and I are -- that I am running to be an independent voice for South Carolina. I plan to work across the aisle, which is where I believe all the effective governing happens. Darline was anointed to this seat. Appointed to this seat. She was handpicked by the same broken Washington politics that got us here in the first place. It is very clear to me that she considers her job to read their scripts.

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Just this morning, I was on the docks here in the Lowcountry, talking to small business owners of Tarvin Seafood, the shrimping company, about the impact of record high diesel prices on their business that already has razor thin margins. And everywhere I go, I'm asking folks if they've heard from their senator and they haven't, because I am everywhere and Darline Graham is nowhere.

And I truly believe, based on the energy that's on the ground here in South Carolina, that we are building a coalition to win on November 3. This campaign is not just for Democrats, it's for Democrats and Independents and Republicans like my own dad who feel left behind by the current iteration of their party. And this campaign is about solving the problems like high gas prices, grocery prices, healthcare prices, housing prices that folks in South Carolina are facing. And all we're getting from interim Senator Darline Graham is her reading her scripts that have been written by people in Washington D.C. who have no idea what people in South Carolina are facing.

BASH: Dr. Andrews, I'm so sorry to do this. I'm going to ask you just to stand by because we have some breaking news out of Israel. The passengers who were on board that Flydubai air flight, which was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia, have finally de boarded. They're coming off the plane in Tel Aviv. Passengers seized control of the plane after a bloody attack unfolded inside the cockpit of this commercial flight in the Middle East. The aircraft dropped a terrifying 17,000 feet in just two minutes, as the flight traveled from Dubai before its emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

I want to get to Jeremy Diamond, who I believe is there, and also CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas, who's joining us as well. Alex. I'm actually going to start with you. This is quite a moment. Alex, can you hear me?

ALEX PLITSAS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I can't hear you. Can you hear me?

BASH: OK. Yes. I was just explaining to our viewers what's going on, and the video that we're looking at is in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. And we started to see some of the passengers coming off of this terrifying flight, deplaning and obviously getting to hug their loved ones.

PLITSAS: Yeah, it's quite a moment. I mean, it's not the first time there's been an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where the Saudi authorities have sort of helped while they're on the ground, but it's the first time it's been under the pretenses of a potential terrorist attack. And so that's what this is being investigated as and what it looks like at the moment. But what's not clear is the motive and whether or not this was a lone wolf or whether this has a plot or nexus to a larger terrorist organization or state sponsor and that's what authorities are going to be investigating at this time.

BASH: And just to update our viewers on what actually happened. The plane issued a distress call at 8:31 a.m. local time, and the flight squawked code 7500, which signals aircraft hijacking. And as I mentioned, it was diverted. It was headed to Tel Aviv. It was diverted to Saudi Arabia, and the attempted hijacker at the aircraft was its co-pilot. That's according to Israeli officials.

One official told CNN the co-pilot was an Omani national. The captain and the co-pilot were injured and taken to the hospital. When you're watching this, and again, there is a lot we don't know, but we do know how terrifying it was for these passengers. What happens next in the short term for the people who are on the plane?

PLITSAS: So, in the short term for the people that are on the plane, they'll be immediately given medical screening to deal with any injuries that may have occurred as a result of it, or stress that could have caused cardiac issues or whatnot. Once they're stabilized, they will begin to be debriefed by Israeli authorities on the ground and investigators, particularly because the passengers actively intervened in the situation in what is truly a remarkable incident.

And thank God that there were no deaths that have occurred as a result of this. Post 9/11, all the cockpit doors are close from the interior and lock, so somehow the door was open. So, whether that was the pilot or someone else is unclear. If he let the passengers in to assist along with crew, who then not only subdued the co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot.

But then there were additional pilots who were on that aircraft but were in the passenger seats at the time, who were transiting, who then were able to step in and help fly the aircraft, even with a broken rudder, given how quickly it had descended, it actually broke the rudder on the aircraft. So, altogether truly remarkable, and the civilians played a huge role and they're going to be part of this debrief right now on the ground in Israel.

BASH: I mean, if this was a Hollywood script, it could be rejected as just too unbelievable, but it -- but it happened. And again, the -- it is still unfolding. Exactly what happened and specifically what the motive was. Again, Israeli sources said they suspect the co-pilot of the plane was trying to hijack it. It's not clear whether the intention would have been to crash the plane or land it and take hostages. [12:25:00]

We're obviously still waiting to get that information. I should tell you that Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin just spoke to reporters and said there's no threat to the United States. Tell us how American officials are responding right now behind the scenes to what happened.

PLITSAS: Especially, because the total nexus of the incident isn't completely loaned, is it part of a wider plot. We know that there are, you know, global incidents going on. At the same time that we're -- you know, we're talking about this story. The U.K. prime minister, you know, just spoke and basically said Iran may be linked to the attack on the base -- the foiled attack on the base in the U.K.

So, there's already been state-sponsored stuff nationwide -- excuse me, internationally that that could be linked to Iran. So, the authorities are going to try to rule that stuff out. But until that happens, the U.S. and other countries will then increase security behind the scenes for flights in and out of specific countries. Potentially more air marshals on board. You know, they'll take steps to respond to this, particularly since the breadth of this is really unknown at this point.

BASH: OK, stand by, please. I want to bring in CNN's Eleni Giokos, who has been tracking the story all morning. Eleni, what are you hearing from your sources about what went down on this terrifying flight?

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. I mean, to be honest with you, Dana, I mean, we've -- most of the information that we've gotten today about what transpired on that aircraft from Israeli sources, from Israeli officials. Flydubai, a short time ago released the second statement of the day, and they confirmed finally that there was an altercation. And also said that two Flydubai staff were able to stabilize the plane and then landed safely in Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

They also said that everyone was safe and uninjured. Very important to note that they've also sent a plane to Tabuk. You can see these live images of passengers finally landing in Israel at Ben Gurion Airport. And also, very notable. There's a lot of children on board this flight. When we heard the story early this morning and we just heard the timeline of this and the drop of 17,400 feet in two minutes.

You know, we spoke to aviation experts, and they were just really shocked at firstly just the decline in those two minutes. What that meant in terms of G-Force for the people on board, and then obviously for the frame of the plane as well. This could have ended an enormous tragedy, and really happy to see, you know, people finally landing in Israel. And importantly, while the investigation is happening on the sideline.

BASH: Eleni, I was thinking exactly what you said as I was looking at these pictures. The children, for anybody, it's terrifying. But you know, as a parent, can't even imagine what that was like. The G Force, as you were talking about for kids on board. Is there anything more you can tell us based on your reporting about what happened on the plane, the involvement of any of the passengers in preventing whatever it was that this co-pilot had intended.

GIOKOS: Yeah. So, we're starting to get more and more accounts of passengers' experience. And we heard that there were large sounds and screams that were coming through from the cockpits. The cockpit then opens, and this is when, you know, passengers described, you know, blood everywhere. The co-pilot had attempted to stab the pilot, and then the passengers intervened with the assistance of the staff on board.

So clearly, a very harrowing scenario that plays out here. And you know, then clearly trying to stabilize the plane. That's the other big question. Why wasn't the plane in autopilot? I spoke to an aviation expert that says that because it's Saudi Arabia and airspace is very tentative there. There's a lot of tension with the Yemeni Houthis that are Iranian-backed proxy. That sometimes autopilot is turned off so that pilots are able to take control of the plane. We don't know if it was done deliberately. That's sort of one scenario. Was it done deliberately to crash the plane?

We know Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that that this is what they're investigating. That the co-pilots had tried to crash the plane after the stabbing incident. And then importantly, some of the accounts from the passengers in terms of how they were able to take control to ensure safe landing, after the emergency signals had, you know, sent out sort of red signals across the region, where the Israeli prime minister then gets into a cabinet meeting with security forces, Israeli fighter jets, you know, scramble to see what they could do on that front.

We initially thought it was a hijacking, then we heard it was a violence altercation. Now Israeli officials are saying this could have been a terror attack, but Flydubai has been very explicit in saying, we should not speculate the motives and the reasons for this while the investigation is underway.

BASH: OK, Eleni, thank you so much. And we are going to take a pause, take a quick break as we get more information as these passengers continue to get off that plane after a absolutely horrific

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