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Inside Politics

Passengers Arrive in Israel After Violent Incident & Diversion; Cook Political Report Moves South Carolina Onto Battleground Map; New Pro-Sullivan Ad Attacks Peltola for NYT Story Allegations; Candidates Tout Efforts to End Congressional Stock Trading; North Carolina Toss- Up District Candidates Focus on Personal Stories. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired September 30, 2026 - 12:30   ET

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

[12:30:00]

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: -- and the reasons for this while the investigation is underway.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT AND ANCHOR OF 'INSIDE POLITICS': 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 an absolutely horrific -- horrifying experience, and really a miracle that they are getting off that plane. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: I'm rejoined now by Democratic Senate candidate for South Carolina, Dr. Annie Andrews.

[12:35:00]

Thank you so much for your patience. I really appreciate you understanding. Before we went to the Breaking News out of Israel, we were talking about the kind of state of play in South Carolina, and you were making the argument that you were running on issues of affordability that don't have a party, and that there are enough people who are upset about that that they might turn to you despite the fact that South Carolina is very much historically a red state.

I want to push back just on some of that, because you also have the incumbent Senator, Darline Graham, and President Trump calling some of your key policy positions radical and too far left. For example, they point to support that you've had for non-surgical gender-affirming care for minors, your support for abortion rights as we discussed before, your support for gun safety measures like an assault weapons ban.

So the bottom line is, what do you say to South Carolina voters who might want to change and might want somebody who they think might listen to them more on affordability issues, but just think you're too liberal for them?

DR. ANNIE ANDREWS, (D) SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE CANDIDATE: So, you know, I've heard those attacks from my opponent, and I would push back and say, you know, I'm running to lower costs. I'm running to address the debt and deficit, to root out the corruption on both sides in Washington, D.C. And I would like to know what they believe is so radical about believing every county in South Carolina should have an OB/GYN? What's so radical about believing if you're a hardworking South Carolinian, you should be able to afford your grocery bill and to put food on the table and keep the lights on at the end of the month?

I know they like to focus on these, you know, so-called culture war issues, and that's because my opponent, Darline Graham, doesn't have a plan to lower gas prices or diesel prices or grocery prices. She's not out there campaigning. She's not talking to voters. She's reading the scripts written by her in Washington, D.C.

But on those specific issues, number one, I know the majority of South Carolinians understand that women deserve access to reproductive health care. I also am very confident in saying that I support the Second Amendment. I simply want fewer South Carolinians to have bullet holes in them.

And the majority of South Carolinians and Americans believe we should have universal background checks. And on the transgender issue, it is deeply disheartening to me as a pediatrician, who has stood at the bedside of a trans young person who's tried to harm themselves because their identity has been wrapped up in this political talking point. I will always fight for vulnerable South Carolinians, no matter who they are. And I'm really proud of my record.

And I'm excited to have the privilege to serve everyone in South Carolina.

BASH: As a pediatrician, you have made health care a major issue in your race. You've talked a lot about it in our conversation here today. You include in that specifically saying that RFK Jr.'s performance as HHS Secretary motivated you to run, and that you would support impeaching and removing him from office.

If Democrats win a majority, including you, how high a priority should this be in pursuing Trump officials versus some of the affordability issues that you just discussed?

ANDREWS: The affordability issues will absolutely be my priority. I believe RFK Jr. needs some level of accountability for the disinformation and lies he's been spreading that have led to a steady increase in vaccine refusal and vaccine hesitancy over my 20-year career, resulting in a measles outbreak in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

But my number one priority will be stopping the impending Medicaid budget cuts that my opponent supports. These Medicaid budget cuts will be devastating to the health care system in South Carolina. Medicaid is the largest insurer of children in my state. It funds half of our births and the majority of our nursing home beds.

So it will be my priority to stop those budget cuts because, already, we have a very broken health care system. We can't afford to bring this level of destruction to it. I will address affordability first and foremost, and worry about holding this administration accountable for their harmful policies secondarily.

BASH: Annie Andrews, thank you so much, again, for sticking with us when we went to the Breaking News. And thanks for being here. We have asked Senator Darline Graham to join us here on "Inside Politics." We hope she comes on soon.

And up next, as Xavier Becerra and Steve Hilton prepare for tonight's CNN debate, what do voters want to hear? One restaurant owner shows the real cost of California's economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM SOPIT, OWNER & OPERATOR, EMPLOYEES ONLY: Through the years, the economics of the state and the country has really changed. We've tried. It's not, like, one thing that took us out. It's just, what I like to say, death by a thousand cuts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:44:22]

BASH: The stage is set right here in Los Angeles for the California Governor's Debate, which I'll be moderating alongside Jake Tapper.

Among the Independent voters listening tonight to Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton will be restaurant owner, Tom Sopit. His business survived the pandemic, but six years later, it could not survive the current economy. CNN's Kyung Lah has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tonight is last call. Employees Only restaurant and bar.

[12:45:00]

The final pour for owner, Tom Sopit, closing after nearly 10 years in West Hollywood.

SOPIT: It's just becoming increasingly tough to operate in this state and in this city. So we decided to close.

LAH (voice-over): A bittersweet end to service after surviving the pandemic.

SOPIT: I'm concerned.

LAH (voice-over): This was so bad in March 2020. COVID-19 gripped the country. Sopit's restaurant shut down with all the others. His rent was $1,000 a day. He was completely under water.

SOPIT: All we can do is help each other. LAH: Help is what he did. Sopit's small staff prepped free meals for any worker who lost their job. For weeks, he donated food to emergency rooms across Los Angeles. He turned his parking lot into an outdoor patio, pivoting with ever-changing protocols.

LAH: How do you survive that? But you have to close now?

SOPIT: Through the years, the economics of the state and the country has really changed. We've tried. It's not, like, one thing that took us out. It's just, what I like to say, death by a thousand cuts.

Affordability has really impacted our state. The cost of goods, the cost of labor is much higher than everyone else in the country. California labor laws are really tough.

Insurance is a big part of it, with wildfires controlling the premiums and the increases. All the carriers leaving the state, and that's why it went up so quickly.

LAH: How much did the shrinking of Hollywood impact you?

SOPIT: Oh, immensely. It disappeared overnight. We're not really Hollywood anymore. All these people that used to work here, used to work in the city of Los Angeles, are now gone. All the businesses close early because there is no foot traction. It's a completely different city now.

LAH: Tell me about what you see when you drive around West Hollywood.

SOPIT: There's a lot of for-lease signs up, a lot of businesses that are shutting down, many just a few months after they open. It's really sad.

LAH (voice-over): Sopit voted for Gavin Newsom, but is today a registered Independent. He says the political system is failing people like him.

LAH: Your advice --

SOPIT: Yeah.

LAH: -- to the next governor of California?

SOPIT: My advice is focus on the issues. Focus on the real challenges. Drive up and down the street, get your hands dirty. I think you can't just keep taxing businesses and people. How are we just keep paying more taxes, but somehow the state just keeps going downhill? It doesn't make sense. There has to be some real change there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: And Kyung joins us now.

I mean, just so heartbreaking. And as you and I were talking about during the break, sadly not uncommon. So we have Steve Hilton and Xavier Becerra both chasing voters like him in tonight's debate. What do you think, just obviously being a California voter, but more importantly, talking to so many, what is the issue that you think could have the most impact on Sopit's vote?

LAH (on camera): I mean, very, very simply, it's one word. It's affordability. And here in California, we're not just talking about the price of milk or the price of gas, although it is the most expensive in the entire country, talking about structural things like being able to pay for your insurance, get daycare so you can get a job and keep that job.

Then the fees for businesses, the regulations that restrict you from being able to build stuff. All of it is just crushing. And we're not talking about Sopit trying to be rich. He was trying to break even for a solid year and could not do it. So he has to pull the eject button.

And one last thing, Dana, and something that these candidates really need to keep an eye on is that these Democrats today are looking at generations where they can't have what their parents have. Sopit's parents, who were immigrants to this country, had a business in Los Angeles, a restaurant, and their son could not do the same thing. And that is going to chase these candidates.

And frankly, it's going to chase Governor Newsom as he seeks higher office.

BASH: Kyung, thank you so much for that important report.

And don't miss the debate tonight, the economy, housing, A.I., so much more at stake. Who will voters choose to lead the nation's most populous state? I hope to see you. Tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. California time only on CNN and streaming live with an All Access subscription.

Coming up, it's America's pastime, but is Susan Collins new ad a swing and a miss? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:54:14]

BASH: 34 days until Election Day. And that means the airwaves are blanketed in ads and they're getting personal. Here's a taste of one from a PAC supporting Republican, Dan Sullivan in Alaska.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mary Peltola had one of the highest staff turnover rates in Congress. Now, we know why. According to news reports, former aides described angry, profane outbursts. If that's how Mary Peltola treats her closest aides, imagine what she'd do to you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: My panel is back. Yikes (ph). Seema, I'm going to start with you. You're reporting from the furthest west, and this is Alaska, so why not? I should say that Peltola, in response to this story, it came from The New York Times, said that at the time she was dealing with deep grief after losing two people very close to her, including her husband.

[12:55:00]

SEEMA MEHTA, POLITICS REPORTER, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES: Right. I mean these type of ads, you know, they -- you know, this is the season for them, right? This is the season for attack ads. And you know, we don't -- I don't personally know, you know, the truth of the allegations, but I will say that I think anybody who's worked on Capitol Hill knows that it's like a really hard charging environment.

And I do think it is notable that these types of accusations about behavior are more often leveled at women than at men. We saw that with Kamala Harris. We saw that with Amy Klobuchar. So I think there's a couple different things going on here, but also I mean, it also shows the fact that, you know, that they're advertising in Alaska is just notable and just in terms of like, you know, how many states could potentially be in play.

BASH: Yeah, I mean that last part is -- it's very important looking at the battleground. Abby, I want to put this one to you. This is a theme that we are seeing in several different really tough races, particularly with incumbents or people who were voted out, who had been in Congress, and that's about a stock trading while in office. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Elaine Luria made quite the catch, one of Washington's biggest stock traders. Elaine Luria reeled in millions while in office.

REP. MARCY KAPTUR (D-OH): I've never bought stock, not one share. Now, I'm fighting to ban Congress from stock trading.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In Congress, Landsman made over 150 stock trades worth up to $4.4 million despite promising not to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Abby?

ABBY LIVINGSTON, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT, PUCK: You know stock trading used to not be an issue anyone cared about and it has been absolutely an issue that has hurt incumbents this cycle. And the reason is, is because it plays into being elite, insider knowledge, and that also reflects in the larger environment of cost-of-living issues and corruption. And it's a mystery to many people why members of Congress continue to trade stocks.

BASH: Yeah, it sure is. I want to get to another ad if I can, but in the meantime, Adam, I'm going to come to you with news on what we began this program about, which is a bill before the Senate sponsored by Ohio Republican, Jon Husted, the stock trading bill. Let's stay on that.

Stock trading bill was just on the floor and it didn't pass. So it's an answer to what Abby was just talking about and the ad that we just played. It didn't pass and the reason Democrats say they voted against it is because it included voter element that they said would have deterred people from going to the polls.

ADAM WREN, CO-AUTHOR, POLITICO PLAYBOOK: Yeah, Dana, this is an issue now that Republicans can take back in their own districts and Senate races, and try to tie no votes to this in a way that is helpful to them. And so, you know, essentially, corruption has been one of the key issues litigated across the map in this midterms and in this issue, as Abby mentioned, that is sort of a backwater technicality and has been for decades is now very much in the fore.

BASH: Yeah. All right. Abby, I'm going to put this one to you. One of the very, very tight toss-up races, some of these ads are having a little fun with trying to reach out to rural voters, particularly by Democrats.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMIE AGER, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HICKORY NUT GAP FARMS: You know what we need more of in Washington, D.C.? Barn dances. I'm Jamie Ager. And Amy and I host these every month.

REP. JENNIFER BALKCOM, (R-NC): I come from a long line of tough mountain women. Mom raised us on her own. She taught us to be strong. And when someone broke into our house, she shot him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGH)

BASH: Yes, Abby, I am putting this to you because you're a Texas girl.

(LAUGH)

LIVINGSTON: I think it's a great way to localize a race amid a crazy national climate. I think it reflects authenticity and knowledge of the surroundings of the area and separates yourself from the national party. But whether this works in such a nasty environment for Republicans is a big question.

BASH: All right. Everybody, thank you so much for being here. Really, really appreciate it. Thank you for joining "Insight Politics." Don't forget to tune in tonight to the California Governor's Debate. "CNN News Central" picks it up right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": A suspected mid- flight hijacking attempt. Israeli officials say they think the co- pilot tried to take over an Israel-bound plane and crash it after stabbing its captain. There are new details on how passengers stepped in to help stop it.

Plus, the shake --