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The Situation Room

Consumer Sentiment Declines; Letitia James Pleads Not Guilty; Americans' Opinions of Trump Administration?; Volodymyr Zelenskyy Meets With European Allies. Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired October 24, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

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WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: All right, there's more breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM right now.

The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, says the U.S. carried out yet another airstrike on an alleged drug smuggling boat overnight, this one in the Caribbean. The strike killed six people on board, according to Hegseth. And it marks the 10th such attack in recent weeks, with a total of 43 people killed in those strikes.

They have been conducted without judicial proceedings or a declaration of war by Congress, and they have raised very serious questions about the limits of presidential power. They have also been sharply criticized by the governments of Colombia and Venezuela, where many of the boats appear to have origin.

Also happening now, a major meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European allies under way right now in London. Zelenskyy is expected to urge the so-called coalition of the willing to bolster Ukraine's defenses to strike back at Russia.

I want to discuss this and more with CNN military analyst retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton.

Colonel Leighton, thanks so much for joining us.

How pivotal potentially is this meeting for Ukraine right now?

COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It could be very, very pivotal, Wolf.

One of the key aspects of this meeting is going to be Ukraine trying to convince the European nations, and in this case the U.K., to really stay the course here. And one of the things that President Zelenskyy of Ukraine is talking about is that, if there is no aid, both in the form of weapons, as well as economic aid, it's going to probably result in a humanitarian disaster beyond what we're already seeing in Ukraine. So this is a critical moment for Ukraine, and it's also a critical

moment for the Europeans as they try to step up and fill the void left by the U.S. in supporting Ukraine.

BLITZER: As you know, Colonel, President Trump's decision to impose sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies was followed by the European Union's own round of sanctions. What kind of pressure does that put on Russia?

LEIGHTON: So this could be very significant pressure, Wolf.

One of the aspects of this particular action by the U.S. is, this finally gets at Russia's main source of income, main source of fuel really for the war effort. And so, when you go after companies like Rosneft and Lukoil, which are the two largest Russian oil companies, they are the ones that are in essence providing all the machinery, all the financial wherewithal to conduct this war.

And it's really important to do this because, if this happens and if they actually force Russia to get less revenue in this particular case, it could very much hurt the Russian war effort.

BLITZER: Along with these oil sanctions that are now being imposed, Colonel, the E.U. has pledged to continue funding Ukraine's financial and military needs. And the U.K. says it's speeding up the delivery of an extra 100 missiles.

Are we seeing the E.U. step up where the U.S. and President Trump, for that matter, have been reluctant to do so?

LEIGHTON: Yes. In many cases, yes.

Now, historically, the Europeans have been reluctant to actually, in essence, put their money where their mouth is. But this is a very different scenario. The Europeans understand that the threat the Russians pose is very real. And, in fact, we have just had another overflight of NATO territory.

[11:35:05]

This time, Lithuania was overflown by a Russian fighter jet and its refueler. So, this is the kind of thing that the Europeans are looking at. They see this as a serious threat. And so they are filling that void that has been left by the Trump administration. It's basically what the Trump administration says it wanted.

It wanted the Europeans to step up and defend their own territory. And now we're seeing the Europeans do this. And they're doing it fairly effectively, but there's still a lot that they can't quite do. They still need American support in the form of weapons systems and in the form of other support from a diplomatic and military standpoint.

BLITZER: President Zelenskyy says Ukraine needs long-range missiles, like those Tomahawk cruise missiles, to go after Russia. President Trump so far isn't willing to give those missiles to Ukraine.

Can the E.U. provide that kind of weaponry, long-range missiles to Ukraine on its own?

LEIGHTON: Not really. The E.U. does have the capability of some long- range missiles, but it's not the same type of missile that the Tomahawk is. And the Tomahawk is a missile that is, in some ways, unique in the Western inventory.

There are missiles, like the Storm Shadow missile, also known as the SCALP, that is designed to be used at a longer range than what the Ukrainians normally have from the West. And it has been used. It has been fairly effective in their fight against the Russians. But the Europeans do not have the same type of missile that they can send on their own to Ukraine.

BLITZER: Yes, Tomahawk cruise missiles have a long range, about 1,500 miles or so. Could hit Moscow, could hit all sorts of targets deep inside Russia, if in fact they were approved to be delivered to Ukraine.

Colonel Leighton, as usual, thank you very, very much.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: All right, coming up, here in THE SITUATION ROOM, the demolition of the White House's East Wing and the human toll of the government shutdown, two of the biggest topics Americans are talking about -- after the break.

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BROWN: Well, it is Friday, which means it's time to find out what radio and podcast listeners across the country are saying about what's happening here in Washington and beyond.

Today, we're talking to Martha Zoller, host of "The Martha Zoller Show," and Reecie Colbert, who is the host of SiriusXM's "The Reecie Colbert Show."

Reecie, let's kick it off with you here. Remind us who your listeners typically are, and what have they been talking about in this demolition of the entire East Wing? You had White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters to -- quote -- "trust the process." Do your listeners seem to be open to that?

REECIE COLBERT, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, thank you for having me back. My listeners are SiriusXM Urban View. It is the black talk radio station on SiriusXM.

And they are very concerned. This is a predominantly black audience. So we're talking about people who are experiencing a doubled unemployment rate. We're talking about 300,000 black women who've lost their jobs, and they're seeing a president that is focused on taking a wrecking ball to the East Wing like he's taken to the black economy.

And so they are not on board with this, and they feel like his focus is absolutely in the wrong area. BROWN: So, Martha, remind us who your listeners are. Are they -- are

you hearing similar to what Reecie's listeners are saying, or do they see more value on what's going on here at the White House?

MARTHA ZOLLER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Well, my listening area is about 60 percent of the Republican voters in Georgia, so we're very heavily Republican.

And what they commented on today was that, even in 2010, CNN did a report that President Obama was doing $375 million worth of renovations and seemed happy about it. So they're not that concerned about it. And they also brought up the fact that Jackie Kennedy got an Emmy for the work she did on the White House, where she took a huge wrecking ball to the White House during the period of time that they were in.

So what we're hearing is that they're -- my listeners are saying that they're not that concerned about it, and they're glad that the taxpayer is not paying for it.

BROWN: All right. So there's other things going on. And you had mentioned here, Reecie, that your listeners are looking at what's happening at the White House while they're worried about their next paycheck, right?

COLBERT: Yes.

BROWN: Over one million federal employees are not receiving paychecks today as the government shut down grids on, each side blaming each other, right, Democrats blaming Republicans, Republicans blaming Democrats. We have heard stories of financial hardship.

So tell us more about what you're hearing from your listeners about how they're personally impacted by this government shutdown.

COLBERT: Well, I literally just had a call yesterday where a caller who actually met during my tour with my colleague Clay Cane, they said that they are a veteran couple and she's been able to retire. They just purchased their dream home, but their husband -- her husband still works and he is set to receive a paycheck with zero dollars.

Their bills are still coming in. They are concerned. The commander in chief's responsibility is to do what he has to do to make sure that the troops are paid, that veterans are paid, and that Americans can still pay their bills. And so they are putting this squarely at the feet of Donald Trump, whose focus is everywhere but on making sure that the government is running and that people are getting paid.

They are very angry and concerned about money not coming in.

BROWN: How about yours, Martha? I should also note you're in Georgia. I had Marjorie Taylor Greene on, Republican, as you know, from Georgia, very well known in the MAGA wing of the Republican Party, who said that she puts the blame on Republican leadership for the government shutdown, not President Trump, but those in Congress. And she said she's really worried about health care subsidies and that

she's hearing a lot of that from her constituents. I'm wondering, Martha, what you're hearing there in Georgia from your listeners.

ZOLLER: Well, I mean, Congress did pass the bill to fund the government, and there actually are enough votes in the Senate to pass the bill to vote the government -- to open the government back up or keep the government open. It's just the cloture vote.

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Our two senators did vote for cloture yesterday.

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BROWN: Martha, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have some breaking news. We have some breaking news.

Wolf Blitzer, I'm going to let you take it.

BLITZER: All right, let's go. Letitia James, the New York attorney general, just emerged from court. She's been charged in a mortgage fraud case. We're going to hear what she has to say. Let's listen in.

LETITIA JAMES, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: Thank you. Thank you.

I want to thank all of you. I want to -- so I want to thank all of you. I want to thank each and every one of you. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for your e-mails. I want to thank you for your support. It has strengthened my spirit and has...

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JAMES: And it has anchored my soul. And so I want to thank you.

But this is not about me. This is about all of us and about a justice system which has been weaponized, a justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge -- this justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and who stood up for the rule of law and a justice system which unfortunately is nothing -- being used as a vehicle of retribution.

But my faith is strong. And my faith is -- I have this belief in the justice system, in the rule of law, and I have a belief in America and all of its individuals who have stood with me not only in New York, but all across this nation.

(CHEERING)

JAMES: I have heard from just about every jurisdiction in this nation, who have said, stand up and be tall, and never, ever cow down or back down or break or bend.

So there's no fear today, no fear, no fear, no fear, no fear, because I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream. And I'm here to say that my work and my job and all that I do all throughout my public career, I have stood up for the rights of New Yorkers and Americans.

And I will not be deterred. And I will not, I will not be deterred.

(CHEERING)

JAMES: I will not be distracted. I will do my job each and every day. And that's why I'm headed back to New York, because there's work to be done standing up for the rule of law.

(CHEERING)

JAMES: God bless you, and thank you all. And I appreciate you.

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BLITZER: Strong words from the New York attorney general, Letitia James. She's been charged in this mortgage fraud case, which she completely pleads innocent to, not guilty.

We're watching all of this unfold. She's accusing the president of the United States of going after her for her civil fraud case against Trump in New York that we all remember very closely.

Kara Scannell is watching all of this very closely as well.

Kara, what do you think?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, Wolf, this is like a campaign vibe out here when Letitia James just came out of the courthouse after pleading not guilty to that one count of bank fraud and that one count of making a false statement to a financial institution.

She was met by this large crowd that was chanting, "We stand with Tish." They're holding up signs of saying "Don't turn the federal judiciary into a kangaroo court." Just a swarm of supporters were out here as she exited the courtroom and then, as you saw, came and spoke to the cameras, thanking everyone for coming here, saying that they were lifting her up, and saying that this was of indicative prosecution, an effort to turn the Justice Department into a tool of revenge, as she said.

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Now, this whole hearing took place. It was just about a half-an-hour. James appeared in court. Inside the courtroom were numbers of family members and friends. They were lining the back row of the courtroom. Some were sitting just a few seats away from me in the galley. And when she walked in, she looked toward them. She smiled. She looked like she was beaming inside that courtroom with all the support both inside and now outside the courtroom as well as she's just leaving.

But they got down to business inside the courtroom. They set a trial date in this case now for January 26. They have set a motion schedule to try to speed things along. Abbe Lowell, Tish James' attorney, said that he does intend to challenge Lindsey Halligan as being validly serving as the U.S. attorney.

The judge said, once he officially gets that motion, he will recommend that that case be transferred to the same judge who is hearing James Comey, the former FBI director's challenge of Halligan's authority. And that judge can decide to consolidate those cases. The government did not object to that.

So that will be one course that will take place. There's also -- Lowell said he expects that he will file a motion around the concept of vindictive or selective prosecution. He said that's the worst kept secret in this case, that he's going to pursue that as feeling that this was not a valid case.

But he said he wants to see more of the discovery that was turned over as part of this investigation to help inform the decision-making. And then there will be the traditional motion practice. He intimated that he didn't think some of the crimes charged were supported by the allegations in the indictment, and he would look to challenge those.

So we have already teed up that there are going to be at least three hearings now before this goes to trial. But it is the Eastern District of Virginia. This is going to move much more quickly than it does in other instances, and the judge reminding everyone there's only one attorney who's practiced for him before.

He said he wants everyone to get up to speed with how things work in this district so things can stay on track -- Wolf, Pam.

BROWN: OK, thank you so much, Kara Scannell, for bringing us the latest right outside of that courthouse in Norfolk, Virginia.

We will be right back.

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BLITZER: New this morning, a new report shows people are increasingly worried about the higher cost of living. Consumer sentiment fell by a point-and-a-half this month as Americans struggle with higher prices. Average grocery prices last month were more than 2.5 percent higher than they were just a year ago.

BROWN: Stew Leonard Jr., the CEO of Stew Leonard's grocery store, joins us now.

All right, so, Stew, we were talking before the break and you said the tariffs have impacted some items, right, and other items have actually gone down in price, so tell us what you're seeing there.

STEW LEONARD JR., PRESIDENT AND CEO, STEW LEONARD'S: Well, you're really seeing two things happen today. You got tariff price increases, because the way I look at it is, you go to a restaurant, you got to either put a 15 to 20 percent tip on the bill. Before the tariffs, there was no -- you didn't have to leave a tip.

And now it's almost like we are being charged at Stew Leonard's now 15 to 20 percent for a lot of items that we're buying. A good example right here, and this is probably one thing that keeps us up at night, is shrimp, OK?

India is the largest exporter of shrimp. Now, you say, oh, India, but it almost looks like a hospital. They grow things so well over there and they're top-notch suppliers. But, look, we got a -- what, a 50 percent tariff right now. So we have had a stop buying shrimp from Brazil. We went down to Ecuador, even Vietnam and Thailand and stuff.

So we're, like, going crazy here at Stew Leonard's trying to find around the world the best prices for our customers. You're going to see a little pop in shrimp right now, another, same thing with mangoes. The only -- California just finished up on their mango crop. We got to go to Brazil, 50 percent tariff. So those are probably up 50 cents a pound.

This is something my daughter Blake does, her little plushies. You can push a button, 35 percent tariff on this from China right now. We did that before the big increase on that. You have supply and demand issues right now. One of them is -- you would love this, I know.

BROWN: We love that one.

(LAUGHTER)

LEONARD: This is one of those -- oh, gosh, this is our favorite. Our ranchers, when they come in from the Midwest, they want to eat a tomahawk steak like that, a rib eye like that.

You're seeing those up because it's the lowest herd price in 50 years right now in America, so supply and demand. Here's something that went down a little bit. The Chinese order a huge amount of lobsters from Maine and Canada. And that shut down because of the tariff. So they're dumping more product in the U.S.

I shouldn't say dumping, but they're selling more product in the U.S., so the price of lobster is down. Same with chicken. Same with olive oil right now is down. So you're seeing some things that are up and some things that are down. But, overall, about -- our prices are about the same this year as they were last year.

BLITZER: Has anything else gotten cheaper, Stew?

LEONARD: You know, a little bit. There's little odds and ends around the store of prices going down, but -- and some prices go up.

But, you know, as a company right here, we're a family business and everything. We're really trying to hold prices, because, when prices go up, nobody wins. We don't win. The customer doesn't win. The supplier doesn't win. Nobody wants to raise prices. So we're holding. It's going to eat into our profitability a little bit.

But we're family business and we can look at it as a long-term investment.

BROWN: Stew, what tips do you have for people who are looking to save money right now at the grocery store?

LEONARD: That's a key question I get asked all the time. One of them is, we're always having specials on stuff at the store. And so buy things on special. You can freeze things. You can even freeze a half- gallon of milk if you want to.

But a lot of your meat items and things have been going up. So, look for the sales. Buy them now. The second thing is, check out private label. Instead of buying a national brand, you can usually save 20 to 30 percent if you get a Stew Leonard's, say, bag of chips or Stew Leonard's item.