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The Situation Room

Trump Administration Giving Ghislaine Maxwell Special Treatment?; Air Travel Delays; Some Republicans Urge Vote on Obamacare Subsidies. Aired 11:30a-12:00p ET

Aired November 11, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Happening now, members of the House of Representatives are heading back here to Washington for a vote aimed at ending the 42-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill tomorrow afternoon.

The House speaker, Mike Johnson, says he's confident he will get the bill passed, but he's not likely to get any serious support from Democrats. We spoke last hour with the Democratic minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, and asked how House Democrats plan to vote. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): House Democrats will strongly oppose any legislation that does not decisively address the Republican health care crisis. We want to reopen the government. We will continue to stand by our hardworking federal employees and civil servants, but we have a responsibility to make sure that we extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: I'm joined now by Rahm Emanuel. He's our senior political and global affairs commentator.

Rahm, thanks so much for joining us.

RAHM EMANUEL, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: You served in the House of Representatives. You were a White House chief of staff during the Obama administration. How do you see the vote going tomorrow?

EMANUEL: Oh, I think the Republicans will pass it. They're not bringing it up if they didn't think they could pass it. On the other hand, the Democrats are going to be unified, accordingly and appropriately, against the legislation because of health care.

And so I think that's how it will happen. But I think there's a bigger issue here that comes out of this, Wolf, and a simple point is, while a lot of people are thinking about who's up, who's down, the Republicans show their true colors here.

They're willing to go to the Supreme Court to deny kids food while they're also willing to cut and deny their parents health care. And that issue doesn't disappear. And, in fact, the president's own pollster said the health care issue is going to be dangerous for the House Republicans.

So I think, actually, while there's the issue of ACA and the vote and opening up the government, when it's all said and done, the Republicans actually took a lot of bruises here that are going to continue to play through the election.

BLITZER: As you know, Rahm, eight Democratic senators -- there were actually seven Democratic senators, one independent senator who caucuses with the Democrats, they broke ranks to join Republicans on the bill to end the federal government shutdown.

(CROSSTALK)

[11:35:07]

That measure, as we all know, does not include a plan, specific plan to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act.

EMANUEL: Right.

BLITZER: Those subsidies were the whole basis for not ending the shutdown earlier. Do you think those eight senators made the wrong move?

EMANUEL: Look, I mean, I would not be voting for this. They made their decision that they're going to do.

My recommendation to Democrats, stop doing what we do really well, stop doing the firing squad in the circle. Remember that the laser focus is on the Republican and the president. What Tuesday last week showed, this was a repudiation of Donald Trump and the Republicans.

And that's where our focus has to be, because one year from now is the next election, which will determine whether the House and Senate stay in Republican hands, who have been a rubber stamp for this president.

Again, I think that when all the fog is lifted from this battle and deciding who's up and down and the Democrats attacking Democrats, the Republicans showed who they are. They will go all the way to the Supreme Court to deny poor families and working-class families food, while also cutting health care.

Health care came from the rubble all the way to the top. Now either Republicans are going to vote to give premium support and support the ACA and health care for middle-class and working-class families, or they're going to deny them the premium support. That means that you have an issue in the election.

And, again, I want to repeat, the president's own pollster said this is a knife at the Republicans' majority throat, and they have to make a decision, either vote to support it or cost -- lose your seat. And so not is all lost.

A lot of things in Washington is 100 percent here, this is who won, this is who lost, or we're going to fight among themselves. Keep an eye on the Republicans. Keep an eye on Donald Trump. Remember, now health care is no longer at the bottom of the pile. It's at the top, which is what happened in 2018, when the Republicans lost the majority of the House in that year. Health care was the number one issue.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Based on what I'm hearing from you, as you know, Rahm, a lot of Democrats are saying, they're pretty optimistic right now that they can reach a deal with Republicans to get new subsidies for Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act.

EMANUEL: Yes.

BLITZER: Do you share their optimism?

EMANUEL: Well, I'm not in the room, so I have to trust that they think that. What happens in the Senate may not happen in the House, but remember the most vulnerable members in the House, GOP members, want to vote on the ACA health care premium.

So either they're going to endorse the ACA and the idea of premium support for middle-class families, or they're going to play Russian roulette with their own House seat and their own majority. That is the vice they're in.

So, again, unlike Washington, which means Chuck Schumer is the problem, or we're going to attack these nine Democrats, not -- the focus is Donald Trump and the Republicans. Health care now is the focus of the election, and that is a good place for Democrats to be.

And, again, it's an issue of affordability, which is what last week showed us. Now, it wasn't an affirmation for the Democrats last week. It was a repudiation of the Republicans. So not all is lost, and I think the Democrats should get out of the firing squad in the circle and keep a laser focus on November 2026 on Donald Trump and the Republicans and what they just did, denying food to kids who are poor and in need so they can deny health care to their parents.

BLITZER: I just want to let our viewers know, ACA, the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as it's called.

Rahm Emanuel, as usual, thank you very much.

EMANUEL: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: All right, and we are looking live now.

We're going to show some pictures of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where, any minute, President Trump will give his remarks commemorating Veterans Day. We will bring those to you live. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:43:08]

BROWN: Happening now, the end of the government shutdown may be in sight, but that's little consolation at the airport, more than 2,700 delays and cancellations so far just today as airlines slash schedules to deal with a shortage of air traffic controllers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMIR SHARAF, AIR TRAVELER: Kind of defeating to show up to the airport and see that your flight's been canceled last minute, and now you got to go get another hotel, go get another rental car, because the airlines aren't going to provide you any sort of vouchers or anything like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Air traffic controllers just missed their second full paycheck of the government shutdown. And the FAA is ramping up mandatory cancellations to 6 percent today of those flights.

BLITZER: It's a horrible situation.

CNN's Gloria Pazmino is joining us right now. She's over at New York Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Our aviation correspondent, Pete Muntean, is over at Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, D.C.

Pete, you first.

How are the cancellations, the delays impacting travelers today?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, a bit of good news here, Wolf.

The number of air traffic control facilities, according to the FAA with, understaffing issues today is a lot lower than yesterday. Only two have hit the FAA's records so far today. Compare that to 40 yesterday. It also means the number of cancellations are trending down.

Sunday was the worst single day for flight cancellations of this government shutdown, about 2,900 nationwide. Saw that number go down by about 500 yesterday, but still ranked fourth worst of the shutdown. Today, we're about half that. Just checked FlightAware, about 1,200 cancellations nationwide today.

Of that number, about 70 percent, about 850 or so, are these preemptive cancellations made by airlines, as mandated by the Trump administration. They're complying with that. The Trump administration says it's all about safety to siphon off some of the stress on these air traffic controllers, who continue to work unpaid during this government shutdown.

[11:45:01]

That number just jumped up to a 6 percent flight cut mandate today. Then it jumps up to 8 percent on Thursday, 10 percent on Friday. And we just heard from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, toured an FAA facility in Wausau, Wisconsin.

And he says that this may not be the end. He will only end these Trump administration-mandated flight cuts when he thinks it is safe to do so, and he's defending that choice. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN DUFFY, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: I think it's been effective, but we are watching this on a daily basis, where is the data, because we're trying to manage risk in the system to make sure people fly and fly safely. We're going to start to alleviate the restrictions that -- we're at 6 percent now. We will alleviate that only when the data says we should.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MUNTEAN: Air traffic controllers just received a zero-dollar paycheck, their second of this government shutdown.

The good news is, they will get a lump sum when this government shutdown officially ends. Duffy also said something interesting, that he says he supports President Trump's post on TRUTH Social yesterday about a $10,000 bonus for air traffic controllers if they showed up every day they were scheduled during this government shutdown.

Duffy says he is still analyzing how to do that -- Wolf.

BROWN: All right, Pete Muntean, thank you so much.

All right, Gloria, over to you. What's going on there on Newark?

GLORIA PAZMINO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, travelers here have been surprisingly patient so far this morning.

We have spoken to a lot of people who actually adjusted their travel plans because they know that cancellations are likely to pile up the further we get into the week because the FAA is looking to meet that emergency order which requires cancellations to scale up to 10 percent by Friday. Today, they're starting at 6 percent.

So, with that in mind, many of the travelers we have spoken to here today told me that they are actually taking advantage of the flexibility that many of the airlines are providing now and readjusting.

Another thing we heard here a lot today is people who know that their flight going out so far has not been canceled, but that they're less sure about how they're going to get back. I spoke to one couple who was heading towards Key West. They said, if we get stuck there, it's not the worst place to be. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: Any sort of issues so far with your flight?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So far no today, but I understand that tomorrow there's going to be another bunch that gets notified for the next couple of days. So our return flight is up for grabs. So, I have no idea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It actually was for free to move the flights because of the shutdown.

PAZMINO: Oh, OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we could shuffle a bit the plans.

PAZMINO: Oh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, even more practical than usual.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAZMINO: There's a little over 60 cancellations here at Newark Liberty International Airport alone.

Another thing we heard from a lot of passengers here today, that airlines have been pretty good about communicating, so people making sure that they're checking with their airline app before they come into the airport, so that they are prepared and not coming in if their flight is not taking off today -- Pam, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Gloria Pazmino in Newark, Pete Muntean over at Reagan National Airport, to both of you, thank you very, very much -- Pam.

BROWN: All right, coming up here in THE SITUATION ROOM, Wolf, special meals, private gym workouts and playtime with dogs, shocking new allegations that convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is getting special treatment in prison.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:53:41]

BROWN: Well, new this morning, a whistle-blower alleges that Ghislaine Maxwell is preparing to ask President Trump to commute her 20-year sentence. That whistle-blower also claims that Jeffrey Epstein's convicted sex trafficking co-conspirator is getting special treatment in prison, customized meals, a service dog to play with, and other perks.

This is according to Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin. We should note that CNN has not independently verified the whistle-blower's claims.

BLITZER: Virginia Giuffre was one of Epstein's victims. Her sister- in-law spoke to CNN earlier this morning about the new reports. Here's part of what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANDA ROBERTS, SISTER-IN-LAW OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE: It's a slap in the face to every single survivor who came forward. And why is this happening? Why is this happening? We still don't understand why she's there. We were never given any answers as to why she was moved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: More now from CNN senior national enterprise correspondent M.J. Lee.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

M.J. LEE, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL ENTERPRISE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is hoping to reverse her fortunes, with help from President Donald Trump.

QUESTION: Would you consider a pardon or a commutation for Ghislaine Maxwell?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's something I haven't thought about. It's really something...

QUESTION: If they recommended it to you.

TRUMP: I'm allowed to do it.

LEE: Trump, when asked, has repeatedly not ruled out the possibility of leniency for the late Jeffrey Epstein's notorious right-hand woman. According to a whistle-blower who is making new allegations, Maxwell is currently working on filing an application for a commutation.

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): She's basically being treated like an honored guest at a Trump Hotel, rather than a federal prisoner.

LEE: Congressman Jamie Raskin, the House Judiciary Committee's top Democrat, says the whistle-blower also claims that Maxwell is receiving preferential treatment at the prison camp in Bryan, Texas, where she's currently serving out her 20-year sentence.

The favorable, concierge-style treatment is said to include private meetings with visitors, including snacks and refreshments for her guests, Maxwell's guests being allowed to bring in computers during their visits, and the camp's warden personally helping to send e-mails on Maxwell's behalf. Maxwell's lawyer and the Justice Department did not comment.

TODD BLANCHE, U.S. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: Did you ever observe President Trump receiving a massage?

GHISLAINE MAXWELL, CONVICTED FELON: Never.

[11:55:00] LEE: These new revelations coming less than four months after Trump's deputy attorney general and former personal lawyer Todd Blanche met in person with Maxwell at her previous prison in Florida.

MAXWELL: I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.

LEE: During the course of two days of interviews, Maxwell telling Blanche that she had never seen Trump behave inappropriately.

Trump, who was friends with Epstein decades ago, has not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ghislaine answered every single question asked of her over the last day-and-a-half. Ms. Maxwell would welcome any relief.

LEE: Just days after Blanche's unusual July meeting with Maxwell, the convicted felon was transferred out of a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee to a minimum-security facility in Texas. The move drew the ire of critics, Democrats and Epstein survivors alike.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were horrified to learn that she had been transferred to a prison camp.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's one of my worst nightmares that she not only be transferred, but at the possibility that's very much going around that she might be pardoned.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And a special thanks to M.J. Lee for that report.

And, to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. You can always keep up with us on social media @WolfBlitzer and @PamelaBrownCNN.

BROWN: And, of course, we will see you back here tomorrow morning and every weekday morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

"INSIDE POLITICS" with our friend and colleague Dana Bash starts after this quick break.