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New Orleans Immigrant Community Bracing for Federal Crackdown; Liberal Dems Warn Party Leaders Not to Meddle in Major Primaries; Volcano in Ethiopia Erupts for First Time in 10,000 Years. Aired 2:30- 3p ET

Aired November 25, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Less than a year into President Trump's second term, a new report is finding growing pessimism among the nation's Latino communities. The Pew Research Center survey says that the group is very worried about their place in the U.S., their economic stability, and the impact of President Trump's second term policies. An overwhelming number of those surveyed disapprove of the president's job performance, believing their situation in the U.S. has worsened under his second term.

The report comes as immigrants in New Orleans are bracing for the Trump administration's next immigration crackdown operation that sources tell CNN is set to begin next week. Immigrant community advocates say that many are panicked and are preparing for the upcoming operation as if a hurricane were coming, stocking up on food and supplies and staying home, even hiding out in some cases.

Lindsay Navarro is the executive director of El Centro, a nonprofit that helps members of New Orleans Latino community open businesses and understand their rights. Lindsay, thank you so much for being with us.

So there are reports that immigrant employees in New Orleans are fearful of going into work. How do you think residents and local businesses are going to feel that impact?

LINDSEY NAVARRO, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EL CENTRO: Yes, I think, I think it's challenging when your staff doesn't show -- is unable to work, which means that those who do have the ability to be employed are going to have to work additional shifts and additional time. We recently saw that in small business owners as they were preparing. And what I was told as early as Friday was that many of their typical employees who work in the back office or work in the restaurant or in the kitchen were staying home.

And so they were -- they were working double shifts. Those who are able to work are filling in and those who aren't able to because of fear are currently staying home.

SANCHEZ: Do you get the sense that there's going to be a long term economic impact?

NAVARRO: I do. I think that, you know, it's been said that this looks a little more like another version of COVID with a little more fear that affects more people. It's not just in immigrants who are undocumented.

I've heard even citizens, even U.S. residents, those who have temporary protected status or even asylum status are currently concerned with showing up for work. These are folks who have the right to work. They have workers permits and they're afraid of even being on the street because of what they've seen in other cities.

And so we are bracing for the worst and we're also hoping for the best. And the reality is organizations like El Centro, like Union Migrante, like Familiars Unidas en Accion. I just rattled off a ton, organizations that are doing great work. And we're also seeing even grassroots community working to raise awareness about how individuals can prepare everything from know your rights trainings to know your rights trainings for business owners.

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How to be involved, whether it's filming as people are being detained or even whistleblowing, literally, when they witness Customs and Border Patrol's officers or even Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detaining individuals.

SANCHEZ: Tell us more about the training. What exactly does it entail? And what are you hoping members of the community gather from it?

NAVARRO: Yes, well, there are two different types of training really that are taking place. One is know your rights trainings for individuals, right? So if you're driving and you get pulled over or get stopped outside of your home, how it is that you should behave, right?

Should you produce information? You have the right to remain silent, those typical things, right? The know your rights training for business owners is a little different.

When Customs and Border Patrol come into an office, they can ask you for your I-9 verification to verify if your employees have the right to work. And so we have about three days to produce that information as business owners. And really, for business owners to be aware that this is even a process, typically, they don't rely on HR firms.

A lot of small business owners are really sole proprietors who are employing people to the best of their ability. And so they may not be aware that that verification needs to even be in place. So raising awareness as that being a requirement or that being documentation that will need to be provided is key.

And then in addition to that, creating plans for those who are working there to clearly state, you know, who that officer should contact, if it's the business owner or if it's the owners or the business's attorneys. And then also displaying where these officers are welcome and where they are not. So protecting also team members' rights or staff members' rights by designating private areas as places for only employees or for staff. And they're not open (INAUDIBLE) to the effective in other states and in other cities.

SANCHEZ: Lindsay, I wonder, given what you've seen unfold.

NAVARRO: And so these trainings are currently taking place.

SANCHEZ: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead. Finish.

NAVARRO: No, you go ahead.

SANCHEZ: I was just going to ask, given what you've seen unfold in other cities, namely Chicago and more recently in Charlotte, we've sort of seen a range of responses from the community and also a range of enforcement from the federal government. I wonder what you're anticipating specifically for New Orleans, if you think the community is prepared for it.

NAVARRO: I think that we are still preparing. And I think that we will continue to prepare. As I mentioned, there's a lot of grassroots movements, smaller groups, individuals who are stepping in to support in different ways.

A lot of the organizations are receiving volunteers as well to prepare. We have organizations that are planning to distribute food to individuals who are going to be in their homes. And even those who are practicing solidarity with those individuals that have to go to their case hearings or immigration courts to be there and to be with them as they go.

So, I mean, I think that what we're doing in New Orleans is trying to replicate best practices of what has worked in other cities. We are a community that really cares about the work and the legacy and I think the energy that the immigrant community has brought to New Orleans to rebuild. And I think our city is very cognizant of that.

And as I speak to community leaders and officials, you know, we all understand that there was a large role that immigrants have played in bringing back the city. And so what does community do as we prepare for hurricanes? Exactly this, right?

We come together, we support one another, we identify what each other's needs and we step in as we can. And whether that means buying out a restaurant because that business owner can't be open to the other things that I mentioned, we've seen a lot of those grassroots efforts begin to take place. And I know that this is -- we're, you know, looking at potentially two or three months of these officers being here.

And so I think all we can do really is stay positive. And I will say it is refreshing to have organizations and other community leaders step in to support because what this community needs now more than ever is hope.

SANCHEZ: Lindsay Navarro, we have to leave the conversation there. We appreciate you sharing your perspective. NAVARRO: Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate that.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

Still to come, new reporting about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer facing major pushback from a group of top Democrats ahead of primary season. That group reportedly calling themselves the Fight Club. That's next.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: We're seeing new signs of growing frustration inside the Democratic Party. Some liberal senators are now warning their party leaders not to meddle in high profile primaries.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen today confirmed to CNN he's part of a coalition of progressive senators calling themselves the Fight Club, challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who chairs the campaign arm of the party.

JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: Van Hollen opposing what he says is their midterm election strategy of backing the more moderate candidates in key races. He made it clear to CNN that he believes this is not time for what he sees as business as usual.

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SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): There are many active and open Senate Democratic primaries, and it's our view that for the most part, these should play out without interference from the Senate Democratic leadership.

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And so that was the basis of concern.

We see no reason why they should intervene in these particular cases and again seem to be putting their foot on the scale in support of sort of the more -- the more business as usual candidate at a time when we think we need to shake things up more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: Joining us to discuss Jeff Mason, White House correspondent for Reuters, and Juliegrace Brufke, congressional reporter for 24Site News. Great to see both of you. Juliegrace, let's start first with you.

I start to think about the race in Michigan, the race in Maine. What are some of the races that Van Hollen's talking about here, and what's some of the thinking?

JULIEGRACE BRUFKE, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, 24SIGHT NEWS: Now, I mean, I've talked to some progressive lawmakers that have said that they really feel like leadership's playing by an old playbook and kind of pointing to the mayoral race in New York. And now I think Maine, Minnesota, those are going to be some biggies there where they feel kind of like the progressive candidates. They're getting younger voters.

They're kind of driving people out there. So we'll see how Schumer reacts. I mean, I've heard rumors that maybe he'll retire next term.

So how much influence he'll have, I mean, that's not official, but it does seem like he's kind of facing a lot of backlash over kind of his handling of the party recently.

SANCHEZ: There's a chance he can get primary in a few years as well. Jeff, I wonder what you think of this Fight Club. I thought the first rule was that they don't talk about Fight Club. Clearly Van Hollen doesn't care.

JEFF MASON, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, REUTERS: Yes, I think there's a divide in the Democratic Party, just like there's a divide in the Republican Party. And that's playing itself out as they start preparing for these midterms.

Certainly one thing they both agree on is they want to drive Republicans out of leadership in the House and of the Senate. But how to get there and which candidates are the best ones is something that they're disagreeing on, in part because the old Democratic playbook has often been to go behind the more centrist candidates. But the trend, at least in this last little mini wave of the elections over the last two weeks, was much further to the left.

And you saw how well Mamdani did in New York. Now, that's not representative of every state that we were just talking about, of course. But there is some tension there about which would be the best candidates.

And I think that's why this Fight Club is getting some play.

SANCHEZ: To that point, Mamdani's victory, as was even stated by other Democrats who won that night, I'm thinking of Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, it likely isn't going to replicate itself everywhere. So where do Democrats think that they might need to let hands off to see perhaps a challenge in the establishment? Is there somewhere on the map you're looking at?

BRUFKE: I feel like that's kind of the Schumer argument there. I mean, Abigail Spanberger, obviously very moderate. And most of the people in these Fight Clubs represent very blue states.

So, I mean, Maine's very different. We've seen Susan Collins really win a lot of races that have been very tight in the past. So, I mean, a more progressive candidate, I think that's probably something the Collins camp would like to see.

So I guess we'll see how it plays out. But yes, I think some of the logic there, moderates are definitely pushing back on.

DEAN: Yes. And did you want to say something, Jeff?

MASON: I was just going to say, and they're also smelling weakness on the Republican side. They're seeing that President Trump's party, that the Republican party in that last wave and that last election did not do well, that the president's poll numbers are down, that there is some strength on the left, and they want to make sure that that gets utilized in this next election. Now, a lot can happen in a year --

DEAN: Yes.

MASON: -- but they don't want to lose that momentum.

DEAN: And listen, we're seeing this play. I think this is going to play out in full view at the Democratic primary in 2028 as to which wing of this party is going to kind of be the standard bearer moving forward. But staying a little closer to where we are now, as they look to those midterms and they're thinking about how to position themselves, regardless of what candidate they go with, it seems that they are counting on health care to be a potent issue for them.

And also this affordability thing that, frankly, was the through line with Mamdani and the others we're all talking about. Even the Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill were talking about.

MASON: Health care and inflation are going to be the buzzwords on the Democratic side. You see the president already reacting to that by trying to co-opt them and emphasizing what he has done or what he believes he's done to help bring down the cost of goods. And also this fledgling health care plan that is rolling around.

That is certainly a sign that he is concerned, that Democrats -- excuse me, that Republicans are concerned. And Democrats know that too, and they're going to use it. So I think whether you see a progressive candidate or a more centrist candidate in some of these races we're talking about, you're going to hear those two themes.

DEAN: Right.

SANCHEZ: The point that Jeff just made, Juliegrace, I wonder, Republicans seem to have had a lot of false starts with a health care platform, a health care plan. We were supposed to get one yesterday and it got delayed, maybe in two weeks. Is there any clarity on when something might be coming?

BRUFKE: And so definitely after Thanksgiving holiday, I think there's kind of been some drama. Mike Johnson kind of pushing the White House against extending ACA subsidies. Well, we've heard from some of the more moderate members on that side that they would really like to kind of see those extended.

[14:50:00]

So we've kind of just seen the broad strokes come out of the White House. And I know senators are kind of anxiously awaiting that. But yes, so right now we're just kind of waiting for those to see what those things, how that all pans out there. DEAN: Yes. All right. Jeff and Juliegrace, good to see you.

Safe travels to for Thanksgiving. All right. Thanks so much.

So to come quiet for 10,000 years, a volcano erupts with fury and it's having a widespread impact.

[14:55:12]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DEAN: A volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in 10,000 years. Videos show large plumes of smoke shooting into the sky as the long dormant Haley Gooby volcano roared to life for the first time in 10 millennia.

SANCHEZ: Residents described hearing a terrifying blast at the start of the eruption, which covered neighboring villages in dust. Also, it impacted air travel thousands of miles away in India. Fortunately, so far, no deaths or injuries have been reported.

Let's discuss this with Wendy Bohan. She is a geologist. Wendy, thanks so much for being with us.

How unusual is it for a volcano to lie dormant for 10,000 years and suddenly erupt?

WENDY BOHON, GEOLOGIST: Not as unexpected as you might think. So to understand this particular volcano, we want to set the scene in Ethiopia in general. So it's a very geologically active place.

The crust of the earth there is being pulled apart or stretched, and that causes lots of earthquakes. And it also allows magma to rise to the surface, forming volcanoes. So Ethiopia has at least 50 volcanoes.

And so even though this particular volcano may not have erupted in a real-time there are other active volcanoes nearby, as close as 15 kilometers away.

DEAN: Wendy, walk us through the ash and the explosions. What might that mean for people there nearby? Is it dangerous?

BOHON: Great question. So when the volcano erupts, it polarizes rock, which it sends shooting out of the volcano. Now, the larger pieces of rock are going to fall pretty close to the volcano, which can impact the communities that are nearby.

The ash, the rocks can cover vegetation, which can, you know, have bad implications for farmers, for people that have livestock nearby. But that ash can also go way up into the atmosphere, all the way to the stratosphere. And then the winds can carry it hundreds or even thousands of miles.

And so the impacts from these types of volcanic eruptions go all the way from local to potentially global. SANCHEZ: Wow. Are you anticipating that these eruptions might get larger, more extreme? And how long do you think they'll last?

BOHON: It's difficult to say. All volcanoes are different. But what we saw with this one, there was the large explosion that sent the large ash plume up into the atmosphere.

And that's what's disrupting air travel right now. That seems to have died down. And usually you get kind of a large eruption like that. And then that's followed by a period of quiet.

Now, whether that means that now this volcano will continue to be active or whether or not it'll kind of go back to being dormant, go back to sleep, that's anybody's guess.

DEAN: Yes, that's the big question. You talked about it's always stretching and pulling in that area. But what exactly causes it to erupt, this to erupt after so many years of no activity?

BOHON: That's a great question. So this is actually part of a larger magmatic system. As the ground is stretching, it's created a line of volcanoes.

Some of those volcanoes are active and some of them aren't. And so as the plumbing underneath the ground changes, as the magma moves around, it can cause some volcanoes to become active and others to become inactive. We don't have a lot of monitoring equipment around this particular volcano.

So we don't have seismometers or GPS instruments or other things that can help us to really understand what's happening underneath the ground. So it's difficult to say exactly what happened here.

SANCHEZ: Wow. It makes for an interesting view --

DEAN: It does.

SANCHEZ: -- and we hope that it has a limited impact on folks in the area.

DEAN: Certainly. And it's a good reminder, as Wendy points out, there's a lot happening below earth that we forget about until it comes up.

SANCHEZ: Wendy Bohan, thank you so much.

BOHON: Thanks for having me.

SANCHEZ: Of course.

Now to some of the other headlines we're watching this hour. Police near the western tip of Virginia say a high school football coach they've been looking for is now considered a fugitive.

46-year-old Travis Turner is wanted on child pornography possession and other charges related to soliciting a minor. A weekend search using drones and canine units failed to find any sign of the missing coach.

DEAN: Also, H. Rap Brown, one of the former leaders of the Black Panther Party, has died. His widow says he passed away in a prison hospital Sunday.

And while she did not reveal a cause of death, she said he had been battling cancer. During the 60s and 70s Brown was a major voice in the Black Power movement, who called out aggressive policing in Black communities. Brown was serving a life sentence for killing a deputy in Georgia. He was 82-years-old.

And the Vatican is issuing a warning on the rise of polyamory, which is when people have multiple consensual romantic relationships at one time. A new document signed off by Pope Leo defends the virtue of monogamy and says polyamory, along with polygamy and adultery, are based on the illusion that the intensity of a relationship can be found, quote, succession of faces.

The document also calls marriage the stable, lifelong and exclusive partnership between a man and a woman.

And be sure to start your Thanksgiving with CNN for a ...

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