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Briana: Tonight, a path of uncertainty lies ahead for public media stations like ours after the house voted to slash funding.

plus, an uprising inside and outside Delanie hall ice detention center last night after detainees claim they weren't being given enough food and denied visitations.

>> People are angry and frustrated.

we don't want these facilities here.

also, senior political correspondent David Cruz sits down with some of the gubernatorial candidates after a long and bruising campaign cycle >> this state is on fire is they're ready for good leadership.

I think they're fearful of losing to jack Ciattarelli and Donald trump.

>> He has to say you may not want me but around do you want one party that hasn't worked really well?

Briana: And world cup fever.

the state gears up the host the world cup club championship this weekend.

"NJ Spotlight News" begins right now.

♪ >> In N.J. PBS studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us on this Friday night.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

we begin with a few of today's top headlines.

first, tough days are ahead for public media.

the U.S. house on Thursday narrowly voted to pass legislation that kilts next two years of federal funding for the corporation for public broadcasting.

the rescissions package claws back $89.4 billion total, already appropriated by congress.

the bulk of that is for foreign aid but $1.1 billion was for public media.

The vote came at the direction of president trump who's accused npr and PBS of biased coverage against conservative viewpoints.

following through on recommendations made by DOGE.

the money also goes to thousands of public radio and TV stations around the country, including this one.

house speaker Mike Johnson called the vote long overdue, saying it puts American taxpayers first.

meanwhile, some Republicans say they have concerns about the cuts, especially those who serve in rural districts that rely on public media and also fear slashing foreign assistance for programs that combat hiv and aids globally could cost lives will.

the package now goes to the senate where it needs a simple majority to pass.

at also, construction is set to begin on a controversial new power plant in Newark.

passaic valley voted to approve the contract for a new gas plant.

the vote came after hour hours of emotional public comment and pleading from environmental advocates who called the plant unnecessary and harmful to a neighborhood that already struggles with very air quality.

the plant will give pvsc a backup for power for any future outages.

in sandy a two-day outage caused the plant to leak millions of gallons of raw sewage into Newark bay.

critics say the project just isn't needed since federal government kicked in half a billion dollar for resilience work and the power company invested millions.

Baraka's office Sid that a potential lawsuit could be coming to halt the project and world cup fever is already taking over New Jersey a year before the big game will be played in the garden state.

this weekend kicks off club games it's called the 2025 FIFA club world cup and it's the biggest club football event in the U.S. 32 teams from across all six FIFA confederations are competing.

the matches are being held at MetLife stadium starting Sunday between Brazil and Portugal.

other games are kicking off in New York and Philly.

there are 63 matches total that will be played through the middle of July so there are plenty of chances to catch one.

there are also a number of restaurants and bars that will be holding watch parties.

this week governor Murphy and members of the FIFA 2026 world cup host committee named liberty state park in jersey city the official Fanfest site for next year ask they're promising to bring 39 days of live match broadcasts, concerts, food and all kinds of interactions for even the youngest of fans.

ran update on the detainment of Columbia university graduate Mahmoud Camille.

it was ruled they can't hold him on the grounds used to arrest him but in a court filing today, the trump administration says it has no plans to release him.

officials haven't said contact cross-examinationly what a second set of grounds we are.

he was prominent during protests on Columbia university's campus last string.

he was arrested in march and transferred to a detention center in Louisiana where he's been held ever sense.

they invoked a rarely used law allowing them to declare his presence in the U.S. a threat.

it's unclear whether the administration is active Li violating the court order.

New York's Delanie haul is back in the cross hairs of the federal got.

according to the department of homeland security four detainees escaped Thursday night amid unrest and an uprising from detainees protesting the conditions inside.

now the F.B.I.

and D.H.S.

officials are officering a $10,000 reward for information leading to theas of the deteenees that escaped.

federal authorities said they've brought in more law enforcement efforts to help with details.

it's the second major incident to happen at the 1,000-bed facility since it opened under the trump administration where Newark mayor Ras Baraka was falsely arrested for Fres passing and congresswoman Monica MacGyver is facing Sal allegations of assault.

we have the details.

>> A vigil outside the delaney all hall detention center in Newark erupted into chaos as undocumented immigrants locked up inside staged a riot.

four detainees escaped through a hole in the wall and the facility now faces evacuation.

>> Everything they told me, yes, it's an insecure facility.

which is why they're doing this security review and it looks like moving most in not all of the detainees out while they do a review.

>> Senator andy Kim and congressman rob Melendez toured the facility this morning.

Kim said they pushed through dry wall with nothing but mesh to access an outside exit.

dhs stated additional law enforcement partners have been brought from to offensive coordinators these escapeees.

Kim wants to hear more.

>> About what is the future of this facility and whether or not they're going to shut it down.

we do not want this here in New Jersey.

we not believe that this reflects our state.

>> Families and attorneys say they'd gotten phone calls throughout the day Thursday from detainees complaining about poor conditions, lack of food.

>> There was a protest during lunch because people had gone over 20 hours without food and when lunch arrive that had day it was at 5:00 p.m. some people were given a simple Frankfurt or hot dog, others slices of bread and everyone was given a mini water bottle.

this is on top of chronic reports that there's insufficient food, that the tap water is undrinkable and when it comes from the pipe it's boiling hot.

>> And they say everybody was crazy upstairs and they were breaking doors and wise.

he wasn't involved in it but worried.

>> Se Sillah Duran's brother inside delaney said a fight broke out.

one detainee called interfaith rise.

>> He was afraid the place might go up in flames.

>> I think like uprising filed out outside.

people are angry and frustrated.

we don't want these facilities here.

>> Mayor Ras Baraka who claimed the facility was not up to cold after it opened sate said in a statement this entire situation lacks sufficient oversight of every basic detail.

this is why city officials and our congressional delegation need to be allowed entry to observe and monitor and why private prisons pose a very real problem to our state and its constitution.

>> It shows just how shoddy of construction was here.

what happens when we are paying billions of dollars in for- for-profit prisons that are skirting their responsibilities and trying to pocket as much that money as possible.

>> The first inspection of delaney hall did not end well.

the group got into a shoving match with officers.

Kong non-MacGyver now faces assault charges.

she's pleaded not guilty.

charges against Baraka were later dropped.

attorneys saying they can't get in touch with their client.

>> When someone has a client here, an attorney in my position, we have to get an appointment and they're saying we have limited capacity.

>> They're saying visitation is closed today.

you ask to speak to a supervisor, the guy who's man manning the gait said he is supervisor.

>> Kim says he believes the detainees will be moved to a facility in Pennsylvania.

in Newark, Brenda Flanigan, "NJ Spotlight News."

Briana: The results of Tuesday's primary weren't entirely surprising when it came to the gubernatorial race.

the front-runner secured their positions easily but amid a crowded field of highly viable candidates.

Newark's democratic mayor Virginie Razzano Baraka got the second highest number of votes behind Mikie Sherrill.

we spoke with Baraka this week for chat box.

why was that showing such a big deal?

David: I think for two things.

one that it showed the impact of progressives and the potential power that they have and Baraka Baraka's rise as its standard standard-bearer but also in our conversation we got to hear a little bit of public self-reflection, which is rare for the Newark mayor.

let's listen.

>> The fact that we had a very robust primary was important.

I think that's what we should be advocating for around the country.

I think this is helpful and a lot of progressives in the party have to be allowed to the table.

that's it.

and people have to open the door or they will kick the door down.

and we don't need that and we don't have to have it.

David: I know how much you love talking about your personal life.

what's different about you having gone through this race coming from where you've come from?

is a different Ras Baraka emerging from this experience?

>> Id lollingically I'm -- ideologically I'm probably still the same in a lot of ways but I'm still for broading a lot of broad coalitions across the state.

there were people fired up in Tewkesbury, New Jersey.

my outlook on the possibilities that New Jersey has have widened and broadened.

all these things that people have been saying, that the state is not ready for progressive politics, not ready for African-American leadership, not ready -- they're wrong.

I think these people are dead wrong.

this state is on fire and they're ready for good little.

I think they're fearful of losing to jack Ciattarelli and Donald trump and that's what this election bore out and ultimately we have to bring the party together.

we need to do that, more than anything.

David: Has it changed the way that you approach public life at all?

>> Well, I mean -- I've become become -- attacking my introversion.

trying be less introverted and more outward in terms of what I feel, what I think, my opinions, my tolerance of -- David: of shaking hands and all of that?

>> Yeah, pretty much.

getting out of the way, away from the activist kind of -- you know, the self-defense mode that I've always been in.

probably the early of my life all the way up to a few years -- and really being more and more open to people, to talking, to campaigning but not just campaigning for office but campaigning for a new direction because we need that.

more than anything.

David: So what is next for you?

are you going to stick around Newark or is another run for governor or some other office in your future?

>> We'll see.

I'm always going to be in Newark.

I'm going to stay here forever so at the end of the day we're trying to figure it out.

talking to my family, my closest allies, talking about what we do going forward but we're always going to keep our eyes on what's happening with the state.

we're not throwing away another opportunity to run for governor.

if we must, we must.

at the end of the day we need to make sure that we pull the party together and fight for working families across the state.

Briana: You also spoke with G.O.P.

state senator Jon Bramnick who made very clear during the campaign he was knot in the trump camp but I wonder how much did that hurt his chances?

David: He acknowledged as much.

I think he knew that going in, as all of us did but I think he gets credit for sticking to his fun and we talked to him this week and he was philosophical about it but also had some advice for jack Ciattarelli in the fall.

what does assemblyman Ciattarelli have to do in the fall to reach out to either independent voters or even Democrats?

>> I think his message is going to be clear.

you need balance in Trenton.

you don't want one-party politics in Trenton.

all Democrats in one place has not really created an affordable economy.

so he has to say, look, you may not love me but on the other hand do you really want one party down there that hasn't worked real well?

and the really should be less about jack and more about balance in Trenton and how important it is and then you get policies in the middle.

so I would be less about myself and more about the big picture.

David: that's your pitch.

you've been making it since you announced but Ciattarelli's pitches, let's get the immigrants out of here, lower taxes on business, evidence.

>> Quieting the immigrants out, I'm not sure sells in a general election.

giving businesses some breaks in order to keep theme here does make some sense as long as you're also helping the middle class but I don't think the anti-immigration message is going to be sold much in the general election.

I-just don't think it sells in New Jersey.

David: You're a youthful man with some gravitas and some comedic chops request a reputation for bipartisanship.

is there a role for someone like you to play in today's republican party in New Jersey or in today's state senate?

>> I hope so.

I'm sticking around.

there's awls hope and hopefully being nice to people.

respectful, swivellity, statesmanship, hopefully there's a place.

if there's not, we're in big trouble.

David: What do you think jack Ciattarelli should be looking for, either agree graphically or someone's background when it comes to lieutenant governor?

do you have anybody in mind?

>> I don't.

that's really outside of my pay grade.

you're going to have to ask the political pundits that one.

I'm just a state senator.

not an expert on statewide politics when it comes to lieutenant governor.

I just don't have enough non.

David: what are you going to do?

you have, what, two years left on your term?

>> I'm going to try to get on chat box as much as possible and then I'm going to try to get on the news at 6:00 p.m. -- no, I'm going to that do what I've always done.

try to be honest, represent my constituents and do a good josh and not be angry.

just be me.

David: What role do you think you're going to play with the Ciattarelli campaign?

have you been asked to be an advisor?

will you go out and stump with him?

>> If I'm asked, we'll sit down and talk.

it depends on what he wants me to do but I am a republican, I support Republicans.

simple as that.

David: But not as a lieutenant governor candidate.

>> No, I'm not a lieutenant governor type of guy.

Briana: Jon Bramnick from, TV voice of reason.

another of the democratic candidates, former -- Sweeney.

he's been bridge between the progressive and moderate candidates.

I wonder what's next for him?

has he political star fallen at this point?

David: In his term as state senator, he made as many friends and a few enemies because when you're the third or second most powerful person in the state, as senate president, you're going to have to say no to a lot of people, but he was always very good at bringing the disparate sides of the party together and that's something that he talked about with us.

he didn't like being called an elder statesman but he acknowledged, as you and I often did, when he spoke, people listened and I think that when he spoke to us on round table this week, he spoke and loped that the party leadership would listen.

let's take a listen to what he said.

you had a pretty moderate candidate at the top of the list of leaders but the second-place candidate, Ras Baraka, is probably the most progressive candidate, or was the most progressive candidate in the peeled.

what does that say about your party?

is it divided or is it a big tempt?

>> Did you want feel like a big tent right now.

it used to be a big tent.

for everyone's sake, hopefully everyone pulls together and get back under that tent.

we haven't had three consecutive terms of a democrat in 60 years so we have our work cut out for us and hopefully everyone that I ran against all line up and support Mikie.

listen, I became friends with Ras.

I enjoyed running with him.

he and I were polar opposites but he's a great guy.

David: He, did he not, turn out to be really the story of the democratic primary?

I mean, the headline was Mikie wins in a landslide but I think not too many people expected Baraka to be number two.

>> He got a hell of a lot of votes.

we got to get those Democrats voting with Mikie.

David: progressives were not that hot on Mikie Sherrill.

she's got some bridge building to do over the summer, no?

>> Listen, if the progressives really care about the democrat party, I mean, I know they don't -- -- this was not their preferred candidate but jack Ciattarelli is definitely not flair preferred candidate so I really think that we need these guys to work together and we hustle and get this thing done.

again, I'm committed.

the minute I saw the election results, I'm committed to helping.

David, I went into this race expecting organized labor to come out strong.

that's what I-did over my years.

it didn't happen.

you don't take your ball and go home when things happen like this.

you have to get together and work together to make sure we win.

David: I also think that I hear you saying that Democrats don't need to move to the left.

progressives need to move to the right, is that what you're say shotgun >> They need to come to the center for the better of all, at least in this election.

election said are a view of yes we want the party to be.

right now the party is behind the vision that Mikie has.

when you finish second, you finish second, like you finish sixth, whatever.

if you don't win, you get together, you move the ball together downfield and if the progressives take a walk, that's their prerogative but at their expense.

Briana: You can catch the full interviews this Sunday and then the interview with Zeev Sweeney will be on reporters round table right here on N.J. PBS.

that's going to do it for us this week but you can download or podcast wherever you listen and watch us anytime by scrubbing to the "NJ Spotlight News" YouTube channel.

I'm Briana Vannozzi, for the entire team at "NJ Spotlight News," thanks for being with us.

have a great weekend.

we'll see you right back here on Monday.

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