Conservative commentator Jonah Goldberg had a sharp response Monday to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller's unfounded claims that local and state police should "stand down" and "surrender" to ICE agents.
Goldberg was on a CNN panel responding to Miller's comments on X that alleged police in Minneapolis — where ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed mother Renee Good in her car this month — have allowed protesters to do whatever they want.
"First of all, on the Stephen Miller thing, I've read the Constitution a couple of times. Nowhere in there does it say that the White House deputy chief of staff can order local law enforcement in a sovereign state to do — I almost cursed — anything, and it's all not like maybe I missed some reporting that there has been some order or request made from federal authorities," Goldberg said.
Miller, the architect of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policy, has argued that local law enforcement hasn't cooperated with federal law enforcement — a baseless statement.
"But like the president, never mind the White House chief of staff doesn't get to tell local law enforcement officers to lay down their weapons and surrender. I don't know what the hell that means," Goldberg added.
A CNN anchor on Tuesday had a pointed question for Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who has often broken ranks with Democrats and faced criticism over it.
CNN anchor Kasie Hunt dropped the question during a live interview, asking the sweatshirt-wearing lawmaker about his views on remaining in the Democratic party — despite lingering comments over where his loyalties lie and whether he'd back President Donald Trump's party.
"Sir, I do want to ask you about your own political party, as, of course, Democrats did win on Election Day in November, but of course, had a tough time in the presidential election. And I think I have a big picture question for you, given some of the things that you've said in recent months do you plan on staying a member of the Democratic party for the duration of your political career?" Hunt asked.
"Absolutely," Fetterman responded.
"I mean — I'm not sure why I keep — I have the question. I've been consistently — I would never going to change my party," he added, as the interview cut in and out.
Fetterman appeared stumped for a moment after the question, then responded.
"I know there's no such thingas a Trump Democrat," he said.
"Well, youknow, I just, I ran, you know, Iasked a person to run my — myrecord," Fetterman added. "I have a 94% overall,94% voting. The Dem line, 94%. Imean, that's, you know, sothat's — it's it's a strangeplace. So, for me, I am going tobe very honest. And there's somethings I might agree orsometimes I'll disagree. I'mgoing to follow what I believehappens to be the truth in asituation, but I'm not sure now.So when as a Democrat, I'm notchanging my party and my votingrecord is is exactly, you know,in."
A CNN reporter sprinted away from ICE officers who chased Minneapolis protesters outside a federal facility on Thursday as the community responded to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good.
Protests erupted and tensions mounted as CNN's Omar Jimenez ran down the road as the crowd dispersed after a man reportedly threw a water bottle at federal agents. A group charged toward the suspect and appeared to detain him.
"Obviously, a lot of anger over what happened just yesterday. At this point, we've got a little bit of flare up. They are coming. They're coming towards us right now. Stay up. You're good, you're good," Jimenez said, running back with the crowd during the live broadcast.
"So they're pushing folks back right now. As you can see behind me there, they've deployed some form of crowd repellent just in the last few seconds here," he added. "And look, this has been a lot of what we've seen over the course of the day. Someone just threw a water bottle towards those agents, which really — they're heading into the crowd right now. We are going to back up. They are moving, truly sprinting into the crowd, and they are tackling folks."
Several fights broke out among the agents and protesters. Multiple people were body slammed and detained, CNN reported. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Thursday that he had authorized the Minnesota National Guard to be on standby to support local law enforcement.
Masked ICE agents were drawing closer to protesters in Minneapolis on Thursday, firing tear gas on the crowd gathering in response to the fatal shooting of 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good.
CNN's Laura Coates reported how tensions were rising on the ground as questions mounted over what happened between now identified ICE agent Jonathan Ross and Good, who was driving in her Honda Pilot when Ross reportedly fired three shots at her through her vehicle windows.
"The ICE agents coming down, guns drawn right now," Coates said. "Some sort of agents trying to counteract right now, trying to get their colleagues into it right now as they're spraying something into the air right now. People are concerned."
While speaking with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt, Coates reported tear gas hitting the crowd.
"A lot of tension. We've got people around right now about 40 or so ICE agents that are out here in the area," she said. "There is something that is in the air causing you to cough a little bit. They are retreating right now as the crowd is coming closer and closer. They are retreating back in one single line, holding the line as they're walking right now. You have people who are close and they're continuing to yell, 'Back.' People are covering their mouths."
People within President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security on Thursday are reportedly appalled by what they saw in the video showing the moment an ICE agent shot and killed a Minneapolis mother inside her car.
CNN anchor Brianna Keilar described the number of questions raised within Trump's own agency following Vice President JD Vance's comments suggesting that 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good was to blame for the fatal shooting, and his complaining about the media over questions surrounding the actions of the ICE officer, since identified as Jonathan Ross.
"We are listening there to Vice President JD Vance, who vehemently blamed Renee Nicole Good for her own death, stressed robust actions that are going to take place for federal fraud investigations in Minnesota. But not much about an investigation into what happened when it came to Good's killing," Keilar said.
In 2022, federal law enforcement agencies prohibited officers from shooting at moving vehicles and updated training policies to include that standard. The Trump administration has cited that Ross reportedly feared for his life, and Vance claimed that he had immunity in the fatal shooting.
"Even as he was lambasting the press for media coverage of all of this, there are a number of people inside of DHS who are aghast at what they saw in that video, and we need to be clear about that," Keilar added. "We are reporting what we have heard from sources. We are reporting what law enforcement, former law enforcement sources familiar with use of force protocols are saying and questions that they are raising about how this was carried out."
CNN anchor Dana Bash Thursday was shocked after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's continued claims about the fatal ICE killing of 37-year-old mother Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.
Noem responded to series of questions from reporters during a press conference in New York City when she doubled down on the allegations that Good had targeted an ICE officer while driving her maroon Honda Pilot — while also saying that there should be a more thorough investigation.
"This vehicle was used to hit this officer. It was used as a weapon. And the officer feels as though his life was in jeopardy," Noem said.
Bash started questioning Noem's statements during the live broadcast.
"Reporters were able to ask a number of questions about what happened in Minneapolis. But the headline is that the Homeland Security secretary has declared what happened and is putting the blame entirely on the woman who died and then saying, there needs to be an investigation. So I'm not sure how those those two go together," Bash said. "But there is a conclusion that she is making a very steep conclusion, a very, specific conclusion. And yet there has been no investigation that has taken place."
Noem repeated what she said in the hours after the fatal shooting — which Bash pointed out.
"I think that we have all become accustomed to the Trump administration. And to be fair, you know, Democrats who are watching this to sort of everybody goes to their corners about what happened instead of taking a breath and saying, let's get the facts and let's let the investigation play out," Bash said. "And in a situation like this we have to remind people this is not normal, never mind the shooting, which is horrible, but the aftermath, this is there's not even a shared understanding of facts, or at least waiting for the facts anymore. And you're hearing from people who are rank and file in the Department of Homeland Security that they're shocked and probably not happy about it."
"Unfortunately, as you know, Brianna, during the budget debate in July, the Democrats actually used what's called the Byrd Rule in the Senate to take those provisions out. We put them back in. We hope that the Democrats will support our effort to actually reduce premiums so that we can all benefit, not just Obamacare beneficiaries, but all Americans, who are being hit hard by the failure of Obamacare," Haridopolos said.
That's when Keilar stopped him.
"I think anyone who has had to deal with health costs will tell you there are problems. It's been 15 years, though, since Obamacare passed. That's a lot of time to try to address the cost of health care, isn't it?"
Haridopolos then backpedaled.
"I couldn't agree with you more," he said. "Every time we try to push together some different ideas, like we did again this week in the congress, with republicans pushing an idea that actually reduce costs and give more people options as opposed to just Obamacare. As I mentioned, I hope that people look back at July. We passed a measure that would actually reduce Obamacare by 11%. The democrats actually fought it, which is shocking to me because they like us. They said..."
Keilar interjected again, pointed to her question again, and pressed the Republican lawmaker on how the GOP is in power but hasn't changed health care policy in the U.S.
"Let me stop you there... We're talking about addressing health care costs. Right. And I certainly hear your concern with Obamacare," she added. "But if we're talking about addressing health care costs, those have been a problem prior to the passage of Obamacare. They've continued to be a problem after the passage of Obamacare. And I hear what you're saying about this past summer, but it has been 15 years! So when you're talking about trying to address only now these issues of costs, why let these subsidies expire? If you don't have a solution and your party has had a decade and a half to try to come up with one?"
CNN anchor Brianna Keilar called out a Republican for using President Donald Trump's talking points during a fiery interview Thursday.
Keilar was interviewing Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH) about the ongoing questions surrounding lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Venezuela, and whether Congress was readying for an escalated offense against the country. That's when the conversation got heated.
"He has said no less than 17 times in recent months that land strikes could be coming soon," Keilar said, referring to Trump signaling that the United States could advance attacks on land.
"Yeah, well, I'm just telling you, the briefings we've got, we aren't currently engaged in hostilities directly against Venezuela," Davidson responded. "The boats are not flagged. Venezuelan boats. And what people are calling a blockade is really more of — is targeting sanctioned oil ships. It's not like we're blocking all shipments going in and out of Venezuela."
Keilar pressed Davidson further.
"What — you mean by people, do you mean Trump? Because he called it a blockade," Keilar asked.
"The language is blockade. But the reality is what's going on isn't closure of everything going in and out of the country. It's a targeted enforcement action," Davidson said.
Keilar pushed back with a sharp question.
"The language of the president is blockade. So he's wrong?" Keilar asked.
"It's not a blockade. A blockade would be that there's no flow of goods in and out of Venezuela. So those are distinctions," Davidson added. "And what we're doing is enforcing current law. The administration is clearly not in violation of the War Powers Resolution, currently. And it's also clear, though, as I said in my statement, that if we did engage directly, let's say we deploy Marines on the ground in Venezuela that does cross the war powers and the United States."
Davidson said that the Constitution is clear about how war works and that he's talked to Secretary of State Marco Rubio about it.
"But you said, and I want to focus on war powers, because I know it's something that you're so concerned about," Keilar pushed back. "You said you have high confidence they will seek congressional authority on this. Do you have total confidence because the Trump administration is actually seeking a separate legal opinion to DOJ to provide a justification for launching strikes against land targets in Venezuela? This is what we reported last month. According to a U.S. official. Without getting congressional authorization, though, no decisions have been made yet to move forward with an attack. They were looking for how to do this legally without Congress okaying it."
Davidson admitted that Trump is frustrated with Congress and with their response to the strikes.
"The reality is the Trump administration has provided the briefings. It has communicated. And that's why I have the confidence that I have. Is it certainty? No. And the reality is that President Trump would like to do far more in Venezuela. And I think, look, every president gets frustrated dealing with a legislature. But that's the Constitution," Davidson said.
A chance for Donald Trump to turn CNN "full MAGA" has failed following the breakdown in talks between Paramount and Warner Bros.
Paramount had been looking to merge with Warner Bros., though the studio has instead opted for a merger with Netflix, Newsweek reported. Paramount CEO David Ellison had suggested the Paramount/Warner Bros. merger had the backing of Trump, with Jared Kushner having backed the proposed $108 billion takeover bid. This has since been rejected, Warner Bros. has confirmed.
Their statement reads, "Following a careful evaluation of Paramount's recently launched tender offer, the Board concluded that the offer's value is inadequate, with significant risks and costs imposed on our shareholders."
"This offer once again fails to address key concerns that we have consistently communicated to Paramount throughout our extensive engagement and review of their six previous proposals."
"We are confident that our merger with Netflix represents superior, more certain value for our shareholders and we look forward to delivering on the compelling benefits of our combination."
An end to the possible merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. also puts an end to Trump's desire to make CNN, which is part of Warner Bros., a "full MAGA" channel. Paramount CEO David Ellison has reportedly told insiders he would influence CNN into making changes that would benefit the Trump administration.
The Wall Street Journal claimed Ellison has "offered assurances to administration officials" that CNN would receive sweeping changes should Paramount win the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. Ellison made it clear what he wants from the takeover and took a shot at Netflix.
He said, "I’m incredibly grateful for the relationship that I have with the president, and I also believe he believes in competition. And when you fundamentally look at the marketplace, allowing the number one streaming service to combine with the number three streaming service is anti-competitive."
"We want to build a scaled, new service that is basically, fundamentally in the trust business, that is in the truth business, and that speaks to the 70 percent of Americans that are in the middle, and we believe that by doing so, that is for us, kind of doing well while doing good."
A CNN analyst called the White House's bluff after President Donald Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles's explosive Vanity Fair interview dropped Tuesday in an article Wiles complained was a "hit piece."
Kate Bedingfield, former Biden White House communications director, suggested that Wiles could have made a strategic move, and the White House could simply release the recordings if there were any questions about the context.
"What's so interesting to me is that Susie Wiles has this really sterling reputation as somebody who has Trump's confidence and who runs the White House with an iron fist," Bedingfield said. "And in many ways, it felt to me like this interview was sort of an emperor has no clothes moment, where, moment after moment, significant Trump decision after significant Trump decision. She says in the interview, 'You know, I was overruled.' Or, 'You know, I don't really know,' or 'people that are smarter than me are going to make this decision.'"
Bedingfield suggested that Wiles could be considering her political future.
"It was very interesting to me to watch somebody who has a public reputation, you know, as such a stalwart of the White House, sort of try to distance herself from some of the key decisions," she added. "So I actually wondered if there was a strategic effort there to distance herself. And if we're going to see perhaps a Susie Wiles departure. I mean, these are the kinds of interviews that you do when you're trying to establish your kind of capstone legacy."
Trump indicated Tuesday that he stands by Wiles and admitted that he has "an alcoholic's personality."
Wiles conducted 11 interviews with the writer, Christopher Whipple, over the course of a year — not just one conversation, Bedingfield added.
"You know, you kind of hear her saying it was taken out of context, although I would say if they feel there was context omitted, they should release the tapes. Let's hear, let's hear, let's hear the footage of the whole thing," Bedingfield said.
