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CNN Transcripts for May 16, 2025

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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
• Nine "Armed And Dangerous" Inmates At Large After Daring New Orleans Jail Escape Caught On Video; Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks President Trump From Using Alien Enemies Act To Deport Group Of Immigrants In Texas; Cassie Ventura Finishes Testimony In Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial After Four Days And Nearly 20 Hours On The Stand; Secret Service Interviews Former FBI Director James Comey Over "86 47" Social Media Post. Aired 8-9p ET


Amanpour
• Interview with African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina; Interview with "The Director" Author Daniel Kehlmann; Interview with Journalist and Professor Karen Attiah. Aired 1-2p ET


CNN's The Arena with Kasie Hunt
• Supreme Court Blocks Trump From Restarting Deportations Using The Alien Enemies Act; House Republicans Halt Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill"; Cassie Ventura Finishes Testimony In Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial. Aired 4-5p ET


The Lead with Jake Tapper
• Cassie Ventura Wraps Up Four Days Of Dramatic Testimony; Source: Secret Service Interviewing Comey Right Now; Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) Is Interviewed About Federal Cuts Could Threaten Momentum Of Overdose Declines; Bill Belichick Girlfriend Amid Relationship Questions. Aired 5-6p ET
• Trump Says Clock Is Ticking On Countries To Make Trade Deals; House GOP Hardliners Deal With Major Blow To Trump Agenda; DHS Requests Help From 20,000 National Guard Members; Axios Obtains Audio Recordings Of Special Counsel Robert Hur's Interview With Joe Biden. Aired 6-7p ET


CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip
• Released Audio Of Robert Hur's 2023 Interview With Biden; Secret Service Interviews James Comey Over 86 47 Post; DHS Considers A Reality Show Where Immigrants Compete To Become Americans; Trump Comments About Bruce Springsteen And Taylor Swift. Aired 10-11p ET


CNN News Central
• Trump Heads Back to U.S. After Major Trip to Middle East; N.J. Transit Halted as Engineers Go on Strike; Soon, Ventura Returns to Stand for Day 2 of Cross-Examination. Aired 7-7:30a ET
• Russia And Ukraine Hold First Direct Peace Talks In Three Years; Newark Controller Details "Close Call" In WSJ Interview; Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) On House GOP Voicing Red Lines And Concerns About Reconciliation Bill. Aired 7:30-8a ET
• Trump Heads Back to U.S. After Major Trip to Middle East; Russia and Ukraine Hold First Direct Peace Talks in Three Years; Soon, Ventura Returns to Stand for Day Two of Cross-Examination. Aired 8- 8:30a ET
• Dr. Robert Califf is Interviewed about Covid Shots; Gov. Ned Lamont (D-CT) is Interviewed about Medicaid Cuts; Suspects Arrested in Sextortion Ring Case; Billy Porter is Interviewed about "My Happy Place." Aired 8:30-9a ET
• Ventura Returns to the Stand; Trump Heads Back to the U.S.; Russia and Ukraine Wrap up Peace Talks; Commuter Nightmare in New York; Newark Controller Details Job Trauma. Aired 9-9:30a ET
• West Point Preps Cadets for Trump Orders; Mouaz Moustafa is Interviewed about Sanctions Lifted on Syria; Sara Blakely is Interviewed about Creating a Billion Dollar Idea. Aired 9:30-10a ET
• No Progress Made in Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks; Interview With Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY); Trump Threatens to Raise Tariffs; Cassie Ventura Continues Testimony. Aired 1-1:30p ET
• West Point Preps Cadets To Lead Amid Trump Admin. Orders; Commuters Scramble As NJ Transit Train Engineers Go On Strike. Aired 1:30-2p ET
• Combs Defense Ends Cross-examination Of Cassie Ventura; Trump Warns He'll Give Countries Two Or Three Weeks To Reach A New Trade Deal Before Applying Higher Tariffs; Trump Wraps Mideast Tour As UAE Pledges New Investments In U.S.; Pope Offers Vatican As A Venue For Russia-Ukraine Talks; Pope Leo XIV Addresses Immigration In Speech Before World Diplomats; Trump Accuses Ex-FBI Director Comey Of Calling For Assassination; Sheriff Says 11 Inmates, Including Murder Suspects, Escape New Orleans Jail. Aired 2-2:30p ET
• Jose Francisco Arias-Tovar Released from ICE; Cassie Ventura's Gut-Wrenching Testimony; Newark Airport Controller Speaks Out. Aired 2:30-3p ET
• Now: Defense Re-Questioning Ventura After Govt. Ends Redirect; House Budget CMTE Votes Down Bill with Trump's Agenda; Trump Suggests New Tariff Rates Will be Sent to 150 Countries; Russia-Ukraine Talks End with No Clear Path Forward. Aired 3-3:30p ET
• State Attorneys General Taking Luxury Trips Paid By Companies They Regulate; Cassie Ventura Finishes Testimony; New Orleans Police Department Releases Photos Of Escaped Inmates. Aired 3:30-4p ET


CNN Newsroom
• Expectations Low Ahead of Russian-Ukrainian Direct Talks; Trump's Final Day of Middle East Tour Begins Soon; Defense Attorneys Grill Cassie Ventura about 'Freak-Offs'; Controversial U.S.-Backed Group Plans to Deliver Aid to Gaza. Aired 12-12:45a ET
• Powell Warns Economy Could Face More Frequent Supply Shocks; Walmart To Raise Prices Because Of Increased Costs From Trump's Tariffs; Defense Attorney's Grill Diddy's Ex-Girlfriend; Russia And Ukraine To Meet In Istanbul, But Expectations Low; Controversial U.S.- Backed Group Plans To Deliver Aid To Gaza; Interview with Ukrainian Parliament Member Oleksiy Goncharenko; Top Court Considers Challenge to Trump's Birthright Policy; U.S. Attorneys General under Scrutiny; "The Final Reckoning" May Be the Last "Mission Impossible"? Aired 1-2a ET
• Trump Begins Final Day of Middle East Tour in the UAE; Expectations are Low for the Direct Talks Between Russia and Ukraine; Controversial U.S.-Backed Group Plans To Deliver Aid To Gaza; European Union Trade Ministers Met In Brussels Thursday. Aired 2-2:45a ET
• Trump Attends a Roundtable Meeting to Close His Three-Day Middle East Tour; Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Begins Without Any Leaders Attending; Prosecutors to Continue Aired 3-4a ET


CNN This Morning
• Trump's Middle East Trip Promises Financial Deals, Upends U.S. Policy; Defense Attorneys Grill Cassie Ventura in Diddy Trial; Coach Bill Belichick's May-December Relationship in Spotlight. Aired 6-6:30a ET
• Talks Begin Between Russia and Ukraine; Supreme Court Weighs Arguments on Citizenship; Trump Immigration Policy Faces Supreme Court; Walmart Announces Price Increases; Ventura Back on Stand; Comey Under Fire for Instagram Post. Aired 6:30-7a ET


Connect the World
• U.S. President Refines Foreign Policy Positions on Gulf Tour; Israeli Blockade Forces Gaza to Brink of Famine; Russia & Ukraine Accuse Each Other of Massive Drone Attacks Ahead of Direct Talks in Istanbul; Pressure from Higher Tariffs Raising Prices in the U.S.; Top Court Considers Challenges to Trump's Birthright Policy. Aired 9-10a ET
• Russia and Ukraine Hold First Direct Talks in Istanbul Three Year Since War Started; Vatican Offers to Help Bring Peace to Ukraine; U.S. President Trump Touts Investment Deals Linked to Middle East Tour; Cassie Ventura's Cross-Examination Continues; Growing Need for Aid in Gaza; Newark Controller Details Job Trauma in Interview. Aired 10-11a ET


Erin Burnett Outfront
• U.S. Credit Rating Cut By Moody's Over Rising Government Debt; Supreme Court Blocks Trump From Using Wartime Law For Deportations; Secret Service Interviews Ex-FBI Chief Comey Over Instagram Post; Trump Wants A Putin Meeting, Touts "Very Good Relationship". Aired 7- 8p ET


Early Start with Rahel Solomon
• Trump Visits UAE, Attends Business Meeting On Last Day Of Trip; Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Begin Amid Low Expectations; Walmart Warns It Will Raise Prices Because Of Trump's Tariffs. Aired 4-4:30a ET
• Chris Brown Charged Over Alleged London Nightclub Assault; Cassie Ventura Getting Grilled By The Defense; Judge Orders Probe In Information Leak On NBC Dateline Episode About Bryan Kohberger; Supreme Court Hears Historic Arguments On Birthright Citizenship. Aired 4:30-5a ET
• Trump Visits Abrahamic Family House In Abu Dhabi, Russia & Ukraine About To Start Direct Talks In Istanbul. Aired 5-5:30a ET
• Defense Attorneys Grill Cassie Ventura About "Freak Offs"; Trump Teases New Tariff Plans In "Two To Three Weeks"; Top Court Considers Challenges To Trump's Birthright Policy. Aired 5:30-6a ET


Inside Politics
• Trump Speaks with Zelenskyy, European Leaders While Flying Home from Whirlwind Trip to the Middle East; Trump Appears to Shed Isolationism During Mideast Trip; Bill Containing Trump's Agenda Fails to Pass Committee; House Budget Committee Votes Down Bill with Trump's Agenda. Aired 12-12:30p ET
• Gov. Newsom Attracts 2028 Intrigue With Centrist Policy Moves; Democrats' Early Jockeying For The 2028 Presidential Primary; Trump Slams Bruce Springsteen For Calling Him "Unfit" & Incompetent" During U.K. Concert; Robert Kraft Brings Business Approach To Fight Antisemitism. Aired 12:30-1p ET


Isa Soares Tonight
• Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Yield Only Prisoner Swap; U.S. And Iran Disagree On Possible Nuclear Deal; Israel Unleashes Heavy Strikes In Gaza Killing Hundreds; Trump: U.S. Sent Iran Formal Nuclear Deal Proposal; Cassie Ventura Wrapping Up Testimony In Combs Case; Children's Book Smile Focuses On Climate Change Worry; Millions Of Fans Anticipate Eurovision Final. Aired 2-3p ET


Laura Coates Live
• Laura Coates and Guests Discuss the Latest in the Federal Trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs; Diddy's Inner Circle Comes into Focus as Testimony Continues; Powerhouse Legal Teams Face Off in Courtroom Battle; Entertainment Industry Grapples with Diddy's Trial. Aired 11p- 12a ET


One World with Zain Asher
• CNN International: Russian And Ukraine Hold Direct Peace Talks In Istanbul; Trump Leaves The Middle East With Billions Of Deals; Trump: U.S. Is Close To Nuclear Deal With Iran. Aired 11a-12p ET
• Russia And Ukraine Hold Direct Peace Talks In Istanbul; U.S. President Heads Home After Whirlwind Tour Of The Gulf; Cassie Ventura Back On Witness Stand For Fourth Day; Third-Largest Commuter Line In America Grinds To A Halt; Trump On way Home From Mideast Tour Filled With Deals; World's Best Struggle As Unlikely Leader Emerges; Aired 12-1p ET


Quest Means Business
• Trump Budget Bill Blocked In Committee By House Republicans; Trump Announces Trove Of Deals On Planes, A.I., Energy; Russia and Ukraine Hold Direct Talks In Istanbul; Cassie Ventura Finishes Testimony In Sean "Diddy" Combs' Trial; Authorities Investigate Murder Of Mexican Beauty Influencer; Novo Nordisk CEO Stepping Down As Shares Tumble. Aired 4-5p ET


The Situation Room
• Trump Holds Call With Zelenskyy and European Leaders; Cross- Exam of Cassie Ventura Resumes in Sean Diddy Trial; N.J. Transit Halted After Engineers Go on Strike. Aired 10-10:30a ET
• Russia and Ukraine Hold First Direct Peace Talks in Three Years; Russia and Ukraine Agreed on Prisoner Swap; Global Sextortion Suspects Arrested; Eric Adams Announces New Antisemitism Office; FAA Investigating New Air Traffic Control Outage. Aired 10:30-11a ET
• Day 2 Of Cassie Ventura Cross-Examination In Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial; Trump Appears To Confirm Iran Has Received A Nuclear Deal Proposal; WSJ: Air Traffic Controller Calls For More Resources Amid Staff Shortages, Tech Outages. Aired 11-11:30a ET
• PGA Championship Continues; West Point Scrambles to Deal With Trump Executive Orders; Americans' Opinions of Trump Administration?. Aired 11:30a-12p ET


The Source with Kaitlan Collins
• Comey Interviewed By Secret Service Over Instagram Post; Justices Block Trump From Using Wartime Law To Deport Migrants; DHS Vets Reality Show Where Immigrants Compete For Citizenship. Aired 9- 10p ET


The Brief with Jim Sciutto
• U.S. Credit Rating Downgrade; Israel Launch New Military Operation; Iran Did Not Receive Any Written Proposal from U.S.; Controversial U.S.- Backed Group Plans to Deliver Aid to Gaza; Ukraine and Russia Agree on a Prisoner Swap; Trump Renews Threat of Tariffs; Film Industry's Tariff Fears; Cassie Ventura Wraps Testimony at Diddy Trial; 2025 PGA Championship; Eurovision Final in Switzerland. Aired 6-7p ET


What We Know with Max Foster
• Russia And Ukraine Hold Direct Peace Talks In Istanbul; Trump Leaves The Middle East With Billions In Deals; Gaza Health Ministry: 250 Killed In Last 36 Hours; Pope Leo Offers Vatican For Russia-Ukraine Mediation Talks; Far-Right Candidate And Trump Admirer In Romania Favored To Win Runoff; Newark Controller Details Job Trauma In WSJ Interview. Aired 3-4p ET