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CNN Transcripts for December 21, 2025

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The Lead with Jake Tapper
• Rep. Don Bacon, (R-NE), Is Interviewed About Trump Claims He Was "Framework" Of Future Greenland Deal; Justices Seem Skeptical Of Trump's Push To Oust Fed Governor; House Panel Votes To Hold Clintons In Contempt In Epstein Probe; Trump Says Canada Should Be "Grateful" For United States; Trump Skewers NATO, Canada & Others In Davos Speech; Awaiting Verdict Of Former Uvalde School Officer. Aired 5-6p ET


CNN Newsroom
• Last Day Of Turning Point USA's Youth Conference; U.S. Working To Intercept Another Vessel Near Venezuela Today; Outrage Grows After Heavily Redacted Partial Epstein File Release; Farmers Faced A Challenging Year Amid Tariffs, Immigration Crackdown; Top Catholic In Holy Land Urges Palestinians To Rebuild; Australian Government To Review Police & Intelligence Agencies Following Bondi Beach Massacre; U.S. Says It Attacked Alleged ISIS Targets In Syria Last Week; How To Live A Pain-Free Life. Aired 2-3p ET
• Outrage Grows After Heavily Redacted Partial Epstein Files Release; Vance Addresses Turning Point USA's Youth Conference; Trump Expands D.C. Makeover With Name Added On Kennedy Center. Aired 3-4p ET
• Outrage Grows After Heavily Redacted Partial Epstein File Release; Thousands Gather To Remember Victims Of Bondi Beach; J.D. Vance Addresses Turning Point USA's Youth Conference; Many Survivors Of Eaton Fire Still Facing Major Challenges; Top Catholic In Holy Land Urges Palestinians To Rebuild; U.S. Envoys Hold Talks Over Next Phase Of Gaza Ceasefire. Aired 4-5p ET
• Did Not Air. Aired 5-6p ET
• Backlash Escalates Over Heavily Redacted Epstein Files; U.S. Working To Intercept Another Vessel Near Venezuela; Vice President Vance Speaks At Turning Point USA's Youth Conference; Salvation Army Needs Volunteers To Save The Holidays; Holiday Travel Do's And Don'ts With The Points Guy; New CNN Film Features Comedic Actor Chevy Chase. Aired 6-7p ET
• DOJ Restores Photo Containing Images Of Trump To Epstein Files Web Site; U.S. Working To Intercept Another Vessel Near Venezuela; Only 22 Percent Of Republicans Want J.D. Vance To Run In 2028; Kennedy Center Name Change Sparks Backlash And Legal Concerns; Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson Clash Over Future Of MAGA Party; Britain's Prince William, Son George Lend A Helping Hand; Many Residents Still Struggling From Devastating Eaton Fire. Aired 7-8p ET
• Australians Mark One Week Since Mass Shooting; Oil Tanker Seized; Zelenskyy Says, Peace Must be Fair and Strong. Aired 3-4a ET
• Australia's "Day of Reflection"; U.S. Seizes Another Tanker; Trump: Land Strikes on Venezuela Happening "Soon"; DOJ Releases Heavily Redacted Epstein Files; Israeli Protesters Call for State Inquiry into October 7 Attacks; U.S.-Russian Talks on Ukraine to Resume Today; U.S. Denies Visas to Honduran Officials; Trump Reclassifies Marijuana. Aired 4-5a ET
• Trump DOJ Releases Heavily Redacted Epstein Files; At Least One Image Of Trump Has Been Removed From DOJ Site; U.S. Seizes Second Oil Tanker Off Venezuela's Coast; U.S.-Russia Peace Talks On Ukraine Underway In Miami; Search Intensifies For Motive In University, MIT Shootings; Australians Mark One Week Since Deadly Mass Shooting; Trump Announces Plan To Lower Prescription Drug Prices. Aired 5-6a ET


CNN This Morning
• Iran Offers Solidarity After U.S. Seizes Ship Off Venezuela Coast; U.S. Seizes Second Ship Off Coast Of Venezuela; Trump To Blockade Oil-Sanctioned Ships Going In, Out Of Venezuela; Peace Talks To Try To End Russia's War On Ukraine Resume In Miami; Lawmakers Slam DOJ For Failing To Release All Epstein Files; Stefanik Ends Bid For New York Governor And Would Not Seek Reelection To House; Search Intensifies For Motive In Brown And MIT Shootings; Australia Marks One Week Since Shooting; Seven Killed In North Carolina Private Jet Crash; Vice President Vance Expected To Speak At Turning Point Conference; Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $1.6 Billion. Trump Tries To Claim Credit For Cooling Inflation Despite Economists Warning Of Data Distortion; Source: Trump Admin. Plans To Require Fewer Shots For Children; Heavy Rains Pummel Northern, Central California; AAA Expects 122M+ Travelers, Breaking Records "I'm Chevy Chase And You're Not" Airs New Years Day At 8P ET. Aired 6- 7a ET
• U.S. Seizes Second Oil Tanker Off Venezuela's Coast; Peace Talks To Try To End Russia's War On Ukraine War Resume In Miami; Vice President Vance To Speak At Turning Point Conference; Lawmakers Slam DOJ For Failing To Release All Epstein Files; AAA Expects 122M Plus Travelers, Setting New Record; Rain, Storms On The West Coast Expected To Snarl Holiday Travel. Dems Will Not Release "Autopsy" of 2024 Presidential Loss; Rep. Stefanik Ends NY Gov. Bid; Trump Signs Executive Order to Expedite Marijuana Reclassification. Aired 7-8a ET


Fareed Zakaria GPS
• Interview with Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Interview With Professor And Author Jessica Stern; Interview With Former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Aired 10-11a ET


Inside Politics
• Outrage Grows After Partial Epstein File Release; New CNN Poll Reveals Who Americans Want To Run In 2028; Will GOP Face Fallout From Americans' Health Care Cliff? New Poll: Trump's Health Care Approval Rating at 37 percent; Left-Wing Primary Bids Surge with House Majority on the Line; Interview with Kiss Singer Gene Simmons. Aired 8-9a ET


CNN Live Event/Special
• Rob Reiner In His Own Words: A Larry King Exclusive. Aired 9- 10p ET


State of the Union
• Interview With Sen. James Lankford (R-OK); Interview With Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Aired 9-10a ET


The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper
• Rob Reiner, His Life and Legacy. Aired 8-9 ET