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The Lead with Jake Tapper
FBI Pleads Form New Leads In Nancy Guthrie Disappearance; Trump Says Country Should Move On From Epstein Files After Latest Release; Prominent Names Attempt To Explain Their Ties To Epstein; Russian Strikes In Kyiv End Short-Lived Ceasefire; Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-TX), Is Interviewed About James Talarico Denies Calling Ex-Rival A "Mediocre Black Man"; Democrat Flips State Senate District Trump Won By 17 Points; Examining Injuries & Performance Grass Vs. Turf Fields. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired February 03, 2026 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTORL The agents. The agents of the federal government. The agents. That's insane.
PETER MEIJER (R) FORMER MICHIGAN CONGRESSMAN: If you, if you, if Trump is negatively polarizing the Democratic Party, you know, last week and earlier is about the second Amendment and Democrats rushing to Alex Pretti defense to have a gun. Fantastic. Let's support the second Amendment.
If this is -- if he will negatively polarize you guys into also believing that more things should be decided at the state level.
BEGALA: No, no. We're just swearing to the Constitution. I swear not to defend that Constitution.
KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: We are up against the one and only, most venerable Jake Tapper is standing by. So don't go anywhere. The Lead with Jake Tapper starts now.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Hundreds of tips but no clear answers about the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy. The Lead starts right now.
What happened to the mother of TODAY Show anchor Savannah Guthrie? Investigators say that they believe she was taken from her home against her will. Now, there are reports of ransom notes popping up, but are any of them real?
And facing a contempt of Congress vote, President Bill and Secretary Hillary Clinton now say that they're ready to testify about their connections to dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein in person on videotape with no time limit.
And the Senate race in Texas quickly turning nasty, Democrats duking it out to win the primary.
Welcome to The Lead. I'm Jake Tapper, the Lead tonight. Time is of the essence in the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie. The 84 year old mother of NBC Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie. Nancy investigators believe was abducted from her home on Saturday night near Tucson, Arizona without her life saving medications.
This afternoon, officials revealed no new breaks in the case. They said they are investigating all new leads.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF CHRIS NANOS, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA: We have someone's life who is in jeopardy and so job number one is we got to find her and we got to work hard to do that.
JON EDWARDS, FBI ASSISTANT SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: Every lead and tip is important. We are aggressively pursuing and looking into every single one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: What we know is that Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night when family dropped her off at home around 9:30 pm. Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. a family member visited the home after being notified that Nancy had not come to church that morning, which was unusual. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing at noon Sunday. Her home became a crime scene on Monday.
Sheriff Nanos says the Guthrie family has emphasized that Nancy has no history of dementia or any cognitive issues. And she also has mobility issues, making it extremely unlikely that she took off on her own volition. The family also says 24 hours without her daily medication could prove fatal.
Nancy's daughter, Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie is in Arizona no longer on her way to Italy to anchor NBC's coverage of the Olympics. She posted the words, please pray on Instagram, adding in part, thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Bring her home.
I want to bring in CNN's Ed Lavandera, who's right outside Tucson, near where Nancy lived. Ed, what are we learning?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jake, we are now three days into the search for Nancy Guthrie, and sheriff's officials here say they still do not know where she is. Investigators continue to hold a lot of the details about what they discovered in her home here on the northern edge of Tucson, close to the vest.
But they do say that it is a crime scene, that she was and appears to have been abducted and taken against her will from the home. And they continue investigators to plead with the public here for anyone who lives around here in this neighborhood and the foothills of Tucson to share whatever they have.
But that in and of itself is kind of difficult because if you look at the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives, you know, a lot of the homes are spread apart. They're behind a great deal of desert foliage as well. So for porch cameras and other cameras that might be around here, to
get a clear sign of some sort of evidence, especially in the middle of the night when it's just pitch dark out here, is really difficult. And that, I think, speaks to how difficult this investigation has been for investigators.
They do say that they are getting a number of videos and other evidence that they're going through. FBI officials say that they're searching through phones and looking at cell tower data as well. So all of that work continues, but is a painstakingly slow process. Investigators were also asked about cameras inside the home, and investigators here in Tucson say that they are still waiting to try to get some of that video back from the companies that operate those cameras.
So the sheriff at times sounding frustrated by how slow that process has been. And he was also asked about possible ransom demands.
[17:05:00]
And the sheriff would not say that a ransom demand has been made says, but they are taking all evidence seriously at this moment. Jake.
TAPPER: All right. I love it there. Thank you so much. Joining us now to discuss is Jeffrey Halstead, former Fort Worth police chief and a former FBI special agent, Bryanna Fox. Jeffrey, let's start with these non-answers from the sheriff about potential ransom demands at today's update. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have any demands been made by kidnappers?
NANOS: We have all kinds of investigative leads we're working on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were asked if there was any ransom and you didn't say no. You said, we're following all leads. Does that mean a ransom has come in?
NANOS: We are following all leads we have. That's all I can tell you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: So the sheriff's office now says that they're aware of reports circulating about potential ransom notes tied to the case. How do you interpret what he said? Is it possible that they're just checking out to see if these ransom notes are legitimate? What do you think?
JEFFREY HALSTEAD, FORMER WORTH WORHT POLICE CHIEF: Yes, I think that could be very fair. Jake, in your assessment, what you need to realize, they have to keep this absolutely close to their chest. They cannot release anything. Yes, that would be considered a lead, but that lead would immediately be shuffled over to the FBI. It's a good thing the FBI is right there to do this in partnership with, you know, Pima County Sheriff's office. But right now it would be extremely guarded. Might be unlikely, but
they got to check into the validity of that and before they actually put resources behind it.
TAPPER: Bryanna, how would law enforcement verify the legitimacy of a ransom note? How would the FBI do it?
BRYANNA FOX, FORMER FBI AGENT: Yes, that's a great question. It's actually incredibly challenging. A lot of the time they have to actually eliminate what wouldn't be a credible ransom note. So things that they look for is the amount that was being asked for. Is that a reasonable credible amount? Knowing the victim and their means also thinks, is it include details that only the kidnapper or the ransomware would know?
A lot of times, you know, matching up DNA or things that we think of when we watch TV, that's really not possible at that phase. Although there are new advents, you know, in touch DNA technology that they can be trying to use right now.
TAPPER: And Bryanna, sticking with you, a source tells CNN that the U.S. Marshals Service has not yet been asked to join the search. That's the federal agency that could at the very least offer tracking technology and other expertise in a search like this. Why do you think that could be and do you think that should change?
FOX: Yes. When I was an FBI agent in Las Vegas, I worked closely with service. They're really fantastic at exactly this, finding people that don't want to be found or couldn't be found. So, I think that there's a lot of reasons. One could be they think at this moment, the resources are applicable for, you know, the area that they have coverage for.
Another one is that cases turning and they may have a different direction or they may have a lead, and they don't think that is necessary at this moment.
TAPPER: And, Jeffrey, officials said today that they do not think that whatever happened here constitutes a wider threat to the public, even though they do not know yet if this was a targeted abduction. So how can they be sure that they don't think that there's a threat to the larger public?
HALSTEAD: I think they're relying on a lot of the intelligence they got both at the scene, the evidentiary surrounding that, you know, what is considered now crime scene. But also, you know, it's public safety's job to put the community at ease and keep them very, very alert.
One thing that was promising, though, today, when the sheriff kind of did a postpone until the next media briefing for 48 hours, that tends to tell me there's some pretty strong leads that's giving them some great leverage to move forward, and they don't want to waste time holding press conferences when they really need to be on the streets following up on very significant leads. TAPPER: And, Bryanna, the sheriff, said that investigators are still
waiting to receive surveillance footage from security companies, as well as lab results from the crime scene. I can't imagine that there's much higher priority. But will that evidence help a search investigation that's moved outside the home, and does it normally take this long?
FOX: Oh, absolutely. I mean, what they'll gain from that, I can't even imagine. It's going to be so incredibly helpful. A lot of times it's that kind of footage or the ability to get something from that footage and show it to the public. And having the eyes on it takes it really from this abstract into I could actually imagine this person or I may have seen this person or circumstance related to this offense.
How long it takes sometimes. I mean, some of these tests are very quick. Some of them take longer running through databases. I've been very frustrated, personally, in my own work, where you're saying, this is very important. We need this right away. And sometimes they just say, well, this is how long it takes to run these tests or, you know, run this database and get this back to you.
So I wouldn't be, you know, I wouldn't be surprised. There are major things that we find out soon, but we haven't quite gotten past the timeframe where I think this is crazy.
[17:10:03]
TAPPER: All right, Bryanna Fox and Jeffrey Halstead, thanks to both of you for your expertise and anyone out there who might have any information related to the disappearance of Mrs. Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, including video or photos or anything, please submit your tip by dialing 1-800-CALL-FBI. 1-800-CALL-FBI. You can also submit a tip online if you want to local authorities@88crime.org. That's 88crime.org and on a personal note, everyone here at The Lead is praying and hoping for the best for Nancy Guthrie. And our thoughts are with Savannah and her family.
The Clintons, Norway's crown princess, even an NFL team owner. Coming up next, we're going to talk about some of the international prominent names wrapped up in the Epstein scandal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TAPPER: And we're back with breaking news. President Trump made remarks just moments ago about the dead pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. I want to play a little bit of his exchange with CNN's Kaitlan Collins when she asked him about a number of things, including survivors of Epstein expressing a concern about the lack of redactions of other survivors in the Epstein files that were released on Friday. Take a listen.
[17:15:08]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: A lot of women who were. Are survivors of Epstein's are unhappy with those redactions that came out. Some of them entire witness interviews are totally blacked out. Do you think that they should be more transparent?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: They thought they released too much. You know, I heard that. And you tell me something else. I think it's really time for the country to get onto something else. Really. You know, now that nothing came out about me, other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally by Epstein and other people. But I think it's time now for the country to maybe get onto something else.
COLLINS: But what would you say to people who feel like they haven't gotten justice, Mr. President?
TRUMP: Something that people care about. Yeah. What did you say? Go ahead.
COLLINS: What would you say to the survivors who feel like they haven't gotten justice?
TRUMP: You're the worst reporter no one to see. CNN has no ratings because of people like you. You know, she's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. I've known you for 10 years. I don't think I've ever seen a smile.
COLLINS: Well, I'm asking you about survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.
TRUMP: You know why you're not smiling? Because you know, you're not telling the truth and you're -- you're a very dishonest organization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: So first of all, let me just say that I've seen you smile plenty of times. But as a general note, I don't know anybody sane who smiles when they're talking about survivors of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Let's bring in CNN's Kaitlin Collins. Kaitlin, he really seems to get testy when the Epstein files are mentioned.
COLLINS: Yes. And Jake, you've talked to as many of the survivors here as I have about what they want to see from this Justice Department, from this administration overall, and their reaction to what they've seen so far. And it's not a laughing matter for them. Obviously, they take this incredibly seriously. A lot of these are grown women now, but many of them were incredibly young or underage when they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein and his powerful network. People that they want to be held accountable.
And so those are questions that the President was being asked. He was framing it as a Democrat problem, not a Republican problem when he was asked specifically about the Clintons and the battle that they've been engaged in with James Comer on Capitol Hill about their testimony.
Now, obviously the President himself, he said he was -- the only thing that was proven in this latest release was there was a conspiracy, as he called it, with Michael Wolff, because there were emails between Michael Wolff and Jeffrey Epstein. Michael Wolff, I'll note, is someone who got a lot of West Wing
access, actually during Trump's first term and when he was out office, as he was writing material on the White House. But the President was framing this as a Democrat problem, not a Republican problem.
Obviously, the President himself is mentioned in there thousands of times, Jake. It's unverified tips. They're not all substantiated. He is named in there, though, and so are people who have been in his inner circle, including Elon Musk and the Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, someone who had distanced himself and said he had spoken to Jeffrey Epstein since he went to his house once in 2005.
We saw emails from years later from the, from Lutnick in there. And he put out a statement defending his interactions with Epstein there. But obviously, Jake, this is something where the survivors here have been at the center of this and they have been the people who have said they're unhappy with what has come out of the Justice Department here so far.
I just spoke to one on Friday night who was saying that you know, entire witness interviews with the FBI were redacted. The entire page was blacked out. And so these are real questions. Obviously, as the President is saying, it's time to move on. There's many people, including a lot of his own supporters, who do not feel that way.
TAPPER: Yes, you're giving voice to the voiceless, doing your job. And all the facts you recited were 100 percent accurate. Kaitlan Collins, thank you so much for the job you do for us every day.
COLLINS: Thanks, Jake.
TAPPER: The dates are set for Bill and Hillary Clinton to appear in person for depositions in the Congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficking. The former President will testify or do an interview on February 27th. The former Secretary of State on February 26th. Former President Clinton has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has never been accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing related to the case.
Regardless, this is the latest fallout over the release of the Epstein files, which has wrapped up several prominent figures. Even beyond the content, it provides yet another glimpse into Epstein's wide reaching network of the rich and powerful on a global scale. For instance, in the U.K., British politician Peter Mandelson's ties to Epstein got him fired from his role as U.K. ambassador to the U.S. that was last September.
This latest batch of files now forcing him today to leave the House of Lords.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL FORSYTH, LORD SPEAKER: The Clerk of the Parliament has today received notification from Lord Mandelson of his intention to retire from the house effective from the 4th of February.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: You may recall Ambassador Mandelson appeared to write a Note in Epstein's 50th birthday book back in 2003 describing Epstein as his, quote, best pal. We should note it wasn't until 2005 that Palm Beach police first announced that they were investigating Epstein, leading to the solicitation of prostitution charges.
[17:20:04]
And it was after that in 2010, when Mandelson appeared to tip off Epstein that the European Union was planning a major bailout to save the euro. Mandelson now faces a criminal investigation over allegations that he leaked market sensitive information to Epstein. According to Britain's national news agency PA Media.
In Norway, the Crown princess Mette-Marit expressed regret and embarrassment over her numerous emails with Epstein after he had been arrested. She appeared to keep up a friendly relationship years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex with a minor in 2008.
In a 2012 email, she appears to call Epstein very charming, adding, quote, is it inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 year old son's wallpaper? Unquote. In another conversation, Epstein tells the crown princess he's on a wife hunt. They chat about Paris and Scandinavia. When Mette-Marit responds, Paris is quote, good for adultery and Scandis better wife material.
Back in the U.S., scrutiny over New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch and his emails with Epstein, which are even worse than the ones I told you about. In 2013, seven years after the police charges were made public and five years after Epstein pleaded guilty, he messaged Epstein asking about a woman he met at Epstein's house and wondered if she was a pro or a civilian.
In another exchange, Epstein suggested he would have a present for Tisch. And days later, Epstein described a woman he introduced as a Tahitian. Speaks mostly French, exotic. Tisch asked if she was a working girl. Epstein said never.
In a statement to CNN, Tisch said, quote, we had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments. I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.
We should note a lot of us knew that back then too. Mr. Tisch, back then too. The NFL commissioner now forced to answer questions about Tisch, who used to own the New York Giants, and Epstein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: We are going to look at all the facts. We're going to look at the context of those. We're going to try to understand that and we'll look at how that falls under the policy and we'll determine whether we open an investigation or not based on those facts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Then there's tech billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. His long relationship with Epstein is well documented in the Epstein files, which include multiple photos of Gates, the latest files reveal what looks to be draft messages from 2013 saved in Epstein's email account. It's unclear who wrote them, but they appear to document feelings of betrayal aimed at Bill Gates. Marital discord between Gates and his then wife, Melinda Gates.
The idea of Bill Gates having concerns about a sexually transmitted disease soured business ventures. This as Melinda Gates, 2022 interview with CBS News, is resurfacing over her comments about her now ex-husband's relationship with Epstein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELINDA FRENCH GATES, Philanthropist: I did not like that he'd had meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you made that clear to him.
GATES: I made that clear to him. I also met Jeffrey Epstein exactly one time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you?
GATES: Yes. Because I wanted to see who this man was. And I regretted it from the second I stepped in the door. He was abhorrent. He was evil personified. I had nightmares about it afterwards. So, you know, my heart breaks for these young women because that's how I felt. And here I'm an older woman. My God, I feel terrible for those young women. It's awful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Those are just some. Some. A handful of the very powerful people with whom Epstein was affiliated.
Breaking in a World Lead, new video showing just some of the destruction after Russia's biggest attack this year in Ukraine. Some of the witnesses who lived through it. Next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:28:28]
TAPPER: In our World Lead, a new round of Russian strikes overnight in Ukraine brought the short lived cold weather cease fire to an abrupt cruel end. That pause had been President Trump's personal request of Vladimir Putin. New talks to end this war are supposed to start tomorrow. CNN's Clare Sebastian spoke with Ukrainians who are losing hope in this diplomacy effort.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the quiet of Kiev's frozen streets. Drone wreckage and disappointment after a night that brought a brief and limited pause in Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy facilities to a shattering end.
TETYANA, KYIV RESIDENT (through translator): We heard people running down the fire escape, so we got dressed, grabbed our documents and went downstairs.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Tetyana lives just two floors below where a drone hit this building.
TETYANA (through translator): It's clear that this is simply extermination so that we just give up.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Monday night saw the biggest attack in more than a month one of the coldest nights of the war so far.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We believe that this Russian strike really violates what was agreed by the American side and there must be consequences for this.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Much of the damage we can't show. Ukraine has banned images of critical energy sites for security reasons. But hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians again left without power and heating. An air raid siren still audible as the NATO Secretary General joined President Zelenskyy in Kyiv to pay his respects to fallen soldiers.
[17:30:00]
His message to Ukraine's parliament.
MARK RUTTE, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: But Russia attacks, like those last night, do not signal seriousness about peace.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Hardly news to those taking refuge in the city's many emergency shelters.
EVELINA YURCHENKO, KYIV RESIDENT (through translator): There's nothing to agree on, because if Russia doesn't want to end the war, what can be agreed upon? They're imitating the process of an agreement so as not to anger Trump.
SEBASTIAN (voice-over): Nearby, Tetiana Kravchenko, displaced by war to Kyiv three years ago, watches her two children attempt their schoolwork in the dim red glow.
Of course, there was hope, she says, referring to the energy truce, but I understood what would happen when it got very cold.
With trilateral talks set to restart in Abu Dhabi, Wednesday, no one here has much faith in diplomacy. All their efforts focused on surviving the final weeks of winter.
Clare Sebastian, CNN. (END VIDEOTAPE)
TAPPER: And our thanks to Clare Sebastian for that report.
Coming up next, a remark about a, "mediocre black man" that has created an uproar within the Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:35:37]
TAPPER: In our Politics Lead, a high-profile Democratic Senate race in Texas is going low. State Representative James Talarico, who is running against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for the Senate nomination, reportedly called his former opponent, Congressman Colin Allred, a, "mediocre black man." That's according to an online influencer. Here is what former Congressman Allred posted in response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN ALLRED, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: James Talarico had the temerity and the audacity to say to a black woman that he had signed up to run against a mediocre black man, meaning me, not a formidable, intelligent black woman, meaning Jasmine Crockett. Let me just give you some free advice, James. If you want to compliment black women, just do it. Just do it. Don't do it while also tearing down a black man. OK. With that being said, go vote for Jasmine Crockett. This man should not be our nominee for the United States Senate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: State Senator Talarico later said that his comments had been a mischaracterization. The report of his comments had been a mischaracterization of a private conversation. Here now is Democratic Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa. As she's running for governor of Texas, we should disclose she's also the sister of CNN political commentator Xochitl Hinojosa. So thank you so much for being here.
REP. GINA HINOJOSA (D-TX): Thank you.
TAPPER: You're not going to make an endorsement in the Democratic primary for the Senate race, right?
HINOJOSA: Right. What's important to know is that both Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico have endorsed me in my run for governor of Texas.
TAPPER: Are you worried at all about the infighting going on here? And what do you make of the comments that Talarico allegedly made?
HINOJOSA: So I understand why people are upset by them. And what I hope is, look, we have 30 days left in this primary run. I hope that they come together, talk this through, find a way forward, because in the end, we need everybody to win in November. And what we're seeing in Texas, what we just saw in Tarrant County last weekend, is that we can win Texas. It is already happening. We are already starting to make incredible gains where we haven't won in 40 years in Texas. But it can only happen if we're all in this together.
TAPPER: So let's talk about Tarrant County, because Republicans are still trying to process what happened. There was a state Senate race, and Democrats won by 14 points. And that state Senate district went for President Trump last time, 2024, by 17 points. I want you to take a listen to what Republican Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalez said about the results. This is Gonzales on CNN earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TONY GONZALES (R-TX): So on the surface, you know, we should be were -- we should be concerned as Republicans. We have to unite behind the security message. We have to unite behind an economic message. But I'd also say things aren't going to change in Texas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Republican Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said that the results are a wake-up call for Republicans across the state. But he also said, "I know the energy and strength the Republican grassroots in Texas possess. We will come out fighting with a new resolve, and we will take this seat back in November. We will keep Texas red."
You have to go all the way back to 1994. I was alive. I'm sure if you were. But for the last time, a Democrat won statewide. Democrats have not held the governor's office since Ann Richards won in 1990. And I've seen a lot of, oh, this time Texas is going to go blue stories. I'm old enough to remember Ron Kirk was going to -- the Dallas mayor was going to turn Texas blue. How are you going to change this long Democratic statewide losing streak?
HINOJOSA: Well, Jake, my favorite Republican quote is Steve Bannon, who said, as goes Tarrant County, so goes Texas, and so goes the world. And he said that in regards to this race in particular, before it was decided on election night. What we are seeing in Texas, and it's just through grassroots organic movement, is that Democrats are winning where we haven't won in a long time. Tarrant County is just the latest, and it's higher profile. It is a big, big deal.
We saw it happen in SciFair, in school board races outside of Houston. We just saw it happen in Robstown with a mayor's race. We just saw it happen in Leander in a city council race. Democrats are winning just since November all over the state. I learned this because I show up and I hear the stories and I see what is happening. But it is happening. It is real. Something big is happening in Texas. It's not just me saying it.
The data shows it. The polling reflects what we are seeing on the ground, and that's that people are desperate for change. And Greg Abbott and the Republican political class in Texas are just more of the same.
[17:40:07] TAPPER: Yes, we should know you're running against the incumbent Governor Greg Abbott. And I just want to ask you about something. Explain the math to me because a Democratic operative told me that if you match what Beto did and get 64 percent of the Latino vote, then the way that the population has changed since then, you can win. Is that right?
HINOJOSA: Right. So Beto got 64 percent of the Latino vote in 2018. That was when he ran against Ted Cruz. So fast forward to 2026, when I get 64 percent of the Latino vote, I win because there's more Latinos in the voting population at this point. So 2018 was proof of concept, 2026 is the win.
We are speaking to Latino voters. We launched in the Rio Grande Valley where I'm from. That is a place that Trump won. When you go there now, and we've been there about seven times since we launched this campaign in October, people are desperate for change. They're very upset about the immigration raids, the attacks on Hispanic Texans. We are very proud of our country.
We are a very patriotic people. So to be treated as if we are not American enough and not Texas enough is deeply offensive. And people are angry. And I think that these election results that are happening all over the state are demonstrating that people are desperate for change, ready for change. The Latino vote in Tarrant County in particular swung dramatically.
TAPPER: State Representative Gina Hinojosa, thank you so much for being here.
Appreciate it. Let's talk about this messy moment in the Texas primary and much more. The panel is standing by. We're going to slide over to that table next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:45:56]
TAPPER: Back in our Politics Lead, let's talk more about that Texas dust-up. Just 28 days from the Texas primary where Democrats will choose a candidate they think has the best shot at flipping that state's U.S. Senate seat. Let's discuss with the panel.
James Talarico responded in a statement that reads, "In my praise of Congresswoman Crockett," who he is running against, "I describe Congressman Allred's method of campaigning as mediocre. But his life and service are not. I would never attack him on the basis of race. As a black man in America, Congressman Allred has had to work twice as hard to get where he is. I understand how my critique of the congressman's campaign could be interpreted, given this country's painful legacy of racism. And I care deeply about the impact my words have on others."
Jim, do you think that has any effect on, A, the Senate primary, and, B, the Senate -- the Democrats' hopes of winning the seat? JIM MESSINA, CEO, THE MESSINA GROUP: Well, just step back for a second. We last won a statewide race in Texas my senior year in college. I'm now a member of the AARP. So it's been a little bit of a while. And we need to run kind of a perfect race. I don't think this is going to be a very big deal.
I think primaries are, by nature, contentious. And if you do something that people think is wrong, you immediately apologize and move on to the next thing, go back to your vision. And I think that's what Talarico did very smartly.
TAPPER: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who's also in this race, of course, told "The Fort Worth Star-Telegram," "I definitely don't think there's anything mediocre about Colin Allred. It's kind of hard to become the Democratic nominee for Senate in the state of Texas. And he had a primary as well. And he went up against a sitting state senator. So he was put through the ringer." What -- Ashley, you must love this. What do you think at all?
ASHLEY DAVIS, FORMER G.W. BUSH ADMIN. HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL: I do. But we have our own primary that's really bad. I mean, I was actually going to ask Jim, like, who would you rather run against, Paxton or Cornyn?
MESSINA: Paxton 19 times, White 20 on Sunday. Yes, please.
DAVIS: Yes. I mean, Cornyn actually gets some of those moderate votes. And I actually was pulling my old Bush folks, like, who, you know, who are you for? And 100 percent are for Cornyn. But it's going to be a tough race because Paxton's the MAGA candidate. Obviously, you saw the President this weekend say he may make an endorsement. And if he would endorse Cornyn, I think that would be a huge statement and he would win.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But what are the odds that you think Trump would endorse Cornyn? I mean, like --
TAPPER: Cornyn is like --
DAVIS: He wants to win.
TAPPER: He wants to win. But he also has a track record, Trump, of picking people who are that their greatest quality is how much they love Trump, not their chance of winning. Herschel Walker is a good example.
JON RALSTON, CEO, THE NEVADA INDEPENDENT: And how many times they say they love Trump every day.
TAPPER: Right.
RALSTON: And he tracks that kind of stuff. As you know, this thing in Texas, though, Jake, reminds me of this New Yorker diagram that I saw with Republican fingers all pointing at the Democrats and the Democratic fingers all pointing at themselves.
TAPPER: Yes.
RALSTON: And that has been the problem for the Democrats this year, I think, in Washington and in some of these campaigns.
TAPPER: So, Jon, you have this book about the Democratic Party and Harry Reid. It's called "The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight."
So we were talking about this before. But the moment that Senator Reid, who was a tough, tough guy, literally a fighter, grew up, his -- I think his mom washed the laundry of the local brothel, right? I mean --
RALSTON: Did you know that or did you read the book to learn that?
TAPPER: I knew it before, but I enjoyed your book's version of it. But I have to say, like, once he passed away, you know, may his memory be a blessing. Like, I thought, oh, Democrats are going to have a tough time winning Nevada from now on. Why? Why was it? Why was he so good at his job and so ruthless?
RALSTON: He said to a staffer once, vengeance is in my soul. He would let no holds be barred, Jake. And he loved to raise money and he was the greatest fundraiser in Nevada history. He funded that Reid machine, as I called it. And they turned -- they didn't just turn out voters, they registered voters. It's not quite the same. But the Democrats still hold House seats. They hold both houses of the legislature in Nevada. I was surprised that Trump won Nevada in 2024. I thought they'd still hold it together. But it was a national trend. You know how important the Hispanic vote is in Nevada. Latino men turning against the Democrats, that hurt him.
[17:49:59]
TAPPER: So, you've been in politics a while, although I do think I'm older than you. Just in terms of your AARP membership. Do Democrats need a politics a Harry Reid type? Do they need a tougher guy? Or do you think Schumer and Jeffries are in that mold just different stylistically?
MESSINA: I think they're different stylistically. Harry Reid was -- one, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are the two smartest political operatives I've ever met. When I ran the war room to pass Obamacare in the White House, we'd have all these ways to get votes.
And in the end, Reid would pat me on the head and say, Jim, I'll get you the 60 votes, just shut up. And it's -- he knew how to do it. He was the best I'd ever seen at vote counting. You're not going to replicate that. But you are going to get a new generation of leaders, which I think is really good for the Democratic Party. And Hakeem Jeffries is clearly a part of that new generation.
TAPPER: Do you think Republicans are on the ropes right now for the midterms? Do you think it's going to be tough?
DAVIS: Oh, yes. I mean, just by history alone. But also, like, we keep messing up a little bit. And if we don't go back to talking about affordability, it's going to be a really big problem. And just is their life better than it was two years ago or whatever, you know, that everyone's going to be saying. But the difference between Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi is they're respected. And so is Mitch McConnell.
Mitch McConnell was respected for his tactics, whether he was liked or not. And I think that there's -- listen, I am shocked at what the speaker can get done right now. But is it the same respect as, like, Nancy Pelosi?
RALSTON: Or fear, fear.
DAVIS: Or fear, fear.
TAPPER: Yes, nobody fears like they used to. Thanks to one and all. Congratulations on the book. Great to have you here, Jon.
Just moments ago, President Trump baselessly called some state elections rigged and crooked. How this fits a theme and possibly an alarming plan to disrupt the upcoming midterm elections in 2026 and maybe beyond. We're going to lay it all out, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:56:11]
TAPPER: In our Health Lead, Sanjay Gupta, Paging Dr. Sanjay Gupta. We're paging Sanjay just in time for Sunday's Super Bowl. He's examining the difference between grass and turf fields and looking at how they make a difference in performance and safety. Here's Sanjay.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: There are 32 NFL teams and 30 stadiums around the country. Half of those stadiums play on grass and half play on turf. And this has become one of the most provocative issues in sports.
Ninety-two percent of these players say they prefer grass.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
GUPTA: So as chief medical officer of the NFL, what do you do with that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we have to understand why is that. Number one, it's performance. They want to be able to perform, so I've got to be able to execute the movements that I need to do to do my job and do it well.
But secondly, how does my body feel after playing on that? One of the things we're learning from the testing is turf returns energy back to your body differently than natural grass does.
GUPTA (voice-over): The data is a bit mixed on this topic. Data from the 2021-2022 seasons did find grass to result in a lower number of lower extremity injuries. However, the NFL says data from every season since then does not show a significant difference in injuries on grass versus turf. But due to different factors like different climates, different stadium designs, and even different operational needs, alternative surfaces have become increasingly necessary.
GUPTA: It all started back in 1966 where you had the Astrodome and then AstroTurf, which at that point was basically just like carpet on top of concrete. It's changed a lot over the last several decades, but there's still a lot of concerns about injuries, about toxicity, about whether you can ever make this turf really behave like grass.
NICK PAPPAS, FIELD DIRECTOR, NFL: It gives us that bounce back, that energy return to the body, so what they're feeling when they step underfoot.
GUPTA (voice-over): Nick Pappas is the NFL's field director, and his job is to quantify that grass feel that players want and then try to level the playing field.
So how to do that? First step is to develop a series of standards that all fields will need to meet by 2028. And part of that testing is for things like surface hardness, player impact, and overall traction.
PAPPAS: We've added two studs like a cleat on the bottom. It's about twice the weight, falls from the same height, but ultimately gives us a representation that is much like the athlete. We can test all of our stadiums with these devices and actually quantify the amount of traction available at any given time. Rotational traction, so twisting of the cleat, and translational traction, so a sliding of the cleat.
GUPTA: Essentially putting a cleat into the ground, testing rotation and movement.
PAPPAS: Correct.
GUPTA (voice-over): And these tests are applied at 60 individual points all over the field. While no two fields will ever be exactly the same, the hope is they might at least start to feel that way to the players.
GUPTA: Do you think that we're going to get to that point where you look at 30 NFL stadiums and they basically all have a uniform surface?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do. In the last 10 years, we've seen helmets change dramatically and that's really improved their safety. I think you're about to see the same thing happen in the surface industry.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA (on camera): I should point out, Jake, Nick Pappas, who you just saw there in the piece, he was responsible for picking out the grass that's going to be at Levi Stadium for the Super Bowl. It's a Bermuda style grass. They grew it for 18 months on the sod farm and they bring him in the stadium and lay it down. You see more of that in warm weather states, Jake. Colder weather states like Ann Arbor, Michigan. You and I've been to games there. That's turf, Jake. TAPPER: All right, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much. Hopefully we can go to a game there again soon. Sanjay is going to take your questions on this topic. Scan the QR code on your screen to weigh in. It's right there. Sanjay is coming back tomorrow to answer some of your viewer questions.
[18:00:03]
Welcome to The Lead. I'm Jake Tapper. This hour, officials are pleading for the public's help to locate the mother of NBC --
