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U.S. and Iran Discuss Nuclear Deal; Americans Split on Trump's Policies; Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is Interviewed about Tariffs; Anti- Vaccine Sentiment May Derail Future Vaccines; Sam Silverstein is Interviewed about Grocery Prices. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired April 08, 2025 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[08:33:12]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, new this morning, President Trump says a, quote, "very big meeting" will happen Saturday on Iran's nuclear program. For now, that appears to be indirect talks through Omani officials in Oman, sitting alongside the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in the Oval Office. President Trump teased the meetings, one that he says need to result in a deal or Iran could face dangerous consequences.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have a very big meeting and we'll see what can happen. And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with or, frankly, that Israel wants to be involved with, if they can avoid it. So, we're going to see if we can avoid it. But it's getting to be very dangerous territory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right, let's get to CNN's Fred Pleitgen, who has reported extensively from Tehran.

Fred, great to see you.

The significance of these talks, even if, at least at the outset, they appear to be indirect talks.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yes. And I still think they're extremely significant for the U.S. and also for the Iranians as well. And certainly, I've been sort of trying to gauge the mood among Iranian officials. And it certainly seems as though to them this is a fairly significant announcement as well.

You have the foreign minister, Abbas Araqhchi, who came out in a tweet earlier, a post on X earlier today, and he said that these talks are, as he put it, "very much an opportunity and a test." And they also went on to say, and I think this is pretty significant, the ball is in America's court. Whereas the Trump administration, and President Trump we heard there as well, was saying that he believes that it is the Iranians who need to seek a deal with the United States or else there would be consequences.

[08:35:00]

The Iranians are saying, the U.S. needs to come to this - and the Iranians certainly are saying that they are not going to negotiate directly with the United States under the threat of force.

Of course, President Trump said that he did write a letter to Iran's supreme leader in early March saying that there needed to be negotiations, there needed to be a new deal and essentially threaten the Iranians there. And the Iranians are saying that under the threat of any sort of use of force bombings, for instance, they are not going to negotiate directly with the United States, but they are saying that they are willing to conduct these indirect negotiations that, of course, at some point in time could lead to a lot more.

John.

BERMAN: What does Iran want out of this, Fred?

PLEITGEN: Well, the Iranians - certainly first and foremost, the Iranians want sanctions relief. That's one of the things that we have to keep in mind. Iran's economy has been in a very difficult state. I think also politically they would want that sanctions relief, wanted to get back up, for instance, into international payment systems, generally back into the international economy as well.

Of course, Iran is a country that has a lot of gas, has a lot of oil, has a lot of other resources, and generally has quite a - quite a strong economy as well, if it were not for those sanctions. So certainly the Iranians would like to get back to that.

But at the same time, the Iranians are also saying that their nuclear program is not up for negotiation. Their civilian nuclear program. The Iranians - and this comes in the form of the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, just a couple of days ago, where he came out and said, look, the Iranians don't want a nuclear weapon. The Iranians want negotiations. But at the same time, they say that the U.S. needs to be willing to conduct these negotiations.

The Iranians are saying that there was a religious decree, a fatwa by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that Iran was not allowed to produce nuclear weapons. And they say that that still goes despite what Israel says, despite what the United States says. And the Iranians are saying that nuclear program, they want that to be able to continue despite the restrictions that it was under before, under the Iran nuclear agreement. But at the same time, they also say that they want to work towards sanctions relief, and they certainly also want to get back towards negotiations with the United States as well.

John.

BERMAN: All right, Fred Pleitgen, as always, thank you so much for sharing your reporting on this.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's turn now to this. Americans split on President Trump's policies for sure, but what about how he is - how he is redefining the presidency kind of writ large. Harry Enten decided that is what he wanted to look at this morning. And so he did just that.

So the question is, how do you define redefining as part of it? And one of the ways that you're looking at it is in terms of action he's taking.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, exactly right. I think there was this concern among some folks that Donald Trump would come in for a second term and kind of be a lame duck. He ain't no lame duck. If anything, he's a soaring eagle.

What am I talking about here? Let's talk about Trump executive orders in 2025. He's already signed 111 so far. That is the most at this point in a presidency in at least 100 years. In fact, it's the most in any single year, and we're only in April, since Harry S. Truman in the early 1950s. The bottom line is, whether you like Trump or you don't like him, you can't say that he's come in and not try to deliver on what he at least believes was his promises on the campaign trail. And he's doing so in historic fashion.

BOLDUAN: How are people reacting to and feel about Trump's approach?

ENTEN: Yes, OK. So, Trump's approach here. What are we talking about? Trump's approach to presidential power. I think the American people recognize what he's doing here is completely different. We're talking, get this, 86 percent of the American public believes that Trump's approach to presidential power is completely different from past presidents, compared to only 14 percent who believe it is in line with precedent. And we're talking about at least 79 percent of Democrats, independents and Republicans.

So, again, you can agree or you can disagree with Donald Trump, but what you can't disagree with is that he's doing things very differently. I have used the Frank Sinatra quote before, he is doing it, quote/unquote, "my way." And that is what Donald Trump has done throughout both of his presidential terms. And he's certainly doing that, Kate Bolduan, in term number two.

BOLDUAN: So, completely differently. Clearly they agree. But is it - take it a step further, do people think he has too much -- he's taken too much power?

ENTEN: Yes, this, I think, is the real question, right? You can believe that he's doing stuff completely differently, but do you think that he has a little too much power or not? And this is interesting. So, Trump's presidential power is too much, the right amount, too little? Well, 47 percent say too much, but then you get 36 percent who say the right amount, then you get 17 percent who say too little. So, you're essentially dealing with a majority of the American public, 53 percent, who do not say that Trump has too much power. They either say he has too little power or the right amount of power.

So, the idea that argument that Donald Trump is, quote/unquote, "a king," that, I don't think, holds with the American people. It does hold maybe with 47 percent. But with the majority of folks, they believe Donald Trump's doing something completely differently, and they don't believe he has too much power. And the executive orders he signed certainly suggest he's no lame duck. He is, as I said at the beginning, a soaring eagle.

[08:40:03]

BOLDUAN: That is interesting. OK.

ENTEN: It's something.

BOLDUAN: Harry, thank you.

ENTEN: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: John.

BERMAN: All right, let's take another look at stock futures. We've been watching them all morning long. They are turning up fairly substantially. This points to a pretty big open on Wall Street today. This is coming on the heels of the sort of mind-bending losses.

With us now is the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon.

Senator, thank you so much for being with us this morning.

You're taking a look at stock futures. Why do you think they're up this morning? What do you think investors see?

SEN. RON WYDEN (D-OR): Well, obviously, each day is a little different, but today we're going to have a focused approach that's actually going to help our small businesses and individuals who've been clobbered. Later today I'm going to propose a privileged resolution to overturn the Trump tariffs. And this is something that would provide relief. There are 180 of these tariffs. And I can just tell you, Oregonians really have had it with the kind of Washington gossip. You know, every day there's a new kind of idea and it lasts a few hours and then it goes away. They want to see relief. And that's why I'm proposing this privileged resolution that's actually going to ensure that they get some economic relief on things like those 401(k)s.

BERMAN: So, there are some analysts watching this morning who think the markets have taken an upturn because there are hints from some administration officials that they are open to negotiation on these tariffs. A retreat from their no negotiation stance. And I want to point out that the U.S. trade representative, Jamieson Greer, who's testifying, I believe, before your committee not long from now, we've got a look at his prepared opening remarks. And he's expected to say something along the lines of, that, the president's "strategy is already bearing fruit," that nearly "50 countries have approached me to discuss the president's new policy and explore how to achieve reciprocity."

If countries are willing to negotiate and lower some of their trade barriers, how much of a positive outcome would that be?

WYDEN: Bearing fruit, he says? No way. You know what I'm hearing from Oregonians is this approach thus far has essentially been economic poison. And the fact is, the Trump administration is all over the map on this. You saw, for example, the clip that you ran this morning. The president basically said that he wasn't negotiating at this point. So, that's what we're going to try to do at the hearing this morning is see if we can pin the administration down. But it's been like jelly. You just can't get your hands around it.

BERMAN: In fact, let me read you a quote from the chair of the council from economic advisors in the White House who was talking to the Hudson Institute. He said, "so there are conflicting narratives because, you know, everybody, everybody's got an opinion, and that's fine. Disagreement is how you can, sort of, you know, enhance your arguments."

This is the chief economist in the White House basically confirming what you just said, that there are mixed messages coming from the White House. What's the impact of that been?

WYDEN: It's devastating because what you have with all this trade chaos is the inability, say, for a small Oregon business to be able to predict what's ahead. And what I find, I have these town hall meetings, I've had more than 1,100 of them at home, what the small businesses want more than anything else is some certainty and some predictability and some opportunity to plan. And this Trump approach on tariffs doesn't give them that.

Now, if they were looking at a targeted tariff, which I've supported in the past, that'd be different. But that's not what they're doing.

BERMAN: Again, but to go back to my previous question of, if this does force some countries to negotiate, isn't that a positive outcome? You have already seen outreach from Japan. The Treasury secretary says he'll be speaking with them. You've seen outreach from Vietnam to reduce some of their restrictions. The EU has offered to go to zero tariffs on cars and other auto parts. Would that be a positive outcome?

WYDEN: Of course, anything that puts dollars into the pockets of our small businesses and families is something I'll be for. But you look at the track record of this administration thus far, and that has not been the result.

BERMAN: What message are you getting from the White House? Have you tried to get answers, specific answers on this policy? And what answers will you try to get from the U.S. trade representative today?

WYDEN: Well, today, what we want to know is what they're going to do and why and how specifically what they're doing is actually going to help our small businesses and our people. They've made lots of promises, but no follow through. [08:45:02]

And that's what we're going to try to pin them down on this morning.

BERMAN: What's the end game, do you think, for this administration? What do you truly think that President Trump is trying to do here?

WYDEN: I believe what the president is trying to do is break the current system for trade. It's got a lot of flaws. But, for example, I'd like to see us fix the tax code, for example, and make it more attractive for American businesses to have opportunities here. And I think that would help without the downside.

BERMAN: What tariffs would you support?

WYDEN: I support a targeted approach, John. This across-the-board approach is what I call economic poison because it just hits so many communities in a helter-skelter kind of way. If you go in, in a targeted kind of fashion, bring in business groups and labor groups and community leaders and actually zero in on a specific result, that's what's worked in the past. That's what I'm for in the future.

BERMAN: All right, Senator Ron Wyden from Oregon, we look forward to listening to this hearing today. Thanks for your time this morning.

WYDEN: Thank you, John.

BERMAN: Kate.

BOLDUAN: This morning, CNN has new reporting on the growing fear among public health experts that anti-vaccine sentiment in - within the government could derail some of the nation's latest vaccines. Vaccines that are still waiting for FDA approval.

CNN's Jacqueline Howard has this new reporting for us, and she's joining us right now.

Jacqueline, which vaccines are we talking about here?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Kate, well, public health experts are watching this closely. And we know of two vaccines from Moderna that are awaiting FDA action. One of those vaccines is Moderna's next generation Covid-19 vaccine. We hear from the company that the FDA is expected to make a decision on that vaccine by May 31st. Moderna's other vaccine is its combination flu and Covid shot.

So, as you know, Kate, we typically have to get a separate Covid shot and a separate flu shot. But this is a vaccine that combines protection against both Covid and flu in a single jab. Moderna already applied for FDA approval of this vaccine. We're not quite sure when the agency may make a decision on that particular vaccine. But if approved, this would be the first ever combination flu and Covid shot here in the United States.

Now, the reason why public health experts are watching both of these vaccines closely is because just last week, Novavax applied for full approval of its Covid-19 vaccine. The FDA delayed action on that. So, public health experts are waiting to see, OK, will there be another delay with Moderna's vaccine? That's something to watch in May.

BOLDUAN: And the FDA's now former - forced to resign - top vaccine regulator, Doctor Peter Marks, has come out since his resignation, saying that the Novavax vaccine, that was on a glide path to approval. That everyone involved basically said that should have been - was going to be approved. Have we heard any reason for why it now is delayed?

HOWARD: Well, that's right, Kate. We've been using this vaccine. It's available under emergency use authorization. So that's why experts expected the approval process to go smoothly.

But what we heard is that the FDA is still seeking more data on the vaccine. That's what we were told.

But again, this vaccine has been under emergency use authorization. Novavax now wants full approval. We're waiting to see what will happen. Keep in mind, Novavax's Covid vaccine was the first Covid-19 vaccine to come up for action under this second Trump administration. That's why public health experts are watching this closely, because this is the first delay that we're seeing right now. And there are concerns, worries and fears that there could be more delays in the future, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, concerns, worries and fears that everyone's worst fears of what RFK Jr. would be putting in place as HHS secretary could be coming true. That's what the concern is. And that's where, obviously, everyone has to watch very closely.

Thank you for staying on top of it, Jacqueline.

Coming up for us, a trip to the grocery store is likely to become more expensive after this latest round of reciprocal tariffs will be going into effect tonight. How soon? Which items? What you need to know if you're about to be heading to the grocery store and could see a jump in price there.

Also, more than 12,000 years after becoming extinct, scientists have brought a certain type of wolf back to life. The world's first de- extinction. Fascinating science ahead.

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[08:54:13]

BERMAN: All right, in the Dominican Republic, at least 15 people have died, dozens more were injured, after the roof of a nightclub collapsed in Santo Domingo. The nightclub was celebrating its 50th anniversary, and authorities fear there were over 300 people on site at the time of the collapse.

This morning, the widow of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, Meredith, has announced the birth of their son. Carter Michael Gaudreau was born on April 1st. He is the couple's third child. Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were bike riding when they were killed in August by a suspected drunk driver.

All right, you're going to want to hear this. Scientists say they've officially brought back to life a wolf species that went extinct nearly 13,000 years ago. A biotech company says it used ancient DNA, cloning and gene editing to create three dire wolf pups.

[08:55:03]

The same company is also working on resurrecting the mammoth, the dodo bird and the Tasmanian tiger.

Kate, I'm sure nothing could go wrong here.

BOLDUAN: I mean we've not seen any movies about that.

BERMAN: Never.

BOLDUAN: But even if those wolves will grow up to eat your face, they're very cute as wolf pups.

BERMAN: They'll be cute eating your face.

BOLDUAN: OK. Apparently, though, their baby bark is adorable. We'll do - we'll see it together. See, it even has the graphics with it.

So then there's this. President Trump saying on social media, there is no inflation. President Trump's top trade adviser saying on TV, quote, "there's not going to be any inflation." Though Donald Trump has acknowledged that people could feel some pain from his trade war, at least temporarily. One place that pain could be felt first, the grocery store.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): The Trump tariffs are likely to result in thousands of dollars in additional costs on the. American people in terms of groceries and gas and goods.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): Republicans are heading toward a cliff right now. I think the likely recession, combined with drastically increased prices on gasoline, groceries, rent, everything are going to mean that Republicans are held accountable at the polls.

SEN. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO (R-WV): I think there is some trepidation worrying about impacts on costs of groceries or other items. And I think automobiles in particular. So, I'm concerned about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Joining me right now is Sam Silverstein. He's a reporter for "The Grocery Dive."

Thanks so much, Sam, for coming in.

From your reporting, what are you hearing in terms of how quickly that the industry thinks grocery shoppers are going to see the impact in pricing, and where?

SAM SILVERSTEIN, REPORTER, "GROCERY DIVE": I think it depends on the item. Certain items, like produce, are likely to see price increases more quickly than things like canned goods that last longer. But I will say, it's very difficult to say which items might go up in price, and even when that might happen.

I mentioned things like produce, fresh goods, because they don't last so long and they need to move in stores quickly, so supplies have to keep being refreshed. For items that last longer, grocers might have supplies on hand, have things on the shelf and it would take a while for even more expensive items to show up on the shelves.

But I did want to note that for grocers this is a really important time. They've already been through this messaging issue with consumers about what groceries cost. And, of course, that's because of the inflation that came out of the pandemic. And what I think we saw in a lot of grocery stores was an effort to show consumers that even if prices were going up, that grocers want to try to do what they can to help people stretch their budgets.

And I would imagine that with the tariffs now threatening to raise prices, that you'll see grocery companies looking to show that they are on the side of the consumer and to demonstrate that they will do what they can to keep prices down. That's not to say that prices won't go up, but I do think grocery companies are going to have an incentive to do what they can to moderate those increases.

BOLDUAN: That's actually what I was going to ask you, because I was looking at statements from places like the National Grocers Association and how they're saying they hope this is - you know, this is resolved quickly to minimize the impacts on Americans and more.

What are you hearing from grocers, from store owners, on what those options are in terms of trying to mitigate the hit that they're going to take, and the consumer will take?

SILVERSTEIN: So, I think one thing that grocery companies - grocers are trying to do is to find ways where they can absorb prices. And one way they might be able to do this is through private label goods. They've already been working hard on expanding their selection of private label items. And we've seen grocery companies work to promote those brands, their own brands, and to show them not just to be ways to save money, but actually to get high-quality goods. So, companies like Costco, for example, with Kirkland Signature, they've built that brand into a whole lot more than just, you know, a way to save money.

But I think what we will see is that grocers are going to use this opportunity, as I said, to - to find ways to help people save money. So, on staple goods, basic things, people are very sensitive to those prices. They know what they cost. They travel to probably multiple grocery stores, even in one week. And so, people will notice if prices go up there. Grocers are cognizant of this. And that's area - that's an area where they can help to keep prices lower, if only because the competition is - is important there. I think that you will see grocers then look to higher margin goods as

areas where they might be able to raise prices a bit if they need to, to compensate for the need to try to insulate consumers from price increases on items that they need more, the essential goods.

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