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Day Two in Combs Jury Selection; Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) is Interviewed about Tariffs; Real ID Enforcement Starts Tomorrow; Karen Read Retrial Testimony. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired May 06, 2025 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Consistently have been pressuring whichever administration is in power to be tough on China, given that China is upgrading, you believe, these listening posts in Cuba. Why is it a good time to extend the ban on TikTok that was passed in both House of Commons? He will likely extend that ban.

REP. CARLOS GIMENEZ (R-FL), SELECT COMMITTEE ON CHINA: I don't like that. Yeah, I don't -- look, I agree with many of the things that the president is doing, but that's not one of them. I mean, we did pass it on a bipartisan basis. We think TikTok is a national security threat to the United States, and it needs to go.

And so they either need to sell it to an American company, and the CCP needs to get out of the United States and TikTok, or TikTok needs to be banned in the United States. I mean, it was bipartisan. It is the law, and I would hope that the president would follow that and not extend it anymore. They've had plenty of opportunity to do what we've asked them to do. Now it's time to ban TikTok.

BERMAN: You are on the Armed Services Committee. I want to get your reaction to new comments, new proposals by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to slash the number of four-star generals, four-star flag officers in the Navy as well. Listen to how he puts it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We're back with more DOD reforms. This one is general and flag officer reductions. That's the official title. My title is less generals, more GIs. More generals and admirals does not equal more success.

Now, this is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high- ranking officers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Of course, there should be fewer generals, not less. But, Congressman, when you look at this, is this a measure that you support? How do you feel that he's going about this reduction of some 20% of four-stars? GIMENEZ: I support it. Look, in World War II, we won World War II with one general for every 6,000 GIs. Now we have one general for every 1,400 GIs, and that's way, way too many.

And so, look, when I was mayor of Miami-Dade County, one of the first things I did, I looked at bureaucracy. Bureaucracies have a tendency just to grow. And the more generals you have, the more bureaucracy you will have, because they've got to do something. And so what the Secretary of Defense needs to do is start to reduce the bureaucracy. I think that's a bipartisan call here in Congress, that we have way too much bureaucracy in the DoD. They're not as agile as they need to be, certainly not as agile as our pacing threat, China.

And so, yeah, the generals, the abundance of generals is part of that problem. We need to get to the number to make the DoD operate the right way. And so this is an exercise that needs to be done on occasion because, like everything, bureaucracies just grow and grow and grow. And every once in a while, you've got to go in and trim the fat. And I think that that's what the Secretary of Defense is doing right now.

BERMAN: Congressman Carlos Gimenez from Florida, thanks for being with us this morning.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, next hour, jury selection picks back up in the federal criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs. We've got more on what to expect inside that courtroom today.

And real ID deadline. It is upon us. Are you ready? What you need to know if you're headed to the airport today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:37:58]

BOLDUAN: Minutes from now, day two of jury selection begins in the federal criminal trial of disgraced music mogul Sean Combs. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Now, during the first day of jury selection, most of the prospective jurors said that they had at least some knowledge of the case. They were also given a large binder of names with celebrities listed in there, several of them notable, like Michael B. Jordan and more. Not clear at this point how or if they were involved in this trial at all.

CNN's Kara Scannell live outside the courthouse with much more.

So, Kara, day one in the books. Day two, what's expected?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kate, well, the judge is going to bring in additional prospective jurors and begin this questioning that we went through yesterday all over again. Yesterday they qualified 19 jurors. He wants to get to 45. And at that point, both the prosecution and Combs' defense team will use their strikes to winnow this down to 12 jurors and a number of alternates.

So, what we went yesterday with the questioning of, you know, what people's experiences may have been with any issues that will come up in this case, including sexual assault, drug abuse, as well as some personal information just to understand who these potential jurors are and what biases they may or they may not have.

So, of the 19 that have made it through so far, what we know about them is that, yes, some of them have seen the hotel surveillance video where Combs is caught on camera kicking and dragging his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who will be a witness in this case, they range in age from 30 years old up to 75. It includes some retirees, a man who works in finance, a gym teacher at a middle school, as well as someone who works at a grocery store and a massage therapist. Kind of this whole cross section of the southern district of New York, which is Manhattan and the surrounding counties.

I mean, also in this group are two women who say that decades ago they had been sexually assaulted, but they said that they viewed their experience separately and they can evaluate the evidence that comes into the - into the case on its own merits.

[08:40:08]

There were about a dozen prospective jurors who were dismissed, including a woman who did see the hotel surveillance video. She referred to it as damning evidence. And that was something that the judge agreed with Combs team, that she should not be on this jury panel.

Another person who was excused was a man whose wife had worked on litigation involving Combs decades ago, and his wife, he said, found that Combs' behavior during that period was disturbing. So, the judge, agreeing with Combs lawyers and excusing him from the case.

Now, we do expect jury selection to go all day today. The judge is hopeful that it might wrap by tomorrow. That would mean opening statements in this case would begin on Monday. And then that will be the prosecution beginning the presentation of their evidence. And Cassie Ventura is expected to testify in this case as a key witness for the government. And then Combs will have a chance to put on his defense. His lawyers say that the government is trying to criminalize a lifestyle, and that all of the sex that Combs was engaged in was consensual.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, Kara, thank you so much. Kara Scannell will be in the courtroom and our eyes and ears there for us.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, moving on to some politics here. New this morning, President Trump doubling down on telling Americans to buy fewer dolls for their children, admitting prices will go up due to his tariff war. And now this. Mattel says it will raise prices on American toys because of President Trump's tariffs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't think a beautiful baby girl needs - that's 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls, because what we were doing with China was just unbelievable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Trump's 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods is slamming the toy industry. Data from the industry group, The Toy Association, shows that nearly 80 percent of all toys sold in the United States are made in China.

Mattel joins a laundry list of companies pulling their full year guidance due to Trump's economic policies, saying it is harder to predict consumer spending.

Joining me now is New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Thank you so much for being here.

GOV. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM (D-NM): Good morning, Sara.

SIDNER: First of all, I am curious how President Trump's messaging, telling people, look, buy less, buy fewer dolls, it's not going to hurt you, less pencils, is going over with your residents.

GRISHAM: Well, look, I don't think it goes over well with anyone's residents. In New Mexico, a brand new study says it's going to cost average families $7,400 additional dollars. And what about the people who work in retail and shipping and manufacturing?

This is really about jobs. He promised jobs. He promised job security. He promised lower prices. And New Mexicans are really clear, that is not what he's doing. And he's now saying he doesn't care if you suffer. That's exactly what he said. Tell your kids we're all going to suffer together. No.

SIDNER: That's not going over well with your constituents.

GRISHAM: No.

SIDNER: There is a, you know, a big Trump-induced tariff battle with Canada right now. And the Canadian prime minister is meeting with him for the first time.

GRISHAM: Here today.

SIDNER: How do you think that is going to go over? And when you're watching that, as someone who has a neighbor, that there is another tariff battle with Mexico, what does this mean sort of for your state as you're watching this all go down?

GRISHAM: Well, I'm hopeful. I mean I've got to be hopeful because I don't think that this trade war is good economic policy for the country. Frankly, New Mexico is - and Mexico, that's my largest trading partner. And it's where a great deal of food and to manage food prices, which are already too high, this spells real trouble for New Mexicans who had incredible - we've had incredible success reducing food security.

Now I go right back, flip flop in the other direction. I'm hoping that these meetings continue to delay draconian decision making, that's an all or nothing design. And I think that, as we are reporting, that it's a high-stakes meeting. And I think free, fair, transparent trade is the best way to motivate economic success in this country.

SIDNER: I do want to ask you something that a lot of people will look back to and they'll say, look, the free trade agreement didn't do what it promised. Do you agree with that? Do you think that there should have been some differences in how that went forward when it comes to American jobs that left the country?

GRISHAM: Well, I don't think that we do very effective as national policy makers course correction. So, when we're saying to companies, look, we want you to keep your prices stable, we want you to make sure that we can see for ten years that this is what the spending consumer, we can tell consumers and families what it's going to look like. All right.

But then, you don't incentivize them to create wage growth in this country. And you incentivize other countries to minimize their own wage growth.

[08:45:01]

So, frankly, you know, the IRA, the Inflation Reduction Act, was that happy medium (INAUDIBLE) I do (INAUDIBLE) incentivized, right, creating manufacturing. And now New Mexico, number one in wage growth, particularly in manufacturing. We're the first state to reshore solar manufacturing. Incentives and sticks. There needs to be some accountability. It can't all be such wild profits that you minimize fairness to Americans and American workers.

But this sort of pendulum swing back and forth is never effective. And the only people who get hurt is everyday, hardworking Americans who get caught in the middle. Why do we keep doing that?

SIDNER: I do want to ask you about what Democrats can do. Democrats in Congress not only poll below Republicans, they poll below the president. And their approval rating I think for Democratic leaders in Congress is at 27 percent. Are you annoyed, angry, frustrated with the leadership of the Democratic Party that doesn't seem to be able to have a message that the American public can stand behind, while at the same time they are showing they're extremely frustrated with President Trump.

GRISHAM: They are. Well, I don't know that I'm frustrated. I - I'm more of a pragmatist in this design. People feel like their parties, on either side of the spectrum, do not relate to their everyday issues anymore, which is why local elected leaders, including governors, right, you got a Democratic governor elected in a Trump performing state, Republican majority states like Kansas and Kentucky, because they're actually doing the things that people can relate to, lower taxes, creating more jobs, improving educational outcomes. New Mexico, only state in America, cradle to career, free childcare, universal, free pre-k, universal, free college, two year, four year, part-time, full-time, building a workforce. You want job security in my state? Then I'm going to deliver that. And I'm not going to do it just on your backs. We're going to do that collectively, working.

I think the Democratic Party needs to meet this Trump frustration where they're getting - we're getting whiplash. Everything's about you paying more. None of those promises have come to fruition. And I don't see that they're coming. Now he's going to cut health care. I've got 840,000 New Mexicans who can lose access. It's outrageous. The Democratic Party keep doing this. Talk to everyday Americans about what you can do right now in this moment to solve their problems. We need to take that agenda to Washington. That's missing.

SIDNER: From your mouth to Democratic leadership's ears right here on CNN. Thank you so much, Governor. Appreciate you coming on. It was great.

GRISHAM: Thank you, Sara.

SIDNER: John.

BERMAN: All right, time's up. Today is the final day for you to secure your real ID. If you miss the deadline, you're going to have to undergo additional TSA screenings when boarding domestic flights without a passport. This morning, people are flooding DMVs trying to secure their ID, making for big crowds and long wait times.

CNN's Danny Freeman is at a DMV in Camden, New Jersey. The DMV, the happiest place on earth, Danny.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Of course, John, where else would you want to be? Listen, I want to highlight, though, exactly what you said in that intro there, because this is a bit of breaking news. The big fear, John, that a lot of people had going up to this deadline tomorrow of May 7th was, would I be able to get on a domestic flight if I did not have a real ID or a passport with me at the airport? I just got a regular driver's license. The answer now we know officially from TSA is, yes, you will likely be able to get onto a plane tomorrow if you don't have that real ID. However, the TSA wants to be clear, they're still enforcing this and you may face extra screening time as you go through the airport if you do not have that real ID just yet.

That being said, like I said, they're saying this is full enforcement coming up tomorrow. And here at this DMV, and other DMVs across the country, folks are still making that last ditch effort to get in line to try and get their hands on a real ID.

So, like you said, John, we're here in Camden, New Jersey. New Jersey is interesting because while their compliance is relatively low, they work on an appointment-based system. So that's why you're not seeing huge lines behind me. There are a lot of people in there, though, trying to get their hands on the real ID, but they have their appointments here.

I talked to some people, though, yesterday, John, who were not as lucky to get their hands on this process basically. There was one man who told me that he got in line for his daughter to get her real ID and they were missing just one form of identification. They were turned away.

There was another man who assumed that his real ID had come in the mail because he had renewed his license, only to learn that, no, you have to come in person to one of these DMVs to get this taken care of.

These are just some of the examples of the push and pull of the challenge to get these real IDs in before the deadline. But again, the important thing, I think, for travelers to understand is, again, that you will not, at this point, be turned away tomorrow. The TSA said that they are giving extra staffing just to make sure that people are clear on the process.

[08:50:05]

I want you to take a listen to what a representative for the TSA told me just in the past hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE LORINCZ, TSA, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR: We are going to process you. It might take some additional time, but were going to do it efficiently. We are fully staffed at all locations across the country. So, I don't anticipate any wait times or delays as far as you're going through the security process. But we will process you. You will not be turned away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FREEMAN: So, John, that's the big update right now. Again, you will be processed if you don't have a real ID, but you should still be able to get on the plane. The TSA, though, says still make sure you're getting your real ID. At this point, they believe that about 81 percent of the country is compliant with these real ID guidelines. And again, it's been about 20 years since this law went into effect mandating this. It's finally coming home tomorrow, John.

BERMAN: I've got to say though, that is pretty big news for the people who don't have them yet. This deadline has become something of a soft deadline. You will still be able to fly. I think a lot of people will appreciate that.

Danny Freeman, thank you very much.

Sara.

SIDNER: Very much so. Thank you, John.

The Trump administration is taking another whack at Harvard, saying it won't issue any federal grants to the university until it complies with its demands. We have the latest on that fight. And jurors in the Karen Read murder retrial get a close look at the evidence in the case, from snow blowers, to red Solo cup, and convenience store bags. The unique way evidence was gathered from the scene and why. Those stories ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:55:51]

BOLDUAN: New this morning, a Soviet spacecraft that malfunctioned on its way to Venus more than 50 years ago is now headed back to earth. Experts say the capsule, built to withstand a Venus landing, could reenter the atmosphere as soon as this week. And unlike most space junk, it might not burn up on its way down and through the atmosphere. So, be prepared. The odds of it being a danger to all of us, any of us, low but not zero we're told. So - because no one knows exactly where it's going to fall. If it happens to land near you, NASA says, don't touch it. Scientists say the debris could be dangerous and it still belongs to Russia. Beware.

The Trump administration has announced that it is cutting off all new federal research grants to Harvard University. In a letter to the school's president from the Education Secretary Linda McMahon, she told the university it is not eligible for the grants due to its, quote, "consistent violations of its own legal duties." Harvard's president said that he will not bend to the government's demands. The Trump administration had all - has already frozen over $2 billion in existing federal grants that were already approved for Harvard. The university has sued to stop that funding freeze. And now the president is pushing to take away the school's tax exempt status. So, this is far from over.

It was a big night at the Met Gala, considered fashion's biggest night of the year. And possibly the biggest reveal of the night, Rihanna debuting a baby bump. She confirmed the news of her third pregnancy on Instagram just before stepping on to the blue carpet with her partner ASAP Rocky, who is - was one of the co-chairs of the event this year. The couple and so many other stars last night nailing the assignment as the theme was superfine tailoring black style. Just gorgeous.

John.

BERMAN: So, if the space junk doesn't hit you, which it might apparently.

BOLDUAN: Correct.

BERMAN: Don't touch it because it belongs to Russia.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Exactly.

BERMAN: Check. Check. Check. OK.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

BERMAN: Got it. Thank you. BOLDUAN: That's what I reported. Why are you questioning my reporting?

BERMAN: No, no, 100 percent. A 100 percent. I just like the idea it might hit you. So, you have that going for you.

All right, court set to begin in minutes for the murder retrial of Karen Read. She accused - she is accused of killing her boyfriend, an off duty Boston police officer, by running over him with her SUV, and then leaving him in a snowstorm. Her defense says she was framed.

Now, Monday's witnesses included a paramedic and a retired police lieutenant testifying about the scene where John O'Keefe was found.

Let's bring in CNN's Jean Casarez, who's been following this from the beginning.

So, what did we learn new?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Lieutenant Paul Gallagher was the - the highest ranking officer to reach the scene. He was there at 7:00 a.m. So, John O'Keefe's body, already been taken to the hospital. Karen Read, already taken to the hospital for a psych evaluation. He said it was not only snowing, but the snow was going in all directions. It was hitting your face. The crime scene tape was up, but it was like almost coming loose. And he said it was actual blizzard conditions, a nor'easter that everyone has experienced there.

So, he saw some light pink spots in the snow where they said John O'Kkeefe's body had been. He knew that he - if he did not try to see what this was, collect it at that point, it was going to be lost because it was one to two inches of snow per hour, snow just blowing in every direction. So, here's what he decided to do.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was the benefit of a leaf blower over a shovel?

LT. PAUL GALLAGHER, CANTON POLICE DEPARTMENT (RET.): I wasn't going to miss anything with a leaf blower. A much better control.

I started with low speed and began whisking away the snow. And then I saw how it was uncovering those pink spots, would come - becoming brighter red. So, I verified it was frozen or coagulated blood at that time. And so, out of the abundance of caution, I decided that that was something we may want to collect.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: So, then he found darker red spots. He realized, this is blood. And he said, if I don't collect it now, it's going to be lost. So, law enforcement down the street had some red Solo cups. And, John, he took the red Solo cups and carefully put the red coagulated blood with the snow in the red Solo cups to then take it, eventually, to the evidence locker.

[09:00:08]