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Speaker Johnson Makes Remarks After Trump Megabill Passes House; Trump to Sign His Domestic Policy Megabill Tomorrow at 5 P.M.; Congress Passes Trump's Sweeping Domestic Policy Megabill; Sean Combs Denied Bail; Tentative Sentencing Date Set in October Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired July 03, 2025 - 15:00   ET

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

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): And you put this audacious timeline, you said you were going to pass it out of the House by Memorial Day. I mean, some of you openly laughed at me when I said that back in early February. And then we said we would get it done by July 4th. We beat Memorial Day by four days, and we got this one done a day early. I just want to point out, okay?

So, the question was, I mean, like, why? Why did you do that? Why did you think that was possible? Because it just sums up - I would sum it up with one word. It's belief, okay? I - we had a vision for what we wanted to do as a group. We believed in the election cycle last fall that we were going to be given this great blessing of unified government, that we would have the White House, and the Senate, and the House aligned, an alignment, unified government. And we did not want to waste that opportunity because we understand the history that comes along with it, the opportunity that we can do for the country, and we believed that we would have that chance. And then, I believe in the people that are standing here behind me. I believe in this group, every single one of them individually.

Some of them are more fun to deal with than others, you know? I mean that with the greatest level of respect. I love every single one of my colleagues, you know, even the ones I got to spend more time with, right? Because everybody's here. Their motive is right. Their heart is right. They're trying to do right for their constituents. They're trying to serve the greatest nation in the history of the world that we're going to celebrate tomorrow. We don't take that lightly.

I know their hearts, and I know what their skill sets are, and I know what they bring to the table. And I get up every day excited because I know that each of them are going to bring that to the table, and they're going to serve their constituents. You could not have a greater group of public servants than the people standing in this room right here. They will give their all for this country. And, man, that's what the framers intended when they put this thing together 249 years ago. This is what it was about.

So, I believed in this vision. I believed in the group. I believe in America. I believe we have the greatest nation.

I'm going to say this very simply, and everybody here would articulate it in their own way. We had a tough four years before this last election cycle. America was in - we're in deep trouble. And we knew that if we won, and we believed we would, we knew that if we got unified government, we'd have to quite literally fix every area of public policy. Everything was an absolute disaster under the Biden- Harris radical, woke, progressive Democrat regime.

And we took the best effort that we could in ""One Big Beautiful Bill"" to fix as much of it as we could. And I am so grateful to God that we got that done as we did because of the dedication. Yes.

Lastly, it's no secret I do believe in God. I believe in that motto that's up - that I referenced in the floor speech a little while ago. I believe that is what has made our nation the greatest in the history of the world. And some people shake their heads, and they think that's old-fashioned or something. That is a fact. When the framers put this together, they stepped out in faith. They did something that no nation had ever done before.

The great statesman philosopher G.K. Chesterton of Great Britain said, America is the only nation in the world that was founded upon a creed. And he said it's listed with almost theological lucidity or clarity in the nation's birth certificate, the Declaration of Independence. We hold these truths to be self-evident that we recognize, we boldly proclaim the self-evident truth that our rights do not come from the government. They come from God himself. He's the one that gave us our rights.

Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg address, we are dedicated to this proposition, one nation, under God, a government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. This is an experiment. It's only 249 years. That's not a long span of time in human history. It's just a blip on the whole scale of human history. It is up to us to save it. It's up to the duly elected representatives of the people to come here and represent, and it's up to every single one of us, of the people, by the people, for the people, all of us.

So, you've got to be engaged, and we've got to pass this along to the next generation. Reagan reminded us, freedom is not inherited in the bloodstream. It's got to be protected. It's got to be fought for. It's got to be taught to the next generation so that they will have the same liberty, opportunity, and security that we have all known and too often taken for granted.

So, I just want to say, we're going to get to the main event here. We're about to sign this bill and get it over to the White House, okay?

Some of these men and women have got to go catch flights and stuff, so we're going to sign this real quick, and I'll take a few questions, but I just want to say this. Do not take for granted what we have been given, this grand experiment in self-governance. We can preserve it, but we've got to do it all together. God bless you. Thanks for being here. Thank you.

[15:05:00] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: A major moment there for House Speaker Mike Johnson as he sits down to sign the ""One Big Beautiful Bill"" as it passes the House and now is on its way to the White House for President Trump to sign during what will be a signing ceremony tomorrow on Independence Day at 5 P.M. The Speaker there describing the audacious timeline by which Republicans moved to get this passed. He said that people in the room openly laughed at him when he suggested that the House version of it could get passed before Memorial Day and that the whole thing would be done by July 4th. He said, we beat it by one day.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes, this is a huge legislative victory for President Trump and getting it done pretty quickly here after the beginning of his second term. A huge legislative victory that Democrats are going to try to make a huge legislative vulnerability, a liability for Republicans ahead of these midterm elections that really are going to begin in earnest here in the coming days.

So, I just want to go ahead and thank all of our folks here for helping us walk through this. So many implications for this bill, and we really appreciate it.

SANCHEZ: We should note they are playing one of President Trump's favorite songs to play at rallies, one that we've seen him dance to many times. "YMCA" now blasting. Not sure exactly how that's relevant to the signing of the "Big Beautiful Bill".

KEILAR: It's festive.

SANCHEZ: But it is festive. One day before the nation's ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) ...

SANCHEZ: ... 249th birthday. Thank you to the panel for joining us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Let's get some reaction now from one of the members who voted for this bill, republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman of Indiana joins us live. Congressman, first of all, congratulations on the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill Act. I read in a statement you outlined some of the reasons you voted for it, lowering taxes, building the Golden Dome, securing the country's borders.

You do write in it, though, this bill was not perfect. I wonder what was in it that you would have rather done without.

REP. MARLIN STUTZMAN (R-IN): Yes, well, great to be with you. You know, first of all, this is a huge accomplishment for President Trump's agenda and for the American taxpayer and the American people. This is going to really be the rocket fuel for the economy.

What I would mention is, is that my concern has always been the national debt. The debt continues to climb. And there's some really big voices out there, including President Trump, saying that we have got to deal with debt. But it's kind of the chicken or egg, which one comes first? You have to have a growing economy. You have to have a strong economy.

And the "Big Beautiful Bill" is going to do that. It's going to keep taxes low for Americans. It's going to make sure that the border is secure. It's going to also make sure our defense is strong. And it also repeals a lot of those pieces that have been passed over the past five years under the Biden administration that really manipulate the markets.

So, this is, you know, the deregulation of federal government. These are all huge factors for a growing economy, and I - it's going to be a huge benefit to the American people.

SANCHEZ: It's notable that President Trump was supportive of eliminating the debt ceiling altogether. This bill has the largest debt ceiling increase in history of some $5 trillion. You've been outspoken in wanting to tackle the deficit. I wonder, do you think this bill is actually poised to do that? What pathway is there for folks who have real concern about that if this is going to add to it?

STUTZMAN: Yes. So, it does. And the way that it does is that it's going to help an economy grow. We need to get back to that 3 percent GDP number. For the last several decades, we've been used to a 2.5 percent, even down to 2.1 percent GDP growth.

Well, every percent that you lose in GDP growth, you're going to lose about a trillion dollars in revenue. So, if we get back up to that 3 percent or even higher, that's going to help bring those revenue dollars in.

I don't think that now is the time to allow taxes to go up on the American people, to pay for these shortcomings that have really been brought on to us by an irresponsible Congress. I have a bill that talks about emergency spending. About $12 trillion of our debt comes from emergency spending bills.

And so, there's these moments when Congress just goes overboard and adds to the credit card that the American people have to pay for.

But I tell you what, I can tell - I mean, even being home last weekend talking to constituents, this economy is primed. I mean, the jobs report that came out today, we're hearing all these positive news. Gas prices are lower. Inflation's in check. Boy, I tell you, now that people have certainty on tax policy, I think this economy is going to really take off.

SANCHEZ: There are also concerns, Congressman, about what this might do to access to health care for some Americans and the benefits that they receive.

Our Jeff Zeleny recently spoke to a mom who's worried that changes to Medicaid, specifically additional requirements and eligibility checks, could impact her nine-year-old daughter who has brain damage, she has cerebral palsy.

[15:10:07]

She says that the only thing keeping her daughter alive is Medicaid. I want you to listen to what she shared with CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm worried that the red tape is going to affect our Medicaid because of just the oversight burdens and that as a result, I'm going to lose my daughter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: She asked, quote, "who's going to protect us when they can't get paperwork done in time and we lose coverage?" How would you respond?

STUTZMAN: No, I empathize with her. And I tell you what, that's what Republicans are doing is protecting Medicaid for people like her and for single moms, pregnant moms, you know, people that have found themselves in dire straits.

You know, the Department of Justice just announced earlier this week a health care scam to the tune of about $14 billion, 300 people indicted. That's a huge story because we've consistently said over time that people are taking advantage of Medicare and Medicaid in our government programs and they're just pocketing the money for profit. It's a scam and that's what we need to stop.

And that these programs can be healthy, again, if we keep them for those people who they're specifically for. If you're here illegally, it's not for you. If you're an able-bodied individual, it's not for you, that - you know, a person that can go to work.

If you're scamming these programs, you should be caught and put in jail and pay the fines. These programs are specifically for those who really need help and Republicans are really set out to do that. And President Trump always told us, don't cut Medicaid for people that truly need the help.

SANCHEZ: Given reductions in federal spending for some states though, are you concerned at all that rural hospitals may wind up closing? We've heard from workers that many of them who believe that they may not be able to stay open. Can you guarantee that this bill won't shut down hospitals in rural communities?

STUTZMAN: Yes, I don't believe it will at all. In fact, you know, one of the things that we do know is like states like California, they take about $160 billion a year in reimbursements through Medicaid. That number alone is larger than the entire state budget of Florida. There are several states that continue to overutilize and take advantage of Medicaid and Medicare and these programs that are really meant, again, for all Americans, not just for those in California or New York that are taking advantage of programs or expanding the programs.

But, you know, coming from a rural area, this is a really important issue for me because I see how the cost of health care has gone up. President Trump, again, I believe is the right person to fix this. He's already addressed it on prescriptions where he's capped prices. I think we're going to see more of those sorts of conversations where if the health care industry doesn't fix these problems in getting the cost of health care down, that government and specifically President Trump is going to step in and fix it and I think we need to.

It's no longer a free market industry. It's very much a manipulated and controlled by government pricing and reimbursement rates.

SANCHEZ: I do just want to point out for the sake of precision, Congressman, that California is the fifth largest economy, I believe, in the world. And so, they contribute enormously to the revenue that the federal government creates by the form of taxes. I wonder how this got across the finish line, though, in terms of the bill.

On Tuesday, you told Pamela Brown that there was no reason to rush this just to get it done by July 4th. You argued that certain provisions on the Senate version were unacceptable, especially, as we noted a moment ago, increases to the national debt and deficit. But then today you voted for it. You are outspoken now in your support for it. Was there pressure from the administration to get this done? Was there any threat to potentially primary you the way that we've seen the administration do that with some other Republicans who voiced hesitation or apprehension?

STUTZMAN: No. No, absolutely not at all. In fact, the conversations with the White House have been very cordial. I expressed my concern to them over several different issues. And, you know, we - it may not be fixed in this particular bill, but they have committed to me to work on these particular issues that affect my district and that they want to be able to help in other bills or in other tools that they have that can be done maybe through the administration.

So, you know, again, watching that Senate bill come out, it wasn't what I was hoping to see compared to the House version. But this administration has been very willing to work with every member that has had issues and concerns. I really compliment their - you know, President Trump's team, but also, I compliment Speaker Mike Johnson.

[15:14:59]

I mean, he's the glue and the person that is really hinging all of these pieces together, listening to each member, hearing the concerns, and figuring out a way how can we help to make - take care of those concerns, whether it's, again, this bill or another bill. This one here is a little bit different. The Senate left, went out of town. You know, any changes was going to cause more delays. But I really trust that we'll be able to accomplish the changes that we need over the next several months.

SANCHEZ: Congressman Marlin Stutzman, we'll leave the conversation there. Thank you so much for the time.

REP. MARLIN STUTZMAN (R-IN): Thank you. Great to be with you.

SANCHEZ: Thanks. Still to come, part of the CNN exclusive interview with an alternate juror from the Sean "Diddy" Combs federal trial, what he says about the so-called freak-off videos shown to jurors. Plus, as Israel intensifies its offensive in Gaza, we're learning new details about the latest ceasefire proposal, one the administration is optimistic about.

And later, he is every hot dog's worst nightmare. The one and only Joey Chestnut joins the show to talk about his highly anticipated return to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. We'll be right back. Stay with us.

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[15:20:13]

SANCHEZ: Sean "Diddy" Combs will remain in a Brooklyn detention center after he was denied bail following a mixed verdict in his criminal trial. A federal jury acquitting Combs of racketeering and sex trafficking yesterday but finding him guilty on prostitution related counts.

KEILAR: CNN spoke exclusively with one of the alternate jurors in the case. He tells CNN's Laura Coates that the testimony from the prosecution's star witness Cassie Ventura seemed very credible. He also described the sexual encounters that were called freak-offs that were captured on video and played for the jury. Here's that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: You saw some very graphic images, videos. You heard very sexual and graphic ...

GEORGE, ALTERNATE JUROR IN SEAN COMBS TRIAL: Yes.

COATES: ... details. What was that like hearing that and how did it impact how you viewed the case?

GEORGE: No, they were very graphic. And - but I think overall, you know, it was just - it was - we're looking at it from, like, one side. And it was definitely riveting and eye-opening.

COATES: Was it forced? Did (INAUDIBLE) ...

GEORGE: No, it didn't seemed - it didn't seem force. It was actually, like, pretty tame.

COATES: Really?

GEORGE: Yes.

COATES: Did she ...

GEORGE: It was just a lot of rubbing oil and stuff on there. It was anything too, you know, graphic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Defense and trial attorney Misty Marris is here. Your thoughts on what you hear there, Misty?

MISTY MARRIS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, it's really interesting, Brianna, because I actually spent a lot of time in the courtroom and I was there for Cassie Ventura's testimony and for the testimony of Jane. And something that was shielded from public view, even those that were in the courtroom, when we saw all the exhibits would be put up on a screen, those videos of the freak-offs were never shown publicly. They were only shown to the jury.

So, it was something we would talk about when we were analyzing this case. Those videos are a critical piece of evidence and it was something for us that we're analyzing whether there was force, fraud or coercion, we never saw. So now the jurors' perception that in the videos they did not perceive force, that could explain even further why we saw the verdict that we did when it came to sex trafficking. So, that's insight that nobody but the jurors would have.

SANCHEZ: Misty, Laura also asked the juror if he would have acquitted Combs on the RICO charge the way that the rest of the panel did. And he told Laura, quote, "I think reading all my notes and looking back at the evidence, I probably would have reached the same conclusion." Does that at all surprise you?

MARRIS: Not at all. I mean, there were - by the way, in this interview, the copious notes, right? There were a lot of notes taken during this trial. There was a lot of information, 30 plus witnesses, seven weeks of evidence and testimony. It doesn't surprise me because I think there was a fundamental flaw in the RICO case because prosecutors never really explained what this criminal enterprise was. How is there a criminal organization that's different from Combs himself? It was a really abstract concept of what the enterprise - what was the purpose? What were the methods? What were the means?

In addition to that, we never heard from any of the alleged co- conspirators, KK, D-Roc, all of these individuals who were referenced during testimony, but ultimately prosecutors did not put them on the stand to talk about what this criminal conspiracy was, the fact that they conspired with Combs to commit these crimes.

So, there was kind of a gaping hole there, so it doesn't surprise me to hear that it fell flat for this juror and presumably all of the others as well, given the result.

KEILAR: Do you think the prosecution overcharged then?

MARRIS: RICO, to me, just never formulated. And I do now, seeing the entire case play out, do think the RICO charge was a stretch. That being said, there is some form of strategy, potentially, with bringing the RICO charge to the extent that it was viable. And it was, right? It didn't get thrown out before trial. The defense tried to get it dismissed before they even entered the courtroom. The court said, no, there's enough evidence to move forward and let a jury decide.

But, Brianna, it's important to note, in a RICO case, all of those predicate crimes, we would never have heard about them if - because the statute of limitations had passed, but for RICO, which expands what types of things can come into the courtroom.

[15:25:03]

So, from a strategy perspective, perhaps that was part of prosecution's analysis.

KEILAR: Yes, that's a good point. Misty Marris, thank you so much.

Israel is intensifying its strikes across Gaza, even as negotiations for a ceasefire are ramping up. We have a live report from Tel Aviv next.

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