Return to Transcripts main page
CNN News Central
Bill Bullard is Interviewed about Importing Argentine Beef; Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) is Interviewed about the Shutdown; Timothy Simons is Interviewed about "Nobody Wants This." Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired October 23, 2025 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:30:00]
HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: On how they treat their workers that everybody feels valued and respected there.
Guys.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Hadas Gold, thank you for that great reporting for us this morning. Appreciate you.
Kate.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here's a quote for you, "you're selling us out." That is the message from some U.S. cattle ranchers who are furious with President Trump right now over his new plan to import more beef from Argentina. The president says he's doing it and he wants to do it to ease record high beef prices for Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I put tariffs on things coming in to the country, including beef. And that gave them a chance to finally have a decent industry.
The ranchers understand that. They're so happy for what I've done. I saved them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Trump also adding that he loves America's cattle ranchers, but also says they, quote, "don't understand tariffs." Now some of those cattle farmers who overwhelmingly did support the president in last year's election are making clear that they do not agree with his plan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TY THOMPSON, CATTLE SALES MANAGER, BILLINGS LIVESTOCK AND AUCTION YARDS: Consumers will tell us when the beef is too high. I think its outlandish for the president to come out and say that beef is too high and he's going to get it down himself.
What is his problem with higher priced beef? Because consumers have a choice in proteins. Theres's chicken, there's pork, there's all different proteins. Consumers have chose to buy beef.
President Trump ran on being a free market guy. So, what he was saying last week goes totally against what he ran on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Joining us right now is Bill Bullard. He's CEO of R-CALF USA, the nation's largest cattle association that exclusively represents cattle farmers and ranchers. A former -- a former cattle farmer himself and rancher himself.
It's good to have you here. Thanks for being here.
BILL BULLARD, CEO, R-CALF USA: Glad to be here, Kate.
BOLDUAN: What do you think -- what did you think when you heard about this plan? And what are you hearing from members of the association?
BULLARD: Well, we viewed it as an about face. Our industry has suffered under a huge trade deficit for decades. And as a result, our industry has been shrinking for decades. And our producers have received less than the cost of production from the marketplace for several years. And finally, the situation got to where the supplies became so tight that the competitive forces were unleashed in the marketplace and cattle prices started to start to catch up with beef prices.
And so, what we need to do is we need to give our industry space to rebuild and to expand. And the way to do that is to use the president's tariffs and tariff rate quotas to limit the volume of imports that are price depressing imports that are preventing our industry from growing and eliminating opportunities for new entrants to enter our industry.
So, when we heard the news about increasing imports from Argentina, our concern was, this was going to further exacerbate the already crisis situation we're in. And we believe that if the president needs to help Argentina, then what we're going to have to do is reduce imports from some of the other 20 different countries that we import from. We imported a record 4.6 billion pounds of beef last year. And this -- these imports have put downward pressure on prices.
BOLDUAN: One -- the way one cattle farmer in Illinois put it to CNN was, "if Trump goes through with how he's outlined it, I do believe it's a betrayal of the American rancher," and also saying, "it's a feeling that you're selling us out." Is that how it feels to you?
BULLARD: Well, it feels like there's a misunderstanding of how the industry works, how our U.S. cattle industry works. And a misunderstanding of the fact that we've been in a state of crisis for decades. This has been a chronic problem, and it has only grown acute in the last couple years. Producers are now receiving the highest prices in history. But we lost over 106,000 producers just in the five year period from 2017 to 2020 -- 2022, excuse me. The industry's market is broken.
BOLDUAN: I mean, that's -- that's a big number when you lay it out like that in a five year period.
Economists, ag economists I'm seeing say that bringing in beef, more beef from Argentina, because it accounts for such a small slice of beef imports kind of at large, it isn't likely to impact prices.
BULLARD: Well, we've already seen that futures --
BOLDUAN: Does that change how you feel is kind of like part -- I guess part of my question.
BULLARD: No, we had record beef imports last year, 6.4 billion pounds. And that has, as I -- as I indicated, it has reduced opportunities for producers. We need producers to have relief from these excessive imports. We're proposing to the president that he reduce imports by 1.5 billion pounds to give our industry the space it needs to rebuild the cow herd by about 2 million head.
We've lost 2 million -- or 3 million head since 2018. So, our industry has been shrinking for a long time. We've suffered from lack of profitability. We need to expand. We're not going to expand if we reduce the price point that has finally triggered an era where we can begin the expansion in the industry.
BOLDUAN: Let me ask you this.
[09:35:00]
The agriculture secretary said this week that the administration remains committed to helping ranchers. And she promised more detail to come about a larger effort to reinvigorate U.S. beef production by opening up more land and opening new processing plants. What do you think that would do?
BULLARD: Well, we support that because opening up federally managed lands to more grazing is going to increase our nation's capacity to grow our shrunken cattle herd. So, that's a step in the right direction.
Also what the secretary announced was that they were going to partner with the Department of Justice to monitor the cattle markets, to ensure that they are open, transparent and fair to both producers and consumers. Our industry has suffered from a broken market dominated by four packers that control 80 percent of the fed cattle market, and we've lost competition in the market.
And then, to add insult to injury, we've allowed these global packers unlimited access to imports from around the world, and they have used those to displace domestic production and domestic cattle. We need to reverse that. And the way to do that is to reduce the overall volume of imports that are inundating this industry and preventing our -- our industry from growing, expanding and attracting aspiring farmers and ranchers into the industry.
BOLDUAN: Yes, which is exactly the opposite of what it seems the president, right now, is preparing and planning to do. It'll be very interesting to see how this goes forward, if he does change his mind, as you are trying to send that message.
Bill Bullard, thanks for coming in. Appreciate your time.
Coming up for us this morning, still new video just into CNN that appears to show the very moment two of the -- oh, my God, look at that -- two of the thieves made their getaway from the Louvre right after the heist. You can see two people going down, descending that same lift that was used for them to get in and break into the museum.
And you may know him as the loser sibling of the hot rabbi on Netflix's hit show "Nobody Wants This." Actor Timothy Simons joins us live ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:57]
SIDNER: This morning, millions of federal workers are bracing for a major impact from the government shutdown. They will miss their first full paycheck tomorrow. Today, the Senate is expected to vote on a GOP-backed bill to pay certain essential workers, including members of the military and the TSA. A competing bill from Democrats would pay all federal workers during the shutdown. Neither bill is expected to pass, and there's no sign that lawmakers are any closer to a deal to reopen the government. We're now in day 23. Obamacare subsidies remain a major sticking point. Speaking with CNN yesterday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Republicans are ready to address that issue, but only after the government reopens.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I think the question is, on the health care plan, to Marjorie Taylor Greene's point, is if the government reopened tonight, would Republicans have a plan to address the Obamacare subsidies?
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA): Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, we do.
COLLINS: You would have a plan tonight.
JOHNSON: We have proposals to -- yes, we could have that ready immediately.
COLLINS: OK, but a proposal is different than a plan.
JOHNSON: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: Joining us now, California Congressman Ami Bera.
Thank you so much for being here.
I am curious because you heard Johnson saying, yes, we have a plan. Have you heard of this plan at all? Has it been discussed with Democrats?
REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): No. I mean Mike Johnson doesn't have a plan. He doesn't actually care about what's happening to the American families and, you know, how they're all being hurt. They're about to lose their SNAP benefits, food stamps, right before Thanksgiving. Are you kidding me?
The reason why we run for office is to take care of American families, working folks. Mike Johnson takes orders from one person, Donald Trump. He's not speaker of the House. He's Donald Trump's lackey. And if he -- we want to end this shutdown, one person can end the shutdown, and that's Donald Trump, by picking up the phone, calling Mike Johnson and saying, cut a deal.
SIDNER: You were out at the Sacramento airport standing in solidarity with TSA workers and air traffic controllers. And I just want people to see you out there and hear what you said in part.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERA: We're going to work to support the TSA workers and federal workers that are not getting paid. You know, we're talking to food banks and other programs, credit unions, about extending lines of credit. But the best thing we could do is, actually, let's give them a paycheck. That's what they want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: So, today, Republicans are saying, look, we have a vote to give a paycheck to essential workers. Why not just say, OK, I can agree to this for now?
BERA: I mean, I'll -- I would vote on giving TSA workers a paycheck. I would vote on giving air traffic controllers a paycheck. The folks that are working every day. But I would open up the government so we can actually serve the American people.
And it's not that hard to do. I -- you know, heard from my constituents about $20,000 premiums that they're going to have to pay. That is unfathomable at a time when so many families are struggling. We can actually solve this. We could do good for the American people. Again, it's one person who has to make a call, Donald Trump. Mike Johnson's not going to do anything, John Thune is not going to do anything until they get the OK from Donald Trump.
SIDNER: So, would you vote with Republicans if that comes to the floor today, that they would, on this proposal to -- to pay essential workers who have to work during this shutdown, even though they're not being paid?
BERA: I mean I'm not in the Senate, so I don't get to vote on that bill today. But, yes, I would vote to support and pay folks and -- and get them that relief because I heard the angst of those TSA workers that live paycheck to paycheck and the fact that they're struggling to get by. Yes, we've got to get them paid, but we have to get the -- the federal
government open. And again, only one person can do that, and that's Donald Trump.
Mike Johnson is a weak speaker. I never would have said I miss Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell. They at least understood Congress was a separate body. Mike Johnson takes his orders from Donald Trump. And until Donald Trump says, hey, Mike, open up the government, nothing's going to happen.
SIDNER: I'm curious about something that is supposedly imminent to the San Francisco Bay area. Our reports are -- reporters are told that there is an ICE operations that are headed to the bay area. Congressmen Nancy Pelosi and Kevin Mullin have -- have put out a statement saying, in part, that "reports of a planned mass immigration raid in the bay area are an appalling abuse of law enforcement power," and they end to say that the "state and local authorities may arrest federal agents if they break California law.
[09:45:16]
And if they are convicted, the president cannot pardon them."
Are you concerned about the clash that may cause between state, local and federal authorities when you hear Nancy Pelosi, you know, sort of putting out that kind of a statement?
BERA: I mean, I -- I'm very worried. I was in San Francisco a month, two months ago. Downtown is safe. You know, people are out and about and enjoying their lives. The mayor of San Francisco has done a great job getting the city back to where it is right now. So, there's no crisis at hand.
Donald Trump's manufacturing a crisis. He does want to see this confrontation. I would urge folks to have cooler heads. You know, let's follow the law. But let the mayor and the governor handle California.
SIDNER: Congressman, I am also curious about, just to get your thoughts on what you're seeing at the White House. There is a lot of talk, some consternation, about this huge project that Donald Trump has undertaken where he has demolished, or is in the process, we're seeing live pictures there, of demolishing the East Wing and rebuilding a 90,000 square foot ballroom. What do you think about this?
BERA: I mean, I'm appalled when I see the pictures of what's happening to the White House. That's the people's house. That is not Donald Trump's residence. He gets to stay there for a couple of years. But that is -- the White House is for the American people. Those visuals are entirely disturbing.
What bothers me the most, though, is my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate, crickets. They're not saying anything. Why are they so afraid to actually speak up and stand up for the American people? So many of my constituents have been reaching out to us saying, what the heck is going on in Washington, D.C.? Why are you guys letting Donald Trump demolish the White House, a symbol of America?
Again, I am so disappointed in my Republican colleagues, House and Senate members who are just silent, and they're so afraid of Donald Trump. Come on, guys, stand up. Let's do something. Let's be a separate branch of government.
SIDNER: Congressman Ami Bera, it is a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
And we continue following breaking news this morning. An NBA coach and player arrested in connection with a betting probe. Stay tuned for more updates on that, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:51:21]
BOLDUAN: So, the highly anticipated second season of one of Netflix's most popular shows is out and streaming starting today. You're looking at it right there. We're talking about "Nobody Wants This," which follows the sometimes rocky romance of podcaster Joanne, played by Kristen Bell, and hot rabbi Noah, played by Adam Brody. Noah's brother Sasha and Joanne's sister Morgan, the quirky mcgurky (ph) Morgan are back at it as well. We want to give you a sneak peek at what they're up to this season.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just going to stand up the whole time?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I'm going to --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ok.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just -- fabulous. What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just want to say that I am in no way prepared to have a threesome right now.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: God, in what world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this is not where I thought this was going to go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sasha (ph). Disgusting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I -- I could do it. I'm --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In what world do you think this is the threesome I would initiate? First of all, neither of you would be involved.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Agreed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wait, I wouldn't be there?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not a threesome. This is just a conversation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, most threesomes probably start with a conversation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have literally never started a threesome with a conversation, but --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't have to lay down ground rules?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I -- OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many threesomes have you been in?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: She's -- I got to think about that.
SIDNER: That's pretty uncomfortable.
BOLDUAN: Joining us now is the one and only Sasha. Timothy Simons, it's great to have you here.
TIMOTHY SIMONS, PLAYS SASHA IN "NOBODY WANTS THIS": Thank you very much for having me.
BOLDUAN: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
One, what's up with the blond locks?
SIMONS: I thought it would look dope.
BOLDUAN: Nice.
SIMONS: That -- truly, there was no other reason besides that. I don't know if I succeeded, but it's -- it's there.
BOLDUAN: Needed to be said --
SIMONS: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Because we just saw on screen and then -- and we're here.
SIMONS: Yes.
SIDNER: Needed to address it. Needed to address it.
BOLDUAN: Yes, exactly.
Do you -- let's look forward and look back.
SIMONS: OK.
BOLDUAN: What can we look forward to this season and how do you -- how do you feel about just the accolades and praise that you guys have been floating on from season one? It must feel amazing. SIMONS: No, I mean, it's incredible. You get into acting because you
have an unfillable hole of need -- like a need for praise. So -- so, for that reason, it's incredible.
The -- there is a thing of, like, you know, you know, the serious answer is more like, and we don't get into it for that. We get into it for artistry. We get -- I got into it because I love ensemble work, which is one of the things I love about this show. The cast is really close. They're all incredibly talented. So, that's like the more actual like serious answer.
The -- and to look forward to -- I mean I think one of the things that the show deals with in the second season is like what have -- you know, you have like that sort of grand romance. Everybody is like the first three months, six months of a relationship are incredible. But then like, you know, what happens after that when you have to start merging your lives together, you know what I mean?
BOLDUAN: And then add in interfaith into that as well.
SIMONS: Yes, yes, yes.
SIDNER: Yes, I was going to say, like the interfaith part of this. There are so many scenarios. Do you think the reason why it's become so popular with people is that it addresses things that we all go, oh God, I had to deal with that, too. Like, this is something that -- and you're almost learning from the show different ways maybe to or not to deal with the scenarios.
SIMONS: Yes. Yes. I think there is something interesting, especially in like the, you know, Noah's faith sort of guides a lot of his decision making in relationships. And I think one thing that's cool about it is, that there is like a healthy way of like adults communicating. Even though they're not doing everything perfectly, they are like sort of communicating in a healthy way about how to move things forward.
And also like then you just have, like on the other end, you have like my wife Esther and I.
BOLDUAN: Hysterical.
SIMONS: You have the -- like the representation of like, oh, you've been together for a really long time and you might be asking questions about your relationship that you'd be scared to ask because what if you find the answer you don't want.
BOLDUAN: Exactly. Do you want the answer?
SIDNER: You're like, wait.
SIMONS: Yes, do you want the answer?
BOLDUAN: OK. And so, what's up with Morgan this season? I have loved seeing this friendship. Whatever that is.
SIDNER: Whatever it is.
BOLDUAN: Take shape in season one.
[09:55:01]
SIMONS: Like, I think one thing that I find interesting about that is like, whether or not that's a romantic thing, a friendship thing, there is like a connection and attraction between those two people. I think it comes from like similar worldviews. Same sort of statuses in their family as like the sort of forgotten -- like the forgotten children.
BOLDUAN: Oh, there's that one too. Yes.
SIMONS: Yes, exactly. Like, I'm certainly not the golden child of my family in this show. So, I think they have like a kinship in that. And so -- but then again, also after last year, Sasha knows that he -- he hurt Esther's feelings. And so, he's trying to, like -- he's trying to throw him -- like rededicate himself to his marriage, lift her up, be a better husband. He knows he lost track of things, you know what I mean?
SIDNER: We're going from you hurting feelings to you dancing. What's up with the -- the dancing. Are we going to see some moves? More dancing.
SIMONS: My incredible dancing?
BOLDUAN: We haven't seen the video, but apparently there's some dance scene that everyone's talking about?
SIDNER: Yes.
SIMONS: I do. I do a dance. I do a dance. And I'm -- I --
SIDNER: You want to recreate it here or --
SIMONS: Oh, absolutely not.
BOLDUAN: Oh, I thought he was going to say absolutely.
SIMONS: There is nothing in the world more -- that makes me more self- conscious than dancing. I'm 100 feet tall. Nobody really wants to see that. So -- and so then it was in a script, and I had to do it. That is my job. So, the good thing is that, like, my dancing, the target was guy trying really hard and not professional dancer. And that's a target I felt like I could hit.
SIDNER: Sort of like Elaine with the -- that --
BOLDUAN: Exactly. Nailed it.
SIMONS: I -- yes, would -- I hope it's better than Elaine. I hope.
BOLDUAN: We'll be the judge of that.
SIMONS: Yes, that's not up to me. That's up to the audiences.
BOLDUAN: Tim, it is really great to meet you.
SIMONS: Great (ph) to meet you too.
BOLDUAN: You are amazing in this.
SIMONS: Thank you.
BOLDUAN: And a lot of your other projects as well.
SIMONS: Thank you.
BOLDUAN: Thanks for coming in.
SIMONS: I notice you didn't say, it's a hot rabbi but not hot older brother of the rabbi. That's weird.
SIDNER: That -- that -- I noted -- I noted that too. I blame Kate.
BOLDUAN: That was -- I'm going to blame the producer.
"Nobody Wants This" season two is streaming today on Netflix.
SIDNER: And "SITUATION ROOM" is up next.
BOLDUAN: It is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
