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Missing Girl's Mother Faces Unrelated Charges; Tim Cadogan is Interviewed About GoFundMe; Michael Shannon is Interviewed about "Nuremberg.". Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired November 12, 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]

DAN RAYFIELD, OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL: Really comes back to who we are as Americans, right? No family should go hungry in one of the wealthiest countries. We, as Americans, don't believe that we should be using the military on the streets of our cities unless the most extreme circumstances present. And here -- and we have laws that ensure that. And so, here in Oregon we had a three-day trial and a judge listened to the facts, right? President Trump's talking about facts that he's seen on social media. They're not really facts. And what ended up happening is this judge listened for three days. The federal government was able to present. We presented evidence, police officers. We presented folks that were on the ground. And the reality is that the president has not met the justification to federalize the National Guard here in Oregon.

Again, you got to have a rebellion, you got to have an invasion, or you can't effectuate the laws of the United States. None of those conditions exist. And so you had a judge, a judge who was appointed by President Donald Trump himself, rule against him. And so that is where we're standing right now. We do expect the federal government to appeal to the Ninth Circuit, and we'll be ready and waiting for them.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: I just want to ask you one last question, and I don't know if there's any discussions happening there about this, but Speaker Johnson and Republicans have not committed to a vote on the ACA, the Affordable Care Act, or otherwise known as Obamacare, subsidies. If congressional Republicans do not vote to approve subsidies for the ACA, what can states do? And is there any discussion that there is going to be some legal ramifications from the state's point of view?

RAYFIELD: Well, this is a pattern and trend with the Trump administration right now. They're passing regressive hidden taxes in the form of tariffs, and they're pulling back benefits, whether it's health care or food assistance, at a time when we have an affordability crisis in this country. So, every single time that they are going to take actions that are going to increase the cost of things that we as Americans pay for every day, we here at the Oregon Department of Justice, and all of the Democratic attorneys general, are going to be looking to see what are legal actions that we could potentially take to hold the line, to make sure that we don't add to the affordability crisis here in this country. So, that's something that's very active right now, and we're keeping a

close eye on it. I mean, but this is, again, what Americans truly believe about who we are. We are one of the wealthiest countries. Our health care costs shouldn't be going up the way that they are in this country right now under this president. And again, you've got to remember, this president ran on what I would say is an incredibly betrayal of his campaign, which is, hey, we're going to lower the costs here in America. And he's done anything but that during these first 10 to 11 months.

SIDNER: Some of the polls with Americans are in line with what you're saying. They really want to see prices come down.

Dan Rayfield, we will check back in with you. Thank you so much.

For more information about how you can help those facing food insecurity, you can go to cnn.com/impact or text "SNAP" to 707070 to donate.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, the search is ongoing for nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard. She's been missing since last month when she went on a road trip with her mother. Now, today, that mother, Ashlee Buzzard, will be in court. She's charged, according to law enforcement, on unrelated charges of false imprisonment. Now accused of holding a man captive in her home.

CNN's Jean Casarez is here with much more on this.

Jean, what are you learning here?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, CNN has spoken with the alleged victim of this false imprisonment. And he does say that he put a short statement online, on LinkedIn, actually. And we do know that that statement has been pulled down now.

But what he says is that he went to the home of Ashlee Buzzard to try to help her find her daughter. And here are some quotes of what he said in that statement. He said, quote, "on November 6th, during an altercation at her residence, an interaction. The situation escalated. Ms. Buzzard became visibly distressed after sharing information she appeared to regret disclosing. A box cutter was produced. And despite multiple requests to be allowed to exit the home, I was not immediately permitted to leave." He goes on to say that there were several locks on a door that she locked and wouldn't allow him out.

Now we -- the court has not released a narrative at all on what the alleged facts are here. We have reached out to try to locate an attorney for Ashlee Buzzard, and the court tells us that they did not know -- we may not know until she's seated in court today, at her arraignment, and an attorney is seated next to her.

But meanwhile, while this is going on, the search is still going on for her daughter, Melodee. There is a map we want to show you that came out from the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Department that says on that final day that she was seen, Melodee, that this was the route that she and her mother took. And we do not know, because her mother arrived in Lompoc by herself that day. But Green River, Utah, Panguitch, Utah, northwest Arizona, Primm, Nevada, Rancho Cucamonga, California. So, if anyone in those areas saw Melodee, and you see the picture, and she may be wearing a wig or a disguise, but it is believed she might be alive.

[09:35:03]

And that is why law enforcement is continuing this, because she has to be found.

BOLDUAN: Wow. Jean, thank you so much. There is so much going on with this and, most importantly, the search for this young girl.

Thank you.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the breaking news, emails from Jeffrey Epstein just released, including one where he writes, Donald Trump spent time at his house with one of the alleged Epstein victims. The new questions this raises.

And then overnight, Jimmy Kimmel with an emotional tribute after the passing of a dear friend and the bandleader of his late-night show.

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BOLDUAN: So, just before the break, we were talking -- Sara was talking to the attorney general of Oregon about its fight with the federal government to fund SNAP benefits that have been locked up and kind of in total limbo during the government shutdown.

[09:40:10]

But the issue of SNAP benefits, food stamps, putting food on the table is also becoming more and more of a focus in what might be an unexpected place on the crowd funding and fundraising site GoFundMe.

Joining us right now is the CEO of GoFundMe, Tim Cadogan.

It's good to see you. Thank you for being here.

TIM CADOGAN, CEO, GOFUNDME: Thanks for having me.

BOLDUAN: So, I mean this -- and I hope I'm not being ignorant here, but when I think of GoFundMe, I think of a response to natural disasters. I think of, sadly, the campaigns have been sent to me and friends of when tragedy strikes a family, a sudden death or a sudden medical issue where a family really needs extensive help. I don't think of buying groceries. But is that really what you're seeing?

CADOGAN: We've started to over the last few years. So just GoFundMe is a place where people can help each other for whatever is important in their lives. And you're absolutely right, all of those are cases. BOLDUAN: Yes.

CADOGAN: And there's also wonderful cases like funding for sports teams and going to college and mission trips.

BOLDUAN: Exactly.

CADOGAN: But essentials, which is for groceries, rent, mortgage payments, car payments has been increasing for the last three years. Actually, in all of our English speaking markets.

BOLDUAN: Really.

CADOGAN: The U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, Ireland, it's up about 20 percent over the last three years in all of those countries very consistently.

BOLDUAN: What are the asks? Because one thing -- it's often hard for people to ask for help.

CADOGAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And -- but when it's tragedy or for something wonderful, it seems it would be a bit easier. Asking for help to put food on a table seems like it might be tough for people.

CADOGAN: It's actually always hard to ask for help. It's often a lot easier if someone else is asking for your behalf. What you're seeing at the moment on GoFundMe is people asking for help to get through the next month. Contemplating that, hey, maybe this won't last forever. How do I just get through this next payment, this next month?

We also see people setting up fundraisers for others. So, we have a wonderful example in upstate New York. It's a local business owner and father called Jeff Nourse (ph) set up a fundraiser to give Wegman's gift cards to families in his community. Thought he'd raise a few thousand dollars. He's raised over $200,000.

BOLDUAN: Oh my gosh.

CADOGAN: Over 2,000 donors in collaboration with Wegman's, they've given out over 1,000 cards, $150 each, to families. And he's got extra. So, he's giving it to local food banks. So, that's an example of sort of a citizen saying, I can do something here. And then 2,000 more people saying, well, that's great, he's opened the door, he's made the ask, I want to help, too, and making a really big impact for a lot of families.

BOLDUAN: And that's the -- that is the wonderful thing about GoFundMe. People's hearts are big. They just don't often -- and that's what you do, you connect.

CADOGAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: You allow the opportunity to safely and securely give to people. CADOGAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Because people want to.

CADOGAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: Or -- and long have. But it also offers -- you have such a unique perspective than just on the state of, I would say, just the state of the economy and this big issue of affordability, that is, I mean, we've been talking about it throughout the show, and it's a huge issue right now.

What is your view on the economy and affordability through the lens of GoFundMe?

CADOGAN: Well, it is a -- it's a phenomenon that is affecting really all of the developed economies as life has become more expensive. It's not a country specific thing. That's one of the -- we operate in 20 countries. I mentioned the English speaking because we have slightly more usage and data there. It's the same trend everywhere that people are struggling with these expenses. And I would include student debt in that as well. And so they're using whatever means they can to get help and to get friends, family and community to step in for them.

BOLDUAN: Knowing that, are people giving less because they're all struggling.

CADOGAN: No. They're actually giving more. So, this is an irony, which is -- and it happened in the pandemic as well when people were really struggling, but also stepped up more because they could help. And sometimes that's maybe a small amount, maybe $5 or $10. But it's this ability, hey, I can do something. I can help around the edges. I can make a difference.

BOLDUAN: GoFundMe, in my perspective, is like the player in this game. You said you're in 20 different countries.

CADOGAN: Yes. Yes.

BOLDUAN: So if competition in the -- in the industry, if you will, isn't necessarily your biggest challenge, what is the biggest challenge that you see for GoFundMe?

CADOGAN: You actually hit on it in your first question. The biggest challenge is, we, as humans, find it hard to ask for help. We want to help. That's sort of the easy part. The example of the fundraiser I gave you, or we recently had another, a young girl here in New York, Caroline Korelis (ph), who set up a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, said she'd swim a hundred miles in a month, raised $18,000. And it's that ask, right? Having the courage. And I spoke to her last week. The courage to put that out there.

That is our biggest challenge.

[09:45:01] And it's the thing that we focus the most on as a product company is, how do we make that easier? How do we make products that make it easier? How do we make you feel safe and reassured and know that you're doing something that a lot of other people have done. And we're going to use all that knowledge to enable you to make the askers (ph). When you make the ask, you open the door to an incredible amount of help.

And it's not just money, it's emotion as well. When I talk to people who've received money and support, they -- they say things like, it was an unfathomable amount of love that I received through this fundraiser. I didn't expect how it would make me feel. I no longer feel alone. That's the power of it.

BOLDUAN: In a world of -- especially the world we live in, in -- of constant negativity and bad news, it is a good industry to work in, in the industry that brings people together to give.

CADOGAN: Yes, we're privileged to do it. Thank you.

BOLDUAN: It's really great to have you here. Thanks so much for coming in.

CADOGAN: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: John.

BERMAN: All right, there is breaking news. Just released emails from Jeffrey Epstein claiming that then Donald Trump, wasn't president, spent time at the Epstein home with an alleged Epstein victim. We are waiting for a response from the White House.

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[09:50:29]

SIDNER: On Tuesday, late night host Jimmy Kimmel was in tears, sharing, quote, "the hardest" opening monologue he says he has ever had to deliver. Kimmel shared that he is mourning the death of his best friend, his show's longtime bandleader, Cleto Escobedo. Escobedo passed away earlier that morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": I've had to do some hard monologues along the way, but this will -- this one's the hardest.

And even though I'm heartbroken to lose him, I'm going to take yet another lesson from him, and acknowledge how lucky I was to have him at -- literally at my side for so many years.

Cherish your friends. We're not here forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Kimmel remembered Escobedo as a, quote, "great friend, father, son, musician and man." Cleto Escobedo was just 59 years old.

And happy little trees for a great cause. Famous painter Bob Ross bringing the joy of painting to millions of homes in the '80s and '90s, now some of his works are helping to donate to public broadcasting. Three paintings by the TV legend were sold for more than $600,000 at auction Tuesday. They are the first of 30 paintings by Ross that are being sold to benefit public television stations across the country after the Trump administration slashed funding. More paintings are expected to be auctioned next year.

John.

BERMAN: November marks 80 years since the start of the Nuremberg trials, which prosecuted Nazi leaders for their crimes during World War II. Now, that critical moment in world history is making its way to the big screen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant and so devastating that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: "Nuremberg" stars Rami Malek, Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon.

And Michael Shannon joins us now.

It's great to see you.

MICHAEL SHANNON, ACTOR: Thanks, John. Thanks for having me.

BERMAN: I saw the film. It's terrific. I actually have read a lot about the Nuremberg trials. And it's so much more, I think, complicated and nuanced than people realize when they just hear about that moment in history. You play Robert Jackson, the Supreme Court justice who ended up being the prosecutor there.

What drew you to this? And what do you want people to take from it?

SHANNON: Well, I just love, in the process of doing what I do for a living, I actually learn so much about history. I didn't know anything about Robert Jackson before I took this part. So, it's just an amazing way to immerse yourself in an historic event and try and live inside it and really learn about it. And I would encourage anybody who sees the movie to do even more research, if they're so inclined, because he has quite a legacy, Robert Jackson, beyond simply the trial.

BERMAN: And he sure does. I mean the whole idea of crimes against humanity is something that he really brought in to being. When I say it's nuanced, I mean, I think we think about Nuremberg, we think, oh, you know, we got them. We got those Nazis. We put them on trial. It was a slam dunk. Not so much. It was tough. And it was particularly tough for Judge Jackson.

SHANNON: Yes, and it was tough for him to even get the trials to happen in the first place. There was a lot of resistance from the government, from people here. They -- the popular consensus opinion was that Nazis, if they're caught, should just be executed right away without any sort of trial, which is, you know, understandable. But he believed that you really needed to put them on trial and let them try and explain to the world what they did and let the world, as a whole, decide what their -- their punishment should be.

BERMAN: I don't want to give too much away, but, obviously, this ends up being a courtroom drama at the end. And one of the major scenes toward the end is you standing face to face with Russell Crowe, playing Hermann Goring, obviously Hitler's number two, one of, you know, history's truly, deeply evil people. So, just talk to me about that moment filming this standoff, which theoretically is the complete standoff between good and evil. How did you approach that?

SHANNON: Well, it was interesting. They had it scheduled, because it's such a long scene, to shoot it over several days and break it up into segments.

[09:55:07]

And Russell and I both agreed that we didn't want to do that. That we just wanted to do it all in one go to really get inside it, build the momentum, and really feel like it was happening. We thought if we broke it up like that, it would feel kind of stale or funky. So, they allowed us to do that and I think it really, really paid off. Yes.

BERMAN: All right, offbeat question. How do you feel about the rock band R.E.M.?

SHANNON: You're funny. Yes, I like them. I like them pretty much. Yes. Yes, we -- me and my friend Jason Narducy, we go out on the road and perform their records. Yes, we're going to be out next February and March around the country performing "Life's Rich Pageant." Yes.

BERMAN: So, like, R.E.M. really, really good. People should go look at the clips of this. Like really -- I's say an R.E.M. cover band, that doesn't do it justice. You, obviously, do other things also, but it's really good.

SHANNON: Yes, Thank you. Yes, we -- we've been doing it for a couple of years now. And, yes, we have the support of the actual band, which is really special to us. And they come out and see us sometimes, even hopped up on stage with us a couple times.

BERMAN: So, you know, you do music. You've done streaming TV. You do film. You've directed. You've acted. You've done stage. You going to get into news at all? You think it'd be -- should I be worried?

SHANNON: I don't -- I don't have what it takes. I couldn't do what you do. Jesus.

BERMAN: Well, it's nice of you to say. Whether or not that's true, it's nice of you to say.

Michael Shannon, it's great to see you.

And "Nuremberg" is now showing in theaters across the country, starring future news anchor Michael Shannon.

BOLDUAN: Exactly. Exactly. That's -- yes, that's the next step for sure.

BERMAN: Absolutely.

SIDNER: And comedian John Berman is going to take part in his own film.

BOLDUAN: I don't --

BERMAN: Because he says, that's funny. He was really convincing.

BOLDUAN: That's him saying that's really -- that's really him saying it's like --

BERMAN: That's funny.

BOLDUAN: Thank you so much for joining us. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "THE SITUATION ROOM" is up next.

BERMAN: That's funny.

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