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Affordability Could Be Trend on Wall Street, Mirroring Politics; How Parties Use Redistricting to Keep Political Power; Hollywood Studios Betting Big on Blockbusters; Biggest Stories in Climate. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired December 24, 2025 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

NICK MARTELL, CO-HOST, THE BEST ONE YET PODCAST: Jack and I said the word trillion more times this year than we have in any other year. But the theme this year was also affordability.

JACK CRIVICI-KRAMER, CO-HOST, THE BEST ONE YET PODCAST: As in, NVIDIA hit a $5 trillion valuation. Elon Musk got a trillion dollar pay package. Sam Altman announced a trillion dollars of AI data centers.

MARTELL: But you do have a K-shaped economy here. So what we also saw this past year was that Carvana, Walmart, TJ Maxx, their stocks hit all-time highs. It's something Jack and I call the thrift economy.

The RealReal where you can buy and sell second-hand clothes. Their stock jumped. Get this, ThredUp stock was up nearly 500 percent this year.

One of the most popular stories Jack and I did in our podcast this year was on Americans buying and selling Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Trading clothes to make money off of them from their closets. So this thrift economy was a big theme of the previous year.

So Jack, what are we going to be looking forward to next year to build off the thrift economy?

CRIVICI-KRAMER: Yes, looking backwards, we've had three and a half painful years of inflation and people demanding lower prices. Will 2026 be the year that businesses actually offer us lower prices? We've been tracking Slate Automotive, which is bringing to market a $25,000 electric pickup truck.

Rivian and General Motors and Ford too, they seem to realize that affordability is top of mind when it comes to cars. No more $50,000 new cars anymore. Give us something a little cheaper.

We're also expecting to see the rise of Chinese brands hitting American markets in 2026. Maybe BYD vehicles finally hit the road. Michou has a bubble tea craze that's going nuts in China.

Luckin Coffee, which undercuts Starbucks in China, it's already in New York City and has big expansion plans here too. MARTELL: And that leads to a big thing we're expecting in 2026. One of our business predictions is the rise of the dupe department store. That's right, a dupe department store.

The idea is that everything in the store would be a lower priced version of an expensive name brand product. And you'd be seeing this in retail. We're already seeing this play out online, but we haven't yet seen this play out in brick and mortar.

We're talking a store filled with products 80 percent of the value for 20 percent of the price. Think of the Trader Joe's model, but applied to fashion, retail, electronics, bubble tea, coffee. We could see this across the spectrum, the idea of the dupe department store.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: I was going to say, if they do that and there's bubble tea, I am in. Jack Crivici-Kramer, Nick Martell really appreciate the conversation. Thank you guys so much.

CRIVICI-KRAMER: It's a pleasure. Thanks for having us, guys.

MARTELL: Can't wait to be back.

KEILAR: And of course, you can hear The Best One Yet wherever you listen to podcasts. And we'll be right back.

[14:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: The midterm election is now less than a year away. And in 2026, redistricting will be a big story and could decide who controls the House of Representatives. It's a complicated process, but one that both parties have become experts at using to take and keep political power.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Redistricting has sparked major political and legal battles. But what exactly is it? Let's break it down using this hypothetical imaginary state as an example.

Say our state is allocated five congressional districts based on its population. Each district should hold about the same number of people so that its representation in Congress is equal. Redistricting typically happens every 10 years following the release of the U.S. census. So 10 years later, the newest census shows us that our imaginary state still has the same number of people, but many have moved around to different neighborhoods. So the state redraws its five districts to balance things out. The new map isn't quite as neat, but it is better representative of where people live.

Now, what if our state's voters leaned something like this? Under these new district lines, the balance of power is three seats for Party A, two for Party B. And say in our hypothetical that Party A is in charge of drawing the map. They may be inclined to redistrict in a way that boosts their party's advantage. So they might redraw their lines something like this, shifting the balance of power to four seats for A and just one for B. When district lines are drawn this way to give one party more power, that is called gerrymandering.

And what's the result? Voters might not be fairly represented. What's not hypothetical?

Both Democrats and Republicans use gerrymandering across the country. Under current law, racial gerrymandering or drawing lines to minimize the voting power of a specific racial group is illegal. But partisan gerrymandering is allowed under federal law.

And there are ongoing arguments about what a fair map really looks like and how to best represent a state. So when you see districts stretched and warped into abstract shapes, it can be a sign of gerrymandering. And those potential party gains, even small ones, matter.

In recent years, control of the House has been decided by razor thin margins. Even a single seat could determine which party controls the chamber.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ (on camera): From "Minecraft" to "Superman" to "Wicked" and Brianna's favorite "Avatar", 2025 was a good year at the box office.

KEILAR: How did you know? And movie studios hope that 2026 will be even better with several major franchises returning to the big screen.

Dominic Patten is with us now on this. He's an executive editor with Deadline. And he's looking quite jolly. Dominic, let's look at some of the big openings in 2026.

"Toy Story 5" -- that's probably more my style, to be honest. Does the magic continue for Woody, Buzz and Pixar?

DOMINIC PATTEN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD: Well, I think very much, Brianna, and I have to say as a parent of a young child, too. Yes, "Toy Story" franchises played very well in my house. But then again, so do many other things.

And I think we're going to see a lot of what we call tent poles in the blockbusters. A lot of franchises coming out in 2026.

[14:40:00]

I think we're also going to see some new things, especially from Steven Spielberg and a few others, that might give us a, let's say, big picture look on the big screen.

SANCHEZ: When it comes to comic book movies, Dominic, "The Avengers" set the high water mark. And since then, the returns have been somewhat diminishing. Do you think we're going to see a return to form with "The Avengers Doomsday" in the box office?

PATTEN: Well, I think, you know, one of the X factors in this, Boris, is, of course, "Avengers Doomsday" is the return of the Russo brothers, who directed "Endgame", "Infinity War", which was some of the most popular films at the box office of all time. So I think that with Doomsday, I think you've got a good slate there, a return of some classic Avengers as well as others. But, of course, also 2026 is going to see Supergirl hitting the big screen as well, a kind of different take on Superman's cousin.

So I think this idea of superhero fatigue or sci-fi fatigue, let's see how that plays out. Again, I would also talk about Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day," which I think is really going to give people a real sense of, from the director of "E.T." and "A Close Encounter of the Third Kind," a new perspective on the prospect of, are we alone or not in the universe?

But also, more franchises, we're going to see another film very quickly after the last one in the 28 Years Later franchise, "The Bone Temple" is going to come out.

And, of course, when you're looking at sequels, let's go to a whole other place, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" is certainly going to walk the catwalk.

KEILAR: I'm so glad you mentioned "The Devil Wears Prada" because I'm afraid my expectations are too high for this. 20 years later, I'm so excited to see more. Do you think that it can really rekindle that original magic?

PATTEN: Brianna, I mean, look, if we go by the trailer that we've seen so far, there's a lot of high couture magic to be found. But I will agree with you, when you have these big delays, or they bring back these big films after a decade or two decades in this case, you know, you have to worry, like, does it still work? Is the chemistry there?

Is the story still there? Does the fashion of the early 2000s industry really work in the digital industry of 2025? But then again, Stanley Tucci, who a lot of CNN viewers know, obviously, Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

I mean, you really have to work hard to not make that outfit fit.

SANCHEZ: It is a good mix, yes. How about "Ghostface"? "Scream 7" is coming out this year.

Speaking of sequels, do you think that's going to be a draw?

PATTEN: I think so, too. I mean, I think "Scream" has always got a good audience. It's across generations.

You know, I have -- maybe you guys do too -- I have nieces and nephews who clearly were not alive when the first "Screams" came out, and they love them. But also, too, I think, too, one of the things we always have to play into, especially this is something that Hollywood always looks at for the bottom line, is horror sells. Even in an age where you find less people are going to the cinemas or their cinema viewing habits are very, very different, horror still breaks through in the box office.

So I think that's a good one to look at. But I would also say, too, never underestimate a good adventure. Christopher Nolan is going to be back with "The Odyssey," which has more stars in it than "The Winter Sky."

Of course, the retelling of Homer's epic poem. And, of course, you're going to see "The Social Reckoning," a sequel of sorts to "The Social Network."

And you're going to see the "Star Wars Mandalorian" movie. Come on. How much of The Force do you want with you now?

KEILAR: I always want The Force. I want more Force. I want it to be with me always.

And I wonder, what do you want, right? I heard you mention "Disclosure Day" a couple of times. Is that the movie you're looking most forward to, or is there another one?

PATTEN: Well, I'm really looking forward to "Disclosure Day" because I'm old enough to still be awestruck by a Mr. Spielberg. But I'm also looking forward to Boots Riley's "I Love Boosters," which actually is about the fashion industry as well. Boots Riley, a great independent director, also a hip-hop megastar.

I'm really looking forward to "The Odyssey." Look, Christopher Nolan films are still in that special place in our culture where they are what they would call water-cooler discussions. You know, these are discussions, as we saw with "Oppenheimer," what we've seen with the Batman movies and others.

These are things that really get a part of our culture. So to take one of the greatest works of literature of all time, throw in Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, and everybody else in the universe, and tell this story, I just want to see what Nolan's going to do. And the fact of the matter is, one of the things I love about Nolan, and I know a lot of people do, is there's a very few digital hands -- sleight of hands here.

He doesn't do AI. He doesn't do a lot of VFX. He does these stunts for real.

So, with the exception of Jackie Chan, that's a very rare breed nowadays. So that alone, if you're looking for the cinematic experience, "The Odyssey" definitely has my vote.

SANCHEZ: We'll see how he manages to pull off a giant cyclops without using CGI. Dominic, before we even get to these films hitting the box office, we have the Oscars. Who wins Best Picture in your eyes?

[14:45:00]

PATTEN: OK, Boris, look, I never really got that big into gambling, but I say if you bet on either Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" or Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," you're probably not going to lose money. If you're betting on Leonardo DiCaprio for Best Actor, you're probably not going to lose money. If you're betting on Jesse Buckley from "Hamnet" for Best Actress, you're probably going to make money. I think that this Oscars season is very competitive.

I also say there's wild cards like Michael Shannon in "Nuremberg," who's amazing, as former Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson. I think that this season we've really seen a lock-in. I think it's a battle between "One Battle After Another" and "Sinners."

They're both racking them up at various critics' awards. We're going into the Golden Globes, obviously. I think that that's where you want to put your eyes because that's where I think the Oscars is going to play out.

What's interesting about that is, of course, is "Sinners" for Warner Bros. was a huge hit for Ryan Coogler, of course, director of the Black Panther movies and others. Of course, Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," a lot of people were there, also a Warner Bros. film, I might add.

A lot of people thought, oh, it's not going to make its money at the box office, but it has. Warner Bros. great box office year in 2025 has continued right to the finish line. I think one of these two films is going to get them the Golden Man.

SANCHEZ: We look forward to watching it. A lot to look forward to in movies in 2026. Dominic Patten, thank you so much for walking us through that and for the lovely hat.

PATTEN: Merry Christmas.

KEILAR: Merry Christmas.

SANCHEZ: We'll be right back.

[14:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: From a snowstorm on the Gulf Coast to historic fires devastating neighborhoods in Los Angeles, 2025 was a wild year for the climate. It was also a year where political decisions could have big consequences for us all when it comes to climate change.

CNN's Bill Weir looks at the biggest stories of 2025 in climate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Starting off the year at number 10, deep freeze in the Deep South? January's Gulf Coast blizzard warnings resulted in up to 10 inches of snow in Florida's Panhandle, eight inches in normally steamy New Orleans, tripling the previous record for snow in the Big Easy. Number nine, DOGE takes a hatchet to critical weather agencies,

including NOAA. And in the process, the Trump administration fires hundreds of National Weather Service experts. Fewer staff and weather balloon launches may have led to missed forecast of an October storm which devastated communities in coastal Alaska.

At number eight, a monster march of the tornadoes, 114 of them across 14 states, with one EF4 traveling 120 miles across Arkansas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh my god, we are in a tornado!

WEIR (voice-over): While the twisters took 23 lives, windblown dust caused a 50-car pileup in Kansas that killed eight and fanned deadly wildfires in four Oklahoma counties.

Number seven, Super Typhoon Ragasa. The storm hammered the Philippines and Taiwan before coming ashore near Hong Kong with 10 feet of storm surge. While two million were forced to evacuate, China got a harsh lesson on the need for new kinds of infrastructure.

At number six, New York's subways flooded. A wet July brought enough rain to turn streets to rivers and train platforms into waterfalls. As a result, the city is spending hundreds of millions on raised grates and entries and bigger pumps, just a few of the costs of protecting cities built for a cooler, drier world.

At number five, the President of the United States insists that climate change is a hoax.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion.

WEIR (voice-over): And in doing so, Trump launches an all-out war against the scientists and startups working to fight it. Trump has so far closed labs, sought to cancel Earth monitoring satellites, and shut down climate research. He's eliminated EV incentives, halted the rapid growth of wind, solar, and energy storage, all while easing regulations on fossil fuels.

According to one study, these actions have already undone the carbon reduction progress made by the Biden administration.

Number four, cyclones, monsoons, floods, and landslides lead to a catastrophic year end for South Asia. From Indonesia, to Thailand, to Malaysia, and across the entire nation of Sri Lanka, almost 1,400 people are reported dead, hundreds more missing in landscapes that range from villages to beachside resorts.

At number three, hurricane season. This year's brought a trio of category fives through the Atlantic Basin, starting with Aaron, which wreaked havoc on North Carolina's outer banks, but the American mainland was spared this year. Jamaica was not so fortunate, as Melissa became not just the strongest ever hit the island nation, but with winds of 185 miles an hour, it was one of the strongest to ever make landfall on Earth.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need help in Jamaica, please. I'm appealing to anyone, please.

WEIR (voice-over): The common signature in all these cat fives was the rapid intensification of winds fueled by overheated oceans.

At number two, tragedy in Texas hill country. This after a month's worth of rain fell in hours, creating what officials called an inland tsunami.

[14:55:00]

The raging Guadalupe River ripped little girls from their bunk houses, and with 27 campers and counselors among the 145 souls lost, there is a fierce debate over warning systems and future flood zone construction.

CARRIE HANNA, MOTHER OF HADLEY HANNA, VICTIM OF CAMP MYSTIC FLOOD: I told her camp was the safest place she could be, and she would make new friends and learn new things. I lied to her.

WEIR (voice-over): And at number one, the City of Angels ablaze. 2025 began with the worst urban megafire in modern American history. Drought-thirsty brush provided the fuel. Santa Ana wins the oxygen, until huge swathes of hillside Altadena and oceanside Pacific Palisades were ablaze.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone needs help. Sorry for crying, but it's really emotional seeing my friends lose their houses and people losing their animals.

WEIR (voice-over): We've since learned that arson allegedly started a fire connected to the Palisades, but crews failed to put it out, allowing it to smolder for days. These are tough lessons, and there are others measured in over 15,000 structures lost, $60 billion in damages, and dozens of lives lost.

Here's hoping the new year brings healing and hope.

Bill Weir, CNN New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: Our thanks to Bill Weir for that report. Inside Politics begins after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END