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Americans Prioritizing 2026 Travel Despite Economic Hurdles; "Kpop Demon Hunters" Becomes Global Phenomenon; Top 10 of 2025: Media Milestones. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired December 25, 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]
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: -- any advice when it comes to the way you travel or maybe places you should consider that perhaps might not be on a typical list? You know, they aren't the greatest hits. What would you tell someone who's looking for an adventure, a special trip, but they are trying to save money?
CLINT HENDERSON, MANAGING EDITOR, "THE POINTS GUY": Yes, one of my favorite tools is a tool from Google Flights called Google Flights Explorer. And you just put in your home airport, it gives you an interactive map, shows you the cheapest places you can go anywhere in the world.
What I tell folks who really want to save money is go where the U.S. dollar is really strong. So, we're talking about South America, we're talking about even parts of Asia where the U.S. dollar remains strong relative, and your dollars are going to go much further than they would in a place like Paris or Rome.
Even look at secondary cities. So, you know, go outside of Paris, go to Bordeaux or go to one of the smaller cities where things are cheaper. I was in Slovenia this year, it was a bargain for a European country, hotels for $200 a night as opposed to 500 to 700. So, that's another idea.
And then there's all kinds of interesting new flights American airlines have added, including to places like Marrakesh, Mongolia, Greenland. So, there are options out there and sometimes that can be a cheaper way to go to.
KEILAR: Yes, and clearly you can really get into an adventure with all of those tips. Clint Henderson, great to have you, thank you.
HENDERSON: Good to see you.
KEILAR: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Plastic is everywhere and the chemicals it contains can permeate the air we breathe and the food that we eat. Three CNN reporters, including our chief climate correspondent, Bill Weir, wore bracelets that measure exposure to those chemicals and what they learned is alarming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAURA PADDISON, CNN SENIOR CLIMATE REPORTER: Just cycling to the local grocery store.
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is our colleague Laura in London.
PADDISON: It's a cold Wednesday morning.
JESSIE YEUNG, CNN SENIOR NEWS DESK REPORTER: It is hot, it's humid.
WEIR (voice-over): This is Jessie in Hong Kong.
YEUNG: It is a very busy Monday morning here in Hong Kong.
WEIR (voice-over): And that's me, Bill, on my New York City commute.
WEIR: Who knows what kind of fume exposure I'm getting on a daily basis.
WEIR (voice-over): Together --
PADDISON: The wristbands finally arrived.
WEIR (voice-over): -- we are guinea pigs on three continents.
YEUNG: Here's the wristband.
WEIR (voice-over): And with the help of these special wristbands and an international team of pollution experts.
YEUNG: I'm just heating up some food. I have a gas stove at home, which is quite common in Hong Kong.
WEIR (voice-over): We'll spend five days measuring our exposure to the dozens of different chemicals.
PADDISON: I'm just going to put a little bit of makeup on before work.
WEIR (voice-over): -- that come from living on a planet made of plastic.
BJORN BEELER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL POLLUTANTS ELIMINATION NETWORK: Studies have shown there is over 16,000 chemicals in plastics. Of that, about 25 percent are known to be hazardous chemicals. And the vast majority of other chemicals, there's been not enough scientific data to show if it's safe or not.
WEIR: Thanks to my better half, Kelly, we really try to avoid chemicals. All natural cleaning products if we can. We filter our water, drink out a glass. We have an air quality monitor here as well. And for the better part of the last five days, I've either been at home or at the office. I haven't had to get on an airplane, that's rare. So this is somewhat of a controlled environment to just see how clean my immediate surroundings are.
PADDISON: Every time I walked into a cafe or a restaurant or down a really busy road, a grocery store, got on the train to go to work. But perhaps the place that I've most thought about it is when it comes to what I'm actually putting on my body, so perfume or lotions, also cleaning products, what I'm using to clean the house.
YEUNG: I became quite aware when I was going through my daily life and at dinners or just walking around on the street, I'd wonder like, oh, I wonder what around me is potentially putting chemical pollutants in the air, whether that's my gas stove or things from a construction site. It made me realize how many construction sites I pass through on a daily basis.
WEIR: What do we pick up?
BEELER: Yes, you got a lot of chemical exposure, unfortunately.
WEIR: Really?
BEELER: Everything that we looked for, we found.
WEIR (voice-over): All of our samples included flame retardants and UV stabilizers, and alphabet soup of BPA, BPF, BPS and around two dozen chemicals on each of our bands.
BEELER: And then the most important one I would say that everyone should know is called phthalates.
WEIR: Phthalates?
BEELER: Phthalates.
WEIR: It's spelled with a P-H.
BEELER: It is the worst way to spell it. It's just an alphabetical mess. (LAUGH)
BEELER: But phthalates are super important because when we first looked at them, they're everywhere.
WEIR (voice-over): Phthalates are what makes plastic moldable and flexible. They're more regulated in Europe than Asia, and Jessie's levels are a bit higher than Laura's. But it is so common globally, it's long been known as the 'Everywhere chemical.'
They're also endocrine disruptors, which hack human hormones and cause problems from cradle to grave, from fertility and child behavior to depression, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
BEELER: The studies have shown about a hundred percent of Americans have phthalates in their body and it's so ubiquitous. It's everywhere. If you look around your room and your house, your clothes are made of plastics. Your furniture is made of plastics, everything's getting turned into plastics. But by 2060, like about 35 years from now, we're going to have four times more plastic on the planet than we have today.
WEIR: Wow.
WEIR (voice-over): Bill Weir, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Our thanks to Bill for that eye-opening report. Stay with CNN News Central. We're back in moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:00]
KEILAR: I don't want to say I told you so, but man, I told you so. When the Netflix movie, K-Pop "Demon Hunters," dropped into our lives, it has only gone up, up, up from there. It is a global phenomenon that could soon be collecting some golden hardware. It's now nominated for five Grammys and there's plenty of Oscar buzz as well. This animated hit has become a monster for any of the competition to contend with.
I spoke with the film's executive music producer, Ian Eisendrath, about all of the success. Here's part of our interview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Have you been surprised by what a giant success this has been?
IAN EISENDRATH, EXECUTIVE MUSIC PRODUCER, NETFLIX'S KPOP DEMON HUNTERS: Yes. I think you always hope, you know, in a film musical that maybe one song pops and it's soundtrack number one in the film, you know, television space. But it's been so gratifying to see these songs really hit with the public at large and globally and live as songs that are, you know, people are loving inside the film, but also just listening to on the radio, listening to on Spotify in their cars. That's the dream, for sure.
KEILAR: What does this mean to the musicians?
[14:45:00]
EISENDRATH: I think what it means, I think that we've sort of experienced something where the songs can transcend the film and really become hit songs in their own right. And for every songwriter, music producer, filmmaker, creator on this film, I think it just, I think it really is the thing we were after. We really wanted to create songs that were great songs, great K-pop songs in their own right, made by the K-pop hit makers of today that would land with that audience, but also really do tell story and forward the action and sound right in the mouths of each character.
So, I think it just, I think what we're experiencing is this incredible synchronicity between film, story, people experiencing the film on Netflix, and then people experiencing the songs as songs outside of the film and this sort of energy that they feed each other. And I do -- I've always felt like story and narrative songs can hit super deep with people if the music is great.
And I think that's been one of the fun things about this film is we brought people in from outside of the normal film songwriting world. We brought K-pop hit makers into the film space and worked with them to develop songs that worked narratively as well.
KEILAR: Yes, these are anthems, and they're being appreciated as such. And I wonder, Ian, because I think, you know, a lot of people, they've heard of BTS, right? They know about Blackpink, they know that K-pop is ascendant, but maybe it's not on their playlist. And this is changing that.
EISENDRATH: Yes.
KEILAR: What do you think this is doing for pushing K-pop like so thoroughly into the mainstream?
EISENDRATH: I'm hoping it does just that. Like we are working with some of the most talented songwriters, singers, music producers who have always had great songs and have always had incredible talent and have definitely been within the K-pop genre. And I think it's really exciting for music and K-pop in general that there is a transcendence happening where people who are like, I wouldn't listen to K-pop are suddenly listening to these songs, and then they start checking out other groups.
And I've just talked to so many people that said, I didn't know I loved K-pop. And I've always sort of put it in a box, but it's Korean pop music, so there's a wide variety of music sensibilities out there that falls under K-pop. And yes, I think it's just exciting to see this embraced globally by people who love all genres of music.
KEILAR: Yes, well, the story is great too, like you said, the narrative. It's about being true to yourself, being accepted. There's sort of these ideas of shame and what people do with that and how you can embrace a person for their whole person. I don't want to spoil too much. I want people to see it themselves. I've seriously watched this movie 20 times, and I'm not too mad about it, but my kids have been watching it over and over, and they just love it. So, I know that's the case for so many families. Thanks for chatting with us about it. Yes, it's super, super fun.
EISENDRATH: Thank you.
KEILAR: Ian Eisendrath, thank you so much.
EISENDRATH: I'm so thrilled to do this. Thank you. Take care.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: And our thanks to Ian Eisendrath, because I wouldn't want to spend the hundreds of hours that I have spent rocking out in the car with my kids to Huntrix and the Saja Boys in any other way. And I'm sure you feel the same. Stay with CNN News Central. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:50:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Coming in at number 10 on the list of the top 10 media stories of 2025 -- big media mergers with political overtones.
David Ellison's Skydance finally won approval to take over Paramount, but only after Paramount's previous owners agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump against CBS. Then, Ellison offered to buy something much bigger, CNN's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery, leading to a bidding war and deal for Netflix to buy Warner Bros. and HBO. Paramount launched a hostile takeover bid, arguing a Netflix- Warner combo would be worse for shareholders and for Hollywood. CNN's future ownership hangs in the balance.
Number nine, remodeling the press room. The White House banned the Associated Press from events, tried to bully other news outlets, and invited Trump promoters into the press pool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you guys also consider releasing the president's fitness plan? He actually looks healthier than ever before.
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I can confirm the president is in every good shape.
STELTER: Trump loyalists, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, followed along by severely restricting press access at the Pentagon, leading beat reporters to surrender their press passes instead of agreeing to his terms. Hegseth tried to crack down on leaks even as he was scrutinized for leaking secret war plans by the Signal app.
PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Those folks who were leaking, who have been pushed out of the building, are not attempting to leak and sabotage the president's agenda.
STELTER: And while Trump tries to shape the news to his liking --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If there's nothing incriminating in the files, sir, why not act --
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Quiet. Quiet, piggy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why do you blame the Biden administration for what this man did?
TRUMP: Because they let him in. Are you stupid?
STELTER: -- reporters just keep on reporting.
Number eight, the TikTok ban that was and then wasn't. In January, the Supreme Court upheld the Biden era law pressuring TikTok's Chinese parent company to sell the app's U.S. operations to American owners.
PAULA REID, CNN CHIEF LEGAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Huge news out of the Supreme Court as the justices uphold a controversial ban on the social media app TikTok.
STELTER: But then Trump granted an extension, and then another, and then another, even though legal experts doubted his ability to do so. In late December, TikTok said it has signed a deal to spin off its U.S. entity to American investors like Larry Ellison, though the deal is still expected to need approval from the Chinese government before closing.
Number seven --
ANDREW SCHULZ, HOST, "FLAGRANT" PODCAST: What's up, guys? Today we are joined by the Democrat's secret weapon. Give it up for Pete Buttigieg.
TUCKER CARLSON, HOST, X "TUCKER": Senator, thank you very much for spending the time to have this conversation.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): It's good to be with you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there a Zohran Mamdani Reddit?
ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW YORK CITY MAYOR-ELECT: I don't know, is there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably. Don't check it though.
STELTER: -- the influencer boom. More and more newsworthy moments are happening on Substack accounts and podcast streams.
[14:55:00]
TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER-SONGWRITER: So, I wanted to show you something -- yes.
JASON KELCE, CO-HOST, "NEW HEIGHTS" PODCAST: What's in it?
SWIFT: This is my brand-new album, "The Life of a Showgirl."
TRAVIS KELCE, CO-HOST, "NEW HEIGHTS" PODCAST: TS 12.
SWIFT: Yes.
STELTER: That's Taylor Swift on her fiance's podcast "New Heights" announcing the release of her 12th album.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D), CALIFORNIA: This is Gavin Newsom.
STELTER: Politicians like Gavin Newsom are launching chat shows trying to foster more personal connections with voters. And nowadays it feels like every audio podcast is on camera too, creating a new form of TV.
Number six, a struggle over publicly-funded media. Public broadcasters are under pressure around the world. And in the U.S., Trump targeted PBS and NPR.
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: The kind of money that's being wasted -- and it's a very biased view. And I'd be honored to see it end.
STELTER: The president urged Congress to strip away the funding they had already approved for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. And Republicans did just that, defunding PBS and NPR stations across the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's not going to be any other entity that broadcasts the legislature, the meetings, and providing the transparency in government that Arkansas PBS does.
STELTER: Stations are still on the air, but they say they need viewer donations now more than ever.
Number five, a sports fan's dream come true or worst nightmare? In the streaming era, it's getting harder to watch your favorite teams. YouTube kicked off the NFL season with its first live global stream, and Netflix signaled it's going to spend more on sports rights. But with rights being sold to the highest big tech bidders, games are showing up on different apps and different sites, frustrating fans who just want to flip on the TV and watch.
Number four, fight or fold? Trump's pressure campaign against the media caused some outlets to cave and others to combat his threats in court. As Paramount tried to get the Trump administration to approve its merger, Stephen Colbert found out that his late-night show was canceled.
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the "The Late Show" in May.
STELTER: CBS said the decision was financial, not political, but Colbert's fans did not buy that. As some media owners stand accused of capitulating to Trump other outlets want to be seen as doing the opposite. The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal both vowed to fight Trump's lawsuits against their publications.
Number three, free speech battles taking center stage. The assassination of Charlie Kirk horrified America and drew even more attention to Kirk's campus debate crusade.
KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: We are hearing from President Trump. He is on his Truth Social platform saying that Charlie Kirk has passed away.
STELTER: When Jimmy Kimmel referenced the political arguments about Kirk's alleged killer --
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!": We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.
STELTER: Trump's SEC chairman Brendan Carr cried foul and threatened ABC and its local affiliates. Two big station owners said they would preempt Kimmel's show, leaving ABC to yank it off the air altogether and sparking outrage in Hollywood over government censorship. Nearly a week later, Kimmel returned to the airwaves.
KIMMEL: Anyway, as I was saying before I was interrupted --
STELTER: Number two, the generative A.I. race gets costlier and even more competitive. Tech giants keep one-upping each other with new chatbots and new upgrades. OpenAI's Sora 2 model stunned users and scared Hollywood studios by generating artificial mini movies that sure looked real.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: Societal understanding of A.I. trails far behind where the technology is. People around the world are going to be confused as to what's real and what's not.
STELTER: Companies like Meta are doubling down on their bets, and Trump is taking a light touch, low regulation approach, hoping rapid A.I. expansion keeps fueling the U.S.
And the number one media story of 2025, it's the power of the people. Real people, not chatbots. From folks in their cars making selfie videos, talking about the high cost of living, to dramatic recordings of ICE arrests gone wrong --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't do that. You can't do that! You can't do that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out of the car.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, you can do that. You can do it.
STELTER: -- to videos of MAGA media influencers criticizing Trump over the Epstein file.
REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN (R-GA): I'll tell you right now, this has been one of the most destructive things to MAGA.
LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS HOST: How many of you are satisfied with the results of the Epstein investigation? Clap.
STELTER: We're seeing people power all over the place. While media moguls fight and political hacks try to twist the news, normal everyday people are telling their own stories, making their own media, and sometimes forcing those in power to pay attention.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Well, thank you for joining us on this holiday edition of CNN. Inside Politics starts now.
[15:00:00]
