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Gloria Allred is Interviewed about the Epstein Files; Vance and the 2028 GOP Presidential Nomination; Priah Ferguson is Interviewed about "Stranger Things." Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired December 29, 2025 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[09:31:07]
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, we're standing by to see more of the Epstein files. The Justice Department is combing through what could be more than one million additional documents potentially related to the case. The DOJ actually issued a call last week asking prosecutors to volunteer during this holiday time to help comb through the latest batch of unreleased documents, putting the Epstein saga on track to stretch well into the new year. The deadline, by the way, by law, to release all of Epstein files was back on December 19th.
The delay in releasing the files has sparked backlash and frustration, as critics also say the redactions to the files already released have been both heavy-handed and haphazard, with at least one victim's identity having been exposed in the process. The DOJ says it is, quote, "working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims."
But I want to bring in Gloria Allred, an attorney who represents several of the women abused by Jeffrey Epstein.
Look, just to catch people up on the latest chapter of this saga. Congress passed a bill to release the Epstein files. It includes things like grand jury transcripts, case files, search warrants, et cetera. Then the Justice Department just discovered a million more files. How would you describe the Epstein file release process to this point?
GLORIA ALLRED, ATTORNEY FOR EPSTEIN SURVIVORS: Messy. Sloppy. Not in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. It was too little, too late, and did not protect the victims' privacy. I believe that there is more than one victim whose identity was exposed and should not have been. So, this is a drip, drip, drip. And there's going to be, as they say in certain parts of the country, a lot of splaining (ph) to do.
It's very tough on the victims, the survivors. They hoped and expected and wanted the passage of the transparency act because they wanted everything out there all at once. That's not what happened.
And somebody -- you know, I'm sure there's going to be a lot of finger pointing. But, you know, lost in the struggle is the fact that we wanted the whole picture, not just pieces of the puzzle, that we and the media have to try to piece together to get the big picture, who assisted, who enabled, who supported, who conspired with Jeffrey Epstein and why weren't they held accountable? We know that Jeffrey Epstein was not held accountable. And we want to know what's in the files.
We want to know the memo in 2007, the federal prosecutor who, you know, who put forth a 60-count felony indictment that never was filed because the United States attorney at the time for that area, Alex Acosta, decided it should be a state prosecution. And Jeffrey Epstein got away with a very light sentence on the state for soliciting prostitution of a minor and was only able -- only forced to serve 13 months in work release, where he was able to go to his office and sexually abuse young girls there, and then sleep in the jail at night.
And then, of course, the system failed again in 2019. And we want to know, what's in the -- in the Department of Justice files from 2019, where he was going to be prosecuted but died and therefore wasn't prosecuted. We want to know what the prosecutors had in mind. Yes, some people are going to argue that's work product, but we want to know. And why not call Alex Acosta to a public hearing, not just a confidential private deposition for Congress? Why not call the prosecutors? And who's behind this?
[09:35:01]
JIMENEZ: And, Gloria, just before we go, I want to ask because, look, the Justice Department has argued that they're acting in good faith here, but do you believe administration officials should be held accountable for this? Is it to the level, for example, that you might believe Attorney General Pam Bondi should be held in contempt, or at least looked at for that?
ALLRED: Well, I definitely think she should be called to a public hearing in Congress, you know, to explain what happened. I mean, why were not the files released in 2019? Why are so many pages apparently overly redacted? Why are some underly redacted?
We have questions. And it's -- you know, I'm tired of this political battle. I know many survivors are. They don't care whether the rich and powerful men were Democrats or Republicans. They want the truth. They want transparency. They want accountability. This is not about Democrats or Republicans. It's about holding to account those people who conspired to hurt underage girls.
JIMENEZ: Attorney Gloria Allred, I appreciate you taking the time. Thank you for being here this morning.
Sara.
Brand new this morning, I should say, is authorities may have a confession and motive from the man accused of placing two pipe bombs in D.C. New details on what he allegedly told investigators.
And one of the most anticipated series finales is just days away. We are talking to one of the stars of "Stranger Things" about the supersized ending.
Stay with us.
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[09:40:50]
SIDNER: IT's a ways away, but one name is jumping out in the 2028 presidential race. Vice President J.D. Vance surging to the top of the first Republican primary polls. This places him far ahead of the rest of the field. So, what are the numbers telling us about his chances so far?
Here with us, CNN's chief data analyst Harry Enten.
All right, where are we seeing these predictions of J.D. Vance's chances?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: I will just note, it is never, never too early to talk about political risks because these guys are running already. Even if they haven't formally declared, they're already running.
And J.D. Vance is running well ahead of the field. I mean, take a look here. Top chances to be the 2028 GOP presidential nominee. The prediction market odds. Look at this. J.D. Vance, 48 percent chance. Nobody else is even close. Marco Rubio is way back at 12 percent. And no one else is even above a five percent chance of being the 2028 GOP nominee. J.D. Vance is like Mario Andretti and Marco Rubio and the rest of the field, they're like going around in go karts at this point. I mean that's really what we're looking at, J.D. Vance is the clear, heavy favorite at this time.
SIDNER: And, over time, depending on what happens, depending on how big this is, it could mean that some people don't actually go for it, right?
ENTEN: There you go.
SIDNER: That's one of the keys here.
Is there any other polling that would back this up, this prediction market from Kalshi (ph) saying, hey, look at these -- look at this number.
ENTEN: Yes, this number is not coming out of nowhere. And I will note, of course, you know, he's not at 50 percent plus yet. But when nobody else is even close, that makes you a clear, heavy favorite. And there's a reason why. Just take a look at New Hampshire, right? The first in the nation primary. I mean, take a look here, J.D. Vance at 51 percent. The next closest is Nikki Haley, who's at nine. Who's at nine. I mean, what is that? That's 42 points ahead of the pack. Tulsi Gabbard is at eight.
In the first in the nation primary, J.D. Vance, you know, running 42 points ahead. There's a reason why he's such a heavy favorite in the prediction market so far, because if you win the GOP primary in New Hampshire, chances are you're going to be the Republican nominee for president.
SIDNER: Like, how rare is this or how often do you see someone so far ahead in this primary in New Hampshire?
ENTEN: Yes. OK. So, I saw this 51 percent. And all of a sudden there was a buzz going around my head. I said, boy, this seems really weird. I can't recall anyone being this far ahead at this early stage in New Hampshire. I looked back, hitting 50 percent plus in the early New Hampshire polls for a non-sitting president. J.D. Vance is the only one, the only one. You can go all the way back in the polling archives, all the way back to 1980, which is the earliest I could look at, J.D. Vance is the only one ever to getting a majority of the New Hampshire vote according to the early primary polls. At this point, J.D. Vance is pulling off something historic at this time, and that is the key reason why at this point he is the far and away favorite for the Republican nomination. He's just way out ahead of the pack.
SIDNER: What does history say? And I think most of us can guess this, but what does history say about vice presidents running for the presidency?
ENTEN: Yes, I mean, just take a look. You just take a look at the last five sitting VPs who ran for the presidency, all were their party's nominee. Kamala Harris, Al Gore, George H.W. Bush, Hubert Horatio Humphrey, therefore HHH, and Richard Nixon back in 1960. So, yes, you put it all together, J.D. Vance, a heavy favorite. He's had a very good 2025. We'll see if he has a very good 2026.
SIDNER: This is the least surprising thing.
ENTEN: Yes.
SIDNER: But the big numbers that you're seeing is surprising compared to what's happened in the past.
ENTEN: You got that right.
SIDNER: And we love it when you're here and give us all the information on the past and the present.
ENTEN: There we go.
SIDNER: But stay over there.
Harry Enten, thank you so much.
We'll be right back.
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[09:48:55]
SIDNER: On our radar for you this morning, new details about the man suspected of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the January 6th attack. According to a Justice Department memo and court records, suspect Brian J. Cole told investigators he believed someone needed to, quote, "speak up" for people who believe the 2020 election was stolen. And eventually he confessed to the crime. His attorney says Cole has severe autism. Prosecutors say Cole actually gave details and a confession to placing the bombs outside the RNC and DNC headquarters ahead of what became that deadly riot at the Capitol.
All right, video out of Italy showing a skier making an escape. You're going down the mountain as the volcano erupts. Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes. An eruptions started intensifying over the past week. But yesterday it was shooting ash clouds way up into the sky. But that didn't stop that skier. Yikes.
All right, Omar.
JIMENEZ: All right, it is the moment fans have waited ten years for, myself included.
[09:50:01]
Wednesday, the beloved Netflix series "Stranger Things" comes to an end.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe tonight is our break. We find Vecna. We end this once and for all.
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JIMENEZ: Fans will not only be able to stream the finale from their couch, as they have been able to do for all of this show to this point, but they'll also be able to watch their friends from Hawkins take on Vecna in theaters with the supersized finale showing in more than 500 theaters nationwide. Actress Priah Ferguson is part of that incredible cast and plays Erica Sinclair.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I told you to call 911.
PRIAH FERGUSON, ACTRESS: And I told you to eat your damn pie.
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SIDNER: I'm scared.
JIMENEZ: Hey.
Priah joins us now.
First of all, I feel like I've seen that look from my grandmother telling me to eat my -- eat my damn pie.
SIDNER: It's probably not the pie. She's probably like, eat your damn vegetables. But, to be fair. JIMENEZ: Yes, yes, yes, yes, Yes, yes. I just -- I just saw this episode. Different kind of pie here.
But, Priah, thanks for being here.
I just want to start with, look, you are 19 now, but this show has been a part of your life for basically your entire teenage years and beforehand. I just wonder, how are you feeling right now as all of this -- this huge chapter of your life kind of comes to a close here?
PRIAH FERGUSON, ACTRESS, "STRANGER THINGS": No, it's definitely bittersweet. You know, it's kind of like a tender moment for me because I'm more familiar with this show being a part of my life than not. So, I've been on it for ten years now. So, it is a little bittersweet. And I'm kind of tying a bow on my childhood. But I'm also excited to see what's next and what -- and, you know, enter my new chapter.
SIDNER: It's really cool, but that is a long time to be involved with one show at such an early age. I think you were 10 or 11 when you -- when you started. Does this series ever freak you out? Like, I had to ask because we all -- I'm scared of you. I'm just going to let you know right now. Like --
JIMENEZ: She's watched it.
SIDNER: Does it freak you out as you're going through? OK, maybe just her character, but does it -- did it ever freak you out?
FERGUSON: OK, so before I start -- I booked the show, I was kind of scared of watching it. You know, my dad and my sister, they were fans of the show, but I was scared to watch it because I wasn't into scary. But seeing how all of these crazy supernatural things come together, and knowing that you're not really screaming at a Demogorgon on set, or even in my scene the needle was fake. It was like a prop needle. Those kind of things ease down your nerves and calm you down, especially me as an actress a little bit. So, no, it's not as scary, even to the point where I can watch scary movies now because I kind of know how they're done a little bit.
JIMENEZ: Wow.
SIDNER: The magic is taken out of it. Yes.
JIMENEZ: I was going to say, you've got to spend a day on set to kind of maybe make you --
SIDNER: To understand.
FERGUSON: Yes.
JIMENEZ: Yes.
Priah, look, you know, I wonder for you, it's probably this weird process where, you know, obviously, this is your job, but the impact that it's had on so many people over the course of this show is so universal and profound. I wonder, was there a moment where you realized, oh, wow, this show actually popped in the way that either you wanted to or had the impact that maybe you were looking for here?
FERGUSON: Definitely. I mean even people responding to my character in a positive way, them feeling like they're being seen by Erica. And I think a lot of people feel seen by her because she is a nerd and she's not, you know, I guess the stereotypical kind of nerd this -- that you see in movies or shows that's quiet and don't really say much. She is going to say what people are thinking. And I don't think she's even aware that she says what people are thinking, but she kind of uses her intelligence as her super weapon, as her superpower and a weapon a little bit. And I think that's why so many people gravitate towards her, because in the midst of the confusion, she's trying to find the solution, you know?
JIMENEZ: Yes.
SIDNER: Yes. I have to say, I'm making an admission here. I had not watched the show up until Friday when I started. One of the few Americans or people around the world who --
JIMENEZ: I was going to say. I was going to say.
SIDNER: And I started. And I binged my behind off. I had a -- she is, girl. I binged like crazy and I am freaked out. And all I can hear in my mind is, Bria (ph). Like the Demogorgon.
JIMENEZ: Wow.
SIDNER: Like I'm still like a little scared this morning.
JIMENEZ: Well, if you're still afraid of Demogorgons, just wait. You got a lot more coming up a little bit later on.
SIDNER: Oh, God. Oh.
JIMENEZ: Priah, appreciate you taking the time. Congratulations. We're excited to see this series finale of "Stranger Things" Wednesday night on Netflix and in theaters. Thanks for being here.
SIDNER: Also kick off the year with comedy legend Chevy Chase in a sharp, funny and revealing new CNN film featuring really candid interviews with the Chase family, friends, co-stars and, of course, Chevy Chase himself.
[09:55:11]
Here's more of John Berman's conversation with Chevy Chase.
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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, "National Lampoon," this is, you know, this is about this time, "National Lampoon" lemmings.
CHEVY CHASE, ACTOR: Yes.
BERMAN: Right, in New York City.
CHASE: Yes. At the village gate.
BERMAN: What was that like to be doing something or how did it feel to be doing something like that?
CHASE: I loved it. It was great. And with three or four other very funny guys. And --
BERMAN: Belushi.
CHASE: Yes.
BERMAN: Christopher Guest.
CHASE: Chris Guest. Hilarious. Did some great impressions.
BERMAN: How did it feel to be on sort of the vanguard of comedy at that point? Did you know --
CHASE: Well, we didn't know that.
BERMAN: So what -- you didn't?
CHASE: No. You can only know that in retrospect that we were at the vanguard of comedy. But we were at the vanguard of a certain kind of comedy that was more introspective in many ways and more free.
BERMAN: Which segues into -- which begs the question about "Saturday Night Live."
CHASE: Yes.
BERMAN: You were part of the original cast.
CHASE: Yes, I was.
BERMAN: And you won an Emmy for "Saturday Night Live."
CHASE: I did. I won an Emmy. That's the big time.
BERMAN: When we see the clips of that, the beginning of "Saturday Night Live," it's just so funny. It looks like you're having so much fun. Was it as fun as it looks from the outside?
CHASE: I -- to my memory, it was. Yes, it was. I'd do it again today. I felt I left too early and I wanted back too. I didn't come and say I want back, I went back, but I was able to host it a few times. And I'm still always say to Lorne, can I host again?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: It's an incredible film. I highly recommend it. "THE SITUATION ROOM," up next.
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