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Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) is Interviewed about Iran; Numbers on the Powell, Trump and the Federal Reserve; Golden Globe Winners. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired January 12, 2026 - 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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[09:31:21]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in Iran, at least 544 people have been killed, more than 10,000 arrested and taken to prisons. That's just over the last 15 days. This is according to a U.S. based human rights group.

President Trump says he is weighing his options, including military action. This is all over this wave of huge mass protests against the regime that are taking place right now. You can see on that map all the places where these protests have been.

Kate just asked Democratic Senator John Fetterman if he would support the president issuing strikes on Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): Sure. Absolutely. And now if it continues to make more sense, absolutely. I think I was the only Democrat that fully supported our strike of their Iranian nuclear facilities last year.

Now you have that poisonous regime now in spiral. So, why -- why wouldn't we want to support that and those -- those brave protesters?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: With us now is Congressman Pat Ryan, a Democrat from New York who is on the Armed Services Committee and also an Iraq War vet, which matters very much in this case.

Congressman, good to see you this morning.

You just heard Senator Fetterman say -- ask, why wouldn't we support the protesters trying to topple potentially that regime in Iran and use the possibility of military strikes there? How would you answer that question from the senator?

REP. PAT RYAN (D-NY): My blood pressure went through the roof when I heard that, because that pisses me off. I mean to say, sure. Sure, we're going to bomb another country. Sure, we're going to start a potentially another regime change war in the Middle East. And I was on the receiving end of 27 months in combat in Iraq where I lost friends and many innocent Iraqis lost their lives.

Look, the regime in Iran is evil. And I don't use that term lightly. We know that. And doing what we can to support the brave people rising up against their government is what we should do. But to so dismissively just say, oh, yes, let's just keep striking around the world after doing that just basically a week ago with no consultation with the American people, no consultation with the Congress, no discussion of costs in blood and treasure. And it's just not the way to go about these things.

BERMAN: Do you think that some kind of targeted airstrike, not necessarily boots on the ground, could topple the Iranian regime?

RYAN: Well, the question is, what would we strike? I mean I hear people saying, well we're going to do a military option. Well, what is that? What do we think would actually -- if the goal is a free Iran, which is certainly what we want, and this regime gone, which is certainly what we want, those are the ends, but what are the means? I think President Trump in particular, and a bunch of chicken hawks who have not served a single day in uniform, are now so ready to just bomb and strike and send our troops without an actual laydown of, well, what -- how do those means effectuate those ends. Folks that know this area well have been saying for the last several days, and frankly the last several years, U.S. military action is unlikely to actually perpetuate this, meaning a democratic Iran. And it might actually be counterproductive and, you know, backfire.

So, I'm open to the conversation of what are we trying to do, but we've seen such bad faith from the president and from Secretary Rubio and Secretary Hegseth, who have lied over and over to Congress. So, we have to fix that problem as well. And this needs to be discussed with the American people in an open, small d democratic way. And it's not being done right now.

[09:35:03]

BERMAN: It sounds like this is -- this is personal for you. As is, to an extent, what is happening in Venezuela where the administration and the president freely talks about much of this being about getting Venezuela's oil. Am I -- am I reading your emotions here correctly?

RYAN: Well, it's not about me. It's about my constituents. It's about the American people. At the end of the day, what's really happening here, it's easy to see it on TV and think it's almost like a video game, which seems to be what President Trump thinks this all is. This is the most grave decision we make as a nation, to send our young men and women, and all of our hard-earned tax dollars as well, to war, to combat. And the idea that it's easy and seems simple to start a war, but has been incredibly difficult to effectuate success and to end them. If there's one thing we've learned in the last 20 years, it's that. And yet this regime fails -- or, excuse me, this government, our government, sorry, Freudian slip there, fails to actually learn the lessons that I learned with my time and that many Americans learned with their blood and with their lives in Iraq. So, yes, it's personal to me. But, more importantly, it's personal to

the American people whose sons and daughters are being talked about dismissively, potentially, going to war here.

BERMAN: The goals -- let's shift to Venezuela now completely here. The goals in Venezuela, which now quite explicitly include getting Venezuela's oil, how worthy of a goal do you think that is?

RYAN: Well, at least for the first time, unlike these other regime change oil focused wars that I served in, Trump is being blatant about the fact that this is about bringing in big oil execs, which he did last week. Even they, though, to your question, John, said, we're not actually really sure that we could even go in there, or would want to go in there, and were dismissive of the president's claims that this is a way to bring oil.

Look, this is just willy nilly, I think, Trump realizing his agenda here at home, which is to lower costs for the American people, the number thing -- number one thing my constituents want, is miserably failing. And he's desperate to sort of strike out and show his power or his influence. And like many failing and flailing presidents, he's now using military action overseas, foreign entanglements that the American people widely disapprove of, to try to like stroke his ego. That's incredibly dangerous and does not serve our national interests.

BERMAN: Very quickly, and maybe to that point, overnight on social media the president posted a photo of himself looking like a Wikipedia entry or some kind of LinkedIn profile where it reads, if people can really lean in there, it says "acting president of Venezuela" under a picture of himself. Your reaction to that?

RYAN: Yes, I mean, from a five-time draft dodger who has called our troops suckers and losers, trampled on our Constitution, he thinks this is a game. This is not a game. Come out of your bubble of the Oval Office and I think he's already destroyed, I guess, the East Wing of the White House, but get out of the White House. Talk to the American people. Come talk to my constituents. They do not support regime change wars for oil. And we've got to speak out on that. I will continue to speak out on that.

BERMAN: Congressman Pat Ryan, from New York, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you, sir.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: That was an important perspective, John.

How do Americans feel about the wildly unprecedented move by the Justice Department in launching a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chairman? We're running the numbers on that.

And it's a wrap for the first big award show of the season. Big moments from the Golden Globes that people are still talking about this morning, including Nikki Glaser's roasts of some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

We'll be right back.

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[09:43:37]

BERMAN: All right, the political earthquake overnight with word that the Department of Justice is investigating, has launched a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve. They say it's over potential testimony he gave over renovations to the Federal Reserve building. But Powell, in this extraordinary video statement, says it's something about completely different. He says this is about the Fed's independence and the Federal Reserve's ability to raise and lower interest rates independently from political winds here.

With us now is CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

So, Fed Chair Jerome Powell talks about Fed independence, right?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes.

BERMAN: How important do the American people think that is?

ENTEN: Very. Very. And I'll just say to quote the movie "Tootsie," this is one nutty hospital, this back and forth. My goodness gracious.

They think it's incredibly important that the Fed acts independently of Donald Trump, and they think it's best for the economy. We're talking about more than two-thirds of adults, 68 percent, 91 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of independents, and even 41 percent, two- fifths of Trump's base thinks it's important that the Fed acts independently of Trump for the best of the economy.

So, when you get 41 percent of Republicans and 91 percent of Democrats agreeing on something with 75 percent of independents, you know it is a popular position. The bottom line is, the American people vigorously disagree with the president of the United States on this.

[09:45:02]

They want a Fed that acts independently of him because they think it's best for the economy.

BERMAN: So, the Trump administration, very clearly to an extent, picking a fight with Jerome Powell. A clear political fight, which has been in play for months. And now perhaps a legal fight as well.

Who do the American people sort of pick in that fight?

ENTEN: Donald Trump is losing the political fight to Jerome Powell. I mean you could just see it right here, net approval rating per Gallup in December. Trump comes in at negative 23 points on the net approval rating. Way, way, way underwater. Jerome Powell, not the most popular guy in the world, but at minus three points he's actually the most popular guy that Gallup polled of any -- any of the politicians, any of the folks in government. He is far more popular than Donald Trump is.

BERMAN: When it comes to the economy in general, how's the president doing now?

ENTEN: Yes, I think this is, of course, a big portion of it, right? It's not just about the cuts. It's also about the economy. And you look at Donald Trump's net approval rating on the economy. He started off at plus six points. You go back a year ago. That was the reason why he won a second term in the White House. Look at this now. He is now 19 points underwater, swimming in the deep blue sea. That is a drop, John, of what, 25 points in just a year's time.

BERMAN: President Trump has made crystal clear that he wants lower interest rates. You know, the Fed chair, Jerome Powell, is suggesting this entire criminal investigation is over the president's desire to get lower interest rates. What do the prediction markets think about whether they will get lower interest rates?

ENTEN: No, it's not going to work for Donald Trump. Take a look here. The chance that the Fed Reserve maintains interest rates in January, 94 percent, despite the threats from Donald Trump. It seems that Jerome Powell, the prediction markets think, will hold his ground along with the rest of the Fed.

BERMAN: All right, a lot going on. Congratulations to your Bills.

ENTEN: Yeah, baby.

BERMAN: Congratulations to my Patriots.

We'll be right back.

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[09:51:18]

BOLDUAN: Music icon Dolly Parton says she will -- she will not be attending a celebration for her 80th birthday at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville this week. The country music legend posted a message to social media to say that she wished she could be there but will be sending her love instead. The tribute at the Opry will feature huge stars, of course would be expected, like Lainey Wilson and Vince Gill, just to name a couple. You will remember, it was just months ago that Dolly Parton postponed her Vegas residency until later this year due to health challenges.

Sara.

SIDNER: That makes me sad. She's a national treasure. I hope everything's OK.

All right, breakout hits, stars and snubs. The battle for awards has begun at the Golden Globes. It was "One Battle After Another" that won the fight with four golden statues.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: The winner is, "One Battle After Another."

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A huge night for "One Battle After Another," winning four awards, including best musical or comedy, but not for star Leonardo DiCaprio. Instead --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Timothee Chalamet.

ELAM (voice over): Timothee Chalamet topped industry titans Leo and George Clooney for his role in "Marty Supreme."

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET, ACTOR: If you have told me when I was 19 years old I'd be thanking Mr. Wonderful from "Shark Tank."

ELAM (voice over): Another fresh face, Teyana Taylor, bringing the emotion.

TEYANA TAYLOR, ACTRESS: I almost didn't even write a speech because I didn't think I would get this.

ELAM (voice over): She won best female actor in a supporting role for "One Battle After Another."

TAYLOR: To my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, we belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: "The Pitt."

ELAM (voice over): "The Pitt" one top TV drama, an unofficial E.R. reunion, as star Noah Wiley hugged George Clooney.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody wants to see George and Noah together again in the E.R.

JEAN SMART, ACTRESS: I said my rant on the red carpet so I won't -- I won't do it here.

ELAM (voice over): Jean Smart, who wore a "be good" pin in honor of Renee Good, shot by ICE in Minneapolis, called for compassion after her win for "Hacks."

SMART: I think everybody in their hearts knows what the right thing is to do, so let's do the right thing.

NIKKI GLASER, HOST, GOLDEN GLOBES: Best editing goes to the Justice Department.

ELAM (voice over): Host Nikki Glaser took on the headlines, including Jeffrey Epstein.

GLASER: There are so many a-listers, and by a-listers I do mean people who are on a list that has been heavily redacted.

ELAM (voice over): And while on CBS, Glaser roasted the network for controversy over new leadership at CBS News.

GLASER: CBS News, America's newest place to see b.s. news.

ELAM (voice over): But Glaser mostly stuck to roasting the stars with the famously private DiCaprio bearing the brunt.

GLASER: The most in-depth interview you've ever given was in "Teen Beat" magazine in 1991. Is your favorite -- is your favorite food still pasta, pasta and more pasta?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM (on camera): OK, cool.

SIDNER: Stephanie Elam here with us.

You got to witness all this fun. Nikki Glaser, she's really good. She's really good. But there were some snubs.

ELAM: I mean, I know which one you're talking about, Sara. I know which one is on your mind.

SIDNER: OK. Uh-huh.

ELAM: You're thinking about "Sinners," aren't you?

SIDNER: I am. I am.

ELAM: OK. Yes, see, I speak you.

SIDNER: I was kind of surprised.

ELAM: I speak Sara.

So, they did win this new made up award, which people keep saying, but I'd like to point out that aren't all awards made up. But, yes, "Sinners" did win for cinematic and box office achievement. And Ludwig Goransson won for best original score for the soundtrack to "Sinners," which is also noteworthy as well. Also a shoutout to Raphael Saadiq, who wrote the main song that was also nominated. Did not win, but still, the soundtrack is amazing. Still, people wanted to see more.

One thing I will point out is that the Golden Globes are voted on by a myriad group of international entertainment journalists.

SIDNER: Right.

[09:55:01]

ELAM: So, they're from all around the world. So, they may see things differently than, say, people here in the United States. So, it's something to keep in mind as we continue to progress on the way down to the Oscars.

SIDNER: On the way down or up, however you see it.

There is a new category as well, right, podcasts? ELAM: Yes, podcasts. First time that we've seen podcasts on there. And

if you think about it, podcasts are another way for people to be entertained. This was the first go in podcast, and Amy Poehler won in this category. And as you would expect, she gave a very fun speech. But she says, listen, life's hard. She's just trying to distract people and get people to watch it.

Another thing that's worth watch -- worth mentioning too, Sara, is adolescence, because that -- on the TV side, limited series, and it did -- it had a phenomenal night. Four awards for that, including for the young star, Owen Cooper. And you also saw the win for Stephen Graham, whose production this was. He also won for the lead in that.

So, a lot of people, even though it seems like we've been seeing a lot of awards for adolescence for a very long time, still sweeping awards. People keep talking about that show. But it was very fun to be in the room for the show for sure.

SIDNER: You looked great. You looked very fancy, Stephanie Elam. Thank you so much. I do appreciate you.

BERMAN: We all love award shows here, so we're going to leave you with our Emmy-nominated music.

BOLDUAN: Oh, John. I mean --

BERMAN: This has been CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "THE SITUATION ROOM" --

SIDNER: You're still not over --

BERMAN: Is up next.

BOLDUAN: Mad. Impressed and proud.

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