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Interview with Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA): Trump Expected to be Briefed on Military Options for Iran; Minnesota and Illinois Sue Over Trump Immigration Crackdowns; Suspect Confesses to Mississippi Synagogue Fire. Aired 8:00-8:30a ET

Aired January 13, 2026 - 08:00   ET

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

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SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: ... worried about Big Brother. But you know, everyone is using their devices in so many different ways, just simply for convenience. And some people just they they don't tell you like we don't care. We want the convenience of it all.

LISA EADICICCO, CNN TECH EDITOR: And that's kind of the argument that Amazon is making here. It's that if something is useful enough, then people will want to make that choice.

SIDNER: Lisa Eadicicco, I know you had a good time at the Consumer Electronics Show. Will talk to you more about what you saw in there.

EADICICCO: Thank you.

SIDNER: Appreciate -- John.

Oh nope, a new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, reports this morning that the president may be leaning toward military action against Iran, but it might not be what the vice president and others want.

New details about the arson attack on a Mississippi synagogue. The FBI says the suspect confessed as to why he did it.

And paraglide malfunction hundreds of feet in the air right over a beach. What happened to the man who fell to the earth?

I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan and Sara Synder. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

SIDNER: Happening today, President Trump is trying to bring his focus back home, but challenges on the world stage threaten to overshadow that message. Soon, he will travel to Detroit to talk about the economy, but later, he's expected to meet with his national security team to discuss potential military options against Iran. More than 500 people have been killed in the regime's crackdown on anti-government protests.

The president says he's looking at, quote, very strong military options, but the Wall Street Journal reporting the Vice President Vance and top aides are urging him to pursue diplomacy first. We've learned that on Wednesday, Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to meet with Danish and Greenland officials about the president's push to acquire that Arctic island, despite strong opposition to a U.S. takeover.

Then on Thursday, the president expected to meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado after the U.S. ousted then President Nicolas Maduro. Machado wants to return to lead the country, but President Trump has said she lacks the respect to do it -- Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about this. Joining us right now is Democratic Congressman Eugene Vindman of Virginia. He sits on the House Armed Services Committee. Congressman, thanks for coming in. Let's jump into a couple aspects of this. Do you think U.S. military intervention in Iran is a good idea? Do you think it will help the protesters?

REP. EUGENE VINDMAN (D-VA), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Well, first of all, thanks, Kate, for having me this morning. Look, let me start by saying this president is very much enamored by military action. Just think about the last year or so, less than a year that he's been in office.

We've had strikes against Yemen. We've had strikes against Nigeria, Iran, now Venezuela. He recognizes that the U.S. military is a elite force. It is a precise instrument and has had a remarkable track record of success.

And he thinks that somehow that the normal fog of war scenarios don't apply. I think we've been remarkably effective, but in not sustaining serious casualties, certainly in Venezuela. But, you know, war is war. It's inherently dangerous enterprise. And so, as it relates to Iran in particular, I don't think overt military action is the right way to go.

BOLDUAN: I want to play for you what the White House is saying about the possible options that the president is considering in terms of military action.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think one thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table, and airstrikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander-in-chief.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: As we've also been reporting, the Wall Street Journal is saying that the vice president and others around President Trump are pushing him to choose diplomacy first and military action as a last resort, if you will. What does diplomacy look like between, you think, President Trump and Iranian leaders.

VINDMAN: Well, first of all, I think we all recognize that the Iranian regime is a authoritarian regime that is suppressing its people. And, you know, I recognize that in my own family experience, we fled from a communist authoritarian regime, and we need to support the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom and independence. They're protesting largely peacefully on the streets. And they're being attacked and murdered.

And I think, you know, there's an irony, obviously, in what we see with ICE on America's streets. But just to stay focused on Iran, I think it means putting enormous pressure on the regime. So they recognize that suppressing their own population through violence is not going to work.

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They're on the verge, potentially, of collapse. And at this stage, all the security forces are probably wondering, like, if I execute the regime's orders to suppress the population violently, will I be held accountable? And so that's that's exactly what we want the security force to be thinking.

And we and all of our allies and partners ought to be putting enormous pressure on the regime to restrain them.

BOLDUAN: So, in some ways, do you support kind of the rhetoric, what you've been hearing coming from President Trump on this?

VINDMAN: I support the Iranian people, which means that they are in a fight for freedom and, you know, probably the likes of which we haven't seen since the 1979 revolution. Although there were protests like this every few years, just in 2022, there was a series of protests that were suppressed very violently. And so I support the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom.

And that means we put enormous pressure. But I do not think that overt military action is the right way to go. Certainly not without going to Congress and making the case to the American people. I mean, I think what the president did in Venezuela, also removing a authoritarian leader in Maduro, but leaving the regime in place. I mean, what has that really done for the people of Venezuela? I'm not sure.

BOLDUAN: We're now learning also in terms of not overt, I guess maybe, obviously, very short of overt military action, is that the president says that he's going to -- he's imposing a new tariff that any country that does business with Iran will face a tariff of 25 percent on any trade that it does with the United States. Like many of these announcements that come on social media, short on detail, but we do know that China does a lot of business with Iran. Do you think this tariff will have an impact of, as you were saying, you're supporting the protesters and the protesters' rights. Do you think this move works towards those ends?

VINDMAN: You know, I think the president, obviously, in my mind, certainly has a credibility gap. He says a lot, and he follows through on very little, in my opinion. And it's unclear exactly what the parameters of these tariffs are. I think maybe it injects some uncertainty. But, you know, certainly at a time when the American people also are paying high prices, affordability is an issue, the president's threats of additional tariffs are doing nothing to assist the American people.

BOLDUAN: Congressman Eugene Vinman, thanks so much for coming in. Really appreciate your time -- John.

BERMAN: Minnesota suing the federal government for what they call a, quote, invasion. What are the prospects for this case, and what does it mean for the growing number of federal agents on the ground?

Standing by this morning for a key report on inflation. That comes out in just minutes.

And the dog, the ski glove, and the house fire that he started by chewing on it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, Minnesota and Illinois are suing the Trump administration, arguing that the president's immigration crackdowns in their states violate the Constitution. Both lawsuits invoke the 10th Amendment, which says that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states. In Minnesota's case, the state says local police are being diverted from their usual duties because they're having to respond to protesters who need help after clashing with federal agents.

Many local officers have worked overtime and it has cost taxpayers more than $2 million. Let's get right to CNN's Ryan Young in Minneapolis for the latest on what you're seeing there this morning. Good morning, Ryan.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John. Look, it's not just protesters calling 911. People are seeing these men who are armed with masks on their face going toward neighbors' homes. They're calling 911 when they see that. They said they feel helpless.

If you think about this, St. Paul has about 600 officers. Minneapolis has about 600 officers. And we know the federal government has surged more officers into this area than the officers who actually patrol streets on a daily basis here. We're told that even they feel sort of worried about this invasion because what it means about the entire area in terms of what happens on a day-to-day basis -- that's their words in terms of the word invasion.

I also want to show you this. A lot of people are showing up to this site here and you see the signs that are being left behind. They believe this federal action that is happening here is putting neighbors in danger and they were very clear about that yesterday at the news conference. Take a listen, John.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR KAOHLY HER, (D) ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA: It's not just the tactics that are being used. It's the attack on the American people who are citizens. I wasn't born here. I'm carrying my ID with me. I'm carrying my passport card and my ID with me all the time because I don't know when I'm going to be detained.

MAYOR JACOB FREY, (D) MINNEAPOLIS: And we're feeling the impact here in Minneapolis. Schools have closed. People are afraid to go to work, shop, or seek medical care. 911 calls are up. Police resources are indeed stretched thin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Yes, there's two bits of the story here, John.

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Look, we've also met people here who believe that immigration experts and ICE officers need to be in the area and they need to start cleaning some things up. We heard from some of those folks from a counter-protest. But the idea here, though, is how it's being done.

That's what we heard over and over yesterday. Even as we stood at this site, where Renee Good was killed, people wanted to see exactly what was going to happen as more federal agents surged into this area. I believe there's one protest that's scheduled for today.

But people are really paying attention to the courts because they want to see what's going to happen next with the federal government. So many questions about how this moves forward, especially with the surge of officers that are coming into this area. It's a conversation that's happening out in the open, but people are wondering whether or not D.C. is listening to what the folks here in this state want -- John.

BERMAN: Obviously it's something that's very visible on the streets there now every day in that area and the developments occurring on so many different levels. Ryan Young, great to have you there. Great work, thank you -- Sara.

SIDNER: All right, new details this morning about the man accused of setting Mississippi's largest synagogue on fire. What he told police about why he did it.

And hours from now, the Supreme Court weighing two landmark cases that could determine the rights of transgender athletes to participate on women's sports teams.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SIDNER: New details this morning about the teenage suspect who the FBI says has confessed to setting fire to Mississippi's largest synagogue. Authorities say they're not ruling out possible hate crime charges against the 19-year-old. CNN's Rafael Romo is combing through the criminal complaint. What does it say?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Sara, good morning. Well, in this criminal complaint filed on Monday, federal officials not only identify the suspect, but also talk about a possible motive. The complaint identifies the suspect as Stephen Spencer Pittman, the 19-year-old who had his first court appearance yesterday via video call from his hospital bed, could face anywhere between five and 20 years in prison if convicted. He's being treated for burns.

The FBI says the suspect confessed to starting the fire because of the synagogue's quote, Jewish ties. The Beth Israel Congregation is Jackson's only synagogue and the largest Jewish temple in the state of Mississippi.

CNN obtained surveillance video showing a man wearing a hoodie and a mask pouring liquid from a can inside the synagogue. The man seems to be making an effort to douse every crevice and corner as he moves around the building. The complaint also alleges that Bittman laughed as he told his father what he did, later referring to the Jewish temple as the synagogue of Satan when interviewed by investigators.

I spoke with the Beth Israel Congregation President. Zach Shemper told me there was significant damage to the temple's library and offices, as well as smoke and ash damage throughout the building.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZACH SHEMPER, PRESIDENT, BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION: They had broken in through one of the windows from the outside with an ax, apparently, and then proceeded to pour gasoline or some kind of accelerant from a gas can all over our library, as well as -- as well as in front of the administrative offices. Anything and everything that was in the library is no longer, it's just ash. But like anything else, you know, the Jews, if anything, as our history shows, we're a people of surviving, we're survivors, and physical things can always be replaced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: According to the synagogue's website, in 1967, Sara, Beth Israel's temple was bombed by local Ku Klux Klan members, in part because of the congregation's work in the civil rights movement. The fire comes amid an uptick of anti-Semitic events across the country. The Anti-Defamation League documented 9,354 anti-Semitic incidents across the United States in 2024, a 5 percent increase from the year before -- Sara.

SIDNER: Yes, looking back at that history and hearing what the suspect says, there's reasons for all this were really disturbing, as if history has not at all informed the president. Thank you so much, Rafael Romo. I do appreciate it -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: So we're minutes away from the release of a new inflation report. We're going to bring you those numbers as soon as they come in.

And cocaine disguised as salt, thousands of pounds of drugs, seized by police.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BOLDUAN: So one of the biggest cases before the Supreme Court this year is going before the justices today. Oral arguments set to begin very shortly. The focus, it's getting to the culture wars. The debate over whether transgender women should be allowed to play in women's sports at publicly funded schools.

Becky Pepper Jackson is now a high school sophomore and shot put athlete in West Virginia. She is suing the state over its law banning transgender girls like her from joining the girls' team. She is claiming discrimination and that the state is violating Title IX. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would it mean now if it was allowed to be enforced?

BECKY PEPPER-JACKSON, CHALLENGING WEST VIRGINIA'S TRANSGENDER ATHLETE BAN: I would be devastated because track is something I enjoy so much. It's where I met a lot of my friends, and I make most of my memories.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not just play with the boys' team?

PEPPER-JACKSON: Because it would go against who I am. I've been a girl forever and playing on the guys' team is going backwards.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: The state, West Virginia, says, though, allowing transgender girls to compete against other athletes who are assigned female at birth is unfair and unsafe. And that is one of the issues they now take to the Supreme Court.

Joining me right now is the Attorney General of West Virginia, John McCuskey. His office is defending this law. Thanks for being here, Attorney General. I appreciate your time.

JOHN MCCUSKEY, (R) WEST VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Thanks for having me.

BOLDUAN: How does the ban in West Virginia not equal discriminating against a person based on sex?

MCCUSKEY: Because it applies to biological males and biological females, which is equally -- excuse me, which is the test under the equal protection clause.

BOLDUAN: Attorney General also one of -- one aspect of your case and definitely was in before the the court, the lower courts before it got to the Supreme Court was just the unfair.

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