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Testimony Resumes In Trial Of Former Uvalde Police Officer; Vance, Rubio Meet Danish And Greenlandic Officials Amid Tensions; Testimony Resumes In Brendan Banfield Murder Trial. Aired 7:30-8a ET
Aired January 14, 2026 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[07:30:40]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So new this morning, how is the president's immigration crackdown landing across the country? There are signs -- there are questions about methods even among some Trump supporters.
Joe Rogan, maybe the most popular podcaster in America who did support President Trump in 2024, just said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ROGAN, HOST, "THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE": We've got to take those people that got in and send them back to where they came from or do something because if we don't, they're going to keep doing it if they get in office again in 2028.
And then I could also see the point of view of the people who say yeah, but you don't want militarized people in the streets just roaming around snatching people up, many of which turn out to actually be U.S. citizens -- they just don't have their papers on them. Are we really going to be the Gestapo? Where is your papers? Is that what we've come to?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: All right. With us now CNN political commentators Karen Finney and David Urban.
And friends, what I'd like to do is not relitigate the video or the events. I actually want to talk about how they're landing in comments like the ones David, just made by Joe Rogan who seems to be saying I support the --
DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, FORMER REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN ADVISER: Yeah.
BERMAN: -- president's immigration effort notionally. I do not like what I'm seeing on the ground though, he seems to be saying.
How pervasive do you think that opinion is? URBAN: Yeah, John. Listen, I think it is very pervasive, right? Americans overwhelmingly voted -- one of the president's strongest suits -- Americans overwhelmingly voted for this president if you look at the numbers and reasons given to secure the border and crack down on kind of the sieve that was the border under the Biden administration. And this administration effectively sealed that border up and did that.
And then the president promised to go after the bad hombres and the drug dealers and get those people out of America. And, you know, the -- there's a lot of support for that in America.
What there isn't support for, and the polling bears this out -- this isn't David Urban's opinion; this is the polling that bears out that people do not want to see what you're seeing on your screen right now. They do not want to hear what Joe Rogan is saying.
They don't want to see masked men geared up like Delta Force walking down the streets of America asking people for their papers, throwing them on the ground. Zip-tying people who are doing sheetrock -- you know, gardeners, nannies. They don't want to see that, right? That's not what they voted for.
And so it is -- it is really hurting this president in the numbers on an area where he was strongest -- on immigration -- the strongest. Now it's becoming a weaker point. You know, Karen knows this.
President Obama deported lots of folks, but he did it in a completely different way. The Obama administration grabbed lots of folks who just came across the border. People who were -- who were -- who hadn't really integrated themselves in the communities. Hadn't become people's neighbors. And surprisingly, or not surprisingly, people don't like it when ICE shows up in their -- in their neighborhood and take away people that they have relationships with.
The Obama administration was very effective because they --
KAREN FINNEY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, FORMER SENIOR ADVISER , 2016 HILLARY CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (via Webex by Cisco): But --
URBAN: -- snatched people that people didn't really know. And in this case, neighborhoods see this happening and they don't like it.
FINNEY: Well, wait a second.
URBAN: So I think the tactics need to be --
FINNEY: David?
URBAN: -- addressed.
FINNEY: You know, John, I'm going to say --
URBAN: That's actually true, Karen.
FINNEY: -- it's not just that -- BERMAN: Go ahead, Karen.
FINNEY: Well, you don't even know what I'm about to say, David, so why don't you let me talk.
URBAN: OK.
FINNEY: You know, it's not just that they -- this idea that somehow if there's a difference between -- it's not just taking people that people know. It is the violence. It is the terrorizing of communities. It is --
There's a story in USA Today. A couple was getting back from a cruise. They're in Miami. ICE or border protection comes into their cabin, hauls them out. The gentlemen of the couple -- they're both American citizens. He's a Coast Guard veteran.
I mean, it's the violence that people are really reacting to.
And David is right. I mean, this is really -- people are very aware of this story and they're very aware of other stories where they're seeing this armed militia, essentially, acting as though Americans have no rights. We have the right to ask someone to see their badge -- who they are -- but these ICE officials are acting as though you don't have that right.
[07:35:00]
And they're smashing car doors. Ripping people out of their cars even when individuals are saying wait, I'm an American citizen. Let me get my I.D.
That is part of -- it's a -- it's about the way they are conducting this far beyond -- you know, it's not just taking nannies and taking, you know, day laborers. It is now -- and we saw an American citizen get shot in the face. So it's -- and it's as traumatizing, frankly, as the George Floyd murder was so many years ago.
BERMAN: I do want to know -- I think you guys are agreeing, basically, here, so let's just take a minute to acknowledge that even as --
FINNEY: Yeah.
BERMAN: -- you know, maybe it started off as agreement.
Yeah -- let me just put up some of the numbers that David Urban was talking about here. Do you think the Minneapolis shooting was justified. Justified, 35 percent; not justified, 53 percent. That's according to a new -- brand new Quinnipiac poll. And then approval of ICE in general. Approve, 40 percent; disapprove 57 percent.
And, once again, I go back to just the idea in the culture now even among people who may be more supportive of the goals here.
You know, Zach Bryan has a brand new album out -- you know, the biggest country singer there is practically -- fills stadiums. And I just don't know Zach Bryan's politics one way or another, but he comments on things being too woke plenty.
He's got this line in this song -- the song has been out for a while, but it was just released in the album. I just want to play it right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZACH BRYAN, SINGER-SONGWRITER: (Singing "Bad News.")
And ICE is gonna come bust down your door. Try to build a house no one builds no more. But got a telephone. Kids are all scared and all alone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: So who is this on, David? Who needs to change this, David, if it is a problem?
URBAN: Yeah. You know, John, I think this needs to start at the top. I think the president needs to be aware or made more aware that -- maybe the numbers are going to play out but continue that polling that shows that the American people don't like this.
Listen, when you lose Joe Rogan, right, you've got a problem. And I hope the White House takes this to heart that people don't want to see this type of behavior from ICE.
Listen, everybody wants to get the bad guys out of our country. Everybody wants to fix the immigration crisis in America. But what is playing out on the streets, to Karen's point, across America is not something that seems American, right? And the people who came here illegally -- we need to deport them. But there's a way to do that --
BERMAN: Um-hum.
URBAN: -- and it doesn't appear that the current situation is making things better.
FINNEY: The --
URBAN: And listen, we've got to -- we've got, you know, midterms coming up. Do you think that anybody who is watching this thinks that Republicans should get more power or less power. And, you know, these things all are super important for the administration to take into account.
I think it needs to be dialed back. I think they should take this -- we can still enforce the laws and have strict immigration control but do it in a different manner.
BERMAN: Karen?
FINNEY: Well, you know, I will say John we're also seeing internal polling showing that some of the measures that are basically saying ICE has to be accountable to the law is -- are very popular with Americans. Because there is a real fear that you have this sort of stormtrooper militia that basically -- you know, Stephen Miller and the president have been very clear we've got your back. You can go do whatever you want. That's -- that is un-American.
And there's two other quick things. Let's be clear. We're not seeing illegal -- you know, we're not seeing gang members being treated that way. You know, the action in Venezuela left Tren de Aragua fully intact. We're not seeing ICE going after the worst of the worst. We're seeing them treating American citizens with this kind of force and violence.
And I do believe one of the issues that very quickly will be a center point in the election --
BERMAN: Um-hum.
FINNEY: -- will be, you know, do you believe that ICE should be reined in and should be accountable.
BERMAN: Karen, David, we have --
URBAN: John, real quickly, real quickly. I know we've got to -- I know -- I've got a quick wrap.
BERMAN: Don't be negative time here.
URBAN: We've got to end -- we've got to end -- we've got to -- we've got to end the sanctuary cities.
FINNEY: David, you always have to have the last word, don't you?
URBAN: We've got to have more cooperation.
BERMAN: All right.
URBAN: No, no.
BERMAN: David, Karen --
URBAN: Listen, no. I'm just saying we've got end sanctuary cities. That way we'll get more cooperation. We need cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement.
FINNEY: But you don't see John saying --
BERMAN: All right. I'm going to get -- I'm going to get -- I'm going to talk over you both.
URBAN: OK.
BERMAN: David, Karen, thank you very much -- Sara.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Well done, John Berman.
BERMAN: I mean, even when you agree -- even when they agree, they refuse to agree.
SIDNER: I know. But you know --
BERMAN: Right.
SIDNER: -- that's what you're here for. Just get it together.
BERMAN: I don't know what I'm here for, frankly.
SIDNER: All right. Thank you, John Berman.
All right. Happening today actor and director Timothy Busfield is due in court in New Mexico on multiple child sex abuse charges. He's accused of inappropriately touching twin boys on the set of a TV series he was directing. One alleged victim was seven years old.
[07:40:05]
Busfield is best known for his roles on "THE WEST WING" and "THIRTYSOMETHING."
He denies the allegations and suggests that the boys' mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series. Busfield also said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a very playful environment.
All right. Also new this morning actor Keifer Sutherland is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a ride-hail driver, which is similar to Uber or Lyft. L.A. police say Sutherland got into a car in the Hollywood Hills, physically assaulted the driver, and made criminal threats. He was arrested and later released from jail on a $50,000 bond. Police say the driver didn't require medical treatment.
Sutherland has had a history of alcohol-related offenses, including a drunk-driving conviction.
CNN has reached out to his representatives, but we have not heard back yet this morning -- Kate.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right.
This morning is set to -- testimony is set to resume in the trial of the former Uvalde school police officer Adrian Gonzalez. Yesterday emotions were running very high as witnesses took the stand to recount the 2022 tragedy at Robb Elementary School when 19 students and two teachers were killed.
A surviving teacher recalled her experience on that horrific day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEACHER WHO SURVIVED ROBB ELEMENTARY MASS SHOOTING: I was in so much pain toward the end there my body was -- I know I was going into shock as my legs were already starting to shake. My whole body was starting to shake and I knew. I kept praying, you know, God, please don't let me die. Don't let me die in front of my students. I didn't want them to see that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Um, um.
CNN's Shimon Prokupecz has been tracking it all, of course, for us and he's here with us now.
I mean, it was emotional testimony. There was a very -- a heart- wrenching outburst in court and then a warning from the judge. So much went on yesterday.
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. It's every day, you know, for these families that are sitting in this courtroom in this community. It's every day is just another just punch. It's just a kick. It's --
BOLDUAN: And wounds reopened, right?
PROKUPECZ: Yeah. And there's a lot of frustration. And I think, in part, there's frustration with how the prosecution is presenting this case. And we really saw that on display yesterday and certainly reaction to the way the defense attorneys are cross-examining some of the witnesses. I mean, I've watched many trials and I've never seen attorneys -- defense attorneys be allowed to do what they're doing at this trial. And maybe it's Texas law but you could tell that the frustration is really starting to build.
And it was the sister of one of the teachers who died. Her name was Irma Garcia. Her sister, Velma Duran -- a woman I know well -- a woman I've interviewed --
BOLDUAN: Yeah.
PROKUPECZ: -- many times -- she just lost it in court.
Take a listen -- it's just her screams that really have stayed with me. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VELMA DURAN, SISTER OF IRMA GARCIA, TEACHER KILLED IN ROBB ELEMENTARY MASS SHOOTING: Do you know who went into the fatal funnel?
JUDGE SID HARLE, PRESIDING JUDGE OF TEXAS' FOURTH ADMINISTRATIVE JUDICIAL REGION: Ma'am --
DURAN: My sister went into the fatal funnel.
HARLE: Ma'am, uh --
DURAN: Did she need a -- did she need a key? Why do we need a key?
HARLE: Ma'am, go ahead and have a seat.
DURAN: You all are saying that she didn't lock the door. She went into the -- she went into the fatal funnel. She (screaming). HARLE: I want this case to go to verdict. Any further outbursts will just echo the attempt for another motion for mistrial. So please think about that. We're trying to get this case to the jury, and these are not helping. And soon enough, if it continues, I will have no choice but to grant a mistrial. So please think about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PROKUPECZ: Yeah, cause, you know, this happened right as testimony was wrapping up and it happened in front of the jury. And so that's why the judge had to give that instruction.
And you heard Velma there scream about fatal funnel.
BOLDUAN: Yeah.
PROKUPECZ: Because one of the defense arguments here is that their client, Adrian Gonzalez, was potentially in danger had he entered this room or tried to go in this door because of this fatal funnel. They would have ultimately been shot. And so she's saying there my sister was in the fatal funnel.
And there's this whole question about keys and doors being locked and not being locked, and the doors weren't locked. And ultimately, the police never needed a key to get inside --
BOLDUAN: Right.
PROKUPECZ: -- because the investigators found that the door was open.
And what's been happening is that the defense has been -- you know, they're doing their job. They're trying to lay blame everywhere else. And I just think yesterday for this sister, she just finally had it.
And just quickly, I spoke to a family member last night --
BOLDUAN: Yeah.
PROKUPECZ: -- that's involved in this and they are very frustrated and very sad and feel that the district attorney is not doing enough to fight for them. This has been their feeling for 3 1/2 years just with everything. But certainly to see what's happening in this courtroom is really hurting many of them.
BOLDUAN: I was actually thinking now when I was listening to that sister and her emotions and her scream, it's like this is 3 1/2 years later and you can see the fact that it's so visceral and they feel -- it's an outburst of frustration is what you hear --
[07:45:00]
PROKUPECZ: It is.
BOLDUAN: -- at the very least. And continue -- and the testimony continues today.
PROKUPECZ: Yeah.
BOLDUAN: Thanks so much, Shimon.
PROKUPECZ: You got it.
BOLDUAN: Sara.
SIDNER: All right. Thank you, Kate.
Ahead, today, Vice President Vance hosts high-ranking Danish and Greenland leaders at the White House after Trump once again threatened to take Greenland the hard way.
And school in the front, pizza party in the back. The winner of the best mullet in Pennsylvania.
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BOLDUAN: This morning a pretty high-stakes meeting is about to happen at the White House. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio -- they're going to be hosting the foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark. This face-to-face is the first actually between the three governments since President Trump renewed his threats to take Greenland.
[07:50:00]
And President Trump seems to know what's on the agenda as he just posted a new statement this morning about Greenland. This, in part, "The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of national security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO," he says, "should be leading the way for us to get it. If we don't, Russia or China will, and that is not going to happen."
He also ends with this. "NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the United States. Anything less than that is unacceptable."
Joining me right now is a member of Greenland's Parliament, Juno Berthelsen. Thank you so much for coming back on, Juno.
How do you respond to what we now just hear -- the latest from the president, and what do you think it means for the Greenland and Danish leaders who are -- what they're walking into now in this White House meeting?
JUNO BERTHELSEN, MEMBER, PARLIAMENT OF GREENLAND, MEMBER, GREENLAND PARLIAMENT FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY COMMITTEE (via Webex by Cisco): Good morning, Kate. Thank you for having me on the show, first of all.
We think that it's very positive that Greenland's minister for foreign affairs represents the Greenlandic people at the meeting. And, of course, positive with, you know, the diplomatic dialogue being initiated, which our party has advocated for, for a long time.
And it's important to say that Greenland is and wants to be a part of the Western alliance and continue to be an ally of the U.S. as well as an ally of NATO and Denmark. We are through the -- you know, through Greenland being a part of the -- currently a part of the Danish Kingdom is in NATO. And Greenland has been an ally of the U.S. since the Second World War. We're allies now and we will stay allies in the future. So that will be the most important things that I -- we would hope would be communicated at the meeting, and that there will be understanding between Greenland and the U.S.
BOLDUAN: But hearing the President of the United States set the tone going in and the vice president, as we know from experience does not really differ from President Trump in his views, especially in policy -- when the President of the United States says anything less than Greenland being in the hands of the United States is unacceptable -- I mean, you may see this meeting as progress but what do you see in -- do you see that as a new threat from the President of the United States?
BERTHELSEN: Well, we just want to make sure that these diplomatic lines are being used and that they're initiated now. What is being said to the media and -- I've done a lot of interviews with media from all around the world saying that Trump has his own style and has a way of, you know, creating headlines and saying these things that kind of create outrage.
But I think it's important to remember that both Republicans and Democrats are not in support of having this aggressive rhetoric and the advances that we've seen from Trump and some of his high position people in this administration.
We have to remember that a lot of Republicans, which are, you know, creating the background for Trump to be in the position that he is -- they do want to seek diplomatic solutions. They don't want to hear any talks about invasion of Greenland, destroying the -- you know, the NATO that we see today, and creating any more tension between the United States and Denmark, and the rest of the world, especially countries from NATO.
So the most important thing for me to say is that the Greenlandic people is using its right to speak on behalf of itself. We have our minister at the meeting representing the Greenlandic people and that is a very positive, you know, thing that's happening from our point of view.
BOLDUAN: The -- I guess the question is then how do you get the President of the United States there? Yes, you're right -- I mean, we've had many a Republican on saying one, it's crazy to think the United States will take Greenland or try to buy it -- all of the above. All the things you're saying. But how do you get the President of the United States there seems to remain the question.
The NATO secretary general, on Monday, was asked about what's happened here and he really sidestepped questions about Greenland and any NATO tension on the island. He told reporters, "All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security because we know that with sea lanes opening up there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more effective." But he's not necessarily standing up and saying what you are saying,
which is, like, Greenland is not for sale. Greenland can't be for sale. And no, it shouldn't be taken over militarily by the United States.
Is that what you hear from Mark Rutte -- is that strong enough in your view from the NATO secretary general?
[07:55:00]
BERTHELSEN: Well, I need to emphasize that we need and want to build on our diplomatic relationships, especially with the -- with the U.S. I think, as I said before, it's important that we start the diplomatic dialogue, which is just beginning, that we've been needing for a long time now.
And it's important to say that -- you know, that the conversation on Greenland is not over. Greenland is important to the whole world it seems, naturally, as we're seeing the Arctic becoming a very important part of geopolitical -- you know, geopolitical attention. Greenland will only grow in importance for the world community with time.
And what's happening regarding Greenland -- it's not about Denmark for the U.S. It's very important for me to say that because geopolitical and colonial worldview is what you get out of making this about the U.S. and Denmark. So Greenland is Europe's, and Denmark's, and the U.S.' chance to leave, you know, that kind of worldview behind. So it's self-determination for the Greenlandic people is what must be at the very center in this conversation and point of time.
And what I would like to say is that it requires a clear stance from the whole world that the Greenlandic peoples' independence would be achieved through the practical implementation of international law. On condition independence when the Greenlanders want it. Conditional support packages and equal partnerships that, you know, are aimed at providing building blocks for the betterment of the lives of the Greenlandic people. That is what should be at the center of attention.
BOLDUAN: And the focus -- a focus definitely for you and many others. Let's see where the conversation goes, though, at the White House meeting today.
Thank you very much for your time, Juno. I appreciate it -- John.
BERMAN: All right. New this morning a construction crane crashed onto a train in northeastern Thailand killing at least 32 people. Dozens were injured. The train derailed when the crane fell on it and a fire tore through multiple carriages. Rescue crews are at the scene searching for survivors. The cause of the collapse is not under investigation -- Sara.
SIDNER: All right. Happening today, testimony resumes in the murder trial of Brendan Banfield. The Virginia father has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife and another person in a plot to be with the au pair he was having an affair with. Banfield reacted in court Tuesday as the couple's live-in au pair, his
former mistress, testified against him. Prosecutors say Banfield conspired with her to frame a stranger for his wife's murder after luring him into the home with the promise of violent sexual role play. The au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhaes, testified about the alleged crime.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIANA PERES MAGALHAES, WITNESS, BANFIELD'S AU PAIR AND MISTRESS: I was just crouching down on myself and covering my ears and covering my eyes. And a few times I looked, and I was able to see him stabbing her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: Wow.
Joining me now is CNN's Jean Casarez. That was really stunning testimony. You do not see that every day in these cases. What else did she say on the stand?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She described everything. You know, it was fascinating. She's still on the stand and then there will cross-examination today.
But she talked about the meticulous plan that she says it was Brendan's plan, Brendan's plan. She kept saying that. He was very concerned about the forensics. It was obvious. She did not say the word forensics; I am. But he said look, there's going to be an investigation.
So after my wife gets home and she puts her backpack near the door because she was a nurse. She did a lot of overnight shifts so she would sleep a lot. They would take her laptop out of the backpack. That's where they created the FetLife account.
SIDNER: Ah.
CASAREZ: Of course, she didn't even know about it. But he said it always has to be when Christine is home. Christine can't be away because you see a phone can be pinged, right, and it would show that Christine --
SIDNER: Right.
CASAREZ: -- wasn't home when somebody's working on this FetLife account.
SIDNER: Yeah.
CASAREZ: So we always make sure everything was perfect -- not to get caught.
Now, the question is why wouldn't you get a divorce? Everybody is asking me this. Well, she answered that question in her testimony. She -- this is what she says Brendan told her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did he ever talk about getting a divorce with her?
MAGALHAES: No. He basically said divorce isn't an option.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did he say why?
MAGALHAES: Money was involved and --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry -- say that again.
MAGALHAES: Money.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So he didn't want to get divorced. Did he tell you what he wanted to do?
MAGALHAES: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did he say?
MAGALHAES: He mentioned his plan to get rid of her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CASAREZ: And the first thing he thought of was a hit man, she testified, but he said no, that's not going to work because that can be traced. I have heard of this website though called FetLife.com and that's how that happened.
But Sara, they kept communicating. She was right there with him. She worked along with him every step of the way. They kept talking to all these men on Christine's computer purporting to be Christine.
