Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Bruce Blaeman is Interviewed about the New York Storm; U.S. and Iran to Hold Nuclear Talks Thursday; Trump, Tariffs and the Supreme Court; Stellan Skarsgard is Interviewed about "Sentimental Value." Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired February 23, 2026 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: The most snow, however, in New York City than we have seen in five years.

Here's a look at some of the totals. Fifteen inches and counting in Central Park. And in parts of Long Island, more than 22 inches.

Joining us now is Bruce Blakeman, a Nassau County, New York, executive.

Thank you so much for being here this morning.

I understand that your way to work was very different this morning. What did you do because of the storm?

BRUCE BLAKEMAN (R), NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE AND NEW YORK GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: Well, last night I made a determination that I was going to sleep in my office so that I had access to everything I needed to manage the storm. And my deputy slept in the emergency operations center last night so he would be available.

We are used to managing major events, but this is certainly one that is more challenging than anything we've seen in a long, long time.

SIDNER: Bless you for doing that and being there for people in the -- in any which way you could, which meant sleeping in the office last night.

I do want to ask you about what the conditions are now where you are and what your big concerns are.

BLAKEMAN: Well, we've had up to 17 inches of snow. The wind gusts have been over 40 miles an hour. That is going to increase, believe it or not. We're going to probably get another five inches of snow until 3:00 p.m., and the wind gusts are actually going to increase. So, our public works plowers are out there. They're doing a magnificent job. Our police and volunteer firefighters are all doing a great job.

But this is a major, major storm. I have a travel ban on public roads for non-essential vehicles till 11:00 a.m. this morning New York time. So, we're just asking everybody to stay off the roads, let our workers do their job, and it will be safer for everybody. Safer for the people who live in our county and safer for the people who work in our county.

SIDNER: Yes, I mean you've made no ifs, ands and buts about it. Stay off the roads unless it's an absolute emergency.

You talk about the winds and the fact that it's been 40 mile an hour winds -- per hour winds and you're expecting it to get worse. I mean we are starting to creep towards a category one hurricane type winds. What kind of damage are you worried about those winds doing? Not just, you know, pushing people, you know, off the road, potentially, but also when it comes to power lines?

BLAKEMAN: Yes, that's exactly what we're worried about. We've already got a number of trees down. We have a number of power lines down. We have a little less than 3,000 homes without power now. If the winds gusts to 60 miles an hour and we get five or six more inches of snow, there'll be more power lines that will probably come down. PSE and G.R. Utility is out there working very hard to restore power. These are dangerous situations. And that's why we're asking everybody to please stay home. It's not a good situation to be out on the roads. It's a dangerous situation.

SIDNER: It is advice we hope that everyone takes.

Bruce Blakeman, I thank you for your service, for staying overnight so that you can give us all of the news that we need to know. Do appreciate you.

Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also right now, the U.S. has amassed the largest military buildup in the Middle East in two decades. And with that comes a very big question, which is, what is President Trump going to do with it? This Thursday, a new round of talks between the U.S. and Iran are planned. President Trump has said that he's mulling potential military action if Iran does not agree to the terms that he's been setting for a new nuclear deal.

Let me play what Trump's special envoy to the talks said just yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE WITKOFF, SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST: I don't want to use the word frustrated. It's almost because he understands he's got plenty of alternatives. But it's curious. He's curious as to why they haven't -- I don't want to use the word capitulated, but why they haven't capitulated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Joining me right now, CNN global affairs analyst Brett McGurk for more on this.

Brett, what do you think of Wyckoff's take there? He's surprised that they haven't capitulated yet. And where this is headed?

BRETT MCGURK, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Well, Kate, I've spent a lot of time negotiating with the Iranians. And I think what they tend to do is draw you into a very protracted negotiation on an agenda -- a narrow agenda that they like to set. That's exactly what's happened here.

And I think the supreme leader of Iran is actually calculating that for him to give up his nuclear enrichment program, which is really on the table, that would be riskier to the survival of his regime, which is his main focus, then withstanding an American military operation. I just -- I think that's the calculus in Tehran right now, which makes it difficult to see the diplomatic off ramp in terms of what might come of these talks on Thursday.

So, you know, there's a book by Barbara Tuchman called "Guns of August" about World War I and about once the military maneuvers began and there was not a diplomatic off ramp, the conflict kind of had a sense of inevitability.

[09:35:06]

And, obviously, the stakes here are not -- I'm not talking that this is going to be something on that scale, but the inevitability of a military operation here, still, that would be my prediction. I just do not see that diplomatic off ramp being constructed because of the positions the Iranians are currently taking in these talks.

BOLDUAN: So, that's really interesting because there is a deeply sourced reporting coming out of "The New York Times" today that the Trump administration and Iran might be looking for that off ramp, though some of what they reported is, "behind the scenes, a new proposal is being considered by both sides that could create an off ramp to military conflict, a very limited nuclear enrichment program that Iran could carry out solely for purposes of medical research and treatments." Basically painting it as a face-saving compromise that Washington and Tehran could both claim total victory from. You think -- you just think that's not likely to fly.

MCGURK: Well, Kate, I read that very closely. And thinking of my experience in being involved in these negotiations, and particularly including on the nuclear issue, I think that's a proposal that seems to have come from Rafael Grossi, who is the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA. He's trying to do what he can in his role to find a creative solution given the box that Iran has put these negotiations in, they insist on enriching uranium on their soil.

I think the problems with that proposal, as it was reported in "The New York Times," and it's a great report, is that that enrichment at the Tehran research reactor, that facility, is enrichment up to about 20 percent grade for the, you know, Iranian -- Iran says they have medical isotope research. That is well above the enrichment even in the Obama era JCPOA. So, it's hard to see that being agreed to.

And once you're enriching, it's not hard to actually spin it all the way up to weapons grade uranium once you're up at 20 percent. So, that's the crux of the issue. Again, very complicated. You're talking about nuclear physics. But that would mean an enrichment level above the Obama era deal. And also in that report, Kate, and importantly, Iran is demanding massive sanctions relief. And this is somewhat lost in the -- in the picture. And one reason, in the Biden administration, we actually did not get back into a nuclear deal, a lot of work was done on it, but that Iran was demanding just massive sanctions relief, including lifting sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which, of course, is involved in acts of terrorism, attacks against U.S. forces. And President Biden just said, well, we can't do that. I think it's even harder now because after the protests and the violent crackdown, contemplating such sanctions relief on that scale, I think is difficult to contemplate.

And again, this is where the two sides are kind of locked in, in irreconcilable positions. The U.S. position seems to be, let's do a deal on our terms or close to our terms, and we will withhold a military operation. And Iran seems to be saying, let's do a deal on our terms with massive sanctions relief, which I'm not sure the U.S. is going to offer.

Look, I'm hopeful that in Geneva there can be a breakthrough and a deal that satisfies the U.S. and that Iran can live with, and that we can have an off ramp here. I'm just -- I'm trying to analyze it in my experience. Right now I don't see it.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And your experience does speak to a lot of where this could be headed and it's an important perspective to have. You have a new analysis out just this morning on cnn.com looking at all of this, how there are these issues that have -- are separate but have now converged leading to what you're getting at right now.

Brett, it's great to see you. Thank you so much.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, just a few minutes ago, brand new, scathing comments this morning from President Trump attacking the Supreme Court about the tariff decision they just made, and also going after them on a ruling that apparently the president expects them to make.

And then the actor who has been most decisively cleaning up this award season, could he make history at the Oscars?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:43:35]

BERMAN: All right, new this morning, a brand new attack from President Trump on the Supreme Court, calling the decision on tariffs, which just came out on Friday, ridiculously -- sorry, ridiculous, dumb and very internationally divisive ruling. He also went on to attack a ruling for the Supreme Court they have yet to make on birthright citizenship.

Let's get to CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten with the latest on this.

Let's talk about tariffs because, boy, did this set the president off, right? The Supreme Court made the ruling overturning most of the president's tariffs. He, obviously, is opposed to the ruling. But based on the polling, you know, how did the American people feel going into it?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, I would just say, dude, president, what are you doing, man? The American people are with the Supreme Court. They're not with you.

I mean, just take a look here. You can see it really clearly. Americans on SCOTUS and Trump's tariffs. The court should overturn. Look at this, overall, 63 percent. The clear majority want it overturned. And then you look at independents, 69 percent. A very nice 69 percent say that they want it overturned as well.

And I will note, the M.U. Law (ph) poll has actually sometimes had this independent higher into the 70s. This is actually a relatively low point, and it is still more than two-thirds of independents who say that the court should overturn those tariffs.

BERMAN: The Supreme Court giving the people what they want. What they will say is they were giving the Constitution what it wants.

[09:45:00]

How do voters rate the president, generally speaking, on tariffs?

ENTEN: Yes, I would just say, to quote George Costanza, the Supreme Court did Donald Trump a favor and he should stop all of this, but he's not.

Why do I say that? Because just take a look here. Trump's net approval rating on trade and tariffs. During his entire second term, every single poll that meets CNN's standard for publication, every single one he's underwater in all of them. All of them. Dating back to last year. Even when he was inaugurated and his overall net approval rating was positive. On trade, he was negative. There's not a single poll, not a single poll in which his net approval rating on trade and tariffs during his entire, entire second term, in which it was positive. Again, as I said, the court did Trump a favor. You might expect him to step off. But based upon going on Truth Social, his Truths, he's doing anything but that.

BERMAN: Yes, he seems pretty focused on tariffs.

ENTEN: Yes.

BERMAN: And what do the American people say about where they want that focus?

ENTEN: Yes, he seems really focused on tariffs. And the American people don't want that at all. They don't want that at all. Just take a look at this. The Trump admin is focusing too much on tariffs, 60 percent. Three in five Americans saying the Trump administration is too focused on tariffs.

This is where they want him focused. Too little on lowering prices, 74 percent. The clear majority of Americans believe that Trump is not focused on the economy, not focused on the economy, and too focused on tariffs.

BERMAN: Now, the Supreme Court, in its ruling, did not say what the government should do with the money they collected from these now illegal tariffs. What are the odds that a lower court says the American people, or these businesses, should get it back?

ENTEN: Yes. All right, so, at this point, take a look at this, chance a court orders a tariff refund before the end of this year, it is now up to 77 percent according to the folks at Kalshi, putting their money where their mouth is, way up from where we were on Thursday, 47 to 77 percent. Of course, we'll just have to wait and see.

BERMAN: Absolutely. Harry Enten, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you.

BERMAN: A lot of news.

ENTEN: A lot of news.

BERMAN: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:51:27]

BERMAN: So, the Oscars are right around the corner. Among the films nominated for best picture, the compelling family drama "Sentimental Value." The film follows two sisters and their relationship with their estranged father who is a famous filmmaker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STELLAN SKARSGARD, NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (through translator): You two are the best thing that happened to me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): the best that's happened to you? Then why weren't you there?

STELLAN SKARSGARD (through translator): Everyone's mad at dad, huh?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Oh, that laugh.

Stellan Skarsgard also has an historic nomination for the film. For the first time, an actor from an international film has been nominated for best supporting actor. And we are so lucky because Stellan Skarsgard joins us now.

Thank you so much for being here.

STELLAN SKARSGARD, NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Thank you very much.

BERMAN: Congratulations for the nomination.

As far as I can tell, you've been in every good movie I've seen for 30 years.

SKARSGARD: Well --

BERMAN: So, seriously, like, how can it be this is your -- I can't -- I actually didn't believe this was your first Academy Award nomination.

SKARSGARD: Well, I mean, it's all -- it's all chance. It's very rare that -- I mean it's very rare that a foreign actor are getting nominated. So.

BERMAN: It is -- this film, while we're on the subject of foreign actors, it's set in Norway. You're Swedish. It's Norwegian. I don't know the language being spoken half the time. There is some English spoken. But when you're performing in that, how hard is it to go from one language to another? And I ask as someone who barely speaks one language.

SKARSGARD: Well, actually, I speak Swedish all the time. And the Norwegians understand me. So, it's -- they're so close, the languages. So, it's just like a -- like a speech impediment to speak Swedish there.

BERMAN: We just played that clip of the film. And in that clip there's this conversation with your daughter, and this complicated relationship in that. Talk to us about what that relationship signifies to you. Obviously, your children, many of them are terrific actors also. Where did you find that tension?

SKARSGARD: Well, actually, when I did the film, I had no -- I didn't think about my own situation at all. But I was reminded about it afterwards when my kids started seeing the film and they said, you recognize yourself? I said, no. But I have a very different -- my relationship to my kids is very different than Gustav Borg's (ph) relationship to them. I spent -- I spent eight months out of -- out of -- out of 12 at home with the kids since 1989.

So -- but at the same time they are not sort of satisfied with that, obviously, because they have different demands, all eight of them. And some need a lot of attention and some don't. So, they were not really happy with me.

BERMAN: Well, look, if kids want more of you, then you've done something, right? A lot of the times they want to get rid of you.

SKARSGARD: Yes, yes, yes. No, no, that's true.

BERMAN: You've been in so many different kinds of films, it's actually hard to believe. Something like this, and then "Dune" or "Thor," "Good Will Hunting," you know, from very, very big blockbuster -- "Pirates of the Caribbean." Do you approach them differently?

SKARSGARD: Not really. I mean, I approached them with -- I'm trying to do my best all the time. But, of course, they're -- it's very different -- it's different if you're doing a small film with a psychologist -- with a psychology within the characters, with a -- where you have to go to different places to find your expressions than if you do a guy like in "Dune," where -- which is basically only his physical presence.

[09:55:18]

BERMAN: Listen, Stellan Skarsgard, congratulations on this. It really is a wonderful film. And no joke, as I was sitting there, after I watched it I had to sit there and sit with it for a while to think about it. But then I remembered everything else you've done for so long, and it's such an incredible career. So, thank you and congratulations.

SKARSGARD: Thank you very much.

SIDNER: I love that, he tries to do the best every single day. Kind of like us.

BERMAN: I thought about it, whether that was the way we should go.

BOLDUAN: You're like, I had to sit with that.

BERMAN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: I had to sit with that one.

BERMAN: Yes, you know, maybe. That may be something we could try.

SIDNER: Oh, maybe.

BOLDUAN: Oh, come on, guys, it's just Monday.

SIDNER: Thank you for joining us.

BERMAN: Is that right?

SIDNER: This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL. We're going to chat back here. "THE SITUATION ROOM," up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)