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Trump Announces Sweeping Tariffs On China, Canada And Mexico; Mexican President Announces Retaliatory Tariffs On U.S.; Canada Announces "Far-Reaching" Retaliatory Tariffs On U.S. Goods; Five Remain Hospitalized After Jet Crashed In Philadelphia Neighborhood; NTSB Releases Preliminary Data On The Mid-Air Collision; Key Senate Committee Vote For RFK's HHS Secretary Nomination Set For Tuesday; Hundreds Protest ICE Targeted Arrests At Pro-Immigration Rallies. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired February 02, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

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[14:00:37]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Sunday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin this hour with President Trump defending his decision to impose sweeping tariffs on America's three largest trading partners. This, as he now admits, the move may cause, quote, "some pain" for American consumers and businesses.

Trump's new slew of tariffs go into effect on Tuesday, as both Mexico and Canada plan retaliatory levies of their own.

Trump declared a national economic emergency to put the steep tariffs in place. He's ordering 25 percent on Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10 percent on China. Trump says that the tariffs are aimed at curbing the influx of undocumented migrants and fentanyl across U.S. borders.

CNN's Alayna Treene is joining us right now.

Alayna, what is Trump saying about these tariffs? What more is he saying about them now that the other countries are also vowing to retaliate?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: Right. Well, a couple of things here, Fred. One is that just hours after he signed these tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, he acknowledged what many economists, people in Congress and even some of his own aides. I would note, in a previous life have acknowledged could happen as a result of these tariffs and that is that there could be some sort of impact that American consumers feel.

I want to read for you just some of what the president wrote in a lengthy post on "Truth Social" this morning. He said, quote, "This will be the golden age of America. Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe and maybe not. But we will make America great again and it will all be worth the price that must be paid."

Now, of course, here you have him acknowledging, really, that there could be some short-term pain or pain that different Americans feel as a result of these actions.

Now, another couple of things to note here. One is that the reasoning that the president used in imposing this tariffs was not necessarily about trade policy, though he has talked about that today, talking about how he believes that these different countries have a deficit with the United States.

But really, the reasoning he cited in a White House fact sheet and in the executive orders themselves is he believes that particularly Mexico and Canada are not doing enough to stem the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, and migrants, from coming in to this country.

It's also very unclear though, he did say yesterday, and this was clear in the White House fact sheet that the White House circulated on this.

It's not really clear what these different countries can do to try and stop these tariffs from one being implemented. They're supposed to go into effect on Tuesday, but also what they can do to try and appease the White House and the president specifically.

Now, we did hear Canada say that while they do not want this to happen, they will likely retaliate with tariffs of their own. And note as well that in these executive orders, there is a retaliatory clause that says if the president feels that they are responding in a way that he doesn't like, these tariffs could be raised even further.

So all of this, we are still really waiting, Fred, to see what the exact implications could be.

WHITFIELD: All right. Alayna Treene, thank you so much.

So with these tariffs set to take effect Tuesday, what impact could they have on American consumers? For some it could mean higher prices for everyday items.

Rafael Romo is here with me right now. So first Rafael, you know, walk us through quickly, what is a tariff?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a price that a particular nation has to pay the duties, the purists would say, for the right to sell a particular product to another nation.

Typically it is used when it comes to a nation trying to protect its own domestic industry. For example, it can be cars, it can be TVs, agricultural products also. And it is less common to see it being used the way we're seeing it right now -- to retaliate or to try to change the policies of other countries, in this case Mexico and Canada, to serve the purposes of a particular government, as it is in this case with Trump.

WHITFIELD: Ok. And so what are some of the specific products that could be affected here in the U.S.?

[14:04:44]

ROMO: It is very interesting in this case because the big one, of course, is oil from Canada and Mexico. Both countries send us their oil for different parts of the country. Canada uses pipelines to send a lot of oil to midwestern states that are probably going to be affected and are going to see gas prices go up quite considerably.

The same thing comes -- happens with Mexico sending crude oil to the United States. I see lumber there, here Corona beer, very popular in the United States, not so popular in Mexico.

And then I am -- I was born and raised in a state in northwestern Mexico. This is something that a lot of people don't even think about. When you think about products coming from Mexico that produces a lot of copper.

And so the copper that goes in your appliances --

(CROSSTALKING)

WHITFIELD: In your buildings.

ROMO: -- the copper that goes in your electronics, that's also going to take a hit.

I was in a -- in a factory of mezcal in southern Mexico a long time ago. Almost all of their production goes to America because this is a very fine kind of mezcal. And the Aztecs used to consider tequila and mezcal as sacred spirits. And in Mexico, you sip it. You don't do shots. If this trade war goes on, Americans may be sipping it instead of doing shots.

WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh. So it's a lot of stuff. Cars, trucks -- they're among the items that will face tariffs starting this Tuesday as well. This is pretty key and significant.

ROMO: It is very key because most of the brands that you see here do not have a single origin market. It is not produced in the United States or in Mexico or in Canada.

North America as a region when it comes to car and truck production is like a big country. I have been in a VW plant in central Mexico, for example. They get their parts from Germany and the United States. The cars are assembled in Mexico, then they're shipped to the United States.

And you see the same -- same dynamic happening with Toyota, with many other car companies that are going to take a hit.

Again, we don't know exactly where it's going to happen and how soon this is going to apply, but a lot of car makers very nervous about what's happening.

WHITFIELD: We've heard a lot of analysts, even our own business reporter, you know, Matt Egan, yesterday talking about, in some cases, people might expect that buying a new car just might cost you about $3,000 more.

ROMO: Right.

WHITFIELD: All right. Rafael Romo, keep us posted. Thank you so much.

ROMO: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.

All right. Mexico's president says her country will implement retaliatory measures on the U.S. following President Trump's tariff announcement. Mexico is the U.S.' largest trading partner, exporting $467 billion worth of goods to the U.S. last year.

CNN's Valeria Leon is in Mexico City for us.

Valeria, what more can you tell us about how Mexico is responding to these tariffs.

VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, the winds of trade war have filled the air after Trump slapped a 25 percent tariff on all Mexican imports. And Mexico responded, hit back at Trump's tariffs with tariffs of its own on U.S. imports.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had ordered her economy minister to kick off a response plan, called Plan B, that includes implementing tariff and non-tariff measures to defend Mexico's interests, signaling what looks to many like the beginning of a trade war between the two countries.

But others see it as a mere tool of negotiation. Nevertheless, Sheinbaum said her government sought dialog rather than confrontation with its northern neighbor. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT (through translator): When we negotiate with other nations, when we talk with other nations, always with our heads held high, never bowing our heads, we are equal with all the nations of the world.

Mexico is free, independent, and a sovereign country, and that is in the way which we defend Mexicans and our homeland.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEON: But tensions between the closely-connected neighbors soared after the White House accused Sheinbaum's government of having alliances with drug cartels. Sheinbaum angrily rejected the accusation by the Trump administration and vowed to retaliate against this sweeping tariff.

The Mexican government hasn't explained what exactly Plan B is. With tariffs taking effect on Tuesday, it's still unclear if the coming days, there will be a last-ditch effort to negotiate a deal with the United States' biggest trade partner, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Valeria Leon, thank you so much.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vows Canada's retaliatory tariffs will be, quote, "far-reaching". Shortly after President Trump's announcement, Trudeau announced 25 percent tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods.

CNN's Paula Newton has more on Canadas response.

[14:09:54]

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PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Canada says it feels like a country targeted and scorned by the United States. The reaction here was visceral, emotional, but also clear-headed about the devastating challenges ahead for the Canadian economy.

And keep in mind, Donald Trump is ripping up an agreement that he signed with Canada in terms of trade. Canada is now coming to terms with the fact that he no longer wants that relationship.

Listen.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: I don't think there's a lot of Americans who wake up in the morning saying, "Oh, damn Canada. Oh, we should really go after Canada."

We're there as friends, as partners. We always have been. We always will be. Yes, we've had our differences in the past, but we've always found a way to get past them.

As I've said before, if President Trump wants to usher in a new golden age for the United States, the better path is to partner with Canada, not to punish us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: And so Canada will retaliate. About $155 billion in total Canadian, $30 billion of that will come on Tuesday. The 25 percent tariffs to match the Trump administration tariffs. The bulk of that though will come in three weeks. Canada saying it wants businesses some time to prepare.

But keep in mind here this will be a losing battle for everyone in terms of consumers and businesses that now try to adjust. And the bottom line is the president himself has said that he will now retaliate because Canada retaliated in turn.

This is the beginning of what could be a very nasty trade war. And it could also rebalance the trade relationship between the United States and so many of its allies.

Paul Newton, CNN -- Ottawa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: In Philadelphia, we're getting a clearer picture of the injuries and destruction caused by that medevac plane crash as investigators continue searching for critical evidence.

And questions about what exactly Elon Musk is doing to the federal government as his DOGE department gains access to the system that the Treasury Department uses to pay your social security benefits and tax refunds.

[14:12:14]

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WHITFIELD: All right. Turning now to Philadelphia, where five victims remain in the hospital after that medical jet crashed into a neighborhood, killing seven people; one on the ground.

Earlier at a press conference, the city's Mayor Cherelle Parker updated the number of people injured.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: That number has now increased to 22. Five of the victims remain hospitalized currently, and three of them are in critical condition.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Meanwhile, NTSB investigators are still searching for the cockpit voice recorder. Their work at the crash site could take weeks before all the debris is collected.

One woman living in that neighborhood describes what she saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DELORES, FOUND PIECE OF PLANE IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE: As I came downstairs and I looked -- opened up the door, there was a piece of the airplane, and at the steps on fire. So I thought the house was on fire.

So I panicked. Looking for my dog. And as I was frantically looking for her, I fell down the steps trying to get her because she hid from me.

And then when I went down to the basement, I opened up the back door. The back of the house was on fire. My neighbor's house in the back was totally engulfed in flames.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Danny Freeman is following this for us. Danny, city officials stress this is still a very active investigation. They're even asking people if you find any debris, you need to call them.

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Fred.

An incredibly active investigation. And before I get to some of the new things that we learned from the press conference this morning, I just want to address that sound.

One of the notes that did come out of that press conference from city officials just a few hours ago was an emphasis on mental health. We learned that 11 homes were seriously impacted by that plane crash on Friday night.

And this is mostly a residential neighborhood in this area with some retail as well. There were people who witnessed the crash. There were people who were -- have been displaced from their homes.

And the city emphasized that there is likely a mental health toll, in addition to the serious physical and unfortunate death toll as well here.

So I appreciate you playing that interview with that witness there, because that's a lot of the feeling of people on edge here in this neighborhood in northeast Philadelphia.

To go over what we have learned from this press conference. Again, like you said, 22 people now have been reported to have been injured in that crash on Friday. That was up from 19, which we initially reported. five still in the hospital, three of whom are in critical condition.

The only real silver lining here, Fred, is that that death count has still remained at seven. Those were the six people on board that plane that came crashing down. And then one person who the city confirmed was in their car when that plane came crashing down, and passed away.

As we know, just to go over on board, there were those two pilots, a paramedic, a doctor, and then that pediatric patient and her mother on that plane before it came down.

[14:19:51]

FREEMAN: Fred, what I can tell you is that we have actually learned some of the identities of the people on that plane. We're putting that together. We'll be able to bring that to you at the top of the hour at 3:00, Fred.

Again, just a terribly sad story out here in northeast Philly.

WHITFIELD: It is indeed.

All right. Danny Freeman, thank you so much.

All right. Now take a look at these live pictures over the Potomac River as a crane that has arrived is there to help remove debris from the riverbed.

We're also learning more details about Wednesday's deadly mid-air collision there after NTSB investigators shared the first key pieces of data from the black boxes. Preliminary data indicating that the pilots of the American Airlines regional flight tried to pull the aircraft's nose up just seconds before it collided with that Black Hawk helicopter.

CNN's Gabe Cohen has the latest now from Reagan National Airport. Gabe, but we also learned of a potential discrepancy now over the helicopter's altitude. What more can you tell us?

GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. So, Fred, there is this discrepancy because the early data from the recorders on board the jet indicate that the airplane at the time of the collision was flying at an altitude of about 325 feet. But the data from air traffic controllers on the helicopter indicate that the Black Hawk was only about 200 feet up from the water. So obviously those numbers don't line up.

Now, we do know that the NTSB has not yet analyzed the recorders that are on board that helicopter which may tell a different story about that number.

And we know President Trump has also come out and put out messaging on Truth Social earlier this week saying that the helicopter was flying above 200 feet and was flying too high.

The reason this is important because along that corridor, along that helicopter route on the Potomac, helicopters are not supposed to be flying any more than 200 feet off the water.

And so if in fact, it was flying 300-plus feet in the air, investigators are going to want to know why that is. And they really don't have answers at this moment.

As you mentioned, we've also learned that it appears the aircraft was starting to pitch up, the plane starting to pitch up just before the collision, perhaps indicating that the pilot saw that Black Hawk at the last minute and tried to avert a disaster. But it was just too late.

We've also learned about FAA staffing, that there was an air traffic controller that night who was working two jobs at once. Now, a source has told my colleague, Pete Muntean, that that is not uncommon, but there are a lot of questions right now because the FAA has been short staffed for years.

Take a listen. Here's Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaking about this issue earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN DUFFY, U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: We're going to surge air traffic controllers. We're going to bring in the best and the brightest. That was the direction from President Trump.

I can't flip a switch and make that happen overnight. But it's this process and this plan we're developing right now that's going to a year or two or three years from now, show real results of putting certified air traffic controllers -- bright, smart, brilliant people in towers controlling airspace.

Our air traffic control system, it's antiquated. A lot of the systems we use date back to World War II. We have to upgrade the system. We have to have the best system in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COHEN: And Fred, perhaps slowing this investigation right now, there is still an emergency situation. The salvage operation happening in the Potomac. Only 42 of the 67 victims have been recovered at this point.

You mentioned the crane, these barges, equipment being brought in to try to remove the wreckage so that they can recover the 25 remaining people who are in the water. Then that investigation can really get going in full force. But it could take days.

And I do want to mention, Fred, this emotional moment earlier today when family members of the victims who were on that jet were brought out to the end of the runway to lay a wreath in the water.

It speaks to how many people have been impacted by this who are grieving as that wreckage site still sits out there in the water.

WHITFIELD: Very powerful and resonating indeed.

Gabe Cohen, thank you so much from Reagan National Airport.

I want to bring in now aviation attorney Mitch Baumeister, who has worked as an aviation trial lawyer for more than four decades now.

Mitch, you were involved in some of the biggest air disasters that people can recall and remember. The Pan Am 103, TWA Flight 800, ValuJet.

This midair collision is now the deadliest in decades. So on the surface, in your view, you know, these cases, which are so different, from a legal standpoint, do they share any commonalities that come to mind for you?

MITCH BAUMEISTER, AVIATION ATTORNEY: Well, let me speak to what the reporter said to you, Fred, just a little bit ago.

[14:24:48]

BAUMEISTER: Everybody is focusing on a very important parameter, which is the Black Hawk should not be above 200 feet. But the cardinal rule and it's through 40 years of practice, the pilots have a cardinal rule. See and avoid.

And if the flight data recorders show that the impact was at about 350 feet, I feel pretty confident that that's going to be -- 325 plus or minus 25 feet -- that's going to be the altitude at probably at which the impact occurred.

And for the 200 feet that they got from the tower equipment, first off, that's antiquated. Number two, they haven't calibrated it. Number three, we don't know at what point in flight that this occurred. So they need a lot more work on that 200 feet.

But all things considered, even hypothetically, if both planes were at 200 feet, I've watched that video and I've watched the tracks on the radar of these two planes converging with each other, and there was plenty of time for the Black Hawk to immediately brake off, go left --

WHITFIELD: Well, plenty of time if the Black -- and I think that's the issue, right -- plenty of time maybe if the Black Hawk pilot saw what was right in front of them. Again, everyone moving at colossal speed.

And I've heard everything, even according to a Black Hawk, former Black Hawk helicopter pilot that sometimes ambient lighting can also impact things. This was nighttime. This is a very busy aircraft -- I'm not explaining anything away.

But I think what we're both revealing here is there is a lot that investigators have to look at. And when you just mentioned the calibration of the Black Hawk helicopter's devices, won't investigators look into and won't that be criteria here as to whether the pilot saw 200 feet altitude or if indeed they were at the 325 and knowingly were at an altitude where they were not supposed to be.

Aren't these the things that are at the crux of the investigation? And perhaps you can help us understand how are they going to get to the root of those scenarios in order to see what caused the fatal error here?

BAUMEISTER: Well, the NTSB, I have a lot of confidence in their ability to get to the ultimate result. What I'm saying to you is, I believe that the 200 feet that comes off the radar in the tower is less reliable than what was on the CRJ.

So they will analyze both of these systems and they will wind up coming up.

But my central point to you is "see and avoid". If you have looked at it, there was a clear night. There were lights. They had night vision on.

I am baffled after 40 years of practice as to --

(CROSSTALKING)

WHITFIELD: Except as we just heard, maybe during the press conference last night. They had the ability of night vision, but they were not likely using the night vision goggles. Go ahead.

BAUMEISTER: Even if they weren't using it, I have used night vision goggles myself. And the problem is, with so many lights in such an area, it, at times is not the best thing to have on.

But the bottom line is there was a clear night. They had ample time. This jet was right in front of them. I am at a loss for why they didn't see and avoid. And I've watched it, they did not move left or right.

WHITFIELD: How are they going to determine why there wasn't a visual sighting in time to make any adjustments to avert this crash?

BAUMEISTER: There was ample time to make adjustments.

WHITFIELD: But how will investigators get to the bottom of why that didn't happen?

BAUMEISTER: There's only one way I can think of, and that's if the cockpit voice recorder for the Black Hawk, that piece of evidence will be critically important.

What conversations were taking place? Were they distracted in the cockpit? Were they looking someplace else? Did they have questions?

And along these points, the Black Hawk pilots called for visual separation. And the tower also was sitting there watching them and pointed out the aircraft.

What should have been done is the tower should have vectored them, should have monitored the aircraft. And as it got closer and converged on the radar, if anyone was looking at it. And again, we know they combined the positions and probably someone was not looking at, it that they should have vectored the aircraft left and the Black Hawk should have, in a sense, they also should have called for a vector around the aircraft.

I've done that many times. If there's any question you're in a high volume, a high capacity, a lot of traffic going on, you've got an aircraft coming in on final.

You say, look, tower, you're there to help me. I want you to vector me around this aircraft, not just say to me establish visual separation.

As far as the one second is concerned, I think you're going to find that that was probably simultaneous with impact.

BAUMEISTER: There was a reaction to pull back on the yoke at that point in time, but I don't think it was necessarily them sighting the Black Hawk.

[14:30:01]

It may have been. You've got to remember, you're sitting in a CRJ, put yourself in that cockpit. I'm putting my flaps down, I'm putting my slats down, I'm putting my gear down. I've now been given a shorter runway.

So, right now, they're concentrating on what's right in front of them because they've got to land in a few seconds.

So all of these things point to a tragic situation that unfortunately, I've seen many times. And as far as understaffing is concerned, after 40 years, I can tell you the first case I worked on, Eastern 401, December 29th of 1972. We had an air traffic controller watch an aircraft go into the Everglades and never warn them.

And the bottom line is they claimed overstaffing overworked. I have seen for 40 years the same argument. We don't have enough staff. We don't have enough people.

The bottom line is I would urge the family group to take this cause up and really fight it. And I'd love to see for the first time in a long time, when the hysteria boils down in the public, I would like to see real effort made. I hope the new head of transportation does it. A real effort made to get our air traffic control system up to snuff with people and with equipment because it's been this way for 40 years.

WHITFIELD: Mitch Baumeister, attorney, thank you so much. Still early, this happening just days ago. Still to be determined where the mistakes were, still to be determined with real definity.

All right. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

A date is set. We now know when a U.S. Senate committee will vote to decide if Robert F. Kennedy's nomination to lead Health and Human Services can advance.

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[14:36:17]

WHITFIELD: All right. We now know when a key U.S. Senate vote will happen for one of President Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees. The Senate Finance Committee will meet Tuesday to decide if Robert F. Kennedy's nomination to Health and Human Services secretary will advance to the full Senate. It follows contentious hearings last week that saw bipartisan pushback on Kennedy's anti-vaccine rhetoric.

Joining us right now, White House reporter for "Politico", Sophia Cai, and congressional reporter for "Axios", Stephen Neukam.

Good to see both of you.

Sophia, you first. Vice President Vance says he doesn't expect to be a tiebreaking vote for these cabinet picks. But if he does, it would be just the third time in history a cabinet nomination needed a vice president to cross the finish line. But first, I guess we've got to get to the full Senate. So how much pressure is on the White House now to try and get their nominees through?

SOPHIA CAI, WHITE HOUSE REPORTER, POLITICO: I think there's a lot. I mean, I think with RFK, Jr., what J.D. Vance has said is probably true as long as RFK, Jr. can get through the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday.

I think, you know, a bigger question, and the person that the White House is more concerned about is actually Tulsi Gabbard. I think they knew even going into the hearings that she among the three nominees was the person who had the most work to do in terms of convincing all Republicans to vote for her, and especially coming out of the latest hearings, they know that's certainly true, especially after the exchange she had with Senator Lankford, in which she did not clearly state that Edward Snowden was a traitor.

So, yes, the White House does have their work cut out for them right now, this weekend and early next week.

WHITFIELD: And it seemed like Lankford was trying to give her an opportunity. But that effort seemed to backfire, right, Sophia?

CAI: Yeah, I think that's true. I think that's that was the case with Senator Lankford on Edward Snowden. And I think that was also the case with Senator Cassidy on RFK, Jr.'s previous statements about the link between autism and vaccines, you know, there was one point where, RFK Jr. said that he was willing to change his mind if wrong, but he did not state, you know, after giving several opportunities directly that there was no link between autism and vaccines. And that's what Senator Cassidy is grappling with.

WHITFIELD: Yeah. And, Stephen, RFK, Jr.'s, you know, vote in the Senate finance committee really does hinge on that exchange with Senator Bill Cassidy, who is, by the way, also a doctor. He had some pointed questions about vaccines during the hearing last week, among other things.

Do you think Kennedy, managed himself well with Cassidy? And if he didn't, is that an indicator that, you know, Cassidy is going to be a no vote?

STEPHEN NEUKAM, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER, AXIOS: Well, I don't think he managed himself well with Cassidy. Like Sophia said, there were some sort of pointed interactions that I think Kennedy, you know, fell under the bar that that Cassidy and others wanted him to pass very clearly stating that vaccines don't cause autism. It's just something that Kennedy was not willing to do on Capitol Hill last week in front of the cameras.

Now, the important thing to remember for Cassidy, not only is he a doctor, he's the chairman of the top health committee in the Senate. He also is up for reelection in 2026. So he is juggling the political need to sort of shore up support on his right. Obviously already chatter about a primary challenge down in Louisiana, but also staying true to his -- his principles as a doctor and as the top Republican top senator on the top health committee in the U.S. Senate.

WHITFIELD: And, Stephen, what other Republicans do you think might be on the fence? I know Mitch McConnell has lately, you know, kept his, you know, sentiment close to the vest, so to speak. But what do you think as it pertains to RFK, Jr.?

NEUKAM: I think Cassidy is the biggest one to watch. There were, I think, some concerns about Todd Young, but he has since said that he plans to support the nomination. Look, I think you can look at all the moderates on the floor, the Susan Collins, the Lisa Murkowski folks like that, that, you know, sort of generally draw eyes when, when there's going to be a vote that you need just 50 to get to. And if their support drops, you know, you're going to need Democrats or maybe Vice President Vance to make the trip to Capitol Hill to break a tie breaker.

WHITFIELD: All right. Stephen Neukam, Sophia Cai, thanks to both of you. Appreciate it.

NEUKAM: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right. And now, we're learning new details about how the Trump administration is planning to use Guantanamo Bay for its crackdown on immigration. What the homeland security secretary said about who will be held there, potentially, next.

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[14:46:03]

WHITFIELD: Hundreds of demonstrators gathering at pro-immigration rallies across the country yesterday to protest the administration's targeted arrests and mass deportations. More rallies are expected later on today.

Joining me right now is Atlanta immigration attorney, Charles Kuck.

Charles, great to see you.

So U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, reported about 1,000 arrests every day last week. The Trump administration is vowing their focus is on violent criminals. But we know a variety of people have been swept up, right?

So what are you hearing and seeing from what have become your clients?

CHARLES KUCK, IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY: Well, what were seeing is a lot of people who are scared, worried about what's going on and what's going to happen to them and their children. But we're also seeing a lot of people who aren't criminals being picked up -- being picked up. And as a result, families are being temporarily separated and people are angry.

And when people are angry, it's good to see them speak up, because right now, nobody is speaking politically for the immigrant in America. So it's good to see them marching in the streets, calling attention to the situation, which is neither good for America nor good for the immigrant.

WHITFIELD: So then say you are an undocumented immigrant, or perhaps, you know, you are documented and ice shows up at your home or your workplace, your school. What kind of rights do you have? What are you what are they able to say in response?

KUCK: Excellent question. Undocumented immigrants or documented immigrants are all covered by the Constitution of the United States. They have a right to remain silent. They have a right to insist on a warrant before ICE enters into private property, like a church or a business. And --

WHITFIELD: Like a search warrant or an arrest warrant. What kind of warrant?

KUCK: There has to be a judicial search warrant, something ICE very infrequently uses. ICE has regulatory authority to issue what are called administrative warrants. These are not judicial warrants. They do not give them the right to enter a place of business or a home to look for somebody.

So, people are being instructed what their rights are, becoming educated about their rights. And it appears Tom Homan was a little upset about that earlier this week.

WHITFIELD: And now this. You know, Trump is preparing to revoke the legal status for more than 530,000 migrants who entered the U.S. through a humanitarian parole program under Biden's term. What legal options do they have? Because many of them thought that they were, you know, safe and they could go on about work, school, et cetera. But now they're very nervous.

KUCK: That's the CHVN program for Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans. Every one of those countries, when a person comes here, has a right to apply for asylum. President Biden selected those countries because of the nature of the governments of those countries.

Those individuals now will be able to simply apply for asylum if they haven't already done so. Many did do so as soon as they got here, so they're not going to be removed immediately. They're going to have to go through the regular immigration asylum process, which in our current situation could take literally a decade.

WHITFIELD: All right. Charles Kuck, thank you so much. We'll be right back.

KUCK: Great to be with you. Thank you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:54:03]

WHITFIELD: Hard to believe, but Super Bowl Sunday is just one week away. But before the big game, companies are already teeing up their Super Bowl commercials, expecting to make huge splashes with big name celebrity endorsements.

Here's CNN's Shannon Hodge(ph) with a sneak preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This cat.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on.

SHANNON HODGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That's Doja cat, the megastar and Taco Bell lover, photobombs her way into the chain's Super Bowl ad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Fine. MARTHA STEWART, TELEVISION PERSONALITY: Honestly, Charlie, when my

agent first sent me your name, I thought it was the Wi-Fi password.

CHARLI XCX, SINGER; & STEWART: We listen, and we don't judge.

HODGE: To promote Uber Eats, Martha Stewart and Charli XCX take on the "We listen and we don't judge" TikTok trend.

CHARLI XCX: I thought a Super Bowl was something I could order on Uber Eats.

HODGE: While Matthew McConaughey becomes Mike Ditka.

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: The bears, the bears, the bears. Oh. Getting close, the bears.

DAVID BECKHAM, FOOTBALL PLAYER: Mom, dad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have something to tell you.

[14:55:01]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have a twin brother we never told you about.

HODGE: David Beckham is on a quest to find the other David in his ad for Stella Artois.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David, if there's two Davids, one has to be other David.

HODGE: And Antonio Banderas teams up with Macho Man Randy Savage in an ad for Bosch.

RANDY SAVAGE, MACHO MAN: Real friend, you know that.

ANTONIO BANDERAS, ACTOR: Don't thank me. Thank Bosch for putting us in the same big game commercial together.

SHANE GILLIS, COMEDIAN: Is this it?

POST MALONE, SINGER: Hello? Come on.

HODGE: Knock, knock. It's Post Malone and Shane Gillis ringing the doorbell for Bud Light.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Okay, what do we think about the commercials?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Personally, I like the one with the chip.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Insightful.

PATRICK HOMES, QUARTERBACK, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: I think they all had chips.

HODGE: And three time Super Bowl champ Patrick Mahomes and his teammates give feedback on ads made by Doritos fans for the big game. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I kind of wish Patrick was in one.

MAHOMES: Me, too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Oh, it's going to be so much fun. Shannon Hodge, thanks so much. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)