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Officials Continue Search For Nancy Guthrie; Planned ICE Detention Facility In Georgia Becomes Closer To Reality; Bad Bunny Performs At Super Bowl 60 Halftime Show. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired February 08, 2026 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
DR. NEAL ELATTRACHE, ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON: And so, you know, it's tough to -- tough to look back today that anything -- any decision would have been done differently. But you know, I think that she proved would be able to compete what she had going into the race, both the partial knee replacement, one on the knee, and the recent ACL injury on the other.
And you know, if I had to pick an athlete that would be a candidate to be able to perform with the ACL insufficiency. It would be somebody like Lindsey Vonn, who is a very experienced athlete. She knows that venue.
She was able to envision and pattern herself in the course every turn, every move she was going to make. The ACL probably does make them more vulnerable to an unexpected event like catching a gate or getting thrown off balance. But having said that, she was where she should have been.
JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: Yes, yes. And well, we wish her a good recovery. Doctor, thanks for being here with us. We really appreciate it.
ELATTRACHE: My pleasure. Best wishes to Lindsay.
DEAN: Indeed. Our next hour of "CNN Newsoom" starts now.
You are in the "CNN Newsroom". Hi, everyone. I'm Jessica Dean here in New York. We are following these new details in the disappearance of today's show host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie.
You can see here in this video, officials were spotted at Nancy Guthrie's home again this afternoon. This was the last place she was seen eight days ago before she disappeared. Officials were also seen at the home of Guthrie's other daughter, Annie, late last night. There are still no named suspects in this case.
Earlier this week, two separate ransom notes were sent to multiple media outlets and we're learning more about one of those notes tonight. Let's bring in CNN's Ed Lavandera to tell us more about where the investigation stands. Ed? ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are. So, a
couple of different things happening here at once. Clearly a lot of attention being paid to the latest video that Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released yesterday afternoon where they announced to the alleged author of these ransom notes that they would pay. And we know it's millions of dollars.
And according to an affiliate here in Tucson that received one of these letters, that amount would reach to $6 million, but we have not heard anything and it's almost been 24 hours since the Guthrie family put out that latest video. We have no updates as to whether or not there has been any other notes received or sent in response to all of that. So, we anticipate and wait for any kind of news on that front.
In the meantime here in the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives and where she was taken a week ago against her will from her home here, investigators as you said Jessica, back out in the area going through various parts of the property have also been found out in other parts of the neighborhood, as well.
Sheriff's officials say they also continue to do investigative work in other parts of the city. So, all of that continues. That's today. Last night we also saw some law enforcement activity at the home of Nancy Guthrie's daughter Savannah's sister where we saw a small number of sheriff's deputies going through spending about three hours inside the home.
It's not clear exactly what they were looking for or what they were trying to document or or gather up, but we did see one of the investigators leave the scene wearing latex gloves and another officer carrying a bag of some kind and putting it in the back of one of the law enforcement vehicles.
So, that's what we could witness. They are not describing or saying exactly what they were looking for or what they took away from the scene there. But all of that law enforcement activity continues as we desperately await word on the fate of Nancy Guthrie, now a week into her disappearance. Jessica?
DEAN: I know. Anyone with information, the numbers right there at next to you 1-800-CALL-FBI if they know anything. Thank you so much for your reporting. We appreciate it. And joining us now is retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Lance Leising. Lance, thanks for being here with us.
I want to zoom out for a second because I keep going back to the fact that this whole case where an 84-year-old woman taken from her home in the middle of the night, being held ostensibly for ransom, the family having to go through public channels to potentially negotiate with these potential captors. Have you seen a case like this?
LANCE LEISING, RETIRED FBI SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT: Well, every case has unique facts for sure, but this one involves so many rarities. There are so many unique situations all bundled up in one. You might never see certain things. A ransom note alone. You might never see that in the case, let alone fraudulent ransom
notes, multiple ransom notes, and then thousands of tips beyond that that you're trying to vet. This isn't a unique case. You add the celebrity status on top of it and it gets even more unique.
DEAN: Yes, and we heard from the Guthrie siblings last night in that short emotional video. What stood out to you from that video?
[17:05:01]
LEISING: Well, the very first thing is that they are no longer talking directly to Nancy. The first video you see, it appears they are talking to Nancy specifically. In this next video, it's a marked difference. They're talking directly to the kidnappers. And then they say four things that are unique to me -- understand -- at first, they say, understand.
So, something in that second ransom note, they're communicating that they understand and that could be something tragic, that could be something -- a directive or an instruction. And then they talk about return, Nancy. And they don't say release, they say return. I think that's an, that's a, a fact we should point out. Then they talk about celebrating. That could be celebrating a release or could be a celebration of life.
And then finally, agreeing to pay. That's really a big change from their initial statement. And paying for peace is what they do say. And it's a difference, very different than the first statement.
DEAN: I know, and it's just -- it's -- the human is just -- you ache for them. Yes, absolutely. In terms of the law enforcement that is around them, that is obviously taking the point in this investigation, but also likely consulting with them, or at least talking with them about any of these things, what kind of coaching and explanations go into crafting these types of messages, again, with this X factor of having to do this so publicly?
LEISING: Yes, yes. The public nature doesn't help at all. So, any good investigators, and these are excellent investigators working this case, they will be coaching and working with that family hand in hand. They understand the grief the family's going through. So, they're going to take a lot of -- they'll take into account a lot of the feelings and the decisions the family makes and then craft statements to help the investigation, but also to do right by the family.
In this case, they're following a pretty solid playbook, trying to humanize the victim initially in that first, trying to open lines of communication, trying to get proof of life, all that very much a playbook. This Second statement, very different, but still a playbook still offering to pay, offering to get that open line of communication. How do we pay? Let's talk. Let's -- all that could lead to a resolution, may not be the resolution everyone wants in this case, but a resolution.
DEAN: Yes. And we're looking at videos now from earlier today. Officials back at Nancy Guthrie's house. We know in the backyard area there now eight days after she went missing. What might they be looking for and what does it tell you that they're now going back eight days later and looking for more evidence?
(CROSSTALK)
LEISING: Sure. So, not ideal. You would like to think everything is complete after the first or that they don't give up a scene. They hold the scene for a longer period of time to make sure they have it secure and they can have access to evidence that comes along in the case. And what I mean by that is this case is always evolving.
We have the ransom notes for sure, but we have to remember, those ransom notes may or may not be legitimate at this point. I believe law enforcement and the family are both trying to determine that now. We have thousands and likely tens of thousands of tips considering that the nature of this case, tens of thousands of tips and they're -- a good investigator will be taking all of those into account.
So, every one of those tips comes in and it might lead them to something else to the scene. Then you have multiple agencies coming in to assist. So, let's say Sheriff's Office did the first search warrant, the FBI comes in a little bit later and asks, did you do this, what about this, we have technology that can get us here on this.
And so then they have to go back because that expertise wasn't there the first time. Multiple things could be happening with the information we have, we don't know exactly what it is. I'm glad to see they're going back because they have to uncover every stone.
DEAN: Yes, Lance Leising, thank you so much, great context, we really appreciate it.
LEISING: Thank you.
DEAN: Still ahead, an ICE detention center could very soon be headed to a small Georgia town, but the people who live in that town are not happy about that idea. Plus, the biggest television event of the year is about to kick off, but what's the best part of the Super Bowl for a lot of Americans? Well, Harry Enten's going to run the numbers and tell us. You're in the "CNN Newsroom".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DEAN: We are now just an hour away from Super Bowl 60 and people are debating which team is going to win -- the Seattle Seahawks, Patriots, also weighing in on some other favorite game day traditions. Here's CNN's Harry Enten to run the numbers on the Super Bowl. Harry.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Hey there, Jessica. Well, the day is upon us. It is Super Bowl Sunday. It is the biggest, and I mean the biggest, television event of the year. We all know that 100 million people are going to be watching the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots.
But of course, one of the big reasons why Super Bowl Sunday is such a big day is because it's more than just a football game, right? It's about the commercials. It's about the food. It's about the extravaganza.
So, what do Americans like most about Super Bowl Sunday? Well, get this. Only 30 percent-- only 30 percent say their favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday is the game of my Buffalo Bills where in the game, I would say this with authority, but I'm not really looking that forward to the game to be perfectly honest.
[22:15:00]
In fact, think food and festivities, my favorite at 22 percent, the commercials, of course, all those new commercials debuting during the game, that comes in at 18 percent. The halftime show this year featuring Bad Bunny coming in at 17 percent. And then for some of those in the audience, they're not even going to watch the Super Bowl.
And so, I guess for them, the eight percent who say nothing, nada, Zippo is their favorite part of Super Bowl Sunday. But for me, it's a real chance to just, to be perfectly honest with you, gorge. I'm going to gorge when I go over to my friend Noam's house. So I say, I am with the 22 percent who say the food and festivities.
Now, of course, though, there is a football game going on. The 30 percent of Americans who say that's their favorite part. So, who do Americans want to win the football game? Well, you can see it here, more people then want the New England Patriots, want the Seattle Seahawks to win at 30 percent. Nineteen percent say the Patriots.
But look at this. We've got 49 percent of Americans who say, we don't care. We don't care to quote Stephen A. Smith. A big "meh". And I am one of those "meh" because, you know, I got to trot out the jacket. I got to trot out my Buffalo Bills jacket. My Buffalo Bills, of course, met an untimely demise in the ASE divisional game against the Denver Broncos who of course they themselves then didn't make it to the Super Bowl, right?
So, I've trot out the jacket. I say my Buffalo Bills, if they're not in it, I trotted out for the dear great Alison Kurtzman, your fantastic editorial producer. I say the Buffalo Bills, if they're not in it I don't really give a hoot hot and a darn who wins this football game. Of course, it's beyond just a football game right? I said it's about the eating. I'm going to gorge myself.
So, what do Americans like to gorge on during Super Bowl Sunday. Well, let's take a look at the food. America's favorite Super Bowl food, not much of a surprise. Thirty-three percent say the wings. Yes, those buffalo wings from Buffalo. When I was up there at the end of last year, I certainly had my share of wings. How about 19 percent? You can't go wrong with pizza.
And then of course, interestingly enough, coming in in third place is actually dip. How about some chips and dip? That comes in at 16 percent. But I'm all about the wings on Super Bowl Sunday. I'm going to -- all those wings right down into my wonderful stomach and then of course I'm going to probably have to exercise tomorrow. At least, that is what I'm telling myself.
Of course, beyond the eating, beyond the game is the halftime show. Bad Bunny performing. So, what is going to be the songs that he is performing, and the biggest question is what song is he going to be performing first? Well, if we look at the prediction market odds the chance to be Bad Bunny's halftime opener at this point, "Titi Me Pregunto". "Titi Me Pregunto" comes in 61 percent is the favorite.
Of course, that leaves about a 4 and 10 chance that it is another song and at this point, "Chambea", "Chambea", I believe I'm pronouncing that correctly. "Chambea" comes in at 23 percent. That's been rising a little bit during the day here on Sunday. So, we'll have to say if "Chambea" in fact is the number one, maybe it's "Titi Me Pregunto".
Of course, we don't know. We don't know what's going to actually be the opener, but I'm sure it's going to be a very interesting halftime show indeed and I'm sure a lot of Americans will have opinions on it, both good and bad. But the bottom line is this. It is Super Bowl Sunday. The Seahawks are taking on the patriots. But for me, Jessica Dean, I'm just going to gorge on some chicken wings. Back to you. Enjoy the game.
DEAN: Just some chicken wings for our friend Harry there. All right, thanks so much. Harry mentioned it, a lot of people a lot of people going to be just watching for that halftime show. Grammy award-winning artist Bad Bunny will be the first artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show and perform primarily in Spanish. He is bringing Latin culture to center stage during this global event.
CNN Espanol's Maria Santana joins us now from a Puerto Rican restaurant and sports bar in New York that's holding a Bad Bunny Watch Party tonight. Maria, how are things there?
MARIA SANTANA, CNN ESPANOL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Jessica. Hey, Jessica I don't know if you can hear me. It's very hard to hear you. The energy is absolutely electric here at this bar -- Puerto Rican restaurant. I'm at Barrio BX in the Bronx and the party started really early here. I mean I knew there was salsa. There was bomba. There was plana. There was a reggaeton.
I mean it is just -- anticipation has just been building and building throughout the day. Of course, people here are so proud of Benito. If you can see my shirt, people aren't just here for the Super Bowl, for the game. They are here for Benito Bowl. That is what people here in the Bronx are.
(CHEERING)
SANTANA: This restaurant, as you can see, I mean, full of Puerto Rican pride. You can see the murals on the wall. Those are all leaders of the Puerto Rican independence movement, themes that are very important to Bad Bunny.
[17:20:03]
Benito, of course, being his given name, his birth name. But you know, I've been talking to people here all day. They are excited. They are proud. And they are absolutely loud. So, let's hear what they had to say, Jessica.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANINE VIERS-SANTIAGO: I'm super happy. He won a Grammy, as everybody knows. That makes -- it makes a world of a difference. So, I'm very proud of him and of Puerto Rico.
ORLANDO DIAZ, BAD BUNNY SUPPORTER: I'm so proud of him. I mean, he's like a icon, not only for Puerto Ricans, but for every single Latino.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(CHEERING)
SANTANA: And Jessica (SPOKEN IN SPANISH), those are the chants. That means I'm Boricua, just so you know. So, off course, everybody waiting for those songs, "Titi Me Pregunto", "Debi Tirar Mas Fotos", you know, they are expecting a big show, a show that's going to make them feel proud.
And why are we here in New York, in the Bronx especially? The Bronx has the largest concentration of Puerto Ricans in New York. The Bronx is known as El Condado de la Salsa, the salsa borough. And also, you know, people here -- there's a big history of Puerto Ricans here in New York City. New York City is actually known as the largest city in Puerto Rico. Jessica.
DEAN: All right, Maria Santana, so much fun there. Thank you so much. Good to see you. Tell everyone we said hi. And don't forget, a replay of the new CNN original Bad Bunny and the Halftime Show, "Rhythms of Resistance" airs tonight. Here's a preview of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETRA RIVERA-RIDEAU, PROFESSOR AND CO-AUTHOR "P FKN R: HOW BAD BUNNY BECAME THE GLOBAL VOICE OF PUERTO RICAN RESISTANCE": Bad Bunny has shed light on many of these issues. I think one of the most recent ways he's done that is through his No Me Quiero Ir De Aqui residency that happened this summer in Puerto Rico. This was a 31-day residency, and the first nine shows were only for Puerto Rican residents.
M.J. ACOSTA-RUIZ, NFL SIDELINE REPORTER: Bad Bunny has said publicly, I did not perform in the United States for fear that my fans would be attacked by ICE. And so, having that kind of concert which felt like it was dedicated to Latinos, felt like a moment, like there was community around you.
LYDIA SHAFFER, CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCER: I would say the most offensive things about Bad Bunny is the fact that he blatantly hates Trump. He's against ICE. They hate our government. People think that conservatives are outraged over the fact that he's from Puerto Rico, but that is fake news. We don't care that he's from Puerto Rico. We care that he is standing for open borders.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Don't miss it. It's a replay of the Bad Bunny and the Halftime Show. It airs tonight at six Eastern, only here on CNN. You can also stream it on our CNN app. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:27:24]
DEAN: A planned ICE detention facility in Georgia is one step closer to reality. The Department of Homeland Security confirming it purchased an enormous warehouse in a small town near Atlanta called Social Circle. Leaders there are pushing back against the plans for, they say, a number of reasons.
Rafael Romo is joining us now. And Rafael, you visited Social Circle last month. You recently went back there to talk with people who live in that community. What are they telling you?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jessica, there's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of fear, concern as well. And this is an issue that officials tell me has united people in a social circle like never before. Progressives are against the detention center out of concern for human rights violations. And conservatives say their own town does not have the resources necessary to support such a massive project.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMO (voice-over): This sprawling warehouse in rural Georgia may be about to become a crucial tool for President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration. The million square foot facility located about 45 miles east of Atlanta in the town of Social Circle has been acquired by the Department of Homeland Security according to DHS and town officials to be converted into a migrant detention center for as many as 10,000 people possibly as early as April.
ERIC TAYLOR, SOCIAL CIRCLE CITY MANAGER: We hope it's not a done deal as far as the city. goes. We are still 100 percent motivated to try to stop this any way we can.
ROMO (voice-over): Eric Taylor is the manager of the picturesque town of 5000, which calls itself Georgia's greatest little town. Taylor says Social Circle cannot afford to triple its population overnight.
TAYLOR: Our position hasn't changed at all. We're still very concerned about infrastructure. We only have a limited amount of water to draw from to begin with uh in a capacity infrastructure system that is already stretched to its capacity.
ROMO: City officials say at any given time, there are two police officers on duty here in Social Circle. The number for the fire department is four. So, they're very concerned about what a project of this magnitude would do to their public safety requirements.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that "ICE purchased a facility in Social Circle, Georgia." The Department added that, "This will be a very well structured detention facility, meeting our regular detention standards as ICE is actively working to expand detention space."
As CNN reported in October, DHS is funneling $10 billion through the Navy to help facilitate the construction of a sprawling network of migrant detention centers across the U.S.
[17:30:00]
DHS did not specify whether the proposed facility in Social Circle is part of this plan.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch.
ROMO: In an NBC interview, Trump said his administration could tone down immigration tactics following the two people shot and killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis. But his critics say the President's policies have already harmed citizens and non-citizens alike.
SEN. JON OSSOF (D) GEORGIA: You see masked federal agents kicking down doors without so much as a warrant from a judge, dragging Americans out of their homes without cause, demanding papers at police checkpoints, assaulting and even killing Americans with impunity from the very top.
ROMO (voice-over): At a Saturday rally in Atlanta, Democratic Senator John Ossoff, who's seeking reelection this year, also denounced migrant detention centers.
OSSOFF: You see prison camps growing and full of children.
ROMO: Social Circle officials say throughout the entire process, they haven't heard a single word from the federal government. Is there a message that you would like to send the federal government on behalf of Social Circle?
TAYLOR: Call us. Call us. We've been trying to get somebody on the phone since the day after Christmas.
ROMO (voice-over): Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker claimed on Friday that he had convinced Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to find an alternative location for a detention center that would have been built in his state. Social Circle officials say now they can only hope to do the same even if the process to build a detention center in their town seems well advanced.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMO (on-camera): Now, Jessica, City manager Taylor also told me that their zoning code doesn't allow for a detention facility of any type, but clarified that in this case it wouldn't matter at all because governments are not subject to zoning regulations and the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution would also override any objections to the project, not to get too technical here, but it's very difficult for the town to do anything anymore. Jessica? DEAN: All right, Rafael Romo with the latest. Thank you for that.
Another DHS funding deadline looms as both parties are far apart on any agreement. We're going to talk with our political panel. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:36:46]
DEAN: Congress is fast approaching a Friday deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The side's still very far apart on these issues. Here's Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D) MINORITY LEADER: In our view, the ball is in the court right now of the Republicans. Either they're going to agree to dramatically reform the way in which ICE and other immigration enforcement agencies are conducting themselves so that they're behaving like every other law enforcement agency in the country, or they're making the explicit decision to shut down the Coast Guard, shut down FEMA, and shut down TSA, and that would be very unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Democrats are calling for significant changes to ICE policy. These are them generally in front of you. The main sticking point that is quite sticky in these negotiations is this requirement of judicial warrants over administrative warrants. That has been an issue important to Democrats, and so far a non-starter for Republicans.
We're joined now by CNN Political Commentator and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona and Republican strategist and former White House spokesperson during the George W. Bush administration, Pete Seat. Good to see both of you. Thanks for being here.
Pete, I want to start first with you. We heard from the minority leader there, Hakeem Jeffries. He's saying it's on Republicans to respond at this point. Do you agree with that?
PETE SEAT, VICE PRESIDENT, BOSE PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP: Absolutely not. Senate Majority Leader John Thune put it best when he said that this is not a blank check situation, and yet Democrats are acting as if it is. You know, they fail to realize that this negotiation which they demanded, and Republicans agreed to in good faith requires give and take.
Democrats are going to have to give us something in order to take something. We know that Republicans agree with some of the 10 demands Democrats have put forward, a list that started at three and ballooned to 10. There are some things Republicans agree on.
But we have not heard a willingness from Democrats to address the violent threats against ICE in trying to enforce the laws of this country, nor have we heard a willingness from them to encourage state and local law enforcement agencies to cooperate with ICE in enforcing the laws of this nation. It's just a bunch of performative fist- pounding from Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer and very little work getting done.
DEAN: Maria, I would assume you have maybe a different take on this.
MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Quite a different take and the same take that the vast majority of the American people have, Jessica. The American people have stated very clearly, they do not like the way that immigration agents, both ICE as well as the border -- Customs and Border Patrol agents have handled the immigration enforcement plan that comes down from Stephen Miller and Donald Trump.
They've been very clear through protests, through polls, through calls to members' offices, not just Democrats, many Republicans, and Pete knows this very well, they are very concerned, Republicans are, about how ICE is doing their job and how Americans have been affected by it.
[17:40:05]
They have killed two Americans thus far. They are not going after the most violent. They are not going after the most dangerous. They are going after moms, not murderers. They are going after grandmothers, not gang members. They are going after children instead of child traffickers. And that's why Americans are really drawing a line in the sand and Democrats are responding to what Americans want.
And look, this issue of judicial warrants, Jessica, that polls in the 70s, in the 80s, because the vast majority of Americans understand that no one should be afraid that ICE agents, or frankly, any enforcement agency, is going to burst into your home in the middle of the night without a judicial warrant.
We are simply asking for ICE and Border Patrol agents to act in the same manner per the Constitution and per the law that every single other law enforcement agency has to abide by. The vast majority of Americans understand that. And what else do Republicans don't like about this?
The agents should not be masked because they need to know, people need to know who is going after them if they're about to get pounded down into the concrete. They should know what agency that they are being chased by if they're going to be dragged off the street and out of their cars violently the way that ICE agents and CPB have done.
So, Americans have spoken. This isn't just Democrats. So, if Republicans want to continue o be deaf about this, they're going to continue to pay a political price. And if they don't come to the table and they shut down DHS, that's on them, Jessica. They need to come to the table. They control everything right now. Democrats are there to negotiate, so let's do that.
DEAN: And Pete, look, there -- I've had a number of Republicans on this show even who have told me they're open to some of those demands that we listed out for everyone to see. It -- you know, even the President, you know, was willing to kind of get in here and start, you know, with the initial compromise that he did with Senate Democrats. What does that tell you about where this may go? Do you think that
actually at the end of this, because there is, seem to be some bipartisan support on some of these issues, that we might see some changes?
SEAT: Well, this impasse, this stalemate, this logjam, whatever your preferred terminology is, will likely be broken when that gentleman who works on the other end of Pennsylvania avenue is fully engaged in the conversation. It's likely going to take President Trump meeting with congressional leadership to hammer all this out.
But again, Democrats will not get everything they want. They put out their Christmas list -- wish list, as Senator Katie Britt put it, of those 10 demands. They're likely not going to get all 10, and they need to recognize that.
Even Steny Hoyer, Democrat member of Congress came out a couple of days ago and said hey, we're probably going to have to take all DHS funding except ICE out of this conversation, so that we're not holding hostage TSA Coast Guard and FEMA. So, some Democrats are even moving in the direction of trying to get this taken care of and not putting the American people in harm's way.
DEAN: Maria, we have just a little bit of time. I'll let you have a last thought on that.
CARDONA: But you know what we need before that actually happens, Pete, is for Republicans to actually come to the table. And that's what Republicans have refused to do thus far. And so, I think what we're facing is Republicans having a choice.
Are they're going to listen to the American people who have said very clearly they do not want to continue with how this immigration, this horrific, cruel, violent immigration enforcement has done to all of these communities? Or are they going to listen to decency, civility, and the ideas that Democrats have to come to the table and realize that this is an issue that Americans really want to be dealt with?
DEAN: All right. Pete Seat and Maria Cardona, good to see both of you. Thanks for your time.
CARDONA: Thank you, Jessica.
SEAT: Thank you.
DEAN: American skier, Lindsey Vonn's quest for gold ends in an Italian hospital. More on her status when we come back. You're in the "CNN Newsroom."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:49:18]
DEAN: Tonight, American skiing icon, Lindsey Vonn, resting at an Italian hospital. She was early in her women's downhill run at the Olympics when she crashed, breaking her leg. She was airlifted from the course to that hospital and has already undergone surgery. And of course, you'll remember Vonn competing in the games with a torn left ACL that she suffered just nine days ago. Her teammate, Breezy Johnson, taking home the gold medal in that event.
And joining us now is someone who knows a thing or two about the slopes and competing, three-time Olympian and two-time medalist Tommy Moe. He won gold in the men's downhill back in 1994, along with silver in those same games in the Super G.
[17:50:01]
Tommy, thank you so much for being here with us. It's great to have you here to kind of give us some context around. I think everybody was just rooting so hard for her and to see this happened, which is, it was not, it just like took everybody's breath away. But what did you think when you saw the crash this morning?
TOMMY MOE, THREE-TIME U.S. OLYMPIC SKIER: Yes, I got up really early and watched the women's downhill here in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And you know, Lindsey Vonn had an amazing career. She came back and won a few races this year. I thought she was definitely going to probably win the downhill, but her teammate Breezy Johnson came down and won the downhill for the U.S. It was awesome.
DEAN: Yes. And what Lindsey Vonn was trying to accomplish was nothing short of remarkable, attempting to win a gold while skiing with this torn ACL. I know you tore your ACL. So, you know what this feels like. Help people understand what that's like in trying to ski on that. And what is it about you world-class athletes that you even attempt something like this? Because it is incredible, the dedication and the competitive nature and the drive.
MOE: Especially in Lindsey's case, she's had so many injuries. I mean, if you look at her highlight reel, it's like crash after crash and she's won like 80 some World Cup events. And just to watch her come back, I mean, she's already won with her comeback, but it's just kind of heartbreaking to see her go out of the starting gate and have a big mishap right away and end up breaking her leg.
And I mean, what a champion. She's a warrior and hats off. I hope she has a great recovery with this injury. But in the end, she shows that as an American skier, you can come back and race into your 40s. And 41 years old and still racing in the Olympics, pretty impressive.
DEAN: It's pretty amazing. For us amateur skiers, a run like what she was doing today, what does that feel like? How fast are you going? What are the elements like? What is it like to be, you know, strapped into those skis going down that mountain?
MOE: It's -- that's a good question. It's a little bit like being a Formula One racer. When I used to race on the World Cup, I mean, when I was at the top of the Olympic downhill in 1994, I was like, I had the mindset that either I was going to win an Olympic medal or I was going to crash. So, it's just all about the mental -- the mental preparation and trust in yourself. And the hardest part about skiing is just thinking that you get out of
your mind a little bit because you're trying to figure out like who's going to win, am I going to win? But instead you just have to really focus on the task at hand, which is trying to execute on race day. And for Breezy to come through and win the gold and for Lindsey to go out there and keep it everything she had is -- the American skiers, we've always had great American skiers.
You know, Bill Johnson won the Olympic downhill in 1984 and then I won in 1994. And of course, Michaela Schiffran and Jacqueline Wiles and the whole U.S. ski team. We've always had amazing skiers from the United States and that legacy goes on.
DEAN: Yes, it certainly continues. And so, for somebody like you guys, how hard is it? I would imagine it's really hard to let go of walking away from this opportunity to ski in the Olympics like this, especially if you're Lindsey and you're on this comeback tour. It's got to be a thing you're so committed to.
MOE: I think Lindsey, she won the Olympic downhill, you know. It was in -- with her 2010. So, amazing 15 years ago. And then she took a five-year sabbatical and then came back and this year she won a World Cup in Cairns, Montana and then got a few seconds and a few thirds and she's leading the downhill title. Amazing skier. But it's so hard to actually like hang up your skis.
DEAN: Yes.
MOE: At some point in your career, like even when I did it in 1998, I did three Olympics and I went to the '98 Olympics in Nagano, Japan and got eighth in the downhill and 12th in the super G, and I was somewhat pleased with my career, but I didn't really want to quit. But In the end, you got to know when to say when and it's just a super dangerous sport, but it's the most rewarding sport in the world.
DEAN: Yes, it is. Yes, I can't imagine going that fast and the rush you must get and also like tempering that with kind of being mentally locked in. Tommy Moe, thank you for that context. Thanks for kind of describing it to those of us who will never ski like you, but certainly like to cheer you on. It's great to have you. Thank you.
MOE: Thank you so much. Have a great Olympic experience. Thank you.
DEAN: Thank you, too. You're in the "CNN Newsroom". We'll be right back.
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DEAN: This is football's biggest night. The Seattle Seahawks taking on New England Patriots. It's Super Bowl 60. Will the Seahawks be able to avenge their loss to the Patriots 11 years ago or will New England come out on top again? And watch parties already started for the halftime show, headlined by Puerto Rican performer Bad Bunny.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: Benito baby, Boricua bay.
[18:00:01]
UNKNOWN: We all unite when it comes to something like this, so, can't no stopping us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: If you want to get ready for the Benito Bowl, stay with us. The CNN original Bad Bunny and the halftime show "Rhythms of Resistance" airs next right here on CNN. You can also stream it on our app, the CNN app.
Thanks so much for joining me tonight. I'm Jessica Dean. Remember, if you're here in the U.S., you can now stream CNN whenever you want on our CNN app. Just visit cnn.com/watch for more on that. In the meantime, we will see you right back here next weekend. Have a great night.