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CNN This Morning
Dissension Among Dems Over Spending Bill; Voters Speaking Out Against DOGE Cuts; Controversies Surround New Live-Action 'Snow White'. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired March 14, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: Jones later said that she did return the baby to its mother. She has now left Australia after officials threatened to cancel her visa.
[06:00:08]
CNN did reach out to her for comment. But so far, no answer.
All right. Thanks for joining us here on EARLY START and being with us this week. I'm Rahel Solomon, live in New York. I will see you next week. But in the meantime, CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: It's Friday, March 14, and here's what's happening right now on CNN THIS MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are people losing their jobs at record numbers?
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CORNISH: Anger and frustration. Voters speak out against the cuts to the federal government, as the Senate looks to avoid a shutdown.
Plus, this.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it doesn't look like we're flying out today now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Flames and smoke sent passengers fleeing onto the wing of a plane. How did an American Airlines jet catch fire near the gate?
Also --
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it's not too late to bring it back. All the contracts are in everyone's hands. They're ready to go. We're ready to go.
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CORNISH: The Trump administration cancels $1 billion for food banks, and farmers are already feeling the pain.
And then --
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GAL GADOT, ACTRESS: You know, I really don't remember you being this opinionated.
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CORNISH: It seems like everyone has an opinion about a movie that actually hasn't come out yet. We'll dive into all the chatter around "Disney's Snow White."
Top of the hour, 6 a.m. here on the East Coast. Here's a live look of the Capitol. And good morning, everyone. I'm Audie Cornish. I want to thank you for waking up with me.
We are now hours away from a potential government shutdown. That's unless Senate Democrats follow the lead of Senator Chuck Schumer.
Despite House Democrats overwhelmingly voting against the continuing resolution to keep the government open, the Senate minority leader says he's going to support it ahead of tonight's deadline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): While the C.R. bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse.
A shutdown would give Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE and vote the keys to the city, state and country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Schumer is now facing blowback from many in his own party, who believe that this bill gives away too much.
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REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): I believe that's a tremendous mistake.
This turns the federal government into a slush fund for Donald Trump and Elon Musk. It sacrifices congressional authority, and it is deeply partisan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, we're looking at a fight that's starting to spill out beyond the halls of Congress, as DOGE cuts and moves to downsize the federal government are being felt at the local level.
Voters are now making their voices heard.
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(POUNDING SOUNDS)
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CORNISH: Protesters in North Carolina seen chanting "Shame on You" while pounding on the doors at the town hall of Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards.
The mood inside also tense. When one veteran confronted him after Edwards said that he had voted yes on that House funding bill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CHUCK EDWARDS (R-NC): Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're lying! You're lying! I'm a veteran. You don't (EXPLETIVE DELETED) about me.
EDWARDS: It's clear --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) That's exactly what (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And you don't get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED). You don't get to do this! You need to stand up for us. You need to do what we need you do. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) You don't get to do this!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Joining me now to talk about all of this: Jerusalem Demsas, staff writer at "The Atlantic"; Elliot Williams, CNN legal analyst and former federal prosecutor; and Rob Bluey, president and executive editor of "The Daily Signal."
Jerusalem, I want to start with you. We're going to get to the fallout with voters, but talk about this intra-party battle surfacing with Democrats. People are talking about AOC, of course. What else are you hearing?
JERUSALEM DEMSAS, STAFF WRITER, "THE ATLANTIC": Yes, I mean, it's a difficult situation for Democrats, because their voters are looking for a fight. They want a resistance.
And I mean, we all remember what happened in 2016 after the election, after the inauguration. There were a lot of points of energy where Democrats were able to show that they were fighting and opposing Trump.
But there really is not that availability right now.
CORNISH: But is it also because, I mean, we heard yesterday someone said there were Democrats afraid of what might happen if the government was shut down. [06:05:04]
But also, this. And maybe I should bring in Rob here. This was nicknamed "the Schumer Shutdown" on the right. That was the talking point. And I want you to hear Senator Bernie Sanders, sort of his take on how this could have been talked about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): If you do nothing, you sit back and you say it is going to be terrible. And that's right. A shutdown will be terrible.
But our job is to put the onus on the Republican president, the Republican House, the Republican Senate, the people who control the government. They are responsible. They've acted in an undemocratic, unprecedented, unilateral way. They've given us an offer. Take it or leave it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Could that have been an alternative message?
ROB BLUEY, PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "THE DAILY SIGNAL": It could possibly have been. But let's face it, we have seen shutdown politics play out in this city for decades.
And whoever is perceived to be, in the eyes of the American people, the one who is perpetuating the shutdown, often takes the blame. And I think that that's ultimately what Chuck Schumer was worried about here.
For years, Democrats have made the opposite case: that they need to fund the government. And Republicans were on the defensive.
CORNISH: They have to govern, was the argument.
BLUEY: Right. And I think the other --
CORNISH: You're nodding.
ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I am, and having sort of lived through the 2013 shutdown, the last time I was at the Justice Department, I think I take a different --
CORNISH: It was a heavy time.
WILLIAMS: It was a heavy -- simple times.
CORNISH: Reporting on it nearly every year, basically.
WILLIAMS: I think the biggest problem Chuck Schumer has is that federal government H.R. policy isn't sexy. And I think folks don't realize what happens in the effect -- in the event of a government shutdown. No. 1, those 3 million employees, many of whom would -- would be put
on hold, may not get their pay back at the end of this. Typically, they have in the past. But do you think this Congress is going to pay government workers?
CORNISH: Yes.
WILLIAMS: No. 2, they would have the power to designate some agencies as vital, some as not. And given what we've seen over the course of the last month, this could mean a gutting of the federal government by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. So --
CORNISH: Let me talk about fallout from voters. We're going to talk about all this over the course of the hour. So, I don't want to rush you guys.
But here is a Vietnam vet, a North Carolina constituent, and just kind of following up on the conversation we're having right now.
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CHRIS BOEHME, VIETNAM VETERAN: I'm a registered Republican, and I'm showing up here, because it really hurts me to see the V.A. under attack, people being fired.
Generally speaking, this -- this whole -- the way they're so chaotic in firing all these people, you know -- you probably do know a third of the federal workforce are veterans. You know, that's wrong. It's just wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Unexpected consequence of these DOGE cuts has been, obviously, the disproportionate hit on military veterans, because they have preference in government hiring. So, how do you talk about that?
BLUEY: They do. It's difficult. I mean, I've talked to Republican members of Congress, and they are concerned that they're going to face these types of criticisms at their town hall meetings, which is why I think some have just stopped doing town hall meetings.
At the end of the day, it's very difficult to say no, and to cut spending. This is why politicians in Washington for so [SIC] years have resisted doing so, and why we have a $36 trillion debt.
CORNISH: But he's not saying that -- no at all. He's like, the way this is happening isn't good. And I do hear that very consistently from the people who are trying to find some middle ground.
DEMSAS: Yes. And I think this is the difficulty Democrats are having right now. Their entire message around the shutdown and before the shutdown has been, it's really important to keep the government open.
In other shutdown fights, it's been about another unrelated issue. But it's difficult to say, you know, it's really important to keep government services open, so we're not going to be funding the government.
WILLIAMS: And I think the tricky thing for -- also for Leader Schumer is the flip-flop. Up until 24 hours ago, they were quite clear that they were opposed to the Republican bill. And then all of a sudden, the leader comes up.
Now, either there's a big split in the party, or they changed their mind. And I think voters don't like seeing that either.
So, I don't think they really had a great option here, either on politics or policy. And they're just sort of stuck.
CORNISH: Yes. And something I want to get your opinion on later. When we think back to those town halls, the Tea Party, that sparked a political movement that has given us lawmakers who are very powerful today.
So, what starts out as a constituent can end up your competitor.
Group chat just getting going. We've got more to talk about. Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, yet another scary moment for passengers as an American Airlines flight catches fire to force people onto the wing of the plane.
Plus, Steph Curry makes history as he sinks a three-pointer against the Sacramento Kings. Ahead, the details on this major milestone.
And President Trump and Elon Musk continue to make their cuts. The latest target is $1 billion in funding for schools and food banks.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just kind of hoping that the current administration just gets through this, so that we can get our funding back. Because, you know, there's not a lot of fraud, waste, and abuse when people are trying to put food on people's tables.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[06:14:30]
CORNISH: It's now 14 minutes past the hour. Here's your morning roundup. Some of the stories you need to know to get your day going.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he supports a truce in Russia's war on Ukraine, in theory, but he's demanding some concessions from Ukraine and other conditions.
He says more things need to be discussed about the proposed 30-day ceasefire, and that maybe he will call President Trump.
A new CNN poll out this morning shows 55 percent of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the situation in Ukraine. And in just a few hours, NASA and SpaceX will try again to launch a
mission to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams back to Earth. The SpaceX Dragon was set to launch Wednesday. That was scrubbed due to technical issues.
The two astronauts were supposed to spend about a week on the International Space Station, but now that trip, of course, has lasted more than nine months.
And Steph Curry making history as the first NBA player to hit 4,000 career three-pointers. The league said he's in a class of his own.
Those points helped the Gold [SIC] State -- Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings last night.
And you've got to see this. A total lunar eclipse turning the moon blood-red overnight. Millions saw it across the Western Hemisphere.
Lunar eclipses happen when the Moon, Earth and Sun align perfectly, and the moon passes into the Earth's shadow. It turns red because of stray bits of sunlight.
And still to come up after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, a win for federal workers.
Two federal judges ruled against the Trump administration's move to fire thousands of probationary employees.
Plus, why people are a little grumpy about the new "Snow White" movie.
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GADOT: Magic mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?
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CORNISH: All the controversies over Disney's new live-action "Snow White."
And good morning, Arizona. A live look at Phoenix, where it is 3:16 and 49 degrees.
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[06:20:52]
CORNISH: OK, grab your popcorn. We're going off-script to dive into the latest controversies, this time with Disney's new live-action Snow White. And they might have to -- they might have you saying, "Hi-ho, oh no."
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RACHEL ZEGLER, ACTRESS: Hello. Is there anybody here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, at first there were people online questioning the casting of a Latina actress as Snow White. Then you had two stars of the film, Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who have been vocal but on opposing sides of the Israel-Hamas war.
We haven't even mentioned the seven dwarves yet.
Joining me now to discuss all of this, staff writer at "The New Yorker," Michael Schulman. He covers Hollywood and culture.
Michael, I want to start. First of all, good morning. This is early --
MICHAEL SCHULMAN, STAFF WRITER, "THE NEW YORKER": Good morning.
CORNISH: -- for this conversation. But I want to start with the word "dwarves."
When I think about past remakes, it was like "Snow White and the Huntsman." It kind of avoided all this. But here's what prominent actor Peter Dinklage had to say about the film in early days.
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PETER DINKLAGE, ACTOR: You're progressive in one way, but then you're still making that (EXPLETIVE DELETED)-backward story of seven dwarves living in a cave. What the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) are you doing, man? We're -- you know -- have I -- have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I'm not loud enough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The other comment I heard about this was the use of, like, CGI somehow put little people out of work. Can you kind of talk about how that has played out?
SCHULMAN: Yes. Well, I mean, I guess that the dwarfism community is not a monolith, obviously. Peter Dinklage is the most famous, among those actors and seemed to find this fairly retrograde, while others have complained that dwarves might be a prime job for them. And that's why the CGI route.
CORNISH: I think we're having a little bit of trouble, Michael, hearing you, so hopefully, we'll be able to have you back.
I am going to bring the panel into this discussion. I know the look of fear in your eyes. But I recall during the election, Ron DeSantis, his battle with Disney and Florida, and the kind of right-leaning conversation which said something like, "Go woke, go broke."
So, you have thoughts?
WILLIAMS: I have thoughts, and I'm really -- I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie, "Snow Latina and the Seven Digitally Enhanced Full-Sized People" who -- in the form of what formerly used to be called dwarves.
That's the movie we need for these times more than anything else.
CORNISH: And I think that's what you're getting.
WILLIAMS: Yes, right.
But goodness, it -- everything is a minefield when it comes to -- whether it's representations in films and so on. And I think we could have seen this coming a mile off.
CORNISH: But it doesn't have to be. Like I said, there was a remake of the Snow White story. It didn't need any of this. It did really well for Charlize Theron. And you know, Kristen Stewart.
Rob Bluey, for you. What do you see in how Disney is even handling this?
BLUEY: Sure, Disney is trying to navigate. I mean, I think they recognize that there's a huge portion of the American audience that does not want to see them go down this path of -- of, you know, embracing DEI. And that's why they've pulled back in some -- some respects.
On the other hand, I don't think the leadership necessarily has changed their -- their views or their values and principles. And so, you're going to continue to see controversies like this emerge.
CORNISH: Can you talk about this point, because like, what do you mean by DEI in Snow White?
BLUEY: Well, I'm just saying, Disney, as you brought up the Ron DeSantis point.
So, Disney, unlike other corporations, has decided that they are going to withdraw some of their language around that issue.
CORNISH: I see.
BLUEY: Because they see it as divisive with a certain population of the customer base. I mean, it goes back to the Michael Jordan point. Republicans buy sneakers, too.
DEMSAS: But I think this is the problem, right? Like this conversation gets so large so quickly. Is it about a very narrow point about hiring and making sure you're hiring the most competent people? Or is it about any sorts of diversity, whether or not it's in film, whether it's in art.
CORNISH: Yes.
DEMSAS: That is also --
[06:25:04]
CORNISH: Because it sometimes plays out in a really perfunctory, simple way, which is sort of like a black mermaid. What? You know what I mean? It's like they're already mermaids. It's imaginary.
But -- and then in other ways it plays out, as you're saying, corporate policy. And I think the question is when those cross with the creativity and get into the crosshairs of these culture wars.
DEMSAS: And of course, at the same time, this is a problem where, you know -- this is a fight that's actually happening within Disney, right? This is a corporate private market conversation.
And yet, this becomes political so quickly. It becomes a question about why are Democrats doing this who have, like, no control over -- over Disney's policies.
And that's the thing, a really big problem in the culture war for the Democratic Party, because they're not responsible for a lot of the arms of -- of the cultural liberalism that they're having to be associated with.
CORNISH: The party, though --
DEMSAS: Yes.
CORNISH: -- whereas the activists of the past who did have a platform on Twitter that they no longer have, there's a little bit of a hangover there.
WILLIAMS: Right. No, the other thing I would say is slightly different, is that this insatiable thirst for new content that plagues Disney. You see it with Marvel. You see it with "Star Wars." I don't --
CORNISH: New or reimagined I.P.?
WILLIAMS: That's what I mean. Reimagined I.P. is a great way to put it. Did we need a new -- a new "Snow White" film? And anyone who's read a newspaper in the last ten years could have predicted all of these backlashes around a new "Snow White" film.
Now, to your point a little bit earlier, Audie, why does it have to be that way? And why can't people just enjoy the film? It's a fair point. But Disney could have anticipated all of this for a film that -- I don't know. Maybe come up with something else.
CORNISH: OK. Thanks for letting me go off-script with you guys. Because honestly, this is what is blowing up my chat, is like, is anyone taking their kid to this movie?
Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, some voters have -- have given President Trump high marks for his handling of the economy in the past. But will tariffs and trade wars turn out to be his second-term Achilles heel?
Plus, Columbia University expelled student protesters who occupied a campus building last spring.
And still to come, a fire breaks out on an American Airlines flight. Ahead, what might have caused yet another aviation incident.
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