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CNN This Morning
Today: Senators to Grill RFK Jr. on Vaccine Policy; 'The Hunting Wives' and Hollywood's Red-State Pivot. Aired 6-6:30a ET
Aired September 04, 2025 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Sinner is through to the semi-final round. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz compete in the other semi-final match on Friday.
[06:00:10]
On the women's side, Naomi Osaka is making a bid for her fifth Grand Slam title. She's on to the next round at Flushing Meadows.
Thank you so much for joining us here on EARLY START. I'm Brian Abel in Washington, D.C. CNN THIS MORNING with Audie Cornish starts right now.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Critics call him a threat to America's health. How will RFK Jr. respond today when he's grilled by the same senators who confirmed him?
CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH A. LADAPO, FLORIDA SURGEON GENERAL: End all vaccine mandates in Florida law, all of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Freedom or folly? The Sunshine State moves to end all vaccine requirements for school kids.
And maybe it pays to be president? How Donald Trump and his sons are cashing in on the crypto gold rush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: This is a Democrat hoax.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not a hoax. We are real human beings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Jeffrey Epstein's victims speaking out and threatening to release their own list of names if the White House won't.
And Eric Adams denies he's getting out of the New York mayor's race. But the White House may have other plans. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, ACTOR: You don't like what Hollywood has been dishing? Just take over the kitchen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The rise of red-state entertainment. Why it's been a bipartisan success.
It's 6 a.m. here on the East Coast. A gorgeous sunrise over New York City. Good morning, everybody. It's Thursday, September 4. I want to thank you for waking up with us. I'm Audie Cornish, and here's where we start.
Because there have been this -- this chaos and resignations consuming the Department of Health and Human Services. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is now going to have to defend all of it.
Since taking over the department, he's fired the nation's vaccine advisory panel, forced out the director of the CDC, and ended funding for life-saving vaccine research.
In just a few hours, he faces a Senate hearing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you trust RFK Jr.?
SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): People are going to try and make this something more than it is. I'm not presupposing anyone is right or wrong. I am saying we've got to get to the truth, because there's serious allegations.
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R-LA): What I see over there is -- at the moment is a multiple vehicle pile-up. This has been too much chaos. It's a goat rodeo over there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The policy shakeup at HHS is already creating real-world impacts.
The governors of California, Oregon, Washington all announced the creation of the West Coast Health Alliance. In a joint statement, they blame the Trump administration's, quote, "destruction of the CDC" for making the alliance necessary.
But in Florida, they're taking the new policies at HHS to the extreme in the other direction. The state is now moving to end all vaccine mandates, including those for kids to attend school.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LADAPO: I hope you make an informed decision. And that's how it should be. That is -- that is a moral, ethical universe. Not this nonsense where people who don't know you are telling you what to put in your temple. The temple of your body.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Zach Wolf, CNN senior politics writer; Mike Dubke, former Trump White House communications director; and Meghan Hays, former director of message planning for the Biden White House.
All right. Thank you, guys, for being here this morning. I appreciate it.
This feels like a tipping point moment when you have Florida doing something like this. But it is, in part, because of what HHS has done, right?
So, can you talk about what you are hearing from Republican senators right now, or even just Republicans in general, about what RFK Jr. has to accomplish today?
MIKE DUBKE, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Well, I think there's going to be a bit of a grilling on Capitol Hill.
And when you talk about a tipping point, and we're looking at a Republican-controlled Congress and the Republican-controlled White House, this is one area where we're about to see if Cassidy, who's up for reelection this year, is going to have the tough questions for RFK Jr.
I -- I understand that probably the hardest questions are going to come from Democrats.
CORNISH: Yes.
DUBKE: But I'm watching to see what the Republicans actually ask him when he's on that stage, because there has been a bit of chaos at HHS. You know --
CORNISH: And we should note that --
DUBKE: -- and -- and some backpedaling.
CORNISH: -- a thousand former HHS staffers calling for RFK Jr. to resign, talking about the idea that he's putting the health of Americans at risk.
Meghan, can I bring you into this? I think Mike is smartly pointing out that, you know, these were the senators who helped confirm, right? And so, to hear, like, "goat rodeo" is -- means you're going in with some doubts.
[06:05:04]
How should Democrats spend their time here?
MEGHAN HAYS, FORMER DIRECTOR OF MESSAGE PLANNING FOR BIDEN WHITE HOUSE: I mean, I think that the United States has kind of -- the people have made up their mind on what RFK is doing. A lot of people, you hear things on TV, and you read stories where people are calling him a quack -- quack medicine or a quack doctor. Or he's not a doctor or a scientist. Why is he qualified?
But he wasn't qualified when he was nominated. He wasn't qualified when he went through his confirmation process. And he's not qualified now.
CORNISH: But he brought to the table the MAHA voter, the "make America healthy again" voter. A lot of women, a lot of people who absolutely have doubts about vaccines. He's their seat at the table, which is why, like in Florida, they can do what they're doing, right?
But people already have the choice to opt out of vaccines. So, I'm not sure why we are -- now have to mandate that people don't have to get them. And we were talking in the green room about the insurance. They pay for it.
Also, there's a business aspect to this. Are people going to go to Walt Disney World from all over the country? Are people going to go to Universal Studios? Are people going to go visit the beaches in Florida?
And they're worried that people might have monkeypox, or polio might make a resurgence? Who knows?
But the problem is here is the science doesn't back this. And no -- everyone understands that this is not real, and everyone understands how it's just --
CORNISH: What I hear you saying that's interesting and that we want to underscore, at least in Florida, it's now migrating to all vaccines. Right? What started as a COVID discussion is moving to vaccines in general.
We heard from Dr. Paul Offit yesterday. He actually says he's being removed from the FDA vaccine advisory panel just because he was critical of the secretary. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. PAUL OFFIT, DIRECTOR OF VACCINE EDUCATION CENTER, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: He's going to have a -- a meeting on Thursday in front of the Finance Committee to answer questions in front of them.
And I think nothing will happen, because I think Robert F. Kennedy Jr. learned very early on that he can act without government oversight, given how many outrageous things he's already done and gotten away with. I think he's learned that, as long as Donald Trump is on his side, he's fine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ZACH WOLF, CNN SENIOR POLITICS WRITER: He -- he made some very clear assurances, specifically to Bill Cassidy, in order to get confirmed. And now, I think Bill Cassidy, if he was objectively looking at it,
would have to wonder if Robert F. Kennedy essentially lied to him when he said that he was not going to rock the boat on vaccines. That's clearly what he's doing.
So, to -- you know, Mike said it. Do we see a Bill Cassidy come that's angry about this, that wants, you know, to hear something about it? Or do we hear, you know, somebody that's essentially following Trump's lead on it, you know.
And you know, you hear goat rodeo. That's never a term you want associated with what's going on in your agency. John Kennedy, you know, has -- has a way with words. And you know, there will be more of that.
But this is -- this is their one opportunity in front of cameras to really make their aggravation shown.
DUBKE: And the quick, the -- quickly, the interesting part about who said "goat rodeo" is the same state senator of Cassidy, Senator Kennedy. And so, I think -- I think you may see some hard questions today --
CORNISH: Like they're aligned at the very least?
DUBKE: -- because of that. I think so.
CORNISH: Yes.
DUBKE: And I think you're seeing that when they're -- they're getting, you know, microphones shoved in their face on Capitol Hill.
CORNISH: I know. Well, we're going to talking about this more. We're actually going to have the head of the American Pediatrics Association on.
And to your point, Meghan, I think there's a lot of questions now about insurance and things like that.
So, you guys stay with us. Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, was it the controversy or the star power? American Eagle sales are soaring after its Sydney Sweeney ad.
Plus, you've got another shot to be a billionaire. No winner again in the Powerball jackpot.
And name them. Epstein accusers want the client list out now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now together, as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [06:13:13]
CORNISH: It's almost 15 minutes past the hour, and here is your morning roundup.
A federal judge said it was unlawful for the White House to freeze more than $2 billion in funding for Harvard. The judge, an Obama appointee, wrote that the Trump administration used, quote, "antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically motivated assault on this country's premier universities."
The White House plans to appeal.
And if you forgot to buy your Powerball ticket last night, you got another chance. No one won the big jackpot. It will now grow to more than $1.7 billion. You're going to need a lot of luck, though, because the odds of winning are terrible: just 1 in 292.2 million.
The next drawing is Saturday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Sydney Sweeney's "good jeans" ad is good for business. American Eagle's stock soared 25 percent after its latest earnings report.
The ad went viral and caused controversy about its messaging of good genetics coming from a white woman.
Sweeney hasn't seen much success after the ad, with two back-to-back film flops at the box office.
And after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, from "The Hunting Wives" to "Yellowstone," what's behind the growing wave of so-called red-state entertainment?
Plus, is he in or is he out? Eric Adams is addressing the rumors about his future.
And good morning to Baltimore. The sun rising there over the harbor.
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[06:19:05]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't do this anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you're going to have to, honey? Or we're going to lose this place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the hill we die on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: "Yellowstone" started the wave of so-called red-state entertainment. Netflix seized on the trend with its summer soap, "The Hunting Wives," which follows a Boston liberal plunged into the world of gun-loving Texans.
Last year's highest documentary was "Am I a Racist?" produced by "The Daily Wire" for its new streaming platform.
And now Texas hopes to dethrone Hollywood as a media powerhouse. This week, the state passed plans to spend a billion and a half dollars over the next decade to lure film and TV projects.
Texas A-listers Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson lobbied for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCCONAUGHEY: So, what do you say, Texas legislature? You don't like what Hollywood's been dishing? Just take over the kitchen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Now, according to the ratings, these shows aren't just MAGA hits or hits in red states. I spoke to comedian Larry Wilmore on "The Assignment" about why everyone is watching.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY WILMORE, COMEDIAN/TV PRODUCER: There's a MAGA zeitgeist out there. And by MAGA, I don't mean that in a negative political way. I mean, it's -- it's people that are -- want to reject a certain culture that they feel has been foisted upon them.
CORNISH: Yes.
WILMORE: Let's say an overabundance of that. And what's refreshing to them is to see content that doesn't cater to that or that doesn't kowtow to it in a way where it seems like it's sucking up to it, and it doesn't feel authentic to them.
So, anytime things connect to people, they're connecting to an authenticity about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Bringing back the group chat. Because I learned just in this short time that our Democrat on the panel loves "The Hunting Wives," and Mike Dubke is a hard no.
DUBKE: Hard no.
CORNISH: But tell me why. Because what's interesting about it is it's not "woke programing," air quotes. Right? Like, it's -- it's not very diverse. There's not a bunch of lectures about one thing or another. There's jokes about feminism.
So, what is appealing to you, and what do you think is appealing to other people?
HAYS: When I turn on the television, I would like to be entertained. I watch a lot of Bravo. I watch a lot of reality TV.
When you turn on "Hunting Wives," you are entertained for six to eight episodes for eight hours. You can binge watch on a Sunday, and it is a great show that's entertainment.
I don't watch -- I don't watch that kind of shows for my political views to become -- come to life. So, it's just entertaining.
DUBKE: They're caricatures. This is Hollywood's version of what they think Texans are all about: guns and church, and sex and car washes, for some reason.
CORNISH: OK.
DUBKE: Which makes no sense to me. But I've got --
CORNISH: I mean, you've got to drive. You've got to drive in Texas.
DUBKE: If you're from Hollywood, I guess you think that that's, you know --
CORNISH: In fairness --
DUBKE: -- if you get in your F-150 --
CORNISH: -- it's based on a book. So, that's somebody who cares about that community.
But what shows do you like? Because I hear you are a part of Sheridan nation. You're into "Landman" and part of that dynasty of television.
DUBKE: If we want to compare Texas to Texas, I think "Landman" is a closer representation of how hard it is to create -- to create wealth and to create a business out of -- out of Texas than whatever they're dealing in "Hunting Wives."
HAYS: It's entertainment.
CORNISH: But you also said you thought you liked the lecturing to liberals. And, you know, one of the things that I've enjoyed about these --
DUBKE: I always enjoy that. So, I --
CORNISH: See what I mean?
DUBKE: That's really good.
CORNISH: Like, but -- I thought the whole thing about woke programing is you don't want to be sitting in a lecture. So, is it better to suddenly be sitting in a lecture about environmental reviews?
DUBKE: Well, it's not a lecture if you agree with what the premise is.
CORNISH: That sums it up. That sums it up.
(CROSSTALK)
CORNISH: That's just a good time.
DUBKE: It's a good time on "Landman." They talk about the facts. "Yellowstone" did this whole thing.
CORNISH: Yes, they did.
DUBKE: When they -- when we talk about renewable --
CORNISH: That's one of my favorite episodes, all about wolves.
DUBKE: When you talk about solar.
CORNISH: Yes.
DUBKE: And you talk about there is environmental degradation that comes with some of these renewable energy -- like the solar panels block the land.
CORNISH: But it's about the world view, I think --
DUBKE: The sagebrush dies.
CORNISH: -- is what people makes people talk.
HAYS: It's entertainment. It's entertainment. I'm not trying to learn something. I'm literally trying to be entertained. And that's what it was Doing.
CORNISH: Well, it's also the money. Obviously, streamers are suffering as they fight it out.
WOLF: They lean green more than they lean left.
And who is shilling for Texas on there was Matthew McConaughey. He's not exactly a MAGA spokesman or anyone.
But this conversation really took a turn for the entertaining when you turned to solar.
CORNISH: Yes.
Well, I found it interesting. The lieutenant governor, you know, he supports this. And he said it's, A, to compete with states like Georgia and New Mexico, which obviously, Georgia has a huge film industry, although I don't think people talk about it as exporting values, which is what he talks about here: an opportunity to export Texas faith and family values to the rest of America and the world.
So, it's not just about entertainment.
DUBKE: I'm going to put in a plug for a show that is Georgia entertainment.
CORNISH: Do it.
DUBKE: And that's "Atlanta."
CORNISH: OK. This is a deep cut. And I'm shocked that you watch this show.
DUBKE: I love that show.
CORNISH: A great example of a show people called woke.
DUBKE: It wasn't woke, though. It was the exact opposite of woke.
CORNISH: And yet --
DUBKE: The writing was so good.
CORNISH: And yet, by virtue of having a diverse cast, it was, like, lumped into a certain kind of programing.
DUBKE: Which it shouldn't have been.
CORNISH: OK.
DUBKE: Because it really -- it really was good programing, and it was the opposite of woke. I mean, some of the -- when they were going to Europe and some of the --
CORNISH: Of course. It was incredible.
DUBKE: That was fantastic. And that's my point.
CORNISH: And not a lot of people watched it.
DUBKE: Good -- good writing --
CORNISH: Yes.
DUBKE: -- will always trump terrible, terrible writing. That is "The Hunting Wives."
CORNISH: I feel like under your face, it should say "man dislikes 'Hunting Wives.'"
DUBKE: All the way. I am personally --
(CROSSTALK)
DUBKE: -- "The Hunting Wives." Yes.
HAYS: Yes, I agree with you. Did you watch "Gilded Age," another show with great writing? And it was -- DUBKE: I have not caught that.
CORNISH: Oh, politics there, too.
HAYS: Exactly. It's like super -- but it's entertaining.
DUBKE: Yes.
HAYS: I think people turn on the TV to be entertained. If they want to watch and get facts, they'll turn on the news. They'll -- they'll go to their phones.
So, I just -- there's a bit -- a bit of a difference. You like to be entertained with facts and solar, apparently. And I would like to watch "The Hunting Wives."
CORNISH: Well -- well, to my point --
DUBKE: Facts and fossil fuels.
[06:25:01]
CORNISH: That's fair.
DUBKE: That's my -- that's my genre.
CORNISH: That's fair. Well, I'm glad you guys were excited about this. I was super interested, too. Larry Wilmore has done shows: "In Living Color," "Black-ish." He mentored, you know, Quinta Brunson on "Abbott Elementary."
He has a lot to say about how these shows come to be. So, check out our conversation. A new episode of "The Assignment" is out today and every Thursday.
Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, the Epstein client list. The survivors want the names out, and they're ready to take another route to do it.
Plus, President Trump's crypto gold rush. Is it a conflict of interest for him to cash in?
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[06:30:00]
