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U.S. Military Struck ISIS Terrorists Target in Nigeria; Epstein Fallout. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired December 26, 2025 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

SEING MIN KIM, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: President points out, you're having Lisa Murkowski, for example, also pushing for an inspector general investigation at the Justice Department of how they've complied with this law. So this pressure, particularly if this review drags out a "few more weeks" as the Justice Department says, that pressure I think from Capitol Hill is going to build, especially with the victims speaking out in the way that they are.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, absolutely. I'm going to make a bold prediction here that you all are going to be continuing to discuss this in the group chat for the weeks to com

KIM: I think --

HILL: However, we're going to table it for today, but we will have much more. Still ahead here on CNN THIS MORNING, the US striking Islamic state targets in Nigeria. Just ahead, I'll speak with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell about those strikes as the president raises the stakes in a number of foreign conflicts.

Plus, the Trump administration pushing past Congress's constitutional authority. So what does this mean for the balance of power in Washington as we head into 2026?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:35:04]

HILL: Good morning. Nice to have you with us on this Friday, December 26th. I'm Erica Hill joining you from New York. 6:34 here on the East Coast.

US Africa Command says multiple terrorists are dead after a strike on ISIS targets in Nigeria. President Trump threatening there will be "hell to pay" over what he calls the slaughter of Christians in the region. And as the situation grows more intense, tensions in Venezuela also reaching a boiling point.

President Trump, of course, signaling earlier this week the US has formed a "massive armada" in the Caribbean and is also suggesting a land operation could be next. Joining me to discuss Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Congresswoman, nice to have you with us this morning. In terms of this latest strike, which we learned about from the

President yesterday, how much information has there been for members of Congress and is there a request for further briefing at this point?

REP. DEBBIE DINGELL (D-MI): Well, good morning, Erika. There's been very little information, which is a continuing pattern since he's been president about what's happening in many of these different countries. Now it was Christmas Day, I think we all want a lot more facts. We are going to need to be briefed. It took too long to brief us about what was happening in Venezuela, so we'll have to see what comes.

I mean, I want to be clear that there are disturbing issues in Nigeria, but the question is, what is America's responsibility to it? And I believe that the president has to consult the Congress. And that it is the Congress that needs to be making a lot of these decisions about escalating.

HILL: We did hear just a short time ago when we heard initially that this was -- this was done, of course, in coordination with officials in Nigeria. The foreign minister joined my colleague, Reihan Salam, in just a short time ago, to talk a little bit more about that. I want to play some of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YUSUF TUGGAR, NIGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It was a collaborative effort between Nigeria and the US. And President Tinubu gave the go ahead before it took place. And we don't see it violating our sovereignty or territorial integrity, which is very important. And it is not about religion. It's about the protection of lives and property of Nigerians and our neighbors as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: I want to ask you specifically about that last part because we hear from the foreign minister saying it's not about religion. He had said at one point as well, this is not about Christians and Muslims. But it is about, in his view, the protection of lives and property of Nigerians and neighbors as well.

The President has said very specifically this is about Christians being targeted. The reasoning for attacks, whether in Nigeria or Venezuela, has shifted. And I will say in Nigeria the data that CNN has does not necessarily match up with the fact that Christians are being disproportionately targeted. Is that a concern for you?

DINGELL: Look, I'm concerned about violence anywhere but it is -- I have been studying this in the last few weeks or paying more attention to it. And you talk to many people that say it is more about protecting farms and it's not as much religious based that Muslims are being attacked as much as Christians.

I don't want either attacked. Just for the record, I'm disturbed when I see 300 students, Christian student kidnapped. I mean, anybody that has any humanity in them is going to be concerned about what we are witnessing. But the fact of the matter is, the President came into office and said he was going to de escalate our involvement in foreign wars in foreign countries.

And what should we be doing? What is our role there? What are his plans? I believe under the War Powers Act he needs to be coming to Congress. He needs to be talking to Congress. I feel very strongly about that related to Venezuela. I want more effects on Nigeria.

But Congress is where acts of war get declared when you use military action. And I feel that strongly.

HILL: Congress is increasingly not playing much of a role to be quite honest. The President has signed, I believe, it's 225 executive orders since coming back into office. Do you believe that Congress at this point can reinsert itself as a co-equal branch of government?

DINGELL: Well, we are a co-equal branch. Let's be really clear what the Constitution says. And I think that more of my Republican colleagues are beginning to be uncomfortable by things that they are witnessing. I hope that the White House is paying attention to that. The latest being we have to do something on health care in this country.

And for Republicans signed the discharge petition to do something about health care, it was unacceptable that we did nothing on health care and that this last week of December people are making decision that they can't afford health care in this country next year. And I just think that's morally wrong.

[06:40:10]

I think you -- and by the way, there was a race to be that fourth signature on that discharge petition because you cannot sign it once you reach that maximum number. I think you're going to start to see it on a number of issues. I think it's going to be a difficult year where I hope some of us are going to be working together to solve America's problems.

And I have a lot of friends in the Republican Party. I talk to everybody. I'm not afraid to speak up. I hope that we will start to see them exert more of a role in this second session of Congress.

HILL: To that point, what are you hearing from your Republican colleagues specifically about what things could look like when they return in January? We've heard, you know, we have a fair amount of reporting about the frustration with Speaker Johnson. Is there enough there that you believe you're going to see more Republicans speaking out?

DINGELL: Well, I think you do see more Republicans speaking out the last week of December. I think when we return, members of both parties, you know, there are people not happy with us in both parties, though I think they're much more unhappy right now because I don't think people that were buying Christmas presents or preparing meals thought that the cost of food or the cost of gifts, that affordability was a con.

They were hurting. I heard it. I was in that grocery store a lot back home, at Kroger. I think when they come back, they're going to have heard from people who are really worried about whether their jobs are safe, how much they can't afford their food. They're worried about health care. And we're elected to represent the people that elect us.

So I'm going to be holding hopeful, that's my New Year's resolution, hopeful. They're going to come back and know that people are demanding some accountability from all of us. We know it in the Democratic Party and I hope Republicans are going to understand that and join us.

HILL: Yes. We are certainly seeing it, too, in the polling, as I'm sure you know all too well, the American people are expecting it from both parties. You're right. I will join you in hope for 2026.

Congresswoman, always good to see you. Appreciate you taking the time this morning.

DINGELL: Good to see you.

HILL: I want to bring the panel back now as we look at where things stand, you know, we're talking about the power of Congress and the power the president to shape things with the stroke of a pen, which of course, as we know, can be undone by the next president. But given where we stand right now and the messaging that we're seeing around a number of issues, including the economy, Seung Min.

It would seem that in some ways what was a very effective and accurate message for Donald Trump during the campaign, that Joe Biden wasn't listening to what Americans were saying is now playing out in real time. But it is Donald Trump and the White House who don't seem to be listening. Is there any sense that is beginning to change?

KIM: Well, I think -- I'm thinking back to the President's primetime address when he talked about the economy. And so much of that was focused on saying that this was still Joe Biden's fault, that we are still cleaning the mess that the previous administration had made. But at some point, you know, this is Donald Trump's economy that he called -- that he says is doing incredibly well.

So right now, he is really trying to force the message on the American people that everything is OK. He says the economy is as great as ever. He says prices for all manner of goods is going down. And obviously you see GDP numbers that were really great for the administration last week.

But then you contrast that with how consumers are actually feeling. That consumer confidence is low, that people don't feel great about prices at the grocery store or the direction of the country even. And this is the same problem that President Biden faced. While a lot of the top line economic numbers were good, people just weren't feeling it.

And both President Biden and President Trump really are struggling to empathize with people who are not happy with their economic situations. And now I think knowing this president, that he's going to continue to message that the economy is doing great, that things will continue to get better and it'll really be, you know, it'll really be indicative in November, this coming November, in 2026, how voters -- whether voters take that at face value.

HILL: Eugene, when we look at where things stand, CNN reporting a record number, near record number, I should say, of congressional Republicans who announced they're leaving Capitol Hill. Many citing this toxic work environment, which we also heard from Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine, of course.

Is there a shift, though, Eugene, that you're starting to see or feel in terms of the possibility for lawmakers to perhaps start banding together a little bit more in the face of this toxicity?

EUGENE SCOTT, VISITING FELLOW, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AGORA INSTITUTE: Well, it depends on which party you're talking about, right I mean, there's some real challenges, I think, in the Republican Party that we're seeing spill out publicly that in previous presidencies would have been more private. There's real frustration among some with being heard in the White House or even among party leadership, connecting the concerns of the voters to the issues that are being discussed and providing real solutions.

[06:45:06]

We're in an election year. Every year seems like an election year, but we are actually in an election year starting in 2026. And we've seen some voters suggest that they are not interested in supporting Trump and the GOP like they did in 2024. And the Republicans who have tried to bring that to the attention of leadership very often feel like they aren't being heard. And perhaps the best way for them to improve their environments or communities that they come from is outside of Washington.

HILL: Ashley, how concerned are you? And I would say that I've heard this from members of both parties, but how concerned are you that with more people leaving, this could usher in perhaps more extreme lawmakers from either side, which could add to the dysfunction on Capitol Hill?

ASHLEY DAVIS, FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIAL: Very concerned. And, Erica, this is why I do not like the redistricting conversation on either side of the aisle because we get less and less, and less purple seat, so to speak. So we just get more people on each side that are not going to come together and actually pass good legislation.

I've always said this, and I'll continue to say this. I think that it is very difficult to be completely bipartisan with the 24 hour news cycle and social media because you're always playing to that next sound bite. So unless you're willing or have a district that really wants you to compromise, it's really hard for you to support your constituencies by going to the middle, so to speak. We have really conservative districts and we have really progressive districts, and it makes it really hard to make good policy.

But listen, I mean, going back to the affordability issue, we have, meaning the Republicans, just a few months. I mean, people will start deciding what they're going to do probably in July at the latest. And so, if some of these tax on tips and some of these policies that the President did put in, and the Republicans did put in, don't take place and make people feel that their groceries are cheaper or their lives are better. It's going to be a tough election year.

HILL: Much more to come, stay with us. And, of course, just a note to -- a programming note. If you missed any part of the conversation today, any part of the show, don't worry. CNN THIS MORNING is also a podcast. You can scan the QR code that's on your screen to find it. CNN THIS MORNING. It's also available anywhere you get your podcast.

Still to come here, a holiday jazz tradition in Washington falling apart. Why the President's takeover of the Kennedy center is at the center of that controversy? Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My faith and trust in the government at this point is completely lost.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Why survivors are focused on transparency or what many feel is a lack of it when it comes to the Epstein files, and the thoughts on these new million plus files that were just announced. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:52:14]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HALEY ROBSON, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: At the end of the day, I am no longer supporting this administration. I redact any support I've ever given to him, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel. I am so disgusted with this administration. I think that Pam Bondi and Kash Patel both need to resign, and I would love to see number 47 get impeached over this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Survivors of convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein frustrated with the slow release of files in the investigation. The Justice Department says it has withheld information out of extreme caution, but given the heavy redactions and sporadic rollout, not everyone sees it that way.

Joining me now is Marina Lacerda. She is a survivor of Epstein's abuse. Marina, appreciate you joining us this morning.

We also just learned that there are now a million documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein which have now been discovered. We're told it will take a few weeks to get those rolled out. What's your reaction to that news?

MARINA LACERDA, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Hello, good morning. Thank you for having me. I think her reaction is, how does anyone just find a million documents and files that have been misplaced? I think it's a little bit shocking that you can just misplace and, you know, find a million files.

HILL: The government has repeatedly said, we've heard directly from the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, that this is taking a little longer because of redactions. That the goal for them in all of this is to make sure that they, in the words of Todd Blanche, that the victims are protected. And that is one reason why it's going to take a little bit longer.

Do you believe that based on your experience as a survivor here, do you feel that the way the documents are being rolled out, even in terms of the redactions, has, in fact, helped to protect you?

LACERDA: I think it's done the complete opposite. They have not protected the survivors. I don't think that -- I don't think they took the time to redact our names. I think, in fact, they took the time to redact the powerful men, you know.

I think they took their time to protect their own. I don't think they are, you know, here to protect us. And it's very -- it's -- we're frustrated at this point.

HILL: I know that you have called for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who, of course, the former Prince Andrew, to answer questions here in the US. A, what do you think the possibility is of that happening? And, B, what would that do for you? If he were to answer questions in the United States, what do you believe would be gained from potentially those answers?

LACERDA: I mean, I think it's only fair after what he's done and more that we are finding out that he's doing to answer questions and to, you know, bring this man to justice at this point. It's about time. It's about time we start knocking these men down, right?

[06:55:06]

I mean, that's the whole point of having transparency and bringing, you know, these powerful men to light. So I say it's time that we bring them to justice. It's time that we start acting like the United States of America, where it's a country where we believe there is justice.

HILL: As I'm sure you're aware, there is a bipartisan effort, right, from Representatives Khanna and Massie. They have been talking about potentially contempt for the attorney general. Do you believe that would result in some of the information you're seeking? Do you believe that would have an impact?

LACERDA: You know, that's a good question. First of all, we'd like to see that happen, if it is going to happen. Because, you know, it's -- sometimes I think we can say things, and I appreciate Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie all the way. We all appreciate them.

But I think it's something that it's been hard to do. It's hard for us to get these files transparency, right? Like everything transparent and redacted correctly. So we kind of see it like, can this happen? And if it does happen, I think it's only right. I think that, you know, they broke the law. And I think it's time to also bring them to justice.

HILL: Marina, really appreciate you taking the time to join us this morning. Thank you.

LACERDA: Thank you so much.

HILL: Well, a night that is typically full of Christmas jazz, a little bit more the blues, if you will. This year, the longtime Kennedy Center Christmas performance was canceled because of the Trump name change for the venue.

Drummer Chuck Wright canceling his performance after he learned the President's name was being attached to the iconic performing arts facility. Just the latest backlash over the decision to rename it the Trump Kennedy Center. It's also, of course, the center of a legal battle now.

The board of trustees is accused of going beyond its congressional authority. The group chat back for one last hit on this Friday morning.

Eugene, I'll let you tee this one up for us. The backlash, perhaps not unexpected, it's certainly been strong but to see this concert canceled. How is that reverberating?

SCOTT: I think we're going to see more of it. I think the reality is that, Donald Trump came back to Washington as a culture warrior, and what that means is shaping the arts. There are a lot of people, though, who do not like or support the influence he wants to have in the space of the creative and performing arts.

And so, that's why you'll see lawsuits, you'll see protests, and you're going to see cancellations until we see something change in terms of how the Kennedy Center is being handled by this administration and the board that the President put in place.

HILL: The Washington Post is reporting that ticket sales have also plummeted since Trump took over at the Kennedy Center. Ashley, are there also concerns about the durability, frankly, of the institution?

DAVIS: Well, first of all, full disclosure, I sit on the symphony board and have for a long time and feel very strongly about the arts and supporting the arts. What frustrates me the most about people that are boycotting the Kennedy Center is the only people that you're hurting.

You're not hurting Donald Trump, you're not hurting the new leadership of the Kennedy Center. You're hurting the artists, you're hurting the musicians, you're hurting the opera, you're hurting the performers. So this is the message I try to get out.

I'm so happy it's a topic today because if people don't show up at these concerts, that's the long term consequences that will happen. So I really hope the musicians, hope the opera, the performers hope, that people start coming back and stop making political statements over Donald Trump when this is not about him. It should be about the arts. HILL: Although segment, I mean, I think you're seeing a little bit of

both, right? Because we are seeing performers, you're seeing a longtime host pull out because they are uncomfortable with the way the President is politicizing, in their view, politicizing the arts.

Seung Min, it's interesting because they're not always as much of a focus, despite the fact that the arts are critical to so many lives. How much of this do you think will be a focus moving forward for the administration?

KIM: Well, I mean, it's a focus in two ways. First of all, this is a, you know, this is just one of many different ways that the President has rebranded a lot of things in Washington, whether it's literally rebranding understanding like the name of the Kennedy Center or kind of, you know, making his own imprint, for example, with all the changes at the White House.

But I also think this will resonate in the long term for another reason. It's because of that word that we've been discussing for so much of this show, which is Congress. You have that lawsuit that's filed by a lawmaker who said this goes beyond, you know, the authority of the board of trustees to rename it. And I think that's one of the reasons why this hits in a different way as well.

Because, as we discussed, this President has been willing to push the boundaries of executive power, really willing to dismantle -- diminish Congress's powers when it, whether it comes to -- whether it comes to war, whether it comes to tariffs. And this is just another example where he's doing that. And I think that's why I think this fight will resonate for some time.

[07:00:10]

HILL: Thanks to all of you. Nice to see you on this Friday morning. Thanks for getting up early and joining the group chat. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday. And if I don't see you, happy New Year. I will see you in 2026.

Thanks to all of you at home for joining us as well. I'm Erica Hill. Stay tuned, the headlines are next to on CNN.