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Guthrie Family Pleads For Mother's Return In New Video; FBI Investigating New Message In Nancy Guthrie Abduction; No Credible Threats Or ICE Operations Planned Ahead Of Super Bowl; Lindsey Vonn Crashes In Downhill Skiing Final; 111 Million Waking Up To Extreme Cold Across The Northeast; Former French Minister Lang Resigns From Arab World Institute; Norwegian Crown Princess Apologizes For Epstein Contacts; Bipartisan Outrage After Racist Video Appears On Trump's Social Media. Bad Bunny to Star in the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show; McDonald's Releases Caviar Kit for Chicken Nuggets; Super Bowl Prop Bets on Cardi B, Gatorade, and More. Aired 7-8a ET
Aired February 08, 2026 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[07:00:00]
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Welcome back to CNN This Morning, I'm Victor Blackwell.
Here's what you need to know this morning. New developments in the search for Nancy Guthrie. Her kids put out an emotional video last night pleading for her return and telling anyone who may be holding her that they are willing to pay to get her back.
It is Super Bowl Sunday. Security is tight ahead of the big game, the measures in place now. And how the NFL is responding to concerns about ICE operations around the game.
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I'm Amanda Davies, live at the Winter Olympics, not the way it was meant to end. Lindsey Vonn's Olympic dream is over after the 41-year-old crashed out of the downhill race and is helicoptered off the course.
BLACKWELL: And curling is one of the most popular sports in the Winter Olympics. Coy and I got a crash course from our own Allison Chinchar. We'll show how it went coming up.
The family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie issued a new plea to the person who has their mother. Authorities believe Guthrie was taken from her home in Arizona against her will. No suspects have been identified yet in the case.
As the investigation enters its eighth day now, Today's show hosts Savannah Guthrie along with her siblings, Cameron and Annie, they posted a new video pleading for their mother's return, even offering to pay that ransom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, "TODAY" SHOW HOST/NANCY GUTHRIE'S DAUGHTER: We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us. And we will pay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: A second ransom deadline for millions in Bitcoin is tomorrow. Now overnight, the focus shifted to the home of Guthrie's eldest daughter, Annie. At least three sheriff's deputies were seen at her home late Saturday.
CNN's Ivan Rodriguez joins us now from outside Nancy Guthrie's home. Tell us more about the investigation and potentially what we know about what happened at Annie Guthrie's home.
IVAN RODRIGUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, good morning. As you mentioned, three unmarked vehicles were spotted last night parked in the driveway of Annie Guthrie's home for several hours while sheriff's deputies were inside. Now, although the lights were dim inside of the home and those shades were drawn, bright flashes observed through the window appear to indicate that authorities might have been taking photographs.
They were there until about 10:30 local time. And when they did leave, a bag was placed inside of the backseat of one of the vehicles. A sheriff's deputy also appeared to be wearing blue latex gloves. Now you'll remember that Nancy Guthrie was at her daughter Annie's home the night before she disappeared.
And I also think it's important that we walk through this timeline again, leading up to this new video that was released by the Guthrie family. Because when we look at that first ransom note, investigators say that there were two deadlines, one for Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and one for Monday at 5:00 p.m. That was originally sent to local TV stations here in the Tucson area as well as to TMZ, again demanding millions in Bitcoin.
On Thursday at 5:00 p.m. is when we saw the second video released by the Guthrie family, specifically from Savannah Guthrie's brother. And then we move on to Friday when that second note was received again by local TV station KOLD. Authorities are still working to authenticate that note.
But according to the anchor, that note included sensitive information but not necessarily a deadline. Now, a former Phoenix police commander believes that it might be a good sign that this note was sent again to a local TV station in Tucson.
BLACKWELL: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF HYNES, RETIRED PHOENIX POLICE COMMANDER: The two initial contact points was TMZ and the local Tucson affiliate. Reaching back out to the Tucson affiliate with that second message indicates that that suspect or suspects are still in the Tucson area. That is a very good sign. As soon as I heard that, I said, wow, excellent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RODRIGUEZ: And again, that new message from Savannah Guthrie and her siblings comes a day now before that next Monday at 5:00 p.m. deadline. Earlier this morning, our photographer Jonathan Schaer captured a woman, noticed a woman coming here outside of the home of Nancy Guthrie. Candles were placed outside of the home. Those candles are still lit now this morning.
And again, much like yesterday, the Pima County sheriff has no plans of holding any new press conferences today so far. He had originally said that they wouldn't hold any new press conferences until some sort of new evidence comes to light.
[07:05:04]
BLACKWELL: Ivan Rodriguez reporting for us this morning. Thank you.
CNN's Josh Campbell is a former FBI agent, and he says that the Guthrie family, the fact that they're using social media to ask for their mother's release suggests that they have not established a line of communication with this possible abductor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: -- where kidnapping cases where if there is an actual line of communication that is set up, that is treated sensitively, that is protected, that is not something that either the family nor the FBI crisis negotiators, for that matter, would actually be publicizing. And so the fact that we see this appeal, again, via social media tells us that they're essentially responding to the alleged abductor here via the medium that they have chosen, and that is sending information out via the press.
There are a couple things in that video that I think are key for us to focus on. The first that you actually hear Savannah Guthrie there, and again, this is heart-wrenching. I don't want to be too clinical about this, but they're essentially saying that, look, we understand the demand that you have made.
They're appealing to the person who may have taken Nancy Guthrie, and then saying that, look, we will pay. And there is always a question. If there is a demand for a ransom, you know, I've been involved in these gut-wrenching decisions with family members where they're asking, you know, members of the FBI, should we pay money? What should we do? At the end of the day, that is a decision for the family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Tonight, we'll all turn to watch what's happening in Santa Clara, California. New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl 60. Security preps for a game of this scale, they start months, maybe even a year in advance.
But this year, the focus is not just on the stadium perimeter. Officials are dealing with a different kind of challenge. Local people who are worried, not about the game, but about rumors of ICE operations tied to the event.
CNN's Jenn Sullivan reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENN SULLIVAN, CNN JOURNALIST (voice-over): Security measures ramping up ahead of Super Bowl 60 outside and inside Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Federal and local officials say they will have eyes in the skies, on the ground, and even on the water.
COMMANDER JEANNIE SHAYE, U.S. COAST GUARD: We've brought in some additional assets, our deployable specialized forces.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): While officials say there are no known credible security threats, the Super Bowl is categorized as a SEAR 1 event by the Department of Homeland Security, which is the highest rating and requires extensive support and coordination from federal agencies.
LT. CMDR. EDWARD KALANKIEWICZ, U.S. COAST GUARD: Our goal is the safety and security of personnel.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): But one federal agency that the NFL says is not expected to be present is Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
CATHY LANIER, NFL CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER: There are no planned ICE or immigration enforcement operations that are scheduled around the Super Bowl or any of the Super Bowl-related events.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): Ahead of the big game, anti-ICE posters have been cropping up around San Francisco, depicting the Puerto Rican Sapo Concho image used by singer Bad Bunny, who will be performing this year's Super Bowl halftime show. The decision to choose Bad Bunny, who performs mostly in Spanish, has drawn criticism from some, including the president.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't know who he is. I don't know why they're doing it. It's like crazy.
SULLIVAN (voice-over): The Trump administration's crackdown on immigration has sparked anti-ICE protests across the country, including this one in San Francisco last month.
I'm Jenn Sullivan reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Devastating news coming out of the Olympics a short time ago. American skier Lindsey Vonn crashed on her run.
Let's go straight now to CNN Sports Anchor Amanda Davies. Amanda, we understand she was airlifted for medical attention. What do we know?
DAVIES: Yes, very much so, Victor. We're talking almost exactly an hour ago now. A lot of people still trying to process what happened at the Olympic downhill race in Cortina. Lindsey Vonn, 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn, in what we know was set to be her final Olympic downhill race, crashing after just 12 seconds. Of course, skiing without an ACL, with that entirely ruptured ACL on her left knee.
She clipped a gate, crashed out after 12 seconds, and landed in what looked an incredibly painful, awkward manner. She was moving, but obviously in a whole lot of distress. There was high emotions from everybody there at the course watching on, and her fellow skiers.
They treated her on the mountain for a good 15 minutes or so. She was then airlifted off the piste in a helicopter, along with members of the Team USA medical staff. And we're hearing, it's not being confirmed, but we understand she's being airlifted straight to hospital in Innsbruck in Austria, rather than anywhere here in Milan, which would suggest, you know, somewhat the severity of this accident.
[07:10:04]
And, you know, so many people were questioning why she was racing, having ruptured that ACL just nine days ago. Why would you do it? Should she be doing it? But she said, I feel I've fought so hard to come back from retirement. That knee replacement on the other knee, I want to give myself one last chance.
And I was just reading, Victor, her post from yesterday ahead of the race. She said, "I can't guarantee a good result. I can guarantee I will give it everything I have. But no matter what happens, I have already won."
And a lot of people will be cheering her on and sending their well wishes. It is not how they wanted her record-breaking career to come to an end.
BLACKWELL: Yes. And of course, we'll all be waiting for updates on her condition.
Amanda Davies for us in Milan, thank you.
This morning, 111 million people in the Northeast are dealing with dangerously cold air. We're talking temperatures down to 5 degrees, feels like 7 below. CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar is here. What should people be ready for?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Another very, very cold day today. For some, it's even going to linger into Monday, but we are going to start to see those temperatures warming back up. For some, it's going to be short-lived, a little bit of a tease of spring --
BLACKWELL: Some videos (ph).
CHINCHAR: -- but at least you're going to get something. We're going to start to see those temperatures warming back up. So you can see the map here. These are all the areas that are under those extreme cold alerts. It stretches from North Carolina all the way to Maine.
Now, these are the actual air temperatures. This does not take into account the wind, which is still gusting 20, 30, 40 miles per hour some areas across the Northeast. Three degrees is the temperature in New York, 4 in Boston, 2 in Buffalo, 14 in D.C. It's below freezing in Jacksonville, Florida. So again, this is far reaching cold air.
But a lot of that blue that you see on the map is going to change over into oranges. A lot of that warmth that's really been focused over the West the last few weeks is now going to start to spread eastward. So areas of the Midwest, the Southeast, you'll start to see it first, and then gradually it will make its way into the Mid-Atlantic into the Northeast by about Wednesday of this week.
So, here you can see, again, Atlanta going from 58 to 74 once we get to Tuesday. That's quite the warm-up there. Washington, D.C. and New York City also going to see their temperatures warming, but they're just going to get back to close to normal.
BLACKWELL: OK. Normal is better than what we think.
CHINCHAR: What we've got.
BLACKWELL: All right. Allison, thanks.
Still ahead, new fallout from the Epstein files. We'll tell you how the scandal is rocking governments across Europe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:17:04]
BLACKWELL: There's new fallout overseas from the Epstein files. Former French Culture Minister Jack Lang has resigned as president of the Arab World Institute over his past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The French financial prosecutor's office is investigating Lang and his daughter for alleged aggravated tax fraud laundering.
CNN's Melissa Bell has the latest from Paris. Melissa?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Victor, it seems there is no end here in Europe, at least the fallout from these latest revelations in the Epstein files. This, the latest one, Jack Lang, he'd been under pressure over the course of the last week to resign from what is a fairly plump position at the helm of that Arab World Institute here in Paris.
He'd been in position since 2013. As you said, former culture minister from the Socialist Party. He's a fairly large figure in French political life, very well known. He'd been under pressure as a result of these latest revelations that suggest not just that he had a very friendly relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, meeting him both in the United States and in France, but also that he and his family in the shape of his daughter Caroline had had these financial dealings with him that involved this offshore company whose aim was, we understand, to help promote young artists.
But the existence of those financial links with Jeffrey Epstein, particularly damning in the current climate. And he'd been under pressure received by the French Foreign Affairs Ministry over the course of the week. He'd been come under pressure from the Elysee Palace, the French executive, and then, of course, this judicial inquiry into tax evasion. And in the end, it was yesterday that he succumbed to that pressure, announcing that he was retiring.
But this is just one example, I think, Victor, that is illustrative of how these revelations have impacted so many people across the world, because little by little, as we work our way through the very many documents and revelations and emails, the depths of the relationships that, by the way, were either started or continued after the conviction of the sex -- child sex abuser are particularly damaging to these people.
So it's happened at ministerial level. It's happened at the governmental level. When you look at people like Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, now under a great deal of pressure from his own party, by the way, over what he knew or didn't know at the time when he appointed Peter Mandelson to be the British ambassador to Washington, the fallout from that is likely to continue for him.
And we understand that there are even questions about whether he'll survive that pressure. There is also the fallout for the royals of Europe. The former Prince Andrew, of course, has now been evicted from his home at Windsor, but also met Marit, the queen crown princess in Norway. So many people implicated in these friendships that at this stage, at this particular moment, are proving just beyond the pale for most people and costing a lot of them their positions, Victor.
BLACKWELL: And there are growing questions and consequences here in the U.S. too.
Melissa Bell for us in Paris, thank you.
Still ahead, he is MAGA's favorite rocker, but Kid Rock's lyrics are under some new scrutiny as he prepares to headline an alternative halftime show.
[07:20:06]
And nothing says I love you like caviar and chicken nuggets. We'll tell you about McDonald's viral Valentine's Day giveaway in this morning's roundup.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: There is bipartisan outrage after a racist video depicting the Obamas as apes appeared on President Trump's social media feed, stayed up for 12 hours before it was deleted. Court TV Anchor Julie Grant, CNN Entertainment reporter Lisa Respers France, and WABE political reporter Bill Nigut are here now. Welcome to you all.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Victor.
[07:25:00]
BLACKWELL: The difference between this and the other racist, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic post that the president has posted over the years, is the Republican backlash, some calling for him to apologize. And he hasn't done that, but it's been deleted. What informs this different response, do you think?
BILL NIGUT, WABE POLITICAL REPORTER: Because this is so egregious. I mean, there can be few things more offensive than depicting a black person as an ape. You understand that. But even more than that, Barack Obama is, without question, the single most popular political leader in the United States. And even I think a lot of Republicans acknowledge that.
But here's the thing. Why are we surprised? It's painful to say that President Trump has shown over and over again that he has racist tendencies. From the time that he said that Barack Obama was not born in the United States, he was saying, I wish we had more Scandinavian immigrants than African immigrants.
He has shown us over and over again who he is. And I think at a certain point, he crossed a line. And I think that's what's most troubling, that we now see it for what it is.
BLACKWELL: And that's the question, is that if he's crossed the line, is this a last week story? Or do Republicans continue to demand that apology going into the next week? Or do they move on to DHS funding or another thing?
NIGUT: Well, I do think they'll move on.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
NIGUT: But I also think that there's now a cheek in the armor as the expression, you know, that President Trump, Republicans are seeing that there are offenses that he commits that they can no longer get behind.
BLACKWELL: Yes. Let's also talk about some new developments in the search for Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother. Let me first play what Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted on social media yesterday. Let's watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUTHRIE: We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us. And we will pay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: And so what was not in this video was the call for proof of life to show that they have her. Is that assuming that now they have that information?
JULIE GRANT, ANCHOR, COURT TV: Hard to say, Victor.
BLACKWELL: Yes. GRANT: We know this case is unprecedented. This is unlike anything we've ever seen. The age of the kidnap victim, most kidnap victims are under 21 years of age in the United States. These communications that are one way communications going to media outlets, local stations in Tucson, TMZ, not directly to the victims, which is also very unusual.
The transmissions are unusual because of this encrypted technology, as we understand it, so that someone can't figure out the origination of who these captors are and where these captors are located. So I think that seeing that video last night was disheartening for that reason, because we understand proof of life was potentially not provided, not something the family is looking for.
I encourage everyone to look at this, you know, from a few steps back. These are just reportedly ransom notes, purported notes, I should say. We don't even know if they're valid or from the captors. Could be a ruse by the captors for some other reason --
BLACKWELL: Yes.
GRANT: -- to throw off the investigators, Victor.
BLACKWELL: It's also the expansion of the search for evidence or information now to Annie Guthrie's house --
NIGUT: Yes.
BLACKWELL: -- Savannah Guthrie's elder sister.
GRANT: Correct.
NIGUT: It's also so heartbreaking to see a Savannah Guthrie --
LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes.
NIGUT: You cover entertainment --
FRANCE: Yes.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
NIGUT: -- to see her in that vulnerable place where we've always seen her as this warm, caring morning anchor. And here she is completely unmasked.
FRANCE: Yes, she's so vulnerable, her siblings.
NIGUT: Yes.
FRANCE: And just -- like you said, it's heartbreaking because we all can relate to the love that you have for a parent. And I just could not imagine having her live somewhere where you think she's secure and you think she's safe, and then this happens.
BLACKWELL: Yes, and --
FRANCE: It's just devastating.
BLACKWELL: She posted on social media, please pray. And of course, she's also said in those videos that she thanks everyone for the prayers and she says she feels them and they're working. So again, it's that deadline of 5:00 p.m. tomorrow in which what we heard from KOLD and TMZ is that is a more substantial consequence then.
Of course, we don't want to think the worst, but they say they're now willing to pay. So hopefully they can get Nancy Guthrie back home.
All right, everybody stay with us. We've got a lot more to talk about coming up on the other half of the roundup question here.
If you make it big, are you obligated to support your family financially? We'll get into that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:30:00]
BLACKWELL: Welcome back to the Morning Roundup. It is Benito Bowl Day. Listen, the Seahawks are playing the Patriots, but we're not going to talk about the game. We're talking about the halftime. Julie, Lisa, and Bill are back. Lisa, you wrote a piece about Bad Bunny this week, and I really have to remind myself of the teams because the headline, the narrative here, is halftime.
[07:35:00]
LISA RESPERS FRANCE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes, for a lot of fans, the Super Bowl is really about the commercials and halftime show. There are some people that this is the only time they watch a football game, and so this halftime show is a huge deal. And I wrote about how Bad Bunny doesn't need the NFL as much as the NFL needs Bad Bunny because they are really trying to position themselves to be more of a global brand, and he is the biggest global star right now. So, it makes total sense that you're going to have him on that halftime stage even though there are some people who are not happy about it.
BLACKWELL: You know, Julie, when I first heard of the announcement, I thought of him like, yes, he's in that echelon of stars who could do the halftime show. But since then, I've learned kind of that Apple and Roc Nation would have to look past him to pick somebody else. The most streamed artist in the world, album of the year, huge success. It seems like he would be the person to go to first.
JULIE GRANT, ANCHOR, COURT TV: Yes, Victor, good points. He's Good Bunny, not Bad Bunny. You know, I have to tell you, he put hundreds of millions of dollars into Puerto Rico. That is no small feat. I mean, when you think about somebody loving where they're from, loving the people that live there, he could go anywhere in the world and perform. He chose to stay at home, and by the way, great article, Lisa.
FRANCE: Thank you.
GRANT: Really gave him good -- BLACKWELL: Good Bunny, I'm going to be using that. Good Bunny is on.
You know, so, there is another halftime show, the so-called All- American Halftime Show, sponsored by Turning Point USA. Kid Rock is the headliner. And a lyric, lyrics from a 2001 song called "Cool, Daddy Cool" are getting some backlash, especially in this environment. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: It's awful at any time, but add the context of the Epstein files in this moment, and this is the person who headlines the Faith, Family, and Freedom Halftime Show?
BILL NIGUT, HOST, "IN THESE TIMES" PODCAST: Yes, it -- well, first of all, Kid Rock is so yesterday, it's hard to believe that anybody's going to want to watch him beyond that. He wasn't even in that headline. It's fascinating, J.D. Vance, the vice president of the United States, put out a post saying how excited he is to see Kid Rock doing this show. I don't believe that for a second. J.D. Vance is 41 years old. What does he know about Kid Rock, for goodness' sake?
FRANCE: Well, it seems like certain people in this country felt like they needed a safe space, but how safe are you when there are lyrics like that?
NIGUT: Yes.
GRANT: No excuse, no excuse. All the things you can write about, those things should not be one of them.
BLACKWELL: And so, we reached out to TP USA. They've not gotten back to us, but again, that is the headliner for the Faith, Family, and Freedom Halftime Show.
Let's talk about Glorilla, rapper Glorilla's sister, Scarface Woods, who has now come out and blasted her sister saying that, you know, apparently Scarface has come down on some hard times, and she says her sister, other soundbite guys, she is obligated to support their family. Let's listen to Scarface and what she posted on social media first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCARFACE WOODS, GLORILLA'S SISTER: Hey, hey, hey. She got obligation to share the will. We stay here, we struggle together. So, (INAUDIBLE) of water, (INAUDIBLE). Yes, she obligated, damn friends obligated. She doing everything for them. So, yes, yes, I feel like I'm obligated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Lisa, when you make it, are you obligated to support the family? GRANT: Absolutely not. I mean, it is lovely if you do so, but just because you are related to someone, they are not responsible for your success. I mean, even if they supported you. Glorilla is the one that's out there rapping. Glorilla is the one that's out there doing the concerts. And you don't owe anybody your money. No one, you know.
And I think, I understand, this happens not just with rappers, it just happens with celebrities, period. I remember years ago a story of a football player who said that his best friend was like, I need to get a job because you told me I can't just be a hanger on, but I need a Mercedes Benz if you want me to go to these job interviews.
So, people really have this expectation that if you made it, you have to take everybody along. And that's not necessarily the case because it doesn't really help the person if you're continually giving them handouts. That does not motivate you. You know, please give me millions of dollars. I will help my family. But that doesn't mean that they're obligated to it.
BLACKWELL: But listen, here's the thing. It's not that Scarface wants millions of dollars. Let's play more of that TMZ interview in which they ask -- I guess, the question here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's say she has $2 million. How much of that does she owe to you and the rest of the family of that $2 million?
WOODS: She (INAUDIBLE) 2,500 a piece.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How much?
WOODS: 2,500.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[07:40:00]
FRANCE: How does she come up with that? That's what I would like to know. I need the breakdown of what that 2,500 is for. I mean, she's thinking really small.
BLACKWELL: But also, I'd take that deal.
FRANCE: Right, right. But the deal is, if I give you the $2,500, that's it. You never ask me for anything else.
BLACKWELL: Yes. That's what you asked for. Here's your $2,500.
FRANCE: Right. It seems like there's more going on here because it seems like she's very intentional in wanting people to know this to maybe possibly humiliate her sister or, you know, I don't know what their dynamic is, but this does not feel like a loving relationship to me.
BLACKWELL: Julie, you taking the $2,500 deal? GRANT: No, I would reject it, Victor.
BLACKWELL: Even the $2,500?
GRANT: Well, yes. Well, thinking about Glorilla money, yes, you know. So, depending on who we're dealing with here. Yes, I think Biggie said it best. Mo' money, mo' problems.
BLACKWELL: Mo' problems. All right. You got that one.
GRANT: And look where she is. Yes.
NIGUT: Yes. But this is another sign of the time. We're airing our laundry about family in public. I mean, there's just no end to that.
BLACKWELL: She probably tried a different way before she got here and maybe got a note before that.
NIGUT: Maybe.
FRANCE: Maybe.
BLACKWELL: All right. So, we're coming up on Valentine's Day, and if you want to get fancy, you know, a little high-low situation here. McDonald's is now offering caviar. So, let me show you what they're offering. They're offering these caviar kits. Folks at McDonald's, sit those over. Thank you. We have our team bringing out some caviar here with nuggets.
The caviar kit, if you want it, it's one tin of McNugget caviar, Paramount's berry sturgeon, creme fraiche, even comes with a Mother of Pearl caviar spoon and a $25 art card for some hot nuggets. And I know that we have some caviar fans on the panel. Even before they offered this, this is a thing that people do.
FRANCE: Yes.
BLACKWELL: Yes?
FRANCE: This is what I did for New Year's, by the way. Like, other people were doing like black-eyed peas and stuff, I did caviar and nuggets. I put it up on social media. I also like it with potato chips.
BLACKWELL: OK.
FRANCE: It does make you feel very fancy.
BLACKWELL: Oh, well, let's feel fancy this morning. Anybody else into caviar?
GRANT: I've never tried caviar.
FRANCE: I got to watch this.
BLACKWELL: Are you going to try it this morning? GRANT: Well --
BLACKWELL: Come on, Julie.
GRANT: -- I love pinky ears. I have, like, the diet of a third grade.
BLACKWELL: Oh, come on.
GRANT: Honestly, I really do. I eat nuggets all the time from McDonald's, but just for you and your show.
BLACKWELL: You look so nervous.
GRANT: I know.
FRANCE: It'll be OK.
NIGUT: I don't know about the caviar, but I hope my cardiologist isn't watching me eat the nuggets.
BLACKWELL: But I think this is great. Actually, you go online, these are available starting Tuesday morning. You go online, and they'll just send it to you. It doesn't cost you anything. And they send you the $25 gift card, so you can get a bunch of nuggets. This is my first time with caviar. It's a big swig you took there, Julie.
GRANT: Yes, I know. It's good. It's good. Yes, I was being funny.
BLACKWELL: OK. All right. Well, Julie, Lisa, Bill, thank you very much.
FRANCE: Cheers.
BLACKWELL: Cheers. Nuggets and caviar.
GRANT: Happy Valentine's Day.
BLACKWELL: We'll take a quick break, but first, curling. Mom, I'm sorry. I got to do these. Curling is more than pushing a rock down some ice. Coy and I get a crash course in curling from our own Allison Chinchar. We'll be right back.
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[07:45:00]
BLACKWELL: Tonight's Super Bowl halftime show is set to draw even more attention with Bad Bunny becoming the very first artist expected to sing entirely in Spanish. In a new CNN documentary, Flash Docs travels to Benito's hometown and speaks with one of the Puerto Rican artists on his album, Bad Bunny. And the halftime show, "Rhythms of Resistance," is streaming right now on the CNN app.
And Super Bowl LX will see a record number of bets placed, but it goes beyond who will win or lose. Coy Wire is here. Let's talk about the bets. Everything from coin toss to color of the Gatorade. COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Color of the Gatorade.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
WIRE: I'm saying yellow. I don't know. We'll see. But the American Gaming Association, they say that an estimated $1.76 billion, a record expected to be wagered on the Super Bowl this year. Seahawks are currently four and a half point favorites, but there are all kinds of fun prop bets. Victor mentioned one of them.
Like, what will Bad Bunny's first song be? "Titi Me Pregunto" is the favorite. Also, will Stefon Diggs propose to his girlfriend, Cardi B, after the Super Bowl? Yes, pays 11 to 1. Lots of Cardi B bets, actually. She's the betting favorite to join Bad Bunny during his halftime performance. J-Lo, also one of the favorites. You can also bet on if a player or coach is going to be shown crying during the national anthem. Odds are, yes, we will see that again. There is an over-under on how many wings I will eat during the game. It's at 30 currently.
BLACKWELL: Thirty?
WIRE: All right. Let's move to our lead Winter Olympic story of the day. American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn crashing about 15 seconds into her opening run of competition. She ruptured her ACL, remember, just nine days ago. But at 41, she said she wanted to mount a comeback at her favorite place to ski, Cortina. Vonn was moving, but was airlifted off of a mountainside for a second straight week. She's been taken to a hospital in Innsbruck for evaluation. We'll keep you updated on that story.
As for the competition, we have a new Olympic queen of speed and another comeback. 30-year-old American Breezy Johnson taking home gold in that women's downhill after missing last winter games with injury. The Wyoming-born, Idaho-raised Breezy says that at speeds of 80-plus miles per hour, it's like Formula 1 on ice. Congrats to Breezy.
[07:50:00]
Team USA leading in the figure skating team event going into the final day. The quad god, Ilija, miles per hour. It's like Formula 1 on ice. Congrats to Breezy.
Team USA leading in the figure skating team event going into the final day. The quad god, Ilia Malinin, making his Olympic debut, finishing second in the short program. Japan's Yuma Kagiyama finished first. Look at this. Backflip, Victor. You and I were falling while curling on ice with sneakers, with sneakers. Malinin is the first and only figure skater to successfully land a quadruple axel in international competition. Team USA currently four points ahead of Japan in the figure skating team competition.
So, speaking of curling, you and I got to learn a bit of it.
BLACKWELL: We certainly did. It's one of the most popular sports at the Games and, you know, one of the big stone in the broom. It's that one with the hard, which I learned.
WIRE: Yes.
BLACKWELL: Luckily, we have an expert in the room. Allison gave us a crash course in curling. Take a look.
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ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This may look like house cleaning on ice.
BLACKWELL: Lots of folks would not even think this is a sport.
WIRE: It's actually one of the most strategic sports in the Olympics.
CHINCHAR, BLACKWELL AND WIRE: Welcome to curling.
CHINCHAR: Sweep. Keep sweeping.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): We got to spend some time with the curlers at the Peach Tree Curling Association in Marietta, Georgia. It's the only dedicated curling facility in the state. And our own Allison Chinchar showed us the ropes.
BLACKWELL: So, what is curling?
CHINCHAR: So, it's kind of like shuffleboard on ice. Essentially, you have two teams of four different people and the object is to get the stones all the way from one end down to what looks like a bullseye. It's called the house.
CHINCHAR (voice-over): Essentially, each team throws eight stones per end. The players will take turns sliding the stone down the ice toward the house with the goal of getting it as close to the button as possible. Now, the stones can also be used to knock other stones out of the way or even block shots. Those are called guards.
Once the stone is released and crosses the hog line, your teammates can begin sweeping. Now, it must cross the far hog line in order to actually stay in play. If not, it's removed. You score one point for each stone closer to the button than the opponent's closest stone. But stones must be at least partly inside the house to count.
WIRE: That's a long way away. I didn't realize it was that far.
CHINCHAR: That's why you have sweepers, because your sweepers can help assist the rock, making it all the way down, just in case you don't quite give it that bump that's needed to make it all the way to the end.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Once we got the rules, it was time to get into the game.
CHINCHAR: As I push, you are going to sweep. You're trying to almost make a divot as you sweep.
Sweep. Sweep. Hard.
BLACKWELL: Sweeping melts the ice slightly.
WIRE: It makes the stone travel farther.
BLACKWELL: And sweeping isn't cleaning, it's science. The harder we sweep --
BLACKWELL AND WIRE: -- the farther it goes.
CHINCHAR: Get in your position, then put your foot on this.
WIRE: I can do it. Believe.
CHINCHAR: There you go.
BLACKWELL: Wait. I don't know how to do that.
CHINCHAR: One, two, three.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): The best part, though, might be once the games are over.
CHINCHAR: And now, that it's all over, and you finally know what you're supposed to do, now's the best part. This is where we all hang out afterwards. It's called broom stacking. Have a drink, chat with some good friends, and enjoy the time. But you're missing the very last step. That is what really separates you from a true fan. And that is the hats.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL (on camera): Man, that was fun. It was such a good time.
WIRE: And eye-opening. I have a whole new respect for curling. You don't realize how far away the house is.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
WIRE: It's called a house now. And those stones are like 40 pounds each. It was a workout doing that.
BLACKWELL: And here's what, as a sweeper, that I appreciate, it is a workout. You're not just gliding this thing over the ice, you have to press down as --
WIRE: Yes, the triceps, the abs.
BLACKWELL: Wait, what's the person pushes -- who's shouting hard and sweep.
CHINCHAR: Usually, it's your skip, which is the captain.
BLACKWELL: Skip, yes. Yes.
CHINCHAR: Yes. WIRE: Yes. And so, this woman just never fails to amaze me. First of all, she's a curling coach. She knits. This -- she knit this thing. Check this out. I mean, come on. Like, she knit this by hand. She writes romance novels. Oh, and she's a meteorologist, too.
BLACKWELL: And so, you know, I did end up in a plank and then on my back. But I give myself credit because Allison teaches the class and Coy spent nine seasons in the NFL. So, clearly, you had a better shot at getting this down.
[07:55:00]
WIRE: No.
CHINCHAR: It was great. And you remembered to release the stone even after you fell. And just to say, that still counts.
BLACKWELL: See, did I get to the house, though? I don't remember with that if I got to the house.
CHINCHAR: Close.
WIRE: Well, the first one kind of like went -- because remember, they're like, someone go catch it so it doesn't put a whole through the back wall.
BLACKWELL: Right. Yes, I put some pepper on that first one. But it was a good time. And so, now, Allison, you are teaching these classes and people come in. It's like a date night sometimes.
CHINCHAR: It is. And whole families come. And it really picks up because so many people end up watching during the Olympics. And a lot of people who have literally never seen this sport before. And they want to give it a try. And, yes, it's a different sport than most people are used to. But, again, it's a workout. But it's also not that hard. A lot of people can do it, no matter your ability level or skill level. And still, as you pointed out, have a great time.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
WIRE: We will be back.
BLACKWELL: Oh, yes.
WIRE: We're going to check the whole team next time.
BLACKWELL: I'm going to need some more Epsom salt before I go. But, yes, I will be back. Allison, thank you for that.
WIRE: Yes.
CHINCHAR: Thanks, for coming.
WIRE: Happy Super Bowl Sunday, you all.
BLACKWELL: Happy Super Bowl. Yes. Benito Bowl. All right. Thank you for watching this morning Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju is up next.
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