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Connect the World
Doctors Voicing Alarm at Prospect of RFK Jr., as Health Secretary; Rebels Claim they have Taken Over City of Goma; French Foreign Minister Speaks with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio; Fed to Announce First Monetary Policy Decision of 2025; Senate Confirmation Hearing for HHS Nominee RFK Jr.; Tough Questions Expected Over RFK Jr.'s Unorthodox Views. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired January 29, 2025 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: All eyes on Washington, where Donald Trump's pick to run the Health and Human Services Department will be
in the hot seat. We will bring you Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Senate Confirmation Hearing in the next hour. It is 09:00 a.m. in Washington. It's
06:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Eleni Giokos. This is "Connect the World".
Also coming up, CNN learns that President Trump's Middle East Envoy has crossed into Gaza, the first U.S. official to set foot there in over a
decade. And crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a violent protest at the French Embassy in Kinshasa, I'll ask the French Foreign
Ministry Spokesman how to stop the violence.
Right stock market in New York will open in around 30 minutes from now, all eyes will be on the Federal Reserve, the first-interest-rate decision of
the year, set to come through at around 02:00 p.m. Eastern. And as you can see, pretty much a mixed bag. Yesterday, we saw a little bit of a reversal
after that Monday bloodbath because of the announcement of the new AI model out of China, DeepSeek.
Nvidia losing 17 percent on Monday, rebounding 9 percent yesterday. And of course, all eyes will be not only on the tech stocks, but also what will
happen in terms of interest rates this time around. We'll check in on those numbers later on.
Well, we could see a fiery confrontation on Capitol Hill just about an hour from now when Donald Trump's next conversational -- controversial, rather
cabinet nominee takes the hot seat. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is the U.S. President's choice to Head the Health and Human Services Department.
He's come under serious scrutiny for his unorthodox views, conspiracy theories and flat-out false claims, including the disproven theory that
vaccines cause autism. His cousin Caroline Kennedy is strongly urging Senators to reject his nomination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLINE KENNEDY, ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.'S COUSIN: I've known Bob in my whole life. We grew up together. It's no surprise that he keeps birds of
prey as pets because Bobby himself is a predator. Bobby preys on the desperation of parents of sick children vaccinating his own kids, while
building a following hypocritically discouraging other parents from vaccinating theirs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: RFK Jr., will certainly face tough questions from Senate Democrats, but there could also be pushback from Republicans who are concerned about
his stance on abortion. CNN Washington Correspondent Sunlen Serfaty has this preview of a confirmation hearing starting in the next hour.
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: This is certainly going to be a contentious hearing today. We have heard from many Senators from both
parties in advance of this hearing, very vocal about their concerns. His views on vaccines, spreading of misinformation agriculture, food safety.
And Republicans specifically here wanting to hear from him today, some clarity over his views on abortions.
Now, over the past month, Kennedy has been making the rounds up on Capitol Hill, meeting with Senators behind closed doors, trying to shore up
support. But we have heard this week from a handful of Republican Senators who have indicated that they're still uncertain how they will vote, still
concerned about many of his views.
And that certainly should be a big red flag for the administration, because of the Republican's razor thin majority, they can only lose three
Republican Senators assuming that all Senate Democrats are unanimous in their opposition to his nomination from going forward.
Now, adding to this mix is the fact that we have heard from his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, issuing a scathing letter to the Committee and a video
testimonial, not only blasting his predatory and strange, troubling behavior, she says, but also saying that he is disqualified for this job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENNEDY: He lacks any relevant government financial management or medical experience. His views on vaccines are dangerous and wilfully misinformed.
These facts alone should be disqualifying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SERFATY: And Kennedy appears before Committee today on Capitol Hill and again towards another Committee tomorrow. Very little wiggle room here in
his quest to be secured for this job back to you.
GIOKOS: All right, Sunlen Serfaty there for us. I want to get a perspective now from a medical side of things. Dr. Jonathan Reiner joins us. He is a
CNN Medical Analyst and Professor of Medicine and Surgery at George Washington University. Doctor, great to have you with us.
We're seeing a lot of concern in the medical community about RFK Jr's nomination to head health as well as human services in the U.S. What
exactly are doctors concerned about, and what does it mean if he is got given this position?
[09:05:00]
DR. JONATHAN REINER, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST: Well, good morning. First of all, I think you know, nominating RFK Jr., for -- to run basically the entire
American health enterprise and manage a budget of -- you know $1.7 trillion doesn't really, in my mind, revolve around what his qualifications are. I
think he's unqualified for the job.
In my mind, it really, the decision really revolves around his disqualifications, and he is completely disqualified for the job because he
is a conspiracy theorist. He doesn't believe in science. He uses science to promote not just unproven ideas, but disproven ideas. How can -- how can
the United States have a Health Secretary who doesn't believe that any vaccine is safe and effective?
It's estimated that -- you know worldwide, since 2000 vaccines have saved about 60 million lives. The reason -- one of the major reasons why life
expectancy -- you know, all over the world, has risen so dramatically in the last a century has to do with vaccines. This is -- this would be akin
to --
GIOKOS: Yeah.
DR. REINER: -- hiring a Secretary of the Navy, who's a flat earther.
GIOKOS: Yeah.
DR. REINER: It's these outrageous --
(CROSSTALK)
GIOKOS: Just -- to vaccines. Because one of the things, yeah -- I mean, and one of the things we will be waiting to see and find out if his kids have
also been vaccinated. But to your point on vaccines, and frankly, being so anti-vaccine, it's something that has been echoed by many Americans.
And I wonder, in your expertise, your experience, whether you seeing this growing as a trend, and what it will ultimately mean for vaccinations if he
is confirmed, what is the risk?
DR. REINER: Well, we learn what vaccines can do and what lack of vaccination can do during the pandemic of the last five years. And one of
the greatest -- one of the greatest successes of the first Trump Administration was the development, testing and approval of a vaccine for
COVID in just 10 months.
That action Operation Warp Speed is what put the -- you know really put the pandemic down, ultimately. And that remarkable feat is --
GIOKOS: Yeah.
DR. REINER: -- is something that RFK Jr., said produced the deadliest vaccine ever. If we've already -- but we've seen in the United States --
GIOKOS: So, Dr. Reiner then --
DR. REINER: I was going to say --
GIOKOS: So, what would then be your messages to Senators? Yeah.
DR. REINER: My message to Senators is RFK Jr., is disqualified from running the American Health Enterprise because of his not just unproven but
disproven ideas related to vaccine and science in general.
GIOKOS: Dr. Reiner, I really appreciate your time and your insights. It's really great to have you with us. In the meantime, we've learned that
President Trump's Middle East Envoy crossing over into Gaza today, a source says Steve Witkoff visited the Enclave with Israel's Strategic Affairs
Minister.
This happened ahead of Witkoff's meeting with Israel's Prime Minister and Defense Minister. Witkoff visit to the region comes in the middle of the
six-week Israel Hamas ceasefire, but he is said to have played a part in brokering. Jeremy Diamond is following developments for us from Tel Aviv.
Jeremy, good to see you. What more have you learned as Witkoff crosses over into Gaza?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a pretty significant visit, if only because of the fact that it's been over a decade
at least since a U.S. official has actually been inside of Gaza. The last visit that we could find records for was Senator -- then Senator John
Kerry, back in 2009.
So, if only because of how long it's been since the U.S. official has been to Gaza. That, of course, is significant. But then, of course, there is
what is happening as he is visiting there. You know, this is amid this -- you know very delicate six-week ceasefire that he helped to broker
alongside the Biden Administration. He apparently visited the Netzarim Corridor, which is where Israeli troops were previously stationed,
separating Northern Gaza from rest of the strip.
[09:10:00]
It is now where there is a vehicle checkpoint run by an American security contractor, alongside an Egyptian firm as well. And apparently, he made a
visit to that Netzarim Corridor, where that checkpoint is alongside Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, who is one of the
closest advisers to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
So, a very significant visit, but it is just one component of his visit to the region right now. In about an hour's or actually right now is when it
is scheduled for, for Steve Witkoff to be sitting down with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and they will, of course, be discussing
the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
And the next stage that is coming on day 16 of this ceasefire, which is when Israel and Hamas are supposed to get back to the negotiating table to
see whether or not they can turn this six-week ceasefire into a permanent end to the war, one that would result in an end to the fighting and the
return of all of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza, beyond the 33 hostages set to be released during this phase of the agreement.
Of course, on the table as well. We'll also be rebuilding Gaza, as we have seen over the course of this week, and in particular the last 24 hours, as
Palestinians have returned to Northern Gaza, the scale of the destruction is absolutely enormous. And Witkoff is going to be working to try and
secure funding and support from some of the wealthy Gulf nations that have expressed a willingness and openness to rebuilding Gaza.
But only if Israel commits to a concrete pathway to a Palestinian state for the Palestinian people, and that, of course, is something that the Israeli
Prime Minister has rejected up until now. The Trump Administration isn't particularly known for its advocacy of a two-state solution, especially
when you look back at Trump's first term in office.
So, it will be interesting to see how they work through all of that, but certainly a consequential day of meetings ahead of what is supposed to be
another round of hostage release is scheduled for tomorrow, with three hostages set to be released from Gaza.
GIOKOS: Yeah. And we are waiting for more information on that list. Jeremy, I want you to give me an update on what's happening in the West Bank right
now, something that we've seen flaring up over the past week.
DIAMOND: Yeah. We have seen a very intense Israeli military operation taking place in Jenin. And now the Israeli defense establishment is
signaling that Israel will retain a permanent military presence in Jenin, which is unprecedented since the Oslo Agreements.
Jenin is part of what is known as area A within the occupied West Bank, which means that while the Israeli military sometimes conducts incursions
in that area, it is meant to be run by the Palestinian authority without the permanent Israeli military presence, and so that would break with
decades of precedent that has been established.
But this comes as the Israeli government has now added routing out what they describe as terrorism in the West Bank -- from the West Bank as part
of the official goals, war goals of the Israeli government during this war stemming from the October 7th attacks.
And so, what is clear is that Israel is showing that it is going to be in the West Bank for the long run. Now that this military operation is not
just some short-term operation like we have seen in the past, but rather a longer-term presence designed to root out Palestinian militants from that
area for good, something that will certainly be a very, very tall order Eleni.
GIOKOS: All right, Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv thank you so much for that update. We are going to a very short break. We'll be back with more news
right after this. Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:15:00]
GIOKOS: We're following a fast-moving crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where rebels backed by Rwanda appear to be tightening their grip on
Goma. It's a key city in the east of the country. Now African Leaders and the UN Security Council have been meeting to discuss how to respond to the
violence.
Tensions are boiling over on the streets of the Congolese Capital Kinshasa, with reports of attacks on foreign embassies earlier this week amid anger
at Western in action. CNN's Larry Madowo has the latest.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Today, we have seen what are called mercenaries arriving on the Rwandan side from the Democratic Republic of
Congo. These are private military contractors. There are many of them that work in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. They are from many
European countries, and you see them getting received by Rwanda and the country saying that they have been rescued from the Eastern DRC.
The East African Community that is a regional block that the DRC is a member of. President Ruto of Kenya, is the Chair of that was due to hold a
virtual meeting, an emergency meeting, to try and figure out exactly what's happening here and to call for a ceasefire. The Southern African
Development Corporation was also due to hold another emergency meeting tomorrow.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan here of Tanzania is the Chair of that. And some South African soldiers have been killed just in the last few days, at
least 13 from South Africa, a soldier from Tanzania, from Malawi as well. These are all part of the international troops that are in the region to
try and bring peace to it as the biggest escalation in this conference that we have seen in quite some time.
GIOKOS: All right, well, Larry Madowo, there giving us an update. We're seeing some of these images. The French Embassy was one of the embassies
that came under attack by protesters amid chaotic scenes. Protesters burned to fires and threw stones at the embassy's walls. Police fired tear gas to
disperse the crowds.
Now, French officials have said no embassy staff were harmed and the protesters weren't able to enter the embassy grounds. I want to bring in
the French Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson, Christophe Lemoine on joining us now. Thank you so much, sir, for your time.
I mean, good news that no one was harmed, but these images absolute -- absolutely worrying that not only we're seeing -- you know major tension in
Goma, but also the spilling over into Kinshasa? The angry protesters leaving a message on the embassy wall saying, Macron kills in Congo, you
have long betrayed us. What is your response to this message, and what is France doing to help de-escalate tensions?
CHRISTOPHE LEMOINE, FRENCH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON: Well, this is the wrong message first, and I want to stress it very much. I mean,
France has been very supportive of all the efforts led by the Democratic Republic of Congo to reach the peace in the region of Goma, and we repeated
it, and President Macron repeated it many times.
There is no involvement on the French side for Rwanda. And what happened yesterday at the French Residency in Kinshasa is not admissible. And we
condemn the -- on the strongest terms, but it shows that the situation is very worrying and very worrying in Kinshasa, but as well as in Goma.
And this is precisely why France has been calling for a stop in the assault of the M23 and Rwanda in the Goma region, and to find back a way to have
diplomatic talks between President Tshisekedi and President Kagame to reach the needs of the situation.
GIOKOS: Yeah. And look at the U.N. Security Council emergency meeting -- you know, a lot of the U.N. Ambassadors were reiterating what was put into
the Rwanda process, which is that Rwanda must stop supporting M23 rebels and the DRC needs to help neutralize the FDLR, it's a group that's linked
to the Rwandan genocide.
[09:20:00]
What is France's take on this? And what conversations are you having right now with Paul Kagame?
LEMOINE: There is a constant conversation with Paul Kagame, as well as with President Tshisekedi. The point of France is to reach peace and to stop the
operations that are now occurring in Goma. We welcome, you know, the Angolese mediation that has taken place for the last month, and that would
that was meant to ease the situation.
Now we realize that the situation is very, very worrying, and so France resume -- will resume all its efforts to bring the parties to the table and
to try to find a solution for at the very end of it, this seas of the operation in Goma, and a withdraw of all the 23 troops that are presence in
the Goma region.
GIOKOS: Yeah. So, here's the other question. I mean, you're saying that France will be involved, and they need to talk. President Ruto of Kenya
wanting to hold crisis talks. It seems that President Tshisekedi doesn't want to get involved in these talks. Are you worried about a scenario where
the two leaders don't engage, and you know this could result in, you know, a continued escalation in what we're seeing in the Eastern DRC.
LEMOINE: Absolutely. Again, the situation is very worrying on the ground, and this is why the talks between President Tshisekedi and President Kagame
must resume. President Ruto of Kenya proposed its help, and that was very welcome to propose this. Will see where it goes, and if he succeeds into
bringing back the two parties at the table.
But French will remit -- will remain committed and fully committed to help the participant, you know, go around the table and talks. Again, the
situation is on the ground, is very worrying, and it harms the civilian population, which is -- which are the first victims of those operations?
GIOKOS: Absolutely. I mean, and this has been going on for decades, the numbers are actually quite staggering. So let me ask you simply this does
is the French side, you know the French position. Do you believe this is about critical mineral supply?
Or do you believe this is about security that Rwanda has been talking about a very long time, because it wants to see the neutralization of the FDLR,
which the U.N. Ambassador to Rwanda had said at the U.N. Security Council that they had shelling into Rwandan territory, which then creates a bigger
escalation? Where do you stand critical minerals or security?
LEMOINE: I think you know the current situation is a result of multiple reasons. And as you mentioned, it's a long term, ongoing crisis. So now the
situation is escalating, and it's very dangerous for the civilian population, as well as for the stability of the whole region. And this is
now time for discussion.
So, security is, of course, a main concern, and we should guarantee that the region is fully, fully safe. And there should be a global and
comprehensive talks between President Tshisekedi and President Kagame to settle the whole situation. Again, there are many reasons why those
operations are occurring.
The main point for France at the moment is to find a way out which would be a diplomatic way out through dialog and constructive dialog. And France
will be fully involved in this.
GIOKOS: Sir, before I let you go, I want to talk about the U.N. well, the French Foreign Minister speaking to U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
What can you tell us about that call? And what is France's position on foreign aid that has been put on hold for 90 days? It's affecting many
countries around the world. What is your position on this?
LEMOINE: Well, there has been a few days ago, the first contact between the Secretary of State, Rubio and the French Minister Barrot. It was a first
call, which was a first contact call, and they talked about many, many issues, especially the issues about the current crisis, about Ukraine,
about the Middle East, of course.
And it was a very, it was a very constructive talk. And it's a good start. As you know, France and the United States are all the lies, and they
usually go together as far as crises are concerned. We saw it in the last month for Lebanon and reaching a ceasefire. So, we will continue to work
constructively with the new American Administration on the on your more specific question about.
You know, the suspension of USAID, we understood that it's a temporary suspension for the new administration to review maybe the objectives, maybe
the priorities, so we will see what comes out of this review by the American Administration, but we'll see where it goes.
[09:25:00]
But for sure, we will continue on to work constructively with our American friends.
GIOKOS: Christophe Lemoine, thank you so much for joining us and for your insights today. Much appreciated --
LEMOINE: Thank you very much. Thank you.
GIOKOS: Moving on, tragedy strikes at the world's largest religious gathering. A local hospital official says at least 35 people were killed in
a crowd crush earlier today at the Hindu festival in Uttar Pradesh, India. Organizers believe it started after a control barrier broke.
Now tens of millions of worshippers gathered at the festival to bathe in sacred river waters. When we come back, a look at what we can expect from
the U.S. Federal Reserve ahead of a key interest rate decision. We'll bring you an update on that in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Welcome back. I'm Eleni Giokos in Abu Dhabi, and you're watching "Connect the World". These are your headlines. One of Donald Trump's
controversial nominees faces a Senate confirmation hearing in the next hour. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, is Mr. Trump's pick
for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
If confirmed, he would oversee a department that approves vaccines. A source says U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East Envoy crossed into
Gaza today. Steve Witkoff becomes the first American official to visit the enclave in more than a decade. Witkoff is in Israel for meetings with
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel's Defense Minister.
An increasingly dangerous situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United Nations says there are many dead bodies on the streets of Goma
and warns of a possible breakdown of law and order. Hundreds of thousands of people have already fled their homes.
Now, the U.S. Federal Reserve wrapping up its first-rate meeting of the New Year and new presidency the Fed is expected to hold steady on interest
rates, pausing after cutting short term rates over its last three meetings.
[09:30:00]
All right, we're going to check in on the New York Stock Exchange. The opening bell is about to ring, and there it is. Right. It has been a busy
week, so much news on the tech front and a lot of whiplash, I would say, after that AI model was released in China. We'll be checking in on how the
markets are trading in early trade in just a bit.
Now, President Trump has been clear about his stance on interest rates, calling for a drop in interest rates immediately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: With oil prices going down, I'll demand that interest rates drop immediately, and likewise,
they should be dropping all over the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Well, market participants have been cautious in the lead up to today's Federal Reserve announcement, amid a volatile weak market and the
Fed looking to the economic impact of Mr. Trump's policies. Matt Egan joins us now to take us through what we can expect from the Fed decision today.
Good to see you, Matt. What a day, progress towards lowering inflation seems to get back on track last month. Are we expected to see any further
moves? We know that technically, the Federal Reserve and Jerome Powell shouldn't be swayed by anything the U.S. President says, but he's going to
be looking at the numbers.
MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yeah, that's right, Eleni. the Federal Reserve really prides itself on being independent, independent from politicians,
including the President of the United States. Now, while President Trump wants interest rates to go down immediately around the world that he's
going to be disappointed, because the Fed is almost definitely going to keep interest rates steady.
Today, the markets press again like a 99 percent chance that the Fed pauses. Now this would be the first pause from the Fed since they started
cutting back in September, and investors are betting that it could be a prolonged pause. The markets are pricing in low chance of an interest rate
cut at the next meeting.
It's really not until June that there's any sort of confidence that the Fed will be able to resume cutting interest rates. And of course, this is
coming because arguably, the economy doesn't need to have an interest rate cut right now, right? Unemployment is still very low. There's no recession
in sight.
And also, inflation, while there has been progress, inflation is still above the Fed's target. And then you throw on top of that all the
uncertainty about policy here in Washington, including Trump's trade agenda. And so that's why investors are betting that the Fed is going to
hold rates steady.
This is disappointing to borrowers, right? Because although rates have come down a bit, they are still high. They're still higher than a few years ago,
much higher than back in 2017 when Trump was first in the White House. Trump has made very clear what he wants here, but at the end of the day,
presidents don't call shots in the United States on interest rates, right?
GIOKOS: Yeah.
EGAN: And that's for good reason. I mean, what politician wouldn't be in favor of ultra-low mortgage rates or dirt-cheap credit card rates. They
would all want that. But if you keep rates artificially low, then that's going to actually make inflation go higher. And so that's why the Fed is,
by design, independent.
GIOKOS: Yeah.
EGAN: But look, Eleni, as you know, we've seen this before, that Fed independence is going to face a new test, starting today, as it collides
head on with the wishes of a newly powerful President Trump.
GIOKOS: Absolutely. Absolutely. Actually, I can think of a few examples where politicians have gotten involved in central banks, and it's not a
good story, because you get hyperinflation, so a harbinger of what could come if you get, you know, involvement. But I actually have the market open
numbers right now.
I want to take a look. And the DOW is flat, with the positive buyers, NASDAQ and S&P in the red right now. It has been a volatile week.
Everyone's been looking at what deep seekers doing to the AI space in the United States.
It also there's a bit of reticence, because we're waiting to hear what the Fed will not only do, which, as you say, anticipated no move, but it's what
it's going to be talking about in the future, right? What it's planning to do down the line, and what the prognosis is of the inflationary outlook?
EGAN: Yeah, that's exactly right. I mean, the main news today is probably not going to be from the Fed decision or even the statement, which might
not change that much. It's how Jerome Powell sounds today during the press conference about the progress on inflation, which it's been bumpy, right?
It's been uneven that progress lately. There's been a lot of strength from the jobs market, which is mostly nice to see, but it has taken some
pressure off Powell and his colleagues from cutting interest rates. And Powell is also going to face questions about the independence of the Fed.
You know, when I asked the Fed Chair, a few months ago about this issue and about some of the wishes of Trump, who was at that time, still a candidate.
[09:35:00]
Powell made clear that he believes that history shows that the central banks around the world that are independent from politicians. They end up
having a better track record on inflation, to your point, Eleni. And we have seen in some other countries, including in Turkey and elsewhere that
when politicians get involved, that's where you can have a problem, right?
Because sometimes the economy needs higher interest rates. So, we're all going to be paying very close attention to what hints Powell drops on how
long he expects interest rates to stay where they are and when he thinks they can start to come down again, Eleni.
GIOKOS: All right, fascinating times. Matt Egan, I will be watching that decision like I will be later in the day. Good to have you on.
EGAN: Thanks.
GIOKOS: And on the campaign trail before the last election, Donald Trump promised a shock and awe campaign upon his return to the White House. And
he appears to be delivering on that, a little more than a week, he has issued a flurry of executive orders as well as pardons, and is trying to
radically change how the federal government is run.
One reason he's so determined to make a fast start, the Republicans monopoly on both Houses of Congress may only last two years. Some
Democrats, meantime, are struggling to accept the changes and are lashing out publicly in a variety of ways. Listen to what some of them are saying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR): As much as Trump desires it, the president is not a king. As much as Trump desires it, a law is not a suggestion. These are
not questions of opinion. These are principles at the heart of our constitutional system. It's at the heart of our checks and balances. And
thus, we have a constitutional crisis.
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): We have to understand what is happening in context, right? The president wants you to be distracted by the day-to-day
announcements, but put together the pardoning of the violent rioters, the firing of the inspectors general. And today, the stoppage of federal
funding, leaving the decision only to the political whims of President Trump represents the greatest, most serious constitutional crisis of our
lifetime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Well President Trump sent shock waves on day one of his administration, when he granted came and see to all of the nearly 1600
people charged with the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol in Texas. One woman is working to turn her home into a retreat for pardoned
offenders. CNN's Donie O'Sullivan has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNY CUDD, PARDONED JANUARY 6 OFFENDER: We're frantically working to get them done. I already have two J sixers living on our property.
DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is Jenny Cudd. She's opening her home here in the Texas countryside to pardoned
January Sixers.
O'SULLIVAN: So, you are building basically small homes?
CUDD: Yes, so they're about 300 square feet.
O'SULLIVAN: Right.
CUDD: And we'll ultimately build five of them. There are not very many people that get a second chance at life.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): For Cudd, this is very personal. She was sentenced to two months' probation for entering the Capitol on January 6th.
CUDD (voice-over): We did break down the Nancy Pelosi's office door.
CUDD: I had death threats for two years. I had over 1001-star reviews on my business.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Cudd has raised more than $50,000 for the project.
CUDD: The J6 Road Home Project is a comprehensive healing program. So, we already have in place a National Telehealth Network. And then we have jobs
lined up all over Texas that are just waiting for these guys to get here.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): One of the pardoned January 6 convicts arrived while we were there. Don Hazard was part of the Patriot boys of North Texas
militia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- glad to meet you.
DON HAZARD, PARDONED JANUARY 6 OFFENDER: You too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): He was sentenced to almost five years in prison for his role in January 6.
HAZARD: Make sure you get my face and everything on your news channel.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Among the charges was assaulting police.
HAZARD: I want the enemy to know exactly who is coming after them --
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): Until Trump's pardon, Hazard had been in federal custody for more than three years.
HAZARD: -- it's nice out here. I like it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, I'll have that bathroom will be back there, and this will be like a little kitchenette and bedroom.
HAZARD: Nice -- I love that smell of fresh lumber.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): After his release, he drove here to Texas.
O'SULLIVAN: You're a free man now.
HAZARD: Total freedom, total freedom. I mean, got my rights back.
[09:40:00]
You know, I was able to go in a gun shop the other day, right when I got back to Texas and check out some firearms and whatnot. You know, without
feeling like I was doing without doing something against the law. I'm interested in starting a business and something successful.
O'SULLIVAN: Do you regrets January 6 at all? Do you wish you didn't go?
HAZARD: The only regrets that I have at all about what I did was just got outsmarted by the left it was a total setup. It was a trap, and we walked
right into it. We did exactly what they wanted us to do.
O'SULLIVAN (voice-over): The January 6th attack was not a setup, but many of the January 6 convicts that I've spoken to say they believe it was and
because they think they were set up. They don't have remorse or regret for what they did on that day.
O'SULLIVAN: So, you pled guilty, right?
HAZARD: I did, but, I mean, I was blackmailed into it. I resisted arrest. You know, they charged me with an assault charge carrying up to 20 years.
Way, way over kill.
O'SULLIVAN: To you had, I think, pushed a police officer who was then knocked unconscious.
HAZARD: That's not really what happened. I tried to go up some stairs. OK. They caught me. They pretty much beat me up, as far as I could tell, and
then shoved me back down the stairs. I don't think any of us were fairly charged. None of us got a fair shake in court, federal judges, prosecutors,
I think they're all guilty of treason.
O'SULLIVAN: Do you think there should be retribution?
HAZARD: Most definitely, I think so. I mean, most definitely, I think so.
O'SULLIVAN: You got your dad, your granddad, your uncle, all military.
CUDD: All military.
O'SULLIVAN: Yeah.
CUDD: My father-in-law, my cousin.
O'SULLIVAN: So, this is the wall of heroes.
CUDD: Yes, and it's growing more and more day by day. And now I'm going to get a giant picture of outside of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th and put
that up on the wall of heroes.
O'SULLIVAN: But a lot of people right now would look at the other people you have on this wall, people who were part of January 6, I'd say, no,
they're not heroes to you they are.
CUDD: Absolutely to me, they are. Because they were willing to stand up for their country and do what they believed was right. And most of them lost
everything. So yes, to me, they're heroes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIOKOS: Next hour, President Trump's controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services will face questions from senators
at his first confirmation hearing. Some of Robert Kennedy Jr.'s public statements on public health have raised questions whether he should lead
that organization.
CNN Medical Correspondent, Meg Tirrell joins us now from New York for the medical perspective. Meg, great to have you with us.
[09:45:00]
I think a lot of people have been watching some of the comments from RFK Jr., and then you see this controversial pick by President Trump. What are
some of the things you'll be looking out for that could sway the decision of whether he will be confirmed?
MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, there are a number of issues, but probably the chief one that people associate with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
is his stance on vaccines, and if he is confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he would have broad authority both over how
vaccines are approved, how they are recommended, potentially even how they're paid for.
But also more broadly, just the public's trust in vaccines, which already we have been seeing declining. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made false and
misleading statements about vaccines in interviews through his advocacy organization. And then he will claim that he hasn't actually made those
statements.
And so, we are looking to see how he handles that today. But of course, that is a chief issue that a number of public health experts have raised
could be extremely damaging to the nation's health and allow for the rise of diseases like measles and polio, once again, in the United States.
But that's not the only thing that a lot of folks are listening for. Abortion will also be a major question, particularly from Republican
Senators, as some of RFK Jr.'s, previous stances have allowed for more access to abortion than many Republican Senators would like to see. But
also, of course, pandemic preparedness.
We're in a time when a lot of public health experts are very concerned about the risk of bird flu. We are also in a time when the public health
agencies in the United States are under a communications pause and a pause on a lot of their external research funding processes.
And so, there's a lot of worries about what he might do around the NIH for example, which funds a lot of external research and internal research on
infectious diseases. But also, he's embraced this idea of make America healthy again, with a focus on chronic diseases.
There is actually a lot of support for his food policies, for example. So, people will be listening for that, but trying to balance the potential
risks his positions on vaccines and other things, bring with some ideas that many people embrace, particularly around food.
GIOKOS: All right. Meg Tirrell, thank you so much for that update. And still to come that blockbuster Senate confirmation hearing live on CNN.
We'll bring you that shortly. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:50:00]
GIOKOS: Now, in a few minutes, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee starts its hearing to examine Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination to be Health and
Human Services Secretary. You can see live pictures there. We are anticipating that to start shortly. Meantime, the Former Democratic
Presidential Candidate and vaccine conspiracy theorist is far from a typical nominee.
He's compared government mandates during the COVID pandemic to the conduct of Nazi Germany and South Africa's former apartheid regime, and suggested
chemicals in drinking water might make children gay or transgender. Kennedy also has a long history peddling the false claim that HIV does not cause
AIDS.
Well, let's stay on this with Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University, Julian Zelizer, great to have you with us.
JULIAN ZELIZER, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Thank you.
GIOKOS: Quite a day, and I think many people are looking forward to what will come out of this. Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.'s cousin came out very
strongly against the nomination of RFK. How is it likely, is it that you know story and some of what she's experienced going to impact senators
opinion?
ZELIZER: It's not clear. It will have a big impact. Republicans who obviously control the Senate are pretty determined to follow through on
what President Trump is asking for we've seen this in all the confirmations.
The only question is, less what she has to say, and more, does his position on issues such as vaccines potentially fracture Republicans with some like
Senator McConnell, who have had their own health history and experience with the virtues of vaccines break because they're scared of the
implications. But I just don't think her words carry as much weight as they might have 10, 15, years ago.
GIOKOS: Yeah, the one point on that could become kind of political is his views on abortion, which we know where Republicans stand on that. So how
likely is it that he will be confirmed is today's hearing just going through the motions before his nomination is rubber stamped?
ZELIZER: It's not going through the motions. There's enough Republicans who have been highlighted either because they oppose what he says on abortion,
or they oppose what he says on vaccines, or they just have broader concerns about all the statements you mentioned in the opening.
They can't afford to lose many and so it's not inevitable he will get through, that said, if we're just following how this is going, the odds
still favor him, not because of him, but because of the power that President Trump has in the Senate Republican Caucus. They are aligned, and
they don't have much willingness to break or cause problems for the president.
GIOKOS: Importantly, we saw a massive U-turn from him, right? What does it say that Kennedy went from a Democratic presidential candidate to a
steadfast Trump ally in a matter of months.
ZELIZER: Well, I mean, part of it shows the sway of the MAGA Republican coalition. At this point, someone who senses where power lies put his chips
in in that political party. Part of it shows that President Trump has figured out a way to broaden his coalition and even reach people such as
Kennedy or Gabbard who have on some issues very liberal views, but also have points of connection with what the administration is about.
But finally, beyond the kind of odds of whether this works. It shows that within this Trump Administration, there is consideration of people who many
consider quite risky to be in charge of some huge agencies in huge areas of policy.
GIOKOS: And tell me, what are you going to be looking out for? What are the most important messages that you'll be looking out for in this hearing?
ZELIZER: Well, I think the vaccines is not just an issue, it's really the issue. In many ways, this is a central part of public health policy at this
point with a very well documented record of success. So, I'm curious to see, do Republicans talk about this? And do they really press him on his
skepticism and spreading disinformation about this?
Or are they relatively muted? If they're relatively muted in their questions. I think this confirmation is going through. And also, I'm
curious how Democrats respond. Part of the story we're looking at now is what are -- what Democrats going to do, and how united are they in
confronting him?
[09:55:00]
How united are they, even if they're going to lose in raising questions about what this means for HHS and what this means about President Trump and
this second term?
GIOKOS: Julian Zelizer, great to have you with us. Thank you so much for taking the time today. You're seeing live pictures from Capitol Hill. We're
waiting for RFK Jr.'s hearing that is about to start very soon. We're going to a short break and we'll be right back. Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END