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Erin Burnett Outfront
Six Prosecutors Quit Amid White House Pressure To Probe Renee Good's Actions; Trump Holds Meeting On Iran, Warns Of "Strong Action" As Death Toll Rises; Trump Appears To Flip Off Heckler In Michigan, White House Says "Appropriate". Aired 7-8p ET
Aired January 13, 2026 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[19:00:23]
ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: OUTFRONT next:
Breaking news, Trump's DOJ says there is not enough evidence for a criminal investigation into the ICE agent who shot Renee Good. And this comes as at least six prosecutors quit today after the Trump administration pressured them to focus the investigation on good and her widow. The Minneapolis police chief is our guest. And Good's former father-in-law also joins us OUTFRONT.
Also breaking, Trump threatening to, quote, "take very strong action in Iran". The number of protesters killed -- estimates now are topping 2,400 people. A doctor who just fled Iran tells CNN in graphic detail what is happening across the country. An exclusive report ahead.
And a shocking shift. Gen Z voters flocking to the Democratic Party in numbers that are shocking Harry Enten.
Let's go OUTFRONT.
(MUSIC)
BURNETT: And good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.
OUTFRONT tonight, the breaking news, the DOJ refusing to open a criminal investigation into the agent who shot and killed Renee Nicole Good in her car.
The deputy attorney general, Todd Blanch, says there's not enough evidence to back even starting a criminal investigation.
Moments ago, the president supporting that agent on CBS.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When you look at the way that was, that car was pulled away. There are a couple of versions of that tape that are very, very bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: This comes as at least six federal prosecutors in Minnesota quit today. Unprecedented thing to think about. And they quit after pressure from the Trump administration to focus the investigation such that there is one on Renee Good widow's actions.
Now, the people quitting include Joseph Thompson, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota. He is a career prosecutor. He's been investigating fraud in Minnesota and the Minneapolis police chief, Brian O'Hara says of all this, when you lose the leader responsible for making those cases, it signals that this immigration enforcement isn't about prosecuting fraud.
Well, that, of course, has been the reason that the Trump administration has given for deploying federal agents to Minneapolis, right? That's -- that's the whole core of it for them of this 3,000 agents now apparently descending on the ground.
So Chief O'Hara is going to be joining us in just a moment.
But it comes as Trump is promising a reckoning in Minneapolis. He actually posted today in all caps, "Fear not, great people of Minnesota. The day of reckoning and retribution is coming." Adding fuel to an already explosive situation on the ground, today, officials firing pepper balls at protesters who were shouting ICE out now! Flashbangs also fired at the crowd. Ryan
Young and his team were in the middle of what went on today between protesters and ICE agents. And he joins us live from Minneapolis at the federal building, where protesters are still angry.
And I know, Ryan, this was by far the most tense and escalating moment that you have seen so far.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, this is very tense and reminded us of last week what happened here outside the building when we saw those protesters clashing with ICE and border patrol agents. I can't wait to hear from the police chief, because there's been a lot of conversation just about who's in control of the streets here as we walk you back this direction here.
There's probably about 35 to 40 protesters left. They're very energetic. We know within the next hour or so, there's going to be another candlelight vigil.
But all day long, people have been sort of concerned about what this federal law enforcement action in the city mean. But we have to show you this video because we were down there near the site where Renee Good was killed. We heard whistles, and then we saw people running. We followed behind them, and the next thing you know, it was pure chaos.
We saw agents. It looked like more than 100 agents in the streets. They were grabbing people from their cars, pulling them out. We saw people being detained. We saw an older gentleman who had at least ten agents on top of them.
And then at some point, the pepper balls and the spray started being put into the crowd. People running flashbangs were used and the agents didn't even have enough control of the agents that they were using. Some of them were spraying each other, so that created a different situation where they had to pull those agents off the front line to get them back to safety.
Then we saw the crowd get more energized and start banging on the cars of the ICE agents to try to get people out of those cars as well. That didn't work. And then people started running to try to get away from the agents through the alleyways of the neighborhood.
This was one of the most chaotic scenes we had seen. A lot of physicality and then come back to this site. That's the federal building over there. These people are maintaining a vigilance at the front gate. Anytime they believe someone is being carried in, they're still yelling back and forth, trying to get some sort of reaction.
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Again, we know a vigil is going to start within the next hour. All of this happening where the people that we've talked so far tell us, they hope that the state and local officials are able to move out of the way of this car here, are able to navigate the situation and do a lawsuit that will stop some of this action from happening. It's something that we've been watching all day long, and as you can hear, the crowd is still energized -- Erin.
BURNETT: Yeah, they absolutely are. And I can see them behind where you're standing now.
All right, Ryan, thank you very much. On the ground in the middle of that, I want to go as promised now to the Minneapolis police chief, Brian O'Hara.
Chief O'Hara, so much to talk to you about tonight. We understand that at least six prosecutors from the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota have quit. A source telling us it's because the Trump administration pressured them to focus the investigation on the actions of Renee Good's widow. And it's a mass resignation, obviously unprecedented.
I know you know, some of these individuals personally. I mean, what are you learning about all of this?
CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Well, we have -- I think now -- at least seven career prosecutors that have submitted their resignations, five of them are the most senior leadership of the U.S. attorney's office. And they're incredibly dedicated.
I think obviously, when you see whole scale -- wholesale resignations like this, it's very concerning. But I can tell you in the last few years we have worked very closely with them to build RICO cases and address violent crime in the city. And these are the people that created those cases, as well as the top prosecutor and the deputy that created all of the fraud cases that that people are talking about.
BURNETT: Right. Which I believe there have been nearly 90 convictions over the past several years, when you're talking about the fraud that I know the administration is, is very focused on now. Those convictions, of course, came in the prior administration as well. So, have you spoken to any of them? I mean, when you say at least
seven and the five most senior leadership, I mean, this is stunning. What are they saying to you?
O'HARA: Yes. You know, they like all of the other, federal law enforcement officers that live in this state that I know are consummate professionals. And I believe they did everything they could to continue to do the right thing for the people of this state and for our country. And I think it just came to the point for each of them have their own reasons, I'm sure, but I think it just came to the point where they felt like they could no longer be a part of that organization.
BURNETT: Okay. So, you know, in the context of this, you've got this, this vacuum.
O'HARA: Yes.
BURNETT: And you also have I don't know if you just heard Ryan Young talking about on the streets. I mean, our understanding from reporting is there are going to be 3,000 federal agents coming into where I know you have what, 600 Minneapolis? I know maybe that amount in Saint Paul, but of actual police officers on the streets and he's talking about the sense of confusion. I mean, who is in charge right now?
O'HARA: Well, we remain the city police for the people of our city. Were the only ones that are responding to street crime, to domestic violence conducting investigations. We remain the police of our community, and we're trying to do everything that we can to try and de-escalate situations, de-escalate some of the chaos that's happening on the street, and try and encourage everyone in our community to keep people safe.
And also encourage federal law enforcement -- if you're out here in our community, please perform in the way that we expect our law enforcement officers to perform their duties.
BURNETT: Are they -- I mean, I don't want to use the word coordinating in a loaded sense at all, chief, but I mean, are they telling you what they are doing? Are they asking you for help? Or are they just showing up? And sort of your officers are totally in the dark.
O'HARA: So they're not coordinating, but we are getting literally dozens of 911 calls every day, in some cases from federal law enforcement, in some cases for from people in the community. And it is definitely placing an additional strain on our already short-staffed police department, diverting resources away from preventing street crime, investigating crime to try and manage a lot of the chaotic situations in the street.
BURNETT: Well, thank goodness your officers are out there doing their job and continuing to do so. When you -- when you hear the context around and I know obviously you're talking to these career prosecutors yourself, the attorney's office. But when the deputy attorney general of the United States said, Todd Blanch says the Justice Department doesn't have enough evidence to back a criminal investigation, right? We're not talking about charges or anything like that, just an investigation to what happened into the ICE agent who shot and killed Renee Good. And yet we understand from this mass resignations that they're under pressure to investigate Renee as well as her surviving widow, that they are being pressured to do that.
[19:10:04]
How do you respond to that, chief?
O'HARA: I lost audio, I was lost, I lost.
BURNETT: Okay, I'm sorry, I was just asking you. What is your response to the fact that the career prosecutors are saying that they quit because they were being pressured to investigate Renee Good and her widow, but the deputy attorney general of the United States is saying that there's not even enough evidence to have an investigation into the ICE agent?
O'HARA: Well, it is just typical in situations where federal law enforcement is involved in use of deadly force, as it is typical for local police officers that are involved in deadly force incidents, to have a full and thorough investigation in order to have an accounting of the facts, to ensure that, the use of deadly force was lawfully justified, as well as in accordance with current policy in training.
It's also necessary to ensure that there aren't any changes that need to be made, potentially to agency policy or agency practices. So, to not have an investigation at all is totally at odds with what typically happens.
BURNETT: Chief, you know, you're working around the clock, your offices are and you've talked about, you know, the fatigue, the short staff that they're dealing with and the incredible confusion. I mentioned that again, because the president today posted and he put in all caps, "Fear not. Great people of Minnesota. The day of reckoning and retribution is coming."
Chief, when you see that -- I mean, are you -- are you concerned? I mean, what does reckoning and retribution mean to you?
O'HARA: I have been concerned for several weeks about the escalating situation that's been unfolding on our streets. Hours before this woman was killed, I was telling people very publicly that I was worried a tragedy was going to happen. And that is what has happened. And no one wins when we have a loss of life.
And so I'm concerned that the rhetoric keeps escalating, that the tensions keep rising, that we are headed towards yet another tragedy and a potential trigger to what happened here yet again in 2020.
BURNETT: All right. Well, chief, I appreciate your time, and thank you very much for taking a few minutes out to talk to us. Thank you.
O'HARA: Thank you.
BURNETT: All right. Brian O'Hara, as I said, the chief of the Minneapolis police and everyone is here with me.
Ryan, pretty stunning there what he said. I mean, there were many things he said that were stunning. But, you know, first of all, we had at least six. He's saying at least seven, five of the most senior in the entire office. He's talked to many of them on the way out.
And he's saying that for the agents on the ground, the ICE agents that there and CBP, whatever they are, federal agents that they're not coordinating with them. And again, you could say that's a loaded term. They're clearly not even telling them where they are. They're finding out the Minneapolis police because they're getting 911 calls. So they have no idea where 3,000 possibly agents are showing up.
RYAN GOODMAN, FORMER SPECIAL COUNSEL AT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: It's a highly unusual situation. It sounds highly chaotic, and I understand why the chief days ago, in fact, said that something bad is about to happen --
BURNETT: He did say, yeah.
GOODMAN: -- in the situation. So, he anticipated what we then saw happen with the shooting of Ms. Good. And then here he's saying again, this is even more incendiary, given that we're in the aftermath of that incident, and yet there's still not coordination. They're sending in about 1000 more federal agents.
BURNETT: Yeah.
GOODMAN: It's a -- it's a tinderbox in a sense.
BURNETT: I mean, S.E., and, you know, just to say that that this is something that's bothering a lot of people. Okay. It is. And it need not be a political situation. Okay? Joe Rogan obviously endorsed Trump. He was he was right.
Joe Rogan was crucial to Trump's reelection. And he's an important voice to Trump's base. Now, he came out today about ICE and the shooting of Renee Good. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ROGAN, PODCAST HOST: You don't want militarized people in the streets just roaming around snatching people up, many of which turn out to actually be U.S. citizens that just don't have their papers on them. Are we really going to be the gestapo? Where's your papers? Is that what we've come to?
I'm not that guy. I don't know what he thought. And again, this is a guy who had almost been run over, but it just looked horrific to me. It did -- I mean, when people are saying it's justifiable because the car hit him, it seemed like she was kind of turning the car away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Okay, so he's just saying what anybody looking at that objectively would see. But it's also the point that he made. Are we really going to be the gestapo? That's Joe Rogan.
S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yeah. And Joe Rogan is an important voice. And it's important, you know what he says, but more importantly is who he represents. And he represents a lot of Trump voters.
[19:15:02]
And I think if you are -- you're Joe Rogan and you're starting to express some skepticism with the way that this is being handled, this being the immigration situation. The militarization situation, and this particular incident, I think Joe Rogan knows who knows who he's talking to. I think he knows his audience really well.
And so, I think if you're -- if you're looking at sort of the MAGA sphere and you're adding, okay, a bunch of them are about Epstein, a bunch of them are about America first and our interventionism now that that Trump promised we wouldn't do anymore. And now you've got some who are I think are very concerned about the way this is being handled. It's bad politics. It's a very worrisome politically for Trump and Republicans.
BURNETT: There's also a question, Ryan, okay. If you have five of the top people in Minnesota's offices, go away. All right. And at least seven have quit over this.
That's bad. But then the other question then becomes who replaces them, right? Who replaces them in an environment like this?
GOODMAN: So I think that's worrisome because there's going to be two kind of effects. I think people are not going to come in who would otherwise serve justice, rule of law and independence in their investigations because they see these seven leaving. Why would they go instead?
And then it also sounds like the pressure that was put on these individuals is enormous. And it sounds like what the higher ups wanted is something highly politicized, if that's what they wanted, I assume that they will replace them with those kinds of people who would actually follow those kinds of orders.
CUPP: And that has happened, you know, when attorneys have resigned because they didn't want to prosecute Jim Comey or Tish James, who filled those spots? People with very little qualification or experience or people who would do the political thing that others wouldn't. It's bad.
BURNETT: Yeah. I mean, that seems to be the concern. And then also, Ryan, I just -- I also will emphasize what Chief O'Hara was saying, right, which -- and Ryan Young reporting, right? There's confusion about who's in charge of the streets of Minneapolis.
Now, the chief says were in charge of doing our jobs in our communities, but you've got 600 of them in Minneapolis about that many in Saint Paul, 3,000 federal agents. I mean, that -- that is frankly shocking. GOODMAN: It's shocking. It's a militarization of American streets.
The other big questions are like, even in the incident with miss good, like, why is the ICE agents? Why are they enforcing a traffic law in a certain sense, even if she's violating the traffic laws? And then that's where the incident goes out of the coordination with different levels of law enforcement. That's when you need a tight law enforcement operation that is working with each other rather than what we're hearing.
BURNETT: And by the way, I'll say one other thing. What I thought the chief said that was really important about the investigation, that it's not just investigation because that's what you do. So that everybody knows the fact. And even if you say, okay, it's tragic and maybe he should have gotten out of the way of the car, but it's not criminal that he did what he did. Maybe that's a conclusion you come to. But then he said something else. He said, maybe that's when you adjust rules.
You look at a situation and without an investigation, without any transparency. It's just whoever is in power, whoever's word they want to believe.
CUPP: Yes. And actually, it would be better politics to let an investigation play out. As you said, it could go either way. You don't know what the conclusion will be. It could enter to the benefit of the Trump administration. It could also not. But we'd learn a lot. But it would also, I think, calm some people down.
And we want leaders who will come out and calm tensions, not raise them. And Trump is so good at the performative cruelty which raises tensions and creates situations like this.
BURNETT: Well, all caps, Minnesota, the day of reckoning and retribution is coming. I mean, there's not -- there's not anybody, whatever your political persuasion, who would say that that is not escalatory.
CUPP: Yeah.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you both very much.
And next, breaking news, Trump moments ago, speaking about Renee Nicole Good.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I would bet you that she, under normal circumstances, was a very solid, wonderful person. But her actions were pretty tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: Her former father-in-law is our guest next.
Also breaking this hour, Trump promising the United States will take very strong action, those are his words, against Iran if the regime starts hanging protesters. A doctor who just made it out of Iran tells CNN what he saw in an exclusive report.
And President Trump appears to flip a heckler off and say, F you twice while touring a Ford plant. We'll tell you what happened.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:23:51]
BURNETT: Breaking news, President Trump moments ago responding to the father of Renee Good. Renee Good father's telling CBS News that he's a Trump supporter, but he's heartbroken that the administration has labeled his daughter a domestic terrorist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I want to say to the father that I love all of our people. They can be on the other side. As you say, he might be on my side.
INTERVIEWER: He is on your side.
TRUMP: And I think that's great, and I do. I think it's great. And I would bet you that she, under normal circumstances, was a very solid, wonderful person. But her actions were pretty tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: OUTFRONT now, Renee Good's former father-in-law, Timmy Macklin, and he is the grandfather of Good's six-year-old son, that little boy.
And Timmy, we're really appreciative that you are willing to speak out. And I know you want to talk about Renee.
Your son was married to her before he died in 2023, and now there has been this horrible tragedy for Renee. And of course, your grandson now has lost both his biological parents. You just heard the president speak about your former daughter-in-law. What's your reaction?
[19:25:00]
TIMMY MACKLIN, FATHER OF RENEE GOOD'S LATE HUSBAND: Well, you know, I'm myself, I'm a Trump supporter also. And Renee was amazing person. I mean, she full of life, full of joy. I mean, real gentle, good mother. You know, I just think, you know, we make bad choices.
And you know, that's the problem. There's so much chaos in the whole world today. And that's what the Bible says. If my people would humble ourselves and seek his face and pray and turn from their wicked ways, God will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our lands.
And that's what we need to do. We need to turn to God and walk in the spirit of God. And you know, and let him lead us and guide us.
BURNETT: So we have some news. Yeah, yeah.
(CROSSTALK) MACKLIN: I'm sorry. Go ahead.
BURNETT: No, no, no. That's okay. I am sorry for your loss. Because for your loss, for you. It's your grandson who will suffer so greatly. And you have suffered the loss of your own son so tragically as well, her former husband.
Your grandson, six years old, have you been able to see him or talk to him since all of this has happened?
MACKLIN: Not since it's happened. I've been blessed -- been blessed to see him, you know, two or three times a year. He's amazing young child. I mean, he's amazing. He's really smart. And so, I look forward to seeing him when I can.
BURNETT: I want to ask you about this. You know, when you talk about the confusion and you've been open, obviously, about your support for the president, when you look at the videos of what happened and I'm sure they're very hard for you, Tim, to watch if you've even been able to. But the deputy attorney general says that the Justice Department doesn't believe that there's evidence to back a criminal investigation. Right. And know nothing about charges or anything that just an investigation into what happened in terms of the ICE agents actions. But they were, according to the prosecutors, resigning today, pressuring them to investigate renes actions, and Becca, her wife's actions.
How do you feel about all that
MACKLIN: Well, you know, I'm not blaming anybody. I mean, it's a hard situation all the way around. It's hard for the, you know, for everybody involved. I mean, the ICE agent, you know, at first, I didn't see the footage where, you know, he was actually, you know, he was actually being ran. I mean, I've seen the bumper of the car hitting, you know, hitting his legs. And so in, in a, you know, in a flash like that, it's hard to say how you would react from my understanding that he had been through that before, maybe dragged or something.
And so, you know, like I said, it's just -- it's just a hard situation for everybody. You know, Becca, you know, it's -- she's a great person as well. I mean, you know, I don't have any many enemies. I love everybody, and that's what the bible tells us. Love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
But, you know, I think there's some bad choices. And the word says, for the wrath of God will come upon the children of disobedience. And, you know, it's, I don't blame ICE. I don't blame Rebecca. I don't blame Renee.
I just, you know, I just wish that, you know, if we're walking in the spirit of God, I don't think she would have been there. That's the way I look at it.
BURNETT: So, when President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, he says that the ICE agent who shot Renee is in hiding. Do you have a message for him?
MACKLIN: Well, you know, its this world is full of trials and tribulations and you know, he is -- well, needs to turn to the Lord. His statement that he made, after the incident, you know the things he called her, I mean, that's definitely showing evidence that he that he don't know the Lord like he should. And, you know, the Bible said in John 16:33 said, I've spoken these things to you, in me you have peace in the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.
And he's the way. He's the only way for any of us to make it through this journey that we're on with peace.
BURNETT: So what do you want people to remember about Renee? You know who for so many, tragically, is going to be remembered -- for this incident, right? For maybe what they saw on a video. This is a woman that you knew was married to your son, the mother of your grandson
MACKLIN: Well, I mean, like I said, she was an amazing person. She was really gentle, you know, patient with my grandson, with Emerson. You know, just, you know, did you -- did I agree with everything that she did? Absolutely not.
You know, but we've all, you know, I've myself I, you know, I've been addicted to drugs. I've been a -- I've been a lot of bad things. But when God changed my life over, it changed everything.
But, you know, she's amazing person. Real, real outgoing. Full of -- full of laughter all the time. I mean, she was a happy person, and it was really a shock to see this happen to her.
BURNETT: It's funny, one of her neighbors, who had lived with her briefly in Kansas City was talking about her laughing, that that's what they would hear every day on the way to school.
MACKLIN: All the time, see her laughing --
BURNETT: You'd hear yelling out of other houses. You'd hear laughing out of -- out of her. So that's a lovely memory.
Timmy, thank you very much for coming on and talking to me.
[19:30:04]
MACKLIN: Thanks for having me. Thank you, and God bless you.
BURNETT: And next, a CNN exclusive, a doctor who just escaped the violence in Iran tonight, revealing the horrific violence taking place on the streets. Plus, the Clintons defy Congress now slamming a House investigation, saying it's nothing more than an attempt to embarrass political rivals. A member of the committee that subpoenaed the Clintons is OUTFRONT.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BURNETT: Breaking news. President Trump holding a meeting on Iran tonight with top administration officials as anti-government protests grow. The State Department warning that the first protester sentenced to death could be hanged as soon as tomorrow, which could spark more unrest. And Trump is promising to take, quote, very strong action against Iran if hangings happen
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We will take very strong action if they do such a thing, when they start killing thousands of people.
[19:35:02]
And now you're telling me about hanging. We'll see how that works out for them. It's not going to work out good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNETT: At least 2,403 protesters have been killed in just over three weeks, according to one human rights group.
Jomana Karadsheh is OUTFRONT with an exclusive report on what's happening inside Iran. We warn you that the images you will see in her reporting are graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iranians are risking their lives to show the world the brutality the regime has unleashed a ruthless crackdown it's tried to conceal under the cover of a communications blackout.
IRANIAN DOCTOR: There were bursts of automatic fire screaming people gathering protests. The staccato of bursts, people shrieking and slogans in the street. I opened the window briefly. The smell of gunpowder and tear gas was everywhere.
KARADSHEH: This is the voice of a doctor who's just left Iran. He's sharing his account exclusively with CNN and the pro-reform news outlet IranWire. He still fears for his safety. So, we are concealing his identity.
We're bringing you this rare firsthand testimony of what he witnessed inside the country.
KARADSHEH (voice-over): He says the crackdown intensified dramatically on Thursday. It was just as we began getting pictures of larger crowds out on the streets of Iranian cities.
IRANIAN DOCTOR: Everything fell apart. At 8:00 p.m., the Internet was cut. At 8:20, I got a call from the hospital. Doctor, come. You must come.
When I arrived, I saw what we call a mass casualty situation. Every single one of the four operating rooms was full. I was there from 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. until the morning. I don't know how many surgeries I did, maybe 10 or 11. KARADSHEH (voice-over): This is one of the few videos to have surfaced
from inside Iran's hospitals. It shows some of the injured. But the doctor's testimony paints an even more distressing picture.
IRANIAN DOCTOR: From midnight Thursday onward, the type of injuries changed. The live rounds started. By Friday evening, all the beds were full. Most had pellet injuries and similar wounds
KARADSHEH (voice-over): Throughout these and previous protests, the regime's security forces raided hospitals and hunted down injured protesters and the medical staff, treating them -- turning places of healing into scenes of horror.
IRANIAN DOCTOR: There was so much fear. Three patients contacted me through intermediaries. I was afraid to answer, wanting to make sure it wasn't security agents trying to trap me.
KARADSHEH (voice-over): The true scale of the carnage is only just beginning to emerge once again. So many Iranians find themselves abandoned and alone in this nightmare.
IRANIAN DOCTOR: The hope being pumped by external media is not what we feel inside. Inside Iran, it's a mix of terror, desperation, and a tiny flickering shred of hope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KARADSHEH (on camera): Erin, I was speaking with an Iranian activist today who was telling me that those huge protests that we saw last Thursday, he believes that's because a lot of people felt emboldened by President Trump's comments, that they felt they had the U.S.'s protection, he says their only hope right now to stop the carnage is President Trump. If he does nothing, he fears the situation is going to be even more catastrophic -- Erin.
BURNETT: Jomana, thank you very much.
And I want to go OUTFRONT now to Karim Sadjadpour, expert on Iran, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Karim, what Jomana is reporting there is pretty incredible in this moment that that she's saying and obviously, you know, this is -- she's saying she's talking to one person. But the importance of Trump's words, right, that they're -- that the protesters are doing this. This person said, because they believe that Trump will have their backs. I mean, is that -- is that really the fuel?
KARIM SADJADPOUR, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE; IRAN EXPERT: Erin, I counted today that on seven occasions over the last two weeks, President Trump has threatened to take military action against Iran if it killed peaceful protesters. And that was over 2,000 deaths ago, that President Trump said that.
So, I do think that many took his words seriously and are hoping for, at a minimum, an American shield to help protect them against this very brutal regime. BURNETT: Okay. Now, obviously hoping for that. And whether it happens
is, I mean, look, this would be complicated in any normal world, and we're not living in a normal world, Karim.
[19:40:03]
But you've talked for a long time about Iran being run, as you've called, Karim, by a zombie regime about the elderly and diminishing supreme leader. Right? That that there have been all kinds of problems. But -- but, right?
We've seen mass protests before and the government has not fallen. The ayatollahs have not fallen. The Revolutionary Guard, which controls so much of the economy there, has not fallen.
Do you think this time really is different?
SADJADPOUR: It's too soon to say. The regime has closed ranks and we've seen the incredible brutality, but we've also seen remarkable courage from people over the last two weeks. And it's just another reminder that for me, there's no country in the world with a greater gap between its government and its people than Iran.
And that gap can be sustained for some period with great violence, but not indefinitely. And because of the fact that Iran has an 86-year-old supreme leader who's not going to be around that much longer, I do believe this is a country on the cusp of some kind of transformation.
BURNETT: So to that effect, it's -- and, you know, the Venezuela, I think highlights for people just the incredible complexity if anyone forgot from Iraq, Afghanistan of regime change. Although in Venezuela, it's just a management change, right? But in that context, Iran is so many layers of an onion of complexity.
Axios reports that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff met with Reza Pahlavi over the weekend. He's the son of the Iranian Shah, who was ousted in the 1979 revolution. Now, Pahlavi is an opposition figure. He lives in exile in America, right?
I'm curious how you think he is seen. Is that the United States grasping on to somebody that they know who lives in the U.S., or is he somebody that mass numbers of people in Iran see as a potential leader?
SADJADPOUR: Well, I don't think the U.S. government took him seriously until they saw all the videos of people chanting his name, not only in wealthy areas like north Tehran, but even in very conservative areas. Cities like Mashhad and Qom and Khomeyn, the birthplace of Ayatollah Khomeini.
The challenge always is leading an opposition from 6,000 miles away without real organization on the ground. But I do think the fact that people are calling his name is a reflection of the fact that this is a protest, which is about Iranian patriotism and as an antidote to the radical Islam of the regime. And ultimately, Erin, I actually think that's going to be a winning argument in Iran in time, maybe that they lose this battle, but eventually going to win the war, I believe.
BURNETT: Yeah. Karim, thank you so much. I'm always grateful for your time.
SADJADPOUR: Thank you.
BURNETT: All right. Karim Sadjadpour.
And next, President Trump appears to say "F you" while giving the middle finger to someone during a Ford plant tour. We'll tell you why.
Plus, Gen Z voters flocking to the Democratic Party in numbers that are surprising our Harry Enten, and they may surprise you when you see them in a couple minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:47:32]
BURNETT: Breaking news, President Trump appearing to give a heckler the middle finger and saying "F you" twice while touring a Ford plant in Michigan today. TMZ reporting Trump responded to a person who appeared to yell "pedophile protector" at the president.
Of course, it comes as we've learned, Trump's name appears in the Epstein files numerous times, and his DOJ still hasn't released them. Facing widespread criticism for not releasing the full files nearly a month ago, as they were required to do by law. Democrats say that only about 1 percent of the files have been released to the public so far, 1 percent.
Of course, Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein and his crimes. But we saw what we saw today.
And OUTFRONT now is the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Congressman Robert Garcia.
And, Congressman, in response to what happened today, the White House communications director, Stephen Cheung, says, and I quote him, a lunatic was wildly screaming expletives in a complete fit of rage. And the president gave an appropriate and unambiguous response.
Would you agree?
REP. ROBERT GARCIA (D-CA): I mean, completely inappropriate. And of course, below a president, the fact that he is doing that to workers.
And look, I think what people are frustrated at across this country, including clearly that worker, is that Donald Trump continues to lead a White House cover up of the Epstein files. Why has it been weeks now, weeks that the date has passed, where all the files should have been released to the Congress and to the public? We have received 1 percent of the files. That is criminal. It's
illegal. What is Pam Bondi and Donald Trump hiding? Why do we continue to protect these powerful men that raped and abused children and women?
So, it's incredibly concerning. Why are we doing this? And it's really concerning, especially that of what they've released. You're seeing redactions that are, as we know, sometimes including the president and other coconspirators.
We're seeing some of the survivors' names actually be released. We're supposed to be protecting the survivors and their names. And so, it's all concerning. Actions need to be taken. There's obviously a legal route that some folks are exploring and contempt charges as well. All of that, I think, is on the table.
BURNETT: And obviously, you know, as I point out, the presidents never been accused of anything, any wrongdoing. So there has always been deep confusion as to why not put out the files and certainly why redact your name if, if whatevers in there doesn't implicate you in any way. So, it is still very confusing.
But the president is far from the only one who is angry about the Epstein files and talking about them.
[19:50:04]
I mean, we're hearing from Bill and Hillary Clinton they defied a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee to testify on the Epstein investigation. They put out a joint statement to the chairman, James Comer. They said the subpoena was legally invalid.
They added, and I quote from their statement, "There is no plausible explanation for what you are doing other than partisan politics, to say you can't complete your work without speaking to us is simply bizarre. We are confident that any reasonable person, in or out of Congress will see, based on everything we release, that what you are trying to do is punish those who you see as your enemies, and to protect those you think are your friends."
I know Comer is threatening to begin contempt proceedings next week, but you know -- but what happens here? Where do you stand on this? Do you think that it would be as fair to hear from Bill Clinton in this as it would be to hear from Donald Trump, given that both of their names are in the files?
GARCIA: Look, we've said from day one that we'll hear from anyone, whether they're a Democrat or Republican, no matter their wealth or position of power. Absolutely. We are absolutely committed to hearing from anyone, and especially Donald Trump, as to why he is covering up these files.
What's important to note here, though, I think this is -- this is critical, is while Comer continues a partizan attacks on many people, particularly Democrats, he has done little to bring in the folks that know the most. What about Ghislaine Maxwell? Here is Jeffrey Epsteins coconspirator.
Why not bring her in to be deposed in front of the committee? What about Pam Bondi, who's released 1 percent of the files?
And so, as Comer continues to go after his political enemies, while we have said we'll talk to anyone, why not actually focus on those that have the power here?
Pam Bondi has released 1 percent of the files. Let's bring her in to the oversight committee. We've already demanded that of Chairman Comer.
Ghislaine Maxwell, why are we sending her to a less secure prison? She knows more about what happened than anyone else. Why aren't we bringing Ghislaine Maxwell, enforcing that testimony.
So that -- that's going to be critically important for this investigation, and in the weeks ahead.
BURNETT: Well, look, that's a very fair question. And the answer as to why she went in that facility, we know nothing other than it came almost immediately after her multiple interviews with the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche.
On the Clintons, though when I read that statement, I just want to emphasize, Congressman, that it is an incredibly strong statement to come from them. They don't -- they don't respond in this way to things. So, it stood out in that regard.
What did you think as you read it about the tone that the former president and secretary of state had in their letter?
GARCIA: Look, I think that the tone, I think reflects the view of a lot of Americans, which is why has this investigation been so partisan and why the obsession, why the obsession about essentially from Donald Trump to focus solely on Democrats or people that he perceives as his enemies when he himself is leading the cover up, when he himself is moving Ghislaine Maxwell to a less secure prison, when he himself is not demanding Pam Bondi to release the rest of the files.
So, I think that is what you are seeing. Look, as it relates to oversight Democrats, we've said from day one we will talk to anyone that has information. Our goal here is justice for the survivors, and we need Pam Bondi to do the right thing and release all the files.
BURNETT: All right. Congressman Garcia, I appreciate your time and worth mentioning as I try to do every time we cover this, the of the United States could have released those files on the first day he was president, or any day thereafter. None of this needed to happen. It is within his control.
And thank you very much for your time tonight, sir.
GARCIA: Thank you.
BURNETT: And next, he's going to tell us something we don't know. Who's the he? Oh, there he is. What's behind the stunning shift of Gen Z voters flocking to the Democratic Party? Harry Enten is next.
It was almost like you were going to go to a screen and start flipping the letters. Guess who's next?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:57:48]
BURNETT: Tonight, Gen Z voters flocking to the Democratic Party. Weve got new numbers showing a rare double digit shift ahead of the crucial midterm elections.
And Harry Enten is OUTFRONT to tell us something we don't know.
I mean, look, we live in a day and age politically where, you know, things happen all the time where you say, how could this happen? But a shift like this is really stunning, right? I mean, voters under 30 are Gen Z, right?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Correct.
BURNETT: What's the shift that you're seeing?
ENTEN: So, take a look at party identification. Those who identify as Democrats or Republicans look at the margin that Democrats have now versus where it was a year ago. Look at this. It goes from plus six points in 2024.
Look at that ballooning. That's more than a tripling of their advantage that Democrats have up to plus 20 points. I will note there was movement among the adult population overall towards Democrats, but less than half of the movement that we saw among generation Z.
BURNETT: And Gen Z is, what, sort of 18 to 29?
ENTEN: Correct. Those born from 1997 onward.
BURNETT: Okay. So this is a whole new generation, but it is a sizable group of people now, right? I mean, they all can vote, right? Four years ago, right. A lot of them couldn't --
ENTEN: Have been growing into the electorate.
BURNETT: Okay. So they're growing in.
So, we see this playing out with Trump's approval numbers as well with this same group.
ENTEN: Correct. This is not just about party identification. I mean, look at the hard results on the ground. Look at Trump's net approval rating among Generation Z. Compare it where we were at the beginning of 2025 to now.
Look at this shift on the net approval. It was plus ten. He was in the positive territory among Generation Z a year ago. Now he is 32 points underwater. That is a -- BURNETT: Forty-two points swing.
ENTEN: That is a 42-point swing in less than a year. So, what we're seeing in party identification isn't just staying there. It's moving over and affecting how Generation Z feels about the president himself. And of course, Trump had made gains among Generation Z going from the 2020 to 2024 election.
BURNETT: It's a stampede. It's a tsunami. It's come up with --
ENTEN: It's huge.
BURNETT: Okay, tell me something else I don't know.
ENTEN: Okay, I'll tell you something else you don't know. Why is party ID so important?
You know, I mentioned that Democrats gained amongst them overall. Right on party ID. If in fact their lead, which they currently have, holds until the midterm election. I went back and looked at every single midterm election since 1982, when Democrats hold the lead on party identification, they go on, in fact, to gain House seats. And of course, they only need to gain a few house seats in order to gain control.
So, at this point, the Democrats lead on party identification for both very, very well for the midterm need to gain a few House seats in order to gain control. So, at this point, the Democrats lead on party identification for both very, very well for the midterm elections 100 percent of the time since 1982.
BURNETT: Wow. So rare. You actually have 100 for anything.
ENTEN: You're 100 percent in my book, Erin Burnett.
BURNETT: As are you. Thank you, Harry.
And all of you. Thanks for joining us.
Anderson starts now.
