Return to Transcripts main page

Inside Politics

GOP Health Care Plan Fails In Senate Vote; Governors Shapiro & Cox On Addressing Dangers Of Social Media; New Book Recounts Stories From Longtime White House Chief Usher. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired December 11, 2025 - 12:30   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTI NOEM, HOMELAND SECURITY: This is an opportunity to remind everybody that every person that's in this country illegally has an opportunity to voluntarily go home and come back the right way. Follow our laws --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three heroes, three United States marines --

NOEM: -- and we will facilitate that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[12:30:15]

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The administration is not going to buckle when it comes to who they're arresting. There have been reports, numbers, data, we've seen that they are arresting people who do not have any criminal records or are tied to U.S. citizens.

The administration is saying you're here illegally, you're leaving, and in this case offering the self-deportation program that they launched. The secretary also just wrapped this hearing on her end and had to attend to other matters at the Department of Homeland Security.

MANU RAJU, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Priscilla Alvarez, thank you so much for bringing that breaking news.

And we actually have more breaking news right now. CNN's Arlette Saenz is out on Capitol Hill, where a vote, a Republican bill to deal with health care and those rising health care costs, a vote just happened in the United States Senate and it just failed. So Arlette, what was the final vote count?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Manu, the Senate failed to advance that Republican proposal with a vote of 51 to 48. They needed 60 votes in order to clear this key procedural hurdle and Republicans were not able to get enough Democrats on board. In fact, Senator Rand Paul, a Republican, joined Democrats to oppose this procedural vote.

Now, in just a few minutes or maybe right now, we expect the Senate to now move on to voting on the Democratic proposal, which would extend the expiring Obamacare subsidies for three years. It will be really interesting to see what Republicans might cross over to support Democrats on this procedural vote.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican of Maine, has already told reporters that she plans to vote yes on this procedural vote for Democrats. Her thinking is she wants to get onto any bill and then they can try to amend that before it gets to final passage. But it all comes as lawmakers are really staring down a very tight timeline.

These Obamacare subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. This Democratic proposal also is not expected to pass, really leaving questions about what Democrats are going to do to try to avert these health care premiums first -- from spiking for millions of Americans.

There have been those bipartisan talks happening among rank and file members behind the scenes, but it's unclear whether they will be able to meet this deadline. But there are parts -- Democrats and Republicans talking in both the House and Senate trying to see if they can push forward any type of a proposal as they're trying to prevent these high jumps in cost for so many Americans.

RAJU: You have a divided Republican Party of rank and file angst and you have leaders on both sides of the aisle not talking to each other. A 53-47 Senate, the bill, the Democratic bill will have a vote right now. But as you said, maybe some Republicans will vote for it.

John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, told me a couple -- he expects a couple of Democrat defections, but certainly not 13, which they would need to advance the plan to extend those subsidies for three years. So everything expected to fail.

All right, Arlette Saenz, thank you so much for that report.

And coming up, the dangers of social media are well documented. But what do elected officials want to do about it? We talked to the governor of Utah who calls social media a cancer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:37:30]

RAJU: Australia just took the major step of becoming the first country in the world to ban social media for children under the age of 16, as officials here in the U.S. sound the alarm about the dangers of social media, especially for young people. Could such a ban happen here? And should it?

Dana Bash spoke to two governors who agree about the threat social media poses, but have different viewpoints about what to do about it. Here's part of Dana's conversation with Democrat Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Republican Spencer Cox of Utah earlier this week at the National Cathedral here in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: After Charlie Kirk was murdered, you talked about social media as a cancer on society. I want to ask you about what happened in Australia, the first country to ban social media for kids under 16. Is that something that should happen here in the U.S.?

GOV. SPENCER COX (R), UTAH: Yes, it's something -- this is one of the things we disagree on. It's something that I do believe in. I was in Australia a couple of weeks ago, got to speak with the Minister of Communications, who was charged with implementing that ban on social media.

I know other countries are looking at it as well. We've passed some very important social media legislation in Utah, the first of its kind in the country. Lots of states have followed along and are doing that now. Sadly, these social media companies are fighting against us. They're suing us to prevent us from implementing this.

And ours only -- all it did was to say you have to remove the most addictive features of your platforms with kids. That's all we're asking them to do. But they're making too much money off getting our kids addicted and really destroying their childhoods.

Sadly, we've seen a significant rise in anxiety, depression, and self- harm with our young people. And the evidence continues to point to social media as a major driver of that. And so we're going to keep fighting. We're going to keep working with Congress.

There are several bills that are coming forward in Congress right now. There's a growing bipartisan coalition to do this work. And I'm hopeful that something --

BASH: So that's a no?

COX: -- will get a ban like that passed here. And --

BASH: You do want to get --

COX: I do 100 percent support a ban under the age of 16.

GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO (D), PENNSYLVANIA: Look, I think there is no question that social media creates many challenges in our society. And, by the way, you don't need to be a governor to know that. I'm a father of four, and I see it with our four children. In my prior life, prior to serving as governor, I was the Attorney General of Pennsylvania and sued many of the social media companies because of their practices, particularly their practices as it relates to children.

[12:40:04]

The approach we've taken in Pennsylvania, led by our First Lady, my wife, Lori, has been to focus more on digital literacy, to allow young people, to give young people the tools that they need to be able to consume information more thoughtfully and effectively. Discern fact from fiction, understand the addictive nature of these devices and of these platforms, and focus on helping empower them to use these tools in ways that can be constructive, not destructive.

At the same time, we're being very aggressive with the social media companies to try and address their practices, particularly as it relates to young people. So I think that's the approach we're taking for now in Pennsylvania, and one that I think is really important that we all work together on to address these challenges as parents and as policymakers in our respective states.

BASH: It is interesting. You're a Republican, you want a government ban. You're a Democrat, you don't want a government ban.

SHAPIRO: I mean, I don't know that any of those traditional lines sort of matter anymore. But, look, I think this is a great example of what we need more of in this country. Looking at issues through the prisms of the people we represent, our life experiences, our own ideologies and philosophies, and coming to a conclusion after those studies, and getting about implementing those conclusions.

And you know what, as time goes on, Spencer may look at this and realize he needs to tweak his position. I may look at it and realize I need to tweak my position. This is constantly evolving and learning. And I think that's what the public wants from its policymakers, from its governors, or folks who are curious, folks who are listening to the people, folks who are looking out for the people in their states and are constantly trying to do what's in the best interest of their respective states. And that's what we're trying to do here.

COX: And I don't think he's evil or a communist or Nazi because he doesn't want to ban social media. I don't know, maybe that makes me the communist, whatever. But this is the thing. There are some things that we can agree on together, and that is digital literacy really matters. And that's something we want to work on with Pennsylvania because they're doing a better job with digital literacy than we are in Utah.

And so even if we disagree on the main point, are there some sub points where we can work together? And that's how this country was founded. That's what we've been doing --

SHAPIRO: Yes.

COX: -- for 250 years, and we can't lose sight of that now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: When we come back, I'll talk to a former White House chief usher about all those recent renovations to the historic building and his fondest memories from 30 years serving seven presidents.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:47:16]

RAJU: Every president, from President Nixon to President Bush, knew the name Gary Walters. As the White House chief usher, Walters made the People's House a home for first families, joining the staff in 1970 and retiring in 2007. He planned state dinners with Nancy Reagan, prepared the Oval Office for George W. Bush's address on 9/11, and helped coordinate Hillary Clinton's birthday parties. All of those stories are part of his new book, "White House Memories: Recollections of the Longest Serving Chief Usher." And joining me now live is Gary Walters himself. So Walters, thank you so much for being here.

GARY WALTERS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF USHER: Thank you for the opportunity.

RAJU: Absolutely. And here's the book here, as you can see right now. It's filled with fascinating vignettes (ph) about your time serving in seven presidents -- serving for seven presidents, chief usher for four of those presidents.

WALTERS: Yes, sir.

RAJU: How would you compare the presidents that you served, and what sticks out to you about some of the ones that you enjoy serving with the most?

WALTERS: I think the thing that is most interesting to American people is the amount of time that the presidents put in trying to do the business of the American people. And I had the opportunity to step away from the political side and manage their house and the activities that went on there and get to know them with my own eyes, my own ears, speaking with them every day, both the president and the first ladies. And that was a charge that I kept for many years and had to see -- had the ability to see a wonderful amount of history.

RAJU: And you write about so much about how your job was just really all-encompassing. There's an example of you learning during the Bush to Clinton transition. You had to switch the White House soda from Pepsi to Coke, for instance, among these other things.

What about some of the tasks, small and large, that you had to learn on the job? Tell us about those and things that you found interesting while you were doing those tasks.

WALTERS: Well, they were pretty much universal for the upkeep of the White House as a, first of all, home of the president. And the second thing was the site of official events, as you stated, state dinners and receptions and various things. Just learning the ways that each president and first lady wanted to operate the White House. It's their home and we have to take their lead and adjust to what they want.

And we had a marvelous staff of 90 people who were real true professionals and can make that adjustment. And little things, you know, they say don't let the little things bother you. Well, when you're the chief usher, that's not the case. You need to do those things.

RAJU: Who would you say was the most demanding of the presidents that you served?

[12:50:02]

WALTERS: That's a hard question to answer because I was dealing with their home and I dealt more with the first ladies in that aspect. But the presidents were all wonderful to me. I had a good relationship with all of them.

Obviously served both Democrats and Republicans and the resident staff serves the presidency, not the individual president. And on Inaugural Day, we say goodbye to one family and say hello to another within a matter of five or six hours.

RAJU: You recall all the Christmases you helped plan because during holiday season, the White House is a beautiful place. Of course, it's always a beautiful place, but all the decorations and the like, you have a number of holiday photos here viewers can see on their screen. Talk about some of your memories that stick out during holiday time at the White House.

WALTERS: The activity level is constant from -- we begin to plan for the Christmas decorations each year very early on. When I met with Barbara Bush in February, right after the inaugural had taken place at the end of January, we were walking one day and I said, Ms. Bush, it's February, but we need to talk about Christmas.

And she looked at me and said, Christmas? I haven't even found out where the restrooms are yet in the White House. What are you talking about Christmas? But it takes a planning effort through the entire year.

Concept is presented to the first ladies, or they have their own ideas of what they want to do as far as decorations go. And once that decision is made, then we start moving on. Different administrations have wanted to include things from around the country, children's decorations from across the country.

Mrs. Barbara Bush had her knitting club in -- or Needlepoint Club, I should say, in Texas in her church, the Saintly Stitchers, one year that did the decorations and -- for the main tree in the Blue Room. And it just is a year-long process.

The chief floral designer is the one that pretty much coordinates it along with the social secretary and the first lady. And my job was to stand back and make sure that things were put in place to allow it to go forward and be carried out throughout the season. And then, of course, once we're decorated, we have all those Christmas parties that everybody's familiar with.

RAJU: And you also talk about the pets, the first pets. You had to deal with a lot of the first pets.

WALTERS: We did.

RAJU: What was that like?

WALTERS: One of my favorite things when I was a police officer in my first five years at the White House was seeing President Nixon and his dog, King Timahoe, a wonderful Irish setter. And Millie's puppies when they were born at the White House. In fact, when I talked to Barbara Bush before inauguration, but after the election, they were coming into office.

And I said, Ms. Bush, one of the questions I asked, I said, what do you want us to do on an inaugural day for Millie? And she said, you don't have to worry about that, because she's not going to be coming home for a couple of weeks. She said, she's off to our friends in Kentucky getting married. Well, about six weeks later, we had puppies at the White House.

RAJU: Well, there you go. Now we're seeing so many other changes to the White House under President Trump, whether it was the Rose Garden being paved and now the demolition of the East Wing. What were your feelings like when you saw the East Wing being demolished?

WALTERS: Well, my first recollection was the fact that I met my wife in the East Wing. She was the receptionist in the East Wing for the Nixon and Ford administration. And so I have wonderful feelings about that building.

But all the presidents that I served, they all talked about having a larger venue to entertain. When they go overseas, they're in castles and various large facilities, and they all talked about that. We put up -- we were constantly putting up and taking down tents in the south ground where the presidential helicopter usually lands. So there's always been talk about that.

Going back in history in 1905, when the West Wing was built, there was a tremendous same kind of thing that's going on now on the east side, where they tore down conservatories and greenhouses and a small stable that was there. And that allowed the West Wing to be built. So this is an extension of that.

There's always something in construction of the White House --

RAJU: So it sounds like you're not too, because a lot of people are upset when they see that, those pictures of the East Wing being demolished. It sounds like it didn't seem to quite on you too much.

WALTERS: I look back at the history of what goes on -- has gone on over the years at the White House, and it's something that future presidents are going to be very happy that they have something like that.

RAJU: So how would you compare, because Trump has come in and made very clear he wants to make a bunch of changes. I mentioned that, you know, we talked about these -- the ballroom and the Rose Garden. How does that compare to the presidents that you served and the changes that they made to the White House?

Did they go as far as Trump? Did they go further? Was it about the same? How would you characterize that?

[12:55:08]

WALTERS: I think each president makes changes to suit their desires. They follow along with a pattern that they may have established in their prior history, their life, and they do the things that make them comfortable, and that's part of the White House.

As I've always said, the White House belongs to the President of the United States and his family for the four or eight years that they're there, and it's their home. It belongs to the American people, obviously, but it's really their home for that period of time, and that's what I try to portray in the book.

RAJU: Can you say which is your favorite president to serve?

WALTERS: No.

RAJU: Right, right.

WALTERS: They were all wonderful to me, and I had opportunities. President Carter introduced me to the Pope when the Pope came, and I met, probably in just a cursory way, all of the heads of federal government, I mean, governments, foreign and domestic. I --

RAJU: Yes.

WALTERS: I had a wonderful ride.

RAJU: Wow. What a wonderful tale, what a wonderful career, and thank you so much for sharing it. Thank you for coming in. Really appreciate your time.

WALTERS: I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you very much.

RAJU: Absolutely.

And thank you for joining Inside Politics. CNN News Central starts after a very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)