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Inside Politics
U.S. Special Forces Soldier Accused Of Winning $400k Through Online Bets On Nicolas Maduro's Capture; Trump: World "Has Become Somewhat Of A Casino"; Attack Ads In Primaries Reveal Fierce Intra- Party Fights; Politicians Face A New Pressure: The Tabloid Treatment. Aired 12:30-1p ET
Aired April 24, 2026 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a little like Pete Rose. Now, if he bet against his team, that would be no good, but he bet on his own team. I'll look into it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:30:08]
DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Senior Legal Analyst, Elie Honig, joins the panel. Nice to see you, Elie. What's your take?
ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: So, it's interesting, first of all, to hear the guy who built and then essentially tore down all the casinos in Atlantic City say the whole world is a casino. He's right, though. I mean, these prediction markets, Polymarket and Kalshi being the two biggest ones, are Pandora's boxes, and they lead to all sorts of potential problems, including, but not limited to, this temptation of people who have sensitive inside information to then go use it and try to cash in.
But I think there's an important lesson here, which is if you have sensitive information like this that you are responsible for, what lawyers would call a fiduciary duty, you cannot go out and bet on it because you will be charged with insider trading, just like this soldier was, just like if you were trading on inside information at a law firm, at a brokerage, on Wall Street.
And so, I think it's a creative and interesting, and I think probably will be effective, use of this statute. However, the comment Donald Trump just said has me on high pardon alert, right? He's already sympathizing with this guy. And don't be shocked -- I'm not going to say bet, but don't be shocked if this guy ends up getting a pardon.
BASH: Jamie?
JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Don't bet on these things. I mean, this really has national security implications. It opened up, you know, the people involved in the operation to potential harm. I hope that this -- there is more regulation, personal opinion in this, but it's -- I do think it's a warning sign, and I hope he doesn't pardon him.
BASH: Let's listen to some of the reaction on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ANNA PAULINA LUNA (R), FLORIDA: Unless he leaked classified information, I don't know that what he did was illegal. But I want to point out something. Unless the Department of Justice plans on going after every single member currently insider trading, and there's a lot of them, this is not justice. This is skewed justice.
REP. EUGENE VINDMAN (D), VIRGINIA: Pardoning is an outrageous statement. I mean, it frankly, belittles the dangerous nature of these actions, just like the statement that you read from the President. Pete Rose was banned for life from baseball, but this is not a game. This is life and death, and it's U.S. national security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: And David, I should say that CNN does have a partnership with Kalshi just to use its data, and that employees are not allowed to use that market.
DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes. The -- and to be clear, I mean, this is so clearly wrong. Like, I mean, I think anybody seeing it is like, that is not in any way what it is intended to be used for here. Obviously, these prediction markets have valuable data, but they're not a singular thing.
Like when you said we have a partnership and we report on the data, along with like seven other data streams that inform our reporting from polls to other metrics, to -- which is a totally separate thing than placing bets --
BASH: Yes.
CHALIAN: -- on outcomes, and especially, as you said, when you could put lives in danger in doing so.
BASH: And then you have the fact that Truth Social is trying to become, in its own press release, the world's first social media platform offering prediction markets via the exclusive partnership that they have with Crypto.com, Jasmine.
JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, I mean, that's super interesting, actually. I think the prediction market stuff is everywhere, and it's interesting because the President was kind of blase about it, maybe because he hadn't heard it or because that was just him learning about it for the first time.
But the White House actually hasn't been. They've actually sent an email to staff last month saying that they should not be using their information to use these prediction markets. Both Kalshi and Polymarket, we reported back in January, are actually banned on the White House press Wi-Fi. I also believe it's banned on the House side, not banned on the Senate, though, for anybody who's thinking about it. And so they have taken steps to try to remove themselves from the option or from the risk that people within the White House and the House side are betting on these prediction markets.
But they are becoming so ingrained in everything that we do. And so I think it's going to be really difficult without legislation to curtail people doing it privately, unless the President or Congress puts something forward.
BASH: Yes, Congress is really quick to do things like this, so --
WRIGHT: That would be really within their interest.
CHALIAN: Just like they do when they trade stocks, right?
BASH: All the things, everything, everything. When we -- thank you for being here, Elie.
HONIG: Thanks, Dana.
BASH: When we come back, a Republican midterm attack ad that takes the term taking out of context to a whole new level.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:39:19]
BASH: There are some really fascinating primary battles coming up on the midterm calendar, and we want to take a look at some of the ads running in those contests. These are Republican on Republican, Democrat on Democrat ads, obviously their primaries. And they say a lot about the fractures inside each party right now.
And my panel is back. David, I want to start with the Louisiana Republican primary for that Senate seat. By the way, there is an incumbent senator there, Republican Bill Cassidy. But I want to start with one of his challengers, Julia Letlow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never Trumpers Cassidy and Fleming. Cassidy voted to impeach Trump. Fleming brutally attacked President Trump in a tweet calling Trump reprehensible. Cassidy and Fleming, never Trumpers. We'll never, ever vote for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:40:12]
BASH: OK, first of all, Cassidy did vote to impeach President Trump after the January 6th attack. On the Fleming quote, just to give context here, when Fleming called Donald Trump reprehensible, this was back in 2016, responding to the Access Hollywood tape. And he didn't say Trump was reprehensible. He said Donald Trump's comments are reprehensible, which I think most people on planet Earth agreed with.
CHALIAN: Yes, but when in a campaign and you want to group your opponents under one umbrella, nuance tends to go out the window.
BASH: And what does it tell you about the power of Trump still in the Republican Party?
CHALIAN: Well, there wouldn't be a primary in Louisiana. Julie Letlow would not be running --
BASH: Right.
CHALIAN: -- against the incumbent Cassidy if he had not voted to convict him in that impeachment trial after January 6th. So that tells you everything. The reason this race exists is because this is part of Trump's political targeting within his own party to make sure the party is clear of people that he deems not loyal to him.
BASH: So on Cassidy, listen to his ad about Letlow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Liberal Julia Letlow exposed.
REP. JULIA LETLOW (R), LOUISIANA: I am a strong and progressive leader.
I believe we need a division on this campus, a division of diversity, equity and inclusion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: So this was, again, the context here. From 2020, when Letlow was working in higher ed applying for a job as university president, she told a news outlet recently that after she said this, she quickly realized DEI was hijacked by the radical left and turned into indoctrination.
WRIGHT: Yes, I mean, I think that that's fundamentally important because Bill Cassidy is somebody who is, at least in D.C., slightly a moderate. Obviously, we know that he went back and forth with RFJ -- RFK Jr. And so for him to now say she's wrong because she's pro-DEI or she's wrong because she's a liberal, I think you're seeing kind of the divisions of where they believe that the conversation in the Republican Party is.
Which is that something that they know Republicans talk about consistently is the efforts around DEI and trying to get that removed, the efforts around affirmative action to get that removed, and basically any liberal idea, not to mention the LGBTQ and trans conversations. And so this is Cassidy kind of weaponizing this against her as he's really trying to back down somebody who is being propped up and supported by President Trump and his larger political campaign.
BASH: Let's look at the Democratic side, Jamie. In New York, there are going to be a number of really interesting primaries that we'll watch in June. One is Congressman Dan Goldman --
GANGEL: Right.
BASH: -- who is an incumbent. He is being challenged by Brad Lander. And one of Brad Lander's number one arguments against Goldman is his support for Israel. Goldman put out a brand new ad talking about Iran. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD LANDER, FORMER NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLER: Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu should have never started this war in Iran, and they must end it now. In Congress, I wont vote for $0.1 more for this illegal and immoral war. We should be using your tax dollars to fund Medicare for All, child care and affordable housing here at home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Jamie?
GANGEL: So, you know, I've been following this race for a while, and I think one of the things we should note is that Lander, who's running against him, is an ally of the mayors.
BASH: Yes.
GANGEL: And this really brought to a head the whole issue of Israel in that district. I spoke to someone who works closely with congressmen, and he is really worried about this race --
BASH: Well, the fact that he had --
GANGEL: -- that ad --
BASH: Yes.
GANGEL: -- shows you how worried he is.
CHALIAN: And it's not -- I mean, I think it's emblematic of something we're seeing in the Democratic Party in in primary after primary on this issue of Israel and seeing people. But we should also note that Brad Lander is Jewish.
GANGEL: Right.
CHALIAN: And so you -- and his support of Mamdani was, you know, used by Mamdani as a way. And yet I think Dan Goldman, like trying to get right with where the Democratic --
BASH: Yes.
CHALIAN: -- base is in his district on this shows you on this issue what Democrats are struggling with in this notion of what should America's relationship be supportive of with Israel and if you disagree with Netanyahu's policies.
BASH: All right. We've got to sneak in a quick break.
Up next, TMZ Executive Producer Harvey Levin will be here. His new D.C. producers lenses are focused on Capitol Hill, and today, the Pentagon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOB WASSERMAN, CORRESPONDENT, TMZ DC: Jacob Wasserman with TMZ DC, I'm -- we have two questions. I'm going to ask the first. My colleague will ask the second. You know, I've heard you talk a lot about --
PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We'll see.
WASSERMAN: Sorry?
HEGSETH: We'll see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:49:29]
BASH: There's a new player in political news, TMZ. While the outlet made its reputation in Hollywood, we are now two weeks into their lens turning to Washington and they are sampling their version of the chase.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from TMZ. Could I just ask you about the bubble one, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Secretary, what did you do with the raccoon's dead penis? Where is it now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I grab you, Ted? I mean, Senator, sorry for calling you by your first name. Is that all right?
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: All good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I called --
CRUZ: I get called a lot worse every day.
[12:50:04]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some people would think like, you know, schoolchildren get less time off than Congress. How do you feel about that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's insane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're kind of famous on the Hill for your cigars, my friend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice hash. It's a great cigar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So who's the best player on the Congressional Baseball team? And who's going to --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now that is -- now that's the tough question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's also a Grindr party.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like, for sausage? What's a Grindr party?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, kind of --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: TMZ Producer Harvey Levin joins us now. Look, we're Inside Politics. Our friends here usually do the chasing. I did it for a long time on Capitol Hill. Now we see our colleagues from Manu Raju to Lauren Fox, so many of them do it every day.
So, look, there was a lot of empathy when we saw your producers cramming to learn 535 members. How's that going?
HARVEY LEVIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TMZ: It's, like, it's unbelievable, Dana. I mean, I think people are kind of just following their journey. And, look, there's a reason we sent them. And they're just really smart, charming guys.
And seeing, you know, discovering, you know, who these people are, asking them questions that aren't necessarily aligning with, you know, what traditional media asks. You know, discovering, you know, the best breakfast bagel. People have just really been into it.
So, you know, there's that. But also, you know, there's a serious element to this. I mean, we really are going to be breaking stories. I mean, this is not just, you know, finding out about who the best athlete is in Congress. We're going to kind of spread our wings. But I kind of like the idea that people are just watching us find our way.
BASH: Well, obviously, your whole brand is raw, also to have some shock value. And you mentioned breaking news. And you definitely have a history of breaking some news.
There is a group welcoming a shakeup in Washington. Are there any rules that you have for producers as they have come here and as they have done what they're doing?
LEVIN: Yes, I mean, look, we've had rules from the beginning here, and they're following them. And, you know, if somebody -- if we get somebody, you know, they're introducing themselves to people. So, you know, it's been fascinating that these members of Congress are coming up to them like crazy.
And they want to show their personality. So they're actually coming up to them. And when they don't want to do something on camera, you know, we back off. And, you know, there are times, for example, with Lindsey Graham. I mean, you ask him the question twice and he won't answer and you kind of leave it alone. So, yes, I mean, it's kind of, you know, we're trying to be mini-Manu Rajus.
BASH: Harvey, nobody is Manu Raju. Although he did have his kids on the Hill yesterday for Take Your Kid to Work Day --
LEVIN: It's not that (ph).
BASH: -- and they did a pretty good job. They're literally mini-Manu Rajus.
OK, your producers made their first appearance at the Pentagon briefing this morning. I want to play one of the questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE COTTON, CORRESPONDENT, TMZ DC: Charlie Cotton from TMZ DC. You changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Would you consider changing the name again to the Department of Peace since that's what we're all after?
HEGSETH: Well, that's the pursuit. It's a great question, actually. You go from defense to war because you want to be proactive about peace through strength.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: OK, so it seems like you, you know, you could be invited back. So how did you get in in the first place? How did they get in? And where should we expect to see you next here in D.C.?
LEVIN: Well, they invited us. They actually contacted us and said, come on over. And look, I get the joke --
BASH: Are you surprised?
LEVIN: No, because I kind of get the joke. I mean, when they invited us, I think, you know, this administration has kind of a history of saying, you know, let's kind of shove it in the faces of traditional journalists. I mean, they did this at the White House. So I thought they were kind of using us for that.
But I figured, you know, we'll go. And even if that was the point, we asked, listen, you didn't play. Jacob asked a question, which was --
BASH: Yes.
LEVIN: -- how do you feel when you drop a bomb on people or places? Do you get an adrenaline rush? Are you scared? Does your heart pound? And the reason for that question is it doesn't just go to Iran, it goes to Iran, it goes to Venezuela, it could go to Cuba, who knows.
And it's really, you know, is this guy into war? I mean, it's really kind of a psychological question. I was proud of Jacob for asking that. So we're going to just kind of be who we are.
And where are we going next? The Grindr party tonight.
[12:55:07]
BASH: OK, I'm just going to leave that --
LEVIN: You ask.
BASH: -- leave that one alone and I will look forward to seeing that --
LEVIN: OK. But hold on --
BASH: Yes.
LEVIN: So as long as we're talking, I just want to tell you one thing. So Charlie, you know, the Australian with the long hair, so I talked to him about 20 minutes ago and he said, I heard you're doing Dana's show. And I said, yes. And he's like, oh my God.
He said, I want to -- that's like my role model, he said. And I think she's so hot. So I had to just convey that to you. Charlie's just smitten.
BASH: OK. I don't even know what to say to that but thank you.
LEVIN: I thought you'd be (INAUDIBLE), Dana.
BASH: Thank you. And I'll text you after the show about this moment that you just gave me.
Harvey, thank you. Thank you for being here. I appreciate it.
Thank you for joining Inside Politics. CNN News Central starts after a quick break. Oh my God.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
