Return to Transcripts main page
One World with Zain Asher
Source: U.S. Seizes Another Oil Tanker In The Caribbean; Trump Hosts U.S. Oil Executives For Venezuela Talks; Oregon To Investigate Border Patrol Shooting In Portland; Iranian Authorities Cut Internet And Anti- Government Turmoil; Grok Limits Image Generation To Paid Subscribers; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired January 09, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:34]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: And then there were five. The United States has just seized its fifth oil tanker.
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: The second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): The more the American people hear about what's going on in Venezuela, the more they learn about it, the less they're going
to like it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: As Democrats fight to rein in Donald Trump in Venezuela, the president says the only thing that's checking his power is his mind and
morality.
ASHER: The internet has been blacked out, but we're starting to get some images of what protests in Iran are looking like today.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIKKI GLASER, AMERICAN COMEDIAN AND ACTRESS: It's always like, it has to be better. If this isn't good enough, there's always like these moments of
like, what am I going to do? I can't do this. And I kind of like that wave of emotions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Second time's the charm. Nikki Glaser gears up to host one of the biggest nights in Hollywood.
ASHER: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher.
GOLODRYGA: And I'm Bianna Golodryga. You're watching the second hour of "One World."
And we begin with another display of American might across the sea. For the third time this week, the U.S. has seized an oil tanker.
ASHER: Yes. The U.S. Southern Command says the Olina tanker was captured in the Caribbean Sea. The White House had said earlier that President Donald
Trump was not afraid to seize sanctioned oil tankers despite its concerns. It could rush up tensions with Russia and China.
GOLODRYGA: This comes after U.S. forces seized two Venezuela-linked tankers this week, including a Russian flag vessel in the Atlantic Ocean.
Well, as the U.S. President tries to map out a long-term strategy for Venezuela following the ouster of its leader, he's meeting with oil
executives today, vowing to revitalize the decaying industry there.
ASHER: Mr. Trump posted on social media today that the big oil would invest at least $100 billion in the country. So far, the oil industry has been
wary for a range of reasons, including security, rule of law, and sanctions concerns too.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. President Trump also says that he's canceled what he calls a previously expected second wave of attacks on Venezuela, citing the
acting administration's cooperation with the United States.
He touted Venezuela's release of political prisoners, saying that it was a gesture of peace.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: It indicates they want peace with Donald Trump to me. How do you interpret it?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We asked them to do that. We asked them to do that and they've been great. They really have been -- I
mean, everything we've wanted, they've given us.
(LAUGHING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Yes. There were tears and scenes of joyful reunions on Thursday as newly free detainees. We're seeing embracing loved ones. The Venezuelan
rights group says it has confirmed the release of eight political prisoners.
GOLODRYGA: Venezuela's opposition leader will travel to Washington next week. And the U.S. president says that he looks forward to her visit.
Maria Corina Machado dedicated her Nobel Peace Prize win to the president and has repeatedly praised his actions in Venezuela. President Trump was
asked about that in a recent interview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: Would you accept the Nobel Prize she wants to hand to you?
TRUMP: Well, I understand she's coming in next week sometime. And I look forward to saying hello to her. And I -- I've heard that she wants to do
that. That would be a great honor.
I did put out eight wars, eight and a quarter, because, you know, Thailand and Cambodia started going at it again.
HANNITY: I'll put the list out.
TRUMP: I give a quarter, so it's --
HANNITY: Yes.
TRUMP: You put the list out. It's a hell of a list.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All of this as a U.S. State Department team arrives in Venezuela for the first time since Maduro's capture.
We have Alayna Treene at the White House, but let's begin with CNN's Jennifer Hansler at the State Department.
So just talk about this delegation, Jennifer, that has arrived now in Caracas. What are they expected to do there?
JENNIFER HANSLER, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTER: Well, Zain and Bianna, this is a significant visit, and that it is the first time U.S. diplomats
have been on the ground since that military operation less than a week ago to oust Nicolas Maduro.
This is a small team, we're told, led by the acting ambassador to Colombia, John McNamara, as well as diplomatic and security personnel who are based
in Bogota as part of what's called the Venezuela Affairs Unit.
They are going to be traveling to the U.S. diplomatic compound in Caracas to get a sense of the building and what might need to be done for what is
being called a phased reopening of that embassy there.
[12:05:09]
Now, that embassy has been without any diplomatic personnel for some six years now, guys. Back in 2019, the U.S. pulled out all of their diplomats
because of a spat between then-President Trump and his first term and Nicolas Maduro after the Trump administration recognized opposition leader
Juan Guaido. That was sort of the start of this rapid de-escalation in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Now, when they're there today, they are not expected to meet with the interim government, as source told our Kylie Atwood. They are expected
instead to be looking at the building, look at the potential security and technical things that would need to be done to get folks on the ground
here.
We've heard from former diplomats that it is going to be important to have a U.S. presence there if the U.S. does indeed, as President Trump says,
want to run that country.
They are going to need to be there to help restore operations on the ground, get these oil companies that Trump says he wants to be operating
there running and also ensure that there is accountability on the ground there.
Zain, Bianna.
ASHER: All right. Jennifer Hansler, do stand by. Alayna Treene, let me bring you in because one of the things that is really important, just in
terms of what's happening in the president's agenda today, is, as we've been touching on, is this idea of the president meeting these oil
executives.
I mean, it's going to take some persuasion, right? A lot of these oil executives are going to be somewhat apprehensive about doling out, dishing
out billions of dollars to sort of upgrade Venezuela's sort of ailing infrastructure, oil infrastructure, without being 100 percent sure what the
political situation that country is going to be in the next decade or so.
How is the President going to persuade them that it's worth the investment?
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes. No, it's going to be a very interesting meeting and really so much of the U.S. strategies, Zain and
Bianna, as it relates to Venezuela and the next steps, of course, following that operation in the capture of Maduro last weekend, is really focused on
this exact moment, on trying to convince these oil companies to go in and rebuild Venezuela's energy infrastructure. And really, this idea of the
U.S., as the president keeps putting it, kind of exerting its control over oil exports.
Now, we do know that there are more than a dozen companies and executives who are meeting with the president. And I think really the message that the
administration is going to deliver to them is that they will find a way to make it a good investment for them.
Because your point is exactly right, this could be -- and is being seen by many, I should say, as a risky investment. It is a very uncertain time
right now for Venezuela. The administration is obviously continuing to piece together what the future plans look like.
While we've heard from many lawmakers and in my conversations with administration officials as well. This is an evolving plan and an evolving
strategy.
And you heard Trump himself this week argue that it's unclear how long he plans to stay in Venezuela to try and continue this idea of exerting so
much influence over the energy interest industry.
And so what's going to be very interesting is that case that he tries to make to them. And I would know, you know, one of the people who's going to
be in that meeting is the Energy Secretary Chris Wright. He is someone who has met with other energy executives this week on this exact issue, but he
also addressed a conference in Miami earlier this week.
And he acknowledged some of the challenges that they are going to face as it relates to this plan of trying to convince oil companies to go in and
rebuild. And he -- he acknowledged as well, it's going to take a lot of time, probably several years and also several billion dollars.
And so it's going to be a big test today of whether, you know, this goal that the president has in mind and this plan that he believes is going to
help lay the groundwork for a more prosperous Venezuela if that's actually something that's possible and something that these companies actually want
to do.
ASHER: All right. Alayna Treene, Jennifer Hansler, live for us. Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, the day after a U.S. federal agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis, a separate shooting in Oregon is under investigation.
A senior law enforcement official says that a married couple were wounded after being shot in their vehicle by border patrol agents on Thursday.
ASHER: Yes. Homeland Security says the agents were conducting a targeted vehicle stop and fired when the driver tried to run them over it.
Alleges the driver and passenger are associated with the Tren de Aragua gang. Portland's mayor had this to say after Thursday's shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEITH WILSON, PORTLAND, OREGON MAYOR: We know what the federal government says happened here. There was a time when we could take them at their word.
That time is long past.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Portland's mayor is calling for ICE to halt all operations in the city until there is an investigation.
[12:10:00]
ASHER: Let's head to Portland, Oregon and bring in Alex Baumhardt. She's a senior reporter of the "Oregon Capital Chronicle." Alex, thank you so much
for being with us.
I mean, there -- there are just -- there's just so much outrage right across the country over Donald Trump, the Trump administration's renewed
sort of immigration crackdown across democratic cities.
The fact that you have back to back these back to back shootings, one taking place in Minneapolis that one was fatal and the other one obviously
taking place in Portland, Oregon where it wasn't fatal, but these married couple was essentially injured.
What the mayor there said was very interesting. This idea that there was a time where you could trust in his words, the Department of Homeland
Security and take them at their word but that time has long gone.
There is a level of mistrust here especially because there isn't any video so far in terms of what happened. There weren't any bystanders so far in
terms of anyone who's come out about what they saw.
So just walk us through what the reaction has been on the ground in Portland.
ALEX BAUMHARDT, SENIOR REPORTER, OREGON CAPITAL CHRONICLE: I think it's been pretty raw, given the news that came from Minnesota this week. I think
the level of mistrust, you know, compounds with all of the events of the fall with the Trump administration trying to deploy National Guard troops
in Portland.
So last night outside of Portland City Hall, there were hundreds of people that came out. There were city councilors that spoke at the ICE processing
facility, south of Downtown Portland. There were hundreds of people that came out to protest. So, I think it's hit a very raw nerve and one that's
been sort of building up for a long time.
GOLODRYGA: And, Alex, what do we know thus far about the couple that was shot at aside from the allegations that they belong to members of Tren de
Aragua, the Venezuelan gang? What is their status right now? Where are they being held?
BAUMHARDT: That's what's sort of frustrating about this, I think, as a reporter and then for the general public, is that we know so little besides
what the Department of Homeland Security has said in social media posts. And as we know from the events of this week that's something that's sort of
on a shaky foundation.
So, the two victims have no state police record. We're waiting for the Portland Police Bureau to release any information about whether or not they
have any police record in the city.
Department of Homeland Security accused one of the victims of having a DUI and a infraction for driving without or driving an unauthorized vehicle.
So, we're hoping to get those records soon.
DHS didn't release any information that would corroborate what they've said, let alone that one or the both of them are affiliated with a
Venezuelan gang. So, we're seeking answers.
The other layer of frustration there is the FBI, as they have in Minneapolis, is sort of decided they're going to take over the
investigations. On a local level, we don't really have law enforcement doing the investigative work. It's in federal hands.
ASHER: Yes. I mean, that -- I mean, that's going to be my next question. This idea of -- just that level of mistrust when you have in Minnesota,
this idea of the federal investigation and sort of federal officials sort of leaving the Minnesota officials out of the investigation and taking over
it completely in addition to the level of mistrust that already exists. This just simply adds to it.
The fact that we might be seeing something similar in Portland, what's been the reaction to that? And how does that complicate any investigation going
forward?
BAUMHARDT: Yes. I mean, it's -- you know, the attorney general of Oregon has said that he'll launch an investigation, the state -- Department of
Justice will launch an investigation.
At the end of the day, the -- the agents that are in their sort of immediate -- in the immediate aftermath, both at the hospital and the
parking lot of the hospital or clinic where this took place, as well as an apartment complex for the two victims called for help, they're FBI agents.
So the degree that this -- you know, I think the level of access to evidence and information that the state has, city has, we don't know yet.
And I will say like on the scene at both of these spots, there were a number of sort of observers, bystanders, grassroots neighborhood folks that
were kind of egging on.
I mean, you could hear them. CFBI agents walk under the premises and sort of shout, you're going to cover this up too. Like you could hear the level
of distrust that the people that were sort of congregating there were having.
ASHER: All right. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the story and any developments out of Portland, as I'm sure you will too. Alex. Alex,
Baumhardt, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
All right. Mutual distrust, as Alex was just talking about, just days after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good, a Minneapolis mother of three,
Minnesota authorities frustrated after they say the FBI blocked them from the investigation.
[12:15:01]
Sources tell CNN that some in the Trump administration are concerned that officials cannot be trusted. It's exactly what Alex was just saying there
in terms of what's happening on the ground in Portland too. Many believe information from the probe could jeopardize ICE agent's safety.
Minneapolis mayor, Jacob Frey, calling on the Feds to allow local investigators to access the evidence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACOB FREY, MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR: We in Minneapolis want a fair investigation. Is it deeply concerning that this administration, from the very get go, is
drawing the conclusion that they may ultimately come to? Of course it is.
And if you got nothing to hide from, then don't hide from it. Include local experts in the process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Well, many in Minneapolis and that community are honoring the memory of Renee Good.
In the last hour, Minnesotans observed a moment of silence during a day of unity. And last night, the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA team also honored
her.
ASHER: Yes. We're learning more also about the ICE agent who fired the shots that killed Renee Good on Wednesday. Court records show that same
officer was actually injured during an immigration and enforcement operation last year.
OK. We're listening to a press conference coming out of Minneapolis with Keith Ellison who's about to speak, the Minneapolis attorney general.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY MORIARTY, HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY: We are concerned that the evidence obtained in an investigation that has only been conducted at the federal
level will not be shared with our office for review.
In the past, the FBI has invited us to see a high level overview of their investigation. But we were prohibited from seeing the entire investigation
or talking about what we saw in that PowerPoint publicly.
While I respect the FBI's process, our community's expectations are much different in terms of transparency. The community, this community expects
to understand what the evidence is and the justification for any decision that might be made.
To that end, I cannot overstate the importance of a local investigation or at least access to the federal investigation by the BCA. Without it, we
will not have the ability to be transparent with our community about the results of the expectation or as I said, any decision that might come of
the review.
And let me be clear, we -- we have no preconceived opinion on what the evidence will show. Making a charging or decline decision in an officer
involved case requires us to evaluate the evidence in the context of a complicated legal -- complicated legal issues.
For that reason, we cannot reach a conclusion about any outcome here. Our goal must be to ensure that a thorough investigation is completed at the
local level so that our community can have transparency.
We do not yet know if there will be sufficient evidence without the FBI case file to even make a charging decision. The FBI currently has, for
example, Ms. Good's car, the shell casing and witness interviews. The FBI has taken the car and so any forensic analysis that comes from that would
not be available to us unless they were sharing that.
To be clear, when a state investigation happens by the BCA or any local agency, they submit the case to our office for evaluation of potential
charges.
The BCA does not make recommendations about what we should be doing. They simply submit the entire case file to us. And our legal professionals take
a look at it and decide what the appropriate action is.
That is in a normal process that we've had here since about 2020. Law enforcement investigates. Our office reviews to determine if there's enough
evidence to even make a decision.
And if there is evidence to review, we have jurisdiction to make that decision. So let me be clear here. We do have jurisdiction to make this
decision that happened in this case where her life was taken in Hennepin County. It does not matter that it was a federal law enforcement agent.
To be sure, there are complex legal issues involved when a federal law enforcement officer is involved. But the law is clear, we do have
jurisdiction to make this decision. We cannot make any decision, however, if there is not evidence submitted to our office.
So we are moving forward in collaboration with the attorney general's office and the BCA to preserve any evidence and ensure that it can be
reviewed.
To that end, we are asking those in our community who have information or who have video or photos of the event to submit that information to our
office. We are providing a secure link where people can submit this evidence.
[12:20:06]
The link can be accessed using the QR code, which is displayed on the screen beside me. The link will also be posted on our website,
hennepinattorney.org.
Along with the evidence itself, we are asking people to provide contact information so investigators can follow up. Because it is important to
collect and preserve evidence properly, we ask people to provide accurate and complete information on the form on our website.
I know our community wants fast answers. I know this city feels again as if it is at the center of a national fight, as you are processing everything
that is happening here.
And I wish I could promise a swift decision and the resolution that you want, but I cannot promise you that right now.
Here is what I can promise you. Our offices will work together and have been working together on this and will continue to do so. We will continue
to work around the clock to preserve, gather, and review as much evidence as we possibly can.
We will be transparent with you to the degree that we can. We know that there will continue to be many questions. This is an active investigation,
and I do not want to jeopardize any future decisions or processes, so there are likely to be many questions that we cannot answer right now.
We know what our job is. It's not to play politics, but to ensure a thorough investigation, seek justice, and to be fair to all involved. And
we are committed to doing that.
Here's our Attorney General, Keith Ellison.
KEITH ELLISON, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL: Thank you, County Attorney Moriarty. Thank you for gathering us today. I just want to be perfectly
clear, the precious life of Renee Nicole Good was important. She's a mother of three, including a six-year-old child whose father passed away a few
years ago.
She died trying to be a legal assistant to -- legal observer to look out for the interests of the most vulnerable members of our community. And she
leaves behind a lot of people who love and admire her.
There's a lot of people who have a very big interest in this case, including the officers involved. They have an important interest.
The fact is we have -- we have an interest as a -- as state prosecutors, which is what we both are, in fairness and transparency, and to the degree
that is possible to set for the process, which when it's over, fair-minded people can say, well, it's good and just of a job that could be done was
done.
I think I agree with County Attorney Moriarty. There is no conclusion that anyone can reach in good faith at this time, because there's too much
evidence still to be evaluated.
Now what we're doing here is asking the public who may have video. There may be people who were on the scene, who have -- who saw what happened, who
have some type of evidence that they feel bears on what the truth is in this case, and they can use that QR code as this evidence submission
portal.
The evidence will go to the Minnesota BCA who will gather it. And we want to make sure that as the moments go by, every moment in these cases is
precious. And, you know, it is important that people know where they can go to share the evidence that they have in their possession. And so that's the
idea here.
So, I know as a -- if you are someone who has direct information and you have information that you feel should be shared, please use this portal and
share that information. Don't judge for yourself whether it's very important or not very important. Let the people who are evaluating and
gathering the evidence make that decision.
But if you have information varying on the outcome of this matter in any way, please share it. And I will say many of you in the press may ask the
question, is this an -- a state investigation? Well, gathering evidence is certainly a component of an investigation.
We are going to do the best that we can do for the public knowing that the current posture of the federal, and this is not a critique of them, it's
just a statement of fact. The current posture is that the investigation is one that the Feds want to do without state involvement.
[12:25:09]
And so we still know that there's evidence out there and we want to make sure it gets gathered and collected. And we'll deal with those other
matters of joint versus exclusive later.
But for as for now, we want to make sure the evidence that may be out there in the public lands where it should. And so with that, I'll -- I will, I
guess any other comments to be made?
MORIARTY: No, questions.
ELLISON: Yes, yes.
MORIARTY: Please, one at a time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said the BCA is saving evidence with you. So, what is the BCA's role here? And what do you make of their thing that they can't
do in investigation anymore?
MORIARTY: Well, so the question has to do with what is the BCA's role here? The BCA had already -- as you know, there was an agreement to do a joint
investigation with the FBI. So that had started. So that much the FB -- or excuse me, the BCA has done. They are currently typing up those reports.
They will certainly share those with us.
Their role in this will be to collect and catalog all the information that we get here. I want to emphasize, you know, this -- this isn't about one
department or anything. As the attorney general said, this is about all of us at a state level working together on behalf of Minnesotans who expect
all of us to be able to work together to come up with transparency in whatever a decision might be.
Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two questions actually.
MORIARTY: Sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So the BCA -- because of the initial agreement with the FBI, do they have the totality of whatever forensic crime scene evidence
that was gathered? Is that already in custody of the state?
MORIARTY: So the question was about, yes, because of the original joint agreement, does the BCA have access to forensic evidence?
So the process here, the way the process unfolded, is that the federal government came and was processing the seat. So the agreement had to be
worked out with the BCA. When the BCA came to the scene, the evidence had been taken by the FBI.
They collected the car and took it wherever. The BCA does not have access to the car. And the problem isn't that the FBI took the car. It's that the
BCA doesn't have access to the car or right now, even access to the forensic evaluation that happens as a result of the investigation with that
car. So -- so that's the -- the concern here.
That is what Drew Evans was saying, that in a normal investigation, the BCA would take the car, do their own forensic analysis, fingerprints, DNA, that
kind of stuff, all of that kind of stuff.
But they have not done in that in this case, which would have been fine and would still be fine if the BCA could have access to the results.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So the fruits of the labor is currently the BCA does not have access?
MORIARTY: That's correct.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I guess the part two of my question, then I'm sorry, is -- and I know -- I can only imagine how extraordinary frustrating this
is for your office, your prosecutors.
You're doing this to get whatever kind of video evidence, you know, whatever people can add to the investigation.
But if you don't end up getting the forensic evidence from the FBI or from whoever, what can you do as a prosecutor?
MORIARTY: I think it's premature to -- to make that decision. We don't know what we're going to get.
Now, I'll note that there was a video posted last night that most of us hadn't seen before. That the caption on social media was that neighbors
released it. And so we think that there may be other evidence out there, video, that kind of thing. We don't know.
And so as the attorney general and I know, it is critical to preserve evidence, because it could be recorded over it, you know, something could
happen to it.
And so this is an attempt to make sure that we preserve the evidence that's out there. And so we're going to continue to do that. We're going to
continue to look at what's there. But it's really too early right now to say what we can and cannot.
(CROSSTALK)
Matt. Matt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who after the Justice Department made this decision not to include the BCA in this investigation? Do you know?
ELLISON: I honestly think you should ask them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you get any reasoning as to why the FBI was taking over the investigation? Were there any (INAUDIBLE)?
ELLISON: Maybe -- maybe Mary knows more than I did. I was just informed that that was the situation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think it was the Trump administration?
MORIARTY: No. I -- so I was also informed that, you know, the BCA, that -- as far as I knew, it was going to be a joint investigation, based on the
conversations we had had with the federal government as well as the FBI. And then that changed.
I -- the only way I -- I can't speak to why.
[12:30:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you address how unprecedented this is? Are you going to be sharing information that you're gathering with the FBI?
And federal authorities could not have been more clear yesterday that you folks have no jurisdiction.
And Commissioner Bob Jacobson was asked this question yesterday and he says that they couldn't do an investigation because they didn't have any of the
evidence.
Is Bob Jacobson and -- and the BCA really on board with this? I -- I don't see them (INAUDIBLE).
MORIARTY: Yes. That -- that is not exactly what Commissioner Jacobson said.
So I think it's important.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE) what he said.
MORIARTY: Well, please listen to what I'm about to say. I think it's important for everybody to understand that unit in the BCA was created, I
think after 2020, with the expectation that they would do the topnotch investigate absolutely everything.
OK. What he was saying was that he -- and this is what Superintendent Evans also said, they can't do the type of investigation that they would like to
do, that they do do in every case if they don't have access to that physical evidence. That is what he's saying.
And I want to remind people though, we never have ideal investigations pretty much. Not because of the fault of officers but we -- a case is
submitted to us where we would like to have other types of evidence.
So what he's saying is that they will not have access to some of that physical evidence. That would preclude them from doing the thorough
investigation that they would like to do.
(CROSSTALK)
Yes. Lou.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does this go straight to the BCA? Or is this something that I catch all for you guys and then turn over to the BCA --
MORIARTY: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- and then if you allow me to follow up.
MORIARTY: Yes. So the question is, does this go, the QR code go right to the BCA? It does not. It comes to our office. And we have an agreement with
the BCA that we will be sharing it so they can catalog it.
Listen, the goal here is to make sure we are all on the same page and we understand what evidence has been collected.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Then just a follow up to what was asked over there. Can you ultimately make a charging decision if you don't have the car with
the ballistics? Like, you know, something that is like -- it's like that or the actual evidence, piece of evidence is very important to your own
decision.
MORIARTY: Yes. And I can't answer that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: All right. You've just been listening to officials in Minnesota, including Keith Ellison, the Minnesota Attorney General, just speaking
about some of the complications with the investigation into the shooting death of Renee Good, because the federal officials and federal
investigators have essentially shut out state investigators from the process.
I want to go straight now to David Weinstein, former state and federal prosecutor and a partner at Jones Walker LLP, who has been listening to
this and joining us live now.
They talked a bit about some of the complications, especially the fact that the federal officials, the FBI, have seized the car. And, obviously, the
car is a key aspect just in terms of gathering evidence, seized the car. And also, they shut them out from any kind of forensic analysis from the
car.
Walk us through specifically what safeguards are in place, just given that there is now a separation between what the Feds are investigating and what
state officials have access to. What safeguards are in place to ensure that at least at the federal level, the investigation is done fairly, especially
given the level of mistrust here, David?
GOLODRYGA: Oh. We may have an issue with David's audio. Yes. We lost David's audio.
ASHER: All right. It looks as though we don't have sound from David.
OK. It looks as though we have them back. David, can you hear me?
GOLODRYGA: Just press that unmute button. Works all the time.
David, did you hear my question?
DAVID WEINSTEIN, FORMER STATE AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Got me today. First party of the year. You got me.
What I was saying was, is I hope they're using the traditional standards and practices of any law enforcement agency. And that is secure the
vehicle, pouring in the experts, analyze the vehicle, collect the evidence that's inside. Is there any marks on any other part of the vehicle? Make
sure that nothing contaminates what's inside because it is a very important part of this investigation.
Now, whether they're willing to share that right now or down the road. What's important is, are they conducting the investigation now in a manner
that preserves the evidence? Because certainly, the police are entitled to see it goes, conducting the investigations in time to see it.
And as you pointed out, it's very important to see where the projectiles entered the vehicle, how they entered. So it's a critical piece of
evidence.
Frustrating (INAUDIBLE) participate in this. State and local is usually better equipped to any of these types of investigations. But for now,
they're going to have to put blind faith in the Feds that they're conducting this the way that they should be conducting.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And as we've heard from so many experts, it is rather unusual that the FBI would just shut out local state officials from an
investigation like this, especially as we heard from the Hennepin County attorney that they had been working together initially. And then ultimately
the FBI said no, we're doing this alone.
[12:35:14]
Also notable and unusual is that we haven't heard from the FBI Director Kash Patel yet. I don't believe we haven't heard from the Attorney General
Pam Bondi.
But we did hear from the vice president yesterday who had some fiery words as well directed at the media and coverage of this issue and situation
saying also that the ICE officer who had shot at the vehicle has, quote, absolute immunity.
Can you talk about the difference, if, and first of all, if he does, and the difference between absolute immunity or qualified immunity, which most
police officers in these types of situations do have?
WEINSTEIN: Well, Bianna, that's a very good point. But then it's being qualified and absolute immunity.
We always use the term absolute immunity when we're talking about government officials for official acts if they've undertaken in their
position.
Now, qualified immunity is what's going to come into play here. But they may believe that they're not going to bring federal charges against him,
but that's another story. We're talking about a separate sovereign state.
And so this is a homicide investigation. Did he act in self-defense? And the question isn't going to be qualified or absolute immunity. It's going
to be, was he defending himself with a reasonable police officer in that same situation, have the right to use deadly force against a vehicle that's
headed in his direction.
So, it's less a question of immunity, which in my legal opinion, based on my experience in the system, we're not talking about immunity, we're
talking about self-defense. Two separate different things here. We should not confuse those concepts.
ASHER: All right. David Weinstein, live for us. Thank you for your analysis. We appreciate it. We'll be right back with more after this short
break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Welcome back. A show of defiance in Iran as anti- government protesters take to the streets demanding change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(PROTESTING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: This was the scene in one southeastern city earlier, as angry crowd shouted death to the dictator.
[12:40:04]
Now it comes one day after massive protests nationwide that began nearly two weeks ago over rising inflation and a crippling economic crisis. Since
then, a Norway-based NGO says at least 45 people have been killed, including children.
ASHER: The Islamic regime has cut all internet and phone service. And this morning, the Supreme Leader actually warned U.S. President Donald Trump,
who has threatened American intervention, to focus on problems in his own country. And he singled -- signaled that Tehran might intensify its
crackdown on the growing demonstrations.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Time now for "The Exchange" and our conversation with Karim Sadjadpour. He is an Iran expert and a senior fellow at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace.
Karim, you have been my go-to person to follow on all of the developments, not just this week, but throughout the past few years in Iran. So thank you
so much for taking the time to join us today.
As we noted, these protests began by merchants at bazaars in the country over inflation, the collapsing rial. And they have escalated into chants of
death to the dictator, even in some of the conservative strongholds in the country.
If we think back to the last protests of this scale in 2022, a lot has changed in the country, a lot has changed in the region and in the world.
You had the post-Israel-U.S. war with Iran, with the U.S. aiding Israel after that 12-day war and attacking their nuclear program and facilities
there. Iran's proxies have been severely weakened. And you got the Trump factor as well.
So, does that make this moment more dangerous for the Iranian regime than previous protests that we've seen?
KARIM SADJADPOUR, SENIOR FELLOW, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: I do think so, Bianna. I think this is probably the most existential
moment the Iranian regime has faced since it came to power in the 1979 revolution precisely, because its regional and global allies and partners
have either been deposed.
Bashar Assad in Syria, Maduro in Venezuela, its regional proxies have been decimated by Israel. Its economy is increasingly bankrupt. Its nuclear
program was destroyed by President Trump.
And President Trump has put the Iranian regime on notice, saying that if they continue to massacre protesters, the U.S. will intervene, that America
is locked and loaded. And, you know, that simply can't be dismissed as an idle threat, given what Trump just did in -- in -- in Venezuela and, you
know, having made good on his -- on his threats to attack Iran.
So, I think for both external and internal reasons, this is the greatest existential threat the Islamic Republic has faced since its inception.
ASHER: So, the greatest existential threat, but for the regime to be severely weakened, irreparably weakened, or dare I say even fall, there
would need to be a lot more than, quote-unquote, just demonstrations, because the regime has a lot of experience when it comes to cracking down
on protesters. We know that.
But also in terms of, you know, the regime being toppled or falling, that might be sort of an extreme possibility and an outcome. But you would need
to have senior clerics turn on the Ayatollah. You would also need to have members of the military sort of defect, the security forces turn against
the regime as well.
Obviously, you did mention the economy, and that is a massive problem, especially when you're talking about 50 percent inflation.
But walk us through what would need to happen. You talk about the existential threat. What would need to happen beyond, quote-unquote, just
protests in -- in Iran?
SADJADPOUR: That's an important point. For authoritarian regimes to fall, you not only need pressure from below, which we see in Iran, but also
divisions at the top, meaning, the regime starting to splinter.
And more importantly than the clergy, it's obviously the security forces and the revolutionary guards. And up until now, we haven't seen signs of
splintering that the security forces of the regime have been pretty cohesive.
But, you know, I described the Islamic Republic of Iran now as a zombie regime. It has a dying ideology. It has dying legitimacy, a dying economy,
a dying leader. But it still does maintain this lethal capacity.
And essentially, what we have to watch in the coming days and weeks and months, because revolutionary processes oftentimes take months, is this
interplay between the three forces, the psychological and physical health of the 86-year-old supreme leader, the cohesion and morale of the security
forces, and the will and intensity of the protesters.
And these things are interrelated because as the protests continue, that could weaken the morale of the security forces. If the security forces feel
like the 86-year-old leader is not entirely there or has lost his will, you know, that affects their -- their cohesion as well.
[12:45:11]
I would say that, you know, revolutions are impossible to predict. But I do think that Iran is a country on the cusp of some kind of a political
transformation, simply because I think both the population and even the regime recognize that this current status quo is not sustainable.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. You described Iran as a zombie regime where effectively so much of the country, including members of the regime itself and the IRGC
are just waiting for the Supreme Leader to die.
But there is not an official or notable opposition leader within the country. We are hearing names like Reza Pahlavi, who was the son of the
Shah, but he is thousands of miles away outside of the country.
In terms of what a successor to the Supreme Leader could look like, are we looking at someone like Reza? Or are we looking at more likely an IRGC
member, a senior leadership there, at least for the time being?
SADJADPOUR: Well, obviously, we know from history, Bianna, that it's impossible to predict what comes next. And oftentimes, the people who
appear to be leading revolutions or starting revolutions are not the people who are in power when the dust settles. We saw this with the -- with the
Arab Spring.
You know, the -- the great line about revolutions is that they require two kinds of leadership, inspirational and organizational leadership.
I think Reza Pahlavi is clearly emerged for many Iranians, not 100 percent, but certainly for, I would argue, a strong plurality of protesters as the
inspirational leader.
But, you know, as you mentioned, he's 6,000 miles away. It's very difficult to have organizational leadership on the ground there. And so, you know,
that -- that remains to be seen what comes next to Iran.
The one thing I would feel fairly confident predicting, Bianna, is that the next leader of Iran is not going to be wearing a turban. The next strong
leader of Iran is not going to be wearing a turban, meaning I think what's transforming is the country's organizing principle shifting from
revolutionary Islam and death to America and death to Israel to a nationalist organizing principle with long live Iran being the ethos of the
nation, not death to America or death to Israel.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. The theocratic regime has really proven itself over the past few decades to -- to really just be a disappointment in terms of
throwing away all the resources that the country has potentially and instead investing them in the nuclear program and continuing to have
external fights in battles.
Karim Sadjadpour, you have to wonder what the Supreme Leader is thinking now when you see someone like Maduro, someone that the country has had
close ties with in Venezuela for many, many years now sitting in a jail in New York City. We really appreciate the time.
Obviously, we will be in touch as these protests continue. It's a fast- moving story, and you will stay on top of it as we will as well. Thanks so much. We appreciate the time, Karim.
ASHER: Thank you.
SADJADPOUR: Thank you. Appreciate it.
ASHER: We'll be right back with more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:56]
ASHER: All right. Grok, the A.I. chatbot on Elon Musk's social media platform X, is now limiting its image generation and editing tools to
paying subscribers only.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. The move comes after sexually explicit deepfakes, some involving children sparked global outrage. The critics, including some
European leaders and regulators, say the change is not enough.
ASHER: Let's get the latest from CNN media correspondent Hadas Gold. So, it's not as if nobody has access to these images, you just have to be a
paid subscriber. So Elon Musk isn't sort of getting rid of the problem completely.
What are victims saying about this? And what are regulators saying about this, Hadas?
HADAS GOLD, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, and also to be clear, this is just people who don't have a paid subscription to Grok, not tag Grok on
X and ask it to make an image for it, but they can still create these types of images through directly talking to Grok privately and even through the
edit image button that exists on X.
If you look at an image, there's a little edit image button. And I tried it myself. I was able to put an adult woman into a bikini just by clicking on
the edit image button. And then, of course, if you're a paid subscriber, you still have access to this.
But and to back up a little bit, Elon Musk's X and Grok, they've always been way more permissive when it comes to allowing this sort of explicit
content on both X and for Grok to create it.
And this controversy started right around Christmas time when users started to realize that they could just tag Grok and ask it to change an image even
in a thread and it would do so, including removing the clothing of whoever was in the image. And as you noted, disturbingly, also complying with their
quest to do this to minors, to children.
Now, X and Elon Musk have said that they are taking action against this type of content, including removing it, permanently suspending and working
with local authorities.
But I also have some reporting into what was actually happening internally at xAI leading up to this. And one of the things that was happening was
Elon Musk had a meeting at xAI with a lot of staffers where he expressed frustration for some of the guardrails that were existing in Grok. This is
according to a source of mine familiar with the situation there.
And then right around the time of that meeting, three key staffers on xAI safety's team, including its head of product safety, left the company. And
the source telling me that that head of product safety would have been the exact person who would have likely prevented this from happening or at
least prevented from becoming this huge controversy that it turned into.
But as you noted, this has sparked global backlash. There are authorities from Malaysia to the European Union, to the United Kingdom, to Australia,
to India, who are now investigating this. They are demanding answers. There even some debate from the United Kingdom that X could potentially be banned
as a result of this.
And here in the United States, you know, xAI does face some potential legal liability here. The Take It Down Act was signed last year, which makes
these types of images illegal, especially if they are not taken down within 48 hours of being requested to do so by the people who were depicted.
And then today, a group of senators have actually sent a letter to Google and Apple telling them they -- they probably need to be removing X and Grok
from their app platforms because as a result of these images, they're actually violating the terms of distribution from these app stores.
So, despite X taking some action here, a lot of people are sort of cynically looking at that action saying, well, you can still create these
images if you pay for it.
ASHER: That is obviously still a problem. Hadas Gold, live for us there. Thank you so much.
GOLODRYGA: And before we go, the 83rd annual Golden Globe Awards will be held in Beverly Hills, California this Sunday. Actress and comedian Nikki
Glaser will be hosting the celebrations of 2025's top films and T.V. shows and podcasts.
ASHER: There are major nominations for the film, "One Battle After Another" star -- starring Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as the "White Lotus, plus, as
Bianna mentioned. New podcasts categories as well. That's where you specialize in.
And, of course, stars like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Miley Cyrus will be featured as well as presenters.
Glaser told us about the pressure she feels ahead of hosting the awards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLASER: It's always like, it has to be better. If this isn't good enough, there's always like these moments of like, what am I going to do? I can't
do this. And I kind of like that wave of emotions. And then I will be totally steady and confident the second those doors open and I walk out.
[12:55:06]
I know it. It happens every time. I kind of go through this like, you know, the stages of grief before a -- a -- a big performance like this. But, yes,
it's a -- it actually is a ton of pressure. This is a hard job.
You know, I'm looking forward to seeing, you know, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Timothee Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Michael B.
Jordan, Teyana Taylor.
I mean, yes, they -- I mean, no, they shouldn't be worried because I really have like made this set so that it doesn't ruin anyone's night. And I
really know how to go this far, but not that far, you know? Like I don't think that I'm going to have to avoid anyone at the after-party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: She goes far enough just to make you blush, right?
ASHER: I think I would have to avoid anyone.
GOLODRYGA: All right. The Golden Globe Awards are taking place as we said this Sunday. And that does it for "One World." It's been a busy, busy week.
Just starting the new year, too. I'm Bianna Golodryga.
ASHER: I'm Zain Asher. Thanks for watching. "Amanpour" is up next. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
