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The Situation Room

Major League Baseball Opening Day Arrives; Interview With Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE); Interview With Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY). Aired 11:30a-12p ET

Aired March 27, 2025 - 11:30   ET

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

[11:30:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: But, Congressman, with the Republicans controlling both the House and the Senate, they have the majorities, how do you and your fellow Democrats plan to get the accountability that you're clearly calling for?

REP. GREGORY MEEKS (D-NY): Well, I heard Chairman Mast on CNN the other day said that he will do an investigation.

And I have reached out to him and said, let's do it in a bipartisan way. So now that we have got him on camera saying that, so let's now -- I told him, let's put this together. Let's sign the letter together, requesting. And if they don't submit the information that's necessary by the committee, then let's subpoena it collectively.

We have seen Republicans do that throughout the last two years, where Democrats were willing. We admitted, didn't cover anything up, for example, with Afghanistan. We need a complete and full investigation into this matter. This is a matter that should not be a partisan issue, should not be a Democrat or Republican.

This is for the American people, our national security, and the protection of our men and women in the armed forces.

BLITZER: As you know, and put on your hat as the top Democrat, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Trump administration appears to have deep disdain for Europe right now, including close NATO allies, as we saw and heard in the course of this very sensitive chat, the defense secretary writing that Europe is -- quote -- in his word, "pathetic."

How is this being received by our European and other NATO allies? What concerns do you have?

MEEKS: I have great concerns. In fact, I'm changing some of my April travel, so I can go to see our allies and let them know that there are some of us that will still stand up for them. And I would hope some of my Republican colleagues do that.

What we're doing and what this president has been doing, he's treating our allies as if they're our adversaries and our adversaries as if they are allies. You have not heard him say one negative word about Vladimir Putin, not one, who was the aggressor in the fight against Ukraine. Yet this president seems to be going against whether they are NATO allies, whether they are on our borders, whether they're in the Indo-Pacific.

He is going after all of them, changing what the world order is. And we are losing our allies, in the sense that what we have shared with them are values. Our values are not like Russia or North Korea or Iran. Our values are like our NATO allies in Canada and in the Indo- Pacific, not China, but Japan and South Korea and the Philippines and Singapore.

Those are our allies that we need to be working together. And I have got to tell you, ambassador after ambassador has been coming to my office scratching their head, not knowing what their relationship is and whether or not they can rely on the United States of America with their national security interests.

Generally, it used to be the other way around, but now they're worried about what should they give to the United States or what should they share with the United States as far as security, because we may give it to an adversary.

BLITZER: And, very quickly, I want to get your quick reaction.

These Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen apparently launched some rockets, some missiles towards Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv in the past few hours. The Israeli air defense system knocked them out even before they came to Israel. But what do you make of the Houthis continuing these kinds of strikes?

MEEKS: Well, we know, and the Biden administration and the Trump administration, the strikes, we have got to stop the Houthis and we have got to stop Iran, who's been supplying them. There's unity there.

But look at the danger that could have happened. Say, for example, on this app, someone else -- one of the individuals there were in Russia -- picked it up. The Houthis have the ability to alter, protect themselves, and then shoot down some of our planes. And that's why, again, this Signal app transferring communications of classified information is a danger to our pilots, to our military, and to our national security.

BLITZER: Congressman Gregory Meeks of my home state of New York, thanks very much for joining us.

MEEKS: Thank you for having me, Wolf.

BLITZER: Democrats aren't the only ones livid right now over that group chat. Some Republican lawmakers are furious that it could have led to U.S. troops getting hurt or even killed.

We're talking with a Republican member of the Armed Services Committee and a former U.S. Air Force brigadier general. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:39:08] BLITZER: Happening now: President Trumps' trade war is ramping up once again with new 25 percent tariffs on all foreign-made cars and foreign-made auto parts. Experts are warning this will raise prices dramatically for consumers, as many world leaders plan to retaliate with tariffs of their own.

I want to quickly get reaction from Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska.

Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

I know you have spoken out against President Trump's tariffs, as have some other key Republicans in Congress. Why do you think he is pushing ahead with his trade war against countries like Canada and Mexico and other friendly countries, despite pressure from so many in his own party?

REP. DON BACON (R-NE): Obviously, President Trump likes tariffs. He thinks he can negotiate by using tariffs and use it as leverage against various countries.

I don't mind reciprocal tariffs if somebody is charging us a tariff. It should be fair. But, by and large, free trade should be the goal. It's the best for the consumer. So, when you have free trade, you're getting the best products at the best price, the most efficient -- it's the most efficient manner possible.

[11:40:16]

And that's what free trade offers. Tariffs in the end hurt consumers. So, Wolf, I support reciprocal tariffs, but we are better off if we have free trade.

BLITZER: Do you think the president fully understands that this auto and auto part tariff will cause prices, not only of imported cars from Germany or Japan, let's say, but for cars made in the United States, the prices are going to skyrocket? Does he not care about that?

BACON: I can't say it doesn't care. And I think this may be part of a negotiation that he's doing.

But, Wolf, you are right. A lot of the cars that we make in America, a lot of those parts come from Canada or they come from Europe. And so any car today has five or six different countries' DNA on it, right? And so, in the end, tariffs do cost more for the consumers. The consumers will be paying more.

And I hope that these don't go in effect in the long run. I hope it's a negotiating technique. But, in the end, Wolf, free trade is the best for consumers.

BLITZER: So it's not just the German cars imported to the United States or Japanese cars imported to the United States, but Fords and Chevys made in the United States. All those prices are going to skyrocket now. Could Republicans, Congressman, Republicans in Congress specifically, be doing more to push the president to try to de-escalate his trade war? What leverage do you have?

BACON: Well, in Article I in the Constitution, really, tariffs should be a congressional-initiated action. So this should come from Congress.

However, I think we made a mistake. In the past, we passed legislation that gave the president some temporary tariff authorities. And I think we should look back and maybe restore the power back to Congress and take away the authorizations that we have allowed the president, not just President Trump, but President Biden and President Obama before him.

This power should reside in the House and the Senate. We have the power of the purse. And so I think we should restore these authorities back to the House.

BLITZER: Well, that's an interesting proposal. Let's see if that happens.

Let me quickly also get your thoughts, Congressman, on that Signal group chat scandal that's ongoing. You have called on the White House to -- quote -- "own up" to the mistake. But now President Trump is calling the entire situation a witch-hunt.

Do you have any confidence in the Trump administration to hold people accountable for this stunning intelligence breach?

BACON: This was a great mission, a great operation. And, unfortunately, the way the White House has handled has hurt -- it's undermined what should be a successful bragging right here.

We -- it was great operation against the Houthis. Everybody that reads the messages knows that it was inappropriate for the secretary of defense to put when we're going to bomb Yemen, when the aircraft are taking off, when the impacts are going to be. That stuff was put out two hours before the mission on an unclassified network.

And I'm a signals intelligence officer. I know the Russians and Chinese have made their phones, the number one targets to monitor. I have no doubt that Russia and China were able to read those messages. I would be very surprised if they could -- if they did not. And so, look...

BLITZER: And you speak with a lot of authority, Congressman, because you're also, among other things, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general. You understand the potential security threats that even a discussion like this in an unsecured Web site, this Signal app, you understand the potential danger it could pose for U.S. troops.

BACON: The bigger issue to me is, we make mistakes. And when you make a mistake, you own up to it. You say, hey, it was my fault. I take responsibility. But when you deny that this is even wrong, it now becomes a bigger

issue than the actual mistake. This could have been solved three days ago by just saying, hey, I messed up. I screwed up. I learned my lesson. By the way, we had a great operation. This would have been a story that would have died three days ago.

But when you deny that it's a problem, and then it undermines your credibility even more, because people look at it, anybody with common sense will see what was sent out over Signal and they know it's wrong. And so when you try to deny that it's wrong, the credibility factor becomes even bigger.

And so I just -- this could have been old business three days ago by just saying, it was wrong, I screwed up. And I think it's still the right thing to do. If I was the secretary of defense, I would encourage -- I would do it. I would encourage him to reconsider the actions that were taken here.

BLITZER: Are you now ready to call for actual resignations?

BACON: I just think it's a bigger issue when you deny it's a problem. So I think the jury's still out of that. And I'm reluctant to tell -- I don't know. I'm reluctant to use the resignation word or the firing word.

But the credibility is suspect when you cannot even admit that this was wrong.

[11:45:07]

BLITZER: Congressman Don Bacon, as usual, thank you so much for joining us.

BACON: Thank you.

BLITZER: And we will have more news right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:50:00]

BLITZER: Will you buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks?

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: I would love to, Wolf. I would absolutely love to.

BLITZER: It's finally opening day for Major League Baseball; 26 teams will begin their 2025 season later today.

Most importantly, at least for me, the Washington Nationals will take on the Phillies at Nationals Park in a little over four hours from now.

Joining us now is CNN sports anchor Coy Wire, as well as CNN sports analyst and sports columnist for "USA Today" Christine Brennan.

Coy, let me start with you. Baseball fans, they wait all year for this day. What are you most excited for?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, break out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Baseball is back.

And, Wolf, we have some breaking news for you. We have been in comms with the team you love to see shining on the diamond. And stepping to the plate now, general manager and president of baseball out for the 2019 World Series champion Nats. Mike Rizzo. Have a blast at the game tonight, Wolf, and go, Nats.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Big surprise.

MIKE RIZZO, GENERAL MANAGER, WASHINGTON NATIONALS: How are you, sir?

BLITZER: Thanks for coming in.

RIZZO: It's my pleasure.

BLITZER: It was good to see you at that gala the other night too.

RIZZO: It was great. It was great. Well...

BLITZER: We got the Nationals.

RIZZO: We got the World Series hat for you.

BLITZER: That's it. Can I have this?

RIZZO: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: No charge?

RIZZO: No charge.

BLITZER: No charge.

RIZZO: Free of charge.

BLITZER: You guys see it?

BRENNAN: It looks beautiful. I saw it in the green room earlier. They -- it was a big and elaborate scheme to make sure that Mike Rizzo could sneak in.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Yes, it was a good surprise.

RIZZO: It was elaborate to get you to...

BLITZER: How does the season look so far?

RIZZO: Yes, we're going...

BLITZER: We're undefeated so far.

RIZZO: Yes, we're undefeated. And we're excited and optimistic about a strong start and get out of the gates good. And it's going to be a fun season for us.

BLITZER: What do you think, Christine?

BRENNAN: Oh, I think so. I mean, young team, as we know. We were talking in the green room, Mike and I, about 2019. Nothing was expected, right? And it was the wild card game, the Nats.

BLITZER: Right.

BRENNAN: And it was young Juan Soto.

And to think that that's why people love baseball so much, why you love it, Wolf, why you will be there, the idea of anything is possible. And I got to say, as a kid growing up loving the Detroit Tigers, Toledo Mud Hens, when you would see those early standings, and it would be two wins, one loss, zero, whatever, that to me is spring.

And I look now at the standings, and there's something about it that takes you back to being 10 years old and springtime and looking at those early standings when teams have only played a few games at that point.

BLITZER: So, we love baseball to begin with. And I know you do as well.

RIZZO: Yes.

BLITZER: What are you going to be looking forward to most specifically as we go to this new season?

RIZZO: Well, just watching the young kids develop right in front of our eyes. Christine mentioned the Juan Sotos and the Strasburgs and the Rendons of the past. These are the current -- James Wood and Dylan Crews and C.J. Abrams and Luis Garcia of the present, and hopefully that this group of good young talented players will take us to places that those other guys did also.

BLITZER: A quick question, Coy, for you. What's your team?

WIRE: Oh. Oh, thanks. I'm back, Wolf. Sorry, I was just sitting back enjoying the show.

Well, today I'm a Nats fan, Wolf. How could I go against you?

BLITZER: Me too.

WIRE: But I grew up about an hour north of the Baltimore Orioles back in the Cal Ripken days. So they're a young squad as well. And maybe they will have some World Series hopes and dreams alive to come.

BLITZER: You think it's a lock that the Dodgers are going to do it again?

BRENNAN: Nothing's a lock. But if anything's a lock, I think the Dodgers look good.

But, Mike, you know this, and Wolf. The pressure to repeat, especially with injuries, of course, and we saw that with the Atlanta Braves last year, decimated by injury. They will come back and be strong. The Phillies, obviously, the NL East is a very competitive division.

But I think that, yes, I'd say Dodgers and I would say Dodgers, Red Sox. If you put me on the spot, that would be the World Series, but it's a long way off.

BLITZER: What do you think of her analysis?

RIZZO: I'm going to say that's why we play the games, 162 games in 185 days. And the team that grinds it out the most and the best will emerge champion.

The one thing about baseball is you have a long, a long regular season that kind of whittles out the teams that have flaws in their -- in their rosters. And, for today, we're going to go 1-0 today and worry about Saturday's game Saturday.

BLITZER: It's going to be, like, an exciting time. And one thing about baseball, as opposed to some of the other professional sports, you have injuries, but not necessarily as many as, let's say, football or even basketball, for that matter. You agree?

RIZZO: Yes.

And the depth of the rosters are -- it's getting more and more important every single year. We not only go 40 men deep with our Major League roster, but you're -- there's about 60 men that you need to have to go through a championship-caliber season. In 2019, I think we used -- I think we used over 60 players on the -- at the big league level.

So it's a -- it's a grind. It's a marathon and the team that's built the strongest for the long term usually comes up winning it.

BLITZER: And quickly, Coy, if you're still there, what's your sense tonight? There's going to be some NCAA basketball games going on at the same time.

WIRE: I'm sorry, Wolf. I lost your sound on you. I know you asked me a question.

(CROSSTALK)

WIRE: All I'm going to say is, Mr. Mike, if you have the power, when Wolf is at that game tonight, get the biggest, gaudiest ballpark hot dog or something, nachos, and put them on Wolf's lap, and make sure you take a picture of it so I can embarrass him on TV tomorrow.

[11:55:10] (LAUGHTER)

RIZZO: No question.

It's hot dogs and baseball, baby. That's what it's all about.

BRENNAN: Yes.

BLITZER: What do you think about the March Madness?

BRENNAN: March Madness, men, we will see how good Florida is. We will see how good some of these other teams are.

And, of course, the women, and without JuJu Watkins now in the women's tournament, which is Friday.

BLITZER: I'm going to be watching Maryland tonight, see if there's another buzzer-beater.

I don't know if you like basketball.

RIZZO: Oh, I love it.

BLITZER: But I like basketball too.

All right guys, thank you very, very much.

And to our viewers, thanks very much for joining us this morning. You can keep up with me, of course, on social media @WolfBlitzer. We will see you back here tomorrow and every weekday morning for our expanded two-hour SITUATION ROOM 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

"INSIDE POLITICS," today with Manu Raju filling in for Dana Bash, is coming up next right after a short break.