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State of the Union

Interview With Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ); Interview With U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins; Interview With Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Aired 9-10a ET

Aired April 27, 2025 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:22]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN HOST (voice-over): Face-to-face. An extraordinary meeting between two men at odds.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think we're going to get this over with.

BASH: Now, as President Trump criticizes Vladimir Putin, where does that leave peace talks?

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joins me exclusively next.

And let's make a deal. Americans' fears rise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will tell you, it's going to be tough.

BASH: Amid mixed messages from the president.

TRUMP: We're resetting the table.

BASH: As tariffs start to bite, does Trump have a strategy? Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will be here.

And 100 days. Brand-new CNN polling. Voters are souring on Trump 2.0. He says he's doing exactly what he promised.

TRUMP: That's why I was elected.

But are voters losing faith? Our panel of political experts break down the numbers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: Hello. I'm Dana Bash in Washington, where the state of our union is wondering what the next 100 days will look like.

As President Trump closes in on the 100-day mark of his presidency this Tuesday, a brand-new CNN poll just out this morning shows his approval rating dropping to 41 percent, the lowest for any newly elected president at the 100-day mark in modern history. Only 39 percent approve of President Trump's handling of the economy, an all- time low from both his first and second terms.

It's even lower when it comes to approval for his tariffs policy. That's at 35 percent. Even on immigration, the president's signature issue, voters are losing faith. His approval on the issue has dropped six points just in the last month.

It's a stunning rebuke as President Trump pushes the limits of the American economy, the immigration system, the checks and balance system of America itself. So, the question right now is, what are Democrats doing to seize on a potential opening here?

Here with me now is the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer of New York.

Senator, thank you so much for being here. We do have a lot to get to.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): Good morning.

BASH: I do want to start with developments with regard to Russia and Ukraine. The president met one-on-one with President Zelenskyy. Both sides called that meeting productive.

Afterwards, President Trump criticized Vladimir Putin's attacks on Ukraine and said -- quote -- "Maybe he doesn't want to stop the war. He's just tapping me along and has to be dealt with differently."

As the Democratic leader in the Senate, you're a member of the so- called Gang of Eight. You see intelligence about how the war is going. Are you supportive of these negotiations?

SCHUMER: Well, look, my great fear, Dana, is that Trump will just cave in to Putin.

That's been the overall indications all along. And, of course, the bottom line is very simple, that, if we cave to Putin, if Trump caves into Putin, it's three -- it's bad in three very bad ways. Number one, to just abandon Ukraine after all the sacrifice that they made, after so much loss of life and with the rallying of the whole West against Putin, it would just be a moral tragedy to undercut Zelenskyy, which we -- I believe Trump is headed in that direction.

Second, it asunders our -- tears asunder our alliances with Europe. The Europeans have stood up for us. The whole West has stood up for us. They have put in money. They have used all kinds of diplomatic and economic tools to back us. And how is Europe going to trust us ever again if Trump backs out?

But, third, and maybe worst of all, it's a sign that the United States is weak. It sends a signal to every dictator in China, in North Korea, in Iran that, if you stand up and bully Trump, you're going to get your way.

So, I am very worried about where he is headed. I think that he is in a position where he feels he can sell out Zelenskyy. He's sort of saying yes one day, no the next day, but, overall, the trend is very, very bad. BASH: Let's turn to what's happening here at home.

The ACLU says the Trump administration deported three U.S. citizen children with their families, including one suffering from metastatic cancer. A judge overseeing one of the cases expressed his -- quote -- "strong suspicion that the government just deported a U.S. citizen with no meaningful process."

If that's the case and the federal government deported U.S. citizens with no due process, what can you, as one of the top elected officials in the country, do about it?

[09:05:08]

SCHUMER: Well, first, what he's doing here is just outrageous and against every iota of what Americans believe.

And it's not -- this is not the only instance. There are reportedly other instances where U.S. citizen children were deported without any due process. Due process is a hallmark of what our country is all about, rule of law. And ICE and Trump seem to break it in every single way.

He believes he's a king. He is not. And the American people are totally against what he is doing in this regard. The polling that you showed today, and the data from the other "New York Times" and "Washington Post" shows the same thing.

We are highlighting this in every way we can, because the more the American people know, the better. That's why Chris Van Hollen went to El Salvador last week. That is why Democrats are talking about this in town hall meetings across the country.

And the more the American people know, the less they're going to like what Trump does.

BASH: The -- your colleague from Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff told voters at a town hall that he strongly agrees that President Trump should be impeached.

Do you agree with him? Would that be a priority if Democrats were to take back Congress?

SCHUMER: Well, look, right now, President Trump is violating rule of law in every way. We're fighting him every single day in every way.

And our goal is to show the American people over and over again, whether it's the economy, whether it's tariffs, whether it's Russia and overseas, and whether it's rule of law, how bad he is. And two years is too far away to predict. Our job is day to day to day to show who Trump is, what he is doing. And it's having an effect.

BASH: But you're not ruling out...

SCHUMER: As your poll showed, the American people are realizing...

BASH: You're not saying no?

SCHUMER: Look, it's too far away to even judge.

BASH: OK.

I do want to get to the economy because you mentioned our new poll. It does show the American people souring on Trump's handling of the economy, nearly two-thirds disapproving of how he is dealing with tariffs and inflation in particular.

SCHUMER: Right.

BASH: He told us explicitly, explicitly, Senator, what he would do during his campaign. He said very specifically what he would do on tariffs and other issues relating to the economy.

And voters still chose him over Democrats. How do you explain that?

SCHUMER: Look, the bottom line is that no one under -- no one realized the chaos. It's not tariffs themselves.

I have been tough on China and there are certain tariffs against China that are appropriate. But what he did was totally chaotic. He turned the whole world against us. Instead of focusing on China and getting the world to join us because they don't like what China does, he imposed tariffs across the board on nation after nation after nation and now they're being allied with China.

In addition, he never told the American people the kinds of tariffs he were imposing across the board, and some of them very, very high, would raise their costs. It's estimated it'll raise the American costs. The family -- American families would have to pay about $4,000 more a year.

The price of food and clothing and gasoline, buying a new car, all would go up dramatically. And so he never leveled with the American people. And no one ever imagined it would be as chaotic and as poorly planned. One person says one thing one day. Another person says another thing the next day.

And another thing that's -- another terrible effect it's having, Dana, on this is that businesses -- I have been all around my state. I have been in six different districts of Republicans, talking to them, talking to the people about tariffs.

And small businesses, medium-sized businesses and large businesses are frozen even -- because they don't know what Trump will do next. And that's heading us into a recession. And what does a recession mean to the average family? You could lose your job. Harder to get a new job. Costs go up.

So the American people are furious. The promises Trump made are far different than how it's been effectuated. And that's why his 100 days are a disaster.

BASH: Let me turn to your party, the Democratic Party, and where you are right now in the quest to try to overtake Republicans certainly in the short term in the midterms.

Republicans have been facing a lot of heated town halls, but also Democrats have been as well. And there's a lot of frustration towards members of your party, not just from voters, but we're even hearing it from members of your own caucus.

I want you to listen to your colleague Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, what he said this week.

[09:10:04]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D-CO): I am furious with the Democratic Party because, in my view, our inability to offer a compelling vision and articulate it to the American people has resulted in Donald Trump being elected not just once, but twice.

We need to come to grips with that. And we need to ask ourselves why that is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: What do you think?

SCHUMER: Well, look, no, we're doing very well.

We are totally united in focusing on Trump on a single message when it -- for instance, on tariffs, how chaotic they are and how they have to be focused, on rule of law, how he's not obeying it. We're showing that to the American people, but also on this upcoming reconciliation bill, where we Democrats have a single message, that Trump is trying to make the middle class pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

Our whole party, every member of our caucus is united on that issue. Americans hate it. And we are going after them day after day. I was -- as I mentioned, I went to six Republican districts during our -- just our recent Easter Passover break and talking to the voters, Republican districts, about what their -- what Trump is doing and how their congressmen ought not be embracing him.

And then four of them signed a letter saying, well, they don't want to cut Medicaid. And so we are really united and focused and strong. The contrast that we are making between who the Democratic Party is, the party for working people, and who the Republican Party is, the party for billionaires and especially privileged people, is having a real effect.

And that's why he's doing so poorly in these first 10 days. I think we're on our front foot.

BASH: Yes.

SCHUMER: And, every day, we are fighting Trump on multiple fronts.

BASH: So there's the message, sir, and then there's the messenger. And when your very longtime friend former roommate and colleague

Senator Dick Durbin announced his retirement this week after three decades in the Senate, he said -- quote -- "It's time to pass the torch." We have heard that from other retiring Democrats, Gary Peters, Tina Smith, Jeanne Shaheen. They have all said it's time to let the next generation of leaders take over.

Now, you indicated this week that you're going to stay put as Senate Democratic leader for the foreseeable future.

SCHUMER: Yes.

BASH: Why don't you think it's time to pass the torch?

SCHUMER: Look, I am focused on winning, as I have always been, and we are -- and, as leader of the caucus, we are united.

Now, we have a lot of talent in the caucus, and my job is sort of an orchestra leader, to get us -- play on the same theme, as you said, where you, as -- and as I have said, we're united on message, but to highlight all the talent in the caucus in different ways.

And we have seen that...

BASH: And you're staying put?

SCHUMER: .. with Cory Booker, with so many others.

And so, of course, yes, I am staying put, and I'm fighting the fight every day, as is our caucus, in a united and successful way, as you have seen by your poll and other polls. We're showing America how bad Trump is, and showing that Republicans who embrace Trump do so at their peril.

BASH: I want to turn to a book that you have recently written and is out. It is entitled "Antisemitism in America: A Warning."

You talk about antisemitism on the right, but you also address antisemitism within your own party. Here's part of what you wrote -- quote -- "I worry also about the larger American left, which may look the other way and be too complacent or forgiving about those who exhibit antisemitism in their ranks."

You say that's one of the biggest reasons you wrote this book.

SCHUMER: Well, I wrote the book to warn about antisemitism overall in America, on the left and on the right.

We owe it -- Conor Cruise O'Brien, the great Irish poet, said antisemitism is a light sleeper. And when there are times of trouble, as there are now, antisemitism raises its head.

On the right, it's despicable and awful. I have experienced it myself. When the -- on the January 6 takeover, I was within 30 feet of these hooligans, and one of them said: "There's the big Jew. Let's get them." But we have also seen it on the left, not in the Democratic Party, but on the left. And we have seen things that we never used to see before, for instance, someone getting on a subway and saying "All the effing Zionists, get off the subway," Jewish delis having -- which has nothing to do with Israel having stones thrown through their windows.

The head of the Brooklyn museum, who's Jewish, but Brooklyn Museum has nothing to do with Israel, few blocks away from here where we're sitting, had red paint all over her.

And I believe we have to alert America to antisemitism and teach them. That's why I wrote the book. The best antidote is for people to know the truth. Here's a terrifying fact, that 25 -- 20 percent of people under 30 don't believe the Holocaust was a myth and another 50 percent have never heard of it. We need an education.

[09:15:07]

And my goal is to have this book read in the high schools and colleges across America, because I think it would just shatter the myths that are out there which have always been below the surface and are popping up on both the left and the right much too much now.

BASH: Yes.

I want to read something else you wrote in your book. You wrote: "At Harvard, my alma mater, more than 30 student organizations signed a statement calling the Israeli regime entirely responsible for the attack. And the months since October 7 have brought too many examples, far too many, of overt antisemitism, American Jews being harassed, attacked and villainized simply for being Jewish."

President Trump, as you well know, says he's cracking down on Harvard and other universities because of their response, or lack thereof, to those antisemitic incidents that you're describing. How do you think he's dealing with that?

SCHUMER: Right.

Well, first, Harvard did not do enough to curb antisemitism. I have been vocal about that. But let me just say this. What Trump is doing goes way beyond antisemitism. He is going after these universities, like he's going after judges, like he's going after law firms, like he's going after the media, because he just doesn't -- he's not -- he doesn't believe in democracy.

He thinks he's king, as he said. And he did this at Harvard. So, seven -- a bunch of us Jewish senators just sent a letter to the administration saying, detail the specific incidents of antisemitism and why cutting money off to cancer research or to Alzheimer's research has anything to do with antisemitism.

It doesn't. He is using antisemitism -- and it's appropriate to go after specific incidents of antisemitism -- as a pretext to hurt these great universities. It's going to hurt every American. It's going to hurt the kids at the universities who've had nothing to do with protesting. But it's also going to hurt the kind of medical research and other kinds of great research that is done at Harvard and other universities.

So we sent him a very strong letter just the other day asking eight very strong questions about why this isn't just a pretext.

BASH: Well, you will let us know if you get a response to that letter.

SCHUMER: I will. I will.

BASH: I do want to say -- you said you hope that this is taught in schools.

And I have done a lot of work on antisemitism, and this is very comprehensive, explaining what it is, its genesis, and its very, very deep roots in culture that goes back thousands of years.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: So, thank you for that. Thank you for bringing it to us. Thank you for being here.

SCHUMER: Dana, I -- yes, I thought, as the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in America, I had an obligation to do it, because we have to speak out. And I hope many people will read the book.

BASH: Thank you, sir. Thanks for being here.

SCHUMER: Thank you, Dana. Appreciate it.

BASH: Voters are losing confidence in President Trump's handling of the economy. I will ask a Trump Cabinet secretary about that and conflicting messages between the U.S. and China next.

And a new major escalation in President Trump's immigration crackdown. My panel will break it all down.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:22:48]

BASH: Welcome back to STATE OF THE UNION.

Growing concern for American voters this morning about the president's handling of the economy. From some farmers, the concern is existential.

Here with me now is Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

Secretary Rollins, thank you so much for being here.

I want to start with those falling economic numbers for President Trump in our new poll out this morning. He just hit the lowest approval on the economy ever, including his first term. Two-thirds of Americans, roughly, disapprove of his job on tariffs. What does this say about his economic strategy?

BROOKE ROLLINS, U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: Well, Dana, first of all, thank you so much for having me on again. And really appreciate the time.

So I think the first and most important thing that is really relevant to today is, this president has never, ever governed by poll. And I just saw those same numbers too, so I haven't had a chance to dig in. But the second thing is that every -- there are hundred different polls that say a hundred different things.

At the end of the day, President Trump is resolutely focused on ensuring that we are realigning the American economy to put Americans first. And, again, he's never worried about this poll yesterday or that poll tomorrow.

BASH: Right.

ROLLINS: He has a vision, and I saw it working with him in the first term, see it again the second term, that we have to put America first.

And as the secretary of agriculture, I have now seen firsthand how our products and our people are treated around the world. And it's just time to realign that. So that's what he's doing. And, really, really, I think that we're really excited about what this means for the future, even if there's some uncertainty today.

BASH: Well, you mentioned uncertainty. And I understand what you're saying about the polls.

But what the new CNN poll and others like it reflect is uncertainty and also pain, and people are pretty upset and worried, concerned about their economic situation.

ROLLINS: Right.

Well, I think there's a couple of things to note here. The first is this, that, in the first 100 days, which we're about to mark this week, I think the first 100 days, there's been a 95 percent decrease in illegal border crossings.

[09:25:08]

Number two, inflation has come down, even if just a little bit, but for the first time since the last Trump administration. So, border security, bringing the cost of goods down.

Number three, law and order and arresting terrorists, 74 terrorists have been arrested. In my world, in agriculture and making America healthy again, we have had a lot of accomplishments, energy, et cetera.

BASH: Yes.

ROLLINS: That, while we're talking about the economy, Dana, to your question, we are in that time of uncertainty.

But the prices and costs for the average American consumer are on their way down, while, at the same time, we've got $7 trillion that has been basically promised to reshore back into America for jobs, for Americans, et cetera, as we're realigning the government

So, again, I believe that poll is just one snapshot perhaps of one day that may not even be entirely accurate, but we, again, are convicted and resolute on this plan. We move forward. We have got 100 countries that have approached us for re-trade -- re-trading and trade renegotiations.

And what that means for the American people is real certainty and real prosperity moving forward.

BASH: So let's talk about that. I do just want to say because, during the 2024 campaign, the price of eggs got a lot of attention, they're now about $6 a dozen. So it's still pretty high.

But let's look forward, Secretary Rollins. You said that there are, what, 100 deals that are almost in the works. The president told "TIME" magazine -- quote -- "I have made 200 deals." He didn't give us any details about what those could be, what countries he's talking about.

Has he actually inked any trade deals, and with whom?

ROLLINS: Well, Dana, first of all, let me address the eggs, because that's an important point.

So, when we took over, when the president was sworn in, the price of eggs had increased 237 percent under the last administration. I mean, we -- obviously, food under the last administration, the average increase was 25 to 30 percent, but eggs specifically.

And I know I have got a bunch of kids and a big family, and a lot of Americans are trying to feed their family. Eggs are so important to that. And as they're increasing that significant amount, that was a big issue.

BASH: Yes.

ROLLINS: The president jokes that, on day one, everyone's yelling at him about the price of eggs. He's like, I just got here. But we unveiled a five-point plan a little over a month ago.

And you mentioned the numbers, but when you look at the wholesale cost of eggs, which drives the retail cost, the retail will follow soon. The actual wholesale cost of eggs is down 58 percent in the last six weeks. So other parts of the country, we have seen a significant decline in the retail cost. Some parts of the country, it has not followed yet, but it's coming. So I think that's an important point.

BASH: OK, let's focus on the deals.

ROLLINS: But on the trade and on the deals -- yes, for sure. On the deals, we have 100 countries that are knocking on the door. I

believe -- I'm not in the room. I'm not negotiating the trade deals. But my understanding is, we should have several this week that are coming forward that are very, very close. China is a very important one. Every day, we are in conversation with China, along with those other 99, 100 countries that have come to the table.

Many countries have already flown to Washington and are meeting with Secretary Lutnick, meeting with Secretary Bessent, meeting with our USTR, Jamieson Greer. And there is a tremendous amount of progress on all fronts, that we will see, again, more this week.

BASH: You said that there are talks with China every day. Who are the talks with and at what level? Because the Chinese are saying that's not true.

ROLLINS: Well, according to our team in Washington, the conversations are ongoing regarding multiples of trade, but here -- multiples of the trade goods that are coming out and going in.

But the bottom line with China is this. They need us more than we need them. They need our money. They need our markets. They need our consumers and all of the above. So the president has been, I believe, exactly correct. I mean, he is the ultimate dealmaker.

It's a time where we have got to hold China accountable. And in agriculture, year upon year, decade upon decade, our goods have been taken advantage of. The trade disparity, the non-trade bariffs (sic), on top of the tariff numbers, are insane, whether it's Argentina or China or Brazil or the U.K.

I could go country by country with you and just talk about how they treat our beef, what they do with our pork, how our soybeans are taken advantage of. And that's my world, right, the agriculture world.

BASH: Yes.

ROLLINS: But it's true across all lanes of our industry.

BASH: And on that note, I want to stick with your world of agriculture, because you said China needs the U.S.

But there are some indicators that they're looking elsewhere, specifically when it comes to farming. They dramatically cut back on buying U.S. soybeans, instead turning to Brazil and Argentina. China is planning to purchase less U.S. pork, down 72 percent in just a week.

[09:30:09]

So, at least in the short term, it is obviously hurting American farmers. What are they supposed to do now?

ROLLINS: Well, listen, the farmers -- no one supports President Trump more than our farmers and ranchers in our rural communities. And you're right. Our soybean farmers, some of our row croppers, some

of our pork, et cetera, they certainly are being -- they're more in the crosshairs than a lot of our other agriculture industry. But for the most part, from every -- every farmer I have talked to says, we understand this and we are with you.

And we also know that President Trump will ensure that, if there are significant economic damages, that, just as in the first term under the China deal phase one, that we will be -- harm will be mitigated. And so we're already preparing for that. I don't think we're going to need it, but, if we do, it will be there.

But, Dana, to answer your question, the bottom line is this. We are opening up and expanding markets across the world. I will be in the U.K. I will be in Vietnam. I will be in Japan. I will be in Brazil. I will be in Peru. This is all in just the coming months, that, in the last administration, we went from a zero-dollar trade deficit when President Trump left for agriculture to an almost $50 billion trade deficit after the Biden administration on agriculture.

There just wasn't much effort around the world to open these markets up. J.D. Vance was just in India. We see them as a massive trading partner moving forward if we can come to the right resolution at the right time.

BASH: So you see that there will be deals -- so you see there will be deals with other countries perhaps to make up for whatever the problems are with regard to China?

ROLLINS: It is going to be a new era of market expansion around the world, and our team is so committed to that.

So, I think we fix a lot of what's wrong with the China and the Brazil, et cetera, but we also open up new markets. I mean, people -- countries are knocking on our door right now. They want our goods. Our agriculture products are the best in the world. They're the most productive.

We feed not only our country. We feed the world. They're 100 percent safe. And so that's what a lot of these countries are asking for, and that's what our incredible team in Washington is moving toward.

BASH: Before I let you go, in Trump 1.0, when their -- the farmers were hurting with the first round of trade negotiations with China, there was a bailout from the federal government. Will that happen again?

ROLLINS: Right.

Well, we will ensure -- first of all, the prayer is that that doesn't need to happen. But, secondly, if it does for the short term, just as in Trump won, we are preparing for that. I think it's important to note, though, that that -- we won't really know the consequences really until harvest time, which will be later this summer, early in the fall. But we are watching it and analyzing it every single day, and we're

preparing for it. I'm on constant conversations with our friends on the Hill, where the funding comes from, and everyone is committed to ensuring our farmers and our ranchers, which food security is national security.

So it isn't just about protecting the farmers and ranchers. It's protecting the great American experiment and the American dream.

BASH: Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, thank you so much for being here this morning. Appreciate it.

ROLLINS: Thank you.

BASH: Voters in our new CNN poll are giving the president positive marks on just one issue. It's not immigration.

We will tell you what it is when my panel joins me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:38:59]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.

Rapidly bring down costs and prices. Repel the disastrous invasion of our country. Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Welcome back to STATE OF THE UNION.

Just a reminder of President Trump's promises. There were a lot of them as he took office. Where do they stand at the 100-day mark?

My panel joins me now.

And I do want to start with the economic numbers that we're seeing in our new poll out this morning. They're pretty brutal; 64 percent of Americans disapprove of President Trump's handling of inflation; 65 percent disapprove of his handling of tariffs; 61 percent disapprove of his overall handling of the economy.

On immigration, a majority of Americans, 53 percent, disapprove as well.

You know, David Urban, I'm coming to you first.

(LAUGHTER)

DAVID URBAN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Shocking. Shocking. Look, the numbers suck. Those are terrible numbers, right? We don't

want to see those numbers, but, again, snapshot in time. There's some other polling out that's from "The Washington Post" that says 55 percent of Americans view the president has done major -- has done the right thing to address major problems in America.

So you can -- polls are what you want -- you can see what you want to see in polls. But these numbers aren't great. I would say that I'm sure the Trump administration is looking at these. They're in it for the long -- they're in this for the long run. And we have been through this.

Look, how many times, Dana, have you and I and Karen and others sat here and said, Trump's dead, and then he's like I'm not dead yet?

(LAUGHTER)

KAREN FINNEY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think I have ever said that.

URBAN: And then he continues. Listen, he continues.

I was here after the "Access Hollywood" tape. I have been here through so many ups and downs.

BASH: Yes, but this is not that. This is about people's...

(CROSSTALK)

URBAN: I get it. But the numbers will improve, I guarantee you. Over time, things are going to start happening.

FINNEY: Well, but I think there's two questions, David. And you know this. It's over how much time and how much more pain are people going to have to feel?

[09:40:05]

Because here's the thing. When you have a headline from "The Wall Street Journal" that says, worst April since the Great Depression, and you have business leaders, Wall Street, small businesses, farmers saying, help, help, help, you're tanking our economy, this is too much chaos, this is too much pain -- and let's be honest.

He did campaign on tariffs, but he didn't say there'd be pain. And now people are living it and realizing. And, by the way, that's -- this is before we even get to the budget and whatever cuts may end up in the final version of the budget and the impact that people will feel on that.

So I think part of what you're seeing is, people feel betrayed. They feel like, you said you were going to deal with inflation and costs, and you have not done it.

FMR. REP. JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER (R-WA): I mean, I don't know if it's quite -- I wish that it was that reflective. I really do think, though, we're in April, right? And we are so far

from an election. Now, if we were three weeks out, I'd be saying this is a different story, but we're not. Remember three months ago where the economy was, and everybody was singing praises and excited.

It will change so many times between now and next month or two months. So I don't think it's quite -- we're quite to that place where people are saying, we feel betrayed. I think there's still a lot of opportunity for this administration to make changes.

They will make many changes. The one thing I have observed is volatility is part of what they do. The real question to me, will this be lasting or not, and what does Congress do about it?

Like you said, I do think there is proof in the pudding that they're the heat shield. The congressional opponents are the heat shield for what this administration is doing, and there's a lot of heat and there's a lot of friction, but the reality is, what voters are really going to think about is what they actually pass into law.

BASH: Well, let's turn to the issue, or at least focus in on the issue of immigration, because this number, we mentioned it, but I just want to drill down on it once again, Trump's handling of immigration, 53 percent say they disapprove.

And this is an area, Congresswoman, where he says this is why he won. I don't know. I still think it was the economy. It's probably, obviously, a combination of both.

Yassamin Ansari, I should say welcome, and you were a part of the sort of delegation that went to El Salvador, so you definitely have immigration and what is going on with regard to the courts on your mind.

What do you make of these numbers?

REP. YASSAMIN ANSARI (D-AZ): I think that it is the natural response to the overcorrection of this administration. They're taking it too far when it comes to their immigration policies.

I think Trump pledged mass deportation, which, of course, I am vehemently against. But now when you have situation where the Supreme Court of the United States is making a ruling, and the president is openly defying that, and we are really honing into this issue of due process, because I think, at the core of it, Americans, whether you're a Republican, independent, Democrat, believe in fundamental rights we have as Americans, including due process, I think that's making a big difference.

I represent Arizona, obviously a state that's on the front lines of this issue. And whether I speak with Democrats or more moderate Republicans, I think people are very concerned about this authoritarian nature of this administration.

URBAN: Hey, listen, I respectfully disagree. I think the Trump administration is doing quite well. They're doing what the American people want to see.

I think that the snapshot cases like you saw...

ANSARI: Fifty-three percent.

URBAN: ... like you saw with the -- well, polls say what they want.

You saw like the anecdotes are pretty powerful, this case with Judge Dugan. If those are the kind of fights Democrats are going to pick the fight you're going to keep losing, right? I just think, listen, I mean, I do agree, look, we don't want to sweep up and send people away who should not be sent away.

I think we need to do...

FINNEY: Like children.

(CROSSTALK)

URBAN: We need to do it well.

ANSARI: And I think that for this to be an issue that the president has always been polling well on, to now say the majority of Americans are...

BEUTLER: Well, I think there's two issues there. Immigration and border security is what he won on. And I think he's doing what people want him to do.

URBAN: Close the border.

BEUTLER: I think it's a huge mistake for congressional Democrats to make Garcia like their rallying cry.

I was like, wait, what?

(CROSSTALK)

ANSARI: I disagree. I think that -- I think defying the Supreme Court is a massive issue for Americans.

BEUTLER: For the American people?

ANSARI: Yes. Yes, absolutely.

(CROSSTALK)

FINNEY: It's not about -- it's about the three American citizen children.

ANSARI: Yes.

BEUTLER: Wait, wait, wait.

(CROSSTALK)

FINNEY: Hold on. Hold on.

(CROSSTALK)

FINNEY: It's about the children who are American citizens who are deported. David and I have talked about this before.

What we're seeing -- I mean, I -- and any administration makes mistakes. Since 2003, thousands of American citizens have been detained wrongfully. But because people are not getting due process, you create more of an opportunity for mistakes.

(CROSSTALK)

FINNEY: The president has got to follow the law, and he's not doing it.

(CROSSTALK)

BEUTLER: Give me a sec.

What's appropriate is for the senator, representative who represents those people to engage wholeheartedly on the administration. I have done that. I have done that. And that's what they're doing.

(CROSSTALK)

[09:45:00]

BEUTLER: But my point is, to have members of Congress making this their rallying cry, they are going to miss the message to the masses.

And that's what they continue to do. And that's my frustration. I agree, due process is a huge concern. And if that were my constituent, I would have gone to bat. And that's what should happen.

(CROSSTALK)

BEUTLER: But for it to be the message for the Democrats, they're going to miss it. They're going to miss the economy.

FINNEY: It's not their message.

BEUTLER: They're going to miss -- that's...

(CROSSTALK)

ANSARI: I just think you can't ignore this issue.

And even on this issue, if we're going to go back to polling, the vast majority of Americans believe that Trump should listen to the Supreme Court and return Kilmar Garcia back to the United States.

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: We're going to have to sneak in a quick break. Don't go anywhere. Obviously, we have a lot more to say. And we will talk, looking forward, about the next 100 days of the

Trump presidency when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:50:10]

BASH: Welcome back. You're looking at live images of Democrats staging a sit-in of sorts on Capitol Hill this Sunday morning. They call for an urgent conversation with the American people.

My panel is back.

As we look at this and think about what we're going to see over the next 100 days, Congresswoman Ansari, is this the kind of thing that you think is working for the Democratic Party?

ANSARI: I think what I love that I'm seeing is you have Democrats from a variety of backgrounds doing what it is that they are good at.

So, from massive rallies that obviously AOC and Senator Sanders are hosting, to town halls in Republican districts that many of us are hosting, to Senator Booker on the Senate floor, I think we are demonstrating that, outside of typical business-as-usual actions like legislative priorities, we are fighting back in every way, shape, or form that we can. And I think you can expect more of us.

BASH: You used to represent a...

BEUTLER: Swing.

BASH: ... swing district, a moderate Republican. What do you want from the president?

BEUTLER: I want him to address inflation and the cost of goods and services and health care. I want him to think about the things that I think about. How am I going to pay for this? What's going to happen for my family?

And I think that's most of America. And to the congresswoman's point, I just felt like that is my frustration, is that there is not a credible, like, flag being raised on the other side. The people you just mentioned all come from places where it's not hard for them to win races, right? They don't have to meet the people in the middle. They're the ones who are rallying the base.

And that didn't work in November. I don't know why they think it's going to work now. And I think Republicans have the same responsibility. You're going to see it within the more moderate wings of the Republican Party. They're the ones who are going to start -- and I have even seen it in the last week, starting to push back. We don't like this. We're not going to legislate this way.

And as the legislation flows, because everything Trump's talked about right now, it's all based on his E.O., executive order accomplishments. The next Democrat administration, like, that's a ripple in the pond. They will be gone. What Congress does is what matters.

FINNEY: I think we have to remember that the Democratic Party is not just Washington.

If you look at what's happening in the courts, we are winning. We have had -- we have seen 100 judgments against Trump that have slowed him down. What we're trying to do, I think, is have the conversations, as the congresswoman talked about.

Our governors, our A.G.s, our mayors are trying to figure out, how do we protect people? So, as a party, I think we need to keep that up. I think we need to actually be louder and talking about it and go to people where they are.

But, also, this isn't just about Democrats. This is about Republicans doing their job to hold Trump accountable and be a check on power. And it's about the American people. And that's -- when we talk about democracy, that's why this moment is so important.

URBAN: Yes, two quick things, first, a professional and second one personal.

All this polling still shows that the American public still trusts Donald Trump by a margin of 7 percent over congressional Democrats to take care of major problems in America.

FINNEY: Although congressional Dems are leading over congressional Republicans in the Gallup.

URBAN: This just last polling.

And then, real quickly, Dana knows this. I just want to -- my wife was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, got a pretty bad diagnosis. Just went -- underwent some pretty serious surgery at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

And I just want to say the doctors and nurses there, all our friends and family have continued to support my wife this past week, and tell her, I think she's a rock star. Hang in there. We're all praying and pulling for you.

FINNEY: Amen.

BASH: We sure are.

Kelly Urban, we love you. You are a complete badass.

(LAUGHTER)

BASH: When we come back, we're going to talk about a very different issue, a very different vibe at Washington's famous annual dinner.

That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:58:17]

BASH: A moment from last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner. The room full of journalists stood to applaud for the Associated Press, as they have come under repeated attacks from the White House.

And we at CNN are proud to celebrate the First Amendment, the free press, and journalists everywhere.

Thank you so much for spending your Sunday morning with us.

Fareed Zakaria picks it up next.