Scott Kelley Fried by CBS After Clash with Management

24:31Some breaking news on our politics lead. The House of Representatives here in Washington, D.C. just passed a resolution to limit President Donald Trump's war powers in Iran. It's a rare, significant rebuke to President Trump. Let's get right to CNN's Manu Raju on Capitol Hill. Democrats have repeatedly forced these votes in recent weeks to no avail until now. What changed and what could this resolution actually achieve? Yeah, this vote coming at a time where the Republicans were doing everything they could to try to prevent it from succeeding. Ultimately, this did just pass the United States House on a 215 to 208 vote.

25:09There were four Republican defectors, Congressman Tom Barrett from a swing district in Michigan, Warren Davidson, a conservative, a more libertarian-minded conservative, along with Thomas Mass, the other libertarian-minded conservative who voted against it, and Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents the Pennsylvania swing district, among the members who voted with Democrats to rebuke the president to rein in his powers on Iran. Now, Republican leaders have tried to avoid this vote for weeks. In fact, there was a vote that was expected to happen before members left town for a week-long Memorial Day recess.

25:41They abruptly recessed the House early to avoid this vote and avoid this rebuke against the president, But they could not avoid a vote from ultimately happening here on the House floor. Because when they came back in a session under the rules of the House, Democrats could force their vote. And they succeeded in doing so. A real sign of some of the consternation within the GOP ranks on this bill. But, Jake, this is more of a symbolic rebuke. Because the Senate does not have the votes to pass this bill. There's certainly, President Trump is not going to sign this into law. But it's a sign here of some of the tension within the ranks and the fear and concern about this war that continues to drag on and impact constituents of these members back home.

26:23All right, Manda Raju on Capitol Hill. Thanks so much. Now to our politics lead, the vote still not finalized in two big primary races in California, where the top two finishers, regardless of party, move on to face each other in November's general election. In the race for Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, secured her spot for the next round. TBD, who she'll compete against. The current vote count shows that former TV reality star Spencer Pratt is in second place, followed quite a bit back by L.A. City Council member Nithya Rahman. In the statewide race for governor, Republican Steve Hilton leads the field.

27:02He's followed by two Democrats, former HHS Secretary Javier Becerra and then Tom Steyer. Many, many mail-in ballots that could lean Democratic are still left to be counted. And so joining us now is the current frontrunner, Republican businessman Steve Hilton. Mr. Hilton, thanks for being on the show. You said earlier that the campaign starts today. You appear confident you're going to hold on to this first place positioning as the remaining ballots are counted. Do you expect any surprises in the process? And do you have different plans if it's Becerra or if it's Steyer? Great to be with you, Jake.

27:37I think that we can still see some changes. It's possible that the lead will switch, as it were, that you might find Javier Becerra taking the top spot as these votes come in. We don't know that yet. I think what we're confident about is that given where we are today, we're not going to see both of those Democrats moving ahead of me. And the real point there is that the only thing that matters in this election in the primary is to make sure that we can offer Californians a choice, a real choice in the general election in November. Because right now in California, there's a majority who think the state's going in the wrong direction.

28:16A recent poll showed that number of 56 percent of Californians who think we're going in the wrong direction. And therefore, it's vital that we offer a new direction. And that has to mean a choice between the kind of policies and the agenda that we've been living under in California for 16 years now of Democrat one party rule and offer something new. I don't think it changes, whether it's Javier Becerra or Tom Steyer, because in different ways, both of them are offering more of the same. Tom Steyer in particular, I would argue, is offering more of the same policies we've seen for the last 16 years, but even more extreme, even faster in the direction.

28:54And the reason we need a change is because on any measure, the results have been disappointing. We've got the highest poverty rate in the country, the highest unemployment rate of all 50 states, the highest cost of living by far. People are really struggling in California. And that's why I'm confident that in November we will vote for change here. Of course, Republicans are in the minority significantly in terms of voters. And during today's news conference, you noted the Democrats are outspending your campaign roughly four to one. How do you compete? How does a Republican who was backed by Trump, who used to be on Fox, How do you reach Democrats who you will need in order to become the next governor?

29:37With a very positive, pragmatic, non-partisan almost campaign. That's how I've been running the primary. I think that's why our campaign resonated. It was focused on practical things to make people's lives better. There was one word that captured my, we put it on our banners as we did town halls up and down the state, Cal affordable. And the components of that, the very simple practical things. Your first hundred grand tax free, no state income tax, three dollar gas, your electric bills cut in half, a home you can afford to buy. Obviously, behind each one of those is a policy reform plan that I've been developing over the past year or so.

30:15But the actual goals there are things that a majority of Californians can get behind. They're not divisive. They're things that actually everyone wants to see. And I think that another another argument that I think that is really compelling, and I've seen it from many Democrat audiences I've spoken to, is that 16 years of one party running absolutely everything, all the statewide elected offices, both chambers in the legislature with a super majority, every big city, every big county, the state Supreme Court with a 6-1 Democrat appointed majority. It's just not healthy to have that kind of one party control.

30:49A bit of balance is welcome. And I think people really can see that now in California. All right, Steve Hilton, thank you. As I noted earlier, congratulations, I think. We'll see when all the ballots come in. I appreciate your presence on the show. Hope to have you back sometime. Thanks, Jay. I'll come and see you in a month when we'll know the real results. Right, when you're still counting ballots. That might be something the next governor wants to take care of. He's already been to prison for a federal conviction for fraud. And now Republican former Congressman George Santos in New York is under investigation yet again.

31:19The prediction market activity raising suspicions. That's next.

31:44Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did you say$50 ,000? Can we join? All new Battle on the Beach, Monday night at 9 on HGTV. And our politics lead disgraced former Congressman George Santos, Republican of New York, who was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft charges, and then had his sentence commuted by President Trump. Well, recently he boasted on social media that he would attend President Trump's State of the Union speech earlier this year. I'm going to be there for the State of the Union in the gallery, guys. Just chill, trolls. Chill. Okay? Okay. So at the time, bets were being made in online prediction markets about who was going to attend.

32:29Other notable figures were being bet on. But then, of course, despite saying he was going to go, Santos did not go to the State of the Union. in a now betting market, Calci has referred Santos to the Department of Justice for allegedly placing bets that he would not attend, even though he was telling the public that he would attend, according to two sources. Santos told NPR that he wasn't aware of any insider trading investigation. Joining us now is the panel. So today Santos posted that he is fielding hundreds of reporters' questions and, quote, I will comment further when appropriate and clarify everything accordingly while being mindful and respectful of any process that might be underway.

33:10The basis of the accusation is preposterous, and I look forward to supplying any information asked to me to any agency that inquires. Until then, media, please do not inquire. Okay, Shermichael, thoughts? This is really unregulated territory for the most part, and I honestly don't expect the DOJ to indict him on some charges. I mean, Congress has to do its job and pass legislation to regulate whether it's Calci or Polymarket or any other betting services out there. I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon, Jake. So maybe this is in the news right now, but I don't think this is going to impact him much.

33:45Let me jump in and give Calci some credit because at least they were like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, we're going to turn him in because what you're doing is wrong. Like, I think they get some credit. Allegedly wrong. Sorry, you're in a point. Thank you, Jake. For sure they get some credit there. Okay, so here's another post from Santos before the State of the Union where he asked, quote, quote, should I wear a muted serious suit to the SOTU or a bedazzled one? And then on the night of the big event, which Santos is alleged to have been betting against his own attendance, he posted, quote, watching State of the Union from an airport TV was not part of the plan.

34:19Chuck. Look, I think that this guy's been in the headlines for already too much for my satisfaction. And I go back to like, he should not be out there in the public doing this. And I think it goes back to, and I grabbed this because I get frustrated, that Donald Trump's the one who gave this guy a pass. And I think the American electorate is like over him. Thank you, Kashi, for turning him in. Senate Republicans dealing President Trump's White House ballroom is set back today. They stripped language from a revised budget reconciliation bill that would have provided a billion dollars in security funding for Secret Service upgrades, including for the ballroom.

34:50Some Republican senators expressed concern about funding a ballroom when Americans are struggling with rising cost of energy and food ahead of the midterms. Sure, Michael, what's your take on this? I mean, that's kind of a rebuke of President Trump from Republicans. I think the senators are looking at the political reality of most Americans are looking at cost in Washington, foreign costs in the Middle East and other parts of the world that are saying, what about us? What about our struggles? What about gas prices? What about cost of living? I can't afford to buy a house if I'm a recent college graduate.

35:19If I'm about to graduate from high school, I can't afford to go to college. Republicans are looking at all of those things. And they would rather be messaging and drawing a contrast to their Democratic opponents about what the Republican message is to solve some of those problems. So I think that's what this was really about. No doubt Republicans don't want to be talking about the ballroom. Something else they maybe don't want to be talking about is the fact that there's construction underway right now on the South Lawn of the White House for the UFC fight at the White House on Flag Day, which also happens to be President Trump's 80th birthday.

35:47So here's what President Trump posted on TikTok about the claw. That's this double arch shaped structure that will hold the lights for the event. Take a listen.

35:59I don't know that in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower, 1889, it was built. It was supposed to be taken down immediately after the World's Fair. And then they said, you know, we sort of like it. Let's leave it up a little bit longer. And then they said, let's leave it up longer and longer and longer. Well, they never took it down. And, you know, we're building something in front of the White House that's quite attractive to a lot of people. It's going to have the big UFC fight on June 14th. And I'm looking at it and maybe we'll never, ever take it down. Is he just trying to troll you, Chuck? I think he is.

36:33And I think that, look, if you've got a Donald Trump tattoo on your shoulder, you love all of this and you think it's funny. But regular folks, regular independent, moderate voters in the middle, they're sick of this. Like I'm running on congressional races from Maine to California. When I ask folks, this ain't in the top hundred of the issues that they care about. But an ad maker like me, and this is why that vote earlier that you asked, sure, Michael, went down, is because they know I'm going to make an ad saying meat was here. Ground beef was here. Now it's here. But we still got enough money to build a UFCW, whatever, and all the other things.

37:04Like that's what is going to kill. We don't want to see that point to you guys, Chuck, at all. I can assure you of that. It's exactly why Republicans are wanting to focus on the cost of living in the kitchen table issues, because they're looking at the same polling data that we're talking about here on air, Jake, which is that the American people aren't very happy with what they have seen thus far from my party. Yeah, well, I mean, I didn't put out that TikTok. Well, look, I'm a big fan of the UFC. I'm going to be honest. I'm not. I'm a little biased here. I plan to attend. I think it's going to be a great night.

37:33And I think the president's trolling. It's going to come down. But that said, it's not lost upon me the optics of this. I'm a political strategist. I get how this looks to most people out there. And it was you didn't have to do this. There's a perfectly good basketball arena, literally fly a box away where you could have done this and he could have been there and had the cabinet there and said, look, we did this here to save money. Are you going? No, I ain't going. So quickly, incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, he's in Alaska, he's up for reelection. He's facing more than a dozen challengers, including another individual who's named Dan Sullivan.

38:03Senator Sullivan says Democrats, especially his main rival, Democratic Congresswoman Mary Patolla, are behind the addition of the other Dan Sullivan on the primary ballot. The NRSC, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, sent a letter to the Alaska legislature demanding that challenger Dan Sullivan be removed from the ballot, suggesting, quote, sham candidate Sullivan is taking these actions to proactively confuse Alaskan voters and rig the voting system to the obvious benefit of Democrat candidate Pelota's campaign. What's your reaction, Chuck? This ain't the first time I've seen the same name showed up on a ballot.

38:36This is old school stuff that I've seen many, many times. They do it in Philly all the time. All the time. And we do it in Florida. And a guy went to jail over it. Let me just say that only in Alaska, the top four people, we should remind everybody, get on the ballot. And that's what somebody's trying to do. Yeah. Thanks to both of you. And this note, CNN has a partnership with CalShea, and we use its data to cover major events. But CNN editorial employees aren't allowed to trade on prediction sites. I predict I'm going to touch my nose. Live images outside Madison Square Garden right now. Tonight's game one of the NBA finals is in Texas, but New York is still hyped up.

39:10We're going to go there live next.

39:39to us you guys gotta get out of here. Crasher series premiere Monday June 8th at 10 on HGTV. Welcome to The Lead. I'm Jake Tapper. This hour President Trump is defending the so-called anti-weaponization fund. That same 1.776 billion dollar fund that just yesterday his acting attorney general said was dead. And now President Trump says he thinks it's so important and he doesn't know if it's actually being scrapped. So what is actually going on with all of your taxpayer dollars? Plus, House Speaker Mike Johnson today defending missing Republican Congressman Tom Kane Jr. of New Jersey. He hasn't been seen publicly for about three months.

40:17He hasn't voted since March. He hasn't explained his absence in any real way. The Democrat, who won the primary to take him on in November last night, joins us live in moments to react. Also, Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Capitol Hill today asked to explain what he meant by declaring the United States war with Iran over his comments. Coming just hours after Tehran says it targeted U.S. bases in the Middle East in self-defense strikes. So what is really going on in the Middle East? A Republican and a Democrat who questioned Rubio today will explain ahead.

40:55The lead tonight, President Trump facing growing backlash over two self-inflicted controversies. First on the Justice Department's so-called anti-weaponization fund. You know, that$1.776 billion fund that Attorney General Todd Blanche said yesterday they were moving on from. Well, not so fast. Here's Trump's take on it in an interview released today. The anti-weaponization fund, have you dropped that? No, a court ruled against it. Yeah. But just so you understand, these are people that have been decimated. I'm very proud to have given them pardons. And I think they should be reimbursed for a crooked government.

41:34A lot of those people that got those pardons, beat up cops, pleaded guilty to it, were sentenced to prison for it. But now a bipartisan effort is brewing in the Senate to kill the fund and put an end to it for good. Then, of course, there's Trump's stunning move to name federal housing official Bill Pulte, his new acting director of national intelligence. Pulte made his name as one of Trump's most vicious attack dogs. He has no noted intelligence or national security experience, which even some Republicans are taking issue with. I think he's the worst form of sycophant and advisor to the president that is going to hurt the president's legacy and his ability to continue a great agenda.

42:17of which I support the majority. Today, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified on Capitol Hill and he was asked about Pulte's nomination during testimony. Have you ever, specifically in the context of the intelligence community, heard the name Bill Pulte? In the context of intelligence? That's what I said. Never heard his name. Okay, thank you for answering that. Never even heard his name. Given all your years of experience and your position now, Never heard the name. Reporters also pressed House Speaker Mike Johnson about the pick, and Johnson offered this endorsement. Do you think that Bill Pulte is qualified to be the acting director of national intelligence, and do you think you can still pass a bipartisan FISA deal, given some of the Democratic pushback to that?

43:06So here's the thing. The president obviously has the prerogative and the choice on who he appoints to these positions, and this would be an interim appointment. Do you think Bill Pulte is qualified to be acting director of national intelligence? Didn't hear a yes there, but if Trump sticks with Pulte as director of national intelligence, Senate Democrats are threatening to pull their votes on this bipartisan deal on FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. That's a critical U.S. spy power, the government says, at risk of expiring in just a matter of days. So in moments, I'm going to talk to the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee who privately urged his colleague, the Senate Republican leader, to get the White House to drop Pulte's appointment.

43:47But first, let's go to CNN's Caitlin Collins, who is at the White House and just asked Trump some questions. So, Caitlin, you just asked the president about this so-called anti-weaponization fund. Where are we on that? Well, I mean, Jake, there are Republican senators on Capitol Hill who want clarity on where it stands inside the administration on whether or not that fund is just on hold, as the acting attorney general put it yesterday, because of a court's involvement in this matter or if it is permanently being scrapped by the administration. And so several reporters had questions for the president about this in the Oval Office this afternoon.

44:18And it wasn't clear as the president was defending it whether or not it is completely gone. Because obviously he noted earlier that a court had ruled against it and got involved. But, you know, there's still a question of whether or not they are going to fight it or simply resurrect it at a later time. And so I asked the president in an attempt to clarify what the position of this administration is on that$1.8 billion fund. just to clarify on what you were asked earlier is the 1.8 billion dollar doj fund dead or is it on hold it's uh i'd have to ask the lawyers i don't know i know one thing the weaponization are you talking about the weaponization the weaponization fund uh as far as i'm concerned was a beautiful thing it was something i was i i didn't make it but i was i heard that, I thought that was the greatest thing because people like you have abused our people so badly.

45:12The fake news like CNN, like the New York Times and like others have abused our people. Wait a minute, be quiet. Have abused our people so badly and you should be ashamed of yourself. Now, Jake, obviously when they announced that fund, it wasn't for people who got bad coverage in the press. What the White House and the administration had argued was it was for people who are over prosecuted or unfairly prosecuted by the Biden Justice Department. And so you saw the president there defending it. But when asked if it is permanently scrapped, he said he did not know and that you'd have to ask the attorneys here.

45:45Now, when Todd Blanchard was testifying yesterday, he did not say it was permanently scrapped. He simply said they are not moving forward with it multiple times when asked. Obviously, that language has not been strong enough for Senate Republicans because there are several who are considering putting language in what they are voting on right now to bar the president from creating a fund that could end up in people who were rioting and storming the Capitol on January 6th getting payouts from the federal government. Yeah, just to explain to people out there who speak English and not Washingtonese, when a politician says we are not moving forward, that's not the same thing as saying we are never going to move forward.

46:22I am not asking you another question right now, but let me change the subject and ask you another question. On Trump's D &I pick, Bill Pulte, is he considering withdrawing Pulte's name at all, given the growing criticism from even Republicans in the Senate? Not right now, Jake. And Bill Pulte hasn't even actually officially started in that role, as far as we know. He is expected to start at the end of the month in an acting capacity. And as we saw in the president's first term, he is happy to leave people in an acting capacity in these positions, which means they don't have to get confirmed by the senators who are questioning whether or not Bill Pulte believes, whether or not Bill Pulte has the experience to be the director of national intelligence.

47:02I mean, right now we're watching Todd Blanche, who is also the acting attorney general at the DOJ. He has been confirmed by the Senate in his position as the deputy attorney general, but not as the attorney general itself. And so it's not clear how long the president could potentially leave Bill Pulte in an acting capacity in this role, even if there is pushback from Republicans on Capitol Hill to this, with notably, you're hearing people from Mike Johnson, John Thune, even Tom Cotton, who are not endorsing Pulte for that position, though the president has argued he believes that he is a good fit for it.

47:32Caitlin Collins at the White House, thank you so much. And of course, don't miss Caitlin on her show, The Source with Caitlin Collins. Her guests tonight include Republican Congressman Mike Lawler. That's tonight at 9 Eastern, only on CNN. Let's bring in the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee who warns Pulte's appointment could tank a bipartisan deal on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Section 702, which spy agencies say is critical for them to have. Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia. Senator, your private warning to Majority Leader John Thune does not appear to be going anywhere because today Thune tried to turn it on Democrats.

48:08He told reporters, quote, do you want to be responsible for what could happen if FISA, if we go dark on that program? I just think it's a really risky strategy on their part, unquote. He said, quote, obviously, I get their frustration. But at the end of the day, we have to function here. And as a country, we're going to keep the country safe, unquote. What's your response? Well, my response is Section 702 is important. And I really wonder whether Donald Trump wants it even continued. You could not have picked a less qualified person. Matter of fact, they violate the law because the law requires somebody to have national security experience.

48:45This guy's got nothing. The experience he's got, and by the way, the president says he's going to still run the housing agencies. The experience he's got is taking private information from the housing agencies, weaponizing it, and going after people like Lisa Cook on the Fed board and Tish James, the attorney general in New York. that case got thrown out. So this guy who will do anything Trump says, can't keep private information about mortgages. Now we're going to give him the keys to all of the intelligence community. People around the world have got to think we've gone wacky. I mean, I'm less concerned about what he will do on 702 and more concerned about just will he weaponize the whole intelligence community.

49:30And I think I have not had, I've not had a conversation with any Republican privately that doesn't at least agree with me to the most extent. What theoretically could somebody like Pulte, who is willing to weaponize government in the way you describe when it comes to mortgages, what could he do theoretically with surveillance information or the nation's most closely guarded secrets? Well, he could come up with a fake piece of intelligence as a justification to interfere with the elections. By the way, this six-month time puts him right through the elections. He could take, especially if the president keeps his weaponization fund, that might not only pay off the January 6 rioters, but pay off people that would then interfere in the elections.

50:16I don't think you get any peep from out of Bill Pulte on that. It is almost unimaginable, beyond the fact of what it would mean to any of our remaining, like our Five Eyes, the closest allies we have, that you think they're really going to share information with a guy like this? So this does not make America safer in any category. And while I believe 702 is important, it's really hard for me to make a case to any Democrat that while this guy has the keys to all of our intelligence, that 702, as as critical as it is, should be extended, even though we put reforms in place. So clearly, if Trump does not change his mind on Pulte by the time this FISA program for the government expires, Section 702, you will deny the votes to pass the extension for FISA?

51:09Jake, keeping FISA alive is extraordinarily serious. The downsides of that, I've voted for this, whether Obama, Biden, Trump, it's critical. but it's going to be awful hard for me to ask my Democratic colleagues to step up. We've got a few days. I mean, there'll be a procedural vote tomorrow. Only the majority, so it's not the required 60. It doesn't really need Democrats. So let's see what happens. I just hope cooler heads will. I wish somebody in the White House would say, go to the emperor, Donald Trump on this one, and say, on this one you've got no clothes. But I don't know whether anyone has the courage to actually step up for our national security.

51:53You mentioned the so-called anti-weaponization fund. President Trump is suggesting that he's not dropping it, despite Todd Blanche saying that they are not moving forward. I know Senator Tom Tillis, Republican in North Carolina, is considering introducing an amendment to kill that fund. What else are you hearing from Republican colleagues? Well, listen, we're going to go into one of the craziest things we do up here in the Senate. It's called Voterama tomorrow, so that your viewers can tune in and watch us go through many, many amendments on my Republicans putting billions of dollars more into ICE, which I don't think we need without reforms.

52:30But we'll have a chance to raise all kinds of amendments. And all my Republican friends who say, hey, we think this idea stinks, well, let's put it in law. And if Tom Tillis does it, Democrats do it. I hope it would extend not only to the fund, but remember, the other thing the president doesn't talk about on this, he got a get-out-of-jail-free card from the tax department, from the IRS, for any past or future misdeeds. That may be as valuable to him with his record as the weaponization fund. Both need to end. Democratic Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

53:08Thank you so much, sir. We now know the Democrat who's going to face off in November against Republican Tom Kane Jr. in a very competitive district. Kane Jr., of course, is the absent New Jersey congressman who's not been seen publicly since early March. Congressional candidate Rebecca Bennett, a Democrat, joins me next. Plus, the dangerous California bank standoff that saw 10 people taken hostage. We're learning new details about the suspect and the roughly 15-hour stalemate with police.

53:43In our politics lead today, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Republican Congressman Tom Kaine Jr. of New Jersey, who has not been seen publicly in months and has not voted since March. Take a listen. He's under the care of health care providers, and they've told him he needs a little bit longer to recover. Now, that's all I can say. That's all he said. It's not a scandalous thing at all. people deal with health issues. Cain won his primary last night. He was running unopposed in the Republican primary in New Jersey. Voters also selected the Democrat who will challenge Cain in November. And she joins us now, Rebecca Bennett, the new Democratic nominee for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.

54:23Congratulations on your victory as you head into the general election against Congressman Cain. What is the defining issue in this race? How will you differentiate your approach from his to appeal to the all-important swing voters in that district? Yeah, well, thank you so much for having me on. And you know what I'll say is what I heard loud and clear from people on the ground in the district is really two things. One, we need to hold this administration accountable for the corruption and the lawlessness that we're seeing really across the administration. And also we have to solve the problems that we are facing in our everyday lives.

54:57You know, I'm a former Navy helicopter pilot. I served in the military for over 15 years, and I'm also a mom to two girls, and I'm raising my girls in this district. And so I understand the challenges that we're facing, and I've rolled out a robust policy platform to address the issues that we're facing to have actual solutions to problems. And so we're going to focus on what we can actually do to make people's lives better. And to contrast that with, you know, to your point, oh, yeah, go ahead. Yeah. No, you go. Oh, yeah. I was just going to say, you know, to contrast that with, you know, Tom Kane Jr.

55:25I mean, yes, to your point, he's been missing since March, but even before that, he hasn't been on the ground. He's not been standing up for us. And so, you know, we deserve a representative that's going to be able to show up for us and be able to get things done in Washington. So Cain, his office has said that he's dealing with a health situation and that he's going to be back within a matter of weeks. How much do you plan on talking about his absence? We don't know what the health issue is, but obviously whatever it is, we wish him well. I'm sure you agree. Is there a sensitivity there to criticizing somebody dealing with a health issue or is the fact that he hasn't been transparent insulting enough to the constituents?

56:08Yeah, look, you know, I really do wish him well. I hope he has a speedy recovery. You know, to your point, what they've shared is that there's a medical condition. And so I do hope, you know, I do wish him well, but looking at his record, he has absolutely failed this district. He was the deciding vote on the one big, beautiful bill, which is why tens of thousands of people in our district are losing access to their health insurance. He was nowhere to be found when Donald Trump got us into yet another forever war in the Middle East. He was nowhere to be found when DHS tried to put an ICE detention facility in the district.

56:35And he was nowhere to be found when Trump held up the funding for Gateway Tunnel, which is a critical infrastructure project in our district. And so we are going to hold him accountable for his record, and we are going to flip the seat in November. So the 7th District of New Jersey is very competitive. It's a purple district. If elected, I'm sure there are going to be constituents who vote for you if you win, who want you to work with President Trump on some issues, who want you to work across the aisle. What would you work with with President Trump? Yeah, you know, I'll just say I really my leadership was honed in the military and my leadership has always been country over party.

57:10And when I was in the military and we were just there as Americans to get the job done, we didn't talk about what political party we were in. And And that is the mindset I'm going to bring to office. And so I will work with whoever will work with me on being able to solve issues that we're facing, like our child care crisis in this country, like bringing our health care costs down, bring our energy prices down. And so I will work with whoever wants to work with me on solving those problems. Rebecca Bennett, thank you. And congratulations again. Coming up, yelling, personal insults, threats of violence, telling a cabinet secretary to shut up.

57:39That's just a slice of the political circus we saw today on Capitol Hill. That's next.

57:54Welcome back to The Lead. We're back with the politics lead now and just some of the, shall we say, lowlights on Capitol Hill today. Let's start with California Democrat Ted Lieu questioning Secretary of State Marco Rubio about President Trump appearing to fall asleep during meetings. Take a look. I'm going to ask you to focus on President Trump and you will see that he is sleeping while you are talking. Oh, my God. Please show the video.

58:24Products they make and what American farmers grow and produce has a fair shot to be sold around the world. On issue after issue, that's been the case. You talk about foreign aid reforms. This is not our money. This is taxpayer money. Secretary Rubio, have you been at more than one meeting where President Trump has fallen asleep? That's false. That's false. I've never seen him fall asleep. On the contrary, the guy doesn't sleep, which is a big problem because he calls me at 2 in the morning, he calls me at 5 in the morning. And, you know, I like to sleep a little bit, maybe not 12 hours, but at least 6.

58:58So he works. The other day he was at the Oval Office until 12.30 p.m. At 12.30 a.m. I don't know what you're talking about. Have you been at classified meetings where Donald Trump has fallen asleep or had trouble staying awake? I've never been at any meeting. I've never been at any meeting. And the things you're showing me now, he was not falling asleep. Over in the Senate, another tense exchange, this one between Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren and the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Besant, over President Trump's personal stock trades. So, Secretary Besant, you and I agree that it is a conflict of interest for members of Congress to trade stocks.

59:35Do you also agree that it's a conflict of interest for President Trump to trade stocks? A couple of things, Senator. One, President Trump is not sitting in the Oval Office engaging in a high-frequency trading strategy. Clearly he had an outside manager. Our trade should be investigated and President Trump should be investigated. I would support you getting your house in order, Senator. And how about the White House getting its house in order? Would you support that investigation? Please lead by example. I would like to see the President of the United States lead by example. Another moment from that hearing when Secretary Besant clarified a reported threat that he made last September to Bill Pulte.

1:00:17Pulte, of course, the housing finance chief who Trump just quite controversially named as the acting director of national intelligence. Here's Besant on that threat. Did you actually tell Pulte you were going to punch him in the face? No, sir. I actually said I was going to kick his ass. Good, okay, good. I share the emotion. Got to set the record straight. One more sampling from today. This one from Democratic Congressman Al Green of Texas. Green used his time to question Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen to call out what Green felt were actions by racists, such as, in his view, Donald Trump.

1:00:58A racist will depict people of color as apes. The pictures have been blurred, but you know who they are. This is what a racist would do. This was peaceful protest, Mr. Secretary. Racists take offense at peaceful protest. Are you calling me a racist? A racist... I'm asking a question. Reclaiming my time, asking to shut up. That's a pretty... Shut up. Shut up. Okay, America. Just another day on Capitol Hill with your elected representatives. On Capitol Hill today, as we noted, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified. He declared that the war with Iran is over and that the U.S. has achieved victory.

1:01:44How does that square with what we're seeing in the Gulf? I'm going to ask a Republican and a Democrat who both questioned Secretary Rubio today. Next.

1:02:01And the world laid a fresh round of strikes between the U.S. and Iran overnight, even as President Trump says the ceasefire is still in place and negotiations are going very well. This was the biggest night of attacks since the ceasefire began in April. At least one person was killed in an Iranian attack on U.S. ally Kuwait. Officials say this as House members got their chance to press the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio on the progress of the Iran war in a hearing this morning. Rubio defended the claim he made to the Senate yesterday that the war is over. The war is over. Who won? We're no longer conducting sustained strikes inside of Iran to degrade their military because epic fury is over.

1:02:40We defined victory as destroying their defense industrial base, significantly reducing the number of missile launchers that they possess, significantly reducing their stockpile of drones. And we achieved all of those, in addition to destroying what they had left of an air force and wiping out their entire conventional Navy. Those are all gone. So I consider that victory, and we did too, and that was the purpose of Epic Fury. Joining us now to congressmen who were in that House hearing today, Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett and Florida Democrat Jared Moskowitz. Congressman Moskowitz, what's your assessment of Secretary Rubio's conclusion that the war is over, given what he laid out there to your colleague?

1:03:16Jake, good to be with you. Good to be here with my colleague Tim. First, let me turn the AI off. There we go. That's a little bit better now. So, look, I thought the secretary obviously was, you know, prepared to talk Iran today. That was not a secret that that was going to happen. I do disagree with him slightly on, you know, what the war was about. I mean, for me, you know, it's it's nice that we've degraded their military, but that's not why we went there. We went there to make sure that we get the uranium, that we get the nuclear dust. The president has talked about that and that the facilities that are underground are no longer functional.

1:03:47I think that defines success. Short of getting the nuclear dust and getting the uranium out of the country, I just don't know how we're going to be able to tell the American people that it was worth going there. And Congressman Burchett, as Democrats in the hearing pointed out, the Strait of Hormuz is still closed. The world economy is still crippled. It was open before the operation and strikes continue. What do you call what's happening now, if not war? My dad was in the Second World War, and after they dropped the bombs on Japan, they said, the war is over, Charlie. He said, the war is not over until I get home.

1:04:24So I don't believe the war is actually over until all of our folks are home. But Jared is right. We've got to get that uranium out of the ground over there. We can't have this country have any access to any nuclear weapons whatsoever. There will never be peace in the Middle East. If there ever will be, it won't be with Iran having that much uranium. And Congressman Birchit, President Trump confirmed in a podcast interview earlier the report from Axios that he had a profanity-laced conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's continued strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

1:05:03Take a listen. Did you speak to him in those terms? I did. I would say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon. You know, at some point I said, maybe we got to stop this. We got to stop it. Based on what Secretary Rubio said today about Hezbollah in Lebanon, do you see Israel's attacks on Hezbollah continuing to be an issue in U.S. attempts to negotiate a peace deal with Iran? Well, Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, Jack. because you know, and again, these folks don't want peace. They want to kill Jews, obviously, is their major goal. So that's going to be Israel's point.

1:05:49But as far as the rough language goes, I've said it many times. I like President Trump in the White House, but I don't want him teaching my daughter's dadgum Sunday school class. So that's just part of it. Jared had rough language with me before you got on the air. So I don't fault him for that. Congressman Moskowitz, what do you make of the phone call between Trump and Netanyahu? And are you frustrated at all with the role Netanyahu is playing that Trump is perturbed about? Well, listen, you know, it would be nice if we could get a deal with with Iran. The question is, who do you make a deal with?

1:06:29Obviously, you know, it's all about the nuclear weapons. But yeah, look, Hezbollah is launching rockets now every single solitary day into Israel. They didn't just start that on their own. They're doing that with Iran's permission. So Iran is trying to destabilize the deal at the same time they're trying to say that they'll sign a deal. And listen, obviously, you know, there are things I disagree with the prime minister, but I think he's been very clear. so long as a terrorist organization is going to launch rockets into his country, he's not only just going to be in a defensive mode, he's going to try to preempt those rockets from coming in in advance.

1:07:08And so at this juncture, I don't fault them for going into Lebanon and trying to stop Hezbollah. Now, look, I want Lebanon and Israel to continue to be at the table to try to extend the ceasefire and work this out diplomatically, but not as long as Hezbollah is launching those rockets. And Congressman Moskowitz, you spoke with the Secretary of State Rubio about the necessity of any deal would need to include Iran turning over a tidal or uranium, as you mentioned at the beginning of this conversation. How do you square that long term need with the short term pains that Americans are feeling as a result of the war in terms of the higher prices at the pump and elsewhere?

1:07:43Well, look, I think that's why we all want to get to a deal. We all want to get the Strait of Hormuz open and we all want to bring down gas prices and we want to do that as fast as possible. But at the same time, you know, now that we're there and we're in this war, we have to get the uranium. We can't just go home after we've lost 13 Americans. We've spent, you know, 25 plus billion dollars. And now the Iranians believe they can close the Strait of Hormuz whenever they want and disrupt international trade. We have to get the uranium. That has to be part of the deal. and look we need our European allies and we need you know our world allies to try to you know our Middle East allies to try to force uh force this deal this wasn't just you know the United States and Israel this was our Gulf allies who wanted to make sure Iran did not get a nuclear weapon because that would set off a nuclear arms race in the in the entire Middle East and so I think it's critical that whatever deal eventually gets done and I want a deal I don't want the war to continue the deal must include uh getting all of the uranium the nuclear dust and the dismantling of the three underground facilities.

1:08:44And Congressman Birchit, you press the secretary on whether the U.S. should remain. And NATO, given the lack of support for this war from allied nations, what did you make of the secretary's response? Well, I was not surprised. As you know, I'm not a fan of the United Nations at all. And, of course, NATO, they've really been disrespectful to us. We've backed them up. And the secretary made a great point that they've used the money they should have been using on NATO, which is military supplies and protecting themselves. They've allowed America to do that with our tax dollars, and they've built social programs and social networks throughout their country.

1:09:22So I think the taxpayers need to take a strong look at it. But Trump has gone a long way in his first term in this to bringing them to the table about supplanting the military aid and the finances for NATO. Florida Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz, Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett, thanks to both of you. Thank you. Last election, President Trump won Iowa by 13 points. Last night, however, Republican voters handed him a rare primary loss for a candidate he endorsed. Our panel weighs in next.

1:10:04And our politics lead, Republican voters in Iowa handed President Trump his first major primary loss last night, rejecting the Republican congressman whom Trump endorsed in his race for governor. Here's Trump's truth social post, quote, Randy Feenstra has my complete and total endorsement to be the next governor of Iowa, unquote. Instead, Republican primary voters selected businessman Zach Lon. It was less than a percentage point, but it still was an L. Here to discuss and more is the panel. So Lon, who won, aligned himself with RFK Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement. Take a listen to some of what he said last night during his victory speech.

1:10:45We were outspent, opposed by the establishment, told to wait our turn. Well, tonight the people of Iowa had something to say about that, that we're not going to wait anymore. I made it very clear as governor, I will take on the big ag cartels, I will break up their monopolies, and I will get Iowa farmers a fair deal.

1:11:10But finally, an issue that's hard to talk about, but we must talk about it. Iowa has the fastest growing cancer rate in the world. Kevin, that's a Republican insurgent, and President Trump is the Republican establishment. Yeah, but I also don't think this is a rejection of the preferred candidate for the president. I don't think in any way this dilutes his standing or his command over the party. Well, he's like 99-1, but it still is now. Right. But but this is not a candidate that was running against Donald Trump. This is somebody who is a Maha candidate running in the primary against a MAGA candidate.

1:11:45They're both essentially MAGA candidates. He also I mean, I was very different. He also ran a very grassroots oriented campaign. That's just how you win in a state like Iowa. The fact that he had Charlie Kirk's turning point organization behind him, the fact that he had tapped into a lot of the evangelical support that you need to win. He ran a better campaign. Feenstra, as somebody who was more attached to Washington, probably had a tougher time sort of shedding that sort of insider establishment label in what ended up being a very competitive primary. So I don't really think I don't see this as a measurement in any way of the president's sort of command over the party infrastructure.

1:12:22And Ashley, there's also this interesting Senate race. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is going to be the Republican nominee. State Representative Josh Turek won the Democratic nomination to face her in November. and to replace retiring Senator Joni Ernst. The Cook Political Report says, quote, that they shifted our rating from likely Republican to lean Republican. That means a little less likely that it will be a Republican winning. Ashley Hinson is a formidable Republican opponent, but worsening environment helps Democrats in a state that Trump won by 13. We should note the Hawkeye state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008, before you were born, Ashley.

1:13:03Do you think Iowa is in play for Democrats in any serious way? I think Iowa should be on the map for Democrats. I think it is still a steep climb. But in a race like that, you actually want Republicans to have to spin in a state like Iowa when traditionally they win. You want them to have to spin in Iowa. You want to have to spin in Texas. You want them to spin in Maine in ways they haven't had to spin in last cycles and other cycles, which then makes your chances in other races actually more probable. Also in Montana as well. Interesting. So in California, Javier Becerra seems like he could make the runoffs in the governor's race.

1:13:40We're not sure yet, though. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advanced to the runoffs. Here is Bass last night acknowledging some of the challenges she's faced in her mayoral re-election. We're going to build a city where parents and kids do not have to navigate tents because in the nation's second largest city, there should never be anybody that is sleeping on our streets. We are a city where things have been not affordable over these last few years, but we're going to continue building the housing that we know we are needed in this city. Now, you stood with me for the first half. Will you stand with me all the way?

1:14:23Now, we don't know who she's going to face in November. It could be a far more progressive city council member or it could be Spencer Pratt, the reality show host. She better be praying that it's Spencer Pratt because if it is a choice between an anti-establishment Democrat versus her, I think she could be in trouble. Yeah, and we don't know, but it is looking likely that it will probably be Spencer Pratt. And I have a couple thoughts on this one. The fact that Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt are even in a competition right now is shameful, I actually think. Both of them or just him? Him. When you actually look at his resume compared to hers, it should not be competitive.

1:15:04But what I heard Karen Bass say in that race, and I think her campaign will have to do, is a both and. She has traditionally run a more traditional campaign, meaning TV ads, grassroots, that's it. But what Spencer Pratt did was go online. He did the memification of a campaign. She is going to have to do that, too, in an authentic way and also talk about some of her challenges into her point. Go with me the rest of the way. Didn't get everything right, but this guy will get it even worse. She has proposals and policies and plans that she wants to do. Spencer Pratt has a lot of critiques. I have not heard a lot of solutions of what he would actually do.

1:15:39So we'll see. But this is actually a race I'm actually going to pay a lot of attention to because I think it will be determinative of how other Democrats show up in the midterms as well? And more blue states, are they going to be excited enough to show up? Yeah, one of the analyses that I've read about this race, about Spencer Pratt, and again, we don't know if he's going to actually make the runoff. It looks like it as of now, but these California elections, I mean, they count for years and years and years. So, but one of the analyses I heard that was interesting was that the Democrats have moved so far to the left in some of these places, that place that they've cede a common sense middle ground where somebody like Spencer Pratt can come and say, we shouldn't have homeless people.

1:16:22We should just be shipping them out. Or were these critiques, I'm just saying, were these critiques find an audience? There are people who voted for Spencer Pratt who are liberal Democrats who live in Los Angeles, who are just fed up with the liberal democratic establishment, don't you think? That's exactly it. I think they're fed up with a liberal democratic establishment, but I think it's less about the ideology and the party identity, they're just fed up. And this is what Spencer Pratt doesn't have a political ideology. He's running on a line, but that doesn't mean he's really a traditional establishment Republican.

1:16:55Spencer Pratt, and this happens in municipal elections. I started out working in city government. There's no Republican or Democratic way. Yonkers. Yonkers, New York. There's no Republican, Democrat way to pick up the garbage, to make sure that streetlights are being taken care of, that the streets are safe. And so he can run a very non-ideological campaign focused on the frustrations that people have about everything from economic development to safety, security, those type of issues. He has a huge opportunity in this environment. Can I just say one thing about this? One of the things that is interesting about California, particularly Karen Bass as a candidate, is that there are progressives that don't think she has been progressive enough Oh, sure.

1:17:31In Los Angeles. And so because it is Los Angeles, because it is California, her posture is challenging. And then you had the Palisades fires. That is just something that. Well, I think that had a real issue trying to. By the way, she didn't sound she was sounding like a critic, not an incumbent. Yeah, he's the incumbent here. Exactly. Thanks to both of you. We'll be right back.

1:18:20have been reunited safely with their families. Some stunning numbers in our money lead the rocket company SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, just unveiled plans to raise a record$75 billion in its initial public offering, or IPO. That would value the company at roughly$1.77 trillion, with a T, which would eventually make Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. Initial shares would sell at$135. SpaceX is expected to start trading June 12th with more tech giants right behind it. Anthropic filed its paperwork Monday to go public, and rival OpenAI is expected to follow. And our sports lead a big announcement just in from NFL great Russell Wilson in a video posted moments ago on X.

1:19:02The New York Giants quarterback confirmed his retirement from professional football and confirmed that his next gig will be with CBS Sports and the NFL today. The 37-year-old steps away from the game after 10 Pro Bowl appearances. He spent his first 10 years of his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, of course, where he won a Super Bowl. In his video, Wilson thanked his fans and his family, including his wife, the singer, Sierra. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram threads, blueskyx, and on the TikTok at Jake Tapper. You can follow the show on X and Instagram at the Lead CNN. If you ever miss an episode of the Lead, you can watch the whole show on the CNN app.

1:19:35Aaron Burnett out front starts right now.

1:19:47This is CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam, thrilled to introduce the new CNN Weather app. Be prepared for anything with comprehensive coverage from real experts like me. Download the CNN Weather app on iOS today. Hey, I'm Anderson Cooper. On my podcast, All There Is, we explore grief and loss in all its complexities. As Ken Burns said on an earlier podcast, the half-life of grief is endless. Mariska Hargitay knows that very well. Jane Mansfield was killed in a car crash in 1967. Mariska was in the car with her. After decades spent coming to terms with her past and wanting to learn more about the mother she doesn't remember, Mariska has made a remarkable documentary called My Mom Jane.

1:20:32Our vulnerability is our greatest strength and our greatest connector. And so in telling the story, I don't feel vulnerable. I feel free. We all have a story, and you never know what somebody else carries. Talking grief, building community. That's what the podcast is all about. This is all there is. Listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts.