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CNN Transcripts for September 19, 2025

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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
• Trump On Negative News Coverage Of Him: "I Think That's Really Illegal"; Sen. Cruz Calls FCC Chair's Threats Against ABC "Dangerous as Hell"; Charlie Kirk's Last Message To Van Jones; U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, Under Pressure By Trump To Charge NY Attorney General, Is Stepping Down; Trump Says He Wants To Fire U.S. Attorney Who Declined To Charge NY AG Letitia James With Mortgage Fraud; Former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta Defends Epstein's 2008 Plea Deal In Hours-Long Appearance On Capitol Hill; One-On-One With Director Rob Reiner. Aired 8-9p ET


Amanpour
• Interview With "The Finest Hotel In Kabul" Author And BBC And Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet; Interview With "Poems And Prayers" Author And Actor Matthew McConaughey; Interview With "Inherited Inequality" Author Christina Cross. Aired 1-2p ET


CNN's The Arena with Kasie Hunt
• Source: Disney "Hopeful" For Path To Bring Kimmel Back; Just In: Conan O'Brien Criticizes Decision To Suspend Kimmel; Kamala Harris Reveals Concerns Over Top Running Mate Contenders; Schumer On Shutdown Talks: Trump In "Go To Hell Mode". Aired 4-5p ET


The Lead with Jake Tapper
• Now: Trump Takes Questions In The Oval Office; Trump Attacks Free Speech As CEOs Try To Cash In; Architect Of Epstein's "Sweetheart Deal" On Capitol Hill Today; University President Resigns Amid Uproar Over Gender Ideology. Aired 5-6p ET
• Trump Ramps Up Attacks On Free Speech; RFK Jr.'s CDC Advisers Vote To Drop COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation For All Americans; Oversight Democrats Slam Acosta For Epstein Plea Deal Testimony; House Approves Resolution To Honor Charlie Kirk; Harris Reveals Why She Didn't Select Pete Buttigieg And Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro For Running Mate In New Book. Aired 6-7p ET


CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip
• Trump Says, Negative Coverage Of Me Is Illegal; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) Blasts Trump's Politicization Of FCC, Dangerous as Hell; Cardinal Dolan Calls Charlie Kirk A Modern-Day Saint Paul; "NewsNight" Talks About The Charlie Kirk Assassination; Top Prosecutor Appointed By Trump Quits. Aired 10-11p ET


CNN News Central
• Late Night Hosts Defend Kimmel, Mock Trump and Defend Free Speech; Soon, CDC Advisers to Take Up Newborn Hepatitis B, COVID-19 Shots; Southern California Mudslides Damage Homes, Close Roads. Aired 7-7:30a ET
• Trump Floats Pulling TV Licenses If Networks Are "Against" Him; Researchers Give Doomsday Warning About Building AI Too Fast; Farm Aid's Founding Fathers Focus On Building Healthy Food Chains. Aired 7:30-8a ET
• Late Night Hosts Defend Kimmel, Mock Trump and Defend Free Speech; Trump Suggests Revoking Broadcast Licenses Over Bad Publicity; Intel Officials Split Over Russian Drones Flown into Poland; Baseless Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Kirk's Murder Explode Online. Aired 8- 8:30a ET
• Trump and Xi Call Underway; Trump Dismisses Free Speech Concerns; ABC Wants Kimmel Back but Lower Temperature; British Spies Turn to Dark Web to Recruit Russian Agents; Texas Democratic Voters Fights Against Gerrymandering. Aired 8:30-9a ET
• Texas Democratic Voters Fights Against Gerrymandering; Late- night Hosts and Comedian Rally Behind Kimmel; Trump Floats Pulling TV Licenses if Networks are "Against" Him; AOC Considering Presidential or Senate Run; Trump Speaks with President Xi to Finalize TikTok Deal; Alex Acosta to Appear Before House Oversight Committee. Aired 9-9:30a ET
• Stocks Rise After Fed Cuts Interest Rates; Security Ramps Up For Charlie Kirk's Funeral Sunday; TX Gov: Dramatic Course Correction Coming To Texas Schools. Aired 9:30-10a ET
• Another Russian Violation of NATO Airspace?; Washington State Manhunt Over?; Key Epstein Prosecutor on Capitol Hill; Firestorm Grows Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension. Aired 1-1:30p ET
• Conspiracy Theories About Charlie Kirk's Murder Explode Online; Poll Shows 51 Percent Of Republicans Say Country Is One Wrong Track; Trump Repeats False Claim That Jan. 6 Select Committee Deleted And Destroyed Evidence And Information; Architect Of Epstein's Sweetheart Deal Testifies On Capitol Hill; Confusion, Delays As RFK's Handpicked Vaccine Advisers Meet. Aired 1:30-2p ET
• Confusion, Delays as RFK's Handpicked Vaccine Advisers Meet; Deluge Leads to Damage in Southern California; Protesters Gather Outside ABC Offices, Demand Kimmel's Return; Senate Rejects House Stopgap Spending Bills; Intel Officials Split After Russia Flew Drones Into Poland; NATO Intercepts Russian Jets Over Estonia's Airspace; Former VP Kamala Harris Opens Up About 2024 Defeat in Her Book, Describes a Tense Pre-debate Call From Biden. Aired 2-2:30p ET
• Hungarian Leader to Designate Antifa as Terrorist Organization; Trump Floats Pulling TV Licenses, Says Networks are Against Him; Confusion, Delays as RFK's Handpicked Vaccine Advisers Meet; New York Officials Arrested After Protest at ICE Facility. Aired 2:30-3p ET
• ABC Facing Growing Backlash Over Jimmy Kimmel Suspension; Trump to Impose $100K Fee on H-1B Visas; NATO Intercepts Three Russian Jets Over Estonia's Airspace; Intel Officials Agree Putin is Getting More Aggressive; Remains Found in Search for Man Accused of Killing Three Daughters. Aired 3-3:30p ET
• Son of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaks on Rise of Violence; CDC Advisers Vote to Allow COVID Vaccines, But Only After Consultation with Health Care Provider; Oversight Committee Dems Blast Alex Accosta Testimony; Patel: No Credible Information Epstein Trafficked to Others. Aired 3:30-4p ET


CNN Newsroom
• Trump Threatens Licenses of TV Networks That Criticize Him; Trump Returns to U.S. after State Visit to Britain; Trump to Meet Xi to Discuss TikTok Sale; Unions Strike Against Proposed Budget Cuts in France; Pope Leo Expresses Concern Over Some Things Happening in U.S. Aired 12-12:45a ET
• Trump Threatens Licenses of TV Stations That Criticize Him; Trump Returns To The U.S. After U.K. State Visit; U.S. Vetoes UN Security Council Resolution On Immediate Gaza Ceasefire; Hamas Warns Israel Offensive Ends Hope For Hostage Return; Erika Kirk Named New CEO of Turning Point U.S.A.; Hollywood Workers Protest Disney Pulling Kimmel Off the Air; How Local TV Station Groups Influenced Kimmell Suspension; Trump Expected to Discuss TikTok Sale with Chinese Leader; Unions Strike Against Proposed Budget Cuts; Japan's Elderly Struggle in Heat Wave; CNN Anchor Finds 33-Mililon-Year-Old Fossil. Aired 1-2a ET
• Trump Looms More T.V. Talk Shows to Pull Out Following the Axing of Jimmy Kimmel's Show; Peru's Machu Picchu in Danger of Losing New Seven Wonders Designation; Trump Calls For U.S. To Reclaim Afghan Base From Taliban; Trump Expected To Discuss TikTok Sale With Chinese Leader. Aired 2-2:45a ET
• Hamas Issues Stern Warning on the Hostages; U.S. and Chinese Presidents Meet for TikTok's Sale; Pope Leo Interviews for the First Time Since His Papacy. Aired 3-4a ET


CNN This Morning
• Late-Night Hosts Rally to Support Kimmel; U.S. Farmers Alarmed Over Economic Uncertainty & Tariffs. Aired 6-6:30a ET
• Alexander Acosta to Testify on Epstein Case; Disney Execs on Suspending Kimmel; D.C. Arrest Cases Getting Dropped by Federal Judges; Charlie Kirk Memorial Planned in Arizona. Aired 6:30-7a ET


Connect the World
• Trump Amps Up Pressure on TV Networks Over Negative Coverage; Former Epstein Prosecutor Testifies in U.S. House; New Elections Scheduled for Israel in October, 2026; Trump Expected to Discuss TikTok Sale with Chinese Leader; Bob Dylan to Play Festival with Other Originals Plus Newer Acts. Aired 9-9:45a ET
• Former Epstein Prosecutor Testifies in U.S. House; Hamas Says Israel's Gaza City Incursion Ends Hope for Hostages' Return; Trump Amps Up Pressure on TV Networks Over Negative Coverage; Trump and Xi Jinping Hold Call About TikTok Sale; Intelligence Officials Split After Russia Flew Drones into Poland; Italy's Politically Divided Past Offers Cautionary Tale; Remembering Mahsa Amini Three Years Since Her Death; Texas Democrats Speak Out Against Redistricting; Architecture Awards Highlight Muslim Heritage. Aired 10-11a ET


Erin Burnett Outfront
• "Dangerous As Hell": Ted Cruz Slams FCC Chair's Threats To ABC; Epstein Prosecutor Testifies; Trans Community Under Attack. Aired 7-8p ET


Early Start with Rahel Solomon
• Trump Suggests Networks' Licenses Could Be Pulled If They Air Mostly Negative Coverage Of Him; New Details On Lead Up To Disney's Decision To Suspend Kimmel; Trump Expected To Discuss TikTok Sale With Chinese Leader; Hamas Warns Israeli Offensive Ends Hope For Hostage Return. Aired 5-5:30a ET
• Ukraine Warns Of "Critical" Situation In Kupiansk; Capitol Hill Split Over Jimmy Kimmel Controversy; CDC Advisers Call For Changes To Children's Vaccine Schedule. Aired 5:30-6a ET


Inside Politics
• Trump: "Very Good" Call With Chinese President Xi; China: Xi Told Trump To Avoid "Unilateral Trade Restrictions"; Trump Floats Pulling TV Licenses If Networks Are "Against" Him; Trump's FCC Chair: Kimmel "Isn't The Last Shoe To Drop"; Harris Book Reveals A Frustrating Relationship With Biden. Aired 12-12:30p ET
• Texas Democrats Say Their Voices Silenced By Partisan Redistricting; Trump's NYT Lawsuit Dismissed For Now For Being Too Long; New Book Goes Inside Presidential Investigations; Former Deputy AG Rosenstein Criticized FBI Director Comey Over His Handling Of Hillary Clinton Email Investigation. Aired 12:30-1p ET


Isa Soares Tonight
• Russian Fighter Jet Violates Estonian Airspace; Jimmy Kimmel's Suspension Stirs Free Speech Debate; U.N. General Assembly Will Allow Abbas To Virtually Address Annual Session Next Week; Israel Vows Unprecedented Force In Gaza City Assault; University To Hold Vigil For Charlie Kirk Tonight; Italy's Political Past Stands As A Warning To The U.S.; Study: Chimps Eat Fruit Similar To One Alcoholic Drink A Day; Winners Of Ocean Photographers Of The Year Competition. Aired 2-3p ET


Laura Coates Live
• Bill Maher Got Kimmel's Back; Abuse of Power Is Unacceptable; Ride on to Be Safe; Erik Siebert Resigns; Lawmakers Not Pleased by Alex Acosta's Alibis. Aired 11p-12a ET


One World with Zain Asher
• Trump Suggests Regulators Could Pull License of Broadcast Networks that Criticize Him; Trump Escalates Attacks on Broadcast Critics; Trump and Xi Jinping Wrap Up Call; Hamas Warns Israeli Offensive Ends Hope for Hostage Return; Italy's Dark Past Offers Cautionary Tale to U.S.; Winners Announced for Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025. Aired 11a-12p ET
• Trump Escalates Attacks On Broadcast Critics; Capitol Hill Reacts To ABC Suspension Of Jimmy Kimmel; Surge In Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Kirk's Murder; Estonia Says Its Airspace Was Violated By Three Russian Jets; Aid Agency Gaza City Staff Describe Days And nights Of Horror; CDC Advisers Call For Changes To Children's Vaccine Schedule; Kratom: A Miracle Drug Or A Danger Top Health?; Aired 12-1p ET


Quest Means Business
• Disney Under Pressure From Hollywood, Affiliates; Three NATO States Claim Russia Violated Airspaces In 10 Days; Trump Says Progress Made With Xi on TikTok Deal; Donald Trump To Impose $100k Fee On H-1B International Worker Visa; Cerebras Opening A.I.. Data Center In Oklahoma City; IPO Market Heats Up After Multi-Year Lull. Aired 4-5p ET


The Situation Room
• Trump Floats Pulling T.V. Licenses if Networks are Against Him; Lawmakers to Question Prosecutor from 2008 Epstein Plea Deal; Trump Holds Call With China's Xi to Finalize TikTok Deal. Aired 10-10:30a ET
• Palestinian Flee Gaza as Israel Intensifies Ground Incursion; Majed Al-Ansari Says Gaza Truce Talks Have "No Validity" Since Israel Targeted Negotiators in Doha; Disney Saw FCC's License Threat as "Real, Serious". Aired 10:30-11a ET
• House GOP Passes Stopgap Government Funding Bill; Trump Suggests Revoking Broadcast Licenses Over "Bad Publicity"; Intel Officials Are Split On Whether Russia Deliberately Flew Drones Into Poland. Aired 11-11:30a ET
• Farm Aid; Interview With Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter; Trump Speaks With Chinese Leader; U.S. Base in Afghanistan?. Aired 11:30a-12p ET


The Source with Kaitlan Collins
• Trump Calls Negative News Coverage Of Him "Really Illegal"; Source: U.S. Attorney Is Resigning After Resisting Pressure To Charge NY A.G. Letitia James; Dems Split On Resolution Honoring Kirk & Condemning Violence. Aired 9-10p ET


The Brief with Jim Sciutto
• Trump and Xi Talks About TikTok; Trump Signs Order Raising Cost of H-1B Visa Applications; NATO Intercepts Russian Fighter Jets; ABC Under Fire For Jimmy Kimmel Suspension; Protests Over Kimmel Suspension. Aired 6- 7p ET


What We Know with Max Foster
• NATO Intercepts Three Russian Jets Over Estonia's Airspace; Judge Rejects Trump's $15B Lawsuit Against New York Times; Source: FCC Chair's Threat Played Role In ABC's Kimmel Decision; Trump To Impose $100,000 Fee On H-1B Visas; Former Epstein Prosecutor Testifies In U.S. House; IDF: Less Than Half Of Residents Remain In Gaza City; Trump Says Progress Made With Xi On TikTok Deal. Aired 3-4p ET