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U.S. Economy Adds 228,000 Jobs; Judge Weighing Contempt Over Deportations; Carl Clemons-Hopkins is Interviewed about "Hacks." Aired 9:30-10a ET
Aired April 04, 2025 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:30:00]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Of the traditional Democratic base. The president of the United Auto Workers Union was on with Kaitlan Collins, Shawn Fain. This is what he said. He supports some of these tariffs.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHAWN FAIN, PRESIDENT, UNITED AUTO WORKERS: People forget about the arsenal of democracy and how excess capacity in this country was used to support the war effort and delivered a victory in World War II for America. And so, we really have to look at reality and quit using fear tactics and scare tactics and talking about this.
There's a lot of things we disagree with this administration on, like eliminating contracts for, you know, hundreds of thousands of federal workers.
But on this issue, we agree on tariffs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: So, what's your message to Shawn Fain and your union supporters about why they're wrong on this?
REP. KATERINE CLARK (D-MA): I agree with labor when talking about tariffs that are strategic, but that is not what we have here. And what we are seeing is already an impact on UAW workers with the 900 layoffs that we have already seen. So, I don't know how this administration is trying to paint itself as pro-worker when they are actively working against collective bargaining, and they are not using tariffs to level the playing field, to increase jobs here, to make sure that our products are sold. They are isolating us on the global economic stage. We are going to see, as we've already seen from China, retaliatory tariffs, and they go after our allies as well as countries like China where we want to use good tariff policy to make sure that they are not flooding us with cheap goods and taking American jobs. So, let's have a strategy behind this. Let's make sure that everything we do is helping that consumer at home.
And just to go back to Social Security for a moment. What they are doing here is wrecking the infrastructure of Social Security so they can rob the benefit. You cannot say you are protecting Social Security and have the layoffs we're seeing, making our seniors drive hours to have an in-person appointment, which they have to go to an office far from where they live when they were able previously to do this through a telephone call or to be able to have that office close by if they needed to go there. All of that is designed to undercut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid in order to give a tax cut to billionaires. It is an outrageous rip-off of the American taxpayer that we are seeing from this administration.
BERMAN: Congresswoman Katherine Clark, opening day at Fenway, get home quick. Thanks so much for being with us.
Sara.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we have some breaking news. Markets just opened on Wall Street as traders begin the day with a stronger than expected jobs report, but also China saying they are retaliating with 34 percent tariffs to Trump's 34 percent tariffs on China.
CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich joining us now.
Look, the markets closed yesterday about 4 percent down. The Dow itself. This looks a tiny bit better but still not good.
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, not good. Coming off the worst trading day since 2020. Since the pandemic. You see markets there opening. Down about 2.5 percent, 3 percent on the Nasdaq. Futures were pointing even lower.
But as you mentioned, we did get that jobs report that may have injected a little bit of confidence into investors. Look at that number, 228,000 jobs added. The expectation was almost 100,000 lower than that.
SIDNER: It's way higher.
YURKEVICH: So, that's - that's a substantial increase. Hiring in retail and health care.
The unemployment rate ticking up a little bit to 4.2 percent. But we have more people entering the job market looking for jobs right now.
But overall, confidence on Wall Street is absolutely shattered. There is no trust right now. Investors are looking for any sense that the president is willing to negotiate. It does not seem like that is happening right now.
We know, as you mentioned, that China, this morning, just lobbed a 34 percent retaliatory tariff on the U.S., matching our tariff on them. But that's an escalation because they already have tariffs in place.
SIDNER: Right.
YURKEVICH: On farmers, for example. SIDNER: Right.
YURKEVICH: 2018 tariffs of 25 percent. An additional 10 to 15 percent that they added in March. And now this 34 percent tariff on all -
SIDNER: All imports.
YURKEVICH: U.S. exports going to China.
SIDNER: Right.
YURKEVICH: And investors are just trying to hold on and see how far this retaliation is going to go.
Look at the countries that we're waiting to hear from. Countries like Vietnam, which has such robust manufacturing for the United States.
[09:35:02]
Cambodia. We lobbed a tariff of 49 percent on Cambodia.
SIDNER: On a country that's not wealthy at all.
YURKEVICH: These are -
SIDNER: That is considered an emerging market, a poorer country.
YURKEVICH: With the exception of China, these are poorer countries that are now going to have to be faced with, what do they say to the United States in retaliation?
One thing I heard from investors this morning that I thought was interesting is that, even though the jobs report, looking back at March, is ancient at this point, because really everything starts now after April 2nd.
SIDNER: Right. Right.
YURKEVICH: There is still hope that if we pull out of this trade war soon, we could avoid a recession. But if we continue down this track and there's this escalation day after day, recession fears are looking a lot more likely.
Markets this morning just clearly responding to everything that's going on. The trade war is the central focus. They're digesting the jobs report. But there - that's in the past. They're looking forward, what's going to happen next.
SIDNER: In China is just put its foot down. So now we are going to see what happens.
YURKEVICH: And they were waiting for China.
SIDNER: Yes. Yes.
YURKEVICH: That's the big one. They were waiting. SIDNER: Which is why these are actually ticking down further than they started.
YURKEVICH: Yes. Yes.
SIDNER: Vanessa Yurkevich, thank you. I know you'll be watching the market very closely.
Kate.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, will the federal government be held in contempt? That's the question for one federal judge now weighing - is now - what the judge is now weighing over the Trump administration's deportation flights. The big decision now before the very same judge that President Trump has been attacking personally.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:49]
BOLDUAN: This morning, Judge James Boasberg has a big question on his hands. The federal district judge is now weighing whether there is probable cause to hold the Trump administration in contempt for violating court orders. Boasberg had put a temporary block, you'll remember, on the administration's expedited deportation flights under the Alien Enemies Act while he considered a legal challenge. And on March 15th, the judge said, any planes carrying migrants deported under that authority must immediately return to the U.S. Two such flights, though, carrying more than 100 migrants did not, continued on to El Salvador the day of the hearing. The judge then quickly vowed to get to the bottom of whether they violated my order, he said.
Joining me right now to talk about this big decision at hand now is CNN legal analyst Jennifer Rodgers.
So, an important hearing on this happened yesterday.
JENNIFER RODGERS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes.
BOLDUAN: And from the descriptions inside the courtroom, it was high drama. The judge throwing his glasses on the table, at one point in frustration. And then this reporting from CNN, "lawyers from the Justice Department looked visibly concerned during the proceedings, with one placing his hand on his forehead and looking down as the questioning intensified.
I mean, Boasberg said he's likely going to make a decision not - wait to make a decision until next week. But what do you think is going to happen?
RODGERS: Well, I think he's going to have a hearing about this contempt. I mean one of the things that's happening here is that they're stonewalling the judge. The judge is saying, the administration did something that I, at least initially, have found to be illegal. I need to know what time you, you know, these flights took off and so on to see if you complied with my order or not, and they're not giving him that information. They're throwing up all sorts of excuses and doing all sorts of other things. So, he's very frustrated and he wants to get to the bottom of exactly what the timeline was. Who knew what when.
BOLDUAN: They couldn't answer - they did not answer that in that - in the hearing.
RODGERS: They refused to answer those questions.
BOLDUAN: Yes.
RODGERS: And so he needs to actually hold a hearing, I think, to find out, who was in charge, who made these decisions, and how the orders got to the decision makers, and then what happened back down the line.
BOLDUAN: Jennifer, if this moves forward, how unusual is this?
RODGERS: Really unusual.
BOLDUAN: OK.
RODGER: I mean contempt in the first place is very unusual. Most lawyers do not defy judges orders. But in the context of DOJ, government lawyers defying a judge, it's almost unheard of.
BOLDUAN: That's what I was - I was like, this sounds like something I've never heard before.
And then my question is, what is the impact of this? The planes have already come and went. The administration has already said they can't return anyone back because they're now - no longer have jurisdiction, obviously, in El Salvador. So, what is the impact of this?
RODGERS: So, to the extent that the administration would continue to defy the judges order from here on, now we're in constitutional crisis land, right, where you have branches not listening to other branches.
If it is just that the judge finds some of these lawyers in contempt, he might fine them, something like that, then the question is, what happens from here as far as these lawyers. Are these lawyers going to continue to go into court and stonewall the judge? You know, this is like decades and decades of credibility that Justice Department lawyers have built up with judges, that they're forthright. They give the judges the information they're seeking. They are, obviously, destroying that credibility. So, you have to wonder, these mid-career and senior officials, are they going to go in and destroy their own reputations by doing this? You know, you might start to see the sort of fire - these sort of resignations that happened in the Eric Adams matter, where they're saying, we're not going to do that anymore at the expense of our own personal and professional reputations, that then might, might, trigger some changes up the line where you see Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche saying, OK, we're now going to get the back of our people. We're going to defend our people. Because these orders for not giving over this information, my guess is they're not coming from the top of DOJ, they're coming from outside of DOJ. And that's what happens when DOJ gives its independence away like they have here. BOLDUAN: This is really interesting, what's going to happen in the
next week.
Thanks. It's great to see you.
RODGERS: Good to see you.
BOLDUAN: John.
BERMAN: All right, with the stock market tumbling, you might need a laugh this morning. The Emmy Award winning comedy "Hacks" set to return to Max next week. And this morning, we've got never before heard details from behind the scenes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:49:28]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, are you going to tell Deborah today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I mean, first day at her dream job. She's in a great mood. Now is probably the ideal time to tell her I'm leaving, right?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I think so.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, hi.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything OK?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. I was getting an early start on the demo. You can't trust anybody these days.
You need something?
[09:50:01]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nope. Nope. We will - we'll let you get to it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: We are all Deborah Vance. Let us just say that out loud.
I want you to get ready for more really big laughs, more drama. Season four of the Emmy winning show "Hacks" premieres next week on Max. And as you know, Max is also owned by CNN's parent company Warner Brothers Discovery.
All right, the question is, what can we expect with the season ahead? Here now, we are honored to have, "Hacks" actor Carl Clemons-Hopkins to fill us in.
OK, first of all, there's a lot of lessons to be learned. I mean we got to start with the serious side. There's a lot of lessons to be learned from this show. What do you take away? What is a lesson that you hope people learn from this show? Because you play this very professional, very - the only one really -
CARL CLEMONS-HOPKINS, ACTOR, "HACKS": Yes. Yes. The only adult in the room.
SIDNER: Very calm person that's the adult in the room. What - what are we trying to teach people with this show, besides making us laugh our heads off?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Sure. Sure. With this show I think one of the biggest lessons is the joy it is to find someone you can laugh with. The joy it is that you can find someone to share humor with. And for Marcus this season, I would say the lesson is, the art of letting go. And the idea that, you know, just because someone has been in your life for a long time and you have this relationship, you have this connection, you have this, or lack of a better term, rules of your engagement, that doesn't mean you can't grow. That doesn't mean you can't expand. And that doesn't mean that you have to stay in the box someone needs you in. Your life is not meant to be for someone else's boxes. And, yes, this brilliant part (ph).
SIDNER: Poignant this morning.
So, you just said the art of letting go. Does that mean you're going to leave Deborah Vance's aside?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: That means that Marcus is going to really focus on Marcus' side.
SIDNER: Oh, see, he's not telling us.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Not a word.
SIDNER: He's - he's not telling us.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS
SIDNER: But Marcus is going to focus on Marcus.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Yes. I think it's a - it's a really pivotal time in the story where he's kind of inspired by these women. And - and sees that everyone is kind of taking charge, everyone is going for theirs. What am I doing? You know, why am I trying to harp on what the past was when I'm clearly being led to a different future? So, I think we get to see this season Marcus taking action on those steps and facing the repercussions of those. He has Deborah's wrath to contend with, as we see with her and a sledgehammer. It's a lot of action.
SIDNER: You know what I love? I love the relationship with your mama on the show.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Oh, I love that. Yes. And Angela Gibbs is perfect.
SIDNER: Because it reflects a lot of our relationships, right? She has got something to say about everything and anything you do. Does that mirror the real relationship at all or no?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: With Angela Gibbs or with my mother?
SIDNER: No, with your mama.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Oh, my goodness.
SIDNER: Maybe I'm putting you on - I don't want to get mom upset.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: No, no, she won't be upset. She - hi, mom. She - it's very similar in the fact that she has something to say about everything that I'm doing. However, ours is a different connection entirely. But I really do appreciate that there are a lot of striking similarities between those two women, and they're actually just coming to me now more and more as I talk about it.
But they are - they are similar in that they fiercely love their - their son. But, very different. My mother is actually a lot closer to Luenell's character in the show than Angela's character.
SIDNER: Oh, interesting.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: But kind of a hybrid of the both.
SIDNER: Yes.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Yes.
SIDNER: I do want to ask you, how do you keep a straight face with the amazing writing and the timing and Jean Smart, I mean, how do you not burst out laughing every single line?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Well, it's difficult. But I also try to be a working professional. But it's - these writers are phenomenal. And some of these scenes, as you're going to see this season, are just the height of ridiculous, but in the best way. So, it's a job, but it's the job that I signed up for. And I'm doing my best to keep my composure.
Also, Marcus wouldn't burst out laughing in the middle of it. So, I have to keep remembering that he is, not only the adult in the room, but he's the person who's known Deborah the longest. He's the person who's kind of keeping all this together because a cast of characters like this, someone needs to be a voice of reason, and Marcus is definitely that person.
SIDNER: You are like many of us. I mean, so much of this show does actually reflect real life, even though it has got the best, most brilliant writing that makes us all burst out laughing. But you have been trying to find love every single season. Do you find love finally?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Um. SIDNER: You not going to tell us?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: You know what I will tell you? I will tell you that the first step to finding love with anyone is finding the love in yourself. I would say the first step with choosing any relationship is making sure you prioritize your relationship with yourself. And Marcus is definitely on that journey.
Hello, friend.
BERMAN: Hey, we just showed up. We're fun.
(CROSSTALK)
SIDNER: Get out of here. I'm going to do some talking. I am busy.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Gliding by.
But, yes, he -
SIDNER: I'll scoot over, I guess.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: We definitely see -
SIDNER: That means I get to be closer to Carl.
Anyway.
BOLDUAN: (INAUDIBLE).
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: No, we definitely see this season, you know, him and Wilson are still in each other's lives. They're still - they're doing that thing where we're just friends. We see each other every day. We're just friends, but you're at every family function.
SIDNER: That's so hard.
[09:55:01]
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: We're just friends, but we'll - we'll kiss at the club but then we'll have brunch the next day but we're just friends. So, we'll -
SIDNER: It's complicated. Friends with benefits. Complex.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Yes, we'll see. We'll see how that evolves.
SIDNER: OK, I know you have a gift. He's got -
BOLDUAN: There's a lot of Sara - a lot of Sara projecting. She's like, friends with benefits. (INAUDIBLE) -
SIDNER: I'm so - of all the show - I'm so hardcore into this one. Like, I was - I was mad when it ended, I cried. I was mad and sad.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Yes. SIDNER: But I hear you have one more gift for all of us. What is that gift?
BOLDUAN: Please tell me it's a dance move.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: It's not a dance move. Not in these shoes. I - we were walking into the studio, and every time I see it, I just think, this is CNN.
BERMAN: Wow.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: And it's - because I grew up hearing that.
SIDNER: Oh, my God. You're hired. Oh.
BERMAN: Wow.
BOLDUAN: I mean, would you like to take over the mantle of a James Earl Jones?
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: I would love - I would love that. Oh, my goodness, let's discuss the fee right now.
SIDNER: Let's discuss.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Let's do it.
BOLDUAN: I'm thinking -
BERMAN: It's like Darth Vader just walked in - in here.
BOLDUAN: Sorry, your agent's on the line.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Right.
SIDNER: And you, James Earl Jones, right? I mean -
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Phenomenal. Phenomenal.
BERMAN: All right - yes.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Decades and decades and decades of, you know, theater work, voice work, screen work, just a legacy you can't deny.
BOLDUAN: Thanks for coming in. It's really nice to meet you.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Thank you. Thank you.
SIDNER: Carl Clemons-Hopkins, thank you. I cannot wait to see what happens in "Hacks." Thank you.
CLEMONS-HOPKINS: Yes. I'm so glad we matched.
BERMAN: Season four of "Hacks," April 10th, 6:00 p.m. Pacific, 9:00 p.m. Eastern. We prioritize Pacific Time there.
BOLDUAN: That's weird.
BERMAN: Yes, I know.
BOLDUAN: OK.
SIDNER: That was weird. It's cool.
BERMAN: All right.
BOLDUAN: OK, I'm going to say bye.
SIDNER: Bye.
BOLDUAN: Thanks for joining us. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.
SIDNER: Happy Friday.
BOLDUAN: It's Friday and it's going to be an interesting one for sure.
BERMAN: Yes.
BOLDUAN: "THE SITUATION ROOM" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
