Return to Transcripts main page
CNN News Central
Speaker Johnson Pushing to Pass Trump Agenda Bill Before Memorial Bill; Trump Heads to Capital Hill to Sway GOP Hardliners; Sean Combs' Ex-Assistant, Cassie Ventura's Mother to Testify; Interview with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL): Vote on Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill. Aired 8:00-8:30a ET
Aired May 20, 2025 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Rafael Romo, thank you very much for that report.
A brand new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.
All right, moments from now, President Trump heads to Capitol Hill to try and salvage his multi trillion dollar tax and spending cut package. Just a few minutes ago, we had a conservative member whose vote the president will need. Tell us that right now, he's a no.
Very shortly, testimony resumes in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean Combs after the emotional and graphic testimony from Cassie Ventura. We're standing by to hear from her mother today.
And as President Biden weighs treatment options for an aggressive form of prostate cancer, a new book out today reveals how his inner circle works to shield his declining health from the public.
Sara is out. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we are standing by for President Trump getting ready to head to Capitol Hill with a singular goal in mind, getting House Republicans to agree and get behind what he calls his Big, Beautiful Bill. That is a massive multi trillion dollar bill that House Republicans are putting together that really encompasses much of his domestic agenda. So his agenda is on the line here and he's about to twist arms to get them to fall in line.
House Speaker Mike Johnson wants to possibly start bringing this to the floor in a matter of days, which is lightning speed since some Republicans say they don't even know what's in this right now. Here is what he told reporters about the self-imposed deadline of Monday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), HOUSE SPEAKER: We are continuing to work on it. It's not a final resolution yet, but I think we're getting very close.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When's the floor vote?
JOHNSON: When? Before Memorial Day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Before Memorial Day. But yet again, Republicans here are fighting amongst themselves. Republican hardliners, they want to see more spending cuts, more changes to Medicaid.
You heard the Republican speaking -- Republican congressman speaking to John Berman. They need to they need to figure out how to pay for this thing. Other Republicans from expensive blue states are pushing for higher caps on how much of state and local taxes you're allowed to deduct from your federal returns. It's called SALT. You'll hear much more about that throughout the coming days.
CNN's Lauren Fox joins us now from Capitol Hill with asking the unknowable, which is what is about to happen?
LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, exactly right. As members are entering this room, I've been asking a couple of them simply, what do you want to hear from the president? And do you expect that he's going to play referee between some of the moderates and conservatives in the room behind me?
That is because they are really dug in right now. And they're asking the speaker and their leadership for two very different things. One group wants to see steeper cuts to Medicaid, wants to see an increase in how quickly they can move through Medicaid work requirements.
The other group wants to protect Medicaid, make sure there aren't further cuts while they're open to the idea of speeding up how quickly work requirements go into effect. Many of them argue they don't want to see bigger changes beyond that. You can see that tension and why it is bubbling up at this moment.
These are negotiations and questions that have been existing not for just days, but weeks and months at this point. And this is really crunch time. This is the moment where the gamble over doing one bill instead of two bills is really playing out.
And I think there's a huge question right now. Is Donald Trump going to come in the room and is he going to make some decisions and explain to members exactly why they need to get on board? Or is he going to listen to both sides and maybe not make clear what his position is?
And I think that that could further complicate the job for the House speaker who has to finally at some point in the next 48 hours make a decision about what direction this bill is going to go.
I do want to note that last night the Speaker held a meeting with many of those New York Republicans over the issue of increasing the state and local tax deduction available for taxpayers. They came out of that meeting after about an hour, and there was no resolution.
That just shows you how drug out some of these discussions are getting at this point. You're meeting in the dead of night. You're not making decisions. It's crunch time. It's time to get there. And we're going to see if the president can move anyone in that room.
BOLDUAN: All right, Lauren. Lauren's there outside the room where it is about to happen. Thank you so much, Lauren -- John.
BERMAN: With us now are CNN political analysts Jackie Kucinich and Laura Barron-Lopez. Jackie, it's 8:04 a.m. Do you know where your Big, Beautiful Bill is?
[08:05:00]
JACKIE KUCINICH, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I mean, it seems to be in many pieces as I try to do this on a really tight, tight deadline. And with the president going in there, he's been known to twist arms.
However, the details, these details in particular, aren't something the president's really concerned about. He has his tax cuts in there. He has his no tax on tips in that bill. Those are two big campaign promises that he wants to deliver on. Whether or not the hemming and hawing over Medicaid, over the state and local tax deduction, not really concerned.
He's likely, if passed this prologue, is going to go in there and say, OK, we're done with this negotiating. It's time to get to a place where you can just vote.
BERMAN: So, Laura, just a few minutes ago, we had Warren Davidson, a conservative member from Ohio, on. I asked him where he stands this morning. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: So if a vote on this bill were held today, and I know that's not what's happening, it's going to be held in a few days. How would you vote?
REP. WARREN DAVIDSON (R-OH): Yes, I couldn't vote for it right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN (on camera): He went on to say the spending cuts aren't big enough. And he also spoke in a lot of hypotheticals. If this is what the bill is, if, if, if.
A lot of these guys don't seem to know what's even going to be in the final product, Laura.
LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, and there's a lot of estimates that they're still waiting for from the Congressional Budget Office right now about how much this bill is going to cost, what's inside of it, the effect that it's going to have on millions of Americans. One of the big effects that it could have on millions of Americans is cutting Medicaid for millions of Americans. That's what the Congressional Budget Office estimated. And so you're seeing there's some Republicans that are not happy about that. Those are more of the moderate Republicans that aren't necessarily on board with these potential cuts to Medicaid. They're not necessarily on board yet with the state and local tax deduction that they're negotiating.
And then there's those conservatives like the ones that you're, you talk to, John, who aren't happy because they think the bill spends too much or doesn't cut enough. But, you know, what we're seeing right now also is that in order to get some of those maybes on board or those people who aren't sold yet is that just last night, some of the people that were coming out of Speaker Johnson's office, there were Capitol Hill reporters that captured screenshots of this draft that was written that essentially shows that Republicans are planning to go after the Congressional Budget Office.
This is a nonpartisan budget office that scores these massive bills and essentially says how much they will cost the U.S. government, the effect that they could have on Americans. And Republicans are planning to essentially discredit it and act as though it's part of the deep state in order to try to convince more of their lawmakers, more of their caucus to get on board with this.
BERMAN: Yes, but it's interesting, guys like Davidson aren't even there yet. And Davidson wasn't one of the four -- he wasn't on the Budget Committee. He wasn't one of the four people in the Budget Committee who voted present, Jackie.
You really start to get a sense of how tough the numbers are. I mean, Thomas Massey not there. The Republicans can't lose the number of votes they currently don't have in their corner.
KUCINICH: They can't even decide, as you both have pointed out, what's wrong with it. It's like if Goldilocks and the Three Bears didn't even like the porridge to begin with because there's too many different things that are wrong with each of these pockets of lawmakers. Now, how they get together.
I mean, and then we have to say this. Let's say you do have these moderates who want the SALT, the state and local tax deduction. They don't get what they want, but they walk the plank anyway.
This bill is going to change in the Senate. And it might not be to their liking. It might not be to the conservatives' liking when it comes back. And then they have to explain that to voters.
So really, so many details and not a lot of time with the self-imposed before Memorial Day deadline because he doesn't want -- but Speaker Johnson doesn't want members to go home, start hearing from more people at home and then potentially lose even more votes.
BERMAN: You know, Laura, we keep talking about the so-called moderates, these blue state Republicans who want a higher cap on deductions for state and local taxes. They've been holding out. Our friends at Punchbowl News have been documenting all the twists and turns here. They note there is some thinking and always has been among Republicans in negotiations that eventually the moderates will just cave. That, you know, they're going through this kabuki dance right now, but the moderates will cave because that's what moderates do. They will cave in the end.
Will this be the one time maybe they don't?
BARRON-LOPEZ: It's difficult to say, but, you know, our friends at Punchbowl as well as, you know, when I was covering Capitol Hill, I mean, the moderates did always cave, and right now it appears as though they want to get to yes.
[08:10:00]
So I don't know that this is necessarily the time, although, again, maybe it is because they're reminding Speaker Johnson, look, you have a very slim majority in the House, and that majority is only a majority because of those moderates, because of those blue state Republicans. And if they end up not being able to defend this bill, whatever ultimately passes to their constituents, then they're going to be the first ones to lose come 2026.
BERMAN: You know, Mike Lawler, for instance, one thing that happens if they don't pass any bill is that the caps, on state and local tax deductions, they all go away. So if that's really what these Republicans want to fight on, Jackie, they could win in a way by blocking this for good.
KUCINICH: But if they block this for good, they could put themselves at odds with the president, and what would that look like? Do they really want to draw his ire? That's just another calculation in a series of calculations that all of these Republicans are going through.
Some of them on the hard line side have already tempted the president. Someone like Chip Roy really drew his fire last year at the end of the year when he decided, you know, to stand up to him. You haven't seen that same kind of fortitude among many members of the House Republican Conference.
BERMAN: All right, we will be watching. This next chapter begins very soon. Jackie Kucinich, Laura Barron-Lopez, thank you both very much -- Kate.
BOLDUAN: All right, and we are also less than an hour away from court to start back up, and the former assistant to Sean Combs to retake the stand. Also today we could hear from Cassie Ventura's mother.
And also here's a quote for you.
What are we doing? A new book out today detailing the growing concern from Democrats, donors, and even some of President Biden's closest advisors about his -- President Biden's closest advisors about his decline in the final year of his presidency. The authors of the book, Jake Tapper, Alex Thompson, will be joining us this hour to discuss "Original Sin."
And new this morning, Home Depot says it intends to generally maintain, that's the quote, prices for its customers despite the ongoing trade war. What could that mean and how they plan to try and keep prices steady?
[08:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BOLDUAN: Very soon, the trial of Sean Combs is set to resume in Manhattan with the former assistant of Sean Combs due back on the stand. David James testified that Combs' former girlfriend Cassie Ventura had told him that Combs controlled her career, controlled her apartment, her money, her entire livelihood, and testified that she told him she, quote, could not get out.
Later today, Cassie's mother is expected to take the stand, which could be a very powerful moment in this trial.
CNN's Kara Scannell is live outside the courthouse just before she heads inside the courthouse to be inside the courtroom once again. Kara, what's expected today?
KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, David James is back on the witness stand this morning. I just saw him walk into the building a few moments ago. And one of the last things he said when he was testifying is that he had overheard a conversation with Sean Combs speaking to a friend of his where Combs had spoken of Cassie.
He said, I got her right where I want her. She's young, very moldable. So expect the prosecution to try to build on that testimony today.
I mean, he, as well as two other witnesses yesterday, talked about the issue of control. Dawn Richard, a member of Danity Kane, the all-girl singing group, as well as Kerry Morgan, who is Ventura's best friend of 17 years, they both testified that they had spoken with Ventura about leaving Combs, and that Ventura had told them that he controlled everything, her career, her car, her apartment, everything. So that goes to one of the key charges in this case of sex trafficking.
We also heard a lot more about the physical violence that has been at the heart of this case, as well, also tying into the sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. And Morgan, Ventura's best friend for 17 years, testified that she saw a few instances of Combs assaulting Ventura. One of those instances she described in vivid details.
They were on vacation in Jamaica, sitting at a bar, and Ventura went to the bathroom. Combs thought she was taking too long and went to look for her. The next thing that Morgan said she heard were guttural screams in the hallway. She went to the hallway, saw Combs dragging Ventura down the hallway by her hair. She says when they were outside, Combs threw Ventura to the ground. She fell and hit her head against the brick floor.
And Morgan said she thought Ventura had been knocked out, but she had gotten up, and then the two of them were hiding from Combs and his friends in a ditch, trying not to be found. So that was some vivid testimony the jury heard yesterday.
Now, after the personal assistant is on the stand, he will, of course, be cross-examined by Combs' attorneys, and then the prosecution is expected to call another expert -- escort, excuse me, Ventura's mother, and potentially even get to one of Combs' personal chefs, who says that she was assaulted by Combs as well -- Kate.
BOLDUAN: A lot more to come. Kara, thank you very much.
Coming up still for us, here's another quote for you.
This was like watching grandpa who shouldn't be driving. That is what one Democrat actually said about then-President Biden when he was running for reelection.
[08:20:00]
This is according to a new book out this morning. The authors, join us.
And any minute, President Trump will be leaving the White House and heading to Capitol Hill to try and unite Republicans and save his agenda. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: All right, as we speak, President Trump is getting ready to head up to Capitol Hill to try to salvage his multi-trillion dollar tax and spending cut program. We've spoken to at least one Republican who says he's a no on this today. Why?
He says the spending cuts do not go far enough. They don't do enough to reduce the budget deficits.
[08:25:00]
Here's a question, though. It's an age old question when it comes to politics. Do voters actually even care about deficits? One man knows the answer to that question. It is CNN's chief data analyst, Harry Enten explained.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, to quote Stephen Hay Smith, they don't care. They don't care about those deficits. What are we talking about here?
All right, let's take a look. Cut taxes even if the deficit increases. Look at this.
60 percent overall say cut those taxes, baby. What about Republicans? You know, they're the ones who are supposedly so concerned over the deficit.
But even there, 74 percent say cut taxes even if the deficit increases. Both overall and Republicans, they don't care. They don't care.
In fact, the only ones who do seem to care are, in fact, Democrats. 55 percent of Democrats are opposed to cutting taxes if the deficit increases. But when it comes to Republicans, we're talking three quarters.
The overall public, three fifths, they don't care. They say cut those taxes even if the deficit increases.
BERMAN: You know, it's interesting because I've been around this politics game for a long, long time. And there are people in this business who will tell you when push comes to show, voters never really care about deficits. But the polls and the data here show something a little different.
ENTEN: Yes, this was something I think that came to a little bit of a surprise to my dear friend standing on the other side of your screen, Mr. Berman. Take a look here. OK, cut taxes even if the deficit increases.
Now, you know, it's that 60 percent we spoke about. But back in 1996, the real last time where there really was a movement to bring that deficit down, bring that debt down, it was just 23 percent who said cut taxes even if the deficit increases. So we've nearly seen a tripling, far more than doubling of the percentage of Americans who say that we should cut those taxes even if the deficit increases.
And that's where we're standing right now basically amongst the American public. And why I think that this movement to basically try and, you know, close down Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill by making the argument that the deficit would increase, why we'll basically probably go nowhere at the end of the day, because the bottom line is voters overall and Republican voters especially say we want to cut those taxes even if the deficit increases, which is far, far different from where we were back in 1996 when, of course, Bill Clinton was president and we had a Republican House and a Republican Senate really trying to bring that deficit down.
BERMAN: Well, you bring up Clinton. You know, I was alive during the Clinton presidency. You barely so. And they actually had a budget surplus for like a minute there. But that didn't mean the national debt went down during his presidency. Do presidents ever reduce the national debt?
ENTEN: Yes, I remember the Clinton presidency, but just the end of it, I don't remember the beginning of it. I don't remember him beating George H.W. Bush. Just trying to illustrate the age dynamic going on your screen right now.
OK, who was the last president to lower the debt? You have to go all the way back to Calvin Coolidge, 1923 to 1929. He is buried in Vermont in case you're interested in visiting the last president to, in fact, lower the debt during the course of their presidency.
The last 16 presidents have failed. The closest ones were Bill Clinton back in 1993 to 2001, where he actually did, in fact, have a budget surplus. But over the course of his presidency, the debt went up.
Or Harry S. Truman back from 1945 to 1953, who actually was able to lower the difference when, in fact, you take into account GDP. But overall, presidents, they may make promises to lower the debt, but they don't do it. They don't do it.
BERMAN: Except for Silent Cow, buried in Vermont. But where was he an elected official?
ENTEN: Massachusetts.
BERMAN: Thank you very much.
ENTEN: I know my stuff, John.
BERMAN: Kate Bolduan, to you.
BOLDUAN: So much interesting information in that. And then a bunch of extras.
ENTEN: It's TV, baby. It's TV. You give a little juice with a little bit of your special meal.
BOLDUAN: My love, you've had enough time. Zip time.
ENTEN: Goodbye.
BOLDUAN: Bye-bye. Thank you, guys.
So as we wait to see President Trump making his way to Capitol Hill to meet with House Republicans and try to unite House Republicans once again, joining us now from Capitol Hill is Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamurthy from Illinois, who recently announced his bid for Senate.
Congressman, thank you for coming in. I will not quiz you on where other presidents are buried.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMURTHY (D-IL): Thank you so much, Kate.
BOLDUAN: Do not worry. On the budget bill, what do you think is going to happen today?
KRISHNAMURTHY: Well, I think that the president's going to visit. He's going to try to intimidate people into voting for this, you know, this bloated brochure for billionaires. I think the small, ugly truth about this bill is that it piles trillions of dollars of debt on the middle class and future generations.
It basically slashes the social safety net to the tune of almost a trillion dollars, including for Medicaid and food stamps, now known as SNAP. I'm a child of food stamps and public housing, so that's personal to me. And for what purpose?
It's to basically fund tax cuts for the wealthiest among us. So this is not only fiscally imprudent, it's morally wrong. BOLDUAN: There is also still in the bill as of now, though, tax, you know, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, which hits not the wealthiest among us, which is something that I know there are a lot of. I even talked to Democratic members of Congress from many states who say that's something that should be protected.
[08:30:00]