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Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI) is Interviewed about the Policy Bill; Musk Shifts Stance on Political Donations; Prostate Cancer Questions; Karen Read's Trial Update; Kermit the Frog to Address Graduates. Aired 8:30- 9a ET
Aired May 21, 2025 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:30:00]
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Having fun with Kermit the Frog ahead of his big commencement address to the University of Maryland graduates.
Hey, Sara.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey. Yes, the Kermencement (ph) will commence on Friday, but we got a chance to learn life lessons with Kermit the Frog. Yes, the Kermit the Frog. And you'll hear some of them, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we are waiting for word from Capitol Hill on whether the House Rules Committee will greenlight the president's huge tax and spending cut legislation. The committee has been meeting since 1:00 a.m. House Speaker Mike Johnson wants the bill on the floor by tonight he says.
Now, in a new release overnight, the Congressional Budget Office assesses that the bill would boost the resources of the richest 10 percent of Americans while lowering the resources of the lowest 10 percent.
With us now is Congressman Gabe Amo, a Democrat from Rhode Island.
Congressman, thank you so much for being with us this morning.
[08:35:01]
So, what's your reaction to this latest CBO report on the impact on those at the higher and lower end of the income scale?
REP. GABE AMO (D-RI): Well, thanks for having me.
Well, my reaction is, this verifies what Democrats have been saying since the start, that this is a real question of values. Do we stand with the rich at the top or do we help the people who need assistance the most in this country?
Republicans have made their intentions clear. That is why they are doing this in the middle of the night, rushing to take away health care for 14 million Americans, to make it harder for kids to get to college who are poor, and to take away food assistance. Even hurting kids in school who are trying to get school lunches. Eighteen million of them could lose them because of this horrific legislation. There's nothing beautiful about it.
BERMAN: Now, my -- my colleague and mentor, Kate Bolduan, just had Congressman Andy Barr from Kentucky on, a Republican, and she pressed him on what the CBO said overnight.
Listen to this exchange.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ANDY BARR (R-KY): Well, look, first of all, the CBO score is wrong. The CBO has been wrong repeatedly.
It was wrong when they scored the -- the first Trump tax cuts. They were wrong by over $1 trillion. Why? Because the CBO doesn't do this scoring dynamically.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: So, you hear it. He says the CBI is just flat out wrong. And he says it doesn't take into account what he believes, which is that this bill, if it becomes law, will lead to -- to 4 percent, maybe even 5 percent economic growth.
AMO: Well, look, this isn't the first time I've heard Republicans claim a separate set of facts. There can only be one truth. One set of facts. And to claim otherwise is to just fudge the numbers. Because the fact of the matter is here, this is a question of choices. What you did not hear is a defense of their actions. Their actions that will take away health care, food assistance, and the ability for people to get higher education. So, let's make it very clear, whenever you're -- you're wrestling over the details and the non-partisan activity of the CBO, you're losing.
And, in fact, they know this is a losing argument. This bill is unpopular. Nobody in America wants this except for Speaker Johnson, President Trump, Elon Musk and those hustling around in the middle of the night to hurt the American people.
BERMAN: You -- you offered a bunch of amendments to the original budget resolution that would support Medicaid and specifically protect SNAP, you were talking about food assistance, from cuts there. They were all rejected. What are your concerns about what will happen to -- to food stamps, SNAP, if this goes through, food assistance?
AMO: Well, look, the challenge here is, we have a whole range of folks who are dependent on food assistance. It -- you know, when we talk about these things, it's often couched that this is for poor people. They're for working class Americans who are struggling, even more so now because of the dumb tariff regime put forward by President Trump, who need just a little bit of help. We have values in this country that say, if you work hard, you try your best, you pay into the system, that you get a hand up when you need it. And that's what this is about.
But instead, I have Republican colleagues who are hacking away at the lifelines that keep so many people going.
BERMAN: Yes. You're talking about different messaging from Democrats and Republicans here. There's a new report out this morning from Catalyst (ph), which is a research group, about what happened to Democrats, particularly in the presidential election in 2024. And according to Catalyst's data set, for the first time, both infrequent and new voters, groups that tend to be younger and more diverse than the electorate at large fell below 50 percent of support for the Democratic presidential candidate.
Again, so you're dealing with -- with young voters and new voters and infrequent voters, which used to be in the Democrat's wheelhouse. Not now. Why do you think that you're not reaching these voters?
AMO: Well, look, I think you have to crystallize the -- the -- the choices and the contrasts that -- that are apparent. I think this very moment right now, when you see the -- the mechanics of Republicans move fiercely and aggressively towards cutting these essential services, we're presenting those clear choices. And, ultimately, that is -- is -- is what we have to focus on, the values that we're putting forward, and do they connect and align with how Americans are feeling. And that is what we see right now in that Rules Committee. That is a battle of values. And my Republican colleagues have said who they stand for, tax cuts for billionaires, full stop.
BERMAN: Congressman Gabe Amo from the ocean state. We appreciate you being with us this morning. Thank you very much.
Kate.
BOLDUAN: So, Elon Musk is now saying that he will be spending -- spending a lot less of his fortune on politics moving forward. This came out yesterday in a new interview. So, why is Musk making this shift now? You'll remember Musk spent more than $290 million to help get President Trump and other Republicans elected.
[08:40:04]
Tesla, though, has struggled this year. Really ever since Musk took a leading role in the Trump White House and began to lead his DOGE efforts. And now Musk says he's going to spend more time, at least the next few years, still stay on as CEO of Tesla. Something that Harry Enten decided he wanted to look at.
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Hello.
BOLDUAN: What is behind this shift from Elon Musk?
What is behind it?
ENTEN: Yes.
BOLDUAN: How unpopular is -- how has he become? ENTEN: How unpopular is he? How low can you go? Oh, my. OK. Take a look here. Elon Musk net favorability rating. Look at this shift. Back in 2017, before he really started this politics thing, he was at plus 24 points. Look at where he is now. Whoa, he fell through the floor, minus 19 points among Democrats. The fall was even more dramatic. We're talking about going from plus 35 points on net favorability rating, that is quite a popular guy among Democrats, to, get this, now down to minus 91 points. You can't really go lower than that. I guess you could go down to minus 100 points. But he became political kryptonite. He was greatly disliked by the American public and greatly, greatly, greatly disliked by Democrats. And, obviously, we saw that in Wisconsin when, of course, he spent all that money. And then the liberal won that Supreme Court race.
BOLDUAN: Yes. How has that plummet of popularity impacted the brand, Tesla?
ENTEN: Yes. Yes, exactly right. So, this is Elon Musk individually. How about Tesla? OK. Let's take a look. The net favorability rating. Look, General Motors -- we're going to compare General Motors and Tesla. General Motors, quite well liked by the American people. Plus 23 points on net favorability rating. But look at Tesla, minus 20 points. So, this idea that Tesla could somehow separate itself off from Elon Musk, uh-uh. The American people saw it the exact same way.
And, of course, Tesla is a business. They're in the business of selling cars. Awfully difficult to sell cars when you have a minus 20 point net favorability rating driven by Elon Musk's net favorability rating right around the same mark. And it's not a big surprise that Tesla's sales had fallen in the past -- at least in the first quarter, compared to where they were a year ago. It turns out that Elon Musk's political kryptonite was also becoming kryptonite for selling cars.
BOLDUAN: So, well, the -- and the one person maybe that matters to Elon Musk, maybe, well, other than his investors, would be Donald Trump. How has -- has Trump's view of him shifted?
ENTEN: Yes. So, you know, we're talking about Tesla here. But, of course, he's leaving the political game. OK, Trump loved talking about Elon Musk at the beginning of his administration. Trump posts about Musk on Truth Social, look at this, from January 20th to April 4th, he posted about 40 times.
Look, from April 5th onward, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero. Donald Trump knows brands very well. He knows political brands and he knows Elon Musk's political brands time had run out and therefore Elon Musk taking a step back from politics.
BOLDUAN: Also might be a favor to Elon Musk.
ENTEN: Yes, I -- I would think so because --
BOLDUAN: Post less about me while I'm trying to save my company.
ENTEN: Yes, it seems pretty (INAUDIBLE).
BOLDUAN: Thank you so much, Harry.
ENTEN: Thanks.
BOLDUAN: John.
BERMAN: You know what Musk said in that video, by the way, is he said he would spend on politics if he felt there was a need, but he just didn't see it right now, which indicates maybe there's trouble in paradise. Who knows?
ENTEN: (INAUDIBLE).
BERMAN: All right, a new development as we learn more about former President Biden's cancer diagnosis. A spokesperson says his last known PSA test was more than ten years ago. That test checks the blood for a specific protein that may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. It is not recommended for all ages. Quite the contrary. The 82-year-old Biden was diagnosed Friday with an aggressive form of cancer that's now spread to his bones.
Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta is back today to answer some of your questions about prostate cancer.
Sherry in New York wrote, "why is the PSA test not recommended for men older than 70?"
Sanjay.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think there's -- there's two primary reasons here. First of all, the majority of prostate cancers are slow growing. So, once you get beyond a certain age, it's sort of a question is -- is this prostate cancer going to grow enough in my lifetime to be a problem? Now, this is subjective. Obviously, people are living longer. People -- there are people who are 70 who may have 30 years to live, and others who may have ten years to live. So, it's just sort of recommended screening advice.
The other thing I want to tell you, John, when it comes to the PSA test, it's not a perfect test by any means. In fact, to give you a little bit of context for that, only about 25 percent of men who have a biopsy due to elevated PSA actually end up having prostate cancer. So, the vast majority of people who get, you know, a procedure because their PSA is going up don't end up actually having a problem. So, that's part of, I think, what feeds into this as well.
BERMAN: Yes. I mean that's what my doctor told me, right? He said you have to consider the fact that you may end up with a procedure that you're going to regret having had.
GUPTA: Exactly.
BERMAN: That's just what you need to think about going in.
Noel wrote, "my father had prostate cancer. Does this increase my risk of getting the disease?" GUPTA: Yes. The short answer is, yes, there is a genetic component to
this. And so, overall, it's about two times increased risk if you have a first degree relative who has prostate cancer. I will say that if it's your brother, it increases the risk even a little bit more than -- than father.
[08:45:04]
But there's definitely a genetic component to this.
BERMAN: You know, Robert in Seattle has a similar question then. He says, "who should screen for prostate cancer and when?"
GUPTA: Yes. So, you know, this is one of those things where -- where we tried to look at all the -- the sort of guidance that's out there because, again, different, big medical organizations have different guidance. The -- the preventative task force, for example, says do not screen after the age of 70.
Here's how we sort of looked at it when we put it all together. Starting around age 50, that's when you should think about getting screening. And also, if you have at least a ten-year additional life expectancy. So -- so, sort of put that together. If you're, you know, most people at 50 are obviously going to have at least ten years of life expectancy, but sort of think about that as life goes on.
Age 50 is when it's generally recommended. But going back to the previous question, if you have an increased risk because of family, you may start getting a recommendation to get screened at 45, for example. People who -- black people are at a higher risk. So, you know, if you put increased risk factors together, it may shift the screening a little bit. But as a general rule, age 50, with at least ten years of life expectancy still.
BERMAN: Very helpful there. So, Jeff writes in and says, "are there any foods that can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer?"
GUPTA: Yes, there are. I will preface by saying, food studies in terms of their impact on reducing cancer are really, really hard to do because people eat so many different foods. So, which food was it? People don't always remember what they ate. Challenging studies to do.
But I think where the science is sort of landed with prostate cancer specifically is around folate. Folate seems to be a be beneficial when it comes to reducing your risk of prostate cancer. And those are some of the foods that are on the screen that are going to be high in folate.
One thing I want to point out, and I think this is really important, is that folic acid is often seen as a supplement substitute for folate. It doesn't work in this case. Studies have been done saying, hey, well folic acid do the same thing folate does in terms of reducing risk. No. In fact, there's some studies that have shown that it actually increases the risk. It could be because you're not actually eating the folate thinking you're getting everything you need with folic acid. Point is, get your stuff from real food. BERMAN: Broccoli. Hit that broccoli.
GUPTA: Hit the broccoli.
BERMAN: All right, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, great to see you. Thank you very much for that.
All right, we just got word that Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly has passed away at the age of 75. His family issued a statement that says, in part, quote, "it is with immense sadness that we share that our devoted and loving father, husband, brother, friend and public servant, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, passed away peacefully at his home this morning surrounded by family." He had been battling cancer. He was a frequent guest on CNN and this show. He was known by Democrats, Republicans and reporters who dealt with him as simply a very nice man. Our hearts go out to the family. May his memory be a blessing.
This morning, new forensic testimony expected in the murder trial of Karen Read, the woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend. The testimony from the expert witness who was accused of lying about his academic credentials.
And a frog with a lot to say in a journalist determined to hold him accountable. Sara Sidner confronts Kermit. No questions off limits.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:53:00]
BOLDUAN: Minutes from now, court is set to resume in the murder trial of Karen Read. The trial now really focusing in once again on Karen Read's car. Glass found on the bumper and near the scene. Also, Karen Read's attorneys are now claiming one of the prosecution's witnesses has his facts wrong in terms of the timeline on her boyfriend, John O'Keefe's death.
CNN's Jean Casarez following the very latest for us. She's here with us now.
What's happening here?
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the defense is saying, look, your forensics is wrong on the Lexus. Your forensics is wrong on the iPhone. And those really need to be synchronized. And you're just not doing it correctly.
But the -- but the prosecution is saying, no, our forensics is correct. And at the end of court yesterday, they played another interview clip from Karen Read that has a little time involved in it. They think it helps their case.
Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KAREN READ: I'll tell you, John and I argued the morning of the 28th. Friday morning. He died -- we think he died right. around 12:25, 12:30.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CASAREZ: So, very close in time to that. The prosecution expert, based on forensics from the Lexus, the black box, says when that hit happened, when Read hit John O'Keefe with her car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT ALESSI, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: When you first saw this slide, did you see information about the timing of the text stream event, which was the backing maneuver?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I did.
That's got the text stream event ending.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CASAREZ: And so the net result was that the hit happened a minute and 43 seconds before Karen Read says he was dead. Prosecution believes that helps them.
But here's the point. The point is that they've got to add some time. They've got to synchronize the car and the phone. It is very complicated. And the defense will have their own experts with the basic same time codes, but that there was never an accident. He walked into the home, and that's when he was killed by fellow officers.
[08:55:04]
And that's what the forensics shows.
BOLDUAN: This is getting -- it gets more and more interesting and also complex and confusing. And this is a retrial.
CASAREZ: It is.
BOLDUAN: So, it really is, Jean. Thank you so much.
John.
BERMAN: All right, this morning, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's team is slamming the Justice Department after it opened a new investigation into Cuomo's testimony to Congress about the Covid pandemic. Cuomo is the frontrunner to win the Democratic primary in the race to be the New York City mayor. The investigation comes after Justice officials ended a criminal case against Eric Adams, the current mayor, who could be Cuomo's chief rival in the race. Adams has vowed to help the president's immigration crackdown. A spokesman for Cuomo said of the investigation, "this is lawfare and election interference, plain and simple. From the beginning, this was all transparently political." A 24-year-old man from Venezuela has been arrested on forgery charges,
accused of pretending to be a teenager to enroll in an Ohio high school. According to court documents, Anthony Labrador claimed he was trafficked from Venezuela. Police say he used a fake birth certificate to attend the school. During a virtual hearing, the judge told him he could be deported if convicted of the charges.
And new video of an emergency rescue in southern California after a hiker fell nearly 30 feet down a cliff's edge. He sustained a leg injury, leaving him unable to walk. A Riverside sheriff made the save after saying the hiker was unable to, quote, self-rescue. They also added that a good Samaritan came to the fallen climber's aid prior to their arrival.
Kate.
BOLDUAN: That is quite an edge that they are standing on there. Wow.
All right, so let's turn to this. The University of Maryland is getting a commencement speaker to remember this year. Kermit the Frog will be giving tomorrow's commencement address. It is actually not even his first time giving a commencement address, but it is his first commencement address in nearly 30 years. It's all to honor the history that there is between the university and Muppets creator Jim Henson.
And Sara Sidner had the chance to sit down with everyone's favorite frog to learn a little bit more about this.
How did that conversation go, Sara?
SIDNER: Honestly, I almost cried. Like, it was so wonderful that I really think of Kermit the Fog as a real frog with really good advice. And here is some of the advice he's going to be sharing with thousands of students and faculty at the University of Maryland this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: You're going to be speaking to a huge crowd all by yourself. What are you going to tell us?
KERMIT THE FROG: Well, I'm -- you know, there are certainly a lot of lessons that can be learned, especially if you're going to school. You know, if you're graduating from college. And I -- I didn't actually have the opportunity to go. I didn't actually have the opportunity -- I'm going to start that again.
SIDNER: It happens.
KERMIT: Yes, I know. I get a little tongue tied. I mean, you should see how long my tongue is because I'm a frog.
SIDNER: What does it really mean to be green, metaphorically?
KERMIT: Well, you know what, first of all, I love that being green song. It's a wonderful song written by Joe Raposo. It means so many things and has done so for many people over the years. But since you're asking me, I think the message of the song is that we're all unique and special. You know, and there are differences. That's what can make us all beautiful. And, yes, it's not always being green or it's not always easy. Your differences are what make you, well, that's what -- that's what makes you you.
SIDNER: That's a really good point.
Is there a favorite life lesson that you want -- you want people to know?
KERMIT: Well, yes. You know, to me, life lessons don't get much better than this lyric from the Muppet movie. It's -- it goes, life's like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing. Keep pretending. And it's a reminder that -- that -- that your life is in your hands and nobody can make you a success except you. But believing in others is easy, but it's -- believing in yourself and your dreams, that that -- that -- that's the real trick, Sara.
SIDNER: It's really hard.
KERMIT: Yes, I know.
SIDNER: But it's a beautiful sentiment.
KERMIT: I know. Yes.
SIDNER: Awe. Can I -- you don't have to answer this question, I'm so sorry, but the last thing I did want to ask you, because it's been in my head for a long time.
KERMIT: Right.
SIDNER: Are you a Muppet or a puppet?
KERMIT: I'm a Muppet.
SIDNER: OK. And what's the difference?
KERMIT: Well, I mean, I really have no idea. I just know I've been a Muppet for 70 years, and I'm going to keep on being a Muppet for 70 more, hopefully.
SIDNER: And we love you, Kermit. We really do.
KERMIT: Gee, thanks, Sara.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: Gee, I'm faclempt (ph). It was so much fun talking to Kermit the Frog, who really does have some incredible advice. I almost wanted to ask him if he'd been talking to Yoda a little bit.
[09:00:01]
But it was a wonderful, wonderful time spent with him.