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Supreme Court Hears Fight over Trump's Power to Fire; Zelenskyy and European Leaders Meet; Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) is Interviewed about Ukraine Peace Talks and Obamacare Subsidies; Search for Last Inmate in Louisiana; Paramount Launches Hostile Bid for Warner Brothers Discovery. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired December 08, 2025 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[09:00:00]

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: But at that point he was a pro wrestler, a big star. But Brendan said he didn't even really know who he was. And "The Rock" says, because this guy took a chance on me, now I have the career that I have. So, really incredible to hear their origin story. And I have to tell you, one of the questions I am asked all the time in my job as an entertainment journalist is, who is the nicest person? Who's the worst person in Hollywood? And I have to tell you, these two guys here, and I am not just saying it, two of the nicest people that you will meet in this industry. The hardest working, the kindest. So, it was really just a pleasure to chat with them. And this is one of my favorite episodes. So, I hope that everybody goes to check it out.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: There's a lot of laughter there on "The Rock's" part.

I do have to say that I think Kate and John would prefer if I was just on a popsicle stick most mornings, instead of having to deal with my shenanigans. So, there's that.

Elizabeth Wagmeister, this is great.

WAGMEISTER: That is so untrue, Sara. So untrue.

SIDNER: It's so true. It's true.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Untrue. That is total and utter fake news.

SIDNER: A new hour of CNN NEWS CENTRAL starts right now.

BOLDUAN: Let's get to the breaking news this morning. Ukraine's president looking for support and Europe's leader is standing with him in solidarity. A very different message, though, coming from the White House today. President Trump now says he's disappointed in Zelenskyy.

A jailbreak and a manhunt. And, yes, this is again in Louisiana. How they managed to break through concrete blocks and scale the wall using bedsheets.

And lava and ash just everywhere. Wild new images coming from Hawaii as the Kilauea volcano erupts. Just take a look at that. Even knocking out a remote camera.

I'm Kate Bolduan, with John Berman and Sara Sidner. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, any minute now, the future makeup of government agencies at stake at the Supreme Court. The big question, can the president fire government officials despite laws meant to protect some of them?

So, this case involves a Democratic member of the Federal Trade Commission, Rebecca Slaughter. She was fired by President Trump after he said her views did not align with his agenda. The decision from the court, when it comes, is expected to have major implications across several crucial government agencies. Really the entire makeup of crucial government agencies.

Outside the Supreme Court right now, CNN chief Supreme Court analyst Joan Biskupic, getting ready to go in to hear the arguments.

Joan, this is a big one.

JOAN BISKUPIC, CNN CHIEF SUPREME COURT ANALYST: It is a big one, John. And I'm just steps away from crossing that threshold. But, you know, this case is so much bigger than Rebecca Slaughter, who President Trump fired from the Federal Trade Commission. This involves several agencies that are considered independent agencies, and part of their charter, when Congress established them, was to rope them off from presidential power and make sure that the president could not remove them from office unless they had engaged in some sort of malfeasance or misconduct. And as you said, for Rebecca Slaughter, she received an email from President Trump saying, your administration is not consistent with our priorities and let her go.

The Supreme Court allowed him to do that as a temporary measure. But now we're up here on the merits of whether President Trump can just summarily get rid of her and many others leading independent agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board, even possibly the Federal Reserve. These are regulatory agencies that protect Americans in environmental matters, labor, financial protection, consumer products. So, that's why so much is at stake.

Now, the precedent that would have safeguarded Rebecca Slaughter from being fired in that matter, it dates all the way back to 1935. That's when FDR actually tried to fire someone with the Federal Trade Commission, and the Supreme Court said no. So, that precedent is at stake here. And I have to tell you, John, and I believe you know this, that John Roberts, chief justice, has been steadily eroding that precedent. And now it's really up here for real make or break moment. And this six to three conservative liberal court has been eager to do that. And if it does, if the Supreme Court does reverse that 1935 precedent that has protected the independence of so many agencies, it would give Donald Trump even more power than he has already gotten from this Supreme Court.

But I'm going to go in there now, John, and you'll hear more about it tomorrow morning.

BERMAN: Yes, we'll let you go get to your seat right there. Pick up some popcorn and some jujubes on the way.

Joan Biskupic, great to see you. Thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Candy not allowed in the Supreme Court.

BERMAN: No, I didn't think so.

BOLDUAN: No.

BERMAN: But popcorn, yes.

BOLDUAN: Obviously.

BERMAN: All right.

BOLDUAN: OK. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy this morning sitting down with the leaders of the U.K., France and Germany.

[09:05:05]

They're holding high stakes talks on trying to bring an end to the nearly four-year long war with Russia. But what this meeting is really about is a show of unity, one that seems to be very much needed at the moment because of the new round of mixed messages coming from Washington.

As the meeting got underway, the German chancellor himself said that he was, quote/unquote, "skeptical" of elements of the peace plan coming out -- coming from the United States. Yes, saying that publicly. And Zelenskyy saying that territory and security guarantees have yet to be resolved in the talks with the United States. Those remain the sticking points.

It all comes as President Trump is venting new frustration with Ukraine, saying that he was disappointed with President Zelenskyy and accusing him of not even reading the latest version of the U.S.-backed plan.

This comes, though, after a marathon session of meetings between the United States and Ukraine, which ended with, of course, out a deal -- without a deal over the weekend.

CNN's Alayna Treene live at the White House for us this morning with the very latest.

What's going to happen now today?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, look, I think the president, this administration are definitely keeping a close eye on these meetings that Zelenskyy is having in London, as you mentioned, with the leaders of France, Germany and Britain. It really is a show of solidarity, as we're hearing from the U.S., and specifically from the president himself, kind of casting some skepticism over where things stand in this negotiation process on talks between Russia and Ukraine to try and end this war.

I want you to listen to what President Trump told reporters yesterday, kind of raising criticism and pressure on Zelenskyy around this plan.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal. That was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn't. Russia's fine with it. Russia's, you know, Russia, I guess, would rather have the whole country when you think of it. But Russia is, I believe, fine with it. But I'm not sure that Zelenskyy is fine with it. His people love it. But he hasn't read it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TREENE: Now, Kate, for those who have maybe not been following these talks as closely as I have, I mean, this is like whiplash. You know, at one moment you hear President Trump praising Zelenskyy, seeming to favor the Ukrainian position as he approaches talks. In another breath, though, he'll discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin more warmly. And this is kind of where we are now. It's a very hot and cold posture that he has been taking. Part of that from my conversations with White House officials is the president trying to ramp up pressure on the sides that he believes kind of needs goading into this deal.

But all of this comes, I think the important context of this is, of course, where the talks stand now. There were talks in Miami on Thursday between the president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, as well as his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, meeting with Ukrainian officials. They met for hours, Kate. And really at that moment is when we saw talks really begin to stall. And that's over a number of things, including Ukraine, this idea of Ukraine surrendering key territories in the Donbas region to Russia, this idea of security guarantees, this idea of Ukraine potentially committing to not joining NATO in the future. All of those are the remaining sticking points that we are continuing to watch. That's part of why we're hearing the president kind of weigh in with some criticism now. We'll see where it all leads.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, or doesn't, because it seems that it's definitely -- seems to not --

TREENE: Yes, true.

BOLDUAN: Not be moving in the moment, but critical day nonetheless. It's great to see you, Alayna. Thank you.

Sara.

SIDNER: All right, to discuss many different things, including Ukraine, Democratic congressman from Texas, Lloyd Doggett, is joining me now. He's a member of the House Budget and Ways and Means Committee.

Thank you for being here this morning to discuss all these things.

I know you just heard some of our reporting from Alayna Treene. The president trying to get a peace deal, of course, with Ukraine. But he's lashing out at Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, saying he hasn't read the deal yet.

Meantime, his son, Donald Trump Jr., said this about Ukraine. And I want you to take a listen

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Is your hunch that President Trump is going to walk away?

DONALD TRUMP JR., PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SON: I think he may. What's good about my father and what's unique about my father is, you don't know what he's going to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIDNER: Let me ask you about that. Is it good that you don't know what he's going to do? And you heard Don Jr. say that he might walk away. What are your thoughts?

REP. LLOYD DOGGETT (D-TX): Well, it's certainly true that you never know what Donald Trump will do next. That's creating great uncertainty for so many American businesses and families struggling with the affordability crisis. But as to Ukraine, President Trump's position has really been pretty constant. Whatever Vladimir Putin wants, he wants to provide to him.

And there are new reports out that the principal motivation is that Trump and some of his family and friends see great profit potential.

[09:10:06]

They're interested in how much of a buck they can make, not how many lives can be saved in Ukraine. I hope the Europeans will be able to step in and provide more of the support that Donald Trump is denying Ukraine. The performance that Trump had earlier in the year with Zelenskyy in the White House is one of the most disgraceful events that I've seen in American history. We need to stand by those who are fighting for freedom, those that are losing civilian lives every day from Putin's war crimes, and Trump's approach is absolutely outrageous.

SIDNER: I do want to ask you, just to follow up on this, because about a couple of days after Donald Trump was re-elected as president, his son put this meme out and it was directed at Zelenskyy and it said, "38 days from losing your allowance." If we can show that. I don't know if people remember that. Do you actually think that Trump will walk away from helping Ukraine? And if so, do you think there's any chance that Congress will try to intervene?

DOGGETT: Well, sadly, this Congress is totally a pawn of Donald Trump. They can't seem to stand up to Donald Trump on anything, with the possible exception of the handful that stood up on the Epstein files. And a couple that are questioning this outrageous conduct that he's been involved in, in murdering survivors in the -- in the Caribbean with his purported drug war, at the same time he pardons someone who was convicted of getting drugs in the United States.

I think that Donald Trump is determined to help Putin. If he walks away, it won't be much different than what he's done to date, which is to walk away from doing anything to help Ukraine, not sending any American dollars there, simply being willing to provide weapons for Europeans to buy, to provide to the Ukrainians.

There is valuable intelligence that we provide Ukraine. And his walking away, if it means cutting off intelligence and giving them less ability to protect themselves from these attacks by Putin on civilians, that would be harmful.

SIDNER: I do want to bring it back to what is happening domestically. You're a ranking member of the House Subcommittee on the House Ways Committee. You have about a week or so in the legislative calendar before the opportunity to vote on keeping Affordable Care Act subsidies expires, which will lead to skyrocketing increases to insurance premiums for millions of Americans who are on Obamacare. The Senate is preparing to vote on the Democrats' three year extension. Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to introduce a new Republican-backed health care plan. And another Republican says he will introduce a bipartisan blueprint.

It all sounds very messy. I mean what are the chances that Americans see relief before it is too late and they cannot afford their insurance?

DOGGETT: They are not very good. And I think of individuals that are relying on the Affordable Care Act for their cancer care, who now don't know if they'll be able to continue their cancer treatment, of someone who must have insulin for their diabetes, that don't know how they will get it because of these soaring premiums. And this Republican Congress, and I don't often quote "The Wall Street Journal" editorial page, is truly an agenda-less Congress that only performs stunts. That's what's happening again in the House this week.

Mike Johnson has made it clear that even when Donald Trump contemplated doing something to maintain support for the Affordable Care Act so people could get their treatment and get their access to physicians, he discouraged him from doing that. We need action from this Congress, and all we're getting are stunts, as "The Journal" said. I saw a report that Republicans obtained from the Government

Accountability Office last week so that they could yell fraud, fraud, fraud to justify denying these credits. But if you look at the details of the report, it shows the fraud is coming from a group of insurance brokers and agents that the Biden administration responded by suspending 850 of those people. And no surprise, the Trump administration reinstated all of them. There's no guarantee that the Trump administration is doing its part to provide to prevent fraud. Indeed, Trump can't pardon enough health care executives who've stolen millions from the government and won't even require them to provide restitution, as they've been ordered to do.

So, a permissive attitude from the Trump administration may be encouraging some fraud from insurance brokers, but it ought not to be an excuse for denying Americans health care that they need so much. And we are really in a health care crisis for millions of people across the country.

[09:15:03]

SIDNER: That is certainly true. There is a health care crisis. We've heard from many, many people using ACA who say they're not going to be able to afford it if the premiums go up as much as they have seen them go up.

Congressman, thank you so much. Congressman Lloyd Doggett, thank you. Appreciate you coming on.

DOGGETT: Thank you.

SIDNER: Kate.

BOLDUAN: Murder trial against Brian Walshe resumes this morning. A medical examiner is set to be back on the stand in a case, remember, where no body has actually ever been recovered.

And a manhunt in Louisiana is now underway after a jailbreak, searching for a man accused of attempted murder who broke through concrete blocks of a jail cell and is now on the run.

Plus, becoming Instagram official. The former Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and Katy Perry making a statement.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:20:27]

SIDNER: This morning, there's been another jailbreak in Louisiana. This time, three inmates knocked out a concrete block and used bedsheets as a rope to make their escape. Only one of those inmates remains on the run at this hour.

CNN's Brynn Gingras joining us now.

We say another one because there was one earlier this year that went on for quite some time. BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.

SIDNER: With a lot of people who escaped.

GINGRAS: Right, in Louisiana, of course, New Orleans. This is not -- it is about an hour away from there. But, I mean, yes, what is happening here? You can see that picture. I mean a whole chunk of a concrete block was removed. These inmates, as you said, were able to chisel out some of the mortar, remove that block, and then used a sheet, according to the sheriff there, to basically perform their escape. Three men in total were able to escape this jail.

Now, it was actually tips that led authorities to already one of these inmates who took their own life before being captured. A second inmate was cornered. They are now back in custody. But there is still a third inmate accused of second-degree murder who is on the loose. And authorities are asking for the public's help in trying to locate him. Twenty-four-year-old Keith Eli. Authorities, of course, as you can imagine, Sara, are saying, you know, do not approach him. He is -- could be armed and dangerous. And certainly, again, just bring the tips on, keep them coming, because, again, that's what authorities used to help catch another one of these individuals.

But when you talk about all the escapes that have been happening in these Louisiana jails, this particular county, or parish, as we -- as they're called, of course, in Louisiana, Saint Landry Parish, there's a disagreement between the parish and also the sheriff's department about what is going on here. One says it's understaffed. Another says that there's deteriorating conditions, and that's why this keeps on happening.

So, big debate there. We'll see who settles it. But, in the meantime, it's getting a little out of hand.

SIDNER: Yes, it really is. And there's two issues here. One, you have someone who, you know, authorities saying is really dangerous, who's made it out into the streets.

GINGRAS: Right.

SIDNER: And two, you've got to wonder about the conditions in the jail.

GINGRAS: Right.

SIDNER: If they're that terrible. We will have to wait and see. There certainly will be more to this.

GINGRAS: Yes.

SIDNER: And you certainly will be on it.

GINGRAS: Yes.

SIDNER: Thank you, Brynn.

GINGRAS: All right.

SIDNER: Kate.

BOLDUAN: All right, today, one of the NBA stars at the center of that wild illegal sports gambling case will be arraigned in court. We've got the latest details that we are learning this morning on that. That is coming up.

And also, we are just minutes away from the opening bell on Wall Street. A look this morning at futures at the moment in the green. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve this week as investors await and everyone awaits the central bank's critical year end meeting, coming in just a few days. The question looming over the Fed and it all, will they or wont they cut interest rates for a third consecutive time to cap off 2025.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:27:28]

BOLDUAN: And there is some breaking news coming in. Paramount has just announced it is launching a hostile takeover bid for CNN's parent company, Warner Brothers Discovery. This is just after WBD announced a deal with Netflix.

CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter gathering more details on this.

Brian, what are you learning?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: How much is Warner Brothers Discovery really worth? That is the question right now. And we're going to start to see the answer in a few minutes when the stock market opens. WBD shares already rising on this news of Paramount offering a hostile takeover bid for all of WBD.

Let's take a step back and explain what that means. We're here on CNN, which is owned by WBD, which also owns HBO and Warner Brothers and all those entertainment assets. Right now, WBD is splitting itself into two publicly traded halves, with CNN going off on one side and HBO going off on the other. We reported on Friday that Netflix has successfully bid to buy the entertainment side, HBO, Warner Brothers, all of those assets in a $72 plus billion deal.

What was notable on Friday was that Paramount was the loser in that bidding war. That Paramount came away frustrated and believing that Netflix had been favored in the process. Now we are seeing Paramount's response. CEO David Ellison, moments ago, saying he's going straight to shareholders and offering more cash than Netflix is offering. And importantly, he's offering this price for all of WBD, including CNN.

Now, here's what Ellison said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ELLISON, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE: But again, I think the most important thing to go back here is, look, we're sitting on Wall Street where cash is still king. We are offering shareholders $17.6 billion more cash than the deal that they currently have signed up with Netflix. And we believe when they see what is currently in our offer, that that's what they'll vote for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STELTER: Moments ago I spoke with a spokesperson for Netflix. The company is not commenting on Paramount's action. That's to be expected. Netflix and Warner, they're just going to move down the road, continuing to pursue the deal that they have agreed to. You know, they struck a contractual relationship last Friday. They're going to move ahead.

But now that Paramount has reentered the picture, offering $30 per share cash, this is going to create a very dramatic, very public business tug of war over the future of Warner Brothers Discovery. And like I mentioned, we're here on CNN. Let's be honest and transparent about the situation. Part of this involves who's going to own this channel in the future. Netflix's bid is only for the entertainment assets. But Paramount, and David Ellison, who you just heard from, he wants to own CNN as well. And that's going to be a big public part of this battle.

[09:30:00]

It seems to me there are some people who are trying to resist the Paramount bid because of the perception that Ellison and Paramount have cozied up to the Trump administration in the past 12 months. Ellison is a really.