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Justice Department Releases New Batch of Epstein Documents; Gallup Poll Finds Dems in Congress at 24 Percent Approval Rating, 29 Percent for GOP; TSA Expecting Significant Increase in Holiday Travel. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired December 23, 2025 - 13:30   ET

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

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[13:32:31]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": Our top story today, the Justice Department's overnight release of tens of thousands more Epstein files and we currently have a team of reporters who are pouring through them right now. President Trump's name has appeared in the latest file drop in reference to flight records related to Epstein's private plane.

ERICA HILL, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWS CENTRAL": There is also a disturbing letter which is signed by J. Epstein. The letter was sent to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar in 2019, the same month that Epstein died by suicide, and it appears to make crude references to Donald Trump who was in his first term at the time. It does not, however, explicitly name Trump, instead referring to "our president."

President Trump, of course, has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein. Joining us now is Chuck Todd, host of "The Chuck Toddcast." Chuck, good to see you. This latest release, there's a lot -- there's a lot in it, and there are certainly a number of mentions to President Trump. I'm just curious, what do you make of what we have seen in the second dump so far?

CHUCK TODD, HOST OF "THE CHUCK TODDCAST": Well, look, in some ways, you know, it all depends on what your expectations were for it. Right? I mean, in this case, I -- this is one of those stories where the more details don't really change the larger narrative, at least the larger narrative that I've always had from this story, which was a lot of wealthy and powerful people look the other way, because Jeffrey Epstein was wealthy and powerful.

And I look at these releases, and they sort of reinforce what was already believed. I think it certainly doesn't make elites in this country look very good, whether you're a former CEO of Microsoft, a former or sitting president of the United States, or anybody else in between, right, that you overlooked character. So look, I think the details, what they do is they -- I think what we're seeing online is they're reinforcing beliefs people already had.

The question I have is, does this sort of change the way people have already thought about the character of Donald Trump, already thought about the character of Bill Clinton, right? And I'm not sure anything that's being released is actually changing that larger perspective about anybody involved. But it does reinforce the idea that a lot of wealthy and powerful people knew what was going on, and looked the other way, sadly, just for what? A free plane ride?

KEILAR: That's a good question. What did you think about this DOJ statement they released? They say some of the documents released, "contain untrue and sensationalist claims against the president."

[13:35:00]

Goes on to say, if the claims had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already. And that nevertheless, it's releasing those documents, "out of our commitment to the law and transparency."

TODD: I want to -- there's so many ways to unpack this statement. But think about the cynical nature of their belief about the idea that if there was something damaging in here, it would have been exploited already. I mean, is that how Todd Blanche and Pam Bondi think about use of the Justice Department information? This is what they believe the Biden folks would look at this, right? Think about how cynical you have to be, right? So they put that in there.

Another aspect of it is, it's the type of statement you would expect from a personal attorney of somebody involved who might say, "Hey, just because this stuff's in there doesn't mean it's true." Well, by the way, same thing could be said about Bill Clinton, same thing could be said about Alan Dershowitz, same thing gets said about Bill Gates. Why did this Justice Department only say it about Donald Trump? Is the president's personal attorney putting out these press releases? Oh, wait, the president's former personal attorney is a Deputy Attorney General.

It certainly, I think it actually defeated the purpose of the statement. Because I actually looked at that statement and said, oh, wow, there really must be some salacious stuff in here. Let's dig in. Right? In some ways, they put a neon sign saying, there's going to be some crazy stuff in here. We're just going to tell you it's unsubstantiated because we just assume our political opponents would have weaponized this against the president last year, which is that part of it, I also find extraordinarily cynical about the rule of law in this country.

And unfortunately, I do think we have ruined people's perception of the Justice Department. I think people now equally believe that that place is politicized based on whoever's in office. And that is a huge problem long term for this country.

HILL: Yeah, it certainly is. We want to shift gears a little bit. There is some new Gallup polling out that we wanted to go through a little bit with you. It's a bit of a political retrospective on the year. It finds a 24 percent approval rating for congressional Democrats, 29 percent for Republicans. How do you think Democrats should be looking at this, especially as they are really leaning in, in their effort understandably, to flip Congress in the upcoming midterms?

TODD: Right. Well, I think it's a reminder that we've not -- neither political party is trusted in this country. And that's been true, I would argue, going back to the 2010 elections. I would argue we've had nine straight national elections where the sentiment among the swing voters in America, I'm not talking about the two partisan bases, but the swing voters that decide are very narrowly divided country, have all been essentially voting out a party, not necessarily voting in a party. Right? Whether you can go back to the 2010 midterms, sort of anger about Obamacare, et cetera.

We can go right down the line. I think those were elections that were about voting against rather than voting for. And I think the Democrats have to realize that their best case to win is to make it a referendum on Trump and the Republicans and the economy, because if they try to make it about Democratic policies, they don't have credibility with the voters.

They'll have more credibility making the case against than they will making the case for themselves. I think these numbers are less impactful to Democrats in 2026. But I do think these are a warning sign for the 2028 election season when there's no doubt, Joe Biden did a ton of damage to the Democratic brand with his one term in president, and it has really set back the perception of the party.

You've got progressives who don't like the direction of the party, who are going to end up voting enthusiastically in the midterms against Republicans, but it doesn't mean they like what the Democrats are doing, which also swing voters who don't necessarily trust some Democratic policy. So I think these numbers are real red flags more for 2028 than for 2026. But it's also a reminder we've been in a cycle. We know what we don't want as a country. We just don't know what we want.

HILL: Yeah, it is fascinating. Chuck, good to see you. Thank you.

TODD: Great to see you guys. Thanks, guys. Happy holidays.

HILL: You too.

KEILAR: You too.

HILL: Well, still ahead here, speaking of the holidays, if you're doing a little holiday travel, the plane, the train, the automobile, however you're getting there, we have a little check-in for you, let you know how things are going on this Christmas Eve for the travelers.

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[13:44:08]

HILL: All right. Well, if you're getting ready to maybe head out to the airport, you may want to be ready for some long lines. Just think you could make some new friends in those large crowds, just what you want. The travel rush could maybe mean a major holiday headache, but really it's all about perspective. KEILAR: That's right. It could be a friend-making exercise.

HILL: Could be friend-making.

KEILAR: Could be. All right, so the TSA is expecting a significant increase in travelers or friends through January 1st. AAA is saying more than 8 million people will be catching a domestic flight. It's the most ever during the holiday season.

You're looking here at some of the lines at Reagan National earlier today. How are they doing right now, though? Let's check in with Pete Muntean. Pete, things were going swimmingly yesterday. How's it going today?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: I would like to answer your question with another question. Is it possible that the Terminal 2 North checkpoint at TSA here at DCA is simply too efficient? There is no line right now, under five minutes, according to DCA.

[13:45:00]

Things moving pretty smoothly here. And you might say, oh, you know, the 23rd, because Christmas falls on a Thursday, not that big of a deal this time around. Pish-posh. TSA says today is going to be huge. We've already seen huge numbers Monday, on Sunday, Saturday, Friday, about 2.8 million people passing through TSA security checkpoints nationwide.

And the busy days are still ahead here. Look at the calendar. Sunday the 28th anticipated to be the biggest of the holiday travel rush, sort of the confluence of people coming home after Christmas, people leaving to get out of town for New Year's Day.

And I've been talking to travelers who tell me essentially what they never tell me, that things are moving pretty smoothly, that passengers have good holiday cheer, and that things are going OK. Listen.

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DARRYL HOWARD, TRAVELER: Take a deep breath. Get some water. Get some snacks. Everything's going to be OK.

SHONA PHILLIPS, TRAVELER: I would say still get there a little early to be prepared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And pack your patience.

PHILLIPS: And pack your patience.

MARK SUNDERLAND, TRAVELER: Definitely get to the airport early. You know, plan, pay attention. Download your airport apps because that gives you bag, gate, all that information that comes right there. And just communicate and have a smile.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MUNTEAN: Some good advice. OK, here is the Departures Board at DCA right now. We're in about maybe 12 or so delays out of about 100 flights here. We are not quite out of the woods yet though. And the Federal Aviation Administration warning of delays East Coast and West Coast. Because of big storms on the West Coast, San Francisco, San Diego on the list of concern. And then Newark and LaGuardia are also on the list of concern as well. Memphis, Indianapolis because of low cloud ceiling.

So, the day is still young here and things are progressing. We've only seen about 80 or 90 cancellations in the U.S. today. So, so far, so good. Things are doing OK on a huge day for holiday travel.

HILL: I like the so far, so good. I like how quickly things are moving there behind you. Can you keep that going for me? I'll see you in there in a couple hours, Pete, when I make my way to the airport. We heard some great tips, I feel like, from those travelers that you spoke with about what we can do to make things a little easier. What else is on your list?

MUNTEAN: Here are my top two pieces of advice. This one comes from the airports because the traffic gets so bad going into the airports, especially on holiday rush days like this here at DCA. We saw, at least during the Thanksgiving rush, the line to just get into the airport backed up onto Route 1, busy thoroughfare here through northern Virginia, so you should pad in a little bit of extra time. Book your parking ahead of time.

You don't want to miss out on the good garages and then end up in the economy lot and then scramble to get here and burn up a bunch of time that way. And then the big thing, you know, we've been up at the bag check area for American Airlines here. This is a huge hub for American. The lines there are pretty long. If you can avoid it, try not to check a bag. Airlines are charging more and more fees all the time now. Try just a carry on. When things go sideways, it makes it a lot easier to pivot if you're just carrying on.

KEILAR: Pete, did you hear that one passenger say pack your patience? Did you hear that?

(LAUGH)

MUNTEAN: I heard it. It's almost like they recognize me. I almost never get recognized, by the way. Friends ask me all the time, they're like, do you get recognized? I'm like, mostly in context of the airport and a wheelchair attendant saw me earlier. She's like, I see you on CNN. I was like, thanks.

KEILAR: Yeah.

HILL: Were you like, oh, it's also because I actually live here at the airport?

KEILAR: Halftime.

(LAUGH) KEILAR: I'm just saying, I love hearing her say that.

MUNTEAN: Yeah, I'm standing by for my cot.

KEILAR: Pete, you and I, we're making Fetch happen, my friend. And I'm proud of us for that. Pete Muntean, live for us at Reagan. Thank you so much.

Still to come, a 60-minute segment that was pulled just hours before airing in the U.S., going viral. We're going to explain the streaming slip-up ahead on "CNN News Central."

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[13:53:16]

HILL: From sports gambling scandals to a trade that rocked the NBA.

KEILAR: Our Andy Scholes has a look at CNN's top-10 sports stories of the year.

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ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: 2025 delivered some of the most unforgettable moments in sports -- championships, heartbreak, history, and headlines that shook the entire sports world. Here are the top-10 moments that defined the year.

At Number 10, we start in college football where Ohio State climbed the mountain, winning the first ever 12-team playoff. And the timing of the expanded playoff could not have been better for the Buckeyes. They were the eighth seed and won four games, culminating with a victory over Notre Dame to claim the ninth title in school history.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this is just what a player dreams of.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't put into words, it's best feeling.

SCHOLES: And the drama of college football continuing even after the 2025 regular season, as Lane Kiffin's coaching decision captivated the entire sporting world. In the end, Kiffin left Ole Miss right before their first trip to the playoffs to take the head job at LSU.

LANE KIFFIN, LSU HEAD COACH: Leaving Ole Miss was extremely difficult, extremely difficult decision.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN CO-ANCHOR OF "THE SITUATION ROOM": Breaking News of a massive sports gambling investigation. Miami Heat guard, Terry Rozier and Portland Trail Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups have been arrested in connection with that probe.

SCHOLES: At Number Nine, the sports world continued to grapple with gambling scandals.

KEILAR: There's another betting scandal that is rocking professional sports. And this time, it's two major league baseball pitchers who are accused of fixing the outcome of so-called prop bets.

[13:55:00]

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians have been indicted and could face years in prison.

SCHOLES: More athletes faced investigations and leagues partnered with sportsbooks to limit specific wagers, a sign of just how fast the landscape is changing.

At Number Eight, we have the great eight making hockey history. Alex Ovechkin breaking what many thought was an unbreakable record. In April against the Islanders, Ovechkin scored his 895th goal, breaking Wade Gretzky's all-time record.

ALEXANDER OVECHKIN, CAPTAIN, WASHINGTON CAPITALS, NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE: Special moment. It's great for hockey.

SCHOLES: A Stanley Cup final in June was a rematch between the Panthers and Oilers. And it would be Florida going back-to-back, winning the series 4-2.

Number Seven, the Florida Gators pulling off one of the best comebacks in national championship game history, rallying from 12 down against the Houston Cougars in the second half to win their third title.

TODD GOLDEN, FLORIDA HEAD COACH: We're thrilled, man. It's a heck of a moment, an incredible opportunity to be here. And the fact that we finished it up means everything in the world.

SCHOLES: On the women's side, nine years after claiming their last title, the UConn Huskies returning to the mountaintop. In her last collegiate game, Paige Bueckers leading UConn to a win over South Carolina. For head coach, Geno Auriemma, it was his 12th national title.

GENO AURIEMMA, UCONN HEAD COACH: I don't know that any program has meant more to their sport than what UConn has meant to women's basketball.

SCHOLES: At Number Six, Lionel Messi does it again, this time in America. The Argentinean legend leading Inter Miami to their first- ever MLS Cup title. Messi is the most decorated player in the history of soccer, winning 47 team trophies. Will he add another World Cup? Argentina are the defending champions for the World Cup that is set to take place the summer of 2026 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

At Number Five, the Chiefs' quest for a historic third straight Super Bowl was thwarted by the Eagles. In a rematch from two years ago, Jalen Hurts and company getting the best of Patrick Mahomes. And the Eagles dominating, winning Super Bowl 59-- 40-22.

JALEN CARTER, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES DEFENSIVE LINEMAN: I feel good, man. You see the smiles, you see what family, brother, mom and Abby (ph), man, this is what it's all about.

SCHOLES: And before the current NFL season, tragedy struck the NFL offices in Manhattan.

HILL: New details on the deadly mass shooting in New York City. A police officer and three others were dead after a man walked into a busy Midtown office building with an assault-style rifle, opening fire.

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: There are no excuses for those senseless acts. They're hard for all of us to understand.

SCHOLES: At Number Four, 2025 was an incredible year for golf. Rory McIlroy finally having his green jacket moment and getting the fourth major that had always eluded him. Rory winning the Masters with the win, joining an exclusive club, becoming just the sixth golfer ever to complete the Career Grand Slam.

RORY MCILROY, 2025 MASTERS CHAMPION: It's the greatest year of my professional life. I don't know how I'm going to top this.

SCHOLES: The Grand Slam Club could soon get a new member, Scottie Scheffler, with an incredible 2025, winning the PGA Championship and the Open Championship. Scottie now has won four majors and is only missing the U.S. Open for the Career Grand Slam.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: Life out here is pretty cool right now. This is a lot of fun.

SCHOLES: 2025 was also a Ryder Cup year that saw the European team jump out to a huge early lead, despite a raucous and sometimes offensive crowd at Bethpage Black in New York. The U.S. made a run on Sunday, but it would be Rory and the Europeans winning their second straight and first on foreign soil since 2012.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR AND SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Five-and- a-half hours, that's how long it took to seal one of the wildest comebacks in French Open history.

SCHOLES: At Number Three in 2025, we saw one of the greatest tennis matches of all time. Carlos Alcaraz saved three match points and rallied from two sets down to defeat Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller at the French Open. Alcaraz and Sinner would split the men's Grand Slams this year, setting a foundation for what is now the best rivalry in men's tennis.

CARLOS ALCARAZ, SIX-TIME GRAND SLAM CHAMPION: It's a better taste when you win a Grand Slam or a tournament when you beat the best player in the world.

SCHOLES: On the women's side, it was a big year for the Americans. Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open and Coco Gauff claimed her second at Roland-Garros.

COCO GAUFF, TENNIS PLAYER: I'm just glad to get another title to my resume.

SCHOLES: At Number Two, we have the trade that rocked the sports world. Dallas fans waking up February 2nd to find out that the Mavericks had traded their hero, their star, Luka Doncic to the Lakers. The trade was so shocking, it sparked protests outside the Mavs arena. The Oklahoma City Thunder then finished off a dominant season, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win their first- ever NBA title.

And at Number One on our list is the Los Angeles Dodgers edging out the Toronto Blue Jays in one of the most dramatic World Series games of all time --