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Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) is Interviewed about Venezuela; Trump's Grade for Term Two; Pentagon Plans to Overhaul Newspaper; Atlanta Church Gains Popularity; Southern U.S. Braces for Cold. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired January 16, 2026 - 08:30   ET

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

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[08:30:22]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: New reporting into CNN this morning. CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, in Caracas on Thursday. Officials say Ratcliffe went to -- went there to discuss opportunities for economic collaboration and to reinforce that Venezuela can no longer be a safe haven for America's adversaries.

At that very same time, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was at the White House giving her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump. The Nobel committee has said that while the medal can change hands, the title cannot be transferred. Still, President Trump says he is going to keep it. That's just part of what happened in the -- in the Oval Office. Machado was on Fox News just this morning explaining why she gave the honor to President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA CORINA MACHADO, VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER: He deserves it. And it was a very emotional moment.

I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Joining me right now is Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida for more on this.

Congressman, thanks for being here.

You know Machado. You've talked to her many times. No matter the happy talk that we did hear, kind of positive talk coming out of the meeting between her and the president yesterday, President Trump has refused to install her in power as he took over the country. He has said that he -- that he does -- she doesn't, in his view, have the, quote/unquote, respect needed to lead the country. And the White House said yesterday that his position hasn't changed.

Is it clear to you what Machado gained from her meeting with the president?

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL): Well, Kate, thanks for having me.

And, I mean, I just continue, as do my Venezuelan constituents, to have the most incredible admiration, respect and pride in Mara Corina Machado's leadership and her selflessness, her courage, all of which are the reason that she was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. And Donald Trump was handed essentially a participation trophy by her.

And, you know, I respect her because her mission is singularly focused on ensuring that she can restore democracy, peace, prosperity and freedom to her people. And so, her name is still on that peace prize and all that was accomplished. And I think the only reason that Donald Trump met with her, besides checking a box to say that he could, was to coerce her into handing over a prize that he did not win, nor will he be recognized for having contributed anything towards it.

BOLDUAN: I mean, President Trump spoke by phone Wednesday, I believe, with Delcy Rodriguez, the acting president. He praised her, saying that they are working very well together. The Venezuelan constitution requires elections to occur shortly after a leader is removed. The White House, though, reiterated yesterday there were no plans for an election to take place in Venezuela. You just said the only reason the president met with her was basically to get this award. So, are Machado's attempts to win him over futile?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, when you are a relentless freedom fighter like Mara Corina Machado is, you keep trying. Perseverance and persistence is how she was able to ensure that she wrestled Maduro to the ground and ensured that through negotiations they had an election that proved where the Venezuelan people are.

And the Venezuelan people here in the United States, as well as in Venezuela, I'm hearing from them that they want to make sure that there is a pathway to democracy that is certain, and soon. They want to make sure that political prisoners, all of them, need to be released. And they want to -- and I know they want to make sure, as do I -- that we stop deporting Venezuelans back to Venezuela while we're telling our own American travelers to stay away from the country because it's too dangerous to travel to.

We must make sure that we are not taking over Venezuela, that we are not -- our mission is not to exploit them for oil. He called Delcy Rodrguez a terrific person and disrespected Mara Corina Machado, whose opposition party is the rightful elected leadership by coercing her into giving her -- him her Nobel Peace Prize. At the end of the day, we need to make sure that Donald Trump and his leadership team brings a process forward as soon as possible to transition them to democracy and stop allowing these same regime with a different head to brutalize their own people in Venezuela.

[08:35:14]

BOLDUAN: The question is, how do you do that? You said you need to convince them to bring about a path for democracy, because, as you say, he called Delcy Rodriguez a terrific person. You have called her a criminal. And it became clear, though, that -- has become known that Marco Rubio actually persuaded President Trump to that, backing the opposition, Maria Corina Machado, could further destabilize Venezuela. You don't see that?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, what we need here is congressional accountability. I mean, in the United States we have a balance of power and a system of three equal branches of government. And our branch of government needs to hold hearings. We've been trying to get the Foreign Affairs Committee to hold hearings about this action, about this operation, about the plan, which we have not been given a clear pathway on. And so, as a -- as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, where I have the ability, along with my colleagues, to use resources to hold the administration accountable, but also we need to make sure that when Democrats win the majority, that we are able to ask the administration questions, bring them before us and ensure that we can help guide what should happen, which is freedom for Venezuelans, not the exploitation exclusively of their oil, which appears to be what the president's goal was.

BOLDUAN: You mentioned -- you mentioned when Democrats win the majority again. You're talking in '26.

David Plouffe is looking to 2028. He just wrote a piece in "The New York Times" that is titled "Democrats Will Lose In 2028 Unless They Change Course Now." And it includes kind of a laundry list of things that he thinks Democrats need to do to win and have a sustained win. Have an actual plan to bring down costs, not just running against the other guy. What the other guy hasn't done is one of them. Plouffe also saying that the politics, with the politics of today, "will require the party to overhaul its broken brand and stale agenda by elevating new faces and new leaders who promise to chart a course enough voters believe in." Also saying, quote, "right now, Democrats have no credible path to s sustained control of the Senate and the White House."

Do you agree with him?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: No. Under our leader, Hakeem Jeffries, who will be the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, we not only were able to pick up seats in a very difficult year for Democrats in 2024, but we forced the issue of affordability onto and it has remained on the national agenda, particularly when it comes to the affordability crisis caused by Republicans. And we ensured that as they sent us over a cliff, we fought our way through to pushing legislation to the floor that was backed by Republicans to expand the enhanced tax credits, to ensure we can bring down health care costs and prevent the Republican cost crisis.

We need the Senate to go along with us now. We've had success all last year in special election after special election. And we will continue to come together around an affordability agenda because people's kitchen table costs are what matters. And that's what Democrats across the country are singularly focused on under our leader, Hakeem Jeffries, and our leadership team, which I'm proud to be a part of. BOLDUAN: I'm going to take that as, no, you do not agree with David

Plouffe in this moment and his prescriptions for where the Democratic Party needs to be -- or is --

(CROSS TALK)

BOLDUAN: What did you say? Say that again.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: I started, and I'll end with, I do not agree. And the evidence is clear. We are focused on an affordability agenda that ensures we fight to make kitchen table costs come down. Republicans are doing things like stealing health care -- vital health care funding away from millions of people in their big ugly law, transferring it to ICE, where they're brutalizing our people and have unchecked and unaccountable agency that needs to be reined in so we can actually have border security and not have them terrorizing our communities.

BOLDUAN: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, thanks for coming in this morning.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we're talking about these brand- new CNN polling numbers out just today on the president's approval rating, which is low, just 39 percent. And he's under water on all the issues. Inside this poll there are some rather notable shifts. In some cases some historic metrics.

With us now, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

Harry, we talked about voters saying that the president's term so far is a failure.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes.

BERMAN: But put that in perspective here.

ENTEN: Yes, it turns out that love or presidencies are not better the second time around, according to the American people.

Because what are we talking about here? Trump's term has been, was a success or a failure. You know, back in April of 2024, when it came to term number one, the majority of Americans said that Donald Trump's first term in office was a success, 55 percent.

[08:40:06]

That's a big reason why he was able to get a second term in office. They looked back fondly upon his first term in office.

But now come to this side of the screen. Now, after term two year one, how do Americans view it? Look at that. A failure. Fail, fail, fail. Fifty-eight percent. Just 42 percent say a success. These numbers look a lot more like it -- what it did about six months into Trump's term number one than it did looking back upon the entirety of Trump's term number one, which, of course, gave him that second term in office. The clear majority, 58 percent, nearly three in five Americans say it is a failure.

BERMAN: OK, so this number, 58 percent saying it's a failure one year into a second term. Where does that rank historically?

ENTEN: OK, where does it rank historically. Now, this is a little bit difficult, right, because Trump has had two presidencies, right? Other people who are say a year into term number two, in fact, have had a continuous term, but we're going to try and do it for you right here, which is essentially, OK, term or terms have been a failure about a year into term number two. You see this for Donald Trump right here, 58 percent. Term number two, first year, 58 percent say failure. Come here. Look at this. Who's the next closest? George W. Bush. Fifty-two percent said his presidency had been a failure about a year into term number two. So, Trump is even worse than George W. Bush after Katrina, after a long period in the Iraq War. And this is really, really bad when you compare it to George W. Bush. Barack Obama was 48 percent. And then Bill Clinton way down here at 26 percent. Of course, his approval was sky high.

But the bottom line is this, about a year into term number two, Trump's numbers look worse than any other president in which either CNN or the Pew Research Center has asked this question. The only one really close, Joe Biden. Joe Biden, if you look here, was at 57 percent failure in term one, however, term one. This is term two. But he's even doing a point worse, though, within the margin of error here.

BERMAN: So, historically bad for presidents in their second term here.

So, what do people think it will be like when they look back at this second term?

ENTEN: Yes, OK. So, you know, we're talking about this and we're talking about 58 percent who say that Trump is a failure a year into term number two, and that is historically bad.

But I think the other thing that is so important is, Trump wants to make his mark in history, right? He wants to fundamentally change the United States of America. Well, on this metric, get this, Trump's second term will fundamentally change the U.S. and the changes will remain well beyond his presidency.

In April of 2025 it was 52 percent. A majority of Americans said he'd fundamentally changed the United States. Now it's just 41 percent of Americans who say that term number two will, in fact, fundamentally change the United States. So, it's not just that the American people see term number two as a failure, they also don't think that Trump is making changes that will fundamentally change the United States and last well beyond.

So, you just go across this poll and you look at this, not just the numbers right here, right now, but what people see into the future and how people view everything. And it's just a big f-a-i-l.

BERMAN: OK, thank God you can spell because I can't. Didn't know where you were going there.

Harry Enten, you can look at this 41 percent a few different ways. Very interesting, though, to think of what that means. Great to see you this morning.

ENTEN: Great to see you.

BERMAN: Kate.

BOLDUAN: Thank you, gentlemen. We will now go here. Thank you so much.

New this morning, the Pentagon has now announced it is overhauling a revered military publication. And that move is facing backlash. A spokesperson for duty says the goal is to refocus "Stars and Stripes" away from what they call, quote, "woke distractions." The military newspaper has been around since the Civil War, is responsible for keeping U.S. service members around the world informed, has a long legacy of independence from the federal government and military leadership.

Joining me right now, tracking this very closely, CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter.

Brian, can you walk us through what is happening here?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Yes, a major revamp, apparently. And "Stars and Stripes" reporters are in the dark about it. The first they learned about this was through a post on X from the Pentagon spokesman.

But let me, first of all, tell you why this newspaper is so special. As you mentioned, Kate, it dates back to the Civil War. It is circulated for free to men and women in harm's way, serving the U.S. military all around the world. It's available on military bases all around the world. And it is built and supposed to be, according to Congress, an independent source of news for the military, free of government propaganda. That has been the idea for many, many decades.

Here is the statement from Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell that raised so many eyebrows. He said, "we will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that siphon morale and adapt it to serve a new generation of service members. No more repurposed D.C. gossip columns, no more Associated Press reprints."

As viewers might recall, the Trump administration has shown a lot of hostility toward the Associated Press, even blocking AP reporters from some White House events.

I mentioned "Stars and Stripes" reporters are in the dark about these changes, but there is a lot of concern in the newsroom about attempts by the Pentagon, by Pete Hegseth, to strip the newspaper of its independence. We heard overnight from PEN America, the free expression group, saying the following, quote, "the Pentagon is trying to turn this independent newsroom into a mouthpiece for the administration's political messaging. This action tramples both the First Amendment and the congressional mandate that the publication must remain editorially independent."

[08:45:07]

BOLDUAN: Brian, is there an event, a story? Is there one thing that you are picking up that's sparked this attention now coming from the Pentagon?

STELTER: That is actually a question I've been asking the "Stars and Stripes" reporters. Yes, what caused this? What provoked this? And there's no clear answer. Although there was a "Washington Post" report earlier this week about another example of political pressure being applied where job applicants were being asked how they were going to support President Trump.

I think we should add what's going on at "Stars and Stripes" to a year long list of examples of the Pentagon trying to push out the press, trying to reduce independent scrutiny, trying to stop leaks, and trying to really tamp down on any news coverage that Hegseth doesn't like.

For example, this time last year, Hegseth, one of his first acts as secretary of defense, was to remove Pentagon workspaces for news outlets like CNN. Then came the kerfuffle over press passes. Most American news outlets turned in their press passes because of changes to policy that would have criminalized routine reporting. And more broadly, the Trump administration's hostility toward the media in the past year has really added up. Defunding NPR and PBS, shutting down Voice of America. We've seen many of these sorts of steps to reduce independent news coverage and scrutiny.

However, Congress has a role here. "Stars and Stripes" was mandated by Congress. And we've already heard from some lawmakers who are concerned about these changes.

So, as in many of the cases we've covered in the past year, Kate, about the Trump administration flexing its muscles, the question becomes, will the legislative branch do anything about it?

BOLDUAN: Very interesting. So, there is that. Brian, that's the next step to follow for sure.

Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. It's good to see you.

STELTER: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: Freezing temperatures are headed to the south. Could Florida see some snow? That forecast is ahead.

And happy almost birthday to Dolly Parton. America is honoring the country music icon with her own day and a pony with a wig.

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[08:51:03]

BERMAN: All right, this morning, inside an Atlanta church that is exploding in popularity. The pastor of 2819 Church, named after a Bible verse, says they are drawing thousands from across the country, some lining up before sunrise. And Anthony Mitchell's sermons are not just filling the room, they are reaching millions online.

Here's CNN's Ryan Young.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIP ANTHONY MITCHELL, 2819 CHURCH PASTOR: Doctor's report, still standing. Betrayal, still standing. Lost a job, still standing. Is anybody happy that you're still standing? Give God praise!

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They come here from all over.

MITCHELL: Since we're in America, and I know we're mad, materialistic.

YOUNG (voice over): Wanting to hear Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell.

MITCHELL: The greatest reward you'll get in prayer is not something you can touch.

YOUNG (voice over): A Queens, New York, native, son to immigrant parents from Trinidad, who graduated from North Carolina's Central University with honors before founding 2819 Church in south Atlanta. Named after a Bible verse.

MITCHELL: 2819 was taken from a scripture, Matthew 28:19. And in that scripture Matthew records what's called the great commission.

I think it's a revival that's happening in America through 2819 and around the world. People are coming in here and they're finding a message of hope. They're being encouraged.

The devil took his best shot last year, but you still standing though.

We want to create an atmosphere that's not so stuffy, that anybody can come from any walk of life and feel comfortable.

YOUNG: The sun's not even up yet. These folks are all waiting in line. So, where did y'all drive from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we drove from Ohio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I left about 9:00 last night and drove.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I get up at 3:30 in the morning every Sunday.

YOUNG: What motivates you guys to be here this early in the morning to wait in line for church?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wait for other things in life in line. This is -- this is worth it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's refreshing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels like family. When you get here, you'll feel -- you'll feel the Spirit.

MITCHELL: Does anybody got that kind of testimony? All right, give him praise in this house.

YOUNG (voice over): Philip Anthony Mitchell's followers believe they are hearing an authentic message from God.

MITCHELL: 3:00 a.m., there I am weeping on the floor as I'm hearing this warning of God that time is coming to an end.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been watching a lot online. So, a lot on social media. Everyone's saying that, like, this is -- this is where it is. You know, the presence of God is here.

YOUNG: What made you want to come from eastern North Carolina here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The message.

YOUNG: Why do you think this message is spreading the way it is?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's raw. It's things that you really don't hear from the pulpit.

MITCHELL: This ain't no pep talk. This real life. Come on, put your hands together and give him praise.

D'ANDREA WRIGHT, 2018 CHURCH ATTENDEE: You know, we live in a culture where people love to follow hype. But I think what underscores that culture is people's desire for something more.

MITCHELL: Yes, people do stand in line for hours to get into these gatherings, but something is happening on the inside that's making them to want to be out there. I do feel overwhelmed at the amount of people.

For all of the things that we are busying ourselves with.

YOUNG (voice over): Pastor Mitchell says he wasn't always pointed toward God. In fact, he described having a troubled past in New York before telling us he encountered God in a bathroom after his girlfriend survived a bad car crash.

MITCHELL: I knew I was different. My heart was different. Something changed in my heart. And for the first time I felt bad about the wrong that I was doing. So, God literally met me in that bathroom November 2003. And that day changed the whole trajectory of my life.

To all of our digital disciples watching live right now across America and around the world, you are our family.

YOUNG (voice over): About 6,000 currently attend the gatherings each Sunday, up from just 200 when 2819 rebranded three years ago. And the church says they continue to grow with over 72 million viewers on YouTube reaching over 50 countries.

YOUNG: Clearly your message and the message that you're preaching is starting to reach a point where it's not just an Atlanta thing anymore.

[08:55:05]

MITCHELL: Whether we're young or old, black, white, brown, we all can agree that we live in a world that is broken. And we see violent weather patterns. We see wars. We see crime, murders, lawlessness.

I want to be faithful to whatever the Bible says.

YOUNG (voice over): Ryan Young, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: Ryan Young, thank you so much for that.

Other stories we're tracking right now. California's health department says three adults have died, dozens more, including children, have been hospitalized after eating death cap mushrooms. State health officials are now warning people to not pick or eat the wild mushrooms, which can cause severe liver damage. The potentially deadly mushrooms have flourished apparently this season due to all of the recent rain.

There's also new body camera video showing the moments officers in Michigan make a chilly rescue, saving a fisherman who had fallen through a frozen lake. The 63-year-old was holding himself up on an -- clearly an unstable piece of ice when the officers arrived. Because the ice was so thin, they needed to bring in specialized equipment to really reach him. They were eventually able to pull the man back to land and to safety, and he is expected to make a full recovery. Thank goodness.

So, this might -- just might be the most unique fundraiser idea of all time. And it is all to do with Valentine's Day. It is not sweet or cuddly. It is not lovey or dovey. This is straight up revenge tour. For $100, a bird sanctuary in Alaska will name a rat after your ex and then feed it to an owl, raptor, or falcon, and you get a video of the moment to keep as a keepsake. If you don't want to spend that much on an ex, for $10 you can get a video of a magpie eating mealworms while stomping on a symbolic version of your ex's heart. I'm going to leave it right there.

The queen of country, national treasure and CNN NEWS CENTRAL favorite, Dolly Parton, turns 80 this Monday, and she is starting the party early. For starters, she has a new collaboration out this morning featuring the likes of Miley Cyrus, Lainey Wilson, Queen Latifah, Reba McEntire. The song is a new version of her 1977 hit "Light of a Clear Blue Morning."

(VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Dolly isn't the only one ready to get the party started. Every year residents at Walton Wood Senior Centers across the country have annual Dolly Parton celebrations because, of course they should. The party is scheduled to happen today. And you're looking at video of last year. It features Dolly Parton-themed activities, decorations and snacks. Even a mini pony dressed in a signature blond Dolly Parton wig. I mean, where's my invite? That's all I -- that's all I want to know.

John.

BERMAN: You know, no one is naming a rat after Dolly Parton (INAUDIBLE). That's all I can say.

BOLDUAN: I just choked.

BERMAN: That will never happen.

BOLDUAN: Your ability to bring it all -- no one, ever.

BERMAN: Ever. Ever. Shame.

BOLDUAN: National treasure.

BERMAN: Shame.

All right, new this morning, a winter blast is heading south this weekend with snow as far south as Florida. In the northeast, heavy snow triggered a 30-car pileup on an interstate in New York, injuring several people. Minneapolis also bracing for its coldest weather of the year.

Let's get right to CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar.

You got your hands full this morning, Allison.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, and it -- the thing is it's not just the cold temperatures. Yes, those are there. But we also have to take into account the wind because some of these areas are gusting winds of 50 to 60 miles per hour.

So, take a look. So, this is the current wind chill. Again, that's the combination of the temperature and the wind. It feels like 15 in Chicago. Same thing in Indianapolis. It only feels like 22 degrees as far south as Atlanta. But that wind is very strong. Again, you take a look at some of these areas of the plains. Look at that, gusting up to 60 to 80 miles per hour.

And I would like to note, this isn't just for an hour or two. Some of these areas are going to be looking at these sustained and gusty winds for 12 hours. Again, this is going to be a very prolonged event. Again, making it feel like very cold outside when you step outside. Not just today.

But here's a look as we transition into Saturday. Again, you'll see these fast forward into early Saturday morning. Feels like three in Chicago tomorrow morning, 17 in Indianapolis, minus six in Omaha, and seven degrees below zero for Minneapolis is what that feels like temperature will be tomorrow morning.

Now we've got a couple systems here we're keeping an eye on. The first one is going to really impact areas of the Midwest, the northeast in terms of snow on Saturday. The south, it's still going to be just warm enough that we get rain for that first system that comes in early Saturday.

[08:59:52]

It's the second one, the one that comes in very late Saturday night into Sunday, when those cold temperatures are already in place, that, yes, we could end up seeing some flurries fly in places like Florida, south Georgia, maybe into areas of South Carolina as that system moves from the gulf over into the Atlantic.