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Border Czar Arrives in Minneapolis Today; Trump Meets with Noem; Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is Interviewed about Minnesota and DHS Funding; NTSB to Detail Failures in DC Midair Collision; Meta, TikTok and YouTube Head to Trial. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired January 27, 2026 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: On your way here and in transit because this weather has been treacherous for everyone trying to get here. Thank you to NAACP President Derrick Johnson for speaking with me here in Minneapolis.

John. Kate.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, is there a Republican revolt in the president's immigration crackdown, all in the wake of the killing of Alex Pretti? Elected officials, Republicans out with new public criticism. An op-ed in the conservative "National Review" says fire Kristi Noem into the sun.

Unwelcome forecast. A new winter storm could be on the way as 200 million people deal with brutal, deadly and expensive (ph) cold.

And who needs the front door when you can fly right through a building at 125 miles per hour?

I'm John Berman, with Kate Bolduan in New York. Sara Sidner, live in Minneapolis. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

SIDNER: I am live from Minneapolis, where there have been many, many developments over the past 24 hours. The president appearing to crack some in his very hard stance on immigration here, talking about pulling some ICE agents out. Also changing the leadership structure here, removing commander in charge Greg Bovino and bringing in border czar Tom Homan. All of that expected to happen within the next 24 hours here.

We are also learning of a town hall of Congressman Ilhan Omar is going to be having here, a congresswoman, here in this city, the city where she is from.

We should also mention that the protests are growing in many different ways. Some of them are at the area where Alex Pretti was killed by a Border Patrol agent. That memorial there is growing larger and larger with things like stethoscopes hanging from crosses to remind people that he was an ICU nurse and his role was to help people in his life. And then you also have an economic boycott being called for. And you

now have the NAACP, as we just heard, calling to defund ICE, calling on Congress members to not vote for the bill that helps to fund ICE, which has been funded in the largest way that we have seen in recent years by the Trump administration.

I want to go now to Priscilla Alvarez, who has been watching all of this.

I am curious what you are learning about the movements of Commander Bovino, who has really been someone who has aggressively ratcheted up tensions here because of the way that he's been acting by, for example, throwing a gas canister at protesters after warning them and then also the words he used against Alex Pretti after Border Patrol agents shot and killed him. Words that were simply not true, the way in which he was describing what Alex Pretti was planning to do versus what the video that we saw.

What are you learning about the movements this morning?

PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Sara, all of what you described is part of a long track record that Gregory Bovino had as he was leading the charge in cities across the United States in the administration's immigration crackdown. And the reason that his departure from Minneapolis is so notable is because it suggests that there is a shift in strategy in the way that the administration is going to pursue its immigration enforcement agenda, because up until this point, the tactics Bovino had been using and the way in which he flaunted them, for example, on social media, had been given the stamp of approval by senior leadership at the Department of Homeland Security. So much so that he had a unique command structure and had been reporting directly to the secretary. And that is not how it would normally be for someone with his job title of chief patrol agent of a sector along the U.S.-Mexico border.

So, that is why we have been calling this such a significant development with now, instead, Tom Homan coming in, the White House borders czar, who is a veteran Immigration and Customs Enforcement official, and far more used to the targeted operations that are conducted by ICE. And that's going to be his role managing them.

Now, we'll also note that "The New York Times" has reported that President Trump met with Secretary Noem and her top aide, Corey Lewandowski, yesterday evening for about two hours. Now, it's important to note that, according to "The Times," Trump did not suggest during that meeting that either one of them had their jobs at risk, which echoes what we heard from the White House press secretary earlier in the day yesterday.

Take a listen

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Secretary Noem still has the utmost confidence and trust of the president of the United States, and she's continuing to oversee the entire Department of Homeland Security and all of the immigration enforcement that's taking place across the whole entire country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[09:05:12]

ALVAREZ: Now, Noem, of course, had been given that public response right after the shooting that has been criticized, not only by Republican lawmakers, Republican governors, but also in -- within the Department of Homeland Security. So, even though the White House press secretary is saying that she still has the confidence of the president, and that still seems to be the case after this "New York Times" report, certainly, Sara, the dynamic has changed, and now it's all eyes on what that practically looks like on the ground in Minneapolis.

SIDNER: Yes, and if it has any impact in talking to the residents who have been protesting, they do not care about any of these -- what they see as small details. They only care if ICE is taken completely out of the community.

But it is significant. And we've seen, as you mentioned, a significant shift in tone from the White House, which is where we're going next.

Thank you to you, Priscilla Alvarez, for your reporting throughout all of this.

Now let's go to Betsy Klein, who is at the White House and can give us more details on what she's learning from the president, from the administration, as to their plans.

Betsy.

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHTIE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Sara, I want to pick up exactly where you and Priscilla left off, and that is this very remarkable and notable shift in both tone and strategy from this White House since this weekend and a shakeup in the leadership, in the immediate aftermath of the federal law enforcement officers killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. We saw very quick to judgment from some very senior officials in this administration. That includes Stephen Miller, as well as Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol commander, along with Homeland Security Secretary Noem. They cast Pretti as a domestic terrorist, who they said intended to massacre law enforcement. That message was amplified repeatedly across White House and Homeland Security social media channels. And there was pushback to that messaging from some of this White House's top allies, including lawmakers. Even the National Rifle Association.

Internally, we have learned that some administration officials were deeply frustrated over the weekend with how Bovino and Noem were handling this situation. President Trump, for his part, spent significant time watching this all unfold on television. He was unhappy about how his administration was coming across. All of that leading to this shift, subbing out Greg Bovino for Tom Homan, who has significant experience in immigration enforcement and is now expected to lead this operation going forward. President Trump, speaking by phone with Governor Tim Walz of

Minnesota, as well as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Monday. By all accounts, those were described by all parties as productive, constructive conversations. Walz said that he pushed the president on letting there be an independent investigation and reducing the numbers of federal law enforcement agents on the ground. Frey said he pushed for that surge to end, and Trump agreed the present situation cannot continue as it currently stands.

And just moments ago, President Trump, speaking to WABC Radio, said, "what we need is their criminals. I said, if you give us the criminals, it all goes away." So. a potential off ramp there.

But what hasn't changed in this White House messaging is shifting blame to Democrats more broadly.

Listen to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota. For weeks, Governor Walz and the mayor, Jacob Frey, and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KLEIN: Now, Frey is planning to meet with Tom Homan on the ground in Minneapolis today. We'll be watching the reaction from that meeting very closely, Sara.

SIDNER: Yes, it will be a very important meeting, especially after all the harsh words that you're hearing from the president against the mayor here. But we know that they, too, had a conversation as well.

There is just a lot happening all at once, including court cases that are still being considered by a judge. But that is the situation right now here on the ground in Minneapolis. Still a lot of fury, still a lot of sorrow as to what has happened in this community. And everyone here sort of wants this to end as soon as possible.

John and Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, joining us right now to talk about this is Democratic congressman from California, Eric Swalwell. He's also running for governor there.

Thanks for coming in.

REP. ERIC SWALWELL (D-CA): Yes, of course.

BOLDUAN: Greg Bovino, out. Tom Homan now being sent in. Is that an improvement in your mind? I mean is that enough to support DHS funding that's now being debated in Congress? [09:10:02]

SWALWELL: No. And we don't need a change in tone, we need a change in tactics. We need the masks to come off. We need the identification to come out. And we need to focus on violent individuals, not pull women through -- by their hair through our streets, or deport a six-year-old child battling stage four cancer, or chase people through the fields and the factories where they work. This needs a complete overhaul.

BOLDUAN: The president's decision to change leadership on the ground. And then there is this from the White House now from the Briefing Room podium distancing itself from the most incendiary comments following in the wake of Alex Pretti's death. Some of them coming from his DHS secretary.

Let me play this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Secretary Noem said Alex Pretti committed an act of domestic terrorism. Stephen Miller labeled Pretti a domestic terrorist. Does the president agree with them?

KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Look, as I've said, I have not heard the president characterize Mr. Pretti in that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: "Axios," Congressman, is reporting this, that "Trump wants a peace with honor withdrawal from Minnesota that doesn't look like this immigration surge was a loss." What do you think is happening there?

SWALWELL: Well, it was a loss. It was a loss of a nurse named Pretti and a mom named Good. And the president should now come forward and tell the American people the truth, because his agency is telling us this didn't happen. It's, you know, like the conspiracy theorists who said September 11th was a hologram, or when Trump said January 6th was peaceful. They're saying that Renee Good was turning her steering wheel to the right, or that Alex Pretti had a gun and not a phone.

But here's the problem that they have, and this is what the president can fix. You can shove endless lies in our ears, but you can't shove one in our eyes because we can't forget something we've seen in 4k. And so we need a president to come forward, tell the American people the truth, and rightfully redeem the characters of Pretti and Good.

BOLDUAN: You did not support the DHS funding bill when it was in the House. What changes would be enough or a start for you to support funding the agency?

SWALWELL: Noem, gone. Homan, gone. Miller, gone. Masks off. Identification out. And law abiding people no longer terrorized. That's what the American people asked for. We were all on board when the president said he's going to focus on the most violent in our communities. Instead, the overwhelming majority of people who have been removed from our communities are people without criminal histories. And so, no one asked for this. And so, if the president got back to just doing what people asked for, whether it was lowering prices, not going to war, or removing the most violent in our communities, he would not be sitting at a 36 percent approval rating among the people he's supposed to be serving.

BOLDUAN: Some other Democrats are calling on ICE to be abolished, saying that is the answer. Is that the right solution in your mind?

SWALWELL: This ICE should be crushed. And then come to the table with us and put together something that keeps the most violent out of our communities, has security at the border, surges judges due process to the asylum cases.

BOLDUAN: Congressman, is that abolish?

SWALWELL: Well, it's abolishing what he has right now. It's abolishing individuals who are masked and shooting women in the face, who have stuffies (ph) in their glove compartments. It's getting rid of this idea that you can hide your identities from the public and your humanity from yourselves. I don't think anyone wants to give another penny, you know, to these guys. This is not what anybody signed up for. Of course we need immigration enforcement, but this isn't enforcement. This is public execution.

BOLDUAN: You said one of the things you need to see is Noem out. Since Alex Pretti was shot, it does seem that support for an effort that's been in -- making its way in the House, an effort to force a vote to bring articles of impeachment against Noem has gotten more support and a bit turbocharged.

But after the two impeachment efforts against Trump, which you were involved with, impeachment has become politically fraught for Democrats. Are you concerned a real push to impeach Kristi Noem could backfire?

SWALWELL: We're not going to just let people be lawless and tell the American people we can't do something about it. And when you publicly execute two people within ten days, there have to be consequences. Of course, when Democrats in the majority were going to impeach the tariffs that the president has put on the American people, we can do it all.

But I also call on governors, Kate. Governors have immense powers. And I have said that when I'm governor of California, if you wear a mask in California, you're losing your driver's license. If you have worked for ICE in the past, you are unhirable in our state. That law enforcement will prosecute you for kidnaping, battery, assault, murder on the people in our communities.

[09:15:02]

We have to go on offense as governors, otherwise the most vulnerable people in our communities and the people who are protecting them, like Pretti and Good, will continue to be killed.

BOLDUAN: Congressman Eric Swalwell, thank you for coming in. John.

BERMAN: All right, a CNN exclusive. New details this morning in the CIA's plans to create a permanent presence inside Venezuela.

And happening now, a highly anticipated new report on what went wrong in the deadly crash over the Potomac.

And in Boston, they called this wicked fun. This is how you handle two feet of snow in the middle of the city.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: This morning, could more dangerous winter weather be on the way? It's an unwelcome question as brutal cold hangs over millions. At least 500,000 customers are still without power. A lot of them in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Let's get right to meteorologist Derek Van Dam to get a sense of what's coming next, Derek.

[09:20:03]

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, that's the big question, right? We know that the big chill has set in behind this previous winter storm. Now we're looking towards the weekend for another shot of very cold air that's going to lock in these impacts that you see here behind me, but also bring the potential for more East Coast snow. More on that in just a moment.

We've got over 550,000 customers still without power. That means they cannot heat their homes adequately unless there's some sort of backup generator in place. Natural gas in place. You know, that's a problem, right, because this area right here, you see into central and northern Mississippi, as well as western portions of Tennessee, some of these counties are ranging between 90 to 100 percent without electricity. And if we overlay the record cold that was set this morning, we're talking dozens, nearly 100 of these locations. You see these dots? They were meticulously put on by my producer. That is a lot of work. But what's important about this graphic is that the hardest hit areas with -- without power have record cold temperatures this morning. And that's a problem, right?

So, 13 in Little Rock. Four in Nashville. Some of these locations when you factor in the wind feels like below zero. Then as we look forward in time, we see the cold air locked in place east of the Rockies, right. We've got this bowling ball, a wrecking ball of cold air settling in for Saturday and Sunday. We have temperatures all the way as far south as Miami that will break records by the weekend. The potential flirting with freezing marks across central Florida. That's a problem for the citrus industry, right?

Let's talk about the record cold potentially across the Northeast. Look at this. Here's Orlando, right, 70 degrees on Friday. And then we drop to a low temperature of 25 degrees on Saturday. Yikes. And then the mention of snow. Here it is. It's going to pick up the

momentum and drive in the cold air on the backside of it. And, of course, the dependance on the models that we have. Where will this low track? How close will it get to the coastline? That's the big million dollar question. And how much snow and wind will be brought to the East Coast? There's still some uncertainty there, John, but something we're monitoring very closely.

BERMAN: That's over Boston. Boston just got two feet and now they're going to get more.

VAN DAM: Yes, they did.

BERMAN: None of the stuff that's on the ground is going to freeze.

VAN DAM: Exactly. Exactly. A problem.

BERMAN: All right, Derek Van Dam, thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: So this morning we expect to learn more -- much more about the deadliest U.S. aviation accident in more than a decade. Tomorrow marks one year since an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River in Washington. Sixty- seven people, you'll remember, were killed. And the NTSB is now prepared to lay out what they believe went so wrong to make sure it never happens again.

CNN's Pete Muntean is following all of this for us, has been following this investigation from the very beginning.

What are we expected to learn, Pete?

PETE MUNTEAN, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kate, this is not about what happened, but why it happened. And NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy just delivered her opening statement here. This final, public chapter of what she says is the most complex investigation undertaken by the National Transportation Safety Board in a generation.

Nineteen thousand pages of findings in the public docket. There was a three day, 33 hour long public hearing back in August. Now this is all focused on finding the probable cause here. And we will hear nine different presentations from NTSB staff investigators in which they will lay out their findings in detail. They will put forth a proposed probable cause. And then this turns into more of a courtroom sitting where the NTSB board members will be able to ask questions of the investigators, make changes to that probable cause, and then adopt a final cause of this investigation.

This is going to be tough and emotional. We just heard NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy address the family members of the 67 lost in this crash directly in her opening statement. They are here in incredible numbers, not only filling the board room, also in an overflow annex room next to the board room. And I want to read you a quote that she just said here to the family members. She says, "I have no doubt the information uncovered by our investigation will support all of your efforts to make aviation safer and work towards a future where no family has to endure such a tremendous loss again."

Of course, this is all taking place nearly one year to the day of this horrible midair collision over the icy Potomac River. This will be the culmination of all of that hard work by NTSB investigators. And today we will finally get the cause.

BOLDUAN: Pete, thank you so much for bringing that to us.

Coming up for us still this hour, attention to all the coffee lovers, the FDA is recalling 80,000 Keurig coffee pods.

[09:25:03]

We have the details on this one for you.

And a blast from the past. "Star Search" is back. We speak with the host of the new Netflix live reboot of this iconic talent show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: So, we're standing by for the beginning of a trial with huge implications. Social media giants Meta, TikTok, YouTube defending themselves against claims that their platforms harm and hurt young people's mental health. At the heart of this is a lawsuit from a 19- year-old and her mother claiming that these platforms knowingly engineered addiction, that they say led to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. This will be the first time that these companies will testify before a jury about this very big issue of youth safety.

[09:30:04]

CNN's Clare Duffy has much more on this one for us.

Clare, what are you expecting?

CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: Yes, Kate.