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Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) is Interviewed about Bondi Subpoena; Political Cost of Living. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired March 19, 2026 - 09:30   ET

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

[09:30:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Former colleagues who are still with TSA and working these security checkpoints right now, what are they telling you?

ROBERT ECHEVERRIA, FORMER LEAD TSA OFFICER, SALT LAKE CITY INTL. AIRPORT: I think the hardest thing is, is that they don't feel that their voice is being heard. And this is one of the reasons I am actually here, just to kind of be a voice for them because most of them are afraid to come out and say something for a retaliation. And their jobs can actually literally be on the line. And so they're frustrated. They're frustrated that they -- that they're being overlooked and that they're not being taken seriously and that their job is not being taken seriously. As you can tell, right now you can start seeing all the effects of it and how long lines are. And I think things are just going to get worse if something doesn't happen soon.

BOLDUAN: You know, we've heard in the past from officials in Washington is, keep working. You are going to get paid. You're going to get that back pay in the end. What do you say to them?

ECHEVERRIA: Well, it's -- I think it's easy for somebody to say you're going to get paid eventually, but are the landlords and all of the creditors are -- they want their money now. They are not going to be waiting for a long time. And then, after that, how do you prioritize who's going to be paid first? And so, that's -- to me, that's pretty much a slap in the face because, at the end of the day, we have bills to pay. We have bills to pay. We have a family to take care of. And so that's, to me, that that's just not -- that's not right.

BOLDUAN: One of the things you just said is you -- the reason you love the job is you wanted -- you wanted to serve your country, you wanted to protect your country. With these long lines, with people calling out, with people quitting, like yourself, over the stress of this shutdown as it drags on, some -- there is -- some have voiced concern, I've heard it from industry analysts, that there is a fear that this could lead to it being less safe to -- less safe to fly, less safe when you have less people working the security checkpoints and they have to screen all of these people in hours long lines. Are you concerned? Do you think it is less safe to fly during these times?

ECHEVERRIA: I'm sure my colleagues are actually very capable of what they're doing their job. But yes, there's this aspect out there that the people, were human beings, right? And so, a lot of these -- a lot of these TSA officers that are going day in and day out to work, they're losing sleep. And so, trying to figure out, are they 100 percent awake when they are at work? Are they actually aware of what's going on? So, there's a big aspect of it. Like, hey, how long are we going to go for without actually missing a gun or missing a knife? And unfortunately, I think tempers are so flared up. We don't know what people might do. And so -- and especially in how things are going and around the world, I think the sense of security has to be tightened up a little bit more. And this is why we need to take care of our officers right now.

BOLDUAN: Yes. Can you -- just one, if you could, cut through the politics of it all. And what's your message to Congress, both sides of the aisle, as they continue to be at a stalemate over what is funding your pay, funding your colleagues' pay, funding the TSA?

ECHEVERRIA: I think it's time for them to put themselves in our shoes. I think the -- fighting the back and forth going, it's not helping anybody. But these -- these people that go in and day out, they need to get paid. And so, they need to put their differences aside and figure out a way that our -- my former colleagues can get paid and so that way we can make sure that the nation can stay safe.

BOLDUAN: Robert Echeverria, thank you very much for coming in and telling us your story.

Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thank you, Kate.

There are still millions of revealing Epstein files that have not come to light. What survivors are doing about that.

And moments ago, the opening bell on Wall Street. Well, it rang and that is the result of what's going on right now. Every single indice down just a bit this morning. Oil and gas prices, though, keep climbing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:38:51]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, will Attorney General Pam Bondi comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee? She briefed members behind closed doors yesterday, and word is it got contentious. Democrats walked out.

Joining us now is Congressman Stephen Lynch, a Democrat from Massachusetts, who was in that briefing.

So, Congressman, what happened?

REP. STEPHEN LYNCH (D-MA): Well, she -- Attorney General Bondi would not commit to appearing before our deposition and testifying under oath. And so, I think most of the members felt that they would save their questions for that -- for that opportunity. I did get to ask questions. I -- and I explained why we needed to have

her under oath, because she had repeatedly lied and given untruthful statements over the -- over the past year about the investigation. And we felt she was deliberately obstructing the investigation itself.

BERMAN: How did she respond to your questions?

LYNCH: Tried to defend the fact that she had said, yes, the Epstein file client list is on my desk and then it wasn't.

[09:40:03]

She tried to explain that away. We, you know, we expressed concern that she had said she was giving us all the documents, and then she withheld the documents that referred to Trump. She again tried to explain that away. Again -- and I asked Todd Blanche why he had taken Ghislaine Maxwell out of a maximum security prison and put her in a country club environment and how that had discouraged her from testifying or cooperating with the committee, and he didn't have any good answers either.

BERMAN: So, what did -- what information did they come with? If they were coming to brief you yesterday, what did they deliver?

LYNCH: Yes. It was just spin. It was not meaningful. Nothing was new. They were sort of, you know, they were trying to recharacterize what they had done. They said that they were cooperating with Congress, but we had to pass an act of Congress, the Epstein Transparency Act, in order to get them to actually start to give us documents. But they had stonewalled us since August. So, for seven months we got nothing. And it was only until we passed an act of Congress that the attorney general's office actually started doing something and giving us some of the documents.

BERMAN: So, if you had to bet, as you're sitting here today, if the attorney general will comply with the subpoena from your committee and face questions under oath, what would you bet?

LYNCH: I would say it would be very difficult for her not to testify. However, even if we get her to testify, I doubt her veracity, I doubt that she will tell the truth

BERMAN: Congressman, I want to ask you about something we just heard from the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth. He spoke at the Pentagon, along with the chair of the Joint Chiefs, Dan Caine. They're talking about the war on Iran. And the secretary was asked about reports that the Pentagon and the administration is going to ask Congress for an additional $200 billion to fight the war in Iran.

Listen to what he -- how he responded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, as far as $200 billion, I think that number could move, obviously. It takes -- it takes money to kill bad guys. So, we're going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we're properly funded for what's been done, for what we may have to do in the future, ensure that our ammunition is -- everything's refilled. And not just refilled, but above and beyond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, that's why he says he needs the money. That will come to a vote in the House how will you vote?

LYNCH: I'm very skeptical of -- the president has not explained what the end game is here. If he's asking for $200 billion to put boots on the ground, and I think that may be the next step, I'd be highly resistant to granting him that money. He needs to, first of all, come back to Congress, address Congress, make his case for what he's done so far. And I think there's such a level of distrust because of the lack of communication from the president that it would very -- be very hard for him to get approval for $200 billion to go, you know, to actually put boots on the ground in Iran.

You know, there's -- I think there's concern on both sides of the aisle on that account.

BERMAN: If the vote were held today, how would you vote?

LYNCH: Oh, I'd vote no. I'd vote no. Yes.

BERMAN: Congressman Stephen Lynch from Massachusetts, we appreciate your time this morning. Thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: A family pleading for help now and searching for answers. An American student abroad for spring break goes missing. The latest now on the search in Spain that's playing out.

And the rapper Afroman picked up a big legal victory. The police raid and the viral rap video that started it all. We've got more on this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:48:40]

BERMAN: This morning, prices at the pump. The national average up another $0.04 to $3.88 a gallon. My eights are very bad there. That, of course, the price of gas. This is diesel right there, which is even more expensive. But it gets to the prices that we're paying for everything. The cost of living and the potential political impact.

With us now, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten.

Good morning to you.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Good morning.

BERMAN: So, the president, how do voters see him on the issue of the cost of living and prices? And how does it compare to, say, when he was elected? ENTEN: You know, I would say that this is the most troublesome sign

that I have seen for the president of the United States and the Republican Party so far.

What are we talking about? Well, let's take a look here.

Voters on Trump and the cost of living. You know back when he was reelected, back in October of 2024, he was beating Kamala Harris by three points on the cost of living, right? Look at his net approval rating now. Woo, down underwater we go. His net approval at a record low, 41 points below water. You can't win when you're at 41 points below water on the cost of living. Kamala Harris couldn't win. The Democratic Party couldn't win. And I'm here to tell you that there's a better chance that I root for the New York Yankees than Donald Trump and the Republican Party winning when he's 41 points below water.

BERMAN: And this was March 12th to March 16th.

[09:50:02]

We could see even more, you know, gas prices rise and the prices go up in the coming days and weeks with the Iran war. So, this number could get even worse.

What about independents?

ENTEN: Yes, what about independents? You think this 41-points below water is bad? Take a look at independents. It's even worse. I mean, 60 points under water when it comes to Trump and the cost of living among independents. Again, a record low. You go back to October of 2024. He was winning on this issue over Kamala Harris by 11 points. Look at that switcheroo. That is a 71-point switcheroo in the wrong direction for Donald Trump when we're coming to the cost of living and independents. And this, my dear friends, is just a political nightmare waiting to happen for the Republican Party come the midterm elections.

BERMAN: I mean, why? Do people really care about the cost of living?

ENTEN: You know, yes, they do, Mr. Berman. They do care about the cost of living.

Why was Donald Trump reelected back in 2024? It was the cost of living. It was the number one issue. OK, Number one issue. Top election issue, cost of living, 38 percent of Americans said it was so back in October of 2024. Look now, it's the same percentage. If anything it's a point higher, though it's within the margin of error. Thirty-nine percent.

Simply put, I am saying this loud and proud, you cannot win an election when you are the incumbent party and the top issue is the cost of living and you're the president of the United States and your net approval rating on it is 41 points underwater. I mean you're with Greg Louganis at this point. And with independents 60 points under water. What, are you kidding me? You cannot win. If you're the president and you're the Republican Party and you're not addressing this issue, wave adios amigos, goodbye, see you later, you House majority and may very well be your Senate majority as well.

BERMAN: You're saying it loud, which is very unusual for you, Harry.

ENTEN: I know, it's extremely unusual. A lot of coffee this morning.

BERMAN: Let's talk about inflation and what the prediction markets are saying, what direction they see it going, going forward.

ENTEN: Yes, OK, you talk about 60 points underwater. You talk about 41 points underwater overall. You know, when we're talking about what the prediction markets, Kalshi prediction markets have, chance March's CPI year over year is above February's 2.4 percent, it's going in the wrong direction. A 95 percent chance that inflation rises in the month of March.

So, you got the number one issue that is killing, killing the incumbent party, killing the president right now, and it is going in the wrong direction with gas prices going higher. Just, you know I'm just going to lay back on my Yiddish, oy vey, oy vey.

BERMAN: Yes. No, the political cost of this could be going up soon.

Harry Enten, thank you very much for this.

ENTEN: Thank you. I'm going to go get some more cappuccino right now.

BERMAN: You need it, clearly.

ENTEN: I know.

BERMAN: A lot of news. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:57:03]

BOLDUAN: All right, we've got some breaking news coming in. Senator Markwayne Mullin's nomination to now become the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, that is now advanced -- advances to a full vote on the Senate floor. It just passed through committee, through the committee vote, which is the first step, just moments ago.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman, he voted in favor of his nomination vote to help advance it, joining Republicans. Senator Rand Paul voted against it. That Republican vote, we saw that back and forth between the two men during his confirmation hearing. If confirmed by the full Senate, Mullin will lead a department of more than 260,000 employees now. He's going to oversee these critical agencies that have been under such scrutiny, including ICE.

Well, we also have the TSA and the Coast Guard, which are facing trouble now because of the ongoing partial government shutdown. The top Republican in the Senate, John Thune, has said that he hopes to hold Mullin's confirmation vote in the full Senate early next week. So, we'll have much more on that. Also, we're tracking this, Will.i.am of Black-Eyed Peas fame has

announced a new venture. He's stepping into the tech world with an A.I. powered brain on wheels, brains on wheels, if you will. It's a three wheeled, single passenger electric vehicle, which functions essentially like a mobile workspace. Like you can work from your car. He's calling it the Trinity, named for an alignment of human, vehicle and agentic A.I. And they say it can handle emails and scheduling, where you're getting -- while getting you to your destination. The price tag, around $30,000. Deliveries are set to start next year.

The rapper most well-known for his impossible to forget song, "Because I Got High," just got a very big legal victory, winning a lawsuit filed against him by police who raided his home. In 2022, the Adams County, Ohio, sheriff's department obtained a search warrant against Afroman for drug trafficking and kidnaping. But after going through his house, guns drawn, they charged him with nothing. He then turned his home surveillance footage of the incident into a parody music video called "Lemon Pound Cake," referencing a moment when one deputy glanced at the cake on his kitchen counter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AFROMAN: They found no kidnaping victims, just some lemon pound cake.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Yes. The sheriff's department then sued him for defamation and invasion of privacy for that video and a series of internet posts that he had made mocking them personally and professionally. Well, the jury, after all of this was presented, the jury deliberated for just a few hours and then sided with Afroman.

So, a wax version of Kevin hart is getting quite a bit of attention and chit chat online and maybe not the best kind. The comedian says that the statue of him at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Tennessee looks nothing like him. Hart writing, quote, "what did I do to these people? At this point these museums are just trying to make me cry.

[10:00:00]

I demand a redo." Dwayne Johnson, also known as "The Rock," however, he disagrees, saying, quote, "it's perfect. Don't change a