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Rep. Dave Min (D-CA) is Interviewed about Bondi Hearing; Ed Sorenson is Interviewed about Water Rescues; Blue Origin Rocket Explodes; Carrie Coon is Interviewed about Her Tony Nomination. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired May 29, 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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[08:31:34]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening today, former Attorney General Pam Bondi going to face questions about how the Justice Department handled the release of the Epstein files. Many would say mishandled.

This entire saga, you'll remember, though, began last year. This is really kind of the culmination of so many efforts. At one point, Pam Bondi claimed that there was an Epstein client list sitting on her desk. Weeks later, Bondi released binders of information to much fanfare to conservative influencers, which were labeled as the first phase of the declassified Epstein files. But they, as we learned, largely contained just public -- already publicly known information.

Then the Justice Department announced investigators had found no evidence in the files to merit new charges for other people in Epstein's circle. And eventually, of course, Congress finally forced the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, ordering the release of all of the files. But even after the release began, Republicans and Democrats alike slammed Pam Bondi for how this all went down, over redactions in some places of the -- of the files that were released, under redactions, survivors' names revealed in the documents.

Today, Pam Bondi will be faced with questions surrounding all of it.

Joining us right now is one of the lawmakers who will be questioning the former attorney general this morning, Democratic Congressman Dave Min of California.

Thank you for being here.

REP. DAVE MIN (D-CA): Thanks for having me, Kate.

BOLDUAN: The arrangement this morning is not what you guys wanted when it comes to getting Pam Bondi to testify, but it's what you're getting. So, what do you -- what does today mean?

MIN: Today is a voluntary interview. It is not going to be under oath. It's not going to be videotaped. The public is not allowed in. And if you've been following, the survivors are very unhappy with this. This is not actually what the subpoena -- when we issued a subpoena to bring in Pam Bondi, the subpoena was supposed to be under oath. It was supposed to be a regular committee hearing. It was supposed to be available to the public. And none of those things are happening. So, there's a lot of -- a lot of -- the cover-up is being covered up right now it looks like.

BOLDUAN: What's your most important question when you speak with her today?

MIN: What the hell happened here? Why have you not released over half of the Epstein files? And 2.5 million pages that we know about have not been released. Why did you protect and redact the names of so many of these billionaires, including Donald Trump, who was repeatedly redacted in the files? And why did you actually release the private information of the survivors? Many of these survivors have been described as being revictimized because Pam Bondi, who has treated the DOJ like Trump's personal law firm the whole time she was in office, decided that she was going to release the information about the survivors, protect billionaires. We're supposed to be about transparency, about protecting victims and Pam Bondi has continued to bully people.

BOLDUAN: Tara Palmieri, who's been covering this as a journalist, the -- closer than most. She put it -- she really kind of synthesized what you just said this morning, and it's sticking in my head, when she said, "why were the names of so many survivors revealed, and why were the names of so many prominent men successfully redacted?" That kind of sums it up, at least for me.

[08:35:01]

MIN: Yes. Like I said, it looks like a cover up and we want to get to the bottom of this.

And I just want to point out, I have an election -- a very important election in four days. But I'm here in Washington, D.C. I'm not in my district. I'm not canvasing. Because this is really, really important. Because the cover up goes through Pam Bondi. We know that. And there clearly was a cover up that happened here. We see like bits of evidence around it. This is a lot of smoke. Very clearly there's a fire somewhere. And we would like to know what's going on.

Now, I don't know if we're going to get answers from her.

BOLDUAN: That's what I was going to ask you.

MIN: You've seen her in the past. She's refused to answer questions. Yes, she's insulted members personally.

BOLDUAN: Because she's not under oath -- I'm so sorry, we -- sorry for the audio catch up here.

Because she's not under oath -- yes, it is -- it's a crime to make false statements to Congress. But because she's not under oath and because it's the way this arrangement is, does that mean she can just say, I'm not answering that?

MIN: She has multiple bases to not answer questions. She cannot lie to us because she's speaking to Congress. So, even though she's not sworn under oath, there are criminal penalties.

But under this administration, as we've seen, they don't actually prosecute violations of the law when it's Trump's inner circle.

So, I don't know what we're going to get today, but I still think it's important that we ask her the damn questions, because Americans want answers. And if she decides, on the record, and these records, there will be a transcript, it will be produced to the public. And if you -- if we end up having her refuse to testify, that is going to be part of the public record. Let's make that part of the record. Let's try to get those answers today. And let's make sure we're releasing the rest of the Epstein files and a whole lot more. At this point I think we also need correspondence from Pam Bondi, records about Pam Bondi's role in this because, very clearly, again, she's at the center of this cover up and she has become part of this problem of the Epstein file. She's deeply embroiled in it.

BOLDUAN: A big day today. And as you did mention, I was going to note, you also do have a very big election, election day coming up just next week. So, thank you for coming on, Congressman. I really appreciate your time. Dave Min of California. Thank you.

John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, the breaking news this morning, the rescue operation underway to save five men trapped deep inside a flooded cave in Laos. Expert cave divers from all over the world arrived on the scene this morning to assist in the mission. Rescue teams have been pumping floodwater out of the cave all night to try to narrow the passages enough for the trapped men to crawl through.

The cave entrance starts with a six-foot drop at a 45-degree angle. You can sort of see it right there. From there rescuers have to navigate a narrow tunnel that is less than two feet wide in some places. Now that stretch goes on for more than 800 feet. Rescuers need to crawl or swim to get through. That's no easy task. Then there's this curvy part of the cave, you can see right there, that has two steep drops. One's about 16 feet, the other about six feet. And it's only passed that where the survivors are. They got to get all that way to reach them.

With us now is cave diving expert and rescuer Ed Sorensen.

Thanks so much for being with us.

Look, just talk us through what the biggest challenge in a rescue like this is.

ED SORENSON, CAVE DIVING EXPERT AND RESCUER: Well, I've been doing this for 30 years. Every rescue (AUDIO GAP). So you're really just -- you're really -- your biggest tool is being there on scene, seeing what you can see, making decisions based on that. We've got really great experts (AUDIO GAP) now. So (AUDIO GAP) I believe most of the passages are still not (AUDIO GAP). So, whether they have the victims with enough strength and energy and getting rid of the dehydration to make the tough (AUDIO GAP) journey, that's going to be priority number one. And then keeping them from panicking (AUDIO GAP) in the completely water filled section, have they trained them on open scuba, which they're going to need in the completely water-filled section. A lot of people don't handle zero visibility (AUDIO GAP). Even certified cave divers have difficulty with zero (AUDIO GAP). These guys got a real uphill battle on their hands, that's for sure.

BERMAN: Ed, we're having a little hard time hearing you. So, if you can maybe hold the microphone from your headphones up to your mouth when you're talking to us there.

When you're swimming through, what's the trick swimming through these super narrow spaces that might only be a foot or two wide?

[08:40:00]

SORENSON: Well, I think, fortunately, the completely water filled sections are larger than that. I think most of the really (AUDIO GAP). So, if they're completely water filled, the biggest danger and drawback there is if the victim has a problem with his scuba, his open circuit scuba rig, or he's (AUDIO GAP) panics, there's no way to reach back or get to the victims. (AUDIO GAP) I think they don't have that issue right now as long as (AUDIO GAP).

BERMAN: Ed Sorensen, we appreciate you working us through with these audio problems. We got some good information from you on what goes through all this. Of course, you got to keep these survivors calm the whole way through, and that's no easy task.

Ed Sorensen thank you very much.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: Still ahead for us, actress Carrie Coon joins CNN NEWS CENTRAL. We talk about her Tony nominated role in the Broadway show "Bug." Also, that iconic monologue in "The White Lotus" and what she's heard about it since. And what type of role that she is hoping to take on next.

And robots, they're now hitting the catwalk, sharing the stage with human models.

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[08:45:07]

BOLDUAN: The video of this fireball is just insane. The moment a Blue Origin rocket exploded overnight during what's called a hot fire test. This all happened at Cape Canaveral. The company, founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos, says all staff are accounted for, all staff are safe, thankfully. But just look at this. They're still working to figure out what caused

it. The company announced this week, though, that the rocket, it's called the New Glenn, that it had been cleared to launch once again. That's after what happened last month when there was another issue with the rocket, a second stage failure during its third flight that prompted an FAA investigation. When that happened, the rocket was unable to deliver its satellite payload to orbit properly.

The FAA says this time the test isn't in its scope because it didn't impact air traffic. But NASA still plans to investigate.

And just look at what happened overnight. Jeff Bezos posted on social media this, "very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it.

Joining me right now is David Soucie, CNN's safety analyst and former FAA safety inspector.

David, obviously so much not known, but when you see this video, what could have happened?

DAVID SOUCIE, CNN SAFETY ANALYST: Well, at this point, it's too early to tell exactly what happened. But you can -- what I feel is happening here is this race to the moon, everybody's trying to push things forward. I feel like they didn't take the necessary safety precautions. He can say, yes, this is a test. We're going to rebuild. We're going to do whatever we have to do. But it's -- you have to also think about the fact that you have to set these tests up properly. You have to test everything in the system. Obviously, that didn't happen here.

You can't blow up a rocket as a test. What you have to do is check it beforehand, make sure there's no leaks and -- which can happen. In these hydrogen tanks, what you have is enough pressure and enough power that, obviously, you can see what -- how much power is there. It has to be directed. It has to be controlled. And these controls are not something you take lightly. But these -- this obviously had a leak, some kind of leak that got back into the system.

What you also have is a one-way check valve in every single connection along the way. So that, you're supposed to build them this way. And that's what NASA is going to be looking into is, did they have the proper safety precautions at every phase of movement of the fuel?

When you move the fuel, special valves are made to prevent this kind of static electricity or any kind of buildup back. As it moves, it creates energy. And that energy, as it moves through the tubes, creates that energy and creates static electricity around the outside of the tube. So, it has to all be grounded properly. It all has to make sure that there's no oxygen getting into it to mix with it.

And obviously something here went wrong with that process, creating too much heat in the wrong place and results in this kind of explosion. I think it's just a bit of carelessness, to be honest with you. BOLDUAN: And, David, I mean you mentioned the race to the moon. These

private companies are critical -- have become critical to NASA's space plans and future hopes of returning humans to the moon and going beyond. And you wonder, well, you know, clearly Jeff Bezos says, you know, they will rebuild and they will continue the work. When you see, I mean, what a disaster this just erupted in Cape Canaveral, I wonder how this sets that back.

SOUCIE: Well, it will set it back for years and years and years. And if NASA investigates and finds that there was something that they did that was -- that was careless, then they will not be able to get a contract with NASA. It's just the way it works. They -- it could take five to ten years before this project would be available to NASA.

NASA is super critical about this. So is the FAA. Once it's in the air space, which it has to go through that airspace, and the FAA does control the airspace, as well as the spaceports. So, the FAA is going to be involved with this all the way along the route. But this was not within their purview because it wasn't an intended flight. It wasn't supposed to be in the airspace. It was just a test of the engine. So -- but it indicates to me, and the FAA is saying, no, we're hands off, we don't have anything to do with it yet, but they will. This will be part of their investigation. Once they get airborne, they'll look back to see what NASA said and what came out of it and how that -- how that's going to prove -- they have to approve to ten to the minus nine safety factor, which is trillions of points to say it will not fail. It will not fail because of this and this and this, though the math behind what it is that makes it safe for commercial flight it is millions fold and they'll have to get back that trust.

BOLDUAN: Yes. David, thank you so much for jumping on and helping us understand as we continue to try to get more answers of what really went down. Thank you, David.

John.

[08:50:08]

BERMAN: So, in Florida, a judge dismissed a traffic ticket against a woman who was pulled over by a deputy, accused of driving while holding a cell phone in her right hand. The thing is, she has no right hand. Behold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You drove past me holding the phone with your right hand, manipulating that phone. I mean, I saw you with the phone in your hand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, obviously not. So, you want to just call this a day or?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to call it a day. You had a hand manipulating a phone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just said my right hand. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I thought I saw it your right hand. You had a

hand on it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, you didn't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your right hand. I saw you manipulating --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, you didn't.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the right hand, perhaps not, right. I'm asking you now, did you -- did you or not having your phone in your hand?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You did not have your phone in your hand?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hand to God, you did not have a phone in your hand?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hand to God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Hand of God. She has an outstanding sense of humor. Her ticket for texting while driving was dismissed after a request from that deputy.

In South Korea, robots on the runway. They walked alongside human models in a physical A.I. fashion show. You can see they were wearing matching outfits. Who wore it better? Organizers say they want people to imagine a future where humans and robots coexist, apparently wearing the same clothes.

Kate.

BOLDUAN: So, the Tony Awards are next weekend. And one of the buzziest performances of this year's Broadway season is from Carrie Coon. You know her from HBO's "The White Lotus," "The Gilded Age," so much more. And caveat -- well, not caveat, but the disclaimer, CNN and HBO have the same parent company.

With the Broadway role, Coon just scored her second Tony nomination for "Bug," an intense psychological thriller written by her husband, Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts. Carrie Coon plays Agnes, a hard drinking cocktail waitress from Oklahoma, hiding out from her ex- husband in a motel. And her grip on reality starts to slip when a mysterious stranger comes into her life and she starts seeing bugs.

Here's a clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARRIE COON, ACTRESS, "BUG": I don't know why I love you so much. I don't even know you very well. We ain't really done much in bed except for that one night. And for some reason I don't even care. Seems like all we ever talk about is bugs. I guess I'd rather talk about bugs with you than talk about nothing with nobody. Not like I got a lot to say unless I talk about misery. But who wants to hear about that all the time? I don't. I just get sick of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And joining us right now is Tony and Emmy Award nominee Carrie Coon.

CARRIE COON, ACTRESS, "BUG": Hi. Thanks for having me.

BOLDUAN: Thank you for being here.

COON: you see, it's funny. Did you hear the people laughing? It's all so funny.

BOLDUAN: Yes, I did -- I did hear the fun. I did hear the laughter in it.

The reviews, I mean, sometimes I want to say, like, screw the reviews, how do you feel about it?

COON: Yes.

BOLDUAN: But the reviews are amazing. I mean, we --

COON: They -- we could -- we should have -- we could have written them ourselves.

BOLDUAN: We could -- we maybe -- maybe we did. I mean when -- if -- described as like ferocious and riveting. I can only dream to have a performance of mine described that way. What, other than, you know, you know the man who wrote it --

COON: I do.

BOLDUAN: What did you think of in taking on this project?

COON: I was intimidated by Agnes. You know, it's a lot. It's a -- it's only -- it's theoretically a 90 minute play, though I think we ran about two hours. And it's just a -- it's a big lift. She goes through a -- quite a journey, a big arc. And there's, of course, always a big speech at the end. A big, hysterical speech. And so, it's intimidating.

But I also -- it's not worth doing theater unless it's hard.

BOLDUAN: It's true.

COON: You know, I like the challenge, right?

BOLDUAN: Yes.

COON: If you're going to be away from your kids, then you should learn something and you should get better at something. And I don't want to do anything that's easy. That doesn't feel worthwhile. BOLDUAN: Carrie, this was written 30 years ago, right?

COON: Yes.

BOLDUAN: I mean it's -- we're talking like paranoia, conspiracy theories, isolation, misery. She's describing it.

COON: (INAUDIBLE). Yes.

BOLDUAN: Think, written 30 years ago. How does it feel bringing it to life in today's strange world?

COON: Well, it goes to show that the good art transcends for a reason. And every time we did the play, we did it four years ago at Steppenwolf. We did it pre-pandemic. And then we used it to reopen the theater after -- because we were shut down by the pandemic. We reopened the theater with it. And then we brought it to Broadway, of course, several years later.

And every single time the audience hears it in a different way. They hear it through the lens of whatever's happening in the world. And the good art does that.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

COON: The good art enters what we're experiencing obliquely and speaks to the moment we're in, with some distance, right, so we're not traumatized by it.

And again, Tracy's plays, they endure also because there are -- they are prescient. His plays have always been ahead of their time. This was welcomed as a strange little science fiction piece. And now, when people listen to it, the language is horrifying.

[08:55:01]

You know, we talk about the machines coming for us and sort of the moment we're in with A.I. and somehow, even though it's 30 years old, it's really speaking to this particular specific moment that we're in.

And also just what we're willing to compromise for love and, like you say, isolation, what we're experiencing with social media, people are lonelier than ever. And what are we willing to overlook or compromise in order to find love or to get rid of our loneliness? And that's really what it's about. Ultimately, it's a love story.

BOLDUAN: Do you prefer, you know, film or stage, or do you have a preference?

COON: I feel that stage is a touchstone, as it should be. In the theater, the actor is the arbiter of taste. In TV and film, you're always waiting for someone to tell you they got what they need, right? You're in some ways painting with this broad brush, and they get to pick and choose which version they like. In the theater, you know whether you are effectively telling the story, the audience tells you. They are participating in that process. And I think that's good exercise for an actor, both emotionally and also physically, because also in a theater space you can't hide. You're telling a story with your whole body.

BOLDUAN: Right.

COON: And so economy of movement becomes part of the storytelling. How you are drawing or giving focus in a space. And I think that all translates into TV and film work.

Also, you never tell a story in order anymore in TV and film.

BOLDUAN: That's so true.

COON: And I can't tell you how satisfying it is to tell a story in order, to live through those moments, to rise to the climax, and then, you know, go through the denouement together and have a complete story with an audience. There's just nothing more satisfying. And there's applause.

BOLDUAN: Exactly.

COON: There's no applause on a TV and film set, or just moving a cable.

BOLDUAN: And there's -- I have -- I have been asking for that in the studio for so long.

COON: Yes. You know, sometimes I ask for applause after rehearsal on TV and film set just to get us all juiced up for the day. And I have to say, it's really satisfying.

BOLDUAN: I like that very much.

COON: It's good.

BOLDUAN: I -- you have been asked many times about the -- speaking of, you know, the -- a monologue. A monologue at the end of season three of "The White Lotus." And I have three sisters. I have a trio of very close girlfriends. And it was something that we absolutely discussed.

What do you think of it kind of in the -- when you have the time and distance of thinking of that, that moment that you had at that, at that -- in that scene and what -- how it's hit so many people?

COON: It -- I knew it was the heart of that season. I knew that that friendship would resonate with people who maybe were a little further away from the themes that were perhaps more Greek in their expression.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

COON: And so, I knew that the trio would be the most relatable. I had no idea the number of think pieces it would spawn. The conversation on social media. Just how moved people would be by that engagement with middle life and what it means.

BOLDUAN: Yes. COON: And what history means with other people. And how that does give us meaning in our lives, even when it's fraught. And again, the way we compare.

BOLDUAN: Because it's almost arkain (ph) to that -- that it was fraught. Like the acceptance of it felt so --

COON: Yes. Right. That's right.

BOLDUAN: That much contentment.

COON: That all of it was -- that's right, because it accumulated in some way that was meaningful for her, for all of them. And that we -- we do reflect back on our life choices. And the greatest mirror are the people that are closest to us.

And there is something really poignant about the keepers of memory, the people who have known us our whole lives, who know how we arrived at the places where we are, even as our lives are still unfolding, even to us. And so there is both mystery in it and also history. And I think those two things together are -- just create meaning for people, especially in an increasingly secular time that we're living in.

BOLDUAN: Yes. I think I could talk to you for a very long time about many topics.

COON: Oh, I would love that.

BOLDUAN: You -- I, really, you have a fascinating take. "The Gilded Age." Let's hit on the other big -- let's hit on the other one.

COON: Fantastic film.

BOLDUAN: Where do you want to go next? How about that?

COON: Oh, gosh.

BOLDUAN: You get to choose your own adventure.

COON: Honestly, this maybe sounds like a cliche, but I'm an athlete from college. That was -- the clip of me running in "Gilded Age" -- in "White Lotus" went viral.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

COON: And I, you know, I ran track and I played soccer. And I've always wanted to be invited to do something that's more athletic. And so, you know, a little action would be fun.

BOLDUAN: Wait, that's really neat (ph).

COON: I'd love to do some action. I think a lot of actors say that. But honestly, I think it would be really fun. And I think it would be something I would -- I would thrive in. I love the physical challenge of work.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

COON: I loved hanging out the window in "White Lotus."

BOLDUAN: I loved that part. I really loved that.

COON: I love it. I know, right, isn't that fun? It was such a fun moment. I did all that myself, of course. There was a moment in "Leftovers" where I had to throw a rock through a window eight times in a row, and I nailed -- and those are like my most proud moments of my work.

BOLDUAN: You're like, nailed it.

COON: Totally. It's like nothing impresses the crew. Like nothing impresses the union guys more than like hitting the target.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

COON: And not having to move closer. So, those are like the most satisfying moments of my career. And I would love to do something that's more physical in that way. And also a sense of humor. I have a -- I have a -- my family thinks of me as very lighthearted. I'm always invited to do drama. So, I'm looking for an action comedy. Anybody?

BOLDUAN: Anyone?

COON: Comedy? Action? Anyone?

BOLDUAN: Anyone?

COON: Call me.

BOLDUAN: I'll call some people.

COON: Thanks.

BOLDUAN: You may know -- you may know a writer.

COON: Maybe.

BOLDUAN: You may know a writer who can help you with it.

COON: I know. I know. He's busy. He's got two little kids.

BOLDUAN: Exactly. While we do all the hard work.

COON: Yes. Yes. That's right.

BOLDUAN: It's really great to have you.

COON: My pleasure. Thank you for having me.

BOLDUAN: Congratulations on the nomination.

COON: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: All right. The Tony Awards air Sunday, June 7th.