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Trump DOJ Releases Heavily Redacted Epstein Files; At Least One Image Of Trump Has Been Removed From DOJ Site; U.S. Seizes Second Oil Tanker Off Venezuela's Coast; U.S.-Russia Peace Talks On Ukraine Underway In Miami; Search Intensifies For Motive In University, MIT Shootings; Australians Mark One Week Since Deadly Mass Shooting; Trump Announces Plan To Lower Prescription Drug Prices. Aired 5-6a ET
Aired December 21, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Someone who's been held up as a hero and someone who really showed the best of humanity in a horrific moment, Kim.
[05:00:11]
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: The theme of this evening is light over darkness and -- and from watching this we certainly hope that a scene of hate can become one of healing. Angus Watson, thank you so much for your reporting there in Sydney. And thank you all of you for watching us here on "CNN Newsroom." We have more news coming now. Stay with us.
And welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is "CNN Newsroom."
The Justice Department releases more Epstein files but one image in particular appears to have been removed from their website. We'll have the latest fallout from the release.
The U.S. seizes another oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. We'll look at what the move means as the White House ramps up pressure on President Maduro and talks on the future of Ukraine moving forward without Ukraine, what the U.S. and Russia are discussing.
ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: We're learning more from the Justice Department files on the investigation into late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The documents are heavily and inconsistently redacted. The DOJ admits it didn't release all of the files but says more information will be made public in the coming weeks.
Some in Congress say the department isn't following the law. Many celebrities and high-profile figures appear in the files but there are relatively few references to the president. At least one image of him appears to have been removed from the DOJ's website. CNN has reached out to the DOJ and White House for comment.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee highlighted the image's apparent removal. They posted it on social media asking what else is being covered up.
CNN spoke earlier with a Democrat on that committee and we asked if he received an answer on why the image was apparently removed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: No, I have not and -- and quite frankly it's mystifying that it was removed after it was already released but I guess it shouldn't be totally surprising because there -- there are numerous categories of documents that haven't been produced that are required to be produced under the law.
For instance, investigative materials associated with the U.S. Attorney's investigations both in Florida and New York. Also financial records, there were more than a billion dollars in transactions associated with this ghastly child sex trafficking ring and those aren't produced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: CNN White House reporter Camila DeChalus has more on what's in the files.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAMILA DECHALUS, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, there's a lot of things that really stood out between the latest batch of the Jeffrey Epstein documents that were just released by the Justice Department. Number one, one of the biggest things is that these documents really provided an even bigger glimpse into how extensive Jeffrey Epstein's social network was especially among high-profile figures in the entertainment industry and in the world of politics.
We saw images that included of Michael Jackson, of Diana Ross, of former president Bill Clinton and even Donald Trump the president himself and it's really important to note that there's no evidence that Jackson, Clinton, Ross or Trump engaged in any illegal activity connected to Epstein.
Now, on the subject of the president, there's been some speculation on whether the Justice Department might have held back some information regarding him and a top DOJ official addressed this and here's what he had to say.
TODD BLANCHE, U.S. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: There's no effort to hold anything back because there's the name Donald J. Trump or anybody else's name, Bill Clinton's name, Reid Hoffman's name.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be clear you're saying DOJ has not been ordered to redact anything related to President Trump, that there's no order to do such?
BLANCHE: No, I mean I would give the order.
DECHALUS: Now, it's also important to note that these documents provide an even bigger glimpse into how law enforcement was warned very early on about Epstein. In fact in one of the documents, it confirmed that one of Epstein's victims filed a complaint about him as far back as the mid-1990s about his behavior.
Now her lawyer reported back and confirmed the accuracy of this and that really just goes to show that as more of these documents are released, it really sheds more light into just how well connected he was and just how far back some of these complaints were about him.
Camila DeChalus, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Justice Department officials say the reason so many files were heavily redacted and why some information hasn't yet been released is because they're trying to protect Epstein's victims, but one survivor says she doesn't buy that. Jess Michaels spoke with CNN earlier and says she believes the DOJ has broken the law. Here she is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESS MICHAELS, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: I think the law was clear that the deadline was 11:59 p.m. December 19th and once that time frame was crossed, we've broken the law. They've broken the law. The Department of Justice, the department that is supposed to protect us and provide law and order has broken the law.
[05:05:15]
And -- and I see no -- no dancing around that, no giving leeway because this has been going on this recent -- this recent year for months since -- since the administration decided to seal everything and close the investigation, but for many of us, it's been going on for 30 years. I've been living with post-traumatic stress disorder since 1991.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Well, the second time in less than two weeks, the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted this video on social media following the seizure Saturday. It shows the U.S. military choppers flying over the Panamanian flagship in international waters. She said the action is part of U.S. efforts to, quote, "pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism."
As American forces boarded the vessel, an official said the crew offered no resistance. An official said this vessel isn't under U.S. sanctions, but the Venezuelan oil it carried was bound for Asia. President Trump has ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers out of Venezuela.
Now, this comes as Venezuela's foreign minister, Yvan Gil, said he spoke to the Iranian government about the U.S. actions in the region. According to Gil, the Middle Eastern country offered its cooperation and stands in solidarity with Venezuela.
CNN's Stefano Pozzebon has the view from Venezuela, and he's in the capital, Caracas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The reaction out of Caracas after the United States seized a second tanker that was carrying oil out of Venezuela to international buyers has been quick. On Saturday, the Venezuelan foreign minister, Yvan Gil, said in a statement that he had phone calls with the government of Iran. And I quote, "The two governments discussed strategies to face up the piracy and international terrorism that the United States are trying to impose."
A very strongly worded statement. A second statement, however, from the Venezuelan public oil company, PDVSA, said that the country is closing 2025 with the target of extracting 1,200,000 barrels of crude oil per day. However, at the same time, we can see that the strategy of seizing up tankers and other assets of Venezuela, and if they happen to enter international waters, is continuing. And, of course, we are approaching a very tense Christmas break here in Caracas.
For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon, Caracas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Earlier, CNN spoke to Military Analyst Colonel Cedric Leighton on the likelihood of land strikes in Venezuela after President Trump has been mentioning the possibility for months. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: When it comes to a land strike, you know, the -- the way in which they've done these kinds of operations, first going after the supposed alleged narco-trafficking boats, where we really have no proof of, you know, that these -- these vessels are in that, that is one of the least effective ways to really coerce the Venezuelan government.
Now, going after the tankers, that's a completely different story, because, you know, around 90 percent of Venezuela's export revenue actually comes from oil, and that has actually been severely curtailed during the last few years. They used to ship somewhere between three and four million barrels of oil per day, and now what you're looking at is somewhere around 900,000.
So, this is, you know, a major change in their export volume. And what you're looking at in terms of tactics in this particular case, these interdiction operations that we're seeing right now, that actually could potentially curtail not only Venezuela's oil exports, but it could strangle the Venezuelan economy. And that, of course, would be a significant effort. And, you know, going back to what a country like Iran or Cuba could do, what it could do is it could, they could try to provide some financial support to the Venezuelans, but they themselves are not in good financial shape either. So, that's going to be a problem not only for them, but obviously for Venezuela itself.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and Russia will try to make more headway in their peace talks on Ukraine later today. That's according to Russia's main negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, who spoke after the first round of talks in Miami on Saturday. But Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says there's pressure to conduct future negotiations in a different format. He says the U.S. wants all sides to sit face-to-face.
Barbie Latza Nadeau is monitoring developments, and she joins us now from Rome. So, Barbie, walk us through what happened in the talks so far.
BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yeah, you know, we haven't got a lot of details about what's going on in that room. We know that Steve Witkoff, the U.S. negotiator, and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the Russian negotiator are there, where they're Saturday, are meeting again on Sunday.
[05:10:13]
What's important to note, though, is who's not in the room. And we know that President -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is watching very, very closely for any details coming out of this meeting. Let's listen to what he had to say about them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Peace is better than war, but not at any price, because we've already paid a high price. For us, it is important that peace is fair and strong, so that it cannot be violated by another desire of Putin or by another Putin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NADEAU: And, you know, Kim, when you're listening to that, it's really important, I think, to note that we've been close to these peace talks before. This is not the first time we've had these negotiations. These are slightly different in the sense that they are following that 20- point plan that the Trump administration put forward earlier in the year and trying to make some headway.
Now, Ukraine and Russia both have their sort of red lines, and it's going to be interesting to see, going forward, just who's going to give an inch in terms of getting closer to peace.
BRUNHUBER: Yeah. And on those potential face-to-face talks, I mean, they're sort of talking about a trilateral meeting, but you're in Europe, so from a European perspective, what role do you think Europe's expected to play, if any, in these negotiations?
NADEAU: Well, there is a lot of frustration here in Europe. Now, Ukrainian leaders and European leaders did meet on Friday, but there is frustration across the continent here in terms of what happens next and how they're sort of being cut out and some of the negative things President Trump has said about European leaders. You know, I think you can't escape the fact that the war here in
Europe is affecting every single country in different ways. You've got a lot of displaced Ukrainians spread throughout Europe. You've got a heavy economic price being paid and a lot of frustration with the war. And so, you know, Europe wants to be part of the negotiations because they're ultimately going to be very involved in what happens next and whatever peace looks like, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: All right, that's the question. Barbie Latza Nadeau in Rome. Thanks so much.
A powerful storm system could disrupt travel for more than 122 million Americans expected to travel from now until New Year's Day. The TSA says it expects a significant increase in holiday travelers this year. CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar says that most Americans won't experience a winter wonderland this holiday season.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, you may have to keep dreaming and that's because much of the U.S. is actually going to see a surge of very warm air begin to spread across the country as we head further into this week. Here's a look at today. You can see a lot of the warm temperatures indicated by that red and orange color you see on the map.
But once we head into Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, it really starts to spread across the rest of the country. This is now Christmas Day on Thursday. Notice all of these areas dealing with temperatures that are above average.
And I'm not just talking five or just a few degrees above average. We are looking at potentially record-breaking heat for several days. We'll start to see some dots pop up in this map as we go through the rest of the week.
This indicates a location that could end up breaking a record. Notice some of them stay up there for several days in a row. So you could have a few areas that get a record on Tuesday and Wednesday and then yet again on Thursday.
So, if you're looking for snow, the best chance may be wherever you actually have snow right now. Here's a look at the current snow cover. You'll see a lot of it up in the northern tier of the country, some higher elevations of, say, the Green and White Mountains in the northeast, the Rockies.
The only area we're likely going to add a significant amount of snow over the next few days that will stick around for Christmas is going to be out to the west. You've got a series of systems coming through that are going to impact places like California, Oregon, Washington. All of these areas are likely going to see an increase in snow, whereas the rest of the country really isn't expected to pick up all that much more snow in areas that we don't already have it.
Warm air is really going to be the focus. Take a look at Chicago, for example. The average high temperature this time of year, 35 degrees. Outside of today, we will spend every single one of the next seven days at or above that average high temperature. Even places farther south like Dallas, for example, the average high of 57 will be above that. But notice, too, most of the low temperatures for the next week will actually be warmer than our average high temperature this time of year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: All right, still to come, we'll show you how Australians are mourning the 15 people killed last week in a horrific mass shooting on Bondi Beach. It's a ceremony to celebrate light over darkness.
Plus, the latest in the search for a motive in the MIT and Brown University shootings. We'll have those stories and more when we come back. Please stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:18:54]
BRUNHUBER: Luigi Mangione's lawyers say there's a conflict of interest in Pam Bondi's decision to seek the death penalty against their client in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
In a new court filing, his lawyers argue that the U.S. attorney general continues to profit from her prior work at a firm that represented UnitedHealthcare's parent company. They say this violates Mangione's due process rights. They want prosecutors barred from seeking the death penalty and some charges thrown out. A hearing has been scheduled for January 9th.
The search for a motive is expanding as investigators look deeper into the killings of a professor at MIT and two people at Brown University. The deceased suspect, Claudio Valente, has been characterized as brilliant but difficult and an intelligent recluse by former classmates and neighbors.
CNN's Michael Yoshida has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL YOSHIDA, CNN REPORTER: Here at the campus of Brown University, memorials continue to grow as the question of motive lingers over this campus as well as the investigation, an effort made more difficult by the fact that the suspected shooter is dead. Still, we know investigators diving into his history.
[05:20:04]
And this is what we know right now, 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, a Portuguese national who did have a connection to Brown University, a former graduate student in the early 2000s, though he only stayed in the program for several semesters. And also, we now know he did have some sort of connection potentially to the MIT professor who was shot and killed. Both attended the same academic program back in the late 90s in Portugal. Along with that information, investigators trying to go through the suspected shooter's footsteps in the moments leading up to these deadly shootings.
We know he rented a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire in November, was in the Boston area in late November, early December, eventually renting a car that he drove to the Brown University campus. That vehicle seen around the campus for the first part of December.
And then there was the deadly mass shooting at Brown. Two students killed, nine others injured. Just days later in Massachusetts, an MIT professor was shot and killed at his home. And then the suspected shooter went back to that storage facility, where it was later found dead, this manhunt ending. But again, still so many questions remain a source of emotion, but also frustration for some of those on this campus.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I wanted to honor what happened and honor that it's over. But I wasn't anticipating how emotional it is to be here in person.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seems like security was a lot more lax than it should have been. The fact that he had essentially gotten away and was really, you know, wasn't ever actually caught, just found after the fact. That feels unacceptable to me.
YOSHIDA: And another focus of this investigation has been on the Reddit post and tipster that really broke this case wide open. Those in this community saying they're grateful for that, but that's also a point of frustration as why it took that to really close that manhunt. They say while they go through the grieving process, processing everything that happened here, they are hopeful that at some point they'll have an answer as to why this shooter came here and opened fire.
Reporting in Providence, Rhode Island, Michael Yoshida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: A manhunt is underway in South Africa after a shooting that killed at least nine people. Police say two groups of attackers opened fire at a bar early Sunday in Bekkersdal, a township southwest of Johannesburg. One group of attackers was in a van, the other was in a car. Police are asking witnesses with information to come forward.
Australians are holding a national day of reflection for the 15 victims of the Bondi beach massacre. It's been one week since two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Crowds marked a moment of silence at the site of the attack and lit a menorah to mark the end of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Organizers call the event light over darkness. Those comes as Australian officials investigate the attack as an act of terror against Jews, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he's ordered a review of the country's security agencies to make sure they're able to protect the public against future threats.
CNN's Angus Watson joins me live from Sydney. Angus, you and I were watching that ceremony taking place live a few minutes ago as one of the parents of a victim of that shooting lit a menorah candle, a really touching moment. Walk us through what happened and what it all means to those gathered there.
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: That's right. It was an extremely poignant moment, Kim, there where the father of Matilda B., a 10-year-old girl, killed in this horrific terror attack one week ago today. The father lit the eighth candle on the menorah marking the eighth night of Hanukkah, a period that should have been a celebration for the Jewish community here and around the world. Instead, they are mourning their own, including Matilda, 10 years old, who was shot in this park here by two gunmen. The youngest victim of this attack, the oldest victim, was 87-year-old Alex Kleytman, who was farewelled in a funeral this week. He was a Holocaust survivor, Kim.
So, really raw emotion on show at this memorial service where Jewish people led the crowd, but it was embraced by the wider population here in Bondi and the wider population around Australia.
Now, of course, people around the country want the government to do more both to stamp out antisemitism and also to make this country a safer place, to try to make sure that nothing like what happened last Sunday can happen again. To do that, the Australian government has cracked down on hate speech laws, made those rules tougher, particularly around what it calls hate preachers spreading division via sermon. It wants to close loopholes in its already strict gun regulation. It wants to limit the number of guns that our licensees can hold, and it wants to evaluate those licenses more regularly because it knows that people get radicalized over time.
[05:25:21]
Importantly, there will also be a review of the Australian intelligence services that will be made public in April. What the government wants to do is make sure that those services have the right powers and the right information sharing protocols to make sure that the public is safe. As we know, the two suspects in this case, the Akrams, Sajid and Naveed, they opened fire from a bridge at this Hanukkah festival.
Naveed was known to security services for a period of years who didn't believe him to be a threat, while Sajid had a gun license. They were able to travel to the Philippines just last November, returning to Australia before the attack, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: All right, I appreciate that. Angus Watson in Sydney, Australia. Thanks so much.
Well, the head of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem is now in Gaza, visiting Catholics days before Christmas. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa led a Christmas mass a short time ago at the only Catholic church in the enclave. That church was damaged earlier this year after becoming a shelter for Gaza's small Christian community amid the war with Israel. The cardinal told parishioners that they will rebuild, adding, quote, "We are rooted here and will remain here."
All right, still ahead, Donald Trump is boasting that he will deliver big reductions in health care costs. I'll ask a journalist who's been there if there's any credibility to those claims.
Plus, the president sends the door to medical research on the drug. We'll hear from one addiction psychiatrist on the risks and rewards of reclassification. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:30:20]
BRUNHUBER: Welcome back, I'm Kim Brunhuber. Let's check some of today's top stories.
The Justice Department admits it didn't release all of its files on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation but says more information will be made public in the coming weeks. At least one image of President Trump appears to have been removed from the DOJ website. CNN has reached out to the Department and the White House for comment.
The U.S. military seized a second oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on Saturday. The vessel wasn't under U.S. sanctions and was flying a Panamanian flag. U.S. officials say sanctioned Venezuelan oil supports narco terrorism. President Trump recently ordered a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers.
The peace talks on Ukraine between the U.S. and Russia will resume in Miami later today. That's according to Russia's main negotiator who says the discussions are constructive. The remaining sticking points include Ukraine's security guarantees and potential territorial concessions to Moscow.
Rambling to deal with steeply rising health and premium subsidies are set to expire for the Affordable Care Act. The president has announced what he calls most favored nation price deals with nine drug companies. He plans to meet with insurers next in an effort to bring down the cost of premiums but he's claiming victory already, what he calls the greatest victory ever in American health care. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), U.S. PRESIDENT: This represents the greatest victory for patient affordability in the history of American health care by far. And every single American will benefit. So, this is the biggest thing ever to happen on drug pricing and on health care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: In a post on Truth Social, he claimed that drug prices could drop by as much as 800 percent.
For more on what's at stake and what's possible, I'm joined now by Dan Gorenstein, he's executive editor of Tradeoffs and former senior health care reporter for PBS' Marketplace. Great to have you on. Thanks so much for speaking. We heard the
president says he can get insurers to cut prices by incredible amounts with, you know, one meeting. You've been talking to insurance companies that might actually be in the room. What are the chances they just kind of smile, nod, and -- and then go home and do nothing?
DAN GORENSTEIN, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, "TRADEOFFS": Good morning, Kim. Thanks so much for having me on. I really appreciate it.
The chances that they are going to smile, nod, and tell the president in a polite way to go pound sand is extremely low. What's more likely is that they're going to come in there and they're going to look for a way to get what they want and make the president look good.
If -- I think the first thing they'll say, Kim, to the president is, look, if you want to make -- if you want to lower prices for people fast and bring some real meaningful relief, then extend these enhanced subsidies and people will see their premiums on average shrink by about $1,000 a year.
And that would be a real win. I think they'll also go in there and they'll say, look, president, we would love to have a conversation with you about how we can really control drug costs. This is not something that's going to be done in a day or a week or two weeks. This is going to be done over a series of serious conversations.
BRUNHUBER: OK, but, you know, they would like those subsidies. But President Trump, I mean, instead of giving the money to the insurers with those subsidies, President Trump is proposing another plan. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: All of the -- the billions and billions, ultimately trillions and trillions of dollars that's paid to these companies, we're going to pay directly to the people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: All right. So, can you walk us through, I mean, how that would work for regular people shopping for coverage?
GORENSTEIN: Sure. So, there's an idea out there that you -- and I spoke with one of the insurers who may end up being in the room here, and he was outlining this to me. So, there's this idea that you could extend the enhanced subsidies and rather than the subsidies going directly to the insurers, the enhanced portion of the subsidies would go directly to the consumer in a HSA, a so-called HSA account, a health savings account, right? And that money, that cash money could be used to lower the premium so you could level up. You could go from a silver plan to a gold plan.
You could use that money to use for out-of-pocket costs. And I think that's an idea that could have some real traction for the insurers. It could make the president look good, and it could be a way to sort of thread a needle. It might be, honestly, Kim, a little bit more smoke and mirrors than anything that's a meaningful reform, but it seems like it's plausible.
[05:35:14]
BRUNHUBER: Plausible. What are the pitfalls of a plan like that? Because I mean, it sounds great on its surface. We -- we get to keep the money. We don't -- you know, we cut out the middleman, but it might not be quite so easy.
GORENSTEIN: Yeah. No, I think that's fair. I think the pitfall -- I'm talking to a range of people about this yesterday, the -- it depends on how it's done. It depends on the details of this. What -- what sort of -- what could that money go for? There's some
GORENSTEIN: Yeah, no, I think that's fair. I think the pitfall -- I'm talking to a range of people about this yesterday. It depends on how it's done. It depends on the details of this. What sort of -- what could that money go for? There's some talk, there's some concern that you could only have that HSA money if you went into a so-called lower tier plan, a skimpier plan, a bronze plan, that would cover, would have higher deductibles, that offer less protection in medical catastrophes.
And so, if that were to happen, people would end up being potentially very exposed to healthcare costs that might not work very well for them.
BRUNHUBER: You talk about people being exposed. I want to ask you about some -- some people that you've actually spoken with. A woman named Nance, I understand, who's been wrestling with -- whether she can actually afford to keep her insurance. I mean, briefly, what's her situation? What does she kind of represent about the millions of people who are facing this decision right now?
GORENSTEIN: Yeah, thanks so much for asking. Nancy is a small business owner. She's in Virginia. She's a mediator. She's had insurance off and on for years. At one point, she didn't have insurance. And she got mugged when living in New York. And when the police arrived, they said, we'll call you the ambulance. And she begged them not to call the ambulance.
I cannot afford the ambulance. This is somebody who's, you know, has just had this traumatic, terrible thing. So, that gives you a sense of like how important insurance can be.
But then ultimately, she decided to get insurance. And she gave me this quote. And forgive me, I'm going to read it to you, Kim, real quick.
She said, "I see what happened to my cousins, two of them had breast cancer simultaneously. One was insured, one wasn't. One is with us, one is not. And the frightening thing about that is, as I age, I know that that's a bigger risk every year."
When we talk about these premiums going up, starting in 2021, or 2026, Kim, we're talking about some 4 million people that are going to lose their coverage. And I think it's really important to know, for folks to know that the literature is pretty clear that when they don't have insurance, they delay or forgo needed care and end up in worse health. Some people will die sooner than they need to.
And people are also more likely to face medical debt or bankruptcy. And at the same time, people still get sick, even if they're uninsured, and someone has to pick up the cost. And that affects all of us.
BRUNHUBER: These are real people's lives, as you say, so much at stake. We'll see what, if anything, comes from the president's efforts to try and address this. Dan Gorenstein, really appreciate your take on this. Thanks so much.
GORENSTEIN: Kim, thank you so much. Have a good day.
BRUNHUBER: You too.
President Trump's recent executive order to downgrade marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug is supposed to make it easier to conduct medical research into its benefits. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We have people begging for me to do this, people that are in great pain. This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers, and future treatments. I promise to be the president of common sense, and that is exactly what we're doing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Schedule I drugs don't have an acceptable medical use and include drugs like heroin, LSD, and Ecstasy. Schedule III are something like Tylenol, drugs which have a moderate to low potential for addiction. But the order doesn't include a timeline and doesn't federally legalize marijuana.
Members of Trump's party are pushing back on the move, while Democrats remain cautiously optimistic. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CYNTHIA LUMMIS (R-WY): Yeah, I -- I quite frankly just disagree with the president on this one. My state has neither recreational nor a medical marijuana, and quite frankly, I like it that way.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): I've generally been in favor of care and caution when it comes to marijuana use, but we need to be realistic about states like Connecticut that have largely legalized it. And I think that the rescheduling would probably be a realistic step toward recognizing what the state of the law is in the states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Earlier, I spoke with Dr. Kevin Hill, an addiction psychiatrist who teaches at the Harvard School of Medicine, on what this move means for the medical community. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. KEVIN HILL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PSYCHIATRY, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL: This is a positive step, but a small step. So, by definition, Schedule I means that a substance has abuse potential. Cannabis definitely has abuse potential, but as you mentioned before, you know, Schedule I substance also has no acceptable medical value.
[05:40:07]
And I think we've gotten to a point where we understand that there are some legitimate medical purposes for cannabis. And so Schedule I substances, studying those involves some procedural hurdles. So, removing those hurdles does make it easier to study.
BRUNHUBER: All right. So, you say some legitimate medical uses. You published a major study in JAMA that found the evidence for medical cannabis is actually pretty limited for most conditions. So, many people pushed back and said, well, that's because it's been so hard to study. So now that it's getting rescheduled, are we finally going to get those answers?
HILL: We might, so they're correct. It has been hard to study because of the Schedule I status, but I maintain that the real barrier to the research has been the lack of funding. So, there's no shortage of talented researchers in our country and other countries, but funding's hard to come by.
And unfortunately, a lot of the stakeholders that have been profiting from cannabis, like states that are tax revenues and companies that are profiting from selling cannabis products, to this point, they have not contributed in a substantial way to the research. So, now the onus is on them.
BRUNHUBER: The president talked about, you know, veterans and seniors, people with chronic pain, and how this could be an alternative to opioids, which have proven so potentially deadly. From -- from what you've seen in research, does the evidence actually support that?
HILL: The evidence for the treatment of chronic pain is limited, Kim, but I would say this, I treat patients with chronic pain in my practice every day, and I do think of cannabis and cannabinoids like CBD as potential third line treatments. So, many people who are proponents of cannabis say that it's a first line treatment. The evidence really doesn't support that.
There's limited evidence supporting the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain. But if someone has worked with their doctor in a collaborative way, and they've exhausted first and second line treatments, then I think it's worth having that discussion. So, that's what I do, and I'd be willing to typically prescribe an FDA-approved cannabinoid like Dronabinol if someone has chronic pain in such a situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BRUNHUBER: All right, still ahead, the message sent moments before the tragic plane crash that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family. We'll look at what investigators are saying when we come back. Stay with us.
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[05:45:33]
BRUNHUBER: We have new details about the plane crash that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family. The NTSB says just before the crash, one person on board the plane sent a text to a family member that read emergency landing. CNN's Rafael Romo has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the airplane was airborne for approximately 10 minutes after taking off before turning back and crashing on a different runway from the one used for departing. Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Christina and two children, Ryder and Emma, were among those killed, according to a statement from family members.
The NTSB says three other passengers, in addition to Biffle and his family, were aboard the Cessna C550 when it crashed in Statesville, North Carolina on Thursday, shortly after 10:15 in the morning.
In their latest update on Saturday, NTSB member Michael Graham said the investigating team has done multiple things as they proceed with the investigation. The NTSB released images pertaining to the investigation, showing, among other things, investigators analyzing the wreckage, recovering the cockpit voice recorder, taking pictures of an engine and the field of debris left after the crash. There have also been reports regarding possible communication between a passenger on the airplane and someone on land, something Graham confirmed on Saturday.
MICHAEL GRAHAM, BOARD MEMBER, NTSB: This morning, I can confirm that the NTSB is aware of one brief text from a passenger on board the aircraft to a family member that read, and I quote, "emergency landing." Again, that's emergency landing.
ROMO: Graham did not specify who sent the message or the person it was sent to, and also said that they have been unable to determine who was piloting the aircraft. As for a possible cause, this is only the preliminary stages in the investigation, but NTSB board member Graham said the plane's altitude on approach was not optimal for landing.
GRAHAM: Early indications from multiple sources indicate that the airplane was stable on approach, configured for landing with the landing lights on, but the aircraft was coming in low.
ROMO: The NTSB board member also said that information is consistent with the debris field, as well as points of impact for the crash on the airport runway. The preliminary report on the crash, the NTSB board member said, will be published within 30 days, but the final report may take anywhere from 12 to 18 months.
Rafael Romo, CNN Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Tensions in Honduras are reaching a fever pitch following a chaotic and still unresolved presidential election. On Friday, the U.S. State Department announced it had denied the visa application from a member of the Honduran National Electoral Council. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also revoked the visa of the head of Honduras' electoral court.
The decision comes as Honduras' presidential election results are in limbo nearly three weeks after election day. The elections have been mired by faulty vote counting, as well as allegations of fraud and U.S. intervention. As one Honduran resident puts it, morale is at an all-time low.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANIA MEJIA, RESIDENT (through translator): As Hondurans, I think we all feel extremely devalued. I feel that our dignity is at rock bottom because the foreign government is ordering us what to do and threatening us. The terrible thing is that nobody says anything, neither officials nor business people, but instead they accept it and bow their heads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: All right, coming up, we'll explore a longstanding cultural tradition that's literally made to be broken. We'll have a glimpse into the history of Mexico's iconic Christmas pinatas and the talented artisans who make them.
Stay with us.
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[05:53:10]
BRUNHUBER: Prince Harry and Meghan have released a rare family photo for the holidays. Snapshot isn't early Christmassy, and was taken in a wooded area near their home in California, but it does show the Duke and Duchess of Sussex affectionately holding their children. Six-year- old Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who is four.
Pinatas are a familiar sight across Mexico as Christmas approaches. The boldly colored paper sculptures are stuffed with sweet treats. Many are lovingly made by hand, but are ultimately meant to be beaten and destroyed.
CNN's Polo Sandoval has more on this centuries-old tradition still holding strong.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Stars shape pinatas in Mexico, the colorful paper shapes won't last long after a few well- placed hits from partygoers. But this holiday tradition in Mexico, it's about more than just candy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I think pinatas unite us. The fun that breaking pinatas brings.
SANDOVAL: You see, making pinatas is a labor of love in some Mexican workshops, especially the star-shaped ones, which are the star attractions of Mexican Christmas parties called posadas. They commemorate Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. The seven points of the star symbolize the seven deadly sins, and the sweet treats inside, they're the reward for good overcoming evil.
And in the weeks before Christmas, everyone in this shop pitches in to help with production, even those still learning the family business.
JAYDEN HERNANDEZ ORTIZ, FAMILY OWNS PINATA BUSINESS (through translator): This time of year is beautiful because it's a tradition carried out every year, started by my grandmother, now passed on. I am the third generation continuing this tradition.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): A product made to be destroyed, but workers say they still put a lot of love into them.
JACQUELINE GARCIA GONZALEZ, ARTISAN (through translator): We always try to give it that touch, some love, so that people are attracted to them. Because sometimes when you make things in a rush or just for the sake of making them, well, you don't transmit that. And that's what we look for in pinatas.
[05:55:05]
SANDOVAL (voice-over): From the workshops to the posada, star pinatas are a tradition dating back centuries, bursting with the Christmas spirit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I mean, we like parties. We like to put emotion into everything, and the colors reflect that. They reflect it as a symbol of joy.
SANDOVAL (voice-over): Polo Sandoval, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Well, the first round of the college football playoffs came to an end Saturday with a triple header. All right, let's start with the nightcap blowout, where fifth-seeded Oregon sent number 12, James Madison, packing. Oregon had five touchdowns before the end of the first half.
Now, James Madison kept fighting, scoring 28 points in the second half, but it was too little too late, as Oregon coasted to a 51-34 win. The Ducks are set to clash with Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day. In Mississippi, number 6 seed Ole Miss trampled number 11 Tulane. The
rebels came out swinging, jumping to a 14-point lead in the first eight minutes of the game. Ole Miss didn't let off gas, tallying more than 500 yards of offense to overwhelm the Green Wave 41-10. The Rebels advanced to the New Year's Day Sugar Bowl game against the Georgia Bulldogs.
And in Saturday's closest contest, the 10th-seeded Miami Hurricanes upset number 7 seed Texas A&M. With less than two minutes left, the teams were tied only at three points each. Then wide receiver Malachi Toney lifted Miami to a seven-point lead, tiptoeing up the sideline for a touchdown. The Aggies tried responding, but were picked off in the end zone on the falling drive, sealing the loss 10-3. Miami heads to the Cotton Bowl to face the number 2 seed Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year's Eve.
All right, that wraps this hour of "CNN Newsroom." I'm Kim Brunhuber. For our viewers in North America, "CNN This Morning" is next. For the rest of the world, it's more than a game.
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