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Clintons Agree to Testify to Avoid Contempt Charges; Counterprogramming Aims to Steal Viewers from Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired February 03, 2026 - 06:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any Olympic sport.

[06:00:02]

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: So, after tonight, it's down to business. The Patriots, they're trying to win a record seventh Super Bowl. The Seahawks, meanwhile, are trying to win their second.

And this is actually a rematch from Super Bowl XLIX. And if you remember that game, it was the one where Malcolm Butler had the interception of Russell Wilson on the one-yard line, just devastating Seahawks fans. So, for all of Seattle, this is the Malcolm Butler revenge game.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RAHEL SOLOMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right. That's going to do it for us here on EARLY START. I'm Rahel Solomon, live in New York. I'll see you tomorrow. But CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Hey. Today in the group chat, the big Epstein files breakthrough. Bill and Hillary Clinton agree to testify before lawmakers.

And desperate hours. What lawmakers are saying now about the search for Savannah Guthrie's mother.

And President Trump says Republicans should take over and nationalize voting. So, what does that mean, exactly?

And breaking right now in Paris, prosecutors raid Elon Musk's X office. So, what are they looking for? CNN THIS MORNING starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD BLANCHE, DEPUTY U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: It is not a crime to party with Mr. Epstein. And so, as horrible as -- it's not a crime to email with Mr. Epstein. And -- and some of these men may have done horrible things. And if we have evidence that allows us to prosecute them, you better believe we will. But it's also the kind of thing that that the American people need to

understand that it isn't a crime to party with Mr. Epstein.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: The Justice Department says there will be no new charges related to the Epstein files, but Bill and Hillary Clinton say they are ready to talk.

Good morning. I'm Audie Cornish, and this is where we begin, with the former president and former secretary of state, because they've agreed to appear for in-person depositions over their relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

They essentially caved to the House oversight committees demands for testimony, as the chair of the committee was prepared to hold them in contempt.

Now, at this hour, we still don't know if Congressman Comer will accept their offer. Some Democrats don't see how he can't.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROBERT GARCIA (D): They've accepted every single term that's been laid out by Comer. I don't see any scenario where they can move forward with the vote.

And so, we've been pushing for -- for them. We've said we want them to testify, and now we'll get the testimony.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: All right. But here's what Comer is saying. He's skeptical, writing in a statement that "The Clintons' counsel has said they agree to terms. But those terms lack clarity yet again, and they have provided no dates for their depositions."

He says he is clarifying the terms of the agreement.

Now, it's important to note Bill Clinton has never been accused and has not denied any -- and has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.

Joining me now in the group chat to talk about all this today, Evan McMorrris-Santoro, reporter for "NOTUS" and author of the "NOTUS" morning newsletter; Chuck Rocha, Democratic strategist and former senior adviser to Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns; and Ashley Davis, former White House official under President George W. Bush.

I'm glad you guys are here to talk about this.

So, after making a big to-do about bringing the Clintons in and having this conversation, the Clintons sort of call their bluff and say, Fine, well do it. But why do you think lawmakers -- like, what's the, "Well, we need to clarify" hesitation dialogue? EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, REPORTER, "NOTUS": Well, I'm not sure I'd go

with the "call their bluff." I mean, the thing about it is Democrats did not line up to stop this from happening. Right? A lot of Democrats voted to hold the Clintons in contempt if they didn't testify.

What's interesting about this is, like in some alternate reality, this is the capstone of a remarkable first term for MAGA that all of America is locked in on. Approval ratings are high, right?

This is kind of the thing that he was brought in to be, you know, to do when he was elected, Donald Trump.

But in the end, what's actually happened, with the sort of byzantine way this whole process has played out -- you played that clip of Todd Blanche at the beginning of the segment, right? That's sort of where this actually lies, that the base that cared a lot about this topic.

And Americans do care a lot about this topic, are finding themselves in a position now where you have this key moment, which is they're going to get Bill Clinton to testify. They're going to ask him all these questions that they want to ask him.

But still, there are many questions that the Trump administration needs to answer and things that they still need to do. And I think it's just -- it's a fascinating moment, because of the fact that something very large, big has happened. But the actual topic itself has gotten away from this administration.

CORNISH: Yes. You guys, I can't think of a sentence you want to say less publicly on TV than it's not a crime to party with Epstein.

Like, I felt like him going out.

CHUCK ROCHA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: He repeated it.

CORNISH: Yes. Multiple times. It just felt like damage. Going from, We're looking, we're looking, we're looking to, We looked. Here you go. Actually, there's nothing.

Feels not like what you -- what the goal was.

ROCHA: Right.

ASHLEY DAVIS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL UNDER GEORGE W. BUSH: Go ahead.

ROCHA: I think that if you look at this and you think about exactly what's been said about this topic with Democrats and Republicans, it's damage control right now for Republicans.

But also, you have Democrats, and you see Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton saying, sure, we want to talk. We'll come up and talk.

[06:05:06]

And I have said on this program and other news programs that this is a nonpartisan issue for me, whether it's a Democrat, Republican, independent, anybody who did harm to any of these women should be held accountable to every part of the law and be hauled up to Congress to explain yourself. But I only see Democrats being the ones doing it.

CORNISH: Well, we should note also, Hillary Clinton has said, or her representative has said, "Since this started, we've been asking" -- quote -- "what the hell Hillary Clinton has to do with this," and that they haven't come up with an answer. But Ashley?

DAVIS: Well, let's -- let's be very clear. The reason that they agreed to this is because of the fact that there was going to be a House vote today with the entire House, that there was going to be overwhelming to vote for them to come, to be held in contempt with Congress.

So, obviously, it went through committee. Now it was going for the whole House. And Nancy Pelosi was the point person to try to get Democrats not to vote for it. She wasn't able to.

And so, for the Clintons, if there's nothing to hide, which, you know, especially with Hillary, there probably isn't, then they would rather take that than have the embarrassment of that vote. I think that's the underlying --

CORNISH: Is it -- but on the way there, it feels like the administration is kind of stepping on a couple of rakes.

So, one, this idea of "The New York Times" reporting that there were some unredacted nude images of some of the survivors in the documents. Or even some questions about other information released about them.

In a letter to the judge on behalf of Epstein victims, the lawyers wrote, "There is no conceivable degree of institutional incompetence sufficient to explain the scale, consistency, and persistence of the failures that occurred, particularly where the sole task ordered the court and emphasized redact known victim names before publication."

So, like, even doing the thing you're saying you're doing, you're kind of messing up on the way and, in a way, kind of -- people feel like they're watching something play out, either purposely or incompetently.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: This White House has been on the defensive about this topic since Trump got back in office. Right?

CORNISH: Yes.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: That's what we have seen, is that despite the fact that he had a huge swell of support from the base, from base people who really wanted to talk about this particular topic --

CORNISH: Yes.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: -- this administration has been on --

CORNISH: And by "base people," we also mean Kash Patel and Dan Bongino. MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Sure. Who are in the administration, but they've

been on the back foot the entire time. And this is a part of that.

That Todd Blanche quote that you're playing is executive administration that is on the run here.

Now, like I said, this is an actual huge victory for the Epstein saga people.

CORNISH: Yes.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Bill Clinton has been the subject of these conspiracies forever. This is the focus. They're going to get their day in the sun now. That's what they really want.

But I think that you -- from the political perspective, you have to look at the fact that this administration is not marching away with a victory here.

CORNISH: No, no.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Because they have their own questions to answer, and they're not going to testify in Congress.

CORNISH: Right. People like Howard Lutnick and other names that have come up.

While you're talking, I just want to show people what the polls are.

ROCHA: I know. Look at that.

CORNISH: So, please give your answer. As always, I will point to the independents. That's you. There's more of you than ever before. Is the government intentionally holding back information on the Epstein files?

Oh, wait. Voters dissatisfied with the amount of information released. You can see how that number has shifted since -- since July with independents, I know. Republicans may be pleased with it, but I'm looking at that sort of split with independents.

And then also looking at do you think the government's intentionally holding back information? This was in January, and the -- the number of independents is very striking there.

ROCHA: The numbers there are striking, because the independent numbers will have the biggest effect on the midterm election.

The thing that I find ironic, if I'm using the word "ironic" right, is that Joe Biden prosecuted people in this case. There are people in jail right now, because they've done wrong with these women. Not all of them, but at least the Biden administration held people to account.

And the only reason that we're still talking about this today is because of Donald Trump and his acolytes online, saying that Democrats had something to do with this. But it's coming back to your rake comment and hitting them in the face

every single day.

CORNISH: Yes.

ROCHA: Because you have to go on TV and say, there ain't nothing wrong about partying with Epstein.

CORNISH: Well, I don't know anyone who's going to be casting their vote over this specifically.

DAVIS: I don't think so. I don't think this is a voting issue, even with Republicans.

I just think that what shocks me about this the most is the lack of true politicians that are in here, compared to the private sector.

ROCHA: That's a good point.

DAVIS: I mean, there are so many big names out that are --

CORNISH: In the files, you're referring to?

DAVIS: Yes.

CORNISH: Yes, it is -- it's oddly having reverberations elsewhere.

DAVIS: Yes.

CORNISH: All right. You guys stay with me. We've got a lot to talk about this hour.

Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, the GOP has been the party of the Second Amendment. So, why is one top MAGA ally now saying you'll go to jail for bringing a gun into her city?

Plus, some in Nashville entering a second week without power. We're going to talk about when it might come back.

And the frantic search for "Today Show" anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother. Why police believe she may have been abducted.

[06:10:00]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know she didn't just walk out of there. That is -- that we know. There are other things at the -- at the scene that indicate there was -- there was a -- she did not leave on her own.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CORNISH: OK, it's almost 15 minutes past the hour. Here are five things to know to get your day going. All Homeland Security officers in Minnesota are now getting body

cameras. Secretary Kristi Noem made the announcement on Monday, adding that the program will eventually be expanded to officers nationwide.

[06:15:08]

And a federal judge stopping the Trump administration from ending the temporary protected status for Haitian immigrants. This impacts around 350,000 migrants whose status was set to expire on -- today, actually.

The judge's ruling now pauses the termination as it works through the courts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DON LEMON, JOURNALIST: I'm not going to let them steal my joy, but this is very serious. I mean, these are federal criminal charges.

JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, ABC'S "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!": Yes. And time in prison can change a man, even if it's just one night.

LEMON: Yes, well. Not yet. Don't get ahead of yourself, Jimmy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Former CNN anchor and independent journalist Don Lemon sits down for his interview after being arrested last week. He appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" last night, defending his reporting on an anti- ICE protest inside a Minnesota church.

The feds arrested Lemon, accusing him of participating in the protest when he was there as a journalist.

And thousands in Tennessee entering their second week without power after that deadly winter storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's frustrating, but it just gets to a point where, you know, a shower is the nicest thing in -- in the world, and you can't take that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: And people in Nashville are also angry over the leadership of the electric service. They say the utility has not offered a timeline on when they'll get the lights back on, or properly communicated about the scope of the repairs.

And bad news for anyone wishing for it to warm up. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday, predicting six more weeks of winter.

He's not the only groundhog forecaster out there. Turns out there are 74 weather predicting animals across the U.S., while Staten Island Chuck and General Beauregard Lee in Georgia agreed with Phil for a long winter, others like Woodstock Willie in Illinois, and Cluxatawney Henrietta in New York predict an early spring.

And after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to talk about what's going on with Elon Musk in Paris. His offices have been raided. What Paris prosecutors are looking for.

Plus, this.

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ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents.

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CORNISH: The NFL commissioner's message to people who still question the Bad Bunny halftime show.

And a quick programing note. To see about the rise of Bad Bunny to this global superstardom, the CNN flash doc team is going to be having a show on "Rhythms of Resistance." It airs Saturday at 10 p.m. on CNN, or you can watch it on the CNN app.

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[06:22:01]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOODELL: This platform is used to unite people and to be able to bring people together with their creativity, with their talents, and to be able to use this moment to do that. And I think artists in the past have done that. I think Bad Bunny understands that, and I think he'll have a great performance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: That's NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, trying to keep politics off the field. So, is he going to get his wish?

Super Bowl's -- LX's halftime show has been a hot-button issue since the announcement of Bad Bunny as this year's headliner.

The artist, who recently won Album of the Year, has been a vocal critic of President Trump and his administration. He most recently used his platform at the Grammys to call out immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAD BUNNY, SINGER: Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say, "ICE out."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: So, another act performing before the game, Green Day. They've also been vocal about how they feel about Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, LEADER SINGER OF GREEN DAY (singing): I'm not a part of the MAGA agenda.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: So, in counterprogramming and in protest of Bad Bunny, Turning Point USA is hosting its "All American Halftime Show," headlined by none other than Kid Rock.

They're billing it as an event for, quote, "folks who love America."

And we are back with the group chat. I think that there's always been -- basically, everyone is watching football when it comes to live television and ratings, right? It's, like, the halftime show is a big deal. It's like one of the biggest moments in TV.

But I don't understand Goodell trying to say, like, It's just a good time. It's not politics. Has that been the conversation around the NFL the last couple of years?

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: They're never off the field. Politics are always on the field, especially around the Super Bowl. Right? We always talk about this, right?

The president -- the president doing an interview. When is he going to do an interview? Is Taylor Swift going to say something to her husband, to her boyfriend --

CORNISH: Right.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: -- about the presidential race? Is a halftime show going to be too risque?

I mean, there's always something going on with this.

Look, this is a -- this is an era that we live in now, which is that there were these moments where all of America came together, and they would be mad about the halftime show or happy about the halftime show. We would have a -- you know, a generalized conversation --

CORNISH: Yes.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: -- as a country. Now, you have multiple halftime shows that you can watch.

CORNISH: That's true.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: There are other things you can do and things -- and places you can go.

CORNISH: Is this your way of pumping up the Puppy Bowl?

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Sure. ROCHA: I'm just going to say, just for the record, we've always had the Puppy Bowl.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: That's right. I mean, I think -- I mean, I think this is --

(CROSSTALK)

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: -- this -- this is a situation where, you know, the funny thing is that when Bad Bunny was announced as -- as the halftime show person, jumping all over him was a very popular thing to do for Republican politicians.

Now, a lot of them sound like Bad Bunny when it comes to ICE. And so -- and so it's -- it's a much more difficult situation for them.

CORNISH: Just in case people are wondering why we're getting so many --

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: There it is.

CORNISH: We're just letting people know the competition. OK.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: I've been upstaged by, you know, by dogs. They say that they do that.

CORNISH: One of the interesting things about the Turning Points USA thing is the "all-American" part of it.

[06:25:03]

So, as we all know, Puerto Rico is --

ROCHA: America.

CORNISH: -- part of America.

ROCHA: This just in.

CORNISH: As Bad Bunny has said. And also, just kind of comparing the scale of these artists, just so people know. I mean, Bad Bunny is one of the biggest artists in the world right now. This is not, like, some sort of fad.

So, what's the point, do you guys think, of the all-American bit?

DAVIS: I'm actually just shocked why the NFL's picked him, in general. I don't know one song Bad Bunny sings. Don't care.

But I'm just saying I'm just surprised that they're making this controversial at all. I haven't watched a Super Bowl halftime --

CORNISH: Why do you think it's controversial? We just said he has a ka-billion in sales.

DAVIS: Oh, I just think it's controversial, because he's criticizing. I mean, this goes back to the statement last week where why do celebrities of any sort think that their politics matter to the main America?

Like, I could care less what Kid Rock thinks. I could care less what Bad Bunny thinks. I just think it's, like, self-importance that actually turns my stomach.

ROCHA: So, there's more people watching the Super Bowl. I'm the ad maker here. There's more eyeballs on this. That's why everything here becomes political, to Evan's point.

And Bad Bunny is the No. 1 streaming artist in the world. So, there's more people listening to his music than any other person in the entire world. And it's not even close. That's why he won a Grammy for Album of the Year.

And I think, with everything that we've seen on this program about ICE and immigration and all things, I think it's very timely. Whether you care or you don't care about his political views, he is the No. 1 artist. And it's smart by the NFL.

And there's a reason why the counterprogramming is Kid Rock.

CORNISH: Yes.

ROCHA: Because he ain't doing nothing. He's just sitting on his couch in Detroit. Like, y'all want somebody to sing a few songs, I'll do it.

CORNISH: I don't know about that. I did wonder why.

(CROSSTALK)

DAVIS: -- able to sing his music. Like, do we really care?

CORNISH: He will sing his music. What do you think he's going to do?

DAVIS: Does he have to make all these political statements?

ROCHA: He did at the Grammys. I think that there'll be a different thing at the Super Bowl. But just him being there.

CORNISH: Well, Ashley, can I ask you a question? Do you feel the same way about Nicki Minaj?

DAVIS: Yes, I feel the same way about all of them. I was at an event with Nicki last week. Like, I don't care her politics either. I wasn't there because Nicki Minaj. I was there for other reasons. But I don't -- it doesn't matter to me.

I just -- the last time I watched a Super Bowl halftime show was Snoop. I liked -- remember the Snoop. It was Snoop, and it was Dr. Dre.

CORNISH: That was not what I thought you'd say. That was --

DAVIS: Oh, my God. It was my favorite. CORNISH: That took a left turn.

DAVIS: It was.

CORNISH: So, that's just generational gripes. That's not really --

DAVIS: And I also knew every word to all their songs.

ROCHA: I believe that.

CORNISH: Snoop also kind of political. I mean, we saw him at inauguration and performing at, like, crypto parties. So, I don't know.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: Yes. I mean, look, the question is, can -- can this moment be a moment of polarization or coming together? Right?

And I think we're going to see what happens on Sunday. But generally, this has been tried before a number of times. Like, alternate this, alternate that.

CORNISH: Yes.

MCMORRIS-SANTORO: And the Super Bowl ends up winning in the end.

CORNISH: Because it's hard. The money. The money talks.

ROCHA: No. 1 show. No. 1 viewers.

CORNISH: And unless -- we did not see advertisers run away from this Super Bowl, and I think that was the real measure.

OK, you guys. Stay -- stay with us. We actually have some serious news we want to follow up on. The desperate search for the mother of Savannah Guthrie. We're going to talk about why police believe she was taken against her will.

And President Trump looking to change the way that you vote.

In the meantime, Paris police raid the office for Elon Musk's social media platform, X. We're going to tell you what we're learning about that investigation.

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