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Guthrie Family Begs for Mother's Return; Walker First RB to Win MVP; Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) is Interviewed about the Maxwell Disposition; Bad Bunny Halftime Show. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired February 09, 2026 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, "USA TODAY": And she was pressed on the fact that there were a number of Republicans, not just Tim Scott, a leading African American Republican in the Senate, who came out against this. It was Pete Ricketts. It was Mike Lawler. It was, you know, a number of Republicans. And then after Republicans were calling the president of the United States about this, then hearing upon it he ordered it to be taken down. I was told he ordered it to be taken down. And then, you know, of course, he's pressed on this and says that he made no mistake, but he did take it down.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. I mean the door was open to a lot in the effort politically to be anti-woke and to be free of censorship, air quotes. What have we seen flood in as -- in the follow up?

ZACHARY WOLF, CNN SENIOR POLITICS WRITER: Well, I mean, the opposite of that, essentially. And it's still the anti-wokeness element is still very much driving so much of what this president does.

CORNISH: But it seems like there's a red line even for the anti-woke.

WOLF: Correct.

CORNISH: Or else these Republicans wouldn't have been calling.

WOLF: Sure. And, you know, this is the thing that -- this is the thing that got the -- those Republican lawmakers you mentioned frustrated and had them, you know, call out the president.

But, you know, he has also referred to Somalis as garbage. And he didn't retreat from that at all. I mean that's a -- that's a patently horrible thing to do. And so, you know, the line -- there is a line we have identified now, but why is --

CORNISH: Which I was surprised, honestly, to see the Republican back --

WOLF: Yes.

CORNISH: I did not know they had a line. So, we found it somehow. Even Tim Scott found his way to this line.

CATHERINE LUCEY, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, "BLOOMBERG NEWS": No, that's right. I mean we have seen him criticize almost nothing from this president in any number of late night Twitter rants. And this was notable.

CHAMBERS: But it comes on the heels of Minnesota as well. And I do think you have seen Republicans, including some who were on the ballot and some who are going off into retirement, and we talked about it on the show a couple of times recently I think being more forceful in their push against the president on some of these things. Again, some of them because they're going to -- they -- they're going to have to face the voters and some of them perhaps because they're not going to have to face the voters anymore.

CORNISH: Yes. OK. So, you guys, stay with me. We've got a lot to talk about.

Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, the Guthrie family speaks out as the second deadline from an apparent ransom note approaches. We're going to be live from Arizona with the latest on the investigation.

And good morning, Santa Clara, home of last night's Super Bowl.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Tonight on 316.

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[06:37:07]

CORNISH: Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. I want to thank you for joining me on CNN THIS MORNING.

It's half past the hour, and here's what we're talking about now.

We're just hours away from a reported deadline from Nancy Guthrie's captors. An apparent ransom note set at 5:00 p.m. today. That deadline for a payment of $6 million. And that's according to a CNN affiliate. The Guthrie family says that they will pay.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, NANCY GUTHRIE'S DAUGHTER: We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: CNN's Ivan Rodriguez is in Pima County, Arizona.

Ivan, I want to start with something we were hearing today, that there's not word yet about proof of life for Nancy Guthrie. Can you talk about what you're hearing and where this investigation stands?

IVAN RODRIGUEZ, CNN REPORTER: Audie, good morning. That's right, still no proof of life. This morning, when we arrived

here outside of Nancy Guthrie's home, there was already a sheriff's deputy here, parked outside of her home. And we know, based on previous reporting, that the Nancy Guthrie family had requested that the Pima County sheriff remain on site in order to continue to guard the home. So, that is something that we expected to see this morning. We're probably going to see that throughout the day as well.

Now, at least two investigators were seen examining a septic tank Sunday afternoon, and they were caught on video opening that tank, using a long stick to poke inside. Even at times using a flashlight to take a closer look in there. They were on site for a couple of hours, but the Pima County sheriff didn't exactly release any details as to why they were looking specifically at that septic tank. They did mention, however, that they were going back to multiple locations to do follow-up investigation work.

And that is something, Audie, that we have seen now for the last several days. Many investigators going back to different homes, like Annie Guthrie's home, the eldest daughter of Nancy. They were there on Sunday -- Saturday night, rather, where three unmarked vehicles were in that driveway for several hours while sheriff's deputies were inside. And although the lights appear dim inside of the home and the blinds were drawn, bright flashes appear to indicate that authorities may have been taking photographs inside of that home.

When investigators did leave around 10:30 p.m. local time, they left with a bag that was placed in the back of a vehicle. A sheriff's deputy was also seen wearing blue latex gloves. And again, we'll remember that Nancy Guthrie was at her daughter Annie's home the night before she disappeared.

And I also want to take a second here to mention Nancy's health, because Sheriff Nanos mentioned last week that she does take a life -- life-saving medication and it could be, quote, "fatal" if she goes without it.

[06:40:10]

Now she's been without that medication potentially for a week now.

CORNISH: OK, that's Ivan Rodriguez with the latest today. We're going to be following that as that deadline is near.

OK, the Seahawks beat the Patriots 29 to 13 in Super Bowl IX. And Kenneth Walker III walked away as a first-time champ and MVP.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH WALKER III, SUPER BOWL MVP: When a doctor told me I couldn't play no more, I just thought, you know, football was over. You know, that's what I was doing all my life. So, it was a shocking moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: The Seahawks' running back is the first RB to be named Super Bowl MVP in nearly 30 years. Walker finished with 135 rushing yards and 26 receiving yards.

CNN contributor Cari Champion joins me now.

Cari, thank you so much for being here this early, because I know you're tired. But I wanted to talk about this.

Obviously, the game was about defense, but then the story of Kenneth being injured and as a -- as a high school player having blood clots. Like, what is his trajectory?

CARI CHAMPION, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, first and foremost, thank you for having me. I'm up early. I would be here early for you at any time.

Second of all, I'm still coming off the high of the game and all that we were able to witness.

Kenneth's story is really amazing. Not unlike other stories. But the fact of the matter is that he had to deal with injuries for the better part of the last three seasons and was still able to push through and get to this season.

And as you know, last night's game, if you watched, was so defensively significant and it felt very special because they couldn't turn any offense. He was the only person on either side of the ball in the beginning of the game. I was like, oh, this is going to be a snooze.

But at the very end, to learn his story, to know, excuse me, how difficult it was for him to get to this position in life and still push through. And as he mentioned, with the help of his family, winning the MVP despite all of the injuries that have plagued him since high school, as he talked about, throughout his professional career, and here he is taking home this trophy, the first running back to do so, like you mentioned, almost in 30 years, it's a remarkable story.

And to me, it really was an example of what was going on last night. Everyone wanted to see something special, and it was there in many ways.

CORNISH: So, the way you're talking about this story, and the way we've all been talking about this story, did make me think about what happened with the Olympics and skier Lindsey Vonn. She had a devastating crash. And the thing is, she was working towards, if people saw images of her on Instagram on Friday, doing her training, she was working towards a comeback story. And that's not how it worked out.

CHAMPION: Unfortunately -- I really, first of all, I know Lindsey and I was really excited about her comeback. I know that she is a fierce competitor. And the thing is, when you're a -- when you perform at such a high level like that, Audie, it's really hard to have anything replace it once you retire. So, when she walked away in 2019, she probably felt like there might be other things.

But this story was amazing for so many reasons. Her age, what she was trying to do, what she had been known for, and now there are many people saying, you know, obviously, Monday morning quarterbacking, all pun intended, maybe she shouldn't have competed. But you can't tell somebody with that type of level of athleticism and competitiveness in their system not to compete.

Fortunately. I mean, at least we hope fortunately, we'll be able to see her sooner rather than later. Not necessarily competing, but telling the story of why she wanted to do it. But it was still beautiful, just for that little bit of time, in my opinion, just for that little bit of time to see her give everyone hope that, yes, I can still compete. And she said over and over again, you say there's a chance. If there's a little chance, there's a chance.

And so, I'm going to lead with that side of the story because she knows her body, and she knew what she felt like she could have wanted to do, and she didn't want to live with regrets.

CORNISH: OK, Cari Champion, thank you so much. I love hearing an athlete's point of view. I love hearing from you. I appreciate it.

CHAMPION: Of course.

CORNISH: And if you missed any of that conversation, you want to weigh in, we're a podcast. Scan the QR code now to find it. CNN THIS MORNING is available anywhere you get your podcasts.

And next on CNN THIS MORNING, Ghislaine Maxwell to speak before the House Oversight Committee today on the Epstein scandal. Democratic Congressman James Walkinshaw, who sits on that panel, joins us next. What he wants to hear from her.

Plus --

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CORNISH: Bad Bunny delivers a halftime show about unity as the right leans into division.

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[06:49:23]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just a failure of complete justice. And it's like there's this deep sense of betrayal when the system that's meant to protect you becomes the one that's causing all of this harm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes are still left searching for answers, even after the release of millions of files. But more information could be on the way this week.

So, joining us now in the group chat, Congressman James Walkinshaw. We were just talking during the break about how lawmakers are going to

get to like go in a room and look at unredacted files. I don't know if it's boxes. I don't know if you're timed. How is it supposed to work, and what are you going to be looking for?

[06:50:02]

REP. JAMES WALKINSHAW (D-VA): Well, we have to schedule a time to go in and review the files. I think it's a mix of electronic and paper. And look, there are three million files with a lot of redactions. So, we're going to have to be targeted in looking at the most troubling redactions to try to see if there are patterns.

CORNISH: So, what are you going to be looking for?

WALKINSHAW: Well, for me, some of the -- some of the missing information. We know that survivors have laid out in their original statements to the FBI the list of coconspirators, others who they say were involved in these crimes. I want to determine whether any of that was redacted. Obviously, whether there are any redactions related to President Trump, members of his cabinet or other prominent figures, quote/unquote, Trump's friends who he's concerned by -- being harmed due to the release of the files. So, I think all of that we have to look at.

CORNISH: Ghislaine Maxwell supposed to be sitting.

WALKINSHAW: Yes.

CORNISH: What do you expect to hear from her?

WALKINSHAW: Unfortunately, we don't expect to hear a lot. We're told she's going to plead the fifth. I'm still committed and plan to make sure we ask her very specific questions.

She knows who those coconspirators are. She knows which other men were involved. She knows exactly what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said to her when they met and she was subsequently moved to a cushy, lower security prison. I want to understand all of that. Unfortunately, it sounds like she's going to plead the fifth today and we won't get direct answers to those questions.

CORNISH: One more on this, because Pam Bondi is supposed to give some testimony this week as well --

WALKINSHAW: Yes.

CORNISH: Or be at a hearing.

WALKINSHAW: Yes.

CORNISH: And earlier in the show we had Jess Michaels on, a survivor. And I don't know if you saw their Super Bowl ad, but at the end it's like, tell Pam Bondi to release.

WALKINSHAW: Yes. CORNISH: So, here is Jess just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESS MICHAELS, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: Those same Republicans are being pressured to not say a word to Pam Bondi at the hearing, because that's when we're hoping things will come out is on Wednesday, Pam Bondi has to sit before the committee. They wanted -- we wanted to ask them to ask hard questions, but we've heard they're being pressured by the White House to avoid the Epstein files altogether and to only talk about Pam Bondi's accomplishments.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKINSHAW: I spoke to Jess earlier today, and I know she and other survivors plan to be at that hearing today. And I think my Republican colleagues are going to have to grapple with, can they look her and the other survivors in the eyes and place, again, their loyalty to Trump ahead of the pleas that we're hearing from Jess and other survivors to push to get the full release of the files.

And look, the deputy attorney general said that there were six million files. He said that. He then said he made a subjective decision that they had over collected three million files. The law doesn't allow him or Pam Bondi to make a subjective decision to not release 50 percent of the files. They got to release all six million files.

CORNISH: The last thing I want to talk about while I have you, I know I keep asking you about everything that's being testified this week. Tomorrow, top immigration officials are going to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee. And I want to play something for you I heard from Senator Fetterman of Pennsylvania this weekend who says, look, a government shutdown around DHS could be likely again because of the Democrats' long list of demands for ICE. To get that DHS funding you guys want a lot -- we'll put some of those up -- no masks on ICE officers, make them have I.D., end racial profiling, body cameras. Here's what Fetterman had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): I absolutely would expect that it's going to shut down. I know that we, the Democrats, we provided, I think it was ten, ten kinds of basic things. And then the Republican push back quickly saying that that's like a Christmas wish list and that they're nonstarters. I truly don't know what specifically are the Democrats' red lines that it has to be. Certainly not going to get all ten.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: The reason why I'm bringing this back is because I realize, I don't know either. What's your red line?

WALKINSHAW: Well, look, in a negotiation, Democrats put forward a tangible list and the ball is in the Republicans' court now to accept or reject those things. These are things the American people support. I'll tell you the red lines for me. No masks. No secret police.

They've got to operate just like our local law enforcement do with professional standards. And here's the other thing. The federal government, if they're going to smash down your door while your wife and your children are sleeping, they should get a warrant before they do it. And if Republicans --

CORNISH: A judicial warrant, that's what you're saying?

WALKINSHAW: That's right. A judicial warrant. And if Republicans want to shut down the government over that to allow federal agents to smash down the doors of any American without a warrant, they can do that.

[06:55:03]

I don't think the American people will agree with it.

CORNISH: Yes.

WOLF: Do those things need to be written into law, or will an agreement do? Are we looking at, you know, actually having a list that's written down that is -- has the force of law behind it or can the judge -- can the DHS simply say, we will agree to those terms?

WALKINSHAW: Yes, I don't think there's any such thing as an agreement with Donald Trump. I mean, look, he's shown that throughout his life, his career in politics and business. He makes agreements and he breaks them. So, it's got to be in the law. Has to be in the law. I wish that wasn't the case, but it has to be in the law.

CORNISH: Yes.

CHAMBERS: And what do you think about these efforts to try and tie some immigration measures to it, specifically things around sanctuary cities have come up from Republicans. There's also a question of a pathway to -- not a pathway to citizenship, but like legally staying in the country with no pathway to citizenship I think Mike Lawler brought up yesterday. What do you think of those sorts of measures that Republicans might try to tack on to this?

WALKINSHAW: Yes. And first, in terms of the so-called sanctuary cities argument, look, that's an issue of federalism. State and local governments in this country get to set their policies. And those policies make sense for those communities. I don't agree with the term --

CORNISH: Even if it interrupts what the federal law enforcement is doing.

WALKINSHAW: I don't agree that it -- yes, I don't agree that it interrupts. Having been in local government, what the Trump administration says is a sanctuary policy is actually their demand that local police, local sheriffs, local jails do the federal government's job in enforcing immigration law. They call that a sanctuary policy. Federal immigration enforcement agents can detain anyone anywhere in the country. They don't need assistance from local governments to do that. We know in a lot of places, local jails, including in Minnesota, do cooperate and work with federal law enforcement when folks have serious criminal histories or there are criminal warrants. But we don't need local government turn into federal immigration enforcement. That's what they call sanctuary policies.

CORNISH: OK.

WALKINSHAW: I just think it's false.

CORNISH: Yes.

LUCEY: Do you get a sense from your colleagues on it -- when you're talking to Republican colleagues on The Hill that they are starting to feel pressure on this issue? That there is concern. You see the polling --

CORNISH: Or are they hoping it peters out with time?

WALKINSHAW: I think they're trying to buy time. I think they're trying to buy time. I think they believe that the outrage from the American people peaked in the wake of Alex Pretti's death. And each day that passes, they hope folks will focus on other things.

I think that will be a mistake because if they continue on this path with this very brutal way of enforcing immigration law, sadly, these kind of incidents are going to continue. The videos are going to continue. Social media will continue to be dominated by it. But I do think that's the bet that they're making.

CORNISH: And it's sort of seeped into the culture. I'm going to turn now, this is a good segue, I promise, into Bad Bunny's halftime show. The message was, "the only thing more powerful than hate is love. And in a Super Bowl halftime show, here he is.

(VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: Him carrying the ball there sparked a lot of jokes online about how many more yards he carried than the Patriots. I will leave that alone.

But the reason why I wanted to talk about it is because towards the end you saw him, you know, carry the flags of many other nations in the Caribbean nations, which are under great scrutiny from this administration. You said something interesting that it wasn't anti- Trump, but he was the anti-Trump. Can you help me make that difference?

WOLF: Yes, I mean, he was basically saying, we're all together. We're all Americans. You know, north, south. It was -- it was a unifying message for not just the U.S., but for the entire western hemisphere, which, I mean, if you want to get really, you know, weird and go full, you know, Monroe Doctrine about it, you know --

CORNISH: Yes.

WALKINSHAW: It's "Donroe Doctrine."

CORNISH: The "Donroe Doctrine."

WOLF: Right, the "Donroe Doctrine," but it --

CORNISH: Yes.

WOLF: But it was very inclusive. It was very unifying. And that's kind of the opposite of Trump's politics, which are creating divisions and exploiting them.

CORNISH: What were you thinking when you were watching it?

WALKINSHAW: Yes. First of all I want to thank Donald Trump because he kind of turned me on to Bad Bunny. I had not been a Bad Bunny fan.

CORNISH: Really?

WALKINSHAW: Yes. I mean I --

CORNISH: Oh, my goodness.

WALKINSHAW: You know, my wife is going to be embarrassed by this, but I had heard of him but I wasn't really a fan. But now, you know, I think it was quintessentially American, honestly, the performance. And you could see in President Trump's response, which I think, like, demonstrated his loser energy, it got under his skin because it was so quintessentially American.

CORNISH: Yes, it's also interesting because the more the administration, as we talked about in the -- in the sort of white supremacist commentary and the Obama video, they're pushing in one direction. It's about saying who Americans are. The culture continues to move.

CHAMBERS: But the who Americans are questioned heading into the midterms I think is going to be really key. We spend a lot of time focusing on the economy and how that will play, but we're seeing now these cultural questions, some of which we saw in the 2024 election --

[07:00:05]

CORNISH: Yes.

CHAMBERS: That had been a little dormant. It goes back to the sort of --

CORNISH: Who do we want to be?

CHAMBERS: Right. Rise back to the surface.

CORNISH: OK, Congressman, thank you so much for being here.

WALKINSHAW: Thank you.

CORNISH: Always appreciate having you. And I want to thank to the rest of the group chat, helping me set the

table for the week.

And I know you have a lot of places you could spend your time, and I'm glad you are starting the week with us. I'm Audie Cornish, and the headlines, they're next.