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Far-Right Trump Ally Laura Loomer Hunts For Disloyalty To Trump; Texas Democrats Flee State To Block GOP Redistricting Plan; Gov. Abbott Threatens To Expel Absent Democrats From Office; Former Football Coach Derek Dooley Enters Georgia Senate Race. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired August 04, 2025 - 12:30   ET

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

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[12:30:37]

MANU RAJU, CNN ANCHOR: The President's National Security adviser, the director of the National Security Agency, the country's chief vaccine regulator. Well, these are just some of the high-profile Trump administration firings that far-right activist and 9/11 conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer is taking credit for. And she does not appear to be done.

President Trump was asked about Loomer's influence over the weekend after she launched a tip line to report Obama-Biden holdovers still working in the Trump administration.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is your relationship with Laura Loomer? What kind of influence would Laura Loomer -- what kind of influence does she have in the White House?

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think she's very nice. I mean, I know she's known as a radical right. But I think Laura Loomer is a very nice person. I've known her for a long time. And, you know, personally, I think she's a patriot. And she gets excited because of the fact that she's a patriot. And she doesn't like things going on that she thinks are bad for the country. I like her.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

RAJU: All right. CNN's Steve Contorno has some new reporting and spoke to Laura Loomer on the phone. So, Steve, tell us what Loomer's goal is here and who is she eyeing next?

STEVE CONTORNO, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: Manu, when I spoke with Loomer, she said her objectives are simple. She thinks that only Trump loyalists and people who are MAGA aligned should be working for the Trump administration. And she has gone about trying to find those who do not meet those qualifications. Now, she says she would prefer to be doing that work from inside the White House. But Trump advisers have blocked her from having any kind of role overseeing hires and being in her -- their H.R. department, I guess. But there's no denying she has been incredibly effective as an outsider.

Just take a look at this list of people who have lost their jobs after they were targeted by Loomer. They include National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, as well as some other top national security officials, as well as Vinay Prasad, the country's top vaccine regulator, and Jen Easterly, who was a cybersecurity expert who was tapped for a post at West Point before Loomer started raising concerns about her background to her 1.7 million followers on social media.

Now, Loomer also says she is far from done. As you pointed out, she now has a tip line. So anyone, including potentially rival Trump administration people, can highlight those that she should go after. But she also has some other targets in mind, including, she thinks, potential Cabinet members that should be dismissed.

She has been very vocally opposed to Attorney General Pam Bondi. But she's also concerned about Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. She blames her for Trump's softer stance of late towards undocumented farm workers. But she's also intensely skeptical of anyone who has been put in a job by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. because he's a former Democrat.

RAJU: And, Steve, what else is the president and the White House really saying about Loomer's influence here?

CONTORNO: Well, publicly and privately, Donald Trump has been very supportive of her. You heard those remarks he just gave over the weekend.

Inside the White House, you do hear a lot of frustration from people who think that her clout has just gotten way over -- she's just way overstepping and getting -- now being utilized, potentially and weaponized, to get rid of people who they think actually are trying to help Donald Trump. But the White House, we asked them about her growing influence. They didn't really address her per se.

But they did say this in a statement, "It is not only appropriate but critical for the administration to recruit the most qualified and experienced staffers who are totally aligned with President Trump's agenda to Make America Great Again."

Now, I will point out one very high-profile individual has been supportive of Loomer's efforts, and that is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The two actually spoke by phone recently about some of Loomer's concerns with the hires within the Pentagon.

This is something that the Pentagon actually confirmed to us, and they put out this interesting statement saying, quote, "Hegseth appreciates Laura Loomer's outside advocacy. Personnel is policy, and Laura has taken that motto to heart. Qualified individuals who love our country and support the administration's priorities will continue to be integral to our efforts." So that's a very interesting statement from an embattled Cabinet member who is now saying that, yes, he is having conversations with Laura Loomer.

[12:35:07]

RAJU: Yes, maybe that helps him out politically with the White House. We'll see how that ultimately plays out.

Steve Contorno from Chicago, thank you so much.

And next, the Lonestar State Showdown, with Texas Democrats fleeing the state to block a Republican redistricting plan. I'll ask a Democratic congresswoman about the endgame and whether this is all for show.

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RAJU: Return to the Texas State Capitol this afternoon or be removed from office. That's the threat from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to the dozens of Democrats who fled the state to block a vote on a new congressional map. The new map could help Republicans take back five House seats currently held by Democrats. But the state legislature can't vote on it with so many Democratic legislators absent.

Joining me now to talk more about this is Texas Democratic Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. Congressman, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me this afternoon.

REP. LIZZIE FLETCHER (D), TEXAS: Glad to be with you, Manu, as always.

RAJU: Absolutely. So we've seen Democrats do this in the past in your state, boycotting and fleeing Texas to try to stop the GOP. Now, ultimately, in those other two cases, Republicans got largely what they wanted. So aren't Democrats here just delaying the inevitable?

FLETCHER: Well, thanks for the question. I don't think so. I don't think it's inevitable. Certainly what we see from our House Democrats here in Texas is that they are putting up a real fight for Texans and really for all Americans. And that's what they're doing, right?

They're getting out and they're talking about what's happening here in Texas. Because it's really a cautionary tale for the rest of the country. But I don't think that the end is determined. I mean, certainly in the past, eventually some maps have passed. But they have used the breaking quorum at other times in the past over many decades. And it is a tool that legislators have in their toolbox. And it's something that has been used in Texas for decades.

RAJU: But ultimately, they have to come back, do they not? And they'll have to vote. Isn't that the ultimate scenario and ultimate -- the reality of the situation that they're going to have to come back to Texas eventually? FLETCHER: Well, sure. They live in Texas and they're Texans. But what they're doing right now is spreading the word across the country about what's happening in Texas, because so many people don't know. Our legislature had adjourned. The governor called a special session just a couple of weeks ago.

A lot of Texans don't even know this is happening. But when they find out, they are angry. And we saw thousands of people showing up to testify against the proposed changes that have been handed down from Washington. We know that Texans don't like this. So the more people hear about it and the more they know, it's not too late to change course.

I mean, this is one of the questions everyone's saying they know about Democrats --

RAJU: Congresswoman, it sounds like this is a messaging thing. This is not a reality that you can actually change the law. Really, you guys are -- there's a messaging.

FLETCHER: No.

RAJU: Some would say stunt.

FLETCHER: But it's not just messaging. And that's the thing. I mean, one of the things is that this gives people time to call their legislators, especially the Republicans who are being asked to vote on this map, this bill and say no, right?

Governor Abbott doesn't have to pass the bill. He doesn't have to take orders from President Trump. And that's what Texans are saying. They don't want President Trump making these decisions for Texans and taking over Texas. And the more they hear from their constituents, they should respond to them.

So they're giving time for the message to get out and for people to call their legislators and tell them that they don't want Trump to mess with Texas.

RAJU: Congresswoman, the governor is now saying the Democrats could face felony charges because of fundraising they're doing to pay for the $500 daily fine they'll face for skipping the session. Let's listen to the governor.

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GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R), TEXAS: The reports are these legislators have been both -- they sought money and they offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act. That would be bribery. They face a possibility of facing bribery charges, which is a second degree felony in the state of Texas.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

RAJU: Now, he's even threatening to remove these Democrats from their seats. So what happens if Abbott and the Republicans take those steps, file felony charges against these Democrats and then Abbott moves to remove them from their seats?

FLETCHER: Well, certainly, Manu, this is unprecedented and I've got to say it's un-American. Democrats have broken quorum in the past in this century multiple times because this is a tool that they can use. And I don't know the details of what he's referring to, what he's talking about there. So I can't really say that I'm aware of any basis for what he's talking about.

But certainly the idea that he could just remove sitting members of the legislature, an entire party, that is un-American. We cannot have that happening. And so this threat, he's certainly making it. But I don't think that there's a basis that I'm aware of in our history or in the law.

Certainly, he can go to court and ask for some relief. But the idea that a governor of Texas could remove all of the sitting legislators in one party, that should shock every American. That should shock everybody in Texas. And we should make sure that they know that he's threatening to do that.

[12:45:05]

RAJU: Congresswoman, you've told me in the past that Democrats should not bring a knife to a gunfight when it comes to this escalating battle of redrawing House maps. Now, Democrats are talking about responding to Texas Republicans doing the same thing in New York, in California, and in other blue states.

But all of you have been saying that the Texas GOP and Trump are trying to, quote, "rig the election". So wouldn't your party be doing the exact same thing in those other states?

FLETCHER: Well, I don't think so. And there are a couple of reasons for this. But the most important thing is that we are not playing by the same rules in the different states across the country. And so, you know, we like to say down here that everything's bigger in Texas. But this is bigger than Texas. And the Republicans are looking at this nationally.

They're talking about Texas. They're talking about Florida. They're talking about Missouri. They're talking about Indiana, right? We're hearing all these rumors that they're looking at a map of the country.

And Democrats can't not do the same thing and not understand what's happening, because at the end of the day, we do want to see major reforms to how redistricting is done and to protecting the voting rights of all Americans so that we can all have a say in our government. But we can't do that if they can change the rules in the middle of the decade, in the middle of the election cycle.

And if they see that they're not doing well and it looks like they're going to lose, they're just going to change things so that we can't make a difference at the ballot box. This is a referendum on the Trump administration on this do-nothing Congress, this rubber-stamp Congress. And they're afraid of losing these elections, so they're trying to redraw the maps. Democrats understand that this is much bigger than the issue of Texas. This is something that matters to the entire country and our ability to have a functioning democracy.

RAJU: All right. Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, thank you so much for joining me from Houston. Really appreciate you sharing your perspective.

FLETCHER: Thanks, Manu. Glad to be with you.

RAJU: Absolutely.

And up next, from the sidelines to the stump, we'll break down the former college coaches whose names may be soon on the ballot near you.

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[12:51:35]

RAJU: From game day to election day. Another well-known football coach is launching a Senate bid. This time, it's Derek Dooley in Georgia.

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DEREK DOOLEY, FORMER FOOTBALL COACH: I spent three decades in coaching, probably doing the exact opposite of what a lot of D.C. politicians were doing. I sat in kitchens and living rooms with people from all walks of life.

The only thing that mattered was trying to create hope and opportunity for them and their family. That's leadership. It's how you represent people.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

RAJU: But he may not be the only game-playing guru on the ballot next year. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine says his Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, of Ohio State football fame, should run against Vivek Ramaswamy for his job. And Shelby Talcott, right here, is reporting Republicans in Alabama are talking about Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl launching a Senate campaign.

My panel is back here. So is this what voters want? Do they want coaches, or is this a one-off? Is this a trend? How do you see it?

ZOLAN KANNO-YOUNGS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: I don't know if it's a one- off because we've seen it, you know, on various occasions in the past. If not, somebody who has a background in sports winning, at least parties backing them and feeling that that can get a broad coalition because they're popular, right? Sports is ingrained in American society.

Often you might find somebody who's focused on their job and maybe more likely than the back-and-forth in Congress or at the White House. They're focused on their latest sports team. So you see different political parties trying to tap into that, especially in what we're in right now, which is kind of an attention economy, right?

RAJU: Yes.

KANNO-YOUNGS: Trying to grab the attention of folks. This is a way to do that.

RAJU: Celebrity economy, too. And Derek Dooley, he's a former Tennessee football coach, although his dad was a legendary Georgia football coach. He coached his father, coached from 1964 to 1988 for Georgia and was also the athletic director for a long time. And here's a photo from 1980 of him with Herschel Walker, of course, another legendary Georgia football player and also a Georgia Senate candidate who did not do so well.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF & POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Did not do so well. So it's no guarantee for success. Although I do remember George Allen, the former governor and senator from Virginia, right, faith, freedom, family and football for apps (ph) that he campaigned on.

I -- and I remember like in 2006 Rahm Emanuel, now potentially a 2028 candidate, when he was recruiting House members, Heath Shuler in North Carolina. There was such an effort to get him in because of the biography of this. I mean, to me, it's the -- just perfect example, as you're saying, about how politics is downstream from culture.

And sports culture is such a part of the American fabric that you can see why there is potential upside. But as you know, with Herschel Walker, it doesn't always materialize.

RAJU: And in Georgia, though, there's also this primary that's building that's with Dooley's interest in the race that could actually complicate and divide key factions in Georgia. Of course, this is Jon Ossoff's seat. He's the most vulnerable Senate Democrat. And there's a now crowded primary.

And what's interesting here is that Brian Kemp seems very much behind Derek Dooley, but Trump not so much. And that could be problematic.

SHELBY TALCOTT, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, SEMAFOR: Yes, well, one of the things is Derek Dooley has not donated to Donald Trump's past campaigns. We know that Donald Trump likes people who have -- had a long history of sort of being an ally. But I also know that the administration is taking the midterms extremely carefully. They're bringing people into the White House from these states.

They're talking to them. They're getting their thoughts on what they think. They don't want a crowded primary because they understand that it complicates things.

[12:55:07]

But I do think eventually Donald Trump will likely endorse. But he's kind of biding his time. He's looking at all the options. He's looking to see who might do well. And one of the benefits to being a former football coach is, a, Donald Trump does like sports. But also, b, the campaign really leaned on that aspect. And they saw that it was really successful for them. They had Donald Trump going to WWE games. They had him going to football games.

They were able to tap in to a base that doesn't necessarily all traditionally vote. And that could sway the president into endorsing some of these things.

RAJU: And very quickly, Bruce Pearl, since you reported it, is he going to run?

TALCOTT: TBD, I mean, he has not -- I think it's really notable when he's asked about it, he's kind of not answered the question. And I know that he is seriously considering running. He is big on anti- Semitism. And if you look at his ex-feed, it looks like he's a politician. He rarely posts about basketball. I think that's notable.

RAJU: That's very notable. We'll see if he does it.

All right, thank you for joining Inside Politics. Thanks for this great discussion. CNN News Central starts after a quick break.

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