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Laura Coates Live

Rep. Jasmine Crockett Launches Senate Run In Texas; Trump Walks Back Support For Releasing Boat Strike Video; Trump Announces $12 Billion Bailout To Farmers Amid Tariff Pain; Paramount Launches Hostile Takeover Bid For Warner Bros. Discovery. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired December 08, 2025 - 23:00   ET

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

[23:00:00]

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN HOST: All right. Well, so, Scott, if you're bringing Jesus, I think we should interview Satan as well to find out about his fall from grace. I think that would be controversial.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIP: -- debate --

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, SALEM RADIO HOST: I want to be in the room when you do that, Abby.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIP: Everyone, thank you very much. Thanks for watching "NewsNight." You can catch me any time on social media X, Instagram, and on TikTok. "Laura Coates Live" starts right now.

LAURA COATES, CNN HOST AND SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Good evening, everyone. I'm Laura Coates. Here's a question. Do Democrats think that Texas is really in play for real this time? And more importantly, can they win a major race in the reliably red state with a tough-talking progressive candidate? Well, that's the battle playing out in the party as we speak, of course, after Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett threw her hat into the ring for a crucial Texas Senate seat. She's going to join me in just a moment for an exclusive interview. She announced her entry into the race with a 45-second video where the outspoken candidate doesn't say anything. Instead, she stands right in front of the camera as President Trump's past attacks against her play in the background.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (voice-over): Crockett! Oh, man. Oh, man. She's a very low IQ person. Somebody said the other day she's one of the leaders of the party. I said you got to be kidding. Now, they're going to rely on Crockett. Crockett is going to bring them back.

TEXT: Crockett for U.S. Senate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: This is a massive shakeup in Democratic primary there for a Senate seat they think they can flip from red to blue in the upcoming March -- upcoming general election. March is the primary. Crockett is jumping in right as Texas Democratic Congressman Colin Allred is bowing out. Sources tell us that she asked him to withdraw from the primary, citing polling that shows her with the best chance of winning.

That makes Crockett's biggest primary challenger, Texas State Rep. James Talarico, a rising star himself in the Democratic Party. He also backs progressive policies. But when it comes down to their approach, they are distinct. Talarico has a soft-spoken style. And Crockett, well, listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JASMINE CROCKETT (D-TX): Well, Trump, I know you're watching. So, let me tell you directly, you're not entitled to a damn thing in Texas.

(APPLAUSE)

But we got to come together because it's not each other that is the problem. It's the other side. It's the fascist. It's the wannabe dictator. It is, you know, the hater in chief. It is the racist in chief.

We know who we work for. We know that we work for the American people. And what we're not going to do is stand around while they pull this bullshit that they're trying to pull right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: So, how does Talarico feel about Crockett getting in? Well, he says, "Our movement is rooted in unity over division -- so we welcome Congresswoman Crockett into this race."

And here's why Democrats are feeling optimistic about their chances. Either way, the incumbent Republican senator, John Cornyn, he's facing a brutal primary of his own. His challengers, Congressman Wesley Hunt and state attorney general Ken Paxton who has a lot of legal and political baggage.

Notably, Trump has not endorsed anyone. Not yet. But even with Democrats shooting their shot, they don't have a great track record for upsets in major Texas races. Beto O'Rourke has lost a Senate and gubernatorial race. And Colin Allred lost a Senate campaign just last year. So, the big question is, will this time be different?

Joining me now for an exclusive interview, her first since announcing her run for Senate in the state of Texas, Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. Congresswoman, thank you for being here. As you know, a Texas Democrat has not won a statewide race in 30 years. Tell me what your path to victory is. REP. JASMINE CROCKETT (D-TX): My path is through the people. Right now, we know that yes, there's a blue wave that is coming. That is why the president and his minions have decided to go across this country and try to cheat their way into holding the House. But when it comes down to Senate races, every voice is counted. Every single vote matters the same.

And what we wanted to look for is whether or not I could expand the electorate and get people motivated to vote who normally don't participate in the process. And our numbers say that we can do that. There's a lot of excitement. And you're going to need excitement, you're going to need momentum and, obviously, you're going to need a few receipts to make sure that we flip the state. But it can, and it will get done.

[23:05:00]

COATES: Well, congresswoman, that's one path. Obviously, those who have not participated normally. Then there's a whole host of people who have voted. Is your path through those who have previously voted but for different parties as well as those who have not wanted to be a part of the system before?

CROCKETT: I will tell you that our targets aren't necessarily those that consistently have not joined the movement --

COATES: OK.

CROCKETT: -- known as the Democratic Party. It's not necessarily them that we're going after. But I do want to be clear that a lot of people continue to think that this is about policy, yet they can't really explain how it is that you have Mamdani-Trump voters or how you have Obama-Trump voters or how you have AOC-Trump voters.

And the reality is that I think that that's where we are going to walk that fine line. We are going to be able to get people that potentially have voted for Trump even though I obviously am one of his loudest opponents because at the end of the day, they vote for who they believe is fighting for them, and it's about moving people.

And so, I think I've got a track record of doing that. I think people understand that when I sign up to go to D.C., it's always me taking the people with me, it's not ignoring their voices. And that's what we're going to do.

So, for all those that believe it's about which one is more moderator, which one is too far left, if you look at the actual numbers, not just polls, but real elections, then you will see that the crossover doesn't come because you decide to sound like a Republican, the crossover comes because you make people believe that you will fight for them.

COATES: How you make voters who previously have voted for Trump, particularly given that you have been an outspoken critic and he has inserted himself, just take your campaign video as is, he has inserted himself at every turn when it comes to your commentary, how will you convert those who are supportive of him to voters for you?

CROCKETT: Yes, I don't know that we'll necessarily convert all of Trump supporters. That's not our goal.

COATES: Do you need to?

CROCKETT: Our goal is to definitely talk to people. No, we don't. We don't need to. Our goal is to make sure that we can engage people that historically have not been talked to because there are so many people that get ignored, specifically in the state of Texas. Listen, the state of Texas is 61% people of color. We have a lot of good folk that we can talk to.

We know that when Beto came really close, Beto who is a progressive, we know that he got 65% of the Latino vote. So, what did they do after that? They specifically went after Latinos. We know that he got close to 90% or right there at 90% of the African-American vote. So, honestly, what we need to do is start talking to the vast majority of Texas. I think my message is very much a mainstream message.

I don't know who disagrees with the fact that affordability is a real thing, except for the president who says it's a democratic hoax. But when somebody goes to the grocery store nowadays, whether it's in East Texas or whether it's right here in Dallas, Texas or whether it's in Austin or West Texas, let me tell you, they are looking at those grocery prices and they are thinking we deserve better.

Knowing that we do the amount of trade that we do in the state of Texas, yet right now, there are these unwarranted tariff wars that is directly impacting us. Knowing that we do agriculture big in Texas, we do everything bigger in Texas, but we do ag big and understanding that we are hitting record breaking, bankruptcy filings by our farmers.

Listen, my message is really simple. I'm looking out for you, your survival and the survival of your kids. As it relates to affordability, being able to actually go and access health care, being able to send your child to school, being able to afford a roof over your head. If that's not, you know, what Trump supporters want, then fine, then they absolutely won't listen to me.

But I'm here for the everyday person, the person that's not the billionaire on the list that Trump has decided to take care of, but the people that he left sitting out in the cold, just like he did when he decided to be sworn in and he decided that in inauguration day, he would have it inside while so many of his lawyer supporters were outside.

COATES: Well, let me talk to you. Immigration is also big in Texas. And you yourself have been criticized for being critical of Latinos who support President Trump. And you have been dismayed at the support that they have shown for Trump's immigration crackdown. How do you bring them back into the fold given all the other issues you have discussed as well?

CROCKETT: Yes. So, I think the frustration is real just in general because I could see the writing on the wall. And what I've come to the conclusion of is that he is a con man. I mean, we know he's a con man. And I understand that there were people that were legitimately conned.

But the reality is that whether you are an American citizen or not, we have a Supreme Court, Trump's Supreme Court, that said, because of how you look or because of how you sound, you can be rounded up. We've had a record number of U.S. citizens.

This is why it is so important for us not to be divided, but instead decide that we are going to be united because you think that it's OK, maybe, if somebody goes out and does the things that they've been doing to undocumented folk.

[23:10:06]

But the reality is that even those that are actual citizens, even those that are documented, are being tormented as well. And so, this can hit any and all of us. We saw what happened in Chicago when they decided to go to the south side, and they went and got Black babies out. They were absolutely U.S. citizens as well.

COATES: So, you will take issue, congresswoman, with a tactic, not just the policy, or both?

CROCKETT: I take issue with both. I mean, there is no policy. Right now, they have decided that they were just going to be rogue actors. We know that there has been an opportunity to engage in actual policy work. But we know that this administration does not care to know what the House or the Senate wants to do. Instead, they have been bulldozing and ignoring any laws that we've tried to put into place.

And he doesn't want to do this. He likes the chaos, and he likes the hate, and he likes the confusion. That allows people to be diverted from the other terrible things that he's doing.

And so, what I want us to do is us to just focus on what kind of life do we want. Do you want a life where your neighbors can be nabbed just because of the skin that they are in or because of the language or accent that they may have? That's not American.

And I'm trying to get back to basics. I'm trying to make sure that those that truly consider themselves to be patriots, those that consider themselves to live in the land of the free and the land of opportunity are engaging in just that.

It is literally time, as he used to say, to take our country back. It is time for us to own our flag. It is time for us to prove what patriotism is. And it is an action verb. It is not a noun that you just say. It is about your actions. And right now, we are not seeing patriotism.

COATES: One way to have patriotism in action, of course, is through voting. And, as you know, congresswoman, you're going to first need to defeat, say, Representative James Talarico, who President Obama recently praised as somebody who we thought was the future of the party. Can you pinpoint a substantive policy difference between the two of you given, of course, he has been campaigning a little bit longer than your announcement today? CROCKETT: Yes. So, it's not like I've delved into the full breadth of James's policies. What I will tell you is that we served together in the state House. And because he has never served on the federal level, I don't know all of his federal positions.

What I can tell you is that I've been in the belly of the beast. What I can tell you is I am the one that's receiving the phone calls from people that are scared that their Social Security may be under attack, or I am the one that is receiving the phone calls from those that have loved ones that are in ICE custody, or I am the one that is receiving the phone calls when that small business owner for whatever reason has not received their tax refund.

COATES: You've also received a great deal of hate, congresswoman.

CROCKETT: That is absolutely true. I am also --

(LAUGHTER)

-- the one who has received a lot of hate. But I think that when you think about what a public servant is, it's somebody who literally is there to serve the public. And while I don't think that it's OK that political violence has been what it is, I think that we need leaders that are unafraid. And I think that because I have been attacked and, you know, our campaign theme is Texas tough --

COATES: Yes.

CROCKETT: -- I know that I can withstand the attacks in this moment. And so, I think that there's a track record to run on, a federal record. And I think that people will evaluate my federal record versus James's ideas of kind of what it would be if he were to be in the Senate.

But at the end of the day, I'm just focused on the opposition. And my opposition is not James. My opposition is whoever ends up making it out of the primary on the Republican side, the people that are harming the people that live here in the state of Texas.

COATES: Your campaign launch video solely showcases the president insulting you repeatedly. And frankly, there was more content that even could have been shared. As I mentioned, the hate you've received, a lot of the vitriol, a lot of the critique. It didn't include specifically in that video a message about Texas or the issues that were substantive. Why did you choose that approach here?

CROCKETT: Yes. So, what I decided is that we wanted to do a launch with the people, and we wanted it to be a real launch. We wanted real people that were going to be there, not anybody staged, no stage camera, nothing. And so, we knew that we would actually get content from our launch event. And so, we have that. I gave a substantive speech about all the things. I mean, I don't think that you can actually bottle them up into a one-minute video. But we absolutely needed something for fundraising.

[23:15:00] So, for anybody that's watching, if you're checking for your girl, make sure that you visit jasmineforus.com. So, we needed something.

But I also think that it is telling because here it is: If the president cannot keep my name out of his mouth, then who is it that would be better to make sure that they are in the U.S. Senate to hold him accountable? I am the one that he is afraid of. I am the one that the Republicans fear. They can say that they don't. But my governor cannot stop tweeting about me. And I know that that is out of fear because, honestly, if they really wanted me as the nominee, they would be quiet and just wait and hope to crush me.

But they know my strength, and they know my ability to reach people that historically have not wanted to participate in politics or had just given up. And that is how we are going to win in the state of Texas.

As I reminded people in my speech today, there were those that told a young senator out of Illinois that no one would ever vote for him because he had this weird, funny name that people couldn't pronounce or because his middle name was Hussein. They told him that he could never beat back the Clinton machine. And somehow, he became the first and only Black president of the United States. This isn't about what we can't do. It's about what we will do and what we can do if we just get to work.

And so, just as President Obama said so many years ago, as someone who ended up becoming president at the exact same age that I am right now, 44, he said, yes, we can. Si, se puede. And I am saying the same today.

COATES: You have said part of your campaign is Texas strong. You've also been somebody who has been unapologetic in your approach to the language you have used. You have gone toe to toe with the likes of Elon Musk, let alone the president of the United States, let alone Marjorie Taylor Greene infamously, even going viral on number of occasions. In the climate that we are presently in, do you have any plans to change your approach in terms of your rhetoric or how you want voters to view it?

CROCKETT: You know what? We actually tested for a lot of those moments.

COATES: Did you?

CROCKETT: We needed to know how they played in Texas. We did. We tested for those moments. And to be clear, those moments played just as well in Texas as they played everywhere else in the country. What we found is that voters moved to me even more. I think it is because it's authentic.

COATES: Why do you think that is?

CROCKETT: I think it is because -- I think it is the authenticity as well as the strength. I think that people can be forgiving of somebody that gets off script every once in a while if they feel like it's real. They don't want somebody who's just being puppeteered. They want someone who they feel like is a real person.

And so, you know, while I know that the goal will be from the other side to kind of get me into sparring matches, my goal will be to make sure that I can inform Texans of when they're being distracted. And I will redirect the conversation to Texans because at the end of the day, that is the only thing that matters. That is the only thing that should matter.

And right now, Texas is not being properly represented. Not when, again, we have record numbers of bankruptcy filings from our farmers and ranchers. Not when we already leave the country uninsured. Not when, in that scenario, we have a senator that is not interested in making sure that those tax subsidies for the Affordable Care Act are extended.

We have people right now that are dishing out death (ph) because they refuse to just do what they claim to do, which is to be pro-life. There is nothing pro-life about their agenda. And obviously, our children, they are our future. And right now, the future isn't looking as bright as it should. Laura, you have children.

COATES: I do.

CROCKETT: And you know what it is to be able to plan for your children to actually go off to school. That light is dimming right now for some.

COATES: And the fear if you cannot. I know we have to go, but I have to ask this, because you have filed today on the deadline. There are some who are angry that you had the audacity to be a part of the Senate race. What do you say to those who question your ability to hold the state in a general?

CROCKETT: Yes. I say turn that anger into work. Listen, I'm not here to make anybody mad. I'm here to win. And that's all I got to say about this. So, it's time for everybody to get to work. Right now, we know that this primary will be over in 85 days. We are headed into GO TV. It is time to get to work. It is not time to be divided. It is time to unite because when we were divided, we ended up with Donald Trump.

I will do nothing to divide us. I will do everything that I can to unite us and make sure that we win because a win in Texas is actually bigger than Texas. It is a win for this country.

[23:20:00]

We are talking about a seat that will absolutely flip the control of the Senate over to the Democrats. This is bigger than the state of Texas.

COATES: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, thank you so much.

Ahead, time to roll those tapes. President Trump denied something he just said on camera like five days ago. So, what's the chance he will actually release the footage of the double-tap boat strike? Well, Trump says, up to Pete Hegseth, not me. One of the Democratic lawmakers who has actually seen the video is going to join me live. Plus, the $12 billion Trump bailout for farmers that has some Republicans worrying. The president may be losing the plot on the economy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: You said you would have no problem with releasing the full video of that strike on September 2nd off the coast of Venezuela. Secretary Hegseth --

TRUMP: I didn't say that. You said that. I didn't say that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: But that is what President Trump said on camera five days ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Whatever they have, we'd certainly release. No problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Well, when asked one more time whether he'd order the Pentagon to release the controversial video, Trump seemed to pass that hot potato to his defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Whatever Pete Hegseth wants to do is OK with me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: The change in tune comes as Secretary Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are expected to brief the Gang of Eight lawmakers tomorrow.

With me now, the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Adam Smith. Thank you for joining us. I mean, this is curious at best. Secretary Hegseth is -- he has been noncommittal. Trump and him are passing this potato back and forth. Hegseth says the video is undergoing a review to make sure that sources and methods, that's the phrase, are not jeopardized. First of all, is that a concern that Americans should be considering and is it a valid one?

REP. ADAM SMITH (D-WA): Well, yes and no. There's about five hours- worth of video around this particular strike. Some aspects of that video certainly should not be released. They may well reveal some aspects of that. But the actual strike can absolutely be released. I mean, they've released, what, a dozen, 15 different videos already of strikes on ships. You see what's going on.

And in the video that I saw, you can see clearly what these two people are doing on what remains of a tiny little piece of their capsized boat right before the strike hits. There is no reason not to release that video.

COATES: It's interesting because it is almost like this inkblot test. You're saying it's very clear what is actually being said.

SMITH: It's not --

COATES: Well, I'm going to play for you --

SMITH: I know, but it's not.

COATES: Wait, wait. What are you suggesting? Which is not?

SMITH: There's no inkblot test. It's plain as day, what's happening.

COATES: Then why is there a different story being told when it comes to -- I'm actually going to play Senator Cotton talking about this.

SMITH: Please.

COATES: Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TOM COTTON (R-AR): They were not floating in the ocean, on a wooden plank or in life jackets. They were on the capsized vessel. They were not incapacitated in any way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: You've seen it.

(LAUGHTER)

So, is he, though?

SMITH: Yes, not incapacitated in any way. I can just tell you factually what you have. You have a capsized boat. Only the bow of the boat, by the way. It looks like the boat is probably split in half. It's hard to tell because you can't see what's below the water. But the portion of that boat is probably about as big as this desk. I realized I say that. Your viewers can't see. I said desk.

COATES: No, they can't.

SMITH: That's about as big as it is. You have two people clinging to the side of it. They were not incapacitated in any way. I love that. What world is Senator Cotton living in that when your boat is attacked, sets on fire, breaks in half, capsizes, and there's two of you left with nothing, OK, no food, no water, certainly not armed, no communication devices, clinging to the side of the boat -- they were not incapacitated in any way.

The boat was drifting with the current. It wasn't going anywhere except the way the current was going to take it. They had no control over it. So, that dishonest --

COATES: Any communication they were trying to make?

SMITH: No.

COATES: Can you tell from that at all?

SMITH: I mean, at one point, they were like, they waved like this, probably because they saw our asset, let's just put it that way, that was about to take them out. And, you know, if you're stranded on a desert island and you see something flying in the air, what do you do? Hey! OK? It's not complicated. That's why there's no Rorschach test here.

And this is why, two things. One, the video needs to be released. There are no sources and methods. There's nothing classified that's going to be revealed any more than any of the 15 other strikes or how many of it was that --

COATES: You mean, for that portion? You mentioned the five-hour window thing.

SMITH: Sure.

COATES: You're talking about that portion?

SMITH: Yes, absolutely.

COATES: And there's no concern that there's anything that could be revealed that would either compromise --

SMITH: Absolutely not.

COATES: -- the United States Military or put us in the most negative light?

SMITH: They've released all of those videos because all you see is you see it floating and you see the strike. You don't see where it's coming from. You don't hear the communications. No reason not to release the video.

The reason that Trump is backtracking and the reason that Secretary Hegseth used all those weasel words at the Reagan Defense Forum that he used was because they know if the people see this video, it will become obvious how patently absurd was Senator Cotton and others saying about what happened.

Now, we can have a debate about whether or not in those circumstances was this the right thing to do, was it a good strike, but don't tell me that they were trying to flip the boat and getting ready to get back in the fight because that's not what was happening.

COATES: It wasn't heading towards the United States either, right? SMITH: Well, I don't know which way the current was going.

COATES: Usually, it wasn't intended, of course.

[23:30:00]

SMITH: Actually, yes. Even before they blew it up, by the way, there's no evidence that the cocaine on that boat was headed to -- well, actually, we know it wasn't headed immediately to the United States. It was going to some trans-shipment point. But where it was going after that, nobody knows. But once they dropped the bomb on it, set it on fire, capsized it and split it in half, it wasn't really going anywhere. But, again, where the current was going to take it?

COATES: But congressman, here's the -- and I -- look, you're the expert, you've seen it, you've watched it, you know what you saw. I wonder if part of the reason they do not want it to be released is because without that debate resolved about whether, in fact, was the justifiable or right course of action, that tape is to the mercy of the court of public opinion.

SMITH: Absolutely.

COATES: Is there any risk of the court of public opinion, not just domestically, but internationally viewing this that you have a concern about?

SMITH: Well, I mean, there's a risk, and the risk is that people will be, you know, suitably and correctly appalled by what they see.

COATES: Can you force its release?

SMITH: I can't force its release. Congress, I think, could try.

COATES: How?

SMITH: We could press them. We could subpoena it. But the majority would have to be willing to do that.

COATES: Are they?

SMITH: Not right now. No, they're not. I think they should be. And look, Admiral Bradley, in that brief, offered an explanation. The explanation was it's conceivable that the cocaine had somehow survived. If you see this video, it may be tucked underneath.

COATES: Do you doubt that?

SMITH: I doubt it, seriously. And even if it had survived, the idea that they were going to be able to somehow now take it and continue on their mission is dubious. But that's the claim. So, make that claim, show the video, let's have an honest discussion about it.

COATES: We will see. An honest discussion in Washington. Congressman Adam Smith, glass half full. Thank you so much. Ahead, President Trump's tariffs caused the pain. Now, he's giving farmers $12 billion bailout to fix it. Will it be enough to even keep a key part of his base on his side?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COATES: We are just hours away from seeing something that we haven't seen for a while, a Trump rally, his first in about five months. It'll be in Pennsylvania where he's going to talk about the economy, we're told, which, as you know, has been a rather, well, thorny subject for the president, who insists that concerns over affordability are actually a -- quote -- "Democratic con job."

His visit will come just hours after he unveiled a bailout plan for America's farmers. About $12 billion in aid meant to help them deal with rising production costs and yes, the impacts of his own tariffs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: This money would not be possible without tariffs. The tariffs are taking in, you know, hundreds of billions of dollars, and we're giving some up to the farmers because they were mistreated by other countries for -- I don't know. Maybe right reasons, maybe wrong reasons. They weren't -- they were trying to show us something, and it worked. It has really worked out really well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Has it? Well, joining me tonight, CNN political commentator and Republican strategist Brad Todd. Also here, Alencia Johnson, former senior adviser to Joe Biden 2020 campaign.

Brad, let me begin with you here because the former Republican congressman, Justin Amash, put it this way. Quote -- "Trump swipes money from taxpayers to bail out the farmers who were harmed by the tariffs that Trump himself placed on American businesses and consumers. This is the Trump economy."

So, what do you think? Is President Trump doing damage control? Is there validity to what the former congressman has to say?

BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Leave it to Justin Amash to always be unhelpful. You know --

COATES: Is he inaccurate here?

TODD: He's often inaccurate. I was saying it here --

COATES: Is it inaccurate here? OK.

TODD: Yes, because here's why. I think -- you know, European -- let's just take one area, one sector. European trade barriers have always bedeviled U.S. farmers. We sell about $12 billion in agricultural products to Europe. That's what we've been doing for the last 40 years. It never goes up because Europe keeps ratcheting the trade barriers on our farmers.

President Trump has negotiated a better deal with Europe. It took some hardball. It took some sanctions. It took some tariffs. Now, we're going to have better sales for pork producers, almond producers, vegetable producers to Europe, which is a key market for us. So, the president took tough action. It took a little bit of pain. He's trying to repay some of that pain and repay some of the farmers diligence so they can be ready to plant for the next season.

COATES: Will farmers see it that way?

ALENCIA JOHNSON, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST, FORMER SENIOR ADVISER FOR THE BIDEN 2020 CAMPAIGN: I actually don't think so. You mentioned something about people are feeling some pain. And it feels as though we've been having that conversation of like folks may have to feel some pain while Trump is figuring out the economy and tariffs. But that pain for some folks is a matter of if they can keep their business up or not. They don't have several months to figure out whether or not this is going to be worth it.

And so, I do believe that this is damage control. It is a mess that Donald Trump got these farmers into, these farmers we've seen when the tariffs first -- when he first announced the tariffs and people felt the impact. You saw tons of farmers coming out and saying, hey, Trump, we voted for you, but yet it is more expensive for me to do my job.

And so, he's trying to do some damage control. Hopefully, folks can remind people of why they actually got into this situation. But we'll see how it turns out. And I think some of this also is his midterm strategy because he realizes that he's in a bad position. The party's in a bad position going into 2026.

COATES: We have one less MAGA person. I'm talking about Marjorie Taylor Greene, who says she doesn't relate to MAGA anywhere in that same way, and she's "America First."

[23:40:02]

In fact, she was on "60 Minutes." And now, almost former Georgia congresswoman effectively said that Trump has failed on that particular front, the "America First" promise. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-GA): I call myself "America First."

LESLEY STAHL, CBS CORRESPONDENT: But you're not saying you're MAGA.

TAYLOR GREENE: I'm "America First."

STAHL: You said Air Force One should be parked, no more foreign trips.

TAYLOR GREENE: For an "America First" president, the number one focus should have been domestic policy, and it wasn't. And so, of course, I was critical because those were my campaign promises. Once we fix everything here, then fine, we'll talk to the rest of the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Does this give pause to Republican strategists who are looking at someone like Marjorie Taylor Greene, a fierce Trump loyalist, now going to some length to distinguish MAGA from "America First" and also Trump?

TODD: You recall. Previously on this program, I referred to her as the flea on the dog on the Republican Party. I still stand by that. She had not yet decided she was quitting at that time.

But I will remind people who might have some level of affection for her, she's only retiring from Congress the day her pension becomes effective. You have to be in Congress for five years to get your pension. January 4th, she hits her fifth year. January 5th, she's quitting. She's leaving. She's walking away from the fight when Republicans would need her vote in the House of Representatives.

COATES: But her relation with Trump accelerated her departure. I would suspect she wasn't leaving just because her pension came. That might be convenient as well.

TODD: That's the date she picked, because of her pension.

COATES: Well --

TODD: That'd be my contention.

JOHNSON: I mean, it's interesting that Republicans are saying the same things that some of the Democrats are saying about her, being, you know, leaving for her own self-interest with her pension. But I would like to -- I think there -- I've talked to some folks in Georgia, and they think, well, this isn't the last that we're seeing of Marjorie Taylor Greene. She's thinking about the post-Trump era of Republican politics.

But the other piece, I watched some of that interview, not the whole thing. You know, Marjorie Taylor Greene is trying to change her image, but yet she's still the same person, like she was combative a little bit with the CBS reporter, with Lesley. She wouldn't atone for some of the vitriol that she has put into our politics that she says that she's against.

And so, it's going to be interesting to see what she continues to do and what, to be honest, her next political step will be given all of the money that she will get because of her pension.

COATES: And recall, she was just apologizing with Dana Bash about the idea of the toxicity environment she had helped to contribute. But yet there is a colleague of hers who has sparked with her. I'm talking about Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who is hoping to leave the House and become a senator. Listen to a part of our exclusive conversation with her this evening. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROCKETT: The reality is that I think that that's where we are going to walk that fine line. We are going to be able to get people that potentially have voted for Trump, even though I obviously am one of his loudest opponents, because at the end of the day, they vote for who they believe is fighting for them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Can Republicans maybe go for a Crockett in Texas?

TODD: No. I think Jasmine Crockett may turn out to be a generational political talent. I think she has a tremendous amount of skill. She's too far left for Texas, and she's not near ready to run for the United States Senate. I think that this is a big day for John Cornyn, who's the likely nominee, or whoever wins our nomination in Texas. I think it'll be John Cornyn because Jasmine Crockett is the easiest candidate to beat who is on this roster. It's a good day for Republicans.

COATES: Well, there is Paxton, though.

JOHNSON: I mean, listen, I think it's a great day for Democrats. My (INAUDIBLE), Jasmine Crockett, is running for Senate because she said something in your interview that I am really focused on. And I hope, you know, the party leadership pays attention to this. She talks about expanding the electorate.

Texas has 61% people of color. So often, Democrats concede the south. And there's opportunity to let these voters know, hey, we have something for you. Listen, folks like Warnock and Doug Jones, even Stacey Abrams, even though she lost, and Andrew Gillum, even though he lost, they expanded the electorate in southern states, going with people of color, not moderating their position.

And she has something much like AOC and Mamdani, who are able to speak to these voters, who say, listen, affordability, health care, and also not this egregious way that people are talking to each other, is what I'm about, and they will go between a progressive candidate, as well as Trump. So, it'll be interesting.

COATES: All eyes will be on the primary in Texas. Thank you both, Brad and Alencia. Up next, a Hollywood rivalry turns into a bid for a hostile takeover. Will Paramount be able to pry Warner Bros. Discovery from Netflix? And will President Trump have any say in the matter?

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[23:45:00]

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COATES: Well, President Trump is wading into the messy waters of a Hollywood merger, the bidding war for CNN parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. Netflix says it's buying some of the assets for 83 billion bucks, mainly Warner Bros. Studios and HBO Max. But Paramount is launching a hostile takeover bid to buy the whole pie for a paltry sum of $108 billion.

Now, here's where President Trump comes in. Any deal needs his administration's approval. But he's not revealing which one he favors.

[23:50:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I know the companies very well. I know what they're doing. But I have to see. I have to see what percentage of market they have. None of them are particularly great friends of mine.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): The Paramount deal is supported by Jared Kushner, Mr. President. Would that impact your decision?

TRUMP: Paramount is? I don't know. I've never spoken to him about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COATES: Well, let's bring in a Hollywood insider, Kim Masters, former editor-at-large of "The Hollywood Reporter" and current partner at Puck News. Kim, I'm glad to have your expertise and insight here because you just heard the president. He's keeping his cards close to the vest. Will Trump put his thumb on the scale? And do you have an insight on to what side he might choose?

KIM MASTERS, FORMER EDITOR-AT-LARGE OF THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, PARTNER AT PUCK NEWS, KCRW HOST: Well, certainly, the Ellisons, Larry Ellison, as you know, one of the world's richest man, and his son, David, have courted Donald Trump in very not subtle ways. You know, Donald Trump was not happy with CBS News. They at this point control Paramount, which owns CBS. They put Bari Weiss, who is anti-woke, in charge of CBS News.

This is something that Trump would have wanted, although now he is mad about that Marjorie Taylor Greene interview. But they have done other things to make themselves very friendly with Donald Trump. And, as you noted in the intro, the offer includes Jared Kushner. So, I don't know about you, Laura, but I take with a grain of salt the idea that he doesn't know that his son-in-law is part of this hostile bid from the Ellison family.

COATES: It would be surprising if he had no knowledge or not going to learn it soon thereafter. But we will see. But what is your read? Will Warner Bros. shareholders entertain Paramount's takeover bid or stick with Netflix? What do you think?

MASTERS: Well, as you know, they have said they want to stick with Netflix. That's controversial, too, because it's unclear the degree to which Netflix will support theatrical releases. And so, a lot of people, filmmakers, talent, the Writers Guild are up in arms because there is this fear that Netflix will destroy the entire theatrical model because Netflix has been hostile to any kind of major theatrical releases. They're saying they will do these releases at Warner Bros, but people don't necessarily trust that. On the other side, you've got the Ellisons coming on, obviously, without the support of your bosses, bosses, bosses at Warner Bros. Discovery. They want Netflix. The Ellisons are saying, look, you know, regardless of what President Trump just said in your clip, we are obviously on very good terms. I mean, he has tweeted support for their offer previously before it went hostile. They repeatedly made offers. Trump has said they're the ones, let's support them.

Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos was on the down-low, meeting with President Trump, saying, what about us? And Trump initially said, you know, talked about how impressive Ted Sarandos and Netflix are, but now he's starting to talk about market share.

So, one of the questions will be, how much market share would Netflix control as, by far and away, the dominant streamer versus what would Paramount control when they've got theoretically Paramount, CBS, CNN, TikTok, Larry Ellison is going to be part of? So, they want to talk about Netflix's market share. Well, let's take a look at what Paramount is going to have control of.

COATES: And, as you mentioned, the Paramount deal is financed in part by Jared Kushner's investment firm, which is why there are questions about what the president knows and what does not know.

MASTERS: And by the Middle East, by Saudi wealth, sovereign wealth funds from Saudi, Qatar. You know, it is largely Middle East-financed. And while they are saying they will have no control, that is obviously going to raise eyebrows, to have a company as American, as Warner Bros., and potentially CNN and the other assets controlled with so much foreign ownership.

COATES: Many questions about that as well. I am curious about Hollywood. As you mentioned, the idea of theatrical releases. I think about, you know, are there no going to the movies? Already have some issues in terms of people returning to the theaters or even being in the theaters.

But even broader than that, this deal has the potential to reshape Hollywood forever. I mean, billions of dollars, thousands of jobs on the line. Who do you think Hollywood wants to win? Netflix, Paramount, or neither?

MASTERS: It depends on who you ask. There are people who don't believe. David Ellison has only been in charge of Paramount for about 20 minutes, give or take. They say, where's the proof that he knows how to run one movie studio, much less two? He's promising that they'll both run side by side. They'll make 15 movies a year. People aren't necessarily convinced.

Meanwhile, you've got Ted Sarandos. I think if Netflix wants to clarify its message, do you really mean that you're going to release Warner Bros. movies in theaters?

[23:55:05]

What kind of a window in the theater -- how much -- how long will they allow to run? So, if you're somebody like Jim Cameron, you know, who makes movies that are meant for the big screen, you don't trust Netflix. So, there's plenty of distrust on either side.

COATES: And that's showbiz, as they say. Kim Masters, thank you so much.

MASTERS: Thank you.

COATES: And hey, I want to thank all of you for watching. Elex Michaelson picks up our coverage in just a moment. He's got Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh and much, much more after this.

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