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One World with Zain Asher
Venezuela Calls Trump's Words A "Reckless And Serious Threat"; Putin: Will Achieve Objectives Militarily If Necessary; Sources: South Africa Briefly Held U.S. Government Personnel; Nick Reiner's Arraignment Set For January 7; Trump To Deliver Televised Address Wednesday Night; WBD Board Calls On shareholders To Reject Paramount Bid; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired December 17, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:31]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: Overbearing, arrogant, and supremacist, Venezuela says the U.S. is only concerned with taking its resources. The
second hour of "One World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This move is clearly the next phase of Donald Trump's pressure campaign on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Taking aim. The Trump administration takes on Venezuela's oil trade.
Questions and concerns. Authorities reveal there were few, if any cameras in the area of the shooting at Brown University. The suspect is still at
large.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIMBERLY SEAVEY, NAVY WIFE: I get a home for Christmas, so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: I'll be home for Christmas. Naval homecomings that are too heartwarming to miss.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. Zain is off today. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
The Trump administration appears to be offering a new motive in its rapidly escalating pressure campaign against the government of Venezuela.
On Tuesday, the U.S. president said that he was ordering a total and complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of the South
American country. He also accused Caracas of stealing American oil, land and assets, and said that he had designated the Maduro regime a foreign
terrorist organization, drawing a sharp response from the Venezuelan president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We tell the people of the United States our truth. And it is very clear, imperialism
and the Nazi-fascist right-wing want to colonize Venezuela to take our wealth, oil, gas, gold, iron, aluminum, and other minerals. We have sworn
to defend our homeland, and in Venezuela, peace will always prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: For months, the White House has maintained the deadly military strikes in the Pacific and Caribbean are aimed at stopping drugs from
Venezuela from reaching the United States.
But this new threat by the president, instead, takes aim at the heart of the Venezuelan economy.
CNN's Stefano Pozzebon joins me now live from Caracas. Stefano, if you can hear me, just the reaction that you're hearing from Venezuelans to the
narrative that Nicolas Maduro is taking and speaking to them directly about what he says are President Trump's true intentions. Are they buying it on
the streets of Caracas?
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think that there is, of course, growing concerns, especially because we did say last week, Bianna, that
that seizure of the tanker, the SKIPPER tanker, that occurred exactly a week ago on Wednesday from the U.S. forces.
It was a tanker that was destined to the island of Cuba, but sent really a message that Venezuelan oil was not to be traded international. That was a
change in tactic from the White House as you correctly pointed out.
And I think that that statement last night on Tuesday from the president of the United States just simply formalized these change of tactics that from
putting pressure on Maduro by blowing up alleged narco-trafficking speedboats one at a time, then now operating what is effectively an act of
war.
It's a total blockade of the Venezuelan exports. Then, of course, I just figured apprehension and preoccupation here in this country. We're coming
to you live, by the way, from one of the petrol stations here in the center of Caracas.
We haven't seen yet cues, for example, like the pump or the sort of like frenzy and nervousness that perhaps you would expect after such an
announcement. But it's worth pointing out into context that these country, this whole society, is heavily dependent on the exports of crude oil and
the imports of diluents and other materials that allow its refineries to produce gasoline.
So perhaps nothing is changing on the streets of Caracas as of today and perhaps not even next week with the Christmas festivities coming on and
then the New Year's Eve.
But, of course, in the New Year, in the early weeks of 2026, we might do see more tensions on the streets as, of course, the blockade on the exports
immediately would translate into fewer dollars entering the coffers of the government and that, of course, might lead to this type of scarcity that we
did see in Venezuela in the last few years. So growing apprehension here in Caracas for sure, Bianna.
[12:05:15]
GOLODRYGA: And the message is being felt already. We're seeing tankers turning around in response to this blockade of sanctioned oil tankers there
around Venezuela.
Stefano Pozzebon, thank you so much.
European leaders are heading to Brussels for a crucial two-day summit on Thursday, focused on how to fund Ukraine over the next few years. One big
sticking point to the peace process is the question of territory.
And in the past few hours, Russia's president issued a defiant statement. Vladimir Putin said Moscow will take contested Ukrainian territory through
military means if peace talks don't yield results.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We would prefer to do this and eliminate the root causes of the conflict through diplomacy. If
the opposing country and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive discussions, Russia will achieve the liberation of its
historical lands through military means.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Fred Pleitgen is in Moscow with the latest for us. Fred, as we've been reporting, all of the concessions seems to be coming from one
party and that is Ukraine thus far, making some significantly painful concessions in terms of delaying NATO membership, putting that off right
now to bring this war to an end.
But one area where Ukraine remains defiant is territory and conceding territory that Ukraine still holds. How is the United States expected or
how does the Kremlin think the United States will respond to the continued defiance from Vladimir Putin maintaining his maximalist views and goals?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now, the United States certainly is dealing with and looking at the results of
the Berlin summit that we had a couple of days ago in the German capital, which, of course, involved the U.S. and its negotiators, Steve Witkoff and
Jared Kushner, of course, then also the Ukrainian sides as well.
And the Russians, interestingly, I've been speaking to a couple of officials here in Moscow are saying, look, they want to study what came out
of that summit. They need to see a draft of what came out of that, what was agreed upon, and then the Russians are going to decide their course of
action.
But essentially, and we heard this from folks who are inside the negotiating team, the -- the thing that they agreed upon was those security
guarantees, what the U.S. called platinum security guarantees for the Ukrainians. In return, Ukraine not joining NATO.
The U.S. says those were on the table but won't be on the table forever. So they expect the Ukrainians to take up that offer. But one thing that we
also heard from the negotiating team as well, Bianna, from U.S. officials, is they said that for now, the territorial issues have been excluded from
those discussions.
They say that some headway has been made, but in the end, they also say that Russia and Ukraine are going to have to come to some sort of agreement
as far as the territories are concerned.
Now that also meshes with a sort of shift that we've actually seen in the European position as well, which each other by the German chancellor and by
the German government, where the Germans are now saying, and the Europeans are now saying that any sort of territorial concessions, any talk about
territories, any decision about Ukrainian territories have to be made by the Ukrainians, which of course is different from what the Europeans have
been saying before, where they said that Ukraine should not give up any territory.
So now, they're putting that on the Ukrainians and saying the Ukrainians have to make that decision.
But you're absolutely right. It is, of course, the most contentious issue of them all. The Russians are saying that they expect the Ukrainians and
they demand that the Ukrainians cede land officially to the Russians, including some land that Russia, at this point in time, doesn't even hold
in the east of Ukraine and Donbas.
The Ukrainians, as we know, are saying that they're absolutely not going to do that. So that certainly appears to be the biggest impasse in these talks
that have served in going back and forth.
And you just heard there from Vladimir Putin, that very open threat saying that if the diplomatic process does not yield what Russia wants, which is
as he put it, to achieve all of the aims of what Russia still calls its special military operation in Ukraine, then the Russians say they are going
to take that land with force.
Of course, we also have to point out that the Ukrainians, of course, have substantial fortifications that are putting up a big fight in the areas in
question, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Right. And President Zelenskyy is saying this is not just a moral issue and reason why he's being steadfast about no territorial
concessions, but also a legal one as well. He says that under Ukraine's constitution, he unilaterally cannot make that decision on his own.
Fred Pleitgen, yes? Did you want to -- did you want to say something?
PLEITGEN: Yes. I think you're absolutely right. And I think, yes, I think - - I think that it's very important to point out. And then also not just that he says it's an illegal issue or it's a -- it's a big legal issue in
Ukraine as well.
But, of course, there's a parliamentary process that's in Ukraine as well. President Zelenskyy, certainly on his own, would not be able to make the
decision to see Ukrainian land to Russia. That's something that then would have to go through Ukrainian parliament and whether or not it's even
possible to get some sort of majority for that to happen. It's certainly something that is a very open and very difficult question.
[12:10:14]
All right. Fred Pleitgen reporting to us live from Moscow. Thank you.
Let's get more on the big issues that remain in the peace process. Max Boot is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a "Washington
Post" columnist. Max, it is good to see you.
So, the -- the draft U.S.-European framework, in terms of what security guarantees would look like, envision a stronger Ukrainian army, European
forces and defenses in the region.
A U.S.-led monitoring involvement, but no U.S. troops or boots on the ground. Is that enough, in your view, to credibly deter Vladimir Putin?
We're already assuming that this is something Putin would accept. But assuming Putin does accept this, would it then deter him from future
invasions?
MAX BOOT, SENIOR FELLOW, COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS: This is all a fantasy. This is the United States and Ukraine negotiating among
themselves. This has nothing to do with ending the war. This is all basically a Kabuki theater to try to convince Donald Trump that it's not
Ukraine that's to blame for not ending the war, it's Russia.
I mean, these -- I -- I don't regard these security guarantees as remotely credible. If the U.S. were actually willing to give, quote-unquote, Article
Five-like security guarantees to Ukraine, then just admit Ukraine to NATO, where it would actually have Article Five and also send U.S. troops into
Ukraine as they were positioned in West Germany for all those years as they're still positioned along the DMZ between North and South Korea.
The fact that Trump will not send U.S. troops, will not admit Ukraine to NATO, I think, severely undercuts the -- the value of any so-called
security guarantees that the United States might given.
By the way, a lot of European countries under NATO are also now wondering about the value of Article Five. They're wondering, is President Trump
actually going to come to their aid if they're attacked by Vladimir Putin?
So, obviously, those concerns are greatly heightened in the case of -- of Ukraine. So I don't -- I don't think these are credible security
guarantees.
And to pick up on a point you just made, I don't think that Putin is going to accept them. So, what is the point of this?
GOLODRYGA: Yes. It doesn't sound like it at all. I mean, he's still saying that they've got to address the root cause of the conflict.
And -- and hat was among the many things that were notable to me in the Susie Wiles interview with "Vanity Fair," which touched on a number of
issues, this, of course, being the president's chief of staff, was on the issue of the war in Ukraine.
She specifically said that Donald Trump thinks Putin wants the whole country. And when I read that, I said, I mean, that -- that -- that is how
Vladimir Putin has presented this war from day one. That is what the root cause of this ultimately means.
So, what does that tell you that the president seems to also agree that Vladimir Putin really won't stop until he views that -- that -- that
Ukraine is under his control?
BOOT: Well, if that's the case, then it really makes you wonder, why isn't Trump doing more to help Ukraine? Or why, in fact, is he pressuring Ukraine
to make concessions?
Because from everything that I understand, the U.S. is now pressing Ukraine to give up the entirety of Donetsk Province, even the parts that Russia has
not occupied, which is a key demand that Putin is making.
And that the Ukrainians don't want to concede on that because they're very concerned if they give up this fortress belt in Donetsk, that would make it
much easier for the Russians to attack them the next time around.
And so if Trump agrees that the Russians are ultimately bent on subjugating the whole country, why does he want Ukraine to make territorial concessions
out endanger its future security? It really doesn't make any sense.
But it's clear that -- that Trump, in many ways, has been pushing the Russian talking points. And I don't know what to make of -- of Susie Wiles'
statement if he -- if he actually understands what Russia is up to and is nevertheless supporting a lot of the Russian positions. What does that tell
you?
GOLODRYGA: Yes. I mean, she's speaking for the president. Obviously, the president hasn't said this directly. But what has been said directly is
that some of his top advisers, including Steve Witkoff, have long said, oh, this is just a territorial dispute. And if they can work out the Donbas,
then Putin would be willing to bring this war to an end. So these are two different, very different viewpoints here.
We obviously will continue to follow developments both in Ukraine, Europe, and Venezuela over the course of the next few days.
Max Boot, thank you so much.
BOOT: Thank you.
GOLODRYGA: Well, U.S. President Trump has expanded the list of countries with full or partial travel restrictions from 19 to 39. The new countries
on the full travel ban are Laos, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
[12:15:01]
People from the listed countries face restrictions or a ban on travel to the United States with some exceptions. The White House says the listed
countries demonstrate severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, or information sharing.
Well, tensions between the U.S. and South Africa appear to be escalating, as sources say South African authorities briefly detained two U.S.
government employees who had been sent to South Africa as part of the Trump administration's policy of admitting white Afrikaners to the United States.
Joining us now with more is CNN correspondent Larry Madowo. So, what do we know about these two U.S. government personnel who were detained? And where
are things going between the -- the relationship here between these two countries?
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a major escalation in the conflict between South Africa and the United States over the admission of Afrikaner
refugees to the United States.
CNN has conducted our investigation upon no evidence of white genocide, but this is something that the U.S. government insists on.
And despite having slashed the refugee cap for almost everybody, except Afrikaners who are majority white, they appear to be continuing to process
refugees.
This latest dispute involves Kenyan nationals and two U.S. officials who are at a processing center in Johannesburg that was raided by South African
officials. They say they found seven undocumented Kenyans working illegally because they only have tourist visas. They had no business working in South
Africa.
As part of this raid, they also found two Americans who were questioned before being released after they produced official or diplomatic passports.
The South African Home Affairs Ministry says that no Americans were detained as this -- as part of this process, but the U.S. is upset about
that, said it is seeking immediate clarification from the South Africans and will expect full cooperation and accountability.
At the same time, South Africa is saying it is sent -- it is sending complaints about the American and Kenyan governments about these nationals
working in the country.
The background here is that the U.S. has essentially hired an organization called RCS (ph) Africa. It is operated by a U.S. nonprofit known as Church
World Service. And they are the ones who have been processing this Afrikaner refugees to enter the United States.
What has been happening is that U.S. Customs and Immigration Services, Citizen and Immigration Services has been conducting what are known as
circuit rights. So they come into the country, interview potential refugees before admission. That appears to have been what was happening in this
case, but obviously, South Africa does not approve of that and says in this case they simply arrested people who were violating South African labor
laws and immigration laws by working in the country illegally and ignoring all of the other things.
What the South African government says is these people purported to be processing refugees to the United States. And so it's blaming the Kenyans,
but the backdrop is really this refugee admission process into the United States that South Africa does not approve of.
And so the way it's being framed in South Africa is that the U.S. appears to be using undocumented migrants in the country to process refugees to
enter the United States, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Larry Madowo, thank you so much for staying on this for us. We appreciate it.
Coming up on "One World," parts of Washington State are in a flood emergency as the second river barrier burst. We have the latest on some of
the damage there, just ahead.
Plus, the urgent search for a mass shooter. Are investigators any closer to identifying the person behind a deadly attack at Brown University? We're
following this developing story.
And later the sleep tracking ring that the celebrities are raving about. How the company behind it plans to stay ahead of the competition.
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[12:20:17]
GOLODRYGA: Parts of Western Washington State are under a flood warning after a levee breach along the White River. It was the second levee breach
in an area outside of Seattle amid days of heavy rain that have caused widespread flooding.
This as an overnight storm knocked out power to more than half a million homes in businesses across the state of Oregon. We continue to -- to follow
that story. Residents there can't seem to catch a break.
All right. Turning back to the East Coast, a search for a suspect in the mass shooting at Brown University now in its fifth day. Investigators have
received hundreds of tips and are combing through surveillance videos like this one as they search for a suspect.
Rhode Island's attorney general says the shooting took place in a university building that, quote, has fewer, if any cameras forcing
investigators to rely on surveillance video from homes located near Brown's campus instead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER NERONHA, RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL: The building is on the edge of the Brown campus. Where the shooting took place is at the edge of that
building and then you're very quickly into a residential neighborhood.
There's no footage that depicts this individual that would be useful in identifying him that we have not released you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: President Trump, along among those who are criticizing Brown University for having a lack of surveillance cameras in the building where
the mass shooting occurred.
All right. Still to come for us. President Trump getting set to address the nation tonight with his thoughts on the past year. We'll have a preview of
what topics are likely to come up.
Plus, the media takeover battle intensifies. Warner Brothers' discovery sends a blunt message to Paramount, its hostile bid is not enough.
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[12:25:35]
GOLODRYGA: All right. Nick Reiner charged with first-degree murder in the stabbings of his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, just
made his first court appearance in Los Angeles moments ago. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN JACKSON, LAWYER: Good morning, Your Honor. Alan Jackson, along with Kaitlyn Mason, and Elizabeth Lippel (INAUDIBLE) on behalf of Mr. Reiner,
who's currently present in the court (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, Your Honor. The (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, (INAUDIBLE).
JACKSON: Your honor, if we could, I would like to ask for a continuance in the arraignment. I want to know if this juncture is too early. We've
coordinated with Council from the D.A.'s office in January 7th.
With the court's permission, it would be a -- a convenient day for us to come back for a potential argument.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's (INAUDIBLE) from your client.
JACKSON: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Reiner, you have a constitutional statutory right to a speedy arraignment. Your counsel's requesting that your arraignment be
continued to January 7th, 2026. Do you waive your right to a speedy arraignment? (INAUDIBLE) on January 7th, 2026.
And this counsel join in the waiver?
JACKSON: I join.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The court finds that the defendant has been (INAUDIBLE) and intelligent waiver of his right to a speedy arraignment and
that is (INAUDIBLE) in that waiver.
Were' set January 7th, 2026 for arraignment in this department. They'll just stand at no bail. Anything further on the case?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not by defense, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anything?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Your Honor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All right. There you just saw Nick Reiner making his first court appearance. We couldn't actually see Nick, but we did hear from his defense
attorney, Alan Jackson. This was the first court appearance. The arraignment was set by the judge for January 7th.
Do we have Areva (ph) with us? OK. We will come back to this story when we do have an expert with us to give us more insight into what we just heard.
The charges that he is facing and obviously what we can expect on January 7th from this arraignment.
Meantime, moving on to the president. OK. We are -- I believe the hearing is still ongoing. We are going to take you back to the courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKSON: From the D.A.'s office in January 7th, the court's permission will be a convenient date for us to come back for a potential argument.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. (INAUDIBLE) waiver from your client.
JACKSON: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Reiner, you have a constitutional statutory right to a speedy arraignment. Your counsel is requesting that your arraignment
be continued to January 7th, 2026. Do you waive your right to a speedy arraignment (INAUDIBLE) on January 7th, 2026?
NICK REINER, ROB REINER'S SON: Yes, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And does counsel join in the waiver?
JACKSON: I join, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The court finds that the defendant has been in knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to a speedy arraignment, and that is
counsel joins in that waiver (INAUDIBLE) set January 7th, 2026 for the arraignment in this department. They'll just stand at no bail.
Anything further on the case?
JACKSON: Not by the defense, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anything further?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
JACKSON: Thank you, Your Honor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Here we are. We are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[12:30:59]
GOLODRYGA: Take you to outside of that courthouse where Nick Reiner's attorney, Alan Jackson, was speaking to reporters just moments ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKSON: Let's have a couple of quick words. First of all, and -- and most importantly, this is a devastating tragedy that has befallen to the Reiner
family. We all recognize that. Our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family.
There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case. There's need to be thoroughly, but very carefully dealt with and
examined and looked at and analyzed. We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move
forward.
Not with the rest of judgment, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity and with the respect that this system and this
process deserves and that the family deserves.
So with that, we are set for January 7th for an arraignment. That's the next court date and that's all I have to say at this point. There may be
more at some other point, but today, we're going to rest on where we stand, stand procedurally, which is this was a continuance of arraignment.
Nothing happened today. Substantively, we'll be back for an arraignment in the same department on the 7th of January. We'll see you then.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: All right. I want to bring in John Miller, CNN's chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst.
John there, we heard from Alan Jackson, the defense attorney for Nick Reiner. This was the first court appearance for Nick. Obviously, we did not
see him, though we did see the judge and heard her address him and we saw his attorney as well.
Why -- why didn't we see Nick Reiner?
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAWS ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, I think that was the issue yesterday was he hadn't been medically cleared to
go to court. So if he was in court today, why we didn't see him, I don't know, but it's entirely possible that he was there via video from the L.A.
jail where he was being held, and that way, he could participate in the proceedings without having to be medically cleared.
GOLODRYGA: I want to also bring in Areva Martin. Let's talk about the two counts of first-degree murder that he has been charged with for the fatal
stabbing deaths of his father, Rob Reiner, his mother, Michele Singer Reiner, in the special circumstances and weapons allegations in particular.
The charges include the special circumstance such as multiple murders and a special allegation that a deadly weapon a knife was used. That can actually
increase the potential penalties that he will be facing once he's arraigned January 7th. Just talk about that in particular, these charges.
AREVA MARTIN, ATTORNEY AND LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Yes, very serious felony charges. As you said, double murder charges with special
circumstances because two individuals were actually killed and because a weapon, i.e. in this case, a knife was used.
We know in the state of California, these charges carry with them the potential for, if there is a conviction, of life in prison without the
possibility of parole and even gives the prosecutors an opportunity to pursue the death penalty.
We heard from the prosecuting attorney yesterday saying that they had not made a decision about whether they will pursue the death penalty in this
case.
But again, that is a very serious and real possibility. We haven't heard a whole lot about the evidence that the police have been able to obtain to
date. We've heard nothing about a potential motive other than the fact that there was some pretty violent, I guess, argument that took place the night
before the stabbings occurred.
But we are still waiting to hear what the evidence is that the police has amass and a possible motive for this incredible tragedy.
GOLODRYGA: And, John, we did hear Alan Jackson, Nick Reiner's attorney, begin his statement before reporters acknowledging just as much that this
is a -- a horrific tragedy.
And he went on to say that we should not rush to judgment or jump to conclusions about the circumstances leading up to this tragedy.
What does that tell you about the strategy, the -- the defense may be working on here?
MILLER: Well, that tells -- that tells us that Alan Jackson is slowing this down. The idea that his client did not enter a plea today, and I believe he
was in court. The idea that he postponed the arraignment, which is a very simple procedure. They're continuing without bail. It's where you enter a
plea.
It means that he is in major strategy mode here, which is, is he going to order up psychological examinations, court-ordered, defense-ordered,
prosecution-ordered? We may see a lot of that as a pathway towards defense.
[12:35:03]
But where we are now is, he pushes the arraignment off to January 7th. So, you know, that's going to be a week after, you know, Christmas, New Year's,
all that. And we still haven't seen, you know, the charging document that would be presented at that case that outlines what the state has.
After that, within 14 days of the arrest, in the state of California, you go to a preliminary hearing, and Areva can tell you a preliminary hearing
is like a mini trial. You can end up not just learning facts, but you may present witnesses. You may have the opportunity to cross-examine them if
you're the defense.
That's where we would learn the most. But Alan Jackson, as the defense lawyer, has the right to waive the 14 days. We could see that push back as
well as -- what he's doing as a defense lawyer is trying to get his hands on as much discovery as possible, get his experts lined up, find a way
towards his core defense strategy, and have the process move a little bit slower while he does that.
Since he knows his client isn't getting bail, isn't getting out, he can use that time to his advantage.
GOLODRYGA: And how much time does he have, Areva? At a certain point, does the judge step in here? And I'm asking this because he's saying don't jump
to conclusions, don't rush to judgment.
What he's facing is a very public and well-known family that has been very transparent and also very open about their son's struggle, as he has been
as well with mental health and addiction, homelessness. So, how does that factor in?
MARTIN: Well, the reality is the public has a voracious appetite to get this information -- get information about the evidence that the police has
to see what that charging document looks like.
But the court system doesn't work on the same time frame as the court of public opinion. Cases like this often are, you know, take months, if not
years, before there's an actual hearing that takes place.
So I would not expect to see something happen very quickly in this case because this is a complex case that's going to involve so many, many
emotional issues that you don't have when you have someone that's murdered, say, by a stranger, or if there was -- if this was a break-in or if this
was some kind of random crime.
But this is the individuals who have been killed the -- the victims here. This is their son. So you have to think about the emotional issues that are
going to be at play in this case. The fact that Alan Jackson, a very well- known criminal defense attorney in California, is representing him, already speaks volumes about the fact that he's going to have the best defense that
money can buy in this case.
So I wouldn't expect to see this case move very quickly. I think it's going to be a very methodical process. Alan Jackson is not going to be in any
rush to get this case before the court, particularly if the evidence is not favorable to his clients.
So it's to his advantage to take advantage of -- of the time that normally it takes for cases like this to proceed through the criminal justice
system.
GOLODRYGA: All right. We've already heard a lot of detail and firsthand accounts of what many described as erratic behavior from him, and real
tension that was displayed between him and his parents and his father in particular at a party the night before at Conan O'Brien's home.
John and Areva, thank you, stand by. I do want to bring in Stephanie Elam, who was in the hearing and joins me from outside the court.
So, Stephanie, Nick was in the courtroom, correct?
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was indeed inside the courtroom. That's correct. He was seated. He was inside of the pendant area where they
keep the defendants during court hearings. And outside of that standing in front of him were his attorneys.
But, yes, he was there. He was seated. I also heard him speak. He said -- the -- the issue here was whether or not they were going to continue this
arraignment until January 7th.
And the -- his attorney, Alan Jackson, as you were just talking about him, he said this -- it was just too soon to do this. And so they wanted to move
it. The judge specifically asked Nick Reiner if he was OK with moving the arraignment because he has a right to a speedy arraignment until January
7th.
And that -- at that point, I heard Nick Reiner say, yes, your honor. It's very clear, very calm, very even killed voice. That's what he said. That is
all he said.
He seemed to have on a vest and not much else. I couldn't really see because he was seated behind the wall. I couldn't see what else he had. But
it was a very, very quick sort of routine hearing inside there and not a lot was discussed while he was up there.
GOLODRYGA: Stephanie Elam reporting live for us from outside that courtroom in Los Angeles. John Miller and Areva Martin, thanks to you as well. And
we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:40:35]
GOLODRYGA: Tonight, President Trump is set to address the nation live from the White House. We'll be waiting to hear President Trump share his
thoughts on the U.S. economy and rising prices.
Trump could also speak on his government's drive to arrest and deport thousands of immigrants, as well as the situation between the U.S. and
Venezuela.
Now, the speech comes as polls show that ever even fewer Americans say they are strongly approving of the president's performance around one in five,
according to multiple surveys.
For more on this, let's bring in Harry Enten Live from New York. Harry, where have you been?
HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: I've missed you. My God, the holiday season. Hanukkah is bringing us together, Bianna. I feel like it's a
welcome home for the ages.
GOLODRYGA: Well, you now know what my Hanukkah present was and it was delivered. Harry, it is good to see you. It has been way too long.
Let's talk about President Trump because as much as he may say, the economy is doing A plus, plus, plus, plus, plus, and that affordability is a
democratic hoax, more and more Americans, including some of his supporters, are feeling otherwise. Talk us through the numbers.
ENTEN: Yes. You know, I'll talk you through the numbers, and I would just say this. You know, I like to see consistency in the numbers. I don't just
like to see one poll. I don't just like to see it in one period of time. I like to see it stretched out.
And what I can tell you is that the President of the United States has spent more time underwater than Jacques Cousteau. What are we talking about
here?
Well, I thought it was a pretty good line, right? Trump's -- there you go. Trump's negative net approval rating. Look at this. It has been every day
since March 12th. That is 200, 281 days in a row. My goodness gracious. The vast majority of the second term has been spent with a negative net
approval rating.
Now, you were mentioning, Bianna, you were mentioning the economy, and that is one of a host number of issues in which Trump is underwater. Because
what are we talking about here?
Trump's net approval rating. I got five different issues up for you on the board here. He is underwater on all of them. He is negative on immigration,
which of course has been a key part of his second term, six points underwater.
Foreign policy, 14 points underwater. After the Israel-Gaza ceasefire went into effect, he in fact was a little bit higher, but that's even receded.
Trade and tariffs, very much related to the economy. Of course, the tariff war being such a key part of his second term, 15 points underwater.
[12:45:01]
The economy, which we were mentioning. I'm going to make this a little bit clearer, minus 16 points, 16 points underwater.
And, of course, we're waiting on some new revelations from the Epstein case, the Epstein files. He's 29 points underwater on that.
You just look at it, immigration, negative, foreign policy, negative, trade and tariffs, negative. The economy, negative. Epstein case, negative. Five
out of five on the negative side.
And one last nugget for you, my dear friend, which is look, we are still 11 months out from the midterm election, right? So I think there are a lot of
Trump supporters who could say, you know what, he can bring up his numbers by that point.
Look, it's possible, but take a look here. I went back over time. Term two, negative net approval ratings at this point. Did they go positive by the
next midterm election? For Richard Nixon, it never did. He was forced out of office. George W. Bush, didn't happen. Barack Obama, didn't happen.
Will it happen for Donald Trump? I don't know. But when you look at this, you see 281 days in a row, more time underwater than Jacques Cousteau when
you see five out of five negative net approval ratings on all the different issues, I think that this question mark is going to become an X.
But, you know, I said at the beginning of this segment that we were talking about the holiday season, I would just say, you know, folks are negative on
Donald Trump, but I am very positive on you.
GOLODRYGA: As is my mom, Harry, who just texted me. And she said two words, my Harry. I mean, your day must be made.
ENTEN: My -- my day is made talking to you and hearing from your mom. It is a perfect holiday treat.
GOLODRYGA: All right. And just a reminder, even Jacques Cousteau had to come up for air at some point. So I guess Trump is -- is going to say never
say never. It could happen, but look at the trend line. Doesn't look good before him.
Harry Enten, good to see you. Come back. We'll have a few more nights of Hanukkah to celebrate together.
ENTEN: Sounds great.
GOLODRYGA: All right. And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GOLODRYGA: All right. Warner Brothers Discovery has fired back a formal response to Paramount's hostile takeover bid launched last week. The board
for the parent company of CNN is advising its shareholders to reject Paramount's buyout offer, saying it quote provides an adequate value.
But the fight isn't over yet. The decision ultimately rests with those shareholders, some of whom have already said they'll reject the board's
advice.
So joining me now is CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter. Brian, it's good to see you.
[12:50:01]
This was a sharply critical letter from the WBD board. And it described the Paramount offer as illusory to shareholders. And it warned against raising
concerns or it -- Warner raised concerns about the credibility of the equity being offered by Paramount essentially saying maybe on paper.
The Netflix offer is less in value, but it's much more credible than what Paramount is offering. Just walk us through how they came to that decision
and conclusion.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: That's right. A lot of questions about the financing for the Paramount deal and WBD indicating that's what a
lot of the hesitation is about.
Paramount's rejecting that, by the way. A new press release from the company just now says it's reiterating that $30 per share offer and saying
it would deliver a, quote, a superior value to shareholders and a faster, more certain path to completion than the Netflix transaction.
So, so far, Paramount's not raising its price above $30, but it is vowing to continue to battle this and try to stop Netflix from taking over that
movie studio in those HBO assets.
But really it's coming down to questions about Paramount's financing. Paramount is a relatively small media company compared to the -- the giant
that is Warner Brothers Discovery. And Paramount needs financing outside financing in order to backstop the deal.
It has brought in the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi to provide a lot of the money for this deal. Provide a lot of the
equity.
There are questions on the WBD side about why the Ellisons, the family that controls Paramount, is not providing more than money directly.
And specifically about why Larry Ellison, the Oracle billionaire, the third richest man in the world, is not personally guaranteeing in backstopping
the deal, so that in the event of some problem at closing time, there's not a guarantee that we actually reach completion.
Now, Paramount rejects that. They say the Ellisons are fully on board, but WBD is refuting that claim and saying that's a big part of the concern
here.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And Warner is also saying the Ellison's family revocable trust, which is what Paramount has put forward as the backstop from the
Ellison family, is not enough. And there is concern, not only about regulatory hurdles, but the sovereign wealth funds that are predominantly
out of the Middle East there that are also backstopping this offer.
We will continue to follow this, Brian. The shareholders have months to respond, I believe. So it's not going to be.
STELTER: Oh, it's going to take a while.
GOLODRYGA: Yes.
STELTER: It's going to take a while. By the way, hi, Bianna's mom. It's great to have your mom watching. Hope she likes me as much as Harry.
GOLODRYGA: She likes you tons, Brian. I'll let you know what she says when she -- when she tweets me -- when she texts me as well.
All right. Brian, good to see you. Thank you.
STELTER: Thanks.
GOLODRYGA: And finally this hour, a touching story of love and bravery as U.S. Navy military members return home just in time for Christmas.
Madison Wade from our affiliate King 5 News in Seattle reports on the happy homecoming.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MADISON WADE, REPORTER, KING 5 NEWS (voice-over): At the first sight of their loved ones coming home, these Navy families can hardly wait any
longer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My dad is finally here.
WADE (voice-over): Four-year-old Oliver hasn't seen his dad in 270 days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to give him a day cuddle.
WADE (voice-over): When you think about your dad, what do you think about?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About snuggling him.
WADE (voice-over): Thousands of families gathered at Naval Base Kitsap despite the downpour for this monumental day.
SEAVEY: This is a very special one for us. Very emotional one. So I'm excited.
WADE (voice-over): Kimberly, won the long standing tradition of first kiss with her husband Tyler.
SEAVEY: He'll be getting off the, he'll be one of the first to get off the ship and then he'll come and meet up with me and then we'll give a little
switcheroo.
WADE (voice-over): The deployment was difficult for Kimberly. She navigated loss and grief by herself.
SEAVEY: I lost a pet and I lost a couple family members and it just -- it kind of -- it was a little hard to deal with it by myself.
WADE (voice-over): Which is why today is so important for her. Her heart will be whole again.
SEAVEY: Today is just overwhelming. I'm so overwhelmed.
WADE (voice-over): And it's happening right before the holidays.
SEAVEY: It says, my Christmas wish came true. Welcome home, babe. Because, well, I get a home for Christmas, so.
WADE (voice-over): As the families wait in the pouring rain, they begin to see their loved ones come off the carrier.
SEAVEY: I see him.
WADE (voice-over): The anticipation is almost over.
SEAVEY: Do we go now?
WADE (voice-over): Yes, it's time to be back together.
(SOBBING)
They are finally in each other's arms. As other couples weren't expecting a reunion like this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, not at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give daddy a big hug.
WADE (voice-over): Love stories that weather the storm and distance --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's for you.
WADE (voice-over): -- always find each other again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want me to hold it? It's a really cool experience to be underway on deployment, but this is what I do it for.
WADE (voice-over): In Bremerton, Madison Wade, King 5 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[12:55:03]
GOLODRYGA: I love those stories.
Well, from the human touch to a virtual touch, a marriage made in virtual heaven. Take a look at this. A woman in Japan is taking her love of A.I. to
the next level.
She's 32 years old and says after months of talking with an A.I.-generated persona, she started to have feelings for it. Eventually, she gave it the
name Klaus. They dated for a while, and then he popped the question and she said yes.
Here you see her reading her wedding vows. The groom, of course, had to appear virtually. No word on where they planned to honeymoon. I have
nothing to say to follow that up, so I will just say goodbye for now.
That is it for today's hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. I will be back with "Amanpour" after a short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:00:00]
END
