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Quest Means Business
Merz: Rules-Based World Order No Longer Exists; Epstein Files Fallout; FBI Releases Description of Suspect Seen in Doorbell Video; United States Inflation Cools To Eight-Month Low In January; United States Jobs Report Sparks Hopes Of Labor Market Turnaround; OpenTable Sees Uptick In Valentine's Day Dining Demand; App Arranges First Dates Without Letting Users Talk First. Aired 4-5p ET
Aired February 13, 2026 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[16:00:15]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Markets are overall flat after a volatile week on Wall Street with A.I. fears taking center stage.
Those are the markets and these are the main events.
World leaders agree the old world order is over as they descend on the Munich Security Conference.
U.S. inflation hits its lowest level in eight months.
And this Valentine's Day, some people are ditching the traditional dating apps. We will discuss what they are using instead to find love.
Live from Atlanta. It is Friday, February 13th. I am Lynda Kinkade, in for Richard Quest and this is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS.
Good evening.
Germany's chancellor says the rules based international order no longer exists.
Friedrich Merz addressed leaders earlier at the Munich Security Conference. He says conflicts like Russia's war in Ukraine are changing the world more
profoundly than many thought possible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRIEDRICH MERZ, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): You've chosen a grim motto for this conference, under destruction, and it probably means
that the international order based on rights and rules is currently being destroyed, but I am afraid we have to put it in even harsher terms.
This order, as flawed as it has been even in its heyday, no longer exists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: It is a sentiment echoed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is also at that conference. He says the old world is gone and that we
live in a new era of geopolitics.
Our Nick Paton Walsh joins us now live from Munich.
Great to have you there for us, Nick.
So when leaders say the old world order is over, are they talking about a temporary period of turbulence or is this a much longer term shift?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is a complex phrase, isn't it? An old world order, which by definition
sounds like it is something that's kind of already past, but what we are seeing here in Munich after many years, is a moment, really, of trauma in
which Europe is trying to hold on to its own alliances amongst NATO members here, take stock of a very different united states. I think, possibly hope,
that tomorrow's key speech by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio passes comparatively with little incident.
Remember, people are still reeling here, frankly from U.S. President J.D. Vance's mauling he gave European liberal democracies falsely assailing
their standards of freedom of speech and how they ran their ballot boxes, that kind of criticism is now being enshrined in White House and Pentagon
policy documents by the Trump administration.
So we are seeing a Europe here whose key leaders, Germany's Friedrich Merz and France's Emmanuel Macron, have in the last hours laid out a compelling
vision against what they refer to some of them as MAGA sort of cultural wars. They don't need to fight that inside of Europe.
And indeed, Merz said, in the era of big powers, our freedom is no longer a given, it is at stake.
And so I think what we are going to hopefully see the Europeans think tomorrow is a calmer United States from Marco Rubio laying out a vision
where there is potentially more in common, I think, given the fact that he is around this going to Hungary and Slovakia, where key Trump proponents in
Europe likely to hit the old issues of what the Americans see is censorship online here, and what they also claim is censorship at the ballot box
amongst European democracies.
That is going to continue to highlight the fissure between the Trump administration, but it is important to remember that the old world order,
the Pax Americana, the thing that's really underpinned every security conference I've been to over the past years is dying because Donald Trump
has basically declared it to be dead.
And I think here, many Europeans know that the Trump administration and previous White Houses want them to pay more for their own defense. They are
slowly beginning to meet those targets, but are also possibly unsure about where Donald Trump's head lies every given morning or midnight when the
Truth Socials come out, finding it hard to formulate a policy.
So, I think there is an element here of people trying to run the clock out on the Trump administration, hoping they can certainly survive this weekend
without a major mishap, and look it is important to remember that all of this noise, this turmoil, this disruption and tearing apart of the
demolition man era, as it is called here, of longstanding alliances, is distracting from the key threat to European Security and the world order as
it has been and that's Ukraine.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky just gave -- he is going to be talking tomorrow, but he gave a smaller speech to a smaller audience just
earlier and he said look, today, only Ukraine defends Europe. Today, only Europe helps and gives money to Ukraine, and today only the United States
can stop Putin and only Putin wants to continue the war.
[16:05:33]
So laying out, I think, starkly this pivotal role of the United States, how much less involved the U.S. now is in trying to stop the Ukraine conflict,
it is clear it is something that is going to be on Rubio's mind when he comes here, too. But Zelenskyy also I think, concerned that pressure is
being put on him to make concessions to reach a deal. He is quite clear in what he said in those remarks that he can't be the President that asks
Ukrainians to give up land because Russia will simply come and take more.
So a lot really, I think resting on the tone of Rubio's speech tomorrow. I think we are dealing with a Europe here that knows it has to take more
stock of its own defense and its own policies, and self-assert, Ukraine, frankly, has been egging them on to do that for months.
But I think, I hope possibly they see a calmer Rubio tomorrow, but also bracing themselves for the sheer unpredictability of this White House.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly is unpredictable and very transactional. Nick Paton Walsh in Munich for us, thanks very much.
Well Germany' chancellor had another warning at the conference directed at the United States. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MERZ: Even the United States will not be powerful enough to go it alone. Dear friends, being a part of NATO is not only Europe's competitive
advantage, it is also the United States' competitive advantage. So let's repair and revive transatlantic trust together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Matthew Karnitschnig is the editor-in-chief of Euractiv. He joins us live from Brussels. Great to have you with us.
MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, EURACTIV: thanks for having me.
KINKADE: So, this is being described as a pivotal moment for European security.
What is fundamentally different this time?
KARNITSCHNIG: Well, that's a very good question because I keep hearing this and I was thinking back to last year and the year before, and those were
also pivotal moments or described as such. And I think that it has always been right because of the precarious situation that Europe is in at the
moment, with the war raging in Ukraine and really the stalemate there. And there are a lot of questions about how Ukraine is going to get out of this.
But as long as the Europeans are willing to keep funding the war and they've already committed $35 billion so far this year to keep the
Ukrainians fighting, I think that we will just see a continuation of the status quo. And as long as the United States continues to sell the
Ukrainian weapons with European money, I think that we are just going to see a continuation of this.
There are a lot of questions about how far Europe is going to be able to go to care for its own security in the long term, but the reality is, is that
these are processes that are going to take many, many years, if not decades, and Europe is still very much reliant on the United States.
I think that the United States also likes it that way more than maybe Washington is willing to acknowledge. What they expect from Europe is that
Europe is a bit more subservient to U.S. wishes, and we certainly see that every time Donald Trump talks about NATO and demands from NATO partners
that they spend more money on defense, meaning in his worldview, they should be buying more American equipment.
So, I think we are going to see a continuation of this trend after this conference and probably for some years to come, because the reality is that
the Europeans have nowhere else to go. They have no other major potential partners who can protect them the way the United States does.
KINKADE: I want to ask you about those comments from the German Chancellor Merz, who said, you know the rules based order is effectively over, but
that the U.S. won't be able to stand alone. To what extent is that true?
KARNITSCHNIG: I think it is true which is why I think we, you know, continue to hear from the U.S. administration that they still are committed
to NATO, they just want a rebalancing of the burden, so-called burden sharing is a buzzword we've heard in recent years. I think that people in
the -- you know, White House and beyond understand how important Europe is to the U.S. not just in terms of security and U.S. interests around the
world, but also in terms of the U.S. economy.
You know, Europe is the most important trading partner for the United States, and that is not going to change anytime soon, so there is this kind
of interdependence there. The reality is, though, is that in this relationship, it is somewhat lopsided.
[16:10:11]
The U.S. has more leverage because the U.S. takes care of European security and just to cite one thing that is often overlooked here is that the U.S.
nuclear umbrella is massive compared to what Europe can bring to bear. The U.S. has more than 5,000 nuclear warheads, Europe combined, France and
Germany are the only nuclear powers in Europe, have just over 500, and their missiles don't have the same range as the American arsenal, meaning
that they don't have the same kind of deterrent vis-a-vis Russia or China that they have with the U.S.
And so this is really why we are seeing the Europeans now talking more about some kind of expansion of the nuclear -- of the European nuclear
umbrella in Europe. But here again, this is a project that would be massively expensive, would take many, many years to put into effect. So it
is always going to be easier for the Europeans to rely on the United States. And I think that many here are also thinking, well, Trump is not
going to be around forever. We will see what happens after Trump. We will see who comes into The White House.
We saw this the last time after his first term. As soon as Joe Biden came in, they went back to basically the status quo. I think many here regret
that. And there is still a lot of talk about longer term, we are going to do all of this on our own. There is going to be strategic autonomy and so
on.
But the other sort of hard truth in Europe right now is that the European economy is not doing very well. We are talking about very highly indebted
countries especially France. And you know, the German economy has been stagnant for over five years now. So, they are not really in a position to
invest these huge sums in the military that they would like.
KINKADE: You write that Iran is expanding its missile and nuclear capabilities with the potential to reach Europe. What is the risk if that
threat is left on the margins, given how much focus there is right now on Russia's war in Ukraine?
KARNITSCHNIG: Well, this is a huge threat for the Europeans and another reason, I think, that they are going to keep the United States as close as
possible, the Iranian ballistic program has a range basically of 2,000 kilometers, which means it could easily reach European territory and, you
know it is something that has been overlooked.
Now, in the broader political debate, I would say, and, you know recently we've seen more tension because of the, you know, slaughter basically of
Iranian civilians by the regime there. And that has forced the European Union to take a harder line towards the regime in Tehran I think more so
than many, many would like to and that has heightened tensions.
And I think that, you know, this is something that many here are worried about because there is a long history of terror attacks by the Iranian
mullahs basically being ordered in Europe and we've also seen close cooperation between Iran and Russia, particularly in the area of drones,
with Iran supplying the Russians with a lot of drones that they are using in Ukraine already.
So this is a big, big fear, and I think that the Europeans are closely watching what President Trump is planning in Iran. The U.S. has obviously
just ordered another aircraft carrier to head into the Gulf.
So, I think this is -- you know, these kinds of tensions are very keenly felt here in Europe also because Europe would be the first place to feel
the effects of a potential war beyond the Middle East with, you know, the potential for refugees and all kinds of unrest that that could bring about.
KINKADE: Matthew Karnitschnig, appreciate your analysis. Thanks for joining us.
KARNITSCHNIG: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs is resigning amid fallout from the Epstein files.
Kathryn Ruemmler says shell step down at the end of June. Now, that announcement comes as she has weathered numerous news stories in recent
weeks, examining her relationship with the disgraced financier.
Ruemmler and those around her have insisted that she had a professional relationship with Epstein.
Well, the Epstein files have also brought down one of the most powerful figures in the shipping and logistics world, as our Becky Anderson
explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The Dubai government announced on Friday that DP World is appointing a new chairman. The organization didn't
provide a reason for the change, but outgoing Chair Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem who had led the Dubai-based global ports and logistics giant for
decades, is facing intense scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Bin Sulayem appeared in the latest batch of documents released by the DOJ, which revealed that he had corresponded with the convicted sex offender
over the span of at least a decade, including lewd exchanges with Epstein, somewhat affectionately describing Bin Sulayem, whose name appears
thousands of times as funny, educated, master and a best and trusted friend.
[16:15:19]
These files revealed they traded regional contacts and discussed visits to Epstein's Caribbean island where survivors repeatedly testified that
Epstein sexually abused them.
At least two companies, a British investment platform and Canada's second largest pension fund, had reportedly halted future deals with DP World in
the wake of these releases. The Quebec based Publicase had told CNN that it expects DP World, and I quote here to "... shed light on the situation and
take the necessary actions."
Well, DP World declined comment on the Epstein connection when contacted by CNN before Bin Sulayem's removal.
Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: While a name appearing in the Epstein files is not evidence of wrongdoing, U.S. prosecutors have not addressed why people referenced in
the Epstein files were never charged, except to say that there was no evidence that would allow them to prosecute anyone else.
Bin Sulayem has not been charged or accused of any wrongdoing, and CNN has been unable to reach him for comment.
Well, still to come, the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year- old Nancy Guthrie. There is big concern that rain coming down in Arizona may disrupt the evidence there. We will go live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Welcome back, I am Lynda Kinkade.
Another partial U.S. government shutdown looks to be more certain by the hour. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire at
midnight Friday, local time. Lawmakers have already left for recess without reaching a deal.
Democrats want Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE to be reined in following the deadly shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in
Minneapolis.
Our correspondent Lauren Fox has more.
LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well after not clinching a deal over the course of the last two weeks, Republicans and Democrats have
gone home from the House and Senate for a weeklong recess, their leadership telling them that they will be called back if a deal comes through in the
next couple of days.
[16:20:00]
But at this point, it doesn't look like The White House and Senate Democrats are any closer to finding a middle ground. If you remember,
Democrats were insisting on reforms to how immigration enforcement was happening around the country, things like requiring officers to wear body
cameras, requiring them to display their I.D.s, changing the way the warrant system worked.
But those very sticky negotiating points are still being worked out with The White House. There wasn't enough progress made that Democrats felt like
they wanted to vote for a short-term spending cap to keep moving those negotiations forward.
So instead, at midnight today, we expect that funding for the Department of Homeland Security will stop, but it is important to remember that because
of the President's Big, Beautiful Bill that was passed earlier this year, they do have money to continue immigration enforcement around the country.
So, the agencies that are going to be most affected are TSA, as well as the Coast Guard.
KINKADE: Well, police in Arizona say they have what they are calling good leads nearly two weeks into the investigation of Nancy Guthrie's
disappearance.
Authorities believe the 84-year-old who is the mother of NBC journalist and "Today" show host, Savannah Guthrie, was abducted. The FBI has released a
description of the person they are calling a suspect. He was seen here on doorbell camera footage from Guthrie's home the night she disappeared.
President Trump is crediting the FBI's involvement in the case for the progress, even though it is still unclear where Nancy Guthrie may be.
Nick Watt is in Tucson, Arizona, and joins us now live.
So Nick, it is almost two weeks since this abduction. What do we know about these new leads?
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well not much. Listen, in an investigation like this, it is very normal for investigators to keep some
information back from the media and the public. They release what might help the investigation, they hold them back.
My colleague, Ed Lavandera is actually interviewing the local sheriff as we speak. So, maybe he will get some more information on what those leads are.
I mean, the biggest pieces of evidence as far as we can tell so far, that video that they somehow managed to drag out of the vaults at Nest that
showed that suspect on Nancy Guthrie's doorstep just before Nancy Guthrie was taken.
And of course, they've now given us a description, five-nine, five-ten average build. Also, they've zoned in on that backpack we now know exactly
the brand, the name where -- it is only sold at Walmart, so they will be scouring Walmart to find who has bought that backpack in recent times.
So as I say Lynda, hopefully we are going to hear from the Sheriff a little bit more. But you know, this is day 13 and as far as we know, on the
outside so far, no sign of life -- Lynda.
KINKADE: And just quickly, there seems to be some dispute between the local Sheriff's Office there and the FBI over access to forensic evidence. What
do you know?
WATT: Well, so this was allegedly the local county sheriff wanted to send some pieces of evidence to a lab in Florida that the county sheriff uses.
The FBI wanted to send this evidence to Quantico to their lab. We are told by a number of sources this has been totally overblown.
In this country, in the U.S., there is always overlapping jurisdiction. You've got the FBI, the federal agency, you've got the local county. The
local county is in charge. We are told it is overblown.
Listen, maybe it is frustration that 13 days in, we still don't know who the suspect is -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Understandable. Everyone wants answers. Nick Watt, we appreciate your time. Thanks so much.
WATT: Thank you.
KINKADE: A wave of protests is sweeping across Israel, this time over a surge in violent crime in the country's Arab communities.
Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 20 percent of the population, yet they accounted for more than 80 percent of last year's murder victims.
Demonstrators accused the government of inaction and discrimination. Officials reject those claims.
Jeremy Diamond has more, but I need to warn you, some of the images in this report are graphic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A groundswell of protests erupting across Israel, this time demanding action on an issue
these protesters say the government is ignoring, a surge of violent crime in Israel's Arab communities.
The demonstrators are mostly Palestinian citizens of Israel, Muslims and Christians, who make up about 20 percent of the country, and yet last year,
they accounted for more than 80 percent of all murder victims.
Two hundred and fifty two Palestinian citizens of Israel were murdered last year, 45 more have been killed this year alone in violence that officials
say is largely driven by Arab organized crime groups,
but this is the most alarming statistic, Israel's police solved only 15 percent of those murders, compared to 65 percent when the victim was
Jewish.
[16:25:10]
DIAMOND (on camera): If your son was a Jewish citizen of Israel, do you believe --
QASSEM AWAD, SON MURDERED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO: An hour.
DIAMOND (voice over): Within an hour they would get the --
AWAD (through translator): You're asking me if my son was Jewish, how long it would take, one hour. That's all.
DIAMOND (voice over): Qassem Awad (ph) had been waiting far more than an hour for justice. His son was murdered more than a year ago. Dr. Abdullah
Awad (ph) was treating patients inside a clinic in Northern Israel when a masked gunman came in and shot him. His father says there is no reason why
his son would be a target.
(QASSEM AWAD speaking in foreign language.)
DIAMOND (voice over): "Why until now, do we not have any information? We have nothing," Awad says.
"The police came the first few days and said they would follow up, but they never did. The crime and violence in the Arab Palestinian community is
orchestrated by the Israeli state. Let them kill each other while we sit back and relax."
DIAMOND (on camera): The police will say though, that there is a problem in the Arab community as well. What do you say to that?
(QASSEM AWAD speaking in foreign language.)
DIAMOND (voice over): "Why are these issues happening in Arab communities to begin with? Upgrade our schools, upgrade our safety and security -- if
you did all of these things, people won't think about violence or crime or protection. They'll think about living."
DIAMOND (voice over): At this protest in the Arab town of Sakhnin, there is anger at Palestinian organized crime, but above all, at Israel's right-wing
government.
DIAMOND (on camera) Among the chants that we've been hearing at this demonstration have been against Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National
Security, who so many here hold responsible for the inaction they say, of Israel's police force, a policy that they say is deliberately aimed at
increasing crime among Arab communities in Israel.
DIAMOND (voice over): Ben-Gvir rejects any responsibility, instead blaming local Arab leaders for turning a blind eye to crime, but murders in Arab
society have skyrocketed on his watch, more than doubling since he took office in December 2022.
Aida Touma a Palestinian member of Israel's Parliament, sees a direct link.
AIDA TOUMA-SULEIMAN, PALESTINIAN MEMBER OF ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENT: I believe there is a very racist policy that is committed by the government. It is
not a double standard anymore. It is a policy that they know what they are doing. They want these criminal groups to control our society, to
fragmentize us and to kill more of us.
DIAMOND (voice over): At this peaceful protest, Israeli Police are out in force, resources, the residents here wish were put to better use.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: We are going to have much more news on CNN in just a moment. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:31:06]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade. There is much more QUEST MEANS BUSINESS in just a moment, when I'll speak to the
chief operating officer of OpenTable on how restaurants are managing affordability concerns.
And this Valentine's Day, we'll take a look at a company in London. It's telling people to ditch their dating apps. Before that, the headlines this
hour.
Well, leaders have gathered for the annual security conference in Munich, Germany, where the growing rift between the United States and Europe is on
full display.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both making it clear today that the old world order no longer exists.
Mr. Merz is calling for transatlantic relations to be repaired.
London's High Court has ruled that a government ban on the activist group Palestine Action is unlawful. That the ban will temporary -- temporarily
remain in place, as the British government says it plans to appeal the decision. The judgment marks a significant victory to civil liberty
campaigners who argued that the ban was an overreach of government power.
U.S. is turning up the pressure on Iran. President Trump says he is sending a second aircraft carrier group to the Middle East in case he's unable to
reach a deal with Iran over its nuclear program. He is been threatening new military action if diplomacy fails.
The U.S. inflation last month cooled to its lowest rate since May. January prices rose at an annual rate of 2.4 percent easing more than economists
expected.
Now, the drop was helped by decreasing gas prices. They fell to 3.2 percent from December. Inflation related to housing also slowing down overall.
So, Rana Foroohar joins us now. She is CNN's global economic analyst. Great to see you, Rana.
RANA FOROOHAR, CNN GLOBAL ECONOMIC ANALYST: Good to see you.
KINKADE: So, I want to get your take on this latest inflation data. This is the lowest in eight months. Does it signal that inflation is truly under
control, or is this a temporary drop due to gas and house prices?
FOROOHAR: Well, you know, as you say, gas and house prices have been very volatile. I expect them to continue to be volatile. If you think about all
the things that can happen in the world, geopolitical strife, climate events, you know, those are the things that could be very much influenced
by that.
That said, I think if you're in the White House, you have to like this report, and it certainly eases the debate a little bit for the Fed. You
know, you've got Kevin Warsh coming in as the new Fed chair. He has been the kind of person that will raise rates and advocate for that when need
be. But he's also said that he thinks inflation may be under control in the U.S., in part, because of technology and the deflationary effects of that.
And so, this first report that we're seeing, you know, really pointing to that is good news for him. It takes a little bit of the pressure off of the
new Fed chair and also of the White House.
KINKADE: Yes, it certainly does.
And Rana, you know, some research indicates that the U.S. businesses and consumers bore the brunt of the tariffs, which should show up in price
pressures. How do you reconcile that with the cooler CPI numbers?
FOROOHAR: Well, you know, again, you are -- you are seeing food and energy stripped out, housing still in there. But a lot of the things that are in
the CPI, you don't have to actually purchase. And I think that you have seen consumer spending in the U.S. be more under control. You have seen
consumer sentiment falling. And so, I think people are buttoning up their wallets. That supply and demand equation is going to affect the
inflationary picture.
The other thing that I would point to, though, is the fact that tariffs really haven't had as much of an effect as a lot of analysts thought that
they would.
[16:35:00]
And I think part of that, again, is down to this question of technology. A lot of big companies, in particular, have really spent a lot of money and a
lot of time since COVID, really. Getting their supply chains in order, using sensor technology, A.I. technology to try and smooth things out, and
I think that that's helping to offset some of the price increases that you are seeing from tariffs.
KINKADE: And Rana, I want to ask you about the jobs market, because the jobs report, I showed 130,000 new positions. The unemployment rate at 4.3
percent. How would you describe that market right now?
FOROOHAR: So, the jobs picture is a little blurrier. You know, if you look at where that growth is coming from, it's been a lot in healthcare.
Healthcare is a growing sector. It's been growing for some time, but you don't want your numbers to be so much tied to one industry.
Also, a lot of healthcare jobs are low wage jobs. So, you know, I would be happier if I saw a little bit of mix, and, in particular, if I saw a little
bit more manufacturing job growth. You have seen, again, A.I. sort of nipping away at some of the white-collar jobs, some of the professional
jobs.
Still, though, you have to say that given where we are, given the amount of headwinds and the amount of geopolitical threats, and, you know, the way
that this White House often behaves, on again, off again with various policies, this labor market is, you know, not bad. It's pretty good.
KINKADE: Yes. Overall, not a bad picture, given what we are witnessing.
Rana Foroohar, thanks so much.
FOROOHAR: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, restaurant food prices eased slightly in January from the same period last year. Now, they are rising at four percent, which is
outpacing overall inflation. But it's not stopping Americans from dining out this Valentine's Day.
OpenTable says 52 percent plan to eat out. 41 percent are expected to celebrate with friends rather than a romantic partner. And it's part of a
growing Galentine's, Palentine's dining trend.
Anyway, Amy Wei is here from OpenTable. She is OpenTable's chief operating officer to talk us through the numbers. Good to see you. Happy early
Valentine's Day.
AMY WEI, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, OPENTABLE: Happy early Valentine's Day to you too, Lynda. It's great to be here.
KINKADE: So, Amy, despite the fact that, you know, restaurant prices are up, is this a case of love at first bite? People are still OK to, like, pay
a bit extra on Valentine's Day.
WEI: Yes. That is absolutely what we are seeing, Lynda. Valentine's Day dining is off to a really strong start. We're seeing OpenTable reservations
up over a 30 percent year over year.
And with Valentine's Day falling on a long weekend and on a Saturday, we expect the celebration to last all through the weekend.
KINKADE: And interesting, Amy, when you look at the survey that you have done, the trend is not necessarily to go with your partner on Valentine's
Day. You are seeing more and more groups. Galentine's if you like, you know, women with their friends going out on Valentine's Day to celebrate.
How does that compare with recent years?
WEI: So, the Galentine's Day trend has been on the rise over the last few years, and this year is no different. We are also seeing over 30 percent
year over year growth on Galentine's Day, which is tonight. And Gen Z, I will say, is leading the trend in making Valentine's Day their own.
They are turning a table for two to a table for many. They are taking this day and this weekend to celebrate with their friends, their family, and
even solo diners are out on Valentine's Day.
KINKADE: And just how early, Amy, are people planning their Valentine's Day dinner? Are they -- are they booking in early, or are they hoping Cupid
will do the last-minute scheduling?
WEI: Lynda, it is happening all throughout the week, and I will tell you not, not surprisingly, there is actually a few stragglers out there. We see
a lot of reservations still coming in the last 24 hours before Valentine's Day. And the great news is there are still tables out there for you, and we
encourage people to open up that OpenTable app and take a look at what's available. Be a little bit flexible on the timing, but you will be able to
find something for you though.
If your heart is set on one specific restaurant. I want to offer one tip. You can utilize our notify me function. You click that button and we will
notify you via the app and let you know if a last-minute slot opens up.
KINKADE: And just in terms of the overall picture of the restaurant scene, given that it is, you know, pricier than overall inflation. What sort of
trends have you noticed in recent years?
[16:40:01]
WEI: Well, dining demand has stayed remarkably strong. We ended last year at OpenTable up eight to nine percent in terms of reservations, and we are
seeing that same trend last through all of January into February, based on -- based on the survey that we actually did.
We saw that Americans are looking to dine out 10 times in one month this year. So, we are really seeing that restaurants are offering experiences
that people really want to, you know, basically be able to prioritize even during economic uncertainty.
KINKADE: And you get out of doing the dishes, which is always a positive.
Amy Wei, thanks so much for your time.
WEI: Absolutely. Thanks so much for having me, Lynda.
KINKADE: Well, if you're looking to go with a special someone this weekend, breeze could lend you a hand. Anna Cooban sat down with the co-founder of
the dating app. He told her about its unique approach to helping users find their match.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS REPORTER (voice over): After nearly 15 years of dating apps, the endless swiping and ghosting, this Valentine's
Day, a new app says that it's different. Breeze doesn't let you talk to people before you meet them.
I sat down with its founder.
MARCO VAN DER WOUDE, COFOUNDER, BREEZE: People also kind of need to realize that going on a date, it's -- of course, it's exciting, but it's OK if the
match is not there, right? It's just having a drink with somebody, kind of that very heavy feeling that people have around dating. We really try it.
That's also why the app is called Breeze, right? We really try to make it a lot more light hearted.
And usually, things that are exciting are worth it, right? So, we have this brand campaign, which is, love is worth the leap. And that's what we're
really trying to say, is, you know, take that leap.
COOBAN: So, what are dating apps, traditionally? They have been around for over a decade now.
VAN DER WOUDE: Yes.
COOBAN: What are they getting wrong about love?
VAN DER WOUDE: Well, I think, the key there is their business model. Right? So, these apps, they earn money by keeping you on the app, because that
mean -- that means you will pay for more subscriptions. They will able -- they will be able to share -- sell your data to more advertisers, and that
means their incentives are not aligned with making sure that you actually meet somebody in real life.
And I think that's the key to why these apps are built as love machines and not actually as ways of getting you across the table from another person.
COBAN: And how does Breeze make money?
VAN DER WOUDE: So, there is no subscriptions, and there's no ads. You only pay once you actually match. And I think that is where, you know, what our
company revolves around, is getting you on the date. It's not only our mission, but it's also the way we earn money, and in doing so, we have by
now organized more than 600,000 Breezes, which resulted in multiple marriages and even some babies.
COOBAN: So, have users not told you that they might find it frustrating that they only get a set number of people, less than 10 people every day.
VAN DER WOUDE: Yes. When we started, there were a lot of people that complained about this, but in the Netherlands, which is where we -- where
we launched six years ago, people are so used to this right now -- right now, so, they don't want anything else in that sense.
I think, Breeze is a much better app for to get you on a date, and that's essentially what you are doing on a dating app.
COOBAN: So, all of the single people in my life, the common refrain is, I just want to meet them in real life. I want to have a story. I don't want
to say that I met them on the app. What would you say to those people trying to convince them of technology and how it might help them?
VAN DER WOUDE: That's a very difficult question.
First of all, I -- so, I don't really understand why people wouldn't want to tell other people that they met on the app, because there is nothing
wrong with meeting somebody on the app, right? It's so common right now. Maybe in 2012, it was -- it was strange. But right now, more people are
meeting on the app than through other methods.
So, that's the first thing I would tell them, like you're definitely not the odd one out. And what I always tell people that are doubting to use
Breeze, I'll just say, give it a try. I mean, you don't have anything to lose. You just make a profile. If you don't like it, then you stop. So,
that's what I will tell them.
COOBAN: So, I can tell them that romance is not dead end.
VAN DER WOUDE: Definitely not.
COOBAN: Great. Good to know.
VAN DER WOUDE: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Romance is not dead. Our thanks to Anna Cooban. And she's going to have more on new ways people are trying to find love this season, a little
later this hour.
Well, still ahead, Journalist Don Lemon appears in a Minnesota Court to face federal charges in connection with a protest. We are going to discuss
what the former CNN anchor plans to do next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:47:13]
KINKADE: Welcome back.
Journalist and former CNN anchor Don Lemon, pleaded not guilty a short time ago to federal charges in connection with a protest in Minnesota last
month.
Prosecutors allege he and another independent journalist, Georgia Fort participated in a "takeover-style" attack of a church. Now, a group
protesting the presence of federal immigration agents rushed into this church almost a month ago.
Lemon has said repeatedly, even during his live stream of the church disruption that he was there as a journalist, not as an activist. He spoke
with reporters just a short time ago. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, FORMER ANCHOR, CNN: For more than 30 years, I have been a journalist, and the power and protection of the First Amendment has been
the underpinning of my work.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He will (INAUDIBLE). We will continue to stand for what is right.
LEMON: Where the First Amendment, the freedom of the press, the bedrock of our democracy.
The events before my arrest, it has happen since, so that people are finally realizing what this administration is all about.
The process is the punishment with them. And like all of you here in Minnesota, the great people of Minnesota, I will not be intimidated. I will
not back down. I will fight these baseless charges, and I will not be silenced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: I will not be silenced. Those words from Don Lemon.
I want to welcome Brian Stelter. Good to have you with us, Brian.
So, Don has pleaded not guilty. He's brought in this high profile former federal prosecutor. Is this shaping up to potentially be a long legal
battle?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Yes, it very well could be. And I think what Lemon said there is really crucial. He said, the process is the
punishment. He clearly views this as a politically motivated vendetta, because he has been a long-time critic of President Trump. He believes the
weaponized DOJ is coming after him for that reason. And he says the punishment is not actually the trial, because he knows he is not going to
be found guilty, he is not going to be convicted. The process is the punishment.
Now, that is an idea, a concept we've heard from other Trump foes who have been targeted in the past year. And in this case, it's a journalist, who is
saying he's being put through this process in order to punish him. But he is also kind of taking this, however, he can to his advantage, drawing
attention to this prosecution, and honestly, also racking up a lot more YouTube views, getting a lot more followers on his social media accounts.
When Lemon left CNN, he launched these platforms, and he is been building up a show, and at times it's been kind of hard to do so. In some ways, he
is been using this prosecution to his advantage, at least, gaining more attention, more views, and very much portraying himself as a victim, as I
said, of a politically motivated effort.
KINKADE: And Brian, just take us through the federal charges, because these seem highly unusual for a journalist, right?
STELTER: Yes. They are. Yes. Highly unusual, and have this Face Act, which has been used in the past with regards to medical clinics for people going
to get abortions in the U.S.
[16:50:01]
To use this law now to charge with religious interference, basically charging Lemon and other journalists, just like the protesters who entered
that church last month and saying that they were interfering with the rights of worshipers to practice their religion.
To see the charges in this way, we have never seen that law applied in a case like this, and many legal experts have told CNN, this will be a very
hard case for prosecutors to actually prove. That is why Lemon is saying the process is the punishment. Because when you look at the indictment,
look at some of the claims in the indictment, they do not add up. They do not align with what we actually know about what happened inside the church.
So, putting this to trial will be very difficult for prosecutors if it gets to that point. But again, maybe the attempt here is just to make him suffer
in the court of public opinion.
KINKADE: Yes, and in terms of what he has to pay that former federal prosecutor to fight this case on his behalf.
Brian Stelter, great to have you as always. Thank you.
STELTER: Right. Thanks.
KINKADE: Well, still to come, this Valentine's Day, single people in London are meeting up in real life, but it's not quite the old-fashioned way.
We'll explain next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Valentine's Day is this Saturday, and while millions of people around the world have turned to online dating to find their soul
mates, a new company is asking singles to put down their phones and try an old-fashioned way of meeting people instead.
But the approach isn't entirely old school. Anna Cooban has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right. All right. All right. Firstly, thank you guys so much for coming tonight.
COOBAN (voice over): It's after hours at a comedy club in Central London. Except tonight, this audience is engaged in a far more serious pursuit.
Finding love.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Best case, my husband is here and the love of my life, and it's great. Worst case, I've met some -- made some new friends.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really chill. I'm just hoping to have a couple of drinks, talk to a couple of people.
COOBAN (voice over): Weary and worn down by dating apps, these singles are banking on some real-life connection.
ELIN SIAN, LOOKING FOR LOVE: I'm a romantic. I want to be with a partner. I want to be with someone who's like, big and bold. And I feel like people in
London are very nonchalant and very cool, and that they want to lay their heart on the line.
COOBAN (voice over): Assisting tonight is an algorithm.
Do you fall in love quickly?
SIAN: Yes, I'm in love at first sight.
COOBAN (voice-over): Elin fills out a questionnaire by Matchbox, a software that claims to pair people based on their values.
SIAN: It's better to have loved and lost, than end to never have loved. Yes. Submit.
[16:55:02]
COOBAN (voice over): With answers submitted, it's now time to mingle before these singles meet their match.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was like there saying, like yes, I met my husband on here.
COOBAN (voice over): Hosting tonight is Thursday, a dating company that used to match people via, you guessed it, an app, until they dumped it last
year.
JAMES ORMEROD, HEAD, THURSDAY: Everyone is sick of the swiping endlessly, only to get maybe a couple responses. The dating events is basically taking
it back to basics. You have to make those in real life connections, and people are literally -- I can't produce enough events for the demand that's
out there.
COOBAN (voice over): Thursday says it's made more than 20,000 matches using this algorithm.
SIAN: Got my match. Well, finally, here it is. I think it's him.
COOBAN: I should out of the way.
COOBAN (voice over): And the verdict --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The age gap was -- is possibly this far, (INAUDIBLE).
SIAN: Why? It's not non-negotiable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, got -- it could be --
(CROSSTALK)
SIAN: It's a -- if we could work on it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can work on it.
COOBAN (voice over): To many in this room, the search continues with or without an app.
Anna Cooban, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Anna might have to catch up with that couple and see how the first date went.
Well, it's just over a year since Chinese A.I. startup, DeepSeek, rattled the global tech industry. Back it said its low-cost model would be better
able to compete with rivals.
Well, now China's A.I. industry is still struggling to catch up to the U.S. CNN Business reporter John Liu has more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN LIU, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: Remember DeepSeek? The Chinese startup that shocked the world in early 2025, with a powerful A.I. model that
seemed to have come out of nowhere. That ushered in a massive A.I. boom in China.
Over the last few months, six Chinese A.I. and Chip firms have raised more than 3 billion U.S. dollars through IPOs here in Hong Kong. But this is all
just hyped. Analysts tell me when it comes to the most advanced A.I. models, China still lags behind the U.S.
Some top Chinese A.I. developers have even said that the gap may be widening for two reasons: chips and capital. U.S. export controls bar
Chinese companies from getting cutting edge chips, and they don't have as much money as American tech giants.
But China is still very much in the race. The A.I. frenzy over the past year shows just how fast Chinese companies can advance under pressure.
Beijing has also made A.I. a top national priority, showering companies with favorable policy and tens of billions dollar-worth of investments.
And there are signs that Chinese A.I. may be winning in one key area. Real life applications. From ordering groceries on your behalf to assembling
cars and humanoid robots are being developed with the goal of taking over factory floor and household duties. All scenarios that could ultimately
determine the future of the A.I. race.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: That is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Thanks so much for your company. And if you're celebrating, have a great Valentine's Day.
"THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
