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Key House Committee Votes to Advance GOP Tax Bill; Hamas Leader Targeted in Strikes on Gaza Hospital; Israel and U.S. Officials Meet for Ceasefire-Hostage Talks. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired May 14, 2025 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:00]

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: New this morning. President Trump's so- called big, beautiful bill appears to have cleared a key hurdle as Republicans work to advance his sprawling agenda. The House Ways and Means Committee has voted to advance their portion of the tax and spending cuts package after meeting for some 18 hours.

I want to go live right now to CNN Congressional Correspondent Lauren Fox. She's up on Capitol Hill. Lauren, so where do things stand following this committee vote? There's still a long way to go.

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's exactly right. You know, I'm standing outside the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They're the committee that's responsible for making decisions about some of those Medicaid changes moving forward. They are still going. They've been having contentious debate all night long. We expect that they could go late into the afternoon.

Today, they're past -- you know their past record for this is 27 hours during that debate over Obamacare repeal back in 2017. So, that gives you a sense of where we're going.

Meanwhile, the speaker dealing with a contentious fight from just a handful of New York Republicans who are fighting for a higher deduction for state and local taxes for their constituents. Here's one of those members.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NICK LALOTA (R-NY): But there's no deal without a true salt fix, a fix that the president campaigned on when he was campaigning throughout the country and specifically on Long Island back in October, 2024 when he called for a fix to salt.

We're willing to put something on the table to ensure that we have the rest of the tax cuts, but it's got to be fair for Long Islanders, New Yorkers, folks in New Jersey and California, because we share a lot of the burden. We're donor states. We send way more to Washington than we get back. I'm a little tired of being lectured about how somehow salt is a subsidy to the largest of Blue States like mine,

(END VIDEO CLIP) FOX: And there's just a handful of members who are fighting for this provision, Wolf. But just to give you a sense of how important it is, it only takes three Republican votes to potentially sideline the president's agenda. So, those members, very important. They'll continue meeting and having conversations with leadership today. Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We'll see what happens. Lauren Fox up on Capitol Hill, thank you very, very much. Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Wolf. So, let's get more on the budget battle and the major headaches. The proposed Medicaid cuts are causing for Republicans in swing districts. For more on that, I want to bring in Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd of Colorado.

Congressman, great to have you back on the show. You signed a letter with a dozen other Republican moderates urging House leaders to preserve Medicaid. So, how will you be voting on this bill as it stands right now?

REP. JEFF HURD (R-CO): Thanks a lot, Pamela. It's good to see you again.

Listen, I think this is a step in the right direction. We promise that we would protect Medicaid for the most vulnerable populations. That's what we're working hard to do. It's important in my district making sure that we take care of the elderly for children, pregnant women, the disabled. I think that we're making steps in the right direction. And as it is right now, I think this is a step in the right direction.

BROWN: So, the total number of people who could lose coverage under this budget, it's unclear. I want to note that, but there's this analysis from the Congressional Budget Office that suggests it could be in the millions. You've said that one in three people in your district rely on Medicaid. Do you know how many of them will lose coverage under this current budget?

HURD: Well, listen, I'm optimistic that we're going to protect the most vulnerable populations, including those in my district. You're right, that one out of three people in my district relies on Medicaid. We need to make sure that we're protecting Medicaid and preserving it for those who need it most. Those who are the most vulnerable, that's what I'm fighting for. And I think that's what the Republicans in the Energy and Commerce Committee and in the House are trying to do.

BROWN: I guess it's also a question though of how you exactly define the most vulnerable. I know you mentioned the elderly and pregnant women and that kind of thing. But help policy experts say most people on Medicaid, many people at least are, they're already working. And there was the CBO analysis from 2023 that found that work requirements would have negligible effect on employment status or how many hours Medicaid recipients worked.

[10:35:00]

Do you have any concerns that people who really need Medicaid will lose access because of these new requirements? HURD: Well, I would caution people to not read too much into what the Congressional Budget Office says with respect to these work requirements. I mean, we've seen that they've made projections that are not accurate in the past. I think fundamentally, most Americans agree that if you need these benefits, if you sincerely are part of that vulnerable population, you should get them.

And so, making sure that folks have the work requirements in place, I think is something that's sensible. I think most Americans agree, most people in my district certainly think that's a step in the right direction. We need to make sure that the people who are utilizing these benefits are the ones that truly deserve it and need them.

BROWN: But as you well know, these issues aren't always so simple, right? And you think about an example of someone who might work at a gas station who doesn't get health benefits through their work, who doesn't make a lot of money, and who is -- needs to rely on Medicaid, right? So, they're working. But now, will that Medicaid be taken away?

And you had mentioned in a previous interview, I was just reading about, about how just cumbersome it already is for to get Medicaid and all the -- to meet the requirements and so forth. I mean, how concerned are you about how cumbersome it could become for those who need it to get that Medicaid moving forward?

HURD: Well, it's something that's certainly important, but there is flexibility built into this legislation that the Energy and Commerce Committee is looking at. You can satisfy the work requirement all sorts of ways. You mentioned working a certain amount. Students also would qualify if you're doing volunteer work, if you're trying to work. So, there's flexibility that's built into this, I think, which is good public policy.

Is it perfect? No. Can we improve on it? Absolutely. But it's definitely a step in the right direction.

BROWN: All right. I want to go to another topic to have you weigh in on this, this plane from Qatar, this luxury jet and President Trump saying that he wants to accept it. As you well know, there is all this controversy over his plan to accept it as a gift from that nation. It's drawing backlash even from some Republicans and MAGA allies like Laura Loomer and Ben Shapiro. Where do you stand on that decision?

HURD: I have serious concerns with this so-called gift from the government of Qatar. Security concerns, ethical concerns, using this used airplane. But it's also a gift from a government that supports terrorist organizations like Hamas. So, if there were a Democratic president that was accepting a gift like this, we'd be outraged. I think it's something that we should look at carefully and I have definitely serious concerns with this gift.

BROWN: And what do you make of the fact that now the Trump administration is saying, well, actually it's going to go to a department, DOD, State Department, it's really going to gift -- a gift to the department. Does that assuage your concerns at all? HURD: It's six of one half a dozen of the other, I'm still concerned with this gift. Again, there's ethical concerns that I think still remain, but there's also security concerns. Why are we accepting a gift from this -- a used airplane that's 13 years old from a government that is aligned with individuals and organizations that are hostile to our interest in the Middle East? It just makes me concerned fundamentally.

It's a bad issue. And, again, regardless of who the president is, I think we would be cautious and I certainly is something that I cannot support.

BROWN: Really quickly before we let you go, I want to ask you, you're on the Transportation Committee and we know the secretary -- the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, is meeting with airlines this morning over all those flight delays at Newark. Have you seen a specific plan to fix those delays just as soon as possible? Not a long-term plan, but an immediate plan?

HURD: Well, certainly that's something that we're working on in transportation infrastructure. I'm a member of the aviation subcommittee. That is a critical issue that we're working hard in the reconciliation process, but also, I know behind the scenes, the White House, Secretary Duffy, the transportation administration are working to get that issue addressed as soon as possible.

I know that's something that's critical for folks, not just in Newark, but also across the country, including Colorado. We -- the traffic issues that Newark experiences affect us across the country. So, it's something we need to get on right away, and I know that we're working on it as hard as we can with the secretary of transportation with House leadership and with the president.

BROWN: All right. Congressman Jeff Hurd, thank you for your time.

HURD: Happy to join you, Pamela.

BROWN: Wolf.

BLITZER: Up next, we're live in Jerusalem after sources tell CNN Israel was targeting the Habas leader in a strike at a hospital in Southern Gaza.

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[10:40:00]

BLITZER: New this morning, a source tells CNN that an Israeli delegation is meeting with U.S. negotiators in Doha, that's the capital of Qatar. That's also where President Trump is right now. Their talks are focusing in on a potential ceasefire in the Israel- Hamas war and securing the release of the remaining hostages.

The talks come after Hamas released the Israeli American hostage Edan Alexander on Monday in a deal brokered by the United States. Meanwhile, sources now tell CNN that Israel was targeting Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar, in a strike on a hospital in Southern Gaza. The Palestinian Ministry of Health says at least six Palestinians were killed and more than 40 injured.

Let's go live right now to CNN Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond. Jeremy, do we know if Sinwar, the Hamas leader, was killed in this Israeli attack?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, if we know that he was targeted, we don't yet know whether or not this targeting was successful from the Israeli military's point of view. And it could take days, if not weeks, to actually confirm whether or not Mohammed Sinwar was actually killed in this airstrike.

It was a massive airstrike at that Wolf. And we've gotten some new video showing not only the moment of impact, but also the aftermath where you see these enormous craters that were left, including in the courtyard of the European hospital in Khan Younis indicating the likely use of bunker busting bombs to penetrate deep underground, where the Israeli military says that there was an underground command facility in which the Israelis believed that Mohammed Sinwar was indeed located.

While we don't know whether Mohammed Sinwar was among the dead, we are getting a new updated death toll from the Palestinian Ministry of Health for this strike, at least 28 people were killed, more than 50 others were injured, according to the Ministry of Health. The hospital itself was also damaged. And all of this comes as Israel is engaging in these negotiations pressured by the United States to try and reach a new ceasefire and hostage release deal.

But this strike, coming just a day after the release of Edan Alexander, raising questions about the ability to get to a deal as Israel is targeting the man in Gaza who would have to actually greenlight this deal in order for it to go forward. Wolf.

BLITZER: And a quick question, Jeremy. This Israeli delegation that's now in Doha, Qatar to meet with U.S. officials in an effort to try to convince Hamas to release the remaining hostages and potentially get some sort of ceasefire down the road, who's leading the Israeli delegation?

DIAMOND: Well, we know Wolf that actually the Israeli prime minister got on the phone directly with Steve Witkoff, president Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, while he was in Doha. And so, these conversations are clearly happening at a very high level. The question is, is the Israeli prime minister committed to getting to a ceasefire as most of what he's been talking about over the last 24 hours, Wolf, has been not a ceasefire, but rather plans to escalate the Israeli military's campaign in Gaza as early as next week. Wolf.

BLITZER: We'll see what happens in these talks in Doha, Qatar. Jeremy Diamond, thanks very, very much. Let's continue this conversation. Get some serious analysis from Brett McGurk. He's the CNN Global Affairs Analyst. He's also the former White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa under President Biden. How important is Mohammed Sinwar and a can strike, Brett, on the hospital where he supposedly was attending or being there for whatever reason? How important could that be? Could it be justified to go ahead and attack this hospital if Mohammed Sinwar was someplace inside?

BRETT MCGURK, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST AND FORMER WHITE HOUSE COORDINATOR FOR MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: Well, Wolf, there's a tunnel underneath the hospital, as I understand it. This is a huge, huge development. It's a -- this week in the Middle East, so far what we're witnessing, you're seeing the Middle East kind of change.

But let me talk about Mohammed Sinwar, and I disagree a little bit with what Jeremy said. I know about these negotiations. I've been in those rooms in Doha. I led the negotiations for the Gaza ceasefire. I worked with Steve Witkoff during that transition to get that ceasefire in place. Mohammed Sinwar was the obstacle to a deal.

He was the one living in a tunnel, underneath Gaza, and he was always rejecting offer after offer. There's a debate within Hamas right now. Most of Hamas leadership, what's left of it is saying, let's take the deal. Mohammed Sinwar was saying, do not take the deal. His core demand is the only way to release hostages is total end into the war. Israelis leave. Hamas retake charge of Gaza.

So, if this strike was successful, and I understand from my Israeli counterparts, they're very hopeful, it's a huge development and it's actually an opportunity here to get back to the ceasefire and ultimately, bring this war to a close. If you can bring the war to a close, you then open up the possibility for Israel-Saudi normalization, other things that are on President Trump's agenda, of course, things that we worked on and handed off to the Trump administration.

So, it's a huge development seeing President Trump with the president of Syria today, huge development. These are significant events. It builds on a lot of what we did in the last four years. You know, kind of an untold story here, Wolf, I think not only the work that I did with Steve in that transition, one administration, outgoing, incoming, working together.

We had a transition on the Middle East. And the Middle East that we handed over to the Trump administration, it was in about the best position that you could hope for. Iran in the weakest position it had been in decades. Ceasefire in Lebanon. New government in Lebanon. A government that wants to take on Hezbollah. Hezbollah is on its back. You have a new government in Syria with a ceasefire in Gaza and relations in the Gulf about as strong as they can be and possibility for a deal with Iran.

And the Trump administration is carrying that forward. I think this trip is going very well. But if Sinwar is dead, there's a good chance here to bring this war to a place.

BLITZER: So, you agree with the former U.S. ambassador at Israel? A man you know, Dan Shapiro says, if the Israelis did kill Mohammed Sinwar, that could quickly lead to the end of this Israel-Hamas war in Gaza?

MCGURK: He has been the obstacle. A lot of analysts look at this issue, the most complicated thing I've ever worked on, and put a lot of the focus on Bibi Netanyahu. And understandably, in some regards. And of the day, there's a cobelligerent, Hamas has to agree to a ceasefire, Mohammed Sinwar, and before then, his brother Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of October 7th, have been the obstacles to a deal.

So, if Mohammed Sinwar is out of the picture here, I think the path is open to getting back to a ceasefire, getting the hostages home and ultimately, bring this war to a close. And then, it opens up a lot of possibilities.

[10:50:00]

BLITZER: I want to get back to the president's current trip to the Middle East right now. It's a very important visit. He's visiting all these Arab countries, but he is not visiting Israel. Aboard Air Force One, he was asked why Israel is being sidelined right now. Listen to what he said. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: No, not at all. No. This is good for Israel. Having a relationship like I have with these countries, Middle Eastern countries, essentially, all of them. I think it's very good for Israel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: That audio is not great. Let me read to you what he said.

MCGURK: Yes.

BLITZER: He was asked if Israel is being sidelined. He said, no, not at all. This is good for Israel. Having a relationship like I have with these countries, Middle Eastern countries, essentially all of them, I think it's very good for Israel.

MCGURK: I think he's right. He's right. Look, Bibi Netanyahu has been to Washington twice since President Trump came into office. It's a very close relationship. I know there's always a lot of drama around this relationship. End of the day, it's Israel. The United States will support Israel.

But look, President Trump is backing Israel to the hilt. $30 billion of armed sales in his administration. Emergency notifications going around Congress for that. Israel right now, Wolf, has a total siege on Gaza. No humanitarian aid is getting into Gaza, going on almost 10 weeks. The Israeli military forces, IDF, have been conducting massive operations in the last two weeks -- or two months since the ceasefire fell apart.

President Trump is letting that go forward. I think frankly, in our administration, we would've had extreme -- we would've expressed extreme discomfort with a siege. In fact, President Biden flew to Israel after October 7th, and one of the issues was we cannot really support or condone a siege.

But I tell you what, it's working because Hamas is under tremendous pressure. They did not release Edan Alexander, that great news we got this week, out of the goodness of their own heart. They did it because the demand to Hamas from Qatar and from our team, as I understand it, was basically Edan Alexander has to be released before President Trump is in Doha or else we're out of this mediation.

Siege is going to continue, war's going to continue. The only way to get this back to a ceasefire and get the aid restarted is really to get Edan out. And now, if Mohammed Sinwar is out of the way, I think the path is open to ending this war. And that would be great. We all want this war to be brought to a close.

BLITZER: Let's see what happens there. All right. Brett McGurk, as usual, thank you very, very much.

MCGURK: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: I will be right back with more news.

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[10:55:00]

BROWN: Happening now, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is testifying on Capitol Hill. And while he's there to talk about his agency's budget, of course, he is also facing some tough questions from lawmakers.

BLITZER: Joining us now, CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell. Meg, I know you're monitoring this hearing. What has the hearing been like at least so far?

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been testy, guys. I mean, this is the first of two hearings we're actually going to see the health secretary in today. And this is the first time we are hearing him testify on the Hill since he's been confirmed and since these massive cuts have been announced across the Department of Health and Human Services.

So, he is really getting a lot of questions about the scope of those cuts, both to personnel and to funding. He argues that lifesaving research is not being cut and that in terms of the functions, they are being consolidated so that we're not actually losing any of these functions, but that is a big source of discord in this hearing this morning.

Also, of course, a lot of questions about vaccination and measles and fluoride. All of the topics we've been hearing about a lot with RFK Jr.

BLITZER: On another important health issue, Meg, we're getting some positive news on overdose deaths in the United States. What are you learning? TIRRELL: Yes. New data today showing a 27 percent decline in 2024 in drug overdose deaths really being driven by a decline in deaths from synthetic opioids. Powerful ones like fentanyl, that dropped 37 percent. Still though, guys, we're at 80,000 drug overdoses deaths per year in the United States. People saying obviously this is unacceptably high, but emphasizing that efforts to drive these down need to continue. And they are worried that because of these cuts we're seeing at the federal level that perhaps the foot will be taken off the gas pedal. So, really emphasizing they need to continue to keep this trend going lower.

BROWN: All right. Meg Tirrell, thanks so much.

BLITZER: And coming up, we'll be joined by the Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries, as lawmakers are working to try to pass some key pieces of President Trump's agenda. We'll also ask him about President Trump's plan to accept a luxury jet from Qatar. Stay with us. You're in the situation room.

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