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The Situation Room

Foiled New Orleans Attack?; Nick Reiner Expected in Court; GOP Defectors Back Democratic Plan to Extend Obamacare Subsidies; Trump Orders Venezuela Blockade. Aired 11-11:30a ET

Aired December 17, 2025 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

TIM NAFTALI, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: But we were a much less corrupt country in the 20th century. And the American people came to believe that presidents should not benefit economically, financially from power, and similarly members of Congress.

Richard Nixon, for example, got criticized and investigated for small amounts of personal corruption that would be laughed at today, a $7,000 screen for his pool in San Clemente. So the American people in the 20th century said, enough is enough.

In the 21st century, at the moment, the American people as a whole are not saying, enough is enough. If they do, this ballroom will be viewed as a symbol of corruption and I'm not sure how long it will last.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Presidential historian Tim Naftali, thanks very much for your expertise.

NAFTALI: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: And the next hour of THE SITUATION ROOM starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: And happening now, breaking news: Several House Republicans are now breaking from their own party's leadership and backing a Democratic push to extend those crucial Obamacare health care subsidies set to expire in just a few days.

Plus: pressure campaign. The Trump administration is escalating tensions big time right now with Venezuela, with new actions on Venezuela's oil tankers.

And the son of Rob and Michele Reiner could make his first appearance in court today, one day after being officially charged with their murders.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. Pamela Brown is on assignment. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Happening now: The House Armed Services Committee is being briefed at this hour on that very controversial September attack on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean, the one in which two survivors were killed in a second strike.

The Senate Armed Services Committee was -- has just been briefed as well. And, yesterday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon will not release the full, unedited video of that second strike to the American public.

The president, President Trump, says he has ordered what he calls a total and complete blockade of all oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela.

I want to go CNN's Arlette Saenz up on Capitol Hill.

Arlette, what are senators saying about the briefing they just received?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley has spent the last hour briefing members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on that double tap strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat that killed survivors back in September.

This is his first of two briefings for the day. And he did show members of that Senate Armed Services Committee the full video of that strike. That is something that has really been up for debate among the Pentagon and leaders up here on Capitol Hill about whether the Pentagon would make that video available to the public.

So far, what they -- the Pentagon has said is that they will simply show it to members of the committee, which they did -- started to do this morning with the Senate Armed Services Committee. Now, shortly after the briefing with Admiral Bradley, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt once again defended the administration's actions, saying that they were well within their legal authority to take this strike.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ERIC SCHMITT (R-MO): I saw the video, and I think the Democrats ought to be ashamed of themselves by trying to slander Admiral Bradley, who was executing a lawful order. The men on the boat were trying to continue their mission. That's the truth.

And you have got to remember where this started, the Democrats in "The Washington Post" falsely claiming that there was a kill everybody order. That's false. That's been debunked even by "The New York Times."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAENZ: Now, Democrats who were previously shown this video had a different accounting of those events, expressing concern about those survivors and saying that they should not have been targeted. So we will still wait to hear what senators specifically in this briefing have learned.

But it does come as you have heard Democrats and some Republicans saying that they think that this video not only needs to be made available to senators and members of the House, but also potentially to the public. There will be efforts from Democratic senators to try to perhaps bring up a unanimous consent agreement to try to force that video from being made public.

But it's unlikely to happen with the Republican control of Congress.

BLITZER: We will see what happens.

Arlette, the president is also suggesting that even more U.S. military assets could be moved to the region, the Caribbean, near Venezuela. What are they saying about that in Congress?

[11:05:00]

SAENZ: Well that is something that lawmakers up here are watching very closely. Republicans have really defended President Trump's actions so far, saying that they believe that he has the authority to do these types of moves, that they believe that he is trying to target these drug cartels who are trafficking drugs through these alleged boats.

But then you have Democrats who are very concerned about the president's actions, not just with these strikes, but also the potential for land strikes within Venezuela, insisting that any action that would be taken against Venezuela would need congressional approval first.

BLITZER: All right, Arlette Saenz up on Capitol Hill watching all these dramatic developments unfold, thank you very, very much.

And there's more breaking news we're following here in THE SITUATION ROOM. At least four centrist House Republicans just broke with the Republican leadership to force a vote on a Democratic plan to extend Obamacare health care subsidies. They're set to expire in just two weeks.

Let's go live to CNN's chief congressional correspondent, Manu Raju.

Manu, what more are you learning about this?

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is a pretty stunning rebuke for the speaker, who has seen this happen time and time again, essentially seeing the rank and file wrest power away from him and set the agenda on the floor of his chamber.

This simply has not -- does not typically succeed. But in this narrow Republican majority, in which we are seeing so much dissension and angst within the ranks, the speaker has suffered this defeat time and time again.

And now, with the result of four Republicans in swing districts who signed on to an effort to force a vote in the full United States House, there will be a vote to extend those subsidies that are expiring under the Affordable Care Act at year's end. And that vote is expected to occur in -- some time in January, because the House is expected to recess for the year by the end of this week.

This came at the hands of several members who are in some of the most vulnerable districts in the country, Congressman Mike Lawler, for one, representing New York, a New York swing district just outside of New York City, also Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, one of three Republicans in districts that Kamala Harris won back in 2024, and two other Pennsylvania Republicans as well, Rob Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie.

And that means that there are 218 signatures, a majority of the House, because they signed on with Democrats on this effort to force a vote on this bill to extend these subsidies for three years. And in talking to these members including Congressman Mike Lawler, they're making very clear that they are frustrated with the speaker's handling of this issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUESTION: So where does that lead to?

RAJU: You sound pissed off.

REP. MIKE LAWLER (R-NY): I am pissed for the American people. This is absolute bullshit and it's absurd that we are in a body with 435 members. Everybody has a responsibility to serve their district, to serve their constituents.

RAJU: What do you say, though, to the speaker, who is not going to give you a vote on this ACA extension?

REP. KEVIN KILEY (R-CA): It's a failure of leadership. I mean, we have members on both sides who believe this is an urgent issue. And it is for all of our members in terms of what their constituents are going to have to deal with in the start of the new year. So what's wrong with having a vote?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAJU: Now, the speaker is moving forward with his own plan, health care plan, that will -- he plans to bring to the floor this afternoon. It's a narrower approach that does not deal with these expiring subsidies. So that vote will happen, to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, will occur by the end of sometime in January.

And, remember, it was Democrats who plussed up those subsidies during the COVID era and they were set to expire at the end of this year. But so many Republicans are simply opposed to the Affordable Care Act, want major changes to the Affordable Care Act, which is why there is significant opposition within the ranks of the GOP to do what these swing district Republicans are pushing for here.

But, Wolf, still, with the support of the majority of the House, the vote will happen sometime in mid January. The question is going to be in the United States Senate, where there are 60 -- where you need 60 votes to advance in the 53-47 chamber, and already Republicans in that chamber have rejected that plan. So will that change now that the House plans to act? That's a big

question in the weeks ahead.

BLITZER: All right, our chief congressional correspondent, Manu Raju, up on Capitol Hill, thank you very, very much.

Still ahead: Investigators over at Brown University plan to start searching new areas today as they sweep for new clues, potential new clues, that can point them toward a suspect in this weekend's mass shooting.

And the son of Rob and Michele Reiner could make his first appearance in court today after being charged in their murders.

Stephanie Elam is outside the courthouse in L.A. -- Stephanie.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Wolf.

Nick Reiner is facing two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents. I will have an update on what we have learned about this case as we await to see if he is in court today.

Stay with us here on CNN.

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[11:14:31]

BLITZER: Happening now, we're watching for Nick Reiner's first court appearance since he was charged with murdering his parents.

New images from the LAPD show the moment police officers handcuffed and arrested the 32-year-old son of Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. And this happened Sunday near the USC campus just a few hours after the bodies were found. Right now, he's being held without bail.

Let's go live to CNN Stephanie Elam in Los Angeles. She's got the latest on the investigation.

[11:15:04]

What have you learned, Stephanie?

ELAM: Wolf, what we understand is that Nick Reiner, when he does show up in court, will be facing two charges of first-degree murder for the deaths of his parents, law enforcement alleging that he killed his parents in the early morning hours of Sunday morning. Now, keep in mind, this is after that Conan O'Brien holiday party Saturday night, where people did witness Nick and Rob Reiner getting into an argument at that party.

Also, we have this other person who was at the party who said that Nick Reiner just stuck out a bit because he was disheveled. He was standing by a fire pit smoking a cigarette and really not making eye contact and just sort of had a flat expression on his face. So, not exactly clear when after that party the Reiners were killed,

but we do know that their daughter lives across the street. She went over to check on her parents Sunday at 3:00 p.m. That is when she discovered the bodies and called in the police.

So we're getting more of this timeline here. But when you think about what she's been through, think about that, she discovered her parents were killed and then finding out that the number one suspect is allegedly your brother. It makes it for a very difficult case, something that the district attorney, Nathan Hochman, addressed in his press conference. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATHAN HOCHMAN, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Now, prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and most heart-wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: Now, the district attorney also saying that they will take into account the thoughts and desires of the family members as they are looking to prosecute this case.

Right now, Nick Reiner is facing a lifetime in prison without the chance of parole if this goes against him. It's also worth noting that he was arrested. Even though he was living in the guesthouse on the property, he was arrested downtown by USC.

So that's where they detained him after 9:00 at night. That's where we stand. Hopefully, we will find out if he's going to be in court very soon -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Stephanie Elam with the latest, thank you very, very much.

Also happening now: Search teams say they will fan out to new areas around Brown University today, five days after a gunman opened fire, killing two students and injuring nine others. Rhode Island police are renewing, renewing their call for the public's help to try to identify a person of interest in the shooting.

New enhanced video shows a man described by police as casing the neighborhood near the school. The university has canceled the remaining exams and told students they were free to go home for the holiday break.

Joining us now is Talib Reddick, president of the Undergraduate Council of Students at Brown University.

Talib, thanks so much for joining us. I know this is a very awful, emotional time for all the students, the faculty, everybody else involved. I know you have called for mental health and gun safety legislation in

the wake of the shooting at your school. What would you like to see lawmakers do?

TALIB REDDICK, PRESIDENT, BROWN UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE COUNCIL OF STUDENTS: Yes, I would love to see lawmakers reach out to us, hear feedback and actually take this seriously. We often see when tragedies like this happen, they talk about this in the media for about a week and then forget about it.

And I'm not seeing that real urgency and them taking it important -- making it a very important situation. So I would like to see some mental health legislation and some gun legislation to stop this from happening.

BLITZER: What do you think about the school's response, at least so far? And how do you think police have handled the shooting incident?

REDDICK: I think that the school's response has been very helpful. They have been reassuring us. They have been doing as best as they can. Brown has been sending out a lot of reports and updates to us.

In terms of the local authorities, I think they have been doing the same. It's really unfortunate that there aren't -- that the shooter isn't in custody and that there aren't enough advances in this case, but I know they're trying their best.

BLITZER: The Rhode Island attorney general says there were fewer, if any, cameras where the shooting actually took place. Do you think there needs to be more cameras and other security systems on campus?

REDDICK: Yes, there certainly needs to be more cameras. I do know that the specific building that the shooter went into, Barus and Holley, he left out the back, which is essentially on the perimeter of campus connecting to the local Providence community and neighborhood.

So it's really unfortunate that there weren't cameras there and that we haven't been able to clearly see his face. I know he was wearing a mask as well. But, yes, more cameras would certainly help us on campus.

BLITZER: Are there any plans, at least now, to memorialize the two students who lost their lives? And what can you tell us about the legacies they leave behind?

[11:20:05]

REDDICK: They leave behind bright legacies. And they're top of mind for me.

I did not know them personally, but I have heard countless stories. I have kept track on Instagram and with my peers as well. I know Ella from Alabama, she was a bright light. And a good friend of mine that I interned with on Capitol Hill is a good friend of hers -- was a good friend of hers. And Muhammad also was just amazing. And he wasn't even supposed to be

in that study session. He's not even an engineering student. He just went to tag along and be a good friend. So I will be working with Brown's administration to memorialize them and plan on what we will do when we return to campus.

BLITZER: And our deepest, deepest condolences to their loving families. May they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.

Talib Reddick, thanks so much for joining us. Good luck to you. Good luck to all the students, the faculty, everyone at Brown University.

REDDICK: Thank you for having me, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you.

Up next, there's more breaking news we're following. Federal authorities now say they have arrested a former U.S. Marine who was planning to -- quote -- "carry out an attack" in New Orleans.

The startling details when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:25:52]

BLITZER: We have breaking news out of Louisiana right now.

Investigators say they have foiled an attack plot targeting New Orleans. Authorities say the attack plans gained momentum after several hundred immigration agents were deployed to Southeast Louisiana. The ICE crackdown has a goal of 5,000 arrests.

CNN senior national correspondent Ryan Young is joining us now. He's got the latest.

What are you learning this morning, Ryan?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, considering the year that New Orleans had after the New Year's attack, this is concerning information.

Thankfully, federal authorities were able to stop these plans when they arrested an ex-Marine while he was on his way to the city with guns and body armor. Micah James Legnon, 28, has been charged with threats and interstate commerce, and federal authorities said they have been watching him due to his ties to an extremist group.

They wanted to make an impact, especially with the weapons. They wanted to recreate a 1993 Waco style attack in New Orleans. Take a listen to federal authorities talk about this arrest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL ESSAYLI, FIRST ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY: These threats are sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats and violence designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity and direct policy outcomes and prevent the proper functioning of a democratic society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Yes, Wolf, to think about this, the man had already gotten in his truck and was already headed to New Orleans with that body armor with the weapons.

Let's not forget, 14 people were killed in an attack in New Orleans just this New Year's. So you can understand why that city would be worried about these styles of attack, but you can see federal authorities are paying attention. This group, of course, is spread across the country with the idea that -- and even in California, there was an arrest made just last week.

This is a conversation that will continue, especially as we get closer to the holidays -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Ryan Young reporting for us.

Thank you very much, Ryan.

Coming up: Warner Bros. Discovery is recommending shareholders reject Paramount's buyout deal. The latest in the saga as the head of Paramount speaks out.

Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

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