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The Source with Kaitlan Collins
FBI Agent Who Investigated Renee Good Shooting Resigns; Monster Storm To Sweep U.S. With Arctic Cold, Snow & Ice; NYT: Patel Focused On Social Media Strategy During Manhunt For Charlie Kirk's Assassin. Aired 9-10p ET
Aired January 23, 2026 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRIS WARREN, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Let's just focus on the hot pink color, the darker pink and the purple colors here for ice accumulation. In that zone, that's damaging or crippling. Tree damage, numerous power outages. And then the purple color, widespread tree damage and long-lasting power outages. And you can see the extent of this, could see more than an inch in some areas. And then, John, after the ice, comes the brutally cold temperatures.
JOHN KING, CNN HOST: You have my attention. I hope everyone at home is listening closely as well. Chris Warren, thanks to you.
Everybody, have a safe weekend.
The news continues. "THE SOURCE WITH KAITLAN COLLINS" starts right now.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST: Tonight, it's a battle behind the scenes in Minneapolis that has led an FBI agent to quit.
I'm Kaitlan Collins. And this is THE SOURCE.
As we come on the air tonight, an FBI agent has just become the latest official to resign over how the Justice Department is handling the death of Renee Good in Minneapolis. Sources confirmed to CNN that this FBI agent has quit after being ordered to re-classify her civil rights investigation into one focused on an alleged assault on the officer.
Right after Renee Good was shot, as we were all watching these first two recordings on cellphone video of what had actually happened, this agent had initially started working with the authorities in Minnesota, which the Bureau would typically do after a police-involved shooting, like we heard at the time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE: We have since turned over the scene both to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which will be conducting an investigation into this use of deadly force.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COLLINS: Not long after we heard that, and with the Homeland Security Secretary already labeling Renee Good as a domestic terrorist, that traditional cooperation between the federal and state authorities suddenly came to a halt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB JACOBSON, MINNESOTA PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER: Without any of that information, without any of that assistance from the FBI or the federal government, we would be at a loss to be able to initiate and conduct a thorough investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Now, the administration's decision to focus on Good, and not on the officer who shot her, is part of why six federal prosecutors in Minneapolis had also resigned previously. So, what that means tonight, with this new reporting from The New York Times, that was confirmed by CNN, is that at least seven people have now resigned over how the Justice Department and FBI are handling this investigation.
All of this is now coming on the heels, though, of Renee Good's family and their attorneys releasing the results of an independent autopsy, and that independent autopsy found that the shot that ultimately killed Renee Good came from her left side.
The family's attorney told CNN they want a real investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONIO ROMANUCCI, ATTORNEY FOR BECCA GOOD & FAMILY OF RENEE GOOD: I think we've all seen what real investigations look like, and I think the number one factor is that it has to be unbiased. It has to truly be fair, meaning that all the facts are looked at, the totality of circumstances, and that there is due process. But it has to be real.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Now, the fallout over how this investigation is being handled comes as we're seeing this happen today. Crowds in Minneapolis still protesting weeks after federal agents arrived in their city, and of course, more have surged since. Right now, it's happening by the thousands, though, and in sub-zero temperatures.
Today, we saw demonstrators packing the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves for a rally, calling on ICE to leave their city. Large crowds were also gathered in protest at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
And the latest symbol of outrage that we have seen in these protests and then in the crowds today, as you could see, the image of that 5- year-old boy who was detained by ICE that has now become the latest flash point in this debate over the federal presence in their state and their city.
That's an incident that we heard from the head of Customs and Border Patrol addressing this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREGORY BOVINO, BORDER PATROL COMMANDER: We are experts in dealing with children. Let me say that again, experts in dealing with children. Not because we want to be, but because we have to be.
I challenge any other law enforcement agency, anywhere nationwide, to show me the fantastic care that ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol provide children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I want to get straight to CNN's Senior Legal Analyst and former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Elie Honig.
And Elie, I think when I saw this first report from The New York Times that Sen and has since confirmed about this, this resignation was, Wow, that's another person that has now resigned over this.
ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST, FORMER ASST. U.S. ATTORNEY, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NY: I want people to understand how unusual it is, in particular, for an FBI agent to leave the Department of Justice. Prosecutors leave. I mean, it happens. Prosecutors go. They work for firms. But to see an FBI agent quit mid-career like this is extraordinary. And this agent is sending us a message. It's also an extremely difficult thing to do. You have someone walking away from her career, her colleagues and her caseload.
[21:05:00]
And I want to stress this point. This was a Bureau Supervisor at the FBI, and her bureau that she is supervising is also involved in the investigations of benefits fraud that's going on in Minnesota that the administration has claimed to care so deeply about. And so now they've lost this expertise and this leadership on that key investigation.
COLLINS: Well, and that -- so that was also -- the two prosecutors who had resigned were also people who had been working--
HONIG: Yes.
COLLINS: --on that fraud investigation, which is, you know, obviously should go forward, and they should -- they should see what is happening there. But that was the justification for sending in so many federal agents in the first place.
HONIG: Yes, there is brain drain. I mean, when you lose experienced prosecutors and agents like this, it's going to cost you elsewhere.
And the reason why, I think it's quite clear, the reason why this agent is leaving, is because she has been told, You can't investigate. The I in FBI is for investigations, and the decision was made by Todd Blanche and others, We're going to decide first, investigate later. And so, I think it's quite clear--
COLLINS: But it's not even--
HONIG: Yes.
COLLINS: It's not even being told, Can't investigate.
HONIG: Well--
COLLINS: It's, This is how you should investigate.
HONIG: Exactly. It's worse than that.
COLLINS: It's kind of determining what it should be before you know.
HONIG: It's, You can't investigate the shooting, and you will investigate everybody else.
And I think that's why it's clear that this agent is standing on principle with her resignation.
COLLINS: Elie Honig, thank you for joining us on the breaking news.
HONIG: Thank you.
COLLINS: Also, my next source, who is here tonight, spent more than a decade as a prosecutor in the Criminal Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, investigating shootings like the one, obviously as shootings that have been played out where an officer is involved, a civilian is killed, including what happened with Renee Good.
Julia Gegenheimer is joining me now.
And Julia, obviously, given your resume and your time in the Civil Rights Division, when you look at this and how this investigation is being conducted, is there any doubt in your mind that there should be an investigation into the events leading up to this shooting and the shooting itself?
JULIA GEGENHEIMER, FORMER SPECIAL LITIGATION COUNSEL, DOJ CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION, SPECIAL LITIGATION COUNSEL, GEORGETOWN INST. FOR CONSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY & PROTECTION: There absolutely should be an investigation, a federal civil rights investigation, into the shooting and its circumstances, and especially in this scenario where there's quite a bit of initial evidence suggesting there could have been a criminal civil rights violation here.
It's important to remember, we're not talking about the decision to ultimately pursue criminal charges or not. We're certainly not talking about the ultimate conclusion of whether the agent is guilty or not of a federal crime. We're talking about the very basic first step of conducting an investigation to gather additional facts.
COLLINS: So, if you believe an investigation is warranted, can you just explain to people, who haven't worked in the Civil Rights Division, don't have that experience, why, when you see what we see, whether it's the video, the positioning of the car, of the officer, why you think that does justify an investigation?
GEGENHEIMER: Sure. I mean, there are several indications here that speak to a couple of the things that prosecutors in these types of cases have to prove.
So first, that the force was excessive, that it was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances. And second, the agent's intent when he -- when he carried out the use of force, when he shot Ms. Good. And as I said, there's evidence even at this preliminary stage that bears on both those things.
The way the agent was positioned, what Ms. Good was doing, that speaks to whether there was actually any imminent risk to the agent himself that would have required him to fire his gun at Ms. Good that would have put him in danger by virtue of her actions. And there's certainly evidence emerging that the agent could have known what he was doing was wrong and chose to do it anyway.
So, there's early indications that speak to what prosecutors would ultimately have to prove in a federal case here, that make it almost uncontroversial that an investigation should be opened.
COLLINS: So you just think there's no doubt -- and it doesn't mean that there would be charges. You think there's no doubt that there should be an investigation here?
GEGENHEIMER: I think it would be consistent with decades of DOJ Civil Rights Division past practice, for investigators and prosecutors to look into what happened, to collect additional evidence, and then to make the ultimate determination whether to bring charges or not, based on that evidence.
COLLINS: And I think just for people's perspective, so they know your history. I mean, you worked on the Michael Brown investigation, for example, where ultimately they found that the officer should not be charged in that.
And I think when you look at this, and you see tonight, this FBI agent resigning over how this investigation is being handled, I wonder, just based on what we do know, what it says to you about just the state of things inside the Justice Department tonight.
[21:10:00]
GEGENHEIMER: So, I do want to clarify. A very good colleague of mine worked on the Michael Brown investigation. I was not directly involved with that, although I certainly was familiar with the evidence there, and was in the office at the time.
COLLINS: OK.
GEGENHEIMER: But I think to your -- to your larger question about what this says about what's going on in the department, is that, these are career civil servants who are used to being able to do their job without political interference, and they're used to kind of following their professional mandate to look at the facts and let the facts lead the investigation.
And clearly, what's going on with the shooting in Minnesota and the direction of the federal investigation there is not consistent with that past practice.
COLLINS: Yes, I can -- I see what you mean there, in terms of just what has traditionally happened. And for people looking at this, a lot of people may not realize what is the common practice. And you're saying basically that there is no doubt that this is just clear to you in that.
In terms of the Vice President. We heard him in Minneapolis talking about federal law enforcement actions. What that has looked like on the ground in Minnesota. This is what he has said about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JD VANCE (R), U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: The precedent here is very simple. You have a federal law enforcement official engaging in federal law enforcement action. That's a federal issue. That guy is protected by absolute immunity. He was doing his job.
I didn't say, and I don't think any other official within the Trump administration said, that officers who engaged in wrongdoing would enjoy immunity. That's absurd. What I did say is that when federal law enforcement officers violate the law, that is typically something that federal officials would look into.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Can you explain which one of those positions you believe, just based on what the policies are, which one is correct?
GEGENHEIMER: Sure. I mean, I have to agree -- I have to agree with the -- with the second statement there. When federal officials violate the law, when they -- in this scenario, when there's the possibility that they violated federal criminal, civil rights law? It's absolutely appropriate for federal investigators and prosecutors to conduct an investigation.
Now, that doesn't mean that there aren't potential state law violations as well. But in my experience, this is something that DOJ Civil Rights Division absolutely would want to be involved in, and would want to investigate and potentially prosecute.
COLLINS: Julia Gegenheimer, thank you for joining me tonight. I really do appreciate it.
And also, I've got my congressional source here. New York Republican, Representative Mike Lawler.
And Congressman, thank you for being here.
I have some questions for you about what we've seen playing out. But when it comes to this FBI agent resigning tonight, does it make sense to you why they are not investigating the actions of the officer? It doesn't mean they're going to bring charges against the officer. But shouldn't they at least investigate what happened here, given somebody was killed?
REP. MIKE LAWLER (R-NY): Yes, fundamentally, my view is there should always be an investigation anytime there's an incident involving the death of anyone. I mean, that is standard practice and procedure.
I think in this instance, obviously we've all seen a lot of video on it. I think you need to get the full investigation, and I think the department should do that. I think we've seen a lot of prejudging of the information, in the case, from go, starting with the Mayor of Minneapolis, and all the way on. And so, I think an investigation certainly is helpful to actually get all the facts out there and let people know--
COLLINS: OK.
LAWLER: --exactly what happened.
COLLINS: So, it's not helpful that they're not having one right now? Because, I mean, that's what Todd Blanche said, that they're not -- they're not investigating the officer here--
LAWLER: Look--
COLLINS: --or his actions.
LAWLER: They should investigate the situation most assuredly, and get all of the facts and information. And ultimately, in my opinion, based on what I have seen, I don't think charges would be brought. But that being said, they should complete the investigation.
COLLINS: Yes. Well, they haven't even started it, I mean, clearly, based from that perspective. I think that's why that FBI agent resigned.
On immigration overall. You saw the protests playing out tonight in Minneapolis. I mean, it's freezing there. There are thousands of people in the street. They do not like what's happening in their city. And the latest incident was this 5-year-old being detained by ICE. And I know, you said today that you believe what happened should not happen, and that the Department of Homeland Security needs to ensure it does not happen again.
Does it make sense to you then why the Vice President was defending ICE and DHS detaining a 5-year-old?
LAWLER: Look, I think it's important to actually walk through the situation. The image of a 5-year-old being in any way detained, obviously, is very bad, and I think that does not serve anyone well.
[21:15:00]
I think as you learn more about the incident, you find out that the father left his son. That obviously is a problem. The agents there are not going to leave the child alone. You don't want a situation, though, where there's this type of confrontation when children are involved. And I think that's something that all of us can look at and say.
There's no question, ICE has a job to do. I support what they are doing to try and deport criminal aliens. I support what they are doing to try and deport people who have previous orders of deportation against them.
I think where the American people start to get concerned is when it involves families, when you start to see situations unfold, where little children are there in question.
But I think it's important for all of us to actually look at the totality of this situation. Over the four years of Joe Biden's presidency, 10.5 million migrants flooded into the country.
You have states, and cities, like New York, Minnesota, Minneapolis, where they refuse to cooperate with federal officials on our immigration laws. And so, you have a situation where they don't permit local law enforcement to cooperate. And, as a result, Immigration and Customs officials are forced to come into these states. They are arresting thousands upon thousands of criminals. Now, if you--
COLLINS: OK. But can I -- let me take your--
LAWLER: Yes.
COLLINS: OK. So you're saying you don't like the sanctuary-city policy? That's not the -- but that's not--
LAWLER: No, That should be abolished.
COLLINS: And that's your -- that's your position on this.
LAWLER: And by the way, that is directly--
COLLINS: But that's not the debate. That's actually not--
LAWLER: No, it is very much tied to this debate.
COLLINS: But, with this specifically. Because I saw Jacob Frey say, ICE can come in and do ICE things, but when they're doing things like this, that's where they're A problem.
But with this instance, with the 5-year-old, the dad was going through the asylum process, according to what we know from DHS. I haven't seen them say that he committed any crimes that they know of, that he was, you know -- they say, We're going after sexual predators or people who have committed robberies or whatever. I haven't seen them say that about this person.
LAWLER: We don't have all the facts yet on that individual.
COLLINS: Right. But -- and there's also a dispute between the school officials and DHS over what the dad actually did on that day. And so, I think that there's a lot of people trying to figure out-- LAWLER: Was the dad with him when he was -- when the ICE agents were there with him?
COLLINS: Yes, but--
LAWLER: Doesn't appear as though he was.
COLLINS: Do you trust the Department of Homeland Security version of what happened?
LAWLER: Look, we are getting -- we are getting--
COLLINS: I mean, they also called Renee Good a domestic terrorist--
LAWLER: --we are getting--
COLLINS: --right after she was killed.
LAWLER: --we are getting the facts and information. And I think this is the challenge with this situation. Everybody wants to pounce to fit their own narrative. OK? And you have a situation where our country was flooded with 10.5 million people.
The reason interactions at the border are down is because we've actually secured the border. So, Customs and Border Patrol agents are not having as many interactions with individuals because they're not releasing them into the country, and people have stopped coming.
ICE officials are actually interacting with people because now they're trying to clear out this backlog.
COLLINS: And do you approve of the tactics ICE is using when they're interacting with those people?
LAWLER: When you're talking about people who have committed murder, when you're talking about people who have committed--
COLLINS: No, I'm talking about -- I'm talking about this situation specifically and what we've seen.
LAWLER: Right. You want to -- you want to focus on one individual circumstance.
COLLINS: It's not just one. There's a--
LAWLER: Wait a minute.
COLLINS: --there's a lot of stuff coming out of Minneapolis.
LAWLER: Kaitlan, you've had 675,000 people deported. OK? Over the past year. 70 percent of them have been involved either with a criminal conviction or accused of a crime. You want to say what? That ICE should cease all activity? They're going to engage--
COLLINS: But are those the choices--
LAWLER: And especially when you have cities like New York--
COLLINS: But is that--
LAWLER: --where like Minneapolis that refuse to cooperate? That's great, Jacob Frey now says, ICE could come in and do ICE things.
COLLINS: But that's my question.
LAWLER: Well what does that mean?
COLLINS: Are those the two options where you say ICE does nothing, or ICE is detaining 5-year-olds?
LAWLER: No, there's a -- there's a balance -- there's a balance to be had. Again, let all the facts come out about that individual case. But there's a balance to be had here. And when local officials refuse to cooperate, this is why you're seeing a surge in some of these cities, like Minneapolis.
If local officials would cooperate, and local law enforcement is able to participate with Immigration and Customs officials, then you're not going to need that surge of personnel. And so, you're less likely to have these types of interactions.
Moreover, as I've said repeatedly, we need to address the broken immigration system in this country. 40 years ago was the last time we actually addressed immigration in this country.
COLLINS: I think people agree with you on immigration.
LAWLER: And this -- of course.
COLLINS: That's something that found bipartisan support. Trump running on the border, that was one of his most popular stances and positions.
LAWLER: And people still support securing the border--
COLLINS: But half of Americans think--
LAWLER: --and they support deporting criminal aliens.
COLLINS: Sure. But half of Americans think ICE is making cities less safe.
LAWLER: When you have politicians--
COLLINS: Do you approve of the tactics ICE is using in Minneapolis?
LAWLER: When you have politicians encouraging people to interfere with ICE, to interfere with law enforcement, it is creating this conflict. It is not helpful.
COLLINS: But do you think ICE is also playing a role in that--
LAWLER: I think ICE needs--
COLLINS: --at times, with their tactics?
LAWLER: I think ICE needs to abide by the law. I think they need to cooperate -- I think local law enforcement needs to cooperate with ICE, to keep people safe, and to make sure that we don't have these types of interactions that create angst amongst the public.
COLLINS: Your--
[21:20:00]
LAWLER: But ICE has a job to do, in large measure, because Joe Biden allowed 10.5 million people to flood into this country without any controls. And you saw in New York City, millions of people coming in--
COLLINS: But can I ask you? You are running for reelection.
LAWLER: --and it has created a crisis.
COLLINS: You're running for reelection. We first met when you were first running, before you had won.
LAWLER: Yes.
COLLINS: Big swing district.
LAWLER: Yes.
COLLINS: Is what ICE doing in Minneapolis helpful to you, in terms of what you're running on? Or do you worry that that's going to hurt your party?
LAWLER: Look, again, to me, there are several things to deal with here. One was the border. We have effectively secured the border. Two was to deport criminal -- I'm--
COLLINS: But my question is about ICE.
LAWLER: I'm answering it. Two was to deport criminal aliens. That has been happening.
We have to fix the immigration system. I think most Americans look at this and say, if you've been here five, 10, 15, 20, years, you have not committed a criminal offense, you have children or grandchildren that are American citizens? Most Americans would say we need to find a process forward. That's why I'm a co-lead on the Dignity Act. I do believe there needs to be a dignified process here.
But I also believe, fundamentally, that if we continue with these sanctuary policies, and you have politicians encouraging the public to interfere with law enforcement, you're going to get this conflict. And it is avoidable, if people would abide by the law, and allow law enforcement to do their jobs.
COLLINS: But you didn't answer my question.
LAWLER: I did. COLLINS: Is what ICE doing going to hurt your party in the midterms? Do you have concerns about that?
LAWLER: I'm not concerned about the politics of this. I'm concerned--
COLLINS: OK. So you're not concerned about it?
LAWLER: I'm concerned about actually enforcing our laws and creating an immigration system that works for the American people, and allows for a dignified process for people who have been in this country for five, 10, 15, 20, years, that aren't breaking laws in this country, that are participating in the workforce. You need to have a lawful process forward, so that they can be here legally.
It doesn't mean a path to citizenship, but you do have to have a process. And I think most Americans would support that. Secure the border, deport criminals, and have a lawful process moving forward.
COLLINS: Congressman Mike Lawler, thank you for your time tonight.
LAWLER: Thank you.
COLLINS: Up next here for us. Of course, there is new reporting tonight about Kash Patel's troubled tenure as current and former employees say that his -- director has weaponized the Bureau. We'll tell you what that report says.
Also, what everyone's following right now, that monster storm that is now beginning. It's threatening millions of people across the United States with ice and snow, potentially catastrophic. We have the latest forecast for you.
And also tonight, I'm going to take you behind the scenes, our notable moments, what you didn't see on camera always, behind the President's consequential trip to Davos.
[21:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Right now, parts of Texas and Oklahoma are starting to get sleet and snow, with people there taking the first hit of what's expected to build into a monster of a storm that is going to sweep all the way to New England.
So far, more than 7,000 flights in the United States have been canceled throughout the weekend so far. Of course, we expect that number to only grow.
And forecasters are warning that beyond the heavy snow and the crippling cold, the accumulation of ice could snap power lines, bring down trees, slickened roads. With state leaders issuing warnings, like this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R-TX): This going to be a catastrophic winter storm that's going to cause us to lose power.
GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R-GA): Make sure you got the things that you need at your house to stay warm and hunker down.
GOV. WES MOORE (D-MD): Our plea to the people of the state is, if you can stay off the roads.
MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI, (D) NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK STATE: Once the snow begins to fall, I want to encourage New Yorkers to do something that we don't often have the luxury of doing, which is to take a breath and stay home.
GOV. NED LAMONT (D-CT): Within about 48 hours -- everybody's talking about Greenland. Within about 48 hours, Connecticut is going to look like Greenland.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Already, many people are taking those warnings, including about Greenland there to heart. They're taking grocery store shelves. They are completely clean, based off half the videos we're seeing.
I'm joined tonight by CNN's Ed Lavandera, who is in Dallas.
And Ed, obviously, we heard from Governor Greg Abbott there. He's warning, saying, you're going to lose power. I know a lot of Texans have that 2021 storm on their mind, where they didn't have power or heat for days. What's it looking like tonight so far? And do they feel like they're ready for what's going to happen?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Governor and the officials that run the power grid, here in Texas, insist that this power grid is ready and capable of withstanding the high demand that we're going to see over the next 72 hours.
But that does not take into account the fact that with the ice that is expected across much of North Texas and into East Texas as well, that that could cause power lines to come down, trees to collapse, that sort of thing, which could leave hundreds of thousands of people without power. So, that is one of those big areas of concern that we're seeing right now.
And Kaitlan, just here in the last couple of hours, really seeing those temperatures starting to plunge toward that freezing mark. We are expected to hit that mark here in the next couple of hours. And once that happens, temperatures here will not go above freezing until early next week. So, the rainfall that has come down, that already has much of the -- many of the roadways in this part of the country, sleet, will ice over.
[21:30:00]
And in Oklahoma, where they're expecting to see record snowfall, you know, between where I am and the Texas, Oklahoma border, you're going to see this line where that snow becomes ice and sleet, where I'm at, and that is going to cause treacherous conditions on the roadways, and really threatening a lot of the infrastructure up and down the roadways and across this region. So, that is what emergency officials say that they're the most concerned about tonight.
COLLINS: Yes. I could see why.
Ed Lavandera, you stay safe. We're going to keep checking in with you as that storm is making its way through Texas.
I'm also joined tonight by our top forecasters.
We've got Chris Warren, our meteorologist over at the CNN Weather Center.
Harry Enten, who is our Chief Data Analyst.
And Chris, I think that's the big question, as people have been keeping an eye on this forecast, is, what is the latest that we're seeing so far?
WARREN: Look, this is a massive storm, Kaitlan.
Just to put this into perspective here. The winter storm warnings are in pink. That means hazardous weather is expected. It's either happening or it's expected. And those winter storm warnings cover half of our United States. When you look at all of the alerts here, the ice storm warnings, the advisories or the watches, that's half of the population of the United States threatened by some form of winter weather.
This is what's happening right now, where Ed is. It is rain, but that colder air is dropping down. Purple is snow. And then pink is the ice. And when the ice starts to accrete or accumulate on objects, it's going to be dangerous to walk, to drive, and eventually power is going to go out.
Here's the snow, a foot or more of snow here from Oklahoma all the way up to New England. Here's how it plays out. For the rest of this evening. Ice increases in Texas, in Oklahoma, spreading across the rest of the south, into the Mid-Atlantic by tomorrow evening, and then the next push goes here. Really, the meat of the system starts to move through Texas overnight Saturday into Sunday. It all kind of comes together with big-time snow from the Midwest to the Northeast, and even some thunderstorms possible on Sunday in the south.
This snowfall we're expecting in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, a foot to a foot and a half, also big-time snowfall totals here, Kaitlan, in the Northeast. Some areas could also see a foot to a foot and a half. But it's this ice. Again, with power going out, possibly lasting for days, with extreme cold moving in.
COLLINS: Yes. All right, Chris, we'll keep checking back in with you.
And Harry, when you look at this, what I keep reading, when I'm like, looking at everything about this storm, and what it's going to look like, I keep hearing records, snowfalls that have not been seen, all of these numbers. What do you make of what they're predicting so far? HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: I'll just tell you, as a New York City guy who really loves the snow, I am snow-starved. I am snow- starved, Kaitlan Collins.
COLLINS: It just snowed like two weeks ago.
ENTEN: We have not gotten six inches or more since early in 2022. I mean, just take a look at the snows since February of 2022, and what are we talking about? I mean, just look at here. 4.3 is the highest we have had since February of 2022. And so now finally, we get this winter storm warning for 10 to 14 inches in effect. Hopefully, we reach that mark.
But it's, you know, I just don't want to stay in New York City. I want to sort of broaden out, go all the way down to Arkansas. Go to Fayetteville, Arkansas. My dear friend Neil Payne (ph) lives there. Look, at this point, there's a winter storm warning there. I think that they could get the biggest snow storm in Fayetteville, Arkansas in the last decade. It has to be 9.4 inches. I think they may very well do it.
COLLINS: OK. 9.4 inches, that's a lot.
And when it comes to what we're looking at today. I saw the President was flying back. He flew back last night. Today, he was looking, obviously, at the forecast himself, and he was saying that he's been briefed on this, rarely seen anything like it, What happened to climate change and global warming?
ENTEN: Yes.
COLLINS: I mean, how do people feel about what's about to happen, and the concerns?
ENTEN: Yes, the President has his social media post up there. And it's not the first time, he has mocked the idea of global warming when there's cold weather about.
But I've actually went through the record books, I looked through the polling, and I said, OK, when was the last time that we had a below- average winter in terms of temperature, right, where it was colder than average? Was there any shift in viewpoints about global warming?
It turns out, there isn't. People do not necessarily associate what happens in the cold winter months. Yes, it's cold. That doesn't make them dismiss the idea of global warming, even if President Trump wants them to dismiss that.
COLLINS: So they've accepted it.
I mean, that's pretty clear. Look at what's happening at the grocery stores. Like people are--
ENTEN: Yes.
COLLINS: They're empty, basically. The Trader Joe's in Washington, I saw everyone was posting pictures of the shelves today, completely empty.
ENTEN: Those are some crazy -- they run on milk and cookies, right?
COLLINS: Yes, milk, cookies and bread. What did--
ENTEN: Yes.
COLLINS: Did you buy any groceries?
ENTEN: No, I haven't bought any groceries. I'll stick it out--
COLLINS: Me neither.
ENTEN: I'll stick it out in New York City. I'm going to be perfectly fine, let me tell you. It's not going to be two feet here in New York City. If we get a foot, I'd be very happy.
COLLINS: Do you live near a grocery store?
ENTEN: I live -- I have two grocery stores. I have a Morton Williams near me. I have a Brooklyn Fare near me. So, I think I'm going to be perfectly--
COLLINS: What's your meal of choice when it snows?
ENTEN: What's your meal of choice when it snows? You know what? It's going to snow on Sunday. I'm going to have to get a pizza, while I'm watching the AFC Championship game and the NFC Championship game.
I'm going to be like Homer Simpson when he's watching a thunderstorm outside. I'm going to sit on my bean bag in my rumpus room, and I'm going to be perfectly excited and at ease. Everything will be fine.
COLLINS: You're just going to live off one pizza. That's your cooking advice for people?
[21:35:00]
ENTEN: For me, I could live off of one pizza. But then again, I've only had about 300 calories today.
COLLINS: OK. Harry Enten--
ENTEN: I do intermittent fasting during the week.
COLLINS: We'll dig into that in the commercial break.
ENTEN: Sounds good.
COLLINS: Harry Enten, thank you for that.
Everyone stay safe this weekend. Obviously, keep your eyes here on CNN. We'll have the latest forecast on this storm and where it's hitting at that moment.
Up next here for us. We're going to dig into this story today that caught my attention. Kash Patel's reign at the FBI. There's new reporting about the scrutiny that he's under, and also what people inside the Bureau are saying about his leadership nearly one year in. My legal source will weigh in, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:40:00]
COLLINS: Tonight, nearly a year into Kash Patel's tenure as the FBI director, dozens of current and former FBI officials have a warning that they believe his leadership is making America less safe.
There's a deeply-reported New York Times piece that is out where they spoke to 45 current and former FBI officials, and they got a rare look inside the Bureau, which, according to the officials, The Times spoke with, has been marred by vendettas, mismanagement, and meltdowns.
One moment, which was described as surreal by a senior FBI official, that The Times spoke with, happened in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination, last September. The manhunt for the killer was still underway. Obviously, it was wall-to-wall coverage on that.
And the official described this all-hands-on-deck conference call to The New York Times, and said, during that call, while this manhunt was under way, that Kash Patel and the then-Deputy Director, Dan Bongino, started to talk about their Twitter strategy.
And this person said, Kash is like: I'm going to tweet this. Salt Lake, you tweet that. Dan, you come in with this. Then I'll come back with this. They're literally scripting out their social media, not talking about how we're going to respond or resources or the situation.
And this person said that Patel was, Screaming that he wants to put stuff out, but it's not even vetted yet. It's not even accurate.
Of course, the Director was later criticized, including by some prominent figures on the right, over this post where he prematurely said the subject was in custody. He had to walk that back about an hour later. The suspect actually didn't turn himself in for another 30 hours.
And even still, the Director, Kash Patel, has maintained he believes no mistakes were made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: Could I have been more careful in my verbiage and included an A subject, instead of subject? Sure, in the heat of the moment. But I was doing the best I could.
SEN. PETER WELCH (D-VT): But, in all candor, I don't quite get that, because if we have our man, that would suggest to the public that everybody can rest and relax and not then continue to provide information to local law enforcement and to you.
PATEL: Well--
WELCH: So, that was a mistake.
PATEL: I don't see it as a mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: In response to this new story in The New York Times, the FBI said, quote, "This story is a regurgitation of fake narratives, conjecture and speculation from anonymous sources who are disconnected from reality."
Elie Honig is back with me, who served, obviously, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, as I noted.
Elie, I wonder what you just made of that one specific story of this senior FBI official who spoke to The Times, saying that they were talking about what's going on with Twitter. I mean, is that typically how a director would be handling this?
HONIG: No. Kash Patel has had a brutal first year in office. There's no other way to put it.
I wrote a piece a few weeks ago for New York Magazine, titled, The Malignant Incompetence of Kash Patel. And I think we can understand his tenure thus far with those two things.
Incompetency, OK, the best example is what you just showed. He falsely announces the arrest of the Charlie Kirk murderer, the single biggest case probably that he's overseen. And by the way, don't forget, he did it again a few months later, after the Brown University shooting, again, because he's so eager to get on social media. We have the guy. Wrong. He has to walk it back. That's humiliating times two.
The malignancy that I refer to is his political weaponization of the FBI. There have -- we talked about it earlier, today in this show. There have been hundreds of experienced FBI agents who usually work counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cyber-crime, who had been fired by Kash Patel for working January 6 cases, or for working on any of the special counsel cases against Donald Trump, and the FBI's suffering as a result.
COLLINS: Well, there was another instance in this, where a senior FBI official, not clear if it's the same one, said Kash Patel was said to go to this conference with Five Eyes overseas. Obviously it's the intelligence sharing between the United States, the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
This senior official told The Times, Before the conference, his staff says he's unhappy because he doesn't like meetings in office settings. What he wants is social events. He wants Premier soccer games. He wants to go jet skiing. He'd like a helicopter tour. Everyone who heard about this was like: Hold on. Is he really going to ask the MI5 director to go jet skiing instead of meeting? The schedule is set, and every Five Eyes partner is doing this. They can't just say that he's not participating and instead he wants to go to a Premier soccer game. This is a job, guys.
HONIG: It shows such a lack of seriousness and a lack of purpose.
And I think back on, when I was at DOJ, most of that time, the FBI director was Robert Mueller, right? Marine veteran, injured in combat, long-time, high-ranking person in DOJ, who was dead-serious about his job, and he led by example. And all that other fluff and all the perks that go with the job, he had no interest in.
Kash Patel's focus seems to be way more on the glitz and the glamor and the appearance and the jet skiing of it all, and not on the case- making. And that's caused a revolt within the FBI.
COLLINS: Yes, I just can't picture. I mean, the heads of MI5, like -- MI5 look at a soccer game and hanging out?
HONIG: Yes. Can they jet ski? I don't even know.
I have been authorized, Kaitlan, though, to ask you a quick question.
COLLINS: OK.
HONIG: So you--
COLLINS: Go on.
HONIG: --flew on a red-eye to Davos on Tuesday night. Flew all night.
COLLINS: Out on Air Force One--
HONIG: On Air Force One.
COLLINS: It was not intended to be a red-eye, but it turned out to be one.
HONIG: It turned out that way.
[21:45:00]
You spent the next three days covering the President, and interviewing world leaders, while doing this show, from 03:00 a.m. to 04:00 a.m. local time, and you just took a flight back and landed a couple hours ago here in New York.
So, I have a two-part question for you.
COLLINS: Go on.
HONIG: One, how do you do it? And two, are you OK?
COLLINS: I think I'm OK. I don't know. I guess you can--
(CROSSTALK)
HONIG: You seem fine.
COLLINS: --depending on the questions I'm asking.
No, it was actually really helpful. And Trump loves to go to Davos. A lot of presidents don't go. President Biden never went, I don't believe. And I'm not sure if President Obama went, either.
But it is interesting to walk around. Because, it's this huge conference in this small town in Switzerland, this small ski town. But you're kind of just walking around the hallways, I -- I kept telling people, I felt like the Manu Raju of Davos, because you're just kind of walking around, and you can just approach people. I mean, like, Jamie Dimon was there, Gavin Newsom was there, Andy Beshear was there.
HONIG: Right.
COLLINS: We would run into President Zelenskyy, who actually wasn't scheduled to be there.
HONIG: Saw that.
COLLINS: So it is actually fascinating, from a reporter's perspective, just to be able to catch people and ask them questions.
HONIG: You are made of steel, and you clearly are not fatigued at all.
COLLINS: Elie Honig.
HONIG: Welcome back.
COLLINS: We did not pay you to say that.
HONIG: No.
COLLINS: But thank you very much.
Up next. Speaking of that week in Davos, for the President. Greenland, obviously, was the main subject. I'm going to take you behind the scenes of actually what it looked like inside Davos. That's right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[21:50:00]
COLLINS: It was quite a busy week traveling to Davos, Switzerland, to cover the President as he attended the World Economic Forum. Here's a look at what happened behind the scenes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REPORTER: How far are you willing to go to acquire Greenland?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: You'll find out.
ON SCREEN TEXT: Monday, January 19.
REPORTER: What do you plan to say to European leaders in Davos when they push back on your Greenland plan?
TRUMP: We have to have it. They have to have this done.
We'll see how that goes. But Greenland is very important.
ON SCREEN TEXT: Tuesday, January 20.
TRUMP: Wow. That's a big crowd.
(LAUGHTER)
TRUMP: These are accomplishments. This is the anniversary, first anniversary, January 20th.
REPORTER: Is the ultimate breakup of the NATO alliance. Is that a price you're willing to pay?
TRUMP: I think that we will work something out where NATO is going to be very happy, and where we're going to be very happy. We need it for security purposes. We need it for national security and even world security.
COLLINS: I'm boarding Air Force One to travel with President Trump, as he heads to Davos, Switzerland, where there is a growing storm of tension with European leaders there.
ON SCREEN TEXT: Wednesday, January 21.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: All the United States is asking for is a place called Greenland.
I don't want to use force. I won't use force.
You can say yes and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember.
The problem with NATO is that we'll be there for them a 100 percent. I'm not sure that they'd be there for us.
(APPLAUSE)
COLLINS: I would love to know what you thought of the President's speech.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it was a classic Trump performance. I would hate to be the fact-checker that had to go through that speech.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): It was remarkably insignificant. He was never going to invade Greenland. It was never real.
COLLINS: Governor, thank you for being here.
We are truly standing right outside of where the President just delivered this speech.
As governor, in the United States, what did you make of his speech?
GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D-KY): The speech was dangerous, it was disrespectful, and it was unhinged.
COLLINS: The President is currently meeting with NATO leaders here at Davos, a lot of them who might still be reeling from his speech.
Secretary Bessent, how did the meeting go?
SCOTT BESSENT, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Which one?
COLLINS: All of them, the ones you just had.
Mr. President, can you give us some details on how you reached this framework, please?
TRUMP: It's a deal that people jumped at, really fantastic for the USA.
COLLINS: Does it still include the United States having ownership of Greenland, like you've said you wanted?
TRUMP: It's a long-term deal.
COLLINS: You talked about being concerned, Mr. President, about Russia trying to come and take over Greenland. If you're worried that Putin would do something like that, why invite him to join your Board of Peace?
TRUMP: He was invited. He's accepted.
This is the greatest board ever assembled.
COLLINS: Thank you, Mr. President.
Tonight, after weeks of escalating threats, President Trump has found an off-ramp with Greenland.
Does it sound like the United States got anything that it did not already have access to?
JOHN BOLTON, FORMER TRUMP NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: It's not quite Trump Always Chickens Out, but it's pretty close.
Trump can't see the difference between dealing with allies and dealing with adversaries, and that cost America.
ON SCREEN TEXT: Thursday, January 22.
(APPLAUSE)
COLLINS: Thank you so much, President Zelenskyy, for taking our questions. You met with President Trump behind closed doors earlier. First, how did that meeting go? And secondly, he said today that everybody wants this war to end. Do you think that includes Vladimir Putin?
PRES. VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINE: It's up to them to continue the war or not. But we want to stop this war. And that's why I think President Trump can, he really can, because he has dialog with Putin.
COLLINS: President Trump just wrapped up his meeting here at Davos with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy. No reporters were allowed in the room for what I'm told was a very small bilateral meeting between these two leaders. But we caught President Trump as he was on his way out of the meeting.
How did the meeting go? I mean, you've obviously been working on this meeting--
TRUMP: I think the meeting was good -- I think the meeting with President Zelenskyy was good. It's an ongoing process.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And that was behind the scenes this week.
Up next here. There's new reporting tonight on FEMA making a big decision about massive job cuts ahead of the most powerful winter storm in years.
[21:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: President Trump says that he has been briefed and is continuing to be briefed on this weekend's severe winter storm. He says FEMA is fully prepared to respond.
And that comes as tonight, CNN is reporting that FEMA has actually abruptly halted the ongoing terminations of hundreds of disaster workers.
In fact, as the DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem, was touring the FEMA headquarters and meeting with officials, yesterday, a source tells CNN that staffers were being escorted out of the building. It appears, however, that whatever happened with Secretary Noem, what she learned about the storm, has convinced her to pause the firings, later that day.
[22:00:00]
In a statement to CNN, the DHS says -- a spokesperson says tonight that FEMA's disaster staffing includes term-limited positions that are designed to FLUCTUATE based on disaster activity, operational NEED, and available funding.
Thanks so much for joining us. Stay tuned on CNN for the latest forecast of that storm. "CNN NEWSNIGHT WITH ABBY PHILLIP" starts now.
