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On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Rep. Ilhan Omar, Democrat of Minnesota
- Secretary of Power Chris Wright
- Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Republican of Florida
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2026 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: Anti-ICE protests unfold nationwide, and the Trump administration struggles to take care of exploding tensions around the globe.
(Start VT)
PROTESTER: What do we would like?
PROTESTERS: ICE out!
PROTESTER: When do we would like it?
PROTESTERS: Now!
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: 4 days after an ICE agent shot and killed a protester in Minneapolis, the wrestle to personal the narrative of what precisely occurred continues, and scrutiny over the usage of drive by ICE as a part of the Trump administration’s deportation course of intensifies.
We’ll discuss with Minneapolis space Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, then flip to the New Yr’s eruption of unrest around the globe. Because the lethal protests in Iran unfold, are the regime’s days numbered? And what is the Trump administration’s crimson line on the subject of taking extra motion in opposition to Iran?
Lastly: The administration tries to work with what’s left of Maduro’s authorities, as President Trump makes plans to reap the benefits of Venezuela’s oil and mineral-rich land.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the USA): American corporations may have the chance to rebuild Venezuela’s rotting vitality infrastructure and finally improve oil manufacturing to ranges by no means, ever seen earlier than.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll ask Power Secretary Chris Wright about that. Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Florida Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar may even be a part of us.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation on this second Sunday of the brand new yr.
We start in Minneapolis, which now has the biggest focus of DHS federal brokers in an American metropolis lately.
We start with homeland safety correspondent Nicole Sganga in Minneapolis.
(Start VT)
PROTESTER: Say her identify!
PROTESTERS: Renee Good!
NICOLE SGANGA (voice-over): This weekend, tens of 1000’s took to the streets in anti-ICE demonstrations nationwide, in Minneapolis braving subfreezing climate to mark the place 37-year-old Renee Nicole Macklin Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent.
Days after the deadly capturing, you possibly can see that a whole bunch of protesters are nonetheless exhibiting up. Minneapolis is a metropolis nonetheless on edge. They’re saying immigrants are welcome right here, demanding solutions and a good investigation.
State investigators say federal officers have denied them entry to proof within the investigation of Good’s dying.
KEITH ELLISON (Minnesota Legal professional Normal): The present posture is that the investigation is one which the feds need to do with out state involvement.
NICOLE SGANGA: Sources inform CBS Information the Division of Homeland Safety is planning to ship a whole bunch of extra U.S. Customs and Border Safety brokers to the Twin Cities this month, including to a footprint of roughly 2,400 DHS personnel.
On Saturday, Democratic members from Minnesota, together with Consultant Ilhan Omar, have been blocked from touring an ICE detention facility simply exterior of Minneapolis.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR (D-Minnesota): What occurred at the moment is a blatant try to hinder members of Congress from doing their oversight duties.
NICOLE SGANGA: A CBS Information evaluation has discovered ICE brokers have fired their weapons in at the very least eight incidents over the previous 4 months, leading to three deaths. Almost the entire shootings concerned automobiles.
Mobile phone video amplified by the White Home reveals ICE agent Jonathan Ross’ perspective…
WOMAN: I say, go get your self some lunch, massive boy.
NICOLE SGANGA: … and what are probably Good’s final phrases.
RENEE GOOD (Killed in ICE Capturing): That is effective, dude. I am not mad at you.
NICOLE SGANGA: The chorus now memorialized by mourners and protesters alike.
(Finish VT)
NICOLE SGANGA: CBS Information has discovered, prosecutors throughout the Justice Division’s Civil Rights Division may even not be a part of the FBI’s investigation, breaking with previous observe and elevating additional questions on simply how far the federal inquiry will go – Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is Nicole Sganga in Minneapolis.
And we’re joined now by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who represents a big portion of that metropolis.
It is good to have you ever right here.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR (D-Minnesota): I characterize the entire metropolis.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Effectively…
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks.
The Trump administration is actively telling the general public that journalists are deceptive them. You heard what was simply reported from the scene. What we all know is that Renee Macklin Good and her associate have been protesters. They have been driving round Minneapolis. They have been recording what a few of these ICE enforcement officers have been doing.
And the native police chief says Macklin Good blocked the road together with her automobile. President Trump has mentioned that the associate was a paid agitator. That is the phrase he used. Secretary Noem alleged this was an act of terrorism.
Given how a lot warmth there may be and the administration’s scrutiny, would you inform Individuals it is too harmful to reveal and to exit and doc, as she was doing?
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: I feel it’s actually essential for Individuals to report, to create the extent of accountability and transparency that we’d like.
What we’ve seen in Minneapolis is ICE brokers oftentimes leaping out of their vehicles. These are unmarked vehicles. Oftentimes, they’re sporting a masks. They’re approaching, working in the direction of vehicles. They’re pulling individuals out of these vehicles. Oftentimes, these individuals are residents. Oftentimes, these individuals have documentation of their authorized proper to be on this nation.
And we all know that DHS has lied repeatedly on the subject of these accounts, so it’s much more essential for there to be recording from eyewitnesses each single time these actions are going down.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However do you see – from the recordings that we see, is there something that you just consider was – that was being executed that ought to not have been executed by Macklin Good?
The administration says she was blocking the highway. They’re claiming that is an act of terrorism.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Sure.
Renee Nicole Good, as you hear her say, she’s not mad. She’s sitting in her automobile peacefully waving vehicles to get by. This agent, as you see, will get out of his automobile, mechanically begins working in the direction of her, making an attempt to open her door. She feels scared. She tries to show the wheel away. And then you definitely see the opposite officer, who can clearly see the automobile is shifting, transfer in the direction of the entrance of the automobile, which, if they’re saying that he has 10 years on service and is educated, he ought to know that you just should not be making an attempt to get in entrance of a shifting automobile.
And so it’s not acceptable for Kristi Noem and the president and the vice chairman to make these form of judgments with out there being a full investigation, though we will see within the movies which were produced thus far that what they’re describing is admittedly not what’s going down.
And so, in the event that they’re saying that we should not consider our eyes, then let the investigation happen earlier than you characterize this mom of three as a home terrorist. Show to us what documentation you will have that – one, that she was paid…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: … two, that she was agitating, after we can hear her say she’s not mad, she’s not upset. She’s clearly making an attempt to wave vehicles to bypass her. And so it is simply – this degree of rhetoric is unjustifiable to the American individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However simply shortly on that, you mentioned accountability and it is essential for individuals to doc what’s taking place. I simply need to be abundantly clear, as a result of the administration says that their officers are being stalked and harassed. While you say accountability, you’re solely describing recording, like she was doing?
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: I feel it’s truthful…
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: … for residents to doc what regulation enforcement is doing of their communities, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Although there’s been violence in opposition to a few of these brokers as properly.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Effectively, there’s additionally been violence in opposition to residents in Minneapolis.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There proper now could be quite a lot of warmth in your state.
Treasury Secretary Bessent referred to as Minnesota floor zero for what stands out as the most egregious welfare rip-off in our nation’s historical past up to now; 85 of the 98 individuals who have been charged by the Justice Division with this welfare scheme are Somali.
And you already know this. The treasury secretary is probing whether or not any of the cash was in some way funneled exterior the nation. He truly issued new requirements. He’ll make it – make somebody disclose in the event that they obtain public help after they attempt to wire cash in another country, and he is lowered the bar for suspicious exercise.
What’s the sensible affect of doing that locally?
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: It is simply creating worry.
What they’re doing is creating confusion, chaos, making an attempt to intimidate individuals from with the ability to train their common, regular actions that they might. There is no such thing as a justification in any of the issues that they are saying. The 87 individuals that you have described as being investigated, lots of them adjudicated, all occurred underneath the Biden administration.
There is no such thing as a justification for this surge. We all know that ICE has the power to conduct raids.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: There is no such thing as a motive have over 2,000 individuals coming in to our metropolis and creating the extent of terror that they’ve created.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, the administration argues that they need to do it as a result of the state didn’t, proper? And…
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: The state – the federal authorities and the state have been working peacefully collectively and have introduced justice to those 87 individuals that you have described.
None of this surge that they’ve carried out has produced any type of prison exercise. They have not been in a position to cost anybody as of but.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, the administration additionally introduced they’ll reduce meals stamps to Minnesota as a result of they are saying a number of the meals stamp cash had been embezzled. Do you – are you assured that that…
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: And people are the issues which might be being litigated, and it’s, once more, unconstitutional for them to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However is it – are you assured that the fraud that has been found is now not being carried out now? Is there any justification for saying, this meals stamp cash is in some way being misused?
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Sure, there are methods to analyze fraud, which we’ve been doing in Minnesota, which the federal authorities has been doing underneath the Biden administration.
There is no such thing as a motive for them to make use of this degree of rhetoric. There is no such thing as a motive for them to totally cease these professional – funding these applications. The one motive they’re doing that’s for P.R. functions. And it’s harming our state. It’s harming my constituents.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: And it’s creating the form of chaos and confusion that nobody wants on this second.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of the administration and lots of conservative allies within the administration argue that that is nonetheless ongoing. There was that conservative influencer who went out and posted this video that went viral, alleging that day care amenities have been pocketing public funds.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Sure. And, as you already know, he went hours the place these companies weren’t working.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, CBS went out and did its personal investigation.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Sure, which, once more creates the extent of confusion and chaos that’s not mandatory in a second after we try to take care of a major problem that wants critical individuals to have the ability to tackle it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However do you suppose – there was no recorded proof of fraud, in response to the CBS investigation that was carried out.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However Governor Walz did select to not run for reelection. He dropped out of the race due to all of this.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: As a result of he desires to deal with defending our state, and never defending a seat.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you suppose there – do you suppose there was a ample degree of accountability and possession of the failure to have oversight right here? Do you suppose this ends?
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: I imply, this – that’s what we would like. We need to collaboratively work with the administration to attempt to guarantee that there is no such thing as a fraud that is being perpetuated on our state.
What we don’t want is the extent of terror, of confusion, of chaos that’s being created with none outcomes on this second.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In a short time, earlier than I allow you to go, the chair, Oversight Committee, mentioned that he desires to refer you to the Ethics Committee.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: I’ve been referred like 100 instances, so go forward.
(LAUGHTER)
MARGARET BRENNAN: He is taking a look at your husband’s revenue and internet value. He mentioned it was tied to personal fairness funding funds, however he appears to be insinuating that you just personally are tied into this welfare rip-off. How do you reply to that?
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: I imply, ever since I’ve gotten to Congress, they’ve been doing these type of bizarre ethics investigations. None of them have yielded something, as a result of I’ve been as clear as I might be, and there may be nothing incorrect with any documentation that I’ve ever offered to the federal authorities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congresswoman Omar, thanks for becoming a member of us at the moment.
REPRESENTATIVE ILHAN OMAR: Thanks.
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Face the Nation can be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: This morning, President Trump vowed that Venezuela now has the navy safety of the U.S. This comes only one week after he mentioned the U.S. would run that nation.
In the meantime, Venezuelan opposition chief Maria Corina Machado is anticipated to journey to Washington to satisfy with President Trump this week.
For his half, Mr. Trump and his staff met with dozens of U.S. oil executives late final week, urging them to commit $100 billion to spice up oil manufacturing there.
Becoming a member of us now to debate all of it is the USA secretary of vitality, Chris Wright.
Good to have you ever right here in individual.
CHRIS WRIGHT (U.S. Power Secretary): Thanks for having me, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I ask you about Venezuela, in a short time, these protests in Iran, this nation reliant on oil to maintain its government- managed financial system afloat, the president has been briefed on navy choices.
What’s the U.S. prepared to do to assist?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Actually, the president has been very outspoken about eager to have freedom and rule of regulation and capitalism and nice relations with the USA return.
So, we’ll see. I feel his ethical assist has been sturdy. Actually, he is taken a robust stance in opposition to the mullahs in Iran in disabling their nuclear program. I feel the individuals in Iran are rising up as a result of they really feel there is a sturdy America that has their again. I will not go into any specifics there, however we want them properly, and we might like to see a free and democratic Iran once more.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will there be extra interdictions of vessels carrying Iranian oil, any extra exercise on that entrance?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: I will not reveal any change in place there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. OK.
Let me ask you about Venezuela…
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … the place you will have been very centered and really central to the president’s coverage.
The president mentioned that Venezuela now has the USA, essentially the most highly effective navy on the earth, to guard them, to guard them. We’ll.
Is the USA navy offering safety ensures for American corporations?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: We’re not doing that proper now. However what we…
MARGARET BRENNAN: What does he imply?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: What he means is, we’re altering the sport for what’s taking place within the floor in Venezuela. Venezuela has bought $20 billion of Russian weapons.
They have Cuban mercenaries there. They provide oil to Cuba. They – they harbor the Hezbollah’s headquarters for the Western Hemisphere. Venezuela has been a really harmful, very destabilized place…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: … happening the tubes. And with the USA’ affect now, by controlling the sale of their oil and subsequently the circulation of funds into the nation, we expect we’ll – we are going to see comparatively speedy change, enchancment on the bottom in Venezuela.
It is a course of. We’re solely eight days into the method, nevertheless it’s off to a robust begin.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, it is off to a fast begin. You had the oil executives on the White Home simply Friday.
That the president – or – excuse me – the State Division yesterday had a safety alert I need to ask you about, as a result of it particularly cited the danger to Individuals in Venezuela, and it mentioned: “Armed militias are organising roadblocks, looking automobiles for proof of U.S. citizenship or assist for the U.S.”
The person who runs these militias is Diosdado Cabello, who’s the minister of the inside. Is he ordering the searching of Individuals?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Not that we’re conscious of.
However we ought to be cautious. Look, that is, as I say, eight days right into a change right into a change of management there. The interim authorities try to ascertain energy. Colectivos have been working wild over – over Venezuela for – for over a decade.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: So, sure, you are not going to…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, he controls them.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: He does.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, is he secure in his place? As a result of, proper now, the administration appears to be working with him.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: We have to work with the people who have the weapons at the moment to finally transfer the nation to a consultant authorities and a greater station.
However what you have to forestall within the imply time period is a collapse of the nation. And I feel the sturdy strikes we’re making proper now could be to affect the individuals with the weapons at the moment, which is a part of a course of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you are not involved he will undermine the extra business-minded President Delcy Rodriguez?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Oh, after all we’re apprehensive about issues like that. We have to get stability among the many management in Venezuela. So, sure, after all we’re involved about these issues.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So inform me broadly, is the Trump administration’s purpose right here to amass the state oil firm, PDVSA, and to run it? Are you going to place Individuals on the board? How is that this going to work?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Effectively, once more, it is a course of.
The very first thing to do is to scale back the injury to the USA, the influx of weapons and criminals and immigrants and medicines into the USA, the destabilizing of a key a part of the Western Hemisphere. We have to cease that. That is why we have entered into Venezuela. Actually, a part of the best way to enhance Venezuela and to enhance the Western Hemisphere and enhance the lives of Individuals is to get their very corrupt 25-years-in- decline oil business again going once more.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does that imply the USA authorities goes to run it? The president says we’ll run the nation. Are we working this as, like, as an American state-owned oil firm, basically?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: No.
Immediately, we’re working the sale of their crudes. You already know, we’ve a quarantine round their means to ship oil exterior of Venezuela. All of that goes by American crude entrepreneurs, after which that crude goes out into the market. We acquire these funds and convey them again to Venezuela to higher the lives of Individuals and Venezuelans.
However in the long term, what’s going to occur with Venezuelan oil sources? Sure, after all, fairly probably, you may see American corporations’ expanded presence there. You may see rising manufacturing. After all, you are going to see extra American involvement in there. However precisely how that is going to work, that is going to unfold over time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, again in November, a U.S. decide backed a bid by an American hedge fund to buy Citgo Petroleum. The Treasury nonetheless has to approve that deal.
The hedge fund is definitely run by an enormous Trump donor, Paul Singer. Do you need to protect Venezuelan possession of Citgo? Do you need to have America have a monetary stake in it, like Trump purchased an enormous portion of the Intel firm? Do you need to personal parts of oil corporations?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Once more, that is going to be as much as American companies. That is definitely a really actual risk.
The Citgo sale is a part of – is a part of bringing redress to collectors of the USA for the Venezuelan authorities. And, after all, one – one of many capital suppliers in that transaction is a hedge fund supplier you simply talked about. There’s numerous American buyers and American refining entrepreneurs which might be concerned in that.
So, to take Venezuelan owned refineries which might be in the USA and legally, by an public sale course of, switch them to American homeowners and American entrepreneurs within the refining enterprise. I feel that is improbable.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s concern about corruption right here, although. Will there be Individuals put in on these boards? And the way do you reply to those allegations that some Trump donors are going to get preferential remedy?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: I can guarantee you that’s completely not the case, completely not the case. Consider what President Trump has executed for the American oil and gasoline business. He is pushed down the value of oil. He is dramatically decreased the…
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: There’s an oversupply of oil. And now you are going to put extra available on the market.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Proper. Precisely. That is not – that is not good for American oil and gasoline corporations.
(CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of it makes it much less worthwhile for them to truly go and spend money on drill, child, drill.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Precisely.
Democrats and President Biden are improbable for American oil and gasoline corporations, as a result of they attempt to prohibit the availability to one thing that is important to life, which solely has one doable affect, which is to drive up costs and develop profitability.
So, President Trump isn’t any – isn’t any helper to the oil and gasoline business. And, definitely, there is not any corruption, preferential placement of individuals. There’s none of that. I can guarantee you of that. I am within the heart of this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How are you going to resolve the contracts? Is the Treasury going to approve the Citgo dominance there in that…
(CROSSTALK)
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: That went by a big public sale to purchase it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you going to transient to Congress the selections you are making about which corporations get entry?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Completely. All that – that was an public sale open to all American corporations. There have been many bidders, together with the coalition of bidders you talked about. We wish these belongings to get as a lot cash as doable to return to the collectors of the Venezuelan authorities.
And we would like American refinery belongings owned by Individuals which might be going to extend the throughput, drive down the value of gasoline in America.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. So, Secretary Rubio mentioned there is a three-point plan, stabilize, rehabilitate, transition. This sounds indefinite.
Even once you heard a few of these oil executives, Chevron’s management – they’re already in Venezuela, we should always say – mentioned it is going to take 18 to 24 months to even improve oil manufacturing by 50 %. So how lengthy is that this American involvement? As a result of he is saying there it is at the very least a year-and-a- half, two years.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: They have been there for 100 years, and, probably, Chevron’s going to be there 50 years from now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the USA authorities, how lengthy does that position proceed?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: You heard the third a part of Rubio’s query, which is transition.
We need to deliver a consultant authorities to the individuals of Venezuela. I feel then you definitely’ll see the total sovereignty again to the federal government of Venezuela. We do not have a legit authorities in Venezuela at the moment. We might like to maneuver and get there. However America is there as a…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you will have a timeline?
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: Twenty-five years, this nation has gone in decline.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: President Trump, out-of-the-box, inventive intervention has allowed us to vary the sport.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: However, sure, I do not know the timeline of that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY CHRIS WRIGHT: It is not weeks. It is extra months. Might be a yr or two. Might be extra.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
Secretary Wright, thanks to your time at the moment.
We can be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Should you’re in search of extra Face the Nation, together with prolonged interviews and particular content material, you could find us on YouTube. And you may also subscribe to our podcast. It is obtainable on all platforms.
We can be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to “FACE THE NATION.”
We need to pay attention to one thing that President Trump advised “The New York Instances” final week as we transfer on to a dialogue of the worldwide challenges that the nation faces. He was requested in a wide-ranging interview if there have been any limits on his world powers, and Mr. Trump mentioned, “yeah, there may be one factor. My very own morality. My very own thoughts. It is the one factor that may cease me.”
One check looming giant in the meanwhile is in Iran, the place the dying toll from violent protests is rising as the federal government intensifies its crackdown and, at this level, there is no such thing as a various authorities standing by if this regime ought to fall.
Imtiaz Tyab has the most recent reporting from London.
(BEGIN VT)
IMTIAZ TYAB (voice over): They chant, “dying to the dictator,” as unrest throughout Iran solely intensifies and because the dying toll rises. Worldwide rights teams say at the very least 190 demonstrators have been killed and greater than 2,300 arrested as safety forces proceed to crack down laborious.
Mobile phone video reveals authorities buildings on hearth and even a mosque. Scenes as soon as unthinkable as symbols of the theocratic regime are focused by protester.
These movies, verified by CBS Information and different media retailers utilizing satellite tv for pc imaging, GPS codes, and sources on the bottom present anger that started over rising inflation and a collapsing foreign money has morphed into one thing extra explosive, open defiance of the repressive state. Together with in Mashhad, Iran’s second largest metropolis, the place 1000’s flooded the streets in a single day and blocked roads, with some chanting, “lengthy reside the king.” Whereas within the capital, Tehran, this video reveals a mass protester holding up a photograph of Reza Pahlavi, the U.S.-based son of Iran’s final shah, who was ousted in 1979. A divisive determine with no organized motion inside Iran, however for some protesters, Pahlavi has grow to be short-hand for “something however the Islamic Republic.”
FEMALE: America has already misplaced the sport.
IMTIAZ TYAB (voice over): Iranian state TV has accused the U.S. of being behind the unrest and aired pictures of pro-government rallies. However scenes like this proceed to inform a distinct story as Iran’s management solely tightens its grip, together with imposing a sweeping communications blackout that has seen the web reduce and worldwide calls blocked. President Trump has warned Tehran in opposition to killing protesters.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And if they begin killing individuals, like they’ve up to now, we are going to get entangled. We’ll be hitting them very laborious the place it hurts. And that does not imply boots on the bottom.
IMTIAZ TYAB (voice over): As President Trump pledges to assist the protesters, a senior U.S. official has confirmed to CBS Information, the president has been briefed on new choices for navy strikes in Iran.
(END VT)
IMTIAZ TYAB (on digital camera): And in his first public remarks for the reason that protests have intensified, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, accused the U.S. and Israel of, quote, “sowing chaos and dysfunction” by ordering what he described as riots. He additionally promised to deal with the financial disaster that triggered the unrest. The query now could be whether or not Iranians consider him or whether or not it is already too late.
Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Imtiaz, I do know you have been protecting Iran for a very long time, together with on the bottom. There have been protests earlier than which were simply brutally suppressed. What’s totally different this time?
IMTIAZ TYAB: You already know, Margaret, on the one hand this feels very acquainted. And on the opposite it feels very totally different. Iran, as you talked about, has seen main uprisings earlier than. The 2009 inexperienced motion, the 2019 gas protests, and 2022’s ladies life freedom motion. Every had its set off. Every was met with brutal drive. And every was finally crushed.
What’s new now could be the layers of crises dealing with the regime. Iran has a collapsing foreign money. There are power energy and water shortages. I faces punishing sanctions. And it is nonetheless absorbing the aftershocks of final yr’s 12-day warfare with Israel.
I used to be in Iran proper after that warfare and other people have been already quietly questioning the regime’s competence and its vulnerabilities. Now these vulnerabilities are loudly being examined within the streets. And there is one other essential distinction right here, symbolism. We have seen statues of the supreme chief set on hearth, surveillance cameras ripped down, in addition to chants for the monarchy.
This isn’t nostalgia. It is a rejection of the Islamic Republic. And the hazard for the leaders in Tehran is easy. As soon as the (INAUDIBLE) breaks, it is very laborious to place again.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Imtiaz Tyab, we’ll proceed to trace these protests. Thanks, Imtiaz.
We go now to Richmond, Virginia, the place we discover Senator Tim Kaine, who has Oversight, International Relations and different key committees.
Senator, we all know the president has been briefed on navy choices. However our reporting is, no determination made, no navy belongings put in place to execute something but. There aren’t even any plane carriers within the Mideast area at this second in time.
Would you assist navy motion?
SENATOR TIM KAINE (D-VA): Margaret, U.S. navy motion in Iran can be an enormous mistake. It might have the impact of giving the Iranian regime the power to say it is the U.S. that is screwing our nation up. Proper now Iranians are blaming, appropriately, the regime for screwing up the nation. This Iranian regime has spent years focusing exterior its borders on fomenting terrorism and aggression in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, as an alternative of listening to the wants of its personal residents. And very like Syrian residents lastly threw off the yoke of Bashar al Assad, and that brutal regime, with out U.S. navy intervention, it appears to be like to me that Iran’s doing the identical.
So, let’s have a good time their freedom-loving spirit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Let’s sustain the sanctions stress which helped in Syria, and helps, I feel, dramatize the misdeeds of this regime. However U.S. navy motion would simply deliver again the painful historical past of the U.S. toppling the Iranian prime minister again within the Nineteen Fifties, and it will give the regime the power guilty their very own failures on the USA.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
You talked about Syria there. There was some, you already know, covert U.S. assist. There was one thing to start with at the very least with that form of rebellion.
Would you assist any form of assist? I imply the president saying we’ll assist the protesters. What does that imply or what ought to it appear to be?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Effectively, I feel, once more, let’s use sanctions. And in Syria, the Caesar Sanctions that we put in place in 2019 to punish Bashar al Assad for warfare crimes had an actual impact on the Syrian vitality, development and different sectors. And when Syria selected to go a brand new path, President Trump, with the assist of a bipartisan Congress, has decreased these sanctions to open up a brand new chapter in life for Syria. That is the fitting reply.
However navy motion, we didn’t take navy motion in opposition to Bashar al Assad. Now we have been engaged militarily in Syria to battle ISIS. As a result of ISIS was a part of al Qaeda, there is a navy authorization to be used of U.S. drive in opposition to ISIS.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: We have labored with different nations to scale back them. However we did not use navy motion in opposition to Bashar al Assad. And we should not use navy motion in opposition to the Iranian authorities on this – on this protest second.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Let’s assist these courageous freedom fighters in different methods by sanctions however not use our little children within the navy to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply in a short time, once you talked about there was authorization for drive in Syria and ISIS, I assume meaning you assist the navy strikes that occurred yesterday in opposition to 35 targets in Syria. This was in response to the killing of these two U.S. troopers and an American interpreter. That is legitimate in your view?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Sure. Sure, sure, it’s legally legitimate that it has lengthy been held that the 2001 congressional authorization in opposition to al Qaeda contains the power to go in opposition to teams which have come out of or have affiliated with al Qaeda that imply hurt to the U.S. troops. And on this occasion ISIS continues to be a menace to U.S. troops. There’s a authorized authorization for the usage of drive, which is what makes this so totally different than the usage of the navy drive in opposition to Venezuela or Greenland or Cuba or wherever the president desires to take us to warfare subsequent.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, you are taking me to the following subject, which is that this effort you led. You bought about 5 Republican senators to affix your effort on this procedural vote to limit the president’s actions. He would require new congressional approval earlier than new navy motion in Venezuela.
Do you suppose the Republicans, who have been with you on this vote, will stick with you on condition that the president has brazenly threatened them?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Margaret, I feel they are going to. And I feel extra might be a part of the 5 Republicans who voted with me.
Let’s be clear what they have been voting for. The Trump administration has waged warfare, first in opposition to Venezuelan boats in worldwide waters, then covert actions in Venezuela, and now an assault on Venezuela to depose its management, to ascertain a brand new authorities that we selected, not that the Venezuelan individuals selected, to grab Venezuela’s financial system and even say, we’ll set the phrases of financial and political transition for the following few years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: What my Republican colleagues voted for is, let’s get this out of the labeled and put it earlier than the American public and truly debate this use of the U.S. navy on the ground of the USA Senate. 4 months into it, a whole bunch of Venezuelans useless, American troops injured, let’s lastly debate this publicly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: That is all they voted for. And the truth that the president goes in opposition to them, only for eager to have this debate earlier than the general public, reveals how nervous the president is about each his authorized authority, but in addition the knowledge of what he is doing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure, he mentioned publicly, they shouldn’t be re-elected as a result of they issued this name for congressional assessment.
You introduced up Greenland. That is – the territory that Denmark has broad governance over Denmark being a NATO ally. World leaders take President Trump’s remarks significantly.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: And they need to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We take him significantly and actually. And to that time, Denmark’s prime minister publicly warned that it will imply the “finish of the NATO alliance” if he carries out what he mentioned, which as just lately as Friday he mentioned, “I need to make a deal for Greenland the simple means. But when we do not do it the simple means, we’re going to do it the laborious means.”
Is there something to cease the president from doing it, quote/unquote, “the laborious means,” which feels like navy drive?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Margaret, I feel Congress will cease him. Each Democrats and Republicans. This might be disastrous. It would not simply be America first. It would not simply be the top of NATO. It might be America alone. If we take our greatest allies, and Denmark has been an ally for a really very long time, and we resolve that we’ve the navy means to grab territory for them, you will notice the USA, as an alternative of being the world’s chief diplomat, and a frontrunner on the earth, you may see the USA remoted as a Priya.
And I’ve talked to my Republican colleagues. They watch what the president has executed in Venezuela. They hear the threats in opposition to different nations. I can let you know this, we are going to drive a vote within the Senate about no U.S. navy motion in Greenland or Denmark. If we have to, we are going to get overwhelming bipartisan assist that this president is silly it even recommend this.
We’re not going to do it the laborious means and we’re not going to do it the simple means both. We’ll proceed to work with Denmark as a sovereign nation that we’re allied with and we’re not going to deal with them as an adversary or as an enemy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll look ahead to motion in Congress on that entrance.
Senator Kaine, thanks to your time at the moment.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to Florida Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, who joins us this morning from Miami.
Congresswoman, welcome to “FACE THE NATION.”
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR (R-FL): Thanks for the chance.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re certainly one of Maria Corina Machado’s prime allies in Congress. You’ve got mentioned she is coming to Washington this week. President Trump mentioned possibly Tuesday, possibly Wednesday. Particulars nonetheless being labored out.
Why is it essential for her to get in entrance of the president of the USA, who’s backing Maduro’s quantity two as the present president of that nation?
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: OK, properly, I do not suppose that the president is admittedly backing anybody that’s associated to the Maduro regime. However concentrating on Maria Corina Machado, she earned it. She was the one who put collectively this – she proved to the worldwide neighborhood that they, the opposition forces, have gained the election. She was in a position to in some way create the tallies and show to the Trump administration that they’d gained 70 by – to 30. Keep in mind that Maduro didn’t give her the chance to be the presidential nominee as a result of he didn’t like her, as a result of he knew that he was going to lose in opposition to her. So, she has earned it. And I’m positive that she may have an excellent, lengthy, strong dialog with the president. She is aware of the story higher than anyone.
I used to be in contact together with her throughout the 16 months that she was hiding in a tunnel as a result of the Maduro forces have been in search of her to kill her. So, she has earned it. So, I feel we’re going to welcome her in Congress, and I am positive that the – President Trump goes to be extremely, extremely happy with that assembly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You heard the Power secretary right here say it may very well be – it may very well be years earlier than we get to a transition. The president did say democracy is one thing he hopes for in Venezuela. Does that imply that she ought to return? That the USA ought to assure Maria Corina Machado’s safety to return? I imply how can the opposition return for an election proper now?
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: Effectively, you already know, she was planning to go – after we met in Oslo, when she obtained the Nobel Peace Prize, she was saying to all people that she was prepared to return when on January third we took Maduro out. They – I beloved what Secretary Rubio is expressing and the plan that we’ve as a rustic of stabilize, get better, and transition. I feel that, if you concentrate on it, the Trump administration is making a blueprint, a brand new groundbreaking, new mannequin for overseas coverage when he vis- a-vis the western hemisphere. So, Maria Corina and the opposition forces fall in that three deliberate structure that we’ve – that Rubio has created and Trump has blessed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: So, she is a part of the transition. And I’m positive that they are going to be capable of reorganize themselves.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: She has a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals in Caracas and in Venezuela that may assist us to place collectively this electoral system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I do know that you just assist the Trump administration’s coverage. However Secretary of State Rubio actually, actually bristled after I requested him why they did not arrest the minister of the inside, Diosdado Cabello, who stays in energy. You might have been very, very clear in your statements that you just suppose the USA ought to arrest him. We went again and seemed. CBS Miami’s Jim DeFede reported in 2017 that Cabello had tried to assassinate Senator Rubio.
Are you able to assist individuals perceive why maybe individuals in Florida ought to be involved or different Individuals about this man remaining accountable for safety forces?
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: Effectively, you already know, I do know that Diosdado might be worse than Maduro and worse than Delcy. They’re all “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.” Let’s do not make any – let’s be certain, to your worldwide viewers, that.
However I’m very reassured the truth that we’ve taken the oil and the sources away from them. That Diosdado Cabello, who’s a thief, I repeat, doesn’t need to fall into the place Maduro has fallen into. And they’ll cooperate. And in some way, as a result of we’ve created this new sort of mannequin, that they are going to work with us. They don’t have their sources. Now they know that we’ll go into this restoration. And that – and that in some way they’ll undoubtedly take part and work with the American forces.
They know higher. And like I mentioned, that is spectacular what’s taking place as a result of we’ve not seen this earlier than within the 250 years of historical past. And Diosdado, I repeat, is unquestionably somebody who was indicted. And one of many supply – I’ve some sources that say that we weren’t in a position to find him.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: However at this hour, I’d say that all the things is admittedly falling into place.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, he controls the prisons. And there are at the very least 5 Individuals in these prisons.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: With Delcy. With Delcy. Delcy is the one who is admittedly answerable for the key police and the repressive equipment. And Diosdado Cabello was answerable for the navy, who was a part of this the Suns cartel, together with Maduro.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However are you aware why the Trump administration is not publicly demanding the discharge of the Individuals which might be being held?
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: Pay attention, possibly we have no idea some issues which might be taking place, and Rubio mentioned it the opposite day. I do perceive, and I’m positive, Rubio is aware of the realm very properly. And he is aware of who the characters are. And we’re undoubtedly taking this with strong – in a strong – with strong steps. We don’t need to make any errors. And I’m positive that the political prisoners can be popping out, and that we – that we’re not giving them, which means Diosdado and Delcy, any sort of leeway for them to actually run the nation. We’ll see – prefer it occurred, it occurred two, three weeks in the past.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: Let’s give them just a little bit extra time earlier than we see extra outcomes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In a short time, the president tweeted at the moment, “Cuba will get no extra money, no extra oil.” The CIA evaluation is that that regime in Havana shouldn’t be essentially in peril, though the president is saying they’re. What are you listening to?
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: Effectively, look, I characterize town of Miami. You already know, the center of the Cuban exile neighborhood. And people phrases are like magical. It has been 65 years, you already know, Cuba can be a heart of energy for our enemies, Iran, Russia, China. And now I feel they’re – they’re – they’re getting the memo. And Cuba, it is hanging by a menace. By a thread, I ought to say.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: The menace that Cuba has represented to the USA has been immense. They don’t have any water. They don’t have any electrical energy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: They don’t have any meals. They don’t have anything.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: So, for those who suppose the Maduro was weak, Cuba is even weaker.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: And now they don’t have one drop of oil coming from Venezuela. So, that may very well be the start of the top.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Effectively, Mexico is stepping up and offering them some. We’ll have to observe what occurs there subsequent.
REPRESENTATIVE MARIA ELVIRA SALAZAR: And that could be a very massive mistake. Very massive mistake from Madam Sheinbaum.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All proper, thanks very a lot, Congresswoman.
We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: This previous week marked 5 years for the reason that January sixth assault on the Capitol. However honoring the primary responders who protected the Capitol Constructing that day from a pro-Trump mob has been neither fast nor straightforward.
A regulation handed by Congress in 2022 required the architect of the Capitol to supply a plaque paying tribute to regulation enforcement and provides it a everlasting location on the Capitol’s west entrance inside one yr. Produce it, they did. Photographs obtained by CBS Information’ Scott MacFarlane final yr present the plaque itself. However greater than 5 years late, the plaque has not discovered a everlasting residence on Capitol Hill.
The delay is owed partially to Home Speaker Mike Johnson, whose workplace says the regulation is, quote, “not implementable” as a result of the regulation referred to as for a tribute to regulation enforcement members, whereas the plaque itself honors complete departments somewhat than particular person officers by identify.
North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis paid tribute to the actions of regulation enforcement on that day, calling it “an exquisite stress check for democracy.”
(BEGIN VC)
SENATOR THOM TILLIS (R-NC): We heard 1000’s of individuals storm this Capitol. Individuals died. Law enforcement officials have been injured, hospitalized. One died shortly after January the sixth. Lots of people mentioned that was a darkish day for democracy. I would depart you with this, it was an awesome day for democracy due to the regulation enforcement officers, the people who saved us secure. As a result of you already know what we did when confronted with 1000’s of thugs storming this constructing? We took a short recess, we received ourselves collectively, the Capitol was secured. And earlier than we left this compound, we got here again and accomplished our constitutional obligation to certify the election.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: At Tillis’ urging, the Senate voted by a process often known as unanimous consent to make any adjustments wanted to the unique regulation with a purpose to get the plaque put in as soon as and for all. Not a single senator objected.
The plaque is anticipated to discover a non permanent spot within the Senate within the coming days, whereas the architect of the Capitol identifies a extra everlasting residence.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for U.S. – for us at the moment. Thanks all for watching. For “FACE THE NATION,” I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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