On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Nancy Cordes:
- Samantha Vinograd, former Obama administration Division of Homeland Safety counterterrorism official and CBS Information contributor
- Rep. Mike Turner, Republican of Ohio
- Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia
- White Home Nationwide Financial Council Director Kevin Hassett
- Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot
Click on right here to browse full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
NANCY CORDES: I am Nancy Cordes in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: President Trump escalates his anti- immigration crackdown after the lethal taking pictures of Nationwide Guard troops in D.C. And, because the president’s crew pushes for peace in Ukraine, the strain marketing campaign on Venezuela intensifies.
The horrific taking pictures in Washington, D.C., allegedly by an Afghan nationwide, left one Nationwide Guard member useless and one other preventing for his life, angering President Trump, who accused the Biden administration of permitting hundreds of Afghans into the nation with out correct vetting.
(Start VT)
NANCY CORDES: Your DOJ I.G. simply reported this yr that there was thorough vetting by DHS and by the FBI of those Afghans who have been introduced into the U.S., so why do you blame the Biden administration for what this man did?
DONALD TRUMP (President of the USA): As a result of they let him in. Are you silly?
NANCY CORDES: Effectively, no.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Are you a silly individual? As a result of they got here in to – – on a airplane, together with hundreds of different folks that should not be right here.
(Finish VT)
NANCY CORDES: Investigators have but to discover a clear motive behind the taking pictures, however President Trump is not ready. He is halting immigration from Afghanistan and elsewhere. We are going to carry you the newest on the taking pictures and the coverage response.
Plus: Russia launches a large drone and missile strike on Kyiv, defying the U.S. push for peace in Ukraine.
And the president warns business planes to clear the airspace over Venezuela. Is {that a} signal of an imminent assault by the U.S.?
We are going to get the newest on each fronts from Republican Congressman Mike Turner and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine.
And we’ll verify in with President Trump’s prime financial adviser, Kevin Hassett, on the most important procuring weekend of the yr and get a actuality verify on the worsening starvation disaster with Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot.
It is all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation. Margaret is off at the moment.
As Thanksgiving weekend attracts to an in depth, for some, the vacation procuring spree is formally underneath method, whereas others are braving the crowds at airports and on highways to get dwelling.
Right here in Washington, a simmering debate over immigration and nationwide safety has boiled over following the taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members.
Our homeland safety and justice correspondent, Nicole Sganga, is right here with the newest.
You might have been out entrance on this story, Nicole. What is the newest?
NICOLE SGANGA: The focused assault simply blocks away from the White Home killed 20-year-old Military Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. This morning, Air Drive Workers Sergeant Andrew Wolfe stays in vital situation, preventing for his life.
Moments in the past, Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi and Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated Rahmanullah Lakanwal might have been radicalized on American soil, however argued the assault was the consequence of failed vetting.
(Start VT)
NICOLE SGANGA (voice-over): The investigation is underneath method. Intelligence analysts are actually tasked with combing by means of the suspect’s units and on-line presence for indicators of radicalization.
Up to now, sources inform CBS Information there have been no confirmed extremist ties. Rahmanullah Lakanwal served for eight years on a CIA-backed Zero Unit crew, an Afghan paramilitary outfit infamous for intense fight and high-risk raids.
U.S. and Afghan officers inform CBS Information the suspect had been deeply disturbed by casualties in his unit and extra just lately troubled by the killing of his shut buddy by armed males in Pakistan. Lakanwal first entered the U.S. in 2021 underneath Operation Allies Welcome following the autumn of Kabul.
The 29-year-old was granted asylum within the U.S. this April. Now he faces first-degree homicide costs. A 2025 Justice Division audit discovered solely 55 evacuees arriving to the U.S. underneath this system have been flagged by terrorism- screening databases. Final yr, simply 9 remained on the watch checklist.
This weekend, D.C. police accompanied Nationwide Guard on their avenue patrols. Governor Patrick Morrisey oversees West Virginia’s Nationwide Guard.
What do you say to Individuals who’re watching this play out and, within the wake of this tragedy, they could really feel like Guardsmen now have a goal on their again?
GOVERNOR PATRICK MORRISEY (R-West Virginia): I feel individuals who query the mission ought to take a look at what’s occurred in Washington, D.C., and also you had a metropolis that had a number of issues with crime, and there have been clear and significant reductions. I feel that issues rather a lot.
(Finish VT)
NICOLE SGANGA: President Trump has ordered 500 extra Nationwide Guard members to D.C., bringing the whole to almost 3,000 troops.
And, on Friday, the U.S. directed immigration officers to pause all asylum selections, leaving over two million candidates in limbo, Nancy.
NANCY CORDES: Nicole Sganga, thanks a lot for staying on prime of this.
And for extra on the vetting of the suspect earlier than he entered the nation, we’re joined now by Samantha Vinograd, who’s a former prime counterterrorism official on the Division of Homeland Safety underneath President Biden and was deeply concerned within the course of for screening and vetting. She is now a nationwide safety contributor right here at CBS Information.
Sam, so good to have you ever with us.
Simply this morning, the legal professional normal stated that this suspect entered the U.S. with minimal to little vetting. Is that correct?
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, Nancy, I am pleased to speak concerning the vetting.
However, at this level, we do not have indications that the horrific tragedy was a results of a vetting failure. As an alternative, the legal professional normal additionally stated this morning it seems the person was radicalized as soon as right here. And let’s be clear on what the vetting system is and what it is not.
The vetting system is a system during which a person’s identifiers, their biographic info and biometric info, iris scans, fingerprints, facial photographs, are run towards datasets of details about people with ties to terrorism and prison historical past.
The vetting system just isn’t predictive of whether or not a person with no derogatory info is or just isn’t sooner or later going to grow to be violent. What I can let you know is that this. And I used to be concerned within the course of. Each Afghan evacuee underwent vetting abroad earlier than they have been cleared to be manifested for a flight to the USA.
They underwent vetting as soon as they have been manifested for a flight at a port of entry earlier than coming into the USA. After which Afghan evacuees, together with the suspect, have been vetted once more as soon as within the U.S. by the Biden administration.
And this suspect underwent essentially the most complete vetting underneath the present administration when he utilized for asylum. That course of would sometimes contain an interview and a assessment of social media handles.
NANCY CORDES: OK, I hear what you are saying, however I wish to learn to you one thing {that a} DOJ inspector normal report laid out earlier this yr.
They stated that, when tens of hundreds of Afghans arrived directly right here within the U.S. on the finish of the struggle – quote – “The traditional processes required to find out whether or not people posed a menace to nationwide safety and public security have been overtaken by the necessity to instantly evacuate and defend the lives of Afghans, growing the potential that dangerous actors may attempt to exploit the expedited evacuation.”
Have been there vetting corners that needed to be minimize right here?
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, through the Afghanistan withdrawal within the subsequent interval, there have been numerous priorities in place, actually. We wished to assist our Afghan companions and convey at-risk Afghans right here.
However defending nationwide safety and public security was the foremost precedence. And that is why a course of was designed that vetted people abroad, however it was by no means meant to be a one-and-done. It was a multistage course of with numerous U.S. authorities businesses.
Afghan evacuees have been vetted abroad by graphic and biometric vetting. After which there have been different phases of vetting that occurred as soon as people have been right here. So now we have to place this vetting course of in context.
NANCY CORDES: Let’s speak about this suspect particularly.
What are you able to inform us about these so-called Zero Models that the suspect was part of in Afghanistan? He labored with the CIA for years, proper?
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: He did, which signifies that he was vetted by the CIA previous to starting work within the Zero Unit, which was a paramilitary and intelligence drive that partnered with the CIA extremely carefully on some very intense missions.
So this suspect reportedly underwent vetting by the CIA for the primary time over a decade in the past. He had extremely specialised coaching. He did endure vetting on the time that he began working with the CIA and went on some very advanced missions. These models have been accused of sure human rights abuses.
NANCY CORDES: And, as you identified, the legal professional normal did say this morning that it is believed that the shooter was radicalized right here in the USA.
The AP is now reporting that his conduct deteriorated so sharply in latest months {that a} group advocate was afraid that he was suicidal. The place does this investigation go from right here?
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, this horrific tragedy might be the results of a person that rapidly mobilized to violence with none ties to international terrorism. And as now we have mentioned in different instances, looking for lone actors earlier than they provoke an assault is more durable than looking for a needle in a haystack.
That work, looking for a lone actor who’s mobilizing to violence rapidly, entails intelligence, regulation enforcement, and counterterrorism officers right here within the U.S., not vetting consultants, however right here within the U.S. in any respect ranges of presidency, federal, state, and native, to attempt to discover dimension – indicators that a person is mobilizing to violence and attempt to get them assist earlier than they really provoke an assault.
NANCY CORDES: When the president says that he needs to have everybody who got here in right here to the USA from Afghanistan, about 90,000 individuals, rescreened, reexamined, how would that work? And does DHS have the assets to try this?
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, to be very clear, DHS just isn’t the one entity concerned in vetting. Varied members of the counterterrorism, regulation enforcement, and intelligence group carry out vetting.
I do have questions concerning the variety of assets accessible to interact in that train, simply primarily based upon useful resource constraints throughout the federal authorities. However it’s attainable. It can take time. However, to be clear, Afghan evacuees have been re-vetted since coming to the USA. They have been re-vetted underneath the Biden administration.
After which, as they’ve adjusted their standing to asylum or different issues, they needed to undergo already different vetting processes.
NANCY CORDES: You understand, you speak about this suspect and looking for indicators that he was radicalized. How will investigators go about doing that?
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Effectively, investigators are actually already chatting with people that knew the suspect, associates, household, co-workers, the organizations that helped assist him in the neighborhood.
And we do not but know, Nancy, whether or not this particular person was identified to regulation enforcement in his group. I feel we’ll study that within the coming days.
NANCY CORDES: Nice perception.
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Thanks, Nancy.
NANCY CORDES: Sam Vinograd, CBS Information contributor, thanks a lot.
SAMANTHA VINOGRAD: Thanks.
NANCY CORDES: And Face the Nation can be again in a single minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
NANCY CORDES: We’re joined now by Ohio Republican Congressman Mike Turner.
Congressman, thanks for being with us. Glad Thanksgiving.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER (R-Ohio): Thanks, Nancy. Glad Thanksgiving to you additionally.
NANCY CORDES: So, you heard what Sam Vinograd simply needed to say concerning the vetting course of. You have additionally heard what administration officers are saying about it.
Do you consider that this was a failure of vetting, or do you consider that is somebody who simply grew to become radicalized or grew to become mentally disturbed right here in the USA?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Nancy, that is very tough, as a result of, I imply, that is basic terrorism. And that is the place a person who tries to interrupt the center of a nation who does an act, a murderous act, proper earlier than Thanksgiving, and the – I feel what Samantha is lacking in all of that is that we did not go to Afghanistan to carry Afghanis right here.
We went to Afghanistan to kill Osama bin Laden, to dismantle and destroy al Qaeda, to avenge 9/11, to dismantle and to overthrow the Taliban, and to make sure that Afghanistan was not a secure haven for terrorism.
What occurred is that the Biden administration allowed Afghanistan to fall and fled, and, in doing so, then discovered itself in a state of affairs the place those that had been aiding us have been then in danger, and in doing so made the choice…
NANCY CORDES: You do not assume they might have been in danger both method?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: No, they have been – their intention was that they might be nonetheless there, that Afghanistan would not be a secure haven for terrorists, that it could not be returned to the Taliban, and there wouldn’t be a necessity for these individuals to be evacuated.
You would not see American planes on the tarmac, as you confirmed, with individuals operating to attempt to get on them. By the best way, these planes would not be being chased by individuals in the event that they have been on their method to China or Russia. They have been on their method to America, and people individuals have been fleeing what the Biden administration was permitting to unfold, which is that it could as soon as once more be a nation that may be in danger to us.
And so, you understand, that is the way you get to the state of affairs the place these people are in danger. Now, clearly, the vetting was flawed. By your personal report, you confirmed that people who have been on our identified terrorist watch checklist made it into this nation by means of that course of, so, clearly, that the vetting course of…
NANCY CORDES: However then they have been – then they have been recognized…
(CROSSTALK)
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: However they made it in. They made it in, proper?
NANCY CORDES: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: They made it into this nation. So, clearly, the method was flawed, and it was additionally a course of that ought to have been pointless, if there hadn’t been this hasty fall of Afghanistan, which the Biden administration had promised us all that they weren’t going to run for the exits.
And so they not solely ran for the exits. They did so at night time. You understand, Congress was – you understand, after listening to, after listening to, you understand, raised the problems of the style during which the Biden administration fled and what the results can be. And we’re all dwelling with these penalties. Now, the investigation is underneath method.
NANCY CORDES: Weren’t their arms tied partly by the truth that Trump had minimize a cope with the Taliban promising to depart by a sure date?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: No, their arms weren’t tied. The way during which they did so – and Congress did a lot of investigations and a lot of hearings and filed a lot of reviews that confirmed that it was the actions of the Biden administration, the style during which they utterly withdrew.
However that investigation is underneath method. It may be underway as to this particular person, and I feel all of us want to attend for that investigation to be concluded.
NANCY CORDES: The president has referred to as for 500 extra Nationwide Guard troops to be despatched to the nation’s capital. Your state has already contributed 150.
Do you consider that extra troops being deployed is the reply, or do you assume it is time to wind this deployment down?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Effectively, while you ask, is that the reply, you need to first speak about what the query is.
And the query is, is there a nationwide challenge of – of crime and security? And, actually, the American individuals, by all polls, point out that individuals are experiencing it and report that there’s. And, actually, within the nation’s capital, there was.
There was unbelievable reviews of simply the – the prison exercise, these – the – these people who’ve succumbed to, you understand, violent crime. And, actually, there’s been a reporting that the Nationwide Guard presence has made a distinction.
NANCY CORDES: Proper, no query, I feel crime is down 30 p.c, one thing like that, in D.C. within the final 4 months.
I wish to flip to Ukraine now…
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Sure.
NANCY CORDES: … one other challenge essential to you.
A crew of Ukrainian negotiators is assembly proper now in Miami with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff. What’s your understanding of the place the negotiations stand proper now? There have been considerations initially that the White Home plan was too pro-Russia. Do you continue to have these considerations?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Effectively, I feel all of us have these considerations.
The – the – you understand, the president’s purpose of peace is extremely vital, and we noticed at the moment with Secretary Rubio his assertion of, you understand, now we have to have a robust and sovereign Ukraine.
And I – and that is everybody’s purpose and the – and positively a affluent Ukraine. And we noticed the Ukrainian consultant there, who’s, you understand, dedicated. And we actually assume and I feel everybody thinks that President Zelenskyy is dedicated to peace.
However, you understand, one factor that I feel all people understands is which you could’t have – you may’t be America first and pro-Russia, as a result of Russia has – is a self-declared adversary of the USA. It is fielding new superior nuclear weapons which can be particularly focusing on the USA.
It is consistently attacking the USA with offensive cyber. It constantly identifies each NATO and the West, the USA as its adversary. So, on this – and, after all, when it identifies Ukraine as its adversary, it does so in figuring out the West and the USA as its adversary.
It’s a must to perceive that the stability of this – this peace association must be one the place you need to take a look at Russia as a skeptical adversary.
NANCY CORDES: Talking of the query of being pro-Russian, this week, Bloomberg received a maintain of this transcript of a name between Steve Witkoff, the particular envoy, and a Putin adviser, during which Witkoff seemed to be teaching the Russian on methods to win over President Trump.
And there are a number of Republicans which have nice considerations about that. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania referred to as it a significant downside. Don Bacon of Nebraska stated Witkoff absolutely favors the Russians and ought to be fired.
What do you assume?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Effectively, the half that involved me most is that there seemed to be an orchestration of giving Putin a chance to talk to Trump earlier than President Zelenskyy was on his method to the White Home.
And I would not need any orchestration of lessening President Zelenskyy’s relationship with Trump, as a result of it is essential when you’ve negotiations that – particularly as you’ve, you understand, on this occasion, Russia is being, you understand, clearly, unbelievably murderous of the Ukrainian individuals.
It’s an aggressive authoritarian regime on this. It is killing civilians. It’s – it’s not simply – this isn’t a military-against-military motion. They’re bombing into Ukraine and murderously killing civilians in Ukraine.
The – the Ukrainian individuals are being subjected to this, and the – President Trump wants to have the ability to hear Zelenskyy’s voice clearly, and never simply the authoritarian, murderous Putin.
NANCY CORDES: So, given your considerations, ought to Witkoff proceed to function one of many primary U.S. negotiators right here, and he – ought to he be despatched by President Trump to Moscow this week to satisfy with Putin?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: I – I feel you may’t take only one slice of somebody’s dialog throughout a protracted, stretched-out facet of negotiations as reflective, however I feel it is actually vital that, after we do get that chance, that our voices are heard of warning and concern.
And the orchestration of inserting Putin’s voice earlier than Zelenskyy could be very regarding, and I feel the White Home ought to be very involved about any efforts to orchestrate Putin’s voice on the White Home earlier than Zelenskyy’s, as a result of Ukraine’s sovereignty and safety must be preeminent.
And we heard that this morning from Rubio, and that must be the main target.
NANCY CORDES: And President Trump stated this was simply common dealmaking.
I wish to flip to Venezuela, since you’re on the Home Armed Providers Committee. We have all been watching the army buildup within the waters round Venezuela. Simply yesterday, the president stated airways ought to take into account Venezuelan airspace closed.
Do you’re taking that to imply {that a} army operation is imminent?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Effectively, the president didn’t say that, and the president actually has not given Congress any discover that that’s going to happen.
And he actually has not made the case. There’s a buildup that the president has not defined in a method that relates solely to the actions which can be at the moment happening within the Caribbean and with respect to the drug commerce that the president has been discussing with Congress. It’s actually a big concern in Congress.
NANCY CORDES: “The Washington Put up” is reporting that, earlier than the strike on the very first suspected drug boat in September, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that everybody on board be killed, after which, when two of the 11 individuals on board survived, a follow-on strike was ordered to complete them off within the water.
Now, some regulation of struggle consultants are saying that that was unlawful, that killing people who find themselves not capable of struggle is a struggle crime. What’s your view and what questions do you’ve for the Pentagon?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Congress doesn’t have info that that had occurred. Each the chairman of the Senate Armed Providers Committee, chairman of the Home Armed Providers Committee, and rating members have opened investigations.
Clearly, if that occurred, that may be – be very severe, and I agree that that may – can be an unlawful act. That’s not the authorized opinion or the data or the authorized justification, the acts which have been described to Congress which can be being undertaken in – on this.
There are very severe considerations in Congress concerning the assaults on the so- referred to as drug boats down within the Caribbean and the Pacific, and the authorized justification has been offered. However that is – is totally exterior of something that has been mentioned with Congress, and there’s an ongoing investigation.
NANCY CORDES: Very attention-grabbing to listen to you say that this is likely to be an unlawful act. I do know your committee is asking extra questions. We might like to study what you discover out.
Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, thanks a lot for being with us.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Thanks, Nancy.
NANCY CORDES: I admire it.
And we’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
NANCY CORDES: Some unhappy information out of California in a single day. 4 individuals have been killed and 10 others harm when a gunman opened fireplace throughout a household celebration at a banquet corridor in Stockton, California. The native sheriff’s workplace says early indications counsel the taking pictures was focused.
A suspect has not been recognized and remains to be at massive. Police are urging anybody with any info which may be useful to come back ahead.
We can be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
NANCY CORDES: We can be proper again with Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, White Home financial adviser Kevin Hassett, and Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot.
Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
NANCY CORDES: Welcome again to “FACE THE NATION.”
We’re joined by Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine.
Senator, thanks a lot for being with us.
SENATOR TIM KAINE (D-VA): Completely, Nancy.
NANCY CORDES: I wish to begin out by asking you concerning the state of affairs in Venezuela as a result of there are actually severe indicators that army motion, together with probably floor motion, might be imminent. You might have tried twice to cross struggle powers resolutions that may drive President Trump to get approval from Congress first earlier than any army motion. Twice you’ve failed. Do you assume the numbers on this may change if there’s floor motion and can it even matter at that time?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: I do – I do consider the numbers will change. You are proper, I, together with others, filed a decision, no struggle in Venezuela or towards Venezuela with out congressional approval. It failed. However that was earlier than all of those belongings have amassed round Venezuela and earlier than President Trump stated that the airspace must be closed. I’ll transfer with colleagues, Senator Schumer, Senator Paul, Senator Schiff, instantly ought to there be army motion.
After which secondly, I additionally tried to cease the, what I view as unlawful boat strikes within the Caribbean and the Pacific, along with Adam Schiff. And the circumstances have modified within the months since we had that vote. In every of those situations, we have been capable of get two Republicans to vote along with Democrats. We expect the escalating tempo and among the latest revelations, so, for instance, the latest revelation concerning the kill everybody order apparently dictated by Secretary Hegseth, we do consider that we are going to get extra assist for these motions when they’re refiled.
NANCY CORDES: You are referring to this new “Washington Put up” report that claims that Secretary Hegseth referred to as for everybody aboard the primary suspected drug boat that was focused to be killed. When two individuals survived, the army went again in, reportedly, with a follow-on strike.
What questions do you’ve for the Pentagon about that state of affairs?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Effectively, first, if that reporting is true, it is a clear violation of the DOD’s personal legal guidelines of struggle, in addition to worldwide legal guidelines about the best way you deal with people who find themselves in that circumstance. And so this rises to the extent of a struggle crime if it is true. And the questions that we have been asking for months are, give us the proof that the parents on board have been actually narco traffickers. In a single occasion, there have been two survivors, one Columbian, one Ecuadorian in a distinct strike. As an alternative of arresting them and prosecuting them, the U.S. picked them up and returned them to their nations of origin, the place they have been launched. So, in the event that they have been narco traffickers, why would we try this? We’d like extra proof about that. And we undoubtedly want the administration to lastly reply the query of why strike moderately than interdict? If you understand the place the ships are, you may interdict. And while you do, you get proof. You get people. You may squeeze them to provide testimony towards their increased ups. You get proof with the drug seizures.
And eventually, the opposite query that my colleagues and I are deeply frightened about, is the whole authorized rationale for these strikes. We needed to pry with a crowbar, after weeks and weeks, out of the administration the supposed authorized rationale for the strikes in worldwide waters. It was very shoddy as a result of it is categorised. I am unable to let you know what’s in it, however I can let you know it was by no means persuasive that these are authorized actions. And so along with a complete collection of issues, the early retirement of the pinnacle of SOUTHCOM, the information that the SOUTHCOM’s lead legal professional stated these strikes weren’t lawful, the choice of allies, just like the U.Ok., to cease sharing intelligence with the USA on this space as a result of they consider the strikes are unlawful. It is time for Congress to reign in a president who’s deciding to wage struggle on his personal say so, which isn’t what the Structure permits.
NANCY CORDES: Sure, a number of lawmakers on each side have questions which can be much like those you are elevating.
On a associated be aware, President Trump simply introduced this weekend that he plans to pardon former Honduras President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who was accused of conspiring with drug cartels to maneuver 400 tons of cocaine from Honduras to the U.S. he is at the moment serving a 45-year sentence. Have been you stunned by the president’s plan to pardon him given how strongly the president feels about medication coming from different nations like Venezuela?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: That is surprising. And once more, this isn’t a person who was accused of operating medication to the USA. He was convicted in a federal courtroom in the USA. One of many bits of proof was his assertion that was picked up by these close to to him that he wished to shove medication up the nostril of gringos and flood the USA with cocaine. Greater than 400 tons.
He was the chief of one of many largest prison enterprises that has ever been topic to a conviction in U.S. courts. And fewer than one yr into his sentence, President Trump is pardoning him, suggesting that President Trump cares nothing about narco trafficking. Suggesting probably that pardons are actually on the market by this White Home. And if he would not care about narco trafficking, and this was additionally proven earlier this yr with the pardoning of Ross Ulbricht, then what is that this Venezuela factor actually about?
The president of Columbia has stated that he assume it is concerning the U.S. attempting to grab oil belongings in Venezuela. I lived in Honduras for years as a missionary method again when. The conspiracy theories are operating wild within the Americas about why this army effort is so vital to the president when he is pardoning drug kingpins who’re operating medication into the USA. These are additionally questions that we’ll must dig deeply into after we return to Washington tomorrow.
NANCY CORDES: I wish to ask you about some massive developments in Washington this week. The Trump administration is making massive adjustments within the wake of this tragic taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members. They’re halting all asylum selections. They’re halting Afghan immigration functions. The president says he needs a everlasting pause to immigration from what he calls third world nations. We do not know what number of nations. Have they got a case that it is sensible to place a few of these processes on maintain whereas they determine what occurred right here?
SENATOR TIM KAINE: Effectively, you understand, first, let’s simply acknowledge this unhappy reality. These two Guards members, Ms. Beckstrom and Mr. Wolfe. What a tragedy for them and their households. And you understand what? They need to have been at dwelling at Thanksgiving celebrating Thanksgiving with their households, not deployed in a political deployment to do regulation enforcement in D.C. that the D.C. police and different native regulation enforcement businesses can do.
And this demonstrates but once more one thing we have seen so usually. Our troops, together with our Guards members, they will serve in courageous and brave and self-sacrificing methods. And we will about so pleased with them.
However the orders that they get from their civilian leaders, that is the place the issue is available in. Whether or not it is a Hegseth order to kill all of them or an order to ship Guards women and men, in a political stunt deployment to cities across the nation, these two people ought to have been celebrating Thanksgiving with their households. And I simply mourn for them and all that suffer consequently.
The president’s choice to say, OK, this specific prison, who ought to be prosecuted to the complete extent of the regulation, who got here in underneath an asylum grant that President Trump and his administration determined this previous summer season, that now we’ll pause processes or asylum from 19, quote, “third world nations,” we do not know which of them they’re, you should not paint with a broad brush. Go after a prison to the complete extent of the regulation, however do not say that every one Afghans in the USA, those that served with our army and who misplaced their lives and their well being and their households in some ways by doing so, do not say that they are all dangerous. Do not say that individuals who come from third-world nations are dangerous.
Virginia, about one out of 9 of us is an immigrant. And our immigrant communities in Virginia have been an infinite supply of energy to our commonwealth and to our nation. And it is fallacious to focus on all of them for the dangerous actions of a person, identical to we would not goal different communities in the USA for the dangerous actions of 1 particular person.
NANCY CORDES: One thing tells me that is going to be an enormous matter of dialog in Congress this week.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: It can.
NANCY CORDES: Senator Kaine, I actually admire you being with us and Glad Thanksgiving.
SENATOR TIM KAINE: So glad we may do it. Thanks.
NANCY CORDES: And we’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
NANCY CORDES: We flip now to the director of the White Home Nationwide Financial Council, Kevin Hassett.
Kevin, thanks a lot for being with us.
KEVIN HASSETT (Director, White Home Nationwide Financial Council): Nice to be right here.
NANCY CORDES: So, we have all eaten the turkey.
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure.
NANCY CORDES: Vacation procuring has begun in earnest. So, let’s speak about what the vacation procuring season appears like. We have got new surveys from Goldman Sachs and Financial institution of America that paint a modest image of the vacation spending outlook. They are saying low and center revenue Individuals are planning to drag again a bit of bit as a result of they understand that costs are increased. And so they say, if spending is up this yr, it may be as a result of items partly are dearer. Is that this the short-term consequence or long-term results of the Trump tariffs?
KEVIN HASSETT: Proper. Effectively, what we have seen – these have been reviews about what individuals anticipated would occur over the Thanksgiving weekend. However we now have arduous information for Black Friday and even for Saturday. And the net gross sales have been up nearly 10 p.c, in-store gross sales have been up 4 p.c. It was actually a blockbuster weekend after Thanksgiving.
And so I feel that the parents who have been saying, wow, possibly individuals are going to be concerned about, you understand, going again and getting presents for the youngsters and so forth, they have been disproven this weekend. And I feel the reason being that individuals – incomes are up this yr. We had an incredible jobs report. And with robust revenue and the federal government shutdown over so that individuals presumably have a bit of pent-up demand as nicely, I feel that we’re taking a look at an incredible restoration from a weak few weeks due to the shutdown.
NANCY CORDES: Certain. I am questioning how a lot of that spending improve you assume is attributable to the truth that costs are up? Let me provide you with an instance. The maker of Tonka vehicles stated a few days in the past {that a} toy truck that price $30 final yr goes to price $40 this yr, partly as a result of they misplaced about eight weeks of delivery as a result of U.S. commerce struggle with China.
What’s your recommendation to vacation buyers who do not wish to spend extra this yr than they did final yr, or cannot afford to spend extra?
KEVIN HASSETT: Proper. Effectively, as you understand, it is dependent upon what you are taking a look at. Like, egg costs are down. Gasoline costs dropped beneath $2 a gallon in a number of locations. Mortgage charges are down.
NANCY CORDES: You imply beneath –
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure, mortgage charges are down.
NANCY CORDES: Fuel costs, on common, are nonetheless at $3 a gallon throughout the nation, proper?
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure, that is proper. For a number of states, they received – they received beneath $2. And so the purpose is simply that, ultimately, what issues is, within the combination, the common throughout every part that everyone buys. And that averaged about 5 p.c underneath Joe Biden and is a bit of bit above 2.5 p.c, about minimize in half for President Trump.
And the underside line, although, is admittedly that wages have been rising sooner than costs, and that is why actual incomes this yr are up by about $1,200 thus far. That is why we will have an incredible Black Friday and an incredible Thanksgiving gross sales weekend as a result of individuals really feel like they’ve more cash of their pockets. Despite the fact that, you are proper, there are some issues that price most and a few issues that price much less. However on common, we’re about half the inflation charge of Joe Biden.
NANCY CORDES: Polls present that the general public, regardless of among the information you are presenting, is getting extra skeptical. In our newest CBS Information ballot, 68 p.c of Individuals stated they consider that President Trump’s insurance policies are pushing grocery costs up. They’re up about 1.4 p.c yr to this point. And financial sentiment, the quantity of people that assume the economic system is sweet, has truly dropped six factors since he took workplace.
How do you clarify that?
KEVIN HASSETT: Effectively, to begin with, you talked about, fairly precisely, the 1.4 p.c improve in grocery costs. I feel the attention-grabbing factor about that’s that that is method beneath the Fed’s goal of two for every part else, proper? And so that you’d must concede that 1.4 p.c could be very, very low inflation.
And so I feel that the underside line is that we have got the large, lovely invoice slicing taxes on additional time, taxes for suggestions and so forth. And all that cash goes to begin to be in individuals’s pockets. And that is why they’re optimistic about subsequent yr.
Scott Bessent stated final week that he is wanting on the first half of subsequent yr that might be within the 4 p.c vary. And the reason being that we handed the tax cuts in July and they also did not have time to alter all of the tax types and every part. And so individuals are going to get actually, actually massive refunds within the fall as nicely.
And so we’re actually optimistic. And we expect that the excellent news round Thanksgiving is an indication of one thing that is even stronger to come back.
NANCY CORDES: You talked about buying energy. One factor that’s going to have an effect on buying energy for 22 million Individuals is the expiration of Obamacare premium subsidies. Final week a humorous state of affairs. The White Home floated this plan to increase the subsidies for 2 years. Then you definitely dropped the proposal. After which the president stated, on Air Drive One, “anyone stated I wished to increase it for 2 years. I do not wish to lengthen it for 2 years. I might moderately not lengthen them in any respect.”
Was this a case of the proper hand not speaking to the left hand?
KEVIN HASSETT: No, I feel that individuals have been speaking to one another. However what occurred, as you understand, as knowledgeable journalist, is that typically individuals leak pre-decisional issues which can be confidential and pre-decisional. And I feel that anyone did that. After which it rolled again as a result of it hadn’t been by means of the entire course of.
However President Trump has been clear that he is very involved about the price of well being care. And that is why we had $50 million for rural hospitals in massive, lovely invoice, why we tried to get $30 billion in for price sharing and the Democrats did not like that. They’d another strategy.
And so, I feel that what we’ll see now, between now and Christmas, is that individuals are going to work this out as a result of now we have an answer – the White Home has an answer for price sharing and the Democrats have another. And, you understand, individuals don’t need – you understand, for the few seniors which have actually, actually large will increase to see these.
However do not forget, the overwhelming majority of individuals within the Inexpensive Care Act are getting their insurance coverage for lower than $50 a month. And so whereas this is a matter that must be labored out, we do not wish to trigger panic for the parents who’re frightened that they will lose the factor that they’ve. It is actually simply the very, very excessive price people who find themselves, you understand, nearer to retirement age which have the issue.
NANCY CORDES: “Bloomberg” is reporting, as I am certain you understand, that you’re now thought of the frontrunner to interchange Fed Reserve Chair Jay Powell when his time period expires within the spring. Secretary Bessent, who’s heading up this search, stated he was holding ultimate interviews this week. How did yours go?
KEVIN HASSETT: You understand, I’m not certain that “Bloomberg” has the story proper. I am actually honored to be amongst a bunch of actually nice candidates. The factor that I used to be most impressed about this week when that story leaked was that actually I feel the information for markets was that President Trump is near saying a brand new one that’s going to interchange Jay Powell. And if you happen to take a look at the market response to that, it was very, very optimistic. We had an incredible Treasury public sale. Rates of interest went down.
And so, I feel that the American individuals may anticipate President Trump to select anyone who’s going to assist them, you understand, have cheaper automobile loans and simpler entry to mortgages at decrease charges. And that is what we noticed available in the market response to the rumor about me, which, you understand, might be about as priceless because the rumor concerning the well being care coverage that we simply talked about.
NANCY CORDES: Effectively, I suppose we’ll discover out in the event that they’re proper, sooner moderately than later, after we hear the president’s choice.
KEVIN HASSETT: Proper. That is true.
NANCY CORDES: So, for now, director of the White Home Nationwide Financial Council, that is your title at the moment, Kevin Hassett, thanks a lot.
KEVIN HASSETT: Sure. Thanks.
NANCY CORDES: And we’ll be again in a second.
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NANCY CORDES: We flip now to the struggle towards starvation in the USA. In accordance with authorities information, 47.4 million individuals lived in what the Division of Agriculture calls a meals insecure family in 2023. That is when a family cannot essentially get hold of sufficient meals to feed all of its members.
One of many largest teams working to fight meals insecurity is Feeding America. And we’re joined now by CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, who’s in Charleston, South Carolina, this morning.
Claire, thanks a lot for being with us and Glad Thanksgiving.
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT (CEO, Feeding America): Thanks for having me again.
NANCY CORDES: Completely.
So, through the shutdown, we noticed these extremely lengthy strains at meals banks. The shutdown has now been over for a few weeks. SNAP advantages are going out once more. However even earlier than the shutdown, meals insecurity was at its highest charge in practically a decade. So, what’s the state of affairs now that you just’re seeing at meals banks across the nation as we head into the vacations?
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: Sure. So, I am so glad that you just made that time. I feel your viewers could also be stunned to study that meals insecurity charges earlier than the shutdown have been increased than at any level through the pandemic for example.
We’re persevering with to see very excessive demand. I feel a part of the reason being as a result of the quickest rising group of individuals turning to the charitable meals system are individuals who do not even qualify for any federal vitamin applications. So, that is an space that we have got to remain targeted on. We all know the sorts of issues that work. We have to do these issues in order that we will actually deal with what’s occurring with starvation and poverty within the nation.
NANCY CORDES: What do you assume is contributing to the rise in starvation and this group of people that, as you say, do not qualify for advantages however are displaying an elevated want for meals?
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: Sure, I feel it is that the system is damaged. Proper now there’s so many individuals, if you happen to can think about, on this nation who cannot afford to get a increase at work as a result of now we have a system that doesn’t incentivize individuals to proceed to maneuver up the ladder. We have got ladders with massive – lacking rungs, if you’ll. So, we will do one thing about that. We may have a sliding scale, as an example, that enables individuals to maneuver out of poverty. By doing that, as a result of meals insecurity is definitely a symptom of poverty, they’re going to transfer out of that as nicely.
We, as a nation, ought to all need individuals to have the ability to present for themselves. We must always all need them to have the ability to get work that they’ll really feel pleased with and assist their households with. We’ve got the facility to do all of these issues. It can require that we work collectively, that we be sincere about what’s damaged, and that we actually get dedicated about fixing these issues.
NANCY CORDES: What are the principle challenges that the organizations in your community are dealing with this vacation season as they attempt to feed people who find themselves hungry? Is the meals there for the individuals who want it?
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: Sure, sadly, the strains are longer than the meals that’s accessible. And one of many hardest issues to witness can be seeing these individuals who have the identical goals, aspirations for his or her children and themselves as I’ve for mine, and your entire viewers have for theirs, feeling the necessity to flip to the charitable meals system. It takes a number of braveness and resiliency and dedication to household off occasions to have the ability to try this. After which for them to show up, regardless of all of these obstacles and never – us not be capable of present them with what they actually need.
So, I’ve a deep respect for individuals experiencing starvation on this nation. I’ve been an individual who has skilled starvation earlier than. I do know many individuals who’ve, many individuals who nonetheless do. So a lot of them are my heroes.
After which one other set of heroes that I’ve are individuals working on this struggle within the Feeding America community who present up, shoulder to shoulder with individuals experiencing starvation, who’re so deeply dedicated to their wellbeing. So, we have to place individuals experiencing starvation to have the ability to fend for themselves, and we have to place meals banks to have the ability to present them with the assist that they want on this second till they get there.
NANCY CORDES: As you understand, there are about two million Individuals who’re going to be affected by adjustments to the SNAP program that have been made earlier this yr in a vote by Congress. They won’t be receiving SNAP advantages any longer. What are the financial implications of that? And in about 30 seconds, what can your organizations do about it?
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: In accordance with the Congressional Funds Workplace, we’re in all probability taking a look at a few six billion meal per yr hole that is going to be created. So, the sorts of issues that we should do, we ought to deal with fraud the place it exists. We should incentivize individuals to have the ability to get the hand up that they want and to maneuver out of poverty. We ought to deal with error charges. However we should do all of these items strategically, and we should do them in a bipartisan method. This should be the type of factor that this nation can come collectively round.
NANCY CORDES: OK.
CLAIRE BABINEAUX-FONTENOT: And we will maintain arms, shoulder to shoulder, as a result of when – individuals experiencing starvation after we all do.
NANCY CORDES: Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, now we have to depart it there. We have got a tough out. However thanks a lot, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot from Feeding America. Thanks a lot.
We’ll be proper again.
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NANCY CORDES: And that is it for us at the moment. Thanks for watching. For “FACE THE NATION,” I am Nancy Cordes. Have one.
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