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Joni Ernst Announces Support for Pete Hegseth, After Initial Skepticism; Trump's Other Controversial Picks Likely to Be Confirmed; Firefly Aerospace Launches Blue Ghost Lunar Probe; SEC Sues Musk Over Disclosure of Ownership Stake in X; Americans Flock to Rednote as U.S. TikTok Ban Looms; South Korean President Arrested For Questioning; Clock Ticks Down On U.S. TikTok Ban; Qatar: "We Are At The Final Stages" Of A Deal; More Than Six Million People Under Critical Fire Threat. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired January 15, 2025 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:19]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world and to everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead. South Korea's impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol is arrested and detained as authorities investigate his short-lived martial law decree.

Closer than ever to a deal in the Middle East, as negotiators hammer out the final details on an agreement to pause fighting in Gaza and bring dozens of hostages home.

And as the clock ticks down on the U.S. TikTok ban, some big names are being floated as potential buyers. Even as users flock to another China-based app,

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. And we begin in South Korea, where suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for questioning over his failed martial law decree last month. He was taken into custody by anti-corruption investigators a few hours ago, ushered away from the presidential residence in his motorcade. Yoon faces multiple inquiries and an impeachment trial. He denounced the investigations in a prerecorded message released after his arrest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOON SUK YEOL, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT: Unfortunately, the law is all broken in this country. It is truly deplorable to see a warrant issued to an agency that does not have the right to investigate. A court that does not have the right to examine the warrant, issue an arrest warrant, a search warrant, and to see an investigative agency forcefully proceed with this illegal act of deceiving the people by issuing false official documents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Yoon said he was surrendering to authorities now in the hopes of preventing bloodshed. Hundreds of opponents and supporters turned out in Seoul as authorities moved in to detain him. So, let's go live now to CNN's Mike Valerio in the South Korean city of Gwacheon, not far from the capital Seoul. So, Mike, what is the latest on this and where could things go from here?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, we're going to see how long investigators hold South Korea suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol and you can bet for the entire time that he's here so many protesters in the hundreds will be here with him as well. And by with him, I mean a couple meters behind us, outside the perimeter of the secure facility, which is in part, home to the corruption investigation office for high-ranking officials.

So, let's take a look. This is essentially the cadre of people who are outside of suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol (INAUDIBLE) and a very wealthy area of Seoul. Many of whom have migrated here to show their support. And they're saying, Rosemary, paraphrasing them, they realize that he declared martial law on December 3rd but they view this as a fight against forces of liberalism and forces who they perceive to be in line with North Korean and anti-state tendencies, their words, not mine.

But let's sort of swing around here in a little crescent motion. So, Rosemary. This is the building, third floor where South Korea suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol is being questioned. And according to our new reporting that we have from here, our team in Gwacheon, Yoon Suk Yeol is not answering any questions. He is on a floor that has so many of the equivalent of the presidential Secret Service remaining guard.

And he is expected in a first, Rosemary, for a sitting South Korean president, going to be in solitary confinement in a detention center overnight. So, a whole host of questions that he's not answering. About 200 pages related to what was his intent for declaring martial law on December 3rd into the early morning hours of December 4th? Did he plan it? Did he really think in his mind that it was a national emergency, or did he do it for his own political expediency to take control of the National Assembly a way that would be more easily -- easier to push his agenda?

So far, seems as he's answering none of these questions for the criminal realm. He does have the next day of his impeachment trial, Rosemary, tomorrow, which could remove him from office. So, a lot going on here in South Korea, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Indeed. Mike Valerio joining us live. Many thanks for that report.

Turning now to Doha, Qatar, where negotiators are ironing out the final details of the hostage ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

[02:05:02]

The militant group Islamic Jihad, which also holds hostages in Gaza says a senior delegation will be in Doha to take part in final arrangements, and Israel's foreign minister says the majority of Israel's government will support the deal.

Well, joining us live now from Doha is CNN's Becky Anderson. Good to see you, Becky. So, where we are learning more details about the first phase of this potential agreement? What more can you tell us?

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes. This is important, these final stage talks between key stakeholders went on for hours here in Doha yesterday to work on what are the technicalities of the implementation of this emerging deal. We understand those talks will continue today and sources tell us that they continue to feel optimistic that they are closer to a deal to end this 15 months of fighting than they have been for, you know, 15 months effectively.

Let's have a look at what this emerging deal looks like as we understand it. Here's what we know at this point. Phase one. And this is a multi-phase deal, Rosemary. Phase one, 42 days, during which 33 of the remaining 94 hostages taken on October the 7rh and held in Gaza. And remember, importantly, you point out that Islamic Jihad may be here in Doha as part of these negotiations.

It's not just Hamas in Gaza that is holding hostages. It is other groups as well. So, 33 of the remaining 94 hostages taken on October 7th, held in Gaza, will be released in this first phase. That is, children, women, the injured and hostages over the age of 50 as we understand it. Israel believes most of those 33 are alive, although that number could include some of what we believe is 34 who are thought to be dead.

Now, on day 16 of this first phase, and again, extremely important. Negotiations will start for the second phase of this deal, which is intended to end the war. During that first phase six weeks, as we understand it, Israel will retain a presence in what is known as the Philadelphi Corridor but will slowly begin to withdraw from areas where there is dense population and eventually withdrawing to what they describe as a buffer zone, which is a zone on the Gaza border that the Israelis will use for security purposes.

Unspecified security arrangements over these phases, as far as the Israelis are concerned. And that is -- that is important to note. The Philadelphi Corridor was a major sticking point for Hamas in these deals. In the past, there may be some concessions from Hamas in these final stage negotiations on the presence of the Israelis here. What's changed, I think, is what's really important here?

Because our viewers will be forgiven for thinking that this is a sense of sort of Deja vu that we've been here before, and frankly, they will be forgiven for that because the parameters of this deal look very like a deal that was presented by Joe Biden back in May. That was effectively not backed by the Israelis at that time. It was presented again in July and never completed on. So, the parameters look very like a deal that we've had on the table effectively for eight months now.

What's changed effectively is the imminent inauguration of Donald Trump, because his team, particularly a man by the name of Steve Witkoff, who is Donald Trump's incoming Middle East envoy has been shuttling around this region, involved in these talks with the Biden administration. Remember, the U.S. are mediators in what are these indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.

Steve Witkoff has been on this since the end of November, as we understand it, putting a lot of pressure on the Israelis to effectively sign up to this deal. Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State yesterday in a presentation of what he hopes to be a day after plan in the state suggested that the ball is in Hamas' court, but I think, you know, it would be correct to suggest that there is still pressure on both Hamas to a degree, but also on the Israelis.

[02:10:06]

Important to note that both Israel and Hamas do have a draft proposal, and as we speak, they haven't agreed to that. These talks continue. This is how the Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman framed this -- the -- where we are at and the specifics yesterday here at a press conference. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJED AL-ANSARI, QATARI FOREIGN MINISTER SPOKESPERSON: We do believe that we are at a developed stage. We do believe that we are at the final stages. But obviously, until there is an announcement, there will be no announcement, and therefore we shouldn't be over excited about what's happening right now, but certainly we are hopeful that this would lead very soon to an agreement.

And in that we appreciate the roles of both the Biden administration, represented here by Mr. Brett McGurk and the incoming Trump administration and President Trump himself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Yes. And indeed, President Trump himself, he didn't go so far as to suggest that it is Donald Trump who has ultimately moved the needle. But what we do know from the President-elect is that he has threatened all hell will break loose, should there not be a deal by inauguration. That, of course, is Monday, and although we have no detail on the substance of that threat, exactly what it is that Donald Trump is threatening to do.

it is very clear from everybody I speak to that the equation has changed since Steve Witkoff who is part of that incoming administration has been on this deal working with the Biden administration to try and effort a result. Does this mean, ultimately, Rosemary, that we are going to see peace in Gaza and peace across the region as a result of what will be this first phase? No, there are no, as we understand it written, guarantees that anything but this first stage of 42 days will be completed on but there's certainly, as I say, much more optimism that within the next sort of 24 to 48 hours. We may, just may, see the beginning of the end of this terrible conflict in Gaza.

CHURCH: Yes. Let's hope that is the case. Becky Anderson joining us live from Doha with that report. Many thanks.

Investigators may have new clues about what caused the most destructive fire in Southern California history. A closer look at some of the first video from the Eaton fire in Altadena.

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CHURCH: More than six million people in Southern California are under a critical fire threat for the day ahead.

[02:15:00]

Forecasters say they expect winds to pick up in the coming hours, which could make the wildfires worse, of course. Already, Cal Fire says the Eaton fire and the Palisades fire are the most destructive in the region's history. 25 people have been killed and at least 13 are unaccounted for. The Palisades fire has burned close to 10,000 hectares and is 18 percent contained. The Eaton fire has burned close to 6000 hectares and is 35 percent contained.

The L.A. County Fire Chief says the danger is not over yet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF ANTHONY C. MARRONE, LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT: The anticipated winds, combined with low humidities and low fuel moistures will keep the fire threat in the L.A. region critical.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: More now from CNN's Veronica Miracle reporting from Altadena in California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Seven days into the fight and concerns along the fire lines remain high.

CHIEF KRISTIN M. CROWLEY, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT: Life threatening and destructive and widespread winds are already here.

MIRACLE (voice-over): Another round of Santa Ana winds and red flag warnings across already fire weary areas, the extremely critical fire warning affecting more than two million people.

MARRONE: Severe fire weather conditions will continue through tomorrow. The worst winds are predicted today for the late afternoon and into Wednesday.

This is their concern, another wildfire sparking overnight Monday and burning more than 55 acres by dawn. This time to the west of L.A. in Ventura County, firefighters pushing back the flames and stopping forward progress. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The concern we have now, though, is that we are in a -- in a red flag situation right now.

DAVID ACUNA, BATTALLION CHIEF AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, CAL FIRE: Imagine if you're driving down the freeway at 70 miles an hour, you stick your hand out flat and have the wind press against that is the wind that's happening from Ventura to Northern L.A.

MIRACLE (voice-over): The wind not only fanning the flames but potentially grounding the fight from the air.

ACUNA: Over 30 miles per hour, it is unsafe to fly. It's unsafe for the aircraft, for the personnel, and, of course, for the people on the ground.

MIRACLE (voice-over): Fire teams across the region in a ready stance to respond to any new flare ups.

CROWLEY: We are carefully managing our operations to ensure that we can quickly respond to any new fires.

MIRACLE (voice-over): Residents in the Palisades fire area and across the fire zone told to be ready at a moment's notice to flee again. As more than 5000 fire personnel work to bring that Blaze under control.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are giving this fire everything we've got.

MIRACLE (voice-over): And as work continues on the front lines --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh no.

MIRACLE (voice-over): New videos from residents near the Eaton fire in Altadena appeared to show the moments just after it sparked up. Pedro Roxas captured this showing the huge flames engulfing the base of an electrical tower. Just a few minutes earlier, Jeffrey and Cheryl Ku recorded this.

JEFFREY KU, ALTADENA, CALIFORNIA RESIDENT: As she got closer to the house, sure enough, it was burning bright and it was the base of the tower on fire.

MIRACLE (voice-over): As residents across la wait to learn when they may return to what's left of their homes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They cry and get up and keep crying. No more tears left for crying.

MIRACLE (voice-over): Those who have lost everything seek the barest essentials and supplies and empathy as shelters set up across the county fill up.

Veronica Miracle, CNN, Altadena.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Joining me now is Todd Hall. A senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Thanks, Todd for talking with us. So, what is the latest forecast on these high winds expected overnight, and of course, the impact they may have?

TODD HALL, SENIOR METEOROLOGIST, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: We still have Santa Ana winds in place tonight and we're looking at still critical fire weather conditions across Southern California through overnight tonight and into Wednesday morning. So, we're seeing those winds gusting to 50 miles per hour, 55 up in the mountains. And then we're seeing very dry conditions.

So, a lot of -- a lot of the fuel moistures have dipped quite substantially through this -- through these waves of different Santa Ana's we've had, and so now we're seeing some very critical fuel, moisture values coming from our partners. So, we really want to stay -- every want to stay aware in Southern California. And we're on -- we're on high alert here at the National Weather Service trying to relay this -- the latest weather conditions to the frontlines of the firefighters.

CHURCH: Yes. So, as you mentioned, millions of residents in Southern California under a critical fire threat Wednesday. Which areas are most at risk here?

HALL: It's would be -- most likely from Western Los Angeles County through Eastern Ventura County. Those are the prime areas here that we're -- that we're referring to as when we -- when we talk about Santa Ana winds.

[02:20:10]

So, this is a -- this is a more typical Santa Ana that Southern California residents are used to where it affects most of the western San Fernando Valley, into the Santa Monica Mountains and into the eastern Ventura County valleys and Ventura County coastal plain.

So, that's some of the areas that we're -- that we're looking at is as potentials for the most extreme conditions we're going to see across southern California.

CHURCH: And what more can you tell us about the forecast by the end of the week and into the weekend, in terms of these high winds and, of course, much needed moisture?

HILL: Yes. So, we are going to see -- hopefully a break here. Well, fire weather conditions will moderate towards Friday and Saturday. We'll see the flow reverse. What we've been in an offshore flow pattern in the past week with flow, basically the winds blowing from the deserts to the ocean and that will reverse on Friday and Saturday and give us that opportunity to get a little bit more moisture into these fire areas.

So, that should help moderate some of the fire weather conditions and hopefully allow some of these-- some of these fire lines and containment lines to be built around some of these fires and really help firefighters out. I will say that early next week, we're still looking at another Santa Ana wind event potentially for the early portion of next week. So, we're -- we are already in contact with our partners, our fire partners and letting them know what's in store.

CHURCH: The early portion of next week. So, when do you think the danger will be over?

HILL: Right now, the -- we're going to have a little less -- we're going to have a little less danger for Friday and Saturday. That's for certain. It looks like we won't be fully out of this, probably until the middle of next week but we will see some improvement for late week, which allow firefighters to really get ahead of this. So, they have a few days. I will say that working with these firefighters or some of the world class firefighters and best trained and just given a little bit of favorable conditions, they work hard to get this the -- to get these fires under control. So, I have my faith in them.

CHURCH: Yes. They have been just incredible. And I'm sure residents are counting down the days when this is all over. Todd Hall, thank you so much for talking with us. Appreciate it.

HILL: You're welcome.

CHURCH: And still to come. Pete Hegseth in the hot seat. Donald Trump's embattled pick for defense secretary gets a major boost at his confirmation hearing and now looks like a lot to be confirmed.

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[02:25:48]

CHURCH: U.S. President Joe Biden is set to give his farewell address to the nation Wednesday night. It is the first time he will speak publicly from the Oval Office since announcing his withdrawal from the presidential race back in July.

Also on Wednesday, members of Biden's National Security Council are expected to meet with some of President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks at the White House to discuss how the U.S. responds to threats and other scenarios. That is, according to sources familiar with the transition. Among those expected to attend are Trump's picks for Secretaries of State, defense and Homeland Security.

Meanwhile, Trump's choice for defense secretary, a nomination which seemed doomed from the start, now looks like a certainty to get confirmed. Pete Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday for his confirmation hearing and got a boost from Republican senator Joni Ernst, who had been skeptical of Hegseth but now says he has her support.

Hegseth did face tough questions from Democrats at the hearing as CNN's Oren Lieberman reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JACK REED (D-RI): You lack the character and composure and competence to hold the position of secretary of defense. OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pete Hegseth's past took over the present, especially his comments that women should not serve in combat roles.

PETH HEGSETH, DONALD TRUMP'S PICK FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY: I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside you, shoulder to shoulder, men and women, black, white, all backgrounds with a shared purpose.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Democrats on the Armed Services Committee attacked Hegseth over past comments demanding more than contrition clarity on his policy view of women in the ranks, if confirmed.

SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D-NY): We don't want women in the military, especially in combat. What a terrible statement. So please, do not deny that you've made those statements you have.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Hegseth tried to explain that he was referring to military standards for combat roles, but couldn't give a concrete example of how they've been lowered.

(CROSSTALK)

HEGSETH: -- quotas to have a certain number of female infantry officers or infantry enlisted, and that disparages those women who care --

(CROSSTALK)

GILLIBRAND: Commanders do not have to be quotas for the infantry. Commanders do not have to have a quota for women in the infantry that does not exist.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Hegseth denied the allegations of sexual assault he faces, saying they come from anonymous sources and that the sexual encounter was consensual.

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): You have admitted that you had sex while you were married to wife two, after you just had fathered a child by wife three. You've admitted that. Now, if it had been a sexual assault, that would be disqualifying to be Secretary of Defense, wouldn't it?

HEGSETH: It was a false claim then and a false claim now.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Hegseth also denied allegations of excessive drinking while a host at Fox News. He has vowed to quit drinking, if confirmed. By his own admission, Hegseth is an unorthodox pick. A Fox News host and combat veteran with little management experience. Picked to run an organization with an $850 billion budget and millions of service members and civilians. Republicans tried to portray that as a strength.

SEN. ROGER WICKER (R-MS): The nominee is unconventional. That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice to improve this unacceptable status quo.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Hegseth tried to keep his confirmation hearing focused on what he called the warrior ethos.

HEGSETH: War fighting and lethality and the readiness of the troops and their families will be our only focus. But his lack of experience at large organizations and within the Pentagon itself was laid bare, like when he was asked about international security arrangements.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you name one of the three main ones that the secretary of defense --

(CROSSTALK)

HEGSETH: You're talking about defense arrangements. I mean, NATO might be one of -- one that you're referring to.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Status of forces agreement would be one of them.

HEGSETH: Status of Forces Agreement. I've been a part of teaching about Status of Forces Agreement.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But you don't remember to mention it. You're not qualified. Mr. Hegseth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMANN: Despite the numerous attacks from Democratic senators on Pete Hegseth, Republicans are very much expressing confidence that he'll have the votes he needs. Senator Tommy Tuberville says he passed with flying colors, and Senator Kevin Cramer says he cemented the support of all of the Republicans on the committee. In the end, that's likely all he needs for confirmation, especially if it falls on partisan lines.

Oren Lieberman, CNN on Capitol Hill.

[02:30:05]

CHURCH: Larry Sabato is the Director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, and he joins me now from Charlottesville. Good to have you with us.

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Thank you, Rosie.

CHURCH: So after watching how the hearings played out Tuesday, how likely do you think it is that Donald Trump's controversial pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Seth will get confirmed after his grilling by Senators over allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and more, but also failing to answer basic questions that the job would entail?

SABATO: Yes. And the answer comes with partisanship attached, 95 to a hundred percent that he's going to be confirmed. And the reason is simply numbers. Republicans have 53 votes in the Senate. They really only need 50. The vice president could break the tie. And at this point, the Senator who was questioning the nominee the most, at least prior to the hearings, was a Senator from Iowa, Joni Ernst. And at one point, she appeared to be ready to vote against him. But now, she has endorsed him. So it's done.

There really isn't another Republican other than a new Senator from Utah. And I think he's probably the only question mark, even the two we identified originally, Senator Collins from Maine, and Senator Murkowski from Alaska, they seem to be leaning toward him, but it doesn't matter. He's going to have at least 50 votes, probably more. In the old days, he had enough questions around his candidacy to beat him, but we don't do that anymore.

(LAUGH)

SABATO: And most presidents get all their cabinet nominees anyway. And Trump has more or less threatened Republicans who vote against his cabinet nominees with a primary challenge when they next come up for election.

CHURCH: And what about Trump's other controversial picks like Tulsi Gabbard and Robert Kennedy Jr.? How likely is it that they will get confirmed, do you think?

SABATO: At this point, I'm betting on all of them to get confirmed for the reasons I've already outlined. And I think probably, even if there are some controversial answers, they will. At first, I thought RFK Jr. would be shakiest because Republicans have no ties to the Kennedy family. But, to my surprise and I think other people's surprise, they like the idea of having a Kennedy supporting Trump and the Republican Party. So he has an advantage there.

Tulsi Gabbard has some work to do. She hasn't talked to enough Senators yet, even on the Republican side apparently. And she's going to be listened to carefully during confirmation hearings. But at this point, the assumption is they'll all get approved.

CHURCH: And Larry, just days before the inauguration of President- elect Donald Trump, Special Counsel Jack Smith released his report on the election interference case against Trump, revealing that prosecutors had amassed sufficient evidence to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial, accusing Trump of a series of criminal efforts to retain power after losing the 2020 election. But once Trump was elected, the Justice Department tossed out the indictment. But Trump is pushing back, criticizing the report and Jack Smith, and plans to pardon some of the January 6th rioters. So, will all this continue to overshadow Trump's second presidency or is it, it's over and done?

SABATO: Well, it's over and done in one sense, he's not going to jail. Jack Smith suggested that he might well, had he taken this to trial. It's 174 pages; I'd recommend that people take a look at it. Not much of it will surprise you if you've been paying close attention since January 6, 2021. But for those who haven't, I think it will be a revelation.

What's really critical is that this tough team of prosecutors headed by Jack Smith concluded that the evidence they had was overwhelming and that Donald Trump would have been convicted if they had been able to have a trial. And of course, the Attorney General Merrick Garland is primarily to blame for the fact that he didn't get the process started fast enough to get a trial held, and Trump was able to wait out the timescale here and managed to get by without being held accountable.

But it's a devastating conclusion about Trump. People should take a look at it. The first president ever to attempt a coup d'etat to stop the peaceful transfer of power. I don't know if it will affect his second term, but it's certainly going to affect his place in history. It's not going to be forgotten and it shouldn't be forgiven.

CHURCH: And as President Joe Biden finishes up his final week in office, he says he's on the brink of sealing a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. But Donald Trump is taking the credit for getting talks to this final stage with his threats to Hamas. Your reaction to that?

SABATO: Well, Donald Trump would take credit for the sun rising, so that's not unusual.

[02:35:00]

He is a part of this in that he has said repeatedly, if you don't resolve this by January 20th, then there will be hell to pay in the Middle East, and he's really talking to Hamas. Having said that though, I think if it happens and nobody would bet on it at this point, how many of these deals have fallen apart? But if lightning strikes and it happens, there'll be plenty of credit to go around. Biden will get some, Trump will get some, Netanyahu will get some, and people will be relieved assuming it holds.

CHURCH: Larry Sabato, always appreciate your analysis. Thank you.

SABATO: Thank you, Rosie. Enjoyed it.

CHURCH: Still ahead. As the clock ticks down on the U.S. TikTok ban, some big names are being floated as potential buyers even as users flock to another China-based app, we'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: The Blue Ghost lunar probe from Firefly Aerospace is on its way to the moon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one, ignition and (inaudible).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The uncrewed mission took off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida last hour. It is Firefly's first flight to the moon and part of NASA's goal of taking astronauts back to the lunar surface. The Resilience lunar lander from the Japanese company ispace is also onboard. Even before it gets to the moon, the Blue Ghost lander will conduct experiments on solar wind and radiation-resistant computer hardware.

U.S. regulators have sued Elon Musk for allegedly failing to properly disclose his ownership stake in X, then known as Twitter, as he sought to buy out the social media platform back in 2022. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says his failure to disclose in mid-March of that year allowed the tech billionaire to buy shares at artificially low prices for several weeks before his eventual takeover.

A lawyer for Musk said he has done nothing wrong and downplayed the lawsuit as a single count ticky-tack complaint. It's unclear whether incoming officials will pursue the case as Musk is a close ally of Donald Trump and set to be part of the incoming Trump Administration.

Well, meantime, reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal suggest Chinese officials are discussing a possible option that involves selling at least a portion of TikTok to Elon Musk. CNN has not independently confirmed the discussions. This comes just days before the law that would ban TikTok in the U.S. is set to go in effect. CNN's Clare Duffy has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The idea of TikTok going away is scary. But you know what's scarier? Elon Musk owning it.

[02:40:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is TikTok going to be sold to Elon Musk? Dear God.

CLARE DUFFY, CNN BUSINESS WRITER (voice-over): Chinese officials are reportedly discussing the possibility of ByteDance selling TikTok's U.S. operations to Elon Musk if the Supreme Court upholds the ban on the app.

DAN IVES, WEDBUSH SECURITIES: I mean that could probably double the valuation of X right off the bat.

DUFFY (voice-over): Musk isn't the only one interested in buying the app used monthly by 170 million Americans, but he has a clear advantage.

IVES: I think Musk is a highly likely choice because of one reason. Because Beijing, there's only one person they're picking, and it's Musk. And even though ByteDance technically is the one that decides, it's really Beijing.

DUFFY (voice-over): Musk's EV giant, Tesla, is a big investor in China. Musk himself has praised the country.

ELON MUSK, CEO OF TESLA MOTORS: How many smart, hardworking people are there in China? There's far more of them there than they are here.

DUFFY (voice-over): His closeness to President-elect Donald Trump doesn't hurt his chances either.

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Take over, Elon. Yes, take over.

IVES: The bromance between Trump and Musk is something that's going to be in play in many areas. But when it comes to TikTok, Trump actually needs Musk because Musk would probably have to raise outside capital to actually do this deal.

TRUMP: Elon Musk.

IVES: With the algorithm, it's probably worth $150 billion to $200 billion. Without the algorithm, $40 billion to $50 billion. And ultimately, we do not see them selling this with the algorithm.

DUFFY (voice-over): TikTok is dismissing the report, telling CNN we can't be expected to comment on pure fiction. ByteDance, the parent company, has repeatedly said TikTok isn't for sale, but a Musk purchase of TikTok would put the world's richest man in control of two social media behemoths.

IVES: Look, there's clearly -- there will be a lot of scrutiny here. But ultimately, as we've seen with Musk, he's not someone that's going to back down because there is scrutiny. So, this feels like, you get the popcorn out, there's a lot left in this soap opera.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The looming TikTok ban in the U.S. appears to be having some unintended consequences. A growing number of Americans have responded by moving to another Chinese social media app. Described as China's answer to Instagram, the app whose Chinese name means Little Red Book is often referred to by American users as Rednote. It has surged to the top spot on Apple's U.S. App Store on Tuesday, downloads nearly tripling over the past week compared to the previous week. Reuters reports that more than 700,000 new accounts emerged in just two days.

CHURCH: I want to thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. "World Sport" is coming up next. Then I will be back in about 15 minutes with more "CNN Newsroom." Do stick around.

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