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Officials: Israel Nears Hostage and Ceasefire Deal With Hamas; Soon: Pete Hegseth Faces Senate Confirmation Hearing; NYT: Elon Musk Expected to Use Office Space in WH Complex. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired January 14, 2025 - 06:30   ET

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

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Here's a look at the red flag warnings that we have in effect for today and some of these even go all the way through Wednesday afternoon.

This is both the combination of those strong gusty winds up around 60 to 70 mph but also taking into account how dry the air actually is. But even embedded within the red flag warning, you have these two areas here that kind of like that darker purple pink color here where they are considered a particularly dangerous situation embedded and that does include three of the fire -- four fires that we are watching. They are in one of those PDS'.

But it also includes places like Ventura, Thousand Oaks, San Fernando. Again, a lot of these towns and communities are inside of these so it's going to be something we have to keep a very close eye on as those winds begin to tick up.

You look as we go through the day, look at some of these 40 50 mph gusts starting to pop up even in some of the more heavily populated areas throughout the day today and continuing into at least the first half of the day tomorrow, possibly into the afternoon hours.

You've got these wind advisories with the wind gusts of around 50 to 55 mph. The high wind warning where they could get up to 60, even 70 mph. And yes, this does include the areas where we have all four of those fires. So we'll have to keep an eye out. But the one thing, Kasie, that they really need is rain and we just simply don't have that in the immediate forecast.

KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, really difficult. All right, Allison Chinchar for us this morning. Allison, thanks very much for that.

Coming up next here on CNN This Morning, two highly anticipated special counsel reports into Donald Trump. Hunter Biden now available to the public. Senior advisor to President Elect Trump Jason Miller joins us all to discuss it all live.

Plus the ongoing battle in Washington over disaster aid for California.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we're going to put hundreds of millions -- or billions of dollars into helping families recover, I want to make sure they're not going to face the exact same crisis two years from now because California's failed to take action on things they should have been taking action on decades ago.

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[06:36:36]

HUNT: All right, welcome back. We could soon see a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Today, mediators are meeting in Doha, Qatar, in hopes of finalizing the details on the framework of a deal. Israeli officials say that in this emerging deal, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during a 42-day ceasefire. But negotiations remain at a critical stage.

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JOHN KIRBY, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISER: It's really down to the brass tacks. But as we've seen in the past, when you get down to that level of detail, you know you're close and you know the gaps can be closed. But that's when it gets really, really hard. That's when the negotiations become a little tougher. So there's optimism, but it's cautious optimism, Kasie. Again, we've been here before and we know that it's not done until it's all done.

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HUNT: Looming over the negotiations, the imminent return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office. He says he wants a deal by inauguration day.

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DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT-ELECT: We're very close to getting it done and they have to get it done. If they don't get it done, there's going to be a lot of trouble out there. A lot of trouble like they have never seen before.

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HUNT: CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us live from Tel Aviv this morning with the latest. Jeremy, what do we know?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kasie, I just spoke with an Israeli government official who told me that the Israeli government is ready for a ceasefire and trying to frame this very much as now being in Hamas's hands. This official told me that they believe that they have made all of the compromises that are needed to bring about a deal and that now they are waiting for Hamas to accept it.

That being said, what is clear is that there are still ongoing indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas. And that means a back and forth over some of the final details of this agreement, including some of the -- what a Qatari official described as simple issues relating mostly to the mechanisms of implementation for this agreement.

And in addition to that, we've also heard from Hamas in a statement themselves and they are sounding quite optimistic, quite positive about the current state of negotiation, saying that they are ready to reach an agreement with Israel here. So it does seem like all signs are pointing towards Israel and Hamas being able to finally bring this deal across the finish line, although everyone involved is going to remain cautious right up until the moment when that agreement is actually formally announced.

We also are still waiting for some detail about the exact number of Palestinian prisoners who would be released in exchange for those 33 Israeli hostages who would be released in the first phase, this six- week ceasefire that would begin this agreement. And this Israeli official I spoke to today said that until they know exactly how many of those hostages are alive, they won't be able to say exactly how many Palestinian prisoners will be released. That's because there is a different kind of ratio of prisoners to hostages, depending on whether or not that hostage is alive and the of that hostage as well.

If indeed this agreement goes through, it would be enormous, not only for those 33 hostages who would be released in the first weeks of this agreement who have endured captivity for more than 15 months now, many of them not seeing daylight for months and months on end in Hamas's tunnels beneath Gaza, but of course also for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who have endured and continue to endure relentless bombardment from the Israeli military, a death toll that has now stretched past 45,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

[06:40:22]

This deal would also bring about the entry of some 600 trucks of aid per day to alleviate what are really desperate and dire conditions inside of Gaza.

Kasie?

HUNT: All right, Jeremy Diamond for us this morning. Jeremy, thanks very much for that update.

All right, let's turn now back home. House Speaker Mike Johnson now suggesting that any federal aid to California to help after the deadly wildfires in L.A. should come with conditions, but not everyone's on board with that idea.

Over the last week, Republicans have questioned the state's preparedness and response.

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REP. MIKE JOHNSON, (R-LA) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: It appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty in many respects, so that's something that has to be factored in. I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That's my personal view. We'll see what the consensus is.

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HUNT: All right, our panel is back.

Stephen Collinson, typically these things go through without conditions, not completely unprecedented, but there are also conversations that are politically perilous, including tying the debt ceiling in with this, and it does seem like Donald Trump went ahead and made this political pretty quickly. How do you think that's going to impact people in California getting the help they need?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: It's going to complicate a lot of things. It could complicate the very delicate balance that Trump already has for passing his agenda through this very small majority in the House. I think we have to accept this is the start of this.

If you listen to conservative media, there's this big drumbeat of criticism about the local officials in California, so some of these politicians perhaps are hedging their position right now, and things will change when this all becomes -- you know, when this all goes on the floor. There's going to be a big debate about it.

If you're using the power of spending to force accountability, that seems to be a pretty reasonable use of federal power. If it becomes a point of punishing voters or trying to shape their behavior for political reasons and holding aid hostage to that, that seems to be completely different.

BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Criticism is not just coming from Republicans. The Fire Chief in L.A. has criticized Mayor Karen Bass, and she's no Republican.

You know, Gavin Newsom is the most partisan figure in American politics. I was working the governor's race in Mississippi in '23, and Newsom came in while the state was recovering from tornadoes and attacked the Republican governor. He's attacked Greg Abbott. He's attacked Ron DeSantis. He's attacked Republicans in the wake of disasters. He's getting what he gives, and so I don't fault Mike Johnson here. I mean, Gavin Newsom was getting ready to have a special session of the legislature to Trump-proof California. I don't fault Mike Johnson for holding Gavin Newsom accountable.

HUNT: I will say, if you want to see what right-leaning, I suppose, media is saying, the "New York Post" has Bonfire of the Vanity on top of Gavin Newsom, which should give you a sense of how they view it.

KATE BEDINGFIELD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's reasonable and important to ask questions about the response to hold state and local officials accountable. Those things are important. They should -- the voters of California deserve that, too.

There is a difference between raising those questions and holding disaster aid back that is going to help California families who have lost their homes. I mean, and I actually think that there will be a political price for Republicans to pay if they continue down this road.

I think these moments, these natural disasters, are typically times when voters on both sides of the aisle do come together. They look to their government to provide them support, to provide aid, and I think that if Mike Johnson and congressional Republicans are going to hold to this line that voters in California don't deserve aid and help when they've lost their homes because they're not happy with Gavin Newsom, I actually think that Republicans are going to wind up paying the price for that. And I'm not saying that Gavin Newsom shouldn't be questioned about the response to the fire. Of course he should, as should any elected official.

TODD: Individuals will get their aid. Individuals will get their aid, but Newsom's going to have to answer.

BEDINGFIELD: But I think it'll be very easy for the Democrats to point to Republicans and say, you're not getting aid because Mike Johnson and the Republicans are playing politics with the money.

ELLIOT WILLIAMS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Curious question I have maybe for you, Brad. I'm curious as to what congressional Republicans from California will have to say over the next couple months. There are Republicans in the California House.

TODD: Well, the margin in the House exists in Southern California. Of course, we can say that about a lot of places because the margin is so tight. Individuals will get their aid, just like in North Carolina. They need to be -- that needs to continue to flow. That's going to happen. But Gavin Newsom, who is a partisan peacock, is going to be held to account.

HUNT: OK. Coming up next here on CNN This Morning, Elon Musk's throwing influence within the upcoming administration. The new report that says he could have an office space in the White House complex.

[06:45:08]

Plus, a showdown on Capitol Hill. We're going to talk live with Jason Miller, Senior Adviser to the President-elect, about how far Republicans' loyalty may go in the battle to confirm Pete Hegseth.

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SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): There just seems to be plenty of evidence that this is a uniquely unqualified dangerous nominee.

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SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, (D-NY) MAJORITY LEADER: If there's any cabinet position that ought to have a steady and drama-free individual, it is certainly Secretary of Defense. Unfortunately, Mr. Hegseth's background is deeply troubling to put it generously. Let's hope we get real answers and real documentation before anyone votes for Mr. Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.

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HUNT: Senate Democrats preparing for a showdown on Capitol Hill today with the first and one of the more controversial of Donald Trump's cabinet nominees appearing for his Senate confirmation hearing. Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth likely to face tough questions this morning from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee over allegations ranging from sexual assault to excessive drinking in the workplace.

[06:50:13]

Some of those committees rank-and-file members, however, expressing frustration they weren't able to access the FBI's background check prior to today's hearing and saying the report doesn't appear to be thorough enough.

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SEN. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-IL): I only know that some of the folks that have -- the women in his -- past women in his life have wanted to be interviewed but have not been interviewed by the veterans.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): I am deeply concerned that there are facts that so far have been hidden from this committee. What are they hiding that they won't give us this kind of information?

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HUNT: All right, joining us now, Senior Advisor to Donald Trump, Jason Miller.

Jason, good to have you back on the show. Thanks for being here.

Let's start briefly on Pete Hegseth, but I also want to talk to you about the Special Counsel news and some other things today. For Pete Hegseth's nomination, is there something to hide in the FBI report that Senate Democrats on the committee shouldn't see this report?

JASON MILLER, TRUMP-VANCE TRANSITION SENIOR ADVISER: Not at all. In fact, that's why both the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the ranking member have had the opportunity to review that file. That is the historical norm for the chairman and the ranking member to take a look at that. I don't know why Democrats want to go and try to change the rules all of a sudden just because it's one of President Trump's nominees, but Kasie, would have to say --

HUNT: Well, the Republican chairman suggest he might be OK with it. That's been our reporting. Our reporting has been that Roger Wicker had suggested, hey, it's OK if Democrats see this, but it was the Trump team that doesn't want it out there. MILLER: The historical norm is that the chairman and the ranking member have access to that and that's exactly what we're doing here. We're doing the same thing you would do with Joe Biden. But Kasie, I got to say, I find it a little bit rich that Democrats are now complaining about the FBI, but I have to say, don't worry, Democrats. In only a couple short weeks, we're going to confirm Kash Patel to be the next Director of the FBI. We're going to get the politics completely out of it and we can have confidence in our law enforcement once again.

But today, Pete Hegseth, I think, is going to do very well across the street right now. We have dozens of veterans and Gold Star family members and other supporters of Pete's who have been out there since 4 a.m., ready to support him. And when people see Pete Hegseth address this committee and talk about his knowledge of what we have to do to return that warrior spirit back to the Department of Defense, get away from the woke-ism and the unpreparedness, Pete Hegseth is really going to impress people today.

HUNT: Jason, are you concerned -- or should I say, which nominee are you most concerned about at this stage?

MILLER: There aren't any that I'm concerned about. All of the nominees that President Trump has selected are very highly qualified. I think they've been very impressive in their individual meetings with senators. I think all of them are going to be confirmed. And once we get to those hearings, once these nominees have the opportunity to show their knowledge and their leadership on this, and again, to implement what President Trump ran and won on with this mandate, he got 77 million votes, he won the popular vote, 312 electoral votes. President Trump won with his mandate to bring change. And that's exactly what these nominees are going to do.

HUNT: Jason, I want to ask you about the report that was put out overnight by the Department of Justice, as well as an accompanying letter from the special counsel, Jack Smith, who took head-on the idea that President Elect Trump has repeatedly said that he was completely exonerated for the events surrounding January 6th because that case was dropped. Jack Smith said, quote, "This is false," end quote. What's the Trump -- what is President-elect Trump's response?

MILLER: Very simply, President Trump didn't do anything wrong, and that's why this case completely fell apart on Jack Smith. The Supreme Court ruled, we believe, in the right direction. And for Jack Smith to go to put this out on his way out the door, leaving town in disgrace, I think shows just how politicized the entire Justice Department has become.

But I think with Pam Bondi, when she's confirmed as the next Attorney General of the United States, again, as I referenced before, Kash Patel coming in to lead the FBI, Kasie, we have to get politics out of this. People have to have confidence in the legal system and our law enforcement, and that's what we're going to do with this new set of leaders who are coming in.

HUNT: Does President-elect Trump plan to investigate or prosecute Jack Smith?

MILLER: President Trump isn't going to be involved in anything to do with aspects of investigations or things like that. I think that's really the latest thing that Democrats are trying to throw out or distract away.

HUNT: Does his Justice Department intend to prosecute or investigate Jack Smith? Will the Attorney General, if it's Pam Bondi, investigate or prosecute Jack Smith?

MILLER: Of course, I'm not someone who would speak on behalf of the Attorney General or anyone coming in to lead the law enforcement and Justice Department efforts, but I would say the only people who have anything to be concerned about are people who have broken the law.

[06:55:02]

But this is the whole point, and I think a big part of the reason why President Trump won, we have to get the politics out of this. This is why people have lost so much confidence, and that's what Pam Bondi is going to do.

Pam Bondi is very impressive. She did a very good job as Attorney General in the state of Florida, and when she has her hearing, which starts tomorrow, she's really going to make people, I think, sit up and realize, OK, finally, we have a non-politicized leader back in there. Merrick Garland, you're out. Pam Bondi, you're in. This is going to be a new dawn in Washington.

HUNT: Jason, let me ask you, you have been covering most frequently in the last week has been these devastating wildfires in Southern California. There were reports yesterday that the President-elect plans to visit Southern California, possibly soon after the inauguration. Does President Trump plan to visit the wildfire-stricken areas of California, and if so, when?

MILLER: Yeah, good question. I know President Trump wants to get out to Southern California as soon as he's able to. Obviously, inauguration is coming up in just a couple of days here. The President has a very strong connection to Southern California, obviously owning a number of properties. He has the fantastic golf course there and RPV, but he has a very strong connection and really feels for the people, and especially when you have these natural -- these disasters that are happening, the President has been on the scene, whether it be in North Carolina, other places, even more recently, but as far as the exact timing, I have to leave that to the President and the incoming White House to determine just how soon he can.

HUNT: Jason, we heard from the House Speaker, we played what he had to say earlier on in the program, about aid to the victims of these terrible fires and whether there should be conditions placed on that aid. Does the President-elect believe that there should be conditions put on any federal aid to wildfire victims in Southern California?

MILLER: Yeah, and Kasie, that's not something that I've discussed with the President and the transition team focused on the confirmations. That wouldn't be appropriate for me to go in and weigh in on something like that. That'd be something more for the White House to decide once President Trump is sworn in on Monday.

HUNT: All right, Jason Miller, very grateful for your time as always, sir. Thanks very much for being here.

MILLER: OK, thank you.

HUNT: All right, let's turn out of this story. Trump ally Elon Musk could soon be very, very close to the Oval Office and the President- elect Donald Trump. According to the "New York Times," Musk is expected to have an office in the White House complex for the new Department of Government Efficiency, which he will help head up to try to find ways to cut government spending.

Kate Bedingfield, let's talk a little bit about the geography of the old executive office building, which sits right next to the White House. There's a street that you do have to walk across, but what does it tell you as someone who's worked, you know, inside in the West Wing about the proximity here?

BEDINGFIELD: Yeah, well, physical proximity to the President is a somebody who would traditionally, were it not Elon Musk in this kind of outside role, would traditionally probably not have space on the White House complex. For him to have space on the White House complex is obviously an indicator of the faith that Trump is putting in him.

You know, it is -- when you're in the executive office building, you walk across West Exec, it's -- you know, depending on where you are in the EOB, it's, you know, can be as short as 20 steps down, 80 steps down toward the Oval Office, or you can be up in a very, very small office on the 5th floor of the EOB, and maybe it will take Elon a little bit longer to get down to the Oval.

I guess, I guess we will see, but, you know, certainly an indicator that Trump wants him there, wants to be able to call on him quickly.

HUNT: Yeah, I mean, Brad, it's another statement here about Elon's --

TODD: Well, you know, in 2016, when Donald Trump won, he promised he'd have all the best people around him, and then he was criticized for a lot of people he brought around him. I don't think anybody could argue that Elon is pretty high-caliber talent to put in the Executive Office Building. And so he's going to have proximity to Trump no matter what because of the force of his ideas.

HUNT: Stephen?

COLLINSON: I don't want to rain on the parade, but, you know, presidents can have who they want as their advisors. The fact that someone who has such a massive vested interest before the U.S. government has an office in EOB, that tells you something about this incoming administration and how there's been almost no talk about ethics and business and whatever as we go into the new White House.

TODD: It is not plausible that Elon Musk is doing this for money. It's not plausible. Sure, sure, but --

(CROSSTALK)

HUNT: Well, but here's the thing. He knows that the space ambitions that he has are not possible without the federal government choosing him over other competitors.

BEDINGFIELD: Right.

TODD: 60% of the satellites above Earth were put in place by SpaceX, his company. Like, we rely on him no matter what. Civilization relies on him right now because the government failed.

WILLIAMS: And that's wonderful. And that's great. We should support that. The challenge is not, to me, his physical proximity to the president in the Executive Office Building. It's that he might have business before the government and a conflict of interest. And if he is, in fact, an unpaid employee, I don't think he has to disclose that information to the public. That's the issue. Is there some sort of conflict? And is he getting more business on account of his work there? And that ought to be the thing that we're concerned about.

[07:00:19]

HUNT: I do kind of wonder how angry Jeff Bezos was when he read about this office in the old Executive Office Building.

BEDINGFIELD: I would see those two guys, like, battling their way down the massive spiral staircase in the EOB, like, elbowing each other out of the way.

HUNT: Thank you guys for being here. Thanks to all of you at home for joining us as well.

I'm Kasie Hunt. Don't go anywhere. CNN News Central starts right now.