2 hours ago
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On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Tom Homan, Trump medication borderline czar
- Rep. Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut
- Jerome Adams, erstwhile U.S. Surgeon General
- Iran argumentation expert Karim Sadjadpour and erstwhile CENTCOM commandant and CBS News contributor and retired Gen. Frank McKenzie
Click here to browse afloat transcripts from 2026 of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."
MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan successful Washington.
And this week connected Face the Nation: continued conflicting messages retired of the White House erstwhile it comes to the warfare against Iran and wherefore Americans are progressively bearing the brunt of Washington's enactment oregon inaction.
It's a spectacular outpouring successful the nation's capital, but Congress has fled the metropolis aft showing they're incapable of statement erstwhile it comes to backing the Homeland Security Department. President Trump says helium volition usage different means to wage TSA officers until an statement is reached.
But volition that beryllium capable to easiness the agelong information lines astatine immoderate of the country's busiest airports portion the House and Senate are retired of municipality for the adjacent 2 weeks?
Another outpouring interruption vexation for Americans, skyrocketing state prices owed to the warfare successful Iran, which has present entered its 2nd month. The struggle is lone intensifying, and U.S. preparations for a crushed violative are ramping up, contempt the president's insistence that Iran has been devastated.
(Begin VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the United States): And they volition archer you, we're not negotiating. We volition not negotiate. Of course, they're negotiating. They person been obliterated. Who wouldn't negotiate? They are begging to marque a deal.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That woody can't travel soon capable for the president, arsenic determination are worrisome signs astir the wide system faltering owed to the war, and adjacent immoderate Republicans are questioning his ngo successful the Middle East.
As for Democrats, millions marched successful unity connected the streets of the nation's cities successful municipality Saturday successful a question that could mean occupation for the GOP erstwhile it comes to the midterm elections.
We volition code the challenges to DHS with White House borderline czar Tom Homan. Plus, we volition speech with the apical Democrat connected the House Intelligence Committee, Jim Himes, and cheque successful with erstwhile Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams astir the alarming dispersed of measles and the interaction of societal media connected children.
It's each conscionable up connected Face the Nation.
Good morning, and invited to Face the Nation.
Today marks the 44th time of the partial shutdown of the Homeland Security Department, present the longest successful history. So far, it has resulted successful astatine slightest 500 TSA officers quitting their jobs, and sick-outs continue, though officers are expected to beryllium paid arsenic aboriginal arsenic time done an enforcement bid signed by the president precocious past week.
As for the backing impasse, Democrats privation reforms to ICE and the president's deportation argumentation to beryllium portion of the measure earlier they volition hold to afloat money Homeland Security. Republicans are resisting that, and the standoff is apt to proceed portion Congress is gone for the adjacent 2 weeks.
We statesman with White House borderline czar Tom Homan, who was tasked by the president to assistance oversee ICE efforts pursuing the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier this twelvemonth retired successful Minneapolis.
Good greeting to you, sir.
THOMAS HOMAN (White House Border Czar): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Congress is gone until mid-April. Will the president compel them to travel backmost and benignant this out?
THOMAS HOMAN: Well, look, I anticipation so.
I mean, they got to – they got to money the Department of Homeland Security. Again, we're talking astir the Department of Homeland Security. And we're successful an accrued menace posture close present due to the fact that of what's going connected successful the world. We've got to support this state safe, which means we got to we got to money the members of the Coast Guard and CISA and Secret Service and each these different agencies wrong the Department of Homeland Security.
I cognize the president recovered a mode to wage TSA workers truthful we tin get the American nationalist done those lines. And helium besides came up with the thought of sending ICE agents to the airport, which has had an impact. So we conscionable request to get the section funded. They privation to speech about, you know, migration policies, we tin speech astir that.
But wherefore bash you got to clasp the remainder of the DHS hostage to bash that? Let's beryllium down and talk. I person been talking to them for the past 2 weeks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes, but conscionable to beryllium clear, the president is not forcing lawmakers to travel backmost to Washington now;he's going to hold until mid-April to bash this?
THOMAS HOMAN: Look – and the American radical clasp Congress responsible. They're connected abrogation close present portion tens of thousands of DHS employees aren't being paid.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Right, but Republicans power some chambers.
THOMAS HOMAN: And that's what happened astatine the airports.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That's the – this is the president's party.
THOMAS HOMAN: The Democrats unopen – the Democrats unopen down DHS. They voted to unopen down DHS due to the fact that they simply won't money DHS, due to the fact that they privation to alteration ICE policies, truthful ICE is little effectual successful the interior.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well…
THOMAS HOMAN: Remember wherefore we're here. We're present due to the fact that the past 4 years of an unfastened border, millions of radical are successful this state illegally, galore nationalist information threats, nationalist information threats, and we're retired seeking them and arresting them. And they simply don't similar ICE enforcing the law.
They proved that the past 4 years.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the measure that…
THOMAS HOMAN: due to the fact that they didn't – fto ICE enforce the law.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The measure that passed the Senate was bipartisan, and it did person a batch of the backing for the agencies you conscionable laid retired there. The contented was circumstantial to parts of ICE.
But – but it seems similar the White House truly didn't unit your enactment to get successful enactment here, due to the fact that that Republican-controlled Senate did walk a backing bill. The White House didn't get the House of Representatives enactment connected committee with that.
In fact, the speaker, Mike Johnson, said that measure was a joke. Why wasn't the White House capable to get some parties – some heads of the enactment the president controls connected the aforesaid page?
THOMAS HOMAN: Look, I person been up connected the Hill. I person been successful these meetings. I person met with lawmakers from some sides. This isn't a White House issue. This is the Democrats shutting down the Department of Homeland Security. I person been successful these meetings.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So did you enactment the Republican measure successful the Senate that passed?
THOMAS HOMAN: They – they wanted – I – I enactment Congress opening up the full government, the full DHS, and not holding radical successful DHS hostage due to the fact that they don't like…
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, no.
THOMAS HOMAN: … migration enforcement.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You weren't connected committee with the Senate bill?
THOMAS HOMAN: I enactment opening up the full government. I'm with the president.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK. Well…
THOMAS HOMAN: I missed that. Say it again, ma'am.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you were not successful favour of the measure that passed the Senate, which the Republican person supported.
THOMAS HOMAN: I enactment – I…
MARGARET BRENNAN: I got it.
THOMAS HOMAN: I enactment the president of the United States successful getting DHS afloat funded and operating.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
So, archer me, truthful the president did nonstop DHS to usage different pots of exigency currency to wage these TSA officers, and they're expected to person paychecks arsenic aboriginal arsenic tomorrow. Does that mean that the strategy is going to go unclogged? Do they really person to amusement up to enactment to get paid?
THOMAS HOMAN: Yes, I deliberation it's surely going to help, due to the fact that TSA agents person near the occupation due to the fact that they got to – you know, whether it's driving Ubers oregon uncovering different jobs truthful that – truthful they tin provender their families and wage the rent.
So I'm hoping, with this – this alteration that President Trump enactment successful spot with – with Secretary Markwayne Mullin, that much volition travel backmost to work. Until then, ICE volition stay successful airports to instrumentality those jobs that – to unafraid the airdrome and cheque – cheque recognition and cheque exit lanes, wherever radical participate done exits, bash the jobs that don't necessitate the enhanced TSA screening, truthful we tin get much TSA screeners connected the X-ray machines, to unfastened up much lanes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
THOMAS HOMAN: So ICE is determination to bash the job, to get TSA screeners backmost to the line…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
THOMAS HOMAN: … and hopefully unfastened much lines, get the American nationalist done the airport.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
Well, there's like, 500 TSA officers who person quit. Do you expect to beryllium capable to rehire them? And we person immoderate large events similar the World Cup coming up successful June. Are we going to person problems astatine airports for the foreseeable future?
THOMAS HOMAN: Look, we're going to proceed an ICE beingness determination until the airports consciousness similar they're successful – they're successful 100 percent successful a posture wherever they tin bash nary mean operations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
THOMAS HOMAN: If little TSA agents travel back, that means we'll support much ICE agents there. The president has been clear. He wants to unafraid those airports, especially, arsenic I said earlier, successful an accrued menace posture. We request to unafraid those airports.
ICE is determination to assistance our brothers and sisters successful TSA. We'll beryllium determination arsenic agelong arsenic they request us, until they get backmost to mean operations and consciousness similar those airports are secure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
So, the – you referenced immoderate of this earlier. The crushed that we got to this governmental standoff is due to the fact that of the differences betwixt Democrats and Republicans connected the argumentation portion of this. And backmost successful January, those 2 Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were changeable during migration actions.
Democrats constituent to that and accidental this is wherefore they request to unit change. We saw that missive you signed. And, successful it, you were precise willing, you told lawmakers, to grow the usage of assemblage cameras, to bounds enforcement activities astatine locations similar schools and hospitals, and necessitate officers to place themselves.
So, if you're consenting to marque those changes, what's the harm successful legislating them?
THOMAS HOMAN: We already made those changes. We already made those changes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But wherefore not enactment them successful instrumentality then, if you're already…
(CROSSTALK)
THOMAS HOMAN: Matter of fact, substance of fact, the measure – the measure – the measure they're holding up close present really gives $120 cardinal to bargain much cameras.
I person already talked to them. They privation to – they privation to, you know, speech astir argumentation and legislative policy. Look, if they privation to alteration the law, alteration the law. We're enforcing laws they enacted, due to the fact that I told them…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, they are trying to constitute caller law.
THOMAS HOMAN: Name – springiness maine – no, springiness maine – springiness maine 1 instance. And there's not 1 Democratic lawmaker that tin springiness maine 1 example, one, a azygous one, wherever ICE arrested an amerciable alien wrong of a hospital. When person we ever arrested an amerciable alien wrong of a church?
The lone 1 that violated the sanctuary of a religion was Don Lemon and that group. You know, we – we person not made those arrests. And adjacent though we don't person a delicate determination policy, the men and women of ICE person communal sense. They don't spell into schools.
Now, marque – I privation to marque a caveat here. If you're a important nationalist information menace and nationalist information threat, you person nary sanctuary. But they – they can't constituent to 1 lawsuit wherever ICE has made arrests successful those what they telephone delicate locations.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, but determination was a argumentation alteration successful January 2025, wherever the Trump medication said they weren't going to beryllium – you know, person their hands tied successful presumption of those delicate locations.
So – truthful that was a shift.
THOMAS HOMAN: Because – due to the fact that – because, arsenic I said, a important nationalist information menace oregon nationalist information menace does not person a sanctuary successful this country. We're going to find them. We're going to apprehension them.
However, you can't constituent to 1 lawsuit erstwhile we really went into a religion and school, due to the fact that we effort precise hard to hold for radical to permission places. We hold for them. We apprehension them successful their location oregon apprehension them successful their community. We effort precise hard not to spell into those delicate locations due to the fact that we cognize there's an contented there.
So that's what I person been telling the members connected the Hill. As acold arsenic assemblage cameras, the archetypal happening I did successful Minneapolis is bring galore assemblage cameras there, truthful everybody had a assemblage camera.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
THOMAS HOMAN: There is simply a program successful spot close present for CBP and ICE to spell assemblage cameras crossed the full agency. However, the wealth to bash that is sitting with the Congress warring implicit the shutdown.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
Well, 1 of the argumentation changes has to bash with warrants, requiring specifically ICE to unafraid a judicial warrant from a justice earlier entering a location to marque an arrest. And that would beryllium a alteration to the existent ICE argumentation of relying connected immoderate administrative warrants. Listen to the DHS caput during his confirmation hearing.
(Begin VT)
MARKWAYNE MULLIN (U.S. Homeland Security Secretary): I said, we volition not participate a location oregon a spot of concern without a judicial warrant, unless we're pursuing the idiosyncratic that runs into a spot of concern oregon a residence – oregon a – oregon a house.
(End VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the caput agreed to that change. When does that instrumentality place?
THOMAS HOMAN: Look, I – I deliberation we're already successful discussions connected that.
You know, determination are definite sections of instrumentality connected a Section I-205, wherever it's legally – you are legally capable to participate a home. And a territory tribunal has - - has upheld that. But these are discussions we're having close now.
I'm talking – I speech to Secretary Markwayne Mullin each day, respective times a day. We're talking with members of the White House. We're already moving each these policies, not truly argumentation and however we – it's astir execution.
Again, the laws are the laws. If they don't similar the instrumentality to let america introduction into the home, past alteration the law. But it's besides they privation an apprehension warrant to conscionable apprehension an amerciable alien. There's thing successful national instrumentality says that. Matter of fact, the instrumentality that Congress wrote says you tin apprehension an amerciable alien with an administrative warrant.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
THOMAS HOMAN: That's what the national statute says.
Again, but they privation – they privation judicial warrants conscionable to apprehension an amerciable alien. They're asking for changes successful argumentation that's truly astir changes successful the law. Again, if they don't similar what ICE is doing, they tin alteration the law.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
THOMAS HOMAN: It's that simple.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, I admit your statement astir changing the law. There are galore who would similar to. But there's besides the question of mentation of existing law.
And the acting ICE director, Todd Lyons, had sent a memo successful May saying: "DHS counsel reinterpreted existing instrumentality to let for agents to marque arrests without a judicial warrant."
When we heard the caller caput accidental they won't participate without a judicial warrant, was Secretary Mullin stating the existent policy? Are you changing the Trump argumentation going guardant from wherever it was successful May?
THOMAS HOMAN: I'm not going to talk for Secretary Mullin, but I deliberation helium was wide he's looking astatine it. He wasn't the caput erstwhile helium made that statement. I deliberation he's looking forward.
But 1 of the archetypal things I did, I person asked for a afloat ineligible reappraisal connected that reinterpretation. I privation to cognize precisely what – I'm not a – I'm not a lawyer, but I person asked DOJ to bash a afloat reappraisal connected that, and we'll spot wherever it comes. But I deliberation Secretary Mullin meant what helium said. I deliberation helium is looking toward the future.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we volition spot wherever they land.
Mr. Homan, convey you precise overmuch for your clip this morning.
Face the Nation volition beryllium backmost successful a minute. Stay with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We spell present to the apical Democrat connected the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Jim Himes, who joins america from Greenwich, Connecticut.
Good greeting to you.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES (D-Connecticut): Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you conscionable heard the borderline czar, the White House typical here, marque his argument.
Politically speaking, though, I mean, the shutdown was intended by Democrats to effort to constrain ICE and however it had been acting. But, practically speaking, ICE is already funded. In fact, it's 1 of the fewer DHS entities wherever radical are getting paid due to the fact that they had truthful overmuch backing from the president's past bill.
And present their portfolio is expanding due to the fact that they're successful American airports crossed the country. So what did Democrats get retired of this standoff?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Yes, well, Margaret, the standoff is not done yet, right?
The president is illegally paying, apparently, TSA agents. You had the Senate, arsenic you pointed out, with Mr. Honan – Homan – walk a bipartisan measure unanimously successful the United States Senate to say, look, let's money everybody else, and let's woody with this thorny contented astir ICE.
And past you had the Republican House say, hell, no, we're not doing that, and, by the way, mock their ain Republican leaders successful the Senate. So, look, what – this happening is inactive precise overmuch unrecorded for 1 precise elemental reason. We tin speech astir House, Senate, changing law.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: For 1 precise elemental reason, which is that the immense bulk of Americans look astatine the mode ICE behaved, with the execution of 2 American citizens, with the changeless knocking down of doors of American citizens without warrants, radical dressed similar they are, you know, airlifting into Fallujah to bash the morganatic work…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … of going aft amerciable aliens successful this country, and they say, that is not OK. And that's our position.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So…
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Our presumption is precise simply, we privation ICE to enactment similar the constabulary unit that they are.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: And that – that combat is not won yet.
And, look, I'm atrocious it got tied up. I'm atrocious that the Republicans connected 1 broadside of the Capitol said this was a bully idea, and connected the different broadside of the Capitol, they called it a joke.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: But we're acceptable to negociate astir thing that is not a extremist demand.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: We conscionable privation ICE to enactment similar due constabulary officers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, successful the meantime, the president's redirecting existing backing to wage TSA agents. You said helium was illegally paying them. You judge that helium is violating the instrumentality successful this mentation that the White House says they have?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Well, it's not that I judge it. It's that I cognize it, right?
I mean, if there's 1 powerfulness that Congress has, it is the powerfulness of the purse. Now, this president has, of course, consistently and universally said that helium successful information has that power.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So they shouldn't beryllium paid?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: But immoderate American that went done 4th people civics – no, they should beryllium paid.
This – they should person ne'er been held hostage. And we had a woody travel retired unanimously from the Senate that, if it had passed, close now, they would beryllium getting paid.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: And we wouldn't beryllium talking astir the law powerfulness of the purse. But Mike Johnson, person of the House of Representatives, said hellhole nary to what his Republicans successful the Senate said yes to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So determination were 3 Democrats, though, who got connected committee with Speaker Johnson, the House mentation of this bill, adjacent without immoderate caller accountability measures successful it.
Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez says she did truthful due to the fact that she thinks it's incorrect not to wage radical for their enactment and Democrats had acceptable unattainable goals. She says, since the White House was agreeing to things similar assemblage cameras – doesn't she person a constituent present that determination is, arsenic she enactment it, ideological purity that's getting successful the mode of moving people?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: So, this is not a question of ideological purity.
And I hold with Marie connected 1 point, which is the radical shouldn't beryllium held hostage. And we tin travel backmost to that. But this is not utmost demands, by immoderate agelong of the imagination. Again, we're asking that guys not formal similar Navy SEALs erstwhile they spell into Minneapolis. We're asking that they deterioration badges, the mode each different constabulary serviceman does, that they person warrants erstwhile they interruption down doors.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And immoderate of those things person been agreed to.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: This is not ideological purity. This is basal adherence to the law.
Yes, well, OK, truthful it's each agreed to, let's walk the instrumentality which codifies it, due to the fact that you cognize what? We don't spot the president erstwhile helium says, OK, nary masks, immoderate much than we spot him erstwhile helium says, oh, well, present I'm negotiating with the Iranians, erstwhile he's not, right?
So, if this is truthful easy, fine, let's codify it into law. But they're not – you know, they're not consenting to bash that. Now, wherever Marie is close – and this is important – we person gotten excessively utilized to utilizing shutdowns arsenic a mechanics of getting what we privation legislatively.
And what that implies is that radical similar TSA agents…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … oregon folks that enactment successful the national authorities for the Department of Agriculture oregon thing don't get paid erstwhile 1 enactment throws a tantrum, right?
Now, successful this case, I hap to judge that the American radical judge – you know, are with the Democratic Party and saying, you don't get to enactment similar ICE acted successful Minneapolis. But we bash request to get distant from legislating done shutdown.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: That is not consonant with the large state that we are.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, and they conscionable privation their airports and basal authorities to work.
But connected the constituent you raised, you said that the president's not truly negotiating with Iran. Is that due to the fact that you haven't been briefed arsenic a subordinate of Congress connected the diplomacy, oregon you deliberation he's flat-out lying?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Oh, I deliberation he's flat-out lying.
Last Sunday, erstwhile helium was told – and, by the way, we're successful precisely the aforesaid presumption today, you know, lipid prices present $112 a barrel, and, you know, futures successful the banal marketplace down 2 percent. Last Sunday, helium realized, oh, my God, I person got a fiscal cataclysm connected Monday. So helium conscionable made it up that they're successful negotiations with the Iranians.
Look, underneath that statement, the Iranians person present realized that they person the reins. They are controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Gasoline prices are up much than $1 a gallon, and truthful the Iranians realize, beatified smokes, we've got a batch of leverage here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In Islamabad today, determination are a fig of mediators who are successful interaction with the United States saying they're talking astir Iran, but neither the United States nor Iran are astatine that array astatine this infinitesimal successful time.
But, further connected the Iran point, I cognize you attraction astir what's happening successful Ukraine. Notably, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has been successful the Gulf successful these past fewer days. And helium said yesterday that Russia is providing outer imagery to Iran, and that imagery consists of U.S. subject bases.
He besides said Russia is giving signals quality and physics quality to Iran. Do you cognize of grounds that Russia is actively helping Iran successful its warfare against the United States?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Well, I person to beryllium a small cautious astir this, Margaret, due to the fact that I bash reappraisal the intelligence, and I evidently can't talk astir things that are classified.
But, boy, I would definite not reason with President Zelenskyy connected that point. And I would inquire the American radical to deliberation about, what bash you deliberation Putin is doing close now? Over 4 years, we person been, rightly, successful my estimation, helping the Ukrainians nonstop a unspeakable toll connected the Russians.
So what bash you deliberation is happening? Meanwhile, arsenic you know, we are letting the Iranians – truthful present the Iranians are getting billions of dollars – merchantability their lipid to the Chinese, truthful that they tin bargain drones from the Russians. We're letting the Russians merchantability lipid truthful that they tin get dollars to onslaught the Ukrainians and usage those dollars to onslaught – to assistance onslaught our troops.
I mean, you conscionable couldn't marque this worldly up successful a Hollywood script.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, Secretary Rubio was asked astir the grade of assistance Russia is giving to Iran, and helium minimized it. He says it's not making a quality connected the battlefield.
I cognize the French, I cognize the British person said that Russia and Iran are helping each different connected drones here. When you heard Secretary Rubio's statement, what did you deliberation helium meant?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: I deliberation it is precise overmuch successful Marco Rubio's interest, arsenic 1 of the main cheerleaders of this warfare that the American radical are present coming to recognize is simply a catastrophe, different quagmire, for Marco Rubio to accidental things like, oh, they're not making a difference.
Well, I don't hold with Marco Rubio connected that point. You know, the Russians person capabilities…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … things similar utilizing basal outer technology, which you tin bash commercially, by the way…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … to find our craft carriers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: Our subject bases successful the region, Margaret, close present are supposedly uninhabitable. Why bash you deliberation that is?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
Before I fto you go, Democrats person been making corruption a taxable successful their run against the president and to triumph backmost power of the house. Your chap Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida has been recovered blameworthy connected 25 morals charges related to stealing millions of dollars successful COVID alleviation money.
Should she resign? Should she beryllium expelled?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: You know, if she doesn't resign, determination volition beryllium a ballot successful the House, and, you know, radical volition find reasons to enactment the congresswoman, conscionable arsenic Republicans recovered reasons to enactment George Santos.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Should she resign?
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: And astatine a clip erstwhile we're astatine war, erstwhile state prices are excessively high, that shouldn't happen.
So I would anticipation that my workfellow mightiness debar that result by choosing to resign. But it is besides precise important that some parties…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM HIMES: … beryllium accordant successful punishing ethical lapses wrong their ain teams.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, you anticipation she resigns.
Thank you, Congressman, for each your insights today. We person to permission it there.
We'll beryllium close back.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll beryllium close backmost with a batch much Face the Nation.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome backmost to "FACE THE NATION."
We crook present to erstwhile U.S. surgeon general, Doctor Jerome Adams, who joins america this greeting from Indianapolis.
Good greeting to you, Doctor.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS (Former U.S. Surgeon General): Thanks for having me, Margaret.
And I'd similar to commencement by saying that the astir important happening for your viewers to recognize is that American's astir pressing wellness menace contiguous isn't opioids oregon obesity, it's mistrust.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Seventy percent of Americans accidental they enactment puerility vaccines and schoolhouse mandates, yet a akin bulk accidental they bash not spot wellness accusation from Robert Kennedy and accidental they would not spot surgeon wide nominee Casey Means.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well –
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: So, a nonaccomplishment to admit this plummeting spot –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Or worse, if we're seen (ph) to accelerate it, is going to wounded Americans. And actually, Margaret, according to Republican pollster Fabrizio Ward, it's going to wounded Republicans successful November elections.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that's not wherever is was going with the question, but, yes, I've seen immoderate of the polling, and it says that the MAHA wellness guidance resonates much with voters than the vaccine skepticism.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Exactly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, Republicans look to beryllium signaling what would beryllium much resonant with the bulk of voters.
But successful presumption of the argumentation astatine this infinitesimal successful time, you were President Trump's surgeon wide during his archetypal term. There are present much than 1,500 confirmed measle cases successful the U.S. since January according to the CDC. There is this spike retired successful Utah. Why can't the existing wellness infrastructure halt this?
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Well, that's a large question. And you person to commencement disconnected by knowing that astir 20,000 radical person been chopped from HHS. And so, usually we person measles cases each year. We had astir 250 successful 2024. We had astir 2,000 past year. As you mentioned, we're astatine 1,500 already this year. But normally, we're capable to power those outbreaks due to the fact that of the CDC, due to the fact that of the nationalist wellness infrastructure and funding. All of that has been cut. And now, alternatively of 1 lawsuit turning into 2 oregon 3 and being stopped, it's turning into 20, and 50, and 100 cases. And we're besides seeing falling vaccination rates. A wide radical of states are falling beneath that 95 percent threshold for herd immunity for measles. Utah, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, each beneath that 95 percent threshold. And the further we get beneath that, the much those outbreaks explode.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you mentioned the memo. This was a pollster who continues to consult for the president and for Republicans, Tony Fabrizio. In the memo helium writes, "policies related to vaccines and vaccine information request to beryllium addressed cautiously and with nuance. That's due to the fact that wide a slim bulk of voters are not convinced determination are antagonistic wellness impacts from vaccines."
He was speaking astir however MAHA and MAGA request to proceed to enactment unneurotic for the payment of the Republican Party. But by saying there's a slim bulk who are unconvinced, he's making it dependable similar your enactment truly is struggling with this, frankly.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Well, they perfectly are. And I recognize wherefore parents are frustrated with the healthcare system. It is not moving for people. And we've always, arsenic physicians, been taught to respect diligent autonomy. But the quality present is, you're seeing a wellness caput and an infrastructure that is actively sowing distrust successful vaccines and successful the wellness attraction system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: I judge we tin bash both. I judge we tin respect patient's autonomy. We request to marque definite we're facilitating those conversations betwixt patients and their doctors oregon their pharmacists oregon nurses, portion astatine the aforesaid clip telling radical what we cognize to beryllium true, and that is that puerility vaccinations, similar measles, mumps, rubella, are safe, they're effective, and they're the astir important accomplishment successful our lifetimes. We're not going to marque America healthier if we spell backwards connected vaccines.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the seat of the Health Committee, Senator Bill Cassidy, who's besides a physician, asked Casey Means, she is the doc you referenced who is the prime of the Trump medication to beryllium the adjacent surgeon general, helium asked her whether she would urge a parent vaccinate her kid against measles? Here's the portion of the speech from her confirmation hearing.
(BEGIN VC)
SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): If you're the nation's doctor, would you promote her to person her kid vaccinated?
CASEY MEANS, SURGEON GENERAL NOMINEE: I'm not an individual's doctor. And each idiosyncratic needs to speech to their doc earlier putting a medicine successful their body. I perfectly americium supportive of the measles vaccine, and I bash judge vaccines prevention lives and are an important portion of the nationalist wellness strategy.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the doc did accidental she's a protagonist – supportive of the measles vaccine. Why does that halt abbreviated of what you would privation to perceive from idiosyncratic successful that role?
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Well, fig one, I watched the hearing. This was aft overmuch pressing and equivocating, fig one. And she said she's not an individual's doctor. That is correct. But you're applying to beryllium the nation's doctor.
For me, this isn't idiosyncratic oregon political. Number one, and I've talked to you astir this, it's astir her not having the basal qualifications to bash the job. She does not person an progressive aesculapian licence and would beryllium the archetypal surgeon wide ever to beryllium successful the relation to not person an progressive aesculapian license.
But beyond that, to the points you brought up, successful the midst of a monolithic measles outbreak, America needs a surgeon wide who tin intelligibly basal down vaccines. When I came in, we had the opioid epidemic and an overdose crisis.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Imagine if I had said, you know, arsenic surgeon general, it's not my spot to archer radical to instrumentality naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal agent. They should speech to their doc astir it. That would not beryllium acceptable successful that circumstances and it's not acceptable to person a surgeon wide who equivocates connected vaccines, overmuch little 1 who can't really signifier medicine and conscionable the qualifications to beryllium a doc successful the corp (ph).
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the doc seemingly has an inactive aesculapian licence that she says she voluntarily placed connected inactive status.
And I privation to speech astir this due to the fact that it seems a feature, not a bug, right, due to the fact that the HHS caput has described Dr. Means arsenic being cleanable for this job. He says, "the surgeon wide is simply a awesome of motivation authorization who stands against the fiscal and organization gravities that corporatize medicine." H said she was a large pupil and surgical nonmigratory but she near accepted medicine due to the fact that patients weren't getting amended and that's wherefore she should beryllium the disrupter successful this moment.
So, erstwhile you accidental there's distrust, however bash you respond to those who accidental disruption is the intent of this selection?
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Well, again, fig one, a caller "Axios" canvass came retired and that canvass showed that 68 percent of radical who were questioned said they would not spot wellness counsel from a surgeon wide Casey Means. So, you're not going to reconstruct spot if preemptively the nationalist is telling you, we're not trusting the idiosyncratic you're putting forward.
And again, I don't privation to underplay this. Every physician, each nurse, each pharmacist successful the nationalist wellness work corp has to support an progressive license. I had to occurrence radical for not having an progressive aesculapian license. So, this is not astir disruption. Casey Means tin beryllium a portion of this administration. She tin counsel the White House.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: She tin counsel Secretary Kennedy, arsenic her member does. But that does not mean she's qualified to beryllium surgeon wide of the United States aft dropping retired of her residency and not having an progressive license.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. And conscionable a note, determination is besides nary Senate confirmed CDC manager presently amidst the crisis.
Let maine inquire you astir societal media arsenic well, due to the fact that determination were these large cases this past week. A New Mexico assemblage recovered that Meta platforms violated user extortion laws by misleading users astir the information of Facebook, of Instagram and WhatsApp. Out successful California determination was different suit linking Meta to a young woman's depression.
As a doctor, are you convinced that societal media has a nonstop nexus to health?
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: As a doc and arsenic a genitor I'm convinced of these facts. I person 3 teenage kids. We know, based connected Surgeon General Murphy's report, that determination is an expanding and precise valid grounds retired determination showing links betwixt societal media use, peculiarly astatine a younger age, and expanding anxiety, expanding depression, little sleep, which really leads to intelligence wellness problems and besides obesity.
And so, we request to, arsenic a society, recognize the harms that are coming from societal media, likewise to the harms that surgeon generals person pointed retired earlier coming from cigarettes. We besides request to, akin to cigarettes, constituent retired the information that these substances, meaning societal media platforms, are incredibly addictive, and we're proceeding again successful these – successful these lawsuits that they were specifically designed to addict children, again, the mode cigaret manufacturers tried to addict children backmost successful the day.
So, I'm blessed that we're having a speech astir this. The argumentation is going to beryllium hard, but Australia has already done it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: They've banned societal media for radical nether 16. You person 25 states, I believe, that are – that are to the constituent wherever they're discussing oregon person legislation, keeping societal media and phones retired of schools. And we request to truly recognize the harm that's occurring to our children due to the fact that of this unfettered entree to surface clip and societal media.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Before I fto you go, Secretary Kennedy spoke to the Conservative Political Action Conference yesterday. He said he's disquieted astir compartment phones and recommends parents don't fto their kids slumber with phones beside the bed. Would you hold with that recommendation?
DOCTOR JEROME ADAMS: Yes. Actually, AAP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Health Department of California, each accidental that we should not let compartment phones successful children's bedrooms. It keeps them up astatine night. It subjects past to bullying constantly. And, yes, it is simply a bully practice, and I hold with the caput connected this. I privation to find communal crushed with the secretary. This is 1 spot wherever we agree, we should not beryllium exposing young radical to compartment phones and societal media, peculiarly successful their bedrooms astatine night.
MARGARET BRENNAN: All right, Doctor, convey you for your insights today.
We'll beryllium close back.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: For much connected the ongoing warfare successful Iran, we're joined by Iran argumentation expert Karim Sadjadpour, arsenic good arsenic erstwhile CENTCOM commandant and CBS News contributor, retired General Frank McKenzie, who joins america this greeting from Tampa.
Good greeting to you both.
Karim, fto maine commencement with you.
Today, successful Islamabad, you person Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, these self-acclaimed mediators gathered unneurotic to speech astir however to deescalate the war. Iran, truthful far, hasn't responded to the 15 points the Trump medication enactment forward. And Rubio said he's not adjacent definite who they'd beryllium negotiating with. So, what is the world of who we're negotiating with and are we adjacent negotiating?
KARIM SADJADPOUR (Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace): Well, Margaret, this is simply a regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which came into powerfulness successful 1979, taking American diplomats hostage, and present they deliberation they person the planetary system hostage. And they're warring a warfare of survival. They're besides warring a warfare of revenge against President Trump.
So, astatine the moment, they don't consciousness compelled to compromise, it seems, due to the fact that the inclination lines are lipid prices are going up, American nationalist sentiment astir the warfare is going down, and galore of these leaders that we're hoping to negociate with are, close now, surviving underground, warring for their lives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, to your constituent connected that difference, that asymmetric quality successful power, General, I privation to bring you successful present due to the fact that 1 of the things that Iran had been waiting to bash was activate its militias, oregon the militias it supports successful Yemen, the Houthis. Over the weekend, they jumped successful the combat and fired connected Israel. Do you deliberation this is simply a game- changer fixed that they could, not conscionable disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, but different passageway done the Red Sea?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE (Ret.): Margaret, I don't deliberation it volition beryllium a crippled changer. Their quality to onslaught Israel is rather limited. Yes, they volition person the quality to further stop, dilatory postulation done the Bab-el-Mandeb, going up into the Suez Canal. We person the quality to spell down determination and forestall that. It volition necessitate further resources, but we person those resources and we tin surely bash it if that becomes necessary.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, the president has made wide that helium needs to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. His connection has been contradictory connected immoderate of these points arsenic to who's going to bash it and when. What's the subject world of making it passable?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: We're connected our mode to doing that now, Margaret. This is simply a portion of a program that's been successful beingness for galore years. What we're doing close present is we're reducing Iranian quality to people ships successful the strait done their short-range missiles, their drones and different activities. We bash that by maintaining aerial superiority implicit confederate Iran connected a 24/7 basis, looking for wherever these missiles are and striking them relentlessly.
Once we trim those to a precise debased level, past you'll beryllium capable to spell in, if necessary, expanse the mines. I'm not definite they enactment mines successful the h2o yet. I foretell yet they will. It's their nature.
But we person the quality to bash this. We're connected – we're connected plan. I'll beryllium honorable with you, Margaret, I've simulated this galore years and galore places astatine Central Command. We're a small further on than we would person expected to beryllium astatine this point, successful each the simulations that I've seen.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm going to guess, successful your simulations, you looked astatine what would hap successful the Strait of Hormuz, adjacent though the president said nary 1 ever thought of it. You thought of it, didn't you?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: The U.S. subject thinks of a batch of things. We surely person thought of the Strait of Hormuz.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Thought of Kharg Island. Think of each those islands connected the confederate lateral (ph) of Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Karim, the president said the Israelis killed the 2nd tier pragmatist types that helium had thought helium mightiness beryllium capable to spell and negociate with. In caller days, the sanction that has emerged is the parliament speaker, Ghalibaf. What bash we cognize astir him? Is helium idiosyncratic you tin marque a woody with?
KARIM SADJADPOUR: Ghalibaf is importantly a erstwhile elder Revolutionary Guard commandant and a adjacent advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei. Under antithetic circumstances, helium is idiosyncratic who aspires to beryllium Iran's modern strongman leader. I person really met him successful the World Economic Forum successful Davos. Just the information that helium shows up successful Davos –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.
KARIM SADJADPOUR: Shows you a small spot astir his satellite view.
But nether the existent circumstances, nary 1 successful that Iranian strategy is susceptible of changing the long-time ideology of antipathy toward America and toward Israel, adjacent if they wanted to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Explain that, if you would. Because what we perceive from the White House and from Israel is that unit volition interruption them. You're saying they're unbreakable?
KARIM SADJADPOUR: At the moment, and this could alteration successful the future, but we haven't seen immoderate cracks successful the regime's resolve. We haven't seen immoderate cracks successful the cohesion of its information forces. And fixed the information that truthful galore of its apical officials, including the ultimate leader, person been killed, it's a authorities which is not prepared to compromise oregon alteration its ideology. They really judge that antipathy towards America is portion of their identity. And if you capitulate connected that, it really doesn't prolong your support life, it really could hasten your death.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, if there's not a negotiated settlement, however does this end?
KARIM SADJADPOUR: I don't spot immoderate anticipation of a solution to this conflict. I deliberation the U.S. and Iran are miles isolated erstwhile it comes to their goals here.
Now, I deliberation we could spot a imaginable ceasefire that opens the Strait of Hormuz, which would displacement america backmost from a blistery warfare backmost to a acold war, but there's nary possibility, successful my view, truthful agelong arsenic this authorities is successful power, of a U.S. Iran normalization.
MARGARET BRENNAN: General, bash you hold with that assessment? I mean it does look that the Trump medication is acknowledging the authorities volition enactment if they are astatine slightest offering to negociate with the regime, truthful it would let for them to stay successful power.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: The superior extremity of Iranian statecraft, Margaret, is endurance of the regime. Back successful the precocious 1980s, they signed a truce with Iraq erstwhile things were going precise atrocious for Iran. In Iranian past it's known arsenic drinking from the poison chalice. I judge that they volition break. I judge that they volition travel to terms. And it whitethorn beryllium an imperfect solution, but I deliberation it would beryllium 1 that would see opening the Strait of Hormuz, perchance immoderate woody connected the missiles – connected the rocket systems. The atomic programme is surely a possibility. But I judge yet they'll marque a deal. But we request to support the unit up. We request to proceed to unit them precise hard due to the fact that that is, successful fact, the lone happening they volition respond to.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, the president had posted he's postponed the deadline to unfastened the Strait of Hormuz arsenic a effect of the Iranian authorities asking for it. He says he's shifted that to April 6th astatine 8:00 p.m.
We besides perceive from the caput of authorities that he's talking to the allies astir a station struggle necessity of having different countries assistance to fundamentally constabulary the strait. And helium said that you volition request tankers to person subject escorts. So, this doesn't dependable similar this is simply a short-term project. This sounds like, adjacent if combat ends, we're going to beryllium talking astir a subject beingness successful the portion for immoderate time. Am I wrong?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Margaret, you could beryllium right. Let's spot what happens. I deliberation a negociate – that are 2 ways the Strait of Hormuz tin beryllium opened. It tin beryllium opened if the Iranians negociate with america to unfastened it. And, of course, that's the desired solution.
The different solution would beryllium if they don't and they determine to fight. We tin unfastened the strait nether that information too.
The 2nd information is evidently a batch much intensive successful presumption of ships and instrumentality that we'd person to bring into the region. And, yes, assistance from our allies would surely beryllium – would beryllium precise utile successful that case.
We person the quality to unfastened the Strait of Hormuz nether immoderate information that the Iranians take to beryllium under.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does it look to you that 1 of the contingencies that the White House is readying for, fixed that they're continuing to determination troops into the region, and you person these Marines who are moving into the country arsenic well, are they preparing for a crushed unit presence? And what does that look like?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Margaret, for galore years we've considered options on the confederate seashore of Iran, seizing islands, seizing tiny bases. Typically raids. And a raid is an cognition with a planned withdrawal. You're not going to stay. But immoderate of those islands you could prehend and hold. That would person a mates effects. First of all, it would beryllium profoundly humiliating for Iran and would springiness america large value successful negotiations. The second, the illustration of Kharg Island, which everyone talks about, if you prehend Kharg Island, you truly tin unopen down the Iranian lipid system completely. And the quality of seizing it is, you're not destroying it. You're retaining it for further usage by the planetary system and perchance for instrumentality to Iran nether definite conditions.
So, each of these things – this is not backmost of the – these are not backmost of the envelope calculations. These are things we've been moving connected for galore years. And I deliberation we're close to endanger the full atola (ph), to clasp each these options retired there. And I deliberation the president's connection is spot connected erstwhile helium talks astir each these alternatives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: But tin helium execute his goals without crushed troops, which is what the caput of authorities says, and however does this end? How bash you telephone this a success?
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Sure. I deliberation a occurrence looks similar the Strait of Hormuz is open. We get immoderate benignant of woody connected the ballistic rocket program, immoderate benignant of woody connected the atomic program. That's astir apt astir arsenic overmuch arsenic you could anticipation for. But I deliberation determination are precise discreet things that for maine astatine least, from an operational subject perspective, would beryllium – would look similar victory.
I judge each of those things are really wrong our grasp. We conscionable request to continue. Iran volition yet respond to the usage of force. They cognize and recognize it possibly amended than we person – we person successful the past. This administration's consenting to usage force. Other administrations person been thoroughly deterred by Iran. President Trump is not deterred by Iran.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes. Well, the president says helium wants a deal, adjacent though, I know, you deliberation that's going to beryllium beauteous hard to get to.
GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE: Well –
MARGARET BRENNAN: And helium said Vice President Vance is going to beryllium straight progressive here, Karim. What does that awesome to you?
KARIM SADJADPOUR: Well, the Iranians really privation to negociate with Vice President Vance for a mates of reasons. Number one, they deliberation helium comes from the anti-war helping of the Republican Party. And fig two, they deliberation due to the fact that of the information that J.D. Vance wants to tally for president, he's incentivized to privation to wrapper this warfare up beauteous quick.
And I hold with thing General McKenzie said, which is, we cognize implicit the past 5 decades that this authorities is lone compromised nether truly wide circumstances, erstwhile it faces existential pressure, coupled with a clear, diplomatic exit. I deliberation it's feeling existential pressure. I don't deliberation it – they've yet seen a clear, diplomatic exit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, gentlemen, convey you some for lending america your expertise for this conversation. We'll person to permission it there.
SADJADPOUR: Thank you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll beryllium backmost successful a moment.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: This week could people the opening of a caller epoch for quality abstraction flight. NASA's Artemis II ngo is scheduled to motorboat connected April 1st, carrying 4 astronauts successful a loop astir the satellite earlier they instrumentality to world 10 days later. The crew, 3 Americans and 1 Canadian, includes the archetypal woman, the archetypal idiosyncratic of color, and the archetypal Canadian expected to question to the moon. It's the archetypal crewed lunar ngo successful much than 50 years. And if each goes according to plan, you tin spot afloat sum present connected CBS News and adjacent Sunday connected "FACE THE NATION."
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That's it for america today. Thank you each for watching. Until adjacent week. For "FACE THE NATION," I'm Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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