The Situation Room

We are getting a read on Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat and war veteran who took place in the hearing, joins to discuss the confirmation hearing. Plus, just weeks before the infernos in Los Angeles, local firefighters publicly warned they were at a breaking point.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Forecasters now say the return of powerful winds could lead to an explosive growth of the blaze that is still raging in the Los Angeles region, threatening progress made by firefighters. Plus, a look at California’s worsening insurance crisis. Also, the final report of the January 6th federal election subversion case against Trump could be released within hours.  Learn more about your ad choices....

Residents in Los Angeles are coming to grips with unimaginable devastation. Thousands of people have lost everything in an instant. According to a CNN investigation, widespread fire destruction was inevitable but damage could have been minimized.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 180,000 people are under evacuation orders tonight, as forecasters warn that ferocious winds are returning to Los Angeles County, adding fresh fuel to an already dire situation. Plus, former presidents pay respects to President Jimmy Carter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Southern California, catastrophic wildfires are ripping through the Los Angeles area, forcing thousands to evacuate, scorching entire neighborhoods, and killing at least two people so far. Plus, in Washington, Donald Trump is making final preparations before he takes the oath of office.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump comes out swinging at special counsel Jack Smith as a federal judge blocks the release of the report on the president-elect's criminal investigations. Trump lays out his grievances and his plans for the Justice Department during a lengthy news conference. Plus, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announces major changes for both Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...

Congress officially seals Donal Trump's presidential victory. Today's certification drawing zero obligations from lawmakers exactly four years after a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol. Plus, Rudy Giuliani has just been held in contempt by a federal judge for failing to turn over information to those two Georgia election workers he defamed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

A New York judge is ordering Donald Trump to appear for sentencing one week from today after rejecting the President-elect’s efforts to throw out his wish money conviction. Also, speaker Mike Johnson survived a dramatic vote on the House floor to keep his gavel.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exclusive new footage emerges of the New Orleans attacker unloading the truck used in the slaughter on Bourbon Street as authorities now believe he acted alone. The Louisiana state attorney general joins with an update on the investigation. We examine how ISIS remains a deadly threat around the world.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Preparations are underway for the state funeral of Jimmy Carter. As we examine the legacy of the late president, we bring you the latest details on how Carter will be honored by President Biden just days before the Trump inauguration. Plus, what investigators are now learning of the deadly crash of a passenger plane in South Korea.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi...

Investigators dig deeper into the possibility that Russia may be responsible for the deadly crash of a passenger plane. A United States official is saying Moscow’s air defenses potentially misidentified the jet as a Ukrainian drone. Plus, Elon Musk is at the center of a new feud within President-elect Trump’s MAGA base.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 A new United Staes assessment that a Russian anti-aircraft system may have downed a passenger plane in neighboring Kazakhstan. We provide an update on the deadly crash as questions swirl over who is to blame. Plus, President-elect Trump leaves a trail of provocative Christmas Day posts threatening and insulting United States allies.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...

New details in the just released House Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz including texts and other evidence that the former Republican congressman paid tens of thousands of dollars for drugs and sex, including with a 17-year-old girl. Plus, Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to New York State terror and murder charges in the killing of the Unitedhealthcare CEO.  Learn more about your ad choices....

The United States House of Representatives appears to be on the verge of approving a bill to avert a federal shutdown. President Biden was essentially nowhere to be found publicly during this debate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are standing by for a vote on a new deal to avoid a government shutdown. A plan was quickly cobbled together by Republicans after Trump blew up the previous bill. The new bill is expected to fail amid a conservative revolt and a Democratic opposition.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

House Speaker Mike Johnson is scrambling to rescue his must past government funding plan from angry conservatives. Now Johnson’s fight just got more difficult with Donald Trump publicly trashing the bill. Plus, multiple sources now tell CNN the House Ethics Committee has secretly voted to release its investigation into former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz.  Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

A New York grand jury has just indicted CEO killing suspect Luigi Mangione on multiple charges including murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism. Also, police in Madison, Wisconsin are pleading with the public for information about the 15-year-old female suspect behind yesterday’s deadly school shooting.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...

At least two people are dead after a shooter opened fire at a K-12 school in Madison, Wisconsin. Police say the suspect, a 17-year-old female student, is also dead. Plus, sources now tell CNN the United States government is sending drone detection systems to New Jersey after a series of unexplained sightings.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The search intensifies for the source of unexplained drones rattling nerves in the Northeast United States. Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on what federal officials are doing to find answers. Plus, the FBI now says it received a tip from police in San Francisco about suspected CEO killer Luigi Mangione.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sources are telling CNN authorities have executed as many as three search warrants in the CEO killing investigation and ABC News is reporting a New York grand jury is already hearing evidence in the case against the suspect, Luigi Mangione. Plus, fear and frustration are mounting in New Jersey as mysterious drone sightings terrify residents.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...

Police are claiming two major forensic breakthroughs in the CEO murder investigation. The NYPD now says Luigi Mangione’s fingerprints match those found on evidence near the crime scene and that the gun found on Mangione matches shell casings found at the shooting. Plus, the FBI director, Christopher Wray, announces his resignation.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi...

The suspect in the killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is now in custody. We are standing by for the 26-year-old to be arraigned in Pennsylvania after being arrested in a McDonald’s following a tip by an employee. Plus, CNN is on the ground in the Syrian capital of Damascus one day after the shocking fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

Police now believe the suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO has left New York City. Plus, the jury in the trial of a man who killed a fellow New York subway rider with a chokehold deadlocks leading the judge to drop the top charge in the case.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Intriguing new clues in the search for the gunman who fatally shot a healthcare CEO on a Manhattan sidewalk. Sources say police are looking carefully at words written on ammunition tied to the killing and whether they offer hints about a motive. Plus, Pete Hegseth holds a fresh round of meetings on Capitol Hill as some key Republican senators still won’t commit to backing him for defense secretary...

A massive manhunt is underway for a suspect on the run after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was shot and killed outside a hotel in New York City. We break down why the police say the attack was targeted. Plus, Pete Hegseth is ready to fight to salvage his imperiled nomination as sources tell CNN the Trump transition team could replace him with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.  Learn more about your ad choi...