Interviews with Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin; Republican Senator James Lankford

State of the Union

CNN

News

3.4 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 December 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Kasie Hunt guest anchors CNN’s State of the Union. First, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin, joins Kasie to discuss the partial release of the Epstein files and whether he’s considering legal options to force the Justice Department to release all of its files. Next, Republican Sen. James Lankford joins Kasie to Congress’ failure to avert skyrocketing health care costs. Lankford – a pastor – also discusses how faith can help make people feel more connected with one another this holiday season. Then, CNN Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings and CNN Political Commentators Bakari Sellers, Kate Bedingfield, and Kristen Soltis Anderson discuss President Trump’s struggles to focus on affordability, the challenges facing Democrats in the midterms, and the growing rupture within the MAGA movement. Finally, Kasie reflects on the surprising end to the political career of a moderate Republican-turned “ultra MAGA” warrior, Elise Stefanik. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Blacked out, the Justice Department releases some of the Epstein files, revealing very little while redacting a lot.
0:12.4	It is defying the Congress. They don't want people to be held accountable.
0:17.3	Are they ignoring the law? I'll ask Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin ahead.
0:21.8	Plus, out of office, Congress heads home for the holidays without addressing the health care
0:26.2	crisis. It is not the Republicans' fault. It's the Democrats' fault. As the GOP fears a midterm
0:32.6	backlash, can they come back with a plan? Republican Senator James Lankford joins me.
0:38.7	And off message?
0:40.9	From dismissing economic concerns... You talk about affordability.
0:43.1	To attacking a murdered Hollywood icon.
0:45.5	I wasn't a fan of his at all.
0:47.1	And adding his name to a national institution.
0:49.3	I was honored by it.
0:50.4	Is President Trump out of step with Americans' priorities?
0:53.2	Our political panel breaks it all down.
1:01.8	Hello, I'm Casey Hunt in Washington, where the state of our union is redacted.
1:07.1	After months of dragging its feet, the Trump administration finally released the Epstein files, or some of them anyway.
1:15.5	On Friday night, the Justice Department published thousands of files related to the deceased sex offender and alleged sex trafficker, convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein.
1:25.6	But it fell far short of the comprehensive release
1:29.9	that's been mandated by Congress.
1:32.5	Congress overwhelmingly passed a law last month
1:35.3	signed by President Trump,
1:36.8	requiring the Justice Department to turn over
	...

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