meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Briefing with Jen Psaki

'Straight out of the Twilight Zone': Congressman shocked at ICE facility 'cover-up'

The Briefing with Jen Psaki

MS NOW, Jen Psaki

Politics, News, Ms Now, Versant Media, Versant

4.4975 Ratings

🗓️ 14 August 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Rep. Jimmy Gomez talks with Jen Psaki about his surprise when he was finally given access to a busy ICE detention facility only to find almost no one inside after prisoners and staff had been moved out on the day members of Congress came for an oversight visit.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This really struck me today.

0:01.8

I mean, every year the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., hosts a big ceremony to recognize all different kinds of performers who have made big contributions to the performing arts in their careers.

0:11.8

Usually, they're people who are kind of in the later stages of their careers, and they're being honored by Republican presidents, Democratic presidents, lots of people in the audience.

0:19.5

It's called the Kennedy Center honors.

0:26.1

It's a bit over the top, not going to lie. But it's a star-studded night of glitz and fanfare hosted by a celebrity MC, which later airs in a big special on network television,

0:31.3

all to celebrate again, these honorees who are selected by a bipartisan advisory committee.

0:37.3

At least that's how it used to work, how it worked for years, decades, through many presidents.

0:42.8

But now it's different.

0:44.7

Because earlier this year, Trump fired the head of the Kennedy Center and named himself its new chair.

0:50.4

And now it sounds like he's made some changes to the process of deciding who the honorees will even be.

0:58.6

Since 1978, the Kennedy Center honors have been among the most prestigious awards in the performing arts.

1:05.8

I wanted one. I was never able to get one. This year, it's true, actually.

1:10.5

I would have taken it if they would

1:11.7

have called me. I waited and waited and waited. And I said, hell with it, I'll become chairman.

1:17.6

And I'll give myself an honor. Maybe I'm going to honor. Next year we'll honor Trump, okay?

1:22.3

How involved were you in the selection process of these honorees? I would say I was about 98% involved.

1:31.1

No, they all went through me.

1:32.5

I turned down plenty.

1:34.6

They were too woke.

1:35.8

I had a couple of wokesters.

1:39.6

So, yeah, lots to unpack there.

1:41.4

I mean, that was Donald Trump announcing that he is 98% involved in selecting the Kennedy Center honorees.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from MS NOW, Jen Psaki, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of MS NOW, Jen Psaki and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.