Major Garrett hosts The Takeout covering politics, foreign policy, national news and newly reported investigations.
White House, ICE and Voting Precincts
President Trump told NBC News he was “not happy” about the Minneapolis ICE operation after two Americans were killed, and said ICE “shouldn’t have” acted in that way. At the National Prayer Breakfast he defended DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and said he would not fire her despite calls for dismissal, praising her border efforts and saying crime is down. Questions about ICE presence at voting precincts — prompted by comments from Steve Bannon — drew pushback from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who labeled the premise “not sincere” but did not categorically rule it out.
Search for Nancy Guthrie
Authorities continue searching for Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from Tucson. Investigators confirmed blood at the scene belonged to Nancy and said they’re acting under the belief she could be alive. The FBI offered a $50,000 reward and will deploy billboards and images regionally. A purported ransom message included a bitcoin demand with a deadline; one person was arrested for submitting a false ransom demand, and officials warned of scams and urged anyone involved to “do the right thing.”
U.S.-Iran Diplomacy and Military Options
U.S. and Iranian delegations were set to meet in Oman for talks amid heightened tensions. National security analysts called the moment potentially pivotal: Iran faces intense internal protests and economic pressure, while U.S. and regional actions have limited Iranian proxy capabilities. Reports on a proposed framework include Iranian commitments on enrichment limits, transferring highly enriched uranium to a third country, and nontransfer to proxies, but analysts cautioned Iran’s supreme leader may resist maximalist demands. A senior former CIA official warned military options carry major unknowns, including power struggles in a toppled regime and uncertainty about who would follow.
Poland, Russia and the Epstein Files
Poland’s government announced an investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein had ties to Russian intelligence and suggested Russian services may have compromising materials on leaders. Poland’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister warned that Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted; Lithuania’s and other European interlocutors were cited as working on possible frameworks related to Ukraine negotiations, but Poland’s probe into Epstein-related activity adds a complex, potentially geopolitical dimension to the files.
Wall Street Journal: Abu Dhabi Investment in Trump-Linked Crypto
A Wall Street Journal report revealed that days before President Trump’s second inauguration, lieutenant associates of an Abu Dhabi royal, Sheikh Tahnoon, secretly agreed to buy a 49% stake in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture for about $500 million. The deal involved entities connected to UAE intelligence and a major UAE AI firm, and preceded U.S. policy changes that opened access to certain AI chips for UAE companies — chips previously restricted over national security concerns. Journal reporters noted the secrecy of the transaction and overlapping board links between investors and G42, a UAE AI company later granted chip access. The report prompted congressional scrutiny and ethics questions; the White House and some lawmakers signaled interest in investigating the ties and timing.
Chris Christie on Betting and Predictive Markets
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a proponent of regulated online sports betting, warned that prediction markets (Polymarket, Kalshi, etc.) are flouting state regulatory schemes. He argued these markets are often unregulated, can bypass state laws, may market to minors, and risk undermining consumer protections and gaming integrity. Christie urged prediction firms to seek licensing and comply with state rules. He also reflected on the political cost of immigration enforcement missteps and urged targeted removal of violent criminals rather than broad actions that make voters uneasy.
New CBS Polling: Economic Opportunity and Job Security
CBS News released polling on economic opportunity and perceptions of job security. Majorities said it is harder today than for previous generations to buy a home, raise a family, and get a good job; respondents felt opportunities for the wealthy were increasing while they viewed opportunity for the middle class as decreasing. While many currently employed Americans report job security, fewer describe their situation as “very secure,” and a growing share said finding a new job would be difficult, indicating rising economic uncertainty for households.
Reporting on Harry Reid and Nevada Power
Jon Ralston discussed his new book on the late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, chronicling Reid’s rise and influence, including his strategic use of Senate rules and contentious tactics. Ralston noted Reid’s willingness to break traditions and guardrails in pursuit of policy goals, the dual nature of his legacy—major legislative accomplishment and a role in Senate friction—and the access granted for the biography after years of negotiation.
Other segments and teases
The Takeout previewed additional interviews and reporting: analysis of allegations around a high-profile UAE figure’s investment into U.S. business interests and AI access, conversations on Iran and Ukraine with national and international officials, and commentary on the ethics and politics of campaign-era foreign business ties. The show also teased a segment with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie; CBS News’ Anthony Salvanto presented the new polling; and reporters detailed the Guthrie family case, the FBI reward, and ongoing law enforcement work.
Taken together, the episode centered on the intersection of politics, national security, evolving campaign-era financial entanglements, and how voters perceive economic opportunity and government action on immigration and law enforcement.