CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip Border Patrol: We Didn’t Tell WH That Pretti Was “Domestic Terrorist”
Feb 13, 2026
Tiffany Cross, progressive commentator and panelist; Judge Glenda Hatchett, former presiding judge and legal analyst; Bakari Sellers, former state representative and Democratic commentator. They dig into federal immigration operations, conflicts between official claims and bodycam evidence, Border Patrol labeling and accountability, political fallout on immigration policy, and debates over voter ID and the SAVE Act.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Judge Bars Retaliation Over Rhetoric
- A federal judge blocked Pete Hegseth from punishing Senator Mark Kelly for urging troops to refuse illegal orders.
- The ruling framed Hegseth's actions as unlawful retaliation, reaffirming First Amendment protections for the speech at issue.
Future Retaliation Risks Acknowledged
- Senator Tom Tillis warned that political retribution could come back to haunt Trump officials in the future.
- The panel noted reciprocal prosecutions are likely when power shifts.
SAVE Act Tightens Voter Proof Rules
- The SAVE Act would add strict proof-of-citizenship requirements beyond common voter ID laws, sparking controversy.
- Requiring passports or birth certificates for in-person registration raises access and implementation concerns.