christine brennan, thanks so much for your time and for your insights. christine: thank you, geoff.ff: lawmakers are working through the weekend as they close out the congressional term, and try to avoid a government shutdown later this coming week. as laura barron-lopez reports, democrats are hoping the last-minute deal making buys them a final chance to secure an elusive policy goal -- expanding the child tax credits. laura: it is closing days, congress tries to put a bow on its budget. as families struggling with their own hope for more help from d.c. in the new year. >> as a parent, one of the biggest stressors that i ever have is the feeling that i am not providing enough. i am not doing enough. i am not able to give them everything that they need and many things that they want. laura: molly teaches middle school history in west virginia. she misses last year. >> we could breathe easier. and everything felt more secure. laura: but this year congress left a hole in her checkbook. democrats expanded access to the child tax credit in 2021, and increased the maximum benefit from $2

christine brennan is with me now. this is unbelievable.rs. and now we're getting this horrible news about his death. what does the statement say? >> well, first of all, laura, grant was a colleague and friend of mine. i've covered many, many soccer tournaments, especially women's soccer tournaments with him. there is no more respected, beloved soccer journalist in the country and potentially in the world than grant wahl. and this is absolutely heartbreaking news. it is stunning, shocking. it's just awful news. one of the most talented, lovely human beings, you could ever want to meet. what u.s. soccer has said, looking on my phone here, that they are heart broken to learn that we have lost grant wahl. the fans of soccer and journalism are the highest quality knew we could always count on grant to deliver insightful and entertaining stories about our game and all the teams and what have you. his passion for soccer and commitment to elevating his profile across our sporting landscape played a major role in helping to drive interest in and re

let's bring in cnn sports analyst, the sports columnist for usa today, christine brennan. ife is a story of what is possible. what does this loss mean for brazil, and indeed for soccer fans around the world? >> wolf, certainly for brazil a national hero, international icon. he took them to three men's world cup titles. he was soccer. and of course brazil being one of the great powers in men's soccer. there is no doubt how big a deal pele was, and his death is in his native brazil. but even in the united states, certainly around the world, also huge. but in the united states, there are several generations of people, including me and maybe you as well who really had never heard of soccer until they heard of pele. that is when he signed with the new york cosmos in '75 and at the age of 35 came to play in the united states. and at that time, american kids, boys and girls were not playing soccer the way that they are now at age 4 and 5. there weren't the organized leagues. if anything, boys were playing baseball. girls were playing tennis. all of the sudden we were introduced to

christine brennan is here with us. we're reporting from all angles to try to figure out what could have gone so wrong in this loss, this tremendous life done. what are you learning right now in doha about the death of journalist grant wahl? >> i mean we're still just trying to, i think accept honestly this is the news that's happened. i didn't see him, but we both covered this most extraordinary soccer match between argentina and the netherllands, which went to extra time in penalties. i was unable to sleep because of the drama of the game we've witnessed. i just kind of checked my whatsapp and saw this news. we're literally just finding out about it. we've just managed to confirm the news that he has died. i mean i can't overemphasize the state of shock so many of his peers and colleagues will be at and the fans also. grant has been the foremost u.s. soccer writer in the country for the last 20 plus years. i think when you hear these things, you hear, for example, the commissioner of major league soccer just tweeted f

. >> joining me now, cnn sports analyst christine brennan and former nfl player from salaam.and good to have you both here. let me start with you, ephraim. do you think lowball lebron is a point? and i have to tell, you the coverage about kyrie irving, compared to what's happening with jerry jones, very different. here's what jerry jones have to say about that picture. here he is >> that was gosh 65 years ago. a curious kid. i didn't know at the time the monumental event, really, that was going on. and i'm sure glad that we're a long way from that. >> he from, what do you make about the standard that lebron is referring, to a double standard that coverage but also the way in which black athletes have to atone. what do you think? >> i get exactly what lebron james is saying. and as a former professional athlete myself, i have been asked a myriad of questions about non-sports related things, non-football related things. social justice things and so on and so forth. this wasn't even about the photo of jerry jones. he wasn't even talking about the actual photo and what he thought

. >>> joining me now cnn sports analyst and columnist at "usa today," christine brennan. stine, heartbreaker. i don't know. i was in d.c., maybe you were hearing me across town yelling and screaming at the television this morning, but what a disappointing end to what was a very successful run for u.s. soccer. >> without a doubt, jim. no, i didn't hear you but i did have the windows open and i think everyone was, you know, on the edge of their seat, at least for a while. you know, don's report is so thorough, that the u.s. had a great run. the u.s. men's national team captured the hearts of the country. i think it helped a lot that we saw these guys as just good guys. these are the ones who gave up some of their money, their prize earnings so that the women, u.s. women's national team, the incredibly successful u.s. women's national team could have equal pay. their title ix males, the guy next door. everything was going great. clearly what happened, three defensive lapses. obviously people can see the replays. each time a dutch player was able to just slip right past a u.s.

back with me, maria cardona, and joining, christine brennan and cnn correspondent tom foreman. first of all, i don't know if you saw this image earlier of the qatari tv mocking a moment where they were waving goodbye with their hands over their mouths after germany's loss. christine, tell us the significance of this moment and why that mocking gesture is so defiant. >> well, shame on those announcers for doing that. the german team, before its first match, decided to get a picture taken, a team picture taken, all of them putting their hands over their mouths. what that was about is they were mocking the censorship or protesting the censorship of fifa saying they could not wear those lgbtq armbands. it does get involved. anyway, so good for the germans for doing that. they went and then lost to japan and they ended up losing and are not going on to the round of 16. so it's easy to mock them, but i think history will judge them very well. those german athletes doing that little symbol, i think, will be remembered far longer than whatever happened on the field. >> the idea of on a

. >>> let's dig deeper with cnn sports analyst and "usa today" columnist christine brennan.n 2-0 at the half. what do they need to turn it around? >> they need a miracle right now. andy's report was perfect. yeah, the orange people are now happy. it's been surgical by the dutch. this is the eighth best team in the world and they are looking like it. and the americans who captured our hearts, these young american men, they are the ones that gave up their prize money to make it equal for the u.s. women's national team, which is so successful. these guys have been fantastic. but they are young. and they are kind of excitable, as is the nation around them. and so right now they are kind of looking like it. they are being schooled a bit. the dutch scored early. the dutch scored late in the first half. 2-0. anything's possible, but itf th u.s. needs a couple of really lucky breaks and they haven't had them yet. christian pulisic is playing. that's good news. he was injured after that dramatic goal against iran, boris. but, you know, i don't want to say it's over, because it's neve

argentina's penalty shoot-out victory over france in today's thrilling world cup fina we talk with christine brennan a tournament for the history books. and, caring for children -- how families in need are coping while congress debates expanding the child tax credit. >> as a parent, one the biggest stressors and anxiety inducers that i ever have is the feeling that i am not providing enough.

christine brennan joins me now to help us think about this.ook, everyone is looking forward to saturday, it was such an exciting matchup. a lot of focus, of course, on the politics of the matchup between the u.s. and iran, but looking ahead to saturday, netherlands is no joke. they are the favorite here picks they are definitely, they are a powerhouse ranked eighth in the world, this is an excellent team. when we think of soccer, men's soccer, you think of european dominance or brazil. the netherlands is right there for sure. this will not be easy, not that the others have been easy, but it gets harder exponentially, this is the the 16th the knockout phase two. there is no wiggle room, you win and move on, you lose you go home and they go to extra time and the penalties if they have to because there has to be a result . >> number draws?? >> no, no more 0-0, >> we just had breanna talking and she is known for the shootout, got the women's team to win. but now we have that exciting aspect of it. but you know, not to be dismisses of the team, the

joining me now, cnn sports analyst christine brennan, one so glad is here to help us think about this is looking forward to saturday. it's such an exciting matchup. a lot of focus, of course, on the politics of the matchup between the u.s. and iran. but looking ahead to saturday, i mean, netherlands is no droop right? they are the favorite here. >> they are definitely, they are the powerhouse. ranked eighth in the world, this is an excellent team. when we think of soccer, men's soccer, you think of the european dominance or brazil. the netherlands is right there. for sure, and this will not be easy. not the other ones have been easy. but it's just it gets harder, exponentially harder, this is the round of 16. it's the knockout phase two. so there's no wiggle room. you win, you move on, you lose, you go home. you did good extra time and they do go to penalties if they have to. because there has to be a result. >> no more draws here. no, no more 00, which i'm sure everyone in america's going yay, no more 00. >> we just had -- she was known for the shoot out. that got the women's team th

christine brennan, i want to bring you in on this. this is truly stunning for so many reasons and not the least of which as we read about his legacy, as many might be introduced or reintroduced or reconfirmed yet again about his journal jou journal l and what happened? we are looking to understand why this person lost his life while covering the world cup in qatar. stick with us as we try to uncover the information and details. christine, what's your reaction? >> as john said beautifully and don has said, as well, you know, this is heartbreaking news. it is extra ordinarordinary. it is awful news. i knew grant. i covered world cups with him. there is no more lovely, kind, friendly, that big smile that people are seeing in some of these pictures, that's grant. a big tall guy. welcoming journalist to soccer and i would be one of those that need to be welcomed because i covered a lot of women's soccer but not as many men's soccer matches and you could go to grant and ask any question and i've got to say, laura, that, you know, in a compe

christine brennan is here. "cnn sports" analyst and columnist for "usa today." for team usa to have pulisic healthy and back on the pitch with them? >> kate, it's a big deal. he's 24 years old. he is the star of the team. he's responsible for both goals the united states scored in the opening round, the first goal against england, he was the assist on that and the legendary goal already in lore and legend of u.s. soccer to, of course, beat iran and then, of course, lying on the feel and having to leave the match. so he is essential for the offense. it's a boost for the team. you can obviously sense what they would feel knowing he'll be out on the field and i think it just buoys everyone's spirits and helps the u.s. offense. >> absolutely. what's the expectation for tomorrow's match? >> netherlands is eighth ranked in the world. they are really good. one of those great european teams although maybe not as good as they used to be. there is a hope and a sense, kate, that the united states with their spirit, their energy, the second youngest team in the tournament,

i'm joined now by cnn sports analyst, christine brennan. and, a former nfl player.of you here. let me start with. you when you watched that game, and when you saw what was happening with him, could you tell something was wrong? what are your thoughts tonight? >> no, the pass game that he just, played you really couldn't tell because you don't know. unless you see some physical glazed over eyes or stumbling you really don't know when a person is suffering from had trauma. but the first game that this all started, the game he had against buffalo, which was a big time divisional game early in the year when he slammed his head against the ground and got up and stumbled and no one took him out of the game, they allowed him to come back in the game the second half. that was my biggest problem. because four days later, we all witnessed on thursday night football, him playing against the bengals in those horrific images of him lying there motionless with this fingers contorted. i mean, that's the image that's gonna resonate in people's minds in viewers and fans minds for a

christine brennan, thank you very, very much. and to our viewer, thanks very much for watching. i'm wolf blitzer in "the situation room." erin burnett "outfront" fronts right now. >>> "outfront" next, distrust in trump's inner circle. new transcripts from the january 6th committee reveal the former first lady did not trust those closest to trump, including his own children. that testimony from former white house press secretary stephanie grisham. she's my guest. >>> plus, a massive missile attack. russia launching one of its biggest assaults on ukraine since the invasion. a member of ukraine's parliament sheltered during the attacks live. >>> and tiktok now banned. why intelligence officials say it's a security risk. let's go "outfront." good evening. i'm sara sidner in for erin burnett. "outfront" tonight, all roads lead toe or through mark meadows. that fact made crystal clear after the january 6th select committee just released transcripts of nearly 19 witnesses' testimony, including former white house press secretary stephanie grisham, former communications director alyssa f

. >> with me in studio to share the reporting and insights are cnn's sports analyst christine brennanjeff zeleny and our state department producer jennifer hans ler. his tone is remarkably calm. he has to understand the seriousness of the moment in that he was hoping for a joint prisoner swap to leave with brittney griner, especially after trevor reed already had gone. what was your biggest sense? he says the president should pay any price here because, why? >> that's right, john. he said he's very disappointed and worried about his outlook going forward. he's been in russia nearly four years. he was arrested on these -- what he says are false espionage charges back in december of 2018 and he has been detained there ever since. he was sentenced to 16 years in prison. he still has 12 of those left to serve. and he's very concerned that he won't see his elderly parents again. he won't see his family dog flora and worries he himself may not make it out due to how dismal the situation is in that penal colony he called me from. he was happy brittney griner got out but was very disappointed

i am joined now by cnn sports analyst christine brennan. it is great to have both of you here.n you watched that game and when you saw what was happening with tua could you tell that something was wrong? what are your thoughts tonight? >> the past game he just played, you really cannot tell because you don't know. unless you see some physical glazed over eyes, or a stumbling you do not know when a person is suffering from head trauma. but the first game that this all started, the game he had against buffalo which was a big time divisional game earlier in the year, when he slammed his head against the corona no one took him out of the game, and they allowed him to come back the second, top that was my biggest problem. because four days later we all witnessed on thursday night football him playing against the bengals and those horrific images of him laying there motionless with his fingers contorted. that is the image that will resonate in people's minds, and viewers and fans minds for a long time. so now, to have this happening, it sounds like a compound situation to where some