Morning Run: Clintons WILL Testify, Epstein Victims Outraged, House Vote Today, Nancy Guthrie Abduction, Au Pair Affair Verdict, NASA Mission Delayed, Daytime Talk Upheaval and Rome Tourist Fee

00:00:01
Speaker 1: Morning Run with Amy and TJ.

00:00:02
Speaker 2: An iHeartRadio Podcast. Good morning everyone. It is Tuesday, February third. I'm Amy Roeboch. I was gonna say twenty third. I don't know why I was trying to jump ahead in time.

00:00:13
Speaker 1: I don't either. We're supposed to stop saber every day. You always think tomorrow is coming. It's twenty more days. There's a twenty third. We might not even have the fourth in us. That's true. Man, This is a depressing start to this show. Apologies, folks. We've had a stressful morning to a certain degree. But that's all right. We're gonna turn things around. Hello there, I'm TJ. Holmes. We're ready for a Tuesday Morning Run here.

00:00:34
Speaker 2: Now.

00:00:35
Speaker 1: The run is gonna take us to Virginia, Tucson, to New York City, to Rome, and yes, we are going to be headed to outer space today as well on this run. But the first leg will take us to Washington, d C. Well, my, oh my, things have changed for Bill and Hillary Clinton. They have now done it about face and agreed to testify before Congress. The two had been facing contempt of Congress charges after refusing to appear before a House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein. The last minute decision by the Clintons came as Republicans were pushing contempt charges through committee, where it was expected to head to the House for a vote yes.

00:01:09
Speaker 2: The Clintons were facing hefty fines and even prison time if they were held in contempt. A spokesperson for the former president responded to a letter from Republican James Comer. He's the guy who chairs the committee investigating Epstein, and the spokesperson wrote this on social media. They said the Clintons had negotiated in good faith and that Comer had not writing they told you under oath what they know, but you don't care.

00:01:35
Speaker 1: But the former.

00:01:35
Speaker 2: President and former Secretary of State will be there. They look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone. Comer released a statement Monday night saying the Clintons have provided no dates for the deposition and added the only reason they have said they agree to terms is because the House has moved forward with contempt. I will clarify the terms they are agreeing to and then discuss next steps with my.

00:02:00
Speaker 1: He want right. The first set of Epstein files released by the DOJ had several photos of Bill Clinton with Epstein. While Clinton has admitted to flying on Epstein's plane several times, he ended his friendship with him long before Epstein was ever charged with a crime. Clinton has never been accused of any wrongdoing. That needs to be said. Back in December, Hillary Clinton spokesperson said, since this started, we've been asking what the hell Hillary Clinton has to do with this, and Comber hasn't been able to come up with an answer. I can't remember what. Maybe she says she met him once, but she doesn't know the dude.

00:02:31
Speaker 2: Yeah, And I don't think in any of those documents, and millions and millions of documents have been released as we know, I don't remember seeing Hillary Clinton's name or photo in any of them. So to Hillary Clinton spokesperson's point, you got one, all right, These.

00:02:45
Speaker 1: Stories kind of come together. He's the guy you wouldn't want to hang around your wife or your girlfriend. We've seen this, right. They all don't like.

00:02:54
Speaker 2: Him, yes, including Bill Gates's ex wife Melinda.

00:02:58
Speaker 1: I don't want I want their man hanging out with Epstein. Yeah.

00:03:01
Speaker 2: I think that makes a lot of sense, all right. And other Epstein related news, the Department of Justice said late yesterday it finally took down several thousand documents in media that they say inadvertently identified multiple victims. It blamed the release of victims' names and images on various factors, including technical or human error. Many of Epstein's victims say that apology or that taking down of documents is just too late, because you can't put their names and identities back in the bag. Jane No. Number five said I've never come forward. I'm now being harassed by the media and others. This is devastating to my life. Jane Doe Number four said she was being inundated with disgusting messages and listen to this. Jane's do seven and eight say they have received death threats since the latest document release.

00:03:50
Speaker 1: And that New York Times has been going through it. They said they found at least forty instances forty images released showing nude bodies with unredacted faces. A lot of these were young women. The DOJ has said is working around the clock to remove any identifiable information and say once the proper redactions have been made, the images and documents will repopulate online. In the latest drop, there are three and a half million documents, two thousand videos, one hundred and eighty thousand images. They say they had a team of lawyers going through all this stuff, hundreds of them. But it sounds like this is the last drop of documents at least the DOJ plans to do.

00:04:24
Speaker 2: But man, was it a messy drop and came with some consequences.

00:04:27
Speaker 1: All right.

00:04:28
Speaker 2: Next up on the run today, the House will vote on that spending bill negotiated in the Senate to reopen the government. Many House Democrats Democrats, though, have made it clear they will not support the deal that their counterparts in the Senate struck with the White House to fund the government. Remember, they separated a Department of Homeland Security funding from the rest of the funding package so that they can negotiate restrictions on immigration enforcement. Now, House Democrats want even more restrictions before they say they'll even consider the legislation.

00:04:58
Speaker 1: Yeah, most Democrats do not vote in favor of the funding packages. If that's the case, Republicans is going to need near unanimity, a unanimity. They're going to need to be unanimous. Everybody's going to have to do it to get this thing done. President Trump put the pressure on lawmakers on social media last night, said there will be no changes at this time. The vote is expected today. Speaker of Mike Johnson told reporters, I think we'll get it done. The government's been closed since Friday night at midnight. I was supposed on the last couple days where Tuesday will.

00:05:27
Speaker 2: Shall see weed shelsee indeed all right next up on the run, the mystery deepens and concern is growing surrounding what happened to the eighty four year old mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie. The sheriff leading the investigation has now said he believes Nancy Guthrie was abducted, adding she didn't walk from there, she didn't go willingly. Investigators have also said they believe Guthrie was harmed before she was taken. They didn't elaborate, They just said they know she was harmed at her home, but they don't know to what extent. Guthrie left her cell phone life saving medicine, and police have said that time is ticking that that medication she needs within twenty four hours or it could be fatal.

00:06:07
Speaker 1: They have called the home a crime scene. They are pleading with people in the neighborhood. If you have cameras on your doorbells and all that stuff look through at all saying people please take pictures even if you see something out there. Late last night we did hear from Savannah Guthrie. She posted a message on Instagram asking for prayers and saying, as she ended it, we believe in him. This is a family of faith, so they are asking please help us bring her home all right.

00:06:32
Speaker 2: Next up on the Run, the verdict is in for a former IRS agent accused of killing his wife and a stranger he lured to his home in an elaborate murder scheme. After nine hours of deliberating, a jury found Brendan Banfield guilty on all counts after hearing testimony from both the au pair that prosecutors say he conspired with to kill his wife and from Banfield himself, who offered jurors a much different account of what happened that morning when his wife, Christine and Joseph Ryan were killed.

00:07:00
Speaker 1: Now Banfil admitted to having an affair with the family's Brazilian old pair, but denied setting up fake fetish accounts with her to lure a man to his home to make it look like they had shot an intruner who was attacking his wife the old pair, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in shooting Joe Ryan, but in exchange for her testimony against Brendan, she had been released and returned to Brazil. Banfield's sentencing dig was scheduled for May eighth, where he's facing life in prison without the possibility of prole.

00:07:27
Speaker 2: Next up on the run, NASA announced overnight it has to delay its planned mission around the Moon. This happened just after two a m. This morning. NASA scrapped its plans for a February launch. It was scheduled for a window starting as early as this Friday through February eleventh, but a problem with leaking hydrogen was detected at the base of the rocket, so officials now say the soonest Artemis two could be ready for launch would be in early March.

00:07:53
Speaker 1: Yeah. Mission will send four astronauts in the deep space for the first time since the Apollo program ended more than five decade ago. It'll be a ten day journey beyond the far side of the Moon and could set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth and NASA it's going to be holding a press conference at one o'clock Eastern time today to discuss the initial results of the rehearsal. We'll stay with us here on this Tuesday morning run. When we come back, not one but two daytime talk show hosts are saying goodbye, and we just found out about them at about the same time. We'll explain. Also coming up, one of the most famous fountains in the world, a place you must stop if you ever go to Rome. Well, it's gonna cost you. Now, let's stay here.

00:08:45
Speaker 2: Welcome back to this Tuesday morning run and next up on the run, daytime talk show host Kelly Clarkson shocked fans announcing on social media she is leaving her Emmy Award winning show after seven seasons. Here is what Clarkson wroache. She said, this season will be my last hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show. Stepping away from the daily schedule will allow me to prioritize my kids, which feels necessary and right for this next chapter of our lives she'll set.

00:09:12
Speaker 1: She says, she'll.

00:09:13
Speaker 2: Still be making music and popping up here and there on the voice from time to time, but she really wanted to just thank her fans for allowing this show to be a part of their lives, and she said for believing in us and hanging with us for seven incredible years.

00:09:28
Speaker 1: She gave the news of the fans first. NBC came behind later and did confirm this said Season seven is going to continue through fall of this year with Clarkson as the host, but special guest hosts will be announced after that. Clarkson took time from the show last season following the death of her ex husband and the father of her two kids, but return full time in late September of twenty twenty five. Good luck, congrats to her for stepping back. It's I mean, you get all a little later in life, kids start getting older, people around you start passing away, and all of a sudden it doesn't seem so important to be in the grind anymore. So good for her, I will say. Continuing on the run here now. A few hours after Clarkson's announcement, we heard from Sherry Shepherd her daytime talk show has been canceled after four seasons. The show's parent company released a statement saying the decision is driven by the evolving daytime television landscape and does not reflect on the strength of the show, its production or the incredibly talented Sherry Shepherd. This is just a sign of the times, ain't it.

00:10:29
Speaker 2: Rooms Yeah, and we love Sherry. We know you've been on our show. Yeah, You've been on the Sherry Shepherd Show. She is such a lovely, wonderful, funny, just compassionate human being. So I know she has brought so much to people who watch the show, and they do say. The production of the fourth season is going to continue and the final episodes will air this coming fall of twenty twenty six. Her show launched in September of twenty twenty two. I think that's when you were on it, right in the first days.

00:10:56
Speaker 1: I'm not sure if it was the first day, but I helped her launch a cake the whole thing. I remember that. I remember that.

00:11:03
Speaker 2: But look, we wish Sherry Shepherd the best. She will land somewhere because the world needs more Sherry Shepherd in their lives.

00:11:10
Speaker 1: You know what, She's been working a long time. If Sherry wants to go sit down somewhere, I applaud. That's the whole thing. We are encouraging everybody. You get older, Robe, how many I want to get into it. It's been a I feel like a downer right now. But man, so much has happened in these people's lives. Sherry included Sherry's going through hell, Kelly Clarkson's going through hell to see them stepping back and getting a time to breathe. I salute you, all right, final leg of the run here. Now this is I don't know how I feel about this one Trevy Fountain. You have to stop there if you go to wrong.

00:11:40
Speaker 2: It's a muss.

00:11:40
Speaker 1: Must be done as annoying and touristy as it is. You gotta go. But now it's gonna cost you. Yeah, Tourists have been tossing coins into the oh so famous Trevy Fountain for a long time. This is a tradition now starting in February second, which was yes yesterday, so it's starting this month. Tourist now I have to pay two euro if they want to walk down the stone steps to get right up next to it. You can still stand in the square above. They can't completely close it off from seeing it, but it's cool to go sit there toss I mean I would drink and toss in a couple of coins, make a wish. It's a fun event.

00:12:19
Speaker 2: We should throw up our picture from Trevy Fountain. What was it two summers ago, We had a bus.

00:12:24
Speaker 1: It was crowded, It was really, really crowded.

00:12:26
Speaker 2: And that's just one of the reasons why Rome has decided to apply this fee. It's only going to happen during peak tourist hours, so they will be fine. So from eleven thirty am to ten pm on weekdays. Oh, eleven thirty pm is like five pm for us.

00:12:43
Speaker 1: Are they kidding?

00:12:44
Speaker 2: So we can we can go there for your charge, no problem, make Friday, I'm serious.

00:12:48
Speaker 1: Until eleven they were not like most people.

00:12:51
Speaker 2: Most people don't get going until around that time. So yes, eleven thirty am to ten pm, you'll have to pay two euro and then on the weekends from nine am until ten pm.

00:13:01
Speaker 1: Oh we're good.

00:13:02
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, we're already. We've moved on to lunch by nine am. And look, the fee is to address over tourism. More than ten million people visited the Trevy Fountain last year.

00:13:12
Speaker 1: Just think about that.

00:13:13
Speaker 2: And the hope is charging tourists will not only free up some space around the attraction the base of the attraction, but it will also help also help cover the cost of maintaining this ancient Roman fountain that was completed in seventeen sixty two. It is fed by ancient Roman aqueducts. I mean we see people take their water bottles and put and refill their bottles with the Trevie Fountain water and drink away disease free. It's scary. I haven't done that or been brave enough to do that. But they say it is perfectly safe. That the Romans perfected the art of purifying water, which is pretty remarkable all those years ago.

00:13:50
Speaker 1: That sounds great, but we have also sat enrolled and seen somebody come by with their dog their water bottle, and seen somebody bathe in all the same Now that, I'm fine, it's clean coming out, but we have seen some stuff.

00:14:06
Speaker 2: I wouldn't dip it in the sitting water, but perhaps the moving one.

00:14:10
Speaker 1: No, I wouldn't do it at all. I'm with you, and I don't mind if they just say, hey, donate fine. I hate to make it difficult for people to go. We want to make it restrictive, like some of y'all won't even be able to pay, and that's going to clear things up. I hate that idea. Yes, especially a family of five or something that's different from one or two people.

00:14:28
Speaker 2: I hear you, they do say, I think it's children under six are free, yes, and I think there's an age like above the age of sixty five. So they did make some exceptions for folks because you're right, big families. That would be cost prohibitive. It just wouldn't make a lot of sense, all right, So on this Tuesday, we will leave you with our quote of the day. And actually, funny enough, given the theme of the morning, which I didn't realize when I picked out our quote, this fits in perfectly. One day you won't be here, neither will the doubts, the worries, or the people you tried to impress. That's not depressing, it's liberating. So take the risk, say what you really feel, Do the thing you keep putting off, because the real fear isn't failure, it's lying on your deathbed, surrounded by the ghosts of chances you never took. Well.

00:15:16
Speaker 1: If man, it's the it's the most it's the worst word in Ingles language. Almost man. It just sucks, almost man to say the first part again, the first.

00:15:28
Speaker 2: One day you won't be here, neither will the doubts, the worries, or the people you try to impress.

00:15:34
Speaker 1: Ain't that something? I think you get better about that as you get older. How often do I say to folks, and even when they're talking about dating or who should I call them back? Or who should I writer? Is it too soon? We are adults, You're grown ass folks. We do not have enough time to sit around and wait and wonder. Life is flying by. Go for it. Go do it right now today. Get up that thing you were hesitating about doing before robes that quote, do it and see what happens. I love it.

00:16:03
Speaker 2: And you know the top of this this quote I didn't even read because I thought maybe it was too much. But the first sentence is you are going to die.

00:16:12
Speaker 1: But that that is motivating. It makes you live. I agrate you live when you realize you are. We all are going to. So go out and live today, folks. Thank you for that one. Rose. I actually needed it because you know, I've been in a funk this morning. Yeah, ain't nothing going away. It's supposed to go from me this morning, but it is now from this moment on. You know why, because I just chose I loved that that be the case.

00:16:34
Speaker 2: Thing.

00:16:34
Speaker 1: I love it. I love it.

00:16:35
Speaker 2: I love you all right, And with that everyone, thank you for running with us.

00:16:39
Speaker 1: I'm Amy Robot and I'm TJ. Holmes. We will see y'all real, real soon.