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Fiery Debate in the British Parliament over a Petition to Ban Donald Trump; Michaela Pereira On the Person Who Changed Her Life. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired January 18, 2016 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:30:00] MARC EDWARDS, PROFESSOR, VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY: So it really defies belief. And what you're seeing playing out in the flint population is a complete loss of confidence in government, state and federal government. We are getting calls from relief workers here at Virginia Tech who are telling us that no one in Flint believes a word they will say, which is really dangerous because they are not using the filters. They are not following advice. They are not even bathing because they are so afraid about the quality of their water. And the reality is the water is now currently safe for bathing and as long as they use the lead filters, they will be protected.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Do you think, final question, because the final response the president declaring this federal state of emergency. You know, he is in Detroit this week. I'm curious, there are lots of calls for him to go to Flint, you know. Do you think he should? What should he say? It's been going on for so long.

EDWARDS: I think he should go there and I think he should say to flint residents that we are all sorry because the system has served them horribly, failed them horribly. And we all owe them an apology.

BALDWIN: Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech professor, lead researcher of this group conducting all the tests on the water there, thank you for your time.

EDWARDS: Thank you for having me.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, a fiery debate in the British parliament over a petition to ban Donald Trump from traveling there at all. Hear what lawmakers in the UK think about his anti-Muslim rhetoric. We will take you live to London, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:52] BALDWIN: Exactly two weeks from today, the Iowa caucuses happen and already Republican presidential hopeful Senator Ted Cruz setting sights on New Hampshire, which is the nest one. And again, focusing his attacks on his closest rival Donald Trump. During a campaign bus stop today, Cruz took aim at Trump's switch to the Republican Party saying Trump cannot compare his story to that of former president Ronald Reagan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump says Ronald Reagan had a revolution. He evolved. Is he right? Is he a Ronald Reagan?

You know, you are right, Donald did an interview where he described that he thinks he is bigger than Ronald Reagan. You know, I think the American people will make that determination. You know, I would note that Ronald Reagan spent decades as a principled conservative. Spent decades traveling the country sharing his conservative free market views defending the constitution. Ronald Reagan did not spend the first 60 years of his life supporting Democratic politicians advocating for big government politics, supporting things like the big bank bailout, supporting things like expanding Obamacare to turn it into socialized medicine. That's not what Ronald Reagan did.

Ronald Reagan was a voice of consistency. And I'm pretty sure that Ronald Reagan didn't write checks and support Democratic politicians like Andrew Cuomo, like Anthony Weiner, like Hillary Clinton. I'm pretty sure that Ronald Reagan didn't write a huge check to Rahm Emanuel in December of 2010. After, by the way, the big tea party wave, after the 2010 elections, I'm pretty sure Ronald Reagan didn't give Rahm Emanuel a big check.

And so, I understand that every Republican candidate tries to compare themselves to Reagan. But at the end of the day, the American people are going to assess who is telling the truth. Who is, in fact, been a consistent conservative? Not has adopted conservative language on the campaign trail, but who has stood for these principles over and over again. You know where they stand yesterday, today and tomorrow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: It is not just Ted Cruz attacking Donald Trump. British lawmakers just wrapped up a debate in parliament about him that lasted hours. Specifically they were debating whether the Republican front runner should be banned from traveling to the UK. At issue specifically Trump's call for banning Muslims from entering the U.S. Here is a piece of these people going at it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This ridiculous individual, Mr. Trump, may be elected as president of the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The great danger by attacking this one man is that we can fix a halo (INAUDIBLE), we give him the role which conceived to be an advantage among those that support him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have heard of a number of cases where people have been excluded for incitement over hatred. I have never heard of one for stupidity. I'm not sure that we should be starting now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're talking about a candidate for the presidency of the United States. It's enough that the American people to decide whether he is objectionable, not you guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to London for this one and my colleague Max Foster.

Max, listen, it's fascinating to hear all this back and forth. And let's be real. Parliament can actually - it cannot ban Donald Trump from coming to the UK, so what's this really about?

MAX FOSTER, CNNI HOST: What was the point? Well, there was this petition basically which gathered a huge amount of (INAUDIBLE) and gained more than 500,000 signatures. And as a result, parliament decided to hold a debate. It's the first time I can remember where three hours of parliamentary time was dedicated to discussing banning one person. Normally it comes up in terms of question to the prime minister, for example. So it was an extraordinary moment. It doesn't have any teeth. It didn't lead to a vote and a ban. The home secretary only can decide on that. But now she has all of this information to consider. And if the debate rises, then perhaps she will consider a ban.

But you felt some of it there. There was some really strong language. Some called his bonkers. Others said he was poisonous. And there is any one voice, really, the support it, his straight talking. Most people were very negative about him. But there was this firm split about whether or not a ban would help at all. Because it would, as you heard there from Paul Flint (ph) who is leading the debate, it might bestow victimhood on him that might help him in his U.S. election effort. Much preferred in the debate was the idea to invite him over and to ask him to show people where these no-go areas are in the UK spoken about and perhaps taken to a mosque to meet Muslims. So a strongly worded debate. No teeth, but does play into a debate which might lead to a ban possibly, Brooke.

[15:40:57] BALDWIN: OK. Max Foster in London for us tonight. Max, thank you very much.

Still ahead here, new questions about the U.S. sailors detained in Iran. Two important pieces of equipment that appear to be missing from their ship.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:45:33] BALDWIN: OK. This is really exciting for a lot of us. We have stories to share with you. CNN is launching this new series this week about the people who help change the lives of, well, we, CNN anchors folks. Whether a family member or friend, and help mold us into the people we are today. And right now, Michaela Pereira, co- anchor of "NEW DAY" tells us about the person who changes her life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: I spent almost ten years here in Victoria. And so, every time I come back, it definitely feels like home. Growing up as an adopted child, I always sort of felt somewhat random. And as I was growing up trying to figure out who I was, part of that was also what I wanted to be. I always tell people TV happened to me by accident. A producer at check TV. When I met her, she was producing a campaign of PSA called "imagine a world without contras contrast." And they needed ethnic and diversity people.

MEYRA RODGER, CEO, MAGNIFY DIGITAL INC.: So we put out an open call to the residents of Victoria to come to the studio and get in front of the camera and just see how they feel for us to take a look and see how they were reacting.

PEREIRA: So I answered the open casting call, went to the local TV station and ended up being cast in this campaign.

RODGER: And I can't describe what happened to the atmosphere when she walked in. And I thought, well, there's something really extraordinary about this person.

PEREIRA: So following the taping of the PSA, my dad had already sort of engrained in all of us that if somebody gave you an opportunity, you should show gratitude and thank them. Follow up with maybe a thank you card or maybe a gift. So I did. I was a bit of a crafty person. And I decided that I would day deco-pot, a terracotta plant pot for her and take it down to the TV station from (INAUDIBLE).

She followed that up when she received my gift with a phone call and invited me out for lunch. It was at that lunch that she said something so profound to me that it changed my life.

Hey, pal, how are you?

RODGER: Where's the last time you were here? It's been awhile.

PEREIRA: Are you hungry? It's so great being back here. I can't believe that (INAUDIBLE).

When you and I came to lunch, that's why I brought you here. You remember that?

RODGER: We had lunch on the patio.

PEREIRA: You looked me dead in the eye and said you need to seriously consider a career in television. The voyage that your suggestion sent me on. Think about that time in this city. There was nobody that looked like me on TV.

RODGER: There we go.

PEREIRA: My color, my size, my ethnicity, my last name, my big old curly hair, none of that was an impediment to you. To you it was kind of like why wouldn't you. And I remember being so terrified, but you had such confidence. But you had such confidence. You were so resolute that I couldn't not believe you.

RODGER: Something really special happened way back in that studio all those years ago.

PEREIRA: So you can see how it was easy for me to figure out who influenced my life.

RODGER: Well, I'm so very flattered and humbled. PEREIRA: You are not going to take it, are you?

RODGER: I certainly have been a champion for you and I always will be. I feel kind of protective of you. So I will go that far to acknowledge that.

PEREIRA: I'll take it. You know what I was thinking after we kill our salads and the calamari? What say you if we go and see if we can find Gourd at Chek.

Goudy Tapper (ph) was my co-host at my very first TV gig. It was at the local TV station called "Check Around" at a local TV station where Meyra worked. It was because of Meyra's belief in me and her suggestion that I audition for the show that I met Gourd and fell in love with television.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mikaela!

RODGER: It's been forever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been years.

PEREIRA: Wow, look at this.

RODGER: He looks exactly the same.

PEREIRA: Are you ready? Day two.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, still here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Her hair today was fashioned by --

PEREIRA: Wow, this was our office. Born to be wild

[15:50:04] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not the common person we ran into.

PEREIRA: OK. So watching all of that old tape is crazy.

GORDIE TUPPER, REPORTER/HOST, CHEK TV: You know, if I was the type of person to cry, I would have. No, seriously. It was like I haven't seen those for 20 years.

PEREIRA: That is so crazy to think about that because it started with the promo. That's where we worked together.

RODGER: But it wasn't long after that you were looking for new cohost.

TUPPER: We get to the end of the list. We have not found a person. I don't know what we're going to do. And Nick, our camera guy, he said, well, one more person's been added to the list. It's this girl Michaela Pereira. And after two minutes of talking to you, and you know, I just looked at Nick and he looked at me and I said very young.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Check her out. PEREIRA: It is so rare to see someone else believe so much in another

person. This was a woman who believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. And there was nothing in it for her. The truly inspiring among us, the true heroes in life, they don't do it for selfish motives. And they rarely want the recognition. So it makes sense she doesn't want any recognition.

There she is. Hey. Hi. Pal. How are you? Welcome to CNN and New York. How are you?

RODGER: Great.

PEREIRA: One piece of advice you have given to me that has been invaluable, be yourself.

RODGER: I don't think you know how to do it any other way.

Maybe now, yes. But think about a 20 something-year-old kid who didn't go to communications school or broadcast or journalism school, just came up learning on the job. And is surrounded by a whole lot of people who don't look like her who didn't start out like her. And when you kind of got in front of me and waved that flag like hold up, be yourself, it changed the game for me. Being myself has been the only thing I can do that I can bring to the table that I knew I could do with a thousand percent authenticity. I wanted to give you this little gift.

RODGER: Is it a deco-pot?

PEREIRA: No, it's an upgraded version of a deco-pot.

RODGER: My God.

PEREIRA: Because you -- the flowers in it, you have continued to nurture my career the way a flower grows, you know. And I just cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me and continue to do it for me and for the friendship and mentorship you provided me. So here's a little elegant vase to put your flowers in to say thank you, babe. I love you.

RODGER: I love you too.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: You are beautiful soul. I mean, that is -- all throughout that you see your spirit all this years later. I adore you and you know that. Girl crushing on you right now.

PEREIRA: You know, this is something that you understand more because we're part of this kind of girlfriend sisterhood thing, right. It started with my relationship with this woman who said I'm not going to let you be alone to the wolves in this industry. I'm going to standby you. I'm going to support you. It's been great. It's a 20-year relationship. And not only that her son was born on my birthday.

BALDWIN: Get out of here. PEREIRA: How about?

BALDWIN: What an amazing thing to have, you know, your boss say to you we want to spend time, find this person that so changed and inspired you and you're just kind of like to see all those old clips of you 1984 called and said they wanted their hair style back.

PEREIRA: Hello. I had some serious hair issues back then. No it was interesting because we were saying so often we get a chance to do that sort of the end of our career, right. And to be able to look back -- a legacy piece. To look back at this point it's really powerful. Yes. I had a fake nose ring on by the way right there.

BALDWIN: A fake nose ring? I didn't know they could do that.

PEREIRA: But you know, it's a really wonderful gift. That man right there, Gordie Tupper, to this day is a friend.

BALDWIN: Did she have any idea -- that's what I found with my person which I'm sharing tomorrow is I think he knew he had such an impact but not quite fully.

PEREIRA: She'll fight it. To this day we have still been going back and forth.

BALDWIN: Humility, right?

PEREIRA: Yes. And also because she thinks that - and this is not -- these are her words and not mine, Meyra says, she thinks it was inevitable. I don't believe that. I don't believe I would have been bold enough without her behind me pushing me along.

BALDWIN: Strong woman goes a long way.

PEREIRA: Very strong woman. I got your back, lady. Can't wait to see yours.

BALDWIN: Thank you. Mine is tomorrow. I can't wait to share that. Also tonight Anderson Cooper 8:00 eastern reveals the person who changed his life. So definitely watch for that.

And watch the entire two-hour special. It is this Sunday 8:00 eastern and pacific here on CNN, the person who changed my life.

Coming up next, Sean Penn discloses new details about his meeting with Mexico's most notorious drug lord. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:59:11] BALDWIN: Actor Sean Penn getting some extra views for his appearance last night on CBS' "60 Minutes" who went on the news program to defend his controversial meeting and "Rolling Stone" article with then fugitive drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Penn says he considers himself a, quote/unquote "experimental journalist" and explained the deal he had with apparently made with "El Chapo" himself. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN PENN, ACTOR: What was brokered for me to have the interview with "El Chapo" was that I would finish the article, send it to him. And if he said no, then that was no harm, no foul to any reader.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It would never be printed.

PENN: It would never be printed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A kind of prior review is usually a non-starter for journalists. The "Rolling Stone" article was, of course, published just one day after "El Chapo" was captured.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for starting your week off here with us at CNN. Stay with me though. "The LEAD" with Jim Sciutto starts right now.