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Reid Demands Trump Rescind Bannon Appointment; Senate Dems Elect Schumer As Minority Leader; NYC Mayor Speaks After "Respectful" "Candid" Meeting With Trump. Aired 12:30-1p ET

Aired November 16, 2016 - 12:30   ET

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


[12:30:02] MARIA CARDONA, CNNPOLITICAL COMMENTATOR: And what I will say to the national audience who may not know what alt-right is, is that that means -- that will mean that white nationalists movement, misogyny, racism, bigotry will have a place, a seat at the White House.

They will have a voice at the White House. All of that kind of sentiment that is just anathema and insulting to so many communities of color and to women in this country will have the ear of the President of the United States. And that I think is not just hurtful to the electorate but I think it is hurtful both in the short-term and in the long-term for the Republican Party.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Is that a fair point Josh?

JOSH HOLMES, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, I think it's easy to criticize and attack somebody who can't defend himself. At this point he's siting there, been appointed as a chief counselor to the president, he's not allowed to go out on T.V. and defend himself from those charges.

I remember when this was happening to our friend, colleague, Van Jones in 2009, and there was a bunch of Republicans, they were saying extremely unfair things about him. It ending up costing him basically, he had to resign. And I think some of that we're seeing here in the case of Bannon. Now, he has said extremely divisive things and we all are very well aware of that. Believe me. We're all very well aware of that, but we ought to give him an opportunity to try to advance an agenda of the president here, which is not Steve Bannon's.

CARDONA: First of all, let's not compare Van Jones to Steve Bannon. Please, that is certainly not the case. But it is also truth to say that what Bannon did at Breitbart was to advance an agenda that absolutely had white nationalists' tinges to it, more than tinges. It was misogynistic, it was racist and it was bigoted. And there is a reason why so many people are offended at this because when he became adviser to now the president-elect of the United States, he took those -- that he took that advice with the extremely insulting things that he said throughout his campaign from day one when he called Mexicans rapists and criminals. BROWN: All right, so I just want to move on before we wrap this up because there's some news today that Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senator is taking Harry Reid's spot as a Senate minority leader. Two long- term New Yorkers between Schumer and Donald Trump, they've been outspoken about each other, they've said kind words, not so kind words. Donald Trump had donated to Chuck Schumer for years. Could this actually work in Democrats' favor to having Donald Trump in the White House rather than another established Republican at the White House?

CARDONA: We'll, I think we'll see. I think it is all up to Donald Trump to see how he wants to face this challenge. And I call this a challenge but I also call this an opportunity, and I think Josh would agree with me here.

I do think it could be an opportunity to perhaps, prove all of us wrong right? We believe that he's going to be a disaster. That he's going to be divisive. That he is not going to know how to govern. That he's not going to have any interest in governing, right? Maybe prove us wrong. But, from what we have seen thus far during -- both during his campaign and the appointments that he's made, we don't see that as the route that he's going to take.

BROWN: And what do you think Josh?

HOLMES: Yeah, I mean just look at the comments on the top of your show, from where we were with Harry Reid. I think we're going to see an improvement with Chuck Schumer. I think there's a lot about Donald Trump's agenda that actually dovetails with what somebody like Senator Schumer would want to accomplish. And here -- the other side of this is they have Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has a good working relationship with Chuck Schumer and thus far has been at a productive relationship with Donald Trump. So yeah, I think it is an opportunity. I think we might see some things here that we haven't seen in a while.

BROWN: And -- I mean Donald Trump has made it clear all along, he's a negotiator.

HOLMES: Right.

BROWN: So you never know what opportunities that will bring for the Democrats as well.

BROWN: All right. Thank you ...

CARDONA: They will take advantage of that.

BROWN: Yes, they will. All right, Josh and Maria, thanks so much for coming on and sharing your perspectives. I do appreciate it.

And up next right here in the on the "Newsroom", with growing fear of the illegal immigrant deportations in Trump presidency, things are heating up along the border pretty fast. We're going to show you up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[12:38:22] BROWN: Welcome back. Taking a live look. Let's listen to Mayor Bill de Blasio right here after his meeting with Trump.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, (D) NEW YORK CITY: ... I just met with the President-elect Trump. And the purpose for the meeting was for me to assert to him the concerns and the needs of all the New Yorkers. My job as mayor is to be their voice and to give him perspective on what New Yorkers are feeling right now, what their concerns are, what their fears are. I thought it was very important, particularly as the president-elect begins his transition for him to hear the voices of the people, and to get some perspective from outside the transition bubble, to understand what's being said in the streets and subways of our city and why people are so deeply concerned.

I raised a number of substantive issues. I want to give you a sense of what they were. I will say at the outset I'm not going to characterize his positions or responses, but I will give you a sense of what we talked about. First of all, we talked about regulation of Wall Street. I raised my concerns about any repeal of the Dodd-Frank Bill and what it would do in terms of furthering the economic security of New Yorkers and of millions and millions of Americans. And the deep concern that we would go backwards and that our economy would be in peril again and we would run the risk of another crash.

I talked to him about the proposal for tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations. I raised my concern that this would make impossible many of the changes that we need in our country particularly the investments we so desperately need in infrastructure here in New York City and in cities and counties all over the country.

[12:40:23] I talked to him about concerns, about proposed deportations. I gave him the perspective of the NYPD, that any initiative that would create a rift between our police all over the country and the communities they serve that would make it impossible for police and community to communicate that would sow distrust between law enforcement and neighborhoods would be counterproductive. Beyond that, that proposal countered and flew in the face of all that was great about New York City, the ultimate city of immigrants. A place that has succeed because it was open for everyone, place built of generation after generation of immigrants. And I reiterated to him that this city and so many cities around the country will do all we can to protect our residents and to make sure that families are not torn apart.

I talked to him about police-community relations in general, and specifically the question of stop and frisk. I tried to provide perspective on how stop and frisk can create a wedge between police and community when used in an unconstitutional manner and it was overused, and how since we changed that policy the city had gotten safer. And that we, we knew we never going back to that policy. That we were going to continue on a path of neighborhood policing and building a bond between police and community.

I talked to him about our Muslim community. I let him know something that so many people don't know that there are 900 Muslim members of the NYPD protecting all of us, protecting every community, every kind of person. And I told him that we were very concerned that we had to show all New Yorkers, including Muslim New Yorkers, that they were welcome, and that exclusionary policies would undermine our ability to create unity. Exclusionary policies would undermine our ability to create a dynamic where everyone felt a part of this community equally, ready to work to protect each other, ready to work with law enforcement for the good of all.

I also raised concerns about some of the messages and some of the rhetoric that for so many people have been hurtful. And I let him know that so many New Yorkers were fearful, and that more had to be done to show that this country can heal, that people be respected. I left the meeting with the door open for more dialogue. It's well- known we have very, very substantial differences and beliefs and ideology. By the end of the meeting we agreed that this is a conversation that will continue.

I reiterated to the president-elect that I would be open-minded as we continue substantive discussions but I would also be vigilant, and I would be swift to react any time an action is taken than will undermine the people of New York City. I also know that New Yorkers will stand together. We're going to stand up for the needs of working people. We're going to stand up for our immigrant brothers and sisters. We're going to stand up for anyone who because of any policy is excluded or affronted, be they members of the Muslim community or the Jewish community, members of the LGBT community, women, anyone who feels policies are being undertaken that undermine them. With that, I'm happy to take your questions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mayor, do you think the president-elect ...

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: No.

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Yeah?

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Let me say on the first point, I'll come back to you on the second point. No. This was a respectful meeting, and a substantive meeting, and a very candid meeting. I don't think lecturing is at all the right word to use. I told him what I believe, and I told him what I was hearing from my fellow New Yorkers, and -- just let me finish and then go back there for the second part.

[12:45:10] And there was a give and take. But my job is to make crystal clear what's happening out there in this city, and I said on Wednesday, even though I have very real differences with the president-elect he is a New Yorker. I do think he loves this city, but I thought it was very important for him to hear what people are feeling. And very important for him to hear what our experience has been, for example on issue like stop and frisk. Of getting away from that policy actually made us safer. Or for him to know we have 900 Muslim-American NYPD members. Those were importance facts. That's not lecturing, that's giving perspective. Second question?

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Right.

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Yep.

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Well, look. I ...

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: OK, I will say. I got your question. I got your question. I will not tell you that Gucci and Tiffany are my central concerns in life, but I will say the traffic situation is a real problem and it's magnified, of course, because were going into the holidays.

Commissioner O'Neal and I will address this issue on Friday. We'll have a press conference to talk about this in detail. Commissioner is meeting with the secret service shortly, and we'll be in a much better position to give you a sense of the balance that we will strike. Obviously, traffic in midtown has to flow and obviously the president- elect and his entire team has to be protected. I will say one thing I can say, I feel very comfortable saying is that he expressed his appreciation for the men and women of the NYPD, have been playing such a central role in security here, and I expressed to him how proud I was of them and what a great job I thought they were doing. That was certainly an area of unity. Marcia (ph)?

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: No. Neither.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, what happened ...

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Again, it was a candid meeting. Well we had spoken on the phone the other day. And so if there was a breaking of the ice it was that. I think even people have very real differences can still have a dialogue. It was a candid and substantive meeting. We just went right into the substance. I had a set of things we wanted to raise and we just went right into it.

(OFF-MIC)

BLASIO: Look, I'm not going to -- Marcia (ph), I'm not going to assume based on one meeting what the outcomes will be. It was important to have the meeting to assert the interests of the people of New York City and to give him that perspective. Where it goes from here will tell us a lot. I've certainly made clear that I'm open to a dialogue. But no, nothing about people's fundamental beliefs changed in the meeting obviously. It remains to be seen, look, the ball is in his court. People in this city and all over the country are looking to see what he's going to do. I thought it was important that he heard the people's perspective.

BROWN: There you hear Mayor Bill de Blasio at Trump Tower right after meeting with Donald Trump. Bill de Blasio who has been very critical of the Donald Trump as recently as a couple of days ago, but he said the meeting today was respectful and candid and he laid out a list of grievances that he said he brought up during the meeting.

Grievances as I bring in my colleague Gloria Borger that are very much on the liberal agenda talking about, you know, regulation of Wall Street and his concern about repealing Dodd-Frank Bill, tax cuts for wealthy incorporation, stop and frisk. Something that Donald Trump has said he wants to reinstate. What did you make of what we just heard?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: I think he was sort of laying down markers, not for himself as mayor of New York but as a very well-known progressive in this country. And I also think he took it upon himself as the mayor of New York to talk about the Muslim community. He pointed out, of course, that there are 900 Muslim members of the New York Police Department. And he said that he continued to -- he left the meeting with an open door, he was told, for more dialogue, and that they were candid to each other. Look, these are two New Yorkers talking to each other, and very often New Yorker to New Yorker conversations are candid. I would have to say.

BROWN: Take it right to the point.

BORGER: As a New Yorker?

BROWN: Yes.

BORGER: So, I can only imagine. They're not strangers to each other. But I do believe that Bill de Blasio being the mayor of New York City has a special role here representing when he believes to be his national constituency and I think he took that to Donald Trump, because he could.

[12:50:03] BROWN: Absolutely, because he could. And Mayor Bill de Blasio also talked about the fear in New York City among people. Particularly when it comes to immigrants and I think we have some video here showing of a protest happening right now at NYU, trying to protect undocumented immigrants there at the university and elsewhere. So I want to bring in Terry Hartle with the American Council on education. As we look at these live pictures here, can you give us a sense Terry of the fear on these college campuses, not just at NYU but really across the country?

TERRY HARTLE, AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION: Sure. Well thanks for having me. Obviously we've been through a very bitter and divisive election season and one of the hot button issues in the election was immigration and illegal immigration. Under an Obama administration executive order there are about 750,000 individuals who came to this country as children who are probably enrolled at colleges and universities today. They are now in a government database with their names and addresses as a result of this Obama administration policy. The concern on campuses is that this could be a target list of people who could be rounded up and deported. And I think what we're seeing on college campuses are many students and faculty members expressing concern about members of their community who might suddenly find themselves a foul of federal immigration laws. And that's what's motivating this.

BROWN: Donald or President-elect Donald Trump has said that his focus is really on deporting criminals, but is there a plan in place on these college campuses like at NYU where we're seen these live pictures. If someone from the Trump administration calls and wants information about the undocumented immigrants, that kind of thing, is there any plan in place to respond to that?

HARTE: Well all colleges and universities have plans in place to work with federal law enforcement. We've encountered this issue in the wake of the first Gulf War. We encountered it again after 9/11. All institutions have those policies in place. I suspect many campuses are dusting them off and updating them, taking a look at them to see if they're relevant in the light of the circumstances we face today.

I think it's a little premature to say that we do have a problem with the so-called deferred action against childhood admittance, because the Trump administration has not said they're going to go after those individuals. In fact Donald Trump on Sunday night said he was going to go after criminals and drug dealers and gang members. People who are in the so-called DACA database, this federal database, by definition are graduates of high school or served in the military, and they have no criminal record.

If you have a criminal record you are ineligible for this status. So, I think college universities are watching carefully, paying very close attention, but I think it's premature to suggest that we have a problem, or that colleges or universities should do anything in particular. We might have a problem.

BORGER: Well that's the question. If the president -- if President- elect Trump when he gets into office were to undo President Obama's executive action on immigration, what impact would that have?

BROWN: Because a lot of these people that are in that system have been -- were reassured at the time ...

BORGER: Exactly.

BROWN: ... this information will not be used against you.

BORGER: Exactly.

HARTLE: That's exactly right. They were given what we might call quasi-legal protection, that it was only protection as long as the Obama administration was in power, and some people pointed out at the time that this was putting people who were vulnerable into a government database. People signed up for the database because the benefits of being in it were considerable, you could get a work permit and it could lead to a social security number.

So, people did sign up for that database. Now the downside of having a database is apparent. But I think most college university leaders and going to start from the presumption that Mr. Trump meant what he said the other night. He's going to focus on criminals, drug dealers and gang members, and the people who are in that database don't fit that description. These are people who are really trying to do the right thing and to get ahead for themselves and their families.

Again, we may have a problem. At this point it's not clear we do. We want our students to be civically engaged, we want to see them speaking out about the issues of our day and time. And so I think it's a good thing to see students paying attention and expressing concern for their fellow students. Do we have a crisis now? No, we don't have a crisis.

BROWN: And I can tell you I spoke to Kris Kobach yesterday who has helped lead the charge with all things immigration for when Donald Trump is officially in the White House, and when we have a DHS secretary. And I think from what I was told they're still trying to hammer out a lot of these details. And essentially they want to present options for the Trump administration to sort of decide which avenue to go down. So we'll have to wait and see. But as you point out, we don't have a problem, clearly though there is a lot of concern and fear on these college campuses.

[12:55:03] HARTLE: Yes and it's already having some effect. Because if you were enrolled in the DACA database and you wanted to study abroad you could do that under DACA. Now what institutions are telling students are, if you're studying abroad be back before January 20th because it's not clear they could get back into the country, so it's already having an effect. And institutions are trying to respond in the most appropriate and sympathetic matter to their students that they can.

BROWN: Did you have a final word for this?

BORGER: No. I'm just -- I think the uncertainty is what drives all of this, because during the campaign it was very simple to say, I'm going to undo everything President Obama did.

HARTLE: Yes.

BORGER: Period, and now the rubber meets the road here when you get into governing.

HARTLE: That's exactly right. And as people have pointed out, the sort of expansions of executive authority that we saw under the Obama administration might be turned back against some of the causes that President Obama championed, and this is a classic case where that may be the case.

BROWN: May is the key word there.

HARTLE: The key word is "May"

BORGER: Right.

BROWN: Terry Hartle, Gloria Borger, thank you so much for that discussion. I do appreciate it.

And thank you for watching "NEWSROOM." "Wolf" starts right after this quick break.

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