Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

New video from inside the Ft. Lauderdale airport; Large truck steered directly into a gathering of soldiers, right near Jerusalem; Trump team to try to disavow the report or argue with the main conclusion; Big political fight is brewing this week for the incoming Trump administration; Donald Trump's first press conference will be held this Wednesday; Exclusive interview with secret service director Joseph Clancy; President Obama's farewell speech in his hometown of Chicago Tuesday; Aired 7:00-8:00p ET

Aired January 08, 2017 - 19:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:00:22] PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: You are live in the NEWSROOM. I'm Pamela Brown in Washington on this Sunday. Poppy Harlow is off today.

And we begin with disturbing new video of the Ft. Lauderdale airport shooting showing that moment when the gunman grabbed his gun and started opening fire killing five people and wounding six. If you prefer to look away, do so now. But we think it is crucial to understanding this attack.

And let me first explain to you what you are going to see in this video. This is a freeze frame from the video obtained by TMZ. And it appears to be security camera footage from inside the baggage claim area where the shooting happened. You can see the shooter right here in that freeze frame wearing that blue shirt. But once the video began, keep your eye on the left side of your screen. That's where you will eventually see the shooter walk into the frame. Again, we warn you, some may find this video disturbing. We are going to play it now.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

BROWN: Just so chilling to see that. I want to bring in CNN's Boris Sanchez. He is right outside the airport.

What is the latest in the investigation? We understand the suspect has been talking to investigators. What has he been saying?

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Pamela. We have learned that shortly after being apprehended, Esteban Santiago was interviewed by federal and local investigators that he told him that this was a planned attack. From knowledge that we gained from sources inside the investigation, he tells us that he sold several of his personal belongings before booking a one way flight from Alaska here to Ft. Lauderdale. Whereas we saw in that heart-wrenching video he carried out this attack.

We asked a source here at the Ft. Lauderdale airport about the leak of that video. They told us they would not comment except to say that it's being investigated now and law enforcement is involved.

We don't know how TMZ got their hands on this video. But as we said it is unsettling. And it corroborates a lot of what we heard from investigators. He apparently arrived here in Ft. Lauderdale, retrieved one of his bags from baggage claim, went in to a restroom, set the gun in his waistband, and then you see him walked into the frame, totally nondescript, expressionless, as he reaches into his waistband, pulls that nine millimeter pistol and opens fire on the people that were nearest to him.

He wasn't specifically targeting anyone, it was just the people that were nearby. And then after he starts running away, you see everyone around him respond, realizing the horror of what they are witnessing. Several people throw themselves on the ground. One woman goes behind a cart doing anything that she can to get away from him.

Esteban Santiago is due in court tomorrow. He is facing some very serious charges, Pamela. And all of them are eligible for the death penalty.

BROWN: And I felt like this video really had tone for us because anyone of us could have been right there in that baggage claim, just grabbing our bag in typical day and then this unfolds.

Boris Sanchez, thank you. Keep us update on the investigation.

Meantime, we are learning new details about the victims in Friday's horrific attack at the Ft. Lauderdale airport. Tragically, most were on vacation.

Michael Oehme (INAUDIBLE) was killed. He was about to go on a cruise with his wife, Carrie (ph). She was shot in the shoulder and is expected to recover.

Olga Woltering was about to go on a cruise with her husband, Ralph. According to CNN affiliate, WFIA, the couple is from Marietta, Georgia. They had planned the trip to celebrate her husband's 98th birthday. He was not injured. The Wolterings were married for 64 years.

Terry Andres was a Virginia shipyard employee on vacation with his wife's, Ann. The couple was celebrating Andres' upcoming 63rd birthday. He and his wife were married for 40 years.

And now let's get the latest on those still hospitalized. CNN's Ryan Young is right outside of Broward Health medical center where victims are still being treated.

So what do we know about their conditions, Ryan?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, we are still trying to learn all we can about it. If you think about those names you just read, so devastating to all these families involved in this. If you think about the greater impact that 54 people were brought to this hospital. Six of them were in critical condition. Three now remain in critical condition. And one of the people who shot actually walked out of here. But we know there are people inside who are still fighting for their lives.

And if you think about this, they were people who were working very hard to try to save them, the doctors and nurses here at this hospital, a level one trauma center went into action to try to help them.

This afternoon we had the opportunity to go inside and talk to the people who were on that team about how they were trying to save the people who were from that airport.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[19:05:06] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, you - if they are here in the ER for an extended period of time, you know, you get all sorts of things. But when you here a thank you, you know that it's usually special.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have had some survivors and had family members hug me and that was special. It's emotional. Yet rewarding, knowing that you immediate a difference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Pamela, they had to be very careful as they were talking to us, because obviously with HIPPA, with the laws that are in place, they can't talk about specific patients. But they were really overwhelmed by the idea of the outpouring of support they received after this. But everyone talking about the long term recovery for some of the people who are here. They face a long battle.

But just remember that someone walked of this hospital after being shot. Also, had the governor reflecting yesterday that one man was shot three times. And he told the governor he felt like he could keep running because he wanted to get away from the shooter. There are some real stories here about survival, but also people who put their passion, their life and their healthcare that were able to save these people in their time of need.

BROWN: Absolutely. True heroes there. And these doctors have to be ready for the worst, and clearly they were ready for this. Is there any plan in place? Does the hospital have a plan to help everybody there process what they just went through?

YOUNG: Absolutely. You know, those doctors here said that everyone at the hospital was a part of this team because it chance to talk with any professional they need to get through this because obviously, this was a traumatic event for them as well. But they felt like the team is stronger now because they prepared for this. And that team was already ready on standby. So anything else happen in this general area, of course, it's a very busy area. But a level one trauma centers that sees incidents like this, but maybe not the magnitude as we saw it on Friday.

BROWN: All right. Ryan Young, thank you for bringing us the latest there. We wish those victims a speedy recovery.

And you are about to see some more graphic and alarming video. This time, it shows a brazen attack on Israeli soldiers that happened today and some of those soldiers died.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

BROWN: As you can see, a large truck steered directly into a gathering of soldiers, right near Jerusalem. Four Israeli troops were killed, many others were injured. And police officers shot the driver dead.

I want to go straight to Jerusalem where we find CNN's Oren Liebermann.

Oren, who is this attacker? Do we know more about who this person is and what the theory is right now about why he did this?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Police say the attacker is 28- year-old Fadi Qunbar from east Jerusalem. In fact, from a neighborhood that's not far from away where this attack took place.

So let me walk you through this. It's 1:30 p.m. in Jerusalem. And it was a fairly nice day, had a popular area. A walkway that overlooks the old city of Jerusalem that would have been at that time on this day crowded with tourists, pedestrians, soldiers and security forces. That's when police say the truck driver here drove his truck straight into that crowded soldiers that you saw in the horrific surveillance video. Four soldiers died in their 20s, three women, and one man and a dozen more were injured.

The driver in this case was shot and killed on the scene. We have learned that according to the police. And that is when the investigation begin. Since then, police have arrested nine suspects, five of whom they say are family members of the attacker. Police are now trying to figure out was this one driver acting on his own or was this part of some larger web? Where did the truck come from? Whose truck was it? And how far in advance might this had been planned? That is the focus of the police investigation at this point.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene a few hours after the attack. And he said there are indications that the attacker was an ISIS sympathizer or was inspired by ISIS. Although, Netanyahu didn't say what those indications are. He didn't elaborate on that.

Police saying there are no ISIS cells in Jerusalem or in Israel. So this isn't some new cell. But the key here is that this attacker may have been inspired by social media or by ISIS online. And that has been a big effort of Israeli police and of the government to crack down on social media in segment and the propagation of hate, propagation of inciting messages. And that will be the focus of the Israeli government moving forward, as police investigate, trying to figure out where this attack came from and how long it was planned. As we have seen in, it seems like it was one of those lone wolf attacks that are difficult to predict and even more difficult to stop. But as we move in to tomorrow it will be a day of mourning as those four soldiers are laid to rest -- Pamela.

BROWN: Oren Liebermann, thank you for bringing this latest from Jerusalem. And coming up right here in the NEWSROOM, cyber strike, the official

Intel report on campaign hacking says Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to win. So why is Trump's inner circle pushing back?

Plus, headed for the hot seat. Trump's pick for attorney general get set for his confirmation hearing. Could his past come back to haunt him?

And what would you ask the president-elect if given a chance? Reporters gear up for the first Trump press conference in more than five months.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[19:10:08] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wow, there's a lot of press.

He's a sleaze.

Be quiet. Nobody ever listens to you.

Sit down please.

You weren't called.

You know, I put myself through to your news conferences often, not that it's fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:12:58] BROWN: Top Donald Trump babe Kellyanne Conway deflecting questions this morning about the Intel report, detailing how Russian president Vladimir Putin ordered cyberattacks to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump during the campaign.

And here she is on "STATE OF THE UNION with Jake Tapper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KELLYANNE CONWAY, TRUMP CAMPAIGN SENIOR ADVISOR/GOP POLLSTER: I don't want any of your viewers to be misled into thinking that somehow the Kremlin and the Republican Party -- that they had -- the Kremlin was dealing with any of the hackers in bringing that information back to Moscow and that somehow anybody who allegedly attempted to interfere our elections actually did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So while it is unclear whether it is actually swayed the election in anyway. The Intel report did make it clear that was the intention on the part of Russia.

Joining me now, the former U.S. ambassador to NATO and former undersecretary of state for political affairs Nicholas Burns. Thank you, ambassador, for coming on.

NICHOLAS BURNS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Thank you.

BROWN: What do you make of the reaction to this report from the president-elect and his inner circle?

BURNS: I don't think that this is not a smart strategy by the Trump team to try to disavow the report or argue with the main conclusion because it's an extraordinary report. When you have the FBI and all the major intelligence agencies of the United States government agreeing that Russia did interfere with the election, I think the far smarter course for the Donald Trump and his team is to accept it and to agree that there should be further investigation by the Congress and by the U.S. government. And there has to be some response by the United States. President Obama has expelled 35 Russian intelligence agents from our country. Donald Trump ought to want to strike back at Vladimir Putin in a way to gain the advantage over Putin as Trump takes office.

BROWN: What do you say to this argument though from some in your world who say, maybe Donald Trump, maybe this is a strategy, he as helping Vladimir Putin save face so that perhaps the two countries could work together and he will not continue the same kind of behavior moving forward when Trump is in the White House.

[19:15:01] BURNS: Well, I would say, the first thing you have to understand about Vladimir Putin. He is not sentimental. He's not just going to try to get along with Donald Trump and suddenly disavow position that the Russians have taken, say I'm Ukraine or Crimea or NATO. And certainly you can't expect honesty from Vladimir Putin about his open interference in our election.

So I think the smartest strategy here would be to do in George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan did, Republican presidents, that's strengthen NATO in Europe, make sure that the United States is superior militarily, politically, economically as we are to Russia and deal from the position of strength, but not a weakness. And I fear that the Russian government probably sees Donald Trump as rather weak right now. And that is no position that you want the American president to be in.

BROWN: In your view, because the report made clear that Vladimir Putin had a grudge against Clinton going back for years, why do you think that Russia would want Donald Trump in the White House beyond is claim that you're making that you believe they view him as weak?

BURNS: Well, Secretary Clinton had been very tough minded with president Putin over the issue, certainly of Ukraine, she spoke out against the invasion of Ukraine and the occupation and annexation of Crimea in 2014. When she was in office prior to that, she dealt in a very tough way with the Russians and they remembered that. And then, they saw this American presidential candidate Donald Trump who refuses to criticize Russia under any circumstances, not even for their barbaric bombing of civilians in Aleppo. Not for the theft of Crimea. He didn't even speak up for the NATO ally. So I think the Russians looked at these two candidates and saw a

completely different set of situations with Donald Trump than with Hillary Clinton. And that appears to be part of the motivation what the Russian government did when they interfered in our election last autumn.

BROWN: And here's what President Obama had to say ambassador about his handling the Vladimir Putin in an interview with ABC this week. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, I don't think underestimated him, but I think that I underestimated the degree to which in this new information age. It is possible for misinformation, for cyber hacking and so forth to have an impact on our open societies, our open systems to insinuate themselves into our democratic practices in ways that I think are accelerating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So what do you think Ambassador? Do you think that the president underestimated Vladimir Putin? And do you think he should have come out earlier waited publicly and send a stronger warning to Russia rather than waiting until after the election months after he knew Russia was behind it.

BURNS: Well, I think President Obama made an interesting point there in the clip you showed. And a very interesting part of this intelligence community, FBI report, was this wasn't just Russia hacking the Democratic National Committee's email server. It was also a very sophisticated planning of fake stories and news reports, in Russia television, which is shown in the United States on cable, spreading absolute bald faced lies about the United States, it was a very sophisticated and comprehensive operate.

President Obama said - has said that he didn't want to, in essence, interfere in our election by making these statements about Russia during the election. He is taking action. And now I think is incumbent upon Donald Trump to defend our country. If you think about it, the most important responsibility of our president is to defend the United States. We have been attacked in cyber war by the Russians and therefore we have to respond to make sure that it doesn't happen again.

BROWN: But you make the point and President Obama said, look, he didn't want to interfere in the election, but if the Russians have this massive operation to push out fake news to sway the outcome, why wouldn't the administration come out more strongly earlier to alert the voting public about this? And point the finger directly at Russia, we know there was a statement made October 7th, but shouldn't this have come out sooner?

BURNS: Well, this was done by General Clapper, the director of national intelligence. The most senior intelligence official in the government actually made a press statement on October 7th to warn the American people that the Russian government was trying to interfere. I think that was probably the right call.

For the president to have come out, I think were subjected to President to charges that he was in essence favoring Hillary Clinton, as of course he was in the election, but trying to tip the balance by using the presidency in the oval office. And I think he made the right call.

But the pertinent question now is not to replay what happened in October is to think about January 20th and Donald Trump taking the oath of office. He needs to defend us. He needs to speak up for NATO. He needs to criticize the Russian government for what it did. And not think as to somehow an attempt to delegitimize his election.

He won the election fair and square. He is going to be our president. But he now needs to act presidential and he needs to rally the west, because the Russians are going to try to interfere in the French elections in April, and the German elections in September. And we have a responsibility to those allies as well as to all Americans to protect our democracies from an anti-democratic country and authoritarian government, the government of Vladimir Putin.

[19:20:39] BROWN: OK. Former ambassador Nicholas Burns, thank you very much.

BURNS: Thank you very much.

BROWN: Coming up, spotlight time for several of the president-elect's top cabinet picks. Democrats on Capitol Hill have a long list of complaints, but are any in real danger of not winning confirmation? We will discuss it live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:23:41] BROWN: A big political fight is brewing this week for the incoming Trump administration. Senate committees are holding hearings for several of the president-elect's cabinet picks starting on Tuesday.

First off, Senator Jeff Sessions, Trump's nominee for attorney general. The Alabama Republican is no stranger to these kinds of hearings. Not only did he serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee for years, he appeared before it in 1986 hoping to get confirmed for a federal judgeship. But the hearing did not go well, though, because of allegations of racism. And Democrats, including Congresswoman Maxine Waters who I spoke to last hour, say they are ready to fight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: He is outdated. He is a throw back. He does not believe in criminal justice reform. He is anti- gay. He has been opposed to voting rights. And so, his history is long. Again, he is the one that has defined himself. And it's not only about racism, it is about criminal justice and how is it going to be meted out?

(END VIDEO CLIP) BROWN: And to be clear, Jeff Sessions as always denied any allegations of racism. But how will it turn out for Session this is time around?

CNN political commentator and Republican strategist Alice Stewart is back. Also with us, Wajahat Ali, a "New York Times" contributor and the creative director for Affinis Labs.

Thank you both for coming on.

Alice, I want to start with you because you say in regards to these confirmation hearings, Democrats are already suffering from a self- inflicted wound. What do you mean?

[19:25:10] ALICE STEWART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, by what they did eight years ago, when they were in control in the house and senate, they reduced the threshold to 51 for confirmation which makes it even easier for the Republicans to get their nominees confirmed there in the senate.

And with regard to Congressman Waters' point with Jeff Session. So he has a long history of public service in adherence to the rule of law. And in terms of civil rights, he filed many desegregation lawsuits when he was in Alabama that helped to protect the civil rights of African-Americans as well as voting and favor of extending the civil rights act by 30 years. And he also voted for the confirmation of Eric Holder. So I would encourage her and others Democrats who want to stand up and fight his confirmation to take a real good serious act to look at his record and what he has done to protect civil rights of African-Americans.

BROWN: So Wajahat, you hear Alice say that look, he does have a positive civil rights record. But you have particular concerns about what Sessions as attorney general would mean for Muslims?

WAJAHAT ALI, CONTRIBUTOR, NEW YORK TIMES: Well, that seems like a good episode of black mirror or twilight zone, but in reality, most Americans who I have seen Jeff Sessions' record, he has an awesome rich history of voting against the rites of some of the most marginalized communities in America. This includes, but it is not limited to, African-American, LGBT communities, immigrants, Muslim, and 51 percent of the population as women.

There is a reason why, about 30 years ago, the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee voted against him being a federal judge. That was, by the way, a bipartisan committee that reviewed his history. He has a rich history here of going against African-Americans, specifically says the votes rights act is unnecessary and intrusive piece of legislation. Well, tell that to African-American voters in North Carolina right now.

He says the NAACP is undemocratic. And he also says they are communist. And so, they want to shove down civil liberties down on throats. I love civil liberties. I wanted more in my throat, alright. I want a big buffet of civil liberties here. He was against re- authorizing the 2013 violence against women act. Why would he be against that?

And also, he is against repeatedly legislation that protects equal pay for women. You want to talk about LGBT communities, he was against the hate crime expansion act by what actually protect LGBT communities under federal law. And if there were under hate crimes.

And also these are two important points I want to make. He has also attended meetings of fair, the federation of American immigration reform which the southern policy law center says is a hate group and whose leader is a white nationalist. And also in 2015, he received keeper of the flame award by the leading anti-Muslim ages in America. So that's why I'm concerned.

BROWN: And look. All of what you said, I believe is accurate, I haven't been able to go through as you are mentioning them.

ALI: Go and fact check that.

BROWN: But most of what he said, Alice, seems to be true. What's your reaction to this?

STEWART: Let's start with the first -- easiest one. I used to work for conservative for American, the nation's largest women's organization. And they also oppose the violence against women act because it actually didn't protect women's right, some of the very duplication of services. It used federal dollars that could have easily and more hopefully been used for women at the local level. And there's a lot of people who have opposed the balance against women act because it didn't put the money and the resources where it needs to be. So I think there --

BROWN: But what about these claims, Alice, and I don't mean to cut you off, but just to get to the point because it is true that he did not want to expand hate crime legislation to cover gays and lesbians. It is true what Wajahat said about the voting rights in African- Americans. And there is real concern among minority communities given these examples of what he has done. What do you say to them?

STEWART: I say look at the examples that I listed which he has dedicated a lifetime of protecting the civil liberties of minorities and African-Americans. For him to vote for the 30 year extension of the civil rights act, that goes a long way to showing his commitment to protecting civil liberties for African-Americans. And for him to further -- the laundry list of desegregation suits that he has filed in Alabama are case after case after case which he has stood up for African-American protecting their civil rights.

So many of these instances that have been pointed out, they are minute details and instances within that legislation that are not productive. But I think his overall record is that of protecting the civil liberties for African-Americans.

BROWN: Wajahat.

ALI: Respectfully, Pam and Alice, I want to say attorney general is the chief legal law enforcement office of the nation. He is the head of the department of justice. It is the chief legal adviser to the federal government. This is a huge position.

And as a minority American, many other minorities and 51 percent of the population, many women groups around the nation are very concerned because this man has a rich history of not upholding the law and not promoting justice, not promoting equality.

Just one other fact here. Over 1,400 law professors on their own who actively have written a stunning letter against the nomination of Jeff Sessions there, from 149 states, 176 universities saying that Jeff Sessions as attorney general, based on his record, will not enforce the law fairly nor will he promote equality and justice.

And if Donald Trump wants to drain the swamp and be uniter of diverse America which the country that we live in, can he not at least choose Jeff Sessions and not who 30 years ago Republican themselves said it was not suitable for a federal judgeship based on his racially insensitive remarks. There has to be a better person.

[19:31:02] STEWART: Every single person --.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: Unfortunately, I'm being told that we have to wrap this up. But I could talk to both of you all day because there is going to be much more on this. Of course, the big hearing starts on Tuesday. We will have to hear from Jeff Sessions himself what he has to say about this discussion.

Alice Stewart, Wajahat Ali, thank you very much.

ALI: Thanks, Pam and Alice.

STEWART: Thanks, Pam.

BROWN: And a programming note, CNN is hosting two special town hall event this week. First, Chris Cuomo sits down with former Democratic presidential candidate and senator Bernie Sanders. That's tomorrow night at 9:00 eastern.

And then on Thursday, it is a town hall with House Speaker Paul Ryan. Our own Jake Tapper hosts that.

We will be right back. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:34:47] BROWN: One hundred and sixty four, that is how many days Donald Trump's last press conference. But president-elect is promising to talk to reporters this Wednesday. So what might he say without a 140 character limits? If the campaign is any indication we may be in for a ride. Remember this moment?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[19:35:05] DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: Doctor said, where are the steaks? Do we have steaks? We have Trump steaks. He said the steak company and we have Trump steaks. And by the way, if you want to take one, we will charge you about what, 50 bucks a steak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Joining me now is CNN senior media correspondent and the host of "RELIABLE SOURCES," Brian Stelter.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: He is making me hungry.

BROWN: He is making me hungry too. I was just thinking that.

So Donald Trump, he can be a bit unpredictable. I think it is fair to say that. And so, what do you think? What do you expect on Wednesday's press conference? Do you think he is going to turn over a new leaf, or do you think it will be classic campaign Trump? What are you anticipating?

STELTER: Classic campaign Trump because that's mostly what we have seen since Election Day. If you think back to 3:00 a.m., the morning after the election, Donald Trump spoke for the first time as president-elect. He was conciliatory. He reached across the aisle. He said all the things you expected him to say, even about Hillary Clinton, trying to extend a hand to the other side. But since then, at his rallies and on twitter, he has been the same combative Donald Trump that we saw during the campaign, speaking very much in us-person them-style. Them, the others, being a journalist among other people.

So I would expect more of the same at this press conference. The timing is so interesting here, Pamela. On Tuesday night, President Obama delivers his farewell address. And then this press conference is going to happen mid-morning on Wednesday. The transition team will officially announce some of the details on Monday morning. But it's going to be mid-morning on Wednesday, which gives Donald Trump just a right opportunity to respond to President Obama.

BROWN: Which is also right in the middle of all these confirmation hearings for his cabinet picks which is interesting, too.

Let's go back. Let's look at this moment from the very last press conference Trump held 164 days ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: All right. So Russia, the hacks, do you think that's going to be the very first question he gets?

STELTER: I would expect it to be among them. But, you know, he may come out of the box with some announcements about his businesses. His press conferences was originally promised in December to talk about his plans to separate himself from his various business enterprises. It was delayed, according to the transition aide, because it was taken a long time to figure out exactly how to remove Trump from his various business, how to hand those over to his kids.

So I would expect him to make some announcements about that. Again, to make some news right away. I think your points are very important about these confirmation hearings. Some people have been speculating that the campaign or the transition now is purposely trying to hold lots of events on the same day in order to overwhelm the news cycle and take some attention away from the confirmation hearings.

But I think the bottom line is that there are dozens of questions to ask president-elect Trump. When he tweets every day, he is choosing the topics. But now for the first time in months, journalists are going to get to choose the topics and ask him questions.

BROWN: And it's no secret, Brian, that he has had a combative relationship with reporters at the press conferences, calling them out by name including this moment for Jorge Ramos of Univision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: OK. Who is next? Yes, please.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

TRUMP: Excuse me, sit down, you with respect called. Sit down. Go ahead.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have the Mic.

TRUMP: No you don't. You haven't been called. Go back to Univision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So that was on example there. But, you know, job one, when you are in the media, to be the watch dog, to hold elected officials accountable, what is the right way? Now that Trump is president- elect, will reporters handle the bullying?

STELTER: I think number one is to not be intimidated. I think the viewers at home have a lot of question for the president-elect whether they voted for him or not. So we have got to make sure that we make clear and assert that we are there for them. That we are there for the viewers who watching this program right now. No doubt sometimes we fall short of that, sometimes we fail at our public service obligation. But you know, I look at my inbox, my twitter screen, my Facebook, I hear a lot of viewers and readers desperate for more information about what this president-elect will do. Most importantly, when he tries to delegitimize the press, we have to point out that is what he is doing. If he is trying to inoculate himself from criticism, we can identify that and help people look out for him.

BROWN: All right. Brian Stelter, thank you very much.

STELTER: Thanks. BROWN: Coming up on this Sunday, we go one-on-one with the director

of the U.S. secret service, and this exclusive interview on the challenges of guarding the president-elect and the Trump family.

You are live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you're in this business, you are constantly what iffing. You know, you are constantly looking at things that may happen and could happen and do we have a good plan in place, and that's our business.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:42:58] BROWN: In just 12 days, a new president will be sworn in and with him new and unique security challenges. Not only does Donald Trump have a larger extended family for the secret service to guard, there's also the matter of what has become known as White House north, Trump tower in the middle of busy Manhattan.

I recently spoke to secret service director Joseph Clancy in an exclusive interview, his first since Trump was elected. And we talked about the unique challenges of guarding the president-elect.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: There's reporting that the secret service has been considering setting up a command post in Trump tower.

JOSEPH CLANCY, DIRECTOR, SECRET SERVICE: Yes.

BROWN: What can you tell us about this this plan?

CLANCY: Well, we often do this whenever there's a second residence. We'll have a command post set up so that we have great communications and the command post encompasses, not to a secret service agents but other entities as well so that we have our partners available too. So we are looking at some space up there, yes.

BROWN: OK. Can you give us - because I think people at home, they are thinking, my God, you are going to rent an entire floor. That must be a big price tag for you, guys.

CLANCY: Well, first of all, by law you can't accept any gifts. You know, you got to -- we got to pay for the property that we need. And this is critical to continuity of government. It's critical to the protection of the president. So it's something that needs to be done.

You know, it is actually no different than what we have done with other presidents. Down at the ranch, we had an area set aside for the emergency action team, so to speak. And will do the same thing at Trump tower. We have rent property in Chicago when President Obama first became president, for his trips when he was going out to Chicago. So this is what we typically do. So it's no change in that regard.

BROWN: But this would go to Trump, I mean presumably, do they cut you guys a deal at all?

CLANCY: They were very fair with us. I understand the responsibilities we have been very accommodating.

BROWN: You will be protecting the president and his family while they are under different roofs. The president will be in the White House, his wife and son will be in Trump tower at least temporarily. How will that work?

[19:45:06] CLANCY: Well, we have a detail assigned, of course, to the first lady coming in, Mrs. Donald Trump. And we have people up at Trump tower so we are prepared for that. And very often, the first lady will be separated from the president as they travel separately sometimes and this is just a longer period of time, so.

BROWN: This is one of the busiest cities in the world and it's on one of the busiest avenues in one of the busiest cities. That must present a security challenge.

CLANCY: It does present a security challenge. But all of our protectees have had unique residences. You know, I go back to President Bush when he first came in, 43. And you look at the ranch, protecting that vast volume of acres in large perimeter, but certainly president-elect Trump presents a - this, Trump tower, presents a different challenge for us. But we got a very good plan in place. Again, working with the New York police department.

BROWN: What is the challenge?

CLANCY: Well, we want to make sure that the industry, the businesses in the close proximity, that they are able to operate. And I know when I have gone in, I have been up to Trump tower a few times. And of course, when I go into Trump tower, the restaurant is full, the Starbucks is full of people. So the challenge is to allow those businesses to continue to operate, but in a security manner.

And also the residents that stay in Trump tower. We want to make sure that they are in a safe environment too. But we don't want to impede their access. So we are constantly looking for that balance and working with the community there, to how can we best enhance what we are doing so we are a pleasurable experience.

BROWN: But like I said, I mean, this is a huge, tall building in one of the busiest cities in the world. We live in a day with evolving security threats like drones.

CLANCY: Yes.

BROWN: Does any of this keep you up at night?

CLANCY: Well, everything keeps me up at night.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BROWN: He didn't mince words with that. And Clancy also said that there are two new areas of the secret service dealing with evolving, the evolving array of threats. He said there is no specific division focused on potential social media threats. And the secret service also deploys cyber security experts to every facility the president visits to make sure they are defended from cyberattacks.

And coming up right here in the NEWSROOM, President Obama's last acts, including plans for a big goodbye speech in Chicago after this emotional farewell from his wife.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: Being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life. And I hope I have made you proud.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:50:39] BROWN: Well, the temperature was barely three degrees, but that didn't stop thousands of people from lining up Saturday to scoop up tickets for President Obama's farewell speech in his hometown of Chicago Tuesday. He described the event as a chance to say thank you for the amazing journey he has been on since that history making victory speech in Chicago in 2008 after being elected the nation's first black president. So what should we expect to hear from the president and what could we see from him after he leaves office?

Let's talk about it now with CNN senior political analyst and former advisor to four presidents David Gergen.

Good to see you, David.

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Thanks, Pamela. Good to see you.

BROWN: So the tradition of the farewell speech goes back as far as George Washington. How do you think President Obama, when he use the podium Tuesday night? Do you think we will hear any mentions of Donald Trump? What do you expect?

GERGEN: I think we are going to have echoes of George Washington's speech in one sense and the most famous farewell address, in fact. The first part of it obviously he wants to say thank you, just as Michelle Obama did so eloquently this past week. He also clearly wants to tell the country how much the country has changed under his leadership. And that will be as you can imagine very rosy picture with much little work left to be accomplished.

But I think when it is all over, we in the media probably talking about the rest of his speech which is what some White House say it is calling admonitions. And that is basically statements from him about what he wants to see his successor to keep. The stewardship as president. And there is going to be admonition aimed at Donald Trump with a broader audience in mind.

But the admonitions have been the most remembered part of farewell address as George Washington's farewell address remembered for warning against entangling alliances in Europe. Trying to keep us more isolated until we could take hold as a country before we got on to the world stage.

The other farewell addresses that is very well remembered, it was at by Dwight Eisenhower as he left office in 1961. And he warned us about the military industrial complex. Both famous admonitions. I think we are going to hear something like that from Barack Obama. It is going to be about diversity and inclusiveness as a country. It is going to be about how we look after each other. And I'm sure he is going talk about health care as part of that because he is so worried about his legacy being demolished by Donald Trump. And about, you know, what we owe to the world in terms of leadership. But I think that President Obama clearly, sharply disagrees with Donald Trump on a lot of these things and he want to say some of that.

BROWN: And on the subject of his role post-White House, here is all he would say. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

B. OBAMA: My intention is not to be in the day to day scrum after the new president is inaugurated. But it is my intention as a citizen to continue to promote the things that I care about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So right now, David, as you heard, he still remains the lead voice of the Democratic Party. He doesn't want to give a lot of light into what he is going to be doing once he leaves the White House, though. So in your view, what does he do? Does he just go silent after January 20th when there's such high anxiety in the country? Or does he continue being this leading voice?

GERGEN: Well, George W. Bush did go silent. And he has been very respectful of his successor. And I think frankly admiration as grown for President Bush as a result of that. But I don't expect Barack Obama to stay on the sidelines very long. To him, Trump represents such a major U-turn. One of the biggest swerves away from the legacy that President Obama wants to lead and from his beliefs that I think within a few months, he is going to be not getting into the scrum, as he says. But I think Trump is trying to be from that Olympus. His is going to issue some really strong statements from time to time when he thinks the country is endangered.

The other part of this, Pamela, he has made very clear, is that he is building his library in Chicago as you know. And that is usually a major fundraising opportunity, a major fundraising challenge for ex- presidents. But he has made clear that he wants his library to be a center for training future leaders who are change makers. Who will want social change.

So it is clear that he is going to devote, I think more than Bill Clinton and more than Jimmy Carter as former presidents, say mostly October seize. I think President Obama is going to spend a lot of his time addressing issues here at home because he does care so much about this diversity, inclusiveness, and opening up opportunity for people who have been on the margins.

BROWN: Just very, very quickly, Michelle Obama, what do you think lies ahead for her?

GERGEN: Well, that's an interesting question. There's been a lot of speculation about her running for office as her been about Hillary Clinton running for office. I don't think either one will. But I do think that if Michele Obama is going to be active as a social change maker. She clearly is passionate about that. And she may do it in a less visible way sometimes than President Obama. But I think they are in this for the long journey. I don't think they are going to leave public life. I think they both deeply care. They are both relatively young to be leaving the White House. And I think they deeply care about the future of the country and they are going to fight for that. They are not going to retreat one bit.

[19:56:14] BROWN: All right. Even though they are leaving the White House, as you say, they are not really going away for good.

David Gergen, thank you very much.

Watch CNN's live coverage --

GERGEN: Good to talk to you.

BROWN: You too.

Be sure to watch live coverage of President Obama's farewell address starting Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. eastern with a special edition of "ANDERSON COOPER 360."

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:59:29] BROWN: Well, you could hear babies crying in the Sistine chapel this morning. Pope Francis welcomed 20th little ones into the church for this sacrament of baptism.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

BROWN: As the sounds of crying rang out, the Pope joked that the Jesus's first sermon was the sound of his crying in his temple of Bethlehem. He also said that faith is a light that grows in our hearts.

And up next on CNN, it's "PARTS UNKNOWN" marathon beginning with Anthony Bourdain's owe to the state where he grow up, New Jersey.

I'm Pamela Brown. Have a great week.

END