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Winter Storm Eases; Michael Brown's Parents, Community React to Wilson Interview; Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; Some Stores Open Today Despite Backlash; Turkey Day: Common Ground for GOP, Dems
Aired November 27, 2014 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. Happy Thanksgiving. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me this morning. Thousands of holiday travelers are doing everything they can to get home to celebrate with Thanksgiving with family and friends as a messy winter storm eases up. Try driving through this, though. Snow, rain, and sleet tore up the East Coast, turning the commute into an absolute nightmare. In Massachusetts alone, there were 100 spinouts on the roadways. The airports weren't much better. More than 700 flights scraps. Thousands of people -- or thousands of flights, rather, delayed.
Jennifer Gray is tracking the travel chaos for us this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST (voice-over): Massive winter storms, from coastal rain to inland snow, battering much of the East Coast and parts of the Midwest on the busiest travel day of the year.
ERIC SAIL (PH), COLORADO RESIDENT: I am a man without a flight.
GRAY: Frustrated travelers feeling the ripple effect of storm systems from Montana to Maine.
SAIL (PH): I got on the road, coming from Vail, and snow storm and multiple accidents all over the place.
GRAY: Nearly 5,000 flights delayed up to six hours on Wednesday, and over 700 cancellations at some of the nation's busiest airports.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were notified that the flight was canceled. So we're sitting here in the airport, waiting for the next flight out.
GRAY: Many airlines are waiving rebooking fees for travelers. But stranded travelers finding it hard to rebook on a day when most flights are already full.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's tough to sit and wait and not know what's going to happen. But we're hopeful.
GRAY: For some of the roughly 41 million people expected to drive during this holiday, it's even worse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Visibility is getting really bad. GRAY: In the northeast, a wintry mix slowing travel from D.C. to New
York, while further inland, heavier snow causing multiple tie-ups and accidents.
ROSE SPIELMAN, NEW YORK STRANDED TRAVELER: This day of all days, it's pretty frustrating. But I have a reunion of 30 family members I'm trying to get to tomorrow in Pennsylvania, so nothing's going to stop me.
GRAY: A train ride was the solution home for many Americans at New York's Penn Station, but they, too, faced delays.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be patient. And see if you can make it.
GRAY: This photo shows the scores of people braving the crowd to be with loved ones this Thanksgiving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: But today is much better. We promise, right, Jennifer?
GRAY (on camera): Yes, today, weather wise, is much better. Unfortunately, there are people waking up in airports today and about 100,000 people in Maine without power because of the storm. But it is getting better. The weather is improving. This was a fast mover and that's the good news. It wasn't one of these storms that just lingers, so now we're getting it out of the way, getting the roads cleared, and getting the flights back on track.
A look at your Thanksgiving Day for the entire country. We are going to stay clear and cold across the southeast. Temperatures well below normal. Very, very cold in the Northern Plains. Some rain pushing into the Pacific Northwest. And possible snow for the Northern Plains and Great Lakes as well. Highs today, 12 degrees in Minneapolis. A cold Thanksgiving for you. Chicago, 28. 45 in D.C. 38 in New York City. We are going to see temperatures dip down into the 20s and 30s for those Black Friday shoppers, if you're getting out wee hours of the morning tomorrow. 9 in Minneapolis, your overnight low; 15 in Chicago.
So it is below normal for most of the country, but luckily clearing out and this weekend looking much better for folks traveling back home. Aside from California , expecting big rains, most of the country expecting very nice weather for the drive.
COSTELLO: Woo-hoo! Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks so much.
GRAY: You too.
COSTELLO: In other news this morning, a British national is dead after a suicide bomb hit a convoy of foreign embassy cars in Kabul, Afghanistan, and all five people were killed and 33 others hurt. At least four children were among the injured. The Taliban claiming responsibility.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said to be resting comfortably following surgery. She had a stent placed in an artery Wednesday. At 81, Ginsburg is the oldest active justice. She is expected to be home by the end of the week.
And protests continue in Los Angeles over the grand jury decision not to charge Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown. After marching through much of downtown L.A., in the end, 130 people were taken into custody on misdemeanor charges for failing to disperse.
In Missouri, Ferguson was relatively quiet last night, but we're learning this morning that two men are facing illegal gun charges in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the Gateway Arch and kill St. Louis prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch. According to police, the men were caught in a sting when they tried to buy explosives from an undercover officer.
In the meantime, the parents of Michael Brown continued to have some harsh words following the first interview given by officer Darren Wilson.
Ana Cabrera live in Ferguson this morning with more. Good morning.
ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. By now, I'm sure many of our viewers have seen that interview, the first time Officer Wilson has spoken out since the shooting death on August 9th. And we're hearing reaction from Michael Brown's parents as well as the community at large, and people are not happy about what they heard. In fact, I would say people are even more hurt than they were before, and they talk about specifically some of the things he said like, you know, if Michael Brown had been a white person, that he would have reacted the same way. They aren't buying that, some of the members of this community. They also point to the fact that he said that, if he were to do it again, he would have responded with the shooting in the same way. He also said he has a clear conscience and that he was just doing his job.
Listen to how Michael Brown's parents reacted to that sentiment in an interview with CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin.
(BEGNI VIDEO CLIP)
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Officer Wilson said that he had a clear conscience about what happened that day. If he had to do it again, he would. What's your response to that?
MICHAEL BROWN SR., MICHAEL BROWN'S FATHER: He's a murderer. That's what that tells me.
HOSTIN: What does that tell you, Lesley?
LESLEY MCSPADDEN, MICHAEL BROWN'S MOTHER: I hope the Lord will have mercy on his soul.
BROWN: The reason I say he's a murderer, because if he was conscious of what he was doing, that he understood his actions. He understood exactly what he was doing. You know, he didn't have a second thought, a pushback thought, or nothing. He was intending to kill someone. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: We heard from other members of the community reacting to his comments, saying they are a, quote, "slap in the face", and they believed he was arrogant in how he responded to some of the questions in that interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos.
And what I think it speaks to is the larger issue here, of course. This incident in the case of Michael Brown, has been a flash point in a greater discussion about the issues of law enforcement treatment of minorities in the community. And the community is telling us, from what they heard in the interview, it goes to show that the problems that are underlying here really still exist and the change that they so desire still hasn't come. Carol.
COSTELLO: Ana, of course, we're learning more details about Darren Wilson's time out of the spotlight. He's trying to salvage his life. What's he doing? What can you tell us?
CABRERA: Well, we had a chance to talk with his attorney. CNN did an interview with the attorney last night who shared some interesting details about the time he's spent in the past three months, saying he feared for his life, especially after his address was made public on social media, that he fled his house and really did some house hopping. In fact, even staying for some time with his attorney. That he chose to stay out of the public because he was scared. Sometimes went to dark movie theaters, feeling like he may have been safe there. But, by and large, tried to stay away.
And then we're also learning that he got married during the past couple of months, in his effort to move forward. He married another Ferguson police officer. and he tells, in his interview, what his desires are for the future, is just to live a normal life. But we do understand he's still planning to resign from the Ferguson police force and may choose to leave the profession all together. Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Ana Cabrera reporting live from Ferguson, Missouri, this morning.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: Here in New York City, the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade now getting under way. For the next three hours, a steady stream of floats, balloons, celebrities and marching bands will be making their way to CNN, right here at Columbus Circle. Once they pass CNN, the parade turns east on 59th Street and then south along Sixth Avenue. All morning long, New Yorkers and visitors have braved the cold to stake out prime viewing spots.
I went out there myself and talked to a lot of nice people.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: I understand there's a special person in the parade today, and there's a special person in your life in the parade, too. So tell me about that. DAWN CHRISTIAN, SON IN PARADE: Yes, my son, Drew Christian, is a bass
drum player. He's senior at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School marching band.
COSTELLO: Awesome. And your son is the best friend of Dawn's son.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Exactly, Abraham Martha. He plays the tenor for Paul Lawrence Dunbar band, and we're here to see them. We cam out here all together. There's about 300 of us.
COSTELLO: Holy cow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we're all over the place, waiting to see the kids.
COSTELLO: So are the kids nervous?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure they are, but we're having a great time. And you said earlier about the crowd, it's just building the excitement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, exactly.
COSTELLO: Absolutely. Have you ever been to New York before?
CHRISTIAN: Maybe 20 years ago.
COSTELLO: Has it changed?
CHRISTIAN: Oh yes, but it's beautiful. We've seen all the sights. It's been great.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We love it. It's really beautiful here. We love it.
COSTELLO: So do you sons know where you're standing?
CHRISTIAN: No, but they will hear us.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFEID FEMALE: That's why we're out here at 3:30 in the morning.
CHRISTIAN: Right. We wanted a front row view.
COSTELLO: What are you looking forward most to seeing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to experience this real life, it's what I did as a child, sitting in front of the TV watching this every morning on every Thanksgiving and I want to see it live. I'm hoping the see the difference and enjoy it, take it all in.
COSTELLO: One check off the bucket list.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's it, yep. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: See, a lot of nice people out there, people making friends. Miguel Marquez, he's strategically positioned at the starting point. Take it away, Miguel.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is on, Carol. Here we are with the Western Carolina band, it's the biggest band in this parade ever. 505 members strong. It took 14 tour buses to get them up here. And right behind them, of course, there are the Macy's stars. And just behind the stars -- oh, check out the clowns coming right down the street here. Some 1,000 clowns in this parade. 1,300 cheerleaders and dancers. 49 balloons of all shapes and sizes. And 27 floats.
And the people here, packed in here. Happy Thanksgiving.
CROWD: (CHEERING)
MARQUEZ: Having a good time?
CROWD: (CHEERING)
MARQUEZ: People from Florida, people from the Bronx, people from all over New York. Even a couple from Albania. Amazing, amazing energy, a really great time out here. And a lot of clowns. Did I mention the clowns? 1,000 clowns including this one.
COSTELLO: And he wasn't even a scary clown, which is good. Miguel Marquez, thanks so much. I envy you. It's so much fun out there.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Black Friday of course isn't until tomorrow, but the holiday shopping rush has already begun. And I bet you didn't know this. A lot of people actually hit the bottle before they go shopping. Seriously. That's next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like Thanksgiving, it's great. It seems -- but on the other hand, do Americans really need a special day for overeating? Honestly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I know a lot of you spent the last few days preparing for your Thanksgiving feast today. Of course, retailers spent the past few months preparing for big sales for you to go shopping and all that stuff.
Black Friday is the start to the all-important holiday shopping season. Now, for the second year, Black Friday begins on Thanksgiving Day for some major retailers.
CNN's Cristina Alesci looks at what Target is doing to get ready.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I'm at Target's Minneapolis headquarters, where the company's getting cute, using everything from elves to its classic mascot to pull at your heart strings.
JEFF JONES, TARGET CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER: This is the room where we're evaluating and preparing all the final creative materials. I'm not trying to sell a mobile device in that case. And I'm not trying to sell up on the shelf, but I'm trying to help you fall in love with Target.
ALESCI: Target's office is dripping with its logo, but that excitement has to translate into sales, beginning with Black Friday.
JONES: It's a very unique night in retail.
ALESCI: You could have called all of last year unique for target. The retailer had to cut prices to get people back in stores after a massive credit card data breach. But last quarter's results, impressive. Now it has to keep up the momentum.
JONES: You know, you start to see visually what's happening in the brand.
ALESCI: This is Target's social media center. Who doesn't have one these days?
The question is, is it really driving sales or is it just a fancy customer service center?
JONES: It really enables us to respond in real-time to consumer complaints and to shape the conversation.
ALESCI (on camera): How do you determine who gets a response and which one doesn't, because you can't respond to everyone, can you?
JONES: You know, what we try to look for are there patterns of questions and can we answer one that answers many questions?
ALESCI (voice-over): And that's great. Target is trying to adapt to an increasingly online world, but 95 percent of its sales still come in the physical store. So, we took a walk to the floor.
(on camera): The big question is, how do brick and mortar retailers get people in the store and spending money?
JONES: The physical store is still very important because that's still where most American consumers shop. It has to be inspiring.
ALESCI: As for the front of the store?
(on camera): I'm assuming that this is an important place in the store, right?
JONES: It's actually not an important place, and the reason why is because we don't want to create the congestion right when you walk in the door.
ALESCI: How do you make sure that people come and don't leave disappointed because they didn't get the item that they wanted, the deal that they wanted?
JONES: Now, it's always a great balance because it is a limited supply. It's one-night deals but we also want to make sure we have enough inventory to serve as many guests as possible.
ALESCI: Is there any kind of guarantee if you show up to a Target store, you'll get the deal you want.
JONES: The guarantee is come have a great time shopping at Target.
ALESCI: The guarantee is you'll have a great time.
JONES: Come have a great time shopping at Target.
ALESCI: Yes.
(voice-over): But on Black Friday, is a good time really enough, or do people want deals? Only the numbers can answer that.
Cristina Alesci, CNN, Minneapolis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: We'll see.
Still to come to THE NEWSROOM, John Boehner talking turkey. The House speaker giving you his special recipe for a delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
Athena Jones is talking turkey herself at the White House.
Good morning.
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
We'll have more on how the first family has celebrated Thanksgiving and what they're up to today, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is a day to give thanks, so let's hear it for a tasty morsel of bipartisanship. Both Republicans and Democrats will eat turkey this year. I know it's weird.
But CNN's fabulous pollsters wondered about this, so they did what they do, they polled. Ninety-one percent of Republicans will eat turkey as well as 87 percent of Democrats and 83 percent of independents. See? Eating turkey is universally accepted, a fact not lost on our most influential politicians.
Republican House Speaker John Boehner dared to release his recipes, he brines. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I take about eight quarts of water, half a dozen bay leaves, kosher salt, a little palmful of peppercorns, take a big head of garlic, cut it in half. And the real secret, 16 ounces of pure maple syrup.
Now, I only cook my bird to about 160 max, and then I take it out and put foil over it and let it sit for at least an hour. It's the resting time that really works.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I'm going to try that myself next year.
In the meantime, at the White House, President Obama pardons turkeys, but his fabulous daughters with their awesome eye rolls showed the nation a bit of reality.
Athena Jones is at the White House to show us reality, too.
Good morning.
JONES: Good morning. Happy Thanksgiving, Carol.
That video of the turkey -- that video -- thanks -- that video of a pardoning yesterday was hilarious to watch. I encourage anyone who hasn't seen to go look it up. You could see the reaction of Malia and Sasha Obama.
And anyone who has been a teenager could imagine what is going through their heads, listening to their father make corny jokes. At one point, he said this pardoning of the turkey would be the most talked about executive action of this month, which is a reference to the immigration executive action announced just last week.
But just look, you don't have to imagine what's going through their heads, because you can just look and see. I think the best part was when Malia Obama -- or the president asked Malia and Sasha if they wanted to pet the turkey, named Cheese, and Malia said, nah. That sparked a lot of laughs.
But it just goes to show you that even though he's the leader of the free world, they're still teenagers. He's still their dad, still embarrassing, and that's probably something that the president has in common with Republican dads and Democratic dads and dads the world over.
Last night on Jimmy Kimmel, we also heard about something the president seems to have in common with House Speaker John Boehner.
Let's play that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY KIMMEL, COMEDIAN: I think we finally found something John Boehner has in common with President Obama, mom jeans. They both wear them.
You know, if we could get those two to take a trip to Marshall's together, maybe we could make some progress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: So I don't think the two of them will be going to Marshall's together anytime soon, but I can tell you yesterday the first family spend some time at a place called Bread for the City, handing out food to needy families in southeast Washington. Today, they're going to spend thanksgiving here at the White House -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We couldn't help but put up the mom jeans again. Both of these men have fabulous wives. They should take their men shopping, as most women do, frankly.
JONES: Yes, well -- we'll see about that.
COSTELLO: Athena Jones, thank you so much.
JONES: The pictures speak for themselves.
COSTELLO: They do, they do. Thanks. It was fun.
OK. Let's head out to the streets of New York City and check in with Miguel Marquez, who would never wear mom jeans.
MARQUEZ: Go figure. I'm surrounded by clowns again.
Here we have the -- hello, happy Thanksgiving. How are you?
An incredible number of people out here. Thousands and thousands of people packed in out here. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I do want to show you right down here, just beyond those cones, Ronald McDonald, that balloon coming down, and we have a riverboat coming down the way as well. Forty-nine balloons of all shapes and sizes, 1,000 clowns like we need any more clowns in this world. And about 1,300 dancers and cheerleaders.
It's just an incredible, incredible energy, and the people packed. I mean, it must be 250, 300 people back all the way down the street, just trying to get a glimpse of what is coming by here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK, continue to have fun. And again, envy you.
Miguel Marquez, thank you so much.
I'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
