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New Day

Russia's Economy on the Brink of Collapse; Walmart Shooting Victim's Family Sues; Jeb Bush to "Actively Explore" Presidential Bid

Aired December 17, 2014 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Russia's economy on the brink of collapse today. Officials just hiked interest rates for the sixth time this year. But the gamble failed and the ruble tanked. One of the main reasons behind this crisis is Western sanctions. And now, President Obama is set to sign a new round of sanctions against Russia.

Let's get right to Matthew Chance. He is live in Moscow.

What's the latest, Matthew?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Alisyn. That's right. These American sanctions sets to target various sectors of the Russian economy, particularly the high-tech oil industry, also arms exporters as well. Interesting that the sanctions will also allow the United States to provide lethal military aid to Ukraine, where of course Russia is accused of being involved in a separatist rebellion in the east of the country.

So, potentially, sanctions could make life for Russians even more difficult than they are already, President Obama has stressed he may not implement the sanctions. Much will depend on what Russia's actions are. Of course, it's been cowed somewhat by the economic crisis, its currency has plunged nearly 60 percent against the U.S. dollar. It's stabilized somewhat now as the finance ministry starts to use its reserves of foreign currency to try to shore up the Russian ruble.

But it's going to depend in the words of the secretary of state, John Kerry, on the actions of President Putin. We'll get a better read on what he intends to do to tackle this crisis when he gives list annual press conference about this time tomorrow. It usually lasts for about four or five hours and it's a once in a year opportunity for him to ask questions -- to answer questions albeit staged questions, for the most part. From the Russian public and from journalists about the year that has just preceded. Obviously, the focus is very much going to be we expect on the economic crisis, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Matthew, quickly -- sanctions have been around for some time. How this week did it get so bad?

CHANCE: Well, the crisis in Russia is not just about sanctions. It first and foremost, it's about the oil price. You know crude oil is very much linked to the Russian ruble. The ruble rises and falls with the price of crude. And as crude has descended, it's been dragging down the Russian currency with it.

The sanctions haven't helped, particularly the sanctions that have targeted Russian companies, preventing them from taking out bank loans in Western banks. That's been very damaging as well. That's been added to by the oil price plunge, and the two combined along with other economic problems in Russia have led to the economic crisis. So, it's not just the sanctions, but they're definitely an aggravating factor.

CAMEROTA: Fascinating. Matthew Chance, thanks for explaining that to us.

There's more headlines. Let's get over to Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Good morning once again, everyone.

Sony Pictures is telling theaters they can pull the film, "The Interview" after cyber hackers who breached Sony Pictures threatened further attacks against theaters that show the film. One major theater chain has already canceled the film and a big premiere that was set for tomorrow in New York, that's been scrubbed. The FBI and Homeland Security are investigating the threat.

An intense manhunt in Pennsylvania is now over, after an Iraq war veteran accused of murdering his ex-wife and her family was found dead after an apparent suicide. Bradley William Stone's body was discovered in the woods near his home two days after he was suspected of killing his ex-wife, and five of his former in-laws, including a 14-year-old girl. Officials say Stone appeared to have died of self- inflicted wounds to the center of his body.

Several people were injured after an American Airlines jet hit severe turbulence in South Korea. They will arrive in Texas, their destination this morning. The Dallas-Fort Worth plane was forced to divert and make an emergency landing in Tokyo. Fourteen people needed medical attention. American Airlines say four passengers and a crew member were taken to the hospital, none of their injuries are life- threatening.

I love this story. You know, no matter how old you get, your mom is always your mom. And she can still make you feel like you might just get your mouth washed out with soap. Brothers Dallas and Brad Woodhouse were debating bipartisanship on C-Span on their "Washington Journal" when they got -- well, they got a surprising call on air.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOM JOY: I was very glad that this Thanksgiving was a year that you two were supposed to go to your in-laws. And I was -- and I'm hoping you'll have some of this out of your system when you come here for Christmas.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PEREIRA: That's mom Joy. I love Joy. She could not help but take matters into her own hands and call into the show when she saw her boys arguing. Both men as you saw, held their faces, one even mumbled, "Oh God, it's mom." So, hopefully, Joy will get their wish and maybe the holidays will be a nice peaceful one and the brothers will not debate and argue.

You and your brother don't ever do that in front of your mother, do you?

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Uh-hmm.

CAMEROTA: They do it here on the show whenever the governor comes on.

PEREIRA: And put us at the middle of it. It's so awkward.

CAMEROTA: I know.

CUOMO: Sadly, I'm a victim and I appreciate the lack defense.

CAMEROTA: Hardly.

CUOMO: Let's get off this topic, let's turn to sports.

A big-time match-up in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors, maybe the most exciting team in the NBA in some time, 16-game winning streak, against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Let's bring in Andy Scholes with this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Hello, my brother.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Hello, Chris.

Yes, the Warriors, man, they have been so great. They got through a 21-2 start to the season. Some people even started kicking around the idea that they would challenge the '96 Bulls' record of 72-10. Now probably not going to happen, but nevertheless, it's been an impressive start to this season.

Last night, the Warriors taking on the Grizzlies, who have only lost four games. Now, Memphis went on a 20-0 run to start the second quarter, opened up a big lead in the game. The warrior was cut it to two in the fourth quarter. But the Grizzlies would hold on to get the win, 105-98, snapping Golden State's 16-game win streak.

All right. Florida Panthers and Washington Capitols needed a shootout last night to determine the winner. And it went on and on and on -- for 20 rounds. That's five rounds longer than any shoot-out in NHL history. Every player in uniform minus the goalies took a shot at least once. Finally, the Panthers would score the final goal in the 2-1 victory.

All right. Two-time masters champion Bubba Watson spent much of his off-season in the recording studio working on his first single. Well, it dropped yesterday. I give you -- Bubba Claus. (MUSIC VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

SCHOLES: It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Bubba Claus.

That song doesn't give me any Christmas spirit like "Jingle Bells", guys, but it's one of those videos I think it's bad it's actually good.

CAMEROTA: Uh-huh? Can be. Future classic? Chris gives it the thumb's down.

(LAUGHTER)

SCHOLES: Don't think we're going to hear people singing that -- during the holidays.

CUOMO: That was so wrong. That was so wrong on so many levels, I think.

CAMEROTA: All right. Thanks so much, Andy, for that little bit of entertainment.

Well, listen to this story -- he went to Walmart to buy s'mores for a family barbeque and he wound up being gunned down by police. Now, the family of John Crawford is suing, demanding justice for their son. A grand jury decided not to indict the officers involved. Does the family's lawsuit have a chance?

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Welcome back.

The family of a man gunned down by police officers in an Ohio Walmart is suing the retail giant and the police. John Crawford was holding a BB gun when he was shot and killed. In September, a grand jury decided not to indict the officers involved in the incident. This, as new video is released showing police aggressively interrogating Crawford's girlfriend after he was killed.

CNN's Ana Cabrera has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DETECTIVE RODNEY CURD, BEAVER CREEK POLICE: Where did you get this gun?

TASHA THOMAS, JOHN CRAWFORD III'S GIRLFRIEND: Sir, I don't know. I swear to God. Sir, I swear to God. I don't know on everything I love. You can give me a lie detector test and everything.

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just released video from inside the interrogation room. Beaver Creek police detective Rodney Curd grills Tasha Thomas, the girlfriend of John Crawford III. It's just minutes after police open fire, killing Crawford inside an Ohio Walmart.

CURD: Why would he have a gun in the store?

THOMAS: I don't know.

CURD: Did he ever carry gun?

THOMAS: Not that, I never know --

CABRERA: This is the incident all caught on camera, surveillance video on August 5th shows Crawford wandering the aisles, talking on the phone and carrying what looks like a rifle. A concerned customer called 911 and police responded.

DISPATCH: Holding a gun. Pointing it.

OFFICER: I'm in the Walmart. Did you say he's pointing it at people.

DISPATCH: Affirmative, 90.

CABRERA: Police say Crawford failed to obey commands from police, but Crawford's family argues Crawford never had a chance. They say the video shows he had his back to police and was on the phone when they approached. And that the officers opened fire just one second after they confronted Crawford.

MARK PIEPMEIER, SPECIAL PROSECUTOR: One of these is a real gun. One of these is the gun Mr. Crawford was carrying that day. As you can see, it's very hard to tell the difference.

CABRERA: It turns out Crawford was holding a pellet gun he had picked up from a store shelf. Not a rifle. In September, a grand jury chose not to indict the officers on any charges. The family is now filing a federal lawsuit against police and Walmart, saying the pellet gun should have been locked up and police should have done due diligence before opening fire.

The city responded with this statement, "We believe the evidence will prove that the officer's actions were legally justified."

Walmart expressed condolences and said, quote, "Our associates acted properly."

JOHN CRAWFORD, JR., FATHER OF MAN KILLED BY POLICE: I'm still pursuing justice, because to me, that is justice. You have to be held accountable. You don't get a pass because you have a sidearm and a shield.

CABRERA: Crawford's family says he wasn't a criminal. He was a customer, and now an innocent victim. They believe police tried to cover up their mistake afterwards, by trying to coerce Tasha Thomas into saying something that might justify the shooting.

CURD: We're investigating a, a serious incident. You lie to me and you might be on your way to jail. So, I'm going to be very clear about this. THOMAS: I swear to god --

CURD: You were with him just moments before this happened. You need to tell me the truth.

THOMAS: I am. I am. I swear to God. I swear to God.

CURD: Are you under the influence of anything?

THOMAS: No.

CURD: Been drinking?

THOMAS: No.

CURD: Drugs?

THOMAS: No.

CURD: Your eyes are kind of messed up. I don't know if it's because you're upset or not.

CABRERA: For 90 minutes this goes on before Thomas finally learns her boyfriend is dead.

CURD: Well, to let you know, unfortunately, John has passed away as a result of this. I don't know any other way to tell you. I mean, what happened there wasn't a good thing and as a result of his actions he is gone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Now, police say there was no coercion involved. The detective says he was questioning Thomas based on what he was told by the police who were on scene of the shooting and he says, initially, they thought Crawford was carrying a real rifle. They thought he had brought it into the store. And he says he really was just searching for answers -- Chris, Alisyn.

CUOMO: All right. Ana, thank you very much.

This is going to be a very controversial situation once again. Those types of interviews are hard to watch, usually caused custodial interrogation. She wasn't in custody. Police often use devices to try to elicit information. But you have to ask why were they using those devices on this woman in that situation.

You have another instance now that people are complaining that a prosecutor was supposed to be bringing a case, seemed to be trying to defend the police in front of the grand jury. That's going to raise the controversy level in this.

So, we will in the next hour speak more about this story with the father of John Crawford and the family's attorney and you can judge the situation for yourself.

CAMEROTA: That was gut-wrenching. I mean, just gut-wrenching to watch that. That will be an important interview with the family.

Meanwhile, Jeb Bush announcing that he will explore a presidential run in 2016. What does this mean for the other Republicans considering a bid?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: You care about who's going to be the next president?

CAMEROTA: I do.

CUOMO: Well, you do, and so do you.

Big news -- former Florida Governor Jeb announced on Facebook that he has decided to, quote, "actively explore" the possibility of running for president. Right there on Facebook, must be true. He's going to establish a leadership political action committee to start the process. What does this mean for him? Is this like the real deal now? What does it mean for everybody else on his side of the fence?

Let's talk about with CNN political analyst and editor-in-chief, Mr. John Avlon, "Daily Beast", got that part there for competitive edge, and CNN political commentator and Republican consultant, Margaret Hoover.

All right. Facebook, what's that about? And is this the real deal? Avlon?

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: He's trying to show how hip he is, he can get on the Google, do the Facebook. What was really surprising is the way he got ahead of the game and the really whole field. Jeb Bush has been the one holding back, saying, I'm not going to make a decision until the end of the year earliest.

And here all of a sudden with the announcement, it puts everyone else in reactive mode. So, it's actually incredibly significant and it does have impacts throughout the race in terms of especially who's going to be the money guy for the establishment center right. But that move surprised everybody and puts everybody else on defense.

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't know I think Facebook is very old school. It should have been Tinder.

(LAUGHTER)

CAMEROTA: Just -- a dating website.

But, Margaret, how does this change --

(LAUGHTER)

CAMEROTA: How does it change the landscape for all of the different Republican hopefuls now?

HOOVER: There are significant calculations that everybody has to make now, especially in the donor community. I mean, the donor community knows Jeb Bush, likes Jeb Bush. Frankly, had a significant role to play in 2014 in terms of helping to get candidates in the -- through the primaries that were going to be electable in the general election.

A lot of the donor community, especially the big donors like somebody who is electable in the general election. They're not going to flirt with a Ben Carson. They're not going to flirt with --

(CROSSTALK)

HOOVER: Right? But they can play a significant role, because ultimately, we talked about this yesterday, this is an endurance race, this is not going to be a sprint and the person who's to get through the end is somebody who can have the resources to pay for their campaign over the next two years. It's a two-year presidential race, and Bush can do that in ways that some of the governor who is have never run for president before, like Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal won't be able to.

AVLON: Yes.

CUOMO: Is he making money matter too much early on? I mean, we always use the word resources, right? But that's kind of like a dignified word. He's forming a PAC. I know it's close to home. But, you know, he's forming a PAC. It gives him an ability to funnel more money in.

HOOVER: Well, let's talk about how much money that is. That means he can raise $5,000 increments from one person. So, he still has to hit the road and pound the pavement to get a lot of people to give him checks. And that's --

CUOMO: Five grand is a lot of money.

HOOVER: Five grand is a lot of money, but it's not like a super PAC. It's not like one billionaire can write him a check and fund his entire political ambition. I mean, that's ultimately what happened with Newt Gingrich.

AVLON: Or Rick Santorum.

HOOVER: Or Newt Gingrich.

AVLON: But this is also a reminder of how much the actual process is preoccupied with money. And the American people want to see it preoccupied with ideas. And that gap is just a reality of a campaign.

You're creating a multimillion dollar organization that if it succeeds will go out of business in a year and you're doing it basically on the fly. But so, the money, the degree to which politics and running for president is simply a money ball game and the way that distracts from what really matters and distracts candidates who are spending time with real people, with main street concerns --

CUOMO: Margaret doesn't like it. Cut him off.

HOOVER: I fundamentally disagree with that, because, look, money is part of the process, but it doesn't -- and it is, to say it dominates it is undermines this notion that by building this PAC, he's able to build out a policy staff. He's able to have a political team. He's able to go into Iowa and start talking to Iowans. He can't do that without money. He can't do that for free.

AVLON: He can drive to Cedar Rapid and start talking to people tomorrow.

HOOVER: On his own dime?

AVLON: On his own dime.

HOOVER: Then, only rich people end up running for president.

It is actually by capping it and having transparency, this is a way of channeling funds. This wasn't supposed to be a debate about money and politics, let's talk about Jeb Bush.

AVLON: Yes, look, what's going to be interesting to see is if Jeb Bush tries to pursue a path to the nomination that doesn't pander to the far right. He sticks to his guns on immigration. I'm saying that this is noting, he's going to get move to the right on, like Mitt Romney did. If he's going to actually run the way he governed. Because if his name wasn't Bush, he would still be an enormously credible candidate and would have been last cycle as well.

CAMEROTA: Does this have the biggest impact on Marco Rubio?

HOOVER: It does have a big impact on Marco Rubio. It also has a huge impact on Chris Christie. I mean, these were suppose to be the candidates who were moderate, who could sort of cater to the establishment. Not Marco Rubio.

Marco Rubio, again, is very close with Jeb Bush. I mean, he really came up through leadership in the Florida House of Representatives with Jeb Bush as his governor. I mean, he was Jeb Bush's guy.

So, I highly doubt he runs now.

CUOMO: Can Bush beat Romney?

AVLON: That's not going do happen. That's not going do happen. No. I mean -- I think because I think Romney --

CUOMO: I thought that was a great question. You guys just brush it right aside.

AVLON: Yes, I did. No, I don't think that's a good question at all.

I do think that -- you know, to the extent all of these are pieces that are interrelated right, if Jeb didn't run Romney would say we need someone strong in the center right with high-name ID. But that space is now been taken. Plus, I don't think, frankly, there's a real demand for a Mitt Romney, you know, three-repeat.

CUOMO: Alisyn's research for the segment. It says the polls for Romney -- tell them what it says.

AVLON: Right.

CAMEROTA: All right. So, I have a little poll here I can show you. There hasn't been any polling since he made his Facebook announcement. Here is what the field looked like a couple of weeks ago in our CNN poll.

CUOMO: Without Romney.

CAMEROTA: Without Romney, Bush wins, but not by much. Ben Carson is second, 11 percent, Mike Huckabee, who has a lot of name recognition because of his TV show, 10 percent and further down is Chris Christie and Paul Ryan.

CUOMO: With Romney, he gets spanked.

AVLON: Yes. And I think, again, that's purely a name ID deal. You can't at this stage of the presidential campaigns, these are largely name ID and Mitt Romney has a lot of goodwill within the party. But this part of the debate about the nomination is going to be which candidate can best appeal to the center right and the big donor who is actually want someone who can be responsible president and win a general election.

HOOVER: Don't underestimate the value of name ID is what I would say. With no president in the second half of the 20th century on the Republican side has gotten the nomination from the Republican Party without trying for it once before, either on the ticket as a vice president, and except George W. Bush. Why? Because they were comfortable with Bushes.

So, being a Bush cuts both ways. Being a Bush cuts both ways. It's negative for Jeb Bush, he's going to have to differentiate himself, he's got a lot of baggage, but it also helps him a lot. That's why he's leading in the polls.

CAMEROTA: Interesting days, John, Margaret, thanks so much.

AVLON: Thanks, guys.

CUOMO: Talking about politics without talking about money in politics is always a waste of time. You always have to bring it up.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: A lot of stories, let's get to it right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Premiere canceled, new terrorist fears overwhelm the industry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think this is a good time to withdraw, I think it's a good time to stand your ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's stolen information. I think it's (EXPLETIVE DELETED) anyone can talk about.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was going to get out there, anyway. We have to be part of the conversation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One hundred thirty-two children slaughtered at their school by terrorists.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is one of the worst school shootings anywhere in the world, and in history.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We should stand up together and fight against terrorism.

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: These sanctions could have been lifted months ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Their futures are being sacrificed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Russia is now in the depths of the economic crisis.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to NEW DAY. I'm Alisyn Camerota, along with Chris Cuomo.

Major developments on the fallout of the controversial comedy depicting the assassination of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. This morning, one major theater chain pulling the plug on the Sony Pictures film and now the star-studded New York premiere tomorrow has been canceled.

CUOMO: Sony telling theater owners to feel free to pull "The Interview", why, because of the cyber hackers that are threatening attacks against anyone showing the film. Their warning says remember 9/11.

Our breaking news coverage begins this morning with Pamela Brown live from Washington.

Pamela, how real is our government taking this?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the government is taking this very seriously. And I know that this has reached the highest levels of the government. It's a huge deal when it's been devastating for Sony. There have been some fast-moving developments since this threat reportedly from the hackers surfaced yesterday.

So far, the stars of the controversial comedy have canceled press appearances, and the major theater chain Cinemark has decided not to feature the film. We expect the dominos to continue to fall today. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SETH ROGEN, ACTOR: Kim Jong-Un wants to do an interview with Dave Skylark?

JAMES FRANCO, ACTOR: He's a fan!

BROWN (voice-over): Amid mounting threats from the hackers to call off its Christmas release, Sony says it currently has no plans to pull its upcoming movie, "The Interview."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take him out.

ROGEN: You want us to kill the leader of North Korea?

BROWN: But now developing, a person close to the situation says Sony would not object if theaters decide to pull it from their box offices.

FRANCO: You want to go kill Kim Jong-Un?

ROGEN: Totally.

BROWN: Carmike Cinemas reportedly the first movie chain to pull the plug from their more than 270 theaters across more than 40 states. Landmark Theaters also bailing, canceling Thursday's premiere in New York.

Even the film's stars, Seth Rogen and James Franco, dropping out of all media appearances this week.