Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

LeBron, Cleveland Advance to NBA Finals; DOJ and Cleveland Agree to Police Reforms; Race for 2016; Death Toll Rising From Floods in Texas & Oklahoma. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired May 27, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:02] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: The IRS estimated paid -- get ready for this -- almost $6 billion in phony returns in just 2013.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. You need to see this story everyone. Look at your screen. He's about 6'6" with a six-pack to boot.

Check out this buff kangaroo. He was spotted hopping around a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, shirtless naturally. They're used to seeing much smaller kangaroos in Brisbane. The sight of this big boy is intimidating his new neighbors, particularly the men.

This reminded us of someone that we know. And we ask you this morning --

(LAUGHTER)

CAMEROTA: Who is mas macho, left or right?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: That kangaroo is the Chris Cuomo of the marsupial sect.

CUOMO: First of all --

CAMEROTA: Do you have a pouch, Chris?

CUOMO: I don't think the males have pouches. That would be my guess. But the pecks are impressive.

PEREIRA: You don't believe in arms though. This guy clearly does.

CUOMO: I do not lift biceps. I only believe in functional strength. I will tell you this, though, I have had a tussle with his smaller cousin the wallaby. And I got a beat down. They are an angry large-footed animal.

CAMEROTA: What do you think of his form because it looks very similar to yours?

CUOMO: He's obviously bottom heavy. He's got the Asian pyramid of strength.

PEREIRA: Have you seen those things balance on their tail when they're fighting? It's extraordinary.

CUOMO: They are no joke. He's buff. I give it to him. But I'm not afraid. Don't kid yourself.

All right. So, the Cleveland Cavaliers are heading to the NBA finals for just the second time in history.

Andy Scholes has more in today's bleacher report.

Your boy, LeBron, getting it done.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He certainly did, Chris. You know, when LeBron made that decision to go back home to Cleveland last off season, this is what Cavs fans were hoping for. Cleveland going for the sweep of the hawks last night in the eastern conference finals. They controlled this one right from the tip.

LeBron here off the steal gets it back, he goes in for the tomahawk slam. Look at where he jumped from. Just incredible. LeBron was showing off the complete repertoire in this one here. The spin move.

Cavs would cruise to a 118-88 win. LeBron the first player since the 1960s to make it to five straight NBA finals. After the game he celebrated on the court by taking a pretty awesome selfie with his wife and two sons.

The Stanley cup playoffs Rangers in a must-win situation against the Lightning game six of the eastern conference finals. Derrick Broussard coming up huge for New York. He had a hat trick. The Rangers ran away with this winning 7-3 to force a winner take all game 7 Friday night in New York.

San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick likes to use the #sevenstormscoming on social media to apparently warn people of this improved skill.

Well, yesterday he decided to use it while referencing the terrible flooding that's happening in Houston. He posted this pic with the caption, "I warned you #sevenstormscoming. #houston." Well, he quickly deleted that picture and apologized. Tweeting, "I'm sorry about my intention to post, I didn't understand how many people are struggling in Houston right now and I feel horrible."

Guys, just another example of athletes on social media. Right before you post it you need to count to ten and really think about what you're about to say.

PEREIRA: A wise man once told us all, take a deep breath and think about it.

CUOMO: Before you post it. That's the trick.

PEREIRA: That's the key. Yes, yes. Stick with us, kid.

All right, Andy.

So, Cleveland police are agreeing to change the way they do business and the way they operate after the Justice Department found a pattern of abuse and excessive force. But can anything help them regain the trust of their community? We're going to explore that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[06:38:14] FRANK G. JACKSON, MAYOR OF CLEVELAND: As we move forward, it is my strong belief that when other cities across this country address and look at their police issues in their communities, they will be able to say, let's look at Cleveland, because Cleveland has done it right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: That's the mayor of Cleveland announcing major reform to the Cleveland Police Department. The changes coming as part of an agreement with the Justice Department. But do those tough new standards go far enough?

Joining us this morning, Cedric Alexander, CNN law enforcement analyst and president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, also a member of President Obama's task force on 21st century policing. Just the man to ask about all this.

Good to see you, Cedric.

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Good to see you, Michaela.

PEREIRA: Obviously, it's a 105-page consent decree. We know consent decrees are being used in New Orleans, Seattle, L.A. got out from underneath one recently.

First of all, you think this is a good thing to happen for Cleveland?

ALEXANDER: It is a great thing to happen for Cleveland in light of their past history because we have to remember this is the second consent decree that they're going into over the last ten years or so. However, I think it's important to note too in light of everything that's going on in the country, Cleveland has an opportunity here to show itself and its community that through this 105-page document that has been given to them they have an opportunity to really make some real significant changes in that community. Not just with the police department in terms of what's being asked.

PEREIRA: Right.

ALEXANDER: But building that relationship with their community.

PEREIRA: Well, that's such a big part of it. And they actually there's a nod to that in some of the guidelines here. And I want to pull up some information for you to follow along at home. These new guidelines include new guidelines in training and lawful use of force, renewed focus on community policing, revamped accountability procedure, an emphasis on avoiding racial stereotyping.

[06:40:08] Now, it's interesting when you look at some of the guidelines in terms of use of force, Cedric. They're not allowed to strike suspects with a gun using it like a baton. No use of retaliatory force fighting with the suspect after a foot chase, and even adjusting the foot chase protocol among some of the tactics that are going to be looked at very closely.

How is that going to change the job there in Cleveland?

ALEXANDER: Well, those should not be common practices whatsoever. Police officers are not trained to hit with their weapons and certainly are not trained to harm people once the foot chase have ended merely because you're angry of upset.

Now, taking all of that into account certainly there's going to be times when you're going to have truly extenuating circumstances where you may be fighting for your life. But that is quite separate and very, very different from what the Justice Department's asking for.

And I think what they're saying, and I'm very sure what they're saying, is that here is how we're going to conduct ourselves. And here's how you will conduct yourself, Cleveland, as it relates to the new policies that are being set for us. And we're asking you to carry out. They all are very doable.

PEREIRA: They are very doable, you think they are. So here's the question then, if this is the second consent decree Cleveland's been under in the last 10 years, why weren't they doable the first time? What's your assessment of that? What fell apart?

ALEXANDER: Well, I don't know what the first consent decree looked like 10 years ago, but I can say this consent decree and particularly involving people like Ms. Gupta and others and justice --

PEREIRA: From the Justice Department.

ALEXANDER: From the Justice Department who are very sincere about what they're doing and efforts that they're making. Here again, Cleveland has an opportunity to do something very different today. And you have new leadership in that community both with the mayor and with Chief Williams as well too.

So, hopefully, that leadership in that community along with community leadership will take a very good look at that consent decree, adhere to it, follow it. And they're going to make significant improvements. And it's not going to happen overnight.

PEREIRA: No.

ALEXANDER: Of course. But, of course, I think the important piece is that they have a road map here that they can use to move them forward.

PEREIRA: That's a very good point. Having a road map to follow. Protocol and procedure are vital. We understand that.

Yet the ideology, the culture, the mindset of a couple of bad apples within a department, how do you change that? I mean, that's the problem when there is a culture. How do you change culture?

ALEXANDER: It starts at the top. It starts with leadership in every aspect. It's going to start with Chief Williams and run all the way down to the last person hired in that department.

Cultures, we know are difficult to change whether they're cultures, corporate cultures, it doesn't matter what it is. But when you have a roadmap, when you have a defined guideline in which you can utilize to move your agency forward, that gives you something that most people don't have. And what Cleveland have here is a roadmap to help move them forward.

All they got to do is follow the yellow brick road and they'll go exactly where they need to go to find themselves in a much better position than what they are now.

PEREIRA: One of the things I found interesting, in this document, they would agree to essentially have officers document every time they even un-holster a gun. And in some areas where there's more violent action that might happen a lot more frequently.

Are you concerned that that's going to make officers second guess whether they need to draw their weapon? Do you think it's going to make them concerned about, you know, tripling the amount of paperwork they're going to have to do at the end of the shift?

Because we hear from officers all the time about the amount of paperwork they have to face at the end of the shift. Are there any concerns in there or do you think they're all sort of, I don't know, excuses?

ALEXANDER: Well, I think every time you unholster your weapon is pretty extreme. But I think the point that is trying to be made here is accountability. Making sure whatever officers do they're held accountable for.

Yes, if you work in certain areas, in many cities across America you may find yourself unholstering your weapon more often than not. But, you know, common sense has to be used.

But here's the key, Michaela, in all of this, is that you got to have good supervisors. You got to have good sergeants, good lieutenants who are out there supervising their men and women, making sure they're doing the things they need to be doing and holding them accountable.

I don't want any officer out there to second guess themselves. And right now, today, in light of everything that's going on you will hear that. A lot of officers are second guessing themselves.

And what I want to say to all of them, do what you were trained to do.

And what I would say to supervisors out there as well too -- pay attention to your people. Make sure you understand where they are, how they're feeling, what's bothering them as well too.

PEREIRA: Yes.

ALEXANDER: Because I don't want them to take any arrests where they get themselves or somebody else hurt.

[06:45:01] Nobody's asking them to do that and we're not going to ask them to do that because they play a very important and essential role in keeping public safety, keeping all of us safe in our communities.

PEREIRA: Absolutely. Cedric Alexander, wise words from you, we always appreciate when you can join us with your perspective.

ALEXANDER: Thank you for having me.

PEREIRA: Absolute pleasure. What's your take? Give us a tweet. I guess you can do that, using the #NewDayCNN. You can also post your comments on Facebook.com/NewDay.

Alisyn, over to you.

CAMEROTA: OK, Michaela.

Well, the Republican race for president about to get more crowded. Two more candidates getting in. Our political panel here next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: I am proud to announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: That was Vermont senator and now Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. That was yesterday.

Today, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum will become the seventh Republican candidate. Tomorrow, former New York Governor George Pataki will follow suit.

[06:50:00] And Saturday, former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley will join the Democratic side, Chris.

CUOMO: So, why are all these people getting involved with this race? What's going on here?

Let's bring in CNN political analyst and editor and chief at "The Daily Beast", Mr. John Avlon, and CNN political commentator and Republican consultant, Sirius XM radio host, Margaret Hoover.

It's very good to have both of you here with us.

JOHN AVLON, DAILY BEAST: Always.

CUOMO: Let's talk about the dynamic. The last time the Republicans had a big field, they're approaching that number now, but it's about motivations to get in.

When you see Bernie Sanders getting in, he represents the left part of the traditional part of the Democrat Party, even though he was an independent. On the right, you have people getting in.

What do you think is happening in this dynamic? Are people getting in because they think they can win, is it about principle or setting themselves up going forward?

AVLON: I think there's a range of reasons but it's definitely not all about winning this point. We're everybody in the pool stage at the presidential campaign and motivations can range from Bernie Sanders wanting to run an ideological campaign and move the Democratic Party to the left.

CUOMO: So, you say he's pure of heart that's why he's doing it. Not to launch Bernie, you know, pizza sauce afterwards.

AVLON: I don't think he's going for a contributorship necessarily or so increase his speech fees.

But for a lot of people who run honestly, it is a business decision. They want to sell a book. They want to increase their speaking fees. And let's not be -- that may sound craven, because it is.

CAMEROTA: OK. So, Margaret, let's talk about Rick Santorum today.

First of all, what does he bring that's different to the table?

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, you know, there's an old joke that every former governor or former senator looks in the mirror and sees a future president. And that's sort of what you're getting with George Pataki and Rick Santorum.

Rick Santorum has run a couple of times. He brings competition essentially to the right-leaning caucus-goer for candidates for Iowa, South Carolina and for the Southern state primary. He provides some kind of contrast or alternative. He's going up against Huckabee, he's going up against potentially Bobby Jindal. And --

CUOMO: But why? What's in it for him?

HOOVER: For Rick?

CUOMO: Do you think he has a realistic chance of being candidate?

CAMEROTA: He did well last time.

HOOVER: Rick Santorum did very well last time.

CUOMO: Right.

HOOVER: Mike Huckabee did well the time before that. All of them see themselves as the viable person to represent the Christian conservative evangelical base of the Republican establishment, the Republican Party.

They are going to -- because they truly believe what they are saying. And they believe they are representing a part of the country that they think they can espouse their values best.

Like more power to them. That's what this country should be. It should be about people who believe what they are saying and they're trying to codify those into a political national party.

AVLON: What's interesting about the Santorum situation is this and it shows how different this race is on the Republican side. Traditionally, the candidate that basically came in second in the Republican primaries has been teed up to be the conventional wisdom front runner the next time around.

Not the case with Rick Santorum. He's having a hard time hitting basis polling thresholds. That's really unique for somebody --

CAMEROTA: And why is that?

AVLON: Well, I think it is part because he's a play-to-the-base candidate. That he's someone who is all about the evangelical connections rather than presenting a credible general election candidate. And I think it's about the depth of the anybody-but-Romney feeling last time around inside the Republican Party.

But so far, I mean, he has not been able to gain any traction in the interim period between these two races.

CAMEROTA: How about what we're going to see on Saturday Martin O'Malley? Will he move the needle at all?

HOOVER: Finally, you're going to have a real race on the Democratic side. At least there will actually be a contender on the Democratic side. That's important. Hillary needs an actual challenger aside from Bernie Sanders.

CUOMO: You think he's an actual challenger and why?

HOOVER: Why isn't he an actual challenger? He's going to take her on on some of the issues, he's going to provide an alternative to Hillary. There are some people who aren't I mean, not very many.

But, look, the Democratic field needs competition. We've got plenty on the Republican side. Frankly, most people on the Republican side are getting in because they believe even if they're not going to be the next president like George Pataki --

AVLON: They might be vice president.

HOOVER: -- like George Pataki, he's bringing something to the debate, right? We haven't had on the Republican side we've been -- Republicans have been eradicated from the Northeast in the last week. George Pataki represents a Republican who represented a Democratic state for 12 years.

Remember when we weren't a total --

CUOMO: Doesn't think global warming is funny science?

HOOVER: That's what he's talking about. Maybe there is this new hybrid of Republican that can compete in blue states and maybe he can represent that on the debate stage.

CUOMO: Then, why are people brushing him off? You know, we were very impressed by the governor when he was on here. We felt he'd given some of the straightest answers to most of the questions --

CAMEROTA: He took positions.

CUOMO: -- we've had so far.

And people are like he can't raise the money.

AVLON: Well, this is what's interesting about George Pataki, as Margaret said, three-term governor of the state of New York, somebody who have played a role in 9/11, it's really shocking he hasn't been taken more seriously as a national leader. At some point, that's about people's gut check about him.

But in terms of adding value to a national debate and if he's got very little to lose right now, so he might as well swing hard and speak honestly. Who knows? That might help him gain traction. He's the kind of candidate that should be getting traction.

Regarding O'Malley, look, the Democratic field is uniquely behind Hillary right now, but there are candidates who are playing a protest vote role to try to move the party left, and then there's the situation in which the anybody but Hillary break glass if there's a real crisis of a candidacy, someone's going to need to fell that role.

[06:55:02] Martin O'Malley is a former mayor, former governor, he is a long, long shot but if you squint you can kind of see him being vice president. And I think he will play a role in this race.

CUOMO: What ideology does Governor O'Malley represent that Hillary does not?

HOOVER: I don't think he plays that role in this race. Bernie Sanders is decidedly trying to codify this progressive populist insurgency on the left. I think O'Malley is trying to be this alternative to Hillary in case something crumbles.

CAMEROTA: Very quickly. Can we talk about Marco Rubio?

HOOVER: Sure.

CAMEROTA: He went on Christian Broadcasting Network yesterday and he made some controversial comments about same-sex marriage. Let's listen to those.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: Today, we've reached point in our society where if you do not support same-sex marriage you are labeled a homophobe and a hater. What's the next step after they go after individuals? The next step is to argue the teachings of the mainstream Christianity, the catechism of the Catholic Church is hate speech. That's a real and present danger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AVLON: Yes, this is the problem with Rubio playing the generational change card is that he's really out of step with millennial and gen-Xers on this issue. And those statements went further than those we've seen in the past. He did robocalls for the National Organization for Marriage in the last cycle, pretty out of step, but playing -- in 2012 the last presidential cycle, but playing the victim card to that degree, to say all Christians are going to be labeled as haters.

CUOMO: It does seem like a pretty flagrant scare tactic that he's used. There's no basis right now in the current dialogue to believe that could happen.

HOOVER: What Marco Rubio is very good at in almost every other topic is bringing people together, talking about aspirational unifying themes. It will be great to see him do this in his LBGT rhetoric as well.

Here's what you need to know though -- in terms of Christianity and gay marriage there's not a single state that has passed gay marriage where churches haven't been entirely protected, where synagogues haven't been protected. No religion is forced to marry anybody they don't believe with.

In Utah, one of the most religious states in the country they passed comprehensive nondiscrimination with the Mormon Church supporting it. You can be for protecting religious freedom and be for LBGT freedom. That is not totally --

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: But, you know, if Marco Rubio is saying that don't you think it's a concern for your party in the main? He's not seen as an extremist. There's a lot more of this chatter coming out of your side of the aisle.

HOOVER: You know what? Our challenge actually is demonstrating that Republican primary voters believe in the golden rule, believe there are sincerely held beliefs on both side of the issue and we can talk respectfully about this very sensitive issue.

CUOMO: But you made it about religion and not law --

HOOVER: No, I haven't made it about religion.

CUOMO: -- as a representative of the party. You know, that's problem.

HOOVER: That's a misperception, Chris. I think there's a part of the primary base that feels threatened by same-sex marriage.

CUOMO: Because of what Senator Rubio and others are telling them.

HOOVER: I think he's reflecting that fear rather than understanding that actually religiosity and same sex marriage, LGBT freedom and protecting religious freedom can exist in the same space.

CAMEROTA: Paging Marco Rubio, you heard it here.

ALVON: There you go.

CAMEROTA: Margaret Hoover, John Avlon, thanks so much. Great to see, guys.

CUOMO: That's a big story this morning. But there's a lot of news. We have the floods, we have what's going on with FIFA. So, let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the Southwest we had 18 deaths, 13 people are still missing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can imagine probably houses just breaking apart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Motorists left about 1,000 cars stranded on the city roadways.

CUOMO: Not one but two corruption investigations against FIFA.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fourteen people charged all among FIFA leadership and days now before leadership election.

(GUNFIRE)

MARIE HARF, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: We believe ISIL will eventually be defeated in Ramadi and elsewhere in Iraq. Yes, we do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Iraqi forces have launched a massive drive to push ISIS out of the city.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iraqi troops are brave when well-led.

PEREIRA: A chance to see New York City like never before.

CUOMO: NEW DAY takes you live to the observatory from the top of the Freedom Tower.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: And good morning, everyone. Welcome back to your NEW DAY.

Devastated parts of Texas and Oklahoma picking up the pieces after deadly floods and bracing for more dangerous weather today. Death toll now stands at 18, at least. And a flash flood watch is in effect for the next six hours in several counties including Houston.

CUOMO: So, be clear the urgency here is that this is not over. This new round of storms is going to dump onto already saturated earth especially in Texas. They got 13 people there still missing. The authorities are worried about dealing with what comes next.

So, we have complete coverage this morning beginning with Rosa Flores live in Houston. That's one of the hardest hit areas -- Rosa.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Chris, good morning. You know, the water has receded here in some areas of Houston, but the worry is still high. A lot of folks waking up to extensive water damage inside their homes.

And here's how one resident put it. The water rose so quickly she had to jump on her kitchen counter to stay dry and then think of ways to jump to her roof to stay safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLORES (voice-over): The catastrophic aftermath of record breaking deadly flood waters in Houston, Texas, revealed this morning.