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The Lead with Jake Tapper

WaPo: U.S. Developing Options to Combat Russian Interference; U.S. Military on High Alert for North Korea Launch; 2020 Election Could Feature a Record Gender Gap. Aired 4:30-5p ET

Aired December 26, 2019 - 16:30   ET

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

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Now, the Pentagon is not confirming nor denying this report, essentially saying that, yes, Cyber Command does, in fact, help DHS and helps the FBI on operations, and also said that, quote: When authorized, it's taking action to disrupt or degrade malicious nation state cyber actors' ability to interfere in U.S. elections.

[16:30:09]

So, yes, they are preventing outside actors from getting involved in U.S. elections, but not commenting on the specific nature of what "The Washington Post" has revealed in their reporting.

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Perhaps not surprising, right, in terms -- not surprising in terms of the statement.

But, Nina, as Kylie pointed out, this is something that they've been working on for some time. Just put it in perspective for us. How sophisticated would an operation like that be?

NINA JANKOWICZ, CYBERSECURITY EXPERT: Well, make no mistake, Erica. The United States is one of the foremost cyber operators in the world. I think this is not beyond our capability, nor is it particularly something we should be surprised that is in our tool kit.

I think what's important to note is that the United States has been reticent to take steps like this because it's become so politicized the last couple of years. What's worrisome to me is that we're only taking these steps in relation to elections. You know, we took similar steps, shutting down the Internet Research Agency, the IRA out of St. Petersburg, that infamous troll factory in 2016 during the midterms. But these are operations that are going on all the time. And in fact, the infrastructure for them is seeded and developed in into our election period.

So, for three years, we've been sitting around kind of twiddling our thumbs, taking very few steps. And now, just -- you know, within a year of the 2020 election, we're finally starting to get our game together.

HILL: Which doesn't instill a ton of confidence, it must be said.

Kylie, as we look at this, would Vladimir Putin be a target? ATWOOD: Well, according to the reporting from "The Post", that would

be a little bit too provocative. He is not on the table for someone that they are considering targeting. Now, of course, things could change, given any intelligence that they're able to collect about meddling in the 2020 elections, which is something that U.S. intelligence officials have said that Russia wants to do.

HILL: And Anita, what would be the response, would you imagine, from Russia?

JANKOWICZ: I don't think this will change Russia's response in the slightest, because you know what, we've got a huge disparity in the messaging that's coming from the White House and actions like this, that our national security administration is taking in the United States. We've got President Trump wondering if Russian influence and information warfare is even a thing and on the other hand, we've got these responses coming from the Department of Defense.

So, I don't think Russia is going to be convinced by the fact that we're taking this action.

HILL: Nina Jankowicz, Kylie Atwood, thank you both.

JANKOWICZ: Thank you.

HILL: American and South Korean troops are on high alert after North Korea threatened to deliver a Christmas gift -- a threat deemed serious enough the U.S. military is purportedly flying spy missions over the Korean peninsula.

CNN's Paula Hancocks is in Seoul, South Korea.

And, Paula, I know sources tell the U.S. -- tell CNN rather, the U.S. is closely watching North Korea for a possible provocation. Has there been a hint of activity at this point and what would it even look like?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erica, U.S. officials are quite puzzled at this point as to why there hasn't been some kind of test from North Korea. The Trump administration officials widely anticipated and expected that this Christmas gift would be some kind of weapons test. Many officials and experts here in South Korea agreed with that.

Now, we do understand that there are intelligence indicators that show that some weapons components have been moved. We know that there are open source satellite imagery showing that there has been activity, at two of the key sites when it comes to the missiles program in North Korea.

Now, one source with knowledge of North Korean thinking says that they believe some provocative test, like a nuclear test to an ICBM launch over the Christmas period would be unlikely, but we are also expecting and hearing from U.S. officials that the window's not closed. They're expecting this window to be open through January, which is Kim Jong- un's birthday as well. And, of course, there is that year-end deadline that North Korea has given the U.S. also.

Now, a U.S. official tells CNN that there have been some contingency plans put in place, that there have been some potential military show of force options, that could be executed quickly if there is provocative test by North Korea, a fly over of bombers over the peninsula, for example, or even a ground force military drill, a ground weapons military drill that could be executed. Of course, we don't know what the red line is or what that threshold is, though -- Erica.

HILL: Paula Hancocks live for us in Seoul -- thank you.

The poll suggesting we could see a new record in the 2020 election. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:38:36]

HILL: With a little more than a month until the first votes are cast, some polls suggest there could be a gender, a record gender gap at the ballot box. In 2016, women overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton as men supported Donald Trump. But CNN's Harry Enten found the split could be even larger next year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL WRITER & ANALYST: I averaged our last two polls, CNN polls, October and December, and take a look at this. I'm specifically looking at the Biden and Trump to simplify things a little bit, and take a look here.

So, women, in average of our two polls, voting Democratic, voting for Joe Biden by 24 percentage points. Republicans voting for Trump by 10 percent. That's a gender gap of 34 points. That is huge. I have never, ever seen that in any polling ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: It is quite the gap, as we look at it. Maria, is there a danger in Democrats, though, perhaps feeling content with numbers like that, and being complacent, with which we saw some of them in 2016?

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Of course there is, Erica. And we cannot become complacent. We have to be running as if we are losing all voter groups. And that way, we will make sure to do everything we can to mobilize not just women but everyone out there, who is sick of having Trump as the chaotic president, as I mentioned earlier.

But I think another thing to note, Erica, is among this gender gap and a reason why it could be even worse is because Hispanic women are also now more apt to vote for the Democratic nominee next year than are Hispanic men.

[16:40:10] But even overall, Hispanics are more apt to vote for the Democratic nominee. And Hispanics are poised to become the biggest ethnic minority voting bloc in 2020. So, overall, it is a huge danger for Trump, but Democrats cannot take it for granted.

MAEVE RESTON, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER: And, Erica, I'm sorry, if I can just make -- to Maria's point, what we also have to remember about 2018 is that in all of the swing states that I went to in those hot midterm races, you saw pairs of mothers and daughters out canvassing, who had not been part of the process before. Many of those younger female voters told me that they regretted not turning out in 2016 because they just didn't think that there was going to be a big difference in who they ended up with or because they weren't -- they didn't particularly like Hillary Clinton.

And I think that a lot of women have learned that lesson from 2016, and they were more energized in 2018, as we saw, than in a very long time in midterm elections.

HILL: And there's also the focus on -- yes, go ahead.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I was going to say, there are important gradations in all of this, in the gender story, because even though Hillary Clinton did carry most women in 2016, the principle reason Donald Trump is president is because so many non- college white women in the key states voted for him over the first female nominee. By every data source, he won those non-college white women by at least 20 points in 2016.

So, there are different pieces of this. Without doubt, college- educated white women are moving away from Democrat -- moving away from Republicans at the highest levels we've ever seen in 2018. We'll probably see a record of that in 2020. There's a huge gender gap, as Maria was saying, among Hispanics and African-Americans, but that is, in part, because Trump may have as a sliver of an audience among minority men both because of his style and also the economy.

To me, the key in this gender politics remain those blue collar white women are a big share of the vote in those key Midwestern states, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin. There are signs they are recoiling from Trump not only because of his style but also because of health care. And the House vote a couple of weeks ago on reducing prescription drug prices may be even more than impeachment in 2020.

But that really I think is going to be the crucible, whether Democrats can make enough gains among those women to help tip those states that decided the 2016 election.

HILL: There's also -- putting aside gender for the moment, there's the issue of moderates and the moderate lane and there's been so much made obviously about Joe Biden versus Pete Buttigieg, with a little Amy Klobuchar thrown in for good measure too especially over the last couple of weeks. But there's a story in "New York Times" that actually focuses on the moderate appeal of Joe Biden.

And some of what stood out to me is this is a 27-year-old voter, Bailey Smith, who tells the paper, I think he could get the independents and moderate Republicans, who refuse to vote for Donald Trump. And when asked if she had any of those Republicans in mind, the answer was, my dad.

How realistic is it, Brendan, at this point, that you are going to see more of these voters like Bailey's dad out there, who shy away from Donald Trump, but like the idea of a more moderate Joe Biden?

BRENDAN BUCK, FORMER TOP AIDE, SPEAKERS PAUL RYAN AND JOHN BOEHNER: Yes, let me say a few things. One, the middle has never been smaller in our politics. Tribalism has taken over everything. And the number of Never Trumpers, so-called, is actually I think vanishingly small -- vanishingly small population of the GOP.

That said, the choice matters. And if there is a choice between, say, Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump versus a Joe Biden and Donald Trump, I think that actually is enough potentially to swing the election. There are -- again, I don't think there are a ton of those Republicans willing to vote for a Democrat, but there may be just enough given that this election will likely going to turn on a number of -- maybe three or four states and maybe just in, you know, surrounding the suburbs of Detroit, or Milwaukee, or Philadelphia.

It's a really small area that could swing this entire election and candidates matter. If it is Elizabeth Warren, yes, there's a real chance she could lose, where I think Joe Biden actually has a centrist message that could appeal to some really actively moderate -- or just -- even if you're not a moderate Republican. You're a conservative Republican, who is just turned off by what this president does, and the way he acts and talks.

HILL: Well, on the heels of this conversation, we're going to take a look at a Democratic stronghold which may actually have a little bit room for change. How one Mexican-American is actually trying to shore up support for President Trump all along the border?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Perhaps you can fill these people in. Why are you conservative?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:49:13]

HILL: President Trump launched his 2016 campaign with an attack on immigrants from Mexico, saying Mexico isn't sending their best and infamously calling Mexicans rapists.

Yet, as CNN's Nick Valencia reports, one group of Hispanics near the border not only insists he is the candidate that's most in line with their values; they're also campaigning hard for his reelection.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RAY BACA, CHAIRMAN, BORDER HISPANICS FOR TRUMP: Are you a member of Borders Hispanics yet?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I'm not.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ray Baca has his work cut out for him. As the chair of the Border Hispanics for Trump, living in the Democratic stronghold of El Paso, his goal is to get Latinos to help reelect the president. But the odds are against him.

BACA: I'm with Border Hispanics for Trump. Are you? Have you heard of us?

VALENCIA: As the 65-year-old sees it, there are countless Latinos who support the president, but are afraid to admit it. He hopes to convince them that their values are more in line with the GOP and with Trump.

[16:50:02]

BACA: I look at President Trump as the one who most closely represents my values.

VALENCIA (on camera): People will hear that and say, values? You know, what values does the president have?

So, when you say that, what do you mean?

BACA: I mean supporting things that I support, like being against abortion, being for limited government involvement, being for border security.

VALENCIA (voice-over): Indeed, support for Trump in Texas among Latinos has remained steady at 30 percent, according to a recent CNN poll.

The unwavering support comes in the face of criticism over the president's rhetoric on the Latino community, which his critics, at best, see as offensive and, at worst, racist.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best.

VALENCIA (on camera): How can you still support somebody who they see as saying racist things against the Latino community?

BACA: I disagree. I really don't think he's said things that are racist.

VALENCIA (voice-over): In August, 22 people were killed in a racist attack targeting Latinos at an El Paso Walmart. Baca says anyone who blames Trump because of his rhetoric and border policies is trying to make political hay of the shooting.

BACA: I just don't think you can hold a president -- or President Trump in particular -- responsible for the actions of a single madman. VALENCIA: Baca agrees with the president on most things, but not

everything. Mainly, though he supports the idea of a wall, he questions the practicality of building one across the entire U.S.- Mexico border, a signature issue for Trump and his base.

BACA: I see him with his faults. I see him warts and all. I don't want to spend $200 billion a wall, if you can do it for $50 million and solve the problem.

I'm Ray Baca.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I remember you, Ray.

BACA: Well, good to see you. Good to see you.

VALENCIA: Tonight, Baca's pitch for Trump comes in an impromptu gathering of conservatives. But, even in a friendly crowd, it can be a hard sell.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will think about it. I will think about it. Thank you. Nice to meet you.

BACA: OK, thank you. Bye-bye.

Can't win them all.

VALENCIA: But there are already some unlikely voters he doesn't have to win over.

(on camera): President Trump was the first president that you voted for?

BLANCA BINKLEY, TRUMP SUPPORTER: Yes.

VALENCIA (voice-over): Originally from Mexico, 29-year-old Blanca Binkley became a U.S. citizen just five years ago. She plans on voting for Trump again in 2020.

BINKLEY: Oftentimes, when I'm asked, but why? Or, like, I feel like someone's going to throw eggs at me or I'm going to be shunned from the Hispanic community, you know?

VALENCIA: Shunned by some, perhaps, but that's what Ray Baca and Trump are counting on.

BACA: We need to get our Hispanic brethren to quit voting Democrat simply because that's what they have always voted.

(APPLAUSE)

VALENCIA: Nick Valencia, CNN, El Paso, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly escorted off stage by security as the Israeli leader campaigned for a critical election happening now. We are live in Jerusalem next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:57:21]

HILL: The first results of a critical election expected in just moments.

Israel's prime minister is facing a challenge to his leadership today, all while he's battling corruption charges. And that's not the only way Netanyahu is doing his best impression of his friend President Trump.

CNN's Oren Liebermann is live for us in Jerusalem.

(CROSSTALK)

HILL: Oren, what are we expecting in tonight's vote?

If Oren can -- can you hear me, Oren?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How did you -- I'm on domestic.

HILL: We're having a little trouble with Oren's microphone. So we're going to try to get to him in a moment.

But, again, we will be following that vote as we wait to see what happens.

We may have Oren with us now.

Oren, can you hear me?

All right, we will work to get Oren back in just a moment.

As we do that, a reminder. As we near the end of 2019, be sure to tune in Tuesday night to ring in the new year with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. They will be live from Times Square. The party starts at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

So, be sure to join us for that.

Of course, you can follow the show on Twitter at any time. Be sure to tweet at @THELEADCNN.

And stay tuned, as our coverage on CNN continues right now.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Happening now: holiday rant.

President Trump resumes his string of bitter complaints about impeachment, despite being on Christmas vacation. What, if anything, will he accomplish by his continuous eruptions of ill will toward House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her fellow Democrats?

Breaking ranks? In the first hint of Republican disunity over impeachment, moderate Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says she is disturbed by Senate Leader Mitch McConnell's promise of total coordination with the Trump White House.

Do other moderate Republicans have similar misgivings? And what difference could it make in a Senate trial?

Evangelical divide. In the latest aftershock over an evangelical Christian magazine's call for President Trump's removal, a different Christian publication decided to stick with the president, and its editor quit.

And no Christmas gift. North Korea fails to deliver, after promising the U.S. would get a Christmas gift if stalled negotiations did not show progress. Now the Pentagon is bracing for a new provocation from Kim Jong-un.

Wolf Blitzer is off today. I'm Brianna Keilar. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

We're seeing what may be the first crack in the united Republican front backing the president.

GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who's considered

[17:00:00]