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Millions Line NYC Streets to Watch Parade; Trump Jr. Meets with Russian Politics, Trump Sr. Skips Intelligence Briefings; Thanksgiving Day Stuffed With NFL Action. Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired November 24, 2016 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:30:00]
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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me. And Happy Thanksgiving.
For 90 years the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has wound its way through New York streets and landed firmly in America's most beloved holiday traditions.
CNN's Sara Ganim drew the lucky card today. She's along the parade route. Happy Thanksgiving, Sara.
SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Happy Thanksgiving, Carol. An American tradition, right? Nowhere better to be on Thanksgiving morning. We're here at the Macy's Day Parade. You're seeing the -- awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus, the tail end of the parade here near Central Park.
The parade route two miles long, of course, ends at Macy's flagship store in Herald Square. The people here absolutely thrilled all morning to be out here seeing the balloons, the floats, the performers, the marching bands.
[10:35:07] Of course the signature balloons that make this parade what it is, what everybody loves about it, why so many people tune in to their TVs Thanksgiving Day morning to see this parade. Three million people here including these guys. All very, very excited. Happy Thanksgiving. So excited to be here along the parade route. The first glimpse of the balloons. Charlie Brown making -- coming back to the parade for the first time in many years. There were others -- something that young and old alike can --
COSTELLO: Oh, you're breaking up. You're breaking up, Sara, so we got to go. But here's Charlie Brown so well, we've done, you know, Sara's shot went bad but this is a fabulous shot. There's Charlie Brown making his way down the street. Isn't that awesome? He's actually a new face this year. And I didn't -- I didn't even realize that kids actually knew who Charlie Brown was these days, but they certainly do because I guess he's made an appearance on the children's channel. So Happy Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown, and to all of you.
Astronauts, they're just like us this Thanksgiving. And the crew aboard the International Space Station will chow down on a big meal today after finishing work. Like us, they'll have to heat up some turkey. Their turkey is just packed in a pouch. The cornbread dressing, they have to rehydrate it before serving.
Sitting down to dinner, OK, that's slightly more difficult in zero gravity. And what about football? Well, listen to the commander.
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SHANE KIMBROUGH, COMMANDER, EXPEDITION 50: I'm from Atlanta, so I can't have Thanksgiving dinner without having some sweet tea. In our case we have sweet tea with lemon in this drink packet that we're going to have. Of course, Thanksgiving in my world is not complete without some football so we are going to have mission control send up some live football games for us to watch to complete the experience of Thanksgiving.
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COSTELLO: That's absolutely excellent. Fellow U.S. astronaut, Peggy Whitson, a French astronaut, and three cosmonauts from Russia, will all enjoy the Thanksgiving feast together in space.
We'll be right back.
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FIRST LT. TYLER JOHNSON, U.S. AIR FORCE: My name is Lieutenant Tyler Johnson. I wish I could be home for Thanksgiving. I miss my family home in South Dakota. And to everyone back home, Happy Thanksgiving.
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[10:41:57] COSTELLO: The "Wall Street Journal" is reporting that Donald Trump Jr. took part in talks on how to work with Russia to end the crisis in Syria. The younger Trump reportedly in private meetings last month in Paris with pro-Russian politicians and business people who want to work with Syria's president. Bashar al-Assad has called Trump's father, the president-elect, a, quote, "natural ally" and Trump seems to want to rewrite American policy to help him so will they have each other's backs?
So let's talk about that. Joining me now is CNN military analyst, retired lieutenant colonel, Rick Francona.
Welcome, sir. Happy Thanksgiving.
LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: And to you, Carol. Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thank you. So what do you make of Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting with these Russian politicians in Paris to talk about Syria?
FRANCONA: Yes, this is going to be emblematic, I think, of the Trump administration. And he's going to have to decide just what role his family is going to play, how he's going to wall off his business interests and how he's going to run the government. Two separate things. And right now, it all looks very muddled to everybody. So I think we're all looking for some clarity from the president-elect on how this is going to work, how his national security establishment is going to be -- is going to be run and, you know, what the defined roles are. So I will admit I'm very confused as to what -- who's doing what right now.
COSTELLO: Well, Donald Trump Jr., he has no foreign policy experience. He's a real estate guy, right?
FRANCONA: Yes.
COSTELLO: So how do you suppose that conversation went with those Russian politicians about the war in Syria?
FRANCONA: Exactly. One, he's got no background in that other than probably what he reads, you know, in the press, but he also has no real authority. And I wonder what role the president has assigned him to do this. If he wants to talk to Russian politicians, maybe he needs to have people from the State Department do it. Of course, understand of course he's not the president yet. But is this how he's going to run his foreign policy? I think people are watching and wondering how this is going to get set up.
You know, just -- you were talking earlier about the national security briefings and how he's not taking those. I think that that's also problematic because he's not getting a feel for how the intelligence community works, what the limitations are, what the capabilities are. So it's just not information. It's understanding,, you know, how everything works together.
COSTELLO: Yes. But Mr. Trump -- Mr. Trump has made it very clear that he doesn't like the foreign policy set forth by the Obama administration and he wants changes. So perhaps that's not -- perhaps that's why he's not having all of those briefings that other presidents, president-elects have had.
FRANCONA: You can't make changes if you don't know what's going on. And I think it's critical that he start taking these briefings and start taking this seriously because there are a lot of ongoing things that he has to be ready on January 20 to start making decisions and it's a very, very steep learning curve for someone who has absolutely no experience, you know, in how a government runs, how an intelligence system runs, and how a national security establishment runs and how the military runs.
[10:45:02] This is going to be a massive learning curve and I think he needs to start like today.
COSTELLO: Well, but here's the thing. What if he's surrounding himself with people who know like Michael Flynn, for example? He's very experienced. What if he has General Mattis be his Defense secretary? General Mattis is very experienced. Couldn't they sort of like, you know, keep an eye on things and then report to a President Trump and --
FRANCONA: That's assuming that he surrounds himself with quality people. Some of those names I think are quality people and I think he'll get good advice. But he has to make the decisions. And we elected a president to take the advice of his Cabinet, take the advice of his advisers, and then make decisions. But the decision is his. And the more informed he is, I think the better decisions we have. You know, like Harry Truman said, the buck stops at that desk. And I want that desk to have all the information and I want him to have read it, not listening to somebody else filter it.
COSTELLO: I interviewed Nigel Farage from Britain earlier in the show. And Donald Trump has reached out to Nigel Farage before he has reached out to the British prime minister and that's causing some concern about what a future relationship will look like between the United States and Britain. What do you think?
FRANCONA: Well, these foreign diplomacy really a little out of my area, but there are protocols that are in place. And this is why you need quality advisers. So if he had a secretary of state nominee, then you would kind of let that up to that person to start making these arrangements. But Mr. Trump is unique. I guess he will do things his way.
COSTELLO: I believe you're right on that count. Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona, thank you so much and Happy Thanksgiving. I'm sure your house smells like turkey and I'm jealous. Thanks so much for being with me this morning.
FRANCONA: Thank you. And to you and yours, Carol.
COSTELLO: Thank you so much.
Who's looking forward to a little football? That would be me. Andy Scholes has all the details on the Lions' pending win next.
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[10:51:16] COSTELLO: Besides the turkey and all the sides, there will be a healthy serving of NFL action today. Three big games on tap all with playoff implications.
Andy Scholes has more on the most important game today. The game between the Lions and Vikings.
ANDY SCHOOLS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Happy Thanksgiving, Carol. You know, I know you're always locked into your Lions game on Thanksgiving. But, you know, for me, traditionally, I've always used their game as my post-turkey cap because, you know, Lions usually aren't very good this time of year.
COSTELLO: Oh, Andy.
SCHOLES: But not this year, Carol. Lions, very good, in first place in the NFC North, you know, they're 6-4. And their game today against the Vikings is huge. Could go a long way in deciding who wins the NFC North division. That game going to get all the things -- all the football started today, I should say. 12:30 Eastern kickoff for that one. It's going to be followed by another good one. You got the 9-1 Dallas Cowboys hosting the Washington Redskins. You have Dak Prescott and the Cowboys trying to win their 10th straight -- get their 10th straight win. We'll have to wait and see.
Then the nightcap, you got the Colts hosting the Steelers. And, you know, this would have been an awesome quarterback matchup to watch but unfortunately, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, he's going to be out for tonight's game with a concussion. And, you know, on paper, this is the best slate of Thanksgiving games we've had in a very long time. It's the first time since 1993 that none of the teams in action on Thanksgiving have a losing record. How about that?
The NBA, you know, they have the day off as we concentrate on the NFL. But many teams were in action last night including the Cavs. And check this out. Kevin Love, well, he's working up an appetite on this one against the Blazers. He came out on fire scoring 34 points in the first quarter, that's a record. Love made eight threes in that opening period. However, somehow he only finished the game with 40 points. Only had six points the rest of the way. Cavs win big, though, 137-125 over the Blazers.
Finally, if you play golf, I'm guessing the very first time you played it did not go like this.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nice. Oh, I hit the flag.
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SCHOLES: That lady's name is Becky March, Carol, and this video is from her very first golf lesson. You see her running to the flag. That's right. She made a hole-in-one. Absolutely love her reaction, I love her hat. But the problem with it is, Carol, she set the bar way too high. Her golf career is downhill from that moment.
COSTELLO: I hope not.
SCHOLES: Because how many hole-in-ones are you going to have?
COSTELLO: I know. It's like she did it too soon but look how happy she is. I love that.
SCHOLES: It's incredible.
COSTELLO: Hey, is Matt Stafford the best quarterback in football?
SCHOLES: Is who?
COSTELLO: Matt Stafford.
SCHOLES: Matt Stafford? He's playing pretty good. Right, Carol? He's got your Lions trending upwards this time of year which like I said earlier is not very common for you Lions fans. COSTELLO: Matt Stafford is the best quarterback in football. Who
even knows who Tom Brady is anymore.
SCHOLES: Yes, you know, Tom Brady, Dak Prescott. Who knows who these guys are.
COSTELLO: Yes, whatever. Andy Scholes, thanks so much. And Happy Thanksgiving.
SCHOLES: You, too, Carol.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Still to come in the NEWSROOM, pardon the turkeys and the puns. Gobble up Mr. Obama's best dad jokes, next.
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[10:58:36] COSTELLO: It was a touching moment. President Obama pardoning Tater and Tot. And of course his final presidential turkey pardon was chock full of his signature humor. Let's listen.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For the past seven years, I have established another tradition. Embarrassing my daughters with a corny-copia of dad jokes about turkeys. No way I'm cutting this habit cold turkey.
I want to take a moment to recognize the brave turkeys who weren't so lucky, who didn't get to ride the gravy train to freedom, who met their fate with courage and sacrifice and proved that they weren't chicken. It's not that bad, now. Come on.
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COSTELLO: I did notice his daughters were not standing by their father for those jokes, although they did deign to be by his side to serve dinner to homeless people later in the day. But that was pretty funny.
I have to send you out with a picture of Santa Claus floating on down Central Park West in about 70 seconds. The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Day Parade almost over because the big man himself has made his appearance after 16 balloons, 26 floats, 12 marching bands, 24 novelty balloons and 1,000 cheerleaders, dancers and 1,000 clowns, there was Santa Claus. The man the kids were all waiting to see. And they will see him again on December 25th.
Thank you so much for joining me on this Thanksgiving Day. I'm Carol Costello. "AT THIS HOUR WITH BERN AND BOLDUAN" starts now.
