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Interview with Bill Gates; 20 Countries Pledge to Double Every Research in 5 Years; Defiant Trump Defends 9/11 Muslim Claim; Colorado Shooting Reignites Abortion Debate. Aired 7:30a-8:00a ET

Aired November 30, 2015 - 07:30   ET

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

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[07:31:18] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to Paris. We are here for the COP21. You are now watching the Christiane and Chris show here. Christiane Amanpour, it is great to have you here to understand these issues, but also if it's not going to be just government, it's going to be public and private. There's one man that we need to step up and we have him here this morning.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. One man whose really been in the forefront of this, and that is Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and the co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mr. Gates, you are over there at the summit headquarters in Le Bourget. Thank you for joining Chris and I.

Give us a sense of what you will do in terms of public-private partnership to make a dent in this situation with carbon emissions.

BILL GATES, FOUNDER, MICROSOFT: Well, the key to getting increased commitments to avoid the temperature rise that we want to avoid is going to be innovation. We need to bring the cost premium for being clean down. And the partnership that's key to that is government's funding basic research and private investors, like the group of 28 people I brought together, to take the high-risk venture investments and turn those into products so we can have clean energy that's not more expensive than today's hydrocarbon energy.

CUOMO: How difficult was it to get the 28 together? Did you have to make any personal guarantees to some of these guys? Some of them are your friends. How hard was it?

GATES: When I called up the 28 different people, I was amazed at their enthusiasm for the idea. Some of them will do the investment directly; some will work through a fund that will create that will help vet the breakthrough technologies. But I'm sure we're going to get more signing up. We didn't have the fund structured so we didn't go after institutions, but we'll be approaching those in the months ahead. AMANPOUR: Mr. Gates, your fellow philanthropist, entrepreneur,

Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, said that if he had one word of advice to young entrepreneurs today, it would be go out and make your money in renewable energy.

You are now putting another billions dollars of your own money into green innovation. What does it take, though, to convince more than your 28 that actually spending on R&D, doing the kinds of things that you're doing is really a great investment for their own pockets as well as for humanity?

GATES: Well, the returns will come partly through the benefits to society. Energy investing is risky enough. It takes long enough that it helps to have people who believe in the cause. And so they're really getting two benefits out of this.

I'm very optimistic that because of the gigantic commitment we're getting from governments here today and these partners that we will solve the problem. That we can get that premium down so the idea of a clean energy generation doesn't require the poorer countries to slow down their development. They can go full speed ahead.

CUOMO: You're making a good point. I remember in the movie "The Graduate," where this older man looks at, you know, the main character and says one word for you, plastics.

Now the new word is going green. And yet for someone like you, Mr. Gates and other entrepreneurs, you know, you say the gigantic commitment of governments. But a lot of them are still pumping out fossil fuel emissions. A lot of them aren't doing what they need to do because there is really no enforcement mechanism.

So how do we get that part straight so that there can be an even playing field on people moving forward with innovation?

[07:30:16] GATES: Well, the best thing of all would be to get competitive with the price of hydrocarbon. Some countries will use tax approach to help boot strap that which is good. There's been a lot of tax credits involved. There's been a lot of what we call renewable furlough standards.

But in the long run, you need the innovation so that the cost of clean is as low or ideally lower than the coal-based energy generation. And that's why the science is so exciting now. It is risky, but basic research from governments plus entrepreneurs like this group of 28 that includes the University of California, I think that lays the foundation over the next decade. We'll fund over 100 companies and enough of those will be successful to make this challenge.

AMANPOUR: And Mr. Gates, what do you hope beyond what you're about to launch, along with President Obama and President Hollande. What we've been talking about that the governments can do? Because many people say, oh, you know, unless all the governments actually get together, sign on to something that's legally binding which this will not be, because of the problems with the U.S. Congress, that it just won't work. For instance, China, which has made all sorts of promises about capping its emissions, turns out it's been emitting 17 percent more of coal and those kinds of emissions than they either knew of or made public.

What is your hope therefore for where governments can lead?

GATES: Well, it's very helpful to have a framework for commitments, but five years from now, why will people increase those commitments? And how can we make it more feasible so that we can get almost all those countries meeting their commitments as well as improving them and the answer is innovation.

I've seen innovation in the digital space. In the interspace it doesn't happen as fast. It's harder. But now we're bringing together literally on the government side and billions on the private side. And that's going to get a lot of new start-ups going. And so the -- it won't be as hard to make commitments. I think that's key. If we didn't have innovation, I don't think we'd ever get to where we need to be.

CUOMO: Help us dream a little bit here. You've used five years as a horizon, ten years as a horizon. When you look into the future, what do you see happening that we couldn't imagine today?

GATES: Well, I see the price of energy actually being lower than today. And that's for clean, reliable energy. And I see huge benefits to everyone, particularly the poor, who don't have air conditioning. They don't have a stove. They don't have refrigeration. They don't have lights at night. The cost of fertilizer is based on the price of energy. So all these things that enable the modern lifestyle are very energy intensive.

And so only by making those things clean and low cost can we really solve the problems of poverty. So energy is quite central. Avoiding climate change where the poor would suffer the most and getting them highly reliable energy. And that's why when I meet with these scientists that have all sorts of wild ideas, each of which is risky in and of itself, I see a portfolio that virtually guarantees will have the breakthroughs.

AMANPOUR: Bill Gates, thank you so much for joining us this morning, from Le Bourget right there at the summit headquarters. Thanks from me and Chris.

CUOMO: Thank you for bringing us the Bill Gates interview. He's such a critical player in this. And it's so important to hear how he dreams this going forward.

AMANPOUR: I think it's vital, because he has put his money and his intellect and his brains where his mouth is. He was the new start-up back then. And there are people like David Attenborough, who thinks that if America could put an astronaut, a man on the moon, 10 years after saying so, we can definitely do the kind of innovation with the kind of money and commitment that people like Bill Gates are suggesting. CUOMO: And, Alisyn, it's great to get the businessman's mind on

this. Politicians talk about enforcement and how you punish if they don't do it and what's the sanction mechanism. He says make it cost equivalent. Then there's a profit incentive. And that will take care of compliance with any of the standards. A very different take and probably the one that gets you where you want to be.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely. And it was also fascinating to hear how he cajoled his 28 friends into it which didn't sound like they actually needed much convincing. So that was a great question, too.

Thanks so much, guys. We'll be back with you shortly.

[07:40:09] Back here at home, Donald Trump remains defiant despite widespread criticism of his claim that most say is erroneous that he saw Muslims in the U.S. celebrating on September 11th. Despite the lack of evidence, how will this play out as the Iowa caucuses draw closer? We have analysis -- next.

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CAMEROTA: Donald Trump continues to say that he saw American Muslims celebrating the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. In fact, over the weekend he says, quote, "I was 100 percent right."

Joining us to discuss this and so much more that happened over the weekend, CNN political commentator and Democratic strategic Paul Begala. He's senior adviser for a pro-Hillary Clinton Super PAC. And CNN political commentator and Republican strategist, Kevin Madden.

Guys, great to see you. Hope you had a great holiday.

PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning. You, too.

KEVIN MADDEN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: Donald Trump was on "Meet the Press" over the weekend. And he insists that he saw thousands of extremists celebrating as the twin towers fell. Let me play for you what he said this weekend.

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[07:45:11] DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): I've had hundreds of people call in and tweet in on Twitter saying that they saw it and I was 100 percent right.

Now, "The Washington Post" also wrote about tailgate parties. We're looking for other articles and we're looking for other clips. And I wouldn't be surprised if we found them, Chuck. But for some reason, they're not that easy to come by. I saw it. So many people saw it, Chuck. And so why would I take it back? I'm not going to take it back.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CAMEROTA: Kevin, let's be crystal clear. People have been

looking for any shred of evidence that this happened, that thousands of people were celebrating.

"The Washington Post" that he mentions there reported that the FBI got calls that people thought other people were celebrating or tailgating, but they were never able to substantiate them when they investigated.

MADDEN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Where does that leave us, Kevin?

MADDEN: Well, look, this is one of the big challenges that we have with Donald Trump. How do you fact check a serial prevaricator? I mean, this is like the George Costanza from "Seinfeld" rule of politics that Donald Trump seems to be applying, which is that it's not a lie if you believe it. And he keeps repeating it.

That's the other amazing thing here is the sheer volume of outrageous claims or offensive statements that Donald Trump has made, it seems to inoculate him. We've lost the sort of shock value. Every week, time and time again, Donald Trump makes an outrageous claim and stands by it even when it's disproving.

You have to assume -- I think his opponents have to assume or expect that at a certain point, the electorate becomes wise to this and it becomes such a character issue that voters become less and less inclined to associate it themselves with somebody who has this character flaw.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Even though, Paul, we've seen not a shred of evidence of that happening either. Donald Trump's poll numbers have not gone down when he's said things like this.

BEGALA: Right. I agree with the beginning of Kevin's analysis and I love the George Costanza reference. I mean, he answered actually with -- actually Brit Hume over at Fox reminded us of this the other day. That Abraham Lincoln, who was even predate George Costanza have said, you can fool some of the people all of the time and Mr. Trump is proof of that.

The question is how many. You know, 25 percent of Republicans are for Mr. Trump despite all of these things he says, provable falsehoods and other outrageous things attacking John McCain saying he wasn't a war hero. That's 25 percent. The truth is I think he could go higher. 44 percent of all Republicans in America believe this falsehood. Barack Obama was not born in America.

In part because Mr. Trump advanced that before he was a presidential candidate. He's claimed he was sending -- remember investigators -- now they're looking for the videotape of protests that didn't happen. Back then they were looking for proof that the president was born in Kenya. He was sending investigators to Hawaii, which by the way, that's where he was born. There is proof he was born in Hawaii. But you can't argue with these folks. And it's really now becoming a bit of a character test and intelligence test of Republican voters and 25 percent are failing it.

CAMEROTA: Gentleman, quickly let's talk about Ben Carson. He was in Jordan over the weekend. He went to a refugee camp.

Kevin, Ben Carson's numbers have softened a bit.

MADDEN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Lately. Is that because of a perceived lack of foreign policy expertise or what?

MADDEN: I do think the Paris attacks have reframed the race in many voters' minds. And the national security foreign policy issue is one where Ben Carson did not have as defined a profile.

I think this was really smart, though, by Ben Carson. Because what he's done by going over to Jordan and visiting these refugee camps, he's taken the political rhetoric out of it and he's actually gone and seen with his own eyes some of the impact that American policy making has on this region of the world.

And so I think as a result, he's more informed. And I think as a result, many voters will look at him as having a better platform to now offer a better policy making going forward for the country.

CAMEROTA: Paul Begala, I know you one. I'm sorry, we've had so much news out of Paris that I'm going to owe you one for next time.

Kevin, Paul, great to see you, guys.

BEGALA: Thanks, Alisyn.

MADDEN: Great to be with you.

CAMEROTA: The last G.O.P. debate of the year is just two weeks away. It's happening right here on CNN. It's moderated by Wolf Blitzer. That is December 15th, 9:00 p.m.

Set your clocks now, Michaela.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Well, and you know, he is keeping a running tally. We'll keep you honest on that.

More news ahead here. The holiday weekend marred by a deadly shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. Did the heated political rhetoric in the last few months, could it have contributed to the gunman's rampage? The executive vice president of Planned Parenthood joins us next with reaction.

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[07:53:22] PEREIRA: Colorado authorities have not disclosed exactly what motivated the suspect in the shootings at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood, but a source tells CNN that he muttered about baby parts after he was taken into custody. There is a growing chorus of abortion rights groups who are pointing to political rhetoric about Planned Parenthood as a contributing factor.

Joining us now on NEW DAY is Dawn Laguens. She is the executive vice president of Planned Parenthood. She's joined us before.

I'm sorry that we have to talk about this. I know it's a tough time for your organization and particularly in Colorado. I'm curious where you're at on this, Don.

We've had a chance to talk to you before. We know there is an awful lot of rhetoric and a climate in the country right now about what you do at Planned Parenthood. And there are people that disagree with what you do and are looking to defund your organization.

Do you see this as a troubled individual, an isolationist, the ramblings of a madman, or do you think that Planned Parenthood was specifically targeted?

DAWN LAGUENS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Thanks, Michaela.

What I would say, first of all, is that before any political conversation, the conversation in our hearts are with these families who have lost their loved ones, with the injured who are recovering in the hospital. And, of course, we just continue to be so thankful for the law enforcement officials and for our courageous staff who managed to, I think, limit the extent of this tragedy.

As to the question, you know, thankfully, among our 700 health centers and millions of patients, most of them will never see a protester or experience any violence. And we can certainly say that this was a disturbed individual. But I think we can also say that the heated rhetoric and the outrageous and offensive and often untrue claims can absolutely contribute to a violent person like this acting out.

[07:55:00] And we've seen it before. We heard Ben Carson talking about it yesterday. And, hopefully, there is agreement that we need to dial back this kind of attacks on Planned Parenthood that do contribute to an environment that can be dangerous.

PEREIRA: So Ben Carson did, in fact, say that the rhetoric needed to be toned down on both sides. But I want you to listen to what Carly Fiorina, another presidential hopeful, had to say on "Fox News Sunday."

Let's listen to her comments.

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CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What I would say to anyone who tries to link this terrible tragedy to anyone who opposes abortion or opposes the sale of body parts, is this is typical left- wing tactics.

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PEREIRA: What's your reaction to that? LAGUENS: Well, as you know, Carly Fiorina doubled down and then

tripled down on what is now proven to be a lie, that Planned Parenthood has ever sold body parts and outrageous and untrue charge. And I think it's to some of what your earlier guests said, once you've gone in with a lie, sometimes it's just hard to get out.

And I think in this case what Carly has done is just say, I'm going to go all the way and I'm going to politicize something, right in the moment, when it was almost still happening. They were already out there repeating these charges. And so I was disappointed to see that.

PEREIRA: I want to get to the reality on the ground for a lot of women and people in our communities. What you were saying is that many people in your clinics across the country won't ever see signs of these protests, but we're getting reports that abortion rights advocates and supporters have reported a significant up tick in threats of violence in recent months, since those undercover videos were released.

How seriously did Planned Parenthood take these threats and does take these treats?

LAGUENS: Well, the health and safety of our patients is our number one priority. And we have an excellent safety record around that. But there definitely have been more and more threats and, clearly, more and more heated environment as a result of some of the rhetoric.

And I would say that the rhetoric is really -- and the heated rhetoric is way more on one side than the other. But one thing that our patients should know is that the day after this happened, on Saturday, 28 of 29 health centers in the Rocky Mountains were open and all across the country. They are open today.

PEREIRA: That was important for you to do. And explain what the message was. Why was that important for you to keep the doors open?

LAGUENS: Well, I think that so much of this coverage would suggest that maybe Planned Parenthood isn't open or all of these kinds of things are a regular occurrence and they just absolutely are not. But Planned Parenthood takes security very seriously as every law enforcement official who watched the Colorado situation said.

These were extremely well-trained staff. They acted quickly. They knew exactly what to do. The health centers are well-designed. The security cameras were a help in bringing it to an end. And so, you know, I just want people to know that Planned Parenthood is clearly committed, first and foremost, to the health and safety of the women it sees.

PEREIRA: Well, the governor of New York said security is going to be revamp -- ramped up, rather, at all the locations here in the state. We know that you're re-evaluating security at all the health centers. The concern is that women in need of health care will be driven elsewhere or will be too fearful to come out and get help and, perhaps, some of them will even be driven underground, but that's not what anybody wants.

LAGUENS: Correct.

PEREIRA: Dawn Laguens, thank you so much for joining us today. Again, our condolences to all of you who are dealing with this and the aftermath of a senseless act. Thanks for joining us here on NEW DAY.

PEREIRA: Thanks, Michaela.

We're following a lot of news on this Monday. Let's get right to it.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.N. has organized here in Paris, some 150 heads of state.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These leaders are in pursuit of a climate agreement.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We salute the people of Paris for insisting this crucial conference go on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You could see all the gunshots. Oh, my God, it terrified me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks like a classic case of domestic terrorism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is somebody who certainly had anti- abortion and anti-government views.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't have confirmation from any of the investigation yet as to what the precise motive was.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Police officers in Chicago and Baltimore will face a judge today. Can those trials trigger more violence?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every time that the federal government looks into one of these individuals, they find something that is kind of unpleasant about disparities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome to your NEW DAY, this Monday, November 30th, 8:00 in the east. Alisyn and Michaela are in New York and we are in Paris. The authorities here have all they can handle. Operations are on going. The extent of the terror network here still not completely known.