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New Day

CNN Hero of the Year; Muslim Ban Rhetoric; CNN Quiz Show Returns Sunday at 7 PM ET. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired December 11, 2015 - 08:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:07] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for the five things to know for your NEW DAY.

Number one, in leaked audio, Senator Ted Cruz questions Donald Trump's judgment to be president. Trump responding on Twitter this morning saying Cruz will fall like all others.

"The L.A. Times" reports San Bernardino investigators believes the terrorist behind the attack were plotting a larger massacre. Divers will be back for a second day searching a lake near the crime scene for clues.

The raised terror level in Geneva, Switzerland, triggered in part by extremist chatter intercepted by the U.S. Americans in Switzerland being warned, take extreme caution.

President Obama taking steps toward an executive order on gun control. Advisor Valerie Jarrett says the president directed his team to fine tune proposals on topics like background checks and closing the gun show loophole.

A former Oklahoma City police officer found guilty of rape and other charges. Daniel Holtzclaw targeted 13 women on the job, could face 200 years in prison. His sentencing is next month.

For more on the five things to know, go to newdaycnn.com for the latest.

Poppy.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Chris, thank you.

Newly minted CNN Hero of the Year Maggie Doyne is the legal guardian to almost 50 boys and girls in Nepal. She is helping educate hundreds, hundreds more children. And her story proves that one person can make a huge difference. Our Michaela Pereira sat down with Maggie moments after she won her $100,000 prize.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: Ladies and gentlemen, the 2015 CNN Hero of the Year is Maggie Doyne.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: When you heard your name said on the stage -

MAGGIE DOYNE, CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: From Anderson Cooper's mouth.

PEREIRA: From Anderson Cooper's mouth, what went through your mind?

DOYNE: Just joy. Just pure joy and gratitude.

PEREIRA: What does it feel like?

DOYNE: I'm proud. I'm proud that I took that step and I'm happy for the kids. This is really for them. They're the once that have had the hard stories and the struggles and have overcome so much.

PEREIRA: What do you want people to know about the children of Nepal?

DOYNE: There's hundreds of thousands of girls who are not enrolled into school. There are many orphan children as a result of civil war and disease and starvation. And I can't do it alone. We all have to do it together.

PEREIRA: How will this money help you do that?

DOYNE: I'm building a brand new school and I'm going to take in more kids. It's gas in the tank. It's, you know, remembering what this is all about and why we do it. So I'm taking this back to Nepal and for Nepal and for my kids and I'm just going to keep going.

PEREIRA: We're terrifically proud of you young lady.

DOYNE: Thank you.

PEREIRA: Keep on doing it, OK.

DOYNE: Thanks, Michaela.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: If you missed it, you can watch the star-studded "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." The special is again this Saturday evening, 8:00 Eastern.

CUOMO: Beautiful stuff.

Donald Trump's tough talk about banning Muslims, it's resonating with supporters. It's helping him in the poll. But the question is, is it empowering ISIS? Does it make us less safe? Answers ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:37:25] CUOMO: What do you think about what's going on with the rhetoric about Muslim? Well, a new national poll shows 57 percent of all voters oppose Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from the United States. Forty-two percent of Republican voters, however, support the idea. The problem is, some experts say, this anti-Muslim rhetoric may actually help ISIS and make us less safe in America. Why? Joining us now, former U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Fiji, M.

Osman Siddique, one of the first Muslim-Americans to be appointed a U.S. ambassador.

Mr. Ambassador, thank you for joining us.

Why do you believe that the idea, coming from Trump and others, to keep Muslims out of the country until we understand the safety and security situation better is a mistake?

M. OSMAN SIDDIQUE, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI: Because I think the United States was not built on that principle. We are a nation of immigrants. And Muslims have pay - have served this country very well since its inception. Starting from (INAUDIBLE) Muhammad Ali and all those who were in between, you know. We are in every fabric of this community. We are part and parcel of this country. We have, amongst us, academic, musicians, athletes, politicians who have contributed a lot and will continue to do so as they move forward.

CUOMO: You mentioned Muhammad Ali, just one example. He certainly came out in opposition to this idea. The pushback from the other side will be, it's not American-Muslims that this is being said about, it's foreign Muslims, and it's only temporary and maybe that's not what the country was based on but it's new times and it's new threats.

SIDDIQUE: Listen, to fight the kind of threats we have, we need the help of all Muslims. Not only American-Muslims, but Muslims all around the world. There are - according to the organization of Islamic countries, there are 57 Muslim majority nations in the world. 1.6 billion Muslims on this earth and growing. We need their help. We need their support.

Look what's happening today. Donald Trump's statement that Muslims will not be allowed to come into this country is having very adverse effects in those countries. I was on the radio while coming to your studio. I heard that the chief of Qatar Airways is saying that, you know, he's not going to allow Donald Trump to get on his airplane. The Dubai golf course that was - had the brand name of Trump has been taken down. So many other things are happening.

[08:40:05] Even in non-Muslim countries, like the United Kingdom for example, they're - they needed 300,000 signatures to file a petition to ban Trump to come to that country. In two days there were more than 500,000 signatures. So all I'm saying to you, that we have to be united in this current turmoil that we are facing. And in order to do so, we should not alienate any Muslims.

CUOMO: To push the point one step further, that's bad for Trump, what you just said. That may endanger his safety. But how does the idea endanger other American's safety?

SIDDIQUE: Well, what - and we are in this fight not as American- Muslims. We are in this fight as Americans. So what I'm saying to you is that when there's this perception that there are - that there's a political view in this country which is anti-Muslim, you know, it impacts everybody. We are - we're in this together. And I tell you, I was - I have a lot of friends in that part of the world. And I was calling - they were calling and they are saying that, look, you know, I think it's time that we put Trump in the no fly list of our countries. And when he says that, it's hurtful as an American because it impacts all Americans. Not only Donald Trump, but all Americans.

CUOMO: There is a nagging belief by people in America that the Muslim community has not stood up against Islamists, against extremists and radicals and terrorists, or at least not enough. What do you make of that idea?

SIDDIQUE: Well, I think that is not absolutely true. However, I also say this. That Muslims should not stick their head in the sand. They should be aware of what's going on. And they should fortify their household and their families with ideals of America. And, you know, what is interesting is this, that according to the FBI, the major - majority of the tips that are coming against this kind of incident are coming from Muslims. The bombing that was about to take place in Times Square was - didn't take place because of this street vendor, you know, intimated to that - to the law enforcers. And what happened was, was that was avoided. And he was a Muslim-American.

CUOMO: Well, there is no question that when you talk to the intelligence circles, as I'm sure you do all the time, with all due respect, Mr. Ambassador, that they say the most important thing and the thing that needs to be improved the most is interaction between authorities and the Muslim communities here in America. That's where you get your best intel. That point is beyond any type of reproach at this point.

Ambassador, thank you very much for joining us with your perspective on this. Look forward to talking to you again, sir.

SIDDIQUE: Thank you, Chris.

CUOMO: All right, so, what do you think about this situation? You see what the poll numbers are. Does that square with how you feel about it on a moral level? Tweet us, #newdaycnn. You can post your comment on facebook.com/newday.

Poppy.

HARLOW: OK, look who I got. I got the "Inside Man." I got the inside scoop.

CUOMO: Oh.

MORGAN SPURLOCK, CNN HOST, "INSIDE MAN": That's right. I'm here.

HARLOW: I'm with this smarty - smarty pants over here. They're putting their brain power to the test in the name of charity. All about the CNN Quiz Show. It returns on Sunday. Morgan Spurlock ready to explain his strategy. Are you going to - you going to win? You prepping?

SPURLOCK: You are going to - you'll see.

HARLOW: No partying this weekend.

SPURLOCK: It is very sad.

HARLOW: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:46:55] HARLOW: Sunday, big night Sunday. Not the debate. Not politics. Something a little fun for you. The return of the "CNN Quiz Show." Three teams of CNN anchors get tested. This time on their knowledge of famous Americans. Chris is not in it - to win it.

CUOMO: No. I have failed out so many times I'm not allowed anymore.

HARLOW: Here is a preview of the strategies the teams are employing to get prepared.

(PREVIEW OF "CNN QUIZ SHOW")

HARLOW: Joining us now, one-half of the team nobody expects to be good or win -

CUOMO: Not me. I think they are going to do well.

HARLOW: They wrote that. I didn't write that. Morgan Spurlock, host of "INSIDE MAN."

SPURLOCK: We are the lowest of the low hanging fruit. We're like rotting on the ground. That's how bad we are.

CUOMO: Well it's all for charity. Who's your charity?

SPURLOCK: The Arthur Ashe Foundation.

CUOMO: Oh, beautiful.

SPURLOCK: Yeah and so it's like - over the course of the year, what I love about the quiz shows, CNN has given $160,000 to charity as part of this quiz show. I mean, it's an awesome thing to get to be a part of.

CUOMO: It's worth a little bit of complete abject embarrassment on your personal behalf.

SPURLOCK: That's right. Exactly.

CUOMO: Do you know that they give Berman the answers? You know that -

HARLOW: They do. That's why he does so well.

SPURLOCK: It seems that way. It seems that --

CUOMO: He's seen as an inoffensive guy. Nobody is going to be upset if Berman wins because we all like him, so they give him the answers. He's not that smart.

HARLOW: Clearly.

SPURLOCK: Yeah. It's like "Quiz Show." It is like it all over again.

(CROSSTALK)

SPURLOCK: There is this scandal. I knew that.

HARLOW: Hardest question?

SPURLOCK: There is a moment in the show -- and I'm not going to give away too much by saying this -- This is a moment in the show where my brain physically stops working. Where like literally - my brain gives in. there's - and you see those people on quiz shows who freeze and suddenly my brain just stops and the toughest question -- I couldn't remember Sarah Palin's name.

CUOMO: Oh -

HARLOW: Name?

SPURLOCK: Yes. I couldn't even remember her and I was like -

CUOMO: That stinks.

SPURLOCK: It was unbelievable.

CUOMO: Although I have to say, I blew it bigger than that. I did.

(CROSSTALK)

HARLOW: We were winning. Alisyn and I were winning. I wasn't going to do it again after the first one when they put me with Don. And Alisyn, like you know, whatever she says I wind up doing. So we wind up going on the show again. And we got to the final question. We were winning. And she picked the Royals and I automatically - as soon as you say Royals, my brain goes - it's nothing I've ever really covered, I'm I'm not really into it. And it was like an easy question about who went to accompany Princess Dianna for the burial, you know, and it was Prince Charles. And we didn't know it. And I would have known that if I knew nothing about the Royals. It would have been my guess.

[08:50:04] HARLOW: Who is your partner in this?

SPURLOCK: My partner was Kamau Bell, who he's got a show called "The United Shades of America" that starts -- a CNN original. We were team original and we held our own, like champs.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: That was a good lie face.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: That was really good. HARLOW: Let me ask you one of the questions let's see if you know it. After contracting a severe form of staphylococcal infection, what entertainer died in 1990?

SPURLOCK: Died in 1990. I'm going to go with...I'm going to say Jim Henson.

HARLOW: All right. You get that one. Chris.

CUOMO: Yes! I also say Jim Henson.

HARLOW: Yeah, you do.

SPURLOCK: Good job.

HARLOW: After the fact. This was interesting. Which athlete was so afraid of flying he bought and wore a parachute for his flight to the Rome Olympics? Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson or Chris Cuomo.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: I wouldn't have known this.

SPURLOCK: I don't know this.

CUOMO: Put it this way. Here, he's been vocal in the news lately about what Trump said.

SPURLOCK: Then I'm going to go with Jackie Robinson.

HARLOW: No. What? I almost said ding-ding, but that is the correct answer -- Muhammad Ali.

SPURLOCK: Yeah. Muhammad Ali.

HARLOW: Muhammad Ali.

SPURLOCK: Muhammad Ali wore a parachute?

CUOMO: Yeah. I don't believe it.

SPURLOCK: I don't believe it.

CUOMO: You should not be quizzed. Here's why. Morgan gives us the answers to everything.

(CROSSTALK)

SPURLOCK: I know. Why do I need to be at a game show to prove that?

CUOMO: You are better than this. I just hope that you beat Don at some point during this. Did you get to go up against Don?

SPURLOCK: I did get to go up against Don.

HARLOW: Chris will never forget that.

SPURLOCK: That was his moment. That was his winning moment.

CUOMO: It makes me sweat. Don. That's all I had was when I went against Don.

HARLOW: I told Chris earlier, I said Donald Trump will only call in to talk to you, but Don gets invited over to the Trump tower.

CUOMO: Well he is a much more likable guy.

HARLOW: Don?

CUOMO: Yeah. Even my mom -- My mom was upset that we lost because she likes Don. She was like I was so sad that you guys lost because of Don.

HARLOW: All right. Any hints on preparation tactics?

SPURLOCK: Preparation tactics? Well apparently I needed to actually study and read some things and probably open a book before this. But next time I've already said like I'm going to come back. It was so much fun. We had such a great time. And since it's all for charity I was like, listen, we're going to come back. Me and Kamau Bell. We're going to come back, we're going to do it again. We're in.

HARLOW: And everyone wins something for charity. Everyone gets an amount of money.

SPURLOCK: Everyone wins. Yeah. So even if you don't win, you still win.

HARLOW: There you go.

SPURLOCK: Still a winner.

CUOMO: You got to have a sense of humor about it, although it stings when it's happening.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: Thank you for being here.

SPURLOCK: Only when you completely fail utterly like a champ.

HARLOW: We're watching. Sunday, 7:00 p.m. Good to see you, Morgan. Appreciate it. "CNN Quiz Show: Famous Americans Edition."

CUOMO: All right. So serious question. The Syrian refugees. It is not going away. What are we going to do? "The Good Stuff" has an idea. Wait until you see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:56:45] HARLOW: Will we see our nation's first gentlemen? Aside from this gentlemen. Time will tell. But Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton says former President Bill Clinton would make a great "first dude." I think that's a pretty -

CUOMO: That's not going to stick.

HARLOW: Here is what she told Seth Meyers in this edition of late night laughs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SETH MEYERS, LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST: You, having been a first lady, what qualities does your husband have that would be good for that job?

(LAUGHTER)

Like what -- knowing what you brought to it. Like being the first --

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Okay. All right. Well I really haven't given this a lot of thought, but maybe I should.

MEYERS: Yes.

CLINTON: He's a great host.

MEYERS: Yeah, I would imagine.

CLINTON: Oh my gosh. Oh, yeah. So any event, you know, I could really count on him to make people feel comfortable, welcome in the White House. He loves giving tours so.

MEYERS: Uh-huh. That's good.

CLINTON: Maybe - you know, he is kind of vegan-ish.

MEYERS: Okay.

CLINTON: I mean he is vegan to the point that he doesn't eat any meat, he doesn't eat any dairy, but he does have fish. I'm sure there is a name for that, but I don't know. He might have some useful information about menus.

MEYERS: Like if a vegan comes to the White House.

CLINTON: Yes. What do you feed a vegan?

MEYERS: Gotcha. That's good.

CLINTON: Yeah. Exactly.

MEYERS: That's where he goes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: In reality the first lady does so much more than that. She's kind of downplaying how much he could do.

CUOMO: Yeah. I don't know who got more of a punch in the nose: The first lady as a standard, or Bill Clinton who was President of the United States reduced to what he knows about being a vegan, kind of.

HARLOW: All right. Now my favorite part of your show.

CUOMO: Isn't it great? "The Good Stuff." We love it. And this is an important one. It's good on different levels. There is a young couple married in Syria but they immediately had to run for their lives due to the ongoing civil war there. So they honeymooned, if you want to call it that, in several refugee camps before eventually finding their way to Canada. So they never had a proper ceremony. That's the setup here.

So it was in Canada that friends, neighbors, mostly strangers, held a surprise wedding reception for the pair. The dress donated, room donated, cake, photographer - all donated. One of the people who volunteered said if it puts a smile on their faces, why not? The couple, of course, to put it mildly, overjoyed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for Saskatchewan and thank you for Canada.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Coming here everything has been excellent. Everyone has been ever so kind. Ever so welcoming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Now we're obviously telling you this story for a reason. One, it is a nice happy ending. Two, it's a portrait of one refugee family and perhaps a more humane way to treat them, courtesy of "The Good Stuff."

HARLOW: Yeah. I love that. Think about that as we head into the weekend. Good to be with you, Chris.

CUOMO: What a pleasure. You made it so easy. Happy Friday.

HARLOW: Happy Friday. Happy Friday to all of you. Have a great weekend. Time for the "NEWSROOM" with Pamela Brown, in for Carol Costello. Hi, Pamela.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Well hello. Good morning to you both and happy Friday. Have a great weekend, guys. "NEWSROOM" starts right now.

(MUSIC)

Well good morning. I'm Pamela Brown, in for Carol Costello. Thanks for being here with me on this Friday. We begin this morning with a political war of words breaking out among Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Cruz's private comments at fundraisers questioning the judgment of Trump and Ben Carson now going public.