Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Severe Weather Leads to Deaths in U.S.; 2015: Year of the Political Outsider; Christmas at the White House. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired December 25, 2015 - 07:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The gunman went into the office during the editorial meeting.

[07:00:17] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Police raids linked to the Paris attacks are under way in Belgium.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An active shooter in San Bernardino, California.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIL wants to bring this as a war between the United States and Islam.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An unbelievable scene of lawlessness in Baltimore.

MARILYN MOSBY, PROSECUTOR, BALTIMORE: To the youth of this city, I will seek justice on your behalf.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Another tape the city of Chicago does not want you to see.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They're bringing drugs. They're rapists.

Complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I cannot wait to stand on the debate stage with Hillary Clinton.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mail.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've lost more sleep than all of you put together.

KIM DAVIS, COUNTY CLERK IN KENTUCKY: You're a strong people!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The pope of the Holy See.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If there's anything true about Pope Francis, he is close to the people.

POPE FRANCIS, CATHOLIC CHURCH: God bless America.

(END VIDEOTAPE) (MUSIC: "WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS")

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to a special Christmas day edition of NEW DAY. I'm Alisyn Camerota, along with Chris Cuomo and Michaela Pereira. So you were just listening to the Young People's Chorus of New York City. So beautiful.

We have a big show for you. We're going to look back at 2015. All the big news stories, including, of course, the presidential race, the terror threats we faced here at home and overseas and so much more.

And in case reruns of "Home Alone" or "Elf" start getting a little repetitive, we'll have a look at some of the best movies to check out in theaters this holiday season.

PEREIRA: "Christmas Story" is my favorite. And we are having a very special holiday tradition here.

The White House Christmas decorations. We'll take a look what the first lady has planned. All that and much more ahead. First, let's get a check of those headlines for you at the news desk.

SANCHEZ: Good morning and merry Christmas. Let's take a look at the top stories this morning.

The severe weather death toll rose overnight as officials count the number killed by dozens of tornados across the country. And the threat of severe weather continues, along with the record temperatures through the weekend.

In California, a rare twister sighting like this one triggered tornado warnings from the National Weather Service. The apparent tornados left behind toppled trees and damaged the homes and cars. Fortunately, though, no injuries reported.

A far more tragic turn of events in the southeast, though. Officials now say 14 people died as a severe storm tore across the region. Dozens more were injured. At least seven of the deaths came in Mississippi, where the governor has declared a state of emergency. The weather service says at least 14 tornados hit that state alone.

Listen to this man's terrifying experience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When it started really whooshing, and it started sucking my bedroom window open, I took off to take cover.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Officials say most of the damage came from one monster tornado that may have been on the ground for 150 miles, all the way from Mississippi into Tennessee. Six people died there. A state of emergency has been declared in Tennessee and in Georgia, as well, where there was widespread flooding from heavy rains. Ongoing weather headaches for holiday travelers yesterday and on into

today. More than 100 flights canceled in the U.S. this morning, with major airports gripped by heavy fog and storms. More than 400 flights canceled in the U.S. on Christmas Eve yesterday with delays stretching several hours. Airlines also bracing for a winter storm that could wreak havoc over the weekend.

For the latest on the severe weather, let's bring in Chad Myers. Cha, good morning. Merry Christmas to you. These record high temperatures really doing a number on us.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You bet, Boris. I mean, merry Christmas to you, too. We have a trough in the west which means it's cold and rainy and even had those little tornados. They were small compare to Mississippi.

And then this warm air. We could break a record in New York City again today, and the warm air has an awful lot of humidity in it, as well. More severe weather yesterday across the Deep South.

But it's not unusual for tornados in parts of California. Should get two tornados a year in December per month right there in December. But also because we're in El Nino, that number could go even higher for January and February. We'll keep watching them.

[07:05:10] Severe thunderstorms still in the central plains and the southeast. This is the big story. We're still going to see flooding. We're still going to see the potential for wind damage. No tornados today. I really don't think so. I don't see it. If it's going to be, it's going to be small.

The bigger story is flooding. Watch where you're driving, especially if you don't know the road, because you're visiting someone. If there's water over the roadway, don't go there.

There has been areas here in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi with 4 to 6 inches of rain. And Boris, it is still raining right now, and it will continue to rain all day. Even though temperatures are hot, there's an awful lot of rain out there.

SANCHEZ: Not great to see a murky Christmas, Chad, but we certainly hope it is as clear as you're hoping it's going to be.

Protestors staged what they call a black Christmas in Chicago. More than 100 people marched along Michigan Avenue Thursday, holding die- ins, blocking last-minute shoppers from stores and calling for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The protests happening in response to the 2014 police shooting of Laquan McDonald.

Some violence to tell you about inside a busy mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, as police shoot and kill a suspect they say pointed a gun at an officer. The incident started with a fight between rival groups, where the suspect allegedly fired his gun. That drew the attention of an off-duty officer. Witnesses say the suspect pointed his gun at that officer, who then shot and killed the suspect. In Rome, Pope Francis offering his traditional Christmas day message

and a blessing to the world from the central balcony at St. Peter's Basilica. He called for peace in various hot spots, including Syria, and for compassion for refugees, the poor, and people fleeing violence.

During Christmas Eve mass, he also denounced materialism, urging Catholics to not be intoxicated by possessions.

That's a look at your Christmas morning headlines. Alisyn, Michaela and Chris, back to you.

CAMEROTA: It's been quite a year. Donald Trump, Carly Fiorina, Ben Carson, the anti-establishment candidates have held the top spots in the polls and made some of the most notably outrageous claims in 2015. So what will happen in 2016?

Let's bring in CNN political reporter Sara Murray and CNN senior political reporter, Nia-Malika Henderson.

Ladies, thanks so much for being here. Merry Christmas.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Merry Christmas.

CAMEROTA: To both of you. Sara, if you had to give 2015 a title, would it be the year of the outsider?

MURRAY: It would absolutely be the year of the outsider. And look, I think it really took people by surprise how angry voters have been at the establishment, not just at the establishment in terms of Democrats, but at their own party on the Republican side.

You see the rise of people like Donald Trump and for a while Ben Carson. And these are folks who are new to the political arena, who aren't really giving a lot in terms of substance of their proposals, but they talk about, you know, approaching things differently. And that's really resonating with voters who are just so frustrated.

CUOMO: Is it more than just the game? Is there a movement afoot? Nia-Malika, you're too young to have any real history with being abused as a member of the press. But as someone who's seen it cycle through, do you think that we're in somewhat of a special moment right now, where the people really have had it; and it's more of a movement than it is about any particular candidate?

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: All of the polls show that there is deep anger, as Sara talked about, not only at parties, but just big institutions in general. The press, obviously, included in that.

I think 2016 will be the big test of whether or not this is a movement or a moment. And we'll see once people start going to the polls. Will politics essentially revert back to form? And form being that the establishment normally wins and that sort of outsiders eventually fade out. We'll have to see in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina

whether or not people carry that anger to the ballot box and vote for some of these outsiders, like Donald Trump, like Ben Carson. They certainly have been responding to pollsters so far, saying that they like the outsiders. We'll have to see if there's sort of a middle road, in fact, somebody like Ted Cruz, who's both an outsider but also has those insider credentials.

CAMEROTA: So Sara, we saw anger at the establishment. We also saw anger at the media, the apex of which was the CNBC debate, when suddenly all of the candidates seemed to turn on the moderators. Let's go back in time and remember that moment for a second.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: And it's not a very nicely asked question the way you say that.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Even in New Jersey what you're doing is called rude.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Even in New Jersey that was rude, according to Chris Christie.

CUOMO: And Cruz popped off after being asked a question about fiscal policy, by the way. Because he asked about fiscal policy, and then he says, "All the questions stink in this debate," by the way.

CAMEROTA: Sara, tell us about that moment.

MURRAY: It is pretty incredible. Look, Republicans, we always know, do well when they attack the media. But I feel like this cycle has taken it to a degree we have not seen before. It's been debate moderators. It's been reporters. It's across the board.

[07:10:10] And voters, Republican voters who show up at these events, who have tuned in early, they love this. Donald Trump gets huge cheers at his events when he goes off, attacking the liberal media. And that's part of the reason they do it. It's a great way to get their base riled up and rallying for them.

The other thing you have to remember now is people have so many different outlets they turn to that they did look at their own narrative wherever they want. They can go to conservative websites like Breitbart or like The Daily Caller, and they can read something that sort of reinforces their views, reinforces their belief that the media is stacked against their candidates. And this has been a really potent line of messaging for Republicans this year.

CUOMO: Sara Murray putting her finger on a big point there, Nia. The proliferation of blogs masquerading as middle media, as regular media.

CAMEROTA: Right.

CUOMO: They're a very dangerous thing. Are you impressed by Alisyn and Sara being able to, you know, carry on an objective conversation about this when they have both been targeted and victimized by this very dynamic that we're discussing?

HENDERSON: They very much have been. By name called out and criticized. And that certainly...

CUOMO: I don't take a position on whether or not it was warranted, by the way. I'm just observing.

HENDERSON: It was not warranted. I will take a position. But, yes, this is a really new thing. And then you have the echo chamber of not only these different blogs, conservative blogs, liberal blogs, but also of a giant that is social media. Twitter being another very loud echo chamber amplifying.

CUOMO: Angry place.

HENDERSON: All of these voices. And one of the things that you've seen by sort of the mainstream, Chris, is in some ways we've been sidelined and a lot of the credibility we've had historically of fact checkers, people who can really -- who can really push up and push back against people who don't necessarily tell the truth and aren't factual in some of their planes, that's been compromised, I think, because there's so many people out there, partisans, who have their own versions of the truth.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely. Everybody has, you know, their own resources that they go to. And then they have their own facts that they believe.

So Sara, look into your crystal ball for 2016. Will the outsiders still prevail? What do you think as we head towards Iowa?

MURRAY: This is going to be the huge challenge, and for no one is it bigger than Donald Trump. Look, we know he draws the biggest crowds when he has his events. We know he sort of tapped into this frustration, even people who don't normally vote.

And so the question for him, above all others, is can you turn these big crowds into big turnouts and into support at the ballot box in places like Iowa, in places like New Hampshire? And I think that's going to be the ultimate test. Like Nia said earlier, is it a moment or a movement?

Look, if we see a huge turnout for Donald Trump, his staff predicts that they'll run up the numbers and they will get people to show up who have never caucused before, who are lifelong Iowans; if we see something like that in Iowa, I think that's a sign to you that this is real, that Trump's support is real.

But even so, moving beyond that, he's going to have to broaden his base. He's going to have to talk to Republicans and win over Republicans who have seen the Donald Trump show of strength, who have seen the Trump show so far and are still sort of not really sure if they can get behind this guy.

CUOMO: What do you think? Radical change from what we're seeing right now? Or do you think it kind of stays the way it is up through summer?

CAMEROTA: Look, these guys are the experts. I mean...

CUOMO: Are you kidding me?

CAMEROTA: I don't study it as much as they do. But I would say that it is hard to argue with the momentum that we've seen so far with Trump. And it would be hard to see how that changes, at least before Iowa. Your thoughts?

CUOMO: I'm befuddled by how you just kind of double-talked me in there. You said, like, five things. You have to unwrap it with some egg nog.

CAMEROTA: Yes, good thinking.

Nia, Sara, great to see you guys.

CUOMO: Merry Christmas.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much.

HENDERSON: Thank you guys.

MURRAY: Merry Christmas.

HENDERSON: Merry Christmas.

CAMEROTA: Let's get over to Michaela.

PEREIRA: You know, today counts. You guys have to be nice to each other on Christmas day, too. Right? You know that? Yes?

OK. Just doing final touches on our tree here. Our elf, Tony, did a beautiful job.

A treasured tradition at the White House is the Christmas decorations. We're going to talk with the woman who helps bring it all together. That's next.

But first let's listen once again to the Young People's Chorus of New York City with a very special holiday song.

(MUSIC: "DECK THE HALLS")

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:18:42] PEREIRA: Christmas in the White House is a very special occasion. This year, it celebrates America's history. This year, first lady Michelle Obama apparently pulled out all the stops, decking the halls with more than 60 Christmas trees, over 70,000 ornaments.

Here to share some of the secrets of all that White House decor Colleen Christian Burke, our friend and author of "Christmas with the First Lady." She is a White House historian and was a member of the White House decorating team for Michelle Obama in 2013 and Laura Bush in 2008.

We're hoping that she won't judge our little Charlie Brown tree behind you. That's why we put it to your back. How are you my dear?

COLLEEN CHRISTIAN BURKE, AUTHOR, "CHRISTMAS WITH THE FIRST LADY": I'm great. Very merry.

PEREIRA: The White House Christmas tree is looking beautiful.

BURKE: As always.

PEREIRA: As always. Such a tradition. Such a beautiful time of year at the White House. And this year, they tie in tradition to the theme.

BURKE: A timeless tradition. Mrs. Obama always brings forth what's important to her. And again, we have the military front and center. The Blue Room tree this year is color blocked red, white, and blue.

PEREIRA: Gorgeous.

BURKE: It's got messages to our service people overseas.

PEREIRA: Some iPads there so you can send a digital message. I like that.

BURKE: Yes, so you can tweet and e-mail. So very green initiative.

PEREIRA: That's what I wanted to ask you about. We obviously know that that's an important thing for all us, and the White House is certainly a part of that. I understand only -- is this true, the statistic, only 10 percent new material are decorations used?

BURKE: This year. This year.

PEREIRA: That's incredible.

BURKE: There has been a push in recent years to recycle and reuse. In fact, I saw all these silver reindeer that I put on the Eastern trees last year are now on a mantle. So it really makes sense. And in our own families...

PEREIRA: We do that.

BURKE: We recycle, and that's our tradition, also. We like seeing things that are warming to our hearts.

PEREIRA: It also gives and poses a bit of a challenge for the decorators, right?

BURKE: How do you mix it up, make it interesting.

PEREIRA: Make it fresh.

BURKE: And you know what? Every year, they pull out all the stops. And it really comes from the first lady. It's her initiative. I like to joke she's the commander in chief of Christmas.

PEREIRA: Yes.

BURKE: Because what's important to her is the military and children. So this year, for the first time, some people were surprised. Gum ball trees. But you know, Mrs. Obama...

PEREIRA: Sugar in the White House?

BURKE: Sugar in the White House, but in moderation. And I guess in decorations that's ok.

PEREIRA: Absolutely. And it should be a treat on holidays, and the Christmas season is supposed to be a treat anyway.

Son and Bo -- Sonny and Bo, obviously a big part of the Obama household. A presence in the White House.

BURKE: Absolutely.

PEREIRA: That's a lot of Christmas trees to have a couple of dogs running around in. How will they figure into the Christmas plans this year?

BURKE: I always say Sonny and Bo are the real celebrities in the White House.

PEREIRA: They are.

BURKE: This year, 68,000 people are going to come and tour, and they all want to see Sonny and Bo. Life size Sonny and Bo again this year, made out of yarn.

PEREIRA: Of course.

BURKE: Something different.

PEREIRA: Of course.

BURKE: They have their own trees. One is made out of tennis balls, and one is made of dog treats. So they are still front and center. And, you know, children who come to visit really love them. And when we're decorating on the floor, getting ready for the holidays, Sonny and Bo are part of it. They're always around.

PEREIRA: Dogs are always curious. They want to be part of the action.

BURKE: Very friendly.

PEREIRA: They want to know if there's a snack available.

BURKE: Exactly.

PEREIRA: That's what the bottom line is.

BURKE: I think you've met them.

PEREIRA: I've met every dog. There's a common theme through them. Gingerbread houses are a big deal, and I understand this one kind of might break the mold.

BURKE: Well, this one is 500 pounds.

PEREIRA: That's made of gingerbread?

BURKE: It's gingerbread and chocolate.

PEREIRA: Dark chocolate. My favorite.

BURKE: The past couple years they've been white. Beautiful. But this is really stunning and neat and stands out. And always Sonny and Bo are at the gingerbread house.

PEREIRA: There they are. I can see them right in front.

BURKE: They love it.

When they start to put this thing together, they actually work off blueprints. It's like a real house.

PEREIRA: And the blueprints, I mean, this is not something you can just throw together like my house, where it's sort of a chaotic, I guess we better put these things up, the tree, et cetera.

BURKE: Right.

PEREIRA: There is a plan. And it starts when? How many months ahead?

BURKE: Months and months ahead. We joke that no sooner does the tree come down than we start thinking about the next one. So, you know, in January, February, March, there will be White House elves thinking about next year. And next year is actually the last Christmas. So...

PEREIRA: This is the second to the last. Of course. It will be significant. And you'll see more, I'm sure, of their personal touches in it, do you think?

BURKE: Normally what happens -- and you know, Mrs. Obama can do whatever she wants. And she always delights and surprises us. But oftentimes they'll go back and look at what were their favorite things over their administration, and we'll see that kind of curated and pulled together.

PEREIRA: Well, next year, we expect a whole lot of fun from you. It's going to be really great, a great conversation... BURKE: It's going to be fabulous as always.

PEREIRA: ... to talk about the last year of the Obama White House. Thank you so much for joining us.

BURKE: My pleasure.

PEREIRA: Merry Christmas to you. Thank you for joining us on our NEW DAY Christmas special.

BURKE: Happy to be here.

CUOMO: Oh, Santa has his list. He's checking it twice. He's going to find out which politicians were naughty or nice. Oh, and it rhymes. We're going to give you a little take on that.

But first, we want to listen to the Young People's Chorus of New York City. Here they are.

(MUSIC)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC: "JOY TO THE WORLD")

[07:29:06] CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to a special Christmas day edition of NEW DAY. That was the Young People's Chorus of New York City, making us feel more than festive. We have a lot to get through this half hour, including which politicians were naughty and nice.

PEREIRA: The list might be a little heavy on one side.

Let's get a check of your headlines, though, first from the news desk.

SANCHEZ: Good morning. Merry Christmas. I'm Boris Sanchez. Let's take a look at your top stories today.

Pope Francis finishing his traditional Christmas blessing to the world just a few moments ago from the central balcony at St. Peter's Basilica, calling for mercy for prisoners and help and dignity for refugees. During midnight mass, he urged Catholics to reject lavish living and focus on being simple of heart.

Let's bring in senior CNN Vatican analyst, John Allen, live for us in Rome this morning. Good morning, John.

ALLEN: Good morning, Boris. Happy Christmas to you from a gorgeous city of Rome here on Christmas day.

Pope Francis, as you know, very much aspires to be a peace pope. And so it's no surprise that we heard a strong call for peace in his annual urbi et orbi message to the city and the world.