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New Day
World Leaders on Trump; Warriors Stay Alive; National Spelling Bee Winners; Officer Saves Others. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired May 27, 2016 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:31:18] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump's world view is coming under scrutiny after President Obama revealed that world leaders are, quote, "rattled" by the prospect of a Trump presidency. Trump says, good, they should be rattled, it helps our leverage.
Let's discuss with Ryan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria. He is currently dean of the Bush School at Texas A&M University.
It's very good to have you, sir.
RYAN CROCKER, DEAN OF THE BUSH SCHOOL, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: Thank you, Chris.
CUOMO: The best to you and your family as we head into this very important weekend.
CROCKER: Thank you.
CUOMO: And America's cultural recognition.
So, to you, what matters most in scrutinizing a Trump or Clinton presidency? What are your concerns?
CROCKER: I spent my career in the foreign service, almost all of it in the Middle East. I was an ambassador six times, three times under Republican presidents, three times under Democratic presidents. So I focus on the issues in crunchy parts of the world. So temperament is important.
CUOMO: How?
CROCKER: Don't panic. Don't shoot from the hip.
CUOMO: What about projecting strength? He says, I'm strong. When you sit down with me, you're sitting across from a guy who you know is, in Trump's estimation, I'm the best negotiator in the world. I'm going to call you names. I'm going to push you back. And I'm going to show you that might is right when it comes to America and you'll respond.
CROCKER: Judgment is what's key here. We're America. We're strong. We're a great nation. It doesn't rest on any one individual. The leader of that nation has to be able to project certainly determination, will, but also judgment. The world's a complicated place and you can't bully it around.
CUOMO: He says President Obama has made us look weak. He apologizes for everything. He's in, he's out, he can't really get anything done in these war torn aspects of that part of the world, namely ISIS, and that that's Trump's advantage is that he does project strengths and he will be definitive in his movements and he won't make the same mistakes that Bush did and Obama of being in but being in half way.
CROCKER: It's an interesting point. This administration has broken with the post-World War II pattern of broad engagement in the world. We have been disengaged. Does that make us weak? No. The debate I would like to see in this general election is, are we going to be engaged in the world with adversaries and allies alike, or are we going to continue this withdrawal? That, for me, is the question. It's not strength versus weakness. We're strong. It's engagement versus disengagement.
CUOMO: When you think about a Trump presidency, do you see a danger in it or do you think that that's political rhetoric that's being thrown as criticism?
CROCKER: We're seeing a lot of rhetoric now on both sides. I look forward to the conventions. I look forward to a serious set of debates moving into the general election because right now we really haven't seen, on either side, much in the way of a serious discussion of issues. We have to have that discussion.
CUOMO: Secretary of state is using the - Clinton is using the word "dangerous" to describe him, but when you look at her pedigree, what does it tell you in terms of proof of performance, those criticisms that get laid at the feet of the administration surely she was there for a large part of this. You know, is the time as secretary of state necessarily a check in her favor?
CROCKER: Well, that is, again, a discussion I'd like to see. Let's look at the issues she dealt with as secretary of state, how they turned out, why they turned out that way. We just haven't had that kind of discussion yet. I can say, I was her ambassador to Afghanistan. I thought she was a great boss.
[08:35:09] CUOMO: What does that mean?
CROCKER: She was focused. She paid attention to the issues. And she had that particular ability to know when she had enough information to make a decision, and then make it. Not to move too quickly, but not to agonize forever over getting all the facts in one place. In an operational world, you've got to move.
CUOMO: What is your take on this fundamental disagreement that this - that Clinton and Trump have about how to treat other world leaders. Trump says, look, they have to know that I'm in the driver's side and maybe I'll push them around. I'm going to be strong. I'm not trying to be everybody's friend, whereas Clinton is more along the lines of what we see the Obama administration, let's reach out, don't be extreme, let's try to work with these people and be more cooperative, you know, in more of a suggestive way of compliance. Do - where do you fall on that balance?
CROCKER: I think one of the most important qualities in international diplomacy at the presidential level, as well as below it, is empathy. Understand who you're dealing with and how that person sees the word. Empathy isn't sympathy. Empathy isn't about playing nice. It's about understanding both your adversaries and your allies, to think your way into their heads, to know then how - how to deal with them. So it is not a one size fits all. I'm going to be tough with everybody isn't going to work. It's developing relations, thinking your way into their world, and then knowing how to move with both adversaries and with allies.
CUOMO: Ryan Crocker, thank you for teeing up what matter in this discussion, as hopefully it begins to be had. Please, come back so that you can weigh in with some analysis on what's being said and how reasonable it is in the world that you know all too well. Thank you, sir.
CROCKER: Thank you, Chris.
CUOMO: Best to you for the weekend.
Alisyn.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Chris, you and I talk about the power of words, and there was an epic conclusion to this year's Scripps National Spelling Bee. Talk about words. Wait till you hear these. We'll speak with the winners, that's right, the winners, plural, next.
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[08:41:33] CUOMO: Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy, what an NBA series we're having. The defending champs, the Warriors, they stay alive, but they still face a must win situation against the Thunder. We bring in the man with the message, Coy Wire, handsome and brains, in person.
What do you got?
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I'm trying to be like you, Chris.
Only two teams have ever come back when trailing three games to one in conference finals history. They looked a bit deflated the last two games in Oklahoma City, but now they're back at home. And, Cuomo, they've got their groove back.
Kevin Durant on D, like a cat trying to corner a laser pointer. Watch this, not happening. Steph Curry, quicker than the cat. Thirty-one points on the night for the reigning MVP. Warriors win 120-111, staying alive to go back to Oklahoma City tomorrow. Curry's proclaiming, we ain't going home. Series, 3-2, do or die game yet again for the Warriors.
And, finally, guys, tonight's the night, Ealy (ph) makes his broadcast television debut on our sister channel, TBS. The pro gamers are duking it out right here in Atlanta at Turner Studies for a piece of, get this, a $1.4 million prize pool. Big bucks, y'all. The action starts tonight at 10:00 Eastern. And you can catch the action there every Friday on TBS throughout the ten week season. They're playing a game called counter strike, Ana. And if you haven't seen it, it's way cooler than Duck Hunt.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, I'm missing out, apparently.
All right, Coy Wire, happy Friday. Thanks to you.
A spelling bee so epic, one winner wasn't enough. Coming up, the co- champs live and they'll talk to us their secret to spelling the words most of us probably haven't even heard of.
CAMEROTA: And now, more than ever, the world needs heroes, as we remember all of our fallen heroes this Memorial Day weekend. We're encouraging you to tell us about everyday people who are doing their part to make a difference in the world. Anderson Cooper explains how.
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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight, we're recognizing some incredible acts of compassion and kindness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please join me -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please join me in honoring -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In honoring CNN Hero -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: CNN Hero -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: CNN Hero -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN Hero -
COOPER: This year marks the 10th anniversary of CNN Heroes, celebrating everyday people changing the word. How do we find these extraordinary people? With your help. You can nominate someone right now at cnnheros.com. Maybe they're caring for children, helping our veterans, or protecting the environment. Whatever their cause, nominating a CNN hero is easier than ever. Just go to cnnheros.com on your laptop, your tablet or your smartphone, click nominate, fill in the form and tell us what makes your hero extraordinary. And be selective. Those honored as CNN Heroes are truly dedicating their lives to serving others. When you're finished, click submit. You'll see this message that confirms we received it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, this is great! Yes.
COOPER: Being recognized as a CNN Hero can help the person you admire continue their life changing work. But it all starts with you. So nominate someone deserving today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[08:48:42] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Feldenkrais, f-e-l-d-e-n-k-r-a-i-s, feldenkrais.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's correct.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gesellschaft, g-e-s-e-l-l-s-c-h-a-f-t, gesellschaft.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is correct.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAMEROTA: How do they know that?
CABRERA: OH, they are so cute and so talented. With that, it was the third year in a row the Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in a tie. The two young wordsmiths besting 282 competitors from all across the country and even around the world to win the trophy and $40,000 each.
Joining us now, the champions, 13-year-old Jairam Hathwar and 11-year- old Nihar Janga.
This is so cool, guys. First, I want to start with you, Nihar. I know this was your first spelling bee competition, and you won. How did that feel?
NIHAR JANGA, CO-CHAMPION, 2016 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE: It felt really great because I didn't expect it at all. But I mainly wanted to thank my mom, because she is the one that was my main coach and she helped me a lot in this spelling bee to prepare for it.
[08:50:00] CABRERA: That's so cool.
JANGA: And my sister is the one who inspired me.
CABRERA: Is your sister older or younger?
JANGA: She's in ninth grade right now.
CABRERA: OK, so she's older. Because I know you're only 11-years-old, in 5th grade.
Jairam, you're a couple of years older, 13, and your older brother actually was a previous co-winner just a couple of years ago. So apparently the smarts run in the family. Did he give you a few tips?
JAIRAM HATHWAR, CO-CHAMPION, 2016 SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE: Well, yes, my brother won in 2014 as a co-champion as well. And he basically just told me that to keep calm and poise and if I don't know the word, just don't get too agitated, and then don't just like - don't just like forget about everything that you know so far and just try your best to figure it out.
CABRERA: And you kept your cool because I know there were a couple of times, Jairam, where you did get the words wrong, but then Nihar also had a few flubups. I want to play a quick clip. Let's watch just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HATHWAR: Drathar (ph) -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inside 30 seconds.
HATHWAR: D-r-a-a-t-h-a-a-r, draathaar.
CROWD: Oh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: Oh, that had to hurt. What was going through your mind in those moments?
HATHWAR: Well, when I misspelled it, I thought it was basically over because I knew that Nihar was a really excellent speller. So I thought that it was - that he was going to win.
CABRERA: Well, I'm so happy for both of you.
Nihar, what are you going to do with the money now, $40,000?
JANGA: I'm going to save it for Harvard so I can become a great neurosurgeon to help - to help make major diseases for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
CABRERA: Nihar wasn't to be a neurosurgeon.
What about you, Jairam? What do you want to be?
HATHWAR: I'm not exactly sure what I want to be when I grow up but, I don't know, I'm thinking also along the lines of a doctor.
CABRERA: Very cool. Well, we'll keep your names in mind.
CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh.
CABRERA: I want to have a little bit of fun right now and bring Chris and Alisyn into the mix to test their spelling abilities.
CAMEROTA: Oh, good. This will go well.
CABRERA: You know, these are a couple of words that these youngins got right.
CAMEROTA: OK. Go.
CABRERA: So I think you can handle this.
CAMEROTA: Oh, sure.
CABRERA: We'll start with you, Alisyn. The first word is rafraichissoir.
CAMEROTA: rafraichissoir.
CUOMO: Not a word. Protest.
CAMEROTA: Palate cleanser. rafraichissoir.
CUOMO: Does that help?
CAMEROTA: Oh, yes, that - that does help.
R-a-f-r-a-i-c-h-i-s-s-o-i-r?
CABRERA: Cheater. I knew you were a cheater.
CAMEROTA: Is that wrong?
CUOMO: Give us - give us another word and I want the fellas, guys, if you can help us, we're - they're going to give us a word. You know we're not going to be able to spell it because we're not as smart as you and we don't know the rules, but see if you can help us spell this - give us some clues about how to look at the word.
CABRERA: Oh, OK. OK. So it's lygaeid. This is one that they got right. Chris, lygaeid.
CUOMO: All right, lygaeid.
CABRERA: Don't look at the screen.
CUOMO: Give me a hint. Give me a hint. I'm not looking at the screen. Give me a hint on what - what should I be doing to not just spell it phonetically like l-i-g-e-a. You know, what should I think of?
CAMEROTA: Yes.
What should he do, Nihar?
JANGA: (INAUDIBLE).
For rafraichissoir -
HATHWAR: No, lygaeid.
JANGA: Oh, lygaeid. The ending, it's a - it's like a certain animal (INAUDIBLE). So there's a suffix for that ending.
CABRERA: Does that help, Chris?
CUOMO: I don't understand half the words he just said.
CABRERA: All right, let's put the word up on the screen just to give us an idea of how talented these two kids really are, lygaeid. You probably wouldn't have solved it like that.
CUOMO: Oh, there was a "d" in it. The way you pronounced it was wrong, Ana.
CABRERA: That could have been part of the problem.
Gentlemen, thank you so much for joining us. Again, congratulations to you. Jairam Hathwar and Nihar Janga. We'll see you down the road.
And we'll be right back.
HATHWAR: Thank you.
JANGA: Thank you.
CAMEROTA: Thank you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:58:08] CUOMO: A Philadelphia police officer going beyond the call of duty, but it cost him his life. CNN's Jessica Schneider has more on the fallen officer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Dedicated officer and loving dad and grandson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was absolutely incredible what this officer was able to do.
CONSTANCE WILSON, GRANDMOTHER OF ROBERT WILSON III: He protected like he was sworn in to do.
SCHNEIDER: On March 5, 2015, Sergeant Robert Wilson was shot and killed at this GameStop in north Philadelphia.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Officer was shot?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's shot right now. Get me a medic here ASAP!
WILSON: He's about I'd say three, four years old in this picture.
SCHNEIDER: Constance Wilson didn't know what had happened to her grandson, whom she had raised since he was two. But as she raced to the hospital, the details of Wilson's actions inside this GameStop began to emerge. Wilson stopped into the store while on patrol to buy a videogame for his son's birthday. That's when she says two robbers rushed in.
WILSON: And there was people in there. And he protected those people. And so he took on two shooters by himself. Yes, he stood his ground until, you know, they took him down.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He stepped away, so the shots weren't going directly at them. They were going toward him.
WILSON: He saved those people lives, but at the same time he lost his.
SCHNEIDER (on camera): And you're proud of him for that.
WILSON: Yes, I am, very proud of Robby.
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Sergeant Wilson was awarded the Medal of Valor last week at the White House by President Obama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mrs. Constance Wilson, accepting on behalf of Sergeant Wilson III. For giving his life to protecting innocent civilians, Sergeant Wilson put himself in harm's way during an armed robbery.
WILSON: He told me, he said, I know you're proud of your grandson. He said, I am too. It says, for extraordinary valor, Robert Wilson III, above and beyond the call of duty.
SCHNEIDER: Jessica Schneider, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[09:00:02] CAMEROTA: Wow. That officer is wonderful and so is his grandmother. She is wonderful as well.
Have a nice weekend, everyone. It's time now for "Newsroom" with Pamela Brown, in for Carol Costello.
Hi, Pamela.
CABRERA: And we salute our (INAUDIBLE).
CAMEROTA: We do.
