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Kaptur Talks Provocative Clothing; Lawmakers Call for Trump Probe; Winter Weather Forecast; Simple Swaps Cut Calories and Fat; Moore Refuses to Concede; GOP Leaders Reach Tax Bill Deal; Rosenstein on Firing Mueller. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired December 14, 2017 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Sexual harassment by their choice of clothing. A fellow lawmaker is going to weigh in, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: A group of Democratic lawmakers calling for a congressional investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against President Trump. Then on Wednesday a strange comment made by a Democrat in a closed door meeting about how women can avoid better being harassed.

Here to talk about all of it, we have California Congresswoman Jackie Speier.

Good morning, congresswoman.

REP. JACKIE SPEIER (D), CALIFORNIA: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Were you in this closed door meeting where Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur said something to the effect that too many members of Congress dress inappropriately and that may somehow be inviting sexual harassment?

SPEIER: Yes, I was in that closed door meeting. And I think her comments have been misinterpreted. She was rising to just comment on the fact that the decorum on the House floor should require us to just dress appropriately. And sometimes people do not do so.

Speaker Boehner --

CAMEROTA: Is that right? I mean I'm just curious, because I can't imagine -- truly, it's hard for me to imagine, a more conservative dressed group of people than the navy blue suit wearing buttoned up members of Congress. Are there people in halter tops and miniskirts in Congress?

SPEIER: Well, I wouldn't say they're in halter tops and miniskirts. But I would say that Speaker Boehner, when he was the speaker, was real prickly about it and he didn't want members coming on the floor in jeans or in over coats. I once was told to take my overcoat off. So it is a conservative place, no doubt about it. And I think that from time to time people end up dressing more casually than has been the practice in the past.

CAMEROTA: OK. I hear you. But, I mean, is casual dressing the reason that there's sexual harassment in Congress?

SPEIER: No, absolutely not. And I don't think she was making that connection. She was just saying separately from that, she was recommending that the decorum of the House be such that we reflect what she has known for all these years. She's almost the longest serving female member of Congress in the history of this country. Next year she will have broken that record. So, I mean, she's been here a very long time and she's probably has seen dressing change over time.

[08:35:08] CAMEROTA: OK. Fair enough.

And just to be clear, she did issue sort of an amended statement afterwards where she said, under no circumstance is it the victim's fault if they are harassed in any way. I shared the stories from my time here in the context of the Me Too legislation and how we can elevate the decorum and the dress code to protect women from what is a pervasive problem here and in society at large.

OK, let's move on, congresswoman, to the calls that you're part of for an investigation into President Trump. You went further yesterday. You tweeted this. Senator Gillibrand is a fierce advocate of women who deserves the utmost respect. The president hasn't seen the full wrath of America's women yet, but he's about to, 25th the 45th. 25th Amendment. What are you saying here, congresswoman?

SPEIER: Well, I have been speaking out about the invocation of the 25th Amendment since early this year because I do think the president is not equipped to do the job. When he lashed out at Kim Jong-un and said we -- he wasn't yet going to feel the fire and fury, I mean he was inciting an international incident. He was inciting nuclear war. And the 25th Amendment is there to be invoked by the vice president and the majority of the members of the cabinet if the president is incapacitated.

CAMEROTA: But you think the president is incapacitated? You think the president -- that President Trump is mentally unfit somehow?

SPEIER: I do believe that he does not conduct himself in a manner that is consistent with the presidency of the United States. Lashing out at members of both houses, lashing out at foreign leaders, creating conflict instead of creating consensus, those are not the qualifications, nor the skills, that we want to see in a president.

CAMEROTA: But isn't that different than incapacitation?

SPEIER: Well, I do think that the incapacity is something that goes beyond some of those, but not all of those. If, in fact, the president is going to act impetuously because someone says or does something, that is reason for all of us to pause and say, is he really equipped to do the job?

CAMEROTA: But just help us understand that because impetuous is not incapacitated. So why are you able to connect these in your mind? SPEIER: I connect them because he has his finger on the nuclear

button. He's in a position to make a decision for us to attack another country with a nuclear weapon. And if you get insulted and then have to lash out at people, as he has done with foreign leaders, he's done it with Kim Jong-un, he's done it with others, that is not someone that I believe has the capacity to do the job. Senator Corker has made the same comments about him. Many others have commented about that as well.

You know, it's one of those issues that no one really wants to talk about, but we have a responsibility to talk about it because we are, in fact, trying to guard the country against war that is ill-advised.

CAMEROTA: But, look, the vice president is not going to invoke the 25th Amendment. I mean, so where do you go from here?

SPEIER: Well, I don't know that that's actually going to be the case. I think at some point there would be -- I think it's my responsibility and Congress' responsibility to suggest to the vice president that he needs to be aware of the 25th Amendment and the use of it and how he should be in a position to act on it if things get out of hand.

CAMEROTA: Congresswoman Jackie Speier, we appreciate you coming on with your perspective always.

SPEIER: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much.

CUOMO: You've got to remember, all of these moves are political moves and it will come down to votes.

So, big business news for you. Another mega media merger is in the works. How much? Who is it? Facts, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:42:22] CUOMO: Plunging temperatures in the Northeast, an early taste of winter, and it don't taste good. How long is it going to last?

CNN meteorologist Chad Everett Myers with the forecast.

I see the purple.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, I know, buddy. I've got another animated character here behind me. Barney is on his way from Canada.

Temperatures are in the 20s across parts of New York City right now, but teens elsewhere. And the wind chill factor is the story. We are below zero in some spots. Syracuse, 1 below. And more snow coming.

This weather is brought to you by Jared, the galleria of jewelry.

So let's get to the real part of this. What is truly going on here? This is the cold front that we've had for days and days and days,

whereas the West Coast has had warm weather. In fact, L.A. was 80 yesterday. Today, 78. It's a ridge of high pressure in the west and then that trough of low pressure in the east. And that trough brings down the air from Hudson Bay and allows it to stay over the Northeast, over New England, over the Great Lakes and even as far south here. It was cold.

For here, for Atlanta, it was 25 this morning. That's pretty chilly. Our cars aren't prepared for that. Neither are our gloves. They're just not quite as good.

But, now, New York City, you do warm up somewhere from where we are now to almost 50 by we -- Tuesday afternoon I think we'll probably get to 50, but then Friday and Saturday of next week it goes back down again.

Chris.

CAMEROTA: Very cool. I like the King Kong-like graphic that you're ending with. Very nice.

All right, time now for the "Five Things to Know for Your New Day."

Number one, House and Senate Republicans reaching a tentative deal on tax reform, a major step towards finalizing a tax code overhaul in time for the holidays.

CUOMO: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein defending Special Counsel Bob Mueller and his Russia investigation, saying there is no cause to fire Mueller. Rosenstein pushing back on Republican claims the probe is biased.

CAMEROTA: Sandy Hook families marking five years since that massacre that killed 26 children and educators. Loved ones releasing a PSA meant to raise awareness about warning signs in their efforts to stop gun violence and make schools safer.

CUOMO: Five years, nothing has changed.

Disney has agreed the acquire a huge chunk of 21st Century Fox. The deal is worth more than $52 billion in stock. The move gives Disney more content as it gets ready to challenge Netflix by launching it's own streaming service. The deal is pending regulatory approval.

CAMEROTA: Fans are feeling the force. "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" opens tonight. The latest instalment in the Skywalker saga is getting solid reviews. The film is estimated to rake in $440 million worldwide this weekend.

[08:45:13] CUOMO: Favorite character?

CAMEROTA: I like the wookiee -- wait, ewoks.

CUOMO: Ewoks?

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CUOMO: And I like Chewbacca.

That is who we would be, by the way.

CAMEROTA: That is. That's obvious.

CUOMO: For more on the "Five Things to Know," go to cnn/newday for the latest.

CAMEROTA: All right, Doug Jones' victory in Alabama sending shockwaves through Washington. Is a blue wave coming for the midterms? We have "The Bottom Line."

CUOMO: All right, but, first, this holiday season you can have your cake and eat it too --

CAMEROTA: Oh?

CUOMO: With less sugar and fat if you're into that kind of thing. Lisa Drayer has this week's "Food as Fuel."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA DRAYER, CNN NUTRITIONIST: Simple swaps are key to lightening baked goods. For a nutritional boost, try substituting some all- purpose flour with white whole wheat flour. You likely won't taste a difference but you will get extra fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Instead of oil or butter, you can try using purred apple, carrot, banana or pumpkin in some recipes. For instance, unsweetened applesauce can replace oil in some muffins, quick breads and cakes. And heart-healthy purred avocado can also stand in for half the fat in a recipe. Just know, reducing fat may also shorten cooking time, so check to see if it's done earlier than usual.

You can also try making frosting with Greek yogurt for extra protein.

Lastly, here's a general rule. You can cut the amount of sugar in a recipe by 25 percent without really noticing, but you may need to add a little more liquid to make up for it.

Have fun experimenting to see what your palate prefers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:08] CUOMO: The Alabama Senate race is over. Republican Roy Moore refuses to accept that. Is Doug Jones' victory a sign of things to come in the midterm elections?

Let's get the body line -- bottom line.

CAMEROTA: Or body language. Whichever one you want to give us.

CUOMO: Body language with CNN political director and body language expert, David Chalian.

Happy Hanukkah to you.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Thank you, sir.

CUOMO: And --

CAMEROTA: Oh, happy honeymoon.

CHALIAN: Oh, thanks. Yes.

CAMEROTA: You look very healthy and rosy from your fabulous tropical honeymoon.

CHALIAN: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Congratulations.

CUOMO: Good for you. Good for you.

Now, what do you got?

CHALIAN: Yes. Well, to your question, Chris, about whether or not it's a sign of things to come, it definitely is. Now, that doesn't mean -- I don't want everyone to think Democrats are going to win everywhere that Donald Trump won by 28 points or more. That's not likely to happen. But Republicans, in the last day and a half, since those results came in, are much more concern about a bigger Democratic wave forming here and that 2018 may look something not terribly different from 2010 when there was the big backlash to President Obama's first year and the Obamacare legislation that was going through when you remember when Scott Brown won that special election in Massachusetts.

CAMEROTA: How weird is it that Roy Moore isn't conceding and says that this is like a struggle for civilization? I mean, honestly, somehow post-election it actually sounds weirder than some of the things that he said during the race.

CHALIAN: It does sound like he's sort of defying reality here when everybody else, I mean, the secretary of state of his own party, who supported his campaign, the president of the United State who had supported -- everyone else has sort of moved on to the reality that Roy Moore lost this race.

But, you know, these close races, we've seen some examples in history of candidates just having a hard time letting go.

Doug Jones was asking about it this morning and he didn't take the bait at all. He just simply said, I think it's time to move on. But he didn't come out sort of hard to pressure Roy Moore to say something in concession for him. He just said it's time to move on.

CUOMO: They going to get taxes done or are the deficit hawks, are the people who are worried about the middle class coming back to bite them going to get cold feet?

CHALIAN: You know, the Republican leadership on The Hill feel like they are moving towards success here. There's no doubt about that.

That being said, everybody has not expressed where they are on this final version that just emerged now that the House and the Senate have gotten their act together and have come up with their plan.

It seems to be moving down the track. I will just say this note of caution. This bill is not popular with the American public. And so when a bill is this unpopular with the American public, I don't think you can say it's a done deal until you see the votes cast on the floor.

CAMEROTA: Yes, but is the thinking of Republicans, since they know the public opinion polls and they know it's not popular, is the thinking that, well, people will warm to it. It's going to be so great, the merits of the bill, once it's enacted, are going to be so great that everybody's going to come around?

CHALIAN: Doesn't that sound almost exactly like what Nancy Pelosi said about Obamacare back in 2010?

CAMEROTA: Yes, it does.

CHALIAN: And you saw the backlash at the polls in November of that year.

I do think you're right, I think they are counting on the fact that people will like the bill more once it's in place. That's why you saw President Trump yesterday touting what the IRS was stating --

CUOMO: Right.

CHALIAN: That your paycheck was going to be bigger come February. They want people to know that they're going to feel some of this sooner rather than later.

CUOMO: Hey, I've got something for you. We had Senator Ron Johnson on and we were talking taxes with him, but he had a pretty severe case of Clinton-itis (ph). When I asked him about the impact of the Rosenstein testimony yesterday on Capitol Hill, he still went back to the Clinton e-mail scandals. I got a lot of questions about Comey and it seems that that wasn't about finding the truth. When I asked him about the Roy Moore allegations and what it means for the Trump allegations, he went back to Bill Clinton and said, well, you know, Bill Clinton, they didn't take care of him either. And I'll tell you what, his reasoning seemed a little soft, but his determination was very strong.

CHALIAN: Well, you know, Chris, I mean that still works for the base of the Republican Party. I mean you saw what -- you saw what happened Tuesday night and you've seen what's happening all in 2017.

One of the things that we see is that there's so much enthusiasm on the Democratic side. And so Republicans are going to focus a lot on making sure that their base is as enthusiastic about getting out for them as possible. We've seen a little bit of a depression in some Republican turnout areas, and getting the base, there's nothing better than Bill and Hillary Clinton to try to help stoke excitement amongst the Republican base.

CAMEROTA: David Chalian, thank you very much for "The Bottom Line."

CHALIAN: Thanks, guys.

CUOMO: Congratulations.

CHALIAN: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: OK, "The Good Stuff," next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:59:06] CUOMO: "Good Stuff."

All right, two names that you're going to remember, Lisa Fine and Brian Claypool (ph). They made a huge impact on us. We met them out in Las Vegas. They survived that massacre when a gunman opened fire at the Route 91 Country Music Festival in October. They refused to let the negativity define them. They stayed in touch. They decided to work together. They formed a non-profit apply named Route 91 Strong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LISA FINE, FOUNDER, ROUTE 91 STRONG: I want to show everybody that, you know what, no amount of evil is going to take us down. And we're going to keep on being strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: They just had a sold out benefit concert in California. They went back to Vegas. They held a memorial. They had more than 50 survivors come. Emotions still very raw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FINE: If my sister was taken and my sister's little cross was there, I mean it just -- it like hits you. And that's peoples' lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[09:00:03] CUOMO: Route 91 Strong is holding another benefit concert in L.A. on January 17th. For more information, you can visit route91strong.org. I've spoken to both of them recently.