Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Shutdown Enters Day Three; Senate to Vote on Reopening Government; First Year Flubs. Aired 8:30-9:00a ET

Aired January 22, 2018 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: At their word, most of you say, now not in the House, in the Senate, most of you say, yes, these dreamers are different. They're doing the right thing. They've been vetted. They're law-abiding. They're working. They're adding to us. We're going to lose a ton of money if we don't have them because of their contributions.

Why attach a wall to that? If you want to protect them, protect them and then negotiate all these other aspects of an immigration system that needs fixing.

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R), LOUISIANA: Well, it's not just the wall, first. Let's suppose today that the president said, and he hasn't, that in return for some sort of DACA amnesty he will get a wall.

CUOMO: But why is there an and?

KENNEDY: I don't think that that would be dispositive for the Senate.

CUOMO: No, I hear you, but I'm just saying, why not just deal with DACA? Why is there any and? You know either you --

KENNEDY: Because I don't -- I don't think that will pass. I think --

CUOMO: Why not?

KENNEDY: Because I think the majority of the Senate wants to consider DACA along with other issues pertaining to immigration. That's why I've said -- I like what Senator McConnell proposed to do last night. I thought it was a step forward. I've said for about a week now that what we ought to do is wave all the arcane Senate rules and just put some sort of instrument on the floor and let's debate it and let everybody offer as many amendments as they want to offer. We can start early, stay late, go seven days a week and let's see what comes out.

Now, that's the way democracy is supposed to work. That's -- that's -- I know that's unusual for the Senate. They're these arcane rules that date --

CUOMO: Right.

KENNEDY: Date back to Moses. But we can -- we can waive those rules by mutual consent. CUOMO: Right. The Democrats say that they don't trust that McConnell,

if they give their consent to a continuing resolution, stop the shutdown, they don't trust that McConnell will have an earnest debate. And, as you know, you can give all the amendments you want, but the majority controls what amendments make it into the bill.

KENNEDY: Yes, and I don't know what to do about that. I don't speak for Senator McConnell. Perhaps -- I mean, to me, if he says it publicly, and he changes his mind, he's going to have a lot of explaining to do and I don't think Mitch would do that, but I understand the distrust. There's a lot of distrust.

CUOMO: Well, McConnell says we're going to have it in good faith. We understand that the dreamers deserve attention. And then the president puts out an ad saying that basically the immigrants are coming to kill you and today he says either you're for American citizens or you're for illegal entrance. I mean when you -- when you --

KENNEDY: Well, I didn't -- I don't think the ad was helpful. But that's just my opinion.

In terms of Senator McConnell, I take him at his word. I understand there's mistrust. But one thing he can't do is guarantee that this particular bill will pass. Maybe that can -- maybe that's the way it works in the House, but in the Senate it does not work that way.

CUOMO: I hear you.

KENNEDY: And in the meantime, you know, the American people are sitting here scratching their head. The ardent Republicans support the Republicans. The ardent Democrats --

CUOMO: Right.

KENNEDY: Support the Democrats. And everybody else out there in America is kind of wondering how some people up here made it through the birth canal. I mean why can't -- why can't we just -- I mean, they're paying -- the American people are paying $3 trillion a year in return for government services.

CUOMO: Right.

KENNEDY: That's 3,000 million dollars a year and their government's shut down. And I don't think they're especially enamored with any of us.

CUOMO: Well, that's true. One of the things that unites the American people is their mutual dissatisfaction with what's going on in Washington. And we know that you guys hear that, because you have ears. And the question is, what are you going to do about it and hopefully you start pick -- cherry picking some points of agreement and start getting something going down there.

And we will stay on the process and the specifics of the resistance.

And, Senator Kennedy, you are helpful in that regard. Thank you for joining us.

KENNEDY: Thanks, Chris.

CUOMO: All right. Oh. All right. So tonight in primetime, the man at the center of the shutdown is Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. Why is he at the center? Well, not of the politics, but of the procedures. He actually has to put into effect the shutdown. So, how does he make the case? 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: I think that's a collective sigh. Just give us some answers. Let's get the government open.

CUOMO: Yes. I mean, look, they are in a bad place because this has become tribal. You see the president's tweets this morning. There's nothing in that that will engender consensus.

HARLOW: All right, so we have a lot ahead. Are Senate Democrats who represent states the president won, these red state Senate Democrats, are they feeling the heat over the shutdown. You bet they are. One of them will join us, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:36:32] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC SHORT, WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS: We felt their proposal was woefully insufficient. That on the border security what they were doing is appropriating one year and tying our hands in that and saying no new technology can be used. Well, we're experimenting with new technologies and new prototypes on the border every day. So to say you can't use that I think was a clever way of basically saying, we don't really want the wall to be built.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: That's White House Legislative Director Marc Short moments ago right here on NEW DAY.

So, is he giving you a fair statement of what's going on right now and is there any chance of an agreement to reopen the federal government anytime soon?

Joining us now is Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota.

Senator, thank you for joining us.

SEN. HEIDI HEITKAMP (D), NORTH DAKOTA: Thank you, Chris, for having me.

CUOMO: So the audience understands, you are one of the red states Democratic senator. You were in favor of keeping the government open. You just heard what the legislate director said, Marc Short. Is that the holdup? Are the Democrats playing cute with what they say they want versus what they'll fund?

HEITKAMP: No, I actually don't think so. When you look at it, there's a -- there's money that's been offered for the border wall, but also for surveillance and the increased technology, especially at the points of entry.

You know, the thing about border security is, when you actually sit down with DHS and talk about what their plan is, it's eminently reasonable and every senator should do that. And so I think that this is -- this is kind of the pawn on the chessboard to avoid a real discussion about the dreamers. And so, you know, I'm for border security. I've been briefed on the plan.

CUOMO: Right.

HEITKAMP: I think they have a good plan. And I think that we all could get behind it.

CUOMO: Well, that's a good point you raise, senator. Not great for the Democrats. Why would you give Trump the wall and the political win -- because he's going to call it a wall. No matter what it is, he's going to say, I delivered on the wall. The Mexico part, you know, who knows what happens with that.

But, why? If you have the leverage right now with the shutdown, why would you compromise your goal of helping the dreamers as a standalone and then negotiate all these other things?

HEITKAMP: Well, actually, there's a misnomer and there's constant discussion that Democrats don't believe in security, border security. Every person who has looked at the plan from DHS, never mind the rhetoric, never mind the White House, let's deal with the professionals and the professionals have a plan we can all get behind that actually improves structures but also uses technology. And to my point, puts more beef on the points of entry where most of the very dangerous and hard drugs are coming through.

And so we've got a plan for border security that includes the northern border, the water -- or the maritime borders and the southwest border. We ought to fund it. And that's what we did in the proposal which is, give the president exactly what he asked for in '18.

CUOMO: Where is Chuck Schumer this morning in terms of which way he wants you guys to go?

HEITKAMP: Well, I don't know. I -- we're going to meet again, the Common Sense Caucus, which is a group that we pulled together, Susan Collins pulled together in '13 that was instrumental in putting the government -- getting the government back to work in '13. We've been meeting all weekend. We've grown in numbers. We're about 23 senators right now. And I think this is -- this is a path forward.

One of the problems that we have, Chris, is, I think we all know what needs to be done, but trust is so distorted here and it's been lost in the ongoing discussions and in the hardball politics that gets played in this town. We need to rebuild that trust. And I think that one thing that this group of 20 plus senators can do is begin to dialogue and to begin build back that trust so that we can get government functioning again. [08:40:13] CUOMO: Is the president helping or hurting?

HEITKAMP: You know, I think at this point -- and I wouldn't say he's irrelevant. Obviously the president's always relevant to discussions. But the Senate has to get its house in order and the Senate has to come up with a plan. And I think that's where the focus has been is making sure that as a group, as a deliberative body, that we are actually putting forth a proposal that can get 60 votes to reopen government.

CUOMO: Right. But he shapes not only the perspective of members of his own party, but the American people as well. The American people, who while they overwhelming want to help dreamers, they also want the government to be open. And this morning he is tweeting that the reason you guys, the Democrats, are shutting down the government is because you're playing to a far left base and you're powerless against them and that you are choosing the rights and interests of legal entrance over American citizens.

HEITKAMP: One thing I know, Chris, is that the American public wants us to work together. I wouldn't be standing here if that weren't true. A Democrat from a red state who came here saying let's work together. Anything that divides us at this point does not offer constructive path forward is not particularly helpful and it's white noise. And so we need to be very clear that the Senate, as a body, as a legislative body, has an obligation and we need to build the trust to move this -- these issues forward.

And it's not just about dreamers. It's about central states pensions. It is about CHIP. It is about funding caps and making sure our military has the funding they need. It's about getting back to regular order and actually appropriating as opposed to CRs which just kick the can down the road.

You know, it's interesting because one of the things the president hasn't talked about, which is the Pentagon tweeted out on Friday, they don't want CRs.

CUOMO: Right.

HEITKAMP: CRs are incredibly damaging for the military. And so let's -- let's build the support. And I think leadership comes in all forms and it doesn't have to just come from the White House. Let's lead in the Senate. Let's get it done. Let's have a path forward.

CUOMO: Words to the American's ears. Let's see if they can be delivered on by you guys down there today. We'll be tracking it.

Senator Heitkamp, thank you for weighing in with us this morning.

HEITKAMP: Thank you, Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Poppy.

HARLOW: All right, so a show of anger this morning among Arab-Israeli lawmakers on the floor of the Israeli Knesset during a speech by Vice President Mike Pence. Look what broke out. The details of what was behind this, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:46:34] HARLOW: Time now for the "Five Things to Know for Your New Day."

The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote soon to try to reopen the federal government and fund it for just three weeks, but it is not clear if the Republican plan can win over enough Democrats to actually pass.

CUOMO: The White House director of legislative affairs tells NEW DAY, significant progress has been made in negotiations. But Marc Short says the deal being offered by Democrats to fund the border wall is, quote, tying their hands.

HARLOW: Vice President Mike Pence interrupted in his remarks this morning as Arab-Israeli lawmakers, look at that, broke out fighting before he was speaking at Israeli's Knesset. The protesters were removed from the chamber, then Vic President Pence went on to reaffirm that the U.S. embassy in -- will be moved to Jerusalem and will open next year. The vice president told Israeli lawmakers the U.S. will never let Iran acquire a nuclear weapon.

CUOMO: In Afghanistan, at least 18 people died after a deadly siege at Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel. An eyewitness tells CNN, desperate guests through themselves off balconies to their deaths. The Taliban is claiming responsibility for the attack.

HARLOW: And the Philadelphia Eagles will be taking on defending champion New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. The Eagles crushing Minnesota 38-7 in the NFC title game. The Patriots coming from behind to defeat Jacksonville 20-24 in the AFC title match.

CUOMO: A nod to the fairness of Poppy Harlow. Nobody wanted to say those words less than she did.

HARLOW: Why are they making me read that?

CUOMO: I know. It's not right.

HARLOW: Why?

CUOMO: Minnesota Vikings fan.

But I feel your pain. I'm a Jets fan.

HARLOW: Yes.

CUOMO: So, you know, this is pain every year.

HARLOW: This was going to be a Super Bowl in our hometown.

CUOMO: Yes.

HARLOW: But, you know. CUOMO: That's just a pipe dream for us and the Jets.

HARLOW: Yes.

CUOMO: So you got a lot closer than we did.

HARLOW: All right. There you go.

CUOMO: All right, so, you want more on the "Five Things"? Of course you do. You can go to cnn.com/newday. You'll get the latest.

HARLOW: All right, we are about three hours away from the next key vote in the Senate. Will Republicans get enough votes to reopen the federal government? We'll get "The Bottom Line," next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:52:40] HARLOW: President Trump's first year in office had its fair share of flubs, as they do all -- they all do.

CUOMO: Maybe more than usual.

HARLOW: CNN's Jeanne Moos has the funniest presidential fauxpas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Bet you can't look away. No one eclipses President Trump when it comes to flubs, starting with his inauguration, when the wind revealed his tie, held together with scotch tape, to his recurring and mysterious sniffing.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Human soul.

MOOS: To the time he invented a new country.

TRUMP: Nambia (ph).

MOOS: It's Namibia. But what's a missing syllable. And did he think we'd miss seeing him push aside the prime minister of Montenegro at a NATO photo op.

JAMES CORDEN, "THE LATE NIGHT SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN": Is he a president or a bridesmaid positioning to catch the bouquet.

MOOS: And, of course, he caught flack --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How great is that?

MOOS: For his golf cart driving. Protested one golf fan, I don't care if he's God, you don't drive golf carts within 20 yards of a green.

MOOS (on camera): You've got to hand it to President Trump, when it comes to flubs, he's got his hands full.

MOOS (voice over): When he used both hands to clutch a glass of water, he earned the title "president sippy cup." And after his unforgettable imitation of then rival Marco Rubio, desperate for a drink, President Trump drowning comparisons for doing pretty much what Rubio had done.

The president got swatted by his wife when he tried to take her hand. She had to nudge him to remind him to put his hand on his heart. And when's the last time you shook hands with your sweetie. Not only did the Trump's resort to a marital handshake --

TRUMP: (INAUDIBLE) go sit down, honey.

JIMMY KIMMEL, "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE": He shut her down like a robot from (INAUDIBLE).

MOOS: His 19 seconds handshake earned him an eye roll from the Japanese prime minister.

JOHN OLIVER, "LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER": Just watch his expression at the end.

MOOS: Over and over he risked deliberating arms from sockets with his now infamous grab and yank technique. And when it came to the most predictable line in any president's speech, he blew the blessing.

TRUMP: And God bless the United States.

MOOS: But at least you can't slur a tweet, unless maybe you start to fall asleep.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Covfefe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Covfefe, covfefe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Covfefe.

[08:55:03] TRUMP: I know words. I have the best words.

MOOS: Some he knows even before the dictionary does.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: When you see it all together like that, it's really quite the megillah (ph).

HARLOW: It's only been a year.

CUOMO: It has and what a year it has been.

HARLOW: It's only been a year.

CUOMO: You know, there's that wish, may you live in interesting times and, boy --

HARLOW: We do.

CUOMO: Do we. But right now we are living through a moment where all of this type of stuff needs to stop.

HARLOW: That doesn't matter, yes.

CUOMO: They have to figure a way to put people before their party antiques and get some leadership from this president and get something done.

HARLOW: And tonight you have the man at the helm of the whole shutdown on with you.

CUOMO: Mick Mulvaney.

HARLOW: Yes.

CUOMO: He is the budget director. He is at the center of the shutdown, not to put any blame on him, but because he effectuates it. He's what actually --

HARLOW: Actually carries it out.

CUOMO: Right. So -- but he's going to make the arguments for where the White House is and where they are not. So you'll want to watch that.

HARLOW: All right. Good to be here, my friend.

CUOMO: Always. You are so good to come in.

HARLOW: I like the lobster tie. It's, you know, adds a little levity to the morning.

CUOMO: You know, I wore this on purpose. Senator Angus King gave me this tie. It's Maine, Maine lobster. I always has lobster ties on. But I wore it in the spirit of, I hope these guys come together, you know?

HARLOW: I hope so too.

All right, good to be here. Ali will be back with you tomorrow.

CNN "NEWSROOM" with John Berman picks up after the break.

CUOMO: The weak part of the team.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:00:01] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, good morning, everyone. John Berman here.

And as we sit here this morning, the government is shut down. We could know in the next 60 minutes if it will stay that way. At stake, the jobs of 800,000 government employees. The future of some 800,000 people