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New Day

New COVID Variant Detected, Dramatically Different Than Original; Ukraine's Zelensky Alleges Russia Plotting Coup Against Him; Black Friday Begins Without the Mad Overnight Rush by Shoppers. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired November 26, 2021 - 07:00   ET

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


[07:00:00]

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Two-time winner of the match, Phil Nicholson, spoke with the guys ahead of the showdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, 2020 U.S. OPEN WINNER: Just know that Brooks and I have never been prepared together in competition and in sports, on a PGA Tour or anywhere else. This is going to be the first time that we're together, playing against each other. You may see something pretty in regards to the mental competition that we're going to play against each other.

BROOKS KOEPKA, FOUR-TIME MAJOR CHAMPION: Playing 12 holes is nice. I mean, it is better than playing 18 holes with Bryson. So, anything to spend less time around him, I'm happy to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. (INAUDIBLE) 4:00 Eastern on our sister channel TNT with simulcast on TBS, TruTV and HLN. Kaitlan?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN NEW DAY: Those referees were the star of that Cowboys game, Coy. Thank you so much for joining this morning.

And New Day is going to continue right now.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN NEW DAY: Good morning to viewers here in the United States and around the world. It is Black Friday, November 26th. And I am Brianna Keilar with Kaitlan Collins in today for John Berman.

COLLINS: I did a little bit of shopping online yesterday. I'm not going to lie. I'm doing any right now during the show. Don't worry.

KEILAR: That's good. Well, I did as well.

So, we're beginning with breaking news right now. Officials in South Africa are preparing to brief the World Health Organization about a new and alarming coronavirus variant that they have discovered. There's a lot of anxiety over this one because it spreads very quickly, and it is showing an ability to evade immunity. COLLINS: And cases in South Africa have been exploding the last week. A fast-running variant, which is currently known as B.1.1.529, may get another name today, has already been detected in other places, like Israel and Hong Kong. Overnight, the United Kingdom banned flights from six African nations starting today and the E.U. is confirming that it plans to halt all travel from Southern Africa.

KEILAR: CNN's Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining us now with more on our top story.

This is -- how worried, as we hear about these new variants, this particular one? How worried are you about it?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, I think this is definitely one that you want to track and that you want to keep an eye on. But we also want to think about the context here, Brianna, which is there are mutations and variants all the time. Most of them never make it to the world stage. Some like delta are particularly clever and they do make it to the world stage. We don't know which one this will be.

But let's take a look at some of the basics of this new variant that South African researchers are talking about to the WHO. So, the name of it, as you said, B.1.1.529, it does not have a Greek letter yet. We don't know what that will be if they give it one. There have been -- what they have seen that's so disturbing is that there are more than 30 mutations in the spike protein. That's important because the spike protein is how this virus works. It's how it infects us. And the vaccines are built to fight that spike the protein. So, if there are too many mutations in the wrong places, it could be a problem for either natural immunity or vaccinations. U.K., Germany, Japan and other countries have restricted travel from South Africa.

Now, to put this in even more context, if you remember back to January, there was another variant spotted in South Africa that did real damage there but never got onto the world stage. So we don't know if this is going to be like that variant that was spotted in South Africa or, God forbid, would it become like delta. So, that's what the World Health Organization is going to be discussing today and we will wait to hear what they have to say. Brianna?

KEILAR: Yes. So that's -- I mean, that's the question, Elizabeth. Does this escape in some big way? And you also need to look right at their vaccination rates in South Africa. It's not great.

COHEN: It's not great. We would rather not be hearing this news, let's put it that way. But just because we're hearing this news, it doesn't mean that this is another delta. I mean, when delta started showing itself last spring, we were like, oh, let's take a look, and then it was like, oh, my goodness, this is really bad. We don't know that it's going to become that. All we know is that when you see more than 30 mutations on the spike protein, you definitely want to keep watching it.

KEILAR: All right, we certainly will. Elizabeth, thank you for that. COLLINS: Fears about this variant are hitting financial markets pretty hard with the Dow futures tumbling this morning. So, our CNN Chief Business Correspondent and Early Start Christine Romans is joining us now.

Christine, of course, uncertainty is basically kryptonite for the markets.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. And there are so many things we don't know. We don't know how transmissible, we don't know if it undermines vaccines or can evade vaccines, we just don't know a lot. And that is really roiling markets here.

Remember, stocks have been up a lot this year, especially U.S. stocks. The S&P up 25 percent so far this year. So, you have investors around the world taking money off the table and rushing into the safety of some of these safe havens like bonds. So, the stock market is selling off big.

And when you look at some of the categories, cruise ship lines, the cruise lines, for example, are down very big here, any kind of travel- related stock.

[07:05:01]

And the worry here is that you would have some sort of new round of big restrictions around the world and lockdowns, and that would be really damaging to the global economic recovery, wouldn't it? So, there are a lot of questions here.

European stocks have opened sharply lower. Asian shares closed down really hard and Tokyo had the worst day in months, frankly. And U.S. Stock Index Futures have been down as much as 5 percent. That is a very big one-day move, although it's pared its losses.

We are seeing oil prices tumble 6 percent here. There reason why oil down so much is this idea that the U.S. economy, the global economy, if it slows down a little bit, if the recovery waivers because of this new variant, that that could slow demand for oil. So, watching oil prices here today as well, but it looks like it's going to be an ugly morning for the stock market.

A quick reminder, the markets close early today for the holiday. So, there could be a little bit of overreaction, frankly, because you don't have everybody sort of full up and running because we were closed yesterday too.

Markets also, Kaitlan, tend to overreact, don't they? So, this is the first sort of look markets are getting at this news out of South Africa. Guys?

COLLINS: Yes. We will wait to see what the health experts say about this variant before, of course, jumping to any conclusions. Christine Romans, thank you so much for joining us this morning. And Dr. Fauci will join us live in just moments to discuss this new variant, and we'll see what the Biden administration is monitoring about it as well.

KEILAR: So, we are also following another major story developing this morning, and that is that Ukraine's president is now alleging that Russia is plotting a coup against him, as the U.S. warns a Russian invasion of the country is very possible.

Joining us now, CNN Political Analyst, Washington Post Columnist and the author of Chaos under Heaven, Trump, Xi and the Battle for the 21st Century, Josh Rogin with us.

Okay. What do you think about this news, Josh, as we've already heard the U.S. concerned that this is something that Russia is proceeding with?

JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Brianna, as if it wasn't bad enough that Vladimir Putin had staged 100,000 troops on his side of the Russia-Ukraine border, now the president of Ukraine is alleging that he is plotting an internal coup as well.

Of course, that makes total sense because Putin never just interferes in just one way. His assault on Ukraine's sovereignty and freedom has always been both internal and external.

What's interesting about this particular coup plot, according to Zelensky, that is, is that it involves allegedy the country's richest man, the oligarch named Riona Oknitov (ph). You may remember that name because it came up in the controversy over Paul Manafort and polling data. And although nothing was ever proven as to his connections, it's just -- let's just call it a weird coincidence that in 2016 he was involved with Manafort's efforts to give polling data to Ukraine and Russia. And now he seems his name has come up again.

So, we are still waiting for more details, but it's clear that Ukraine is facing a number of threats both internal and external, and they all point back to one direction, and that's Moscow. . COLLINS: And so, Josh, The Washington Post says that Zelensky is basing these claims off of some secret audio recordings that they've obtained. But do we really know anything more about what they believe was going on behind this plot? Because they said they believe it was going to happen as soon as next week. And so do we know any more about those recordings?

ROGIN: Well, Zelensky gave a press conference. He didn't give us much detail. I'm sure there will be more written about this in the coming days. One would think that if the plot were scheduled for next week that announcing it would force the plotters to reschedule. So, it seems like it might not happen this week. But the threat remains.

What's clear is no matter what the details are that, you know, when part of what Zelensky has been doing, in addition to resisting Russian aggression, is try to clean up the corruption of the oligarchs inside of his own system. And, of course, the oligarchs are naturally fighting back.

So, Ukraine has got a lot of problems, energy, politics, the Russian threat, they are calling on European and American support. They want not just military aid but economic and energy aid as well. And while the Biden administration has shown a lot of support publicly to Zelensky, they haven't produced a lot of actual material assistance. And I think that's what members of Congress, frankly, in both parties are calling for now.

KEILAR: Yes, what's really in place to stop Putin, it's a big question there.

I do want to turn to China and Taiwan, Josh, because you had another group of lawmakers, five this time, defying China, visiting the democratic island of Taiwan, even though they were specifically asked not to. And I wonder what kind of impact this has considering we just saw that conversation with Xi and Biden, but you've also reported pretty extensively on the possibly of a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming games in China. I mean, what does this mean?

ROGIN: Right. Well, this is the third delegation of U.S. lawmakers to visit the island of Taiwan in the last few months.

[07:10:00]

This is not particularly controversial in and of itself. U.S. congressmen and congresswomen are allowed to visit Taiwan. They always visit Taiwan. What's new is that -- not that the Chinese government is complaining, is that as we get to a more and more tense situation between both the United States and China and between China and Taiwan, that these visits are now raising the stakes and raising the tensions even more.

That's not to say they shouldn't do them, of course. We have good economic ties with Taiwan. We have diplomatic, although unofficial ties with Taiwan. It's the place where all of the high-end semiconductors that are part of our supply chains are made. It is an important country even though we don't recognize it as such. So, visits, in my opinion, are positive and constructive. But we can't ignore the fact that the situation across the Taiwan trade is becoming increasingly tense and increasingly dangerous.

And for me, It's not really about the Olympics. It's what about happens the day after the Olympics, because this is the best behavior we are going to see from Beijing, and it's not that good. There are disappearing tennis stars, and menacing Taiwan and cracking down on Hong Kong and committing a genocide. And that's when they care about what we think. And then after the Olympics are over when the cameras are turned away, I think that's when the real danger to Taiwan begins.

COLLINS: That's something we will be watching closely with you as well, Josh. Thank you for joining us this morning.

ROGIN: Happy Thanksgiving.

COLLINS: Happy Thanksgiving. A Republican congresswoman is straight-up implying one of her Democratic colleagues could be a suicide bomber in comments that do seem beyond the pale.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LAUREN BOEBERT (R-CO): I was getting into an elevator with one of my staffers. And he and I were leaving the Capitol, we're going back to my office, and we get in the elevator and I see a Capitol police officer running hurriedly to the elevator. I see threat all over his face.

I looked to my left, and there she is, Ilhan Omar. And I said, well, she doesn't have a backpack. We should be fine.

So, we only had one floor to go. Do I say it or not. I looked it over. And I said, oh, look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: In response, Omar ripped her colleague over those anti- Muslim remarks and tweeted, fact, this buffoon looks down when she sees me at the Capitol. This whole story is made up. Sad that she thinks bigotry is getting her clout.

Joining us now on this is Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the deputy director of the council on American-Islamic relations. Thank you for joining us this morning.

And I just want to get your reaction to seeing the comments from Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.

EDWARD AHMED MITCHELL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS: Well, look, as a Muslim in America, I've heard a lot. That was pretty disgusting. You've got to remember, Lauren Boebert is not some comedian at a club. She is a sitting member of Congress speaking to her constituents, and some of her constituents are Muslim. And so to make this disgusting (INAUDIBLE) Islamic term, it is beyond the pale.

I will say the more disturbing thing is that the audience applauded and laughed and that Republican leaders did not condemn this yet. This sort of bigotry is unacceptable in general, but especially because it's directed at her congressional colleague. She is claiming she said this to Ilhan Omar, which should be workplace environment in any other environment. So, it is just unacceptable in so many ways that I hope that leaders of Congress on both sides of the aisle say this is unacceptable.

COLLINS: But do you really expect Kevin McCarthy, who, of course, is the Republican leader in the House, to say anything about this based on how he has handled past Republican remarks?

MITCHELL: Sadly, no. If Paul Gosar can get away with a video depicting himself killing AOC, if Marjorie Taylor Greene is promised to get her committees back at the Republican state of the House, I don't expect Leader McCarthy to do the right thing.

Sadly, anti-Muslim bigotry is still acceptable in so many parts of our country, and that is unacceptable. The Republican Party used to be a party that welcomed Muslim voters. And now that is not the case and it's a tragedy. We should have a country in which you can disagree about policy without hating a person, without hating a religion.

And if I can add one thing, the other offensive thing she did was to use this phrase, jihad squad. It is beyond time that politicians stopped misusing sacred Islamic terms. Jihad means any struggle taken up for the sake of God, you (INAUDIBLE) five times a day, fasting on Ramadan, giving charity, standing up against injustice. So, the congresswoman really needs to keep our words out of her mouth until she knows what she's talking about.

COLLINS: And this is a situation where if someone made that comment at a private company in an elevator with their colleague, a comment like that -- look, she claims that she made that we should note, Ilhan Omar says this did not happen. You would likely be fired. And so you see this, are you worried about the broader implications, though?

[07:15:01]

Because you're right, she is not a stand-up comedian. She is a sitting member of Congress who is telling this as a joke on a video that, of course, is now being widely spread. And you're right, you did see people in the room laugh at that. So, are you worried about the broader implications of a comment like that?

MITCHELL: Actually, it normalizes anti-Muslim bigotry. And I would also note that Ilhan Omar is a very strong woman, a very strong leader. She deals with death threats all the time, but that's not something she should have to deal with. And this sort of rhetoric contributes to the threats against her and it contributes to the exclusion of Muslims from our country.

American Muslims are part and parcel to this country. Black Muslims slaves helped to build this country. And we should not be the target of a disgusting joke by any member of Congress. And so this normalizes anti-Muslim bigotry, which is a danger to our country and a danger to everyone's rights.

COLLINS: Lawmakers will be back in Washington this week. So, I imagine Kevin McCarthy is going to get a lot of questions about those comments. Edward Ahem Mitchell, thank you so much for joining us this morning on this.

MITCHELL: Thank you.

COLLINS: Retail stores are on alert this Black Friday after a rise in these smash and grab robberies by criminal mobs.

Plus, Dr. Anthony Fauci is going to join us live on this breaking news out of South Africa, where a heavily mutated variant has emerged. What does it mean in the fight now against the virus?

KEILAR: And Singer Bryan Adams hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 for a second time in a month. Is this the same infection?

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[07:20:00]

KEILAR: Black Friday may never be the same. This is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year but one year ago they had to be closed because of the pandemic. There were Thursday night, Friday morning scenes of chaos and Black Friday frenzies like this.

Fast forward, though, to 2021, and many stores have remained closed for the holiday, choosing instead to reopen later this morning.

Alison Kosik is live for us in New York's Herald Square. Alison, what are we expecting today?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Brianna. You know, it's feeling pretty festive here at the Macy's in Herald Square. The windows are all emblazoned in lights in traditional holiday themes. About an hour ago Macy's opened to a crowd of dozens waiting to get in. And despite the fact that prices are rising at the fastest pace in 30 years, consumers are shopping like crazy. The National Retail Federation expects that consumers are going to go ahead and break records this holiday season, spending anywhere between $843 to $859 billion by the end of the holiday shopping season.

Today is Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. And it's expected to be a big weekend between now up until Monday. 158 million people expected to shop. Just today, 108 million expected to shop on this Black Friday. 60 percent of those expected to actually go inside stores and shop, which is really a divergence from what it used to be, meaning, even pre-pandemic, people shopping online, that used to be the way to go but not this year.

This year, we are seeing a lot of consumers wanting to go into the stores because they want to get their hands on their items and bring them home and not kind of leave it up to fate because of all the supply chain disruptions going on. Retailers are battling with these supply chain hiccups making it difficult for retailers to keep their inventories higher.

So, consumers have heeded the warnings. They've even started shopping early, as early as September this year. We saw that in retail sales numbers September and October jumping because consumers realizing that inventories may be low. The downside to this high demand and low inventory situation means that the discounts may be fewer and not as big as in years past. Brianna. .

KEILAR: Yes. I'll admit, Alison, I'm part of the 40 percent. I will be putting my faith in the Postal Service or FedEx or UPS or whoever is going to deliver those packages to me that I buy online. Alison Kosik, thank you so much.

KOSIK: You got it.

COLLINS: But for everyone who is doing that holiday shopping now, we will take a look at the forecast and what you can expect through the weekend as you are doing shopping, heading back home after the holidays.

So, let's get to our Meteorologist Jennifer Gray. Jennifer, we made it through Thanksgiving. Everything looked pretty good yesterday. But what are you seeing out there today?

GRAY: You're right, Kaitlan. We did have a pretty quiet week leading up to Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day pretty quiet. But now things really start to ramp up. We have a series of systems, one today and one on Sunday, that could impact not only the shoppers out and about but travelers as well.

I don't think we will see too many airport delays today because of the rain. You can see a lot of rain falling in Philadelphia and New York, Boston getting it today. But we will have very blustery winds, so we could see some wind delays. We also have winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings for interior sections of New England.

[07:25:00]

So, the forecast radar shows that one system pushing out for today. And then we have a break on Saturday. Then another system gets its act together across the Midwest, and this is going to be a fast-moving system that could impact travelers returning home, or shoppers, on Sunday. So, this one could slow you down as well.

The forecast accumulation as far as rain, not that much, but you can see interior sections, we could see quite a bit of know anywhere from two to four inches, a little bit more for those higher elevations. Kaitlan?

COLLINS: All right. So, you are telling me to get my shopping done before Sunday. Jennifer Gray, thank you so much.

GRAY: Exactly.

COLLINS: We're, tracking new developments this morning on a new coronavirus variant that was first detected in South Africa. How concerning is it and how concerned should you be? We'll ask Dr. Anthony Fauci next.

KEILAR: Plus, it is one of America's most notorious unsolved mysteries, a new development in the search for Jimmy Hoffa's body.

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