Return to Transcripts main page
New Day
Don Lemon is Interviewed about LGBTQ in Schools, Stacey Abrams and Joe Rogan; Nun Sentenced for Stealing; Salvaging the Iran Deal. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired February 09, 2022 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:30:00]
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Said in this bill that -- that same sex parents can be part of the discussion. They're just saying that it can't be part of the curriculum. Talks about same sex, being gay or being a member of the LGBTIQ community, that it can be part of the discussion.
But, again, as you said, the language is sort of, you know, all over the place. You don't know exactly what's going to happen.
The issue for me, I think what's important for people to know, is that even Ron DeSantis admits that the very few cases of -- there are very few cases of parents or people complaining about this being taught to their kids in school. So I don't understand why, you know, this whole giant hammer approach when there's -- it's really not an issue. And it shouldn't be an issue.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: I'm confused as to how this would affect -- look, the LGBTIQ community is woven into the fabric of America.
LEMON: Yes.
KEILAR: It's woven into literature and history.
LEMON: Yes.
KEILAR: And how do you say, look, we need to pull those strings out without unraveling some of the fabric.
LEMON: It's the same as the -- this, to me, is the same as CRT. It's not being taught. It's -- this is an issue that's being ginned up for a political purpose.
KEILAR: It's not a real thing.
LEMON: It's not a real thing because it's not being taught.
Now, look, if you're a -- if you're in college and you're learning about CRT, OK, fine. It's not being taught in schools.
LEMON: Or law school. More likely in law school, right?
LEMON: Or law -- more likely in law school. So, if you're -- and you're a kid and you wonder, like, you know, am I different, or, why does -- why does Johnny have two parents, why shouldn't you be able to discuss that? What's the issue? There shouldn't be an issue when it comes to that.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Chasten Buttigieg, who we had this discussion with before, said this is going to -- this is going to cost lives.
LEMON: Cost lives. That's what I said, members of the LGBTQ community, young people, harm themselves, kill themselves all the time because of issues like this.
BERMAN: I want to ask you about something that happened right here on CNN last night.
LEMON: Uh-oh.
BERMAN: Not right here, literally/
LEMON: Oh.
BERMAN: I think it happened in a flash cam on "ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT."
LEMON: I was going to say, we've -- it's been a -- you know, we've hit a lot.
BERMAN: Stop that.
Listen, Stacey Abrams, who took a picture in a classroom, everyone in the classroom, we can show the picture here, was masked, all the kids were, she was not wearing a mask.
LEMON: Yes.
BERMAN: Last night she, with Erin, said what she did was wrong and apologized.
Let's listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STACEY ABRAMS (D), GEORGIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: I went to read to kids for an African American read-in day. I approached the podium with my mask on. I followed the protocols. I told the kids, I'm taking my mask off because I'm reading to kids who are listening remotely as well. And we were socially distanced. The kids were socially distanced from me. I told them, that's what I was doing.
And in the excitement after I finished, because it was so much fun working with those kids, I took a picture. And that was a mistake.
Protocols matter. And protecting our kids is the most important thing. And anything that can be perceived as undermining that is a mistake and I apologize.
(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Yes.
BERMAN: What do you think?
LEMON: She was wrong and she admits it. And I'll let that speak for itself.
You've been -- you've -- I'm sure you've all been there. I've been there. Someone in a public space or in a restaurant or indoors will say to me, can I get a picture with you? And they'll say, can you take the mask off? It's happened to us. People who are in the public eye, that happens all the time. You've seen public figures from California to all over, right, taking pictures without masks on.
BERMAN: People ask me to take their picture. They ask me to hold their camera to take pictures.
KEILAR: Of Don.
BERMAN: Look, I don't get, you know, take a picture with me. They want me to take a picture of them doing other things.
LEMON: But people ask -- and I -- look, I don't -- I don't know the risk of exposure in that moment because I've certainly -- because I -- I feel like if someone wants a picture with me, and I'm very grateful and thankful that they would even ask -- thankful that they would even ask me for a picture. And then they'll say, well, people won't know who you are, take the mask off.
I'm not a political leader. So, I think it may be different. And sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. I'll just say, OK, quickly take the picture and let's go and I'll put my -- look, I have my mask here, I have my negative Covid test to get on the set here. So we follow the protocols.
But Stacey Abrams is running for governor. She is a leader. She espouses the use of masks. She said it herself, and I'll let that speak for itself. She said she was wrong, and I agree with her.
KEILAR: And that wasn't the response she initially came out with.
LEMON: And she apologized.
KEILAR: I think it's a good reminder --
LEMON: You're right about that.
KEILAR: Yes, it was. And I think it's a good reminder that, hey, just because your political enemies are really running with something and making a big deal about --
LEMON: Right.
KEILAR: It -- I mean part of the reason she apologized I think is probably because she heard from people who support her, who want to support her, who she thinks may be open to supporting her and she didn't do it right in their view.
LEMON: Yes, I agree. I believe in the apology. She apologized.
KEILAR: Yes.
LEMON: But let me just say this. If she -- she was indoors and that shouldn't -- if someone is outdoors, you don't have to wear a mask outdoors. That's not -- that's not what you have to do.
Listen, I was harassed in Florida about -- I was by a pool sleeping, that I didn't have a mask on, outside. And they said, you came to Florida not to -- I said I live in New York City. You don't have to wear a mask outdoors in New York. You don't have to wear a mask outdoors anywhere in the United States of America. So if you're harassing people about wearing masks outdoors, that's not it. About not wearing masks outdoors. No one has ever had to wear a mask outdoor area in recent history, in recent months anywhere in the United States.
[08:35:00]
It's indoors that's an issue. That is the issue. So, stop harassing people and saying that, Democrats -- or, if you're in an all vaxxed place, Democrat or liberals or members of the media aren't wearing masks, you know, outdoors. No one, nowhere, in the United States, for months, has had to wear a mask outdoors.
BERMAN: All right, apparently folks are still talking about Joe Rogan, I'm told.
LEMON: Are you -- you sound like you're tired of talking about Joe Rogan.
KEILAR: He loves it.
BERMAN: I'm told -- I'm told that somewhere people care about Joe Rogan. And he is now, I guess, playing somewhat the victim here over the fact that he had to apologize for using the "n" word.
This is -- these are his latest comments.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE ROGAN, "THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE" PODCAST: In a lot of ways, like all this is a relief because it's like, just -- because that video had always been out there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
ROGAN: It's like this is a political hit job.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROGAN: And so they're taking all this stuff that I've ever said that's wrong and smushing it all together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
ROGAN: But it's good because it makes me aggress some (EXPLETIVE DELETED) that I really wish wasn't out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: I think his point, too, is that someone put it all together who isn't, you know, a friend of his or is --
LEMON: Yes.
KEILAR: But, at the same, it's his words that are put together.
LEMON: But the -- yes, yes. Listen, they're -- there can be nuance here because -- and nuance here, and there is nuance, because people, you know, if they want to hit Joe Rogan, they want to hit -- whatever.
So, I understand -- I actually understand what Joe Rogan is saying. And it is. The name of -- I think the site that is -- that did it was Patriot Takes, right, or something that's doing it. Now, I'm not -- I'm not going to defend his use of the word.
Is it political? In some ways it is. Is it a hit job? I don't -- I can't really answer that question. But if you think it's a political hit job, then why remove it, right, if you -- you know, if you -- why remove it or why say the words?
KEILAR: Why say it.
LEMON: Why say the words if you don't want -- if you want -- if you want to suffer the consequences, and he has, he's apologized. He's right, I'm sure there's some relief because it's floating around out there and now he can speak about it and the issue is somewhat behind him.
So, I don't think he should have said the words at all. I don't think there's an excuse for it. I don't understand why people want to say it, especially, quite honestly, white people. Why do you want -- why do you feel the need to say that word? I don't see the -- quite honestly, I don't see the need for black people to say it. I don't see the need for rappers to say it.
But certain people can use certain words in their groups because it is OK. I always say, women -- there's a drink called skinny b. Women call themselves skinny bs and bs. I won't do it because I'm not a woman. But a woman certainly -- women certainly have the right to be able to do that and --
KEILAR: But I -- I wonder --
LEMON: So, and -- and so if people of color want to use the "n" word and, you know, as a -- and whatever, that's -- that's their issue. I don't understand why white people want to use that word.
KEILAR: But I wonder why you think that discussion of using the word has become a thing. And I say this, this is anecdotal, but this was someone who is in my life and I love and wanted to have a conversation right after Donald Trump became president. This was sort of the timing of this. And they wanted to have a conversation about why white people can't use the "n" word, I was floored that this person wanted to talk about this. I said, I am -- I am not comfortable. I explained it briefly and said, I don't want to talk about it anymore and I don't -- I don't want to be in your presence while you're using that word. It seemed so odd to me that this was a discussion and it felt like a proxy for something else.
LEMON: Yes. Yes. And the thing is, if you want to say it, say it. And then you suffer the consequences of whatever it is. That's what free speech is about. It's also about the freedom to do it and the consequences thereof. So if you want to say that word, go ahead and say it, and --
KEILAR: I'll be honest --
BERMAN: You did a whole thing on this. You did -- I mean how many years ago was it?
LEMON: I did a whole -- I did an hour on the "n" word.
BERMAN: Yes.
LEMON: I did a documentary, if you want to call it, a whole special on the "n" word and the use of it. I don't -- look, I don't think -- there are people who believe that, you know, by using the word you take it back. I believe it's just bastardizing the word. I don't like the use of the word. I understand why people want to use it. I'm not, you know, the "n" word police. I really don't understand why white people want to use it. It's such a charged word. The history of the word. Just don't say it and you will stay out of trouble. It's just that easy. Some things, you know, not everybody can do everything. I can't say skinny bs, I can't remember (ph) her (ph). You know what I'm saying? That's sort --
KEILAR: I actually want -- I want to hear you say skinny bs, though.
LEMON: Yes, but there are things that people call each other in their own group that I can't use that word if I'm in the -- in that group (ph). I'm OK with it. I'm -- that doesn't offend me. I'm -- I got to say this because --
BERMAN: Well, you got what you wanted here, which is to be on set with Brianna. You're always complaining that she's not here. Now you're here with her. So, there you have it.
LEMON: Brianna, can I -- I've had my negative Covid test.
KEILAR: I've had Covid, a negative test and --
LEMON: Take a picture, because apparently everyone wants to take Don's picture. Here. Snap.
All right, Don Lemon, thank you.
LEMON: You're in trouble.
LEMON: Catch Don's show tonight and every night at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
And thou shalt not steal. An elementary school nun admits she has sinned. Why she'll spend the next year in jail for it.
Plus --
[08:40:02]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Spirit of a revolution, power of a dictator, love to be contrary, but I'm fly like a gator. I've got --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: OK, one half of an alleged crypto Bonnie and Clyde. That woman right there, just arrested for allegedly trying to launder billions in stolen cryptocurrency.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:45:03]
BERMAN: Time for "5 Things to Know for Your New Day."
This morning, New York Governor Kathy Hochul will reportedly announce she is lifting the state's indoor mask mandate, ending a requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of full vaccination or require masks be worn at all times.
KEILAR: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell criticizing the RNC for censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and for describing the deadly January 6th riot as legitimate political discourse. McConnell says the attack was a, quote, violent insurrection and it's not the RNC's job to single out party members with different views.
BERMAN: Some Houston area residents woke up to white supremacist flyers on their car windshields and front doors. The flyers included racist messaging and caricatures depicting African Americans as negative racial stereotypes. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.
KEILAR: And some good news out of China this morning. The first gold medal for Team USA in Beijing. Experience won out for 36-year-old Lindsey Jacobellis, who took the top prize in the women's snowboardcross final after several near misses at previous games.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (INAUDIBLE) come, the perception you've got to win. You've come real far, but don't know where I'm headed.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: So that's Heather Morgan, a self-proclaimed irreverent comedic rapper and now an alleged crypto criminal. She is half of a New York couple now under arrest for allegedly conspiring to launder $4.5 billion in stolen cryptocurrency. Morgan and her husband each face up to 25 years in prison.
KEILAR: No word on her rhyming crimes, though.
So there are -- those are the "5 Things to Know for Your New Day." More on these stories all day on CNN and cnn.com. And don't forget to download the "5 Things" podcast every morning. Just go to cnn.com/5things.
BERMAN: In California, an 80-year-old retired nun sentenced to prison for stealing more than $800,000 from the elementary school where she was principal. She says she needed the money to pay off her gambling debts.
CNN's Nick Watt has the story.
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Brianna, Mary Margaret Kreuper, now 80 years old, a retired nun, the retired principal, a long time principal of a catholic elementary school here in California, a woman who had taken a vow of poverty, sentenced to a year and a day in prison for embezzling, basically stealing, more than $800,000 from the school where she worked.
According to the feds, she diverted money from tuition and donations into a couple of school accounts over which she had control. She then allegedly also doctored the financial reports to cover up the money that she was taking from the school.
Now, she pled guilty to wire fraud, and to money laundering, and in that agreement, in part of that agreement, she explained what she was using the money that she was stealing, what she was using it for. Quote, to pay for expenses that the order, the religious order, would not have approved, much less paid for, including large gambling expenses incurred at casinos and certain credit card charges.
So, sentenced to a year and a day and restitution of over $800,000.
She pled guilty. Her lawyer says she is full of remorse. Here is a direct quote. She is very sorry for what she's done, very remorseful, very ashamed, very embarrassed and accepts full responsibility for her actions.
John and Brianna.
BERMAN: There's a lot going on there.
Our thanks to Nick Watts for that.
KEILAR: I don't know where to start.
BERMAN: A lot going on. A decisive moment for the Iran deal. The White House putting a
timeline on whether to try to save the deal or revert to more aggressive tactics. We have brand-new CNN reporting ahead.
KEILAR: And how would you like to add 13 more years to your life? A new study says it's possible if, we'll tell you what.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:51:56]
KEILAR: Brand-new CNN reporting this morning. The Biden administration believes it has just weeks to salvage the Iran nuclear agreement or else it will need to turn to aggressive tactics to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
CNN's Kylie Atwood is live for us at the State Department.
It sounds like there's a window here that they feel is rapidly closing.
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, and they've been saying that for some time, Brianna. But here's why this moment is different. U.S. officials tell me that they believe that the end of this month, the end of February, is the critical deadline here. If there's no deal to salvage the Iran nuclear deal by the end of the month, the Biden administration is going to have to pursue a different path. One that includes pressure on the economic and diplomatic fronts that they haven't really put forth while they've been in these talks with Iran through intermediaries to try and salvage the nuclear deal.
These talks have been going on for about ten months now. And as one senior administration official said, they are in the very final stretch here. Genuinely so because of that end of February deadline.
And here is why the end of February is so significant, because Iran has been continuing to build out its nuclear program beyond the constraints in the Iran nuclear deal, over the last year or so. And so the expectation of U.S. officials is if Iran continues on that path, at the pace it has been going, it will have enough material for a nuclear weapon within the next few weeks. And that is why they need to salvage the deal or come up and begin some more aggressive tactics to go after Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Now, it's important to note that Iran claims that it doesn't want to pursue a nuclear weapon and CIA Director Bill Burns said there's no evidence that Iran actually has plans to weaponize this material yet and build a nuclear weapon.
But, of course, U.S. officials are concerned that they could have that possibility in their grasp, in the next few weeks, if they choose to do so.
And, it's important that this comes at a moment when President Biden's foreign policy decisions are facing increasing scrutiny. [08:55:07]
We saw that flawed withdraw from Afghanistan and now he is at a moment where he is trying to pull back, prevent Russia from going forward with the potential invasion into Ukraine.
Brianna.
KEILAR: Yes, he really has his plate full here.
Kylie, thank you for the report.
BERMAN: So, how many years can be added to your life by changing your diet alone? The new study that hates hamburgers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: A new study says that eating an optimized diet focused on more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts and less red and process meats could add years to your life. So, how many years are we talking about here?
[09:00:00]
For a 20-year-old woman, it could add 10 years. For a 20-year-old man, 13 years. And apparently, it's never too late to start, because for 60-year-olds, eight to nine years, and then for 80-year-olds, three and a half years.
The takeaway here, I think, is, you can wait till you're 60 to optimize your diet.
BERMAN: Yes, I'm also going to get a burger for lunch.
CNN's coverage continues right now.
