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New Day Saturday
Funeral Today For Officer Killed In Ambush; 25,000 Officers Expected At Ramos Funeral; Doubts Sony Hack Done By North Korea; Thousands Gather to Say Goodbye to Officer Ramos; Obama's Approval Rating Improving; Million-Dollar Box Office Debut for "The Interview"
Aired December 27, 2014 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: In just moments police officers from across the United States will line up in New York, paying their respects to Officer Rafael Ramos, who was gunned down while sitting in his police cruiser.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Plus two new arrests this morning in New York, nine men now accused of making threats against New York police officers.
MALVEAUX: And North Korea slamming President Obama in a racially charged statement condemning the United States for agreeing to screen "The Interview."
BLACKWELL: Again, live pictures and you see all of the uniforms there outside this church in Queens where thousands of officers, relatives and strangers who just want to show support, will gather to say good- bye to Officer Rafael Ramos.
He is an officer as we know, relative, we heard from his sister earlier, and a father, a father of two, a 13-year-old son, Jayden and a son in college, Justin, who is a sophomore.
MALVEAUX: Good morning, everyone. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in for Christi Paul.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. It's 8:00 here on the east coast. Just one week ago, two police officers were ambushed and murdered in the streets of New York. And now more than 25,000 police officers from across the country will gather to say good-bye to one of their own.
MALVEAUX: The funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos is set to take place in about two hours now. You're looking at here live pictures. This is the Christ Tabernacle Church. It is in Queens.
Those who will be in attendance this morning include Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Bill De Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. They will all be speaking at that ceremony.
BLACKWELL: Let's look at the scene yesterday in Queens. Thousands lined to pay respects then. Ramos' son and sister as we said a moment ago, they reflected on the man they say was doing God's work.
MALVEAUX: Their farewell broadcast, it was on a screen for those who filled the street to see this message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dear brother, my heartaches so much right now. Help me understand why God took you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dad, I'll miss you -- I'll miss you through every fiber of my being.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Today's funeral procession will begin around Cypress Hills Street and from there thousands of police officers will lead the way, line the roads until his casket arrives at the church, Christ Tabernacle in Queens.
We have a team of reporters and guests covering all angles of the story this morning. We have Miguel Marquez in New York, Erin McPike at the White House, Nick Valencia here in Atlanta and we'll also check in with former New York Police Detective Gill Alva.
MALVEAUX: We want to begin with Miguel who is live outside the church, Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens. Miguel, people have been there since the early morning hours. Strangers, and set the scene for us as well.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. New York City police officer funerals are enormous affairs, incredibly sorrowful affairs as well. They have been setting up since very early this morning. There are hundreds of police officers out there as you can see now. Getting ready for what will be even more, thousands of police officers before this is all over.
We have a second shot down Cypress Hills Street that is where the procession will go down. There are also several big screen televisions along that street. Separated by about half mile, maybe 3/4 mile of three large Jumbotron screens so that people, probably in the thousands if not tens of thousands as you get down several blocks away from here.
That will be watching this funeral carried live on the church web site. Officer Ramos was 14-year member of this Christ Tabernacle Church here. He was training to become a chaplain. That wake incredibly moving last night. Here's what a couple folks said about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED CHIDL: I feel really sad because this is like a known person around our neighborhood.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Life is not guaranteed and you know, just my heart goes out to the family. It's really sad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's terrible, absolutely terrible. I can't get over it. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Now, the first of two funerals for New York City police officers. We don't know exactly when the funeral for Weinjin Liu will be yet. His family is coming from China. This is the beginning of a tough week for the NYPD and a very tough time for the city of New York -- Suzanne, Victor.
MALVEAUX: Miguel, it might be an odd question, but you know, with so many police officers there on site, but I do imagine that security is going to be an issue as well, that they have bumped up security, a lot of people and a lot of emotions as well.
MARQUEZ: Certainly the vice president is here has raised security. There has been a large team from the secret service here yesterday and into today. Many of the folks you see outside the church now are with the vice president's team. They are securing the area.
We have helicopters overhead. NYPD has placed cameras, temporary cameras around the area as well so they can keep track of all of the different places. They searched roofs. They have done everything they can to secure this scene. This is not unknown to them.
They do these funerals enough and these big events that they have it down to somewhat of a science. So, this is something that they expect will go well.
Aside from that, the other concerns around the city, other police officers come into the city, fill in for New York City police officers so they can be here. So everything essentially gets covered -- Suzanne, Victor.
MALVEAUX: All right. Miguel Marquez, thank you so much. We appreciate that.
BLACKWELL: Let's head now to Washington where Vice President Joe Biden is expected to depart this morning for New York to attend Officer Ramos' funeral. We have Erin McPike there live at the White House.
Erin, we know that sometimes these occasions on which the president or the vice president travels to a city to offer solidarity or sympathy. It's the message that's most important. But maybe in this case just the presence says enough.
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, that's right. And police advocates do say that just sending Vice President Biden does make a statement because Biden has a pretty good relationship with law enforcement dating back to his time in the Senate for his work on the crime bill and also for securing funding for some police units.
Now meanwhile, President Obama has met with some young activists, who want to see immediate change in race relations. President Obama has discussed that tension recently in the fact that some of these young activists don't trust law enforcement.
Listen to President Obama discuss that in a recent interview with CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: There's no reason for folks to be patient. I'm impatient. That's why in the wake of what happened in Ferguson and what happened in New York, we've initiated task force that in 90 days are going to be providing specific recommendations.
On the other hand, I think an unwillingness to acknowledge that progress has been made cuts off the possibility of further progress. If critics want to suggest that America is inherently and irreducibly racist, then why bother even working on it. I've seen change in my own life so has this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: The administration has faced some criticism recently for not including rank and file police officers on this task force so we'll be listening today to hear what Vice President Biden says to reach out to law enforcement, but as we discussed, just sending him makes that big statement -- Victor.
BLACKWELL: Absolutely. Erin McPike for us live at the White House. Thank you, Erin.
MALVEAUX: As the vice president makes his way to New York this morning, again, you're looking at live pictures there. He is going to be met with a wall of blue along the streets of Queens.
We are expecting to see as many as 25,000 officers potentially more from New York and around the country expecting to mourn a fallen brother today.
And to discuss and we are joined by former New York Police Detective Gil Alba. Gil, being someone who is on the force, was on the force, you see what this means to so many people. What does it mean to you?
GIL ALBA, FOUNDER, ALBA INVESTIGATION: You know, when this gets you, when at the end of the mass and they carry his body out, you have the police bagpipe band playing "Amazing Grace" and hear the humming of the motorcycles go by. It stays with you the rest of your life.
I've been to several of these similar funerals like this and it stays in -- NYPD will remember this for the rest of their lives, all of the ones, every police officer before that and even police officers that come again will remember something like this.
So this really hits New York City Police Department. You could see throughout the country how it hits law enforcement and other officers and especially in a manner in which they died, the two officers died.
MALVEAUX: We've heard that before, Gil. Can you explain that this was not something that was random, it was not accidental?
ALBA: As far as the shooting is concerned? MALVEAUX: Yes.
ALBA: No. This was premeditated plan from a person who was mentally decapitated and couldn't think, you know, he wanted to die, planned it out. He wasn't afraid what he was going to do and he did it, and because he got caught he killed himself.
So, these officers were sitting in their cars and he just went up to the car. They weren't even looking, shot through the window and killed them both. Shot them in the head and they died immediately. I don't think they knew who killed them.
All of the other officers, especially the New York City Police Department, feel that it could have been anybody, especially these two officers who were working overtime not even in their own precinct, and one of those officers just volunteered to do it that day
So it was you know, the uniqueness of this whole thing happening then these guys are just regular New Yorkers, as you know, just regular people without their uniforms. Now they were killed because of the uniform.
MALVEAUX: And Gil, you've lost a lot of friends, do you ever put yourself in that scenario, put yourself in that situation when you are attending these services?
ALBA: As far as reflecting on could it happened to myself?
MALVEAUX: Sure.
ALBA: No, I don't really -- it could happen but you know, you don't think that way. You're not afraid when you're in the police department. You don't think that could happen to you and you know, you go out and do your business and business as usual in New York. As far as the police department is concerned.
So I don't really think people are aware because of what's going on with around the country and people are targeting police officers, so you have to be aware. But I don't really think that somebody's going to change any officer is going to change their daily routines because they think something's going to happen to them.
MALVEAUX: Resilient bunch. Gil Alba, thank you so much for joining us this morning. It's a difficult morning for so many. Appreciate this.
ALBA: OK, thanks for having me.
BLACKWELL: Well, of course, the funeral for Officer Ramos expected to start in a little less than two hours, live pictures again outside of the Christ Tabernacle Church where he worshiped and where he will be remembered today.
You see the officers beginning to gather, thousands of them as we expected, as we said, will be there for the route to Christ Tabernacle there in Queens. And from the procession through the this morning speakers at the services, we will have complete coverage for you here on CNN.
MALVEAUX: And still to come, North Korea outraged now with the United States over release of the movie "The Interview." They are pointing the finger at one person as the culprit behind it being in theaters.
BLACKWELL: Plus there are new questions being asked in the death of Georgia teen found dead inside a gym mat. We'll tell you why a sheriff's office after closing its case a year and a half ago, is now conducting dozens of new interviews.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Live pictures outside the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens, New York. Tens of thousands of officers from the five boroughs and around the country will be there to say goodbye to Officer Rafael Ramos who was shot alongside his partner, Wenjin Liu, one week ago today. That service is expected to start at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
MALVEAUX: And doubts are growing that North Korea was behind that massive hack at Sony Pictures. Now two leading cyber security firms are raising serious questions. The FBI claims that the malware used in the Sony attack is similar to malware used in other attacks by North Korea. But security experts tell CNN that the same malware was leaked a long time ago and could have been used by hackers anywhere in the world.
BLACKWELL: Now at least one potential one suspect has emerged, a woman code named Lena, who according to one cyber expert worked for Sony for several years.
MALVEAUX: North Korea says it had nothing to do with the hacking, but the leaders are fuming over release of "The Interview." Pyongyang released a statement blaming President Obama claiming he forced Sony to release the film.
As our Paula Hancocks explains North Korea even personally insulted the president.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, we knew that Pyongyang would be furious about the release of this movie and they certainly haven't disappointed. We had a statement this Saturday from the all- powerful National Defense Commission, a powerful institution in North Korea, showing how seriously they are taking this issue.
They are not just blaming Sony Pictures for the release of "The Interview," they are also blaming U.S. President Barack Obama giving him some very personal criticism, here is part of that statement.
They say, quote, "U.S. President Obama is the chief culprit who forced the Sony Pictures Entertainment to indiscriminately distribute the movie and took the lead in appeasing and blackmailing cinema houses and theaters."
They also have some personal insults for the U.S. president calling him reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest. Now certainly not the first time they insulted the U.S. president, but interesting that they are singling him out for personal criticism effectively saying it's all his fault.
Now once again, Pyongyang says that they weren't responsible for the hacking of Sony Pictures, which is carried out or claimed by a group called "Guardians of Peace."
And Pyongyang saying that if Washington believes they were involved show them the evidence. They are asking for the proof that the FBI and Washington believes that they were involved.
The FBI has said that they have found out that the malware used in this attack was similar to previous cyberattacks that were believed to have been carried out by North Korea. North Korea had many outages and it has blamed that on Washington, believing that Washington is hacking them.
So of course the question now is, is that the end of it? "The Interview" has released, people are watching it and North Korea has acted furiously as expected so. Has it run its course or are we likely to see more cyberattacks in the future -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right, Paula Hancocks, thank you very much.
BLACKWELL: Still to come, PlayStation and Xbox networks still recovering from a disruption that angered millions of video gamers. We'll tell you who might be behind the hacks that made the networks go dark for hours.
We have live pictures of the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens, the funeral for Officer Raphael Ramos expected to start at 10:00 a.m. Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Bill De Blasio, and Police Commissioner William Bratton all expected to speak at the funeral today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: You're looking at live pictures now. You can see the police officers gathering in large numbers there outside of the Christ Tabernacle Church where the funeral will begin in about an hour and a half for Rafael Ramos.
Really at a very emotional scene that we expect to play out as tens of thousands of officers, not only from the five boroughs, but also around the country will pay their respect to the slain officer.
It will be a who's who, not only people who have come from the streets, but also from the White House. Vice President Biden will be in attendance as well as Mayor Bill De Blasio of New York and the Police Commissioner Bill Bratton all three of them will speak.
We will see family, we'll see friends, but we will see thousands of people who are strangers to this individual, to this police officer because they are there a strong sea of blue, the strong line of blue.
These people who have come out, the men and women, who serve that city and serve around the country, to make it known that they are here to pay their respects for the fallen officer.
And some other news to get you caught up on this morning. Here is your "Morning Leap."
BLACKWELL: All right, a sheriff's office in Georgia says it conducted dozens of new interviews in the death of Kendrick Johnson. Remember, this is 18 months after closing their investigation. The teenager was found dead nearly two years ago inside a rolled gym mat.
The interviews appear related to new video released by the Johnson family's attorney. The video challenges the whereabouts of a former classmate of Johnson on the day he died. Johnson's death was ruled an accident back in May of 2013, but his family believes he was murdered.
MALVEAUX: Xbox and PlayStation networks are slowly coming back after going down on Christmas day. Hackers say they are behind the outages. They hit on one of the busiest gaming days of the year. Neither Sony nor Microsoft have had much to say about these outages affecting millions of gamers.
BLACKWELL: Good news for drivers heading home after the holidays. Good news for anybody, for us heading home after work, gas prices are continuing to drop. On Christmas day, Missouri became the first in five years to have a statewide average gas price below $2 a gallon.
MALVEAUX: So as you hit the road, you don't have to worry too much about the price of gas. It's pretty cheap. It's a very good thing.
MALVEAUX: Coming down.
MALVEAUX: Yes, but what about the weather? I don't know.
BLACKWELL: It's snowing already in El Paso, Texas. Snow already, but hopefully it will clear up as Duke plays Arizona in the Sun Bowl today. Let's go to meteorologist, Karen Maginnis. We have a holiday travel and football to talk about. Will the weather cooperate?
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: There are quite a few hiccups out there and there you can see on the graphic we've got lots of cold air diving toward the cross, even across the big bend area of Texas. Temperatures have been mild, but all of a sudden, you get this plunge of arctic air all the way across the Deep South with snowfall wrapped around the Great Lakes.
It's going to be bitterly cold as we head into the next three to five days. You can see temperatures running 20 to 30 degrees below where they should be for this time of year. All the way from Montana and into Arkansas that's where we're going to see some of the coldest air.
Milder temperatures at least in the short-term across the southeast enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. Yesterday in Chicago they topped out at 50 degrees. But we're looking at temperatures in the 30s, plunging into the 20s, maybe the upper teens, as we go into the next three to five days.
So soaking rain all the way from Houston to Shreveport, even into New Orleans where we have flash flood watches along the gulf coast. Nebraska, finish the season 9-3 and USC made it 8-4.
We're looking at sunshine and 59 degrees at kickoff. And for Arizona State and Duke, cloudy skies and if you're looking for the Miami/South Carolina game, both 6-6, look for rainfall and temperatures around 60.
MALVEAUX: Karen, I didn't know you do sports and weather.
MAGINNIS: All going on. I'm going to watch.
MALVEAUX: They are all important. All right, Karen Maginnis, thank you so much. Of course, we want to remind viewers that we're watching live pictures out of Queens as Victor and I are watching together the thousands of police officers who are gathered outside of Christ Tabernacle Church to pay their respects to that fallen officer, Rafael Ramos.
We're also following social media reaction to the sad story this morning. Nick Valencia, he is monitoring the internet and we'll have the very latest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Running a small business can be tricky, but even more challenging if your product melts. In this week's start small think big the business of ice sculpting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice-over): It's one of the coolest places in California. Literally, San Francisco, David Fong, owner and ice carver hard at work.
DAVID FONG, BUSINESS OWNER/ICE CARVER: My main instrument is a chain saw. Then I've got different types of hand tools. Every ice sculpture starts with a design. I'm etching out the major cuts.
MALVEAUX: David was taught by his father, a master ice sculptor who runs Ice-lutions Philadelphia.
FONG: He never went out and marketed himself as a business or a brand. For me, I think branding is very, very important for any business.
MALVEAUX: Since about 2006 they have grown every year and it's helped by a growing presence on social media.
FONG: Our main goal is to try to reach as many age groups as possible.
MALVEAUX: It's also a place for inspiration.
FONG: Being able to share photos and information and pictures on Facebook really inspires each sculptor to kind of push their limits.
MALVEAUX: And Ice Solution, those limits have a goal. FONG: It's one of those things where you are working to create other people's memories.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: You're looking at live pictures out of Queens there -- Queens, New York. Police around the country -- you see them gathering there right outside of Christ Tabernacle Church. It's expected 25,000 to even 30,000 police officers not only from the five boroughs of New York but around the country to pay their respects to the slain Officer Rafael Ramos. There will be family, there will be friends, there will be dignitaries from around the country.
Welcome to the bottom of the hour. Welcome back. I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to have you with us. We want to bring in CNN's Miguel Marquez in New York.
MALVEAUX: Miguel, if you would just set the scene for us. You have been there since the early morning hours and it seems like the numbers are growing, a lot of people there. And I anticipate there will be a lot of emotion as well.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is incredible to see these things happen. They just grow and grow and grow. We got here very early this morning. There were a few police officers. Now there are hundreds if not thousands already starting to line the streets outside here. Police now trying to control and line up their own so that they can be prepared for the casket of Officer Ramos that will make its way from Christ Tabernacle Church here on Myrtle Avenue, down Cypress Hills Street, which I think we have another shot of that. You can start seeing police officers and others lining that route down to the cemetery that is just about a mile away -- maybe three-quarters a mile away.
There will be three jumbotrons along the way. The wake last night was several hours long and Officer Ramos' sister spoke there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CINDY RAMOS, OFFICER RAFAEL RAMOS' SISTER: -- sweet just like my brother. I know you always worry about me but you know how I roll because we were two peas in a pod. Never think, just do and hope for the best. You were one of the most humble people I know and having you as my brother is the highest honor that could have been bestowed on me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: It is just heartbreaking to hear the family speak about a man who -- he was at this church at Christ Tabernacle for 14 years. He was training to be a chaplain here. Today kicks off a period of mourning for not only the New York Police Department but for this city as well -- Suzanne, Victor.
MALVEAUX: Miguel Marquez, thank you. It's hard not to get emotional when you hear them, one of those tributes that are coming in. And we know that Ramos was a member of that church for 14 years. He was an usher. He helped people with their marriages. I mean he was really a pillar in that community.
BLACKWELL: We heard from Gil Alba who's a former detective there in New York Police Department that we have to remember that this was a man outside of the uniform although he was killed because he was wearing the uniform. And when you hear from his sister, when you hear from his children, you can -- we can really understand how valuable he was in his community and as part of this church Christ Tabernacle where today his funeral will be held.
Let's go now to our Nick Valencia. He's joining us for a look at how people on social media are reacting to the news of the slain officers and the funeral this morning. Nick what are you seeing?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Victor.
Certainly a very somber day in New York and beyond as Rafael Ramos is prepared to be laid to rest. And all morning long we've been hearing from you on social media -- your reaction to those fallen officers.
Let's start in Staten Island where Staten Island Academy tweeted out their message of condolences earlier today saying our thoughts and prayers are with Justin, class of 2013 and his family now and always. Of course Justin the eldest son of Rafael Ramos who you just heard from last hour give an emotional a tribute to his father riding (ph) destiny.
Another Twitter user weighing in on their Twitter account here -- Shelly Robinson saying "Dear friend, please join me and pray for the families of two NYPD police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos who were murdered."
More prayers from Lightning 7876 on Twitter saying, "Prayers goes out to Ramos and Liu families as the two NYPD officers are laid to rest today."
And we're seeing a lot of these pictures Suzanne and Victor today, these photos from the memorial site where Officer Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were gunned down just last Saturday. If you want to join in the conversation, if you would like to tweet some condolences or just your reaction to what you're seeing, use these hash tags here. We'll be monitoring social media, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, with NYCPray, NYPDofficers and #bluelivesmatter. You could also tweet NEW DAY or me directly at CNNValencia. We'll try to get your comments on air -- Victor, Suzanne.
BLACKWELL: Nick Valencia, thank you so much.
VALENCIA: You bet.
MALVEAUX: The past few weeks have been quite a book end for 2014 for the President, from a climate deal with China to his executive action on immigration, to staving off a defunding of Obamacare and normalizing relations with Cuba. We're going to take a look at how the President is ending the year next.
And more live pictures from Queens, New York as police gather to remember one of their own.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: If you are still figuring out what to do with the leftovers, you know that food can be a big part of how a lot of families celebrate the holiday season. But remember, for 49 million Americans there may not be enough to eat.
Now rapper and media mogul 50-cent wants to change that by using business principles and some good old fashioned elbow grease.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From international hip-hop star to creator of a multi-million-dollar empire, Curtis "50-Cent" Jackson remembers a time when things weren't so easy. That's why he says he is paying it forward by working with Feeding America.
CURTIS "50-CENT" JACKSON, MUSICIAN: I had it pretty rough but not to the point where there wasn't something to eat. But now I'm seeing a lot of kids that have even tougher stories than what I experienced. Feeding America -- it is the best charitable organization to be part of if hunger is your cause.
ANGELICA DEPAUL, FEEDING AMERICA: Feeding America is the nationwide network of food banks. We have more than 200 members who help provide food to low income people in need. More than 49 million Americans are food insecure in this country and we're feeding more than 46 million.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 50 recently joined other celebrities to volunteer at the food bank for New York City.
JACKSON: During the holidays food is a big part of how they enjoy themselves. You know, to be able to have people to provide these meals for them in this time period is great.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For many it's a lifeline.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have kids and I really need help right now as far as food is concerned. And I'm so grateful -- very grateful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now a partnership between Feeding America and 50's company means every pair of SMS audio head phones purchased on line provides 250 meals to those in need and proceeds of 50's energy drink, Street King, goes to help the U.N. World Food Program.
JACKSON: When you look at hunger itself, it would take so much to solve it that the only place that I see enough finances to do it is in business itself. This is the real part where you give back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: 19 minutes before the top of the hour.
The past few weeks have been quite a bookend for 2014 for President Obama -- a climate change deal with China, executive action on immigration, staving off defunding of Obamacare, and realigning relations with Cuba. Now the President's approval rating has jumped to a 20-month high of 48 percent. So what does that mean? What is he going to do with it?
Let's bring in our political panel. Lisa Boothe, a Republican strategist and senior director the Blackrock Group; and our political commentator, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona.
Lisa I want to start with you. Good morning to both of you. Let's start there.
LISA BOOTHE, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Hi Victor.
MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning -- Victor.
BLACKWELL: Lisa, with this now 48 percent approval rating will the President be a stronger contender, stronger adversary in some ways that Congress will have to deal with than previously thought?
BOOTHE: I don't think so because look, just in November Americans soundly rejected President Obama and with good reason. I mean President Obama's policies have really failed the country. If you want to look at one specific issue with the economy, look, millions of Americans have been unable to find jobs and have given up finding jobs in this Obama economy. We have the lowest work force participation rate in 36 years. And the real unemployment rate stands at 12 percent.
If you want to look at one aspect of the economy that has grown which is energy, a 50 percent increase in domestic oil supply but that's not because of Obama, that's in spite of Obama. He has done everything he can to stand in the way of the energy by roping off federal lands and placing burdens to regulations (inaudible).
BLACKWELL: Lisa let's look -- let's look at consumer confidence. We can stay with the employment rate, we can look at the deficit, we can look at gas prices. There are a lot of positive indicators and I expect that the President wouldn't get credit for that but I come to you Maria. I'll suggest that you will give him credit for that and say he is stronger against Congress. I'm just guessing here.
CARDONA: You guess correctly, Victor. And guess what, it's not just me. It's the majority of Americans who now say that the economy is going in the right direction. And look, it's laughable when Republicans still trying to talk down the economy after we've had a record growth in the last quarter of 5 percent. We haven't seen that in over ten years.
You had record job growth, 57 straight months of job creation. You haven't seen that in ten years. And all of this has been because of President Obama's policies. Let's remember when he tried to pass the Recovery Act, there were hysterical warnings -- hyperbolic warnings -- from Republicans that this is going to lead to a double dip recession to additional massive job losses to Greek-style debt crises and we're now seeing an economy on the recovery. Americans finding good jobs that they want, wages going up and all of this was in spite of Republican obstruction at every turn. So Republicans need take a look at how they work with this President as opposed to against him.
BLACKWELL: And he's got 48 percent approval rating. What is he going to do with it?
CARDONA: Well, I think he is going to focus on that we still have a lot of work to do and that there are still a lot of Americans out of work because he's been obstructed at every turn. So hopefully Republicans who now have a responsibility to govern and it's interesting that Lisa said that you know, yes, they had a great day on Election Day in November, but there was a poll that came out right after that saying that half of Americans thought it was a bad idea that Republicans now had control of both houses of Congress. That's what happens when you have an election where only 36 percent of the American people come out to vote.
BLACKWELL: There's also the poll, Lisa, that says that 49 percent of Americans believe that the President's policies take the country in the wrong direction. They also believe that 49 percent believe that the Republicans policies take us in the wrong direction. Is there anything that is overlapping here that the President and Republicans in congress can get done in the next session? Realistically -- we talked immigration but that obviously did not happen.
BOOTHE: Well, I think Americans rightfully believe that President Obama's policies are taking us in the wrong direction. The stimulus that --
BLACKWELL: Same number believed the Republicans have taken the wrong direction.
BOOTHE: I'll get to that -- Victor. The stimulus is an abject failure. If you look at Obamacare, it failed to insure the amount of people that the administration promises. They also lied and told us that if you like your health insurance you can keep it. And look insurance premiums are set to increase by double digits in 2015. Millions of Americans have received cancellation letters in the mail.
But as far as Congress and President Obama working together I hope they can but look, when President Obama leads before this Congress by moving forward unilaterally in immigration, that makes it tough. But one area where I hope they can work together and it's very important, is on tax reform. I mean that's an area that President Obama has indicated that he might be willing to work with Republicans on. I know it's a big issue for Republicans. We face the highest corporate tax rate in the free world, so you know, I really do think that's something that they should definitely look toward.
Another area where President Obama might not be too keen on but I think we could get Democrat support is repealing the medical device tax. Hopefully they can work together. But President Obama so far hasn't really indicated that he is willing to do that.
BLACKWELL: Lisa, Maria we've got to --
CARDONA: The rates of uninsured are record lows. So again Republicans need to take a look at what this economy actually looks like now.
BLACKWELL: We've got to start there -- we've got --
(CROSSTALK)
BLACKWELL: Lisa Boothe, Maria Cardona -- thank you both so much. And hopefully there will be something that both the President and Republican Congress can get done. Thank you both.
Suzanne.
All right. "The Interview is paying off it appears. The movie has banked a million bucks at the box office on Christmas day. It doesn't sound like a lot but if you think it was only 300 theaters -- a million bucks is pretty good. Is this the new Hollywood? That conversation is ahead.
We also want to let you know we're keeping an eye on Queens, New York. This is the Christ Tabernacle Church where Officer Rafael Ramos was shot and killed last Saturday afternoon. We expect to hear from Vice President Joe Biden, the Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton. You see the officers getting lined up to head inside that sanctuary.
We'll continue to follow it. Service starts at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
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MALVEAUX: You are looking at live pictures now -- this is in Queens, New York. There are police that are gathering outside the Christ Tabernacle Church to pay their respects to Rafael Ramos one of the New York police officers slain just a week ago. We are expecting up to 25,000 -- perhaps even more police officers not only from the five boroughs of New York but from around the country.
You can see these live pictures as they begin to gather. They have started from early, early in the morning. We are expecting to see family and friends, but thousands and thousands of strangers who really feel a tie, a kinship, to Rafael Ramos. They want to pay their respects and that will begin shortly in about an hour and 10 minutes when the funeral service is under way.
And of course we are covering this for you live throughout the morning.
Also this morning, North Korea fuming now over release of "The Interview" and it is blaming President Obama saying that he forced Sony to release it. This in a new statement, Pyongyang compared Obama to a monkey in the continuing fallout over this (inaudible) movie. It says the film which depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un say it is illegal, dishonest and reactionary.
Well moviegoers may be flocking to the theaters, rushing online to actually see the movie "The Interview" but the Sony pictures comedy also is a big hit with pirates, believe it or not online hacks and headaches continuing now for the embattled studio.
First of course, Sony was crippled by the massive cyber attack last month. Now according to piracy blogs some 750,000 people stole digital copies of "The Interview" on Christmas day alone. That number is only likely to rise over time. But it doesn't even end there. On Christmas day another group of hackers apparently brought down online gaming networks tied to Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox. The PlayStation network is only gradually coming back online this morning.
Kim Serafin joining us live, senior editor of "In Touch Weekly". So let's start off with the good news, if there is some good news for Sony here that despite these hacks and pirates "The Interview did pull in some really big money here. We're talking about a million dollars in its debut.
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Yes -- a million dollars, Christmas day and then it made about $600,000 more. They're looking at for the four-day weekend that it will make just under $3 million, maybe $2.7 million. So good news for a movie that didn't look like it was going to be out there at all but now from these 331 theaters that carried it certainly good to know. Far from what it was predicted to make had it opened in the 3,000 theater. What it made maybe $25 million.
But still, good news, again. We didn't know if we'd ever see this movie so good news. And then plus you mentioned it's online, it's available for the streaming. It was the top seller on Google Play, it was the top seller on YouTube. So certainly lots of people buying it purchasing it for download on these streaming sites.
MALVEAUX: We think that overall, they are going to make a pretty healthy profit, right, even despite the fact this is limited in its release?
SERAFIN: Yes, I mean, they will make a profit, but will it recoup all of the costs for the movie, $44 million to make plus their marketing costs, that's still is out there. We don't know how much is made yet from these streaming sites. And as you mentioned it has been pirated. I think the latest figure I saw as of Friday afternoon 1.7 million pirated copies out there. So, that's what, $10 million that is not going into Sony's pockets.
So that's a big deal and obviously the pirating will grow. People will be downloading this. Although now there's this recognition for this movie around the world so when this starts to be available for downloading in other places other than the U.S. And Canada, clearly there will be interest there because of all of this that's been going on -- all the drama.
MALVEAUX: Kim, do you think it's possible that they kind of stumbled on a new model, really, to distribute this. You talk about it's on digital and that there's people can pay for it but it's also online. Are we going to see more of these movie houses do it that way?
SERAFIN: You know, obviously movie theater chains don't really want that because they don't want this -- it's called a day and date release plan. It's been (inaudible) with some independent movies but not with a big studio release like this. Obviously we'll have to watch and see.
This is kind of historic, though. I think people really People wanted to see this. Whether you were a fan of Seth Rogen or James Franco, you wanted to see this movie, you wanted to be a part of history think a lot of people were saying. You wanted to be patriotic; you want to stand up for freedom of speech. So it's likely a different stand up for freedom of speech. So this might be a different situation. You can look to this but I don't know if this would really set the precedent. But yes has been a discussion in Hollywood for a long time about the whole idea of streaming, releasing it online when it debuts when it debuts in theaters so, this could potentially have some ripple effects in the industry.
MALVEAUX: Kim, I guess I'm one of those people. I wouldn't have normally gone to see the movie but now it's like -- it's kind of a must see. We've got to see it.
It's not the only one that's out there. There are some sees must sees -- some other big hits out there that we should paying attention to. Yes?
SERAFIN: Yes. You wouldn't know it but there were some other movies that opened over the Holiday Box Office. All of the focus has been on "The Interview". But yes, some big movies -- Angelina Jolie is "Unbroken" clearly got a lot of publicity. It actually did really well. It opened on Christmas day way above what people expected over $15 million. It will make probably unbroken did well. It opened on Christmas day. It will make probably over $40 million -- well over $40 million for the four-day weekend. So this is a big hit -- a lot of people really were waiting to see how this would do -- big hit.
And then "Into the Woods", another huge hit also opened Christmas Day. Another movie did better than expected will also make over $40 million for the four-day weekend which is really nice because the box office has actually been down this year and now we have this new interest in these holiday movies. I think it's really making people think this is great. The box office is good for the holiday weekend.
MALVEAUX: All right. Kim, good to see you as always. I guess I'll hit the movies at some point during the holiday. Thanks -- Kim. Appreciate it.
SERAFIN: Thanks.
MALVEAUX: And of course we're watching a more serious event play out this morning, live pictures in New York. Police around the country lining up you can see them gathering right now outside of the Christ tabernacle church where there will be a funeral service that will be held in just more than an hour or so for the slain officer, New York City Officer Rafael Ramos. That's next (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
