Return to Transcripts main page

NEW DAY

Search for Flight 8501; A World of Trouble Ahead in 2015; Can Capitol Hill Overcome Gridlock in 2015?

Aired January 1, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to a special New Year's edition of NEW DAY.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Some people are still up.

CAMEROTA: I know. And good for you. We applaud that.

Now, in a moment, we will look at the potential hot spots across the world in 2015. Christiane Amanpour will give us her insights.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: We're also going to be looking into the crystal ball of politics -- the dirty, cloudy ball that it is. Could this be the year that the stage is set for the 2016 presidential election? Of course it is. It's the year preceding it.

The question is what's going to happen with the Republicans taking over the legislative branch in a few days? Is that going to mean a new era in Washington? Is it going to be gridlock no more? Lots to talk about. We're going to gear for that discussion.

But first let's check the headlines at the news desk.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Thanks so much. Good morning, everyone. Happy New Year. I'm John Berman, 33 minutes after the hour right now.

Happening now: search teams fighting severe weather and huge waves, but still scrambling to find more victims and the fuselage of AirAsia Flight 8501. Officials say it could still take a week or more to locate and recover the plane's flight data and voice recorders. And CNN has learned the USS Fort Worth could be dispatched to the search area today.

David Molko is tracking latest developments for us from Surabaya, Indonesia. He joins us now by phone.

Good morning, David.

DAVID MOLKO, CNN PRODUCER (via telephone): Hi, John.

A difficult day here in Surabaya, night has just fallen. We've gone through an hour-long torrential rain storm here and just before that, the first victim from the AirAsia flight was formally identified. Number one, she was the casket brought off the plane on Wednesday. We saw five others over the past couple days, 16 total coming here to Surabaya. The passenger no longer a number, her name is Hayati Lutfiah Hamid. She's flying to Singapore, with her husband and her told.

We're told by the identification team she was ID'ed based on a fingerprint match, but she also had a necklace with her initials on it. Her remains were handed over a short time late anywhere a small ceremony. People were passed from the identification initials over to an AirAsia official and then handed over to her brother.

We're told the family is planning to bury her tonight or tomorrow -- John.

BERMAN: All right. David Molko in Surabaya in Indonesia, thanks so much for that.

Just before midnight, New Year's Eve celebrations turned tragic in Shanghai. A stampede along the city's waterfront lead to 35 deaths, at least 35 deaths and nearly 50 injuries. More than a dozen of those injuries are said to be serious. China's official news agency reports that people started scrambling for coupons being tossed out of windows. People apparently thought it was money.

Attorneys for Boston marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are asking the court to move their client's trial to another district. They say it will be impossible to seat an impartial jury in Boston. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday. He's facing the death penalty for his role in the bombing which killed three people and injured more than 260 others.

The number of murders in New York City dropped to a record low last year, 328 people were reported killed in 2014. That's the lowest number since at least 1963, when the NYPD started collecting reliable data. The city is actually seeing lower numbers in almost every major crime category. Notable there are no celebrations, of course, with the force still mourning the ambush and killing of two officers in Brooklyn.

The flu has reached epidemic levels and poses a dangerous risk to children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that 15 kids have died so far in nine states. Flu season typically peaks between December and February. The CDC recommends that children receive a seasonal flu vaccine every year.

Pope Francis marking the New Year with a mass at St. Peter's Basilica as the church commemorates the World Day of Peace. The pope is calling for an end to human trafficking and slavery. He urged the faithful to fight the general indifference that allows them to flourish. During a service Wednesday, the pope said the beginning of the year is a good time to reflect on our mortality.

Let's go back to Chris, Alisyn and Michaela in this special edition of NEW DAY. CUOMO: So, in 2014, we saw the Obama administration turn abroad that led to involvement in several international conflicts. The question is: what's going do happen on those fronts and others in 2015?

Let's bring in someone who can give us a good perspective as any. Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international correspondent here to explain more.

Happy New Year to you, my friend. Thank you for the gifts that you've given me before and in the future.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Happy New Year to you and to all our viewers. It's going to be a heck of a year on international front, Chris.

CUOMO: All right. Let's talk about why. Obviously at the top of the list has to be ISIS. What do we see evolving in that situation?

AMANPOUR: Well, what you see right now is a sort of a halt of the major momentum that ISIS had from last year. In other words, the whole of 2014, was signified by ISIS' rise, its barbarity, its beheadings and its consolidation in Iraq and in Syria. You also saw the U.S. come in with airstrikes to halt the momentum and to a large extent, it's done that. And to some extent, the political situation in Iraq is beginning to make baby steps towards getting out of its dysfunction. And also, the military momentum for ISIS is beginning to stall.

But there is an argument between Iraqi forces and the U.S. government, as to when to make a major offensive against ISIS and dislodge them from a major target like Mosul, a very important city in Iraq. The first one they took.

You know, Iraq wants to go soon. United States wants to wait until everybody is really ready. We'll see how that happens.

CUOMO: Putting the issue of whether or not it is a red herring or a straw horse to the side, to Americans, the phrase of concern is "boots on the ground". Do you think in 2015, we see United States fighting men and women in the battle once again somewhere outside the U.S.?

AMANPOUR: Well, the thing is, they already are. I mean, there are American boots on the ground. You're right. They're not in front- line combat operations.

CUOMO: Will they be?

AMANPOUR: But they are advising and assisting.

You know, one can never say never. Obviously, the president doesn't want that to happen. None of the Western democracies want to see their force goes back into Iraq. Honestly the disaster in Iraq, from 2003 to right now is what has led to the rise of terrorism in Iraq and also the disaster of Syria.

The truth of the matter is, that boots on the ground or not, if Syria is not also confronted in 2015, there is going to be no peace and resolution in Iraq at all because Syria is still the HQ for ISIS, and they're still able to operate fairly freely in some of the places they have -- actually, very freely, that they have consolidated.

And everybody seems to think, well, let's just pound ISIS in Syria. But nobody who knows anything about that region thinks that, that without getting rid of Bashar al Assad, and without ending that war, ISIS is truly going to be crippled.

CUOMO: Now, it would be nice in this world of relativism, if ISIS were the sole concern for people who love peace in the world. But it won't be, right?

So, when you look at other issues that must be addressed, what do you see as being a paramount importance? Will it be the Middle East? Will it be Russia? Or will it be North Africa? What do you think will command the most attention?

AMANPOUR: Well, I think certainly the Middle East peace process has had so much effort by the U.S. administration over this past year, collapsed towards the end of the year, shows no sign of really taking hold again. But that really does have to be solved in order for the ripple effects of stability to be felt around the region. It is still the thorn in the side of everything that happens in that region.

However, the whole idea of ISIS, the Taliban and Pakistan at the end of the year, we saw a horrible resurgence of the Taliban.

But we have good news in Afghanistan. And that is the fact that two moderates were elected to run Afghanistan. The president, Ashraf Ghani is a moderate, he's pro-Western, he's a technocrat. He wants to work with the West. He wants international forces to continue stabilizing his own country and his deputy also is the same kind of, cut from the same kind of cloth.

Unfortunately, the Taliban is rising in anger, trying to defeat this new group. However, their people support them and they really need support in order to stabilize Afghanistan. But Russia for sure, the Russia/Ukraine situation is, you know, teetering still on the edge of some kind of calamity.

And I'll say this because although there won't be a war between the West and Russia, there will be possibly be another terrible attack or crash or accident that will result in loss of life. Just as this year ended, Russia military jets often unmarked with their radar identification turned off, are probing around the Baltics, for instance, and there have been near-misses with civilian airliners, several, as the year ended.

And this is very, very dangerous.

CUOMO: I'll tell you what? We want to be optimistic because it's the new year, the beginning. But you know that when Afghanistan is one of the bright spots in the global picture -- you know you have big challenges ahead. I foresee Christiane Amanpour in the chair across from somebody, a

very big significance and we'll get to watch the supreme tester take on those who need to be tested. Thank you for giving us your perspective as always and the best for the New Year to you, my friend.

AMANPOUR: Happy New Year to you and everyone.

CUOMO: All right. So, we've seen some great political battles that happened in 2014. The question is, which will be the big battles going forward? You got the GOP now in control. The White House is promising to use its veto power.

So, what does 2015 hold in store? Will the two sides learn to work together? Hey, you got to be hopeful. It's 2015. Let's take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Welcome back to a special New Year's edition of NEW DAY.

It's a new year and new lawmakers are set to arrive on Capitol Hill. The GOP now controls both the House and the Senate. And leadership positions in key Senate committees will change hands.

Here to give their predictions on the issues they believe will dominate in 2015, CNN political analyst and editor in chief of "The Daily Beast," John Avlon, and CNN political commentator and Republican consultant, Margaret Hoover.

Happy New Year, guys.

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning. Happy New Year.

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning. Happy New Year.

CAMEROTA: Great to see you.

So, here are the topics that you both believe will dominate in 2015. The presidential campaign, gridlock on immigration, ISIS and energy independence.

Let's start with the presidential campaign. What are we going to see, John?

AVLON: Oh, this is when it gets real, people. You're going to see all the candidates start to get in the game.

Traditionally, Democrats have the really crazy field and Republicans have the conventional wisdom front-runner. Roles totally reversed this cycle. Republicans, it is total warlord status. It's going to be a fascinating fight.

And on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton seems to have the field basically frozen with a couple of challengers, surfacing (ph) some deep divides inside the Democratic Party. So, it's going to be wild. You're going to have Jeb Bush, it's going

to seriously exploring a run. You're going to have Rick Perry, getting in that game. Rick Santorum, who is fighting for the social conservative crowd. And then, of course, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, these freshmen senators can't wait to get it on.

CAMEROTA: Is that how you see it, Margaret?

HOOVER: Yes, I think it's sort of a jungle primary. I think everybody -- it's a horse race, a two-year race to run for the presidency. And everybody out of the gate is going to look strong.

Republican primary voters are really open-minded. Even though Rick Perry totally botched his run, they're going to take another serious look at him.

They're going to look seriously at Ted Cruz. They're going to look seriously at Rick Santorum. Everybody who starts the race is going to get a serious look. But you got to win on the endurance side. And, eventually, some of these horses will start to sputter out, lose steam, and whoever has the most money, the most energy, the most support, not when we start the year or halfway through the year, but at the end of 2015, that's who we're looking at.

CUOMO: Who is it?

HOOVER: I predict it will not be somebody like Ted Cruz. I think Ted Cruz is going to flame out early. I think he's got a lot of grassroots support early on. But ultimately, Republican primary voters while they want ideological uniformity, they also want to win.

CUOMO: Who is it?

HOOVER: My bet, well --

CUOMO: Look at you, tap dancing.

HOOVER: Do you want to know who I like personally?

CUOMO: Yes, that's what I asked you twice.

HOOVER: I like Jeb, I really like Jeb. I do, I like Jeb a lot.

CUOMO: You made Avlon wince. That must be something.

AVLON: You know, the GOP does like dynastic names.

HOOVER: What?

CUOMO: Uh-oh.

AVLON: They've gone with the brand name for the most of the -- Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would be --

HOOVER: That's not why I like him.

AVLON: I know.

HOOVER: That's why I don't like --

(CROSSTALK)

AVLON: I think Republicans are looking for, Margaret is the establishment center right figure who can win a general election, that's what they've been looking for.

Look, I think -- you know, for my money, I think you're going to see Ted Cruz perform brilliantly in debates. So, I think he's going to be stronger than people think at the outset.

I think Rand Paul could really shake up conventional wisdom right now, because I think he could strongly perform in those first six states, really mobilizing youth, getting people excited with a strong philosophical consistency. And then, my prediction is, and this is a '16 prediction, it's going to be the stop Rand movement. You're going to look to states like Florida will the establishment will rally around an alternative.

HOOVER: And who will stop him?

AVLON: Jeb Bush.

HOOVER: Jeb bush.

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: Can we talk about gridlock because I feel like that's another topic that's going to get you both. It's getting you going. We narrowly averted a shutdown. Is this going to be the new normal -- John, do you think it's going to be the new normal going to 2015?

AVLON: Oh, it is the new normal.

PEREIRA: On the brink of --

AVLON: It is the new normal. Look -- I mean, you know, yes, Republicans have unified control. They may be able to pass more bills. Will this he do it with a sense of what the president can and will actually sign? Almost certainly not, because the silly season is going to begin early because of --

PEREIRA: I love the silly season.

AVLON: Because of the presidential campaign. You're going to get those kind of pressures.

There are areas where they can and should find common ground, corporate tax reform and trade deals, those may get through. But anything that's truly historic and significant, like the opportunity for immigration reform -- very unlikely.

HOOVER: Well, I would say that it was the new norm from the last Congress, but there is a different Congress coming in and they promised when they won, they promised that they would get legislation through --

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: Hard not to be cynical.

HOOVER: They also understand -- I think Mitch McConnell understands and I think John Boehner understands that they have a sweet spot of about six months before silly really season begins in earnest to actually do what the American public sent them to do. And, by the way, they're setting the table for 2016. They can brand the Republican Party as a do-nothing party again, or as a party that's actually interested in constructively solving the country's problems.

And my guess and true hope is that they'll have at least one piece of landmark legislation they can point to that the president will sign.

AVLON: You know what? I love that Mitch McConnell promised that, we should hold him to those promises and I'm going to be hopeful. But you know, I want a pony, and I don't think I'm getting a pony for Christmas.

(LAUGHTER)

AVLON: I think the American can get an end of gridlock.

HOOVER: You're so allergic to ponies.

(CROSSTALK)

CAMEROTA: All right, were wishful thinking.

CUOMO: It's cute that you're allergic to ponies.

CAMEROTA: It's cute that you guys have talked about ponies in your marriage, that's adorable.

AVLON: Not that much.

CAMEROTA: Sure.

Let's talk about energy independence. Is this possible, Margaret, in 2015?

HOOVER: We have this emergent energy renaissance happening in this country. Natural gas is everywhere, and it is fueling a huge amount of the economic recovery. I mean, it is the untold story between why President Obama won Ohio in 2012, for example.

I mean, it's there, it's going, I think what the real challenge is, the policy challenge, frankly, at the heel -- at the foot of the new Senate and Congress, to repeal some of these really restrictive national regulations on energy, so that that renaissance can even -- can blossom even more.

CAMEROTA: Republicans want to do that, right?

AVLON: Republicans do want to do it.

CUOMO: Democrats will see it as a step back.

AVLON: Sure, especially the activist crowd, holding debates over keystone. But I think President Obama understand or should understand that this energy boom, which he has not necessarily facilitated has boosted the economy.

Here's the thing, the American economy does appear like it is on the brink of finally taking off. We've had good numbers, but that's persistent gap between Wall Street and Main Street still needs to be addressed. One of the interesting factors of the energy boom is the pressures it puts on geostrategic competitors like Russia, whose economy is crumbling. That's going to be one of the interesting stories of the New Year.

CAMEROTA: Margaret, John, happy New Year!

HOOVER: Happy New Year!

CAMEROTA: Happy for everyone.

(CROSSTALK)

CAMEROTA: Great to see you, guys.

HOOVER: Ponies for everyone, baby.

CUOMO: All right. We're talking about the big stories were. One of them is the status of race relations in America. Protesters took to the streets across the country are demanding reforms of policing and police culture. What will happen? Will they amount to anything? We discuss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)