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GOP Congressman Tom Reed Set To Support Democratic House Rule; Nancy Pelosi To Reclaim Role As House Speaker; Sen. Bernie Sanders Say He Was Unaware Of Harassment Claims In 2016 Campaign; Zoo Suspends Exhibits After Toddler Hurt In Rhino Enclosure. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired January 3, 2019 - 07:30   ET

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


[07:30:00] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Congressman.

REP. TOM REED (R-NY), MEMBER, HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE: Oh, good morning, thank you. Great to be with you, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: You are the first member to cross the aisle on a House rules vote since 2001. What are you thinking?

REED: It's time. I will tell you, I think the silent majority of Americans agree with me, as well as many other people up there that -- you know, we've got to break this gridlock. We've got the institution of the House of Representatives working for the American people again, and the only way we're going to solve these problems long-term that face America is we start working together.

So today is -- I'm putting my voting card where my mouth is and willing to step up publicly to say enough is enough. Let's start working together to solve problems for America.

CAMEROTA: You say you believe you may face consequences from your fellow Republicans, meaning what?

REED: Well, you know, obviously, when you break away from the herd, so to speak, some folks are more concerned about continuing to play us versus them politics and there are potential consequences for these actions. But, you know, I'm not going to worry about that. I'm not going to highlight that because that's -- it is what it is.

But I hope there are none --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

REED: -- because what I'm trying to do is listen to the American and govern for them -- the people we represent.

CAMEROTA: I understand, but it does sound like you were threatened with some consequences.

REED: Well, hopefully, there will be none as we vote today and go forward. But if there are, I will accept them.

CAMEROTA: But I'm just curious. I understand that you don't want to dwell on this but I'm just curious, what might those consequences be? REED: You know, they -- we'll let that be what it is and we'll discuss that at a later date if it becomes relevant.

But the point is this is a threat to the establishment. This is a threat to the status quo.

But I appreciate Nancy Pelosi being willing to consider these rule reforms that we've fought for as the Problem Solvers Caucus for over a year and were able to get some of those reforms into this package.

So I also want to show good faith --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

REED: -- to the leadership on the other side of the aisle that there's members on the Republican side that want to work together.

CAMEROTA: As that Problem Solvers Caucus, it makes perfect sense.

And I know you don't want to say who might have threatened you but just what did he or she say to you?

REED: I can appreciate the question but that's between us as members and we'll let that be what it is. And I'm not going to venture down and publicly discuss that.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

REED: But there are consequences to this and I recognize that, and I appreciate where they're coming from. But at the end of the day, I feel I have to do what is right and today is a moment to say enough is enough. Let's move forward.

CAMEROTA: OK, we will do that, as well.

So --

REED: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: -- you are on the Problem Solvers Caucus. Your goal of solving problems could be stymied by this partial government shutdown.

You voted to fund President Trump's border wall. Do you think that he should compromise in some way --

REED: Well, I think --

CAMEROTA: -- with Democrats and, for instance, stop calling it a border wall and maybe everybody could come together?

REED: Well, you know, I've seen the president and I've heard the president's word where he's talking about border security. And I think there's recognition that there's a compromise there that the White House, as well as us in the House of Representatives, want to reach with the other side of the aisle. But you -- but you have to understand, border security will include structures. They will include things like a wall in certain sections --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

REED: -- like a fence.

CAMEROTA: But I don't know -- I'm sorry to interrupt, Congressman --

REED: We need to move forward on that.

CAMEROTA: -- but I don't even know what "like a wall" means. I mean, how many -- let's talk -- let's break it down. How many miles long are we talking?

REED: Well, we're obviously -- if -- many people think of the wall as coast-to-coast. Now, that is not going to be the outcome of a compromised position. There are sections --

CAMEROTA: Right, so how many miles?

REED: There's hundreds of miles that are relevant for application of a wall-type border security measure. There are areas that don't need those.

CAMEROTA: And where are those? I'm sorry to press you like this but --

REED: Yes.

CAMEROTA: -- truly, on a map, we need the president or you to tell us where are these hundreds of miles? What part is wide open where people are pouring through?

REED: Well, if you -- well, actually, if you look, the most effective -- my understanding of the technology and the wall devices are in the urban areas. Things like San Diego. In the areas of high population centers where you direct the entry into America in ports of entry that you can control --

CAMEROTA: Right.

REED: -- and you can supervise. And you build off of there going forward.

But there's numerous --

CAMEROTA: Yes, but --

REED: -- reports out there that show where this will work and work best.

CAMEROTA: But, Congressman, this is the problem is that the president has been all over the map. First, it was 1,000 miles. He's down to 550. He can't show us on a map where -- you just talked about the places that were successful, yes.

So where's the place that warrants the $5 billion?

REED: Oh -- well, when you're talking about a $5 billion investment of border security that's why it's not just about a wall. That's about technology, that's about fencing, that's about using ground penetration, surveillance in the air. You know, this is much bigger than a wall --

CAMEROTA: That's --

REED: -- in order to secure border security and that's where we're going.

CAMEROTA: Congressman, that's right. That's right.

That's what your fellow Republican Will Hurd says. He wants to see more manpower. He wants to see technology.

That's not what the president is saying. He's talking about a concrete wall.

REED: But you have it right on the other side, Alisyn, when Nancy Pelosi, today, says no dollar for a wall. That is the -- that's the partisan gridlock that we're facing here in Washington that we're going to stop by taking this action today and also being a voice to say enough is enough. Let's agree.

[07:35:13] Whoever goes first, just go and lead. And that's what we're trying to do.

CAMEROTA: Congressman, it's only the president who is saying wall. You're not even saying wall. You're saying technology, aerial support.

Should you tell the -- or should the president stop using the term wall?

REED: Well, I've seen the president use the term border wall, border security. But I just saw Nancy Pelosi use "not a dollar for a wall" and that is the -- that's the -- that's what this -- this is such a silly and asinine debate. We need to move past this. We need to get into border security which will include a wall.

So someone's going to break their word, so to speak, but at the end of the day, who loses in that is the American people. We need to secure the border, we need to make America safe, but we need a functioning border that is safe and secure.

CAMEROTA: I think everybody would agree with that. I think everybody would agree with border security. You seem to be -- everybody seems to be stuck on the wall which, as you're pointing out, you've moved away from.

Nancy Pelosi -- you brought her up. She just gave an interview with Savannah Guthrie on the "TODAY" show in which she said that she believes a sitting president can be indicted -- or she suggested that. Let me play this for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Everything indicates that a president can be indicted after he is no longer President of the United States.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, ANCHOR, NBC "TODAY": What about a sitting president?

PELOSI: Well, a sitting president when he's no longer President of the United States.

GUTHRIE: A president who is in office? Could Robert Mueller come back and say I am seeking an indictment?

PELOSI: I think that that is an open discussion. I think that is an open discussion in terms of the law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Your response, Congressman?

REED: Well, you know, this -- obviously, there is politics being deployed. There is politics being put forward, especially as we go through this leadership election.

But indicting the president and making that a focus of your initial campaign as the new Speaker of the House isn't the priority of America. We should be focusing on where we find common ground and fixing problems like the government shutdown, like getting the border secure and moving forward from there.

CAMEROTA: Congressman Tom Reed, we appreciate you being on on this momentous day and we will be watching your show of bipartisan -- your bipartisan effort this morning as you cross the aisle. Thanks so much.

REED: Appreciate it very much, Alisyn.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hopefully --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

BERMAN: -- he won't be lonely in that on both sides. It's nice to see people joining him going forward.

She is set to become Speaker of the House again, so why does Nancy Pelosi think she is uniquely qualified for that position? Our Dana Bash sat down with her, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:41:21] CAMEROTA: Nancy Pelosi is set to make history again when she reclaims the gavel as Speaker of the House today. Of course, the job comes with a whole new set of challenges. And, Dana Bash spoke with her about being the first and only woman to be House speaker, and Dana joins us now. Dana, that must have been an interesting interview.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It sure was.

And speaking of interesting interviews, on this very program yesterday her youngest daughter Alexandra said that her mother "will cut your head off and you won't even know you're bleeding." That, of course, is the tough, some say scary, effective side of Nancy Pelosi. There are others, too -- practical, empathetic, and tireless.

All of those attributes got her to where she is today, poised to retake the gavel again as the female House speaker, the only in American history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: This is your hood?

PELOSI: Yes.

BASH (voice-over): To really know Nancy Pelosi you go where it all started, Little Italy in Baltimore, where she was born to Congressman Tommy D'Alesandro and Annunciata D'Alesandro.

When she was six, her father became Baltimore's first Catholic mayor.

PELOSI: He leapfrogged over the Irish. That was a big deal but it took political organizing to do that.

BASH: Much has been made of Pelosi's father's influence on her. Less known is her mother's.

BASH (on camera): Your mom actually patented a device, the first device to apply steam to the face.

PELOSI: Yes.

BASH: Basically, an at-home facial.

PELOSI: That's right, she did.

BASH: That's incredible.

PELOSI: That was incredible.

BASH (voice-over): Pelosi says her father and the times held her mother back in many ways. But, Annunciata D'Alesandro was a quiet force in politics.

PELOSI: My mother was very much a part of the organizing. My father was the orator, the public servant.

BASH: And your mother got stuff done. PELOSI: Well, my brother called it her moccasin brigade. All of these women who would be part of getting the message out, being at events.

There are two things about I bring with me from my family in this regard.

One is to know how to count. That's very important. Count your votes to win the election, count your votes to win a vote on the floor. But the other is listen to the constituents.

BASH: The D'Alesandro home was at the center of this Italian community, a vivid childhood memory helping new immigrants who knew where her father, the mayor, and his family lived and would regularly knock on their door asking for help.

PELOSI: Since I was a little girl, I knew how to tell somebody to go to (INAUDIBLE) City Hospital, how to try to get housing in the projects because that's right here next to us, and -- because I heard my mother say it so many times.

BASH: After college, she wanted to go to law school. Instead, like many in her generation, she got married and started a family.

PELOSI: When I got married and then I had a baby and another in five and six years. People were always saying oh, she knew when she was a little girl she wanted to run for office.

BASH (on camera): Yes.

PELOSI: I never thought of that at all, ever, until I did.

BASH (voice-over): The Pelosis moved back to husband Paul's hometown, San Francisco. She became more and more active in the Democratic Party. But it wasn't until her youngest daughter was a senior in high school that she ran for an open House seat.

PELOSI: I went to her and said you're going to be a senior. Mommy has a chance to run for Congress. I don't even know if I'll win.

BASH (on camera): Did she say get a life?

PELOSI: She said get a life, yes, and I did.

BASH (voice-over): When she first ran for House leadership 18 years ago her male Democratic colleagues didn't get it.

PELOSI: When people said oh, there -- a lot of the women are supporting Nancy to run. And they said well, why? Do the women have a list of things they want us to do? Why don't they just make a list and give us the list?

This is the Democratic Party in the year 2000.

[07:45:02] BASH: She attributes her boundless energy to Italian genes. It's certainly not a balanced diet -- dark chocolate and ice cream. Vaccaro's has been her favorite since she was a little girl.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And for you?

PELOSI: The chocolate. Not the chocolate chip, the chocolate. I like my chocolate unadulterated.

BASH (on camera): How do you think that you wield your power as a woman differently than a man does?

PELOSI: Other people tell me if you're meeting or something they'd say do you understand how different that meeting would have been if a man were conducting it?

BASH: Do they explain how?

PELOSI: Well, you listen, you build consensus.

BASH (voice-over): That's exactly what she did to get what she hopes will be enough votes for speaker again. Made compromises with Democratic doubters looking for someone new, not her.

PELOSI: None of us is indispensable but some of us are just better at our jobs than others. And I have a following in the country apart from anybody that run for -- has run for president.

BASH (on camera): For most women, frankly, myself included, it is hard to say those words I am uniquely qualified, I deserve this, I earned this. I can do this better than anyone else. But you can say that.

PELOSI: You know why I do it, Dana? I do it for -- because I want women to see that you do not get pushed around and you don't run away from the fight.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Such an interesting discussion, Dana. And, Pelosi becomes the first speaker since Sam Rayburn to get the gavel back.

How does she see it being different this time around?

BASH: It really is so different on so many levels. When she first became speaker she had a Democratic partner in the Senate, Harry Reid, who was also the leader, so Democrats controlled all of Congress. There was a Republican in the White House like there is now.

The difference -- the big difference is that she's it. There's Republican rule in the Senate, Republican in the White House. She is the only Democrat who has control of any branch or any part of elected Washington, so that's a big deal.

And, obviously, it goes without saying, even more of a big deal given the fact that she is up against Donald Trump.

And look, I've heard from so many people who said that when she did have some trouble about a month ago she really did have to shore up her caucus. She had to make some changes and promise she wouldn't be there forever, amongst other things.

They said who else are we going to have? Who else are we going to have who is as experienced and, frankly, as tough as she to go head- to-head with somebody like Donald Trump?

BERMAN: Dana Bash, thanks so much for bringing that to us this morning. We really appreciate it.

BASH: Thank you.

BERMAN: Senator Bernie Sanders is insisting he was not aware of sexual harassment and pay disparity allegations made in his 2016 presidential campaign. On Wednesday, "The New York Times" reported several female campaign workers came forward with accusations but their complaints were not addressed.

The Vermont senator apologized in a new interview with Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: I am not going to sit here and tell you that we did everything right in terms of human resources. In terms of addressing the needs that I'm hearing from now that women felt disrespected, that there was sexual harassment which was not dealt with as effectively as possible.

So I certainly apologize to any woman who felt that she was not treated appropriately. And, of course, if I run, we will do better next time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Sanders says he was never informed of the complaints from women because he was quote "a little busy running around the country campaigning."

CAMEROTA: Police in Texas say a 14-year-old driver is facing murder charges for crashing an SUV into a truck, killing one of its passengers. This hazardous driving apparently started before the crash when two juveniles in the car were tossing eggs at passing cars. It's not clear why the 14-year-old charged in the crash had access to an SUV.

BERMAN: A huge milestone in space. China has successfully landed a rover on the far side of the moon. That's the side that never faces the earth. This has never actually happened before and this morning we're getting our first close-up images -- you can see them right there.

The rover is also helping to shed light on whether plants can grow in that low-gravity environment. They're going to try to plant some stuff over there to see how it does.

Now, you want to know what I learned?

CAMEROTA: What did you learn?

BERMAN: So, the far side of the moon is not dark. I always though because, of course --

CAMEROTA: Alert Pink Floyd.

BERMAN: Well, I learn all my science from Pink Floyd.

CAMEROTA: Yes, sure, of course.

BERMAN: Chemical science, mostly.

CAMEROTA: That's understood.

BERMAN: But the far side of the moon gets sunlight, it just never faces us.

CAMEROTA: OK. I don't think Pink knew that.

BERMAN: No. Mr. Floyd has got a --

CAMEROTA: "Which One's Pink?"

BERMAN: Yes, which one? There's a great documentary called "Which One's Pink" --

CAMEROTA: Is that right?

BERMAN: -- about the history of Pink Floyd.

CAMEROTA: I just knew the song lyric, "Which One's Pink?"

BERMAN: All right.

CAMEROTA: I'm getting a contact high. Let's move on.

A child is injured after slipping into a rhino exhibit. We'll talk to the zoo's executive director about what went wrong here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:53:29] CAMEROTA: A Florida zoo has suspended all premium animal experiences after this 2-year-old girl was hurt. She fell through some steel poles into a rhino enclosure and she came face-to-face with two rhinos. One bumped the girl before her father somehow pulled her to safety.

Joining us now is Keith Winsten. He's the executive director of the Brevard Zoo. Mr. Winsten, thank you so much for joining us.

Can you just tell us what happened that morning that this 2-year-old got hurt?

KEITH WINSTEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BREVARD ZOO, MELBOURNE, FLORIDA: Well, according to the two witnesses -- we were doing a rhino encounter which is something we do almost every day and have for the last nine years.

I mean, it was a small group. It was just mom, dad, and their daughter. And 10 or 15 minutes into it, while the father was pretty much crouched next to the little girl and holding her, she stumbled backwards.

And the steel poles are about 12 inches apart on center. So they're pretty narrow but you can slip through them and she apparently -- when she stumbled backwards she slipped in and basically, sprawled into the exhibit.

CAMEROTA: And so, then --

WINSTEN: At that point, we have all three rhinos --

CAMEROTA: Yes, go ahead.

WINSTEN: So all three rhinos always come to station. One of the things that rhinos look forward to most in life -- we think they're always feeling pretty itching -- is belly rubs and back scratches. And they're all there. We just work with one at a time.

So obviously, when something new comes into their area they're all curious. So the two female rhinos sort of immediately turned and mom and dad immediately pulled the girl back out. But we think one of them probably made contact at least with her in that time period. We don't know for sure.

[07:55:04] CAMEROTA: Well, they must have since she's still in the hospital as far as we know. Do you know what the little girl's condition is?

WINSTEN: We know from the family that they expect her to fully recover. We don't know the nature of her injuries. We do know she fell backwards into -- you know, she fell backwards onto concrete. So we don't know exactly what happened or how she was injured there.

CAMEROTA: OK, because one of the reports said that after she fell through those slats -- and we're showing some video and some still shots of the slats. And you're right -- I mean, it looks as though nobody could ever slip through it and it does seem remarkable that even a 2-year-old could, but she did.

So one of the reports said that she was bumped by the rhino. What does that look like?

WINSTEN: Well, we don't know that -- the two people, certainly -- the two females turned immediately and it's entirely possible that one or both of them could have bumped her. I mean, we don't think any contact was made with their horns or their hooves because dad picked her up right away according to the two folks who were there.

So we just don't know. We don't know the nature of injuries -- of her injuries. That's private medical information for the family. We have been told by the family they expect her to fully recover. And, obviously, our first concerns are for her. I mean, we'll be looking into the future to make sure we change that

particular experience so there are physical barriers that make sure no one can slip through those bars again.

CAMEROTA: And let's talk about that experience. This is a hands-on experience, right, where visitors to the zoo are able to pet the rhinos or touch them -- or what?

WINSTEN: Correct. So what happens is every day at noon the rhinos come to stations. Basically, the guests are on one side and the rhinos are at the other side of these steel poles. They get safety instructions. No one under 12 can be there without direct supervision of an -- of an adult.

And then we give them brushes and they can rub the rhinos and they can scratch the rhinos, and the rhinos really enjoy it. It's something we do every day.

CAMEROTA: And so -- I mean, I don't have to tell you that rhinos are these tremendously dangerous and deadly beasts. And so, was there ever any other danger? Was there ever any concern that something could go wrong with this exhibit?

WINSTEN: Well, everything in the zoo you take very seriously. Safety is our number one priority.

But this is an experience that is commonly offered in zoos throughout the country. We have been doing this for nine years almost every day without incident.

So, obviously, there's room for improvement. We had not anticipated someone falling and slipping through these poles. So we're reviewing our policies and procedures right now. We've stopped doing this until we can make sure this particular thing can never happen again.

Rhinos -- white rhinos are very doglike in their behavior. They're actually sort of very mild-mannered animals. At the same time, as you point out, they're huge so simply anything that big is capable of hurting you.

And we take safety very seriously. You know, we've been doing this for a long time and we'll make sure this can never happen again.

CAMEROTA: We had heard that the mom was also injured somehow. Do you know about what her injury was?

WINSTEN: I know that she complained of a sore arm. I don't know the exact nature.

I do know that at any time you reach through poles, if you've ever done that -- your arm gets banged against the pole, it hurts. So that's what we suspect happened to her arm but we're not sure of the nature of that. We just know she was examined and released.

CAMEROTA: So, Keith, your plan is to what, narrow the space between those slats that we're looking at? WINSTEN: We have a team looking at it right now. We suspect we'll probably put some horizontals across it.

It's -- you know, it's smaller than 12 inches between the two. It's probably more like eight inches when you take into account the poles, but a slim person -- a slim adult can even slip between them. So probably, we'll add some horizontal pieces which would prevent that.

CAMEROTA: All right. Keith Winsten, you're the executive director of the Brevard Zoo. Thank you very much for taking the time to explain to us what happened. And, of course, keep us posted on what's happening with that toddler.

WINSTEN: We will. Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Thank you.

All right, a new Congress will be sworn in in just hours, so let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Trump is going to have, for the first time, somebody who says no to him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a game changer having the subpoena power and the ability to investigate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a good sign for voters. It will get more women involved in the conversation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What we're going to see is the new movie, checks and balances, coming to a flat screen near you.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It could be a long time or it could be quickly. This is national security we're talking about.

PELOSI: How many more times can we say no, nothing for the wall?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Democrats believe we should have secure borders the smart way, not just some 19th century solution for a 21st century problem.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: The Senate will not waste its time considering a Democratic bill which cannot pass this chamber and which the president will not sign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Thursday, January third, 8:00 in the east.

There's a lot of new happening this morning. BERMAN: It is way new.

CAMEROTA: It's very new. It's a new day, it's a new year, it's a new Congress, it's a new era of divided government in Washington. All of it begins in just a few hours when the 116th Congress will be sworn in with Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives --