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CNN/ORC Poll Jump In President's Approval Numbers; Former President Complained Of Shortness Of Breath; Sony Reverses Course, Will Release "The Interview"

Aired December 24, 2014 - 07:30   ET

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


JAY CARNEY, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, look, Chris, what I used to say from the White House briefing room is that the president's approach was all of the above. He understood that we're not going to wean ourselves off oil tomorrow or fossil fuels tomorrow; and that our approach to our energy independence ought to be we'll do everything. And that includes continuing to expand our drilling and continuing to expand our search for natural gas.

You know, the fact is energy independence is the most important thing for us, as a national security matter. And then developing other forms of energy is a way to helping us achieve energy independence in the long-term.

So, you know, he took some hits from the left for that approach. The fact that he was, you know, willing to see the U.S. expand its drilling, as long as it did it in an environmentally-safe way.

So look, I think this is a benefit to the country. I remember back in 2009 there was a lot of talk about how we were exhausting our supplies of oil. And right now the world looks a lot different. And if you look at what's happening in Russia, you look at the state of Putin's Russia and his grip on power internationally, then you see the benefits of these lower prices.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: I have been overwhelmed by Christine Romans on this point of gas prices. I now am drinking the Kool-Aid, even if it were high octane. Do you think the president got lucky that the gas prices happened somewhat external of him?

And he's benefiting from people having cash in their pockets and gas prices are about as strong an indicator of how you feel about your household economy as you have?

CARNEY: Look, I think gas prices are important and obviously no president can set the price at the pump. I remember in 2011-2012 as gas prices were going up, we saw it internally as a potential threat to the president's political standing.

Now that they're coming down, obviously he benefits from that. But the overall approach and this is the one that I think any leader in Washington needs to take is one that takes the long view.

How do we enhance our independents? We need to develop alternative forms of energy because this won't last. You know, an oil glut won't last. We'll see prices rise eventually again.

We need to make sure that we're taking the right steps now so that we have more energy independence in the future and that we're helping our environment.

CUOMO: He is still seeing indications in this poll, even with the pop in the numbers, that he's got trouble. His Obama policies would move country in right direction, wrong direction, right direction, 46 and wrong direction 49.

Handling the job as president, approve 48, disapprove 50. You always want to be, you always want to be like 54, 55 if you can on the positive side. What does he need to do?

CARNEY: Well, I think that he needs to continue to, I think, take bold action. I was very happy to see him come out of the drubbing that the Democrats took in the midterms and move decisively where he could. Using executive authority and where he could, advancing our foreign policy interests.

He's got to keep doing that. Once Congress comes back and the new Congress comes back and Republicans are in charge of both houses, there's going to be a lot of contentiousness, he needs to lead above the fray and continue to take action and define the policies he's taking as good for the whole country as opposed to good for one political party.

That's not always easy to do, easier to say from this chair than it is to actually execute on, but that's whey has to do. I would say for his legacy, you know the argument is going to be, I think, that under his leadership, the United States recovered from the worst recession of our lifetimes.

It's growing fast. It's creating jobs. It's doing much better than any other industrialized country in the world. We have some of our nemesis on the ropes, like Vladimir Putin, we're dealing with issues like ISIS and the situation in Syria.

They're complicated and difficult. But we are better off than we were as a nation when he took power in 2009 and when he was re-elected in 2012. That's going to be the Democratic argument.

CUOMO: Jay Carney, the best to you and the family for the holy days, and thank you for coming on "NEW DAY."

CARNEY: Thank you, Chris.

CUOMO: Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Chris. Sony with a change of heart, why the entertainment company will now release "The Interview" despite threats from hackers and how do theaters plan to keep the audience safe? We'll discuss all of that ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY. Let's look at your headlines this morning. A police officer shot and killed a teen in Missouri, just two miles from Ferguson. We're told the teenager aimed a gun at the police officer.

The department says that's when the cop fired several shots fearing for his life. Reports have identified the man as 18-year-old Antonio Martin. A gun was recovered at the scene.

Lawyers for Dzokhar Tsarnaev are making a final push to have a federal judge delay his trial until September. Lawyers for the surviving Boston marathon bombing suspect, argue it would be more fair, given the complexity of the case.

Jury selection in Tsarnaev's trial is supposed to being in just 12 days. He faces the death penalty if convicted on the top charges.

Just in time for Christmas, a huge recall from Keurig, the company is recalling seven million of its coffee makers, a flaw can let hot water escape and spew into the air.

About 90 people had been burned. The company is putting recall information on its web site and is offering free repair kits to its customers.

Here's something you don't see very often -- a reporter, a news reporter, getting high on television.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Burning behind me is 8.5 tons of heroin, opium, hashish and other narcotics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: PBC's Quentin Sommerville, he could not keep it together. He was reporting on a pile of burning narcotics, right behind him, apparently he close enough and got a contact high. And you can see he ended up in a complete giggle fit. I'm not even sure he was able to file that story.

CUOMO: Was he live or was he just trying to tape it and got the yips?

ROMANS: I'm not sure, but I mean, I just feel for the poor producer who is like get him off the air.

CAMEROTA: But was he OK?

CUOMO: Poor producer who was probably like this.

ROMANS: Done an investigation into his health and well-being after that or how many brain cells never came back?

CAMEROTA: Opium contact high is different than a marijuana contact high.

CUOMO: I don't know that any contact high elicits that sound.

CAMEROTA: He goes hee hee.

CUOMO: What is that?

ROMANS: I don't know, but that was my Christmas tape for the day.

CUOMO: I think I may have to make that a ringtone or something.

CAMEROTA: Please give us more details as you get them.

ROMANS: Yes, I will spend all the rest of the morning investigating the fine details about this.

CUOMO: Thank you. See how he feels about the gas prices.

We have more news for you this morning, breaking overnight, former President George H.W. Bush taken to the hospital after complaining of shortness of breath. The doctors at Houston Methodist say they will keep him there just as a precaution.

Let's bring in Suzanne Malveaux. She is joining us from Washington with more on what she's hearing. Everybody is hoping that this is just a quick spell. But what's the word?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The word is really that they think he's going to be just fine. I saw the president at an event I covered six weeks ago with his son, George W. Bush, at the Presidential Library in College Station, Texas.

The younger Bush was dedicating this book. He said a love story to his dad. But the senior is 90 years old now and he's a bit frail, but he appeared in great spirits. He didn't speak at the event, but smiled quite a bit.

He is in a wheelchair now because his family says he's no longer able to walk unassisted. But here's what happened, yesterday the former president and his wife, Barbara, they are attending this event at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, reading "Night Before Christmas" to children when the president experienced a shortness of breath.

Now he was taken by ambulance to the Houston Methodist Hospital, just as a precautionary measure to get checked out. This is from his spokesman, Jim McGrath, who released a statement telling us that he was admitted to the hospital for observation. He looked fine.

This is the same hospital, Chris, where he spent nearly two months being treated for bronchitis in November of 2012. He was then released. And it was back in '91 when he actually experienced first problems with his health, an irregular heartbeat.

Doctors diagnosing it as Grave's Disease, which is a thyroid condition, but Chris, as you know, he's been incredibly active throughout the years, even before he became president, Navy pilot, he had been on some 58 combat missions, flying in World War II. On the down time, loves to fish and golf. We all know he loves to go sky diving. Most recently we saw this celebrating his 90th birthday. That's right, 90th birthday in June, making a parachute jump near his home.

The White House -- a spokesman from President Obama saying that they are now aware of Bush's condition, and that he and the first lady are sending their good wishes. They are wishing him and the whole family a happy holiday season. So it looks like it's going to be just fine -- Chris.

CUOMO: He will certainly be in people's thoughts and prayers and he is a tough guy. That's for sure. Suzanne, all the best to you for the holiday as well.

MALVEAUX: Thank you. You too.

CAMEROTA: Well, here's a Christmas gift to Seth Rogen and James Franco. Audiences can now go see "The Interview" after all. Sony deciding to release the comedy in a few places. We have the back- story about how this change of heart happened.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: After so much drama over a comedy, "The Interview" is set to hit theaters tomorrow. Copies of the film that prompted the hack of Sony Pictures allegedly by North Korea are being shipped to hundreds of theaters.

And now the FBI is alerting their field offices, which theaters will be showing the movie in case of threats. So what ultimately led to this change by Sony? And could we see more retaliation from North Korea?

Let's bring in CNN's Justice Correspondent, Pamela Brown, and CNN senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter. Great to see you, guys.

Brian, just a few days ago everyone was wringing their hands over how North Korea had effectively clamped down on freedom of expression. What happened? How are they now releasing this movie?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: You might say that some folks found a backbone. This was capitulation last week. It felt like North Korea or whoever the hackers are had won and the U.S. had lost.

Now there's a real sense that a statement needs to be made that a film can't be suppressed, even a silly, raunchy comedy like this one. Sony wants to send a message here and make some money at the same time.

CAMEROTA: Pamela, what does law enforcement say about the film being released now?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, law enforcement is basically saying look, theaters can do whatever they want to do. They want to make sure they take the necessary precautions, as you mentioned in the intro, we know that the FBI has sent out basically a bulletin to all the field offices asking the cybertask forces to team up with the joint terrorism task forces to go to these theaters that are now showing the movie.

We've learned more than 200 theaters are now planning to show the movie. To go to the theaters and make them aware of any possible threat they may face. I want to make clear there's still no actionable intelligence that they face any threat.

But there is a possibility, of course, given what we've seen going on with Sony that there could be some sort of hacking incident with these theaters.

CAMEROTA: Here's what one theater owner said yesterday about the decision to show the film, "We both distributors and exhibitors have collectively stood firm to our principles for the right of freedom of expression, two days before Christmas and I'm proud to be an American." But Pamela, that said, what can theater owners do to reduce the risk to audiences?

BROWN: Well, I think first of all, is just to educate themselves on what is the risk. That's what the FBI is trying to do here is to educate them. Also they are allowed to ask for law enforcement to come and provide a little beefed-up security when they show the movie. Just as a precaution.

We know in Atlanta, the first theater to announce yesterday that they were going to be showing it, that the Atlanta Police Department released a statement saying look we're aware.

We're going to be monitoring the situation. So it seems like there's been some coordination between the police departments and these theaters.

STELTER: And even though all the way up to the White House. I mean, this is an extraordinary moment to have Sony in touch with the FBI and with the Obama administration. So that the White House even was aware of these talks that were going on for the physical release and maybe for an online release tomorrow, too.

CAMEROTA: Brian, I can't begin to tell you how many people have said to me -- this was all a publicity stunt. This whole thing was a publicity stunt by Sony to drum up interest in some B-level movie. What's your response?

STELTER: I think I'm the most cynical person in this room, but I don't believe it, I don't believe it. This was so devastating for Sony last week. This movie was going to come out in like 3,000 theaters, now it's only going to come out in 200 to 300.

So it's actually kind of a blow for Sony. That's why they want to put it online as well. I think later today we'll hear about some sort of video on demand or streaming deal so that maybe people at home tomorrow can watch it on YouTube or Netflix or something like that.

CAMEROTA: That's a great point. I mean, a publicity stunt makes a company money. It doesn't lose a company money. They've lost money, any way you slice it, have they lost money on the film because the major theater chains aren't releasing it?

STELTER: It seems like it. You know, it cost about $44 million to make. They spent a lot on marketing as well and in these 200 to 300 theaters they can't make more than a few million dollars this weekend.

Now maybe over the weeks to come, if this movie does well, then maybe AMC and Regal and Cinemark will all feel comfortable putting it in their theaters, and then maybe it can make more money,

BROWN: I've heard more people say I wasn't going to the movie and now I'm going to. You know, in some ways -- it's been getting more publicity and even perhaps free publicity really.

STELTER: Right. We see that, that banner in Atlanta, freedom prevails. It's a real moment for everyone to feel united. I have a feeling other movies are going to benefit too. I'm more interested in seeing "Into The Woods" and "Unbroken" tomorrow on Christmas day. I have a feeling that the Box Office will be boosted by the fact that there is all this talk about the movies.

CAMEROTA: Somehow these two goof balls have come to represent American freedom and constitutional rights. Very quickly, have you heard anything from North Korea?

BROWN: As of now, you know, North Korea is still basically saying look, we didn't do this, we're not behind the hacking, and still saying we want to work with the U.S. on the investigation. Now we know -- we know Samantha Powers, who of course said this is absurd.

But we know there have been these Internet outages in North Korea over the last couple of days. The timing, of course, is suspicious. But we're being told by U.S. officials that the U.S. did not have any involvement with that. So that remains a mystery.

STELTER: Whoever the attackers are, they have said, they'll release more of stolen information from Sony if this going to get seen. So I got to imagine Sony executives are bracing for the possibility now.

CAMEROTA: Brian Stelter, Pamela Brown, great to see you guys, happy movie watching this weekend. Let's go back to Chris.

CUOMO: We may be able to judge who is responsible, guys, by who gets coal in their stocking on Christmas morning. They are the ones responsible for the Sony hacking. And this is Santa talk because you know what?

The big man is hitting the skies, delivering presents, all the good kids out there in the world. You can track his whereabouts with the help of the U.S. military. We'll explain how. That kid's getting coal right there on your screen right now. He's getting a big lump of coal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAMEROTA: Santa is already on the move in some parts of the world. You and your family can check his whereabouts on noradsanta.org to find out when jolly old St. Nick will be in your neck of the woods.

It's all thanks to the help of our U.S. military and our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr is here with this hard-hitting story. Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Always tracking military news from Washington, even on Christmas Eve. The North American Aerospace Defense Command, the U.S. and Canadian military on high alert this morning for a very happy reason.

They are tracking Santa Claus. He's now been seen out as you see on the web site out in the far pacific. They are tracking his movements. They've been doing this for over 50 years every Christmas eve for those children who believe around the world.

Undeterred by war and troubles, Santa will visit every country where there are those who believe he will make every effort to get to everyone, we are told. Now, what are the specs involved in some of this?

Kids like to snow the specs on the equipment they're dealing with. We from the military have the specifications on Santa's sleigh. Let me give some of them to you. His sleigh will have the length, does have the length of 75 candy canes with 40 candy canes height, 55 candy canes weight at takeoff, 75,000 gumdrops.

That does not include Santa's weight, and the weight of the reindeer. In several hours, when Santa Claus approaches, North American air space, Canadian and U.S. fighter jets will launch, they will escort Santa across North America.

They will not be armed. Santa doesn't go for that sort of thing, of course. And if you are worried that Santa's highly secure, highly classified flight plan might get hacked by some bad people out there, you do not have to worry.

The U.S. military, our sources have assured us that Santa's flight plan is highly secure, and that he will not be hacked. He doesn't put up with that sort of thing either. Alisyn, Chris, happy holidays.

CAMEROTA: You too, Barbara. Thank you for that declassified information.

CUOMO: You're a gift, Barbara Starr, you're a gift every day. Best for the holidays.

STARR: You guys, too.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much.

CUOMO: I get very excited by that little Santa thing there going on.

CAMEROTA: I know, it's great. CUOMO: See him moving around. He's getting this way.

There's a lot of breaking news specifically out of Missouri, there are angry protests going on after another police shooting, but this time, the situation is very different. We'll tell you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Police near Ferguson, Missouri, shot and killed a black teenager at a gas station after the man aimed a hand gun at the officer --