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TV Personalities Tapped for Second Trump Term; Vance to Bring Gaetz for Meetings with Senators; Hundreds of Thousands without Power as Bomb Cyclone Slams Coast. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired November 20, 2024 - 06:00   ET

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

KASIE HUNT, CNN ANCHOR: It's Wednesday, November 20. Right now on CNN THIS MORNING.

[05:59:23]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The key point is that the Senate should have a chance to look at it, not us.

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HUNT: The Ethics Committee's report on Donald Trump's attorney general pick, Matt Gaetz. Today, a House panel could decide to release it or bury it forever.

Plus --

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MEHMET OZ, FORMER TV HOST: And now I've got the No. 1 miracle in a bottle.

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HUNT: From pushing weight loss pills to proposing policy. Trump wants Dr. Oz to join his team.

And this.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bomb cyclone? Who ever heard of that?

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HUNT: A powerful storm unleashing a month's worth of rain, hurricane- force winds, and dumping a ton of snow on the Pacific Northwest.

And more new weapons for Ukraine. President Biden making another big policy shift to help the fight against Russia. But is it too late?

All right. Just before 6 a.m. here on the East Coast, a live look at Capitol Hill, increasingly going to be the center of the action as Donald Trump puts his second administration together.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Kasie Hunt. It's wonderful to have you with us.

This morning, it's increasingly clear it is Donald Trump's world, and we're just living in it. The most powerful rocket ever built, blasting off from Texas yesterday with its creator, Elon Musk, looking on with the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, wearing a hat, said 45 and 47, making the trip with his billionaire buddy to take in the launch just days after they both attended a UFC fight at Madison Square Garden, where the winner did Trump's signature dance after the knockout.

All of this as President Biden prepares to step off the world stage. Here he was in Brazil earlier this week, the first sitting president to visit the Amazon, seeming to wander into the jungle.

He missed this group photo of the G-20 leaders, apparently due to a scheduling conflict.

And he is stepping off the stage as this made-for-TV cast of characters steps onstage for the new Trump administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OZ: This is what "for storm" (ph) does to your belly fat. Whoa!

LINDA MCMAHON, FORMER PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PERFORMER; FORMER ADMINISTRATOR, SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION: You want to stay on, you've got to play by the rules. But it's up to you, Steve.

PETE HEGSETH, FOX NEWS HOST: I don't think I've washed my hands for ten years. Really. I don't -- I don't really wash my hands, ever.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Someone help me.

SEAN DUFFY, FORMER REALITY TV STAR, FORMER LAWMAKER, FOX BUSINESS HOST: I think not. That's what kind of house we live in. It's pretty sad.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: The branding absolutely missed the mark. You were in charge of branding. Star, you're fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNT: All right. Joining us now to discuss all of this: Stephen Collinson, CNN senior politics reporter; Mark Preston, CNN senior political analyst; Meghan Hays, former director of message planning at the Biden White House; Brad Todd, CNN political commentator and Republican strategist.

Welcome to all of you. Thank you for being here.

Stephen, I was actually reading your -- your column this morning about Trump's, you know, trip with Elon Musk to watch this rocket launch. And was just struck by the degree to which the world that we're leaving -- the world that we're entering contrasts with one another.

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Right. This relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is fascinating. You know, the -- the most interesting orbit was not the one that rockets were blasting off to from Texas. It's the one between Trump and Musk.

And everything that brings, you know, the potential of someone, a genius in the middle of government. But all the conflicts of interests that that brings.

But I think what we're seeing is you're right. This move -- Trump is already exerting power two months before he actually becomes the president. You're seeing it domestically. You're seeing it internationally.

Emmanuel Macron, the French president, is already looking to invite Trump and Musk to an A.I. summit in Paris in February. Just showing how everything is changing very fast. People are reacting to Trump, while President Biden is basically slipping off the international stage.

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: You know, a Republican consultant said to me -- Brad -- it was not Brad -- said to me the other day, it's almost the beginning of the new era of the American oligarch, right?

And it was -- it was interesting that he said that. It's not fear, necessarily, because the American oligarch, the wealthy have always run the government here in -- in Washington.

But it is amazing to have the wealthiest -- one of, you know, most powerful person in the world right next to Donald Trump. And then you have to wonder. They're buddies, right now. But I don't know very many relationships that -- that Donald Trump, you know, fosters and maintains.

HUNT: Well, it's often hard for two egos to -- let's be candid, male egos of this size --

PRESTON: Hey, hey.

HUNT: -- to stand next to each other in the same space for a long time, particularly with these two.

But Meghan Hays, the Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, who is, to be clear, a serious guy on the Intelligence Committee, he said this: quote, "We're becoming the world's first nuclear-armed reality television show."

MEGHAN HAYS, FORMER DIRECTOR OF MESSAGE PLANNING AT BIDEN WHITE HOUSE: I mean, he's not wrong. Everyone running to the cabinet has been -- been on TV. Who knew that was the pipeline to being a cabinet secretary or be qualified to run major agencies in a government?

But I also am wondering, where is J.D. Vance in all of this? I know he's going to the Hill today, but he's been basically missing from Trump's orbit, or not seen in Trump's orbit for several weeks now. And it seems like Elon Musk has taken that spot in Trump's mind. So --

HUNT: Well, what J.D. Vance is doing today, Brad Todd, is shepherding Matt Gaetz, who we didn't have in the made-for-TV match but is, like, the most controversial of these picks.

BRAD TODD, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I -- J.D. Vance has been pretty integral, actually, behind -- behind the scenes in helping vet cabinet nominees and helping pick them and giving --giving the president-elect guidance.

[06:05:04]

I think you're going to see a lot of him, because this is going to -- the stage is now going to move to the U.S. Senate, which is territory J.D. Vance knows well, where he has more relationships than Donald Trump does.

I think the other thing that's kind of remarkable about some of these picks is some people are feigning shock at some of his selections. But these people all campaigned with him.

When -- if you were at a Trump rally, you saw a litany of speakers, some of whom were -- are now going to be in the cabinet. It's almost like a shadow government was on stage there.

So, I think the voters are -- that's why you see, the polling shows the voters are a lot less surprised than a lot of the beltway class is.

HUNT: Yes.

Stephen, the other piece -- part of your piece that stood out to me, as well, and that I think that some of what we just saw captured a little bit of on video is this idea of Trump as a cultural force, right? You wrote a little bit about that.

The Trump dance in particular. We have now seen kind of across sports fields. There does seem to be a sense that there were people who were not publicly embracing Trump, who, in the wake of the election results, seem willing to do that. And that -- that cultural shift stood out to me as much in kind of thinking through what we had today, news wise, as anything else.

COLLINSON: Right. He's putting himself in iconic situations. You know, he's standing there yesterday with his chin in the air, watching this rocket go up, almost like there was some credit to accrue to him for the -- Elon Musk. And I guess he was basking in Musk's reflected glory, because Musk is now part of his inner circle.

I think there's been a lot of talk about, OK, this is all going to blow up, right? They can't stick together.

There's a lot for them at stake if they stay together. Musk gets more power. He's inside the middle of the government. Trump is hanging around with the richest man in the world. He is a force multiplier in terms of power. He's a massive non-state actor. And I'm sure when Trump was watching that rocket go up, not only was

he impressed, but he had to be thinking about Musk's power. Musk is not just a great ally to have. He would be a terrible enemy if -- if they did break up, if you like.

HUNT: There's also been some conversations about the ways in which these two men are alike, Mark, in ways that -- I mean, let's be candid, right? Donald Trump has the kind of profile. There's not a ton of people out in the world that he necessarily could relate to, right, that are on his same level.

But these two men, both share fame. They share, in particular, you know, fathers that both describe as, you know, overbearing and very prominent in the early years of their lives. And I mean, to Stephen's point, if they do sustain this relationship, there is a ton at stake.

PRESTON: Look, there's probably a bond there, to your point that -- that we don't quite even understand yet. That's still developing.

HUNT: He's in the family photos.

PRESTON: Which is bizarro, which is bizarro. And let me say this, as well. Donald Trump has been very disciplined, hasn't he, over the past week?

Now, people say he's not disciplined. He named Matt Gaetz. He nominated him. Yes. But yes, but he hasn't been sending out tweets, like at all hours of the night, saying that people are coming after him, like on the -- I understand we lowered the bar considerably so you can step over it, necessarily. Right? Like I get that.

HUNT: There have been a lot of Elon tweets, or X's, and quite a few Trump Truth Social posts, but I do take your broader point.

PRESTON: Yes, and it's just -- it seems -- it seems that Trump is -- is really -- the whole idea that Trump has a mandate, I think, is -- is a false narrative. Right? I think that he has incredible support from the American people. But a mandate means that you're going to get everything through.

And I think that we're already seeing some pushback from, obviously, Senate Republicans, saying that Matt Gaetz isn't going to get through.

That doesn't mean that Donald Trump isn't going to get 95 percent of everything else that he wants done. But the idea that a mandate, I think, is overstated.

HUNT: Do you agree with that?

TODD: I think we decided in '92 -- I'm old enough to remember when we said Bill Clinton had a mandate with 43 percent. So yes, every president actually does get a mandate.

But mandates are like muscles. You have to use them to make them bigger. And so, I think that the Trump administration, would be a mistake for them not to come out with a fairly bold agenda early on. The trick is to do an agenda that helps you get into the other side.

That's the mistake that Barack Obama made. It's the mistake Joe Biden made. It is to come up with things at the very beginning of their administration that helps you get Democrats. I think that's the trick.

And if I'm in the Trump administration, I'm trying to spend the next month and a half trying to come up with that answer.

HUNT: All right. After this quick break on CNN THIS MORNING, will the House Ethics Committee release their report on Matt Gaetz?

Today, the committee will meet to weigh just that as members face pressure from both sides.

Plus, a once-in-a-decade storm. A bomb cyclone moving ashore. It has already turned deadly.

And in a clear signal to the West, Russia fine-tunes its nuclear doctrine. And President Biden announces another policy shift for Ukraine.

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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Putin is weaker than the United States of America. The president of the United States of America has the strength and authorities, and the weapons.

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[06:14:42]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think if there is an ethics report out there that is being or that has been completed, then I think the Senate is going to want to see it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it would be helpful. Everybody's talking about it. It apparently was just about done. I think it would be helpful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've already talked to him. He just said listen, he wants a shot to be able to lay out his vision for the department and also to respond to these various allegations. And you know, I said, hey, the -- the confirmation hearing is the place and chance to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNT: Republican senators calling for more information on Donald Trump's choice to be attorney general. The president-elect not backing away from Gaetz.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, are you reconsidering the nomination of Matt Gaetz?

TRUMP: No.

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HUNT: And starting today, senators will get a chance to speak with Gaetz himself. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance bringing Gaetz for meetings with key Republican senators who will be involved in the confirmation process.

Gaetz's arrival back on Capitol Hill comes as the House Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet and weigh whether or not to make their report on Gaetz public, a report investigating allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and illicit drug use by the former congressman.

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JOEL LEPPARD, LAWYER FOR GAETZ ACCUSERS: You have to understand that my clients are only two out of the over dozen witnesses that testified.

I was present for two of those. And so, what I'm telling you is just a fraction of the evidence that's available of the thousands of documents, the -- and the 25 subpoenas, 12 witnesses.

Well, I do think that it's probably at the tip of the iceberg.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNT: "Tip of the iceberg," he says. That, of course the lawyer, Brad Todd, for two of women, one of whom says that they witnessed Matt Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old, their 17-year-old friend.

Can you take us behind the scenes on the Hill about what the dynamics really are here? Because it really does. Part of the reason this is such a problem -- I mean, it's twofold, right? There's a lot of senators who don't really like Matt Gaetz very much.

But it also potentially puts them in difficult positions as they face their own Senate races, first in a primary, and then a general election.

TODD: If you were trying to confirm Matt Gaetz in the House, it would be a unanimous vote, because they'd be glad to get rid of him.

But I think the Senate vote, it might be easier to confirm a bellhop from Trump Tower than Matt Gaetz. I think it's that tough.

And you know, this is of Gaetz's own making, right? He polarizes people on purpose, and he polarizes his colleagues on purpose. And he trashes the institution on purpose. And it's helped him out with his fundraising back home and in his own race. But it's going to be a real problem here.

I think if he actually gets a hearing, which I'm skeptical of, he'd probably perform pretty well. He's -- he's kind of a rock star on the House side in hearings at grilling witnesses.

But I think these one-on-one meetings with senators, they're going to give him the courtesy of explaining things, and then they're going to politely suggest the president pull the nomination.

HUNT: What do you think?

PRESTON: Listen, I'm of the conspiratorial class on this one. No, no, no. I really am.

HUNT: OK.

PRESTON: OK. So' this is how I think it plays out.

I think Matt Gaetz is on the airplane. We've seen reporting on this. He's on the airplane. This idea is hatched, OK, for him to become nominee for attorney general.

He knows within a few days that this House report is going to get released. OK? Either way, he gets the support now of the MAGA community, who thinks that Democrats and haters of Donald Trump are just trying to take down Matt Gaetz.

Now, if they're successful in doing so, Matt Gaetz becomes a pariah within a community. When that report was going to get released anyway. But yet, he has already established support.

Or, if he gets through, then Donald Trump gets what he wants, right? I mean, he gets Matt Gaetz there.

But everyone just says, oh, my God, like who is he going to put in the Department of Justice? To Brad's point, you could put anybody in there. It doesn't matter. You just put anybody in there as long as the person you put in there does the job that you want them to do.

It doesn't have to be Matt Gaetz. It could be Matt Barnes (ph) or Matt Thompson. It could be any Matt.

HUNT: As a child of the '80s, I know a lot of Matts.

TODD: It's -- it's totally understandable that Donald Trump would want major reform in the Department of Justice, which has tried to undermine him, throw him out of office, stop him from getting elected. All that. It's totally legitimate.

And plenty of Republicans agree with that, including the Republicans who are going to recommend he pull Matt Gaetz's nomination. They'll find someone else to do what they and he want at the Department of Justice.

HUNT: All right. Well, you heard it here first from Brad Todd. All right. Still to come here after the break, casting call. Two more

TV personalities join Donald Trump's team. Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen joins us live to discuss the incoming Trump cabinet.

Plus, debris and smoke filling the air as a House in Ohio explodes. That's one of five things you have to see this morning.

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[06:23:30]

HUNT: All right, 23 minutes past the hour. Five things you have to see this morning.

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(EXPLOSION)

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HUNT: A house explosion in Ohio sending debris flying into the air. Two people were killed, and another one was hospitalized. There's no word yet on what caused this explosion.

Two people walking away with minor injuries after this small plane crashed onto a Tennessee roadway last night. Officials say it's a miracle the plane avoided cars, because it was during a busy rush hour.

And --

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two, one!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNT: All systems go for SpaceX's most powerful rocket ever. SpaceX had to abort an attempt to catch the booster using those --

Remember those chopsticks? Yes, they couldn't use them this time.

The rocket, instead, was forced to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico.

A close call on a San Antonio highway, a mattress coming undone. Oh, my gosh. Flying across the interstate.

So, I never drive behind cars that look like this. Just -- this is why. This is, like, one of my biggest fears.

The driver behind the truck says it just missed her. OK? And the truck never stopped. A blizzard warning now in place over the cascades in Washington state. A, quote, "once-in-a-decade" bomb cyclone bringing heavy winds, rain and snow to the Northwest coast this morning.

And that brings us to weather. At least one person is dead, and more than 650,000 are without power because of that storm. Conditions expected to last at least a few more days.

[06:25:09]

Let's get to our meteorologist, the weatherman, Derek van Dam. Derek, good morning. What do you know?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Kasie. That blizzard warning in the Cascade Mountains is actually one of only a handful of times that the National Weather Service has issued that in the past four decades.

So, we're in rare company here. This is a powerful storm, and we're seeing it in the imagery that we're posting on social media this morning. We're seeing and noticing that trees and power lines have toppled onto homes, actually trapping residents inside. It took an -- over an hour for this fire department to rescue one of the individuals from inside of this house or trailer.

And here is another home, split in half because of a tree that toppled on top of it.

OK, now here's the culprit. This is the bomb cyclone that we keep talking about. This catchy term, which actually has its roots in a meteorological phenomenon known as bombogenesis. It has to do with when the storm drops a certain amount of pressure.

What you need to know is that it's a powerful storm that's got a lot of energy, a lot of wind gusts over hurricane force and, again, taking down power lines. That means people are going to wake up this morning in the dark.

Now, the storm's not over. We have several rounds of rain, snow and wind to go. This will last right into the early parts of the weekend as yet another what we call an atmospheric river unleashes a torrent of rain and snow across the West -- Kasie.

HUNT: All right. Derek van Dam for us this morning. Derek, thank you. I appreciate it.

VAN DAM: OK.

HUNT: All right. Still ahead here on CNN THIS MORNING. This just in: the Biden administration ready to announce another aid package to Ukraine as President Biden makes another big policy shift to provide more weapons to the front.

Plus, from ringside to the White House, could former WWE CEO Linda McMahon be the last Department of Education secretary?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: Ultimately, we want to close the federal Department of Education, and we're going to do that.

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