Moscow meddled in the election. Rex is friendly with many of the leaders in the world that we dont get along with. Some people dont like that. They dont want him to be friendly. Reporter the president elect now filling most major positions for his administration. I believe were in the process of putting together one of the great cabinets. Certainly a cabinet with the highest iq. Reporter trump tapping freshman republican congressman ryan zinke as interior secretary and onetime rival former Texas Governor rick perry for Energy Secretary. Perry now set to run the Energy Department after trying to suggest eliminating it altogether. But for getting to name the department during this 2011 president ial debate. The third agency of government i would do away with the education the commerce lets see. I cant. The third one, i cant. Sorry. Oops. Reporter if confirmed the top four picks of Trumps Administration will be led by white males, a first for any Administration Since 1989. As sources say some trump loyalists are expressing frustration over being shutout after supporting Trumps Campaign from its early days. But the president elect giving conditional praise to his onetime antagonist House Speaker paul ryan during their first joined appearance. Hes like a fine wine. Every day goes by i get to appreciate his genius more and more. Now, if he ever goes against me, im not going to say that, okay. Reporter the relationship warming up since trumps victory. I want to thank donald trump. I want to thank mike pence for helping wisconsin, michigan, pennsylvania, the midwest finally see the light of day and put a republican back in the white house. Reporter trump, though, continuing to attack the media. Theyre very dishonest people. Reporter but happy to pose for cameras when meeting briefly with rapper kanye west at trump tower in new york city. I just want to take a picture right now. Reporter today another interesting round of meetings at trump tower. The president elect is convening a big meeting with executives from the Tech Industry like tim cook, sheryl sandberg, elon musk and jeff bezos who was very notably outspoken against donald trump during the campaign. Lets bring in republican congressman Chris Collins of new york, a member of the president elects Transition Team executive committee. Good morning, congressman. Good morning. Good morning, alisyn. Lets start with a couple of the cabinet picks. Rex tillerson. Are you comfortable that you know all you need to know about mr. Tillersons relationship with Vladimir Putin and russia . Oh, i am just thrilled with Rex Tillerson. As a side note hes an eagle scout and president of the boy scouts. I chair the scout caucus in washington and im an eagle scout and so is my son. So when i talk about character, thats all i need to know about Rex Tillerson. But truly his business interests around the world are very get it done kind of guy. Exactly the type of individual that will serve this president , and no procrastination. Hell be putting america first. Im very pleased with Rex Tillerson. As you know, i was never a romney guy. So yes, im smiling. Okay. Do you think feel that he will be able to hold Vladimir Putins feet to the fire or have an adversarial relationship with him if necessary . Oh, theres no question. Anyone thats been the ceo of a company such as exxonmobil nose what it is to negotiate. You study the strengths, the weaknesses, of someone youre negotiating with, whether its a customer, or a vendor. You strategize on how youre going to ultimately end up succeeding in what youre attempting to do. And in this case, putting americas interests first. So, as a skilled negotiator, someone from the private sector spending a lifetime traveling the world, and dealing in other parts of the world, i think Rex Tillersons just a great pick. Congressman, do you doubt that russia meddled in the u. S. Elections . I suppose well never know. But we want to stipulate that they did as far as hacking, and releasing emails, if you want to stipulate that, thats fine. I dont think we should continue investigations, because at the end, what do we really accomplish . We need to unite the country. People who are calling on mr. Trump, the Electoral College president , thats insulting to our democracy yeah, but, but congressman this is different. I mean youre saying that, well, if russia meddled, and they hacked into the dnc, well so be it. Well never know and i guess that well just move on and thats okay. Well theres nothing we can do to change it. The truth came out. I should say the people that are aghast at what happened it was really the lies, deceit of the dnc, and the going on relative to the dncs favorite hillary over bernie. Who knows, you know, if we gshs if that hadnt come out, the truth, so those who are upset are saying were upset by the truth, and when americans sue the truth that may have had an impact on elections not exactly, congressman. I mean those who are upset are saying that russia, one of our often enemies, meddled in the u. S. Election and could have subverted democracy. Thats what theyre upset about. Well because the truth came out. But again, lets say they did. Its not going to change the results of the election. And again, it was the truth that came out. So, you know, we need to move on and unite behind president trump, so yes. Again, this what would you do . So it comes out and it is determined they did. Whats the action you take . Well there is no action you can take but you dont do anything. Im i want your point on this. What could we do . What could we do . You dont think that our president should retaliate somehow . Should make our great displeasure known somehow . Should say that thats unacceptable somehow . I mean it sounds like youre saying we just accept it and move on. Well im suggesting that you know, pretty much every country in the world, including the United States, is hacking and using cyber technologies to gain an advantage. Im suspecting the u. S. Is doing it, as well. Also you dont do this kind of thing in the public eye. You do it behind the scenes. If youre going to take some steps and send a strong message, i dont think you do it on a newscast. You do it, you let the other side know its happened, what the repercussions are, and at some point i think theres a place to get it done but not necessarily holding a press conference on it. Well, sure, i mean and in fact the Obama Administration says that they were quietly dealing with this for months before the election. Trying to figure out what to do about it because they didnt want to broadcast it. But just so that im clear, do you doubt the intelligence agencies that they say definitively that russia did interfere . Oh, im not going to doubt the intelligence agencies that said that would say russia was hacking. Wikileaks did what they did. As i understand it the hacked emails were turned over to wikileaks who then decided what they would release and not release. Were never going to know whether wikileaks decided to release some and not others. Mmhmm. I dont think anyones suggesting that russia was the one that was actually releasing these. It came through wikileaks, and i guess yep. Again theres a question we may never know the answer to. But, but if russia releases incriminating republican or rnc emails, youll youll still feel as sanguine as you do now of, hey, thats, thats how it goes, occupational hazard . It is on occupational hazard. But im a little tongue in cheek sure that there was nothing that would have been harmful with republican emails. Oh, boy. Congressman, oh, boy. A little tongue in cheek. Okay. We shall see. And if anything ever is revealed on that front. Congressman, thanks so much. We appreciate you being on new day. Okay, alisyn. Good to be with you. You too, chris. All right were following breaking news in syria. Deadly air assaults on rebelheld neighborhoods in eastern aleppo. Are going on right now. That is a violation of the supposed ceasefire turkey was said to have helped negotiate that deal. They blame the Syrian Regime for breaking it. At least two dozen people are dead. Dozens more are hurt. Buses have been brought in earlier today to help transport injured civilians as part of an evacuation plan but at last check those buses are empty. The u. N. Estimates there are still 50,000 residents trapped inside a war zone. The controversial president of the philippines admitting that he used to personally kill suspected criminals. In a speech late last night, president Rodrigo Duterte said when he was mayor of davao city he drove around on a motorcycle both looking for trouble to set an example for hesitant police officers. The Obama Administration has expressed concern about Human Rights Violations under dutertes populist authoritarian government. Breaking overnight hollywood in mourning at the loss of alan thicke. Canadianborn star whose resume spanned five decades. He was best known, of course, as americas dad jason seaver in the hit 80s sitcom growing pains. Heres a reminder. Ben, what are you doing . Watching carol flirt with some guy and hes not bobby. Well, thats none of your what guy . I think hes a little weird. Why . Hes interested in carol. Wait until i tell bobby. Ben. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thicke leaves behind a wife, three kids, one of them of course is singer robin thicke. In an instagram his father was quote the best man he ever knew and the best friend he ever had. Alan thicke reportedly died of a heart attack. He was only 69 years old. He was supposedly playing hockey. Oh, my gosh. With one of his other kids. He was very vital. So young, especially in this day and age, to be gone. Gosh. I am not ashamed to say i liked growing pains. That was a funny you could see the comedic timing of everybody in that. I liked that its controversial to like growing pains. He was very likable. All right i guess ill find out on twitter if theyre controversial or not. Well that is not the measure thats for sure. President elect trump says democrats are urging him to urging to undermine him. Thats what this russian meddling story is about. Were going to ask congressman Keith Ellison if there should be such an uproar over this and would it be the same if hillary had won the race. Rex is friendly with many of the leaders in the world that we dont get along with. And some people dont like that. They dont want him to be friendly. Thats why im doing the deal with rex. Because i like what this is all about. And were going to have somebody thats going to be very special. All right. Donald trump defending his pick for secretary of state, exxonmobil ceo Rex Tillerson, who is facing criticism from both sides of the aisle over his business ties to russia, paving the way for a big confirmation battle, maybe. Joining us now to discuss is the democratic congressman Keith Ellison. Mr. Keelson is also running to be chair of the Democratic National committee. Well talk to you about your political fate. Lets talk about the state of play here. How do you feel about tillerson, the president elect has said some people dont like that tillerson is friends with world leaders. I dont think thats the issue. What do you think . I dont think its the issue, either. I think the issue is, what are the material connections which may undermine, compromise American National security. If you are the secretary of state or the president of the United States, for that matter, we need to know that there is nothing, absolutely nothing youre thinking about other than the best interests of the United States. Not your company. Not your business dealings. Not what money you may have on the line. I mean, the fact of the matter is, that this is a very troublesome situation, because if you expand this to the whole hacking situation, which our intelligence agencies have said that perhaps russia has favored president trump, elect trump, then we have to say what if they turn against him . What if suddenly they dont like him . Will they expose things about him that they know that we dont know . Will he be able to be full 100 for us . This is a real concern. The why behind the russia hacking has confused the question of whether they hakd. And thats dangerous because the first part, whether or not russia hacked, the Intel Community seems to have consensus that they did according to clapper on october 7th he put out that statement not a new revelation, thats a cybersecurity existential National Security issue. Whether or not they did it to help trump is a political concern and when those get confused you get reactions like the president elects whos saying the idea that russia hacked at all is ridiculous, which, of course, is basically him saying the Intel Community doesnt know what its doing. But let me ask you something about accountability on this issue. The white house was told at least in july, decided reportedly to do nothing because, one reason was they didnt want to compromise ongoing negotiations on syria with russia. The political concern reportedly was they didnt want to give donald trump, ironically, something to carp about if he lost. What do you think of that decision to not have said anything about russias role in the hacks on the emails and the election . Heres what ill say about it. Cyber attacks and cybersecurity have got to be top shelf issues for American National security. And we have got to get to the bottom of this issue, investigate it thoroughly, find out exactly what happened, congress has a Critical Role to play in every american official and citizen needs to be focused on what the outcome of such an investigation will be. Now, i will tell you that theres a lot of considerations here but one thing we should not be confused about is getting to the bottom of this, investigating thoroughly, and Holding Everyone accountable, including russia or even some people in the United States for these cyber attacks. Clapper says they already do know. That there is no need for an investigation. They know, from their signature issues, from work they did on the ground here and abroad, that russia and different agents of the kremlin were active in this hacking. They already know. Why russia did it, i guess you could hold hearings on that but i dont know that it would bear fruit. Whats the bottom line here . Well i still think that in a democracy like ours congress has a certain role to play to just go over the evidence, look at it, review it, and then issue its own findings on it. I mean the congress is the the represents the people of the country and we need to have our intelligence committees look at it. And you know, where things are not classified, we should be as open and transparent as possible without with due respect to classified information. This is an issue of serious public concern. Its only going to get more serious as technological sophistication advances. And people need to know that a cyber attack can shut down our grid. Can change our water system. Can change all types of infrastructure in our society. This is nothing to go light. And we need to be very serious about it. And my opinion, theres got to be some accountability for it. And so im all in favor of that Bipartisan Group that includes several senators on both sides of the aisle who are going to who are committed to getting to the bottom of it. All right. Lets talk about you. For a second. And whether or not youll be the next head of the dnc. You have said, yeah, if i got that job i would step down from congress, its a fulltime job. You were deliberating about that. The man knock that i hear most often about you is questions about your political ideology when it not that you are muslim, its about the antisemitism isnt because youre a muslim as far as i can glean your opinion is wanted on that of course, but you gave a speech in 2010 where you said that u. S. Foreign policy in the middle east is governed by whats good or bad for a country of 7 Million People which people take to mean israel. And that this was seen as you having a hostility toward the u. S. Relationship with israel, and that you were turning a blind eye to the value of that relationship, and you were favoring the arabs essentially over the jews. No, absolutely not. As a matter of fact, i was talking to a group of people who asked me how they could look at the Jewish Community as a model for political empower plnt. In fact, ive been to israel seven times, voted for bilateral aid to israel to the tune of 27 billion. And i have supported israels u. S. Joint defense pact over time and ill tell you this, theres a lot of people around the world and around our country who look to the Jewish Community as a community that has used this democratic system in order to offer its policy ideas, and thats the question that was posed to me. But what does that mean . Because who doesnt use the system to advance its own agenda. Thats what people do, thats what constituencies are. Well, chris, of course. But, some people in our country, they might be immigrant groups, they might be new americans, they dont know how to use the system as well and want to learn how to use it. Want to learn how to be effective in lobbying, and in working with our u. S. System. Theres nothing wrong with any group of americans using our democratic system in order to advance their policy views. And if some groups like you know theres various groups that are effective. This is something that this is a skill that should be developed, and strengthened, and peop