Transcripts For CNNW The Lead With Jake Tapper 20181224 : co

Is there a way to break the ice . And wall street grinch delivering a nosedive to stocks as the president launches another attack on the federal reserve. But was it the treasury secretarys phone calls that sparked the slide . Welcome to a special Holiday Edition of the lead im jim sciutto in for jake tapper. We begin with a not so Merry Christmas eve. Here in the nations capital, federal government is in the third day of a partial shutdown with lawmakers home for the holidays and the threat of political paralysis stretching well into the new year and the next congress. Nearly 1 million federal employees are impacted by the shutdown. Some, including tsa and Border Patrol agents forced to work without pay. Meanwhile, President Trump is holed up at 1600 pennsylvania, instead of in his Maralago Club in florida, stewing and tweeting up a storm. Quote, i am all alone. Poor me in the white house, waiting for the democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security. Cnns abby phillip joins us from the white house. At this point, the president , republicans, democrats, on the hill, they dont seem to be talking, let alone budging. Reporter no, not at all. And there doesnt seem to be that much urgency to resolve this Government Shutdown issue. Instead we have seen President Trump behind his twitter and not really seen in the public eye for three days. Tweeting defensively, almost, about his demand for a border wall. But not really adding much clarity about what hes demanding in order to end this shutdown. Were going to have a shutdown. Theres nothing we can do about that. Reporter with the Government Shutdown around him, President Trump has spent most of Christmas Eve on his phone, and alone at the white house. The first president to spend the holidays in washington since bill and Hillary Clinton 18 years ago. The president hasnt been seen anywhere for three days, except on twitter, where he has been making grievance the reason for the season. Tweeting, im all alone, poor me in the white house, waiting for the democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security. That message coming minutes before First Lady Melania Trump was seen departing florida to return to the white house early because of the shutdown. Trumps demand for border wall funding has even prompted some republicans to question whether the fight is all for show. This is a madeup fight so that president can look like hes fighting. But even if he wins, our borders are going to be insecure. Its a spectacle, and candidly, its juvenile. The whole thing is juvenile. Reporter amid a Government Shutdown, the stock market crumbling and turnover in his administration, the president is growing increasingly angry and isolated, according to the new york times. Taking little pleasure in his job as leader of the free world, spending less time with old friends and telling the ones he does speak to that he feels totally and completely abandoned, the paper reports. With Congress Gone until thursday, hope seems slim that a compromise will be reached soon to reopen the government. I think that is its very possible the shutdown will go beyond the 28th and into the new congress. Reporter even as the incoming acting chief of staff acknowledged, the trumps fight for a taxpayerfunded wall isnt exactly what he campaigned on. None that is mexico paying for the wall. Lets just be technical. You and i both know it cannot work exactly like that. I cant spend any money at the office of management of budget, the department of Homeland Security cant actually spend money from mexico. We have to get it from the treasury. Reporter about a half hour ago, the department of Homeland Security secretary, kirstjen nielsen, left the white house after meeting with President Trump about Border Security and the wall, a meeting that was added quite late to President Trumps schedule on a day he spent most of the time tweeting. Meanwhile, melania trump, we believe, has returned back to washington so President Trump is home alone no more. Jim . All right. He still has his phone, though. So is there any hope for a breakthrough . Manu raju joins me now. Democratic leaders, theyre firing back at the president. I have to say, looking at this statement, manu, it looks like democrats digging their heels in here, as well. Yeah, there is really no incentive, knowing that on january 3, democrats retake control of the house. Well have a much stronger hand to push negotiations. Chuck schumer, nancy pelosi, part of their strongly worded statement just moments ago, saying its Christmas Eve, and President Trump is plunging the country into chaos. Instead of bringing certainty into peoples lives, hes continuing the trump shutdown, just to please right wing radio and tv hosts. The president wanted the shutdown, but he seems not to know how to get himself out of it. Theyre saying that different people in the white house are saying different things, and its unclear exactly where the president stands. Thats something we have heard from some republicans, as well. But there has been no movement or very little talks saturday when Vice President mike pence and Chuck Schumer discussed the president s demand for 5 billion for his border wall. They talked about 2. 5 billion from the white house side. That was much too high for the 1. 3 billion the democrats have been pushing. So its unclear how much further the democrats are willing to go. Theyre saying abandon the wall all together. Of course, the president is nowhere near that, jim, which means that both sides are expecting for a long, prolonged shutdown. And as jack and pat roberts told reporters on the hill today, lbj said sometimes you just have to hunker down like a jackass in a hail storm and just take it. Thats about where we are with this shutdown. Jim . That should be a Bumper Sticker in washington. Jackass in a hail storm. Manu raju, thank you very much. With our panel of smart people here. Bill, what strikes me is both sides are calculating they have the upper hand here, right . Who has the upper hand, politically . Yeah. Are there both sides . Donald trump on one side well, donald trump forming one side. Yeah, he is, though. Striking. He was happy to voice vote the continuing resolution without trumps extra money for the wall through last week. And paul ryan was clearly okay with that. I dont know. I dont think trump has the upper hand. I think if you combine the chaos the Government Shutdown ends up not making as much difference as people think. 12 or six months later. But if you combine a sense of chaotic governance, trump changed his mind and is closing the government down, sort of randomly over this thing he suddenly decided was a musthave on friday after saying it was okay thursday. You combine that with the stock market now down 20 from its highs in three months, kind of a big deal, you know . And you combine that with a chief of staff who has been fired and attorney general fired, secretary of defense fired. In some cases, replacements clearly not up at that same level. I think people start to think the whole thing looks like its coming apart at the seams. In that respect, i think that trump is not benefitting from this, at all. Janis. Youve got to go with the symbolic. Anyone who suggests that you have to support the 5 billion for the budget because were going to maybe give a little break to the dreamers, no. If you look at the numbers, were talking about a 5 billion versus what it would cost to deport them. To what they contribute to our economy, which is a net revenue of 3. 4 billion. So its apples and oranges. Its basically ransom money, but it doesnt apply. It costs you more to deport them. So what are you saying . Lets Say Something nice to this crowd thats been cruelly waiting for such a long time when the numbers dont match up. They bring so much more than they would ever take from us. Why would they even be part of this discussion . Well, so, i wonder, Newt Gingrich has raised this, as well, and the president talks to Newt Gingrich sometimes. His idea of a dreamers for a 5 billion wall exchange. Which was discussed as a possible bipartisan solution a number of months ago. Would that have legs in this environment . No. Not right now. And its partly because and mostly because democrats after the november elections feel politically emboldened and see no need to compromise on this core issue. Back in march or february earlier this year when the fate of the dreamers was really in limbo, Chuck Schumer offered a 25 billion in Border Security money in exchange for protecting the fate of those dreamers. And that is a deal that, first of all, the president didnt accept at the time. Some people say he should have perhaps taken it. Last chance for a wall. But democrats say theyre not going to do any wall for a dreamer ex chachange now. Dreamers largely say we should not be used as ransom for border policies that we dont support. So that even if that idea is wellintentioned, its not something that appears to be happening any time soon. Mick mulvaney admitted something that might mean his job security is going to disappear. He admitted that mexico will not be paying for this wall, something we have known for a long time. But its another thing to hear it from the administration. Have a listen. None of that is mexico paying for the wall. You and i both know that it cannot work exactly like that. I cant spend any money at the office of management and budget, the department of Homeland Security cant actually spend money from mexico. We have to get it from the treasury. So he is saying something that the president just will not say, even though we all know it to be true and his own chief of staff knows it to be true. Mexico is not paying. And you also cant play this game which Sarah Sanders has posed, which is ill get some money elsewhere, in some sort of slush fund and move it over. They have had all sorts of ways mexico was going to pay. Remember, it was about remittances. Now trump says hes renegotiated nafta and money is pouring into the country and thats going to pay for the wall. All incorrect. And look, mick mulvaney, during the campaign, as cnn recently reported, he, like most republicans, thought the wall was an absurd idea. He called it childish. And now hes in this very bizarre position of, you know, trying to sort of coddle trump, trying to put some lipstick on this pig. And trump has dragged the entire Republican Party to make the wall the endall, beall position. What the entire Republican Party thought in 2015 was absurd, acting chief of staff theyre all acting right now, put that modifier in. Called childish. The entire party has now rallied around and conservative talk show hosts and conservative media have now pushed the president into making the you know, the ransom for a Government Shutdown. Shows how much the Republican Party has been remade in trumps image. But lets see you think it through. Lets assume they dont get a solution later this week. January 3. First thing the house does under Speaker Pelosi is pass the same cr, i suppose, without the 5 million. Trump says no, unacceptable. So who is in the middle . Who has got the leverage . The senate. And really the Senate Republicans. And i think thats an interesting moment. And i do not assume that Senate Republicans just stay in lockstep behind trump at that point. I think they could cut their own deal. A veto . They could cut their own deal. Mcconnell is a good dealmaker. He and pelosi can get together and give a Little Something to give the republicans something to say and then tell the president , were passing this with all the democrats. A lot of republicans will vote for it. And mr. President , you sign it or veto it, and you know what, president ial vetoes have been overridden in the past. They would then face the same ire that the president faced last week from the ann coulters of the world or Rush Limbaughs, which has a powerful voice in this Republican Party. Is Senate Republican leadership willing to do that . The important point to remember is that what the president wants to do in instigating a shutdown over border wall funding is something that has very little constituency on capitol hill. Senate republicans want to support the president but they also hate shutdowns. They dont want to be blamed for a shutdown and dont want to be in the middle of one. When pat roberts was speaking on capitol hill today, he said, you know, i am sympathetic to what the president wants in terms of Border Security money. We do need money down there, but not in the form of this wall that he keeps talking about. So republicans Senate Republicans do want to find other ways to satisfy Border Security needs from the administration and from democrats. And theyre not going to theyre not as willing as House Republicans are to go down fighting for that wall, like the president. We saw this all with the last shutdown. They get pushed from the right. It blows up in everyones face, and then they have to back traffic. Its the third shutdown this year. Rush limbaugh is not a master strategist. And stay with us. Were going to have many more issues to discuss and more time to do it. A recordsetting Christmas Eve for the markets. This is not a record President Trump will take credit for. Just look at all that red. Thats next. Into lowering your very high triglycerides with diet and exercise deserves the hard work that went into the Science Behind vascepa. Prescription vascepa. Vascepa, along with diet and exercise, has Proven Results in multiple Clinical Trials. Vascepa looks different because it is different. Over a decade of Extensive Research and development achieved Proven Results. Thats the prescription power of vascepa. Vascepa is not right for everyone. Do not take vascepa if you are allergic to icosapent ethyl or any inactive ingredient in vascepa. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to fish, have liver problems or other medical conditions and about any medications you take, especially those that may affect blood clotting. 2. 3 of patients reported joint pain. Ask your doctor about what the Science Behind prescription vascepa can mean to you. Amarin thanks the clinicians and patients who participated in the vascepa Clinical Trials. But prevagen helps your brain with an ingredient amarin thanks the clinicians and patients who participated originally discovered. In jellyfish. In Clinical Trials, prevagen has been shown to improve shortterm memory. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. Yeah, ive had some prettyeer. Prestigious jobs over the years. News producer, executive transport manager, and a beverage distribution supervisor. Now im a director at a Security Software firm. Wow, youve been at it a long time. Thing is, i like working. What if my Retirement Plan is i dont want to retire . Then lets not create a Retirement Plan. Lets create a plan for whats next. I like that. Get a plan thats right for you. Td ameritrade. A new way to save on travel. Now when you book a flight you unlock discounts on select hotels that you can add on to your trip up until the day you leave. Add on advantage. Only when you book with expedia. In our money lead, look at those numbers. So much for a, quote, santa claus rally on wall street. The dow diving 653 points, nearly 3 , marking its worst Christmas Eve ever. This after the dow and nasdaq posted their worst week since 2008. Remember 2008 . That was a crash year. In what appeared to be a preemptive attempt to calm investors, the treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin spoke with Major Bank Ceos yesterday with that message much no need to panic, might have done exactly the opposite. Cnns alison kosik joins me now. Alison, a treasury chief calling banks to say, hey, youve still got enough money to lend is normally the kind of thing you do in the midst of a freefall. So you see it happen now. How did that impact the market . Spooks the market. And then youve got Holiday Edition<\/a> of the lead im jim sciutto in for jake tapper. We begin with a not so Merry Christmas<\/a> eve. Here in the nations capital, federal government is in the third day of a partial shutdown with lawmakers home for the holidays and the threat of political paralysis stretching well into the new year and the next congress. Nearly 1 million federal employees are impacted by the shutdown. Some, including tsa and Border Patrol<\/a> agents forced to work without pay. Meanwhile, President Trump<\/a> is holed up at 1600 pennsylvania, instead of in his Maralago Club<\/a> in florida, stewing and tweeting up a storm. Quote, i am all alone. Poor me in the white house, waiting for the democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security<\/a>. Cnns abby phillip joins us from the white house. At this point, the president , republicans, democrats, on the hill, they dont seem to be talking, let alone budging. Reporter no, not at all. And there doesnt seem to be that much urgency to resolve this Government Shutdown<\/a> issue. Instead we have seen President Trump<\/a> behind his twitter and not really seen in the public eye for three days. Tweeting defensively, almost, about his demand for a border wall. But not really adding much clarity about what hes demanding in order to end this shutdown. Were going to have a shutdown. Theres nothing we can do about that. Reporter with the Government Shutdown<\/a> around him, President Trump<\/a> has spent most of Christmas Eve<\/a> on his phone, and alone at the white house. The first president to spend the holidays in washington since bill and Hillary Clinton<\/a> 18 years ago. The president hasnt been seen anywhere for three days, except on twitter, where he has been making grievance the reason for the season. Tweeting, im all alone, poor me in the white house, waiting for the democrats to come back and make a deal on desperately needed Border Security<\/a>. That message coming minutes before First Lady Melania Trump<\/a> was seen departing florida to return to the white house early because of the shutdown. Trumps demand for border wall funding has even prompted some republicans to question whether the fight is all for show. This is a madeup fight so that president can look like hes fighting. But even if he wins, our borders are going to be insecure. Its a spectacle, and candidly, its juvenile. The whole thing is juvenile. Reporter amid a Government Shutdown<\/a>, the stock market crumbling and turnover in his administration, the president is growing increasingly angry and isolated, according to the new york times. Taking little pleasure in his job as leader of the free world, spending less time with old friends and telling the ones he does speak to that he feels totally and completely abandoned, the paper reports. With Congress Gone<\/a> until thursday, hope seems slim that a compromise will be reached soon to reopen the government. I think that is its very possible the shutdown will go beyond the 28th and into the new congress. Reporter even as the incoming acting chief of staff acknowledged, the trumps fight for a taxpayerfunded wall isnt exactly what he campaigned on. None that is mexico paying for the wall. Lets just be technical. You and i both know it cannot work exactly like that. I cant spend any money at the office of management of budget, the department of Homeland Security<\/a> cant actually spend money from mexico. We have to get it from the treasury. Reporter about a half hour ago, the department of Homeland Security<\/a> secretary, kirstjen nielsen, left the white house after meeting with President Trump<\/a> about Border Security<\/a> and the wall, a meeting that was added quite late to President Trump<\/a>s schedule on a day he spent most of the time tweeting. Meanwhile, melania trump, we believe, has returned back to washington so President Trump<\/a> is home alone no more. Jim . All right. He still has his phone, though. So is there any hope for a breakthrough . Manu raju joins me now. Democratic leaders, theyre firing back at the president. I have to say, looking at this statement, manu, it looks like democrats digging their heels in here, as well. Yeah, there is really no incentive, knowing that on january 3, democrats retake control of the house. Well have a much stronger hand to push negotiations. Chuck schumer, nancy pelosi, part of their strongly worded statement just moments ago, saying its Christmas Eve<\/a>, and President Trump<\/a> is plunging the country into chaos. Instead of bringing certainty into peoples lives, hes continuing the trump shutdown, just to please right wing radio and tv hosts. The president wanted the shutdown, but he seems not to know how to get himself out of it. Theyre saying that different people in the white house are saying different things, and its unclear exactly where the president stands. Thats something we have heard from some republicans, as well. But there has been no movement or very little talks saturday when Vice President<\/a> mike pence and Chuck Schumer<\/a> discussed the president s demand for 5 billion for his border wall. They talked about 2. 5 billion from the white house side. That was much too high for the 1. 3 billion the democrats have been pushing. So its unclear how much further the democrats are willing to go. Theyre saying abandon the wall all together. Of course, the president is nowhere near that, jim, which means that both sides are expecting for a long, prolonged shutdown. And as jack and pat roberts told reporters on the hill today, lbj said sometimes you just have to hunker down like a jackass in a hail storm and just take it. Thats about where we are with this shutdown. Jim . That should be a Bumper Sticker<\/a> in washington. Jackass in a hail storm. Manu raju, thank you very much. With our panel of smart people here. Bill, what strikes me is both sides are calculating they have the upper hand here, right . Who has the upper hand, politically . Yeah. Are there both sides . Donald trump on one side well, donald trump forming one side. Yeah, he is, though. Striking. He was happy to voice vote the continuing resolution without trumps extra money for the wall through last week. And paul ryan was clearly okay with that. I dont know. I dont think trump has the upper hand. I think if you combine the chaos the Government Shutdown<\/a> ends up not making as much difference as people think. 12 or six months later. But if you combine a sense of chaotic governance, trump changed his mind and is closing the government down, sort of randomly over this thing he suddenly decided was a musthave on friday after saying it was okay thursday. You combine that with the stock market now down 20 from its highs in three months, kind of a big deal, you know . And you combine that with a chief of staff who has been fired and attorney general fired, secretary of defense fired. In some cases, replacements clearly not up at that same level. I think people start to think the whole thing looks like its coming apart at the seams. In that respect, i think that trump is not benefitting from this, at all. Janis. Youve got to go with the symbolic. Anyone who suggests that you have to support the 5 billion for the budget because were going to maybe give a little break to the dreamers, no. If you look at the numbers, were talking about a 5 billion versus what it would cost to deport them. To what they contribute to our economy, which is a net revenue of 3. 4 billion. So its apples and oranges. Its basically ransom money, but it doesnt apply. It costs you more to deport them. So what are you saying . Lets Say Something<\/a> nice to this crowd thats been cruelly waiting for such a long time when the numbers dont match up. They bring so much more than they would ever take from us. Why would they even be part of this discussion . Well, so, i wonder, Newt Gingrich<\/a> has raised this, as well, and the president talks to Newt Gingrich<\/a> sometimes. His idea of a dreamers for a 5 billion wall exchange. Which was discussed as a possible bipartisan solution a number of months ago. Would that have legs in this environment . No. Not right now. And its partly because and mostly because democrats after the november elections feel politically emboldened and see no need to compromise on this core issue. Back in march or february earlier this year when the fate of the dreamers was really in limbo, Chuck Schumer<\/a> offered a 25 billion in Border Security<\/a> money in exchange for protecting the fate of those dreamers. And that is a deal that, first of all, the president didnt accept at the time. Some people say he should have perhaps taken it. Last chance for a wall. But democrats say theyre not going to do any wall for a dreamer ex chachange now. Dreamers largely say we should not be used as ransom for border policies that we dont support. So that even if that idea is wellintentioned, its not something that appears to be happening any time soon. Mick mulvaney admitted something that might mean his job security is going to disappear. He admitted that mexico will not be paying for this wall, something we have known for a long time. But its another thing to hear it from the administration. Have a listen. None of that is mexico paying for the wall. You and i both know that it cannot work exactly like that. I cant spend any money at the office of management and budget, the department of Homeland Security<\/a> cant actually spend money from mexico. We have to get it from the treasury. So he is saying something that the president just will not say, even though we all know it to be true and his own chief of staff knows it to be true. Mexico is not paying. And you also cant play this game which Sarah Sanders<\/a> has posed, which is ill get some money elsewhere, in some sort of slush fund and move it over. They have had all sorts of ways mexico was going to pay. Remember, it was about remittances. Now trump says hes renegotiated nafta and money is pouring into the country and thats going to pay for the wall. All incorrect. And look, mick mulvaney, during the campaign, as cnn recently reported, he, like most republicans, thought the wall was an absurd idea. He called it childish. And now hes in this very bizarre position of, you know, trying to sort of coddle trump, trying to put some lipstick on this pig. And trump has dragged the entire Republican Party<\/a> to make the wall the endall, beall position. What the entire Republican Party<\/a> thought in 2015 was absurd, acting chief of staff theyre all acting right now, put that modifier in. Called childish. The entire party has now rallied around and conservative talk show hosts and conservative media have now pushed the president into making the you know, the ransom for a Government Shutdown<\/a>. Shows how much the Republican Party<\/a> has been remade in trumps image. But lets see you think it through. Lets assume they dont get a solution later this week. January 3. First thing the house does under Speaker Pelosi<\/a> is pass the same cr, i suppose, without the 5 million. Trump says no, unacceptable. So who is in the middle . Who has got the leverage . The senate. And really the Senate Republicans<\/a>. And i think thats an interesting moment. And i do not assume that Senate Republicans<\/a> just stay in lockstep behind trump at that point. I think they could cut their own deal. A veto . They could cut their own deal. Mcconnell is a good dealmaker. He and pelosi can get together and give a Little Something<\/a> to give the republicans something to say and then tell the president , were passing this with all the democrats. A lot of republicans will vote for it. And mr. President , you sign it or veto it, and you know what, president ial vetoes have been overridden in the past. They would then face the same ire that the president faced last week from the ann coulters of the world or Rush Limbaugh<\/a>s, which has a powerful voice in this Republican Party<\/a>. Is Senate Republican<\/a> leadership willing to do that . The important point to remember is that what the president wants to do in instigating a shutdown over border wall funding is something that has very little constituency on capitol hill. Senate republicans want to support the president but they also hate shutdowns. They dont want to be blamed for a shutdown and dont want to be in the middle of one. When pat roberts was speaking on capitol hill today, he said, you know, i am sympathetic to what the president wants in terms of Border Security<\/a> money. We do need money down there, but not in the form of this wall that he keeps talking about. So republicans Senate Republicans<\/a> do want to find other ways to satisfy Border Security<\/a> needs from the administration and from democrats. And theyre not going to theyre not as willing as House Republicans<\/a> are to go down fighting for that wall, like the president. We saw this all with the last shutdown. They get pushed from the right. It blows up in everyones face, and then they have to back traffic. Its the third shutdown this year. Rush limbaugh is not a master strategist. And stay with us. Were going to have many more issues to discuss and more time to do it. A recordsetting Christmas Eve<\/a> for the markets. This is not a record President Trump<\/a> will take credit for. Just look at all that red. Thats next. Into lowering your very high triglycerides with diet and exercise deserves the hard work that went into the Science Behind<\/a> vascepa. Prescription vascepa. Vascepa, along with diet and exercise, has Proven Results<\/a> in multiple Clinical Trials<\/a>. Vascepa looks different because it is different. Over a decade of Extensive Research<\/a> and development achieved Proven Results<\/a>. Thats the prescription power of vascepa. Vascepa is not right for everyone. Do not take vascepa if you are allergic to icosapent ethyl or any inactive ingredient in vascepa. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to fish, have liver problems or other medical conditions and about any medications you take, especially those that may affect blood clotting. 2. 3 of patients reported joint pain. Ask your doctor about what the Science Behind<\/a> prescription vascepa can mean to you. Amarin thanks the clinicians and patients who participated in the vascepa Clinical Trials<\/a>. But prevagen helps your brain with an ingredient amarin thanks the clinicians and patients who participated originally discovered. In jellyfish. In Clinical Trials<\/a>, prevagen has been shown to improve shortterm memory. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. Yeah, ive had some prettyeer. Prestigious jobs over the years. News producer, executive transport manager, and a beverage distribution supervisor. Now im a director at a Security Software<\/a> firm. Wow, youve been at it a long time. Thing is, i like working. What if my Retirement Plan<\/a> is i dont want to retire . Then lets not create a Retirement Plan<\/a>. Lets create a plan for whats next. I like that. Get a plan thats right for you. Td ameritrade. A new way to save on travel. Now when you book a flight you unlock discounts on select hotels that you can add on to your trip up until the day you leave. Add on advantage. Only when you book with expedia. In our money lead, look at those numbers. So much for a, quote, santa claus rally on wall street. The dow diving 653 points, nearly 3 , marking its worst Christmas Eve<\/a> ever. This after the dow and nasdaq posted their worst week since 2008. Remember 2008 . That was a crash year. In what appeared to be a preemptive attempt to calm investors, the treasury secretary, Steve Mnuchin<\/a> spoke with Major Bank Ceos<\/a> yesterday with that message much no need to panic, might have done exactly the opposite. Cnns alison kosik joins me now. Alison, a treasury chief calling banks to say, hey, youve still got enough money to lend is normally the kind of thing you do in the midst of a freefall. So you see it happen now. How did that impact the market . Spooks the market. And then youve got President Trump<\/a> himself trying to, quote, calm the market. That backfired. Im talking about when President Trump<\/a> tweeted during the trading session, blaming the market meltdown on the federal reserve. It actually accelerated the selloff during this fourhour trading session. We saw this tweet come around 10 45, and the dow was on an upswing. Then that tweet came through. We saw the dow slide again, plunging all the way 650 points by the time the bell rang at 1 00 this afternoon. It also comes after you said, after treasure secretary Steve Mnuchin<\/a> called six of the countrys biggest ceos. The ceos said the calls came out of left field, they were puzzling and unnecessary. Mnuchins statement saying banks have ample liquidity for lending to american households and businesses. That left investors trying to wrap their heads around why was he doing it at that time, why was that announcement made at that time . Usually you see the treasury secretary Exchange Ideas<\/a> with bank executives. But the timing was making investors really uncomfortable, because its raising the question, jim, of whether the Treasury Department<\/a> sees something brewing in the economy that the market may be missing. Jim . Alison kosik, interesting days on the market trading floor. Thank you very much. Back with our panel now. Jennis, the president himself has made the dow his favorite barometer of success. And the dow this year is tanking. And you see the president panicking, apparently, at that thought by lashing out at his fed chairman, talking about firing him. This is consequential for this administration. Yeah. You live by the dow, you die by the dow. I think what resonates now is something that john kelly said once, that ivanka was playing government. I think the president plays president every day. And i think the lack of stability would always affect the markets. We have never seen stability like this. What are we . The third chief of staff . The Third National<\/a> security adviser . The sixth Communications Director<\/a> . The second ag . The soon to be secretary of state . The soon to be defense secretary . That never helps. And if he thought he had a way a magic pill to make this happen, you know what, step it. Reel it in. Because lack of stability will never help the markets. We all know that. You know, its interesting. So the president raises this idea of firing the fed chairman, and may have been told by law cant do it. But lets not there are a lot of firings this president has done that folks said, well, theres no way he would go just look at james comey, jeff sessions. Defense secretary was not a firing, it was a resignation. But forced by a series of decisions that jim mattis could not stand with. Who is to say he wouldnt do that. There is a view that the president should be able to fire anyone in the executive branch. I dont know if that extends to the chairman of the fed. But ive your colleagues make this argument all of the time, bill. So maybe thats whats in the president s mind. I have a slightly different view of his effect on markets. A previous president who wasnt on twitter ten times a day saying ten crazy things. One statement about the fed or about Interest Rates<\/a> would have earthshattering effects. I think the fact that trump musing about firing powell, musing about not wanting Interest Rates<\/a> to go one way or the other, it shows that he is just not that his words dont matter as much any more. And i think it is sort of baked into the cake for the markets. Its an interesting contrarian argument. If obama had done that yes, there is a diminishing return. That said, certain things do break through. And a call from cabo from Steve Mnuchin<\/a> to the chairman of all the top six banks saying, hey, do you still have money in your vaults was clearly had impact. I think the markets are not just reflecting dont like trump tweeting. Theyre reality. The markets are a reliable predictor. But nonetheless, there are real problems between trade, the deficit. Between erratic governance on the world stage and world order at risk. People leaving, people had some confidence in. Gary cohn. Mnuchin. That thing they put out sunday was nuts. I mean, he is on vacation in mexico, and they one thing to call the heads of the six largest banks and say things are okay, right . Putting out a press release saying that, thats just like a sign that is dont panic, you know . Thats when everyone panics. It happened with cause in the midst of the crash in 2008 because folks needed to know that the banks were and even then it was a real crisis, not just a crisis of feelings. So i think the market is saying something serious. I think the political implications are underrated. The republican establishment, not the base, so to speak. The republican establishment has swallowed a lot to accept trump because of the economy in general. But in particular because of the markets. Because guess what, the republicans of the party are businessmen who care a lot about the stock market. The hedge fund or their stock market yeah. And at some point i got a call from someone late last week, hey, why dont you help out, save the Republican Party<\/a> from trump and have a primary challenge. Well, no. There are some bad things, but the economy is so good. The markets he called me late last week. I dont know, bill, maybe youre right. I think these senators, i think Mitch Mcconnell<\/a> and all these characters on the hill are beginning to hear from their biggest donors. This isnt so great. Youve seen republicans break with this president in the last month in a way that they havent been willing to. You saw that on saudi arabia, Lindsey Graham<\/a> and others. On the syria withdrawal and the public belittling of jim mattis. When you speak to folks, you know, i assume off the record, republican lawmakers, do they tell you that their support for the president is wavering, panic, et cetera . I think definitely they are more candid when they are not being quoted on the record. I think thats fair to say. But there definitely is a palpable concern. I mean, Mitch Mcconnell<\/a> has talked about he has touted the economic successes of this administration, combined with the republican congress, talking about the tax law, talking about the roll back in regulations. But really, remember one of the biggest rifts between Congressional Republicans<\/a> and this administration and thats been over the issue of trade, with every tariff that the president has threatened or leveled, you have seen this considerable pushback. Perhaps not always accompanied by action, but considerable pushback from republicans on capitol hill saying they vehemently disagree with the protectionist trade policies from the administration, because they are concerned about the state of the economy. They know that as long as the economy is doing well, this is a president that they can get behind. But once you see all these kind of indicators decline a bit, youre going to see that nervousness increase. And for folks at home, you know, when it affects the working men and women in the country, when they see that, of course, that will have enormous political consequence. New reporting just into cnn about just how rash and sudden President Trump<\/a>s decision on syria really was. Its an inside view. Thats coming up. If you have psoriasis, Little Things<\/a> can be a big deal. Thats why theres otezla. Otezla is not a cream. Its a pill that treats moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis<\/a> differently. With otezla,75 clearer skin is achievable. Dont use if youre allergic to otezla. It may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. Some people taking otezla reported weight loss. Your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. Upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. Tell your doctor about your medicines and if youre pregnant or planning to be. Otezla. Show more of you. The zip code youre born into can determine your future. Your school. Your job. Your dreams. Your problems. indistinct shouting but at the y, we create opportunities for everyone, no matter who you are or where youre from. For a better us, donate to your local y today. For a better us, when you have nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. Girl, pepto ultra coating will treat your stomach right. Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea. Try pepto with ultra coating. Chicken thats right, chicken . candace new chicken creations from starkist. Buffalo Style Chicken<\/a> in a pouch bold choice, charlie just tear, eat. Mmmmm. And go try all of my chicken creations chicken hi. Maria ramirez mom maria Maria Ramirez<\/a>. Mcdonalds is committing 150 Million Dollars<\/a> in tuition assistance, education, and career advising programs. Prof Maria Ramirez<\/a> mom and dad Maria Ramirez<\/a> to help more employees achieve their dreams. Theres no momplace likargh e amirez im trying. Yippiekiyay. Mom. Turning to breaking news now. In our world lead, stunning, just sobering new details about the rash decision by President Trump<\/a> to withdraw u. S. Troops from syria, which, of course, led to the resignation of defense secretary james mattis. A Senior Administration<\/a> official telling me a short time ago, it was, quote, a complete reversal without deliberation and no consideration of risks, leaving u. S. Allies stunned, shocked and bewildered. This Senior Administration<\/a> official says this goes to the whole National Security<\/a> decisionmaking, saying that that decisionmaking has basically stopped working. That decisions are made on a whim, on a phone call by the president. And this. The same official saying that isis and its current leadership, including al baghdadi, may be cornered now in a small pocket in Northern Syria<\/a> similar to the tora bora situation. This, of course, a reference to u. S. Forces closing in on Osama Bin Laden<\/a> in afghanistan back in 2001. Part of this based on the vigorous defense of this northern pocket in syria with the deployment of suicide bombers. A series of alarming details. We have our own Barbara Starr<\/a> at the pentagon with more on this decision and the departure of jim mattis. Since washington crossed the delaware at christmas in 1776, american troops have missed holidays at home to defend our experiment in democracy. Reporter defense secretary james mattis recorded this holiday message to the troops the day before he resigned. Mattis had planned to be in the war zone over the holidays. Instead, hes packing to leave by january 1st, the date the president ordered him out of office. Following his resignation in protest of trumps decision to withdraw from syria. In syria, a new reality already is emerging, fulfilling mattis fears the u. S. Backed kurds are facing a possible bloodbath at the hands of turkey. In a phone call, turkeys president promising President Trump<\/a> to fight isis. In fact, as your friend, i give you my word in this. A senior white house official quoted president erdogan as saying, okay, its all yours, we are done. Trump told turkeys strong man this is a very lowcost situation for us to continue to rout out syria and isis. But also to keep in check whats happening there with russia and iran. Reporter its those concerns that prompted mattis to resign with a scathing letter to the president. The fallout from the letter caused an angry trump to move up mattis departure, announcing Deputy Defense<\/a> secretary Patrick Shanahan<\/a> will become the acting secretary. Shanahan, a former boeing executive, with no Foreign Policy<\/a> or military experience, will now deal with a sudden troop withdrawal from syria and possibly afghanistan. Respect law and order reporter shanahan had a rocky start in washington, clashing with the late republican senator john mccain at his confirmation hearing over a nonanswer on ukraine. Not a good beginning. Do not do that again, mr. Shanahan, or i will not take your name up for a vote before this committee. Am i perfectly clear . Very clear. Reporter not everyone disagrees with the president s decision. Some republicans favor pulling out, saying the u. S. Has been at war for too long in too many places. Leaving our troops there is sort of like a trip wire to a much larger war. The war has every danger, every day, of becoming an explosive, expansive war, and so i think the president is doing the best thing. Reporter other military leaders traveling in the war zone this holiday are hearing a lot from the troops. Questions about what will happen next, when will they go home, what will happen in the combat zones they leave behind. A lot of uncertainty and unease. Jim . And thats no fun for troops deployed abroad in war zones. Barbara starr, thanks very much. To the panel now, again, you heard that reporting. And just another detail from the Senior Administration<\/a> official, describing the decisionmaking that john bolton dispatched senior officials around the region to speak to partners to speak to Coalition Allies<\/a> in recent weeks to tell them the u. S. Is not leaving syria until iran is out of syria. Then, of course, the president makes this decision. How jarring is that at home, domestically, for our partners abroad, but just for decisionmaking process, if it exists, here in washington . I think we should all be very worried. And i think that its okay. A lot has been said about hes the president , and he can do whatever he wants. Yes. That is correct. To some extent. But when you follow your instincts, it should be based on some foundation, some ground work of knowledge and experience. Theres a reason why the people are doctors. Theres a reason we have lawyers. Theres a reason we have brokers. Sometimes they can follow their instinct. A broker may say i think its going to go this way. Thats fine. When you have a man who is wild, who is basically unhinged, and who doesnt really have that selfawareness to say, okay, maybe i dont know as much, but let me rely on my team of experts. And then maybe then ill make the decision. That conversation is totally missing in the oval office, im sure of that. And then we all pay the price. Thats exactly what this official says. Says this is not a oneoff. That there is no more decisionmaking process in this white house. No remember the interagency, phrases where you would sit around and have proposals. They would be debated by folks with knowledge on the ground and consideration of risks. Reaction of allies. It appears the president makes decisions like that, and everybody follows. And i think weve underestimated or some of us have, probably, just how many bad decisions were stopped by john kelly as chief of staff, jim mattis defense secretary, by to some degree, mike pompeo, secretary of state, and hr mcmaster. Mcmaster, kelly and mattis, were a powerful trio, able to contain this president. And some would say in the first two years, the good news is the institutions are whole and constraining him or his cabinet. Sessions on the rule of law issues. Think of it. Theyre all gone. All gone. Sessions and mccann, the white house counsel. Not perfect, but a serious guy, as we know from some reporting, able to stop trump from doing what he wanted to do on mueller. And the Foreign Policy<\/a> sphere, were seeing now, and in economics, gary cohn, who restrained the trade. So the barriers are gone and were seeing the effect. And you had the case gary cohn took papers off the desk to keep the president from i mean, the thing about these decisions is that they you know, you can call the shutdown just a political drama, although there are 800,000 people not getting paid, which is a big deal for most people. You pull out of this country, you cant reverse that decision or draw down troops of afghanistan. There are questions as to whether you back up alliances. Exactly. And thats why there is this deep sense of panic, that set over capitol hill, particularly among republicans when we learned of the syria decision last week. There are some of the few more dovish voices such as rand paul but the vast majority of Congressional Republicans<\/a> are alarmed by this decision. They say its wrong. And Lindsey Graham<\/a>, who is one of the president s most stalwart allies, pushed back vigorously on this decision. And Senate Republicans<\/a> are not without power here. Obviously they will be in a position to confirm mattis successor early next year. I found what Mitch Mcconnell<\/a> said after mattis departure pretty striking. He said that he agreed with mattis philosophy on the importance of global alliances and urged the president to nominate someone in the mold of mattis. The problem there is, mattis precisely got canned, because his world view clashed with that of the president. And thats whats really worrying Congressional Republicans<\/a> right now. Senate republicans are already lobbying for potential successor, such as heather wilson, air force secretary. But who is someone that is going to really give confidence to Senate Republicans<\/a> on the military and defense level and still satisfy the president . That is a big question were going to be watching. You could pick aaa, if the president is going to make his own decisions over the recommendations as he did with jim mattis on a series of things. Because mattis, by all accounts, you know, this was the straw that broke the camels back on syria. He was not comfortable with the deployment of troops on the border or the cancellation exercises in south korea. And the president is commanderinchief. And this reporting is astonishing. That erdogan just in a phone call with this authoritarian leader, yes, a nato ally, but not someone you want calling the shots for the commanderinchief in the united states, that he was just so easily that trump was so easily, frankly, manipulated, right . Why is it that the the worst authoritarians in the world are the ones who kind of have trumps number . They understand him psychologicall psychologically. They understand how to push his buttons, whether its putin or erdogan or some of the middle east leaders. Theyre the ones that have been able to cultivate trump in a way that, frankly, is not always in u. S. Interests. And the people who were the barrier to that in the administration are gone, and trump seems more confident than ever that he can do this on his own. What jim just said, i think that was a very interesting report. John bolton apparently, National Security<\/a> adviser, sent emissaries out to tell people we were staying there. Yep. Its one thing if youre going to i would very much disapprove of withdrawing. But if you had a threemonth strategy of telling your allies why youre doing it, getting your allies to step up, making sure people understand what comes next, you could maybe pull it off. To do it i mean, allies really will be now freaked out by this. So as you say, think of whoever they want, secretary of defense, if the president can send someone out to say one thing and then just reverse themselves, what can you final word to you. To ryans point, i think the president always needs to be told maybe what to do. You think of his past in his career when he was a developer, it was his father propping him up. And i think throughout his life, hes had people who propped him up and kept him there. And maybe ann coulter and Rush Limbaugh<\/a> is doing that job. But its almost like he needs to be propped up, to be told what to do. By people he admires. We have entered a very uncertain period. Thanks to all of you. One potential 2020 candidate is so confident in his possible Campaign Platform<\/a> that he says he does not need to consult can strategists and pollsters. Take a guess. S 74 italian. And i found out that im from the big toe of that sexy italian boot so this Holiday Season<\/a> its ancestrydna per tutti order your kit now at ancestry. Com for each job exxonmobil creates, many more are created in the community. Because energy touches so many industries, it supports 10 million u. S. Jobs. The biggest streaming collection of british telly ever. Enjoy loved classics from the bbc itv, and discover exclusive new shows fresh from the uk. And with a britbox annual gift subscription, a year of joy comes with two months freeits the brits that keep on giving this holiday, indulge in some Great British<\/a> telly. Give the gift of britbox today, at britbox. Com forget what they say about not bringing up politics during your familys holiday dinner. This Christmas Eve<\/a>, its going to be all about 2020. And a potential run for president for a handful of highprofile democrats. Kamala harris, joe biden, corey booker among the possible candidates who are reportedly meeting with their families this holiday break to mull a possible campaign. Back with the panel now. We tease someone who is not going to strategist about their message. Some of you guessed wrong. But anyway, im going to read a quote and it will give you the answer. Buzzfeed interviewed cory booker about a possible 2020 run. He said where other potential candidates have sought advice, booker told strategists he knows exactly what he would run on, a campaign about love and inclusion, the ideal as he sometimes describes it, of radical love. Is that a winning message . You go first. Youre the radical love expert. Im radical love. We all know that cory booker is very mediasavvy. We watched the Justice Reform<\/a> passage, how he was basically straddling the world. And we know he is the most liberal of the members of the caucus. So i think he has every reason to believe in himself and his ability to perhaps be the second africanamerican president. Crystal, who should republicans be concerned about . You heard the list abothere, bu youve got beto orourke, issuing a very strong rebuke of the president there. I mean, something you do if youre thinking of showing up in iowa. I mean, i think right now trump would lose to almost all of them. Thats my advertisement for getting rid of trump on the republican side from a political point of view. I dont know. Honestly. I think my sense is the democrats would like a younger person and a fresher face. And beto orourke among others, Kamala Harris<\/a>, fill that bill. Cory booker. Every democrat i run into, mostly green rooms here at cnn and elsewhere, are savvy democrats. Mingling with the people, the public. And i say, well, who do you think . And every time i get a different name. It really is unusual. Usually the Political Class<\/a> coalesces behind two or three and then there is an outsider or something. But there are serious, savvy political operatives who like very different senators, governors, congressmen, ex Vice President<\/a> s, et cetera. Harry enten, our election forecaster says Kamala Harris<\/a> is showing strength right now. And obviously a name frequently mentioned, as well. Exactly. I think Kamala Harris<\/a>, her starring role questioning the Supreme Court<\/a> Brett Kavanaugh<\/a> did help her propel herself to the top of the national spotlight. I will say, swibesides the fact Chuck Schumer<\/a> will have attendance problems, obviously way too early to know who that person will be. I do think, though, if you look at the candidates in the mid terms who really did seem to gain traction and motivated grass roots supporters and voters and the base, they were fresh faces. You look at Andrew Gillum<\/a> in florida, who fell short at the governors race and obviously the aforementioned beto orourke and the texas senate race, which is why there seems to be a little bit of skepticism about the name such as joe biden, even though he does seem to be topping a lot of the polls. That does seem to be more name i. D. Than anything else. And i think that democrats would probably try to look for that fresher face. Ron, final word. All on you. Who knows if radical love is the right message. But its going i sat down the other day and made a list. You could easily get to three dozen democrats who are plausible and likely to run. Dont make any predictions. Its going to be a huge, wide open field and it will be filled with surprises. But one piece of advice. If youre someone like beto, the history of people like that is strike while the iron is hot. And thats why even though he lost that senate race, hes got something right now that doesnt stay with him, right . That was elizabeth warrens problem. She probably should have run in 2016. To a certain extent, yesterdays news now. We might keep talking about this, im going to guess, in 2019. What parts of the country will wake up to snow on Christmas Morning<\/a> . Will anyone . The forecast is next. You might take something for your heart. Or joints. But do you take something for your brain. With an ingredient originally discovered in jellyfish, prevagen has been shown in Clinical Trials<\/a> to improve shortterm memory. Prevagen. Healthier brain. Better life. In our world lead today, indonesia, hundreds are dead, hundreds missing, towns in ruins, wiped away after a devastating tsunami struck with no warning. And today as rescue crews search for survivors, new concerns that another tsunami could strike at any moment. Cnns ivan watson joins us now, live. Ivan, there are systems set up that are supposed to warn people of incoming tsunamis going back to, of course, the wake of 2004 there. Devastating tsunami. Why didnt they work this time . Reporter the indonesian authorities, jim, say there simply isnt a system for this unique scenario. A volcano that led to an underwater landslide, and then to this deadly tsunami. Child of krakatoa, it killed hundreds. The death toll still climbing. Indonesian Authorities Say<\/a> more than 150 acres of Mountain Side<\/a> tumbled into the sea, creating this deadly tsunami. It slammed into a coastline packed with tourists on christmas vacation, and days later, rescue workers are still picking up the pieces. Their search for survivors complicated by fears the volcano could trigger a second tsunami. Translator this is an unexpected natural phenomenon. I encourage the public to remain vigilant and refrain from going to the beach. Reporter in a hospital packed with injured survivors, our team finds this fisherman whose boat was capsized by the waves. He says he and his son were later rescued at sea, but three crew members are still missing. This woman says there was no advanced warning, not even receding waters, which can signal an approaching tsunami. Her husband, who is still missing, was the organizer of this pop concert, tragically cut short. Hours later, the singer of the indonesian pop band, 17, posts this heartbreaking message. [ speaking in Foreign Language<\/a> ] translator i just wanted to say that our bass player, bani, and our manager, oki, passed away. I also ask for prayers for my friend, andy, herman and ujang, who is still missing at this time. Also, my dear wife is still missing. Reporter then today he announces more tragic news. All of his band members are dead. And his wife still missing. On a tour of the disaster zone, indonesias president orders Government Agencies<\/a> to install a new tsunami Early Warning<\/a> system. After hundreds of thousands of people across Southeast Asia<\/a> were killed by a tsunami in 2004, indonesia put in a network of deep water buoys, designed to detect unusual wave activity. But Officials Say<\/a> it fell into disrepair, and did little to save some 2,000 indonesians killed by an earthquake and tsunami that hit another part of indonesia just three months ago. Jim, protecting this nation will not be easy. It is made up of more than 17,000 islands. Its located on the ring of fire, so indonesias home to more than 125 active volcanos. Thats a lot of vulnerable coastline. And it can go from being a tropical paradise to a Natural Disaster<\/a> without any warning. Jim . Remember that christmas 14 years ago. Ivan watson, thanks very much. In our faith lead now, pope francis delivering a stark warning against greed in his christmas message at the vatican today. The Christmas Eve<\/a> mass going on right now. These are live pictures. The pope lamenting that, quote, a few dine luxuriously, while too many go out the daily bread needed to survive. The pope encouraged christians to be selfless and focus on love instead of material objects. Quite a christmas message there. In our national lead, he checked his list twice and is now making that oh, so important journey around the globe. Youre looking at the official norad Santa Tracker<\/a> as st. Nick arrives now in poland with over 3 billion presents already delivered, rudolph, dasher and dancer guide him toward the u. S. But will santa deliver a White Christmas<\/a> . Tom sater tracks the chance of snow this christmas. Is anybody going to get it, tom . Some people will. If you travel over the river and through the woods, in the central northern rockies, most of the travel map looks good. A lot of green. A little bit of light snow in the great lakes in the northeast, but more of a travel problem in the west. Light lakeeffect snows from buffalo to syracuse, hartford, boston, nothing major, just to get you in the festive spirit. But 30minute delays in San Francisco<\/a> under heavy amounts of rainfall. This is the storm to watch, blanketing heavy amounts of snow in the rockies as it slides into the desert southwest. So those hoping for a White Christmas<\/a> not going to get it to the south. Maybe a little too naughty this year. Tom sater, thanks very much. And thanks to you for joining us. For those celebrating, we wish you a very happy christmas and happy 2019, as well. Our coverage on cnn continues right now. One of the most powerful men on earth holds a position that has existed for nearly 2,000 years. As the world changes and faith evolves, his authority remains. What began with one apostle has become 1. 2 billion followers under one man. He is the head","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia800704.us.archive.org\/34\/items\/CNNW_20181224_210000_The_Lead_With_Jake_Tapper\/CNNW_20181224_210000_The_Lead_With_Jake_Tapper.thumbs\/CNNW_20181224_210000_The_Lead_With_Jake_Tapper_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20240617T12:35:10+00:00"}