Transcripts For CNNW CNN Newsroom With Carol Costello 20161116

To recently fired Chris Christie. And sources say trumps soninlaw Jared Kushner is at the center of the infighting. All of this unfolding just 65 days away from trumps inauguration. Jason miller the Communications Director of the Trump Transition Team is standing by live right beside me in the studio. Lot to talk about just about a minute. Jason, thank you. But first, mr. Trump is back at work today, at his transition headquarters inside the trump you toer, and thats where cnns Sunlen Serfaty is this morning. R good morning. Good morning to you, carol. A lot of pushback this morning from top transition officials disputing the notion that there are transition has been at all turbulent. Including this morning, joining into the chorus of pushbacks, president elect donald trump who took to twitter to say quote very organized process taking place as i decide on cabinet and many other positions. I am the only one who knows who the finalists are. Trump also taking issue over twitter with some reporting that he was potentially looking into getting secret clearance for some of his kids. Trump tweeting quote, i am not trying to get top level security clearance for my children. This was a typically false news story. And we know that that story stemmed from a transition staffer with ties to the department of defense who apparently made this ask without being authorized and we now know according to Cnns Jim Acosta that that transition official has been let go as of this morning. Now meantime other departures as you noted, higher level departures in the Transition Team, former congressman and cnn commentator mike rogers, who had been for months just a leading National Security voice within the Transition Team. He has parted ways, and many people, you know, really chiming in, it was because he was closely aligned with Chris Christie. At a time where there had been socalled purge of christie officials within the Transition Team. Mike rogers speaking to Anderson Cooper about it last night. Sometimes in politics, you know, palace intrigue there are people who are in, people who are out. The people who have been asked to move on, have some relationship with Chris Christie in my case i was hired by him. And so theres a whole series of about five of them that fit that criteria that were asked to leave in the last few days. You know what . Thats absolutely the campaigns prerogative. I think there is some confusion going on about a chain of command coming out of new york. Hopefully theyll get that settled pretty soon. I think theyre going to need to do it because as this clock ticks all of these decisions become more important. And that word confusion really struck me, carol, especially coming from someone who had for months worked on this transition. But certainly again, top transition officials pushing back on the notion that it has been rocky for them in the last week. Carol . All right. Sunlen serfaty reporting live from trump tower in new york city this morning. Jason miller jones me now. Hes the Senior Communications adviser to president elect trump. Good morning. Good morning. A lot of energy. Exciting to have honor to serve with the president elect. Absolutely. We have to talk about this tweeting this morning though because he was on sort of a tear. He tweeted four times this morning the first tweet im not trying to get top level security clearance for my children, this is a typically false news story. Another tweet, the failing New York Times story is totally wrong on transition. Its going so smoothly. Also, ive spoken to many foreign leaders. A few minute the later this tweet, i have received and taken calls from many foreign leaders despite what the failing New York Times says, russia, uk, china, saudi arabia, japan, australia, new zealand and more. New york times look like fools in their coverage of me. So, you know, congressman Chris Collins was on new day earlier and he said this is just trumps way of relaxing. Is that it . Well, no, i would describe it as this is the president elect setting the record straight. And i think this is part of the reason why he received such great support last week and why he won the election. Because hes not this typical politician. Hes not going to be confined by the media norms. When he sees something thats incorrect hes not afraid to stand up and set the record straight. Why wouldnt he give an interview right to im sure the New York Times called him. Or his Transition Team, or you. I think its important to put in mind that hes putting this team together. Hes working with the Vice President elect with our executive director of the Transition Team who have a very structured plan and theyre going through this methodically to make sure they get it right. Thats the important thing that people need to know, they have the plan in place. Theyre going to go through. Theyre going to do Due Diligence to make sure they check peoples backgrounds, make sure theyre on the up and up and we have a very good team put together. And then once hes inaugurated were going to do some very exciting things. But theres a clear structure in place and i think some of this palace intrigue really where i think this comes from usually. Okay is folks who arent up for jobs who might be maybe a little bit bitter or some people who are just maybe bitter that the Election Department go their way last week, the president elect because the way its being described by sources within the Transition Team is that its a blood bath. Its a knife fight. Jared kushner is rt one spear heading this knife fight because his father was put into prison on tax evasion charges, hes bitter at Chris Christie, so hes getting rid of anyone that was Even Associated with Chris Christie. Is that true . Not in the slightest. In fact, jared and i were chuckling about it this morning. This whole description of the knife fight, or this internal fighting. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jared is helping to put this together. But ultimately these decisions are being made by the president elect. And hes the one who will have the final say on all of this. And i think its also important to remind people that its his judgment. Hes going to make sure that we have the absolute best people. Some wont be coming from politics. Some will be coming from outside politics. Who have success in business or education or all different fields. I want to go back to Jared Kushner for just a second and this security clearance. That was inquired about security clearances for trumps children. And we know it didnt come from the president elect, right . It came from a low level staffer who has been dismissed. Is that right . Well the president elect has not made any request for security clearance for even for Jared Kushner . Correct. Not for any of his family members. And further, i would say no paperwork has been completed or sent in or submitted to this effect. I think what a lot of this is, again, its certain folks who may be on the outside looking in who want to go and try to cause chaos and do their bit to try to make some negative headlines. But thats not going to distract us. Internally, theres a very calm presence. Its structured. I think we have a clear plan of what we need to go and do. Will we expect announcements soon . Because things are happening in the world that that are causing anxiety for people and they want to know that the Transition Team is running smoothly and that there will soon be announcements for secretary of state, for depth of defense, for defense secretary for positions like that because we have active American Military that work in afghanistan, iraq, and syria. Well, what the president elect and the Vice President elect know exactly how serious this is. The magnitude of which we have to go and get this right. And thats part of the reason why theyre making sure we get it right before we rush to judgment. And its also important to keep in mind that president obama didnt have his entire cabinet name within that first week after he was elected in 2008 so we shouldnt expect announcements from the Transition Team on any more appointments today . Im not going to go and qualify it as far as today but im going to say when theyre going to announce it is when i ask you that because eric trump just came out and said that more appointments are expected to be announced today. Its when the president elect is ready to pull the trigger and to make these people formal and finalize it. And hes not going to do it until hes ready with that decision. Hes going to a process and i spoke with him this morning walking through some of the different names and where things were going and hes going to make sure that he gets this right. And quite frankly i think he will and i think thats part of the reason why he got such overwhelming support last week. Some people say the controversial choice of steve bannon is one reason hes taking his time. Because he didnt really expect the back lash over that. Thats only growing, right . In fact, because some people some people say steve bannon embraces white nationalism. He provided a platform on breitbart news, of which he used to be editor. He was editor for that website. Even glenn beck on Anderson Cooper last night and he said steve bannon is someone to fear, and this is what he said. Heres why. The altright is real. It is truly terrifying in my opinion that he has given a voice and power to that group of people. Why, i dont know. But its important, because you you dont empower people like that. You you just dont do that. Its not smart. So, glenn beck and harry reid are on the same page, like the world has shifted. So do they have a point . Again, with regard to senator reid and glenn beck i think they need to get over the fact that the election was last week and that president elect trump has won. Is it sour grapes on glenn becks part . I want to talk a little bit about steve bannon. Steve is someone who ive really gotten to know the last several months being on the Campaign Working very closely with him on a daily basis. Heres what people should know about steve bannon. Number one hes a very strong zionist. He so strongly supports the state of israel, even founded breitbart jerusalem is one of his causes. Hes a big supporter of. Hes not antijew in other words. Im going through because people accuse him of that. Right. And its silly. One thing you can see the internal workings of the campaign, see that steve bannon is someone who pushed for diversity at every purn in the campaign that he is one of the driving forces in having the president elect go to mexico on that trip and to meet with Prime Minister netanyahu, steve is someone who is but, but, but, didnt mr. Trump go to mexico to talk about the wall which he didnt really talk about . Isnt that why he its also to show that hes going to have strong relations and work with other foreign leaders and to show that he is able to reach out and step outside of the political norms to do different things. And Steve Bannons been a big proponent of that. Ultimately, steve bannon is going to implement the plans and the agenda of the president elect. And he did a fantastic job of doing it during the campaign. I think thats why the president elect is but, but, but just one more thing about steve bannon, because, it its not just glenn beck and harry reid concerned about steve bannon. These protests are going on all across the country, 34 universities today are going to protest at their universities become sanctuary universities so that undocumented immigrants will have a safe place to go. This is becoming a bigger and bigger movement, whether president elect trump likes it or not. So shouldnt president elect trump come out and Say Something . Well, i completely disagree with your analysis of the folks out there expressing their First Amendment rights. Which is great. Thats why this country is so fantastic. But these protesters are dying off. Theyre not growing. I disagree with your analysis. They are growing. Theres 34 planned today. I think the further we get away from the election as people realize its time to come together and start laying out our plans, were going to move the country forward and create jobs were going to see president elect trump bring the country to the and again thats i think everybody wants president elect trump to create jobs. But they do have this underlying fear that hes not going to be fair to minority groups. It is there and it is real. But what weve seen since the election is such a very measured and embracing tone from the president elect, and i believe thats how hes going to lead. He has some very strong opinions. We know hes going to go in and repeal and replace obamacare. We know hes going to secure the border. We know hes going to reform our tax code so we can actually get out there and create jobs. But i think people want to know will he ban muslims from coming into the country . Will he really depart two or three Million People living in this country . Those are the things they want to know, too. Also what they know is hes going to approach all of his policy proposals in a very humane and embracing approach. There have some things folks might disagree on as we talk about repealing and replacing obamacare. Not everybody is going to agree with that. Were going to make sure we take care of people so we can Bring Health Care costs down and make sure folks arent getting kikd off their Health Insurance and can see their doctor. But all these approaches that hes taking, its very much in mind of heres where the sentiment of where the people are and finally were going to have a government thats responsive to what the people want. Final question for you, are you up for a cabinet position . Definitely are you press secretary . Ill serve in whatever capacity the president elect would like me to. And for a position . No, whatever i can do to help out. Im just honored to be a part of the Transition Team right now. Is there one position youd love to have . Whatever hed like me to do. I appreciate it. Jason miller, thanks so much for stopping by. I know you must be exhausted and excited at the same time. So joining me now, lynn sweet who is the Washington Bureau chief of the chicago suntimes and David Swerdlick assistant editor for the washington post. Actually, why dont we take a break and come back with this after this. Well be right back. [burke] at farmers, weve seen almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything. Even a rodent ridealong. [dad] alright, buddy, dont forget anything [kid] i wont, dad. [captain rod] happy Tuesday Morning captain rod here. Its pretty hairy out on the interstate. Traffic is literally crawling, but there is some movement on the eastside overpass. Getting word of another collision. [burke] it happened. December 14th, 2015. And we covered it. Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. 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Communications director for the Trump Transition Team and he denied there was any turmoil within the Transition Team so lets talk about that with lynn sweet chicago burr rechief of the Chicago Sun Times and David Swerdlick from the washington post. There are all these reports that the Trump Transition Team is in turmoil. Theres a blood bath going on. You heard jason miller saying there is no turmoil, everythings proceeding smoothly. Your thoughts . Well, carol, you had mike rogers on the record saying that wasnt the case. So this isnt a situation where you have people without attribution. And jason miller talked about how theyre not going to be confined by media norms, and okay, but then the story is, what youre not doing, if you dont know what they are doing, thats that i think one of the situations. The point of the Obama Campaign back in 07 and 08 ands he started his administration wasnt so much that he took time as trump is doing to put his his administration in place, its that there was no drama surrounding it. And thats what seems to be getting the Trump Administration off on a little bit of a of a interesting footing. Its not a matter of norms. Its a matter of do you see progress in putting together an administration. Thats all people want to see. When you get stories that Chris Christie is out, mike rogers is out, of course youre going to report on that. So, but the tweeting this morning, david, because thats really how trump oh, boy. Got the word out about this, and you heard jason miller say that this, this, it appears this will be normal procedure for mr. Trump responding to the media, and hell do it through tweets. Yeah, so, carol i think were in this testing out period where president elect trump is trying to see if what he did during the campaign is going to be effective for him in the transition. And then im speculating, but possibly in the early stages of his administration. Can he go over the heads of the Mainstream Press and get his message out to his millions of social media followers . Maybe it will work. Maybe it wont. Maybe people will tire of it. But were a week into the transition and clearly hes not ready to give up social media yet. The thing that jumped out at me, carol, from that one tweet that you mentioned in the previous segment, about saying only he knew the finalists for his key appointments, struck me as another instance where trump likes the big reveal. But i think president elect trump and then future President Donald Trump will realize that governing is not all about the big reveal, its not about saying come down to my trump hotel, and let me tell you what i think about the birther controversy. He will, in a very short order, be expected to produce results not just headlines. And thats i think the difference. That hes getting its, its the problem with what david said carol, one other quick point this isnt Miss Universe where you can pick who you want to win. One senator can hold up an appointment. So these are people who he selects for cabinet positions have to be senate confirmable. We know that rand paul already expressed a concern about a potential secretary of state pick. Hes going to have voices within his own party in the senate, as well as democrats, who if he doesnt put people forth who are confirmable, then he cant get his administration started. So theres a few pieces here that will show running government is not like running your own Family Health firm. Back to this this controversy surrounding steve bannon. You heard jason miller say steve bannon he was actually for diversity within the Transition Team and talked about diversity all the time. Hes hes a big proponent of israel, and what did you make of that, david . So, look, i think were still learning about steve bannon. You know, after i say this i expect maybe to hear from some people on twitter, but look i think more needs to be known about steve bannon. I think what is fair to say is that breitbart, which he leads, has trafficked in some some stereotypes about jewish americans, about people of color, i think its fair to say that steve bannon is a divisive figure. But you know, are we at the point now where you can just lay a judgment out there and say that hes a card carrying White Nationalist or card carrying antisemite . I dont think we know that yet. If people inside the transition people are obviously saying no look this guy is for diversity. This guy wants to bring people together. He wants to have a positive transition, of course theyre going to say that. But because donald trump ran such an u. S. Versus them type of campaign i think the onus in some ways is on members of his team, including bannon, to dispel peoples worries about the idea that you know, he seeks to divide people along these lines. We i think were still finding out. So, so, lynn, maybe steve bannon should come out and issue some sort of statement . I think well were opposed to him. Does he really have to . Well, again, as miller said they dont feel compelled to do any media norm convention. So, okay, thats their thing. I do think theres lets not let what breitbart the publication has been associated with and stories on their side. This isnt just about bannon personally. It is about what he has you you cant be blind to the type of statements, stories, whatever is associated with the the the criticisms that were talking about. And when you talk about diversity, by the way, carol and david, the first names weve seen surfacing from almost every cabinet position is a white man. There is some thought i suppose that it will be different when you see the whole thing. But that might be maybe sooner than later. Rather than later than sooner. Okay if you want to give steve bannon the benefit of the doubt, do so but i dont think that means you erase where hes coming from and where the publication he led is coming from. I got to leave it there i think, lynn, youre lynns right about that just as journalists i think we need to learn more. All right. Lynn sweet, David Swerdlick thanks to both of you. Still to come, a whole lot of firing but where is the hiring for key National Security roles in trumps cabinet. Who is in the running and whats at stake . 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The Trump Transition Team is in a race against time to fill key positions in the Administration Just two months before inauguration day. Keep in mind u. S. Troops are involved in active combat situations in iraq, afghanistan and syria. There are still five people on trumps short list, mostly current and former senators, for secretary of defense, and even more under consideration for secretary of state. Among them rudy giuliani, Newt Gingrich and former treasury secretary hen hery paulson. Im joined by a former Master Sergeant with army spep rations and cnns military analyst retired Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona. Welcome to both of you. Thank you. Thanks for being here. Jason, it is imperative for trump to put together a top notched experienced defense team because this is whats happening this morning in aleppo, syria. A Childrens Hospital was hit by bombs. Six children now being sheltered by doctors, theyre huddling in the basement. Theyre cowering in fear. The Syrian Air Force under the direction of syrias president Bashar Al Assad is behind this bombing. Assad said just yesterday he hopes trump will be an ally. Listen. Whether he can do, or live up to his promises, or not. Thats how were very cautious in judging them, especially as he wasnt in a political position before. So we cannot say anything about what hes going to do. But if thats if, if hes going to fight the terrorists, of course were going to be allied with the russians, with many other countries who want to defeat the terrorists. So, jason, will president elect trump be an ally of syrias Bashar Al Assad . Well, carol, i appreciate the questions, but lets face it, thats assad doing some statesmanship, and hes trying to do a little bit of gaming before this. Remember, right now we have a president in power, so we actually have the executive branch able to operate. What president elect trump is going to do as hes promised and laid out in his Foreign Policy speeches is make sure the interests of america is first. We have soldiers in harms way, as you point out, every day right now in combat. So whats most important is to craft policy that can divine what is americas great interest at stake . Who our allies are . Theyll reveal themselves as they stack up, and line up behind good leadership. Its something weve been missing. And thats something that president elect trump is going to bring to the table. Youve got to pick the right team. And hes in the process of doing that right now. Okay. Heres why some people worry, colonel francona. As you know syria and russia are working to the in syria, and mr. Trump admired Vladimir Putin, senator john mccain worries about trumps desire to improve relations with Vladimir Putin and russia. He said quote at the very least the price of another reset would be complicity if putin and assad butcher the syrian people. That is an unacceptable price for a great nation. When america has been at its greatest is when we have stood on the side of those fighting tyranny. This is where we must stand again. So what do you see happening colonel francona . Well, syria is a basket case. Our policy in syria unfortunately hasnt changed since 2011. Were still demanding the removal of Bashar Al Assad, and of course thats been complicated by the rise of isis. And now weve had to shift our focus from supporting the opposition to going after isis. And now, with the interference, and the intervention by the russians and the iranians and hezbollah and all the other forces youve got a a really mixed Playing Field there. And that we havent adapted our policy. The new administration is going to have to figure out just what our interests are in syria and act accordingly. If that is working with the russians against isis, thats going to take a major shift in our policy, and in effect we will be allied with Bashar Al Assad. And i dont think we want to get into a situation where were supporting a guy who bombs hospitals in the city of aleppo. So this is a real challenge for the new administration. And i get the impression, and i understand what jason is saying, we do have a government in power right now, but i think theyre kicking the can down the road because syria just has no solution as far as this administration is concerned. All right. Jason i want to focus on the position of National Security adviser, Michael Flynn is trumps only pick for that position. Its no secret that flynn considers obama weak and spineless. Thats what hes called the president. He also considers him incompetent in his Foreign Policy. Flynn is also quite a hawk. So how would he change american strategy against isis, do you think, jason . Well, you know, i served in jsoc under directors like general flynn when he was is d. I. A. And we know they have an aggressive policy. Number one is to craft again the u. S. National interests first, and thats about divining first and foremost what is most efficacious, whats the most effective way that the u. S. Protects our interests, and make sure that when we put soldiers in harms way theyre dying for a specific cause. Right now if we give mosul, if we win mosul whats happening on the ground right now is when we turn that land over, were going to cede it to a government that is almost a proxy right now of iran. And when we talk about, you know, bad allies and strategic allies, weve given iran lunch in the region to become a National Power and thats something that weve already seen so, rick is absolutely right. Were going to be digging out of a mess. Syria is a mess right now. General flynn is the kind of guy that stood up when things werent going well with islamic state, with al qaeda, and he told the truth. Telling the truth is absolutely important. Identifying the enemy. Hes done that over and over again. So, first identifying the enemy. And then crafting a policy that makes sure that the u. S. Interest is first so when our soldiers, the best in the world, when our Service Members are out there, they know the cause, they know the purpose, they know the end state which is something we havent seen over eight years. Its been longer than that. Our soldiers are begging for leadership. And i think were going to see that with general flynn. All right. I have to leave it there. Jason beardsly and Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona thanks to both of you. President obama is heading to germany for the last leg of his final overseas trip. Earlier wrapping up his visit to athens hailing democracy and a symbolic nod to the birth place of the political system. He also reassured greeks that america remains a strong ally. And im confident that just as americas commitment to the Transatlantic Alliance has endured for seven decades, whether its been under a democratic or republican administration, that commitment will continue. Including our pledge and our treaty obligation to defend every ally. Cnns nic roberts is in athens with more. Hey, carol. Good morning. There was also a message, if you will, to the International Audience but also to domestic audience back at home, trying to calm fears about the transition of democracy in the united states. He quoted he quoted Winston Churchill saying that democracy is the worst form of government, except for the alternatives. And what he was trying to do here, and he got some laughs from the audience was saying, look, what may be what may appear to be happening, you know, a radical change under way in the united states, history doesnt work in a straight line. It zigs and it zags, democracy a little interpret this is how he put it. Democracy, like all human institutions, is imperfect. It can be slow. It can be frustrating. It can be hard. It can be messy. And in a multiethnic, multiracial, Multicultural Society like the united states, democracy can be especially complicated. Believe me. I know. But, it is better than the alternatives. Because it allows us to peacefully work through our differences. And that peacefully working through issues the public having the right to answer politicians, he pointed to the example of the nuclear deal with iran, as that came through democracy, as the as the worlds agreement on climate change, that came through democracy, he said democracy giving the space for scientists to come up with scientific conclusions rather than people following sort of doing matic views. Both those points seem to be aimed somewhat also that president elect trump as well. Knick robertson reporting live from athens, greece, this morning. My next guest, too afraid to work her new job after the election . Ill ask her why, next. Sing girl, come on. [ singing ] sorry, ariana you gotta go. Seriously . Verizon limits me and i gotta get home. Youre gonna choose navigation over me . Maps get up here. Umm. That way. Girl you better get on tmobile why pay more for data limits . Introducing tmobile one, unlimited data for everyone. Get four lines just 35 a month. Hashtag stuffy nose. Hashtag no sleep. Hashtag mouthbreather. Just put on a breathe right strip. It instantly opens your nose up to 38 more than Cold Medicine alone. Shut your mouth and say goodnight mouthbreathers. Breathe right. Im done. Done with figuring it out for myself. Im done with surprises. Im done with complicated. If youre on medicare and. Ready to be done with complicated. Turn to unitedhealthcare and our Medicare Advantage plans. Like aarp medicarecomplete. These plans can combine your hospital and doctor coverage, with Prescription Drug coverage and more, all in one plan for a low, or even no, monthly premium. So call now. We can answer your questions, even help you enroll. I deserve to get the most out of my plan. Well make sure your doctors are all connected. You know what your copays are. And you can save on prescriptions; plan members saved an average of over 4500 last year. Medicare open enrollment ends december 7th. If youre done with complicated, so done. Call now to enroll in a plan from unitedhealthcare, like aarp medicarecomplete. Antitrump protests not letting up. Today planned at colleges nationwide, 34 universities are planning to leave their classes and declare think colleges quote, a sanctuary campus. They say the idea is to create a safe haven for undocumented students by putting their bodies between them and president elect trump. Adding to this anxiety reuters is now reporting that trumps policy advisers are mulling a proposal that would reinstate a registry for muslim immigrants. And a source familiar with trumps Transition Team tells cnn that frank gaffney, a man known for antiislamic rhetoric, is now working with them on National Security issues. This is a man who was a big supporter of the theory that president obama is a secret muslim and was not born in the united states. All of this weighs on my next guests mind and her soul. She said she no longer feels safe wearing her hijab. With me isalla. I notice youre wearing your hijab today. Do you normally wear it . And why did you decide to wear it this morning . Ive been wearing my head scarf for the past twelve years. It was my choice since the beginning. Since day one. And i can guarantee you that i will walk out of the studio today and take off my head scarf and wear a hat instead because its no longer safe to walk on the streets with a head scarf on, as of now. Tell me why you feel that way. Id like to share an incident that happened a couple of days ago. I was at a hospital in miami, i sat down, and i was wearing my head scarf. Went into the waiting room and sat down next to an older, white guy. There was a seat between us, empty, so he took out his pocket knife, and set it next to me. And i felt very threatened. I was shocked. And i was waiting to be stabbed just for the fact that i was wearing my head scarf. He then took his weapon, closed it. Put it in his pocket, and walked past me and said, deport them all. With such incidents happening to muslim women who wear the head scarf on the streets, on daily matters, its no longer safe. And i dont how did the people around you in that waiting room react to that man . Thats my point. Is that no one said anything. And i didnt expect anyone, carol, to Say Something while he had the weapon out in front of me. But at least someone like to approach me afterwards and say, you know, are you okay . Do you want me to call anyone . No one did anything, there was about 20 people in that room, and everyone just carried on their normal conversations as if nothing happened. That is scary. Thats scarier than the fact that he took out that weapon, the people around us are not saying much. Did did did incidents like this happen to you in the past . Or is this something new . You know, in the past, twelve years of wearing my head scarf i occasionally get the, go back to your country, or youre a terrorist, Something Like that, on the streets, and i ignore it. But for someone to pull out a weapon in a safe place, which was a hospital, and set it next to me, and i was waiting to be stabbed, that just escalated to a whole new level. Is is there anything that president elect trump can say that would ease your mind that hes not antimuslim . President elect trump told Anderson Cooper a couple months ago that he thinks islam hates us. I dont know whats going to heal that wound. Because he he really opened a large wound within the Muslim Community. And to me personally, i think he needs to apologize for what hes been saying. And to to reassure the Muslim Community that we will be safe. Because i dont know when i will be able to walk on the streets with my head scarf back on again. What would you say to those who support trump and are enthusiastic about his presidency . That this was just one crazy guy, that did something wrong, and thats not how the vast majority of americans feel about muslim americans. Id say get to know your muslim neighbors. Get to know more about islam. Talk to your friends who will most likely be muslim in your local neighborhoods, just get to know us more, because we are extending a hand. We are being targeted right now, and its not safe. So help us by extending a hand to us, and reunifying america, if you will. Alaaa, thanks for sharing your story this morning. I do appreciate it. Thank you. Still to come youre welcome. Hes the leader of isis and hes on the run. Well head to iraq where the quest to find al baghdadi is ramping up after he was driven out of one key city. Oline. So corporate put you up in a roadside motel. But with directv from at t, you can download then binge watch your dvrd shows from anywhere. That makes you more powerful than whatever it is you just stepped in. Or that friendly dumpster diver outside. I wouldnt sit there. Its your tv, take it with you. Now you can watch your dvr anywhere, at no extra cost, with directv from at t. How else do you think he gets around so fast . Take the reins this holiday and get the mercedesbenz youve always wanted during the winter event. Now lease the 2017 gla250 for 329 a month at your local mercedesbenz dealer. 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And if you have more than one Liberty Mutual policy, you qualify for a multipolicy discount, saving you money on your car and home coverage. Call for a free quote today. Liberty stands with you™. Liberty mutual insurance. At least 30 people including four children and a medic are dead following a new round of air strikes in wartorn aleppo. Children in one neighborhood were forced to flee their school, their backpacks still on after the raids began. The air strikes which activists say were accompanied by heavy artillery and barrel bombs resumed on tuesday for the first time in three weeks. One of the last three pediatricians working in eastern aleppo Childrens Hospital has a simple but powerful plea. Pray for us. That doctor adding that staff and patients have all taken cover in a basement room waiting for air strikes to end before they can leave. Now to iraq where a u. S. Led coalition is battling isis in a bid to regain control of mosul. A Coalition Spokesman says 4,000 bombs, missiles and artillery strikes have hit isis targets since the offensive began nearly a month ago. But as that fight continues, a new challenge emerges. Where is isis leader, baghdadi, the man who came to prominence during this 2014 speech from iraqs second largest city is believed to have fled during the first week of the campaign. Cnns phil black in erbil, iraq, p from baghdadi was around the start of november. He released an audiotape urging his fighters not to give up any ground, to fight on against the much larger iraqi force that is trying to drive them from mosul and the area surrounding it. Now we have heard from some paramilitary units that are responsible for clearing isis from towns and villages to the west of mosul. They have said they have intelligence leading them to believe baghdadi is in that area. This is northwest iraq between mosul and the Syrian Border. They say hes in a relatively small area between two towns that are only around an hours drive apart. Other members of this Iraqi Coalition dont necessarily agree. The Iraqi Defense Ministry Says the last it believed it had on baghdadi was when he left mosul shortly after this big offensive began, about a month ago. They say he went west but they dont know where he went after that. Of course, he could have gone further west across the Syrian Border into isiscontrolled syria. The kurds, the peshmerga force that makes up part of this operation, a senior officer with them has told us he doesnt believe baghdadi is in that area as these paramilitary groups claim. The context, u. S. Officials have long had the working theory that he moves around a lot, never stays in one place for long. Hes very careful not to be vulnerable to any sort of attack. They have always said if they did know where he was, they wouldnt talk about it. They would launch an operation to get him. So how is the Campaign Going in mosul . Is it on track . Reporter well, its going to plan, we are told, but it is not going easily. It has definitely slowed down. The tempo has changed. Ever since about a week ago when iraqi forces entered the Eastern Suburbs of mosul itself, the builtup areas of that city, thats when isis has really started to resist them very strongly because its very prepared, it knows the ground and of course, there are civilians everywhere. There was an incident today that shows this. Want to show you pictures that are not easy to watch. They are a little graphic. But it shows what happened in an area of eastern mosul that had already been cleared of isis about a week ago. This is where isis decided to launch mortar rounds into the civilian population. Its a classic isis tactic in order to distract, drive tension away. Back to you. Phil black reporting live from iraq. The next hour of cnn newsroom after a break. How else do you think he gets around so fast . 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Donald trump launches a flurry of twitter attacks to push back against reports that his allimportant Transition Team is in turmoil. Heres one. Attacking the New York Times it was tweeted out just a couple hours ago, saying the transition is going so smoothly. Minutes ago i asked trumps Communications Director about that twitter outburst. He downplayed it. I would describe it as this is the president elect setting the record straight and i think this is part