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Recent Plane Crashes Making Some Nervous About Safety Of Air Travel; Massive New Years Eve Power Outage In Puerto Rico; Speaker Johnson Faces Tough Test To Keep Gavel; Incoming Trump Press Secy Signals Changes For WH Press Room; Final Preparations Underway For Annual Rose Bowl Parade; Dionne Warwick On Her Friendship With Luther Vandross, Her Own Career. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired December 31, 2024 - 13:30   ET

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

[13:30:00]

KRISTY KIERNAN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR AEROSPACE SAFETY, EMBRY-RIDDLE UNIVERSITY: And that's why I would encourage people to learn as much as they can about the system. You mentioned air traffic control. There are online sites where you can listen in on any airport that you want. You can listen to the communications at your local airport.

And I think that what that will give people is a better understanding of the system and an appreciation for the professionalism and the training that goes into what -- what happens on the flight line all the time. And then you'll feel more comfortable.

And same thing, you know, get to know if there's -- a lot of times there's noises on airplanes that are completely normal, but people don't know what they are, so they're uncomfortable about it.

There's so much wonderful information out there, and obviously you have to be a discriminating consumer.

And you know, NTSB, FAA, Flight Safety Foundation, and those are very reliable sites. So -- but, you know, find out, learn more and educate yourself. And I think that will make people a lot more comfortable.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: All right. Kristy Kiernan, thank you so much for putting it all in perspective for us. We appreciate it.

KIERNAN: It's my pleasure. Thank you.

BROWN: Well, House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a critical vote this week to determine whether he keeps his gavel or gets replaced. One Republican lawmaker just said he does not have enough support.

And a blackout in Puerto Rico. What's behind the massive outage that has left 90 percent of the island without electricity this New Years Eve?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Happening right now, a massive power outage has left nearly 90 percent of Puerto Rico in the dark on this New Years Eve. A critical failure of the country's energy grid is being blamed.

CNN's Carlos Suarez has been tracking the developments.

So how much are we learning about this grid failure, Carlos?

[13:34:55]

CARLOS SUAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, this sweeping blackout hit Puerto Rico this morning, and Luma Energy, which supplies the power to Puerto Rico, said that crews would try to get the power grid back on in what they say are phases, though that could take anywhere between 24 to 48 hours.

Now, as of 1:00 this afternoon, about 3 percent of customers out of the 1.3 million users that were impacted by all this have had their power restored.

The international airport in San Juan and hospitals around the island are running on power generators. Malls have closed for the day. And public transportation really has come to a halt because of all of this.

Now, power outages have long been a -- a running source of frustration on the island since the collapse of the power grid back in 2017 after Hurricane Maria. Luma and a second private company have long come under criticism for failing to improve the electric system.

Now, in a statement, Puerto Ricos Governor Pedro Pierluisi said, quote, "We are demanding answers and solutions from both Luma and Genera who must expedite the restart of the generating units outside the fault area and keep the people duly informed about the measures they are taking to restore service throughout the island."

Pamela, Luma said that an issue with a faulty underground -- underground line was to blame, and already the company is pushing back this timeframe.

A spokesperson tells our colleagues over at CNN, E!, it will be more than 48 hours before, in their words, the power returns to normalcy -- Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Carlos Suarez, thank you so much.

On Friday, the 119th United Congress will be sworn in, and Capitol Hill is already bracing for a chaotic start to the year.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is fighting to keep his gavel. Even with an endorsement from President-Elect Trump, Johnson can only afford to lose a single Republican vote in what will be a historically divided Congress.

And so far, he's not there. Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who has been critical of Johnson's shutdown deal with Democrats, tweeted, quote:

"I respect and support President Trump. But his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan. We've seen Johnson partner with the Democrats to send money to Ukraine and authorize spying on Americans and blow the budget," end quote.

And here's Texas Congressman Chip Roy earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHIP ROY (R-TX): I remain undecided, as do a number of my colleagues, because we saw so many of the failures last year that we are concerned about that might limit or inhibit our ability to advance the president's agenda.

I respect, like Thomas, that President Trump supports Mike. I like Mike. He's a good friend.

Right now, I don't believe that he has the votes on Friday. And I think we need to have the conference get together so that we can get united.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So what happens? Because, guess what, the electoral certification is supposed to happen very soon, January 6th.

Joining us now to discuss, Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky, and Republican strategist, T.W. Arrighi.

Thanks for coming on this New Years Eve.

So, T.W., first to you.

Mike Johnson joked earlier this month about his future, saying anyone who can get 218 votes can have his job. Do you think he should be concerned or does he hold on, in your view?

T.W. ARRIGHI, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Yes, to be honest with you, I think a lot of this is much ado about nothing. He has Donald Trump's support, and that means he will have the support of the conference.

Let's not forget, it was just a few weeks ago that he won the endorsement of the Republican conference. Yes, our majority is small. Is it possible he fails on the first vote? Yes, it is possible.

But it won't be a drawn out, McCarthy like episode because we have too much work to be done. And -- and we cannot stand in the way of Donald Trump's agenda, especially in the first 100 days.

We remember what a cluster it was during the McCarthy vote. So we don't need to repeat this. I think it's -- you know, these guys, like Chip Roy and Thomas Massie, they love poking their heads out in times like this and flexing their muscle in our slim majority.

But it's noise. It's a grift in many ways. And I don't think it holds much water. BROWN: I wonder what you think about this, Julie. Because, you know,

look, Democrats have said they've lost trust with Johnson, with the spending bill. The fact that he pulled it from the table, the negotiated bill with Democrats.

At the same time, any Republican House speaker is going to be in a very similar predicament in many ways, being beholden to Donald Trump and apparently Elon Musk as well.

Do you think that that Democrats should step up and -- and help support Johnson?

JULIE ROGINSKY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Not our circus, not our monkey. Democrats should vote for Hakeem Jeffries on Friday or whenever the vote is. I think it's on Friday. And the reality is that they need to step back and let the Republicans solve this problem for themselves.

They wanted to have the big job. They wanted to be in charge. Well, they're in charge and everything that happens is on them.

So Democrats should not be helping Republicans solve their own mess. It's a mess of the Republicans own creation. And if Mike Johnson can't get his own conference to support him, then sure -- surely, the Democrats don't need to step into that mess and help him out.

[13:40:04]

BROWN: Do you think -- I wonder, T.W., you look back with McCarthy, Trump endorsed him as well. Went through 15 rounds. Does Trump have even more sway now than he did back then in terms of getting more Republicans on board? What do you think?

ARRIGHI: Yes, well, sure. He is the president-elect and he has quite a mandate from that election.

And look, nobody else besides Mike Johnson can get the necessary votes to be speaker. That's just the cold, hard truth.

So anybody trying to delay enacting the Trump agenda is really going to be the catching a lot of heat from Donald Trump directly. And I don't think they want that or the country needs that.

So, yes, look, there's no other alternative. It's Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson will be the next speaker of the House. There will be some noise, bumps along the way, but it's a fait accompli.

BROWN: Julie, I want to talk about something else. And that is the press briefing room at the White House. Trump's incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has signaled that changes are in store there.

She told FOX News she wants the room to reflect the media habits of people in 2024, not the 1980s. What do you think that means?

ROGINSKY: I think it means that FOX News is going to have a prime seat. I think it means that "OAN" and others like "Newsmax" are going to have a prime seat.

I think it means people like Candace Owens, potentially, and others who have podcasts who are MAGA-friendly are going to have prime seats.

And I think that anything that's called the legacy media that doesn't step directly in line with the Trump agenda is not going to have a prime seat.

And look, quite frankly, I don't blame them because one of the big problems, I think, for the Biden administration is that they spent way too much time engaging people like Peter Doocy on FOX News and having these little back and forths that didn't benefit him getting his message out.

It just benefited the people at the podium being able to show them TikTok and wherever else that they could spar with FOX News hosts.

But the reality is the media landscape has changed and they are speaking to an audience that is incredibly bifurcated now. And so the reality is that if they want to talk to their audience and shut everybody else out, that is a smart political strategy.

It's not great for the country. It's certainly not great for the people that they represent. From a political standpoint, though, I understand where they're coming from.

BROWN: All right, Julie and T.W., thanks and Happy New Year.

ARRIGHI: Happy New Year to you.

ROGINSKY: Thanks. Happy New Year.

BROWN: Well, 32 floats and 20 marching bands. Organizers are putting the final touches on the annual Rose Parade tomorrow in southern California. Well take you there live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:46:06]

BROWN: With 2025 just hours away, preparations are well underway in southern California for the annual Rose Bowl parade.

CNN's Veronica Miracle joins us live from Pasadena.

Veronica, tomorrow will be a mix of football and iconic parade floats. How are people there preparing for the big day?

VERNICA MIRACLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Pamela, so much excitement here. People are tailgating ahead of the Rose Bowl. And right now, we are along the parade route ahead of the Tournament of Roses parade.

The floats are actually lining up ahead of judging. People are coming to take a look at these beautiful floats. But this has been a year almost in the making.

Take a look at what it takes to build a float like this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIRACLE (voice-over): Every year, millions of people from across the country and around the world marvel at the dazzling spectacle that is the Tournament of Roses parade and the enormous floats that run through it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's so awesome.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MIRACLE: But to build a float like this is a monumental task that starts every year just weeks after the parade ends.

(on camera): I've never seen the very beginning stages of a Rose Parade.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, there it goes.

MIRACLE: There's so much metal and wiring and welding that takes place.

COLLIN MARFIA, CAL POLICY SAN LUIS OBISPO: Yes, you see all the flowers on parade day, but then its, you know, what supports those flowers?

The Rose Parade float by two of Californias Polytechnic Universities starts on two different campuses more than 200 miles apart before it's joined into one parade entry. It's one of just a handful of floats made entirely by volunteers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels like a party in here already.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's definitely crazy. At some point during the design process, you're always asking yourself, can we actually pull this off?

MIRACLE (on camera): Soon, this float will be moving in all different directions, powered by a hydraulic system.

In fact, come take a look at this. This is where someone is going to be sitting during the parade. And it controls how Nessie's neck moves up and down.

(voice-over): The float, made by both Cal Poly Pomona and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students, tells the story of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, her friends, and the best day they've ever had.

(on camera): She will span up to about 22 feet tall with her neck fully up, fully extended. Her neck has to be able to come down because?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because there is a freeway overpass on the parade route. Cal Polys are known for engineering, and to be able to allow students

to take what they learn in the classroom and actually apply it. You can't get that anywhere else.

MIRACLE (voice-over): And they wouldn't be eligible to participate in the Rose Parade without following this important rule. Everything covering the float must be made of organic items found only in nature.

MARFIA: The hair of the cow is actually coconut husk and corn silk.

And for Nessie, we'll be using things like green split peas and green lentils that will look a little bit more like a dragon skin without being wet.

MIRACLE: A masterpiece covered in tens of thousands of flowers, seeds and shells.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MIRACLE: OK, so, Pamela, it is hard to see the scope of this thing because it's so massive.

But we're going to try and show you. Our photographer, Tom Larson, is going to zoom out so you can just see how beautiful this masterpiece is. This is made of tens of thousands of flowers.

And if you just come a little bit closer, once you get the full scope and the size of this massive neck that is Nessie's neck all the way up top. They've got some finishing touches that they're putting on there just ahead of judging.

But I want to bring you in just a little bit closer so you can see some of the details here. Look at this. These are onion bulbs. I can certainly smell them.

And some of the flowers here were actually grown on the Cal Poly Universities campuses. And the rest of them were donated.

This is just one of six floats made entirely by volunteers. All the other ones are professionally made. So you can see the amount of care and detail that goes into building something like this.

So much fun. Such a marvel to see. Such an honor here in Pasadena, California. We're very excited to bring in the new year this way.

Back to you, Pam.

BROWN: That is amazing. So intricate. I mean, I -- I can't imagine how much time went into to making just one of those floats.

[13:50:06]

Veronica Miracle, thank you so much.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: His beautiful voice is unmistakable and unmatched. And his love songs provided the soundtrack to countless romances. CNN's new film, "LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH," follows the professional and personal life of iconic singer, Luther Vandross.

CNN's Laura Coates recently had a chance to speak with legendary singer, Dionne Warwick, about her friend's life and legacy. And she also opened up about her own remarkable career.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: What was it like knowing that you were his inspiration and then hearing him give what you then called a definitive rendition of a song that only you can sing?

DIONNE WARWICK, SINGER: No, he gave me the definitive version of "A House Is Not a Home." When he recorded it, he called me first. He said, I'm recording one of your songs. OK. And he sent it to me. I heard it before the record company heard it.

COATES: Really?

What was that like, hearing it through the phone? He's so talented.

WARWICK: It was amazing. I dropped the phone. I said, how dare you do this to me?

(LAUGHTER)

WARWICK: He said, what do you mean? I said, oh, my god, you're crazy! What have you done to the song? He said, oh, you don't like it? I said, I love it. Are you crazy?

Anything that he recorded of mine -- and a lot of those -- what I loved about what he did was he made them his own. He didn't do Dionne Warwick. He did Luther Vandross interpreting what Dionne Warwick had done.

And he was a genius. He just was.

COATES: Between "Anyone Who Had a Heart" to "A House Is Not a Home" --

WARWICK: Yes.

COATES: I mean, I could go all day with your repertoire, frankly.

And what's interesting is so many people who are as respected and renowned and talented as you are, sometimes you have an issue with someone creeping up on what you might be possessive about.

WARWICK: Yes.

COATES: But you didn't feel that way with Luther. WARWICK: No.

COATES: You enjoyed and respected his talent.

WARWICK: Well, not only his talent, but his -- his ingenuity. My goodness. Take a song and just decide, well, I'm going to sing the right notes, but I'm going to sing them the way I think they should be sung. That's making it your own.

COATES: I love the way that you have always owned your space and also left the door open for others.

WARWICK: Oh, yes.

COATES: You know, there's -- there's going to be a biopic. I understand we're going to learn more about your life. You've hand- selected the person, Teyana Taylor --

WARWICK: Yes.

COATES: -- who, I have to say, really looks a lot like you.

WARWICK: I know. It was scary.

COATES: Yes.

WARWICK: I got to tell you, my son found a photo of me back in the day and put them side by side with Teyana and sent it to me. And when I looked at it, I said, oh, wait a minute, who is this child? You know?

And finally, I got to speak with her and she's so personable. It's like talking to myself. It was wonderful. And I'm so pleased that she's so excited about it.

COATES: It must be, on the one hand, very exciting to have your story told on your terms.

On the other hand, you know you have been in this business and given us such joy for so long. I wonder if a part of you wonders about the privacy and those private moments that you hope to hold dear.

WARWICK: I find those times to say no. Does say it all. And I finally learned how to say no, you know, and mean it.

And I give so much of me to everybody. And you know can I just add much? So I can say that's mine and I'm going to keep it for me. And, no, you're not going to know what I'm going to be doing with it.

(LAUGHTER)

COATES: I was getting ready to ask, and when do you most feel like that? But that's none of my business.

(LAUGHTER)

COATES: I'm not set on that. WARWICK: I will say that.

COATES: Well, I believe you, Ms. Warwick, that you would.

(LAUGHTER)

COATES: And I respect that about you.

Can I ask you, though, when you said that you give so much to yourself, there are some songs that you have sung and they have soundtracked our lives. Really.

And I will hear you hit a note sometimes and I would say to myself, this is the point where she gave just a little bit of her life away.

That there's a little bit left in that song, whether it's the way that the voice cracked intentionally or the soul came out, or the arc of the note.

Do you have a song where you say, that was a moment where you can -- you'll know Dionne Warwick if you hear that song.

WARWICK: Oh, wow. I would have to say every single song I've ever sung.

[13:55:04]

I've been so fortunate in the composers that I've been able to sing songs that they've written specifically for me. And in, so doing, whenever I sing any of them, they're coming from here. You know, not here, here. Because they've written for me.

And I feel the only way that I can interpret them and give them to audiences is to be completely honest about it.

COATES: Well, that -- no wonder you and Luther Vandross and so many others gravitated towards one another.

Because, as we learned from the film, many people didn't appreciate his, as you called it, ingenuity and arrangement and lived experience through, even if it's slowing down a song to have a different pace on it.

You actually performed with him many times. Tell me what that was like for the two of you.

WARWICK: It was such fun. I think we laughed more than we sang anything.

(LAUGHTER)

WARWICK: He -- he produced a C.D. on me and we did a duet called "How Many Times?" And it was a joy to sing with him. You know, because you could see him saying, I'm going to sing this song with you. Finally. Yes. You're going to sing with me? Finally.

COATES: Yes.

WARWICK: So, he said, OK, so if my phrasing becomes a little bothersome to you, it's because of you. You phrased this way. I said, how do you not phrase? He said, because I've studied you. That's how I know this.

But he did. He took -- took the time to get to know Dionne. Not only personally, but musically. And he said, there's nobody that does it like you. And I'm glad to hear that. Thank you very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Beautiful interview there.

The CNN film, "LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH," premieres tomorrow, New Years Day, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, right here on CNN.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)