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EARLY START

"Brady Bunch" Mom Florence Henderson Dies at 82; Black Friday Begins; Trump Still Mulling Romney for Sec. of State. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired November 25, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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


[05:00:11] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: First up, a TV icon remembered. Florence Henderson from the "Brady Bunch" dead at age 82.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, it is Black Friday. Shoppers look for deals in stores and online.

SANCHEZ: Plus, backlash over Mitt Romney. A trusted Trump aide goes public about the possible pick secretary of state.

We hope you made it over that food coma. Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Boris Sanchez.

ROMANS: I know. Look at the pile of dishes in the kitchen. I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday, November 25th. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East.

She was a TV mom for generation. Florence Henderson died overnight. Henderson started on "The Brady Bunch" starting in 1969 and she kept on playing Carol Brady through various TV, movies and spinoffs for more than 20 years.

She died Thursday of heart failure in Los Angeles. Her manager says she had been ill. There she is on "Dancing with the Stars" about six years ago, in 2010. She was hospitalized on Wednesday.

Henderson's big break came in 1951 when she landed a starring role on Broadway, in "Oklahoma." In 1962, she became the first woman to guest host "The Tonight Show." Florence Henderson was 82.

SANCHEZ: Well, even though it is 5:00 a.m., Black Friday is well under way, mainly because of Black Friday now starts on Thanksgiving Thursday. Here in New York, thousands shoppers finished off turkey early to pack Macy's last night to get a jump start on the Black Friday deals.

In Minnesota, long lines of people patiently waited for stores to open so they could get a head start on their holiday buying. Shoppers in Portland, Oregon had to brave wet weather on top of the long lines to snag those Black Friday deals.

ROMANS: Fifty-nine percent of Americans planning to shop this Thanksgiving weekend. According to the National Retail Federation, that is 137 million people. The majority planned to hit the stores today. Millennials will lead the charge, three quarters of them say they'll be out looking for deals. Trade association expects sales to jump 3.7 percent this holiday season to a total $655 billion.

Now, so far, Samsung 4K TVs, Apple products and electronic scooters have been the top sellers online. In fact, next week's cyber Monday could be the biggest ever for online sales.

Boris, we are hearing some outlets actually starting Cyber Monday tomorrow.

SANCHEZ: Cyber weekend, yes.

ROMANS: Right after today.

SANCHEZ: I'm going to get a jump on the electric scooter.

ROMANS: There you go.

SANCHEZ: I'm wondering what's that's about.

To politics now. This morning, top Trump transition adviser Kellyanne Conway publicly warning against bringing Mitt Romney to his administration as secretary of state. In a series of tweets, Trump's former campaign manager says she has been inundated by messages from Trump loyalists oppose to Romney.

Conway also highlighting Romney's fierce opposition to Trump during the campaign, tweeting quote, "Henry Kissinger and George Shultz as secretary of state flew around the world less, consulted the president more close to home and they were loyal. Good check list."

That loyal thing stands out. We're going to talk about that in just a sec.

Conway says she is not tweeting anything publicly she hasn't already Trump told privately. Trump himself is spending the Thanksgiving family in Florida. This morning, we expect to new information as his transition team holds a conference call with reporters.

We get the latest now from CNN's Jason Carroll in Palm Beach.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Boris, a conference call scheduled for 10:30 this morning. Basically, this is going to be the transition team going over who is on tap to be interviewed on Monday for a cabinet position.

Having said that, we might hear something later on today about commerce secretary. As you know, Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor, is up for that particular job.

Also, we might hear something about Ben Carson, who's up for HUD secretary. He basically said an offer is on the table. Trump for his part turned at least part of the holiday into a working

holiday. You know, he said many times throughout the campaign is impose a 35 percent tax on businesses that took their jobs overseas to Mexico, businesses like Carrier air conditioning company. Well, he tweeted about that, saying, "I'm working hard, even on Thanksgiving, trying to get Carrier air conditioning company to stay in the United States, in Indiana. Making progress. We'll know soon."

Carrier air conditioner weighing in on that, saying, "Carrier has had discussions with the incoming administration and we look forward to working together. Nothing to announce at this time."

In terms of those other announcements, namely the position of secretary of state. That is something that the lead candidate Mitt Romney is pulling over and checking with advisers. Not expecting to hear something on that front until later next week -- Christine, Boris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jason Carroll.

Let's take advantage of this pause and fast pace transition to assess how it's all going with CNN politics reporter Eugene Scott live for us this morning in Washington.

Eugene, what you are hearing about the next round of news about filling out the cabinet.

[05:05:06] And this cabinet is moving more quickly than the cabinet eight years ago, isn't it?

EUGENE SCOTT, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: It seems like it. There is some criticism actually towards Trump about how much he's been on focusing on filling these slots and perhaps neglecting some national security briefings. But we certainly are expecting at least as recent as upcoming as next week to have some answers and some announcement regarding some more top slots, even including possibly secretary of state.

SANCHEZ: Yes, you mentioned secretary of state, Eugene. Some of the big news we've been waiting on is this decision since last weekend about Mitt Romney. We saw them have that meeting, that interesting body language outside the Trump estate in New Jersey.

I want to play for you some sound from the campaign of these two going at each other.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump is a phony. A fraud.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Mitt was a disaster as a candidate.

ROMNEY: He's playing the members of the American public for suckers.

TRUMP: Romney let us all down. He was a very poor campaigner.

ROMNEY: He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat.

TRUMP: Romney choked like a dog. He choked. He went --

ROMNEY: His promises are as worthless as the degree from Trump University.

TRUMP: He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, "Mitt, drop to your knees", he would have dropped of his knees.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

SANCHEZ: These two now cordial. Not something Kellyanne Conway wants to see if you read into her tweets, specifically saying that a secretary of state should be loyal. What do you make of that, Eugene?

SCOTT: I don't think it can be overplayed out significant the tension between these two were, just looking at those clips reminder of ever (INAUDIBLE). We have not seen that disagreement from most recent presidential nominee and a current presidential nominee, which is what we saw.

But I think what we're seeing though is that the men suggest they want to put those things in the past and move forward into making America great again. Whether or not the base will get on board with that remains to be seen. A lot of people took criticism for supporting Trump that Romney did not have to put up with and to some of them, it seems like perhaps he could be being rewarded right now.

ROMANS: Can we talk a little bit about, you know, the wealth factor here? You got -- Donald Trump says he will represent the working men and women, you know, the working class, the people who the system is rigged against. When you look at the cabinet consideration and how money we're talking here, you got Harold Hamm, I mean, $15 billion, Wilbur Ross almost $3 billion, Betsy DeVos, Steve Mnuchin, Dr. Ben Carson, you can see the numbers.

He really is -- what does this is a? Is it concerning at all? Maybe these people don't have middle class ties and sensibilities? Or is Donald Trump saying they are successful and made it in the country and perfectly positioned to help others make it?

SCOTT: Well, I certainly think these are the people r that the president-elect values. These are people who are very much like him. This is his network.

I mean, we don't expect him to have a lot of relationships with season policymakers and people familiar with Washington which is one of the reasons some have argued that he needs to bring a Romney on. He knows business men and business women. So, those are the people that he is tapping to take the country forward. The question becomes, do these people have the policy chops and the

knowledge to take this country forward. There has been, even Carson himself admitted he did not. There's been quite criticism about his education secretary pick not having a teachers background, not being a parent of public school educated children. And so, it gives you some type of insight as to the direction he wants to take the country.

SANCHEZ: Now, Eugene, another criticism of the folks he is considering for top administration positions has been a lack of experience. You look at someone like Nikki Haley who doesn't have a ton of diplomatic experience being named ambassador for U.N. Ben Carson for Housing and Urban Development, even potentially Mitt Romney for secretary of state.

Does it concern you at all that he is not looking for more experience in the fields?

SCOTT: Well, I mean, it certainly isn't surprising. I don't think these he people have any less experience in these fields than Donald Trump himself does in the field that he is about to enter into. But I think the reality is that the hope is that they will fill their teams with people more knowledgeable about issues and policy ideas and just daily mechanics of what it takes to lead a country.

ROMANS: All right. Eugene Scott, a critical final question -- what is your favorite kind of Thanksgiving pie?

SCOTT: Oh, oh, sweet potato. That's easy.

SANCHEZ: Sweet potato, we were debating beforehand.

ROMANS: This guy is a cheesecake. I don't know what to do with this guy over here.

SCOTT: You can be both. The sweet potato cheesecake, you should try both.

[05:10:03] SANCHEZ: That's something.

ROMANS: That's why we bring him on.

SANCHEZ: Appreciate the tip, Eugene, we'll talk to you again soon.

ROMANS: Come back in about a half hour. Thanks.

SANCHEZ: Hillary Clinton has been keeping a low profile since losing the election, but she hasn't been forgotten by the neighbors. Take a look at this homemade collection of signs that cropped up on the corner of Clinton's street yesterday. Many of them expressing appreciation for her presidential campaign.

The former secretary of state feeling the love, tweeting, "I was greeted by this heartwarming display in the corner of my street today. Thank you to all of you who did this. Happy Thanksgiving."

ROMANS: All right. Ten minutes past the hour. A California woman abducted three weeks ago found alive on the side of the road. Now the search for her kidnappers widens. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Two people are dead and four others wounded after gunfire erupted at the annual Thanksgiving Day youth football game in Louisville. Anguished family members arrived on the scene shortly after a total of 19 shots rang out during the Juice Bowl, a decades old tradition in the city.

[05:15:05] Victims left lying on the field. The gunman escaped. Police right now don't have a motive. Louisvi1le has suffered 106 homicides this year. That is nearing an all-time record.

ROMANS: The family of the black teenager who was shot and killed by the Chicago police officer Wednesday night is calling the death a case of murder. Take a look at this surveillance video of the 19-year-old Kajuan Raye running from the officer. The fatal shots were not captured on camera here. Police claimed Raye turned and pointed a weapon at them twice during this foot chase. No weapon has been recovered.

Raye's family released a statement, "At this point, the family and friends of Kajuan Raye are heart broken that their son is dead at the hands of a police officer who does not value the sanctity of life, of the life of black males."

The Chicago's Independent Police Review Authority is investigating.

SANCHEZ: In Israel, at least ten people are in custody in connection with raging wildfires that officials are describing as arson terrorism. The smoke and flames have chased thousands of people from their homes in the country's third largest city. Mayor of Haifa is calling the scale of the fire unprecedented, as Israel's prime minister promises to punish those responsible.

CNN's Oren Liebermann is live in Haifa with the latest.

Oren, we heard that the conditions there in the past few days have been dry and windy. Not good for fighting wildfires. What is it like out there now?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The same conditions are still holding up. It's dry, it's windy and many hot spots are reigniting in the largest city in northern Israel. In Haifa, and authorities say they are now dealing with all sorts of new fires because of those hot spots reigniting.

This, the neighborhood we're in right now, and the center of the city is one of the hardest hit neighborhoods. Take a look at this building behind me, entirely gutted from the flames that swept through here yesterday. The smell of burning wood and melted plastic and clouds of ash is heavy in the air here. And that's what we've seen.

In the few hours that we've here, we've seen two different spots right next to us where hot spots reignited. So, the challenge is not over yet for firefighters. And although Haifa, this city, may have been the hardest hit area, there have been fires breaking out across central and northern Israel over the last couple of days.

Take a look at some of this video. Some of these fires still spreading. Evacuations still going on in some of the cities that are closest to these fires that are still moving because of these winds.

As for the numbers, fire officials say they are dealing with 1,200 fires since last weekend, 250 of which are major fires. Help is now coming in from all over the world. This is not just an Israeli problem now. It is an international problem.

The Greeks, the Cypriots, Russians, Turks, the Americans, have all sent in help. The Palestinians have sent in fire crews, trucks, and firefighters in northern and central Israel. Also in this city here, they were working fairly close to us a short time.

The problem here is not over yet, as these fires keep spreading. Tens of thousands evacuated in Haifa. The challenge now, get them back home. At least those who still have a home to return to, more than 700 buildings damaged or destroyed in this city -- Boris.

SANCHEZ: And, Oren, what do we know about the people detained? Any details released on them yet?

LIEBERMANN: Police did say that number is now up to 12 people detained. But that's as far as they have gone, saying those 12 people have been detained in connection with the fire starting. They have not released details about who those people may be, or what evidence they have against those people.

There was some suspicion earlier that some fires may be negligent, some maybe arson. That, figuring that out maybe the next step after all these fires are out. Then they will get to the investigation as to how they started and perhaps who started them.

SANCHEZ: All right. Oren, we're hoping that the weather takes a turn toward the firefighters' favor and that we get to the bottom of that investigation.

Oren Liebermann, thank you.

ROMANS: All right. To northern California now where authorities are on the hunt for two armed women involved in the abduction of a mother of two. The victim, Sherri Papini, vanished three weeks ago while out for a morning jog. She was found alive in Thanksgiving morning outside Sacramento. The sheriff says her captors left her on the side of the road. She managed to free herself and flagged down a passing driver. Papini was reunited with her family after being treated for unspecified injuries.

SANCHEZ: Turkey and stuffing and football triple header, what could be finer? Steelers, Colts, Cowboys, Redskins, Lions, Vikings.

Andy Scholes has all the trimmings in this morning's "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:46] ROMANS: All right. The Dallas Cowboys were the main course yesterday. They continue to look unstoppable, winning their tenth game in a row.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

Andy, good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys.

You know, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott, they may be the best rookie combo in NFL history. It's just incredible what they've done so far this season.

Now, Cowboys hosted the Redskins to their annual Thanksgiving Day game. In second quarter, Dak rolling out here and he's going to find Terrence William for the touchdown. And check out the replay, Williams getting his tippy toes down, an incredible catch by him. That made it 17-3.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter, Elliott getting in for his second touchdown of the game. The Cowboys hang on, 31-26, their tenth straight win.

Now, throughout the entire game, Dez Bryant and Josh Norman were going at it. Afterwards, they had to be separated on the field. I tell you what. The trash talk continued in post-game interviews.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEZ BRYANT, DALLAS COWBOYS: Washington need to get their money back from Josh Norman.

JOSH NORMAN, WASHINGTON REDSKINS: This guy bumped into me, like, "What's up? Where I'm from, we unload the clips." So, pretty much, whatever you want to do.

[05:25:00] BRYANT: I feel like the guy is extremely soft. I think he's just a bunch of talk. You know, if he was out and about, I wouldn't dare on my life let him talk to me like that. Those words would never come out of his mouth. I promise. I promise he wouldn't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Well, the appetizer yesterday, as the Lions hosting the Vikings. The game tied to 13 late in the fourth. Vikings driving to win the game, but Sam Bradford throws a real bad interception with 30 seconds left. The lions would be in position to kick a 40-yard field goal to win it, 16-13. Detroit now 7-4, in position to win their division after starting 5-0 this year, Vikings lost five of six, really disappointing stretch for them. Finally for dessert last night, we had the Colts hosting the Steelers. Andrew Luck sitting this one out with a concussion. And I'll tell you what, Indianapolis really needed him. They could not keep up with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. They hooked up for three touch downs in this one, as Steelers win 28-7.

If you did not get the football fill yesterday, guys, lots of college football on tap later today. You can again sit on the couch and eat leftovers and watch football.

ROMANS: But you won't have the Vikings turkey hats. Those were pretty cool.

SANCHEZ: Great fashion statement. Andy Scholes, thank you so much.

We are mourning America's mom this morning. She rose to fame as the cheerful matriarch of "The Brady Bunch." Actress Florence Henderson is being remembered today. More on her passing and her iconic career, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)