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New Day

Government Shutdown at Midnight; Amanda Knox on Trial Again; Dr. Drew on Cancer; "Breaking" Twitter

Aired September 30, 2013 - 08:30   ET

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

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get right to Michaela for the five things you need to know for your new day.

Mic.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we all know what number one is. It's that darn clock. Number one, less than 16 hours to a government shutdown. Today the Senate expected to reject a House spending bill that calls for a one year delay for Obamacare. Funding for the federal government dries up at midnight tonight.

President Obama is sitting down with Benjamin Netanyahu today. The Israeli prime minister is balking at the outreach from Iran. He perceives it as a stall tactic and is urging the U.S. not to take the bait.

Weapons inspectors from the United Nations heading to Syria to dismantle its weapons, these chemical weapons arsenal. They're going to wear special suits to protect there from poison, body armor and helmets to protect them from bullets.

An advisory panel sending its recommendations about using smartphones and other gadgets in flight to the FAA today. The FAA has the final say on whether to ease those current restrictions or not.

And at number five, Alex Rodriguez making his case today. The Yankees slugger goes before an arbitrator to try to get that 211-game suspension reduced or set aside. A final decision not expected until the winter.

You know, we always update those five things to know, so be sure to go to newdaycnn.com for the very latest.

All right, Chris, let's get to that government shutdown.

CUOMO: All right, Mic, if there is any situation that demands perspective, it's what's going to happen with this shutdown. To break it down, both sides, of course. CNN "Crossfire" host Van Jones on the left, Ari Fleischer, CNN political commentator, former White House press secretary on the right. Ari, also a small business owner, as I learned -

ARI FLEISCHER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes.

CUOMO: In going through your comments. Worried about Obamacare for that reason, if none other.

So, as you guys have heard, because you always watch NEW DAY, the Congress members are nervous this morning. They're dancing. They're ducking questions about why they get paid during the shutdown. Nobody wants a shutdown now as long as they can get the right bill.

Ari, let me ask you this. While they are starting to duck a little bit, the lines are still drawn that they want Obamacare connected to this funding bill before they'll let it go forward. What's the upside possibly for Republicans if there's a shutdown?

FLEISCHER: Oh, I don't think there is any upside. A shutdown is not good for anybody and I think the longer it goes on, the more it can hurt Republicans, with one possible exception. But, look, these issues, where they get to the finish line and fight like this, are nothing new. Presidents and congresses have been doing this for decades. What typically happens is, you get something that is a compromise at the end that's not overreach, it's not massive policy, but usually it's because a president negotiates, this one won't, and the Congress figures out something more moderate to pass. That's how you get out of this. And there's still hope for that to be done.

CUOMO: So, Van Jones, you are the face of compromise. You are representing the left. Your party members this morning have been rigid, Van, rigid. They will not touch the bill if Obamacare is in any way related to it. What are you going to do?

VAN JONES, CNN "CROSSFIRE" HOST: Well, I mean, I think they're right not to touch it. I mean usually what you do is, in the ordinary course of legislation, you pass it, you fund it. If the Supreme Court weighs in, you fix it going forward. The idea that we're going to continue to relitigate this and hold the economy hostage, it doesn't make any sense.

And I think part of what's going on right now is that I think the president is drawing a firm line in the sand. We need to be in a situation where Congress pays its bills. That shouldn't be a favor done to the president. That's something that they're supposed to do for the country. And we need to be in a situation where a continuing resolution is a continuing resolution. Not a discontinuing resolution for Obamacare, but a continuing resolution for America's government. That should -

CUOMO: All right.

JONES: This -- what's happening is that they're taking something that has nothing to do with the continuing resolution and they're sticking it in and that's causing the whole system to break down.

CUOMO: All right. You know, other than that lines metaphor, as soon as you start talking about lines, Van, we get into trouble here when (ph) we talk to (INAUDIBLE)).

You know, a fair point. You know, you guys aren't playing the game the right way. You voted 40 something times to try to get rid of Obamacare. It didn't work. Get more seats in Congress and pass your own laws. I mean that's the seesaw of democracy. You guys seem to be changing the rules here. You don't like the law, too bad, go win elections.

FLEISCHER: Chris, I don't disagree with that. I think that's actually a very valid point. I think there's a Republican overreach in trying to repeal Obamacare or even delay it for a year. I think the sensible thing is to repeal what's called the medical device tax, which if you think about it, is a tax on people's pacemakers, it's a tax on people's hearing aids. What happened is, the government got so hungry to pay the huge cost of Obamacare, they started taxing things that should not be taxed that affect people's health care.

Now, many Democrats in the Senate or for repealing it. That's the avenue to get out of this. That should be attached to the CR. The Democrats should support it. President Obama should sign that into law. If the government shuts down, it will be because the Democrats insist on taxing people's pacemakers.

CUOMO: Now, but -

FLEISCHER: That's what this will come down to.

CUOMO: Yes, but -- Van, I'm going to let you respond. But, Ari, though, let's be honest, though, just to -- because it's serious enough because of what's coming up with the debt ceiling that we've got to back off rhetoric a little bit.

FLEISCHER: But that's the facts. That's what the medical device tax is.

CUOMO: Right, but you're still tying a political fight that you lost fair and square to something that is going to be hurtful to American people, aren't you?

FLEISCHER: I don't see how that's political to say that people's pacemakers should be taxed. It's the substantive flaws of the legislation itself. And when you deal with the substantive flaws of legislation, fix it. And for decades people have attached legislation -

CUOMO: All right.

FLEISCHER: Like this to these type of funding bills.

CUOMO: All right, so, Van -

FLEISCHER: There's nothing new here. (INAUDIBLE) the president will not negotiate.

CUOMO: Van, answer that. Answer to that. Answer to that point. Why do you hate people with pacemakers and hearing aids? Why do you hate them?

FLEISCHER: That's not what I'm saying, Chris.

CUOMO: No, I know what you're saying. What about that funding provision? Is that something that should be on the table?

JONES: Hey, listen, in the course of ordinary legislation, it absolutely should be. I mean, listen, even Keith Ellis (ph), who's a, you know, big progressive in Congress, he says he's open to that because that tax actually hurts his state a little bit.

But all this should be on the table in the normal course of legislation. It shouldn't be thrown here at the last minute where you actually have America's government in danger of being shut down. A lot of people are going to be hurt if America's government shuts down.

This is a minor - listen, I agree with Ari, there's never been a perfect bill passed. There's never been perfect legislation in the history of this country. And Obamacare is not perfect. But you don't take an imperfect bill and come up with a crazy process that creates massive uncertainty across the country, that threatens America's government, that threaten American's full faith and credit just fix an imperfect bill. You fix an imperfect bill using normal legislative processes. And that's available.

Now, my concern is that in all this discussion about the breakdown in America's government we're not excited about the breakthrough. Tomorrow, ordinary Americans, who don't have health insurance, get a chance to sign up for the first time. That's a huge breakthrough. You can go to healthcare.gov. If you're watching now, you don't have health care or your mama doesn't, you can go to healthcare.gov and sign up for health insurance. That's a good thing in America. It's crazy town up here because something good is happening in our country and some people just can't stand for something good to happen for the American people.

CUOMO: Van Jones, breakdown, breakthrough, solid line. I've got to give the last word to you then, Ari.

FLEISCHER: Well, as you know, I went on that site, all I got was an electronic runaround. I wish people good luck in signing on to that. But, you know, Van Jones calls it a breakdown.

JONES: It doesn't open until tomorrow. It doesn't open until tomorrow.

FLEISCHER: It's called - it's called an amendment. Amendments have been the process of Congress for hundreds of years. It's only Barack Obama who doesn't know how to negotiate or get it done.

JONES: He negotiated on the stimulus. He negotiated on health care. He negotiated on the fiscal cliff. He negotiates all the time. But this is ridiculous. And I'm glad he's standing up. I'm proud he's president for standing up.

FLEISCHER: Van - Van, it's been done for decades. It's been done for decades of both parties. The only difference is presidents know how to work with Congress.

JONES: Well, and, listen, when you have a Congress that's run by Ted Cruz, it's hard to negotiate with anybody. FLEISCHER: I think it's been -- Barack Obama can't do what Bill Clinton did. Bill Clinton was able to work these things out with a Congress of the opposite party.

JONES: Oh, my goodness. Bill Clinton has been - Bill Clinton agrees with President Obama.

FLEISCHER: President Obama just can't. Why? Because he insists --

JONES: President - because he agrees with President Obama.

CUOMO: Hold on, guys.

JONES: You've got to draw a line in the sand sometime. You can't let the kindergarteners take control of the pre-k (ph).

CUOMO: Oh, there you go with the line again. I'm cutting it off there, Van. I told you about the line comments and you made another line comment. I'm ending the discussion there.

Van Jones, Ari Fleischer, thank you very much. I thought Ari was going to go with the Traveshamockery (ph). That would have won the debate. If you used Traveshamockery, it would have been over. You didn't. That's on you. No, thank you very much to the fellas for reasoned perspective, as always.

Kate, over to you.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Chris, thank you.

Coming up next on NEW DAY, Amanda Knox back on trial. Italian prosecutors trying to convict her of murder again. Knox won't be there in person for the proceedings, but Dr. Drew, we're going to talk to Dr. Drew about much - about that and the emotional toll that it's already taking on her and her family. He's going to be joining us next.

Also ahead, the "Breaking Bad" season finale has everyone buzzing this morning. How did it fare against other beloved finales?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Welcome back to NEW DAY.

Amanda Knox is back on trial today for the 2007 murder of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher. The Italian supreme court is now retrying the 26-year-old after her acquittal in 2011. Knox will not be returning to Italy, though, for the trial, telling CNN in May that she's scared to go back there.

Let's talk about this in much more. Joining me now is Dr. Drew Pinsky host of HLN's "Dr. Drew On Call."

This woman has gone through such an extraordinary set of circumstances when you think of it.

DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, HLN'S "DR. DREW ON CALL": Too much. Too much.

BOLDUAN: She goes through the death of her roommate. She's accused of murder. She's in prison. The verdict is overturned. She's out of prison. She comes back to the United States and then this. From a doctor's perspective, what is she going through and how do you manage it?

PINSKY: From a doctor's perspective, I -- if I were her, I'd want to crawl into a hole and hide out - you know, with a manhole cover over it.

BOLDUAN: Right.

PINSKY: I mean you'd have to have some sort of post traumatic stress. And even the prospect of going back to Italy would trigger so much anxiety. I mean some people wouldn't be able to sleep at night depending on their proclivities, their preexisting sort of risks.

But everyone's sort of pointing their finger at her and wondering why she doesn't go back. That's ridiculous. Anybody -- think of yourself in that situation. There's no way you would go back to Italy. At least you're stateside here.

BOLDUAN: Right.

PINSKY: You have the security of your own culture and your own legal system. And whether or not she's extradited, I don't think that's going to happen. I really don't. Her legal team has been sounding very confident they could fight that and I hope she can sleep well at night because this girl has been through enough.

BOLDUAN: Even the threat of that, even the kind of -- it being out -- lingering out there, or the threat of extradition -

PINSKY: Yes.

BOLDUAN: How does -- you've heard her over and over say she's ready to move on -

PINSKY: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And get back to her life or the new life that she will now be living.

PINSKY: We'll see. Yes.

BOLDUAN: How does that uncertainty of her future impact her recovery and her ability to move on?

PINSKY: Well, that's exactly the point here, I think, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

PINSKY: She really can't leave it all behind. And the point of fact she's never going to.

BOLDUAN: Right.

PINSKY: It's like any other severely traumatic event. Something you have to learn to live with. You're not something that is just magical cut it out and be done with it, although people try to do that. Their brains actually are sort of defensively set up in such a way to attempt to do that. But anyone who does that, does that at their own risk. It's something you have to kind of come to terms with and, unfortunately, her ordeal doesn't seem to be ending yet.

BOLDUAN: And it's important to note, while she and her family constantly are trying to search for answers, so is Meredith Kercher's family. We've got a huge number of people, families, that are impacted by this.

PINSKY: Yes. Yes.

BOLDUAN: Who cannot get closure because this continues.

PINSKY: Yes. Yes, because -- and I don't understand the Italian system, that they can be -- continue to drag --

BOLDUAN: It's almost impossible to understand, yes.

PINSKY: Right. And that's where I kind of - you kind of look at it with a little bit of a jaundiced eye. Is this -- what are they up to? Why do they keep dragging this out? Is it some sort of retribution they have to have before they can close a case? In the meantime, it's time to get on with things, I hope.

BOLDUAN: I do want to talk to you before I let you go about -

PINSKY: Yes.

BOLDUAN: We talked last week about your very big decision to come very public and come forward to talk about your private battle with prostate cancer.

PINSKY: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And it was a big decision and you thought about it a lot, first and foremost your health, and then why you would want to come forward and kind of talk about it. What's the reaction been?

PINSKY: The reaction's been sort of a frenzy, which is really surprising.

BOLDUAN: Really?

PINSKY: I didn't think anybody would really care. I just thought it was time to - I was hoping people would learn something from it.

BOLDUAN: Uh-huh.

PINSKY: And you told me something very powerful before the cameras heated (ph) up, was it -- your father's a urologist. BOLDUAN: My father's a urologist and he really loves the fact that a medical professional is coming forward to talk about it because it's a complex topic.

PINSKY: It's a complex topic, but - and, Chris, guys don't like going there. I know you and your buddies go for those physicals every year and have your colonoscopies together, right, is that together?

BOLDUAN: It's touchy to say the least.

PINSKY: We don't want any touching. We're physicians anyway, and it is complicated. I mean my situation one of the really important messages of what I went through is my physician's judgment was exquisite and you know there's a lot today about Obamacare in the news right.

BOLDUAN: Right.

PINSKY: So one of the things I have concerns about as to pertaining to Obamacare, is we're going to be come too much of a guideline practice of medicine, if guidelines have been practiced I probably would have died. My doctor saw something they didn't like to -- they didn't feel right to him so it was his judgment to move further. I had the same sort of feeling from a urologist who finally pulled the trigger. And when we got the prostate out, it was bad times. Even though I didn't fit any guidelines for going as far as I did.

BOLDUAN: Right.

PINSKY: The fact is thank God they did, thank God they followed their judgment. Thank God I was a good patient.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

PINSKY: And followed my wife's idea of going to get a physical.

BOLDUAN: Most important message of this whole thing.

PINSKY: Trust your wives with your life. Mine saved mine, and because of that, her instinct was something was wrong and sure enough it was.

BOLDUAN: So you have this huge reaction to this.

PINSKY: Yes.

BOLDUAN: What do you do? Do you want to -- what do you do now? Do you kind of try to harness this and make sure the conversation continues? Because as you said it's important not only the awareness that prostate cancer is a killer, having the conversation that people don't have is important.

PINSKY: Talk to your doctors about it and get the regular follow-up. Your dad and I should team up and talk about this.

BOLDUAN: You two together would be quite a time. PINSKY: And then you are the interviewer. That would be interesting but -- but I think it is something that men have to look into, a common cancer, don't freak out if you get it, there's all sorts of options now depending what age you are what grade of tumor you have and just don't because you have cancer rush to get it out.

I waited two years and have active surveillance done and I was looking like I could go on and on but again my position is that something didn't seem right. I think it's go time and it was go time.

BOLDUAN: I just love that as part of your message. It's simply if you're diagnosed, whether you see this problem don't freak out.

PINSKY: Don't freak out.

BOLDUAN: I think it's simple and important.

PINSKY: And this is a common, common malignancy and no one needs to die of prostate cancer or colon cancer these days. God knows breast cancer screening or breast cancer inventions are highly effective these days. We need to, people need to not shrink away from these things but take a proactive stance and again be careful with guidelines, follow you and informed patient, a motivated patient and a caring, careful physician who is paying attention, that is the most efficient unit we have and the outcomes will be the best if that is what is allowed to practice medicine -- the patient and the physician together.

BOLDUAN: Well, we're glad that your outcome and your prognosis is fabulous.

PINSKY: And I'll keep talking about it, it all looks good right now. So hopefully that's the case.

BOLDUAN: Thank you. Dr. Drew it's great to see you as always.

PINSKY: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: A reminder to viewers you can see "Dr. Drew on Call" 9:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN and his nationally syndicated radio show "Loveline" 10:00 p.m. to midnight.

We also want to hear your thoughts on this story and all the stories we're talking about today, tweet us, #newday and let us know what you think -- Chris.

CUOMO: Hopefully my utter embarrassment helps lead more people to get their checks done.

A little bit of good stuff now for everybody, today's edition, Alison Henry she just turned 10 years old. But it wasn't what she received for her birthday, it's what she gave, instead of presents Alison asked for donations for a charity that gives bullet and knife proof vests to police K-9s. Why? Cops say their K-9 counterparts are right there in the fight and take all the same risks they do. But unfortunately most police departments can't afford to get them vests. So enter Alison she raised nearly $1,000 to buy a vest for K-9 officer Riker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALISON HENRY: I just feel that a dog should be safe because I really like animals.

JAMES NEISWANGER, HOLYOKE POLICE CHIEF: A young lady at 10 years of age making an impact in the world, making a positive impact.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: And making a strong point -- applause indeed and a plaque, that's what Alison received for her work but more importantly, she got some word from the mayor, but she got word from inside that she did the right thing for others, including of the four-legged variety.

So our hats go off to her, a great way to spend your birthday a gift to yourself in the form of giving to somebody and look how appreciative the pooch is, he likes it very much.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: (inaudible) She saw a problem, looked for a solution and found one.

BOLDUAN: And I think what we're seeing over and over again, there is a lot we can learn from kids.

PEREIRA: Oh boy.

CUOMO: Yes, when raised right and that's another thing, proud parents there because a lot of times kids doesn't come up with it themselves. Proud parents behind it.

Next stop on NEW DAY what do we got?

BOLDUAN: I got fans saying good-bye to "Breaking Bad". Crews can't even say it because --

CUOMO: -- could do the tease.

BOLDUAN: Because he's so emotional about it. How did this finale fare against big finales in the past? That's our top four coming up next.

CUOMO: It's a good punch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: There you go welcome back to NEW DAY.

It's time for the "Pop Four" with Nischelle Turner's special edition of the "Pop Four".

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I'm making amends today. BOLDUAN: Yes.

TURNER: You know because it's is such a big morning, you guys have a lot of news but we have a lot of news in the entertainment world too because we're talking "Breaking Bad". We are on the "Breaking Bad" band wagon here but I've got everybody's back.

If you didn't get to watch the series finale last night this is a spoiler free zone on "NEW DAY". I'm just warning all of you. We don't have the numbers action we're waiting on them on how many people watched. But here's what we do know. No traveshamockery, Chris. No.

BOLDUAN: Is that how you spell that?

TURNER: That's how I spelled it.

But that was number one on Twitter for most of the finale hour. "Breaking Bad" traffic on Facebook was up 292 percent from last Sunday and here's what I will tell you. I'm not going to spoil.

PEREIRA: No spoiling.

TURNER: It did wrap everything up. But in everything up, you know, who lives, who dies, who makes amends, who gets revenge. You know all of that.

PEREIRA: But is it satisfying?

TURNER: It is. It's very satisfying especially if you're a lover of all things "Breaking Bad." It's not like "The Sopranos" where it's just a fade to black. It does end on a song -- it definitely ends on a song and you kind of get that --

CUOMO: Window for a possibility of an offshoot. We know that Sal the lawyer is getting his own one. But is there any other one in there?

TURNER: It could be.

CUOMO: Really?

TURNER: Yes, it could be and you made me think about that there because at the end you're kind of like I can't believe he actually -- and so yes there is.

PEREIRA: There's something about going out on top, right?

TURNER: I'm like teasing. I've been talking to Bryan Cranston about this for the whole year asking what's going to happen, what's going to happen. And he promised me you know Walter White is not going to go out with a whimper and that's true.

BOLDUAN: Is he still amazed. What is his reaction on what the fan reaction has been to the show? This is kind of amazing how popular the show is.

TURNER: Absolutely. It is very popular. You know, let's put it in perspective a little bit if you have a series finale like we had when "MASH" was on -- I mean almost 100 million people watched that.

BOLDUAN: Right. You just don't have that.

TURNER: This is 8 million to 10 million people but the television landscape is so different now so it is huge for what people watch right now and he is amazed by what has happened.

BOLDUAN: He's are very thankful.

Get on it guys. I didn't sleep last night to I watch it.

We'll be right back.

CUOMO: Get this. Get this dang shutdown out of the way and watch TV again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: All right. That's it for us here on NEW DAY. We have the clock up there for the shutdown. There's only one person that might be able to avoid the tragedy of a shutdown and she is up right now. The one and only Carol Costello.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I only wish I had that power.

(CROSSTALK)

BOLDUAN: No pressure.

COSTELLO: No pressure. Thanks, guys. Have a great day.

"NEWSROOM" starts now. Good morning, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

On the edge and on notice, Congress has less than 15 hours to avoid a government shutdown. As hope dwindles, anger builds. According to a new CNN/ORC poll nearly seven in ten Americans believe it's Republican lawmakers who are acting like spoiled children in this stalemate.