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New Day

Chemical Weapons Team In Syria; Rouhani: Resume Direct Flights To U.S.; Back To Deliberations; Airlines Introducing New Fees For Luxury; "That Was Amazing"; The Shutdown Begins; Faces Of The Shutdown; Rockslide Kills Five Colorado Hikers; Highway Fight Caught On Video

Aired October 01, 2013 - 07:30   ET

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

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back the "New Day," everyone. It is Tuesday, October 1st. Coming up on the show, we are now seven and a half hours into the government shutdown. Congress unable to reach a deal on a spending bill by the midnight deadline. Thousands of Americans now without a paycheck, hundreds of thousands of Americans. When will Americans get a solution to this mess and will there be another standoff in just about two weeks when Congress debates the nation's debt limit? We are going to ask Illinois senator, Democrat, Dick Durbin before getting the perspective of Americans affected by the shutdown. We'll have much more on that, ahead.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: I like seeing the juxtaposition, the lawmaker and the people being affected by the laws.

Another story for you this morning, five hikers in one family killed in a horrific rock slide in Colorado, their daughter, the lone survivor. Could last month's record rain be the cause? We'll tell you about that story. But first, let's get to Michaela for all the top news going on right now -- Mich.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here are the headlines at this hour. Good morning to you. A chemical weapons team arriving in Damascus to begin dismantling Syria's toxic arsenal. Syria is saying they would cooperate with the mission after the U.S. and Russia struck a deal that was endorsed by the U.N. Security Council. It is the first time the team has been asked to destroy a country's chemical weapons during a war. It is not an easy task. Seven of the 19 declared chemical weapons sites are in combat zones.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is suggesting the resumption of direct flights between the U.S. and Iran. It stopped some 34 years ago because of the Iranian hostage crisis. This is the latest in a charm offensive from Tehran as it tried to president a more favorable impression to the west. Rouhani and President Obama spoke recently, the first conversation between American and Iranian presidents since 1979.

The jury in the Michael Jackson wrongful death trial getting back from a long weekend and back to deliberations, the late superstar's mother, Katherine Jackson claims AEG hired Dr. Conrad Murray knowing the singer had a history of drug abuse. AEG denies hiring Murray, saying Jackson demanded him as his personal doctor. Are you tired of the airline fees? There's more to come, but these ones may soon be worth it. Soon airlines will customize your flight using personal data. Passengers will be able to pay for such luxuries like an empty seat next to them or hot first-class meals in coach. Some airlines will even give travelers the option to rent Apple iPads preloaded with movies.

And a really touching story to end with here, Columbus Ohio sportscaster feeling the love of a devastating personal tragedy, Don Tubery of television station, WBNS, lost his 21-year-old daughter, Maria, two weeks ago in a car accident. So the Ohio State Buckeyes football team in honor of her wore her initials, M.T., on their helmets during their last game.

As you see this happening, as they all left the field, all 78 players, hugged him one by one. A visibly moved man went on air, told his audience that was amazing and it truly was. That's team spirit. Those are your headlines. Kate, over to you.

BOLDUAN: All right, Michaela, thank you so much.

Back to our lead story this morning, what is next after last night's shutdown? Joining us to talk more about this, Senator Dick Durbin, the number two top Democrat in the Senate from Illinois. Senator, it's great to see you. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

SENATOR DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Thank you, Kate.

BOLDUAN: So after last night, I think the long and the short of it is, Americans, they want answers, most immediately this morning, what is going to happen?

DURBIN: I'm not certain, but I can tell you, it was so disappointing in the middle of the night when Speaker Boehner refused to even call for a vote, to fund our government. It would have passed. Moderate Republicans were starting to speak out, saying even if we don't like Obamacare, we don't want to see our government shutdown, but the speaker wouldn't call it for a vote and we are in this position today. This is conduct unbefitting a responsible Congress. The speaker should have called this measure for a vote.

BOLDUAN: Late last night after things fell apart, Senator, the House moved to kick off negotiations, covering the Hill for a long time, I know you know this well, moving to conference committee. But the Senate needs to do the same thing in order for those negotiations behind closed doors to happen. Will Senate Democrats go to conference committee?

DURBIN: Well, what it boils down to is this we believe that the government should be open and functioning. Hundreds of thousands of people who are being turned away from their important jobs for our government this morning should be back at work. The services of our government should be available and the embarrassment of a great nation like America with a shutdown government over a manufactured political crisis should end. Of course, the conversation should continue, but let's not do it with our government shutdown. BOLDUAN: Well, so what does that mean? Are Senate Democrats going to go to conference committee or are we in a staring contest still?

DURBIN: Well, Senator Reid said last night, even before government shutdown, we're prepared to go to that conference. We want the government open and functioning. When we watch how this is going to ripple through the economy, we're counting on American families, who are going to see their savings and retirement accounts devastated by this political strategy. Speak up and say to moderate Republicans we need your leadership in this Republican Party to bring an end to this. Then we can work out whatever differences we have.

BOLDUAN: We are talking to some of those people impacted today and going forward because of the government shutdown. I think everyone agrees that they want the government up and running. What you're telling me is that first the House needs to pass some kind of short- term funding bill before Democrats are prepared to go to conference committee?

DURBIN: I think that's a responsible way to approach this. We think that enough moderate Republicans are starting to stand up and speak out in the Senate and in the House. They rejected Ted Cruz Tea Party devastating approach to dealing with this issue. They want to be responsible legislators, even if they don't like Obamacare. They don't want to see a shutdown, this spiteful strategy we're in the midst of right now.

BOLDUAN: Senator, one thing we've heard from Democrats and the president throughout this is that Republicans are taking the "my way or the highway" approach. We're now hearing that same criticism targeted towards Democrats and the president from Republicans that everyone is backed into a Connor and they're not willing to negotiate. Is that a fair criticism?

DURBIN: Well, I think most people in the body politic are taking a look at this. It never should have reached this point. There's wisdom to that. If they take the time to carefully look, they'll understand we had a funding bill sent to the House, which called for a vote would have been supported by Democrats and Republicans. This notion that whatever is going to go through the House has to be totally Republican measure, that isn't how we govern. We govern with both parties working together.

BOLDUAN: I fancy myself a smart person, a logical person. As we sit here today I'm having a hard time seeing where there is room for compromise because neither side is backing down. Where is the room for compromise? Please lay that out for our viewers.

DURBIN: It's hard thing to describe. At this point, we've had the stark demands, which have said defund Obamacare. Don't let the 40 million uninsured Americans consider these insurance exchanges.

BOLDUAN: Nothing regarding the present health care law will see any vote in the Senate in terms of as it's related to the funding bill?

DURBIN: It's conceivable some aspect of it would be, but the notion of delaying it or defunding it is not going to happen.

BOLDUAN: What aspect, Senator, I'll take anything at this point?

DURBIN: Let me give you an example. We can work out something I believe on the medical device tax. That was one of the proposals from the Republicans as long as we replace the revenue so we don't put a hole in the deficit and respond to this in a responsible fashion. That's one thing the Republicans want to talk about. Let's sit down and put that on the table.

BOLDUAN: How many days are we going to be in a shutdown do you think?

DURBIN: I hope it isn't even 24 hours. I hope before the end of the day that Speaker Boehner will call the funding bill, find the moderate Republicans and Democrats will make sure our government is up and running.

BOLDUAN: All right, let's hope your optimism will show results today because everyone is waiting and watching as people are not going to be going to work today. Senator Dick Durbin, member of the Democratic leadership of the Senate, thank you very much for your time this morning.

DURBIN: Thank you, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Of course -- Michaela.

PEREIRA: Well, Kate, we have heard from our politicians. We've heard from analyst, but we want to talk to the people hanging in the balance, the American taxpayer. We have some of the Americans that we have been talking to all morning long. Six of them join us here in studio.

We wanted to talk to you Joanna specifically about the fact that you're a young person, grew up in a small town. You actually say that that growing up in a small town has affected how you feel about all of this. Explain what you mean by all of that.

JOANNA CARPENTER, ACTRESS: Growing up in a small town, it was one of those small Michigan towns where half the people you graduate with end up in the military. So when I started to kind of study exactly what was happening over the last few weeks, months, whatever, my first concern was for how veterans and active military personnel were going to be affected.

I think it's great that added that exemption to make sure active personnel and their families can still get paid. I think the whole process is frustrating because as we've stated before, there are things being affected that the public might not know about if you're not involved in the military or if you don't have a family member in the military, things that are falling about the way side that shouldn't be happening.

PEREIRA: What's your message to Congress then?

CARPENTER: Stop wasting my time and my money. I work very hard and I don't have a lot of money to show for it. I'm an actor. None of us make money. You know, but living paycheck to paycheck for the majority of my adult life, it's incredibly frustrating to see people that are in public service that are not serving the public. My taxes are going to your salary. So what are you -- you're still getting paid, taking your family out to dinner. I'm figuring out what I'm going to do next week.

PEREIRA: I see you nodding in agreement. I heard you say, this is comedy. I don't like what's happening on either side. What makes you most angry?

CC STRIGON, IT CONSULTANT: Exactly. Well, you know, I kind of feel like essentially when you go to daycare and pick up your children and you see toddlers, you know, squabbling over a toy.

PEREIRA: You feel they're squabbling children?

STRIGON: Exactly.

PEREIRA: What's hanging in the balance for you personally?

STRIGON: I think for me this is called the affordable care act. I feel like I'm underinsured. So it just opens up a sensibility for individuals like me who have chronic illnesses. You have to take and maintain medications, which can be very, very costly.

PEREIRA: These are just some of the concerns. We'll ask you to stick around with us. We'll talk to you maybe one more time and check back with you to find out how this is impacting you, the threat of the shutdown, what's keeping you up at night, what are the concerns you have, uninsured, actors, military families, he's. We'll do that throughout the morning. I'll send it back over to you -- Kate and Chris.

BOLDUAN: All right, Michaela, thank you so much.

CUOMO: Coming up on NEW DAY, a horrible story, huge rocks come crashing down on hikers in Colorado. There's no warning. Five are killed, only one survives. We're going to tell you what happened. One family involved in all that.

BOLDUAN: Amazing video you see right there.

Also some amazing video, a case of intense road rage. Bikers take on the driver of an SUV. The bikers breaking windows, slashing tires, what set all this off? We'll have the latest, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Welcome back to NEW DAY. A tragic ending to a desperate rescue mission in Colorado, five hikers trapped by a rock slide 120 miles southwest of Denver are dead. Conditions so severe their bodies have yet to be recovered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) PEREIRA (voice-over): A terrifying and heart wrenching scene in Colorado this morning, the "Denver Post" reports that family members were hiking an easy and popular trail near the picturesque Agnes Vaille Falls when a massive rockslide occurred.

JOHN SPEZZE, CHAFFEE COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF: It looks like there was a cliff bank above the falls and it looks like it slid off of that.

PEREIRA: According to "The Post," five hikers were buried as boulders the size of cars, some weighing nearly 100 tons cascaded down the mountain.

JUSTIN YALE, COLORADO HIKER: The whole left side where it's gray, it's just gone. It used to be a big massive pillar of black rock. A whole side of the mountain is missing.

PEREIRA: Rescuers managed to dig through the debris pulling out a sixth person, a survivor, 13-year-old Gracie Johnson. She was air lifted to a local hospital. The other hikers' names have not been released and the sheriff declined to identify the dead. Rescue efforts were halted yesterday after engineers declared the area was too unstable for emergency officials.

PETE PALMER, CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF: We are at a bit of a lose right now just exactly how we are going to move those boulders. Today the hope of any other survivors, lost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a recovery effort at this point.

PEREIRA: Officials told the "Denver Post" they were able to visually confirm that the others among the group were among those buried. The sheriff told the paper, there is no one alive up there.

For 13-year-old Gracie Johnson, she suffered a broken limb. Recovery teams plan to try to re-enter the rock slide area this afternoon to see if they can recover the remaining bodies. What a tragedy to that area. We'll hopefully be able to bring you more information about her recovery.

BOLDUAN: It's hard to believe that can happen.

PEREIRA: And so quickly, too, an easy trail. That's the other thing. Wow. All right, Michaela, thanks.

BOLDUAN: Coming up next on NEW DAY, calls for new DNA testing in the Amanda Knox trial. Italian judges want to say a closer look at the knife used in the killing of her roommate, Meredith Kercher. We're going to explain why.

CUOMO: Check this out, a gang of bikers chased down an SUV driver and attack him, all caught on tape. Why did they go after him and why has no one been arrested yet? We have the video and the controversy, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY. You have to see this video of this terrifying highway showdown. New York police are on the hunt for a pack of motorcyclists. Maybe you can help identify them. This video shows them surround a family of three in their SUV. The driver plows through them, but it's not over. Police say what followed was a high- speed chase with a brutal ending. "EARLY START" anchor, John Berman, has this story for us.

JOHN BERMAN, ANCHOR, CNN'S "EARLY START": The police are now investigating as you said, Chris, the video terrifying all the more so when you realize that the driver's 2-year-old daughter was in the car.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN (voice-over): A road rage clash caught on camera. The driver of this range rover gets caught up in a pack of motorcycles on New York City's Westside Highway. Take a look at how it started. A biker pulls in front of the SUV, appearing to slow down. The driver apparently accidentally bumps the back tire, breaking the biker's leg.

Between 20 and 30 bikers descend on the SUV, surrounding him. Police say they begin denting his car and slashing his tires. Fearing for his life, police say, the driver barrels through the mob with his wife and 2-year-old daughter in the car, hitting three more of the bikers. They are now in pursuit.

They catch up and one opens the door. The driver of the SUV floors it and gets away. The chase begins again and moves off the highway. This time, there's nowhere to go. Stuck behind New York City traffic, an enraged biker makes his move, using his helmet to Bash in the driver's window.

COMMISSIONER RAY KELLLY, NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT: He is taken out of the car and assaulted. He received some stitches at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He has been treated and released.

BERMAN: The New York City police are now investigating, looking for the members of the motorcycle group called Hollywood Stunts.

KELLY: This is sort of a major stunt event where motorcyclists from various locations come together. Their ultimate goal is to get into Times Square.

BERMAN: Here they are in this video, posted to YouTube, more than 1,000 motorcycles, dirt bikes and four wheelers taking over Times Square in 2012. Now police are checking security cameras for any information that could lead to arrests.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: It's just horrifying, seeing them bash in that rear window. Remember, the 2-year-old daughter was in the car. The driver did receive stitches at the hospital. He has been released and is doing fine. The wife and daughter not hurt in that awful incident.

BOLDUAN: All caught on camera by one of the motorcycles. BERMAN: No arrests yet. They are still looking.

BOLDUAN: Still investigating. Thanks so much, John.

Coming up next on NEW DAY, Amanda Knox, the retrial. Her defense team is calling for new DNA tests to help prove her innocence, the latest on that, ahead.

COUMO: And later, key players from Capitol Hill explain why our government is shut down. Darrell Issa from the House, Rand Paul from the Senate, Jay Carney from the White House, all joining us live to answer the questions we will put to them to ask them how Washington plans to fix the problem.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You do not use the threat of shutting down government to try to advance your policy agenda.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Breaking overnight, no to a deal. Yes to a bad deal for you, a government shutdown. The U.S. government now closed for business. Hundreds of thousands of workers and a whole American economy held hostage as Congress can't come to a compromise.

BOLDUAN: The hardest hit, workers without paychecks. Some government services suspended. We break down what's opened and what's closed. All this as a major part of Obamacare begins this morning. Dr. Sanjay Gupta with what you need to know.

PEREIRA: New twist in the retrial of Amanda Knox, the key piece of evidence that they now want re-examined. Could it exonerate the American?

CUOMO: You NEW DAY continues right now.

BOLDUAN: Good morning. Welcome back to "NEW DAY." It is Tuesday, October 1st, 8:00 in the east. Eight hours and counting now into the first government shutdown in 17 years, Congress unable to reach a deal on, trying to reach a deal before the midnight deadline. Hundreds of thousands of people will now go without pay. We'll talk live with the panel of real Americans just like you, just like me, here in studio about how the shutdown affects them. We'll have that just ahead.

CUOMO: Now most of the important functions are still going. Federal agencies, including NASA, have gone dark. This is what their live TV channel looks like now, a graphic explaining why they can't run it. National parks, landmarks, Statue of Liberty closed. Those have affects on businesses that depend on them.

The biggest thing is the unknown. It isn't like a shutdown, if the debt ceiling limit goes wrong, it could be very bad. Congressman Darrell Issa, Senator Paul rand and white house correspondent jay carney. We will keep you updated all along the way. We have the shutdown covered from all angles this morning.

Let's start with Brianna Keilar at the White House. Good morning, Brianna.

KEILAR: Chris, good morning to you. As we headed toward that midnight deadline last night, the White House shut out a memo to its agencies, instructing them to execute their plans for an orderly shutdown. This morning, Congress remains at an impasse. Overnight, president Obama released a message to the troops.