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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Change of Tactics on DHS Funding Bill; Face of Terror; Wild Winter Weather

Aired February 24, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The clock is ticking on a Homeland Security shutdown. The Senate majority leader trying to find some middle ground. So, what does Mitch McConnell propose and can it satisfy all sides?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And is this the woman who lured three British girls from home to join ISIS in Syria? A new focus this morning on the so-called ISIS bride as officials from Britain and Turkey try to find the missing trio.

BERMAN: Ice, freezing rain, ugly conditions -- look at that -- sent a plane skidding off the runway, trucks dangling from bridges. Yikes! And it's not just the Northeast, folks, also in the Deep South. We'll tell you the areas hardest hit this morning. Look at that.

ROMANS: A lot of flight cancellations again today, a lot of flight cancellations.

BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Tuesday, February 24th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East. Nice to see you all this morning.

New this morning: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell trying to break -- trying a new tactic to break, rather, the congressional stalemate over funding of the Department of Homeland Security after a fourth failed Senate vote Monday night on adopting the House's version of the funding bill. McConnell announced he will schedule a separate vote on blocking President Obama's executive orders on immigration. The Republicans and Democrats both expressing doubt whether McConnell can get such a measure passed by the end of the week if at all. If not, homeland security funding runs out Friday, sending non-essential DHS employees home, forcing essential employees to work without pay.

CNN White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski has more on the effect of possible partial shutdown of the Homeland Security Department.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, John and Christine. Well, now, for the first time, we hear the administration say that yes, it looks like this political showdown is heading for a shutdown for the Department of Homeland Security. For the first time, we are hearing the administration, in fact, the president himself spell out the cutting off funding for DHS will have a direct impact on national security. The reason that is interesting, for the past several days, it seems like the White House has gone out of its way to avoid using that language. When asked directly by reporters, what impact will this have, they would refer us to the Department of Homeland Security for more detail or they would say, well, it can't have a good impact on national security.

But now that the president put it out there, they are giving a little more detail on how exactly this could affect our security. Things like having no funding for planning or local programs, also the fact that some 30,000 non-essential DHS employees will be furloughed. And even though they are called non-essential, overall, that could have a negative effect.

The White House is, of course, blaming Republicans for this for tying funding DHS to trying to stop the president's executive action on immigration. The White House has called that irresponsible to toy with homeland security in this way, and they said, well, even though some of these essential employees of DHS will have to go to work and not get paid, they say Congress will continue to get paid for not doing its job -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Michelle for that.

DHS funding not the only issue facing the White House this morning. President Obama is still seeking congressional authorization for the war against ISIS. But he is confronting rebellion with his own party over his request for a three-year authorization for the use of military force. The president's plan ban a, quote, "enduring ground operation". But many Democrats say they are weary of another war in Iraq. They don't want to give the president and more importantly, his successor, they say, a blank check.

Later today, two meetings are set to give the president high-level feedback on the battle against ISIS. One of them is with the emir of Qatar, the other with Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who is just back from a trip to the Middle East.

All right. The weather, it is nuts this morning.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: It was minus -- I took a picture. Minus 1 degrees when I got in my garage this morning.

ROMANS: It takes your breath away, just walking outside takes your breath away.

BERMAN: And here's the thing -- it's not just here in the Northeast. It's also the South getting hit by widespread school closures and icy conditions. Students from Texas to Arkansas to the Carolinas -- they will not be in school because of the whole region is expecting bone- chilling temperatures. Some places could get snow and freezing rain.

To make matters worse, airlines have canceled more than 600 flights so far across the country. Look at this. A scary moment for passengers on American Airlines flight at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The nose gear slipped off the taxi way as the plane turned the corner. You see that point, the ice just made it slip off the runway. None of the 68 people on board was hurt.

Another picture to show you. Look at that, icy conditions left this struck dangling off the overpass in Dallas. Wow! That is terrifying. The driver did manage to get out unscathed.

ROMANS: Wow. All right. Check out the scene in Flagstaff, Arizona. That's right, I said Arizona. You can see the flakes coming down hard there. The area could be slammed with up to 11 inches of snow. The region under a winter storm warning until 5:00 tonight.

BERMAN: In Maine, an SUV was submerged in the icy river -- wow -- pushed off a bridge. They say it may have been caused by an act of road rage. Three people are now hospitalized with hypothermia. Authorities say they are shocked that anyone survived.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEPUTY AL WINSLOW, CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Extremely lucky. With the temperatures and windchill and the temperature of the water, I'm amazed they were able to get out of the vehicle in time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Investigators trying to figure out which driver was at fault and whether anyone will face charges.

ROMANS: And don't try this, please, please? An SUV caught on camera doing donuts in a mall parking lot in Dallas. Letting off the gas and sliding there. The driver was caught by mall security who let him go with only a warning.

So, is there any relief in sight for the frozen South?

Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri tracking the cold air and the possibility of snow for us, Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, John and Christine.

Yes, on Monday, we had major disruption out of areas around Dallas and Dallas Ft. Worth Airport. All of that shifting off to the Southeast, now across Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the busiest airport in the world, seeing some 300 flights preemptively cancelled on you Tuesday, wet weather pushing in, in fact. Some sleet reported across the Atlanta metro area into the early morning hours. And about 25 million people dealing with wintry weather across the southern United States where we have not had significant snow accumulations and certainly only get a couple of opportunities for you. It certainly looks like this time around, maybe one of those opportunity.

Atlanta, winter weather advisory in place, working on into Columbia and Charlotte, with some sleet, some ice, some snow all in the forecast over the next couple days. If your travel plans take you across I-20, just east of Dallas, all the way to Atlanta, that is where the first bout of wintry weather mainly in the way of ice going to be possible, and then comes the snow showers.

Some of the models at this point really want to keep everything north of Birmingham, north of Atlanta. Notice you get to the western mountains of North Carolina and we are talking significant snow accumulations. But regardless, at least some snow is possible and if you are heading to Arkansas or North Carolina, that looks the most likely area for heavy snowfall -- guys.

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks, Pedram, for that.

Some explosive newly leaked cables indicate some discrepancy between what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the United Nations about Iran's nuclear weapons and what his own intelligence service was telling him. The source of the secret cables, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency via South Africa apparently.

CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson tracking the latest developments live for us from London.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.

So, what you have here are documents that have been leaked to Al Jazeera network. They've been releasing this slowly with -- in conjunction with "The Guardian" newspaper. So, what are they seeing here on this memo that was sent to the South African intelligence agency.

Well, in September of 2012, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a speech at the U.N. where he outlined how quickly Iran was trying to build a nuclear weapon, how close it was getting and the threat therefore. What we have a month later is a memo from Mossad to the South African intelligence agencies saying, well, actually, we don't believe that Iran is doing the necessary activity at this stage to make a weapon. It goes on to say that they are trying to close gaps in technology through legitimate civilian means. But if they were to make a decision, these closing of the gaps in technology, if they make a decision to build a weapon, then it would be so much shorter.

Now, what we are hearing from Israeli officials is they are saying what this represents is no gap between the thinking of the Israeli prime minister and the head of the intelligence agency. We certainly know if we go back and read newspaper articles in 2012, there were some differences between the prime minister and the intelligence services in Israel. However, the Israeli authorities at the moment say that there was no difference. In fact, Iran, as the Israeli prime minister was saying at the time in 2012, was going on to produce more enriched uranium. It wasn't until the summer of the following years that with the agreement of European and U.S. nations, they decided to neutralize that enriched uranium -- John, Christine.

BERMAN: And, of course, the timing of this is all crucial given that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to the United States to talk about the Iranian nuclear capability and negotiators are trying to hammer out the deal at this very moment. So, the timing is very, very interesting.

Nic Robertson, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right. The jury in Manhattan finding the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian Liberation Organization liable for six terrorists in Israel between 2002 and 2004 that left Americans dead or injured. The jury award of $218 million to dozens of plaintiffs automatically gets tripled under a special terrorism law. That means the damages are $655 million. The Palestinian Authority and the PLO say they intend to appeal this decision. They have not indicated whether they are able or willing to pay.

BERMAN: Pro-Russian separatists celebrating in Eastern Ukraine this morning. Rebel fighters cheer their victory over the Ukrainian army in Debaltseve. It was a festive rally on Monday. Many of them say they are energized to fight on and capture more territory in eastern Ukraine.

For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin is stressing his support for a cease-fire. In the interview, he calls the idea of a war between Russia and Ukraine unlikely.

Some big political news here in the United States. Chris Christie broke his own law when he decided not to fully fund the state's pension system for public employees last year. That ruling came from the federal judge. It orders the governor to put $1.6 billion back into the system and says the governor cannot renege on its obligations to Jersey's teachers, firefighters and police officers. The governor's office says the plan to appeal the ruling. New Jersey is already facing a $2.7 billion revenue shortfall.

And again, that man right there, Chris Christie, is considering running for president right now. So, this has national implications.

ROMANS: An apology from V.A. Secretary Robert McDonald for falsely claiming he served in the military Special Forces. McDonald was caught on tape in January, telling that falsehood to a homeless veteran. McDonald did graduate from West Point in 1975, completed Army Ranger training but he never actually served in a ranger battalion or any other special operations unit. The V.A. secretary says he has, quote, "no excuse" for this, quote, "misstatement".

BERMAN: Closing arguments could begin as early as this morning in the "American Sniper" murder trial. The prosecution is expected to call at least one more witness. The defense then has the option to call more rebuttal witnesses with the possibility of closing arguments happening immediately afterwards, that if the weather permits. Court was postponed on Monday due all the icy conditions and there is some more questionable other as you have heard on the forecast for today.

ROMANS: Time for an early start on your money this morning. Stocks in a holding pattern awaiting testimony from the most important woman in the world.

BERMAN: Christine Romans?

ROMANS: No, the Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen.

BERMAN: My wife? Oh.

ROMANS: Those are the two most important women in your world.

BERMAN: Sometimes, she's awake. I almost totally got myself in big trouble there.

ROMANS: European and Asian shares mixed right now. U.S. stocks futures barely moving. It's early, folks.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen testifies before Congress and her remarks could provide insight into when the Central Bank will raise interest rates and just exactly what she's thinking about the durability of the economy here and labor market.

A big win for Google in the mobile payment wars. Google has a deal with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to get the Google wallet payment app pre-installed on Android phones. Google Wallet let shoppers to tap a credit card reader to pay, much like Apple Pay. The service has been around since 2011, but has largely failed to catch on. This could be one of those important, important moves that allow it to be more mainstream.

BERMAN: I feel different already.

Three British girls believed recruited by ISIS as officials try to stop them from joining the ranks of the terror group. This as renewed focus on a woman helping lure others to radicalism. Was she involved in this case? We'll have the latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: We are learning more this morning about the woman authorities think may have lured three teenager girls from Britain to Syria to join ISIS. She has been identified as 19-year-old Aqsa Mahmood from Glasgow, Scotland. After disappearing from her home in November 2013, Mahmood seems to have turned up on social media, urging young women to sign up with ISIS.

For the very latest, I want to bring in CNN's Atika Shubert in our London bureau.

Good morning, Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

We've actually spoken to the family, the Mahmood family about Aqsa leaving. They were absolutely devastated when she left. But they were especially shocked to find out that she was, in fact, in contact with at least one of the school girls that just left a few days ago for Syria. What they fear is that she may have given them instructions or help them to somehow join ISIS.

She actually has a blog in which she gives this kind of advice -- what to pack, what to wear, what to expect when you arrive in Syria into ISIS-controlled territory. So, it may well be that the school girls followed her lead. It's something that police are investigating.

At this point, we are still trying to figure out exactly how and why the girls left to go to Syria.

ROMANS: And so, what is the draw here? I mean, it's very hard to understand from our vantage point what the draw could possibly for these three young girls, and how they could connect clearly so closely with this woman who could lure them away? What is the draw?

SHUBERT: Well, this is all happening online first of all, away from the eyes of their parents or even some of their closest friends. But what they are doing basically is following the ideal notion, this sort of Utopia that they believe the ISIS is implementing in Syria, the state run under Islamic law. They also have this very romantic notion that if they go -- if they marry a jihadi fighter, they'll be helping in a worthy cause. But when they get there, they find the reality is very different.

ROMANS: Atika, state run under jihadi law. What kind -- what would that mean -- what kind of rights do these girls have?

SHUBERT: Well, what it would mean is that as soon as they arrive in ISIS territory, they could only travel with a male guardian. They would be put in a dormitory for single women, they wouldn't be allowed outside until they're marrying a jihadi fighter, who would then be their male guardian, and he would have to bring them to market or whatever they want to go. That may sound restrictive to you and me, but to them, this probably sounds like the Islamic ideal they have been led to believe.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks so much, Atika Shubert.

It is hard to imagine that it could be a 15-year-old girl's dream, you know?

BERMAN: It's crazy.

All right. Nineteen minutes after the hour.

Connecticut -- college students in Connecticut hospitalized after overdosing on a dangerous drug. The president of Wesleyan University with the stern warning to the students. We will tell you what happened.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Four people from Wesleyan University in Connecticut are hospitalized this morning. Two of them are in critical condition. The result of complications linked to the party drug Molly. Eight others who took the drug have been released.

Police investigating this incident at a campus party this weekend. Officials are urging students to help.

We get more from CNN's Jean Casarez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and John, a Littleton, Connecticut police department has an aggressive investigation at this point because they want to find who or what people are responsible for distributing or selling a Molly-like drug to students over the weekend and even others.

Now, this is how it all came to light. Around 7:00 on Sunday morning, the fire EMS started getting phone calls about one an hour, I'm told, throughout the day of symptomatic conditions that seem to just have a similar nexus. And so, they were all transported to the hospital. Two of the most serious were medevaced to the hospital. They remain in critical condition.

The initial testing is by urine to determine what chemical composition was there. Further testing at the Connecticut state crime lab to see the exact composition. But the head of toxicology here at the hospital tells me he believes it is not pure Molly, but synthetic form of the drug Molly.

Now, family members continue to come in to help those convalescing from this. The elected state attorney Peter McShane tells me he is well aware of the investigation by the police department. He is watching it, but more than anything, his heart goes out to the victim and victims' families because this is a serious situation continuing.

Christine and John, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Jean Casarez for that.

A California Congress member is calling for an investigation of the deadly superbug outbreak linked to contaminated medical scopes. The FDA issued an alert after seven patients at UCLA Medical Center became infected with a drug resistant bacteria called CRE. Two of these patients died. Hospital officials say that 179 other patients may have been exposed.

Congressman Ted Lieu wants a hearing on what the FDA is doing to prevent addition infections. The first lawsuit in these cases was filed Monday in Los Angeles.

ROMANS: All right. Two new studies suggest exposure in early childhood could build immunity and prevent serious allergies. In the first, British researchers -- this is so interesting, John. Researchers found introducing peanut products into a baby's diet can cut their risk of developing peanut allergies by more than 80 percent.

BERMAN: It's a huge finding.

ROMANS: It really is. The other, a Swedish study says children whose parents washed the family's dishes mostly by hand rather than the dishwasher were less likely to develop eczema, asthma and hay fever.

BERMAN: I don't know what that would mean. But a peanut thing is very, very big. I mean, peanut allergies are giant in every school you go to, and if the answer is give your kids more peanuts after they're born, that's pretty radical.

ROMANS: I think a lot of people, they hold off on peanuts until the age of 2 or something because they want to test if the kid is an allergic. I gave my kids peanut butter and bananas very early on, mostly because my mother in law or babysitter did or mom did.

BERMAN: You were years ahead of the science.

ROMANS: It was an old wife's thing that you give them peanut butter and banana early. It turns it works.

BERMAN: The study is really interesting to read, by the way, because the results are different from those who gave their kids peanuts and those who did not. Interesting stuff.

All right. Serious trouble for the Department of Homeland Security. The funding runs out on Friday. No sign of a deal right now to pass any kind of funding bill. We'll tell you the new plan from the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Can that break the log jam? That's next.

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