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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
White House Warns of DHS Shutdown; Wild Winter Weather; Plunging Oil Scares OPEC; Apple Emojis Get More Diverse
Aired February 24, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Countdown to shutdown. Less than three days until Homeland Security funding runs out and the Senate majority leader making a move. We'll tell you if Mitch McConnell's proposal stands a chance.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: She committed her life to drawing women to jihad. Now, officials believe she may be behind the disappearance of three teenagers. So, did the so-called ISIS bride recruit them to terror?
ROMANS: And the winter chill is moving east and not just new England. Southern states waking up to snow and ice this morning. What else is in store? Trust me, you don't want to know. The full forecast is minutes away.
BERMAN: Minus one when I left the house this morning.
ROMANS: I know. Oh, it's going to be over soon. I promise.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman. It'd better be.
ROMANS: It will be.
BERMAN: About 31 minutes past the hour right now.
And new this morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying a new tactic to break the congressional stalemate over funding the Department of Homeland Security, after a fourth failed Senate vote Monday night for the House version of the funding bill. The majority leader announced he will schedule a separate vote on blocking President Obama's executive orders on immigration.
What that would do is it would separate the funding issue from the immigration issue. But Republicans and Democrats are both expressing doubt whether that type of measure can be passed by the end of the week if at all.
Now, if there is no progress, Homeland Security funding runs out on Friday, which would send non-essential DHS employees home and essential employees would have to go to work, but they won't get paid.
CNN's White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski has more on the effects of the shutdown.
(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)
ROMANS: Thanks, Michelle, for that.
Now, let me get this straight, John Berman, who covers Washington extensively. A judge has already stayed the president's immigration reform, right?
BERMAN: Yes.
ROMANS: And immigration an customs enforcement is funded through fees. It's self funded.
BERMAN: Correct.
ROMANS: So, this would do exactly what?
BERMAN: Doubly nothing in this case.
Now, look, the bottom line is that the immigration plans and executive action are going forward right now anyway because of the judge's actions like you said.
ROMANS: Right, right.
BERMAN: So, the funding bills they are passing have no impact on that. Secondly, people say that immigration, the process is funded by fees, not the actual congressional funding. So, it has no impact anyway.
Look, this is a political statement. Republicans want to be on the record they believe what the president did was unconstitutional. And there are some Republicans who think that fight is more important.
ROMANS: Oh, I get it, so politics. Not policy from Washington, D.C.
BERMAN: Good way to put it.
ROMANS: DHS funding is not the only national security issue, of course, facing the White House this morning. President Obama seeking congressional authorization for the war against ISIS, but he is confronting rebellion within his own party over his request for a three-year authorization for the use of military force. The president's plan ban to, quote, "enduring ground combat operation." But many Democrats say they are weary of yet another war in Iraq. They don't want to give Obama and his successor a, quote, "blank check".
Later today, two meetings are set to give the president high-level feedback on the war against ISIS. One with the emir of Qatar and the other with Defense Secretary Ash Carter, just back from a trip in the Middle East.
BERMAN: We're learning more this morning about the woman that authorities think might have lured three teenage girls from Britain to Syria to join ISIS. She has been identified as 19-year-old Aqsa Mahmood in Glasgow, Scotland. After disappearing from her home in November 2013, Mahmood seems to have turned up on social media, urging women to sign up with ISIS.
For the latest, let's bring in CNN's Atika Shubert in London.
Good morning, Atika. What can you tell us?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've actually interviewed the Mahmood family when she disappeared a little bit more than a year. And they are absolutely devastated. They said they had no idea that she was even interested in any way in Syria.
But since she has left, she has become prolific as a blogger online urging young women to join ISIS in Syria telling them what to bring and what to wear and what to expect when they get to ISIS-controlled territory.
Now, what we also know is that one of these school girls that went missing last week actually contacted her on Twitter. And it's possible exchanged more communication with her on some sort of an encrypted forum, media forum like surespot. So, this is an angle that police are looking at, whether or not Aqsa
Mahmood set the trail for the young women to go to Syria. But there are other possibilities as well and this is why British police are in Turkey trying to find the girls and figure out where they have gone.
BERMAN: We saw them when they arrived in Turkey, that is the last contact they have had with them. But interesting, Atika, this actual digital link between with these girls and this sort of fixer for the jihadist groups in the Middle East.
Atika Shubert for us in London, thanks so much.
ROMANS: All right. It is not just the Northeast getting socked by the cold snap. The South is also getting hit prompting widespread school closures. Students from Texas to Arkansas to the Carolinas will not be in class. That's because the whole region is expecting bone-chilling temperatures. Some places may see snow and freezing rain.
To make matters worse, this weather prompting airlines to cancel more than 600 flights across the country. That is on top of hundreds -- actually like 1,100 canceled yesterday.
A scary moment for passengers on American Airlines flight after landing at Dallas Fort Worth. The nose gear slipped off the taxiway as the plane turned a corner. None of the 64 people onboard was hurt.
And the icy conditions left the truck dangling off the overpass. You wonder what the first call the driver made, 911? You wife? Your boss? I'm not sure. Amazingly, the driver --
BERMAN: Not the boss. He did climb out.
ROMANS: That's great.
BERMAN: All right. Look at this, Flagstaff, Arizona. Snowing hard. The area could get about 11 inches of snow. That region area under a winter storm warning until about 5:00 tonight.
ROMANS: In Maine, an SUV submerged in an icy river pushed off a bridge in an apparent act of road rage, believe it or not. Three people now hospitalized with hypothermia. Authorities say they are shocked anyone survived.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEPUTY AL WINSLOW, CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: Extremely lucky. But the way the temperatures are, with the windchill, the temperature of the water, I'm amazed they were able to get out of the vehicle in time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Investigators now are trying to figure out which driver was at fault, whether they will face charges. Can you imagine going over the edge and landing in the water and trying to figure out how to get out of the car.
BERMAN: Terrifying, terrifying -- from terrifying to flat out stupid.
Look at this -- an SUV caught on camera doing donuts in a mall parking lot in Dallas. Just going around and round and a chopper flies overhead. The driver were eventually caught by mall security who let him go with just a warning.
ROMANS: You see a lot of light posts in there.
BERMAN: Not prudent.
ROMANS: 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: John and Christine, good morning to you.
Take a look at the scenes across the southern United States. Winter weather advisories, winter weather warnings in place from areas around Birmingham to Atlanta and eventually to Charlotte, significant snow for portions of western North Carolina. Notice at 9:00 in the morning, Atlanta could get in on snow. Some 300 flights canceled across the south in Atlanta and in particular.
As we head into Wednesday night, another weather maker. This particular one could even bring more snowfall in the southern U.S., and the storm eventually pushes off the eastern seaboard. You don't see much on the way of accumulations for the major metro cities around the northeast. But certainly, the south is where all were on right now across the southern Arkansas and northern Mississippi, northern Georgia and western North Carolina. Western North Carolina, around Ashville, could easily see upwards of 10 inches or more of snowfall. Temps though in Atlanta, 45 degrees, but certainly nothing going to accumulate or stick around for a while, while around the northeast, from Washington to, say, New York, 33 down to 23 on New York City.
In fact, in New York, your average for this time of year is 44 degrees, only making it up to the mid-20s. Look at the roller coaster train you're going to be on, go up to 36 by Wednesday and shots right back down to reality by Thursday afternoon as more cold air filters in, guys.
ROMANS: All right. Pedram, thank you for that.
Forty minutes past the hour. Secret newly leaked cables reveal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have misled the U.N. in 2012 about Iran's ability to build a nuclear bomb. You will recall Netanyahu told the general assembly Iran was one year away from producing a nuclear weapon. He had that handy helpful prop on the stage there.
But just weeks later, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency sent a secret report to South Africa concluding Iran was, quote, "not performing the activity necessary to produce a nuclear bomb." That report is part of a big leak of documents from the world's top intelligence agencies.
BERMAN: A jury in Manhattan found that the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian liberation organization were liable for six terrorist attacks 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 terror law. That means the damages are about $655 million.
The Palestinian Authority and the PLO say they intend to appeal the decision. They have not indicated whether they are able or even willing to pay.
ROMANS: Pro-Russian separatists are celebrating in Eastern Ukraine this morning. Rebel fighters cheer their victory over the Ukrainian army in Debaltseve in a festive rally on Monday. Many of them energized to fight on and capture more of Eastern Ukraine. Their enthusiasm is at odds with Vladimir Putin who is stressing his support for a cease-fire, calling a war between Russia and Ukraine, quote, "unlikely".
BERMAN: An apology from V.A. Secretary Robert McDonald for falsely claiming he served in the Special Forces. McDonald was caught on tape in January saying that to a homeless veteran. McDonald did graduate from West Point in 1975 and completed army ranger training, but he never actually served as a ranger in a battalion or any other Special Operations unit. The V.A. secretary says he has, quote, "no excuse" for his misstatement.
ROMANS: All right. Forty-two minutes past the hour. Let's get an early start on your money this Tuesday morning. European shares, U.S. stock futures barely moving. Markets around the world waiting to hear from the Federal Reserve, specifically Janet Yellen. The Fed chair, she testifies before Congress today. The stakes are high. The Fed debating when to raise interest rates from near zero. If the Fed gets timing right, the economy will keep climbing. One wrong move could be a problem.
Keep in mind the Fed has not raised rates since 2006 when the economy was thriving. Wall Street expecting a hike in June to affect everything from mortgage rates to how much interest you get on savings at the bank. It's a real interesting diversions. You got Europe where they are talking about stimulus and economy that's barely moving. They would never consider raising rates. The economy has been strengthening.
Just how comfortable is Janet Yellen in raising interest rates, you know, by the summer?
BERMAN: A lot of people think the strength is because of what the United States did years ago which is what Europe is considering right now.
A teenager accused of killing a neighbor in a case of road rage. His lawyer now says it was all in self defense. Will the argument hold up in court? We're going to take you inside this ever-changing and complicated --
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BERMAN: The new twist in the fatal shooting of the Las Vegas woman. The lawyer for 19-year-old suspect Eric Nowsch contends it was not road rage, saying he believes the victim's family has not been truthful. Nowsch is charged with murder, attempted murder and firing a gun inside a vehicle. His lawyer says he fear for his life to suggest the shooting might have been self defense.
Let's get more from CNN's Sara Sidner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, we heard a lot of details about this case from both the police and the family of slain mother of four, Tammy Meyers. They have said that this was a case of road rage that turned out the suspect was someone the family knew.
But we are now hearing from Eric Nowsch's attorney who said this is not a case of road rage at all.
SUSPECT'S LAWYER: We can say with some confidence there was no road rage.
SIDNER: Can you tell me anything about what he is saying happened?
SUSPECT'S LAWYER: What we know is a story kept changing, that it was an illogical story. There is a sequence of illogical and untruthful stories that come out one after the other that just lead you to the inescapable conclusion that you cannot depend upon what the Meyers family is saying.
SIDNER: The Meyer family says its suspect she was telling lies, not them.
The police are still investigating the case, and the prosecution says this case is more complicated than people may have first thought. It is a murder nonetheless. The case is still being investigated and now we hear that the prosecution may take the case to a grand jury where suddenly all of the information and witness testimony will be private, will be secret and they will not be cross examined by the defense.
The defense is upset with that. We have to see what happens with the case. There are so many details in the case between the Meyers, the police, and now the suspect that all of those involved are saying, wait to make your judgments. Let the justice system do what it does -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Sara Sidner, thanks for that interesting case. It was interesting from the start and it just gets more kind of twisted.
BERMAN: It is different everyday. ROMANS: All right. Forty-nine minutes past the hour. The
consequences of fracking might be more wide-ranging than we knew. Could the natural gas drilling really be behind a surge in earthquakes? Surprising results of a new study, coming up.
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ROMANS: Welcome back.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie broke his own law when he decided not to fully fund the pension system for public employees last year. That ruling from the superior court judge orders Christie to put $1.6 billion back into the pension system. He cannot renege on the obligations to New Jersey's teachers, fire fighters and police officers. The governor plans to appeal the ruling. New Jersey already facing a $2.7 billion revenue shortfall.
BERMAN: New research suggests that fracking may be connected to earthquakes in the Heartland. Scientists say Oklahoma and other states where fracking takes place that once experienced little or no earthquake activity has seen an increase in recent years. Scientists say it is triggered by injecting waste water into the underground disposal wells. Last year, Oklahoma had nearly 600 earthquakes with a magnitude 3.0 or greater. That is three times as many as California and up from the yearly average of two in Oklahoma before all that fracking began.
ROMANS: A California congressman calling for an investigation into the 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 those patients died. Congressman Ted Lieu wants a hearing on what the FDA is doing to prevent additional infections.
Meantime, the first lawsuit in the superbug cases was filed Monday in Los Angeles.
Two new studies suggest exposure in early childhood can help build immunity in serious allergies. The first study is a blockbuster. British researchers found that introducing peanut products into a baby's diet can cut their risk of developing peanut allergies by more than 80 percent. That is a huge figure.
Now, the other study where dishes were washed by hand rather than dishwasher were less likely to develop eczema, asthma and hay fever.
ROMANS: The chemical thing I wonder.
BERMAN: I don't quite get the Swedish study. But I will say on the peanut study, which I do understand --
ROMANS: Fascinating.
BERMAN: You know, you go to any school. You cannot send peanut cookies into a school because 10 kinds in every preschool class have peanut allergies. But now, if the answer is simply feed them peanuts from the time they are young, that's fascinating.
(CROSSTALK)
BERMAN: We never had the allergy problem. I don't know what we did or didn't do, but interesting.
ROMANS: I'll check in with the boss, aka, your wife.
BERMAN: Exactly.
ROMANS: To find out what the answer to that question is.
Fifty-five minutes past the hour. The plunge in oil prices has some members of OPEC concerned. They want to discuss options to Saudis, but the Saudis are standing in the way. All the drama as we get an early start on your oil money, next.
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ROMANS: All right. Let's get an EARLY START on your money.
U.S. stocks pulled back from record highs yesterday, barely moving right now. Wall Street waiting to hear from pretty much the most important woman in the world, this woman, Janet Yellen. She testifies before Congress today. The stakes are high as the Fed debates when to raise interest rates. Raising rates too soon could hurt the recovery.
Plunging oil prices may finally be scaring OPEC. Nigeria's oil minister says there could be an energy meeting to address the crude oil crash. Last time OPEC met, it decided to keep the output the same instead of cutting supply to drive prices back up. But oil has fallen another 30 percent since then. Still, Saudi Arabia ultimately calls the shots and oil officials want to keep output high to squeeze American producers and steal market share.
iPhone keyboards are getting a lot more diverse. Those little tiny cartoon people, emojis they're called, will soon be available in six different skin tones. And other emojis, like the princess for example, will also get more diverse. Apple has been harshly criticized for not having more diversity in its collection, only, you know, one kind of thumb color. Now, they're all light-skinned except one Indian man in a turban and an Asian man in traditional Chinese hat.
BERMAN: So it'll be more annoying with much more diversity. Or the diversity will be equally annoying.
EARLY START continues right now.
