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15 Million Face Severe Weather Threats Today; Vienna Police: European Cities Warned of Possible Terror Attack; Tension High in Holy Land After Attacks; Cosby Sues Model Beverly Johnson. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired December 26, 2015 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:12] DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and thanks for joining me. I'm Deborah Feyerick in for Fredricka Whitfield.
Fifteen million people are facing severe weather threats across the nation today.
The South still reeling from tornados and widespread flooding. In Alabama, a day of epic rainfall has residents bracing for the worst as a river swells just inches away from topping a levee, protecting the town of Elba.
In the western U.S., both fire and ice, with blizzard conditions bearing down on the southern Rockies and plains states. This fresh blanket of snow covering parts of northern California.
But in the South -- well, a raging wildfire that shut down parts of two major California highways and forced people from their homes.
But, first, the severe weather that's refusing to let up in the South -- heavy rain, devastating flooding, and tornadoes. Overnight, the death toll going up. At least 15 people now confirmed dead.
CNN's Nick Valencia is following this latest weather system and the damage that it's done.
And a lot of damage that we're looking at, Nick.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hey, there, Deb. It's been absolutely devastating for portions of the southeast United States. Atlanta, actually, got hit pretty hard Christmas Eve with some torrential downpours. It brightened up on Christmas, but surrounding states did get a brunt end of the damage, especially Alabama which is still under a state of emergency.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALENCIA (voice-over): Severe weather batters several southern states. Heavy rains hammer parts of Alabama. At least 20 inches fell in less than 24 hours at the airport in Gadsden. The water made some roads impassable.
Rescue crews helping residents trapped in their homes.
The National Weather Service said a potential tornado touched down in Birmingham, causing damage to several blocks.
CHIEF CHARLES GORDON, BIRMINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT: The damage was done. It was confined to approximately one square mile. We have three structures, three houses that collapsed.
We transported one person from the scene. There were two others that were removed from the structures. We reported no injuries.
VALENCIA: Alabama's governor declared a state of emergency because of widespread flooding. At least 117 homes overcome by water.
In Georgia, the rain damaged roads and made driving treacherous.
And in Mississippi, flood warnings and relentless rain add more misery to areas already devastated by tornadoes that killed at least eight people in the state. Many roads are flooded and some people are dealing with rising waters in their homes.
In Wren, Mississippi, Victor and Tamika Hale (ph) watched as their home of ten years was overtaken by water.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The lawn mower, the trailer, it just floated away, garbage cans, everything gone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It happened so fast, that it get up and get out, (INAUDIBLE) went away way too fast.
VALENCIA: The couple and their 9-year-old son now homeless and staying with relatives.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's discouraging. We lost everything. My child, he didn't get any Christmas items.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VALENCIA: Here's some good news from the Storm Prediction Center. They say the risk has dropped dramatically for violent weather, but the threat is still out there. Fifteen people have had their lives claimed by this storm. Another two people are still unaccounted for, Deb, in Mississippi, so this death toll could still very well go up -- Deb.
FEYERICK: It's just crazy to watch the various weather across the nation. Nick Valencia, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
And we are now looking at live pictures of that wildfire burning in southern California. It's forcing mandatory evacuations and scorching more than 1,100 acres so far. Officials have shut down parts of two major highways, the 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway. More than 500 firefighters are battling these flames. They know they are in for a tough hall. The fire captain saying, quote, "We are seeing embers all over the place."
Sara Sidner is following the story from New York.
And, Sara, you're usually in Los Angeles. How significant is it that they're closing these parts of the highway in terms of their ability to fight it, their ability to contain it, and their ability to keep people safe?
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the firefighters, it's good news, because they can get in and out much easier, they're not going to be blocked by traffic. There is always traffic, as you know, in southern California.
Ventura County, though, a little bit less. It's about 800,000 people, which sounds like a heck of a lot of people, but this is burning in the hills. And so, when you have U.S. 101 closed and when you have Pacific Coast Highway closed, which is absolutely the most beautiful thing that people like to do on the holidays, kind of drive slowly. It's a beautiful view. People tend to take their time, believe it or not, in Los Angeles, this is significant, because those two highways feed so many other areas.
This is happening, basically, Ventura County is between Santa Barbara to the north and Malibu to the south. This is a place where people want to go, go to the beach, and enjoy themselves. And they simply are being told to stay away from this area, but it is not the whole of U.S. 101, which is really a workhorse.
FEYERICK: Right.
[12:05:00] SIDNER: A lot of people use this road throughout southern California and beyond.
And Pacific Coast Highway is more of a pleasure center for people. They like to go down there during the holidays, but a lot of people live up and down there.
So, the great news is, this is not a highly populated area where the fire is burning now. If you look at the pictures, you can see that. You can see it's in the hills. I think it's threatened about 35 structures, burned a couple, and they have said that there are evacuations now for some people in the area, because, like you said, the embers are all over the place, and that's what we're hearing from fire officials.
FEYERICK: You know, it's crazy, you're from California. When you think about the fire, here in New York, the thought of a fire raging that close in your state is a little bit disconcerting. And the people under there now, is this a sort of an ordinary part of their life or what is the sort of mood?
SIDNER: It is and it isn't. If you're close to it, it's a life- changing event. You suddenly think, what am I going to take out of my house? How am I going to get my kids out of the house? If you have animals, what are you going to do with them? What are you going to bring with you?
Because so many times this has turned into disaster in California. And we are told, because it is such a terrible drought, this is probably going to happen a lot more going forward than less. FEYERICK: Right, absolutely. All right. Sara Sidner, thank you so
much. It is frightening to watch and clearly frightening to be in the center of. We really appreciate it. Thanks so much.
And snow and ice could be causing a travel nightmare in a different part of the country.
CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar joins us.
And, Allison, tomorrow, people are going to be heading home from the holiday. What can we expect?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, you could be dealing with snow in some spots or you could be dealing with heavy rain with flooding and severe weather in other spots. The big question is, where are your travel plans to and from?
So, here's a look at the national map. Again, we have very heavy rain that could cause some flooding in the eastern half of the country. The central portion of the country will be dealing with severe storms, including tornadoes. But on the backside of that, we have blizzard conditions.
So, let's start with today. We have severe weather, stretching from San Antonio, all the way up towards Cincinnati. The bull's-eye, being right over top of Dallas. And that does include an enhanced threat for tornados and damaging winds. That means if you have travel plans in, out, or around Dallas, be careful, be patient, and be prepared to deal with some delays today, especially with flights.
Tomorrow, that system begins to push a little farther east, so now cities like Little Rock, Memphis, and New Orleans are now also added into the mix, again, with the threat for tornados and damaging wind. We still have the flood threat in about a dozen states going on right now. You can see flood watches, flood warnings, and even flash flood warnings in some areas. More rain expected on top of some areas that have seen too much.
Oklahoma, Missouri, also into Arkansas, we're talking 6 to 10 inches of rain. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee could pick up an additional 4 to 6 inches. But keep in mind, they've already had areas already get 5 to 10 inches. So, that's on top of what they've already had.
Then we look at the winter side of this storm. We have winter storm watches and warnings for Minnesota, South Dakota, and also into Nebraska. Then, we're talking about the blizzard warnings along I-40 down there. Again, that's going to cause huge travel delays down there.
This system, again, as it pushes east will push through its way into Texas. Now, we're talking winter storm weather, including snow and ice, stretching from Texas all the way up towards Chicago by Monday. And again, the severe weather threat begins to push a little farther east as well. So, we've got several different types of weather scenarios on one of
the busier travel weekends of the year. Mother Nature did not really plan to time this up right.
FEYERICK: Yes, I have a feeling we're going to be doing a lot of reports from that airports that are having trouble getting people in and out because of this weather pattern.
Allison Chinchar, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
And coming up, a fugitive known as the "affluenza teen" is still on the run. Did a mistake by law enforcement give this teen a head start? We're going to talk to a former director of the FBI, coming up straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: And this now breaking: several European cities are being warned of a possible terror attack. That is coming from police in Vienna. They received a warning from a friendly intelligence service and they are now taking the necessary precautions to make sure that nothing happens. There's increased vigilance in terms of empty suitcases and bags. A lot of people traveling, obviously, and they are making sure that high public events, a lot of people, are also being monitored closely.
We want to talk more about this and the possibilities of these implications with our CNN analyst, Tom Fuentes, formerly of the FBI.
And, Tom, clearly, we're going to be getting a lot of these warnings, especially during the holiday time. But how much credence should people put in this, especially law enforcement?
TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, the problems is that it depends on how many of these come. If you cry wolf every single day, there's a warning here, a warning there. After a while, the public is going to tune them out and just say, OK, it's just more false alarms. And I think that's the problem.
We don't know the source of this warning. They say a friendly intelligence service. Well, none of the services in Europe or in the United States or the western world would be considered hostile services. So, they're all friendly.
And if any one of them received any kind of source information or intercept, you know, phone messages, or other messages, indicating that some type of attack is going to happen, they'll alert the other services to put out the warnings to their people. So, at this point, we don't know the source of it. We just know that it was enough for them to go ahead and put a warning out.
FEYERICK: Yes, and I'm sure you feel the same in terms of these kinds of warnings. This is sort of the new normal. Everybody's going to be high alert from now until indefinitely.
All right. We do want to switch gears a little bit to a different story. There's new information, Tom, on the search for a privileged teen who's on the run, along with his mom. This is a story you may recall.
Ethan Couch was 17 when he drove drunk and killed four people in 2013. But instead of prison time, a judge gave him probation, because of something called affluenza. The affluenza defense, meaning that he was a rich kid, his parents didn't set any limits for him, he was indulged.
Well, now he's 18, his case is about to be transferred to a different court and that could have meant jail time. So, before the hearing in which he was supposed to appear, he failed to check in with his probation officer on December 10th. New reports now saying that the probation office wasn't notified of this lack of appearance until five days later.
Now, Texas police are trying to make up for lost time. At a news conference this week, police revealed Couch's house had been emptied and his mom's truck was gone. Tarrant County sheriff's office is offering $5,000 for any kind of information leading to Ethan's arrest.
And Tom Fuentes back with us again.
Tom, it's interesting, why, when the probation office notify headquarters that he simply had failed to show, especially given the timing of the hearing.
FUENTES: Well, I think that's a great question. And you know, they may have been just become come p complacent with him, figuring for the last two years while he had been on probation, that he had checked in or he kept in touch.
[12:15:04] So, you know, it could be just they felt like, you know, it's just no big deal. You know, he'll turn up pretty soon. And maybe were very lax in doing it.
I think they'll be investigating that aspect of it and try to figure out what happened.
FEYERICK: You know, it's interesting, because he got off, basically, given probation after killing four people, because of this affluenza defense. And guess what happens? Now, his mom is basically driving him away, again, from his responsibilities, so that he doesn't have to face potential jail time.
This case has clearly sparked so much outrage in the community. Could the lack of action really have added fuel to the fire? You know, is law enforcement -- are they a little bit at fault for not putting more pressure, more heat on this kid?
FUENTES: Well, law enforcement didn't make the decision to put him on probation. You've heard the sheriff has been outraged since day one in this particular case. You know, it's bad enough that law enforcement deals with, oh, the poor kid had such a tough childhood, he can't be responsible. Now, we have, the poor kid had such a great childhood, he's not responsible either? Who is? And I think law enforcement is really not -- you know, it's not their
fault. Now, maybe an individual probation officer who's part of the court system, not part of the police --
FEYERICK: Right.
FUENTES: -- you know, may have been lax, may have caused this, but certainly the sheriff's office from day one has been outraged by the fact that this kid was put on probation and for the reason, that he just had it so good, he can't be responsible.
FEYERICK: Yes, and police are always, you know, talking about this, the fact that the courts are too lenient on criminal defenders. They let them out too soon. They don't enforce the sentences that prosecutors want. So, it's sort of a revolving door that law enforcement simply can't win against.
All right. So many different roads to pursue on this conversation. Tom Fuentes, thanks so much for your time today. Happy holiday.
FUENTES: Happy holidays. Thank you.
FEYERICK: And coming up, tension remains high in the Holy Land during the Christmas weekend, after several attacks. We're going to be going to Jerusalem for a report, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: Tension remains high in the Holy Land this Christmas weekend. The Israel army says that a Palestinian rammed his car into security forces who were manning a checkpoint just north of Jerusalem.
[12:20:01] An Israeli soldier was injured. The suspect also hurt after being fired upon. The incident follows several recent stabbing attacks targeting Israeli civilians and one today against a police officer. The violence has left many people in the holy land on edge.
CNN's Oren Liebermann has more now from our Jerusalem bureau.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a subdued Christmas in the holy land this year, in the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ, the beginnings of Christianity, festivities next to Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity not as big, not as crowded as they have been in previous years.
But there was still very much an effort to hang on to a celebration of Christmas Eve to forget if only for a moment the violence and tension surrounding the holiday in Israel, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. And you could feel it. There was a very large security presence in and around Manger Square, but it still felt very much like Christmas Eve.
The faithful coming out to celebrate and to take part in midnight mass. But the violence continues here. Since the beginning of October, some 20 Israelis have been killed and more than 130 Palestinians have been killed, approximately 70 of which Israeli authorities say were killed while carrying out attacks.
Because of that number, some Palestinian Christian communities in the West Bank have scaled back their Christmas festivities, as a show of solidarity with all Palestinians. That, unfortunately, is the reality that hangs over Christmas in the Holy Land.
And it is a reality that does not seem to be on its way to ending anytime soon.
Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: And coming up, model Beverly Johnson has accused Bill Cosby of drugging her and trying to sexually assault her. But now the embattled comedian is turning the tables and suing Johnson. Our legal guys weigh in, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: And you may be among them, 15 million people facing severe weather threats today. Tomorrow, more than 22 million at risk of bad weather. Heavy rains are soaking the South, causing widespread flooding in some areas.
[12:25:04] Overnight, the death toll from this week's storms went up. Fifteen people, at least, now confirmed dead.
In the western -- in the western part, blizzard conditions are bearing down on the southern Rockies and plains states. This fresh blanket of snow, good for skiers, but it's covering parts of northern California. In the southern state, a different problem -- raging wildfires shutting down parts of two major highways, forcing people from their homes. In another part of the country, record-high temperatures.
So, what is behind this unseasonably warm weather?
CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray helps us break it down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's the topic so many people are talking about this holiday season. Where is the winter?
You're not going to find the chilly temperatures in the East. In fact, there have been over 2,600 record-high temperatures this month alone. On contrast, less than 150 record lows.
Incredibly, New York City has not dropped below freezing this season. Christmas Eve will be in the 70s for Philadelphia, New York City, D.C., all of those records.
And these warm temperatures are not just for the U.S. All over Europe has been warmer than normal, as well. In fact, Moscow hit nearly 50 degrees this week. And look at this ski resort in Austria, this year compared to last year, barely any snow. Many spots in the northwest have been well above normal for snow. In
fact, the sierra and California, that has been drought stricken over the last few years is finally getting back to normal with the help of a little snow.
So, why is it so warm in the East?
Well, El Nino is partly to blame. The phenomenon that pools all of the warm water on the east side of the Pacific near the equator changes weather patterns all over the world. And this year, we're experiencing one of the strongest El Nino ever recorded.
But will it continue?
Our best guess is yes. January and February are typically warmer months than normal, during an El Nino year in the east and the Midwest, but that doesn't mean we won't see snow. Weather patterns can change. We can see storm systems that will move up the East Coast and bring snow during the first part of 2016. We will just have to wait and see.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: All right. Put those winter coats away, at least for a little while.
Well, Bill Cosby is now firing back, filing a defamation lawsuit against one of his sexual assault accusers, supermodel Beverly Johnson. He alleges that she lied about her accusations that he tried to drug and rape her at his New York home in the 1980s. Cosby's suit claims that Johnson lied to promote her career and sell her memoir.
Well, let's talk about this more with our legal guys. Joining me now, Avery Friedman, a civil right attorney and law professor, and Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor also.
Gentleman, happy holidays and thanks for being here with us.
This is really interesting, because what he's doing, although she has not necessarily sued him, she's not joined one of these suits against him, he is now going after her. Is this to send a message to those who do want money for what happened to them, allegedly?
Let's start with you, Avery.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, it might very well be, because if he prevailed in his defamation case, he's not going to get squat. The reality is Beverly Johnson has been making these allegations against Bill Cosby for 40 years. I'm not sure who has been advising her, but she publishes it in August of this year, which falls within the statue of limitations.
So, if he's trying to convey a message or if he's concerned that Beverly Johnson will be a witness in the scores of other cases remains to be seen. But I think there's some chance he can prevail in this if she can't prove it. And what good can it do him? It really makes very little difference given the other pending litigation.
FEYERICK: Richard, do you see this as strategic? It's fascinating, somebody makes an accusation at somebody and they make an accusation back. Sort of tit for tat. What do you think about this strategically?
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's he said/she said. And litigation, practice is strategy. This is now the defense strategy from the Cosby camp to be on the offensive and go after these people.
The bottom line here, Deb, is that in defamation cases, they are very, very difficult to prove. In fact, in the U.K., which is the foundation of our legal system, the only way you get a jury trial is a criminal case and a civil defamation case.
FRIEDMAN: You get one here.
HERMAN: Defamation is very difficult to prove. You have to prove that it's done with malicious intent.
[12:30:03] And when you're dealing with celebrities, and you have to prove damages.
Here, Beverly Johnson, by invoking the name Bill Cosby, is only going to make her money because her book is coming out and her sales will probably go through the roof now.
Well, the book is out.
And back and forth, back and forth, opinion evidence protected under the constitution. You can have your opinion about certain things. This is just beyond ridiculous. This whole thing...
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, it is not ridiculous.
DEBORAH FEYERCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hold on. Jump in, jump in, Avery. Hold on, Avery. Hold on, Richard. Go ahead, jump in, Avery. What are your thoughts?
FRIEDMAN: You've got to be fair because, you know, Beverly Johnson, Bill Cosby claiming her career is sagging, the book is sagging, everything is sagging, apparently, but the reality is that she published the book, I mean, let's assume that the allegations are true. She has an obligation. She claims that Bill Cosby slipped her a mickey in her cappuccino back in the 1980s.
Well, actually, Camille, his wife was there. Debora, Beverly's manager is going to come out and testify on behalf of Cosby. So, yeah, there are problems with the case. But she has an absolute right to break it.
FEYERICK: So do you think -- go ahead.
FRIEDMAN: Everyone has a right to buy an index number and bring a lawsuit. But the point is, this whole thing is absolutely bizarre and absurd. Do you know what you had for dinner 2 1/2 weeks ago on a Tuesday night?
I mean these people who were always...
HERMAN: Yeah, but you know, if somebody has sexually harassed you, that's a big difference...
(CROSSTALK)
FRIEDMAN: ... that multiple -- happened multiple times. They kept going back to him. It's so ridiculous. Everything should be dismissed.
FEYERICK: All right. So, Avery, last word on this. Who comes out ahead? Or just this just linger on indefinitely?
FRIEDMAN: I think it's -- everybody's a loser in the Beverly Johnson- Bill Cosby case. He will get nothing out of it. She's not going to get vindication. Maybe it'll help a book, I don't think so. But at the end of the day, it's a lose-lose for both parties.
FEYERICK: OK. Avery Friedman, Richard Herman, thank you for your advice on this rather peculiar story. Thank you.
HERMAN: Absolutely.
FRIEDMAN: Happy holidays, happy new year.
FEYERICK: To you, too.
HERMAN: Right.
FEYERICK: And coming up, presidential politics. Whether democrats or republicans, something nearly all of the candidates have in common, outside donors. But who is putting the big money behind them and to what end?
Cnn Investigates, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:35:38] And the Iowa caucuses are just weeks away, and political adds are in full swing, attacking some candidates and supporting others. Many are paid for by big money donors to political action committees.
CNN Investigations Correspondent Chris Frates joins me with a look at who is giving their money and why.
Chris, fill us in.
CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. So, Deb, big- money donors are increasingly giving to so-called super PACs, which can take unlimited amounts of money. And it's rare for super PAC donors and politicians to speak about their relationships and what that money actually brings them. But we recently talked to a top GOP money man who's given millions to politicians and to the presidential candidate who's benefiting. FOSTER FRIESS, GOP MONEY MAN: Hi, I'm Foster Friess..
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRATES: GOP money man Foster Friess has written his biggest checks to support his good friend, Rick Santorum.
In 2012, the retired billionaire money manager threw Santorum a lifeline. When he gave the super PAC supporting him more than $2 million.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he's a champion little guy. He's very presidential.
FRATES: In his hay day, Friess was making $10 million a month. Friess won't say how much he'll give this campaign season but explained why he donates.
FRIESS: I get a sense of satisfaction that I'm continuing the process that great to my success.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Friess refers to give this super PACs which can take as much cash as he's willing to give instead of giving directly the campaigns where the limit is $5400.
FRIESS: When the super PAC came along, I realized that I could just write a check. It's a lot more effortless and that saved the work.
FRATES: Santorum doesn't believe that Friess is trying to buy influence.
RICK SANTORUM, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If he was in it for access he wouldn't be supporting some guy four years ago who is a one percent in the poll. He was in it for access, he wouldn't be supporting Ted (ph) four years later who was in one percent in the poll.
FRATES: Veteran GOP fundraiser Henry Barber says passion at donors like Friess are outgunned by those seeking influence.
HENRY BARBOUR, VETERAN GOP FUNDRAISER: There are a lot more people that are giving because they believe in something. They far outnumber the people who give for access yet the people who give for access give large -- much larger dollars.
FRATES: According a non-partisan watchdog, so far this election cycle, super PACs have raised $315 million and spend almost $100 million. Much of it on ads. But those ads still leave Republican candidates far behind the front runner who hasn't spent a dime on television advertising.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Super PACs are a disaster, they're a scam, they cause dishonesty and you better get rid of them because they are causing a lot of bad decisions to be made by some very good people. And I'm not blaming these folks but I guess I could.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some experts say big check writers are driven by a mix of business and ego.
LAWRENCE NOBLE, CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER GENERAL COUNSEL: They're giving the people they think will support what they want and they're giving to people that they know will answer their phone calls if they win and they know will give them access and listen very carefully to what they want on public agenda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRATES: So those GOP presidential political ads you see on T.V., more than 80 percent of them so far have been paid for by super PACs. That's according to our recent report from a non-partisan watchdog group. But how successful those ads are still is an open question when many candidates supported by super PAC is doing poorly in the polls.
For example, the report says Jeb Bush and the super PAC back in his campaign have spent almost $26 million airing 15,000 ads yet Bush is polling in the single digits. Though with the first contents just over a month away, now is the time that money could be a game changer for many of those candidates. Deb?.
FEYERICK: And, Chris, is it agenda or is it also position? Has there been positions that are given to big donors. for example, an ambassadorship?
FRATES: Well, certainly when you have big donors they are often rewarded with ambassadorships but you have kind of two different kinds of donors by and large. You have folks who give for passion because they really believe in the candidate, they believe in the cause, and folks who are looking for more access and they want to get their calls return if that person will be elected.
So a couple of different ways that they're rewarded there and a couple of different things that they're looking for, Deb.
FEYERICK: All right. Chris Frates, great piece. Thanks so much, in Washington, we appreciate it.
FRATES: Thank you.
[12:39:51] FEYERICK: And the headlines in 2015, dominated by international stories. So which one's made our Top 10 list? We'll tell you, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: This has been a year of amazing stories across the globe, from the daring prison escape of Drug Kingpin, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, from a Mexican prison to raging wars in Syria and Iraq and also the raising of the American flag in Cuba.
In our top ten of 2015 stories, Anderson Cooper looks back at some of the biggest international stories of the year.
ANDERSOON COOPER: A top ten start from the shocking prison escape inside the Mexican jail cell of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the drug kingpin walks into a shower and then vanishes, leaned through this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very difficult to breath down here, a lot of dirt, gas and (inaudible). El Chapo used to run out of the prison.
COOPER: El Chapo remains at large and the question still lingers, who helped him escape?
Number nine. A moment for the history books. Cuba and America back on speaking terms. American's boarding planes bound for Havana. Thanks for a momentous thawing of IC (ph) diplomatic relations between the two countries.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: You're go -- It might have seem impossible that the United States would once again be raising our flag, starts on stripes over an embassy in Havana.
COOPER: Number eight, a massive quake shift in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, 10 feet in 30 seconds, triggering an avalanche of Mt. Everest.
Days of aftershocks followed, more than 8,000 people died.
Very few stories and more divisive than number seven on our list.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relations between the United States and Iran are poised to enter a new era after decades of hostility.
COOPER: Then the historic agreement to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, some hailing it as a major victory for diplomacy.
OBAMA: There's a reason why 99% of the world thinks this is a good deal because it's a good deal.
COOPER: Others calling it a deal with the devil.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This deal doesn't make peace more likely, it makes war more likely.
COOPER: Powerful words from the leader of Israel even more powerful. This moment on the floor of the United Nation, 44 seconds of uncomfortable silence signifying what he says is the deafening silence toward Iran, from the West.
[12:45:00] And number six, the bloody war rages in Syria and Iran, sprawling mess and a dangerous proxy war.
The US-led coalition air strikes pound ISIS targets in Syria. Russia says it's bombing ISIS targets as well
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Russians are not attacking ISIS, they are conducting strikes in areas where there are anti-regime militias. Those strikes will bolster Bashar Al Assad.
COOPER: On the sidelines of Turkey fiercely protecting its borders.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turkey, shooting down a Russian war plane. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An SU 24 Russian war plane crashed in the mountains of Syria near the Turkish border.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Russians are understandably absolutely furious.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Putin speaking out, calling the incident a "stab in the back."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This year, the world watched the biggest escalation of the American military campaign against ISIS to date.
OBAMA: I will not put American boots on the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The U.S. stepping up its president (ph) and the ground.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: President Obama putting combat boots on the ground in Iraq and Syria.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For the first time, officially sending Special Forces into Syria to fight ISIS.
COOPER: Rounding out to top five, a rock star welcome for Pope Francis as he toured the United States and Cuba, he masses before millions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This man is playing extraordinarily well on the New York stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reverend, I want to listen in a little bit, but the crowds are so excited.
COOPER: Off the cuff moments and tiny glimpses into the life of the Catholic leader, so many have come to love.
POPE FRANCIS: God bless, America.
COOPER: He then went to a war zone, sent to African Republic, part of the Pontiff's historic visit to Africa.
Number four, a city under siege.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A manhunt is underway for the gunman that perpetrated this heinous attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The editor of the newspaper is among the dead, as well as one of the cartoonists who was responsible for the very famous Muhammad's cartoon that got the newspaper in trouble back in 2011.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two Islamist terrorist brothers forced their way into the offices of the satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, opening fire and killing 12.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We walked in and it was obviously a very disturbing scene to see bodies on the floor. Some people were crying out for help. COOPER: Chaos filling into the streets. Muslim police officers
executed on camera. A police car tries to flee as the manhunt for the killers intensifies.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula claims responsibility. Meantime, shoppers at a Jewish grocery store held hostage, not by the brothers, but a man working apparently in concert with them. After three intense days, 17 innocent people were dead and terrorists killed.
Number three, a Germanwings commercial airline crashes, killing everyone onboard. The co-pilot of Germanwing flight 9525 now considered a culprit. Andreas Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit and steers airbus A320 into the ground. A chilling revelation (inaudible) hear the horror unfold on the black box voice recorder.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The screams are in the last instance. And I'd remind you the death was instantaneous.
COOPER: Lubitz flying this plane into the side of a mountain, obliterating it and everyone onboard.
FEYERICK: CNN learning, Lubitz reprogrammed the plane's auto pilot in flight, changing the setting from cruising altitude, 38,000 feet to just 100 feet. A premeditated plan, condemning everyone on board.
COOPER: Senseless killings, sparking a question that struck fear around the world. Can you trust the person piloting your plane?
And number two, 2 million Syrians run for their lives. A refugee crisis on a scale not seen since World War II.
FEYERICK: Running for their lives, Syrian refugees crossing the border by the thousands, trying to escape the war and violence.
COOPER: Syria's president Bashar Al Assad drops barrel bombs on his own people and ISIS terrorists carve a bloody path through the country. Terrified Syrians flee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, hey!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They've fired more tear gas, so people are sort of panicking.
COOPER: At borders across Europe, men, women, and children are pushed back. Tens of thousands more with nothing but the clothes on their back, desperately cram into boats, destined for unknown shores. Some would never make it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Inaudible) that are disturbing.
COOPER: A 2-year-old Aylan Kurdi was found face-down on a Turkish beach. He drowned at sea while crossing the Mediterranean with his family.
This picture of a toddler's lifeless body seen across the globe, becoming the symbolic issue of the human suffering. But still, in many countries, fear of the unknown prevails.
We have some breaking news for you out of Paris, France.
And number one, ISIS terrorizes the world, spreading the brutality beyond the borders of Iraq and Syria. An explosion rings out outside a soccer stadium in Paris, the first of three suicide bombers to detonate outside the stadium, marking the start of a series of terror attacks, the likes of which Paris has never seen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The whole time, he said, don't run, just stay. And those words saved my life, because the people who ran were shot.
[12:50:03] COOPER: People flee for their lives. A pregnant woman so terrified she hangs from the side of a building to escape the gunfire. At several restaurants, innocent diners were slayed as terrorists unload round after round.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking in Foreign Language) We are at war. The world (inaudible) terrorism...
COOPER: An American will slaughter about 130 people in Paris happening just 24 hours after this. Beirut, Lebanon, a pair of suicide bomb with the blast of powerful before the smoke clears, 43 people are left dead.
ISIS's ability to insight terror and fear across the world made clear when they do unimaginable.
UNIDENTIFIEDMALE: No U.S. Intelligence suggest the plane would most likely brought down by a bomb.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ISIS is holding this photo of (inaudible) that hit down Metrojet 9268.
ISIS says they detonated it in dead air and as you know, 224 people were killed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then an attack on U.S. soil.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Disturbed husband and wife dropped off their little baby, drive to a holiday party, and kill 14 people.
COOPER: The pair radicalize then at least partly inspired by ISIS carry out the deadliest terror attack in the United States since 9/11. They've been meaning to wonder and worry where ISIS could strike national (ph).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: And we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FEYERICK: In this past April, we saw violent riots in West Baltimore after Freddie Gray died while in police custody. CNN Victor Blackwell grew up in that same neighborhood and while reporting on the riots, he met three teams who shared their stories about the tough choices that they face everyday. Because of Victor's reporting, those three high schoolers got a surprise of the lifetime.
TEDDY BROWN, WEST BALTIMORE RESIDENT: Your face is brightened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm seeing the sunshine.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the first time in a long time, these boys are excited about what's next.
KYRIQUE JONES, WEST BALTIMORE RESIDENT: I just had a whole (inaudible), I'm like my whole thing around like...
BLACKWELL: In their West Baltimore neighborhood, surprises rarely bring good news and most happy endings are reserved for fairy tales.
JONES: This opportunity don't come like so there's anybody.
[12:55:01] BLACKWELL: You'll hear more about that opportunity later, because to truly appreciate it, you first have to listen to their stories.
BROWN: My name is Terry Brown.
BLACKWELL: All right. And how old are you?
BROWN: Seventeen.
BLACKWELL: Stories, Terry Brown, Kyrique Jones, and Jamel Phillips, first shared with CNN in April when the world's attention was focused on the rioting and looting just blocks from their home.
Crowds clashed with police and buildings were burned in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, a West Baltimore man who died while in police custody.
At the time, these three 17-year-olds were students at Carver Vocational Technical High School and understood the realities Gray and many others have faced.
JONES: In going to college (ph), you get certified in a certain trade, but once you get out of high school, you have no exposure, no experience.
That's in Freddie Gray. He didn't have a job as a carpenter. He went to college too. Alumni. Certified in carpentry. Where was his job?
BLACKWELL: And here, to make money, some sell drugs.
JONES: It's easy to just go out there and start selling drugs. It's easy. It's the easy route.
JAMEL PHILLIPS, WEST BALTIMORE RESIDENT: My father the only one working in the house. My father can't do it by himself. So the first thing came to mind, hit the block, do a little something. But got to stay away from that.
BLACKWELL: All of the boys have stayed away from the drug game, in part because some of their friends have been killed playing it.
BROWN: The whole Baltimore city was like, what they call it, murder lane. Murder lane.
JONES: Baltimore murder lane.
BLACKWELL: Say that again?
MALE: Baltimore murder lane.
BLACKWELL: And the number of homicides is surging. In the three months since that interview, there have been at least 116 homicides in Baltimore. A total not seen in at least 45 years, according to the Baltimore Sun.
Do you want to leave West Baltimore?
JONES: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Of course.
JONES: Yes.
BLACKWELL: What about you?
BROWN: I mean, I dream about leaving. Not going to say it's a reality for me right now.
BLACKWELL: How do you have hope?
BROWN: I have a hope, like, that's just -- you can have as much hope as you want. That don't mean it's gone. Challenged.
BLACKWELL: That initial interview was April 30th. The school year here was nearly over. Jamel was a junior, but Terry and Kyrique, they were just weeks from graduation. And they knew that once they crossed that stage waiting for them at the other end were seemingly unbeatable odds and far to few opportunities.
I know, because I grew up here in West Baltimore. That's unfortunately the case for too many young black man here. But some get their chance at success. And that's where our story and their lives take a wholly unexpected and extraordinary turn.
EDISON JACKSON, PRESIDENT, BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY: It was, to me, divinely ordered that I would see your show and be touched and moved by the conversation in your interview.
BLACKWELL: Dr. Edison Jackson is president of Bethune-Cookman University in Florida.
JACKSON: These young men have potential, but not opportunity. And the comment that struck me was, "There is no way out." I mean, they felt trapped. And so, the question, "Jackson, what are you going to do?"
BLACKWELL: Well, Terry and Kyrique graduated in May. The next day, Jackson flew all three boys to Daytona Beach for what they expected would be a campus visit and a meeting. But there was so much more.
He offered each admission to Bethune-Cookman University and any costs not covered by federal grants would be paid by the university. A free education.
BROWN: I didn't even know what to say. Like, he hit me with that. And I was just like -- I couldn't talk.
PHILLIPS: It was just like surreal. It didn't feel real. Like I was going to wake up at any second.
JACKSON: It was an easy thing for me. I mean, I didn't have to think about it. I saw a promise. I saw opportunity. And any young man that we touch and help to become successful is one less young man that becomes a statistic.
BLACKWELL: Terry and Kyrique are now roommates, members of the freshman class of 2019. Jamel will enroll next fall. They've been given mentors and academic coaches and an order from President Jackson, simply stated, "Don't you mess up. This is a golden opportunity for you."
An opportunity, albeit daunting, these boys acknowledge is their chance to escape the drug trade and the gun violence and take a shot at a better life.
BLACKWELL: It's real now. You've moved out of West Baltimore?
JONES: Yes, yes, we did.
BLACKWELL: How do you feel about your futures?
BROWN: I've been given an opportunity to do what I'm supposed to do and I'm going to do my best.
[13:00:02] FEYERICK: And CNN's Victor Blackwell recently caught up with Kyrique and Terry. Both of them have completed their first semester and they're looking forward to their second semester. Terry will major in early education, Kyrique is leaning towards a psychology major.
