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Israel Prepares Possible Ground Assault; Obama Heads To Texas But Not To Border Crisis; Hearing Under Way For Marine Jailed In Mexico; Pilot Buys Pizza For Stranded Passengers

Aired July 09, 2014 - 15:30   ET

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

YOUSEF MUNAYYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PALESTINE CENTER: You know, there is a consistent system of violence that is provoking this sort of reaction. The reality is, Palestinians have legitimate grievances and continuing to ignore them is only going to result in this kind of outcome, time and time again. Getting back to your question about this sort of military utility of all of this.

The reality is, the Israelis went in massively in 2008-2009, killing 1,400 people, most of whom were civilians. Again, a military operation in 2012. What is the military utility of these operations in Gaza? There is no military solution for the Israelis in the Gaza strip, or with Palestinians in general. The only solution is a just peace based on actually recognizing Palestinian rights. You cannot bomb them into peace. It simply will not work.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: We just wanted to make sure we are reporting both sides with correspondents, Gaza and Israel, and speaking with you from the Palestine Center in Washington. I truly appreciate you coming on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks for having me.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, it is a huge -- it is really the issue right now. Immigration. President Obama talking about it today. He will be meeting with the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, in just a couple hours. He will be not too far from that border. Why is he not going? We'll talk about that, debate that with two "CROSSFIRE" hosts coming up.

Also ahead, what you know about these people here, this new report says that these are the Muslim leaders in America that the NSA has been spying on. Why were these people allegedly targeted? And how is the NSA responding to this? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Bottom of the hour. You're watching CNN, I'm Brooke Baldwin. President Obama about to head to Texas whose border is ground zero for this immigration crisis. Did you know as many as 80,000 undocumented kids, many of whom are unaccompanied, are expected to show up this year, illegally?

The president just asked Congress for nearly $4 billion to help process the surge of migrants and mitigate the problem, and is not necessarily asking nicely. Listen to him take some jabs at Congress when he was in Denver earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I gather that some of the Republicans in Congress are mad at me for going ahead and doing things. And I don't know which things they find most offensive, whether it's creating jobs or easing student loan burdens or raising wages. But it's really bothering them. They have a plan to sue me. They plan to sue me for taking executive actions that are within my authority while they do nothing. I have a better idea. They should do something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Well, let's be clear. Folks on both sides of the aisle have been critical of the president when it comes to immigration and specifically criticizing him for not traveling to the border while he will be in Texas. So let's discuss with our hosts of CNN's "CROSSFIRE", S.E. Cupp and Van Jones. Great to see both of you.

Van, let me just begin with you since you used to work for the guy. Why is the president not visiting the border? What would be the problem if he were to go there?

VAN JONES, CNN HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Well, I mean, people talk about some logistical concerns, et cetera. There is probably some political concerns there, if you go there, you bring more to the problem. Personally, I would prefer it actually, that he go. I would love to see the president go, put his arms around some of these kids. These 50,000 kids are going to be here for a while. And America needs -- needs to understand, they are fleeing real terror.

They're fleeing real violence and destruction. They're our neighbors. They're here. I would love for him to embrace the kids and let people know what his plan is. If he's going to argue for $3.7 billion to work on the problem, I think he's more effective doing it from there. I think he made the calculation if he went there, it would look like a photo op and other people might criticize him for going.

BALDWIN: That's exactly right. S.E. Cupp, a lot of people would say photo op, nothing more.

S.E. CUPP, CNN HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Well, yes, but if you're trying to get Congress to act and that's his big mantra, do something. That's a pretty useful photo op. Go down to the border, take some pictures with some kids. If this is really a humanitarian crisis and a refugee crisis, and I believe deeply that it is, then the president needs to be at the epicenter of this disaster. He needs to show up. He needs to be on the ground. I mean, I'm hearing people talk about this as the president's "Katrina" moment.

BALDWIN: From a Democrat.

CUPP: That's right. And the same Democrat, Henry Cuellar, Representative Henry Cuellar also said the president was detached and aloof on this issue. Yes, there are political reasons for the president to show up with these kids. But it's also a crisis and that's what a president does during a crisis. He goes there. He is on the ground. Leading from where the crisis is occurring.

BALDWIN: We should also point out though, at the end of the Cuellar interview conducted on CNN this morning, at the end when he was pressed, he said he would ultimately support the president and whatever the president decides to do with, of course, Congress. When it comes to immigration.

But the issue of doing something, Van Jones, we've heard this sort of, you know, humorous chorus, maybe not so humorous of the president sort of, you know, wagging his finger, especially at those Republicans and saying -- I need you to work with me. But doesn't -- him wagging his finger in Denver today hurt him as he's trying to convince neighbors of Congress to then pony up this nearly $4 billion?

JONES: Well, frankly, he said it nicely for a while. He's tried to say nothing.

BALDWIN: Was that nice today?

JONES: Was not nice today, but, you know what, people loved it were Truman took on Congress. Reagan. But let's not forget, this president did try to get out of the way of the politics on immigration a year ago. A bipartisan bill passed through senate to fix the immigration system. The Republicans and Democrats and Senate. The House won't even take a vote. You can't blame Obama for that. He was silent to give them a chance to work it out in Congress. When he speaks they blame him, when he doesn't speak they blame him, when he gets mean they get mad. He wants Congress to do something.

CUPP: Brooke, I don't understand what the White House is thinking right now. The tone is so off. This is a president who is dealing with multiple scandals at home, from the VA to the IRS, foreign policy disasters abroad. And he kind of has the audacity to show up and smugly chastise Republicans from Denver, when just a couple hundred miles south on the border is another disaster he does not plan to show up at. It just strikes me as completely off. And I really don't understand where the White House is coming from on the optics, the messaging, on any of it.

BALDWIN: This has been a microcosm of what will be on "CROSSFIRE" tonight, Van Jones and S.E. Cupp, thank you both so much. We'll be watching "CROSSFIRE" tonight, 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

CUPP: Thanks.

BALDWIN: And now a U.S. Marine jailed in Mexico for three months says he accidentally drove into the country with guns. The United States government says he was smuggling across the border. Right now, he is sitting in this court hearing to find out if he can go home. We'll have an update for you on his fate, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: New allegations today that the National Security Agency, the NSA, and the FBI have been spying on the private e-mails of several Muslim Americans. In this first look media report, Lynn Greenwald and fellow journalist reveal documents provided by NSA whistleblower, Edward Snowden, naming the five prominent Muslim Americans you see here on your screen.

So let's bring "LEAD" host and chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper. And you have been in close contact with Glen Greenwald as this whole story has been moving along. What exactly is he saying?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, he got from Edward Snowden 7,400 e-mail addresses being surveilled by the U.S. government, and of those, he and his fellow reporter identified five Americans on that group. When asked about this, the director -- the office of the director of National Intelligence said in a statement, quote, "with limited exceptions."

For example, in an emergency, our intelligence agencies must have a court order from the foreign intelligence surveillance court to target any U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residence for electronic surveillance, issued by a judge only if probable cause based on specific facts are established that the person is an agent of a foreign power, a terrorist, a spy, or someone who takes orders from a foreign power.

That's a joint statement from the approximate office of the director of National Intelligence and Justice Department. Beyond that, the U.S. government would not comment on these five individuals. One of whom we should note actually had security clearance in the Bush administration in the Department of Homeland Security.

We'll be talking to him coming up on "THE LEAD". It is a very interesting case and all sorts of questions about why these people were being surveilled, what the standard is, and whether there is a double standard for Muslim Americans as opposed to non-Muslim Americans who, for instance, represent clients with allegations of terrorist ties.

So learning about tapping into regular folks' baby pictures and selfies and now this coming out here from the whistleblower this week. Jake Tapper, see you in 15 minutes.

A U.S. Marine jailed in Mexico for three months is now in court to find out if he gets to go home. We'll have an update on his fate, coming up.

Also, a flight delay can be incredibly frustrating for anyone, especially when you are stuck on the tarmac with nowhere to go. No food to eat. Maybe not. One pilot out of his own pocket surprised everyone with a good time and filled their bellies with something delicious. Of we'll explain what happened. We'll talk to the pilot live, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A U.S. Marine held in a Mexican jail may soon be released and sent home. A hearing was set today for Sergeant Marine Andrew Tahmooressi. The soldier has been jailed since March 31st when he says he just took a wrong turn on the California side of the border, drove straight into Tijuana and inside the trunk of his car, three guns.

CNN's Nick Parker is live for us for the hearing today. Nick, we know that the sergeant told us by phone, he's optimistic he will get out. Do we know what his chances are for being released today?

NICK PARKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, certainly a hair pin in many courts. We spoke to his lawyer last night, his defense team, and they are actually urging patience in the system, and they say today it is actually unlikely that the judge will release him. And here's really the reason why, in the hearing that's taking place just behind me right now, in this federal courthouse in Tijuana.

It's really Tahmooressi's first opportunity to give his version of events about what happened on that night on March the 31st. It's been a slow process up it's been a slow process up until this stage. He also fired his original legal team so really, at this stage there's very little evidence actually in the records of the court.

Today's hearing is known as an evidentiary hearing and for this reason his defense team thinks it's premature to ask the judge for a ruling. In terms of the overarching defense strategy they're going to be taking on, they'll claim there was a lack of intent that was seen in the crime.

He did not intend to bring these weapons over the border and they're also bringing up the idea of a possible botched arrest where protocol was not followed. We spoke to his defense lawyer last night, as I said and he said he's focusing very closely on the time he was in custody at the border.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FERNANDO BENITEZ, TAHMOORESSI'S ATTORNEY: How would you justify keeping somebody there for seven-plus hours, for what purpose? If he was under arrest he should have been delivered to the Federal Prosecutor's Office immediately under Article 16 of the Mexican constitution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PARKER: Now, Brooke, Mexican officials maintain that he was going through a crossing he'd been through before and had clear warnings against bringing arms and guns into Mexico. They also points out that an ignorance of the law does not excuse responsibility -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Unlikely today, Nick Parker for us in Tijuana. Nick, thank you.

Now this. A pizza party on the plane, but the pies were provided by the pilot. That's right. Passengers on board had to sit through this crazy long delay. The pilot took action. Want this pilot on your next flight? Yes, please. We'll talk to him live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK, before we talk about this pizza pilot, great news ahead here on CNN. Tomorrow night, episode six of "The Sixties" and it will hit with a lot of our viewers, the British invasion and hope you watch tomorrow night 9:00 p.m.

And finally, if you're stuck on the tarmac sitting in a plane for two hours, what would you like to lift the mood? How about pizza?

This is what 160 passengers on the Frontier Airlines got stranded because of bad weather and we have pilot on the phone who pulled all these strings, Gerhard Bradner, joins me and so, Gerhard, why did you do this? How did you pull this off?

GERHARD BRADNER, FRONTIER AIRLINES PILOT (via telephone): Well, to pull it off was easy, but at frontier airlines, we're a big family here and we consider our passengers the extended part of the family. Once they're in the aircraft, I'll take care of them and if that includes feeding them so be it. We had housekeeping duties to do with the aircraft and called Domino's.

BALDWIN: Of course, call Domino's. Were you sitting on the tarmac and there was a knock, knock, knock on the door? How did Domino's get to the plane is.

BRADNER: It wasn't that easy. I personally met Domino's outside airport security and, you know, we made sure everything was secure and then I hand delivered the pizza to the aircraft.

BALDWIN: You hand delivered it. We're looking at some of these flight attendants passing the different pies. I hear it was a pizza per row. Did pizza get to choose? Pepperoni, Hawaiian, peppers, no olive, no anchovies.

BRADNER: I ordered half cheese and half pepperoni and cheese. Everyone was pretty happy. I didn't have too many complaints.

BALDWIN: You are a family and you take care of your passengers, but Gerhard, have you ever done this before, ordering pizzas on a plane?

BRADNER: Not on a large scale, but I know some of my friends at Frontier Airlines have done it before, so I was not the first one to have done it.

BALDWIN: Did you get to eat some yourself?

BRADNER: Hello?

BALDWIN: Did you get to eat some yourself?

BRADNER: You know what? Unfortunately, I didn't have time.

BALDWIN: So everyone else got some pie, but not the pilot. You're a good man, Captain. Captain Gerhard with Frontier Airlines. Thank you. And now to this. Germany's epic win against Brazil in that World Cup match. That's what you want to call it, 7-1. People are -- tears, shock, Brazil fans left crying. Others cheering through the pain of such an embarrassing defeat. The loss was so bad that even Brazil's president said she never imagined it.

Just a short time ago she sat down and talked to our Christiane Amanpour on this exclusive interview saying that her nightmares were never as bad as what we witnessed on the pitch yesterday. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Did you ever dream in your wildest nightmares that this would be the result of the semifinal?

DILMA ROUSSEFF, PRESIDENT, BRAZIL (through translator): No. In honesty, in all honesty, no. Truly never. My nightmares never got so bad, Christiane. They never went that far. As a supporter, of course, I am deeply sorry because I share the same sorrow of all supporters, but I also know that we are a country that has one very peculiar feature. We rise to the challenge in the face of adversity. We are able to overcome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: From the president of Brazil. A lot of that may be true, Twitter can be mean! More than 35.5 million tweets, a record for the most tweeted about single sporting event ever and we'll show you just a couple of the means that played out like here you go, this Ron Burgundy one saying well, that escalated quickly.

The Oprah mean, the infamous, you get a car, you get a car turned into everyone gets a goal. You get a goal! And in Germany, by the way, will be playing the winner today's Argentina-Netherlands match.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. I've got to go. See you back here tomorrow. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.