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CNN This Morning

New Audio Release in Japan Plane Collision; Dan Senor is Interviewed about Israel-Hamas War; Jim Messina is Interviewed about Biden's Campaign; Terror Attack in Iran; Confidence in Higher Education is Down. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired January 03, 2024 - 08:30   ET

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

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[08:30:42]

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, Tokyo's Haneda Airport expected to cancel more than 100 flights after that tragic collision between a Japan Airlines jet and a Japanese coast guard plane on Tuesday killing five crew members on the coast guard flight.

Also, newly released audio reveals that air traffic control had cleared the commercial flight to land just before the two planes collided.

Joining us now, CNN's Will Ripley, live from Tokyo.

And, Will, what more have we learned of that audio from air traffic control?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, we know from the transport ministry, they've released the official transcript of what happened during those crucial four minutes from 5:43 p.m. local time to 5:47 p.m. During those four minutes, the coast guard turboprop aircraft was taxiing on the runway getting ready to take off. At the same time the Japan Airliner was making its final descent into Haneda.

Listen now to the instructions that were given. First you're going to hear from the commercial flight traffic control and then you're going to hear the instruction that air traffic control gave to the coast guard plane.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: JAL516, continue approach 34R.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cleared to land runway 34R.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: JA722A Tokyo tower good evening. No. 1. Taxi to holding point C5.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: So, that is the recording from the air traffic control side. You know, the Japan airliner had the all clear to land on runway c and the coast guard plane was told to proceed to the holding point. Basically, stay in place and stay there until it's time for you to take off.

But, of course, we know that the coast guard plane was actually right in the path of the Japan airliner as it was landing. When the two planes hit there was that massive fireball. And, of course, we know what happened yet. At least five of the coast guard crew members were killed and everybody onboard the plane was able to evacuate with just seconds to spare.

But the crucial question, did the coast guard pilot not know where he was or did air traffic control not know the actual location of the plane when they said to hold point. And why did none of the three pilots in the cockpit of the Japanese airliner not see that there was a plane in the runway, right in their path, and abort the landing? They have not found the cockpit voice recorder for the commercial plane. It's still sitting right there in the middle of the runway. A pile of medal and plastic. They have located the cockpit voice recorder for the coast guard aircraft. So, those are going to be the crucial questions as they search for more answers as to how all of this happened.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN ANCHOR: Will, Japan Airlines also said the in- flight system malfunctioned, I think is what they said, during an evacuation of the passengers. The crew was actually using a megaphone to communicate. What more are we learning about this?

RIPLEY: Yes, we're getting some really interesting new video, eyewitness video from inside the plane during those crucial seconds. And a lot of things were actually going wrong. Some of the exit doors, passengers say, were not operational. And, yes, as you mentioned, the communications system of the plane was not working, which meant that the flight attendants had to basically pull to out the megaphones and shout to get everybody off the plane while there was a lot of other things happening.

Take a look at this.

(VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: What this video shows us is that, yes, it was chaotic, there was black smoke filling the cabin, the flames were getting closer, they were just outside the windows. People didn't grab for their carry-on bags. There was no arguing or pushing and shouting. People just listened to the instructions and they got off the plane safely. All of them did. It's a lesson for anyone who travels and flies on planes to look at very closely, guys.

CORNISH: All right, Will Ripley, thank you.

MATTINGLY: Well, this just in, we're following breaking news and early details. Seventy-three people are dead, 170 are injured in Iran after two explosions struck near the grave of slain Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani. That is according to Iranian state media citing Iranian officials. People were visiting the burial site of Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. air strike ordered by President Trump at Baghdad International Airport four years ago today. Iranian officials are calling the explosions a, quote, terror attack. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.

CORNISH: And a U.S. official has confirmed to CNN that it was Israel that carried out the strike in Lebanon that killed senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri.

[08:35:04]

The strike happened yesterday at this office building in southern Beirut. Hamas officials say two other leaders from the group's military wing were among the four killed in the strike. A senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denying official responsibility for the attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK REGEV, SENIOR ADVISER TO ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Israel has not taken responsibility for this attack. But whoever did it, it must be clear that this was not an attack on the Lebanese state. It was not an attack even on Hezbollah, the terrorist organization. Whoever did this did a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Joining us now is Dan Senor. He's a former foreign policy adviser to the George W. Bush administration and Mitt Romney, and the host of "Call Me Back" podcast.

That statement says a lot in its effort to say nothing, which is, whoever did this, it was a very surgical strike. And, oh, by the way, Hezbollah and Lebanese officials, this was not directed at you or a wider conflict.

DAN SENOR, HOST, "CALL ME BACK" PODCAST: Yes. So. I think this operation, whoever did it, accomplished many things. One, Israel has made clear that one of its objectives is going after the senior Hamas leadership. He is among the most senior. Under Sinwar, Salah was one of the most senior officials. He was involved with planning October 7th. He's been responsible for many of the terrorist operations against Israel over the years. He himself served in an Israeli prison.

And Israel has said for some time that Hamas can't do this on its own. That it is in coordination with Tehran and with Hezbollah and with the Houthis and with all these proxies around the region. And, sure enough, that was one of his responsibilities, was staying close to Hezbollah and staying close to Iran.

So, getting one of these official outside of the Gaza, you know, war theater of operations and getting one that has such close ties to other actors in the regional I think sends a message. Even though Israel is saying, we're not going after you, proxies, and you, Iran. We're making it clear, we are going after the Hamas officials that are close to you. And I think most importantly it further isolates Sinwar. Sinwar is the ultimate leader, the ultimate architect in Gaza and I

think they're trying to isolate him. They're trying to sow a lot of confusion. And if his senior commanders are getting taken out, whether in Gaza or around the region, it makes it harder for him to operate.

CORNISH: We know that Israel said it was moving to a new phase of war. Are we looking at that phase?

SENOR: Yes, I think you're going to see the next few months -- or the next few weeks, actually, but it will -- it will -- the transition will be the next few weeks, but it will be carried out over the next few months. It will be de-intensifying operations in northern Gaza, but I think it will maintain high intensity in southern Gaza. I think it will require less manpower. So, it's very good for Israel in terms of its economy, its labor force, because it's got over 360,000 Israelis out of a population of nine plus million that have been called up to reserves. Some of them go home. But there is talk about possibly activating them again in a month or two, particularly if there's -- if there's heat up north.

MATTINGLY: Is that a direct result -- in terms of the withdrawal you're talking about, is that a direct result of the Ron Dermer meeting or do you think that that was -- these are two separate issues?

SENOR: I think -- I think the administration has basically conveyed to Israel, you have all the time you need, all right. We will give you the time and the space to do it, but we do not want the tempo at a tactical level to be at the same pace and same intensity as we have been seeing over the last couple months. So, for the first 90 to 100 days, the administration said, do whatever you need to do.

MATTINGLY: Right.

SENOR: Now they're saying, keep doing what you need to do, we just don't want the south, where most of the civilian population is now concentrated, to look like what you did in the north. And so I think they're readjusting to accommodate the administration's concerns.

And, by the way, the IDF believes they're accomplishing much of what they needed to accomplish.

CORNISH: Because you've done this job, I want to ask sort of an insider question, which is, we are hearing sort of a public face of what the administration says and then, like, U.S. officials say, reports are, taking a different tone.

SENOR: Right.

CORNISH: What's going on there?

SENOR: I think the Biden administration's foreign policy team believes that one of the reasons the Obama administration, which many of them served in, was not successful in working with the Israeli government, is because they laid out all their differences in public. And, you know, they -- when the Obama administration was leaving office, they publicly did not veto this U.N. Security Council resolution that was very critical of Israel, which really wigged out the Israeli leadership. There were many times President Obama and his team around him were very critical of Israel out in the open. And what the Biden administration's lesson from that is, is we have difference with the Israelis, but Israeli's an ally, Israel's a friend, Israel's a friend under siege. And the best way to work with an ally and a friend under siege is to work out those differences privately.

So, what you are hearing --

CORNISH: Semi-privately since they still leak what they want --

SENOR: I'm not so sure those are orchestrated leaks.

CORNISH: OK.

SENOR: I think -- I think that stuff leaks out. It's a big government. It's a big bureaucracy. But I think basically the administration -- I mean if you look at John Kirby at the White House, you know, in the White House Press Briefing Room, when you worked in there, the -- he doesn't say those things without the blessing and the guidance of the president of the United States. When Tony Blinken goes out there and says what he says, he doesn't say it without the blessing and the guidance of the president of the United States.

[08:40:03]

You see, they aren't freewheeling. They aren't going rogue. So, these are the official positions of the U.S. government.

That said, there's a lot of people involved in hashing out the details at the tactical level with the Israeli government and stuff leaks out. But the big, strategic priorities, the big, strategic objectives, I think they're totally synced up and they do not want that playing out in public.

MATTINGLY: Dan Senor, thank you, as always.

SENOR: Good to be with you.

CORNISH: Now, President Biden is set to begin his '24 campaign push from several historic locations. We're going to break down his strategy with Barack Obama's former campaign manager, next.

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MATTINGLY: Well, this morning we're learning President Biden will travel to Valley Forge to deliver a major campaign speech on Saturday as his campaign begins to level increasingly sharp political attacks against his likely GOP opponent, the same guy he faced in 2020, Donald Trump. This Saturday, of course, will mark three years since the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. And that's the backdrop for a moment Biden's advisors see as a -- as critical to laying out the stakes for a bareknuckle political battle ahead. The location of Valley Forge, of course, is indelibly imbedded in the national psyche, a turning point of the Revolutionary War. [08:45:03]

And it marks just the latest in a series of calculated efforts to connect a nation, as Biden views it, ripped apart by division, standing on the brink, to historic moments and figures that saw trials lead to triumph.

CORNISH: This also comes as Biden is working to overcome low approval ratings, lingering questions about his age and Democratic divisions over Israel's war with Hamas. His campaign is set to begin laying out the central arguments for his re-election bid, but some Democrats want Biden to turn up the heat on Donald Trump specifically.

Joining us now is Democratic political advisor and 2012 Obama campaign manager Jim Messina.

Welcome to the program.

So, we hear a lot of criticism, and you're a person who has encouraged President Biden to go straight at the former president to draw contrast. What do you think that would actually sound like, and why do you think it would make the difference?

JIM MESSINA, FORMER OBAMA CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Well, look, the campaign is in a natural place right now where we need a straight contrast between the two candidates. The country still wants to know if Donald Trump's going to be the nominee. It seems very apparent to us that he will be the nominee. So, it's time to lay out that contrast.

I love this Valley Forge speech because it kicks off the general election campaign by laying out the stakes. This is what Joe Biden's good at. Joe Biden's super power is having a conversation with the average American voter about where this country is and where he wants to take it. And as the Republicans go at each other in Iowa and New Hampshire, it's a natural time to begin laying out this case. And I think it's exactly the right strategy.

MATTINGLY: Jim, as you look at the landscape right now, it's clear the coalition that gave Biden a seven plus million vote win in 2020 is soft. It's soft on key constituencies Democrats always need. Part of the reason he's going to South Carolina after the Valley Forge visit.

What do you see as necessary to bring that coalition back?

MESSINA: A couple things. First of all, making the case to those coalition members, young voters, African American voters, Latino voters, women voters, about what he has done. And that's really what they've done in the past six months. And then a reminder about what the stakes are. And, you know, his announcement about what the campaign is going to do is really focused on the threat to democracy and the threats to the freedoms that Americans care very deeply about. One of those freedoms, of course, is a woman's right to choose. Reminding those voters what the stakes are and what Donald Trump will do will help in that consolidation.

I went through this exactly the same in 2011. There was lots of bad polls about Obama. People didn't think he could win. And when we started focusing on Mitt Romney, it really brought the party together in a really important way. And I expect that's what you'll see this time as well.

CORNISH: But, Jim, you know, Mitt Romney is not the pugilist that the former president is. And he's been on the campaign trail in speeches in recent weeks saying that it is Joe Biden who is the threat to democracy. I bring this up because it means he's using that language, right, that I expect to hear from Joe Biden.

MESSINA: Yes, you're exactly right. Look, Donald Trump's superpower in all this is he's the best counterpuncher in modern American politics. And -- but the fact is, he's in Biden's wheelhouse. You know, when you run a presidential campaign, what you want to do is control the narrative. And if Donald Trump wants to fight about who's best for democracy on the third anniversary of January 6th, have at it. He's going to lose that fight, and he's letting the Biden campaign, you know, decide the tone and tenor. And the Biden campaign should get some credit for pulling the former president on to their turf.

MATTINGLY: Jim, I understand both the Biden campaign's theory of case, and I think you detail it quite well, as well, in terms of people will come home, it will become very clear that Trump is running again. What happens if that doesn't happen?

MESSINA: Well, then, you know, then they need to reassess their campaign strategy. But I think it's likely to happen.

And look, you'll know as things move forward. You'll have lots of senses about this.

You know, I -- when you run a presidential campaign, you don't look at the poll numbers, you look at enthusiasm numbers. And you look at, are your voters enthusiastic. What are they doing to be helpful to you. Are they volunteering. Are they giving money. There will be lots of signposts, and you can start to -- start to, you know, adjust. You also can bring in very trusted Democrats, like Barack Obama, like Michelle Obama, the most popular political figure in America, to start making that case to Democratic voters as well. And I think you'll see that.

CORNISH: Jim Messina, thank you so much.

MESSINA: Thank you.

MATTINGLY: And we are following that breaking news out of Iran where officials say a, quote, "terror attack" killed 73 people and injured 170 others after two explosions struck near the grave of slain military -- Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.

[08:50:06]

That is according to Iranian state media citing Iranian officials.

CNN's Nada Bashir is live for us in Beirut with more. Very early sense of what's happening but, Nada, what are you learning?

NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Well, this is certainly a developing situation. And in just the last hour we've seen that death toll already rising according to officials as cited in state media. At least 73 people killed and at least 170 injured so far according to state media.

There were two explosions around the site of the burial site of Iranian Commander Qassem Soleimani. The first explosion going off just about 700 meters away. The second explosion about 1 kilometer away.

Important to note, of course, that this was -- this explosion took place at a time where many pilgrims would have been passing through checkpoints heading towards that burial site. Today does mark the fourth year anniversary since Qassem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. strike on Baghdad International Airport, ordered at the time by then President Donald Trump. And, of course, that was a moment which really sparked escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.

But, of course, there is mounting concern over the situation and the potential for that death toll to continue to rise. We will be monitoring those updates. We've seen video emerger already, dramatic video, showing crowds running away from the location following those explosions.

We are, of course, today expecting to hear from the secretary general of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. He was scheduled to speak on the anniversary of Qassem Soleimani's killing. And, of course, there will be a huge amount of concern around the situation facing civilians in Iran. The reverberations of that will certainly be felt here as well in Beirut.

CORNISH: You mentioned an official from Hezbollah. Is there broader concern about whether this is connected to, reflective of the turmoil in the region right now?

BASHIR: Well, we certainly have seen those tensions escalating. State media now citing Iranian officials have characterized it and is describing this as a terrorist attack. But the cause behind these explosions, the potential motives, still unclear. We are still waiting to hear more details around that.

But certainly that -- this has been a moment of high alert across the region, not least in Iran and around the regions surrounding Israel. Of course, Hezbollah has seen mounting tensions with Israel across Lebanon's southern border. And we have been hearing those repeated warnings from international leaders, including the United States, around the potential for the conflict in Gaza to escalate. And we have, of course, already seen those warning signs of escalations from Yemen to Syria and Iraq. So, certainly, that will be a huge point of consideration as we begin to hear more details around this attack in Iran.

CORNISH: And we'll stay on this story today.

Nada Bashir, thank you.

MATTINGLY: House Speaker Mike Johnson is heading to the border with GOP lawmakers today as migrant crossings hit a new record.

CORNISH: And embattled Harvard President Claudine Gay is out of a job, driven by a firestorm over plagiarism and last month's disastrous testimony over anti-Semitism on campus. So, how's the fallout affecting Americans' view of higher education? We'll break down the numbers.

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[08:56:40]

MATTINGLY: Well, the embattled president of Harvard University, Claudine Gay, is resigning after a plagiarism scandal and disastrous testimony on Capitol Hill about anti-Semitism on college campuses.

CORNISH: Gallup polling has found that confidence in higher education has been declining in recent years and the divide between Republicans and Democrats is particularly steep.

Here to break down the numbers for us is CNN's senior data reporter Harry Enten.

Welcome back, Harry.

HARRY ENTEN, CNN SENIOR DATA REPORTER: Welcome.

CORNISH: So, when we say confidence in higher education, it doesn't sound like we're talking about like the ability to teach or learn.

ENTEN: No, I mean, it's basically this exact question, you know, do you have a great or quite a lot of confidence in higher education? I just want to look at this steep decline that we're seeing. Back in 2015, 57 percent of Americans had a quite or a lot of confidence in higher education. That dropped to 48 percent in 2018. Look where we are now, at just 36 percent.

You mentioned, Audie, the wide partisan gap. Take a look here. Again, great or quite a lot of confidence in higher education. In 2015 it was 56 percent of Republicans, 68 percent of Democrats. Democrats have dropped a little bit down to 59 percent. But look at Republicans now, all the way down to 19 percent. I think that's part of why you saw Republicans going after those different presidents of those universities.

MATTINGLY: Can you tease this out to the extent we can? What does this actually mean in practice?

ENTEN: Yes, what does this mean in practice? So, high school graduates enrolled in college among 16 to 24 year olds. Take a look, in October of 2015, it was 69 percent. You go to October of 2019, 66 percent. Now we're down to just 62 percent. So, we're seeing fewer people go off to college, perhaps because they're having less confidence in it. And on this very important question, would you say that college

education is more of a gamble that may not pay off or a smart investment in the future? Back in 2016, 55 percent, it was a smart investment in the future. Now it's just 42 percent. More of a gamble that might not pay off, 43 percent. Now, 56 percent of Americans believe it's a gamble that might not pay off, guys.

MATTINGLY: Yes, it's fascinating. And also I think a shift to some degree in terms of how people think of college coming with the partisan stuff at the same time.

ENTEN: Exactly.

MATTINGLY: Harry Enten, I appreciate you, man. Thank you.

ENTEN: Thank you.

CORNISH: Now, the original Mickey Mouse, the one featured in Walt Disney's 1928 short film "Steamboat Willie," along with some of his closest friends, have officially entered the public domain. That means these characters, along with their stories that were copyrighted back then, can be reused and remade, either on the page, stage or screen. And there's been no time wasted in making the mascot from the happiest place on earth horrifying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where the hell did he go?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: We kept Harry here because --

CORNISH: I can't unsee that.

MATTINGLY: He's the only person I want to hear from.

You feel good about that?

ENTEN: I feel really good about it. I like to see actors and roles be diversified.

MATTINGLY: Yes.

ENTEN: So, this is a great example of that where you go from something that's very family friendly to something that's most certainly not. Although --

CORNISH: Yes, kind of broaden the portfolio.

MATTINGLY: It's a growth for Mickey is what you're saying.

ENTEN: It's growth for Mickey. You know, Mickey has been stuck in this singular role for so long.

MATTINGLY: Yes. ENTEN: It's nice to see him grow.

I'm really, truly interested when Goofy becomes somebody who can go on to be in one of these horror films. Maybe he can team up with Mickey and create the ultimate horror film.

[09:00"01]

Maybe we can show it to kids and they can be truly scared.

CORNISH: OK. Hollywood, you heard it here, Goofy horror film. Get on it.

Everyone, have a great morning. "CNN NEWS CENTRAL" starts right now.