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New Day

Cause of Havana Syndrome; Countdown to Opening Ceremony for Olympics; Dolphins Owner Pushes Back; Palin's Defamation Trial Begins Today. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired February 03, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: If you try to launch a coup and overturn a presidential election, you are no longer allowed on game shows.

CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes.

BERMAN: Just think about that. I -- again, I think -- I know everyone gets a chuckle out of this, but, you know, we can all do better than that.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, that is some kind of line.

Chloe, thank you for the report. Really appreciate it.

MELAS: Thanks. Thanks, guys.

KEILAR: Up next, a U.S. intelligence report has now named a possible cause of the mysterious Havana syndrome.

Plus, the FBI is investigating the HBCU, that's historically black colleges and universities, the bomb threats that they have been experiencing as hate crimes. Who they've now identified as suspects?

BERMAN: And the bombshell lawsuit by Brian Flores against the NFL now putting some pressure on the five Super Bowl acts to speak out. How will they respond to the controversy?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:35:09]

BERMAN: New this morning, an intelligence panel investigating the cause of those mysterious so-called Havana syndrome incidents says that some of the episodes could plausibly have been called by pulse electromagnetic energy.

Joining me now CNN's Katie Bo Lillis. She covers intelligence and national security.

Katie Bo, a lot of complicated words there I think with some kind of specific meaning. What does it tell us?

KATIE BO LILLIS, CNN REPORTER: Yes. So, for months now this panel of medical experts, engineers, scientists put together by the intelligence community has been poring over classified data, trying to understand what is the technological mechanisms that's causing these strange episodes, which just to remind our viewers are sickening spice, diplomats, service members all over the globe with symptoms as varied as head pressure, a piercing directional noise, and a sensation of vertigo.

And what this panel has found is that in the cases that they studied, it is plausible that pulsed electromagnetic energy, which I understand is a tongue twister for 6:30 in the morning, might be causing these sort of core set of symptoms. This kind of directed energy, these experts have said, not only could plausibly cause the symptoms but it also could come from a concealed source and it can travel through walls. And this is important because some of the victims of these sort of episodes have reported experiencing these symptoms while they were, for example, alone in their hotel room overseas.

So, importantly, both this report, while it sort of confirms -- or broadly confirms, I should say, a December 2020 report from the National Academies of Science that also said that pulsed electromagnetic energy could be the sort of most likely culprit here, they both stopped short of saying, this is definitely what this is. So we're still in a place where the intelligence community has a good idea of what might be the cause here, but they're not making any definitive statements.

BERMAN: First of all, any multisyllabic words are hard to say at this hour.

But, second, why is this so hard to figure out?

LILLIS: Yes, exactly. Well, you know, we got kind of an intriguing glimpse into, you know, one of the reasons that this has been difficult for both the intelligence community and for medical experts look at this. The report pointed out, there's a real dearth of academic study on the impact that electromagnetic energy has on the human body for sort of the obvious, ethical reason that, how could you study that in -- in a standardized way. So this has really left investigators to kind of rely on the accounts of people who have been inadvertently exposed.

And one of the other sort of intriguing elements of this report was that one of the recommendations that the panel made was the need to have some kind of -- deploy some kind of sensor that could help the government determine when these cases were happening to people in real-time. But, of course, that section was pretty heavily redacted in the report. So, we don't have a lot of details on that.

BERMAN: Katie Bo Lillis, you are all over this story. We really appreciate your help with this. Thank you.

LILLIS: Of course.

BERMAN: We're just one day away from the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The competitions, actually, already underway. KEILAR: And, ahead, at least three former NFL coaches are seriously

considering joining Brian Flores' lawsuit. That is according to our next guest who says, if they do, they're coming with receipts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:43:42]

KEILAR: The opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics now just one day away, but the competition is already beginning.

Coy Wire is in Beijing with this morning's "Bleacher Report."

Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brianna.

I've already been to the curling venue, a fan favorite at every winter Olympics. Also women's ice hockey underway. I saw a slight favorite to win gold here, Canada. They dismantled Switzerland 12-1. But they're going to have to get through Team USA, the defending Olympic champs. I was there to see them beat the Canadians in the final at the last winter games. Team USA has 13 players returning from that gold medal winning team.

We've been catching up with the players and asking what it would mean for them to repeat as champs.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILARY KNIGHT, USA WOMEN'S HOCKEY PLAYER: The pressure of winning gold is understanding what that gold medal meant to so many other people that were outside of this room. And that's when you start, you know, thinking, oh, like, this is so much bigger than ourselves. And, man, could we have a huge impact on the U.S.

JOEL Johnson, USA WOMEN'S HOCKEY HEAD COACH: When you see that gold being hung on someone's neck, it doesn't matter the sport, it doesn't matter the year, you, as an American, you just say, man, I'd love to have that opportunity some day. And so that's what we're hoping for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Now, Brianna, when Team USA beat Team Canada it that thrilling final in Pyeongchang, it was a packed arena. It erupted.

[06:45:00]

You could feel the emotion through the glass. And that won't be the case here. The organizing committee allowing only a limited number of spectators invited by the organizing committee. And they're from outside the closed loop. But the passion on the ice no doubt is still going to be palpable, Brianna. Team USA taking Finland on at 8:00 a.m. Eastern this morning. KEILAR: Speaking of passion on the ice, curling. Why do I love curling

so much, Coy?

WIRE: There you go. It's that sport, Brianna, that we feel like, you and I, we could go out on the ice and we could probably maybe do it. But we probably definitely could not.

KEILAR: Exactly.

WIRE: But it's -- yes, it's a great culture and a fun event to watch for sure.

KEILAR: It looks so easy and it is so hard I'm sure.

Coy, thank you so much, live for us from Beijing.

WIRE: You got it.

BERMAN: All right, developing overnight, the owner of the Miami Dolphins, Stephen Ross, released a statement about allegations from the team's former coach, Brian Flores. Flores is accusing the league and three teams of racial discrimination in a new lawsuit. He also claims -- and he said it to us right here on NEW DAY, that Ross directly offered to pay him to lose games.

So Ross says, with regards to the allegations being made by Brian Flores, I am a man of honor and integrity and cannot let them stand without responding. I take great personal exception to these malicious attacks, and the truth must be known. His allegations are false, malicious and defamatory. We understand there are media reports stating that the NFL intends to investigate his claims, and we will cooperate fully. I welcome that investigation and I'm eager to defend my personal integrity, and the integrity and values of the entire Miami Dolphins organization, from these baseless, unfair and disparaging claims.

This comes as Flores has received an outpouring of support from NFL players and coaches, including the Washington Commanders' head coach Ron Rivera, one of three head coaches of color currently in the league.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON RIVERA, WASHINGTON COMMANDERS HEAD COACH: This was a very accomplished coach. And for him to be in the situation he is, I can see the frustration. I can feel the frustration. And, you know, it's almost as if this is your last resort, you know, because how does a guy like that get left it of the hiring cycle?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Joining me now, staff writer at "The Washington Post," Robert Klemko. He's a former senior staff writer at "Sports Illustrated" for six years, focusing his coverage on the NFL.

Great to see you this morning. One of the things I think you point out, and I want people to hear

this is, there's a connection in your mind between these allegations of match fixing, which is what it is, throw the games, and the issue of race among the coaches. Explain that.

ROBERT KLEMKO, STAFF WRITER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Yes, I think it's a mistake to think they're separate. Bosses know that subordinates need to be vulnerable in order to put this sort of pressure on them, in order for the bosses to get away with this sort of pressure. And there's no more vulnerable group in NFL coaching than black coaches.

Stephen Ross knows that black coaches are way less likely to be hired, rehired after they're fired as head coaches, rehired the next season. So, he knows that Brian Flores is in an impossible position if he is to lose this job with the Miami Dolphins. And it's in that context that he asks him to throw games in order to gain a higher draft pick.

BERMAN: That's really interesting. And those are just the facts in terms of the tenure of black coaches, shorter than white coaches, more likely to be fired after a winning season, much less likely to be rehired after being fired. All of that's a matter of statistical fact.

Robert, you've been covering this for years. And one of the things that's notable about this is, everyone knows the NFL has a problem with black coaches, not enough of them. It's just -- the NFL knows it has a problem. But what's the significance then of this lawsuit and what's the next thing you're looking for here?

KLEMKO: Well, I think the significance is that Brian Flores is 40 years old and he's considered, even after this difficult run with Miami, to be one of the preeminent defensive coaches in the NFL. Somebody who had a lot of years ahead of him, who may be throwing it all away right now in order to try to build something for the greater good, in order to build opportunities for coaches after him. It reminds a lot of Colin Kaepernick.

The question now remains whether or not other coaches, other coaches of color and other white coaches will stand with Brian Flores in a way that players initially stood with Colin Kaepernick but didn't go all -- to all the lengths that Kaepernick did.

I've heard from a well-placed coaching source who told me that he knows of three ex-NFL coaches who are considering joining Flores' class-action lawsuit against the NFL. And they do have similar evidence to what Flores has.

The question is whether or not they'll have the same impact if they do come out as current coaches would. You just -- it's difficult to find people who are willing to risk as much as Brian Flores has.

BERMAN: Well, in terms of current coaches, there's only one black head coach currently, Mike Tomlin. I don't know if he'll join or not. But the idea of will other coaches, people who have coached or want to coach join, you see that as the key?

[06:50:06] KLEMKO: I do see that as the key. I think it's the key to public pressure on the NFL to make a change here. I mean we've seen, in the recent years, their willingness to brush things under the rug that are bad PR. You know, in 2016, they released 139-page report on whether or not footballs were deflated in New England. And when faced with a much more serious condition, toxic workplace conditions, sexual harassment with the Washington Football Team, there was no report released. And now the Ways and Means Committee is looking at that situation.

BERMAN: Right.

KLEMKO: So, they know that they're under the spotlight, but they have shown that they are willing to brush things under the rug in the past. They need more public pressure to act.

BERMAN: Robert Klemko, really appreciate the work that you've been doing for such a long time. Thank you for joining us this morning.

KLEMKO: Thank you.

BERMAN: So, today, jury selection begins again in Sarah Palin's trial against "The New York Times." Why Michael Smerconish believes she actually wants to lose this case.

KEILAR: Plus, did ABC go to far by suspending Whoopi Goldberg over her remarks about the Holocaust.

And, in moments, the star witness in Donald Trump's first impeachment trial will join us live on why he's suing Trump allies and Fox.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:55:03]

KEILAR: Jury selection is expected to begin today in Manhattan Federal Court in Sarah Palin's defamation trial against "The New York Times." Palin sued "The Times" in 2017 over an editorial that linked an advertisement from Palin's political Action Committee and a 2011 shooting in Tucson, Arizona, where former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot. Jury selection was supposed to start last week, but it was delayed because Palin tested positive for Covid-19.

This announcement was made amid controversy that the former Alaska governor had dined at a Manhattan restaurant despite being unvaccinated and then returned to the same restaurant two days after revealing her Covid-19 positive status.

Let's talk about all of this with the host of CNN's "SMERCONISH" and CNN political commentator, Michael Smerconish.

OK, so I will say, Sarah Palin doesn't really seem too concerned about how all of this looks in court for this. So, what's really going on here, Michael?

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: So, Brianna, think about it this way. If I were about to try this case on her behalf, and as my client she were to engage in behavior that you know is going to be deemed as offensive by at least half the prospective jurors, what would you tell her? You'd say, don't go that. Don't go out and eat at a Manhattan eatery two times in one week, once in clear violation of the local rules for unvaccinated diners because we're going to need those people on our side. You're going to make news. It's the media capital of the world. And yet she did all that.

What it tells me is, she expects to lose at trial. And that's OK because she's playing long ball. She's not playing for the Southern District of New York where this case is going to be tried. No. She wants to get to the Supreme Court of the United States because of a 6- 3 conservative-liberal split where Justices Thomas and Gorsuch have already tipped their hands in statements that they've made that they'd like to take another look at the case of "New York Times" versus Sullivan. Sarah Palin wants the defamation law of the land to be Palin v. "New York Times," not "New York Times" v. Sullivan.

BERMAN: And she has a reason to believe, as you say, that the current Supreme Court might be willing to take a look at it.

Michael, I want to ask you about ABC News and their suspension of Whoopi Goldberg, who said the Holocaust wasn't about race and then sort of offered different versions of apologies there. And this has begun a discussion about, look, she apologized. She admitted what she said was wrong. So then, did she need to be suspended? What are your thoughts on this?

SMERCONISH: No, she did not need to be suspended, in my view. She was mistaken, but she was not malicious. And although perhaps it took her a couple of hours to fully understand the depth of her mistake, some of the comments that she made with Colbert that night she probably would have liked to have walked back. But that's -- that's how I differentiate between the two. If she had said something with malice, I'd feel differently about it. But I just think that she was wrong on the facts and appeared foolish.

But, you know, not all acts of stupidity are deserving of the condemnation of being punished by two weeks of suspension. I think that sends the wrong message. She brought on the head of the ADL the following day. The following day she was clearly apologetic. No, I don't like the message that it sends.

KEILAR: And, look, the head of the ADL agrees with you pretty much there.

I do want to play what she said on Colbert. This was as she was trying to explain what she had said but actually did herself quite a disservice by making another mess.

Let's listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Said that the Holocaust wasn't about race, and it was instead about man's inhumanity to man. But it is indeed about race because Hitler and the Nazis considered Jews to be an interfere race. Now, words matter, and mine are no exception. I regret my comments, as I said, and I stand corrected. I also stand with the Jewish people, as they know, as y'all know, because I've always done that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: OK, I stand corrected because that was not Colbert and I thought we had it. But she -- as you're aware, Michael, she went on Colbert and she totally fumbled her point. She was trying to say that if she was standing there with a friend who was Jewish and the KKK was coming by, her Jewish friend would have less to worry about than she would, which I don't know -- I mean, what did you think about what she said there? And, also, even if she didn't have mal intent, what that represents about what a lot of people may think?

SMERCONISH: Well, the Nazis clearly saw Jews as an interfere race. We recently marked the 80th anniversary of the meeting at the Von C Villa. I've been to the Von C Villa to see the origin, the beginning of the so-called final solution. There's no doubt in terms of how the Nazis saw this issue.

[07:00:01]

What it said to me, Brianna, is, she's probably not alone.