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New Day Saturday

Martin MacNeill: Guilty of Murder; Killer Typhoon Devastates Philippines; GOP Jockeying for 2016; Incognito Flies to L.A., Reason Unknown; Estimates of 1,000 Killed in Typhoon; Why Trans Fats Are Harmful

Aired November 09, 2013 - 07:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, I'm missing is my eldest daughter, I hope she's alive. The hope is that she's still alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Can you imagine just waiting to find out if your child is alive. Just panic, as families are desperately searching for the missing as Typhoon Haiyan is just ravaging the Philippines.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: And the storm, too, isn't done yet. That's what part of so frightening here. This as humanitarian agencies are making their way in. We're live in one of the hardest hit areas this morning.

And we see that, and I think everybody can relate to the fear of not knowing where somebody is. Especially in a situation like that. So certainly, our thoughts and prayers going out to everyone affected by Typhoon Haiyan. But we're going to get you the latest on that, and several things that happened overnight.

Welcome to NEW DAY. We're so glad to have you here. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: And I'm Victor Blackwell.

Of course, one of the important things is the verdict in the MacNeill trial out in Utah --

PAUL: Who saw that coming overnight?

BLACKWELL: In the middle of the night.

So, we've got Jean Casarez, who's been up all night. She's going to be with us in a moment.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLACKWELL: And let's get more on the breaking news.

The Martin MacNeill trial ended just hours ago with a verdict that left the doctor's family weeping with joy and gratitude.

PAUL: Yes, you know, a jury of eight found MacNeill guilty of killing his wife in 2007. His daughters sobbing in court. He, though, apparently barely blinked as the clerk read the verdict.

CNN's Jean Casarez has been following this case. Joins us live from Provo, Utah.

Jean, I know you've been up all night long. Thank you so much.

But we know through this trial, MacNeill's reaction has been pretty icy, right?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has, but I've seen another reaction. When the jury was not in the courtroom, it was amazing, Christi, he would welcome his defense team, shake their hands, he would ask them if they wanted water, it was like he was welcoming them into his home which was the defense table.

But, you know he was such a respected doctor here in Provo, Utah. I mean, everyone knew him, they adored him. So no one thought that he could commit a crime like murder.

Well, the family, his daughters pushed, they believed that he was responsible for the death of their mother. That culminated in the trial, and tonight, this morning, we had a verdict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLERK: We the jury having reviewed the evidence, the testimony in the case, find the defendant as to count one murder guilty.

As to count two, obstruction of justice, guilty.

CASAREZ (voice-over): Screams of emotion echoed through the tense courtroom as Martin MacNeill heard his fate sealed, seven long years after the drowning death of his wife Michele in the family bathtub.

Her daughters and sisters shaking and sobbing uncontrollably as they said bittersweet tears.

JILL HARPER-SMITH, VICTIM'S NIECE: When it happened we were kind of like, did we hear that right? Because it's surreal. We've been waiting for this for so long.

CASAREZ: After 14 days of testimony, it took the eight-person jury nearly 11 hours to come to a verdict. Despite relying on circumstantial evidence, prosecutor Chad Grunander had told the jury to do the right thing.

CHAD GRUNANDER, PROSECUTOR: We're absolutely thrilled. It was an amazing moment to meet with the family. This has been so long coming to them and emotional.

I think they found Alexis Somers to be totally credible. I think they believed her, such a wonderful strong woman who did not give up on her mother.

CASAREZ: MacNeill's daughter Alexis was the impetus behind the indicates and pursued her father's prosecution with a vengeance. The verdict was her victory.

ALEXIS SOMERS, VICTIM'S DAUGHTER: We're just so happy he can't hurt anyone else. We miss our mom. We'll never get her back.

But that courtroom was full of so many people who loved, loved her. I looked around. It was full of everyone who loved my mom. And I can't believe this has finally happened. We're so -- we're so grateful.

CASAREZ: Friday's closing argument by prosecutor Chad Grunander convinced the jury that as a doctor and a lawyer, MacNeill had the motive, means and opportunity to kill his wipe. He was planned all along, he said and MacNeill left plenty of clues along the way.

Prosecutors proved MacNeill plied his wife with a deadly dose of drugs after insisting she have a face-lift, then held her water in the bathtub under the water she drowned. All so he could marry his mistress Gypsy Willis.

DISPATCHER: Who's in the bathtub?

MARTIN MACNEILL: My wife!

GRUNANDER: There's about an hour and a half time where no one really knows where Martin is, rush home, take care of your business. Give Michele the drugs. Fix her up a bath. Get her in the tub. Hold her head down for a little while and help her out.

CASAREZ: Defense attorney Randy Spencer spent a year preparing for the trial, devastated by the outcome.

RANDY SPENCER, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Of course, I'm disappointed, but I don't have any comments right now.

CASAREZ: MacNeill faces 15 years to life for the murder of his wife of 30 years.

(on camera): What do you want to say to Michele right now?

LINDA CLUFF, MICHELE'S SISTER: I love you, Michele. Very glad that we could do this for you. And I felt her with us in there.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: And the sentencing for Martin MacNeill will be January 7th of 2014. You know, Christi and Victor, I asked the prosecutor what is the lesson to be learned from this case. And they said, never give up. If you believe in something, if you believe in the justice that needs to be served, you keep going and you fight.

And prosecutors and the family of Michelle MacNeill believe justice was met early this morning in Provo, Utah.

BLACKWELL: All right. We'll see if we'll hear from their daughters during that sentencing phase.

Jean Casarez, thanks you much.

For information on the MacNeill verdict, including testimony from this riveting trial, head over to CNN.com.

PAUL: Our other developing story this morning -- boy, some of the latest pictures we're getting from parts of the Philippines, because they're just scenes of utter devastation after what was Super Typhoon Haiyan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: I want to get right to CNN's Paula Hancocks in Tacloban City, which got the worst of the typhoon.

Paula, what's going on right now? What does it look like? Can you give us a sense?

OK, it may be tough there. We have lost Paula's signal to try to get that up.

But, boy, you can see from the scenes of this, they were saying, this is such a fierce storm. We've got winds 235 miles per hour. And look at how massive this storm is. I mean, the width of it going all the way from -- just to give you some perspective -- Canada to Florida.

BLACKWELL: To South Florida. A huge storm.

PAUL: Something to equate it to.

BLACKWELL: With a huge impact. We have a story now. We couldn't get Paula Hancocks on the phone but let's listen to the report during the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Loretta Isanan (ph) lost three of her daughters in a matter of seconds. The storm surge from Typhoon Haiyan tore them from her husband's arms, age 15, 13 and 8. Only two bodies have been found.

UIDENTIFIED MALE: Only ones missing is my eldest daughter. I hope she's a live. And we are hoping that she's alive and she was dumping (ph) somewhere, but she's alive.

HANCOCKS: Pat Ramos (ph) became emotional as she remembers seeing bodies float past her home. She said she was on the roof to avoid the water. They are just some of the victims congregating at the Tacloban air strip. Many have walked for hours to get their first food since the storm. It's become the military's staging area. A first aid center is set up for cuts and bruises, but they can do little for a serious gash to the head. One of the first priorities, restoring communications.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From today, hopefully within 48 hour, hopefully, we're relying on satellite phones.

HANCOCKS (on camera): As we move further inland, we come across more bodies. This is the local chapel here which is effectively being turned into a morgue. Inside nine bodies, five of them are children.

(voice-over): The military planes that bring life essentials in take the body bags out, as well as the injured that need to keep their hope for the future.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Our Paula Hancocks there reporting for us on this terrible storm in the Philippines.

Emergency crews are assessing the damage on the ground. Relief teams are also rushing food, medicine, blankets to people who are hit hardest by the storm.

Remember, this monster storm hit 3 1/2 times the force of Hurricane Katrina. Consider that.

And now as the typhoon heads towards Vietnam, officials say that the number of casualties in the Philippines is expected to rise.

We've got on the phone with us, Joe Curry with Catholic Relief Services. He's there in the capital city of Manila.

Joe, tell us what it's like where you are.

JOE CURRY, CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (via telephone): I'm in Manila in the capital. We're mobilizing. We're talking to partners around the country and we're trying to get information from the Eastern Visayas region, which was the first hit. Fortunately, other areas in Visayas were spared, but the islands that were in the path were devastated, as you can see from that information from Tacloban. It's an utter devastation.

BLACKWELL: What are the biggest challenges in getting the relief to the people who need it?

CURRY: For the relief, it's going to be a lot of logistics. The government is now working to clear roads to the airport. Right now, Tacloban is not accessible by air or by sea or by road. It's starting to clear, but it's certainly couple of days. We hope that the airport (INAUDIBLE). Boats can get there sooner. They're trying to mobilize to get out there in the next couple of days.

BLACKWELL: All right. Joe Curry with Catholic Relief Services -- stay safe. Of course, all our thanks from CNN for the work you do for the people there. Also, Joe told us that the Bohol island, 350,000 people still there in tents because of an earthquake that hit last month.

PAUL: Yes, 7.2 magnitude was that earthquake. So, they are able, we understand, at least some of these people, ready to eat meals and clothes and blankets and some medicine.

But water, I understand, is a little scarce there. So, we're obviously going to keep up on this and we'll let you know how it progresses through the day.

But that typhoon just a typhoon, not a super typhoon but has its eye set on Vietnam. And that could happen tomorrow.

BLACKWELL: And still very strong.

PAUL: Yes, we'd be watching. And could it strengthen? That was the other question, too. So, we'll find out.

Speaking of storms, how about the political one always going on here?

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: Yes, yes. It's too early to talk about 2016, isn't it?

BLACKWELL: Never too early to talk about 2016. Several Republicans already eyeing the prestigious piece of real estate on your screen, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, of course, once the Obamas move out.

PAUL: Plus, 50 years after the JFK assassination, a veteran of Washington reveals his doubts about Lee Harvey Oswald.

You're up early and we're glad for it with NEW DAY SATURDY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: It's jobs.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: Look, my focus has been jobs, economic growth and in particular Obamacare. Obamacare, it's the biggest job killer in this country and it's interesting.

LENO: Let me ask you something -- let me ask you something --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Not too many jokes. Just serious conversation.

Senator Ted Cruz pops up on late-night TV.

PAUL: You know what that is, a sure sign that jockeying for the 2016 presidential nomination is in full swing.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Here's CNN's Erin McPike. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ted Cruz traded jobs with Jay Leno on NBC's "The Tonight Show."

LENO: I've been reading a lot about you lately. And they describe you as aggressive, arrogant and abrasive -- accurate?

CRUZ: Well, I don't know that you can believe everything that you read.

LENO: All right. Anyone of those? You can believe any one of those?

CRUZ: You know, what I'm trying to do is do my job. And occasionally, people don't like that.

MCPIKE: Some Republicans blame Cruz for October's government shutdown and what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt to defund Obamacare. But Cruz is ignoring the criticism amid the presidential buzz. Visiting Iowa, the first state to cast judgment in the presidential primary, he blasted conventional wisdom to win a general election, GOP candidates need to be more moderate.

CRUZ: What complete poppycock.

MCPIKE: Chris Christie got even more attention this week, he landed on the cover of "TIME" magazine and couldn't stay away from network TV.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: Listen, I think the party's got to focus on winning again. Sometimes, I think the party cares more about winning the argument than it cares about winning the elections.

MCPIKE: He's taken a markedly different approach than Cruz, urging his party to work with Democrats.

When we caught up with him on Election Day, this week in New Jersey, he wasn't hiding this interest for running for higher office. He was just a little playful.

(on camera): Governor, when do you think you're going to get the chance to vote for yourself again?

CHRISTIE: I don't know. I don't know if I'll ever get chance to vote for myself again. You know, I won't run for another office in New Jersey I can guarantee it. This is it for me.

So, we'll see what happens if there's a chance in the future. I don't know if there will be. That's why I took longer in the voting booth.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MCPIKE: And it's just not Cruz and Christi. We also saw Rick Perry in Iowa this week and he said if he runs for president again, he'll do it differently this time. Also, Rand Paul, who's been dealing with the fallout from the plagiarism scandal. He's going to another early state on Tuesday. He's going to South Carolina. We're also seeing Marco Rubio and Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal all start making moves.

So, it's very crowded on the Republican side of the aisle -- Christie and Victor.

PAUL: Let the games begin. CNN's Erin McPike in Washington this morning -- thank you, Erin.

BLACKWELL: Let's switch gears and talk about money now.

PAUL: Twitter stock, whew, it takes life on Wall Street. If you want a piece of the action, stick around for our guest.

BLACKWELL: Also ahead, she certainly looks like a "she." We'll meet the model who couples nowadays as a man in front of the camera.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Hashtag cha-ching.

PAUL: Nice.

BLACKWELL: Twitter debuted on the New York Stock Exchange this week and did it with a bang.

PAUL: And there it is goes. Stocks soared 73 percent on its first day of trading jumping, from the IPO price of 26 bucks to $44 a share. Impressive for a company that's never even turned a profit.

Twitter's CEO Dick Costolo said that's going to change fast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK COSTOLO, CEO, TWITTER: We've got plenty of time taking this model and growing it. We're not worried about having a certain number of advertisers, or a certain amount of revenue by the end of this year. We're focused much more on the user experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So, this has to be all about potential if it's never turned a profit.

Let's talk to Brett Larson. He's the host of the nationally syndicated TV show, "TechBytes."

Brett, good to have you.

BRETT LARSON, TECHBYTES: Hey, thanks for having me this morning, guys.

BLACKWELL: Can you explain, I mean, I tweet, you tweet as well, Christi. PAUL: I do, yes.

BLACKWELL: How does Twitter make money for its investors?

LARSON: That is a great question. Right now, they're making money from investors from amazing jump in stock price from $26 up to $44, like the over 70 percent jump in stock price.

But the CEO said it very well, you know, they now have time to figure these thing out. The one thing that twitter has absolutely figured out is the mobile space. And that is where all of the users are going. They're going to their smartphones. They're going to their tablets. They actually want things that are quick and easy to read.

So, Twitter has been very smart in both attracting users, getting the mobile audience and also getting advertisers.

PAUL: You know, this is the thing -- a lot of people are looking at Twitter saying, man, 73 percent on day one. Look at Facebook, remember Facebook? I mean, it doesn't even increase 1 percent in its debut back in May 2012.

So, what did Twitter get right that maybe Facebook didn't?

LARSON: Right. And Facebook also had so many problems with their IPO on the day that it went. There were many delays in getting the IPO to happen the day it happened.

Twitter spent a lot of time making sure everything was very carefully crafted. There were a lot of questions for Facebook about their ability to make money, their ability to go after that mobile audience. And these were things that Twitter really had nailed down.

And also, they had the ability to look at -- the Facebook IPO and say, OK, we don't want that to happen. We're going to make sure we'll do better than that.

BLACKWELL: So, should we expect more ads? I mean, I understand that the company has got to make money, but I hate the little Twitter ads. Should we expect more of those?

LARSON: Right. You know, as we've seen with Facebook, as Facebook has become more covered in advertising, yes, definitely. We should probably expect to see more advertising. More sponsored tweets pop up. More recommended that we follow different brands or different paid personalities.

So, that will definitely start to happen. But I don't think we're going to make big changes fast. I think we're going to slowly move into the space so they don't really offend any of their millions and millions of users.

PAUL: All righty. Brett Larson, host of the syndicated radio show "TechBytes" -- thank you so much, Brett. Good to have you here this morning.

LARSON: Thanks for having me. Thanks.

PAUL: Sure.

BLACKWELL: And still to come on NEW DAY: look at this man. It's Martin MacNeill, stone-faced. It doesn't look like there's that change of emotional at all, although he's just been found guilty of murder. That verdict led to an outburst from a family that turned on him or some would say told their truth. We'll break it down for you.

PAUL: Plus, embattled football star Richie Incognito spending time away from the Miami Dolphins this morning, after the Dolphin suspended him in a bullying scandal. And that thing has rocked the NFL.

We'll have more in a moment. Stay close.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Mortgages rate tick up this week, take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: If you're just kind of waking up and getting used to what's going on. It's Saturday. Hopefully, you don't have to rush out anywhere. Bottom of the hour right now. And we're grateful for your company.

I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: It's good to be with you. I'm Victor Blackwell.

Let's start with five things you need to know for your NEW DAY.

Up first, the daughter us of a convicted murderer said their mother finally has justice. Over night, a jury in Utah found Martin MacNeill guilty of drugging and murdering his wife back in 2007. Now, during the trial, a prosecuting witness admitted she had an affair with MacNeill before and after his wife's death. MacNeill will be sentenced on January 7th.

PAUL: Number two, as people in the Philippines try to escape floodwaters up to their neck, the death toll from what's likely to be what the strongest storm in record history expected to skyrocket. More than 100 bodies we know were found in one just city. Typhoon Haiyan hit the island with winds up to winds 235 miles per hour. And now, it's setting its sights on Vietnam as a category 3 later today.

BLACKWELL: Number three now, the FDA is moving to take trans fats out of the food you eat. It's in a lot of food that people love -- processed foods, frozen pizzas and desserts, microwave popcorn, coffee creamer. The major source of trans fat, partially hydrogenated oils. It increases the shelf life of food and enhances the flavor. But the FDA says it's no longer generally recognized as safe.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Number four: the childhood home of rap artist Eminem has been damaged by fire. Apparently firefighters responded to the blaze Thursday night. That Detroit house is no longer owned by Eminem's family, we should point out, but it does appear on the cover of his album. Earlier this year, the 767 square foot home was auctioned on eBay for $500,000. Didn't receive any bids. And firefighters and investigators, they're still trying to figure out what caused the blaze.

BLACKWELL: Number five, diplomats say they're inching closer to a deal on Iran's nuclear program. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to take part in talks in Geneva. Now, Britain's envoy says there's been, quote, "very good progress but several issues need to be resolved." Israel prime minister says the proposed deal is, quote, "very dangerous."

Now, we told you a moment ago about that conviction in Utah. Dr. Martin MacNeill, he stood still as a statue while he learned his fate in the early morning hours. He's convicted of killing his wife. And now, he faces 15 years to life in prison.

Now, there is a bizarre twist to this. No one appreciated the verdict more than MacNeill's own daughters because they believe he ruthlessly killed their mother so he could be with his mistress.

Danny Cevallos is a CNN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney. He's with us this early more than.

Good to have you this early morning, Danny.

So --

DANNY CEVALLOS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Thank you. Good morning.

BLACKWELL: -- is this the verdict you expected?

CEVALLOS: It isn't, and I'll tell you why. At least three of the state's medical examiners concluded that cardiac arrhythmia could have caused the death. But even with that I think this was the defense's case all the way.

Of course, we've seen a trend with cases that if the prosecution shows extreme creepiness, in other words, a cheating husband, someone who has a motive to get the wife out of the way. We've seen it at least in a couple different cases. At least with the name Peterson that juries will conclude there isn't as much direct evidence of a killing, they may still find a person guilty, a defendant guilty of murder. This was a surprise to me, Victor.

BLACKWELL: You know, we just had up the shot of Dr. MacNeill standing there stone-faced as the verdict was read. I wonder -- I'm always amazed by people who can listen to that guilty verdict and show no emotion.

I wonder what his rule during this trial just sitting there stone- faced, some would say icy, what impact that might have on a jury?

CEVALLOS: Well, it's really interesting you brink this up because this is something that all defense counsel should speak to their client about. It's that the jury is watching you all the time. There's a school of thought as a defendant that, look, I'm being accused of a crime, I want to roll my eyes, I want to harrumph, I want to pull on my defense attorney's sleeve and say he lie, he lie. But you can't do that.

However, sometimes, when you look too icy cold, the jury might deal with that, too. It's a really difficult position being a defendant, make no mistake about it. It's a lot of acting. It's a lot of behaving in a way that will offend the jury even if that means sitting there like a statue.

BLACKWELL: You know, we -- this trial went on for 22 days. We heard a lot from the state. But the defense, their case didn't go on very long. What impact does have that? Has the jury by that time maybe made up their mind after listening to the sordid details, and listening to the case put on by the state, just a couple days from the defense?

CEVALLOS: Well, ultimately, the defense may have no case at all. And that goes to the burden. The burden is on the prosecution. You have to, as a jury, that burden means you root for the defendant the entire case.

Because they have that burden, the prosecution typically puts on more witnesses. So that's not unusual.

I thought the four witnesses that they called were pretty good. I thought the defense's main point had to be the medical examiners. The science was in their favor.

However, in this case, it appears, the jury, especially with their question about the inheritance, it appears the jury took into account the truckload of motive that this doctor had.

BLACKWELL: All right. CNN legal analyst Danny Cevallos, we'll continue to unpack what impact this decision means from the jury and look forward -- look ahead, rather, to the sentencing. Danny, thanks.

Christi, over to you.

PAUL: Well, also this morning, Richie Incognito is waking up in Los Angeles. Not clear what the suspended Miami Dolphins linebacker is doing there. But this morning, boy, the details keep coming in this whole alleged bullying deal.

Our Nick Valencia covering it for us.

What have you learned this morning?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this morning, you know, it's the weekend, so many people are thinking about their NFL team as they prepare this weekend. What's going on in the Dolphins locker room is really casting a shadow over the NFL this weekend, Christi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) VALENCIA (voice-over): Vulgar comments, racially charged language and a physical attack. For Miami Dolphins lineman Jonathan Martin, the threats crossed the line. So last week, he left the team. This according to a statement released from his attorney.

Jonathan endured harassment that went far behind traditional locker room hazing, his lawyer said. These facts are not in dispute.

But what is in dispute is relationship between Martin and teammate Richie Incognito, the man suspended by the Dolphins for detrimental conduct.

KYLE MILLER, MIAMI DOLPHINS TIGHT END: It gets to the point that you can't differentiate between what's fact and what's opinions.

VALENCIA: The question, were Martin and Incognito really best friends despite what's being alleged? Some players say yes.

TYSON CLABO, MIAMI DOLPHINS OFFENSIIVE TACKLE: What's perceived is that Richie is this psychopath racist maniac, right? And the reality is that Richie was a pretty good teammate. And that Richie and Jonathan Martin are friends.

VALENCIA: Some say they hung out together on the field and off. For one full season, they played alongside each other on Miami's offensive line, a position where both Martin and Incognito were expected to tough, something Martin's lawyer addressed in this staple. "Jonathan Martin's toughness is not an issue", he said. "The issue is Jonathan's treatment by his teammates."

In the fallout, Martin's decision to leave the team has been widely recognized, while Incognito's behavior has been sharply criticized. And each day, there seems to be a new twist.

The latest, a woman who said Incognito touched her inappropriately with a golf club. Details from a 2002 police report. CNN affiliate WPLG reports Incognito was never charged. As for his future with the team, for now, the Dolphins aren't talking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any comments we'd make at this time would be a disservice to the process about to take place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: And I talked to some NFL players. And while they don't condone the bullying or these alleged racial slurs, they do say that this has gotten way blown of proportion and so much worse has happened in other locker rooms.

PAUL: Which is hard to believe for people, you know, who aren't there, but hear these stories.

VALENCIA: Or outside of culture, that's right.

PAUL: Yes, yes. Nick Valencia, thank you so much.

VALENCIA: You bet.

PAUL: Victor, I want to get back to you. I understand you got new information on the other story we've been covering, the big one, the typhoon in the Philippines.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLACKWELL: Yes, Christi, we do have breaking news about typhoon Haiyan. CNN has confirmed at 1,000, the estimate is now 1,000 people killed in Tacloban alone from Haiyan, which was a super typhoon, now a typhoon but still very strong -- 1,000 people killed in Tacloban, we know from reporting there, that bodies floating through the streets, several children also in that number.

Our Paula Hancocks is there in Tacloban, one of the first Western journalists there. We'll continue the reporting -- but 1,000 people estimated killed in Tacloban. The Philippine Red Cross is the source. The Red Cross is also telling us they have 1 million people in more than 350 evacuation shelters in the area across the Philippines.

But the number now, estimated 1,000. And unfortunately, some believe this number will continue to soar after the Philippine Air Force and the authorities get in, Catholic Relief Services also there.

We'll continue to follow this. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Well, she has a supermodel body. Supermodel looks. Long hair, big pretty eyes. Ladies and gentlemen, this is former model Elliott Sailors.

BLACKWELL: And so is this, yes. Sailors decided to get rid of the locks, dump the dresses and ditch the world of female modeling. From female model to modeling mens wear now.

So, I wonder, why would Sailors make such a drastic decision?

PAUL: Let's ask her.

BLACKWELL: Let's do that.

PAUL: We have Elliott Sailors here with us live from New York.

Elliott, thank you for being with us. How are you doing?

ELLIOTT SAILORS, WORKS AS A MALE MODEL: Wonderful, absolutely. Thank you for having me.

PAUL: Of course.

So, give us the lowdown here. Why make this decision in the first place?

SAILORS: Yes, absolutely. Well, androgyny isn't something brand new to fashion by any means. You know, since Coco Chanel brought men's wear into women's fashion.

But for me, it was first in 2011 when I was inspired by Andre Pavic, and then in fall of 2012, I actually took the landmark forum and I got really connected to the way I wanted to live in the world, an opportunity for people to be fully self-expressed.

BLACKWELL: So I wonder was it also possibly a financial decision, did you think you could make more money, get more jobs as a male model because you would be -- you know, an original, in modeling menswear?

SAILORS: I would definitely like to think this would be unique. And I do hope that it really will pay off financially. However, it is accurate that male models do make less than female models, but male models tend to have more longevity. So, we'll see how that turns out financially.

PAUL: OK. We have a video clip of the day you actually got your hair chopped off. A little help from Vincent mixed in here. Take a look at this real quick.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

PAUL: I know you say you got a little teary eyed when you got to the barbershop. I'm watching you now, you're smiling but you still look a little affected by it. Was that a tough decision for you and what did your husband think?

SAILORS: No, it wasn't a tough decision. You know, I got a little nervous when it came down to the wire because, you know, it really was taking on something brand new in my life. Not just that it's hair.

My husband was the one who actually recorded that so he's in total support. Complete inspiration also for me in terms of what I'm doing. It was an honor to have him there while my buddy Thorn Decatur was cutting it all off.

BLACKWELL: So your husband is supportive. A lot of people are supportive. You're getting a lot of positive feedback, but --

SAILORS: Yes.

PAUL: All your critics --

BLACKWELL: But -- Katie Waldman from "The Slate" slammed you. I want to read this. She said, "Her stunt is at best a canny career move, and at worst to slightly insensitive to transfer people. To appropriate the trans transition narrative when you really all you're doing is to placate a different gender for the camera is just silly. Cut it out."

What do you think of that?

SAILORS: I do think it's unfortunate that that is how she sees it. I do want the trans community know that I'm total -- I'm in support of anyone representing who it is that they know themselves to be. For me, personally, I'm only here to tell my story and to do what is in fact authentic to me.

And this was a choice that for me has integrity. It's true to who I am. And, you know, I've never been a really super feminine girlie- girl. So the way it occurs for me, this is actually very accurate on the outside, now, how I've already felt on the inside.

BLACKWELL: Well, Elliott Sailors, we appreciate you sitting down and talking with us.

We want everyone at home, tweet us #newday.

PAUL: Thanks, Elliott. We appreciate it.

SAILORS: Thank you so much. Have a good one.

PAUL: Sure. You, too.

Coming up on NEW DAY, a major breach at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport. A man sends TSA officers on this wild chase after he storms past security.

BLACKWELL: Plus, this is big. Depending on what you're having for breakfast. How the FDA's ban to push trans fats could actually save your life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Ten minutes until the top of the hour.

Police say a man arrested at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport for just bursting through a security checkpoint may have been on drugs.

PAUL: Kind of explained it because when you hear the story. I mean, officials say the guy ran past security, punched his way through a door to get on to the tarmac.

BLACKWELL: Now, TSA officers captured him on an empty plane. The suspect will be charged with trespassing and assaulting an officer.

PAUL: All right. So, the FDA is moving to take trans fats out of the food you eat. This is in a ton of processed food, frozen pizzas, desserts, microwave popcorn, even that coffee creamer you may had just poured today.

BLACKWELL: And mac and cheese.

PAUL: I know. That hurts, doesn't it?

BLACKWELL: It does.

CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta is hear to tell us why trans fats are so dangerous -- Sanjay.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christi and Victor, I mean, I think this is a potentially very big deal with the FDA weighing in on this. And I would tell you, the medical community has known for sometime the impact of these trans fats. Probably, the worst fat of all in terms of the heart.

Even the industry has been starting to limit the amount of trans fats in many processed foods. But now with the FDA weighing in, it may make the changes more rapid.

(voice-over): It's an ingredient in a lot of our favorite foods -- microwave popcorn, cookies, cakes, frozen pizza and much more -- trans fats. They increase shelf life and they add flavor to processed foods. But the FDA is now saying they are not safe and wants to ban them. It's a move they say would save thousands of lives.

MICHAEL TAYLOR, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, FDA: We think it's time to address and really phase out the remaining uses of trans fat in the diet, so that we can reduce the incidence of heart disease and deaths resulting from heart attack.

GUPTA: You see, trans fats lower good cholesterol and they raise bad cholesterol.

What we're trying to avoid is this -- LDL or bad cholesterol building up as plaque in the blood vessel walls, because that plaque buildup is what can cause heart attacks.

The CDC says ditching trans fats would prevent up to 20,000 heart attacks a year and as many as 7,000 more deaths from heart disease. New York City banned trans fats from restaurants in 2007. And many companies and popular chains around the country have already phased them out.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association says that it looks forward to working with the FDA to better understand their concerns and how the industry can better serve consumers.

(on camera): Now, Christi and Victor, if there is good news in this, we have done a pretty good job here at limiting our trans fats on our own, voluntarily. About 10 years ago, we had four and now it is closer to a gram per day. So, that's all been on our own. And now, the FDA basically wants to ban them all together.

There is a 60-day period where you can ask questions or concerns. It is expected to go through. Industry doing a lot to curb these trans fats.

Big question going forward: what are they going to replace it with? To some extent saturated fats may come back, maybe in smaller amounts than we used it, and there maybe alternatives that scientists are working on as well -- Christi and Victor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: That is the big question. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thank you. We'll be right back.

(COMMERIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: On November 22nd, the country will mark 50 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Now, there have always been conspiracy theories surrounding JFK's death. And a new doubter reveals himself -- none other than Secretary of State John Kerry, who spoke with NBC's Tom Brokaw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM BROKAW, NBC NEWS: Where do you come down on the conspiracy theories?

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: To this day, I have serious doubts that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

BROKAW: Really?

KERRY: I certainly have doubts that he was motivated by himself. I'm not sure if anybody else was involved. I don't go down that road with respect to the grassy knoll theory and all that. But I have serious questions whether they got to the bottom of Lee Harvey Oswald's time and influence from Russia and Cuba.

BROKAW: And what about the CIA? There are some who believe --

KERRY: I've never gone there. No, I don't believe that.

BROKAW: But you think the Russians and Cubans may have had something to do with it?

KERRY: I think he was inspired somewhere by something and I don't know what or -- I can't pin anything down on that, Tom. I never spent a lot of time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Kerry said he met President Kennedy once in 1962 while working as a volunteer as Ted Kennedy's senatorial campaign.

PAUL: Yes. This is interesting. Kerry says the president asked where he would attend college and he responded Yale, kind of was like -- knowing the president was Harvard man.

BLACKWELL: Yes, Harvard man.

The second season finale of "ANTHONY BOURDAIN: PARTS UNKNOWN", I love this show, airs tomorrow night, right here on CNN.

PAUL: And this time, he's heading to Detroit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST (voice-over): Maybe the worm started to turn here, the Packard automotive plant. Opened in 1903, it was considered the most advanced facility of its kind, anywhere in the world. Huge, epically proportioned, I mean, 3.5 million square feet.

Now, one man lives here. Al Hill.

AL HILL: My name is Alan Hill. Welcome to my home. This here is the former Packard Motor Car Company.

I started living here almost seven years ago. At that time, I was semi-apprehensive about the place. And the going-ons around here, but it turned it's about as peaceful as the North Woods, and not having a credit card payment or car mortgage or a car payment is a real blessing.

There's nails. So --

BOURDAIN: Yes.

HILL: What happened here in Detroit is unfortunate, but a sign of the times. It not only takes an individual to raise a village, it takes an entire world to help a city. One city suffering or one community suffering, the entire world should pitch in and help elevate it, instead of sit there and stare at it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Man, preview of tomorrow night's "ANTHONY BOURDAIN: PARTS UNKNOWN". Be sure to stick around after the season finale as well.

BLACKWELL: Anthony Bourdain will hold a live one hour "PARTS UNKNOWN" last bite from Las Vegas. That's at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One is missing is my eldest daughter. I hope she's alive. We're hoping that she is alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Just one family's story of the sheer panic and fear as thousands of families are desperately searching for the missing. Typhoon Haiyan is ravaging the Philippines.

PAUL: That massive storm isn't done yet either, which part of what's so frightening. This as humanitarian agencies are making their way in. We are live --