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New Day Saturday

Police Close In On Alleged Cop Killer; Unarmed Man Busts Into White House; NFL to Overhaul Personal Conduct Policy; Tactics, Challenges in ISIS Campaign; Goodell on Abuse Scandal: "I Got It Wrong"; ISIS Threat to U.S. Homeland?; Insane Lines for New iPhones

Aired September 20, 2014 - 07:00   ET

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

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: National correspondent Jason Carroll is in Monroe County.

Jason, what's the latest this morning?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, obviously, another tense moment in time here for the people here in Monroe County, specifically those who live in and around the area of Canadensis, Pennsylvania. That's the town where Eric Frein grew up.

All this starting, Victor, last night, at about 7:00. That's when we first started hearing reports of shots being fired in the area. Shortly thereafter, an alert went out warning people to stay off the streets and to stay in their homes. Then, the road blocks went up, road blocks going up. State police out there restricting movement in and out of the area.

And again at that point, it seemed as if they had their suspect cornered, but once again want to point out that this man, Eric Frein, cannot be underestimated. He's a self-described survivalist, self- taught survivalist. He knows these woods very, very well, knows the backwoods, the trails very well. So, it could be very easy for him to slip in and out.

Having said that, investigators have been out here. They've been working what they call a grid pattern. Basically, what they're doing is trying to eliminate the areas where he has been and hopefully trying to eliminate the areas -- or prevent the areas where he can go, trying to restrict him to a certain area. They've said for the past few days they still believe he's in this area, which is why things are still so very tense here on the ground.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: You know, Jason, his father said that he's so adroit as a marksman. Has there been any effort to try to have his father speak to him publicly to try to get to him and make him turn himself in or help turn the tide here?

CARROLL: Absolutely. You know, good question. Let me just explain one thing for you here, Christi, and that is it very well could be.

But the point is what investigators are trying to do is, they are restricting some of the information they're revealing to us for obvious reasons. They don't want to tip their hand. But also investigators believe that Frein may have access to media reports. And so, what they're doing is they're restricting some of the information that they're giving us because they don't want it to get to him.

BLACKWELL: All right. Jason Carroll there in Monroe County following this for us. Jason, thank you so much.

Let's go to the White House now where an unarmed man jumped a fence last night and made it into the building before he was caught just on the other side of those doors. His mad dash across the North Lawn was captured by cell phone video. Watch ten seconds of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go back. Into the park. Go now, into the park. Go back. Get back, get back! Everybody back in the park.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Part of the White House was evacuated after that incident. The first family was not there at the time. But just four minutes earlier, President Obama and his daughters had boarded a helicopter on the South Lawn bound for Camp David.

Let's go to Erin McPike who is there at the White House with more on this.

Erin, what have you learned overnight?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, as you pointed out, that first family was not here and President Obama and his daughters had just taken off.

But right after that, a man who was 42-year-old by the name of Omar Gonzalez did jump this fence out front, then he ran straight behind me to the north portico doors. He then made it inside those doors before Secret Service apprehended him. They then took him in an ambulance to the G.W. Medical Center where he's then being evaluated.

Now, after the fact secret service was seen here combing through the bushes to see if he had dropped anything. This man was unarmed. He wasn't holding anything at the time. So they didn't believe him to be as big of a risk, of course, but he was then taken to the ambulance. Then as you mentioned a big chunk of the White House was evacuated as well as the press, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Before this incident, were Secret Service agents aware of this man? Concerned about his potential for going to the White House or attacking the family?

MCPIKE: Well, what we understand from law enforcement is that this particular man is known to Secret Service but he's not been arrested before. Those are the details we have. We don't know why he was known to Secret Service, but they did seem to know who he was.

BLACKWELL: All right. Erin McPike there for us at the White House after this really scary incident. Thank you so much.

Let's go now to the bombshell in the Ray Rice domestic abuse investigation. This seems to keep getting worse.

MCPIKE: Oh, my gosh, yes. Now a source within the Ravens' organization, within the organization, tells CNN the team did know about the video of the star running back knocking out his then-fiancee in an elevator and they knew it within hours of the incident.

BLACKWELL: Kristen Ledlow joins us with more on this developing story.

This could be a game charger, Kristen.

KRISTEN LEDLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're right. Now, CNN has learned that the team's head of security spoke with the Atlantic City police shortly after that February assault. Now, in that conversation, police described in detail the video recorded inside the elevator.

ESPN reports those details were shared with team executives in Baltimore. The network also claims executives, including owner Steve Biscotti, president Dick Cass and general manager Ozzie Newsome then began campaigns pushing for leniency for Rice on several fronts, from the judicial system in New Jersey, to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The source inside the Ravens organization tells CNN the first time the Ravens actually saw the video from inside that elevator was when TMZ first released the recording. Goodell broke his silence yesterday to face the media about the rash of domestic violence issues that have rocked the sports world the last couple of weeks. The commissioner says he has no plans to resign and admits to making a mistake in the handling of the scandals.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: I hold myself to the highest possible standards, so when I make a mistake or I don't get something right, it bothers me more than anybody. I think the owners have seen that in me. I think they know that we've always tried to do the right thing. Mistakes happen. And I'm sorry for that. And I'm -- we're going to get this right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEDLOW: Goodell announced that the NFL will overhaul its personal conduct policy because of the outcry over the league's poor handling of domestic violence incidents. He said the league office will form a conduct committee and that he's willing to give up some of that judge, jury, executioner power that he's held for so long. The executive director of the NFL Players Association, DeMaurice Smith appeared on Rachel Nichols last night and he said he welcomes the chance to get it right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RACHEL NICOLS, "UNGUARDED" HOST: Is the union going to have any say in how that shapes out?

DEMAURICE SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: Hearing that they intend to have a discussion about overhauling that system is something that the union will have to be a part of. And we look forward to working with them and correcting the problems or the issues that we believe have existed with that policy for some time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEDLOW: The president of the national organization for women is also calling for Goodell's resignation. Now, in a statement, Terry O'Neill said the commissioner, quote, "did nothing to increase confidence in his ability to lead the NFL out of its morass" -- guys.

PAUL: All right. Kristen Ledlow, thank you so much.

LEDLOW: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Here's a question a lot of people are asking: has the U.S. revealed too much to ISIS?

PAUL: Military officials say the militants are changing their tactics, this ahead of potential air strikes. So, now what do we do?

BLACKWELL: Yes. Also, a major break in the disappearance of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham. Why police are zeroing in on a man they say may know what happened to Graham in the final hours before she vanished.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Well, as the U.S.-led coalition ramps up its attacks against ISIS, the fight is getting more complicated. The latest strikes targeted a boat use to resupply ISIS fighters and a small group of militants southwest of Baghdad. But now, fighters are beginning to blend into the Iraqi population, making precision strikes increasingly difficult.

Let's talk about this with retired Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis and former Delta officer, James Reese.

Gentlemen, thank you both for being with us.

First of all, Colonel Maginnis, how do you target these fighters when we know they're infiltrated with civilian life?

LT. COL. ROBERT MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET): Well, Christi, the only way you can do that is obviously have people on the ground that can sort out the fighters from the innocent civilians. And we learn that clearly in Iraq and Afghanistan through our counter-insurgency and counterterrorism activities. And so, that's why it's so critical that we get the Iraqi forces the Peshmerga, the Syrian moderates that will be trained, that we get them trained properly and quickly so we can begin this. Otherwise, ISIS continues to grow and continues to be a danger for the entire region. PAUL: But speaking about Syria -- Syrian, you know, arming Syrian

rebels specifically here, Officer Reese, Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona was with us earlier, he said the commanders of the Syrian rebels want the training but they've made it clear that they want to take down the leader, al Assad.

So, how do you train these militants to fight the fight that needs to be fought there against ISIS?

JAMES REESE, FORMER DELTA FORCE OFFICER: Well, the fight really has to work with what the U.S. is going to do is really help with the intelligence and operation infusion.

Training the fighters on the ground to pull triggers is easy. The next piece is to identify the leadership, how do we find the intelligence to find these leadership and then coach, teach and mentor the Syrian fighters and the rebels to work what we call a capture/kill type mission to go after the senior leadership of ISIL.

PAUL: Colonel Maginnis, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey, told lawmakers this week that the ISIS militants are adapting to the air strikes. How can we -- obviously, if they're going to adapt, the U.S. and the world needs to adapt, but how do we do that to stay a step ahead of them?

MAGINNIS: Well, it is difficult, Christi. Clearly they're flowing with the events, as you indicate. And, you know, finding them on the ground is going to take, as I said moments ago, the people that can sort out the good from the bad and precision air strikes, though very helpful as a complement to ground forces, there's no, you know, no alternative but to have good people on the ground.

And, you know, my concern with the Syrian moderates is that we've trained Iraqis, we've trained Afghanis and others over the years and we continue to have them turn their weapons on us in limited numbers, but very important issue to think about. And to a certain degree, we saw the same thing in Libya. So, you know, trying to get these Syrians not to focus on Assad but on ISIS is going to be, I think, the primary effort that we're going to have to encounter. And that's going to be very, very difficult. As we've seen, ISIS just yesterday took over 21 villages in a city in northern Syria and a flood of refugees went into Turkey.

Now, these people are going to be tough to battle and they understand as they adapt to our tactics, this is going to be a hard slog ahead. And even the director of the CIA said yesterday, Mr. Brennan, that this is going to be a generational fight, something that won't be easy.

PAUL: Officer Reese, you know, the president has been adamant that he's not going to send troops on the ground into Iraq or Syria. Retired Marine General James Mattis said, though -- and I want to quote on here, he said, you don't tell your enemy ahead of what you're going to do.

Do you thing the president reassuring the public that troops aren't going to go in is compromising this fight in any way?

REESE: I don't think it's compromising the fight. I think what you're doing is backing yourself in a corner which I just don't understand. At the end of the day, the president with all his advisers has to make a decision and says if this is a threat, we must do this.

I understand that there were agreements made and there were promises made, but at the end of the day, the commander in chief has to make a decision based on the well-being and the safety of the region and the United States. To back ourselves into a corner I just think is a bad mistake.

PAUL: All righty. Colonel Bob Maginnis and former Delta Officer James Reese -- gentlemen, we so appreciate your insight. Thank you for being here.

MAGINNIS: Thank you.

REESE: Have a good day.

PAUL: You too.

Oh, what a busy day it is this morning. So with this obviously is not the only story we're covering for you. We have a lot for you in your morning read.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Let's start with this. Police in northeast Pennsylvania, they've been hunkered down all night in a rural area they believe an alleged cop killer may be hiding.

PAUL: Thirty-one-year-old Eric Matthew Frein suspected of shooting to death one state trooper and wounding another in an ambush, that was a week ago outside the state police barracks.

Also, a man made it all the way into the White House last night after jumping the fence outside the North Lawn. This is video of him running across the lawn. Secret Service says 42-year-old Omar Gonzalez of Copperas Cove, Texas, was not armed at the time. But part of the White House was evacuated after the incident and the first family was not there at the time.

BLACKWELL: Big business story for you now. Two former peanut company executives have been found guilty in a food safety case in Georgia. Stewart Parnell and his brother were charged with intentionally sending out peanut butter products laced with salmonella. Nine people died, hundreds got sick. The prosecutor says both men could spend the rest of their lives in prison.

PAUL: And in sports, everybody been waiting to hear something from NFL Roger Goodell. Well, he broke his silence, telling the world he's not going anywhere. In his first public remarks in more than a week, Roger Goodell apologized for his mishandling of the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal, but made it clear he's not resigning. He went on promise sweeping policy changes to counter domestic abuse and sexual assault in the league. BLACKWELL: All right. Forecast check now: Texas and New Mexico are looking at stormy weather this weekend. The area has been getting heavy rain all weekend and flash floods continue to threaten that area today. And for those who love warm weather, get ready to enjoy the last full weekend of summer. Fall starts Monday night into Tuesday and the Northeast is already feeling the chill in the air this morning.

So they've got surveillance video. The police also have text message, but still no sign of missing UVA student Hannah Graham. Next, we'll have new details about the case and tell you why police may be one step closer now to finding her more than a week after she vanished.

PAUL: And if you heard about the U.S. and how they had to scramble fighter jets when a group of Russian military planes, six of them, flew too close to the Alaska coast. Shades of the Cold War perhaps people are asking.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Twenty-one minutes past the hour.

There may be a huge break this morning in what's been a really agonizing week for the friends and family of University of Virginia student Hannah Graham, who is still missing. Just to catch up, if you remember, she left a dinner with friends last Friday around 11:00 p.m. sent a text saying she was lost and has not been seen or heard from since. Well, this morning this major break is one that has a lot of people asking, could police be one step closer to finding her now?

I want to bring in Jean Casarez from CNN. She's joining us live from Charlottesville, Virginia, this morning.

Jean, good morning to you. What do you know?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christi, they're expecting about 1,100 volunteer searchers this morning. They can be expected, they say, to walk about four miles. And it's people from this community that care. And they want to bring this girl home.

Now, they're not going to search the wooded areas, as you might imagine and what we've seen in other searches, they're going to retrace the steps of Hannah, where she was in the downtown area. This effort is really being rallied by the chief of police Charlottesville, Virginia.

Tim Longo, his theme in all of this: find Hannah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHIEF TIM LONGO, CHARLOTTESVILLE, POLICE: I want to make one thing absolutely clear. This press conference and every press conference hereafter is about one thing and one thing only, and that is finding Hannah.

CASAREZ (voice-over): It was one week ago tonight university of Virginia sophomore Hannah Graham suddenly vanished. Today, forensic investigators spent all day searching an apartment complex carrying out a number of sealed paper bags. Police also searched and seized a vehicle at that same complex.

SGT. JIM MOONEY, CHARLOTTESVILLE POLICE: We have every reason to believe that Ms. Graham was in that vehicle.

CASAREZ: They believe the man driving was a man seen in video surveillance early last Saturday morning.

MOONEY: An additional video shows that same black male with dreadlocks with his hands around Hannah Graham's waist.

CASAREZ: Authorities say the two went into the Tempo Restaurant.

MOONEY: He purchased alcohol there. We know that Hannah Graham was with him. We also know that within 15 minutes, they were gone from that bar and that his car was seen leaving the area on video.

CASAREZ: Police describe the man as black, 32 years old, 6'2", 270 pounds with dreadlocks. Meanwhile, as investigators continue to pore over any leads, Hannah's friends focus on seeing her again.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We can't really wrap our heads around all of this because you are such a vibrant presence and full of joyous love and life. We want to bring you home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: And last night, when all the volunteers came here to register, one thing the police chief asked them how many of you thought Elizabeth Smart was dead and hands were raised. Well, guess what? She was alive. Let's go find Hannah.

I want to tell you both, we were at the John Paul Arena. This is the same arena -- I'm sure you remember this, that Morgan Harrington, the last place she was seen alive at a concert here -- another Virginia tech student that went missing in 2009.

PAUL: Oh, my gosh, Jean, you're absolutely right.

Hey, I wanted to ask you about that. If they have a car, do they believe that that car is this man's and if it is, wouldn't they have his name?

CASAREZ: They've got his name.

PAUL: OK.

CASAREZ: And they definitively said that he was driving the car. They believe it was his car. They believe she was with him in the restaurant. They believe she got in the car with him. They believe all of that.

But they don't believe they have probable cause to arrest him. And they're asking anyone in the community that if you saw them that night, which is a week ago last night into the early hours of Saturday morning, walking around, getting into the car, getting out of car, come forward.

So, Christi, I think they want to see demeanor. Was she willingly with him? Was she scared? Was he forcing her in that car? That's what I think they want answers to.

PAUL: OK. So, they don't have enough to arrest him. Do they know where he is? Are they keeping track of him?

CASAREZ: They didn't say that, but you and I know I'm sure they are.

PAUL: All right. Jean Casarez, we appreciate it so much. Thank you.

Victor?

CASAREZ: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right. Christi, thank you so much.

It was a sprint across the North Lawn that apparently ended in an ambulance. How a man managed to jump the fence and get into the White House.

Plus, we're hearing from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. It's been more than a week since he said anything about the domestic abuse scandal. Well, you're going to hear him explain why he is not going to resign. Is it going to be enough?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Well, mortgage rate inched up just a little this week. Take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Good morning. Thirty minute past the hour. So grateful for your company. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell.

Here are five things you need to know for your NEW DAY.

Number one, security concerns at the White House. Last night, a man jumped the fence outside the North Lawn. Now, the Secret Service says this was 42-year-old Omar Gonzalez of Copperas Cove, Texas. He was not armed. A man then believed to be Gonzalez was loaded on to ambulance shortly after the security breach. The first family was not at the White House at the time.

PAUL: Number two. Shades of the cold war, it seems. U.S. jets intercepted a half dozen Russian military planes flying too close to Alaskan air space. This happened on Thursday. But they didn't enter sovereignty territory. However, they came within 55 miles. A U.S. official tells our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr it looks as though the incident was planned to coincide with the Ukrainian president's visit to the U.S. and Canada.

BLACKWELL: Number three: police in Pennsylvania appear to be closing in on a man they suspected killed one state trooper and wounded another. Officers are scouring a section of he Poconos where they believe 31-year-old Eric Matthew Frein is hiding. Now, earlier police exchanged gunfire with the man they think was Frein. The people who live there -- they're being warned to stay inside as this manhunt continues.

PAUL: Number four, a man accused of deliberately starting a California forest fire is pleading not guilty. There he is. Wayne Huntsman, he's being held on a $10 million bond and he's facing one felony count of arson. The King fire, as it's being called, has grown to more than 76,000 acres. Only 10 percent of it has been contained.

BLACKWELL: Number five, it is the biggest IPO ever to hit Wall Street and it's growing. Shares of Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, generated nearly $22 billion in sales in its initial public offering. And after just one day, the price is up 38 percent. Company's CEO says he wants Alibaba to be compared with American corporate icons like Walmart, Microsoft, IBM.

PAUL: All right. Let's talk about the NFL.

People waiting to hear more from Commissioner Roger Goodell and we got it. He said despite the league's domestic abuse scandal, he's not going anywhere. In his first public remarks in more than a week, he apologized yesterday for his mishandling of the scandal. But made it clear, he's never even considered leaving his post despite all the calls for him to step down. Goodell went on to promise sweeping changes for the NFL.

Here's CNN's Alexandra Field.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Roger Goodell speaking at a Manhattan news conference amid calls for his resignation.

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: I got it wrong on a number of levels, from the process that I led to the decision that I reached. But now, I will get it right and do whatever is necessary to accomplish that.

FIELD: The embattled NFL commissioner apologizing for what he said was his mishandling of the Ray Rice domestic violence scandal. Here's a question from CNN's Rachel Nichols.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN'S "UNGUARDED" HOST: Roger, you've had pretty extreme unilateral power in making decisions, but as you've said a few times, you've got it wrong in a few cases and that tends to happen when there's no checks and balances. How willing are you to give up some of that power? And do you think that that would be the right thing for you to do? GOODELL: Well, Rachel, as I said in any statement, everything is on

the table. We're going to make sure that we look at every aspect of the process of how we gather information to make a decision, how we make that decision and then the appeals process.

NICHOLS: Even as Goodell pledged to move ahead, questions still loom in the rice case about who knew what when after TMZ released the now infamous inside the elevator video.

GOODELL: We asked for it on several occasions. According to our security department, we asked for it on several occasions over the spring all the way through June, from February through June. So, I'm confident that our people did that.

FIELD: Two security camera videos put the Rice case squarely in the public eye showing the former Baltimore Ravens star knocking out his then-fiancee with a punch last February. A source within the Ravens organization tells CNN that hours after the incident in an Atlantic City hotel and casino, the head of Baltimore Ravens security Darren Sanders spoke with Atlantic City police who described in detail to Sanders the elevator video.

ESPN is reporting that Sanders then shared the information with team executives and that those executives started extensive public and private campaigns for leniency for Rice -- a source within the Ravens' organization say the Ravens never saw the video until TMZ released it. The Ravens issued a statement late Friday saying, "The ESPN.com 'Outside The Lines' article contains numerous error, inaccuracies, false assumptions and perhaps misunderstandings. The Ravens will address all of these next week in Baltimore after our trip to Cleveland for Sunday's game against the Browns."

Alexandra Field, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Of course, we'll talk more about that throughout the morning. Let's talk about ISIS now, on the march in Syria and Iraq. But will the militants directly threaten the U.S. homeland?

PAUL: And a doctor who performed Joan Rivers' last surgery is pushing back against claims that she snapped a selfie in the operating room when the comedian was under anesthesia. How new accusations could complicate the investigation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ISIL poses a threat to the people of Iraq and Syria and the broader Middle East, including American citizens, personnel and facilities. If left unchecked, these terrorists could pose a growing threat beyond that region, including to the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLACKWELL: Of course, that's President Obama making the case for the U.S. to take on ISIS.

PAUL: This, of course, with a chilling new ISIS propaganda video that's out. It threatens full scale war against American troops and on U.S. soil no less. Includes a jihadist, too -- this is the part that's really alarming. A jihadist that speaks English with a perfect American accent, which begs the question -- has the direct threat to the U.S. homeland intensified now?

BLACKWELL: Yes, is it more credible now?

Let's bring in Peter Feaver. He's the professor of political science at Duke University and former adviser to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Good to have you with us.

President Obama has been trying to mobilize public and political support for this war. Some call it a war, some don't, against ISIS. Has he made that more challenging? I mean, he's got to balance the message to the domestic audience and the message to the enemy and allies.

PETER FEAVER, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, DUKE UNIVERSITY: Well, Victor, you're right. The polls show an interesting picture. They show support among the American people for element of the president's strategy, but then they show that the public has very little confidence in the president overall and his handling of this. And I think that's for the reason you outline, that the president has made his job more difficult.

I think there's four reasons. First, President Obama is his own toughest critic. If you want to find quotes criticizing elements of President Obama's September plan, you just have to go back to August or June or January when President Obama himself was criticizing proposals of the sort he's now advancing.

And second, as you mentioned, at the outset, they tie themselves in knots over whether there's a war, whether there's combat boots on the ground. This is -- this kind of rhetorical trap is all a result of the anti-Bush reflex. They're determined not to look like the previous administration even when they're acting like the previous administration. And that leaves them pursuing stories like war or not war.

But, third, and more importantly, I think they haven't quite leveled with the American people about what the costs of the policy they've been pursuing up until now. They want to say that ISIL is not stronger today because they didn't act earlier, well, then why should we change our strategy now and do the opposite of what we have been doing? And that's tough to sell if you haven't leveled with the American people about the costs of the policy of restrain.

PAUL: Well -- FEAVER: But, fourth and most importantly, the president seems himself

ambivalent about this. He seems not really committed to confronting ISIL. And it's hard to blow the trumpet and lead everyone else into the charge when you're blowing an uncertain trumpet.

PAUL: Well, not only that, but you got Democratic congressmen like Jerry Nadle (ph) of New York, or Nadler, excuse me, who says ISIS is not a direct threat to the U.S. He voted against the legislation to arm Syrian rebels.

So, let's listen, in fact, here to something that he said to our colleague Wolf Blitzer, real quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JERRY NADLER (D), NEW YORK: This is a threat to us. But that threat to us is that people from the United States, from Western Europe, go to the Middle East, fight with ISIS, get trained with ISIS, and then come back here to create murder and mayhem. But that threat is not dealt with by whether ISIS captured another province or is thrown out of another province. That doesn't affect the magnitude of the immediate threat to us.

That threat has to be fought with appropriate surveillance, counterintelligence, border control here and abroad. It's a counterterrorism operation. It's not a military operation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Professor, do you agree with that?

FEAVER: Partly. He's right that you need to use all elements of national power. It's not just a military problem. There's an important role for law enforcement and intelligence.

But what we're missing in that quote is that ISIL has already done grave damage to U.S. interests in the region and threatens to do more. Moreover, even though intelligence officials say they don't have current intelligence about an imminent plot against threats to the U.S. homeland, ISIL has all the elements to pose that threat going forward and in the most recent video that you mentioned has directly threatened to do so.

So, it would be foolhardy to downplay the threat to the U.S. homeland now. Downplaying the threat of ISIL has not made us safer thus far and it's not going to make us safer in the future.

BLACKWELL: All right. Professor Peter Feaver, thank you so much. A lot of questions that you've posed there that we're going to discuss throughout the next couple of hours. Thank you so much.

PAUL: Thank you so much.

FEAVER: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: We'll be right back. Quick break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Well, new questions this morning about the death of comedy legend Joan River. This morning, Rivers personal doctor says accusations that she performed an unauthorized surgery and snapped a selfie in the operating room are flat-out wrong. But that's not what a source is telling CNN.

BLACKWELL: CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti has more for us.

Susan, good morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Victor, Dr. Gwen Korovin, Joan Rivers' ear, nose and threat doctor, is popular with celebrities, even featured in signer Celine Dion's 210, seen examining Dion's vocal cords.

Now, the doctor is pushing back against allegations she took a selfie with the comedian while she was under anesthesia. In a statement, a source close to the doctor, quote, "categorically denies the doctor took a selfie with Joan Rivers and categorically denies the doctor performed an unauthorized procedure on Rivers.

A different source tells CNN staff at the clinic told investigators Korovin did take a photograph of rivers while she was sedated and she made a comment -- paraphrasing here -- that Joan would get a kick out of this.

And there is more from that source about the medical procedures that day. Staffers tell authorities the Dr. Korovin begins with a laryngoscopy -- a procedure that involves looking down the throat.

Next, the clinic's medical director, Dr. Lawrence Cohen, does an endoscopy, inserting a camera down the throat and into the stomach. He sees something. Dr. Korovin then attempts to do another laryngoscopy presumably to investigate. At that point, Rivers' vocal cords begin to swell. She goes into cardiac arrest.

The source also says Korovin was not certified to perform any procedure at the clinic. She denies.

Korovin's lawyers providing CNN a statement. It reads in part, "Dr. Korovin is highly experienced, board certified, respected and admired by her peers, revered by her patients."

It goes on to say, "Because of her personal and professional policy, she does not publicly discuss her patients."

At this time, the doctors and clinic are not accused of wrongdoing. Three agencies are investigating -- the medical examiner, state health department, and the federal agency regulating Medicare payments to clinics. Our source says investigators have not been able to talk with Dr.

Korovin, nor had access to her phone. It's unclear when all the investigations will be done -- Christi and Victor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Great reporting from Susan Candiotti. Susan, thank you so much.

PAUL: Thank you.

So, let me ask you: were you one of the thousands who lined up around the world to get your hands on the new iPhone 6 and 6-Plus?

BLACKWELL: No. No.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: Question is, is all of the hype worth it? Breaking down the pros and cons of both phones for you right here on NEW DAY.

PAUL: Is it worth it?

But, first, this week's travel insider with country singer Edwin McCain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EDWIN MCCAIN, SINGER: Hi, I'm singer/songwriter Edwin McCain. I want to tell you about Greenville, South Carolina.

We have experienced a renaissance, renovated the entire downtown.

Let me show you around.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Edwin!

MCCAIN: How's it going?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome.

MCCAIN: It's one of my favorite places. I wish I could buy everything in here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, great guitars from all over the country. Handmade.

MCCAIN: This is what I wanted.

When you're here, you're going to want to catch a baseball game at Ford Field. We have a replica of Fenway's green monster.

Welcome to my favorite restaurant in Greenville, the Lazy Goat. Amazing, it's on the river. Table for me and the world.

If you can sum up what we do what would it be? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mediterranean inspired flavors done simply in

Greenville, South Carolina.

MCCAIN: These are not your mom's Brussels sprouts. Fried goat cheese. What would any South Carolina dish be without peach crepes?

Another one of my favorite places is Falls Park. It's a 40-acre park right in the middle of downtown with a water fall that was hidden until we revitalized this whole area. This is a great source of inspiration. I hope you'll visit Greenville soon. And I'll see you on the ground.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Well, this morning, thousands of you are waking up with your new iPhones and I hope you're all happy.

BLACKWELL: Yes, Apple fans camped out in long lines around the world to be some of the first owners of the new iPhone 6 and 6-Plus.

PAUL: Oh, my goodness. New York, Hong Kong, Toronto, look at the lines, spanning several city blocks ahead of yesterday's release.

BLACKWELL: Hey, we've got tech expert Katie Linendoll us now.

Basic question, are these phones worth it?

KATIE LINENDOLL, TECH ANALYST: I would absolutely say yes. I think this is -- it's a good choice to have either of the 6 or the 6-Plus and the Apple frenzy is undeniable here in New York City. I can't even tell you. Lines wrapped around blocks for almost miles.

And, Victor, I could have sworn I saw you there. So, don't deny it.

BLACKWELL: Nope. Sure didn't.

(LAUGHTER)

LINENDOLL: Let's dive right in, because a lot of people asking questions like you did, is it worth the upgrade?

First things first, unless you are living under a tech rock, it is the size. In the past, the 5 and the 5S had a 4-inch screen. Now, we're looking at a 4.7-inch screen and a 5.5-inch.

Guys, saying is this going to fit in my pocket, is it too big? I have to say, despite its super-sized profile, it's actually very sleek and very slim. And you won't be disappointed with either.

Also the battery life on these is absolutely incredible. It will get you through a full day which I know a lot of people welcome.

And, of course, I'm going to call it now I think one of the biggest features is this chip inside of 6 and 6-Plus. It's going to allow you to be able to use your phone as a mobile wallet.

So, rolling out in October whether you're at Whole Foods or McDonald's, you're going to see people at the cash register paying for any of their purchases just by using their phone. If you have the Starbucks app, this is something you used in the past, Android people I know are going to hit me up, they're going to say, this is technology that's been around for a while. It's called NFC.

We know that, but Apple I think made it easier and I think they made it simplified. So, paying with your phone, the mobile wallet with Apple Pay rolling out in October to 220,000 retail locations in Visa, MasterCard and AmEx, huge feature.

PAUL: All right. What about the iOS8? Because it takes nearly six free gigs of space to install.

LINENDOLL: Yes. So, here's the deal. If you aren't picking up the 6 or 6-Plus there is still fun to be had. iOS8, the latest operation system, has rolled out to users 4S and above. What that means is, yes, it does require a lot of storage space but download it because there are some very cool features on here. Notably, family sharing.

Now, you have the opportunity, anybody you have to be on the same credit card but you can share purchases from books to music, anything you purchase on iTunes can be shared by the family. You can leave group chats, send audio text messages. There's a lot of very fun features that come with iOS8. It's worth the upgrade.

PAUL: All righty.

BLACKWELL: You know, I think I'm going to move from my 4S to the 5S. I think that' the step I'm ready to make.

PAUL: I'm with you. Sadly.

BLACKWELL: I didn't want to buy the new charger.

PAUL: They look great, though. Hope you had a great time with it.

BLACKWELL: Thank you.

LINENDOLL: Thank you, guys.

PAUL: Thank you, ma'am. Katie Linendoll for us.

And stay with us. We've got more after -- well, actually, we have more right now.

BLACKWELL: Yes, let's take it.

New hour, next hour of your NEW DAY starts smoothly right now.

PAUL: Right now.

(MUSIC)