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New Day Sunday

Four Americans Under Ebola Quarantine; W.H. Warns GOP Senator on Iran Bill; Netanyahu Faces Tough Re-Election Battle

Aired March 15, 2015 - 08:00   ET

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

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Very talented woman, no doubt about it.

Thank you so much for starting your morning with us.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Next hour of your NEW DAY starts right now.

(MUSIC)

BLACKWELL: New concerns this morning about Ebola right here in the United States. Ten Americans being put under quarantine after coming into contact with an Ebola patient in Sierra Leone. So, how concerned should we be?

PAUL: Plus, fragile nuclear negotiations with Iran. The Secretary of State kicking off a new round of talk and White House is hitting back at one senator who wants to make sure he has a say in the deal.

BLACKWELL: And falling back. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fighting to keep his job just two days before the polls open. What should we be looking for now?

Your NEW DAY continues.

PAUL: All right. Eight o'clock here and we're so grateful for your company as always. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: And good to be with you. I'm Victor Blackwell. We're beginning this morning with the latest on the 10 Americans possibly exposed to Ebola.

PAUL: Four of those Americans we know were back in the U.S. this morning already. They've been taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for observation. But six more patients are expected to arrive today or tomorrow, and they will immediately be transferred to either Emory in Atlanta or the National Institutes of Health in Maryland.

BLACKWELL: None of these individuals has been diagnosed with Ebola but health officials are concerned they may have been exposed while in Sierra Leone after an American health care worker indeed, contracted it there. And that patient is now being treated in Maryland and is listed in serious condition.

We've got CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen on the phone with us.

Elizabeth, let's start with the four people who are in Nebraska.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Right, Victor. Those four, they have the highest -- they had the highest exposure to Ebola, so you consider them -- you can consider them the highest risk patients. And so, those patients are being watched, they're being monitored and they've self-quarantined. So they are in their housing on the campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. They're not in hospital, they are in housing on campus, and officials are watching them to make sure that they don't leave.

Now, it will take some time, you know, several weeks will have to pass by before we know if they have Ebola or not. Now others, folks who are going to Atlanta or going to the NIH, not all of those folks will be quarantined. Some of them will, but some of them won't. Some will be allowed to be out and about in the community while they're being watched for signs of Ebola.

PAUL: How do they determine who is able to leave and be out and about? I'm assuming it's because of the seriousness of the potential for them. But how can you determine that in this period of waiting to see if symptoms show up?

COHEN: Right, Christi. So, the most important thing is you're only contagious with Ebola if you're showing signs of Ebola. So, if you're not showing signs, then you're not contagious.

The way the CDC has put it, we're making individual decisions based on each person's circumstances. So, what you just said makes sense. The people with the highest exposure, like those folks in Nebraska, those folks are quarantined. Maybe people who didn't have such high risk of exposures are allowed out and about. And that's certainly, this wouldn't be the first time. There are people who arrived back from Africa who had a possible -- maybe exposure to Ebola who were allowed out and about.

And as we know, no one has transmitted Ebola that way. So, for example, we can think back to Dr. Craig Spencer in New York. Before he showed signs in Ebola, he was at a bowling alley, he was on a subway and he didn't get anyone sick, because you can't get anyone sick if you yourself aren't having signs of Ebola.

PAUL: Good reminder there.

BLACKWELL: Yes, Elizabeth, I imagine there are lots of people waking up this morning and seeing Ebola again. And maybe they thought because it wasn't front of mind here in the U.S. in headlines here, that that had been controlled in some way. But this is still killing so many people in these three West African countries.

What's the latest on the status of the fight there?

COHEN: It certainly is, Victor. Now, it certainly has gotten better. I was there in September when the numbers were so high. And it's gotten better since then, but there is still Ebola in West Africa. They are still struggling to bring it under control. And as long as there's Ebola in West Africa, that means that there's a really good chance that we're going to see patients with Ebola come here because, of course, Americans and their great generosity have gone to West Africa to help people there. And there's a risk of getting Ebola when you're taking care of Ebola patients.

So, Ebola is certainly better but it is not gone and maybe out of our headlines, but it's not out of their headlines.

BLACKWELL: Yes, the fight continues.

Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, thanks for being with us this morning.

COHEN: Thanks.

PAUL: So, as the March 24th deadline for a deal on Iran's nuclear program is getting closer, John Kerry is returning to Switzerland today. Ahead of the trip, Kerry took a swipe at Senate Republicans. Remember, they made headlines after sending a letter to the Iranian government recently, asserting that they have to approve any agreement President Obama makes.

Here's what the secretary of state said about their actions and the potential influence on negotiations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: I can tell you from common sense that when the United States Senate sends a letter such as 47 senators chose to send the other day, it is a direct interference.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: So, could a new bill, one that would allow Congress to vote on any bill, really pose another threat to the Iranian talks. The Obama administration says yes. It's issuing a sharp warning to the GOP senator behind that legislation.

CNN's Erin McPike is in Washington with more on this.

What have you learned, Erin, about this letter, specifically, first of all?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Christi, first, let's just say the White House has been stern this year. They do not want Congress meddling in these negotiations with Iran. They really do believe they are inching closer to a deal here, and the president has said consistently if a bill was passed, he'd veto it.

But that has not stopped the Senate, and, of course, as you mentioned, Republican Bob Corker, he's the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He has legislation moving through the chamber right now. But the White House is urging him to stand down, telling him that would imperil these negotiations.

So, last night, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough sent him a letter, I have it right here, pressing him to stop. Let me read part of that to you. He writes, "We believe that the legislation would likely have a profoundly negative impact on the ongoing negotiations, emboldening Iranian hard liners, inviting a counter production response from the Iranian Majlis, differentiating the U.S. position from our allies in the negotiations and once again calling into question our ability to negotiate this deal.

And remember, they're running out of time because the deadline for this deal is the end of March. Just in two more weeks, Christi.

PAUL: Is there any likelihood Congress is going to back off?

MCPIKE: Well, not necessarily, no. Christi, throughout this letter McDonough does say that he believes the White House has played well with Congress, they've been up for a number of briefings, meetings, hearings on this issue. At the end of the letter, he says, just let us complete the negotiations before the Congress acts on legislation. So, they do agree that Congress should have some sort of rule but the White House really wants to get through this deal first.

PAUL: All right. Got you.

Erin McPike, always appreciate it. Thank you.

MCPIKE: Of course.

BLACKWELL: Still to be determined if Congress will back away from those negotiations, but President Obama may back away from his plan to draw down U.S. troops in Afghanistan by year's end. That's according to a senior White House official who says that Afghanistan's new president is asking for, quote, "flexibility in that timeline", citing a developing security strategy. The current proposal calls for a reduction to 5,500 troops, nearly half the number now. That administration official says no final decisions have been made.

PAUL: Well, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival just two days now before voters actually go to the polls.

BLACKWELL: Could his U.S. speech actually come back to haunt him?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Eleven minutes past the hour. So good to see you.

You know, Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a tough election in two days. Take a look at this. In one of the final polls before Tuesday's vote, the Israeli prime minister and his party now trailing four seats behind his biggest rival, Isaac Herzog and the Zionist Union party.

So, this comes a week after thousands of protesters rallied in Tel Aviv. Their message, Israel wants some change. Netanyahu has some broad support intact. In a few hours, thousands are expected to rally in support of Bibi.

So, Aaron David Miller is joining us now. He's the vice president for New Initiatives and distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center.

Aaron, good to see you.

AARON DAVID MILLER, WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER: Good to see you, too.

PAUL: Most of the polls echo that four-seat margin that we were talking about that he needs to make up. Is there anything he can do in the next couple of days or at this rally tonight that you would think might help him gain some momentum?

MILLER: What he has been doing is making it unmistakably clear that if his base, his Likud base, and some of the right to center parties, don't go to the Likud and siphon off to other parties or stay home, that the next prime minister of the state of Israel is going to be Isaac Herzog.

And from Netanyahu's perspective and from the center right's perspective, certainly from the right, that's not a good development. So we're in for the last several days, 1/5 of the Israeli electorate, 1/5 is probably undecided.

So, I'm not making any predictions. The last time I predicted it which was in 1996. Bill Clinton invited Shimon Peres to the White House a mount before the Israel. He was clearly pulling for Peres and most of us who were working for Clinton were persuaded that Netanyahu would never become the prime minister of Israel. Now, he's the -- the exception of David Ben Gurion, he's the third longest serving prime minister in Israeli's history.

PAUL: OK. So, if there is a change, what might happen with the American/Israeli relationship if Netanyahu loses?

MILLER: You know, I think if Isaac Herzog, Boujie Herzog, is in a position to form a government and can form a government, I think one of the most striking things, contrasts, will be a fundamental difference in the U.S./Israeli relationship. Herzog has talked reportedly over the years of the centrality of our relationship to Israel's security. It's clear they'll be popping champagne corks at the White House if Herzog is in the position to form the next government because I think they're persuaded that on many issues, certainly a pursuit of Israeli Palestinian peace, at least his party's views, forget his coalition partners, his party's views are much more in line with Obama administration policy.

PAUL: So, I know that you wrote an article for the "Wall Street Journal" outlining five things to watch in this Tuesday's election. What are they? What should be on our radar?

MILLER: Well, the most important thing is that this isn't really a beauty contest. It may well be that the head of the party that gets the most seats at the end of March 17th or by March 18th, even though they have a majority, will not be in a position to form the next Israeli government. And we're going to enter.

I looked at the last three Israeli elections -- 2013, 2009 and 2006 and 2003, it was an average of four to five weeks before a prime minister emerged. So, it's a process of coalition formation. That's the critically important thing.

It really depends on what the interests of the other parties are and who can put together 61 plus in order to form that government. That I think is the most important thing.

One other point, you know, I doubt if this is going to be a transformative election. That is to say, on many issues it's likely, regardless of whether Herzog is elected, you're not going to see a fundamental change. It's more a transactional arrangement. Could turn into something more significant, but the first year for a new Israeli prime minister is going to be extremely tough.

PAUL: Interesting. Aaron David Miller, really appreciate your voice on this. Thank you.

MILLER: Thank you.

PAUL: Victor?

BLACKWELL: Question here: was the letter the Republican lawmakers sent to Iran illegal? And are some having buyer's remorse? That conversation with CNN's Dana Bash, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Twenty after the hour now. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wants you to know he's not a flip-flopper, and so does former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. That's what they were both pushing in New Hampshire as they edged towards a possible presidential race.

Now, Walker acknowledged that he has changed positions on immigration reform but he says he's consistent on all other issues. Former Governor Bush emphasized his consistent views on immigration at a meeting with business leaders in Southern New Hampshire.

Now, as Secretary of State John Kerry heads back to Geneva trying to hammer out a deal with Iran over the nuclear weapons program, here at home some are questioning the legality of that letter that 47 senators sent to Iran. One former Bush aide is questioning the Republican's ability to govern.

CNN's Dana Bash has more on the story on today's "STATE OF THE UNION."

There are letters popping up everywhere, Dana, but this one seems to be the most controversial.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It sure does. I'm going to be talking at the top of the hour with the Senate majority leader, the top Republican in the Senate looks exclusively. He is one of the 47 senators who signed this. There's a lot to talk about how this happened, why this happened and what the consequences are. Not just with regards to the talks but also with regards to the state of partisanship, getting anything done in the Senate.

So, this particular letter seems to have sparked not just international issues but also domestic partisan issues which is hard to imagine getting worse, but it seems to have hardened even more.

BLACKWELL: Yes, we know that Senator Corker sent a letter and then the White House chief of staff responded in another open letter. Those making big news this weekend as well.

Who else is coming up?

BASH: Well, we're going to be talking -- first of all, we're going to be talking to the former White House counsel during the Clinton presidential years, Jack Quinn. He went through the ringer with the Clintons legally. And he has a lot to say about what is going on now and has legal and political recommendations.

And also, we're going to have an interesting discussion. I'm really excited for this, about the state of race in America and particularly on college campuses. We have four of the youngest and brightest leaders from schools across the country who are going to come right here at this table and tell us what they're seeing, the realities of what they're seeing on college campuses.

BLACKWELL: All right. Looking forward to that. Dana Bash, thank you so much.

BASH: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: And "STATE OF THE UNION" starts at the top of the hour, 9:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Twenty-six after the hour now. Take a look at other developing stories.

Recovery efforts are underway after a tropical cyclone Pam ravaged the islands of Vanuatu over the weekend. Experts say it's one of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall. And aid workers described some areas as if a bomb went off there.

PAUL: At least six people are dead. That number expected to climb though. It's not clear how many thousands are displaced by this massive storm. This had the might of a category 5 hurricane pounding the island for nearly 24 hours.

BLACKWELL: Indonesian military jets crashed after a mid-air collision during a practice session for an upcoming air show in Malaysia today. Now, according to Malaysia state-run news service, the two jets are part of Indonesia's military aerobatic team clipped each other head on while on a high speed pass over the airport.

One witness said at least one of the pilots was able to eject. Another witness said that one of the planes crashed into a nearby home.

PAUL: Well, Cincinnati's bracing for more heavy flooding today. Look at this, the Ohio level expected to crest at its highest mark since 1997 when they saw a major flood there. The National Weather Service has flood warnings out for several other rivers in Ohio as all of that snow continues to melt. Do take care. They're our Buckeye friends.

You know, the public has donated more than $75,000 for the care of a baby girl in Utah who lost her mother in a car accident. Twenty- five-year-old Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck's car left the road, flipped upside down into a river and that's where the story really begins.

BLACKWELL: Yes, Baby Lily survived 14 hours upside down in the car seat. Her father is, of course, thankful the police were able to pull her from the Spanish Fork River alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEVEN TRAIMY, BABY LILY'S FATHER: I put my finger in her hand and I told her dad was here, and I love her. She squeezed my hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: It's unbelievable video. If you have a minute and a half, watch it.

Shasta Darlington shows us the first responder body cam, the footage here of the race to save Baby Lily.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): New body cam video from one of the Spanish Fork officers as he rushes to the overturned car.

POLICE OFFICER: What do you got? What do you got?

DARLINGTON: You can hear their desperation as they try to flip the car.

They soon discovered 25-year-old Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck dead until the driver's seat. But they do find a survivor.

They pull a tiny body from the wreckage and run up the hill.

POLICE OFFICER: She's definitely hypothermic. She's freezing.

DARLINGTON: Patting her back and willing her to live.

They perform baby CPR and rush her into the hospital.

Eighteen-month old Lily was submerged in the car in the frigid Spanish Fork River in Utah for about 14 hours. She had survived hanging upside down in the freezing temperatures in the upper 20s with no food or water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If anything had been different she might not have made it.

DARLINGTON: Brock Royall was the emergency room doctor who saw Lily when she was rushed in.

BROCK ROYALL, DOCTOR, MOUNT VIEW HOSPITAL: You can see how pale she is and how cold and stiff her arm is.

DARLINGTON: Four days later, baby Lily playing along as her father sings "Old McDonald" in the hospital, the best reward possible for those who fought so hard to save her.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Hope that gives you good smile to get through the rest of your day. Go make some good memories.

BLACKWELL: "INSIDE POLITICS WITH JOHN KING" starts now.