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NEW DAY
Northeast Bracing for Historic Storm; Thousands of Flights Grounded; ISIS Demands Release of Female Terrorist; 'Device' Found on White House Lawn; U.S. and India Forging Stronger Ties
Aired January 26, 2015 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't underestimate this storm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This could be the biggest snow storm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Prepare for the worst.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sooner or later we're going to get hit with a big one, and this may be the one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we're looking at is the wind, 40, 50 miles an hour.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll believe it when I see it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bring it on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm ready.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe it won't be as bad as they say.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Kenji Goto holding what looks like a photo of Yukawa's headless body.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIS continues to set the terms here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Demands the release of a convicted female terrorist.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A death cult (ph), that's all it is, a death cult.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota, and Michaela Pereira.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, good morning. Welcome, this is your NEW DAY. It is Monday, January 26th, just before 6:00 in the East. And make no mistake about it, a monster blizzard is taking aim at the Northeast this morning. It may make the wrong kind of history, as well. As much as two to three feet of snow and a lot of other conditions coming along with it. More than 20 million people from New Jersey to Maine are in the crosshairs, another 23 million could be hit depending on the way the front moves.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Powerful winds, whiteout conditions and coastal flooding expected to wreak havoc along the I-95 corridor. Salt trucks and snow plows standing by to try to keep up with the snow. Thousands of flights have already been cancelled. So even if you do not live on the East Coast, you will feel this storm's impact.
We have this blizzard covered from all angles. Let's begin with CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. We even called him in here, this is so big.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know.
CAMEROTA: Hi, Chad.
MYERS: I tell you, you never call me in when there's actually good weather. You always bring me in when there's something bad to talk about. Think about this storm like a hurricane that hits very warm water. You'd have to go back to hurricane season.
But a hurricane, a big one, hits 90-degree water, 87-degree water. It blows up. Well, the water is not that warm, but it's 47. So when this very cold storm, hits the warm water out here, it is going to blow up. It is going to what we call bomb out. It is going to be a very strong storm with winds, gusts here, 60-to-70 miles per hour for Boston, at least.
And then back here to New York City, we are going to see winds of 30 to 50 miles per hour, making blizzard conditions for hours and hours. And this storm snows for 30 hours or more. You get an inch of snow per hour for 30 hours. That's easy math. My 10 year old can do that math.
But here's how it works out. A lot of times these storms can't bring the snow back around. They can't do this wrap-around as much as you would like. If you want snow. Back out here towards New York City.
And I think some of these models -- although New York could pick up 15 inches; Boston certainly will and then more -- a lot of this snow is going to get caught in the mountains. It's going to get caught in Killington, going to get caught in New Hampshire and Vermont, the Green and White Mountains here, and maybe knock it all the way back to New York City.
So these dire forecasts -- I've heard about 30 inches of snow in New York City -- I don't see that happening. I don't see that we ever get that much here, because it's going to get caught farther to the east. And the models now are showing this, at least some of them, earlier this morning, that a lot of the snow may be right along the coast.
The difference between this storm and the other storms that we hedge about, saying, "Well, it might mix in with some rain, so we won't get as much," this isn't going to mix. It is all snow all the time, 25 degrees and snowing hard and blowing hard. Winds and waves here along the shore, making a lot of erosion, and those winds causing wind gusts, could be 7 to 10 feet here just to the east -- the east of Manchester, Boston, back toward Hartford, a major event here. We'll detail it out for you all morning long.
CAMEROTA: So, Chad, just to be clear, because I've already heard this morning some people say, "You know, you in the media, you always hype these storms. They're never as bad as say they're going to be."
MYERS: That's right.
CAMEROTA: Is there any way that this -- that we dodge this bullet and that it's not as bad as you think it looks this morning?
MYERS: You know, if you are from New Haven, Connecticut, to Morristown [SIC], Pennsylvania -- or Morristown, New Jersey, you may see significant difference. You may go from 20 inches to six, because the snow is going to be here, and there's going to be a demarcation line where it just doesn't snow. Williamsport, Albany, Oneonta, you may not get much over here, but right along the coast, with those winds, that's where it's going to pick up. Someone is going to get smashed. You know, we have to wait until it actually starts. There are flurries here in New York City right now, but it hasn't even started yet. The bomb hasn't even happened yet, but it will this morning.
CAMEROTA: All right, Chad Myers. Thanks so much for that warning. We will have you standing by throughout the morning.
Also, storm preparations are under way in Massachusetts, as you heard Chad say, where some of the heaviest snowfall is expected. Emergency officials say that traveling during the storm will be treacherous and could even be life-threatening.
CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray is live in Boston with more. What are you seeing, Jennifer?
JENNIFER GRAY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Alisyn, they have 700 trucks ready to go, 3,500 tons of salt. They really haven't had to use it so far this season. They are ready.
Look at this, though. Snow already on the ground. This is from the storm system. It happened just a couple of days ago. And it is packed in here thick. Imagine this snow already on the ground, but we're expecting is two to three additional feet. That's going to come up to my waist and then, because of the 60-, 70-mile-an-hour winds, it is going to be blowing the snow all around.
And just as Chad said, those snow drifts are going to get high. We're expected to see snow above my head in some places because of all the blowing snow.
They are considering this to be life-threatening if you try to get out of your house. The mayor's office, though, says that they are prepared. They've been through blizzards before. They feel confident. But everyone is encouraged to stay indoors, because this is going to be a dangerous situation when those blizzard conditions kick in later this evening through the overnight hours. You will not be able to see a thing. Whiteout conditions are expected. That blizzard warning will go into effect 7 p.m. tonight and last
through 1 a.m. on Wednesday. That is a long time. And so we are expected to see those whiteout conditions. The worst of it will be during the overnight hours through much of tomorrow morning, into the early afternoon. So folks in Boston are bracing for the worst and hoping for the best as the storm gears up in the next couple of hours -- Chris.
CUOMO: Unfortunately, so many will be left powerless by something like this, Jennifer, so our primary concern is for them. We'll stick with you on that.
But another concern, of course, is people who want to get somewhere won't be able to. Airlines are preemptively canceling flights.
Let's get right to Christina Alesci. She's live at New York's LaGuardia Airport.
The numbers of planes and people going nowhere, already big. And this is just the beginning. What do we know?
CHRISTINA ALESCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Chris. The number of flights already cancelled is approaching 2,000. Delta said today alone it's canceling 600 flights, and United saying tomorrow it just won't fly.
Now, here a major hub for New York City, LaGuardia, 200 flights have already been cancelled. The National Weather Service, of course, we all know, is calling this a historic and life-threatening storm. So airlines are trying to get ahead of the chaos. It is a logistical nightmare for them to rebook all of these people.
We haven't met too many frustrated travelers just yet. In fact, we have one, Mark, right here. He actually has a good story.
You were supposed to fly to Key West tomorrow. You called the airline. What did they say?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were fantastic, actually. I was surprised. I thought everybody -- first of all, I got through relatively quick, and they were very accommodating. And I said I wanted to get out as soon as I could this morning, knowing that the rest of the day was going to get, you know, pretty crazy.
ALESCI: All right, well, enjoy your trip to warmer weather.
Chris, we're going to have to see whether that sentiment, as far as consumers go, continues throughout today and into tomorrow.
CUOMO: All right. We'll stay with you there. At least you're inside. Look at it that way.
So as the storm moves, so will the expectations and information. So we're going to stay on it all morning long. We'll try to keep surprises to a minimum and help you prepare. MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: We get back to that top story in a
moment, but now a gruesome development for you in a hostage crisis gripping Japan. ISIS has apparently beheaded one of two Japanese hostage [SIC] it was holding. The group's $200 million ransom demand is now off the table. Instead, ISIS is demanding the release of a would-be suicide bomber from a jail in Jordan in exchange for that second hostage's life.
Will Ripley is tracking the latest developments for us live from Tokyo -- Will.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Michaela, right now the Japanese government is saying that negotiating the release of that female suicide bomber, Sajida al-Rishawi, is going to be very difficult. Because Japan has sent a special envoy. They're on the ground right now in Jordan, trying to talk with that government. But there's a lot of factors at play. Al-Rishawi, a very high-level, high-profile prisoner, convicted in an attack that left 60 people dead. And working out a deal that would allow her to essentially walk free, when she could be facing the death penalty, is going to be difficult when you're talking about -- talking about releasing a single Japanese journalist.
Jordan has some other things they may be asking for, like the release of a Jordanian pilot also held by ISIS. But it appears to be a growing crisis for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as many here in the public are demanding that he do whatever he can to ensure these prisoners -- this Kenji Goto come home safely, especially since some are blaming him for causing this crisis in the first place by making a public announcement he is fighting ISIS, knowing that there were two Japanese prisoners sitting in the hands of that terror group, and just two days after his announcement, Chris, we saw what happened, the ISIS video. Now one of those prisoners dead, another in great danger.
CUOMO: It's just the impossibility of any good outcome in this situation that has people so troubled. Will, we'll stay with you this morning.
Also breaking this morning, another breach of the White House grounds. Not a person, a plane this time. It was a drone found on the White House lawn. There's no confirmation yet on exactly what this object was. But here's the good news: the president wasn't home. He's on an historic trip in India. But this is certainly a problem for security.
White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski is traveling with the president in New Delhi. You know, this is the new reality. It is a drone. They're out there, Michelle, but what's the word about how they think this happened and what it is?
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Right. Right, exactly. Well, our sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell us it was a drone. That it was small in size, although they wouldn't characterize that specifically, and that it had propellers on it.
We don't know where exactly on the White House lawn it landed or crashed or was thrown. But it was interesting, because in video this morning of the cameras that are always on the White House, that front view from the North Lawn, well, you can see video of the dark White House. And all of a sudden at 3:15 a.m., bam, all of these spotlights turn on. You know that something is going on there. And then later, you see the activity with fire trucks and firefighters outside of the White House grounds.
We don't know much more than that. The Secret Service is handling it. But here's what the White House press secretary said earlier from here in New Delhi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: A device that has been recovered by the Secret Service at the White House. The early indications are that it does not pose any sort of ongoing threat right now to anybody at the White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: Like I say, you heard him call it a device. Our sources with direct knowledge saying that this was a drone. We're waiting for more information on how this happened, where exactly it landed.
Again, the White House doesn't think it poses a threat. But when you think about how a drone works, you can see how this would be an easy occurrence. Maybe the wonder is that it hasn't happened before. I mean, you can walk by the White House, and people have thrown objects over the fence before. So something like a drone, it would just make it that much easier, sadly, to get onto that property, Chris.
CUOMO: Right. The problem isn't so much the drone. It's what it could be carrying, what it could be doing. And that's why they have to be on high alert.
So let's talk about where you are, Michelle. How is it going in India? What are the goals? And what seems to be the biggest news out of there?
KOSINSKI: Yes. Well, the whole thing is big. The pageantry, the event, the show of support and cooperation between these two countries. The goals and the breath of conversation, as well. I mean, they want cooperation on a number of key areas: trade, defense, the climate, counterterrorism. Pretty much you name it of the major issues going on in the world right now, India and the U.S. want a closer cooperation.
On some of these issues, they said that they've reached breakthrough understanding. I think the big takeaways would be on civil nuclear cooperation, meaning nuclear energy provided partly, at least, by the United States in the future to India to meet its power needs. They've gotten some breakthroughs on that. That's been at an impasse for years. So that was a big deal.
Also a climate agreement. Not really to the scale at this point or signed on the dotted line, as the one with China was. But they've gotten India to agree to increase by a large scale its clean energy, especially solar and wind.
And lastly, defense cooperation. They renewed their ten-year defense agreement. They're going to be working together on defense technology. So more to come on that, definitely, Chris.
CUOMO: There's been a lot of talk about how to exploit that market the best way for America and deal with some of the issues there, as well. So it is a big trip.
Michelle, thank you very much. We'll check back with you soon -- Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: OK, Chris. A group claiming to support ISIS hacking the official Malaysian Airlines website. Users trying to log in saw messages that read "hacked by Lizard Squad, official cyber Caliphate." The browner tab also read, quote, "ISIS will prevail."
Meanwhile, a new strategy to raise the wreckage of Flight 8501, after two failed tries. Divers now using twice as much rope and putting inflatable bags inside the fuselage in order to lift it.
PEREIRA: Some security concerns causing a frightening disruption for some air travelers over the weekend: a Delta flight from L.A. to Orlando Sunday, it was diverted to Dallas following a reported bomb threat sent via Twitter. Two other flight, one JetBlue, the other Sky West, those were quickly evacuated after arriving in Seattle. Airport officials there would only say those evacuations were done as a precaution, that they are now investigating.
CUOMO: "Birdman" takes top honors at the Screen Actors Guild Awards a night after being named Best Film by the Producers Guild. Michael Keaton, though, the big star of the film, didn't get the award for top actor. That went to Eddie Redmayne, the man you are looking at, for "The Theory of Everything." Julianne Moore rewarded for her leading role in "Still Alice."
Now, one of the night's lighter moments came when Naomi Watts tripped over Emma Stone's dress just as the "Birdman" cast accepted its award. I don't know why, but we do like a good spill, don't we?
PEREIRA: They're just like us.
CUOMO: Grace under pressure. Cat-like quickness. Perspective.
CAMEROTA: I like when Michaels says "my worst nightmare." When you accept the SAG Award...
PEREIRA: It is. When I get my SAG Award...
CUOMO: As the blizzard bears down, the trip over the dress still looms large.
PEREIRA: You know, it's funny you said that about Eddie Redmayne.
CUOMO: Yes. PEREIRA: My better half saw the film, "Theory of Everything," and he's like, "They said just give him the Oscar." Because he said his performance was so powerful. He said they should just -- "Don't waste our time."
CAMEROTA: It's over.
PEREIRA: That's what he said. I haven't seen it yet.
CAMEROTA: I heard that, as well.
All right, meanwhile, back to our news: Japanese officials desperate to save one remaining hostage that is still being held captive by ISIS. The terror group this morning making new demands in exchange for his release. What will the Japanese do?
CUOMO: Big words are being used: epic, historic, record-breaking. But they're all bad terms when you're talking about a blizzard. Here's the bottom line: it is a potentially life-threatening situation that's coming to the northeast. We have it all covered for you right ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Well, it does seem that ISIS has beheaded one of those two Japanese hostages. A new video reportedly shows the hostage that is still alive holding a picture of the other hostage after being beheaded.
Now I'm qualifying it, because there is some question about whether the video is real.
Here's what we know for sure. ISIS is now adding to its demands, calling for the release of a convicted terrorist in exchange for that prisoner's life.
Let's talk about this. We have Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst and a retired Army former commanding general of Europe and the 7th Army. We also have Lieutenant Colonel James Reese, a CNN global affairs and former U.S. Delta Force commander.
General, I'll start with you. Thanks to both gentleman for being with us this morning. What are the options...
LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Hi, Chris.
CUOMO: ... before Japan in this situation, General?
HERTLING: Chris, we've got to continue to remind ourselves, I think, first, that ISIS/DAISH is a terrorist organization attempting to use political opportunities, but in reality, it's a criminal gang. So I think Japan is attempting to negotiate, not necessarily meet the terms of ISIS, but at least begin a conversation to see where we can go on this.
And I think the drawing in of Jordan in this particular situation is such that ISIS is attempting to do more things. Again, ransom and kidnapping is an Arab cultural norm for criminal gangs. So they lost the first piece, and now they're attempting to do other things.
So I think this is all a part of the back and forth to gain additional information, operations, or what we're calling social media advantage by DAISH or ISIS -- Chris.
CUOMO: Colonel, adding the "we want a prisoner back" to the mix is not new. Prisoner exchanges have been done. The U.S. has even done them before. But in this situation, is there any chance that Jordan would give up such a high-level killer?
LT. COL. JAMES REESE (RET.), CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Chris, I don't think so, unless the Jordanians are able to speak with the leaders of ISIS and maybe work a deal to release their F-16 pilot that was shot down last month. That would be the only chance I'd see that they would possibly let her go.
But I would tell you, Jordan, speaking with our folks on the ground there, that woman who's there is a hated woman there. And they think she should have been executed years ago after her involvement in that bombing in 2005 at the Sheridan Hotel.
CUOMO: Now, a lot of these situations are ongoing even when we're not hearing about them. ISIS also has an American female hostage, still. She's supposedly the last American that's in captivity. So I wanted to ask you, General, do we know anything about her? And John Cantlie, the man that made those propaganda videos for ISIS. Is there any information about anything moving?
HERTLING: First on the female capture that DAISH continues to have, Chris, we do know a lot about her within intelligence cycles, but her name and some of the details have not been released, primarily because the family has asked that not to happen.
But one of the things that I think is interesting is the quality of film, as you pointed out. What is the reason for it being so different than what we've seen in the past with Jihadi John? Is it because the Japanese hostages perhaps maybe thought their captors had to be killed and then the one individual was later beheaded and took a snapshot? Is it because the bombing campaign in Syria has destroyed the ISIS film-making productions?
There are a variety of reasons that cause this particular film to be very different that the intelligence community is looking at it. My sources there are telling me all of these things are good signs. And the very fact that they're now changing their negotiation but still trying to stay in the news is also an indicator of the damage that's been done to the group, Chris.
CUOMO: I know, but if you're just thinking about it in the specifics. I take your point, General, and it's instructive for us. But, you know, if you're those two men and their families, it just seems like there's no good ending to this situation.
All right. Let switch topics for one second. Colonel, what's happening in Saudi Arabia right now? You have the new king. He says he's going to follow all of the same principles and actions that we've seen up to this point. But it could make the difference. They are literally surrounded by the problem in Saudi Arabia. What do you see as the potential, up and down, for the relationship with the U.S. going forward?
REESE: Well, right now, Chris, I think, you know, with President Obama going there, they will continue to, you know, solidify the relationship between the Saudis and the U.S. We have a strong military relationship. We've got a strong political relationship.
Right now, what we understand in Yemen is that the new king has reached out to the Sunni tribes in Yemen, you know, by calls to let them know that he -- the Saudis will support them. And I think it will just be a kind of day-by-day situation right here. I don't think we're in dire straits right now in Yemen. That everyone is watching it very closely. And I think the Saudis are prepared to, you know, look at different aspects, both politically and militarily, if things start to collapse in Yemen, especially to protect their back door in the south.
CUOMO: And one of the big benefits in their relationship is that we certainly know that ISIS is a staunch enemy and doesn't believe the royal family should exist. So they are motivated to help.
Colonel, thank you very much, Colonel Reese.
General Hertling, appreciate your perspective -- Alisyn.
CAMEROTA: Well, flights are cancelled, schools are shutting down this morning. More than 40 million people in the northeast bracing for an epic winter storm. Some areas facing up to three feet of snow. CNN is tracking every mood the system makes and everything you need to know to stay safe today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Do not take this blizzard lightly. That is the word from federal, state and local officials, big snow, heavy winds heading for the northeast, sparing very few people between New Jersey and Maine. Here are some of the latest stats for you. Twenty million people are under a blizzard warning. That means it's much more likely than not that it will happen. Twenty-three million more under winter weather advisories. That means there's a good chance that you will be affected, as well.
We do know airlines are canceling flights in and out of the northeast. Thousands are already off the boards for today and tomorrow. And it's not just snow that makes this a very terrible situation. It will be the wind. That's what takes you from snow to blizzard, which is a word. We don't know where it comes from, by the way. I just looked it up for you; couldn't find it.
But I do know that the wind gusts are going to be up to 60 miles an hour, maybe even as high as 75. Now that takes us into hurricane territory. So a hurricane of snow. That's what a blizzard is. That why we're concerned.
So let get to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.
Chad, I could not find the etymology of that word, but it doesn't really matter, because all we care about is what's coming at us.
MYERS: Right, and we'll get to that in a second, but heavy snow and 35 mile-per-hour winds at more than three hours at a time. We'll get to that in just a second. I'll show you how that breaks down and when it actually gets here.
Here comes the low. It runs off the coast, and it gathers strength. It gathers energy from the ocean, like a hurricane gathering energy from the ocean. As it gets very strong, right about here, that's when the wrap-around snow is going to take place. That will be tonight. In fact, there may even be thunder and lightning with the snow. It will be coming down such that -- such a great clip that there will be enough static in the atmosphere to cause thunder and lightning out there.
So where do we get it? Twenty inches or more to the east. And it keeps going.
