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EARLY START

United Airlines Flight Forced to Return to DC; Crucial Election in Israel: Polls Open; New Outrage Over GOP Letter to Iran; 49ers Chris Borland Retires, Fears Brain Injury. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 17, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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


ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Use the hashtag #AskChristine. She's got a lot of good advice.

<05:00:06> JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: She has some great advice. She also has got a book coming out in one week where all of this will be summed up in one place. But she's going to answer your questions. Go to #AskChristine. Ask away. Maybe you want to think about dumping that boyfriend who's got that debt.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: Thanks, Alison.

KOSIK: I think that's good advice

BERMAN: EARLY START continues right now.

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BERMAN: Breaking overnight: a scare in the air. Passengers tackling a man running toward the cockpit of the United flight. We're going to have the latest details on this incident just ahead.

Happening now: polls open in Israel. The prime minister there, Benjamin Netanyahu, you can see him voting. He is fighting to hang on to his job, making some stunning last minute statements on the trail that have people questions whether Mideast peace is possible. We're live there.

Iran raising concerns about the letter from Republican senators as the deadline approaches for a nuclear deal. President Obama voices new outrage over that Republican letter. We have team coverage ahead with the very latest.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. It's Tuesday, March 17th, 5:00 a.m. in the East. Christine Romans on jury duty today.

And breaking overnight, a terrifying flight for passengers on a United Airlines jet forced to subdue another passenger who tried to rush the cockpit. This is cell phone video of the suspect restrained by an unidentified man there. Flight 1074 from Washington, D.C. to Denver was forced to turn around with 33 passengers and six crew members on board.

The plane landed back in Washington about an hour after takeoff. Police took the man in custody after the flight returned to the airport. A spokesperson there at Dulles said he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The remaining passengers will be flown to Denver this morning. We let you know any new details we get on this incident as they come in.

Polls now open in Israel. Voters lining up to elect a government there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looking for reelection raising the stakes again in the home stretch of this campaign. The prime minister vowed there would not be a Palestinian state as long as he is prime minister. That is a reversal of the stance taken in 2009 and, of course, it follows this controversial speech earlier this before the U.S. Congress, criticizing the White House nuclear negotiations with Iran. Israeli and U.S. relations is just one issue at stake in this election.

CNN's Oren Liebermann at a polling station in Jerusalem with the latest.

Good morning, Oren.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN REPORTER: Good morning, John.

We have the first estimate of how many voters have come out already. In the first two hours, from 7:00 to 9:00 this morning, there had been a half a million voters. Now, obviously, that's not an enormous number, but this is an enormous country. So, that's already a significant voter turnout. We'll see how many more come out.

Of course, Benjamin Netanyahu in the last few days making a number of media appearances. The controversial one coming yesterday, where he said if he is prime minister, there would not be a Palestinian state. He insisted a Palestinian state right next to Israel would be a base from which to attack Israel.

This morning, he voted. He said he's also against the national unity government, a government that would include him and his main rival Isaac Herzog. He insisted that those on the right vote Likud. We saw him actually in a big right wing rally just a few days ago, trying to garner some more right wing support right before the election.

Meanwhile, his challenger, Isaac Herzog, who leads him in the polls, a small but significant gap in the polls came out voted just a short time after Netanyahu and Herzog said, look, if you are OK with the status quo, if you're OK with the way things are, the last six years under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then vote for Benjamin Netanyahu. But then he went on to say if you want change, if you want different leadership and new direction for Israel, vote Isaac Herzog, vote for the Zionist Union.

After three months of campaigning, everyone knows what this all comes to. This is the important day, voter turnout, both sides urging voter turnout, knowing that that could be critical in this race. John, we'll, of course, see how this plays out. We'll get our first round of election polls after the voting at 10:00 tonight. And we get final numbers. It will be very interesting here in Israel how this all plays out.

BERMAN: Yes, 10:00 p.m., polls close in Israel. That's 4:00 p.m. our time. Stay tuned to CNN for the very latest. This one is going to be exciting after those polls close and those totals come in.

Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem, thanks so much.

Developing this morning, President Obama says the U.S. cannot afford to have Senate Republicans trying to undermine his efforts to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran. That is how the president put it with an interview with "Vice" that was just released. The president told "Vice" founder Shane Smith that he is embarrassed for the 47 Republican senators who signed the letter.

Let's get the latest from Jim Acosta at the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John, senior administration officials say Iranian negotiators did indeed raise Senator Tom Cotton's letter to the ayatollah in those sensitive nuclear talks that are currently underway in Switzerland. But U.S. officials are confident the letter will only be what they're calling a distraction.

Cotton is not backing down, saying he has no regrets about the letter, which was signed by 46 of his GOP colleagues, and complained about the nuclear negotiations to Iran's ruling clerics.

The flare up with Republicans was enough for the White House chief of staff to send his own letter to GOP Senator Bob Corker assuring him Congress will have a vote on these sanctions that will be loosened as part of a deal with Iran.

<05:05:09> But in a new excerpt from his interview taped last week with "Vice," the president said Cotton's letter was damaging to the nation.

Here's what he had to say.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is a good example of the state of our politics that leads Republicans to be more worried about a Tea Party primary than they are about what ordinary folks are thinking. It damages our country. It damages the country. It damages our standing. It's not productive. In this day and age where we've got such big issues, we can't afford it.

ACOSTA: White House press secretary Josh Earnest said congressional critics are missing a key point, that there is no deal yet. But Earnest said the White House would rather Congress hold off on votes on Iran, well beyond the end of March when a framework agreement must be reached and at least until June. That's the deadline for a final deal, and Republicans and even some Democrats might just have a problem with that -- John. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Jim Acosta at the White House.

Now, American voters seem to be siding with the White House on the letter to Iran. A new CNN/ORC poll finds that more people thought the Senate Republicans went too far by a margin of ten points. Only 39 percent said it was appropriate response.

We're going to have more on these polls results coming up on "NEW DAY", in the 6:00 a.m. hour.

Now, the president and apparently people in that poll not alone in their concerns about the letter. U.S. and Iranian officials say that Iranian diplomats raised the letter as an issue in talks in Switzerland. Those talks going on now.

Let's get the latest update, CNN international correspondent Nic Robertson following them.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.

Two hours, that's how long the talks have been going on between Secretary Kerry and the Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif. This morning, five hours of talks yesterday that really ended with no progress. It seems, certainly, the State Department briefing that while, you know, the five hours of talks was a good length of talks, the Iranians still need to make tough and necessary choices that the March 31st deadline that the State Department, Secretary Kerry working so hard to achieve. They say they're not sure if that can actually be done. The political judgment that Iran needs to make, impression the State Department creating, Iran is not on the verge of making judgments.

So, at the moment, Zarif, for his part, when he came out of the meeting yesterday, commented, finally, finally get something. That kind of made you feel that maybe the Iranians thought that they were making progress. But Zarif went to Brussels yesterday to talk with the French, German and British foreign ministers and a source say, European source, talking to "Reuters" news service, not long after that meeting said, yes, we -- the Europeans, with the Iranians, had a long meeting. But the gaps haven't been narrowed, that substantial differences still remain.

So, the indication here is that the talks are continuing. Great efforts certainly from the State Department, possibly from the Iranian side as well. But not narrowing the gaps. What are the gaps? Iranians yesterday saying they wanted to keep a heavy water reactor plant to make weapons grade plutonium and an enrichment facility that can enrich uranium, that can enrich further to make a weapon.

So, these two sites are supposed to be redesignated and redesigned. Apparently, Iranians wanting to put that back on the table, John. BERMAN: Nic Robertson covering these negotiations for us. Again, there will be need to be some kind of advance in the next few days if they want to meet that deadline they set for themselves.

Nic Robertson in London, thanks so much.

Let's take a look at Iraq right now, where the battle has been raging against ISIS. New information that Iran is sending advance missiles and rockets into Iraq to help drive is out of Tikrit. U.S. intelligence agencies have been tracking these shipments for weeks. Now, none of the shipments has been used yet, but Pentagon is worried that they could cause civilian casualties if they are used because they're not precision guided weapons.

Now, despite Iran's backing, the Iraqi offensive between the military and the militias there to try to take back Tikrit from ISIS has stalled. ISIS inflicting heavy casualties on the Iraqis over the last few days. The White House said to be monitoring the developments now very closely, and now, with the help of that man, David Petraeus.

The retired general and former CIA director consulting the Obama administration on its Iraq strategy, even though Petraeus was convicted of leaking classified information to his mistress and biographer and then lying about it to the FBI.

Enrollment in Obamacare is rising. According to the White House, more than 16 million Americans have gained coverage since the law took effect. And as the Obama administration plans to commemorate the five-year anniversary of passing Obamacare, Republicans are taking another stab at repealing it. Today, they unveil their 2016 budget. It includes vouchers for Medicare, transforms Medicaid into block grants, and once again, it votes to eliminate the Affordable Care Act.

The White House is slamming Senate Republicans for what it says is stalling the nomination of Loretta lynch for the next attorney general.

<05:10:05> The spokesperson for the president calls her treatment unconscionable and the GOP leadership inept. Majority Leader McConnell is refusing to consider the Lynch nomination until the Senate passes a human trafficking bill. They're going to take that measure up today. Now, Democrats have been filibustering that bill because it includes what they consider to be some anti-abortion provisions, although it passed out of committee with Democratic support, because Democrats apparently didn't read the bill.

The head of the Secret Service is going to have to explain his agency's latest missteps when he appears at a House hearing on Capitol Hill today. Joe Clancy appointed last month by the president to reform the Secret Service, he is sure to be grilled about the two suspended agents who disrupted a bomb investigation outside the White House earlier this month apparently after a night of partying. Clancy is also expected to face broader questions about the culture and management at the Secret Service.

Hillary Clinton's e-mail issues seem to be hurting some of her poll numbers. A majority of Americans say she hasn't done enough to explain her e-mail practices. That's at according to the latest CNN/ORC poll. The former secretary of state's favorability rating dropped to 53 percent this month. That is down six points since November, down 16 points since the time she was secretary of state, although still in positive territory.

Just 46 percent now believe her response to the e-mail scandal was enough, 51 percent do not believe she's adequately explained her use of a private email while she ran the State Department. It's interesting, 57 percent of those polled say they would be proud to have her as president.

I want to bring in Alison Kosik right now for an early look at your money.

Good morning, Alison.

KOSIK: And it looks Asian and European markets are higher right now. And U.S. stock futures, they are barely budging. But on Monday, stocks jumped, rebounding from big losses last week. The Dow gained 227 points. And the S&P 500 and NASDAQ both added 1 percent. That puts the Dow and S&P back in positive territory for the year.

So, why the bounce? The dollar's rally took a breather and the investors were looking to the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting, which kicked off today, which bring s me to the hottest word on Wall Street right now, "patience". If the Fed say patience on hiking interest rates, that could spark yet another rally in the market. If they don't mention the word at all, it could cause a selloff and signal a rate increase as early as June. It's amazing how one word can be sort of the flag to what investors should be doing.

BERMAN: Well, they don't say very much, and everyone watches every letter, you know, every sentence they say.

KOSIK: One word moving markets.

BERMAN: Exactly. Alison, thanks so much.

Real estate heir and star of HBO documentary, Robert Durst, charged with murder. New details on this remarkable case, next.

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<05:15:49> BERMAN: Real estate heir Robert Durst now faces criminal charges in two states. A weapons related arrest in New Orleans could complicate his extradition to Los Angeles, where he is now charged with murdering his close friend and confidant 15 years ago.

Let's get more now from CNN's Jean Casarez.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, late Monday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office filed formal charges of first-degree murder against Robert Durst, alleging special circumstances. Special circumstances are necessary in California to make a case death penalty eligible. The D.A. says he'll determine at a later date if he will seek death.

Meanwhile, right here in New Orleans, Robert Durst had an extradition hearing, said he would fight extradition to California, that he would voluntarily go to the state and Los Angeles to face any charges.

Meanwhile, a source close to CNN, law enforcement, says that when Durst was arrested Saturday night, they found in his hotel room which is right behind me a large amount of cash, a .38 revolver gun and marijuana. And that maybe why the local district attorney's office and court said that may seek local charges against Robert Durst. That could hold up him going to California and the defense is not happy about that.

In court, Robert Durst very frail, very thin, within a glass enclosure, as the hearing was going on. Other defendants were in the courtroom, but he was in that glass enclosure. Sometimes, he would look at the gallery. Sometimes he would appear to be sleeping, lounging back in his chair.

When he came out of the glass enclosure to face the judge, he first looked at the gallery and just smiled. He then appeared before the judge. The judge asking him questions if he freely and voluntarily was going to California. He answered to those questions yes and yes, your honor.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues in Los Angeles. They say this has been going on two years in regard to the slaying of Durst's very close friend and confidant Susan Berman, who was found in her home Christmas Eve of the year 2000. Authorities believe she was murdered there on December 23rd by Robert Durst.

John, reporting from New Orleans, Louisiana, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Jean Casarez, thanks so much.

Jurors at the trial of the accused Boston marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will hear testimony today about the boat where Tsarnaev was hiding out. On Monday, the jury took a field trip to see the bloody bullet-riddled boat. Later in court, they heard officers described the intense gun battle between police and Tsarnaev brothers that led to the death of Tamerlan Tsarnaev. While making his escape in a stolen vehicle, Dzhokhar actually dragged ran over his brother, dragged his body to the street.

The attorney for Jeffrey Williams, the shooting suspect charged with wounding two Ferguson, Missouri, police officers, claims his client was roughed up by police after his arrest this weekend. He says Williams has a large amount of bruising on his body. Now, police call those allegations false. The lawyer for the 20-year-old Williams says he was not shooting at officers. Police say he opened fire after a dispute perhaps with someone else. At least that's his claim. An American health care worker being treated for Ebola at the National

Institutes of Health. He apparently has taken a turn for the worse. The condition of the patient has been downgraded to critical. The patient who was not been identified is part of the Boston-based aid group Partners in Health, caught Ebola in a treatment facility in Sierra Leone. At least 10 co-workers are now being monitored after they were exposed to the disease. One has now been isolated in a hospital in Nebraska after what we're told is a change in symptoms.

Tim Tebow on a football field. Could he be playing for a professional football team? There is one man with the answer. Andy Scholes has the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

<05:23:09> BERMAN: We have some really shocking news in football. A 24-year-old 49ers linebacker Chris Borland is retiring. He announced this overnight. This guy had a great season, says he doesn't want to risk his health anymore.

Andy Scholes with the "Bleacher Report".

This has pretty big implications, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it sure does, John. You know, this is becoming a new trend in the NFL. Players are retiring at an early age because they fear the long term effects of concussions and other injuries that can occur while playing football. 49ers linebacker Chris Borland, he's the latest to call it a career after just one season in the NFL. Borland had a bright future in the league after a great rookie season, but decided his future wellbeing wasn't worth the risk.

The 24-year-old told ESPN, "I feel largely the same, as sharp as I have been. For me, it's wanting to be pro-active. I'm concerned that if you wait until you have symptoms, it's too late."

Borland is the fourth player under the age of 31 to retire early from the NFL in the last month.

Apparently, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly is trying to break Twitter on a weekly basis. Yesterday, Kelly brought in none other than Tim Tebow for a workout. Tebow last played in the NFL back in 2012 with the Jets. He was in training camp with the Patriots in 2013, but was cut. And since then, he has been working for ESPN as a college analyst.

ESPN reports that the Eagles will not sign Tebow at this time. They already have Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez under contract for next season. But stay tuned. Who knows where this is going to go?

All right. One of the best stories of this year's NCAA tournament is the return of Kevin Ware. The 6-foot-2 guard is in the big dance with Georgia State two years after suffering a horrific leg injury while playing for Louisville.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KEVIN WARE, GEORGIA STATE GUARD: You know, I have been dreaming of this since I had my injury to play in the NCAA tournament again. So, I'm really anxious.

<05:25:00> RON HUNTER, GEORGIA STATE HEAD COACH: There will be no greater story than Kevin Ware. I am so happy for him because of his story, it closes the book for him on this. He can go back to being Kevin Ware, the basketball player.

WARE: It's a once in a lifetime experience, you know? We just got to go out there and have fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Ware transferred from Louisville to Georgia State last year. And you can catch him in action Thursday at 1:40 Eastern as the Panthers take on Baylor.

The tournament gets started tonight with the first four games known as the play-in games. Hampton and Manhattan are going to be playing for a 16-seed. BYU and Ole Miss playing for the 11 seed. You can watch those games tonight on TruTV starting at 6:40 Eastern.

Of course, the brackets still not due to Thursday morning, John. You have plenty of time to get in and play with us at CNN.com/brackets. I saw on Facebook, you're going to go with Harvard all the way? Is that true?

BERMAN: I was threatening to be that jerk who picked Harvard to win the whole thing, just because he can't think of anything else to do. I'm not going to be that guy despite my inclination.

SCHOLES: Kentucky sounds better, I think.

BERMAN: I know, yes. I don't know what to do this time. It's a very difficult pool for me this time, because it's just like Kentucky. It's so far better than everyone else.

SCHOLES: You pretty much have to, have to pencil them in.

BERMAN: All right, Andy. You are leaving me in a stressful state, I appreciate it.

New this morning, polls open in Israel. An election that could remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from office. What does this mean for the relationship between that country and the United States? Huge implications, next.

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<05:29:51> BERMAN: Breaking overnight: a dramatic takedown onboard the United Airlines flight. A man becoming violent, races toward the cockpit. We'll have the latest details on this incident ahead.

Happening now: Israelis head to the polls to choose a prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu facing a very tough battle for reelection.