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CNN NEWSROOM
Golden Globes Red Carpet Arrivals; Frustration Growing over Toxic Water; Obama to Announce Plan for NSA Reforms; Christie Bridge Scandal Widens; Penn. Police Hunt For Road Rage Killer; Smith: "No Regrets" On N. Korea Trip; Man Sues Over Super Bowl Sticker Shock
Aired January 12, 2014 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KEVIN SPACEY, ACTOR/PRODUCER: Look, this is what I'll say. As we look back at American history, there are people like President Johnson who were viewed in their time and even later as ruthless, difficult, obnoxious, in your face. But he was an effective president.
Now, Vietnam was a terrible situation. And he took an enormous amount of heat for that. But I do also think that he got three civil rights bills passed in a very short presidency. And so I think maybe sometimes we can re-examine. And one of the things I think perhaps the show does is it does ask that question particularly at a time when we have a lot of gridlock in our politics.
What is right? You know, what is the -- what is the line that someone should cross if you want to get something done? One of the things I liked about the film "Lincoln" was it showed that Abraham Lincoln, our almost sainted president, was willing to do what he had to do to get the votes to get a more important thing passed that changed America forever than giving somebody a post in some whatever.
So I do think sometimes, even in the real world as opposed to our Machiavellian world, you know, I want to get see things get done. That's why I could never go into politics. I would be incredibly frustrated.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I was going to say and that's what I hear so many times from actors that play politicians. I couldn't do it because I'd walk out day one.
SPACEY: Yes unless, of course, Ashleigh Banfield were my first lady. Then perhaps we might get things done.
TURNER: I was hoping you'd give her a shout out -- I was hoping you to give her little shout because she's doing her show from here tomorrow -- so a little love would be nice. I'm sure she'd like it.
SPACEY: Oh yes, yes. I'd happy to send some love to Ashleigh.
TURNER: All right. Good to see you.
SPACEY: Nice to see you.
TURNER: Good luck -- good luck to you.
SPACEY: Thank you very much.
TURNER: I think you look fantastic. Who's the suit?
SPACEY: Thank you very much. Burberry.
TURNER: All right got you. Thank you.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Nischelle can you hear me? She's going to pop her IFB back in there. All right we'll try and get her connected.
But here's what happened. I know it's the top of the hour. Welcome to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kyra Phillips. Here is the deal Golden Globes, all the stars are working their way down the red carpet right now. And our Nischelle Turner is there covering this for us live.
And what happened was we were going to go to her kind of at the top of the hour. That, by the way, is the sprinkler that broke and pretty much spewed water all across the red carpet. But they got it under control. Everything is ok. Apparently no dresses have been ruined. Everything's fine.
But Nischelle has been sort of grabbing folks here and there. And so we went right to her interview with Kevin Spacey. She didn't have her IFB in. So she didn't know that we were tuned into her which is why we had a little raw moment there. Nischelle though, I understand you've got the IFB back in. You can hear me. We were sort of a fly on the wall watching your interview with Kevin Spacey. Ok. She's grabbing somebody now. Is she doing another interview? Ok who does she have now?
STEVE MCQUEEN, DIRECTOR, 12 YEARS A SLAVE: I mean, someone said to me, you're an impossible movie. And we've proved them wrong. We made the movie. So everything else now is gravy. So we're just very pleased.
TURNER: I read an interview with you where you said your wife is the one who introduced you to this book. Where did you find -- I mean the book has been in existence for a long time. But where did you find it and how were you introduced to Solomon Northup's work?
BIANCA STIGTER, WIFE OF STEVE MCQUEEN: Steve was already working. He wants to make a film about slavery, about a free man that was kidnapped. So I just started to do some research. And ordered it from Amazon and I had a bunch of books. And I thought, ok. Let's try this one.
And you know, when you start to read it, it's immediately one of the most incredible books you'll ever read. Every page something out of the ordinary happens. It's a kind of odyssey with results you couldn't think of. So I went to Steve and said this is the one. This is the one. And he had a passion for it immediately.
TURNER: Now you're known to be a director that pushes the envelope. And that really goes there. This is a film that goes there. It's an important film but it is -- it's tough to watch in places. Did you ever have to stop and pull back and say, guys, let's take a breath here because this is so tough to do?
MCQUEEN: No we had a community of film makers. We had a -- you know, it was a family. Within that sort of family, we knew that we supported each other. We could get this done. We can make this movie. We could, you know, tell the truth about a particular painful part in history. And you could only do that when you work together.
When you're individuals, things work out. But when you're together, you're much stronger. And with that base, we could do anything.
TURNER: Do you have a thought on the fact that this year there have been so many films, so many great films made about the black experience? Whether it's "12 Years a Slave," "Fruitvale Station", "Mandela," "The Butler" -- really great films this year kind of running the landscape?
MCQUEEN: I mean no. I don't think anyone can underestimate President Barack Obama's influence on the arts. And you know, I think -- not just the arts. I think on the other areas, you know, within the industry and whatever. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, people thought they had the authority to do that. They thought they had the authority to tell their story. And it's an amazing time (inaudible)
TURNER: Well congratulations to you. Good luck on the next project. You're making a series about the black experience in London, right?
MCQUEEN: That's correct, yes.
TURNER: I love that. I can't wait to see it. A pleasure -- nice to meet you.
STIGTER: Thank you.
TURNER: Thank you for getting him the book. All right have a good time tonight.
PHILLIPS: Ok. That's Nischelle. You've got to love it. This is what's going on. Nischelle is basically grabbing folks from the red carpet there. Publicists are bringing people up -- ok. So is she -- she's about to interview her? Ok. Here's the deal. We're just going to take it back to Nischelle as soon as -- actually, as soon as she's ready in the interview. She's chitchatting.
Tell me who she has now? She's got -- oh you have the creator and starter of "Girls". Ok -- all right so let's go and the star -- actually she doesn't look like she's quite ready yet. I'm looking at her there. And someone's talking to her.
So we're going to take you back to Nischelle in just a second. I'm actually watching another monitor. We've got a live camera on Nischelle Turner there at the Golden Globes. Nischelle, can you hear me?
TURNER: I can hear you, Kyra, yes indeed.
PHILLIPS: There we go. TURNER: I'm having more girl talk here with Lena Dunham -- girl talk.
PHILLIPS: Ok take it away.
TURNER: Exactly. Well first of all, she looks lovely in yellow Zach Posen tonight.
LENA DUNHAM, WRITER AND ACTRESS, "GIRLS": Thank you so much.
TURNER: And the diamonds honey.
DUNHAM: Oh, my God. This is Harry Winston doing me a big old favor. These are not something I just pulled out of my closet.
TURNER: Well they're beautiful. Now congratulations on the series nomination.
DUNHAM: Thank you so much.
TURNER: I just spoke with Judd Apatow.
DUNHAM: Yes.
TURNER: And what he said to me was when he first met you, he just believed in what you had to say. That you had something to say that needed to be told.
DUNHAM: I feel so lucky. Judd is an unbelievable friend and mentor. And not to sound sort of like completely maudlin and cheesy, but the belief that he's shown in me from the beginning, there is nothing that compares to that. And he's taught me so much.
TURNER: And you're waving. Who are we waving at? Zooey Deschanel. She looks gorgeous. Isn't she a cutie? I like when we have moments on the red carpet. I love this long distance. She can come on over and hang with us. If you want come on in. Yes come on in.
Zooey Deschanel is joining us now -- her and Lena. Now are you guys fast friends?
ZOOEY DESCHANEL, ACTRESS: As soon as I met you, we were friends.
DUNHAM: That's how I felt, too.
DESCHANEL: It's like -- I just love her so much.
DUNHAM: We've been friends since I saw her in "All the Real Girls" in my mind ten years ago. Eight years ago.
DESCHANEL: Yes but then we really became friends as soon as we met. It was like a bond that you can't break.
DUNHAM: I'm so happy to see you. You look stunning.
TURNER: On celebrity, who are who are you wearing? You look very --
DESCHANEL: Oscar de la Renta.
TURNER: Oh my goodness. Oscar de la Renta and Zach Posen next to me this is good stuff.
DUNHAM: I love Zach.
DESCHANEL: He was my babysitter when I was little.
DUNHAM: No really he was such a nice guy.
TURNER: I have to tell you also, congratulations on your nomination today.
DESCHANEL: Thank you. Very strong category. It's like one of those things where you go, dang.
TURNER: How did I get here?
DESCHANEL: I know I'm like what -- pinch, pinch.
TURNER: Ok but first of all as we look over to our left, Michelle Dockery just joined the platform here. This is good. I love this. This is a great girl time here.
DUNHAM: I just liked one of your Instagrams.
MICHELLE DOCKERY, ACTRESS: Thank you.
DUNHAM: I liked your Instagram, like, 20 minutes ago.
DOCKERY: Which one?
DUNHAM: You were standing looking glamorous on a terrace.
DOCKERY: Oh nice.
TURNER: There you go. So Lena Dunham is liking Michelle Dockery's Instagram. Zooey Deschanel is wondering how did I get nominated in such a strong category? And I'm just sitting here in awe because this is a really cool moment.
DESCHANEL: Well thanks. I think it's cool, too. I'm excited.
DUNHAM: I think this is so cool, I'm a little hot. And that's my only complaint.
DESCHANEL: I was walking down the carpet. And I was like, there's a light that's really hot that's burning my skin. And then I looked and it was the sun. The sun is the brightest and hottest of all the lights.
DUNHAM: Of all the lights.
DESCHANEL: Of all the light and I was like that can't be moved.
TURNER: Kyra, don't you love when we kind of peek in on what really goes on, on the red carpet?
PHILLIPS: This is great. This is live television.
DESCHANEL: I was walking past your table. And something happened. They're like, everyone, sit down. And I ducked. And I was like, right -- I was at eye level with your food.
DUNHAM: She was right here.
TURNER: This was last year.
DESCHANEL: And you were patting -- yes it was like, yes, right before --
DUNHAM: And I shot a selfie of the two of us. One of my most treasured possessions.
DESCHANEL: Yes I was like -- honestly a really exciting moment.
DUNHAM: Also do you ever get people mistaking the names?
TURNER: Well this is young Hollywood talking.
DUNHAM: Talking you on "New Girl."
DESCHANEL: Will somebody said like I know a writer from your show. And I was like it's either from "Girls" or from "Two Broke Girls" but it's not from my show.
DUNHAM: I know when my mom say the "Two Broke Girls" ad she's like they came out with new ads for your show. I was like, no, no.
DESCHANEL: No.
DUNHAM: She thought two broke was like the tag line.
TURNER: Well see I love this Kyra so we could go on all day. Are you guys excited about tonight? Because this is the party. This is the party.
PHILLIPS: Keep going, Nischelle. Keep going.
DUNHAM: We should probably --
DESCHANEL: I'm really -- I love Jennifer -- oh yes but I love Jennifer Lawrence.
DUNHAM: She's a dream.
DESCHANEL: Don't you think we should be friends with her? I think so.
DUNHAM: Yes let's get on it.
DESCHANEL: She does movies. She doesn't do TV.
DUNHAM: I think she'd be willing to slum with us.
DESCHANEL: She might slum with us. I think that would be cool.
TURNER: What did Amy Poehler say last year? This is where the -- the beautiful movie stars pair up with the rat-faced folks of television.
DUNHAM: Here we are.
DESCHANEL: Terrible looking people.
TURNER: What about those ladies? They're hosting tonight.
DUNHAM: It's going to be so fun. They're the best people in the world.
DESCHANEL: Yes they are so great.
DUNHAM: They made last year a joy.
DESCHANEL: Yes. It was a joy.
DUNHAM: You laughed enough that you forgot you were sitting at a very nerve-racking award show.
DESCHANEL: It's also kind of like a party. It's like a party award show.
DUNHAM: Yes, you can mingle.
TURNER: I'm getting the fact that your publicists are about to strangle me.
DESCHANEL: Oh my God.
TURNER: But thank you guys. Kyra --
PHILLIPS: Nischelle I'm dying to know what Lena's tattoo is. What's Lena's tattoo on her back.
TURNER: Lena they want to know what your tattoo is about.
DUNHAM: It's from a children's book called "Ferdinand the Bull".
DESCHANEL: I love that.
TURNER: "Ferdinand and the Bull."
PHILLIPS: I love it.
TURNER: The children's book. And once again, Michelle Dockery from "Downton Abbey" is right here. But Hayden Panettiere is walking.
PHILLIPS: Oh my favorite show. "Nashville."
TURNER: Nominee.
PHILLIPS: Yes "Nashville" I love this show.
TURNER: I feel like the jolly green giant. So I'm -- I'm crowd cheating because I'm a little tall. You're ok. You're engaged to the real jolly green giant. So I know you do ok with that.
HAYDEN PANETTIERE, ACTRESS: I got to get --
TURNER: Congratulations.
PANETTIERE: Thank you.
TURNER: On everything. Congratulations on the nomination tonight. Yes, in my -- in my ear right now Kyra is screaming, "Nashville", "Nashville." I love that show.
PANETTIERE: Hi baby how are you?
PHILLIPS: I love it.
PANETTIERE: Thank you. I love it. I'm obsessed -- I can't -- I still pinch myself all the time. The fact that anything like this -- because it looked too good to be true in the beginning and generally when it does, it is. And I'm so blessed. I'm so thankful.
TURNER: But you and Connie Britton really make TV magic. And sometimes you get that pairing and you don't know, but you guys really -- I mean, it's so believable and so great television.
PANETTIERE: Thank you and you really don't know that's the first thing that we ever did together was the one where I meet her in the show. And I walk in and I'm completely passive aggressive. And I'm like, ha, ha, no. I'm going to say hi to who? And I kept apologizing. I was like, dude, this is not the way we should start our relationship -- if we have to be together for years.
TURNER: And you really do, do the singing in the show.
PANETTIERE: Yes.
TURNER: Who knew that you were a singer? You're like, I knew.
PANETTIERE: No. My shower knew. My car knew. My shower knew. No. You know, we're given such great material, great music. We had T-Bone Burnett in the first scene. We have Buddy Miller through the first and second. They're geniuses. And to have that kind of guidance when you're going down uncharted territory, it makes the whole process a lot less anxiety.
TURNER: Congratulations to you. Good luck on everything. The marriage, the TV show. Everything. It's a good year to be Hayden Panettiere.
PANETTIERE: I'm happy, I'm happy. Thank you.
TURNER: All right, have a good time tonight.
All right Kyra who else is next, who's coming next.
PHILLIPS: Tell me about it, this is great. Yes who do you have?
TURNER: Ok first of all.
PHILLIPS: Oh boy.
TURNER: Can I just take a second?
PHILLIPS: Oh boy.
BRYAN CRANSTON, ACTOR: Sure.
TURNER: Because I'm so happy right now.
CRANSTON: Yes.
TURNER: Oh God I'm hearing in my ear oh boy, oh boy everyone is excited as you just came up ok. So I don't want to jinx anything buy could be this your night, should it be your night? I think it will be your night?
CRANSTON: This is a great night anyway. This is my night. I'm going to go out there and take that statue no matter what name is called.
TURNER: I think you should. I say bum rush the stage.
CRANSTON: I'm going to Kanye it.
TURNER: There you go. Kanye the stage. I'm going to let you finish. But Walter White deserves it.
CRANSTON: It would be lovely. It would be a great way to say goodbye to the show and have the whole cast here together to celebrate that. it would be lovely.
But you know, the shows that are nominated are all fantastic. I watch them and I --
TURNER: Have you been able to say goodbye to the character in the show yet.
CRANSTON: It's been tough. It's been tough because the fans and the zeitgeist of "Breaking Bad" is not letting go. So it's hard for me to then just let go and put it past me. But I'm leaving tomorrow morning to go do a play in New York "All the Way". Yes, it's about --
TURNER: I'm in New York now -- can I come see it.
CRANSTON: You've got to come it.
TURNER: Please.
CRANSTON: President Johnson's first year in office -- a very important play, very entertaining. It's fantastic.
TURNER: Now I know you're a big Dodger fan, are you going to translate -- are you going to -- what are you going to.
CRANSTON: You didn't know that>
TURNER: Yes, I did.
No, no, no, no. No, no, no. I've known you're a big Dodger fan for a while.
CRANSTON: Ok.
TURNER: So are you going to like show up at Shay Stadium or Cityfield -- what's going to happen here?
CRANSTON: I'll go see a game or two, yes. And if the Dodgers happen to come in to town, I'll be wearing my L.A. cap, you bet. You bet.
TURNER: Nice.
Does this ever get old? Because you always seem like you have just a really good time at these award shows.
CRANSTON: This business owes none of us anything. And we are lucky to be here. And anybody who doesn't share that feeling is no friend of mine. Truly it's like -- this is a ball, a blast, we get to see people that we love and work with or people we'd like to work with. And if you don't take it with a grain of salt and just embraced the fun what good is it?
TURNER: I dig that. I dig that attitude. Congratulations to you. Good to see you. All right. Nice to see you Bryan.
CRANSTON: Thank you very much. All right.
TURNER: Well there you go. Bryan Cranston -- Kyra. A-Listers coming right here.
PHILLIPS: I know. I hear you saying Nischelle Turner is knocking it out of the park. I mean "Nashville", "Girls", "Breaking Bad", Steve McQueen, Kevin Spacey.
TURNER: First of all Amy Adams is on her way up here.
PHILLIPS: Oh please.
TURNER: Please. Amy Adams is on her way up here. And I love that you gave me a little 70s glam, Amy Adams.
AMY ADAMS, ACTRESS: I could shy away from it. But if it isn't broke, don't fix it.
TURNER: No, because in "American Hustle", we're talking -- we're on live with CNN right now. Kyra Phillips is on the other end.
PHILLIPS: Great, loved it.
TURNER: Kyra if you -- yes, if you've seen "American Hustle", you know that Amy Adams slayed the 70s.
PHILLIPS: It's phenomenal.
TURNER: I spoke with you for film. You should have been born in that era. I mean you should have been alive in that era because it fits you so well.
ADAMS: Thank you. I do. I've always felt like I was born in the wrong era. The 70s was a lot of fun to play.
TURNER: Now I just read an interview that you need with "Vanity Fair". And I learned something about you that I did not know. You are a bona fide Broadway fanatic.
ADAMS: I'm a nerd. I'm a complete geek in the best way possible.
TURNER: Where does that come from?
ADAMS: You know, that's what I grew up wanting to do. I was a dancer. I wanted to do Broadway so that's where my love of shows and (inaudible) came from. It was how I learned to tell a story was through dance and song. So it's always what I return to.
TURNER: Well, good luck to you tonight. I have to tell you I loved you in this movie. I followed your career. I always thought it was really good. I personally feel like this is your best work. I feel like you were uninhibited, so good. And so good luck to you.
ADAMS: Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. Have fun tonight.
TURNER: And "Her" was great, too.
ADAMS: I know. I get to celebrate two films tonight. I'm so lucky.
TURNER: Well, have a great time.
ADAMS: Lucky, lucky. Thank you.
TURNER: All right. Nice to see you again. You are gorgeous.
I know. I was going to say have you been walking with your dress like this.
ADAMS: We all have.
TURNER: All right. Let me help you down.
PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh, Nischelle.
TURNER: There you go Kyra. I wish --
PHILLIPS: You are the belle of the ball.
TURNER: You know what I wish I could do? This is fun. I wish I could, like, have an ear piece here to stick in people's ears so you could talk to them, too because it's so much fun. And folks are just hanging out. Julie Bowen is walking in front of me now from "Modern Family". Lots of fun.
PHILLIPS: You and I talk about "Modern Family" all the time. One of our favorites. You've got to grab "Modern Family". I'm giving you a heads up.
TURNER: The show is nominated as well as Sofia Vergara.
PHILLIPS: You have a hit coming up with CNN International in how many minutes, Vicky? You've got a hit now with CNN international. We have to let you go. Oh, man. What a bummer. Ok? We're coming back to you.
TURNER: I know. This is fun.
PHILLIPS: Get some good ones, ok? Continue the madness.
TURNER: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: Nischelle Turner. She is rocking it at the Golden Globes. She's getting all the A-Listers coming right up to her there on the platform.
All right. More from the red carpet with Nischelle coming up. Plus the news of the day -- we promise.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: I promise we're getting to the news. But we had to show you Sofia Vergara knocking it out of the park at the Golden Globes. As you know, the highest paid actress on television, second year in a row, she has so much going on now. The star of "Modern Family", commercials, covers of magazines. She's producing that show "Killer Women" now. I mean this woman is on a roll. She's engaged, about to start a new life. I mean, it doesn't get much better than that. Looks amazing. All right. Let's get to the news, shall we?
There has been test after test, but still no safe water for the 300,000 frustrated West Virginia residents. There was a news conference just a short time ago. The governor did stand up to the mike and say that the water test results are encouraging. But still there's concerns over the actual chemical itself and that it's still lingering. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. EARL RAY TOMBLIN, WEST VIRGINIA: Most people did not know a whole lot about this particular chemical. And it's one that, you know, that we've had to do a lot of research on internally very quickly to find out what effects it may have. And I think that perhaps they could have been a little bit more forthcoming to be able to offer their assistance on, you know, what, you know, problems this particular chemical could have caused. I think it would have been very helpful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: People are being warned now to watch for symptoms like nausea, skin irritation, wheezing. Clean water is being brought in by the truckload as residents just continue to wait for their tap water. 7,500 gallons of a chemical used to clean coal leaked and was discovered in the water supply on Thursday.
President Obama is going to deliver a big speech on Friday. He's going to outline his plans to balance anti-terror surveillance with our privacy rights.
Now, last summer as you know Edward Snowden leaked sensitive details about the NSA's massive surveillance program. Since then the President has been under tremendous pressure to make changes.
Erin McPike has a preview now of the potential reforms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERINK MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Trying to end a worldwide uproar over NSA spying, President Obama will unveil how he'll keep his promise to reform government surveillance programs.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We may have to refine this further to give people more confidence. And I'm going to be working very hard on doing that. And we've got to provide more confidence to the international community.
EDWARD SNOWDEN, NSA LEAKER: We can find a better balance, end mass surveillance.
MCPIKE: The President has suffered months of blow back since Edward Snowden's revelations last summer that the NSA has been collecting personal phone records on every American and spying on world leaders, including allies like Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel.
He's called in experts, tech company leaders. And in the past few days, key members of congress.
SEN. MARK UDALL, INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: There were many members of Congress there from both the House and the Senate who cover the ideological spectrum who urged him to throttle back the collection of metadata on a bulk level. I hope he listens.
MCPIKE: He's deciding whether to accept recommendations from an independent review commission that include storing personal data outside the government with a private third party, possibly phone companies, and requiring the government get a judge to approve access. A public advocate to represent Americans' privacy rights when those decisions get made and that spying on foreign leaders get high-level approval.
PETER SWIRE, NSA REVIEW GROUP: We have many countries with common interests. So having a more thorough process to really look through that and don't do it just because there's an opportunity to do it.
MCPIKE: Balancing security and privacy is a tricky political question. And critics are bound to be unsatisfied.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), VERMONT: We can't continue to refer to ourselves as a quote, unquote, "free country" when the United States government is collecting information on virtually every telephone call made in America, getting into people's e-mails, focusing on the Websites that certain people are visiting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: And when Edward Snowden first made some of these details known of some of the NSA programs, he was quoted in "The Guardian" newspaper as saying the greatest fear I have regarding the outcome for America of these disclosures is that nothing will change. However, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle do want to see change and it may require a lot of congressional approval for some of these programs.
John McCain was on CNN's "state of the union" this morning. And he was calling for a select committee of members of Congress from a number of committees to do some of the work on this, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Erin, thanks so much.
Well, Iran will start getting rid of its uranium stockpile this month, a week from tomorrow to be exact; that's according to the U.S. State Department and confirmed by officials in Iran. It's the official start date for the six-month deal with Iran that was announced in November. A team from the U.N. will oversee the removal of that uranium. And as part of the deal Iran will see some economic sanctions eased. The White House calls it modest relief.
Parts of Iraq this weekend are as violent and unstable as they were during the darkest day of the war. Just today, at least 22 people were killed. More than 80 wounded in several car bombings and shootings in Baghdad, Mosul, Ramadi, Fallujah. Militants believed to be linked to al Qaeda attacked crowded residential areas, a bus station, even an army base. The spike in fighting suddenly sprang up in early December.
Senator John McCain has an idea for helping calm that sudden violence in Iraq. It involves a couple of familiar names.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: By the way, we could have kept a residual force there. Anybody who tells you that we could have is not telling the truth. But you know, we need -- I would suggest, perhaps, sending David Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker back over there. Maliki trusts them. And try and get this thing sorted out because it's not just Iraq. When you look at Iraq/Syria, you are seeing an al Qaeda enclave there. And that is very dangerous to American national security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That was Senator McCain appearing with our Candy Crowley this morning on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION".
Coming up, it may look pretty but a river ice jam is causing all kinds of problems.
But first, Rosa Flores.
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rosa Flores live in New York. The Chris Christie bridgegate investigation has turned up thousands of documents. Oh, but that's not all. I'll tell you what the New Jersey assemblyman leading the investigation is asking for in just two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the bridge scandal linked to Chris Christie's top aides is widening. Now, another top Christie staffer knew about growing concerns emerging from lane closures on the George Washington Bridge. I want to bring in our Rosa Flores now. She's covering that story out of New York. So, Rosa, tell us about the latest e-mail.
FLORES: Well, you know, this seems like a never ending saga, Kyra. Christie's director of the authorities unit was forwarded a scathing e-mail from the Port Authority executive director, Patrick Foye, only three hours after he hit send. Now, he said in his message, I'm going to quote here, "I will get to the bottom of this abusive decision which violates everything this agency stands for."
The message was forwarded by Bill Baroni who resigned as a Christie appointed official to the Port Authority on the day the lane closures ended. Now, it's safe to say the push and the pull of what those 2,000 pages of documents released by the state assembly may reveal is sure to continue in this coming week.
Outspoken Republicans and the Democratic leader leading this investigation couldn't be more polar opposites. Here is what the Republican National Committee chairman said on "Meet the Press" when asked how Christie has handled the revelations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REINCE PRIEBUS, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: I think what you saw from the other day was -- was leadership, was something that showed that, look, everyone is fallible, David. I'm fallible. You are. Everyone on these panels, we all make mistakes. But the real question is, what do you do when mistakes happen? There's no question he admitted mistakes happened.
He admitted he trusted people that lied to him. America's a forgiving people. But, they're forgiving when you take ownership. You admit mistakes. You take corrective action. And that's what Chris Christie showed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: The Democrat legislator leading the investigation has a different point of view. He believes the actions may be criminal. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN WISNIEWSKI, DEPUTY SPEAKER, NEW JERSEY GENERAL ASSEMBLY: I'm not a prosecutor, but I do think laws have been broken. I mean, clearly, Pat Foye said that on September 13th. And public resources, the bridge, the police officers, the people who move the cones all were used for a political purpose, for some type of retribution, and that violates the law.
And so, I think law enforcement ought to be looking at this as well to make sure that any violations of law are addressed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Now, we should add the documents that have been released have not shown any link between Christie and this alleged plot. But the legislature is pushing to obtain even more documents with the lead assemblyman saying that he hopes that the governor would say something like, I'm going to quote here, "please tell us what you'd like. We'll turn over all of those documents."
The New Jersey assembly will hold a special session Thursday to vote on an extension of subpoena power to this investigation. Meanwhile, Chris Christie is expected to visit Florida next week to raise money for the re-election effort of Governor Rick Scott -- KYRA.
PHILLIPS: Rosa, we're going to be talking a lot about this for quite a bit of time, I'm sure. Thank you, Rosa.
FLORES: Of course.
PHILLIPS: Well, a wealthy hunter pays $350,000 for a permit to kill a rare black rhino. We first told you about this story last night. The Dallas Safari Club says as surprising as it might sound, that last night's auction was held in the name of conservation, to actually save the threatened black rhinoceros. The permit allows a hunter to kill one black rhino in Namibia.
All the proceeds, $350,000, will be donated to its government and will be earmarked for conservation efforts. Some environmentalists say the auction is simply absurd.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFFREY FLOCKEN, INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE: I can't say strongly enough how perverse this is to say that killing this animal is the best thing for these animals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the hunter who paid $350,000 for the permit has chosen to remain anonymous.
Well, in the grand scheme of travel, air disasters are pretty uncommon. Even more rare, being the only person to walk away from one. The remarkable stories of sole survivors, straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, mission accomplished for a remarkable journey to the International Space Station. An unmanned spacecraft docked at the space station today two days after blasting off from Virginia. The mission is the first for orbital sciences. It's one of two private companies helping NASA keep the space station stocked with supplies. Crew members aboard the space station will begin unloading the 2,700 pounds of supplies and experiments tomorrow.
Well, you won't believe this shootout between police and a man in San Diego. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNFIRE)
PHILLIPS (voice-over): Oh, yes. All caught on video. Police say they opened fire after the driver pointed his gun at them after an hour long high speed chase. The 40-year-old driver was injured, taken to a hospital. No word on his condition. Authorities say the suspect's vehicle matched the description of a vehicle involved in a shooting earlier this week and that drugs were also found in the car. The chase started when the car ran a stop sign and then refused to pull over.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS (on-camera): In Pennsylvania, police are hunting for a suspect in a brutal murder. It unfolded on a desolate stretch of highway where the victim was chased down, shot, and left for dead. Police are describing it as a case of road rage. And as Jean Casarez found out, it's shaken up a lot of residents of a nearby town.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Residents of this small community of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania continue to be on edge following a deadly highway shooting of 28-year-old Timothy Davidson (ph). The shooter still at large, law enforcement says it was a case of road rage.
CAPT. STEVEN JUNKIN, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE: We obviously have an individual out there who was so incensed that he continued to pursue Mr. Davidson and took it to that next step. He, you know, he murdered an individual for, you know, whatever slight that he perceived.
LARRY MORRISON, YORK COUNTY RESIDENT: Our drawer travels the highway every day. And you think, it could have been her. It's hard to think things like that can happen in this small area.
CHARENE MORRISON, YORK COUNTY RESIDENT: It's just scary. You're just driving along and all of a sudden, boom.
CASAREZ: It was 30 minutes way from this community on Interstate 81 where Davidson was driven off a highway last Saturday morning, then shot at repeatedly by someone driving a dark Ford Ranger XLT pick-up. Police say Davidson had made multiple calls to 911 saying he was being chased by a vehicle and that the driver was very aggressive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be advised now multiple gunshot wounds as well.
JUNKIN: We are issuing an advisory to all body shops and dealerships in the area to be on the lookout for a Ford Ranger with recent damage seeking repair.
CASAREZ: Motorists in this part of Southern Pennsylvania say they are keeping a closer eye on fellow drivers.
JEFF ZEIGLER, DILLSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENT: Well, they're definitely concerned because, you know, they haven't been able to figure out who it is yet or that, you know, they might still be around, and you know, if they inadvertently cut that person off or do something to make them mad that, you know, they might be the next one, you know, in the news.
CASAREZ: Jean Casarez, CNN, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Up next, you got to watch this video time and time -- look at that. Blown away by powerful winds. Bet you're glad you don't own that condo. You're going to see the video again after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Residents in Western New York fleeing from their homes as ice jams caused creeks and rivers to jump their banks right into their houses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came out here and my goodness, it's a river going down there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chaos. A little chaos. I'm sure there's some people that are a little frantic right now or a little worried about their houses.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband said what's that noise in the basement? I said, I don't know. I looked out the window, I said, oh, my God. It's up to -- I'm just lost for words.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Powerful winds also whipping up parts of Montana. Several semi-trucks blown over on Interstate 15 created a pretty dangerous situation for truckers here. And there were also reports of trash cans, even trampolines flying around in the high winds. And winds were also an issue in North Carolina.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel the wind -- the windows -- whoa, no! Look at that!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, how's that for an unexpected moment? High winds there blew down that condo. That was actually under destruction, leaving behind nothing but a pile of rubble.
And is weather going to impact your work, school, travel plans this week? Here's more now from CNN meteorologist, Jennifer Gray.
JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Look at these temperatures. We'll take it. Temperatures are going to be reaching 35 degrees tomorrow in Chicago. That's four degrees above normal, 57 in D.C. That's 14 degrees above normal. And the same for New York, you're above normal at 52. Temperatures fall just a tiny bit by Tuesday. But still, 40s and 50s in the northeast. I think we'll take it. It will definitely feel nice.
We do have another storm system setting up late Monday night into Tuesday. It could bring some showers and storms across the southeast, the east coast. We could see a little bit of snow, but it's only going to be for extremely northern sections. It looks like it's basically going to be a rainmaker.
The reason is, it will have cold air behind it, but it's not going to be that arctic air. We're going to see just a little bit of a chill as we get into the late week. But temperatures still not that far below normal -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jennifer, thanks.
Well, I want to tell you now about a terrific film that you can see on CNN later this evening. It examines the lives of those who have survived air disasters. In fact, the film focuses solely on people who were the only survivor of a crash. George Lamson Jr. (ph) was the sole survivor of a 1985 crash in Nevada that killed 71 people.
And in the film, Lamson talks through an interpreter to a French schoolgirl who survived a crash into the Indian Ocean that killed 152 people. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Do you have some from the accident?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was burned on my right hand. Here. And this here is later on. This is from sunburn. But here, this is the burn here. My face was burned. I had a cut on my forehead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): What was that like being by yourself out there for nine hours? Can you explain that?
(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: "Sole Survivor" airs tonight 9:00 eastern right here on CNN.
Well, defending Dennis Rodman. Former NBA player who is in North Korea with Rodman is talking about the trip. His takeaway, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the eccentric, Dennis Rodman, is due back from North Korea tomorrow. In a CNN exclusive, Rodman's teammate, Charles Smith, talks about getting paid for playing basketball in North Korea. Also, Smith says he understands why some people are outraged by the trip, but he defends rodman. Karl Penhaul has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his first TV interview since returning from North Korea, basketball star, Charles D. Smith defend what has become a controversial trip saying that it was a successful effort to bridge a gap between two nations that knew very little about each other.
CHARLES D. SMITH, FORMER NBA PLAYER: There's a lot that happened on that trip above and beyond playing a match. And I'm only sharing with you my experiences, good, bad or indifferent. It was just something that I experienced.
PENHAUL: Smith insisted that this was forced diplomacy in action and said the basketball bad boy, Dennis Rodman, had had both sporting and personal reasons for taking part. Smith said Rodman quite simply wanted to do something that his children would be proud of. Smith rejected claims by NBA commissioner, David Stern, that they'd been blinded by North Korean dollars.
SMITH: Absolutely not. I think I'm astute enough to understand the dynamics, especially collecting monetary dollars from North Korea. No. We did not get paid from North Korea at all.
(SINGING) Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you.
PENHAUL: Smith also rejected media allegations that they'd been treated to a luxury lifestyle in North Korea together with wild parties. Smith said they had eaten and been treated quite simply. Smith said he believed it was unfair that the media had focused on political aspects of the trip, insisting that the basketball players were sportsmen, not politicians or diplomats.
He also described Rodman who had a verbal outburst in a CNN interview last week as a passionate man who had a great heart but does not always express himself well. Smith did not indicate that either he or Rodman had talked to North Korean leaders about imprisoned Korean- American missionary, Kenneth Bae.
The North Koreans have sentenced Bae to 15 years prison for what they say was an effort to try and topple a North Korean regime using religion. It's not clear what Rodman has been doing in North Korea over the weekend nor if he was expected to spend more time with reclusive leader, Kim Jong-Un, who's known to be a huge Chicago Bulls basketball fan. Smith and Rodman are expected to fly back to the U.S. sometime early this week.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And our very own Chris Cuomo will speak with more former NBA players who made the controversial trip to North Korea with Dennis Rodman. You can watch that tomorrow on CNNs "New Day" from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. eastern right here on CNN.
Secretary of state, John Kerry, says if there is a solution to the violence in Syria, it is not a military one. Kerry is in Paris this weekend attending a meeting of the so-called friends of Syria group. He says today that no sign of the Syrian civil war can fight its way to victory and that the only way to save Syria is through negotiation.
While he was saying that, more people died in the fighting. Nearly 700 people have been killed just in the past nine months in Syria. And these aren't Syrian troops fighting the rebels. These hundreds of deaths are from rebel groups fighting each other.
Up next, the biggest football game of the year also comes with the biggest price tag, at least, one fan says that's not fair. So, he's suing the NFL.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, singer, Bruno Mars, has invited some big time back-up for next month's Super Bowl halftime show. mars Has asked the Red Hot Chili Pepper to join him for the annual extravaganza. That's them right there, by the way, in a recent performance. And the NFL says that the Super Bowl halftime show is the most watched musical event of the ear with more than 110 million viewers in the U.S.
Well, the Super Bowl is just three weeks away, too. A game that every football fan would love to see in person, but there's one catch. The ticket price for a Super Bowl ticket is pretty much off the charts. So, one fan is actually taking his frustration to court. CNNs John Berman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's packed with superstar athletes, super charged performances --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Davis, touchdown!
BERMAN: And it promises super high television ratings. But if you're looking for a seat inside New Jersey's MetLife Stadium --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The average fan, the true fan really can't afford to go to the game and enjoy it. They have to watch it at home. BERMAN: The average Super Bowl ticket price has risen by $200 in the past five years, but that's just face value. Tickets for Super Bowl XLVIII are once again soaring into the thousands via secondary markets like Stub Hub and Ticket Exchange. One fan, Josh Finkleman (ph), is so upset, he's suing the NFL after shelling out $4,000 for two tickets. Much higher than face value.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think probably all the corporate big was taking all the tickets.
BERMAN: His lawsuit claims the league's violated New Jersey's consumer fraud act by only releasing a meager one percent of these tickets to the general public through a lottery system, leaving the majority of tickets susceptible to enormous price gouging.
JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: So, with the man being so intense in the supply, right, being so low, obviously, you have this gouging that comes about and it becomes very problematic for the common fan who wants to go to the game.
BERMAN: According to the NFL, roughly 75 percent of tickets are given out to individual teams who in turn are supposed to sell a percentage at face value to fans. But the lawsuit alleges teams instead offer them in large part to reseller who grossly inflate the price.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think more people should have access to the tickets.
BERMAN: The lawsuit claims one such reseller packaged (ph) their tickets for a whopping $19,000.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: All right. How about we wrap up the night with a little Golden Globe action. We got our Nischelle Turner there on the red carpet, and she's been grabbing all these interviews and these stars for us. So, let's just roll it. Here are some of our highlights. Carrie Washington, apparently right here, she was able to talk to from scandal, nominated for Best Actress in a drama. She's also pregnant, looking absolutely phenomenal. The dress is terrific. Wow!
OK. And I think we've got tonight's host, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, right? They cruise the red carpet. Amy nominated tonight, too, by the way. Check out the dress here. Now, that's Tina. And I think Amy is going to come up right after her, right? Oh, she's wearing Herrera. Oh, and there's -- oooh, look at Amy, showing a little tummy there. She looks fabulous.
They also change like, you know, four or five different times during the show. So, you're going to hear -- see many more dresses with Tina and Amy. Big hype, too. They knocked it out of the park last year. Everybody is wondering can they do it again this year? Of course, they can or it will be even better. All right. How about Kevin Spacey from "House of Cards?" This was a great interview that he did with Nischelle. He started talking politics. It was great. Past presidents, current presidents, his show. It was awesome. Netflix releasing the entire show, by the way, very soon. Do we have a date on when they're going to release it on Netflix? February 14th, Valentine's Day. A perfect time to see Kevin Spacey. Goodnight, everyone. Thanks for being with us.
