Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

HHS Secretary Unveils Obamacare Site Actions; Asiana Flight Crash Investigation; TIME Magazine's Person of the Year; Rescued Family Struggle to Survive; Emotional Day in Newlywed Murder Trial

Aired December 11, 2013 - 09:00   ET

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


JOE JOHNS, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: The healthercare.gov Web site, that's 137,200 people enrolled. In the state exchanges -- that's 14 different states that have their own health care exchanges, as you can see still out distancing the federal exchange, 227,478. The bottom line, of course, is that the federal Web site is now beginning to catch up.

Let's look now at October versus November. October enrollment was 26,794. Of course that created so much concern because those numbers are so low. You look at the November enrollment now, 110,410 people. Clearly some improvement in Obamacare and the numbers of people enrolling but the magic number, of course is seven million and they simply have a long way to go -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I think that's an understatement.

Joe Johns reporting live from Washington. Thank you.

No doubt those numbers will be up for debate today when house Lawmakers grill Health And Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius once again about the Obamacare rollout. But Sebelius has announced steps to make sure those problems won't happen again. From now on the inspector general will review the development of healthercare.gov.

And centers for Medicare and Medicaid services will hire a chief risk officer to minimize risks and we'll also have expanded training for contractors.

Let's bring in chief national correspondent John King.

Good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Of course the obvious question is why didn't Sebelius do all of that before but let's move on from that, shall we? Because Republican leaders plan to do just that. They want to illustrate Obamacare's problems are deeper than just the Web site. So what can we expect from today's hearing?

KING: You can expect two very different things. And if you say we should just move on from that, that's what Secretary Sebelius is hoping to do. She's hoping now she can at least look forward and say yes, we made a lot of mistakes. But we're getting better. And she wants to make the case, Carol, that the program is good, that more people will get their coverage. That, you know, in six months or a year from now people will look back on this and say bad roll out, good program.

Republicans think just the opposite, Carol. And one of the reasons the speaker is selling this new budget deal is he says look, let's get the budget questions out of the way, let's put -- of any prospect of a government shutdown out of the way and let's focus on this because we think that's a winning policy issue and political issue heading in to 2014.

So Republicans will go beyond the Web site and they're going to tell you stories of people who -- remember the president said you can keep your doctor, keep your plan, they're going to tell you stories of people losing it. Republicans are also going to say a lot of people are finding out they have higher co-pays or higher costs per prescription drugs. So you're going to have a big divide here.

The key question is, are Democrats convinced? Are the Democrats convinced the administration has turned this around because that will turn the volume down a bit if it's just Republicans going after the secretary. But watch the Democrats because some of them are nervous back home, too, and they may need to score a point or two.

COSTELLO: Well, the hearing starts next hour. We'll be watching.

Separately, a Christmas miracle, a rare compromise in Congress, Republican Paul Ryan and Democrat Patty Murray announcing a budget deal. But of course it's already getting some push back for eliminating part of those forced spending cuts.

So what are the odds, John, it gets passed?

KING: The odds are actually pretty good, Carol, because if you look at it, you have people on the far right saying we didn't get enough. We wanted deeper spending cuts. We wanted to deal with Medicare, we want to deal with entitlements. You have people on the left saying, you know, we wanted tax increases, we don't want part of this deal which is federal employees paying more into their pension.

So the middle says we like this deal. The question is, again, how many liberal Democrats will break away, how many Tea Party and conservative Republicans will break away? That will be the vote in Congress but they announced it because they did a quick headcount and they think they're OK

Then, Carol, you're going to watch this play out like every other issue, you have a lot of Tea Party primary challengers against establishment Republicans. And this is the latest exhibit in that big fight. The Tea Party doesn't like this deal.

COSTELLO: All right. John King, thanks for your insight this morning. We appreciate it.

Told you there was a lot of breaking news this morning. On to another bit of breaking news on the Asiana Air crash. We're learning the pilots relied too heavily on the plane's automated systems just moments before the plane hit a seawall and skidded across the runway at San Francisco's airport.

Rene Marsh is following that story out of Washington.

Tell us more, Rene.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, we're looking at the live pictures there. The investigative hearing just got under way and we know that Asiana Flight 214 came in too low and too slow at San Francisco's airport. But the NTSB not ready at this point to officially say why. But we are now getting new information from the NTSB, new this morning that will really make you say wow.

We just learned based on newly released information three key points. NTSB investigators are concerned about pilots' over reliance on automation, specifically when it comes to the plane's auto throttle. Now the auto throttle allows the pilot to pre-set how much power to send to the engine and in turn that sets the plane's speed.

Just think of cruise control in a vehicle. Now the NTSB says in this particular case, Asiana's pilots thought that the auto throttle was engaged but it wasn't so the air speed fell too slow below the target speed.

This just suggests possibly they were flying a plane. They didn't totally understand how things were working there as far as the automatic controls within the cockpit that, of course, is problematic.

We also learned the first officer warned more than four times about an excessive sink rate and lastly we now know investigators are keying in on the role of Korean culture which shows deference to rank and seniority and they're looking at whether culture may have prevented good communications in the cockpit. So those are the three key bullet points we're just learning this morning -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes. And I know there's much more to come out of this hearing and you'll be listening. You'll join us next hour.

Rene Marsh, reporting live from Washington.

Also happening right now you're looking at live pictures out of Pretoria, South Africa where thousands of people are expected to file past the coffin of Nelson Mandela as it lies in state over the next three days.

Today family and dignitaries were among those in line to pay their respects. Among them, the current South African president, Jacob Zuma. And U2 singer Bono who said Mandela was a man who, in Bono's words, refused to hate. The viewing will be open to the public beginning tomorrow and Friday. Mandela is scheduled to be buried Sunday in his childhood village of Qunu.

And a potential controversy following the memorial for Mandela. And this is crazy, bear with me. The Deaf Federation of South Africa claims the event's sign language interpreter was a fake. And both African and American sign language experts hired by the Associated Press watched the event and agreed with the federation's conclusion. The South African government is reportedly preparing a statement on the matter.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Pope Francis, controversial to some, loved by many and calling for major changes to the Catholic Church. Now he is "TIME" magazine's Person of the Year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: This morning "TIME" magazine has unveiled its Person of the Year and it's Pope Francis. After just nine months on the job, the Pope has captured the world's attention. And not just from Catholics. He's embraced the poor, the down trodden and the disfigured, and challenged the Catholic establishment.

"TIME's" assistant managing editor told CNN's "NEW DAY" about the little things that made Pope Francis stand out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANA FOROOHAR, TIME ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR: The way he's come in and reached out. This is somebody who cold calls people in distress. Who washes the feet of a Muslim woman. Who agrees to baptize the baby of a divorced woman whose married lover wanted her to abort the child.

These are incredible gestures and symbols. And they really matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter joins us now.

Good morning, Brian.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Reporter: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. So "TIME" magazine announced its short list, Edward Snowden was number two. Edith Windsor from the Supreme Court's same-sex marriage cases number three. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad came in at number four and Republican Senator Ted Cruz came in at number five.

I don't know where Miley Cyrus came in. I'm sure she was somewhere in the top 10, though.

Do you think "TIME" made the right choice?

(LAUGHTER)

STELTER: You know, it's hard to argue with Pope Francis. The columnist Ron (INAUDIBLE) said on Twitter this morning and it made me laugh, you know, and it's true. It is hard to argue with the pick of Pope Francis. But I think a lot of people will see this as a snub of Edward Snowden because he changed the world in so many ways this year with his leaks of NSA information.

Glenn Greenwald who is one of the first reporters to obtain that information wrote on Twitter this morning that he was making fun of "TIME" magazine's choice by saying that "TIME" magazine was being as edgy, bold and courageous as ever, and of course he's being sarcastic, saying that what "TIME" is doing is taking the easy choice, Pope Francis.

Then again, as we heard in that sound bite just now, Pope Francis is also changing the world in his first months as Pope and this is maybe one of those years where you could have gone either way.

COSTELLO: Well, we were taking bets early this morning. And of course I was betting Pope Francis.

STELTER: Yes?

COSTELLO: Because I'm with Glenn Greenwald, I didn't think "TIME" magazine would make the edgy choice of Edward Snowden. I personally think it should have been Edward Snowden.

STELTER: Well, I think that would have been the bolder choice, to be honest. This gets to the idea of whether the mainstream media takes Edward Snowden and his NSA revelations seriously enough. We've seen an endless number of stories in newspapers, magazines and Web sites about the NSA surveillance revelations. But it does sometimes seem as if Edward Snowden isn't taken as seriously as I know some advocates like Glenn Greenwald would like him to be seen.

You know, so that's a debate that I think "TIME" magazine has restarted. And it's a good thing to debate, by the way. You know, this "TIME" Person of the Year thing has always dismissed as a publicity stunt but it's also a great way to think about what happened this year, what was important this year.

Last year's choice for Person of the Year was Barack Obama. Now that was a safe choice.

(LAUGHTER)

This at least is a choice that will get people talking.

COSTELLO: That is true. And, you know, along those lines, I was going to ask you, does it really matter who "TIME's" Person of the Year is?

(LAUGHTER)

STELTER: Well, the reason why I think it matters is because it's going to be fun to be sitting around the family dinner table at Christmas and talking about what happened this year. And this gives us a talking point.

COSTELLO: You are such a nerd.

(LAUGHTER) STELTER: Maybe I'm the only family. But I love talking about this stuff because it lets us look back and think about what happened this year. And honestly the change of the Pope, that was a once in a human history sort of thing. We never had a Pope resign and a new one take over. So it's a chance to reflect on what Pope Francis is doing so far.

COSTELLO: All right. CNN's senior media correspondent Brian Stelter, thanks so much for coming in this morning. I appreciate it.

STELTER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Checking other top stories at 15 minutes past the hour.

It feels like old man winter has shown up early. Parts of the U.S. are covered in snow and ice causing massive travel headaches.

In Michigan a snowstorm caused 30-car pileup near Grand Rapids. Drivers could barely see two feed in front of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Conditions and I was driving about 45.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I'm driving down the road and I see a bunch of braking lights.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I ended up trying to veer off the road and next thing I know I had hit the car in front of me and then the semitruck almost hit me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Luckily there were no serious injuries in those crashes.

Riot Police in the Ukraine battle with protesters in the capital of Kiev today. The police used chainsaws to tear down barricades set up by demonstrators. At least 10 officers were hurt. Protesters want closer ties to the west demanding Ukraine's president sign a new trade agreement with the European Union.

An emotional day at the trial of a Montana newlywed accused of murdering her husband of eight days. The brother Jordan Graham sobbed on the stand and he testified because she lied over and over again.

Prosecutors said she intentionally pushed her husband Cody Johnson off a cliff at Glacier National Park back in July. Graham's lawyer says it was an accident.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, officials are praising a man and woman's ingenuity for keeping their children warm and alive while they were stranded in the Nevada wilderness and police are thanking everyone who helped in the search.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was the work of a lot of people in the community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Stephanie Elam is in Nevada.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Forty-eight hours in subzero temperatures. What did this family do to keep everyone warm and alive? We got that for you, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Hospital officials are praising a Nevada couple for keeping their kids warm while they were stranded for two days in the frozen wilderness. Searchers rescued the family on Tuesday. James Glanton and his girlfriend warded frostbite with rocks they heated by a camp fire and put in their overturned vehicle. It's an amazing.

Stephanie Elam is near the family's home in Lovelock, Nevada.

Tell us more.

ELAM: Clever. Very, very clever. I'm never going to forget the hot rock tip here, ever, Carol. But it's very ingenious what these adults did to keep their family nice and warm and they are calling it a Christmas miracle here in this rural part of Nevada as the family is here in this hospital where we are getting a good night's sleep and warming up before they are likely to head home today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM (voice-over): An incredible finale to a dramatic story of survival.

A Lovelock, Nevada family of six, including four young children were found alive and in fairly good condition Tuesday after being stranded in the rugged winter terrain of Nevada's Seven Troughs Mountain Range about 120 miles northeast of Reno. Family, friends and search teams said this rescue is truly a miracle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a huge relief. I was expecting the worst.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was the work of a lot of people in the community.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That way?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

ELAM: For two days, search teams and more than 200 volunteers covered 6,000 square miles -- by air and land, off-roading through the snow and mud in search of James Glanton, his girlfriend, Christina McIntee and the children, ages three to 10.

According to police, the family set out to play in the snow on Sunday when their Jeep slowly tipped over in the soft snow, slipping and then completely overturning down a ravine. The condition at the time of the accident is brutal with temperatures plunging to 21 degrees below zero.

But officials say Glanton and McIntee did a fabulous job of keeping their kids and McIntee's niece and nephew warm. The 34-year-old father even heated rocks to battle the biting cold.

DR. DOUGLAS VACEK, PERSHING GENERAL HOSPITAL: The first thing he did was built a fire. I think that really prevented any serious medical problems for them.

ELAM: Police say it was a joint effort that led to the family's rescue Tuesday afternoon.

A couple of pings from his cell phone led the Civic Air Patrol to the family. Meanwhile, Glanton's friend, using binoculars located them while scanning the mountainside.

CHRIS MONTES, FRIEND WHO HELPED WITH RESCUE: He's one hell of a guy, that's for damn sure. He kept them alive and he kept them warm. And my hat is off to him because not a lot of people are capable of that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM: The doctor says everyone was able to walk. They were eating. They are talking. That those were all very good signs. And slight hypothermia symptoms and also some dehydration. But in all, the family is well and saying they are looking forward to Christmas this year, which is definitely good news for this community.

It's a small community out here. This is a big deal they were all found.

COSTELLO: How did he start the fire?

ELAM: I don't know how he started it but I know that he. I think the biggest thing we heard is that he didn't panic and that's what officials are saying that he did that was very smart.

Keep in mind: these people live here. They are used to this wilderness, rugged terrain. This is where they live. So, that was one good thing in their favor. Just knowing to say together, stay by the car and knowing they heard the helicopters. They knew they were searching for them, and not giving up hope and keeping that the children's spirit is up as well.

COSTELLO: Yes, the two most important things they did, they stayed together. One didn't go off searching for help. You're never supposed to do that.

I heard he set the spare tire on fire but I don't know if that's true, but maybe you can find out some more.

ELAM: I've heard that too but I have not been able to confirm that as well. But, yes. We'll find out.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Stephanie. I appreciate it. Still to come in the NEWSROOM: turns out this picture is worth much more than 1,000 words. Now the photographer, the man who took this headline making selfie is speaking out. Our political panel will weigh in with the real story when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.

An emotional day in court in the trial of a new bride who is accused of murdering her husband just eight days after their wedding. Jordan Graham broke down as her teenage brother gave tearful testimony, claiming she lied about her husband's disappearance.

More now from CNN's Kyung Lah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jordan, what did you think as you're watching yourself on the police videotapes?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jordan really doesn't have anything to say.

LAH (voice-over): Nothing to say after a damaging day listening to herself lie. The jury saw and heard Jordan Graham lying to police in two extensive taped interviews. In the first video, Graham was matter of fact and unemotional as she tells police that her husband, Cody Johnson, took off from home in a dark car with Washington plates.

Johnson had been missing for two days. Police were searching for him.

The reality is, Graham knew her new husband of just eight days was already dead at the bottom of a cliff at Glacier National Park because she watched him fall. The very next day, police videotaped Graham again. She went to police because she received an e-mail dated July 10th, three days after her husband's death. The e-mail came from a mysterious friend named Tony.

It reads, "Hello, Jordan, my name is Tony. There is no bother in looking for Cody anymore. He is gone."

The e-mail claims Johnson died during that car trip. Detective Corey Clarke knew something was fishy about Graham's story.

(on camera): Have you had many people lie to you?

DETECTIVE COREY CLARKE, KALISPELL POLICE DEPARTMENT: I don't want to talk about that.

LAH (voice-over): But on the stand the detective testified the e-mail traced back to a computer at Graham's father's home, a fake e-mail created to support Graham's story to police.

Witnesses testified that Graham appeared fixated with getting the police out of her life. On the day she led friends and family to suddenly discover Johnson at the bottom of the cliff, two friends testified Graham said that since her groom's body had been recovered, the police going to get off her back.

Defense attorneys say Graham was simply a scared young woman, that the fall was just a terrible accident. Graham contends she was fighting with Johnson, he grabbed her, she pushed him away and he fell. Her lawyers say she lied because she feared no one would believe her story. Graham now has to hope a jury of 12 will. Testimony continues on the third day of her trial.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Missoula, Montana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)