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CNN Trends: Miracle 3-pointer shot by high school girls hoops player
John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin tell you what’s trending on the web this morning, and it’s all in the realm of sports. On today’s list is the basketball shot of the year—happening on the girl's high school court in Lafayette, Indiana.
MYB: AIG may join lawsuit vs. U.S. govt.
Christine Romans is minding your business this morning with the latest on world markets and U.S. stock futures, which are flat ahead of the opening bell after markets closed lower yesterday. And outrage this morning over a lawsuit brought by the former CEO of a company American taxpayers had to save from the “verge of taking down the global economy with it because of stupid, stupid derivatives bets they made.” Romans says, “Today, AIG, the board will consider whether to join a lawsuit to sue the government for being bailed out.”
“The Search for the Giant Squid” Author Richard Ellis on giant squid captured on film for the first time: 'breakthrough for science and mythology'
This morning, “Early Start” brings you a story of mythical proportions. Captured on film in its natural habitat for the first time ever is the giant squid, found in the Pacific Ocean some 3,000 feet below the surface. This squid, shown in images from The Discovery Channel and Japanese Public Broadcaster NHK, is believed to be up to 26 feet long. An expert on the giant squid comes to the studio today with details. Richard Ellis is the author of “The Search for the Giant Squid” and Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History.
This giant squid is described by Ellis as “a very, very exaggerated version of the smaller squid.” The discovery is being considered something of a breakthrough for science and mythology because no one has ever seen a giant squid alive before. “People have been searching for them for hundreds of years, literally,” Ellis says. “For a long time, people didn't even think they existed.”
Special Correspondent for Newsweek & The Daily Beast, Peter Beinart, on criticism of Hagel nomination: 'character assassination to be honest'
President Obama is looking at a tough second term ahead as he re-stocks his cabinet, getting criticized for his choices by politicians from both parties. He officially nominated former Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican, to replace Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense. The president said Monday, "Chuck Hagel's leadership of our military would be historic. He'd be the first person of enlisted rank to serve as Secretary of Defense. One of the few secretaries who have been wounded in war and the first Vietnam veteran to lead the department.”
The president also gave a nod to his Anti-Terrorism Chief John Brennan to be the next Director of The CIA. But it's Hagel who's getting the most scrutiny as critics pick apart comments he made in the past. Peter Beinart is a Special Correspondent for Newsweek & The Daily Beast and the author of "The Crisis of Zionism". He wrote a very in-depth piece about the implications of Hagel's nomination and comes to “Early Start” this morning with his take.
Hagel, who has publicly expressed his opposition to war, is being criticized for it by politicians for his views on sanctions and military action in Iran. Beinart believes Hagel is just considering the enormous financial costs of imposing wars. “He’s a lot like Dwight Eisenhower, who people forget drove the defense budget down quite dramatically,” Beinart says. “He believed America’s real power was its fiscal health.” Hagel is also being scrutinized for his position on Israel and relationship with the Jewish community, who many believe he does not support and some equate to anti-Semitic. Beinart refutes this assessment. "I think this is really a smoke screen," Beinart says. "I think it's character assasination to be honest."
Criminal Defense Attorney Joey Jackson discusses the latest in Aurora massacre hearing
CNN is reporting new details about the immediate aftermath of the Aurora theater shooting this morning as the preliminary hearing of suspect James Holmes continues today. A police officer testified that Holmes “seemed very detached from it all.” Other officers described the chaos and confusion at the scene as they tried to help victims. More witnesses will take the stand today. The hearing will ultimately determine whether there is probable cause for a trial. Criminal Defense Attorney Joey Jackson comes to “Early Start” this morning to discuss the latest developments.
Prosecutors are presenting their evidence against Holmes in this preliminary hearing. Jackson explains that, while the jury is watching, “the judge is examining is all of the evidence to determine whether or not that evidence meets the standard of having him legally held and, of course, having the trial move forward.” He thinks the judge will make that determination and move forward to that trial. “And that's when there will be fireworks.”
Jackson also offers his idea of whether there will be a plea deal. "I think with this mounting evidence,” he says, “it would be incumbent upon the defense team to contemplate a plea deal, particularly if they're looking to save his life which might be something that would entice them to say ‘I’m guilty.’”
MYB: Debt ceiling alarm bell
Christine Romans is minding your business with the latest on world markets and U.S. stock futures. Unemployment has hit a record high in the Eurozone, she reports. And a debt ceiling alarm bell rings on the home front. “The Bipartisan Policy Center saying the Treasury Department's going to run out of room on the debt ceiling earlier than we thought,” Romans says. “February 15th, they say.”
Aurora shooting suspect James Holmes hearing; Criminal Defense Attorney Anne Bremner discusses case
A preliminary hearing of the tragic movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado begins today. Prosecutors are set to unveil evidence against James Holmes, the 25-year-old suspect who is charged with killing 12 people and wounding at least 58 others at a midnight showing of the Dark Knight last July. It will be the first time the public will hear details of the shooting as the judge in the case determines whether the evidence presented is sufficient for Holmes to stand trial on more than 150 counts, including murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. Anne Bremner is a criminal defense attorney. She discusses what to expect from the case today on “Early Start” this morning.
“This may be the only hearing where the facts are vetted,” Bremner says. “There may not be a trial if there’s some kind of bargain in the works in the future.” She explains that it will be difficult for victims, but in her experience as a former prosecutor, they want to be present to hear all the details. “There’s gonna be autopsy reports. There’s gonna be video from the within the theater. There’s gonna be first-hand accounts of how he was shooting again and again and again at people. People were dying. That will all be in this hearing.”
MYB: Stocks in first five days of 2013; all of them higher
Christine Romans is minding your business with the latest on U.S. futures and world markets this morning. Romans reports good news for the banking sector with international banking regulations pushed off four more years. Bank stocks around the world are rallying.
She also looks at an outlook for stocks that is essentially an automatic warning system for the rest of the year. “According to Stock Trader's Almanac, if you look back in history, when stocks are up the first five days of the year, almost always it portends an increase for the rest year,” Romans reports. And the first five days of the year were really good for U.S. stocks.
CNN Trends: Joe Biden, reality TV star?
Trending on the web this morning is the story of a new quarterback with a familiar name coming to New Orleans. Nick Montana, son of Hall-of-Famer Joe Montana, commits to Tulane University. And a Joe Biden fan has created a petition on the White House website calling for CSPAN to launch a reality show following the Vice President around. "He said it would show the light-hearted side of politics even in the midst of contentious and divisive debate,” Zoraida Sambolin reports. "Reality TV gold," John Berman says.
Prosecutors set to unveil evidence against Aurora massacre suspect; CNN's Casey Wian reports
James Holmes, the suspect in the tragic movie theater massacre in Aurora, Colorado, will be in court for a key preliminary hearing today. The 25-year-old is charged with killing 12 people and wounding dozens more. Prosecutors will begin presenting evidence and are expected to call scores of witnesses before Arapahoe County District Judge William Sylvester. He’ll determine whether the evidence is sufficient for Holmes to stand trial on more than 150 counts, including murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. The weapons included explosives allegedly used to booby-trap Holmes's apartment.
Holmes’s attorneys are expected to present a diminished mental capacity defense in the preliminary hearing that is expected to last several days. Up until now, the judge had ordered a sweeping gag order, so this will be first time the public will hear details of what went on inside the theater during the shooting rampage back in July. CNN's Casey Wian is live in Centennial, Colorado this morning with more.
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