>>> TONIGHT, BREAKING NEWS. THE US AND UK HAVE LAUNCHED STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN BACKED UP REBELS IN YEMEN. TWO OFFICIALS CONFIRMING THOSE STRIKES ON HOUTHI TARGETS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN TWO DOZEN ATTACKS ON SHIPPING VESSELS IN THE RED SEA. COULD THIS SIGNAL AND EXPANDING CONFLICT AS THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS PREPARES TO ENTER DAY 100? >>> THE FATE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FRAUD TRIAL, TRUNK DELIVERING PART OF HIS CLOSING ARGUMENT IN A FIVE MINUTE SPEECH WE DECLARED HIMSELF AN INNOCENT MAN AND LASHED OUT AT THE NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE JUDGE OVERSEEING THE CASE, THE JUDGE EVENTUALLY TELLING TRUMP LAWYERS TO CONTROL THEIR CLIENT. PRESIDENT BIDEN SON HUNTER ENTERING A GUILTY PLEA THE DAY AFTER A SURPRISE APPEARANCE ON CAPITOL HILL AND THE JUDGE SETTING A TRIAL DATE. WE HAVE REPORTERS OUTSIDE OF BOTH COURTHOUSES TONIGHT. >>> MORE DANGEROUS WEATHER ON THE MOVE, A HOME IN MAINE COLLAPSING AFTER THE MASSIVE WINTER STORM BROUGHT HIGH WAVES AND FLOODING TO THE EAST COAST. THE FIRST PART OF THE SYSTEM IS BARELY EAST, A SEMI TRUCK SLIDING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY IN NEVADA. IN THE MIDWEST, FORECASTERS WARNING OF A BOMB CYCLE THAT COULD BRING UP TO 18 " OF SNOW TO PARTS OF MICHIGAN AND AN ARCTIC LAST WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED AS LOW AS -40 DEGREES. >>> BURIED ALIVE. HEARTBREAKING VIDEO SHOWING RESCUERS TRYING TO DIG OUT A MAN BURIED BY THE DEADLY AVALANCHE OF A POPULAR LAKE TAHOE RESORT. WHAT WE WERE TOLD ABOUT THE EXCRUCIATING EIGHT MINUTES THAT HE WAS TRAPPED UNDER 4' OF HEAVY SNOW AND THE MOMENTS HE REALIZED HE WOULD BE SAVED. >>> PAYROLL RIOT. PROTESTERS IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND NATION OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA TAKEN TO STREETS AFTER PUBLIC SERVANTS WERE GIVEN A PAY CUT WITHOUT WARNING. BUILDINGS LOOTED AND MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE KILLED WHY THIS MAY ALL BE DUE TO A COMPUTER GLITCH. >>> WAS THE LEGAL BATTLE OVER A PIECE OF ART STOLEN BY THE . WHY A JUDGE RULED THAT A MUSEUM IN MADRID ÃA PRECIOUS PAINTING EVEN THOUGH A CALIFORNIA FAMILY CAN PROVE IT BELONGED TO THEM BEFORE THE HOLOCAUST. >>> THE LIFESAVING RESCUE CAUGHT ON CAMERA, A GRANDMOTHER AND A BABY TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE CAR THAT WAS FILLING UP WITH WATER. HOW OFFICERS MANAGED TO GET THEM OUT. TOP STORIES START RIGHT NOW. >>> GOOD EVENING. WE ARE COMING ON THE GARY BREAKING NEWS. THE US AND BRITISH MILITARY LAUNCHING STRIKES AGAINST TARGETS IN HOUTHI CONTROLLED YEMEN. ACCORDING TO US OFFICIALS THIS IS AS A RESPONSE TO AN ATTACK OF 21 MISSILES AND DRONES AIMED AT US AND UK WARSHIPS IN PROTEST AGAINST ISRAEL'S WAR IN GAZA. FOR MORE ON THE STRIKE WE WILL GET TO KRISTIN WHO JOINS ME LIVE HERE ON TOP STORIES. WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS SORT OF, JOINT MILITARY OPERATION BETWEEN THE US AND THE UK? >> IT'S JUST DEVELOPING NOW TOM, WE ARE TOLD IS YOUR REPORTING THAT THE US AND BRITISH MILITARY HAVE LAUNCHED THESE STRIKES AGAINST TARGETS IN HOUTHI CONTROLLED YEMEN ACCORDING TO TWO US OFFICIALS IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. A TOMAHAWK FIRED FROM NAVY SHIPS. HERE'S SOMETHING WE EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN. IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, BUT ALSO THE PAST FEW HOURS AS WE SAW THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT GATHER. THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE UK BRIEFED MEMBERS OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF OTHER PARTIES WHICH GAVE OUT AN INVITATION THAT SOMETHING WAS COMING. WE ARE GETTING INDICATIONS AS WELL FROM THE PENTAGON THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING COMING. THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE THESE HOUTHI ATTACKS ON SHIPPING IN THE RED SEA THAT WE HAVE SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS SINCE THE GAZA WAR BEGAN, HAS CAUSED SERIOUS ISSUES FOR SHIPPING. 20% OF THE WORLD SHIPPING GOES THROUGH THAT CRUCIAL LANE AND THEY'VE BEGUN TO HAVE TO GO ANOTHER WAY, GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AROUND AFRICA. THAT OF COURSE, EXTENDING THAT SHIPPING JOURNEY WITH THE IMPLICATION THAT ALL THE PRICES OF ALL KINDS OF THINGS WOULD GO UP, SO IT WAS A SITUATION THAT WAS THREATENING FOR THE WORLD ECONOMY, THE US, AND THE UK. THEY WARNED THE HOUTHI AGAIN AND AGAIN TO STOP THE ATTACKS OR THERE WOULD BE CONSEQUENCES. AND IN THE TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE PAST WEEK, GIVING THEM THAT WARNING. THEY LAUNCHED AN ATTACK OF 21 DRONES AND EXPLOSIONS AND I THINK THAT WAS THE TIPPING POINT. THE QUESTION NOW, TOM, IS GOING TO BE EXACTLY WHAT TARGETS INSIDE OF YEMEN ARE BEING HIT. WE'VE HEARD THERE HAVE BEEN THREE EXPLOSIONS IN THE CAPITAL CITY. IS IT MILITARY TARGETS? AND, ARE THE UK AND US ABLE TO DAMAGE THE CAPABILITY THAT THREATENS THAT SHIPPING LANE? BECAUSE THE HOUTHI THEMSELVES HAS SAID THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RETALIATE AND ATTACK AND SAY THEY ARE SUPPORTING HAMAS AND GAZA. >> YOU WOULD THINK, AS HE POINT OUT, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLAINED-- EXPLAINED THAT THESE HOUTHI REBELS WERE NOT ONLY MILITARY SHIPS BUT ATTACKING SHIPPING CARGO SHIPS IN THE RED SEA. WE TALKED ABOUT AROUND 27 ATTACKS BY THE REBELS. WE KNOW THEY ARE BACKED BY IRAN. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL VIEWERS ABOUT THIS GROUP? >> WILL THEY ARE BACKED BY IRAN, NOT CONTROLLED BY THEM THAT'S ACCORDING TO THEM, AND ACCORDING TO THE IRANIANS. WHY WOULD THEY BE DOING THIS? WHY WOULD THEY BE SUPPORTING HAMAS? IT'S MAKING THEM MORE POPULAR IN YEMEN SO THEY HAVE LOCAL POLITICAL REASONS FOR WANTING TO DO THIS. THEY THINK AS WELL IT IS RAISING THEIR PROFILE AROUND THE WORLD, AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING AT THIS ESPECIALLY IN YEMEN AND SAYING ACTUALLY THEY MAY WELL BE ENJOYING THIS POSSIBILITY OF GETTING INTO A FIGHT WITH THE US AND THE UK, ALBEIT IT'S VERY ONE-SIDED CLEARLY. THEY WOULD BE ENJOYING THAT BECAUSE AGAIN IT'S GOING TO RAISE THEIR PROFILE AND POTENTIALLY INCREASE THEIR POPULARITY INSIDE OF YEMEN. WE WILL GET TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE GOING TO HERE IN THE DAYS TO COME AND THAT IS GOING TO BE, HAS THIS STOP THE HOUTHIS FROM CARRYING OUT ATTACKS? IS IT POSSIBLE TO STOP THEM FROM CARRYING OUT THESE ATTACKS? AND IF IT ISN'T, WAS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO? AS HE MENTIONED, THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE BRITISH HAVE FELT LIKE THEY'VE HAD NO CHOICE BECAUSE THEY'VE GIVEN THE HOUTHIS WARNINGS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND IF THEY DIDN'T , WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF THE LINE AT ALL? SO WE WAIT TO HEAR EXACTLY WHAT TARGETS HAVE BEEN HIT, WHAT THE US AND THE UK HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO, BUT THERE WILL BE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THIS. >> LIVE IN LONDON, WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND REPORTING ON THIS STORY. IN OTHER MAJOR HEADLINES, THE PIVOTAL MOMENTS WHEN TWO HIGH- PROFILE POLITICAL CASES, HUNTER BIDEN PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL TAX CHARGES AND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MONTH-LONG FRAUD TRIAL COMING TO A CLOSE. HE GAVE FIVE MINUTES OF UNEXPECTED REMARKS INCLUDING A BARRAGE OF ACCUSATORY STATEMENTS AIMED AT THE JUDGE IN NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES. AT ONE POINT SAYING, WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE I'M AN INNOCENT MAN, I'VE BEEN PERSECUTED BY SOMEONE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE THE COURT SAY THE CASE HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT POLITICS BUT THAT TRUMP QUOTE, VIOLATED THE LAW. IN THE WEST COAST, HUNTER BIDEN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THESE CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO PAY MORE THAN $1 MILLION IN TAXES. TWO FELONY CHARGES. THE US DISTRICT JUDGE PROPOSED JUNE 20 FOR A POTENTIAL TRIAL DATE WHICH IS RIGHT WHEN HIS FATHER IS CAMPAIGNING FOR REELECTION. WE HAVE THE LATEST IN A MOMENT BUT LET'S GO TO SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAUREN JARRETT. ON THIS MATTER BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. IF THAT SOUNDS BAD, REMEMBER THE HEART OF THE FRAUD CLAIMS THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CASE HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED, SO THERE'S JUST A FEW STRAGGLER CLAIMS AND THE ULTIMATE PENALTY LEFT. >> INTERESTING BECAUSE BY THE END OF THE MONTH IT WILL BE THE IOWA CAUCUS IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMETHING IN YOUR REPORT. WHAT DID THEY MEAN WHEN THEY SAID THE CORPORATE DEATH PENALTY? >> IT'S A PHRASE THAT HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEYS HAVE USED REPEATEDLY HERE ESSENTIALLY MEANING THAT THE FIND THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SEEKING IS SO THAT IT IS ESSENTIALLY RUNNING TRUMP OUT OF BUSINESS, HE WILL HAVE TO SELL ASSETS TO PAY THAT. >> OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, THANK YOU. FOR MORE ON WHAT THIS CASE MEANS FOR TRUMP AND HIS REAL ESTATE EMPIRE, LET'S BRING IN ANGELA SENNA DELLA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. GIVE ME THE BEST CASE SCENARIO AND THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO. >> WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A FINDING OF FRAUD AGAINST TRUMP BUT AT THIS POINT IT'S ADDITIONAL ILLEGAL ACTS, THAT ARE CRIMES BEING DISGUISED IN CIVIL LAWSUITS, FALSIFYING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. BEST CASE, THE JUDGE TOLD HIM NOT LIABLE, SAYING HE DID NOT COMMIT THOSE. AS A RESULT IT CLAIMS NO DAMAGES AND DID NOT AWARD ANYTHING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND DOES NOT INSTITUTE ANY BAND. I'M SMILING BECAUSE IT'S UNLIKELY WE WILL GET THAT BEST CASE SCENARIO BUT THAT'S IT. >> WHAT ABOUT WORST-CASE? >> THE WORST-CASE WOULD BE THAT IF HE DOES -- THEY DO FIND HE WAS LIABLE FOR THOSE ACTS AND ENRICHED HIMSELF SO UNJUSTLY THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $370 MILLION, PLUS INTEREST, AND THERE IS A LIFETIME COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MAN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TRYING INSTITUTE. >> THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAYS HE IS A MULTIMILLIONAIRE, BUT THAT IS SUCH A BIG NUMBER. WOULD THAT TAKE HIS EMPIRE DOWN? >> HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY IT IMMEDIATELY. THERE IS NOT LIKELY GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM PLAN. ALL OF HIS REAL ESTATE ASSETS, DOWNPAYMENTS, MORTGAGE, THAT'S UNLIKELY. IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE COULD BE BANNED FROM COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK STATE, FOREVER, THAT'S HUGE. >> KNOWING HE MAY HAVE TO WRITE A CHECK FOR $370 MILLION, HE STILL SPOKEN COURT AND SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE JUDGE. IF YOU WERE HIS ATTORNEY, WOULD YOU ALLOW THAT? >> I DON'T EVEN THINK IT MATTERS. IF YOU FELT THAT ON THAT PLATFORM HE WAS GAINING ANY TRACTION POLITICALLY, PERSONALLY, FOR ANY REASON, IN THIS CASE THE JUDGE IS GOING TO CITE THE LAW AND THEY HAD SUCH WIDE DISCRETION TO INSTITUTE PENALTIES BASED ON EVEN JUST MISREPRESENTATION. >> DO YOU THINK HE'S GETTING THAT FINE? >> I DON'T THINK SO BUT HE WILL GET SOMETHING. >> AND WHY WILL IT TAKE A MONTH TO MAKE THE DECISION? DO YOU THINK HE'S LOOKING AT THE POLITICAL CALENDAR AND SEES THAT IOWA IS NEXT WEEK AND THEN NEW HAMPSHIRE, OR DO YOU THINK HE DOESN'T CARE? >> I THINK THEY DON'T CARE. ONE MONTH IS NOT THAT LONG IF YOU THINK ABOUT 11 WEEKS OF TRIAL AND ONE MAN MAKING AN IMPACTFUL DECISION. >> WE APPRECIATE YOUR ANALYSIS, THANK YOU. , TO LOS ANGELES, WHERE HUNTER BIDEN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TAX CHARGES TODAY. HE STOOD BEFORE A JUDGE ONE MONTH AFTER BEING INDICTED ON ALLEGATIONS THAT HE FAILED TO PAY $1 MILLION IN TAXES, COMING AFTER HE MADE A SURPRISING APPEARANCE ON CAPITOL HILL YESTERDAY. >> TODAY, HUNTER BIDEN, AGAIN IN FEDERAL COURT, PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO TAX CHARGES, THREE OF WHICH ARE FELONIES THAT COULD LAND HIM IN PRISON FOR 17 YEARS IF CONVICTED. PROSECUTORS SAY THAT BIDEN WILLFULLY AVOIDED PAYING $1.4 MILLION IN TAXES FROM 2016 TO 2019. INSTEAD, THEY SAY HE SPENT MILLIONS ON AN EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE RATHER THAN PAYING TAXES. INSIDE COURT, BIDEN ANSWERED BRIEF QUESTIONS FROM THE JUDGE ABOUT APPENDED DO -- TENTATIVE JUNE 20th TRIAL DATE. HIS LEGAL TEAM ARGUES THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH ADDICTION AT THE TIME AND HAS SINCE PAID HIS TAXES BACK. THIS COMES AFTER HIS SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT CONGRESS YESTERDAY HE SHOWED UP AT A HEARING WHERE REPUBLICANS WERE RECOMMENDING TEMP -- CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS CHARGES AGAINST HIM. >> IGNORING A SUBPOENA TO BE DEPOSED, WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? >> HE REFUSED TO COMPLY WITH THE SUBPOENA AND SAID THAT HE WOULD ONLY TALK IN PUBLIC, LEAVING THE HEARING ROOM AFTER A FEW MINUTES. REPUBLICANS CALLED IT A PR STUNT. >> HE IS NOT THERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME HUNTER BIDEN HAS DISPLAYED, IN REAL TIME, THE ARROGANCE AND ENTITLEMENT THAT HE HAS HAD HIS ENTIRE LIFE. >> FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN SAID SHE WAS PROUD OF THE WAY HER SON MANAGES RECOVERY AND BLASTED REPUBLICANS FOR SHOWING SELFIES OF HIM DURING THE HEARING. >> WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO HUNTER IS CRUEL, AND I AM REALLY PROUD OF HOW HUNTER HAS REBUILT HIS LIFE AFTER ADDICTION AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I LOVE MY SON, AND IT HAS HURT MY GRANDCHILDREN AND THAT IS WHAT I AM SO CONCERNED ABOUT. >> WITH THAT, RYAN NOBLES JOINS US LIVE, FROM LOS ANGELES. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I WANT TO ASK, LOOKING AT THE POLITICAL CALENDAR, THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IS IN AUGUST, WHICH IS A LONG TIME AWAY AND A LOT COULD HAPPEN. WILL HUNTER BIDEN'S LEGAL TROUBLE IN THIS CASE WRAP UP BY THEN? WILL WE KNOW HOW HIS ENDS, OR WILL IT CONTINUE? >> BASED ON THE CALENDAR THE JUDGE LAID OUT, JUNE 20th WOULD BE THE DATE THIS TRIAL WOULD START AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD WRAP UP BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. THE QUESTION IS, DOES THIS MAKE IT GO ON LONGER? THERE'S THE REAL POSSIBILITY THAT HE COULD BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS NEXT WEEK AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT COULD HAND DOWN WITH ADDITIONAL CHARGES RELATED TO IT. >> COAST-TO-COAST, WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> A MAJOR WINTER STORM IS ON THE MOVE, BARRELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE SYSTEM SO INTENSE IT QUALIFIES AS A BOMB CYCLONE. WE WILL EXPLAIN MORE IN THE SECOND. THAT STORM IS ALREADY CAUSING AVALANCHES WITH PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE PAST AND LUCKY TO SURVIVE. HERE'S THE LATEST. >> TONIGHT, THE NEXT WAVE OF SEVERE WINTER WEATHER IS ALREADY LEAVING DEVASTATION IN ITS WAKE. >> IT THROUGH ME ON MY BACK. >> HEAVY SNOW AND HIGH WIND, SPARKING A SUDDEN DEADLY AVALANCHE AT THE PALISADES TAHOE RESORT. CRUISE HERE, DIGGING OUT SOMEONE. >> YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT DIE. >> NO DOUBT. >> THE NEVADA SNOWBOARDER WAS BURIED BY FOUR FEET OF SNOW FOR ROUGHLY EIGHT MINUTES, UNABLE TO MOVE AND LOSING OXYGEN. >> I WAS STARTING TO BLACK OUT AND THIS IS THE WAY I'M GOING TO GO. >> RESCUERS WERE WORKING FRANTICALLY. >> THAT'S WHEN I FELT APPROPRIATE THE BACK OF MY BACK, LIKE OH MY GOD, THEY'VE GOT ME, AND I COULD HEAR SOMEONE YELL. >> ONE MAN, KENNETH KID, DIED IN THE AVALANCHE AND TWO WERE INJURED. NOW, THAT SYSTEM IS ON THE MOVE AND GAINING STRENGTH AS THE NATION RACES FOR ANOTHER BLAST. >> MAGGIE JOINS US LIVE FROM CHICAGO. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE AND COMPELLING. DID HE EXPLAIN TO YOU, WITH THE WEATHER SO BAD, WHY HE HIT THE SLOPES? >> HE SAID HE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE, AND THAT THE RESORT BACKS THAT UP DID THE RESORT HAD TWEETED EARLIER IN THE DAY THAT THE RUNS WERE OPEN. THEY ARE DONE WHAT THEY CALLED AVALANCHE CHECKS, TRAINED GUYS ARE GONE OUT TO SEE THE RUNS AND CHECK CONDITIONS WHICH THEY NORMALLY DO WINDSTORMS LIKE THAT HIT AND THEY GAVE A GREEN LIGHT. THAT WAS ONLY THE SECOND RUN IN THE MORNING AND BASICALLY HE SAID HE HAD SEEN RUNS BEFORE WHERE THINGS SEEM TO BE FINE BUT YOU CAN NEVER QUITE TELL WITH THE INTENSITY OF THE STORM THAT IS, AS YOU KNOW, HEADING OUR WAY. >> THANK YOU. FOR MORE, LET'S GO TO ROTARIANS. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN BUSY, TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS. >> THE IOWA CAUCUS IS DAYS AWAY AND MOST OF THE STATE IS UNDER A BLIZZARD WARNING TONIGHT AND TOMORROW. WE HAVE A WINTER STORM WARNING IN CHICAGO, OMAHA, MILWAUKEE. THE FROM THE PLAINS TO THE MIDWEST, SOMEONE WILL GET A FOOT OF SNOW NEAR ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN AND NORTH, MILWAUKEE AND GREEN BAY. TONIGHT, THERE WILL BE SEVERE WEATHER. WE HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAVE TORNADOES. WE HAD 24 LAST TIME AND THIS IS HOLDING OUT. WE HAVE ISOLATED STORMS BUT TOMORROW, WE HAVE SLEET THROUGH THE SOUTH. IN THE NORTHEAST, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE RIVERS AND FLOODING AND WE HAVE ANOTHER INCH OR TWO WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE FLOOD WATCHES. BEHIND THE STORM, -42 RIGHT NOW WITH THE WIND CHILL IN MONTANA, ALL THE WAY TO TEXAS. >> -42, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> TO THE LATEST FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH THE IOWA CAUCUSES, WHICH ARE FOUR DAYS AWAY. 2024 HOPEFULS ARE BATTLING FOR SECOND PLACE, BEHIND DONALD TRUMP. NIKKI HALEY IS PUSHING FORWARD DESPITE DISPARAGING COMMENTS FROM CHRIS CHRISTIE. HERE'S MORE. >> NIKKI HALEY, TONIGHT, SHRUGGING OFF THIS HOT MIC CHRIS CHRISTIE CRITIQUE, THREATENING TO BLUNTER MOMENTUM IN THE FINAL FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE IOWA CAUCUS. >> SHE'S GOING TO GET SMOKED AND WE KNOW IT. SHE'S NOT UP TO IT. >> HAVE YOU CONVINCE FOLKS THAT HE'S WRONG AND THAT YOU ARE UP TO IT? >> I DON'T HAVE TO CONVINCE PEOPLE HE'S WRONG BECAUSE NOBODY IN THAT CROWD IS ASKING. POLITICS IS NOT PERSONAL FOR ME. IT IS FOR THE GUYS, NOT FOR ME. >> GET EXCITED, FOUR DAYS TO THE CAUCUS. >> NIKKI HALEY HAS RISING POLL NUMBERS IN IOWA, BEHIND TROMP, HOPING TO DEFY EXPECTATIONS. >> ALL THE MEDIA PUNDITS LOVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN IOWA. I TRUST THAT YOU DID YOUR HOMEWORK, I TRUST YOU KNOW WHERE THE COUNTRY -- WHERE YOU WANT THE COUNTRY TO GO. >> HER RECENT RISE HAS PUT A POLITICAL TARGET ON HER BACK. THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED A NEW AD HIGHLIGHTING HER VIEWS ON SOCIAL SECURITY. >> NIKKI HALEY'S PLAN CUT SOCIAL SECURITY. >> RON DESANTIS, WHO HAS FOCUSED HIS CAMPAIGN HEAVILY ON IOWA, AND NEEDS A STRONG SHOWING, MOCKED HER DEBATE PERFORMANCE LAST NIGHT. >> IT WAS LIKE A HILLARY CLINTON PERFORMANCE. THE MAC SHE IS EXPECTING TO OUTLAST THE FLORIDA GOVERNOR. >> IS A TWO PERSON RACE, WE KNOW. OUR GOAL IS TO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS SAY, IT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THE NEXT VOTE. >> FROM URBANDALE, IOWA, FROM A TRUMP EVENT THAT JUST WRAPPED UP. LET'S GO BACK TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT TOWNHALL BECAUSE HE SEEMED TO WALK BACK PREVIOUS COMMENTS OF RECENT WEEKS. TAKE A LISTEN. >> I AM NOT GOING TO BE A DICTATOR. I WON'T HAVE TIME FOR RETRIBUTION. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY SO SUCCESSFUL. >> IT SEEMS LIKE THE PRESIDENT WALKED BACK A LOT OF THINGS HE SAID IN RECENT WEEKS. ANY IDEA WHY THIS CHANGE? >> HE STARTED WALKING BACK THAT COMMENT AND WE ALSO SAW HIS CAMPAIGN WALKING BACK THE COMMENT HE MADE SUGGESTING HE HAD ALREADY PICKED HIS VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. I THINK THIS HAS TO DO WITH SHAPING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR THE RACE AHEAD, PARTICULARLY THE RACE AGAINST JOE BIDEN. DONALD TRUMP IS SO FAR AHEAD IN IOWA AND HIS CAMPAIGN IS SO CONFIDENT THEY ARE TRYING TO OPERATE LIKE A GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'VE HAD TO DO TO SQUASH RON DESANTIS, WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO TRY TO DO TO DEFEAT NIKKI HALEY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND IN THE SHORT TERM, THEY NEED TO START SOUNDING MORE LIKE A GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE WHO CAN APPEAL TO SUBURBAN VOTERS, MODERATE VOTERS, THE TRUMP HAS PUSHED OUT OF THEIR TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN PARTY IF YOU WANTS TO REVERSE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020, HE NEEDS THEM BACK AND THAT STARTS NOW. >> WE'VE SEEN POTENTIAL VOTERS BEHIND YOU AND WE KNOW THE WEATHER IS BAD IN IOWA. WHAT'S YOUR SENSE OF THE EXCITEMENT? ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL PARTICIPATE OR IS THE ENTHUSIASM NOT THERE? >> I THINK THE ENTHUSIASM HAS DAMPENED COMPARED TO OTHER REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES I'VE COVERED , CERTAINLY IN 2016 WHERE YOU HAD BIG NAMES, DONALD TRUMP, AT THAT POINT AND UNTESTED CANDIDATE, MARCO RUBIO, SUPPOSEDLY THE YOUNG UP AND COMER, TED CRUZ, THE HERO OF THE FAR RIGHT, THAT WAS A CLOSER FOUGHT CAUCUS. YOU'VE SAW -- YOU SAW THE INTENSITY. I WAS THERE WITH MITT ROMNEY, WHO LOST BY EIGHT VOTES TO RICK SANTORUM. YOU SAW THE PARTY HERE, THE STIRRING, THE MAJOR FIGHTS. DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN SO FAR IN THE LEAD FOR SO LONG THAT THE DRAMA ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR SECOND PLACE, UNLESS YOU ARE A HARD-CORE TRUMP SUPPORTER LIKE MANY OF THESE FOLKS, THERE'S NOT MUCH DRAMA IN THE RESULT AND I THINK THAT'S TAKING SOME OF THE ENERGY. >> FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, THANK YOU. WITH THE IOWA CAUCUS FOUR DAYS AWAY, AND THE CAMPAIGN ON THE GROUND, REPUBLICANS ARE WORKING HARD TO BE SURE CANDIDATE GET THE SUPPORT TO SECURE A WIN. OUR NEXT GUEST HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT'S LIKE. JOINING ME IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS GOP POLITICS BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN IOWA, DAVE COTTRELL, WHO WAS A STRATEGIST FOR THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN IN IOWA. WELCOME IN TO "TOP STORY", RICK SANTORUM WALKED AWAY WITH ABOUT SIX VOTES ARE HALF A DOZEN WHEN HE BEAT MITT ROMNEY, THAT WAS WILD. I WANTED YOU ON THE SHOW BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE STATE INSIDE AND OUT AND I KNOW YOU'VE MADE AN IMPORTANT POINT TO TELL PEOPLE COVERING THE RACE THAT WHEN THE TURNOUT IS LOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN BE THE WEATHER IS A FACTOR MONDAY. DO YOU FORESEE ANY SURPRISES MONDAY WITH TRUMP SO FAR OUT AHEAD? >> I DON'T, LOOK, TRUMP IS A DOMINANT FRONT RUNNER RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE POLLS LOOK LIKE OVER THE WEEKEND. I DO NOT THINK HE'S AT RISK OF NOT WINNING THE CAUCUSES BUT AS YOU KNOW, CAUCUSES ARE MEASURED BY HOW YOU DO AGAINST YOUR EXPECTATIONS. IF TURNOUT IS LOW, THEY ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BE IN FOR A SURPRISE AND WITH THE WEATHER, THIS IS THE COLDEST IOWA CAUCUS PERHAPS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CAUCUSES. WE ARE TALKING 10 BELOW, 20 BELOW, NOT JUST: INCONVENIENT, BUT IT HURTS AND THERE'S DANGER. YOUR CAR MIGHT NOT START, THE BATTERY MIGHT GO DEAD, FROSTBITE, THERE'S A LOT OF RISK WITH THIS EXTREME WEATHER. I THINK IT WILL TURN OUT TO HOLD DOWN TURNOUT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. WE WILL SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT. >> SO, LAST NIGHT WE HAD ON THE SHOW BOB VANDER PLATTS, WHO HAS ENDORSED RON DESANTIS. HE TOLD ME HE STILL THINGS RON DESANTIS CAN WIN IOWA. >> RON DESANTIS HAS DONE THE IOWA CAUCUSES THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY. HE'S GOT A LOT OF KEY ENDORSEMENTS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THE GOVERNOR. HE'S GOT A BUNCH OF LEGISLATIVE ENDORSEMENTS, 120 CHAIRS, 1600 PRECINCT CAPTAINS. THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN AN IOWA CAUCUS, ESPECIALLY ON A COLD WINTERS NIGHT. THAT'S WHY MY POLL DOES NOT MATCH UP WITH THOSE POLLS, I'M OPTIMISTIC ON RON DESANTIS AND HIS CHANCES ON THE 15th. >> YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS GRACIOUS, SAYING HE RECEIVED THE BIGGEST ENDORSEMENTS, BUT YOU COULD ARGUE THAT HE'S RECEIVED THE TWO BIGGEST WITH THE GOVERNOR AS WELL. EVANGELICALS CAN BREAK LATE AND CAN BREAK TOGETHER. DO WE HAVE A REASON TO BELIEVE THEY WILL BREAK FOR GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS? >> WE HAVE A LOT OF REASON. EVERYTHING HE SAID IS TRUE, IS CORRECT. THEY KNOW THAT DID THAT COALITION OF VOTERS, THEY KNOW THEM BETTER THAN ANYONE. HE'S BEEN RIGHT IN THE LAST THREE CAMPAIGNS AND THE CANDIDATE HE WENT TO AND ENDORSED WAS THE CANDIDATE THAT CAME OUT ON TOP AND THAT'S AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL OF THESE EVANGELICALS SEEM TO MOVE TOGETHER. IN 2000, EVANGELICALS WERE SPLIT BETWEEN BUSH AND OTHER ELECTRIC CANDIDATES, LIKE GARY BAUER, WHO CAME OUT OF THE CHRISTIAN MEDIA BACKGROUND. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2000 WHERE I THINK WE SEE A SPLIT OF EVANGELICALS, AND HE'S GOT THE HIGH-PROFILE ENDORSEMENTS AND FAITH LEADERS ON BOARD. YOU ALSO HAVE TRUMP, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE MIGHT SEE A SPLIT IN EVANGELICALS AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE DEMOGRAPHIC YOU USUALLY SEE WITH TRUMP, NON-COLLEGE, WHITE, WORKING-CLASS VOTERS GOING WITH TRUMP, AND MAYBE THE MORE AFFLUENT EVANGELICAL VOTERS FOR DESANTIS. IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE. I THINK THAT DESANTIS WILL DO WELL WITH EVANGELICALS BUT I THINK THAT HE DOES HAVE COMPETITION FROM TRUMP, PARTICULARLY AMONG CERTAIN TYPES OF EVANGELICALS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE WERE TRUMP HAS INTRINSIC STRENGTH. >> YOU HAVE THE PULSE IN IOWA, WHY IS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP STILL SO STRONG? >> WELL, HE'S REALLY RUNNING AS A QUASI-INCUMBENT AND THOUGH HE DID NOT FINISH FIRST IN THE CAUCUSES IN 2016, HE WAS AT THE TOP. THEY WERE ALL BUNCHED TOGETHER, AND THEN YOU HAVE HIM ON THE BALLOT IN IOWA, SERVING AS PRESIDENT FOR FOUR YEARS, LOSING THE PRESIDENCY IN 2020, BUT HE STILL WON IOWA. HE HAS A LOT OF FANS, HERE AND HE REPRESENTS TAKING IT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT, TAKING IT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS PRESIDENT, HE STILL HAS THAT OUTSIDER FEEL TO HIS CAMPAIGN AND HIS CANDIDACY, AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOVED HIM AND AMONG EVANGELICALS, WHERE YOU WOULD NORMALLY THINK THEY GO WITH A CANDIDATE LIKE DESANTIS, HE'S GOT THE JUDGES. HE CAN POINT RIGHT BACK TO THAT AND SAY THAT HE DELIVERED AND THEY BEEN USING THAT MESSAGING ON THE ROAD IN IOWA. HE'S RUNNING AS A QUASI- INCUMBENT AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE HIS ADVANTAGE HAS BEEN BUILT. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON MONDAY. HE'S GOT TO GET OVER 50 TO MEET EXPECTATIONS AND PULLING HAS HIM UP PRETTY HIGH AND IT BECOMES THAT IF YOU BE -- HE COMES IN BELOW, PEOPLE MIGHT ASK WHAT HAPPENED, WHY DID HE FALL SHORT. THAT'S THE GAME IN IOWA, HOW DO YOU DO AGAINST HER OWN EXPECTATIONS AND HOW DO YOU DO AGAINST THE PEOPLE? >> WE WILL KNOW SOON, WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> STILL AHEAD, THE FOOD NETWORK STAR ARRESTED. THE SUPER CHEF, HOSTING JUDGE ON SHOWS LIKE "CHOPPED," FACING CHARGES THAT INCLUDE FELONY STRANGULATION BID WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. >>> BOEING IS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE WITH A NEW INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED BY THE FAA AFTER PART OF AN ALASKA AIRLINES PLANE BLEW OFF MIDFLIGHT. >>> A GRANDMOTHER AND A BABY, TRAPPED IN A CAR THAT WAS FILLING UP WITH WATER. THE RESCUE BY POLICE THAT WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA AND JUST IN THE NICK >>> TO THE DRAMATIC WEATHER RESCUE CAUGHT ON CAMERA WERE FIRST RESPONDERS IN FLORIDA, RUSHING TO SEE THE BABY AND A GRANDMOTHER TRAPPED IN A PARTIALLY SUBMERGED VEHICLE. THE LOCAL SHERIFF SAID THAT HE IS THANKFUL FOR HIS DEPUTIES, WHO ARRIVED JUST IN TIME. >> AN INCREDIBLE RESCUE, WHICH SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARRIVING IN MINUTES AFTER A CAR CRASHED, QUICKLY FILLING UP WITH WATER. TRAPPED INSIDE, BARELY ABOVE WATER, A BABY AND A GRANDMOTHER. FIRST RESPONDERS BROKE THE WINDOW WITH THE BABY STILL STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT. >> THE WATER WAS ALMOST UP OVER THE CAR SEAT. >> THE BABY. >> THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO QUICKLY GET THIS CHILD OUT OF THE CAR SEAT AND OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE IT SLIPPED OR COMPLETELY TURNED OVER. >> THERE'S A BABY. >> THEY HANDED THE CHILD OFF TO FIREFIGHTERS AND THEN HELPED THE GRANDMOTHER GET OUT. >> WE GOT ONE OUT, WE ARE WORKING ON THE FEMALE NOW. >> THE HARROWING RESCUE, CAUGHT ON CAMERA LAST WEEK WITH VIDEO JUST-RELEASED. >> HOW DOES IT FEEL KNOWING YOUR OFFICERS MADE THIS RESCUE? >> I AM PROUD OF OUR TEAM, I AM PROUD OF THE TEAMWORK BETWEEN THE FIRE RESCUE GUYS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO START 2024 AND SHOWS HOW WELL-TRAINED OUR DEPUTIES ARE AND HOW THEY ARE WILLING TO, IN THIS CASE, IT VERY WET, AND JUMP IN TO A DRAINAGE DITCH AND RESCUE TWO PEOPLE. >> YOU'RE DOING GREAT, MA'AM. >> A GRANDMOTHER AND AN INFANT, LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED. >> LUCKY THEY GOT OUT. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, ONE FAMILY'S STOLEN MASTERPIECE. THE PAINTING, TAKEN BY THE NAZIS A CENTURY AGO. WHY A CALIFORNIA >>> WE ARE BACK WITH THE NEWSFEED. A FOOD NETWORK STAR WAS ARRESTED OVER A LEGEND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. POLICE IN KENTUCKY SAY DARNELL FERGUSON IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING FELONY STRANGULATION, THREATS, AND ASSAULT. MEDIA REPORTS THAT HE CHOKED A WOMAN AND THREATENED TO KILL HER. >>> THE FAA IS INVESTIGATING BOEING OVER THAT ALASKA AIRLINES BLOWOUT. THE AGENCY SAID THAT THEY WILL LOOK INTO WHETHER BOEING FAILED TO MAKE SURE THERE PLANES WERE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FAA REGULATIONS. THE DOOR PLED OF A 737 JET FLEW OFF FRIDAY, LEADING TO THIS. OTHER AIRLINES REPORT LOOSE BOLTS DURING INSPECTION. >>> A DECISION BY CALIFORNIA COURT THIS WEEK RULING THAT A SPANISH MUSEUM DOES NOT HAVE TO RETURN A PAINTING STOLEN BY THE NAZIS FROM A JEWISH WOMAN IN GERMANY. HER GREAT GRANDSON IS LEADING THE FIGHT TO GET IT BACK, EVEN SHOWING EVIDENCE. WE SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT THE CASE AND THIS REPORT. >> NEARLY A CENTURY AFTER IT WAS STOLEN FROM A JEWISH WOMAN BY THE NAZIS, THIS PAINTING IS WORTH TENS OF MILLIONS AND IT'S FATE IS NOW SEALED. THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED THAT THIS MUSEUM IN MADRID DOES NOT HAVE TO RETURN THE PAINTING TO ITS ORIGINAL OWNERS FAMILY. >> I WAS STUNNED AND HURT ON BEHALF OF MY PARENTS AND MY FAMILY AND MY LATE SISTER. >> THE FAMILY SAID THAT SHE SURRENDERED THE PAINTING TO THE NAZIS SO THAT SHE COULD FLEE BERLIN IN 1939 , MONTHS BEFORE THE INVASION OF POLAND, BUT THE MONEY THEY FORCED HER TO SELL IT FOR NEVER CAME. A PASTOR SEVERAL OWNERS BEFORE A FOUNDATION TIED IT TO THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN PURCHASED IT IN 1993 AS PART OF A COLLECTIO , WORTH $2 BILLION. >> LILIES GRANDSON SUED SPAIN IN 2005 TO GET BACK. HIS SON, DAVID, IS TAKING UP THE LEGAL BATTLE AFTER HIS FATHER'S DEATH IN 2010. THE CASE HINGES ON THIS PHOTO, THAT THE TEAM SAYS IS THE SMOKING GUN THAT SHOWS THEIR OLD APARTMENT WITH THE PAINTING HANGING ABOVE THE SOFA. >> MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PAINTING HANGING OVER THE SOFA BECAUSE THEY WERE SENT TO DEATH CAMPS. TO MAKE THEY FOUND THIS SANDED OFF STICKER ON THE BACK OF THE FRAME, THE STAMP OF THE GALLERY BELONGING TO THAT FAMILY IN BERLIN PAID UNDER SPANISH LAW, IF THE MUSEUM HAD KNOWN THE ART WAS STOLEN BY THE NAZIS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO RETURN IT, BUT THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN. >> THE FATHER WAS PICTURED THERE . THE IDEA THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IS NONSENSE. >> THEY HAVE DECIDED WHETHER -- DISPUTED WHOSE LAW APPLIES IN THE CASE BUT TUESDAY, A THREE- JUDGE PANEL RULED THAT SPANISH LAW PROCEEDS CALIFORNIA LAW. THE MUSEUM'S DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE DECISION DOES JUSTICE. >> Translator: THERE IS NO ANTI- SEMITIC SENTIMENT, NONE. >> WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE TURNED THIS INTO A HAVEN FOR STOLEN ART. >> THE NAZIS SO AN ESTIMATED 600,000 WORKS OF ART IN THEIR CONQUEST TO TAKE EUROPE. THE STORY, AND THE FIGHT TO RETURN IT TO ITS FORMER FAMILY WAS PORTRAYED IN "WOMAN IN GOLD," A MOVIE IN 2015. ART SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN LOOTED BY THE NAZIS IS SCATTERED IN MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD. THE LOUVRE IS SAID TO HAVE 1700 AND THE ETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK SAID THAT THEY HAVE RETURNED DOZENS OF STOLEN WORKS TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS. FOR THIS FAMILY, THE FIGHT GOES ON FOR GREAT-GRANDMOTHERS MASTERPIECE. >> WE WILL FILE A PETITION, ASKING THE PANEL TO REVIEW THE LEGAL ERRORS THAT WE BELIEVE HAVE OCCURRED. >> WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO GET THIS PAINTING BACK? >> I'M ALMOST 70 AND I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME LEFT. I HAVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM MY FATHER TO SET UP A FOUNDATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LEGACY OF HELPING OTHERS. THIS PAINTING NEEDS TO BE SOLD FOR THAT PURPOSE MADE >>> COMING UP, PAYROLL RIOT, BUILDINGS SET ABLAZE AND MORE THAN A DOZEN KILLED IN >>> THE CHAOS, ERUPTING OVERSEAS, THE PRIME MINISTER OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY AFTER 15 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN RIOT. WE HAVE MORE ON THE COMPUTER ERROR THAT SPARKED THAT OUTRAGE. >> TONIGHT, RIOTS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA, TRIGGERING A 14 DAY STATE OF EMERGENCY. ANGRY PROTESTERS, SPILLING INTO THE STREETS OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL, LOADING BUILDINGS AND SETTING FLAMES TO BUSINESSES. A DOZEN STORIES HAVE BEEN SET ON FIRE. THE PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSED THE DISORDER, BRINGING IN ARMED FORCES. >> WE ARE READY AND STANDING BY. >> THE SPARK, IGNITING AFTER AN UNEXPECTED PAY CUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE, INCLUDING POLICE AND DEFENSE OFFICERS, BUT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THIS BOILS DOWN TO A SIMPLE COMPUTER GLITCH, WHICH THEY PROMISED TO FIX. THE CHAOS FIRST STARTED AS DEMONSTRATIONS LED BY THE AFFECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS, IN PROTESTS OVER WIDER ISSUES IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. NEARLY 40% OF CITIZENS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE AND THE COST OF LIVING IS RAPIDLY INCREASING. DESPITE ECONOMIC TURMOIL, PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS A STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR THE UNITED STATES. THE SECRETARY OF STATE VISITED THE ISLAND NATION LAST SPRING TO SIGN A DEFENSE DEAL AS THE U.S. AND ALLIES LOOK TO LIMIT CHINA'S INFLUENCE IN THE REGION OVER THE NATION'S 10 MILLION PEOPLE WITH TURMOIL PLAYING OUT IN FRONT OF THEM RIGHT NOW. >> THIS DEVASTATION IS INCREDIBLE. >> FRUSTRATION IS REACHING A BOILING POINT. >> WE ARE ASKING CITIZENS TO STEP UP, TODAY. LOOK AT HOW WE ARE BRINGING RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE TO FACE THE LAW. >> THE U.S. EMBASSY OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA IS THAT DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE ENDED FOR NOW, BUT AS THEY ARE ROOTED IN A COUNTRY PLAGUED WITH ECONOMIC WOES. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, >>> CAN YOU HEAR US? WE ARE HERE! WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO YOU! WE ARE FIGHTING FOR YOU! EVERY SINGLE DAY! >> THAT WAS AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT FROM THE ISRAEL GAZA BORDER. YOU HEARD THE FAMILIES OF THOSE MURDERED AND TAKEN HOSTAGE BY HAMAS, CALLING OUT THE NAMES OF THEIR LOVED ONES AS WE APPROACH THE 100 DAY MARK OF THE ISRAEL HAMAS WAR, MONDAY. MANY ISRAELI AMERICANS HAVE FELT COMPELLED TO GO TO ISRAEL AND FIGHT. THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS HAVE GONE TO THE MIDDLE EAST TO JOIN THE WAR EFFORT. WHEN I WAS OVERSEAS, I MET MR. BERNSTEIN, A FATHER AND A HUSBAND LIVING IN NEW YORK WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE TERROR ATTACK AND SYNAGOGUE, HE WAS A DUAL CITIZEN AND SERVED TIME IN THE ISRAELI MILITARY, SAID THAT HE FELT IMMEDIATE NEED TO LEAVE NEW YORK AND FIGHT FOR HIS HOME AND HERITAGE. HE RETURNED BACK FROM SERVING AND TONIGHT, JOINS "TOP STORY" IN STUDIO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THE FIRST PLACE I WANT TO START, WITH ALL THE WORLD WITNESS THAT TERROR ATTACK THAT WAS SO HORRIFIC. SINCE THEN, ALMOST 100 DAYS OF WAR. GAZA HAS BEEN DEVASTATED, LIVES OF BEEN LOST. YOU FOUGHT IN THIS WAR. HOW STRANGE IS IT TO BE BACK? >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. GOOD TO SEE YOU. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, BEING BORN IN NEW YORK, I MOVED WITH MY FAMILY TO ISRAEL AS A BABY, GROWING UP IN ISRAEL BUT LOVING DAVE MATTHEWS BAND AND WATCHING THE NFL, IT'S THAT DUAL CITIZEN SHIP ASPECT AND I FEEL AT HOME HERE IN MANY WAYS. >> BUT THIS IS DIFFICULT. BECAUSE, WE ARE AT WAR, AND IT IS STILL GOING ON. WHEN I LEFT MY WIFE AND KIDS, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT THERE WAS NO CHOICE AND I HAD TO GO. EVEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TIME, IT WAS EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE, THE LOSS OF FRIENDS AND CULTUR , FRIENDS WOUNDED, WE HAD QUITE A FEW INCIDENTS WITH AN RPG THAT HIT MY TEAM, OUT OF SIX, THREE WERE INJURED. IT'S CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY AS ALL THIS HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL. YOU ARE WALKING IN A SCHOOL, AND YOU ARE SEARCHING, BECAUSE WE HAVE INTEL THAT THERE IS A STRONGHOLD OVER THERE. >> SINGER IN GAZA, SEARCHING THE SCHOOL? >> CORRECT. SURE ENOUGH, WE FIND THE STRONGHOLD AND WE FIND BOMBS AND MISSILES AND A COLLECTION OF AUTOMATIC RIFLES AND MAPS AND LAPTOPS AND A LOT OF INTEL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN PUTTING TRAPS AND INFORMATION ABOUT HOSTAGES AND SO ON, AND NOW WE ARE AFTER WHERE THAT RPG HIT AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MIRACLE THAT I AM WITH YOU, TO BE HONEST. VERY EASILY, I COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE VICTIMS. I WAS JUST BEHIND THE WALL WHEN ONE OF MY FRIENDS GOT HIT AND AFTER WE CAME TO HELP THEM, WORKING WITH DOCTORS TO GET THEM EVACUATED, ONE HOUR LATER, WE LOST ANOTHER SOLDIER. IT'S HORRIFIC TO SEE OTHERS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL AND WE HAVE FOOTAGE OF EVERYTHING. YOU SEE IT, THERE'S A PLAYGROUND SIMILAR TO WHAT MY KIDS HAVE IN THEIR SCHOOL, AND -- >> SO, YOU GOT HELP FROM THE UNITED NATIONS? >> YES. WE'VE SEEN THIS AND MANY OTHER SCHOOLS AND IS FACILITIES, AND WE KNOW THIS FROM THOMAS. WE HAD ALMOST EVERY HOSPITAL HAD TUNNELS. WE WENT TO A HOSPITAL AND FOUND, THERE, YOU KNOW, A TUNNEL AND HAD INTEL THAT HOSTAGES WERE KEPT THERE, AND BY THE TIME WE GOT THERE, THEY WEREN'T THERE ANYMORE, BUT HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, VERY DIFFICULT, I REMEMBER LOOKING AT A HOSPITAL, MY WIFE IS A DOCTOR, SEEING MEDICATIONS, SEEING A MINNIE MOUSE POSTER ON THE WALL. IT SEEMS LIKE A KIDS CLINIC AND YOU HAVE AMMUNITION AND THIS SHAFT OF THE TUNNEL, AND, YOU KNOW, HOSPITALS ARE TO HELP PEOPLE GET BETTER AND THEY ARE USING IT FOR TERROR ACTIVITIES. >> SO THE FIGHTING IN GAZA, THE PLACES WHERE YOU HAD YOUR EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE, DID YOU SEE CIVILIANS, WERE CIVILIANS OUT THERE? WERE THERE FIGHTERS, TERRORISTS, USING CIVILIANS AS SHIELDS? WHAT DID YOU WITNESS WITH YOUR OWN EYES? >> IN THIS CASE, IN OUR AREA, THERE WERE NOT ANY CIVILIANS. THAT WAS NORTHERN GAZA AT THE TIME. WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN ACTIVE DUT , I SERVED BETWEEN 2002 AND 2007, MULTIPLE TIMES, THEY WERE USING CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW, MULTIPLE TIMES, WAS NOT ONLY IN HOSPITALS BUT IN HOMES. EVERY OTHER HOUSE HAS, YOU KNOW, AN RPG, HAMAS FLAGS. THE USE MOSQUES. I LOST A FRIEND OF MINE 200 YARDS AWAY FROM ME TO A DIFFERENT UNIT, IN A MOSQUE THAT WAS -TRAPPED , A MEDICAL SCHOOL, FIVE KIDS. IT'S -- >> WHAT WAS GAZA LIKE? WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE TO YOUR EYES? >> I THINK THAT I HAVE AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE ABOUT GAZA BECAUSE I SERVED BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER, AS PEOPLE MAY KNOW 2005 PULLED OUT CIVILIANS IN AN ATTEMPT TO BRING PEACE TO THE REGION, UNFORTUNATELY, HAMAS, IT'S LIKE URBAN PLANNING FOR TERRORISM. THEY BUILT THE WHOLE AREA THAT IS COMPLETELY USED FOR TERRORISM. THE TUNNELS ARE LONGER THAN A NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY. YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE RESOURCES, AND BY THE WAY, THE ASSISTANCE THAT KEEPS COMING AND HAS BEEN, HAMAS TAKES EVERYTHING. >> AS YOU KNOW, SOUTH AFRICA HAS FILED WITH THE U.N., GENOCIDE CHARGES AGAINST ISRAEL. WE HAVE COVERED BOTH SIDES OF THIS WAR AND OBVIOUSLY THE TERRORIST ATTACK IS SOMETHING WE'VE HAD LONG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AND THE RESPONSE FROM ISRAEL AND GAZA, AS WELL. GAZA IS DESTROYED. WE SEE THE IMAGES, HAS ISRAEL GONE TOO FAR, OR DO YOU THINK THAT ISRAEL AND THEIR RESPONSE CAN BE JUSTIFIED? I ASK, AND I UNDERSTAND THE INNOCENT ISRAELIS THAT DID NOT START THIS, THAT WERE KILLED IN THIS ATTACK, BUT A LOT OF PALESTINIANS HAVE DIED AS WELL. YOU FOUGHT IN THIS WAR, I KNOW YOU HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE TO DEFEND YOUR HOMELAND, WHAT DO YOU SAY PLACES LIKE SOUTH AFRICA AND OTHERS THAT ARE CRITICAL OF THE RESPONSE? >> A SMALL CORRECTION, NOT ALL OF GOD IS DESTROYED. WHAT YOU SEE IN THE NEWS IS DESTRUCTION. NO DOUBT, ISRAEL HAS BEEN BOMBING HEAVILY, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. THAT PRETTY MUCH SECTION OF THE NORTH HAS BEEN BOMBED. >> THE IDEA, ONE FUNDAMENTAL FACT THAT MANY OF US MISS OUT ON, IS THAT ISRAEL TARGETS TERRORISTS. HAMAS TARGETS CIVILIANS. FULL STOP. IT'S TWOFOLD, IT'S NOT ONLY THE MORE THAN 1200 MURDERED, IT'S THE PALESTINIANS AND THE FACT THAT THEY KEEP USING HOSPITALS AND USING SCHOOLS AND USING CIVILIANS, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO EVACUATE, ISRAEL NOTIFIES THEM OF AN ATTACK, AND CAN THEY EVACUATE? WHO DOES THAT IN A WAR? ISRAEL DOES, KNOWING THAT HAMAS IS NOW GOING TO HIDE AND WHAT KEEPS HAPPENING, THIS IS WHERE THE USE CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS AND WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY, TO THOSE THAT CRITICIZE ISRAEL, LET'S JUST IMAGINE FOR A MINUTE A COACHELLA MUSIC CONCERT AND GOD FOR BID JEEPS WITH TERRORISTS COMING AND SHOOT , KIDS HAVING FUN, PEOPLE DANCING AT A MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND ASSAULTING WOMEN AND BURNING CHILDREN, AMPUTATING, AND THEN, KIDNAPPING 240 OF THEM , RIGHT? TO THIS DAY, 100 DAYS AND, THERE ARE I THINK 136 HOSTAGES. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD AFRICA DO? THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, ANY EUROPEAN COUNTRY? >> HOW DO YOU THINK THIS SLOWS DOWN, OR COMES TO AN END? >> NOW, YOU KNOW, WE ARE SHIFTING INTO A DIFFERENT STAGE OF THE WAR. IT WILL BE MORE SURGICAL. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ISRAEL IS IN A CONSTANT STATE OF WAR, FROM OCTOBER 7th >>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE QUITE PRIVILEGED AND DON'T UNDERSTAND ISRAEL IS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. YES, ISRAEL IS A RELATIVELY STRONG COUNTRY. METRICS FOR GOOD AND EVIL AND ISRAEL IS NOT PERFECT. NEITHER IS AMERICA OR CANADA OR SOUTH AFRICA BUT SOMETHING IS VERY CLEAR I FEEL IKE A LOT OF US MISUNDERSTAND IS THAT ISRAEL ALWAYS TARGETS TERRORIST AND HAMAS TARGETS CIVILIANS AND THAT IS A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. >> IF YOU WERE CALLED TO GO BACK, WOULD YOU GO BACK? >> THE ANSWER IS YES, I WOULD GO . I WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK TO MY WIFE AND MY WORK. IF THEY NEED ME, I HAVE TO GO BACK. >> SHAI BERNSTEIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING TOP STORY AND SHARING WHAT YOU DID. CANNOT E'TWAUN MOORE THINK? >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME, I'M
