running the transportation security administration. now, one week after the attempted bombing of northwest flight 253 there is brand new trouble. errol southers admitting he inadvertently misled a hearing only after a day the committee approved him. molly henneberg live in washington with more, molly, what's changed in his story? >> hi, gregg, initially southers, a fbi agent told a senate committee he asked a police department employee to look into some law enforcement records on his then estranged wife's new boyfriend and that was back in the late '80s. later southers told the committee that he personally had looked into those confidential records, what he now calls a grave error in judgment. southers wrote to the senators, quote, this incident was over 20 years ago, i was distraught and concerned about my young son and never in my career since has there been any recurrence of this sort of conduct. southers says the initial recounting to the senate committee was an inadvertent mistake, gregg. >> the republicans say they have other con

the transportation security administration has been criticized because the cameras at the checkpoint or not working at the time. >>> economic experts are giving the stimulus bill and mixed grade. the state would raise health- care spending slightly and provide coverage to an additional 34 million americans, but over time, cost cutting measures and the legislation could reduce annual increases in health-care premiums. >>> paying to part in the district will cost more. richard reeve is live on the national mall with more on not what driverseed to know. richard? >> pam, feeding the meter, something we all have to do. there are 30,000 meters across the district, and it will cost more, even on saturdays. parking it in d.c. almost an art form. with the new year, new wrinkles for streside parking. >> it is expensive. >> among the changes, at $2 per hour parking in primary zones like adams morgan, georgetown. >> we come out on the weekend. who wants to pay $2 to park for one hour? >> the free parking that merchants have come to know and love is now history. >> i think the free parking was an

it resolves around summers who is tapped to head the transportation security administration. "washington post" says some lawmakers supported sothers despite knowing about a troubling personal incident in his path. could it derail the nomination? we have more from the capitol. >> harry reid plans to push hard if a full confirmation vote on erol sothers but reid could have a fight on his hands. "washington post" reports that some senators already knew before they voted to confirm southers that he mischaracterized personal incident in his past. that incident is from 20 years ago when southers was an fbi agent and accessed controversial records about his ex-wife's boyfriend. a day after the vote, southers admitted he did searches himself. republican from maine said he had concerns but now says is satisfied with the explanati explanation. but jim demint isn't. he blocked southers' nomination over concerns he might unionized tsa and now says he shouldn't be confirmed if he couldn't tell the truth. and the white house is standing by the no, ma'minenomi. >> cons gets back over two we

now, a spokesman for the transportation security administration says police are looking for the man and reviewing video from airport security cameras. travelers who had already passed through security checkpoints are being rescreened, causing huge congestions and also delays. cnn's alina cho at the airport tonight, where thousands of other people who are facing huge travel headaches as well. she described the scene for us just a short time ago. listen in. >> and alina, yet another scare when people's nerves are already frayed. it must have been chaos there when you got off the plane. >> reporter: that's right. i got off a flight from ft. lauderdale at about 8:00 eastern time. and really almost immediately there was a huge crowd at terminal c headed toward baggage claim. what i didn't know at the time was that there was a security breach and that everyone was headed back to the security area to be rescreened. i spoke to several people who were on flights for more than an hour sitting on the tarmac until essentially the pilot got on the intercom and made an announcement saying that there

transportation security administration has ordered enhanced procedures for all flights coming in to the united states. every single passenger of from 14 terrorism prone countries will be subject to additional screening, including being patted down and having their carry-on items searched. while the full list of countries was not released, political -- "politico reports several that are on the list. >> i do not think it will help. i think it does not increase or maximize security. it is just a panic reaction. >> it is fine with me. >> there are also reports that other countries on the list of those 14 nations include yemen, pakistan, nigeria, saudi arabia, iraq, algeria, and 11 on. one tsa official describes it as a significant step forward. one other thing included in the new mandates, they continue to leave the one hour rule where you may or may not have to have things put away and stay in your seats. they are leaving that up to the captain of the flight. all of these go into effect at midnight. >> in the meantime, u.s. and british officials have closed their embassies in yemen. th

. >> reporter: the transportation security administration says more air marshals in training now will be onboard in the next two months, but still, not enough for every flight. leaving passengers and crew to fend for their own safety. sandra endo, cnn at reagan national airport. >>> now right after the unsuccessful bombing, republicans throwing jabs as well here criticizing really the president for being soft on terror but today the senate republican leader struck a more optimistic tone during the gop weekly radio address. >> two long and difficult wars a prolonged recession, double digit unemployment, these are difficult days for our nation, and in this new year we're grateful for the courageous men and women of our own day who keep a lonely watch to defend the cause of liberty. we're also painfully aware of how many americans were out of work this christmas, but these challenges don't define us as people. what's always defined america is its ability to overcome even the most daunting difficulties. >> mcconnell added, when the challenges are greatest, americans always join ranks. >>>

the transportation security administration has just unveiled new directives for certain international flights. samantha hayes joins us live from washington to talk about the new directives and the story developing out of yemen. the new directives in effect tomorrow. >> these are dramatic, brooke. starting tomorrow, tsa is mandating every person flying into the u.s. from or through a country that's a state sponsor of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through a hand screening or secondary screening. that can include body scans, patdowns and other regulations. and this is sure to slow down the boarding process but it also comes after the u.s. government stepping up counterterrorism efforts in yemen which is emerging as a more serious front in the war on terror. on the southern tip of the arabian peninsula where the red sea meets the indian ocean is yemen. that's where a strike just last month killed three al qaeda members suspected of targeting the u.s. embassy for attack. cnn has learned a fourth was captured with his suicide vest on. according to his senio

. >> reporter: the transportation security administration says more air marshals in training now will be on board in the next two months but still not enough for every flight, leaving passengers and crew to fend for their own safety. betty, richard? >> all right. so, you know, despite all the talk about the urgency of airport security, there is still one high-profile federal security job that is empty. >> a lot of people are watching it, too. a member of the senate is holding up the confirmation of the man nominated to take the helm at the transportation security administration, the tsa, because of a heated debate over union, security, and politics. we go to our correspondent jeanne meserve. >> reporter: 50,000 transportation security officers screen, inspect, question, and observe at the nation's airports to keep dangerous people and items off planes. senator jim demint believes giving them collective bargaining rights would hurt security. >> collective bargaining would standardize things across the country, make it much less flexible, much harder for the agency to adam to changing t

the transportation security administration has been criticized because some of the cameras at the checkpoint when not working. >>> government economic experts are giving the health care bill a mixed grade. medicare experts say would raise health-care spending slightly as a provides coverage for an additional 34 million americans, but over time, cost cutting measures would reduce the increases in health-care spending. >>> parking and some d.c. neighborhoods will cost more, even on saturdays. richard reeve is live in northwest with more on what drivers need to know. >> first of all, bring extra change. we're talking about $2 per hour parking. is not just georgetown, but many of the busiest neighborhoods. georgetown on a saturday night. heavy traffic, busy store fronts, packed parking. >> it is crazy. >> now paying for the parking spaces is more expensive. >> $2 per hour is a lot. >> the district is refitting parking meters in so-called primary zones like georgetown, adams morgan, and you street. >> it is outrageous. >> from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., the free districtwide saturday parking is

so, the transportation security administration is getting ready for more patdowns, questions, random checks, it's all a result of the failed christmas day terrorist attack aboard a u.s. airliner in michigan. sherrie johnson live with what we will face in the coming hours. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. yes, the tsa says there will be random screenings of passengers coming through the u.s. plus an increase of what is known as threat-based screenings of passengers who act in a suspicious manner. all part of the extra security measures taking effect for passengers trying to fly in the u.s. from other countries. today passengers flying to the u.s. from nigeria, yemen and other countries of interest will be subjected to enhanced screening techniques including body scans and patdowns. many other passengers from aboard can also expect extra scrutiny on a random basis. experts say the christmas day security episode in michigan should have never happened. >> the biggest hole is that people get on board airplanes who should not get on an airplane without going through secondary scree

the director of national intelligence. the transportation security administration. all entities that were formed in the wake of 9/11, the 9/11 commission, and their recommendations. they were supposed to streamline information, promote the sharing of information that evidently did not happen this time. going to be a lot of tough questions, and some tough answers when the president meets with those agency heads on tuesday, chris. >> not to mention the five upcoming congressional hearings. mike, thank you. >> yes, all right. >> for some perspective i'm joined by nbc terrorism analyst evan coleman. good morning to you. >> good morning. >> so one of the things we hear from the president, he's going to make it a priority to strengthen relationships with friendly countries and cites yemen in particular. but given the internal situation in that country, is it easier said than done? >> yeah, it's incredibly easier said than done. the yemeni government in the last couple days has been coming out and suggesting that if we just give them more money, if we just give them more s

here's lisa stark. >> reporter: dan, the new rules, according to the transportation security administration will stay in place for the foreseeable future and will be fe by most passengers coming into the u.s. from abroad. >> reporter: immediately after the christmas day bomb attempt, the government ordered patdowns and extra luggage checks for all travelers on international flights to the u.s. the new measures try to narrow that down to those who may pose the biggest passengers from passports from or traveled through countries that sponsor terrorism or suspect nations will be subject to extra screening. many other passengers traveling from abroad can also expect extra scrutiny on a ran don basis. but will those measures close the gaps that allowed abdulmutallab to bri a bomb on a plane? >> the biggest hole is that people get on board airplanes who should not get on without going through secondary screening, which is what happened here. >> reporter: the goal, of course, is to keep a potential terrorist off a plane in the first place. abdulmutallab was in a terrorism data base, but not one th

. >> we have been finding this out from the transportation security administration, tsa, in fact, there is a lockdown at terminal c at newark international airport happening at this hour. here's what they say is happening. a man walked through one of the security checkpoints from the public side to the sterile side and right now they are looking for that individual. apparently at this time they're not sure whether this person was once on the other side. the sterile side and came back through security or whether he wasn't properly checked to begin with. at this hour tsa is not only looking for this person, they're also reviewing their security tapes from that checkpoint. at the present time they are not allowing any flights that are currently scheduled to leave from terminal c to depart the airport. again, at this time, lockdown at terminal c at newark international airport until they try to figure out exactly what happened with this individual. whether he was properly checked or not, to determine whether there was a security breach. at this moment they're trying to settle things. >> sta

here's lisa stark. >> reporter: dan, the new rules, according to the transportation security administration will stay in place for the foreseeable future and will be felt by most passengers coming into the u.s. from abroad. >> reporter: immediately after the christmas day bomb attempt, the government ordered patdowns and extra luggage checks for all travelers on international flights to the u.s. the new measures try to narrow that down to those who may pose the biggest passengers from passports from or traveled through countries that sponsor terrorism or suspect nations will be subject to extra screening. many other passengers traveling from abroad can also expect extra scrutiny on a ran don basis. but will those measures close the gaps that allowed abdulmutallab to bring a bomb on a plane? >> the biggest hole is that people get on board airplanes who should not get on without going through secondary screening, which is what happened here. >> reporter: the goal, of course, is to keep a potential terrorist off a plane in the first place. abdulmutallab was in a terrorism data base, but not on

the transportation security administration says a flight en route from atlanta to san francisco had to be diverted to colorado springs because of an unruly passenger. pictures of him snapped here by other passengers. a man locked himself in the bathroom and what he did next was very frightening. >> just an unruly passenger. came out the bathroom with no socks and ?o shoes with a razer in his hand and had everybody spooked. >> the man was tasered. he went limp and they took him out. >> bomb sniffing dogs and officers searched the entire mane. no explosives or evidence of terrorism were found after a three-hour delay, then the plane was cleared to continue on to san francisco. >>> tonight, we're also learning new details in the deadly attack against cia members in afghanistan. the director of the group says the jordannian man that killed the seven agents was about to be searched prior to the explosion. the bomber was cultivated by the cia in the fight against al qaeda but apparently was working as a double agent. the cia director says the suicide bombing is a stark reminder that the u.s.

immediately following the incident, the transportation security administration notified about 128 inbound flights of the issue of providing them with as much detail as they could so that they could take appropriate measures. in their path on the way back into the united states. but we have since the incident we have had numerous conversations with the ceo's of carriers, the secretary will be meeting with the head of-- in geneva on this trip she is going to today after the hearing with you, and we will be having a discussion with airline carriers as to how we can all work together to improve the security of the system. >> carriers have indicated that information regarding passengers visas dad this is not available in real time when a passenger checks in at the airport. we will actually be taking addresses and other similar problems. >> so, the visa revocations and these are refusals or did nylz are checked prior to boarding an individual. bair check this part of the preflight screening process that is ongoing and has been ongoing for some time. >> okay, so do you think there is an issue wi

far as airport security in the united states, right now the transportation security administration is without leadership because it's been block by republican senator demint from south carolina. how crucial is that leadership to the tee sa and how crucial is the tsa in terms of stopping this stuff? >> well, the leadership is absolutely crucial, david. i happen to know the tsa nominee, erroll southers, assistant chief of police at los angeles airport, 30-year career in law enforcement. he is also a counterterrorism policy expert and he is superbly qualified. and he is being held up over this issue of unionization. i happen to think giving union rights to tsa screeners is not the right thing to do but that's not southers' position to be rethought. only when you have confirmed leadership do you make the game-changing changes in terms of technologies and procedures that obviously need to happen at tsa right now. >> what are you picking up from some of the line workers? i'm trying to think of the proper way to describe them but at the department of homeland security, people who don't get t

immediately following the incident, the transportation security administration notified about 128 inbound flights of the issue of providing them with as much detail as they could so that they could take appropriate measures. in their path on the way back into the united states. but we have since the incident we have had numerous conversations with the ceo's of carriers, the secretary will be meeting with the head of-- in geneva on this trip she is going to today after the hearing with you, and we will be having a discussion with airline carriers as to how we can all work together to improve the security of the system. >> carriers have indicated that information regarding passengers visas dad this is not available in real time when a passenger checks in at the airport. we will actually be taking addresses and other similar problems. >> so, the visa revocations and these are refusals or did nylz are checked prior to boarding an individual. bair check this part of the preflight screening process that is ongoing and has been ongoing for some time. >> okay, so do you think there is an issue wi

. >> reporter: officials with rapiscan and the transportation security administration tell us the machines are only used if more than a metal detector is required and passengers then get a choice between the machines and pat-downs. brian todd, cnn, washington. >>> the new year begins with deadly storms in brazil, torrential rainfall triggering massive mudslides. emergency crews searching now for survivors. >>> and if you're in the market to buy or sell, you want to listen. the question is, will the housing market turn around at all this year and how? we will talk to a housing expert. if you want to see the weather ahead, push here. if you want to access 10 gigs of music you just downloaded to your hard drive, push here. and if you want to pull away from it all, you can push here. the all-new-40-gig hard drive nav and entertainment system on the 2010 lacrosse. from buick. it's the new class of world class. >>> a new year's eve tragedy just outside of atlanta. police say a 4-year-old was hit by a bullet from celebratory gunfire has died. the boy was attending a midnight church service when t

nine days after the terror attack on northwest airlines 253, the transportation security administration today issued new airline security directives. the tsa says every person flying into the united states from or through a state that sponsors terrorism must go through enhanced screening. it says that that rule will apply to passengers flying in from other countries of interest. american and british embassies are shutting their doors in yemen today. the move comes in the wake of new threats by a branch of al qaeda based on the arabian pen lanes. word has it embassies could be targeted. the white house senior adviser on counterterrorism said closing the u.s. embassies is a wise precaution. >> i spoke with our ambassador in yemen both this morning as well as last night. there are indications al qaeda is planning to carry out an attack against the target, possibly our embassy, and what we do is take every measure possible to ensure the safety of our diplomats and citizens abroad. the decision was made to close the embassy. we are working closely with the government to taking the appropriat

the transportation security administration says passengers on those flights who have passports from or who have traveled through countries that harbor terrorists or other suspect nations will be subject to extra security scrutiny before they're allowed to board the airplane. now there are about 14 countries on that list. and they include ones that you might expect. pakistan, afghanistan, iraq, yemen, for example. now, other passengers coming from abroad will also be subject to extra scrutiny, extra security checks, on a random basis. >> i think you may see different threshold for what makes you a selectee or what makes you a no-fly. right now those are very limited. i suspect they'll probably broaden those definitions. >> reporter: the transportation security administration says these measures will be in place for the foreseeable future, and they say most international travelers will notice them. lisa stark, abc news, reagan national airport. >>> passengers at new jersey's largest airport are finally boarding their flights this morning after a security breach grounded planes and strand

absolutely nothing wrong with the american health care system. >>> the transportation security administration, you may not know this week in the wake of that christmas day plot, subpoenaed two travel bloggers. these are steve frisch ling and christopher elliot because they had obtained a security directive, an internal document. the tsa agents seized a computer. he now says the tsa later apologized. the subpoena was ultimately withdrawn. this struck me as bullying a couple of small players. i question whether they would issue a subpoena to a "new york times" reporter for instance. given the magnitude of this disaster and what went on and all the failures we all know crystal clear in letting this would be terrorist get on the plane, i would think the tsa has more important things to worry about than a couple of blog kers. terry smith and jane hall, thanks for stopping by this morning. >>> when we come back, their television show pushed the limits until they were kicked off the air. a look at why cbc pulled the plug on the smothers brothers. hey, who's this? oh, that's kyle. he aced his fifth g

security administration because you don't have assurances he won't yunize the tsa. there are also ethical concerns you have. but lots of your fellow republicans say he's perfectly qualified for the job. is this the right time to be holding up the nomination of the head of the tsa? >> well, unfortunately, the president waited eight months to even nominate a head of the tsa and then they wanted him passed without a good vetting process. they wanted -- they didn't want any debate or a roll call vote on the floor. and as it turns out, there are some things about mr. suthers that need to be considered. i asked him to be definitive if it was sbend intent to have collective bargaining. all the members of the employees of tsa are free to join a union now and the union can advocate for them, but collective bargaining would bring the security concerns of tsa under the authority of union bosses. >> isn't that what the department of homeland security does, it's not up to him, it's up to his boss? >> it is up to him and his boss and ultimately the president. but it appeared that

as of yesterday, the transportation security administration, or t.s.a., is requiring enhanced screening for passengers flying into the united states from or flying through nations on our list of state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest. and in the days ahead i will announce further steps disrupt attacks including better integration of information and enhanced passenger screening for air travel. finally, someone suggested that the events on christmas day should cause us to revisit the decision to close the prison at guam guam bay. -- guantanamo bay so let me be clear. it was always our intent to transfer detainees to other countries only under conditions that provide assurances that our security is being protected. with respect to yemen in particular there's an ongoing security situation which we have been confronteding for -- confronting for some time along with our yemeni partner. given the unsettled situation i've spoken to the attorney general and we have agreed that we will not be transferring additional detainees back to yemen at this time. but make no mistake. we

. >> one of the good things that the transportation security administration has been doing for the last three or four years is active chaos theory where particularly for domestic flights they'll change the routine and the protocol day by day or even hour by hour so that the bad guys in case they're observing will be kept off guard. you're going to see that i think in a lot of u.s. domestic airports. you're going to see that at newark. saw it yesterday. you're going to see it at de los and j.f.k.. >> woodruff: it's not just international flights coming into the u.s.? >> it's primarily international flights but because of the need for the tsa to assert itself and reassure the public you will see increase of body scans and so at domestic flights at u.s. airports. >> woodruff: david field, what frame of mind should travelers be in in this new set of circumstances? >> bear your cross proudly. it will be more hassle. you're going to have more time devoted to getting through the airport and getting up to the airplane, particularly for international flights and particularly for flights leaving

president obama's nominee to lead the transportation security administration has withdrawn. erroll southers is a top official with the los angeles police department. but he said today opponents had politicized his career. republican senator jim demint had blocked action on southers over concerns he would grant collective bargaining rights to t.s.a. employees. the suspect in a mass killing in virginia turned himself in early today, after an all-night manhunt. christopher speight allegedly gunned down eight people on tuesday, then fired at a police helicopter as he ran into the woods to hide. the scene unfolded just outside appomattox, virginia. police found three bodies inside spite's home, and four outside. an eighth victim was found barely alive near the house, but died later at a hospital. state police said today they're still looking for a motive and a weapon. >> we are in process of searching for high powered rifle based on investigation into the shots that were fired and struck the helicopter tuesday afternoon. he walked out of the woods and did not have a weapon in his

go to tsa.gov, the transportation security administration for up-to-date details on all of the new security measures. additionally, stay in touch with your airline, ask to get e-mail updates. you can even follow your airline on twitter, and you know, just be patient and be understanding when you get to the airport. there are going to be delays but let's be sure to get home safe this holiday season. >> you know, i used to think i was smart because i would check not just my flight but where that inbound plane was coming from. but sometimes they switch planes out. so you really do just have to be there when your flight's supposed to take off. >> grab a great magazine, a great book and take it easy. >> thanks, sarah. still ahead the wife of tiger woods out of hiding but maybe just for a moment. where she was spotted. next. can start fast... new tylenol cold rapid release gels day and night release medicine fast to relieve painful coughs, congestion and sore throats. so you can feel better. is the only furniture polish with febreze freshness. so your furniture is "swiffer clean"... and your home

erroll southers has tremendous experience and it's what we need right now at the transportation security administration. it's unfortunate that there is one senator who has a hold on mr. southers. and i think the issues have been looked at repeatedly. senators are comfortable with it. and again, it's unfortunate that there is one hold. >> chris: i don't have to tell you we have a little over a minute left, politics has reared its head in the discussion this week about the response to christmas day attack. this week, vice president cheney had this to say about president obama. here it is. >> he seems to think if he closes guantanamo and releases hardcore al-qaeda trained terrorists still there, we won't be at war. he seems to think if we get rid of the words "war on terror" we won't be at war. but we are at war and when president obama pretends we aren't it makes us less safe. mr. brennan, your response? >> it's disappointing to me that either the vice president and others willfully mischaracterized president obama's position in actions or they're just ignorant of the facts. in either case

erroll southers has tremendous experience and it's what we need right now at the transportation security administration. it's unfortunate that there is one senator who has a hold on mr. southers. and i think the issues have been looked at repeatedly. senators are comfortable with it. and again, it's unfortunate that there is one hold. >> chris: i don't have to tell you we have a little over a minute left, politics has reared its head in the discussion this week about the response to christmas day attack. this week, vice president cheney had this to say about president obama. here it is. >> he seems to think f he closes guantanamo and releases hardcore al-qaeda trained terrorists still there, we won't be at war. he seems to think if we get rid of the words "war on terror" we won't be at war. but we are at war and when president obama pretends we aren't it makes us less safe. mr. brennan, your response? >> it's disappointing to me that either the vice president and others willfully mischaracterized president obama's position in actions or they're just ignorant of the facts. in either case,

>> the nomination fight over the president's pick to head the transportation security administration at tsa could get a bit rockier. errol sotter is under fire from an incident from his past from a number of years ago and the new revelations could impact his confirmation. caroline shively with more now from washington. >> reporter: majority leader harry reid plans to push hard for a quick confirmation vote from the full senate on tsa nominee errol southers. reid could have a fight on his hand. the "washington post" reports some senators already knew before they voted to confirm southers in committee that he had mischaracterized a personal incident in his past. that incident is from 20 years ago when southers was an f.b.i. agent and accessed confidential records about his ex-wife's boyfriend. in november, he told a senate committee that he had asked a police officer to get those records. but a day after the vote, southist admitted he did the searches himself. susan collins, a republican from maine, tells the post that she has suspicions even then, but approved it conditionally. now sh

transportation security administration moved forward on its own with some big changes in how it secures international airline flights bound for the united states. there are a lot of moving parts to this story we want to get to. let's start with nbc's tom costello, who happens to have just arrived off a flight from europe. he joins us from our washington bureau with more on that breaking development from the tsa. tom? >> reporter: lester, good evening. the tsa is saying tonight that all international passengers traveling into the u.s. may well see enhanced random screenings, which will include pat-downs, explosive testing of luggage, and those enhanced body imaging scans before they board a flight. the tsalso says all passengers from or traveling through seven high-risk countries will receive full-body pat-downs and physical inspections of their luggage. those seven countries are yemen, pakistan, nigeria, syria, sudan, an, and cuba. the state department considers the last four to be state sponsors of terrorism. the new rules take effect at midnight, which should affec most u.s.-bound fli

transportation security administration moved forward on its own with some big changes in how it secures international airline flights bound for the united states. there are a lot of moving parts to this story we want to get to. let's start with nbc's tom costello, who happens to have just arrived off a flight from europe. he joins us from our washington bureau with more on that breaking development from the tsa. tom? >> reporter: lester, good evening. the tsa is saying tonight that all international passengers traveling into the u.s. may well see enhanced random screenings, which will include pat-downs, explosive testing of luggage, and those enhanced body imaging scans before they board a flight. the tsa also says all passengers from or traveling through seven high-risk countries will receive full-body pat-downs and physical inspections of their luggage. those seven countries are yemen, pakistan, nigeria, syria, sudan, iran, and cuba. the state department considers the last four to be state sponsors of terrorism. the new rules take effect at midnight, which should affect most u.s.-boun

retired admiral james loy, former head of the transportation security administration discusses the failed bombing attempt on a northwest airlines flight and you can also call in your questions to mark halperin. a co-author of the book "game change." >> in honor of the the legacy of dr. martin luther king isen the interface discussion was held on the relationship between spirit tchal practice and social change and also talked about the lessons of justice and equality that inspired their own act vism. this is an hour and 20 minutes. first, remarks from david morwell. >> geernings ladies and gentlemen. my name is david marwell. i'm very proud to be the director of the museum of jewish herge. a living memorial to the holocaust. i want to welcome you to what promises to be an interesting program. i would like to ask you all to do what i have fourth quarteren to do, which is -- forgotten to do, which is turn off my cell phone, which i will do now and point out as new york city law requires the various fire exits in this theater. one marked over there. one stage left and then the two exits at th

more than a week after the attempted christmas-day bombing, the transportation security administration has further tightened the rules for travelers coming here from overseas. and in yemen, where the bombing plot is said to have originated, a new threat has closed the u.s. embassy. starting today, all airlines that fly from overseas to the u.s. must insure that passengers from or traveling through countries deemed high-risk receive full-body pat-downs and have their luggage physically opened up and inspected. that list includes countries that are considered state sponsors of terrorism. or where terror groups are known to operate. the list includes nigeria, where the man accused of the bombing, umar farouk abdulmutallab, is from. and at all overseas airports, more passengers must be selected at random. including some returning americans, for similar enhanced screening. more checked luggage and carry-on bags will also be randomly swabbed, looking for traces of explosives. about 2,000 international flights arrive in the u.s. every day. and now the british government said it will move imme

>> the transportation security administration has been the unveiling a lot of different assets of screening -- methods of screening. odds are it will be something about bolstering the central dni. >> how likely is it that personnel changes will happen? >> we have got no indication from the white house that heads will roll out of this thing. obviously there are certain people on the hot seat, dennis blair -- it was his job-relate to connect the dots. the president has said this is where the bill year has come. we have no indication that his job is on the line. nor have we gotten an indication that homeland security secretary is under threat, even though she came under a lot of criticism when the day after the bombing incident happened she said everything had worked fine. i am not looking for jobs -- >> we're going to take you live to the comments of nancy pelosi. >> it is great to see you all. we just had a very productive meeting with the chairs. i want to commend all of them. chairman waxman, chairman of the energy and commerce committee. chairwomen clarice slaughter for the important work

up the transportation security administration. and now, that man, errol southers is facing problems. some senators may have known about errors in his testimony when they vote today advance his nomination. caroline shively has been following this and has the latest here in washington. >> hi to you, shannon. hair i reid plans to push for a confirmation vote on tsa nominee errol southers. when they get back to d.c. he could have a fight on his hand. "the washington post" reports that some senators new before we confirmed him in committee he mischaracterized an incidents in his past when he was a fbi agents and accessed confidential records about his ex-wife's boyfriend. he told a senate committee he asked the police officer to get the records, but didn't line up with fbi documents and a day after the vote, southers admitted he did the searches himself. souse san collins, a republican from maine tells the post she had suspicions at the vote, but approved his confirmation conditionally now she sa she says. >> shannon: jim demint blocke

guest: we have sent a letter to the acting director of tsa, the transportation security administration, and we asked them to clarify the new measures, to make sure that at the end religious profiling is not enacted and is not the policy. we are still waiting for an answer. i wrote a letter to president barack obama a few days ago asking him to take steps to assure muslim-americans are not targeted because they are muslim. i believe the president, in his speech, in a way, is assuring us but we need that assurance to be communicated through the system so that average traveler' need not be singled out because they are muslim. host: have there been specific situations put into the system that you would classify as racial profiling? guest: there have been incidents reported to us. some of them have been shown on the media including a moslem lady who wore a head cover, traveling from dulles airport to california. she was taken out of the lie. she was told because of her headdress, she had to go through extra security. she was patted down and someone was touching her body in an inappropriate

a retired admiral, former head of the transportation security administration, discusses the failed bombing attempt on a northwest airlines flight. you could call and your questions to mark halperin about his book on the two dozen a presidential -- about the 2008 presidential campaign. your chance to talk to the authors of the best-selling book "game change." the impact of the book on washington politics. on a recent trip to of the anniston, a free-lance video journalist observed military observations that bottom -- locker room air filled -- at bagram air field. all of the supplies and people that come into afghanistan passed through bagram. they either stay there or they are sent into convoys or more often into airplanes and helicopters that delivers the stuff to the final destination. >> this is the hub of activity for all of the air freight that comes in to bring security to the region and bring the government to the region which are the three key elements we are trying to bring to the afghan people so that they can sustain a future of freedom without the taliban. when we deliver goods t

that's according to a spokesman for transportation security administration. the former homeland security in chief michael chertoff is with us and john. michael, what do you make of that? >> we've occasionally had breakdowns at airports. it happens. i'm quite sure the tsa director in that particular airport will be looking over not only the mechanical failure but if it was a human failure on someone slipping into an exit door that should have been locked. >> larry: ambassador, is this kind of an overwhelming attempt here? it seems with all the people in the world, terrorism moving here and going there, that you're kind of up against it. >> i wouldn't call it overwhelming. i think it was -- if you took it in aviation parlance, it was a near miss. it was too close for comfort. it's like two airliners flying 100 feet from each other. you look at it and say, how did that happen? you have to look into it and take corrective measures. i think signals were missed which often happens in these situations and i took the president's appearance today to be a stern message

as of yesterday, the transportation security administration is requiring enhanced screening for passengers flying into the united states from or flying through nations on our list of state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest. in the days ahead, i will announce further steps to disrupt attacks, including advanced passenger screening for air travel. finally, some have suggested that the events on christmas day have caused us to revisit the decision to close the prison at guantanamo bay. let me be clear -- it was always our intent to transfer prisoners to other countries only under conditions that this security is being protected. with respect to yemen in particular, there's an ongoing security situation which we have been confronting for some time along with our yemeni partners. given the unsettled situation, i've spoken to the attorney general and we have agreed that we will not be transferring additional detainees back to yemen at this time. but make no mistake -- we will close guantanamo prison, which has damaged our national security interests and become a tremendous rec

president obama's choice to head the transportation security administration, aerroll southers, has withdrawn his nomination. his confirmation was blocked by republican senator jim demanint who is concerned that he would allow tsa employees to join a labor union. this comes as congress begins hearing testimony this morning about how a man was able to carry out a bombing attack on christmas day on a northwest airlines flight. you can hear live coverage of the senate homeland security proceedings at 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span radio. defense secretary robert gates, speaking earlier in india, says terror groups working together around the afghanistan/pakistan border benefit from each other's success and pose a threat to the entire region. he listed several terror gripped he says operate under the umbrella of al qaeda, including the taliban and a separate group blamed for last year's attack in mumbai, india. he also said india and pakistan should cooperate against a threat that affects them both, urging both nations to speak frankly and help one another. the labor department says wholesale price

homeland security to transmit to the house of representatives a copy of the transportation security administration's aviation security screening management standard operating procedures manual in effect on december 5, 2009, and any subsequent revisions of such manual in effect prior to the adoption of this resolution. the speaker pro tempore: the title will be referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. for what purpose does the gentleman from michigan rise? mr. conyers: by direction of the committee on judiciary, i send to the desk a privileged report for filing under the rule to accompany house resolution 994. the speaker pro tempore: the clerk will report the title. the clerk: report to accompany house resolution 994, a resolution directing the attorney general to transmit to the house of representatives all information in the attorney general's possession relating to the decision to dismiss united states versus new black panther party. the speaker pro tempore: that will be referred to the house will be referred to the house calendar and ordered printed. for what purpose

the transportation safety administration has plans to send high-level on to the airports and discuss security procedures including a controversial full-body security scanner. in new york, laura ingalls, fox news. >>> american airlines in the hot seat and an illness spread us through a local senior living center. we're everywhere at 11. >>> the faa is watching american airlines closely after three dangerous landings last month. this is video from december 22nd when a plane overshot the runway in jamaica during a george and two other landings, the jet's wing tips touched the ground. the faa officials say they're looking to see if there is a larger problem here. the airline said it's cooperating with the investigation. >>> and an assisted living center shutting the doors due to a strange illness. some in woodbridge have come down with flu-likeitism soms. no visitors are allowed for the time being. the health department said that one, once residents start to feel better, they will lift the quarantine. > the search is on for survivors after massive mud slides in brazil. 26 people are dead

that's according to a spokesman for transportation security administration. the former homeland security in chief, michael chernoff is with us. and also don elaponte. michael, what do you make of that? >> we've occasionally had breakdowns at airports. it happens. i'm quite sure the tsa director in that particular airport will be looking over not only the mechanical failure but if it was a human failure on someone slipping into an exit door that should have been locked. >>larry: ambassador, is this kind of an overwhelming attempt here? it seems with all the people in the world, terrorism moving here and going there, that you're kind of up against it. >> i wouldn't call it overwhelming. i think it was -- if you took it in aviation parlance, it was a near miss. it was too close for comfort. it's like two airliners flying 100 feet from each other. you look at it and say, how did that happen? you have to take corrective measures. i think signals were mixed which often happens in these situations, and i took the president's appearance today to be a stern message ab

the transportation safety administration has announced new security measures for international flight bound for the united states. starting monday, travelers flying from or going through nations regarded as state sponsors of terrorism as well as other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. those could include full body scans, body pat downs and carry on searches. the state department lists cuba, iran, sudan and syria as state sponsors of terrorism. passengers from nigeria, yemen and pakistan will face enhanced screening as well. passengers travelling from any other foreign country will alsoing checked at random. the new safety measures come as the obama administration probes a breach which allowed an attempted attack on a u.s. flieft christmas day. president obama's top counter terrorism aid says intelligence agencies ultimately failed to connect the dots >> there was is no smoking gun, no piece of intelligence that said this guy is a terrorist and is going to get on a plane. not whatsoever. it was the failure to integrate and piece together the bits

-- [applause] they have an interim leader, but they do not have a leader for the transportation security administration and that has an adverse effect. let me see if i've got the logic right -- the pilot can be in a union, and they are. the flight attendants can be in a union and they are. the mechanics and all the ground personnel can be in a union and they are. but the people who check them somehow, if they are in a union, somehow that adversely affects national security. i just do not get the logic. i think they were in a union, they would have -- we would have better security in this country. go talk to them. when you go through, talk to them. they're overworked, there are too few of them around, we would be able to see that this is what is necessary for security at the airport and we will bring a union to everyone of them and more security to the work sites. [applause] >> will you actively oppose the health bill if the taxes in there? >> we have been working diligently for decades to try to get healthcare passed in this country. for decades. we're not about to stop now. i'm not abou

term of office for the administrator of the transportation and security administration, t.s.a. similar to what the congress has done in the past in the appointment process for the director of the f.b.i. bob mueller has done an outstanding job and that process has worked well. since t.s.a.'s creation, it has had six administrators averaging terms of just 1.5 years. the attempted bombing of the u.s. airliner points to the need for capable and strong leadership that is outside of the political process. in a separate letter to john brennan i posed a series of pointed questions concerning the security situation in yemen and the circumstances surrounding the christmas day failed attack. how does it plan to deal with the possible radicalization of some 55,000 americans, 55,000 americans that are currently visiting, living or studying in yemen. pointing out that these individuals can fly back to the united states with american passports. the dangers of radicalization in yemen are troubling. the alleged shooter at fort hood was radicalized. and now we have learned that the alleged chris

. >> reporter: new rules in the wake of a failed terrorist bombing. >>> the transportation safety administration has announced new security measures for international flights bound for the united states. starting monday, travelers flying from or going through nations regarded as state sponsors of terrorism as well as other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening including full body scans, body patdowns and carry-on searches. its the state department lists cuba, iran, sudan as state sponsors of terrorism. passengers from yemen and pakistan will face enhanced screening as well. this comes as there was an attempted attack on a u.s. flight on christmas day. president obama's top counter- terrorism aide say intelligence agencies ultimately failed to connect the dots. >> there was no smoking gun. there was no piece of information that said this guy is a terrorist. it was the failure to incident great and piece together those bits and pieces of information. >>> one former army intelligence officer says the u.s. face as a major challenge for himming occupy hundreds of thr