good evening, everyone. we've got a big night and a head start with breaking news, a "360 exclusive." mayor dawn zimmer of hoboken, new jersey, already accused chris christie of withholding sandy relief money from her battered city for political payback. she's already taken fire from the biggest names in national politics for saying what she has, talked to federal investigators over the weekend. now on this program, the mayor reveals documents she says help back up her case. in a moment, you can decide for yourself. first, dana bash on how we got here. >> tina: it's an ultimatum of epic political proportions, support our project or lose sandy relief funding. the lieutenant governor calls it wholly and politically false.

>> being a sandy victim myself makes the mayor's allegations particularly offensive to me. >> tina: hoboken mayor dawn zimmer described the scene to cnn's candy crowley right out of a movie, saying lieutenant governor kim gau gau dano asked her to support a redevelopment project in her town or she would with hold sandy money. >> this project is very important with the governor and she said she had been with him friday night and this is a direct message from the governor. >> that is a much more direct tie to chris christie than any allegations so far in bridgegate, one the lieutenant governor essentially says the democratic mayor made up. >> mayor zimmer's version of our conversation in may of 2013 is not only false, but does not

withhold scrutiny when all of the facts are examined. >> mayor christie said "it's very clear that politics are at play here as democratic mayors with a political ax to grind come out of the woodwork and try to get their faces on television." hoboken's mayor supported the republican governor in the past, but zimmer provided private journal entries to cnn providing a different story, which she also gave the u.s. attorney investigating how sandy funds were used. zimmer wrote at the time of christie, "i thought he was something very different. this week, i found that he's cut from the same corrupt cloth that i have been fighting for the last four years." being something different is christie's political calling card, what drew hundreds of the country's wealthiest political donors to florida this past weekend. sources who attended say christie argued the way he's handled scandals so far should make them more confident in him, not less. >> he said to those donors, if i ever put myself up for national office, you and everyone have an absolute right to know how i

deal with problems, lightning will strike. >> but he also announced he's putting any potential thoughts of a race for president on hold for a year. republican strategist ann a navarro attended several of the events. talking to the millionaires, support christie will need if he runs for president, what's your sense of how they feel about this? >> i think chris christie has taken the initiative, putting 2016 on pause. i think this buys some time for other potential candidates. who may be deciding what they do and not be at risk of lose ing donors and activists that commit to christie. >> that's the backdrop, allegations that along with the bridge scandal reinforce the notion that is political poison to chris christie, the charge, fair or not, that he is a bully. insofar as the bridge and the hoboken story are concerned, we should say the facts are far from complete. tonight only on this program, hoboken mayor dawn zimmer joins us with what could be new

evidence. appreciate you being with us, mayor. you sent a letter to governor christie on april 23rd that you provide ed us, and we're showin it on the screen, asking for funding for pumps to help the flooding problem in hoboken. you said to the governor, "just as shore towns are not being asked for development in exchange for protecting them from future storms, the solution to hoboken's flooding challenges cannot be dependent on future development." now, this was sent before your meeting with the lieutenant governor. does this mean that you felt pressure already about future development? >> i mean, in various meetings that i had with the administration, i did feel that there was always a lot of discussion about development, and i will say there wasn't, in those meetings there was not a direct connection made, but there was a pressure. and so, you know, i do think that what's interesting about what the lieutenant governor said today, as she says that my -- you know, it's illogical

what i said. and when you look at the documents, you look at the letters that i've written, you can see that it wasn't illogical at all. it's actually a progression leading up to something where they wanted to send me, you know, give me a very direct message because they felt like i wasn't getting the message clearly enough, so she was sent in. >> because people close to the lieutenant governor -- as you said, the lieutenant governor calls the allegations completely false, but i want to read to you what a source close to the lieutenant governor said about your conversation. "kim," meaning the lieutenant governor, "remembers in their conversation that she was talking about redevelopment and making investments in hoboken," meaning you. "she remains zimmer pressing kim for money for sandy. kim remembers saying you can't tie the two together, and she remembers zimmer continuing to press and showing her map of the city and pressing for aid for sandy." so, she's saying it was you who was linking sandy and development. are you saying this letter, which was dated before that conversation, on the 23rd, disproves that?

>> right, well, that's first time i'm hearing that. she didn't actually say that directly today, but yeah, i mean, this letter definitely makes it very clear that i was the one on april 23rd, sent them a letter and very clearly said, you can't connect the two, and it's not fair to connect the two, and that was part of the conversation that we had. i said, you know, are you saying -- after she said to me, you know, that you've got to move ahead with the rockefeller project, i said, is any other town being asked to do development in exchange for help with the flooding? and her answer was, well, the shore brings in $38 billion. so she was the one connecting -- you know, she very clearly was connecting the development with the sandy aid in our conversation. and i made it clear -- it's ironic that she's coming around and saying that when i sent a letter on april 23rd saying these two things should not be connected, and that's not fair. >> so, you're saying in the conversation you had with her in the parking lot, you point blank said to her, is any other town being asked to link development

to sandy aid? >> yes. >> so, you made that linkage clear that that was your interpretation of what she was saying and she didn't dispute it? >> she did not dispute it. she restated the fact that, you know, i know it's not fair, but these things shouldn't be connected, but they are. so, that's in the journal entry that i gave to the u.s. attorney. >> so, you're saying the lieutenant governor actually said these shouldn't be connected, but they are. were those her exact words or -- >> that's what i recall. that's what i wrote at the time. i wrote the journal entry a few days after the meeting with her. >> also for the first time now we're seeing another letter that you sent that you provided us on may 8th to the governor, saying you were stunned that you weren't getting the funding request. that's two days before you had the meeting with the lieutenant governor. what is that second letter? what do you believe it shows? what do you believe it proves? >> well, again, back to her statement that it's all illogical. and when you look at all of the events together, you can see that it was a progression, it was a progression of pressure,

and she was sent in to really make that final message to me. on may 8th, there's a few important things that happened. on may 8th, there was a planning board decision where the planning board voted down the zoning that the rockefeller group wanted for their property. and on may 8th, we had, again, severe flooding, and the letter that i sent to the governor showed pictures of the severe flooding that we had again in hoboken, you know. and i, on may 8th, i sent a letter saying that, you know, these things cannot be -- that we really need the funding and that, you know, basically, i had recei received, my office had received notice that we were not going to be receiving funding, and i was writing saying i hope this is not the final decision because we really need help. so, that happens on wednesday. may 8th. so, the planning board meeting, the letter to the governor saying, you know, please, we really need help, i'm hearing we're not going to get hazard mitigation funding. i hope that's not the case. here's what's happening in

hoboken. >> so you believe the may 10th -- >> two days later, their office calls friday afternoon and says we want to do a sandy business event on monday, i think at like 10:00 in the morning. and you know what, the timing seemed a little bit strange, but we were fine with it. of course, we want to welcome the lieutenant governor. she's coming to hoboken. we had already done the opening for shoprite i think like at least a month before, but certainly wanted to welcome her, and so -- >> so, you believed her coming down was specifically in response to this letter of may 8th? >> i do. i do believe it's related, yes. i do believe that it was related. i think that she, you know, that event was created so that she could come and have the opportunity to make a very clear message to me. >> you've done two interviews, i believe, this weekend. you hadn't mentioned these letters before. why now? >> well, actually, these letters were provided. i mean, these letters were provided to msnbc, and i think steve may have, you know, i think steve may have brought

them up in his show -- >> conversation. >> yeah. it's just, there's a lot of information, there's a lot of documents, there's a lot of, you know, issues around the connection between the port authority and who funded the study and the connection with david samson and wolff & samson, and i know it's complicated for the public to understand, but you know, and really, the bottom line is, that week, that week of may 8th, that day, there was some important things that happened. and right after that time frame, when i sent this letter saying i can't believe this is really true, we're not going to get hazard mitigation funding, and when the planning board voted down the zoning that the rockefeller group wanted, well, then, you know, the governor's, the lieutenant governor's office calls. on monday, you know, they come and she delivers a very clear message, because i think they felt that i wasn't getting the message clearly enough, and they wanted to make it very clear to me. >> i want to talk more about specifically what she said to you and your immediate reaction to it. we've got to take a quick break.

we'll have more from the mayor of hoboken. tweet me @ac360. also tonight, the threat to turn the olympic games into a blood bath and the race to prevent one. russian authorities searching for a possible killer. we'll show you her picture ahead.

hey, welcome back. we're here with the mayor of

hoboken, new jersey, dawn zimmer. before the break, we were talking about the days leading up to the meeting with new jersey's lieutenant governor. appreciate you being with us. we spoke to governor christie's office about these letters. they did not issue an official statement, but they question the timing of this, and they specifically pointed out that your conversation with the lieutenant governor was allegedly may 10th, that the first letter's dated april 23rd. they also question why this is coming out now, saying you gave interviews before and this came out. >> as far as these letters? >> yeah. >> i mean, yeah, like i said, these letters were provided to msnbc, you know, and so, this is just further highlighting, you know, basically, the progression, the pressure that i felt and the connecting the dots, so to speak. so, again, when she's saying it's illogical, these letters, they're further demonstration of what was happening and how it was really connected, but the bottom line is, anderson, i

mean, she came, and you know, she said this to me, you know, and i stand by my word. i mean -- >> when she said it to you, i mean, what was your immediate initial response and your immediate -- what was going through your mind? >> i couldn't believe it. i mean, i just, i couldn't believe that she was saying what she was saying. i mean, and she very clearly said, these things shouldn't be connected, but they are. i know it's not right. and if you tell anyone, i will deny it. >> she said that? >> yes. >> she said if you tell anybody, i will deny it? >> yes. so, this isn't something that you forget. when the lieutenant governor of the state of new jersey tells you in a parking lot, if you tell anyone, i will deny it, you remember it. and i was very upset and i did a journal entry, you know, a few days later and i wrote about it. >> and she said this came directly from christie? >> she said that this is a project -- yeah, she said that, you know, the rockefeller project is very important to the governor. i was with him on friday night and, you know, i don't know all

the details. you know, i started to explain some of the challenges that i'm facing on the ground and that i want to move the process forward, you know. and that's the challenge here is that there are, again and again, i have found myself in meetings explaining to the christie administration, listen, we've all got to be careful here. we can't have a conversation about what the plan is for the rockefeller group because it hasn't been designated, and it's my job as the mayor of hoboken to follow that redevelop maemen law. the mayor and the city council is the redevelopment agency. we are the ones responsible for implementing that law, and -- >> so when you see the lieutenant governor, i mean, in a press conference now saying point blank your memory, your recollection of this conversation is offensive, is completely inaccurate, and as a victim of sandy, she's offended, what do you -- you're saying she's lying. >> well, yeah. she said she would deny it and she's denying it, so part of me is not surprised, and my

reaction, in fact, is you're offended? how do you think i feel and everyone in hoboken feels? we haven't really, you know, we haven't been given that much sandy funding, and we have been told that there's a connection between the two and there's a push to get one particular project through. and you know, development in hoboken, we have to do it very carefully. i mean, we're only one square mile. we are the fourth most densely populated city in the country per capita, and there's only two small roads into the north end of hoboken, and so you know, we're talking about a 30-acura, and there's a push to move ahead with a 4-acre area to give 2 million square feet to one property owner, the rockefeller group. you know, i've got a property owner that's been there for decades and they own 9 acres. i mean, so, i have -- it's my job to be fair. i mean, that's all i'm saying. >> you have subsequently tweeted positive things about governor christie. why would you do that if you felt he was strong-arming you?

>> i mean, i -- believe me, like, i have felt torn about this. i mean, he has done very good things for hoboken. i mean, i think he's done terrific things for the state. overall, i do think that he has been a great governor, you know, and i supported him on the 2% cap, the arbitration. these are things that really i believe have helped the state. they need to continue. they will continue to help the state. his administration was tremendous in helping us with the hospital. >> but to not mention this sooner and now mention it, given all his other obstacles, people say this smacks of politics. to you -- are you saying you didn't mention it, because "a," you thought he did some good things in general, and i mean, were you concerned? were you afraid to mention it? >> well, i didn't think people would believe me, and also -- >> you didn't think people would believe you. >> i didn't think people would believe me, and i didn't want -- still, they didn't make their final decisions on the hazard mitigation funding until much later. and so, i wanted to, you know, i

wanted to keep some chances out there to try and get the funding for hoboken, so if i was to come out and make these accusations, then i'm hurting our chances of getting the funding. >> does it worry you now to make these accusations? what's it like to make these accusations? >> i mean, it's a challenge. let's face it, i'm not -- i'm someone who got into politics because i care about my town. i was actually a stay-at-home mom before i got into politics, and i did this because i cared about bringing balanced development, bringing a park to my neighborhood, which is something that, you know, we're about to make happen, and so, for me, like, i'm out here, you know, i feel like i had to come tonight, even though i'd rather be home in bed. i'm losing my voice here, but like, i need to get my voice out there and let people know, i'm just doing this because i really care about my town. >> is it scary, though? >> i mean, yeah. it's hard, because obviously, there's very powerful people, you know, across the country, all giving their opinions on me, but you know, it's ironic, actually, that -- you know, i

have had some experience dealing with the national media and international stories because it's something that the governor was part of making happen, peter cammarano getting arrested and going to jail, that's an investigation that the governor started as u.s. attorney. and peter cammarano went to jail for something, you know, for really pushing, promising to expedite development projects. >> has anyone pushed you to come forward and talk about this, the dnc, other democrats? >> no, i don't have -- i mean, that's the thing is that i've been considered, you know, the democrats were frustrated with me because how could i support the republican governor for four years? so, i don't have -- no, i don't have -- >> obviously, people will say -- >> i don't have these massive connections to the d -- i don't know who's head of the dnc. i don't know! >> the dnc hasn't called you at all. >> no, they haven't called me at all, so, no. they haven't called me. i have no connection to them. i'm a democrat. i think president obama has been

through some challenges, but i think he's doing a great job and i think he's, you know, the rebuild by design competition that started under secretary donovan i think is an excellent, excellent opportunity for hoboken. >> what do you think should happen to christie or to the lieutenant governor? >> all i'm asking for christie is, for one, support my rebuild by design competition. it's an excellent opportunity. i was down in a meeting a month ago and i said to mark frizzan, they invited me down for a briefing and i asked can you put a support for rebuild by design into a second tranche of funding, and he said, well, you need to let me know how much redevelopment you're willing to do. that was the answer i got back. so, that pressure is there and the writing's on the wall, and that's part of my thinking of coming forward. it's like, you know, that threat is there, and we're not going to get more funding if i don't -- you know, i'm really between a rock and a hard place. >> so, what you said is pressure from the lieutenant governor on this conversation, that's not a one-time thing. this is sort of -- you're saying

there is a pattern of this? >> right, well, wz it tit's not one-time thing. that pressure was continuing until i came forward. i mean, and that pressure was going to continue. >> now, subsequently, since you've come forward, has anyone said anything to you? >> no, i haven't talked to them at all, no. and they're saying that they had someone in my office who was there for rebuild by design, which was great, but no one has directly said to me, like we think it's great, the plan that you have. i mean, and this is a plan, it's a water management system that could truly protect the entire city. it will benefit new jersey transit, it will benefit the port authority. you see those images of the water going through the elevator. it would benefit. this is something that would add a layer of protection for them. hoboken residents, our businesses, hospital, north hudson sewage authority. this is a win-win for everyone. so, that's what i'm asking is, governor, please, support this. but when i get an answer back from mark frizan saying, well, you know -- >> and mark frizan is?

>> mark is head of the sandy recovery process for the governor. so, when i get an answer back saying, well, you need to tell us the level of development you're willing to do. >> so, you're saying the head of the sandy redevelopment process was also talking to you about development. >> i mean, he said that like a month ago, right. so, the lieutenant governor gave her message. i didn't do exactly what they want, you know, and so, the pressure continues. >> this is a dumb question. i assume i know the answer. i assume you're not going to governor christie's inauguration tomorrow? >> i don't think i'm invited. >> all right. mayor, i appreciate you being on. >> thank you. >> i hope your voice gets better. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. mayor dawn zimmer. if you want to read the letters, go to ac 360.com. as the mayor mentioned, her charges have drawn fire from big political names. over the weekend, former new york mayor rudy giuliani downplayed her allegations and called the bridge investigation a witch hunt. this leads into the narrative of christie being a political bully. this is what giuliani said. >> i don't see anything in his

background that suggests that he takes advantage of people, that he pushes them around, that he's nasty to them, that in terms of his personal contact. i've met with him and his family many, many times. i don't see anything different about him than most of the other people i know, but it is a stereotype. and the unfortunate thing for him, is and this is true for me, if something happens that reinforces your stereotype, it becomes a big deal. >> dana bash is with us along with chief political analyst gloria borger. gloria, what do you think of the allegations? >> i think they're serious and that's why they're being investigated by a u.s. attorney. and i think what we heard tonight is that, the big question, which is, who used redevelopment as the bargaining chip? was it the mayor, as the governor's office would charge, or was it the governor, you know, as the mayor charges? but this is very serious legal issue. it also ties it -- if the mayor

is telling the truth, it ties it directly to chris christie, because you have a lieutenant governor saying this is what the governor wants, and she was delivering the message, although she said, apparently, she would deny it. and this, of course, sandy, hurricane relief is so much a part of chris christie's brand, who he is, the sort of can-do governor. and what the mayor is saying is, you know what, there was more to it than that. >> if this conversation is accurate, as the mayor says, i mean, it's like something out of a movie for the lieutenant governor saying i'm going to deny this conversation ever took place. >> in a parking lot. >> in a parking lot, right. >> in new jersey. >> if it's true, it's pretty extraordinary. >> not a boardwalk, but -- >> it is, and i think that's another reason why this is potentially devastating to christie, potentially. not only for the biggest reason, that you said, gloria, that this is much more than bridgegate, ties the issue directly to the governor, but also because this

is another thing that people can understand. people can understand what happened in sandy. people can understand, because they've seen so many movies and so many lifetime series about this. >> but a lot of people watching this watched "house of cards" or something says, well, isn't this how politics is done, like you scratch my back, i'll scratch yours? aren't deals like this done all the time? >> yeah, but these are threats that are actually not legal. if you're lbj and you say i want your vote on a civil rights bill and if you don't give it to me, i'm not going to give you that bridge you wanted in your state or district, that's kind of understandable. this is more threatening, to a degree, and there are real legal implications here. >> but isn't it the same thing? >> and it's allegedly more overt than what you think might happen probably, and did happen back in lbj's time or in politics anywhere else, very overt. >> but isn't this done on capitol hill all the time, of sort of deal-making, isn't it? >> no. >> that's what a supporter who doesn't believe -- >> no, this is not -- the allegations here are way beyond

deal-making. it's a threat. i mean, it is a threat. and it is a threat, again, not just of, you know, if you want this project back in your state, you're going to support my initiative here. this is, we're not going to give the residents of your town, which you know, you were there, anderson, 80% under water during sandy, we're not going to give them help unless you support our development project, because the governor supports it because he's got friends in a law firm. i mean, it really -- it is something that is almost -- >> right, it's not a museum named after the mayor or a political perk or something -- >> and it's something that people can understand. >> but what i saw here with you was a mayor who is concerned about the city of hoboken, and she's still saying, by the way, that chris christie is a great governor who's done great things for the state, but she clearly still wants this money, and i think, finally, she came out out of frustration, or she felt that, perhaps, she would be believed this time around, if she was worried about it before. >> it's not the last we've heard about it. >> no, no.

>> appreciate you being with us. fascinating discussion. coming up, russian police are desperately trying to track down a woman, this woman who they believe could be a terrorist who may try to attack the upcomig olympics. we'll have the latest on the search.

hey, welcome back. the already tense run-up to the winter olympics in russia just got downright terrifying. a black widow, the widow of an islamic militant, officials fear may be trying to get revenge targeting the games in sochi. nobody pretends she's acting alone, not after the recent bombings in volgograd, not after a chilling videotaped threat this weekend. with that and more on the table, the u.s. government has a contingency plan to get

americans out in case of trouble at the games. we'll talk more about that shortly. first, the latest on the dragnet from phil black in moscow. so, phil, i understand officials are looking for at least one so-called black widow, a woman they believe could be planning an attack during the olympics. what's the latest? >> reporter: the they've distributed notices to hotels in sochi and they've asked them to keep a lookout for a woman named ruzanna ibragimova, 22 years old from the russian republic of dagestan. it remains the hotbed of the islamic insurgency in this country. they say she is the widow of a known militant, and they say they have information which leads them to believe that she traveled from dagestan to sochi somewhere between january 11th and 14th, and she may be working with a known terrorist organization to plan some sort of terrorist act in sochi, specifically in the olympic region of sochi. she's said to be distinctive in appearance, a lame right leg, a large scar on the left cheek of her face. now, this comes just after a

jihadi video has been released in which we've heard from islamists claiming responsibility for deadly attacks in volgograd just a few weeks ago and promising there will be much worse to come during the sochi games. mounting concerns in russia this morning as the olympic torch relay makes its way through the bomb-stricken city of volgograd. two extremists in this video claiming responsibility for two back-to-back suicide bombings last month that claimed 34 lives, and warning that more attacks could come during the sochi olympic games. in the hour-long video, the purported suicide bombers are seen constructing explosives and explaining their motives, all before heading to their targets, triggers in hand. the two men, apparently part of an islamist militant group, vowing to prepare a present for the olympics and all the tourists who come over. members of congress are very

concerned. >> if something does happen, what is the evacuation plan and emergency response plan that would take place? >> reporter: others worried about americans heading to sochi. >> i would not go, and i don't think i would send my family. >> i am very concerned about the security status of the olympics. i do believe that the russian government needs to be more cooperative with the united states when it comes to the security of the games. >> reporter: russian president vladimir putin deploying a security force of 40,000 police officers and soldiers to the region. in an interview with abc news, putin says that he will do whatever it takes to keep athletes and visitors safe and pledging that russia has adequate means of security. security around the olympic venue on high alert. metal detectors and bomb-sniffing dogs visible as the games get under way in just over two weeks. >> so, phil, from the russian perspective, how do they view

their cooperation with the u.s. on security for the olympics? >> reporter: anderson, it's not something they really discuss very openly at all. they very much see this as their responsibility. and indeed, over the last year or so, we heard a lot more from russian authorities about their desire to cooperate with the united states, particularly on intelligence and terrorism matters, particularly in the wake of the boston bombings and so forth, but this has also been a particularly poor period for relations between the united states and russia, where there has been question marks over the degree of cooperation between the two countries on these issues. but when it comes to sochi in particular, well, we know what a preeminent role the president, vladimir putin, plays in this, and he very much sees this as his responsibility and one for the russian government and his authorities to carry off safely and securely. and from all the comments we've heard from him in recent days, he remains very confident that that will be the case, anderson. >> all right, phil, appreciate

the update. phil black, thanks. just ahead tonight, president obama's comments about race in a new interview. why everything he says is parsed so closely. john ridley, the screenwriter behind "12 years a slave" joining me. also, crime and punishment tonight, a mother charged with first-degree murder after allegedly stabbing her children during an exorcism. new details.

president obama and his family marked today's federal holiday honoring the birthday of slain civil rights leader dr.

martin luther king jr. by volunteering at a washington, d.c., area kitchen that prepares meals for needy people. it was five years ago today that barack obama was sworn in as the 44th president, the first african-american to take the oath of office, obviously. over the course of his presidency, mr. obama's often shied away from talking about race, but in a revealing interview in this week's "new yorker" magazine, he acknowledges people do dislike him because he's african-american. i want to talk more about it with david remnick of "the new yorker," did the interview with john ridley, just nominated for an oscar for his screenplay "12 years a slave." david, it's a fascinating article, interviews with the president, and she spoke about race in a way he never has. "there's no doubt there are some folks who dislike me because they don't like the idea of a black president," and he added there are some people that like me because i am african-american. >> that's a formulation he's careful to make, the second part as much as the first part. i don't know that the second

part is as much in evidence anymore as the first part, and the right wing kind of twitter sphere went berserk on it. but really? is this such a mystery that there are people in the united states that don't like barack obama because he's black? >> just the reaction to what the president said sort of points to, i guess, why this president hasn't spoken more about race. >> clearly. this is one of those subject matters that this individual, the president, has had to dance around for several years now, going into the election the first time, as he was president, and i think it's a difficult subject matter on both sides. there are a lot of people of color who wish he had been more of a "black" president, and some have said that quite literally, he needs to be the black president. i have a bit of a problem with that because if anybody said president bush, for example, should be the white president, you know, people would freak out. the president of the united states needs to do what's right for people because it's the right thing to do. >> one of the things the president said, that he's been accused of "engaging" in sort of

"up by the bootstraps, booker t. washington messages to let the larger society off the hook," which i think the president went on to say he didn't think was fair. and i mean, he's not letting the larger society off the hook. >> no, i think he's perfectly aware, as he says else were wl in that quote, that institutional racism exists in places in our society that are obvious. no one's discounting that. i was once interviewing obama for my book, "the bridge," which is all about race, and we talked about this in the white house. and he was very, very careful. then as we were leaving the room, the room, he basically told me, look, there's just -- this subject, no matter what i say, is parsed so carefully, it's like hand grenades. they can go off. and not just on twitter, but just, you know, in every area of the country. the most important thing that will happen to barack obama racially as a politician is his election, and he knows that. >> so, what, it is -- people have commented on the fact that he can't be seen as being angry

about the subject of race, which is such a bizarre thing to have to sort of operate under that mantle, that you can't -- >> he lives a bizarre life. >> again, you know, i've seen people of color wishing he would get more demonstrative on issues or pushback on things like the birther movement. then other individuals say, well, you can't do that because you're going to come off as the angry black man. it is unfortunate that when you are an individual who breaks barriers, sometimes you have to do it in a way that is different from the way someone else whose people have been in that room before. true with a person of color, true with women. again, we hear all the time that if a man acted like this, he would get promoted, if a woman acts like this, she's going to be considered a you know what. >> you're talking sort of a longer game, which is actually something you write about in the article as well. >> well, absolutely. for me, i look at people of promise or people that i admire

from the civil rights movement all the way back to slavery, and having spent many years, i mean, truly about four years researching this individual solemn and what he went through -- >> you mean for "12 years a slave." >> for the film "12 years a slave," and what he went through and the fact that he had to believe in something that was not even sane. so, when i look back at individuals who could see something that did not exist in any way, shape or form, when i look at the president and see that he has a long-range vision, i'm very impressed by that. so, again, there are moments where i get very frustrated. i'm like, come on, man, do this, do that, but clearly, this is an individual, just in terms of the politicking of politics and how to weave his way around some of the anger, some of the rancor, he certainly has an understanding of how he needs to present himself. >> john ridley, thank you very much. thanks. up next, a deadly plant explosion in omaha, nebraska. plus plus, police say a woman stabbed

two of her children to death in an exorcism. also, inside japan's one secret dolphin hunt. it is happening again. tonight, more than 200 dolphins penned up in a cove, stressed out, some of them bloodied from trying to escape, now awaiting slaughter. wow, this hotel is amazing. oh no. who are you? who are you? wrong answer. wait, daddy, this is blair, he booked this room with priceline express deals and saved a ton. yeah, i didn't have to bid i got everything i wanted. oh good i always do. oh good he seemed nice. express deals. priceline savings without the bidding.

in crime and punishment, maryland authorities are piecing together what happened inside a townhouse where two toddlers were stabbed to death and their two older siblings nearly killed. their mother has been charged with first-degree murder. by that measure alone, it's a tragic case, but it's also shocking for another reason. police say the mother told them she stabbed her children as part of an exorcism. jean casarez has the latest. >> i'm so sorry i couldn't save them! >> reporter: police responded to what they thought was a routine

911 call but turned out to be anything but. >> the house had the windows open up there. i heard a lot of noises in the night. i just wake up, and i heard, like, jumping, and i didn't know. they have four children. >> reporter: what they found was a car with an open door, a knife and blood. that gave them the probable cause to go in the townhouse, and what they found when they got inside shocked the most hardened law enforcement professionals. >> they found the gruesome discovery of two children who appeared to have been deceased and appeared to have some sort of injuries to their bodies, but they also discovered a 5-year-old female in another room who had had some injuries as well, but she was conscious. >> reporter: the children were found in the master bedroom. their mother was holding a fourth child, also stabbed, when officers confronted her. behind her, a friend, monifa

sanford, who police say helped her in the attack, also had a stab wound to her neck. >> they attempted to try to speak with her in order to get some sort of an explanation, and they could not understand what she was telling them. >> reporter: the mother, 28-year-old zakieya avery, attempted to flee the crime scene, but was tackled by police and arrested. those who knew the family are broken-hearted. >> there was nothing that made us think something like that was going on over here. it's very awkward. the story's shocking. >> reporter: investigators say avery told them she was performing a rite of exorcism on her children. >> they believed that evil spirits were in the children and that they needed to get rid of the spirits. >> reporter: but authorities say there was no evidence an exorcism actually took place. >> no. we found no bible, we found no -- >> reporter: instructions for exorcism? >> no official types of instructions, no books, no other type of literature explaining -- >> reporter: no minister?

>> no minister was present on scene to our knowledge, no. >> reporter: exorcism or not, prosecutors are charging avery with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder, eligible for the death penalty. family pastor dan thornton of morantha brethren church cannot comprehend what might have gone on. this wasn't the family who attended their church. >> they were confident and happy kids. you know, you kind of get a feel for kids who are abused or neglected, and that just did not fit these children. >> reporter: while no one at this point can determine her state of mind, investigators believe avery acted intentionally and knew exactly what she was doing. >> she didn't hesitate to, basically, try to evade us along with her son. and in fact, we believe that, you know, maybe she was trying to convince the others that what

they were doing was okay. even the other female told us, "oh, i'm okay." >> jean casarez joins us live from germantown, maryland. what's next in this case? it's so bizarre. how do authorities even know that these women are telling the truth? >> reporter: well, their first court appearance is going to be more, and you're exactly right, they don't know if the women are telling the truth. both women told the story independent of each other to investigators that they were in the middle of an exorcism, but here's the thing, they've got nothing else to show that it was an exorcism. you know, i was talking to george parnham today, who represented andrea yates, and there are some similarities here. he said that a good defense lawyer should get in there to the jail with a video camera, because if she, in fact, was having the delusion that the spirits were in the children, she will still be talking that way. he needs to record that, because once she's on medication, those days will be over, and once they get to court, she'll look like she's very normal, but tomorrow, the court process begins.

>> and two people involved in this. jean casarez, appreciate it. let's get caught up on the other stories and susan hendricks with the "360 bulletin." a deadly accident today at an industrial plant in omaha, nebraska. at least two people were killed when a fire broke out at the international foods facility. part of the building collapsed, llloyees have been accounted for. at least four people were critically injured. kenneth bae, the american citizen being held in north korea, said in a statement before cameras that he has committed a serious crime against that country. he was arrested more than a year ago. north korea won't say why. it has a history of exacting false confessions from people. a new warning to tell you about from target to customers whose personal information was hacked. be sure an e-mail offering came from target. customers can go online to check that. they say scammers are sending out similar offers. there is a recall of velveeta's skillets cheeseburger macaroni and cheese.

it refuses to list my droj liesed soy sauce as ingredients, key because both are allergens. coming up, a disturbing story, hundreds of dolphins captured and trapped in a cove in japan for an annual slaughter. it used to be a secret tradition. there is now worldwide outrage. car insurance. yeah. everybody knows that. did you know there is an oldest trick in the book? what? trick number one. look-est over there. ha ha. made-est thou look. so end-eth the trick. hey.... yes.... geico. fifteen minutes could save you... well, you know.

tonight, worldwide outrage over the fate of more than 200 bottlenosed dolphins in japan. it's dolphin hunting season. in recent days, japanese fishermen have captured hundreds of them and herded them into a notorious cove. what happens in that cove each year used to be a well-kept secret, not anymore. a warning, it is extremely hard to watch. the dolphins thrash around fishing nets in vain, trying to get back to open water. this dolphin bloodies its bottlenose trying to escape. they're herded from the ocean by dozens of fishermen into the infamous taiji cove, some of the pod totaling more than 200

dolphins, according to an activist group, will be sold to marine parks and aquariums. most of the others will be slaughtered for their meat. >> they hammer a metal rod into the spinal cord of the dolphin. these dolphins do not die immediately. it takes up to 20 to 30 minutes for these dolphins to die, where they bleed out, suffocate or drown in the process of being dragged to the butcher house. >> it's a brutal spectacle that in years past has turned the water red with blood for hours. organizers of the annual hunt for years had been able to keep cameras away, but then came the movie "the cove," the documentary that won an oscar and exposed the slaughter to the world. the filmmakers used an elaborate setup of hidden cameras to capture what they called this fishing village's hidden secret. despite the international outcry, the japanese government defends the practice, saying it's not only tradition but also no different than the slaughter of any animal eaten in western countries. "people are just thinking too

emotionally about the dolphins. they want to protect them just because they're cute and clever." well, we're going to have more on this story tomorrow night. marine mammal specialist rick o'berry, featured in "the cove" will join us. thanks for watching. "early start" begins now. "early start" begins now. have a great day. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com a huge blast of winter about to slam the east coast after hammering the midwest from heavy snow to freezing temperatures, we have what you need to know this morning. raining on his parade. governor chris christie's second inauguration happening under a cloud of controversy as more allegations of political payback mar his second term before it even begins. on high alert. new details this morning as security teams search for a terror suspect in sochi just weeks before the olympic games. could there be more attackers there just waiting to strike? >> good morning and welcome to