[Christine Romans, Cnn Anchor:] Is the U.S. losing the war on ISIS? A grim conclusion from the FBI's top counterterrorism official, how he says the terrorists have pulled ahead. This as we learn new information about the ISIS executioner. Why he may have radicalized and did police miss their chance to stop him. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is 30 minutes past the hour. It is Friday morning. John Berman has the morning off. A dire prognosis in the battle against ISIS this morning, the FBI's top counterterrorism official testifying to lawmakers that America is in his words losing the battle to stop Islamic militants from spreading their violent message online.
[Michael Steinbach, Fbi Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division:] The foreign terrorist now has direct access into the United States like never before. They know they can't travel so what they are doing is they are putting out a very effective propaganda message through social media, through lots of platforms, saying if you can't come to Syria, do something in the U.S. or western countries.
[Romans:] U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was also on Capitol Hill Thursday painting an equally grim picture. CNN's Pamela Brown has more on that.
[Pamela Brown, Cnn Justice Correspondent:] Good Morning, Christine. With Jihadi John, ISIS'high profile recruit now unmasked. This morning, U.S. law enforcement officials say they are focused on the terror group's influence to attract new followers here in the U.S. Law enforcement sources I've been speaking with say, we are going to keep seeing more ISIS related cases until the ISIS propaganda machine is shutdown, the machine that is fueling rapid recruitment in the U.S. That was a main topic of discussion among top law enforcement and officials on the Hill Thursday. In fact, U.S. Intelligence Chief James Clapper said in testimony on the Hill that you cannot shutdown the internet.
[James R. Clapper, Director Of National Intelligence:] The global attention and widespread support in extremist circles for these attacks probably will inspire additional extremists to conduct similar attacks.
[Brown:] He also said that 180 Americans have now tried to join the fight in Syria and that some have already returned to U.S. soil. In regards to the global threat, he said the final accounting is done, 2014 will have been the most lethal year for terrorism in the 45 years such data has been compiled, a very dire picture there -Christine.
[Romans:] All right, Pamela, thank you for that. We are learning much more this morning about the British accented voice of ISIS. The world has come to know as Jihadi John. Beyond his real name now confirmed by officials to be Mohammed Emwazi, a birth place in Kuwait and a privileged upbringing in London, prospects for a bright middle class future if things had turned out differently. But many questions remain. At the top of the list, what radicalized Emwazi? CNN's Isa Soares is standing by live in London. Isa, what do we know about his possible motivation for joining ISIS?
[Isa Soares, Cnn Correspondent:] Good morning, Christine. We are getting two thoughts here, two ideas behind the radicalization perhaps of why he made his way into Syria. One of those people talking is the Muslim-led, human rights group, Cage. They are the one that been in contact with Mohammed Emwazi known as Jihadi John. He got in contact with them in 2009. Because he said he told them he felt harassed by authorities. He tried to get in Tanzania, supposedly as a graduation gift from his parents to go on safari. As he went in, he was stopped by authorities and sent back and he was questioned. He was questioned why he was going on this trip. He was also questioned about what he thought about 911 and about 77. He said he felt harassed. He felt trapped. He felt like a prisoner. That is why he got in contact with them. That is one point of view, one piece of the puzzle as to why perhaps he may have radicalized. Cage believes that this is the reason behind the radicalization, but of course, that is one point. Questioned by authority makes you then go into Syria and be part of ISIS and behead people. Authorities obviously is being quoted as saying in papers that he had intentions prior to this and prior to the 2009 that he knew several people and links to Somalia. The intention of going to Tanzania wasn't part of a terror group or part to go on safari, but to build bridges to go into Somalia with Al- Shabaab. In fact, court papers, Christine, that we have been seeing, that the media has been reporting on today showed that he in fact had contact with other terror cells. The group calling the London Boys that include one that was killed in a missile strike in Mogadishu as well as two other men who tried to attack here on the public transport here in London. You are starting to get the picture of the networking behind it. But two very much ideas as to where and at what point he was radicalized. Not known. The family here is not talking. No one in fact is opening any doors. Cage tells us he was a simple, humble, and very normal family. People here very much shocked at the idea that one of their neighbors could in fact be "Jihadi John."
[Romans:] Wow. Isa Soares, so much still to learn too. Thank you so much for that. Isa for us in London. It's 35 minutes past the hour. Attorney General Eric Holder sits down with CNN to discuss "Jihadi John," the war on ISIS online radicalization. He will be on "NEW DAY" this morning at 7 a.m. Eastern Time. With only hours left before the Department of Homeland Security runs out of funding, the U.S. Senate is set to vote beginning this morning on a funding bill that meet a key Democratic demand. Namely it's a bill that does not also block President Obama's executive actions on immigration. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has promised a separate vote on immigration. On the House side, the ticking clock had tempers flaring. The number two Democrat, Steny Hoyer, calling House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy a coward for cutting off his microphone mid debate. Hoyer later apologized. With the latest on the funding countdown, let's bring in White House correspondent, Michelle Kosinski Michelle.
[Michelle Kosinski, Cnn White House Correspondent:] Hi, Christine. Well, here we are hours away from the Department of Homeland Security running out of funding, which would mean that essential employees would have to go to work but not be paid despite their mortgages and bills to pay. Tens of thousands of other employees would be furloughed. This is all over, of course, a political battle. At this point, the Senate looks like it is poised to vote on a clean bill. It would fund the Department of Homeland Security, but not tie it to simultaneously defunding the executive action on immigration. The House though, there is a lot of Republican opposition to this. The House Speaker John Boehner had this unusual reaction to the continued barrage of questions on this subject.
[Rep. John Boehner , House Speaker:] When they make decisions, I'll let you know.
[Kosinski:] It is unclear if the House will take up a vote on this clean bill. The White House is putting the responsibility squarely on John Boehner's shoulders saying that this is not even a partisan dispute anymore. This is a party dispute accusing Republican leadership of falling down on the job. And saying, really, the hard work has already been done on deciding the level of funding. The White House urging Republicans to, as they put it, take the responsible course now Christine.
[Romans:] Michelle Kosinski at the White House, thank you for that, Michelle. The IRS targeting scandal could turn into a criminal matter. The watchdog overseeing the IRS confirms the disappearance of the former official, Lois Lerner, e-mails may involve criminal activity. The Congress requested those e-mails from Lerner to determine whether agents targeted Tea Party groups applying for non-profit status. The e-mails were thought to be lost in an e-mail crash. Some of those e- mails were recovered. Loretta Lynch is now a step closer to becoming America's next attorney general replacing Eric Holder. The Senate Judiciary Committee voting 12-8 Thursday to send her nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. If Lynch is confirmed, she will become the first African-American woman to serve in that position. Regulators have voted for equal internet, now prepare for a fight, these new rules known as net neutrality will give equal opportunity for internet access and speeds on all web sites. That means network owners like Comcast and Time Warner Cable can't slow delivery of certain sites and charge providers for faster access. It's a huge win for Facebook, Twitter, AOL, the list goes on. Netflix called the decision a win for consumers. But internet service providers like AT&T and Comcast, they don't want additional rules. And they've warned a legal fight to challenge this is coming. What does this mean for you as you watch "House Of Cards?" Well, the rules will not be official until this summer. If upheld, there are rules against content discrimination. It means the government is regulating the internet like other public utilities. Like water and electricity and internet. The provider cannot purposely slow down your Netflix streaming. Happening now, the search for several missing Canadian teenagers who may have been lured to Syria by ISIS online, what we are learning next this morning.