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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Global Outrage Over CIA Torture; Obama Urges Immigrants to Register; Kerry Calls for New Flexible ISIS War Powers; Week of Outrage; Former Uber Driver In Court Today; Jersey Shore Hit By Flooding

Aired December 10, 2014 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Mistakes were made. President Obama is denouncing CIA torture tactics and defending the decision to release the report that detailed them.

Republicans are claiming that Americans serving overseas are now in danger. The new outrage, the new controversy surrounding the release of this report, it's all here this morning.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Christine Romans. It's 30 minutes past the hour this Wednesday morning. Happening now, U.S. facilities around the world are on high alert after intense reaction at home and abroad to this explosive new Senate report, a report detailing CIA tactics and techniques following 9/11.

Now the report reveals graphic details on CIA methods that included mock executions and extended sleep deprivation. The report summary released Tuesday says the CIA waterboarded 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 183 times in a single month.

Officers also repeatedly subject Mohammed to what they described as a medically unnecessary rectal rehydration. The Senate report says CIA officers or CIA interrogators came to believe harsh methods were not working on Mohammed.

And the report concludes that the CIA's methods overall did not simply produce information that could save lives. President Obama defending the report, while Republican leaders in Congress are saying its release was a huge mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: I think what it does for the U.S. government is endanger every one of our people overseas, every embassy flying an American flag.

As several of my colleagues have just pointed out, endanger the working relationship we've had with a variety of different countries in trying to deal with intelligence gathering. In short, it was a big step in the wrong direction. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some of the tactics that were written about in the Senate Intelligence report were brutal. And as I've said before, it constituted torture in my mind. And that's not who we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Republicans denouncing the report's release are being joined by three former directors of the CIA, George Tenet, Porter Goss and Michael Hayden. Writing in "The Wall Street Journal," they claim CIA interrogations did produce actionable intelligence.

That led to the capture of senior al Qaeda operatives, saved American lives by disrupting terrorist plots, provided information that helped, quote, "attack, thwart and degrade," end quote, al Qaeda.

BERMAN: The Senate report is igniting international outrage, new outrage on social media this morning with online Jihadists calling for retaliation against the United States.

The State Department is warning U.S. citizens in some countries where CIA torture took places that they could face anti-American violence. A United Nations human rights official applauded the report's release.

It warns that international law requires the United States to prosecute any wrong doers. Special investigator Ben Emerson writes, "The individuals responsible for the criminal conspiracy revealed in today's report must be brought to justice and must face criminal penalties commensurate with the gravity of their crimes."

The U.S. Justice Department for the record says it will not prosecute.

CNN's Karl Penhaul live in London. Karl, what's the global reaction been so far?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, internationally, a lot of governments are keeping their heads down not to really point the finger at the United States too much because as we already know from the leaks, allegations.

And also findings in European courts that many other governments have been complicit with the United States helping to transport victims to third countries with human rights records that they can be tortured with impunity in those countries.

We have, however, heard from one of the United States' closest allies, British Prime Minister David Cameron, this is what he had to say about torture.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: Torture is wrong. Torture is always wrong. Those of us who want to see a safer, more secure world, you want to see this extremism defeated we won't succeed if we lose our moral authority.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PENHAUL: Cameron is in Turkey right now. Muslim countries will assume that some of those comments were made for public consumption because the British government and its Secret Services certainly haven't allowed any investigation as widespread as this U.S. investigation into its role into torture techniques and assisting the United States.

We have heard also comments from a British Muslim who was held in Guantanamo prison. And in his comments, he says that what must follow now is prosecution for those responsible for torture.

What he also goes on to say is that now that the United States has broken the rules of war and has violated conventions on torture. Then the gloves are off. The rules have been broken. So now expect the enemies of the United States to break the rules of war -- John.

BERMAN: I think it's pretty clear, Karl, they've been breaking those rules already. But it is interesting to hear them say it. Karl Penhaul for us in London, thank you so much.

ROMANS: Another reveal from this report, the CIA spent well over $300 million in its detention in the interrogation program. The money was used to fund detention centers, as well as, quote, "show appreciation to host countries that housed the jails."

The specifics like the names of the countries and the exact costs are redacted from that report. One detail provided though is that the CIA spent $200,000 alone for a detention center that was built in 2002.

The $300 million price tag does not include personnel costs, but it does include two facilities that were built and they never used.

Trading in the markets this morning, in your money, Asian markets mixed after more economic concerns in China. European markets rebounded from losses the day before.

Looking at the U.S. right now, futures are down after a volatile day on Wall Street sent down markets mostly lower, turning up 3 points. I will say it's probably safe to say it's pretty mixed this morning.

BERMAN: It's 36 minutes after the hour -- the president faced protesters last night angry at his immigration executive action. The president spoke to Latino audiences in person and on Univision attempting to reassure undocumented immigrants that it is safe for them to register under his new plan.

Though he does admit a future president could reverse his order. The president, of course, is standing firmly behind his decision to try to reform immigration and has the authority to do it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: When members of Congress question whether I have authority to do this, I have one answer. Yes, and pass a bill. If you want Congress to be involved in this process, I welcome it. But you got to pass a bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The president returned to Washington overnight. He will host a big White House event this morning on early childhood education.

Developing overnight, congressional Democrats and Republicans reach an agreement on a more than $1 trillion catch-all spending bill that will keep the government operating through September of next year as they avert a government shutdown.

This was the biggest piece of unfinished business for what is seen as a historically unproductive Congress. This will clear the decks on major spending issues well, of all but one, for the new Republican controlled Congress.

They will need to fund homeland security again in February. Homeland security, of course, oversees immigration, which is the big sticking point in the president's executive action.

ROMANS: So it doesn't necessarily clear the decks of all controversy?

BERMAN: No.

ROMANS: All right, a new black eye for the Internal Revenue Service, an inspector general's report found the IRS paid at least $6 billion in child tax credits in 2013 to people who weren't eligible to receive them.

Those payments went to families who either mistakenly claimed the tax credits or claimed the wrong amount as well as taxpayers who committed fraud. The $1,000 per child tax credit, one of the biggest tax breaks for working families.

BERMAN: Secretary of State John Kerry is asking Congress for new flexible war powers in the fight against ISIS. The secretary says lawmakers should not limit U.S. military action to Iraq and Syria or prevent President Obama from deploying ground troops if he eventually finds it necessary.

The secretary's testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is the first time that an administration official has publicly described the elements that the administration wants to see in a new authorization for the use of military force. A committee vote on a new authorization could happen as soon as this week.

ROMANS: So Washington still buzzing this morning after an MIT economist who helped shape Obamacare abjectly apologized for, quote, "glib, thoughtless, and insulting comments" about the intelligence of American voters.

Jonathan Gruber appeared before a House committee on Tuesday. Republicans blasted him for remarks that emerged last week on a video that had surfaced. Gruber had claimed that Obamacare passed only because of what he called, quote, "the stupidity of the American voter." Before Congress, Gruber repeated his apology dozens of different ways.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN GRUBER, OBAMACARE CONSULTANT: I sincerely apologize for conjecturing with a tone of expertise and for doing so in such a disparaging fashion. It's never appropriate to make oneself seem more important or smarter by demeaning others. I knew better, I know better, I'm embarrassed, and I'm sorry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: He strongly defended Obamacare himself saying that his own, quote, "arrogance" is not a flaw in the Affordable Care Act. But, boy, did he give opponents to Obamacare so much ammunition.

BERMAN: Indeed.

ROMANS: All right, new protests of recent police-involved deaths of unarmed black men. The "we can't breathe" movement back on the streets and back on the NBA court. Now New York police defending their practices to CNN ahead.

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ROMANS: Protest organizers say they are in the middle of a week of outrage -- demonstrators once again taking to the streets coast to coast, denouncing police killings of unarmed black men.

In Berkley, protesters marched through downtown briefly halting traffic on a strait freeway. A plan to take over a city council meeting was thwarted when the mayor cancelled the meeting, And a demonstration in Wisconsin staging a die-in at the city council building.

These protests once again finding their way on to the NBA courts, last night, Kobe Bryant and other L.A. Lakers wore "I can't breathe" t- shirts warming up for their game against the Sacramento Kings.

Meanwhile, New York police officers are defending themselves against charges of profiling and racism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK LYNCH, PRESIDENT, NYC PATROLMEN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION: I have 31 years in the New York City Police Department. And I've never once heard on a radio call when a call came over, what race are they? What color are they? Who do they love? Where do they live?

It's never happened. We're doing our job well. We're not looking at who the person is. We're looking at the behavior that leads to the interaction with police. That's the question, the behavior and why someone called the police in the first place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Students at three major American law schools are asking for finals to be postponed, Columbia, Harvard and Georgetown law students say they have been busy protesting. So far, Columbia is the only one to reschedule finals.

BERMAN: New questions about the online car service Uber and just how safe it is. Prosecutors in Los Angeles and San Francisco are suing the company, claiming among other things, that the company lied to and misled customers about the quality of its background checks on drivers and put people who use Uber at risk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE GASCON, SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT ATTORNEY: It has claimed that it uses an industry-leading background check process. However, Uber relies on information submitted over the internet by its drivers, instead of fingerprinting to ensure that they are who they say they are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: A former driver is being arraigned today for the death last year of a 6-year-old girl in San Francisco. Her family claims that the driver was using the Uber app on his cell phone to check on a ride request when he struck the girl in a crosswalk.

ROMANS: A handful of countries now, too, who have banned Uber. I think India is the most recent because there were rape accusations against the driver who had a long criminal history. Fast growth of this app, but it's definitely got some PR issues.

BERMAN: You know, in other news, the royal couple leaving New York, but thank goodness we are left with our own prince of a man, Chris Cuomo will tell us what's coming up on "NEW DAY." Good morning, Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Well said, John, accurate and flattering. Christine.

All right, so we're going to be digging deeper this morning on the Senate CIA torture report. The headline is obvious, the U.S. engaged in torture and the CIA was sneaky about it. That's what the report says.

The big push back from the intelligence community here at home. A bigger concern, however, is what this will mean abroad. Will it spark attacks against the United States and its allies? There's a lot going on in terms of being on high alert. We are going to tell you about that.

Also, we got a rare interview with one of the charter members of the John Berman appreciation club, a woman known as Angie to her friends, but Angelina to the rest of us, Jolie.

She takes on a monumental task of telling what may be the best story of survival any of us will see told on the screen. It's called "Unbroken." It's a really good look at the film but the filmmaker. This may say as much as it does about Angelina Jolie as it does about Louie Zamperini.

ROMANS: I know. You know, I saw the film last week at the screening in New York, Chris. It's impressive. It's an impressive two-hour plus film and you can see her fingerprints all over that film. It's a really interesting --

CUOMO: Just like on John's back.

BERMAN: Right, you can see the fingerprints all over -- All right, let's move on. Thanks, Chris.

ROMANS: Storms striking coast to coast. What you need to know for your day, after the break.

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ROMANS: It's a nor'easter that came right up the northeast Tuesday and it's going to stick around for a few more days, and this is what it looked like in Massachusetts. Snowplows out in force a mix of ice and rain came down hard.

It's a combination making driving an absolute mess, made walking an absolute mess. Accidents reported, as you can see, this car -- this car right here, skating down the road.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were sliding. It was doing 180s and stuff.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was terrifying. Actually, I was out of control for like 10 seconds.

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BERMAN: It sure hit hard. Look at all the rain, just covering the streets, right there. Those drivers should not have been out. It's bad news to drive through standing water like that.

ROMANS: So how long is this weather going to stick around? Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has an early look at your weather -- Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: John, Christine, yes, pretty setup, when it comes to the rainfall, 2-1/2 to 3 inches came down across portions of New England and New York and of course, Central Park getting the record rainfall for the day.

The storm system, if you're curious, when it's heading out, well, it's going to take its time. It's probably like one of those guests perhaps uninvited heads to the door and hangs out and it moves offshore yet again.

Scattered snow showers over the next couple of days and generally speaking total accumulations will be 4 or 5 inches, some areas we could see upwards of 8 inches up around the Adirondacks. The rainfall of a few inches is in the forecast that it could be soggy throughout the next couple of days as we head on into Friday. Out on the west coast, powerful winds on the immediate coast and dangerous for some of the people across coastal California.

A blizzard warning in place across portions of the higher elevations up to 3 feet of snow in the Sierras and rainfall should be generally heavily. This is wettest system since 209 for the west coast of the United States.

BERMAN: They need that rain out there.

ROMANS: Sure do.

BERMAN: Just a few minutes before the hour, a new list revealing the very top companies to work for. Is your company on the list? We'll have an EARLY START on "Your Money" next.

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ROMANS: All right, let's get an "EARLY START on "Your Money," stock futures lower this morning after kind of a market tailspin yesterday. Concerns over the economies in Greece and China sent the Dow down more than 200 points early Tuesday.

Then an afternoon rally shaved losses to just 51 points. So a wild day where the S&P closed down, but the Nasdaq ended higher. Crude oil prices also rebounded yesterday after hitting a five-year low on Monday. Look at that prices have fallen almost $40 a barrel from June highs.

Big news in Detroit this morning, the official will officially come out of bankruptcy today. A federal judge approved the city's plan to shed most of its $11 billion in debt. The court also allowed $1.5 billion in spending to improve essential services like fire, police and sanitation to keep the city working.

The 16-month municipal bankruptcy is the largest in U.S. history. The turnaround was helped by rebound in auto sales and a booming construction.

What's the best company to work for? Google outranks everyone else. That's according to Glassdoor website that asked employees to rate their employers. Where else are others happiest? Consulting firm Bain & Company, Nestle Purina Petcare, software developer, F-5 and pay was first and great co-workers.

BERMAN: Great co-workers.

ROMANS: I love my job.

BERMAN: All right, couple minutes before the hour. Controversy and outrage surrounding the release of the Senate report which detailed CIA tactics in dealing with terror suspects. "NEW DAY" starts right now.