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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Obama to Speak in Ethiopia; Donald Trump Tops New GOP Poll; Desperate Search for Two Teens Missing at Sea; Road Rage Turns Deadly. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired July 27, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: So first President Obama in Ethiopia is becoming the first sitting commander in chief to visit. So what is on the agenda? A live report moments away.

Donald Trump tops a new CNN poll of republican candidates. So what do voters in him that they don't see in the 15 other people running right now? We have new numbers straight ahead.

And then the desperate search off the coast of Florida, two teens missing. Their boat recovered, but no sign of the boys. New details on the search overnight.

Welcome back to EARLY START. Well, I'm John Berman. 30 minutes past the hour. Christine Romans is off today.

Happening now, history unfolding in Africa. President Obama becoming the first sitting U.S. president to visit Ethiopia. He is meeting right now with the Ethiopian prime minister. Topping the agenda, fighting terror group, Al Shabaab, the civil war in South Sudan also alleged human rights violations by Ethopian leaders. The President's visit follows an emotional two-day trip to his father's homeland, Kenya. B

ut let's get the latest right now from CNN's Robyn Kriel live from Ethiopia in Addis Ababa. Good morning, Robyn.

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. Bilateral talks underway between President Barrack Obama and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. He's also flanked by his National Security Advisor, Susan Rice as well as the commerce secretary. So those are an indication of what exactly the President will talk about today but also expected to talk truth as it were with the Prime Minister regarding human rights violations here in Ethiopia. A very interesting election results were the ruling party in Ethiopia won 100 percent of the votes. Many of the opposition parties saying that that vote was not a clear indication of the realities on the ground. as well as press freedom. We're expecting that the President will not shy away from these controversial topics despite the smiles that reported between the two leaders when the bilaterals began.

I want to read something to you, written by an African writer. He said, "In most case, from the African continent American aircraft are more likely to deliver drone strikes than President. This week at least things are different as Barrack Obama landed in Kenya with an arsenal of "truth bombs" and the courage to drop them.

We also saw that Kenya, John, those "truth bombs" as if were a bomber going head-to-head essentially with President Uhuru Kenyatta and talking gay right issues with with the President called a non issue. But Barrack Obama also addressed very strongly the issues of women's rights saying that traditional -- just because something is a tradition on the African continent doesn't make it right. So he has not been mincing his words at all and we would expect that, perhaps, it might continue here in Ethiopia.

Security also, John, a major issue for President Barrack Obama highlighted just yesterday when terror group Al Shabaab attacked a hotel -- hotel (INAUDIBLE) by westerners in the capital of Mogadishu. Mogadishu is the capital of Somalia, which borders both Ethiopia and Kenya, the two countries that Barrack Obama has visited during his presidential trip here and, of course, that these will top the agenda of how the U.S. can best help African forces fighting Al Shabaab counter terrorism.

BERMAN: All right, Robyn Kriel for us in Addis Ababa. Thanks so much, Robyn.

A new CNN/ORC poll shows Donald Trump is on top. The billionaire businessman leaves Jeb Bush and all the other Republicans right now, apparently overcoming a messy dust-up with John McCain. Trump says there is a reason why he is number one. Let's get more from CNN national correspondent, Sunlen Serfaty.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This poll shows that Donald Trump is not just a hiccup in this race. Right now he is being national frontrunner among the Republicans.

Now it's important to note that this poll was done after he made those controversial comments about Senator John McCain and shows he's increased his support among Republican voters in the last month.

But beneath the surface here, there are certainly some red flags for him. His unfavorability ratings are a problem for him more so than any other Republican candidate. 80 percent of democrats have an unfavorable view of him, 53 percent of independents, and 43 percent. That's still such a big number among Republicans.

Now despite this (INAUDIBLE) poll numbers making it clear he is a factor in this race and Trump likely will feel emboldened by that saying Sunday on State of the Union with Jake Tapper that he believes the leaders of the RNC are starting to warm up to him.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They view me as an outsider, I guess. And now they're starting to view me not as an outsider because I'm leading in the polls. Not just (yours). And I think they've been nice over last few days. They're starting to see what's happening. I mean there's a movement going on. This is more than me. This is a movement going on. People are tired of these incompetent politicians in Washington. They can't get anything done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: And that trademark rhetoric of Trump's clearly is attracting voters. In this poll, he is the candidate that Republican voters say they want to see up there on the

[05:35:00] debate stage and here you see that Trump leads well ahead Of Bush, ahead of Senator Rubio and ahead of Senator Cruz. And the first debate is just 10 days away. Trump has already started (voted down), play expectations a bit, saying he has no debate experience and predicting that the other candidates will come out swinging for him.

BERMAN: Right, Selman. Thanks so much.

So, when it comes to name calling, the Republican party top strategist has a not-so-subtle message for Donald Trump and maybe also his rivals. He says, "Knock it off." This is RNC Communications Director Sean Spicer on CNN's "Reliable Sources".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN SPICER, REPLUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SPOKESPERSON: I understand it's going to be nature of any primary for folks to discuss the differences between themselves on policy issues and I think that's fine.

The name calling needs to stop. We got to remember what Ronald Reagan taught us -- his 11th commandment -- "Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican..."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: On McCain is not running right now but Lindsey Graham who is, Scott Walker who is, Jeb Bush who is. We'll talk about just about anyone. Spicer says the Republicans should keep their eye on the White House.

Mike Huckabee is facing a backlash from [volking] images of the holocaust to condemn the nuclear agreement with Iran. This is what the Republican candidate told Breitbart News. "The President's formed policy is the most feckless in American history. It is so naive that he would trust the Iranians. By doing so, he will take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven."

The Anti-Defamation League quickly condemned Huckabee's comments. National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said, "Comments such as those by Mike Huckabee suggesting the President is leading Israel to another holocaust are completely out of line and unacceptable."

Hillary Clinton is promising to put the country on the path to renewable energy that will power every home in the U.S. by the year 2027. She made those comments in campaign events over the weekend also posted them on her campaign Website. The former secretary is also confirming or also says she will testify before the House committee on Benghazi in October. But Republicans claim she is demanding limitations on questioning. This raises doubts whether it will actually happen at all.

There is no sign this morning of two Florida teenagers who went missing at sea Friday during a fishing trip. The coast guard is searching for 14-year-olds Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos, the two friends managed to fall miles south of Daytona Beach. Their capsized boat was recovered on Sunday. Their neighbor, the hall of fame quarterback Joe Namath is helping with the search.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE NAMATH, HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK: They were all praying and Nick actually wants you the folks know that they're trying to help out that are out there searching and be very careful. We've got a lot of people out in water and in the air looking. Both families have been hard at work at this and praying. So let's just stay safe and we'll keep on looking till we find it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The families are offering a $100,000 reward for anyone who helps bring the teens home safely.

Funeral services will be held today on Lafayette, Louisiana for the two woman who were killed at a movie theater last week -- Mayci Breaux and Jillian Johnson will be laid to rest.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says the gunman who took his life should never have been able to buy a gun. He has a history of legal problems as well as mental health issues and once prompted his former wife to remove guns and weapons from their home. He was denied a permit in 2006 to carry a concealed weapon.

And breaking overnight, Bobbi Kristina Brown has died. The daughter of the late Whitney Houston, the singer, Bobbi Brown passed away Sunday in Roswell, Georgia, at the age of 22. She spent most of the last six months in a hospital than a hospice facility after being found face down and unresponsiveness in a bathtub. A statement released by the Houston family reads Bobbi Kristina is finally at peace in the arms of god.

Let's get an early look at Your Money right now. Alison Kosik here with that.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: OK. Fasten your seatbelt. It's beginning to look like a real ugly week. Stocks are down around the world right now. Look at the Shanghai composite falling 8.5% overnight. That's actually the biggest drop since 2007.

Stocks in China have been in a real tail spin. The government has taken drastic steps to (prop-up) the market. But this morning, that doesn't seemed to be working because of big concerns about China's economic growth slowing down. And the big business story we're following this morning. Chrysler is getting slapped with a regard fine for mishandling 23 recalls involving 11 million cars. The company admitted to violating federal safety laws and will pay $105 million for it. That it include the cash penalty, plus incentives for drivers to make sure they get their cars fixed. Chrysler will also pay federal oversight for three years and much higher in independent monitor. But it's interesting to see NHTSA , the regulators, and it's finally cracking down being really aggressive only after NHTSA, the regulators, were criticized for not doing their jobs properly.

BERMAN: Yes. I'm getting head of it next time.

KOSIK: Yes, yes.

BERMAN: Thanks so much. Extreme heat building across the south this morning ahead of an unexpected and unwelcomed heat wave in the northeast.

[05:40:00] Let's get to meet your meteorologist, Derek Van Dam for an early look at the forecast. Derek.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, John. Flooding concerns continue this week for central Florida stalled our frontal boundary across this region. You can see our high resolution radar imagery going forward

through the day today. Showers and thunderstorms will pop up from Tampa Bay

through Orlando, even south toward Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

Now, we also have a significant cold front that's moving across the northern plains. That will bring the possibility of severe weather today across the Dakota's, even further south toward Nebraska and Western Kansas, damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes possible with this cold front moving through.

Now, we have a collision of air masses causes this severe weather very warm and very humid across the nations' heartland.

Take a look at this heat indices. Tulsa, you'll top 108 today. That's what it feels like as you step outside. Nashville, in the lower 100s as well. And that's why we have heat advisories and warnings from Arkansas through parts of the plain states. So this heat will move eastward and look at this, New York, you are also in the warm up this week, 95 by Wednesday. Back to you.

BERMAN: 95. No thanks.

All right. A new car seat that could actually stop children from dying in hot cars. We'll have a closer look next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Wal-Mart and the baby products company Evenflo seems to be taking child safety to a new level. Their new car seat is equipped with technology design to prevent parents

[05:45:00] from accidentally leaving a child in the back of a hot car. When the car ignition is turned off and the child is still buckled in, an alarm from the wireless chip embedded in the chest strap will go off. The Advanced SensorSafe Embrace seat is available all ready online and will be in Wal-Mart stores next month.

Let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY." Michaela Pereira joins us now. Good morning, friend.

MICHAELA PERIRA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Good to see you on this Monday, John. I hope you had a great weekend. As we start we've got a busy morning. We know that search and rescue crews are out this morning. They are scouring the seas off the coast of Florida. They're desperately trying to find those two 14-year-old boys who've been missing. They've been missing since Friday.

But today, in the 7 o'clock of our show, the parents of one of those young boys and their family friend who just happens to be former NFL super star, Joe Namath, they joined us about the search -- the ongoing hunt for these children. They really, really hope they could find them.

Also, Donald Trump, we're talking about him again seeming to defy the political law of gravity, lashing out at immigrants and war heroes, senators alike. As he rises to the top of the polls, we are going to speak with Trump's closest advisors, one of them, ask how the billionaire Republican does it. All of that ahead on this Monday's. This is on "New Day", John.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: All right. Looking forward to it. Thanks so much, Michaela.

PEREIRA: You got it.

BERMAN: All right. A case of road rage takes a deadly turn. The 911 tapes from the incident now coming to light. They are intense and you will hear them next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:50:00]

BERMAN: The 911 call is capturing two sides of a deadly case of road rage in Florida. A man gun down in front of his family, of his own family, after going head to head with a fellow driver on the road, authorities say the entire ordeal could have been prevented if the victim had listened to the 911 dispatcher. CNN's Nick Valencia has the details.

NICK VALENCIA, CORRESPENDENT: John, the 911 tapes are absolutely frightening. The whole incident started last week on Thursday afternoon in Citrus County, Florida, when Robert Doyle and Condelario Gonzalez got into an encounter on the road. Both parties called 911 on each other to report the other's the erratic driving.

Now on his 911 audio tape, Gonzalez can be heard telling dispatch that he's going to follow Doyle home. They advised him not to go. He does it any way.

Now when they get outside of Doyle's residence, which is just about five miles from where the incident started, less than two and a half minutes after the whole encounter began, shots were fired. Doyle can be heard on his 911 tape telling police that he has a gun.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

ROBERT DOYLE, ACCUSED SHOOTER: My gun's all ready out. It's cocked and locked.

CATHY GONZALEZ, VICTIM'S WIFE: That son of -- he's got a gun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: Moments later, things turned violent when Doyle showing Gonzalez five times eventually killing him. Doyle took it a step further by essentially holding Gonzalez's family hostage. Two of those children in the car under the age of 10 years old.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

GONZALES: I don't know how many times he hit. He fired multiple times. The guy just kept charging at him.

911 DISPATCHER: They're coming as fast as they can. Just do whatever he ask you to do. OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: When the police eventually arrived, Doyle was arrested, taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder, as well as three counts of aggravated assault. I did ask police investigators with the Citrus County Sherriff's office if it complicates their investigation that they told the victim not to pursue the alleged shooter. What I was told by the captain is that Doyle had the opportunity to not engage the victim and had the chance to go inside his home. For now, Doyle has posted his $60,000 bond and is out of police custody. We've called him and his family. They have not returned our calls. John?

BERMAN: All right. Nick Valencia, thanks so much. The Boy Scouts of America setting a long-standing ban on adult gay leaders. The 80- member board expected to ratify the change on the votes today. Under the new policy though, church-led scout groups can still limit gays joining leadership positions. The church groups will choose adult leaders "whose beliefs are consistent with their own".

The hall of fame in Cooperstown welcoming four new members in one of the greatest classes ever -- the class of 2015. This is Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz. They have 735 career victories and nine Cy Young Awards between them. The fourth inductee, Craig Biggio, a member of the 3000-hit club, a life-long astro. This was the first year the three pitchers were voted in on the first ballot. And the first time since 1955, the four players made it on the hall of fame all in one year. That's Pedro Martinez with Juan Marichal. Those were the natives of the Dominican Republic now in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Oil prices sinking. That means good news for your gas prices, next.

[05:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Time for an EARLY START on your money. Alison Kosik here with us.

KOSIK: And good morning seeing red arrows though across the board. Asian stock, European stock, U.S. stock futures all lower. Look at Shanghai's benchmark that fell 8.5% overnight. Wow. It's been a wild ride for stocks in China this year with trillions of dollars wiped out in a matter of weeks. Dramatic moves from the government have kept stocks steady for a few weeks but that calm has been shattered in China this morning.

Swiss Bank UBS forced to release it's earnings a day early. That's because the Swiss newspaper published an incorrect report. The bank had to correct some misinformation about it's earnings, but the good news, profit climbed more than 50 percent from

the year earlier. UBS says it's investigating who, if anyone, leaked the false report.

Oil prices following this morning. Crude oil is below $48 a barrel right now. That's the lowest since March. Why are oil prices lower?

Well, U.S. oil producers increased drilling activity last week. That's adding to the global oversupply of oil so it's bad news for oil companies, great news for drivers. The national average today is $2.71 a gallon. That's actually $0.80 lower than this time last year. Also, John, prices are expected to fall even more in the coming weeks.

BERMAN: Yes. That's a big drop from last year.

KOSIK: It is.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: Big difference if you're hitting the roads this August.

KOSIK: Yes.

BERMAN: Thanks, Alison.

KOSIK: Got it.

BERMAN: The President making history with a trip to Ethiopia and the contest to succeed him is heating up. New poll with numbers on the 2016 race just moments away. "NEW DAY" starts now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trump is still leading the pack among Republicans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are tired of these incompetent politicians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's appealing to the dark side of American politics.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Barrack Obama has defended the international nuclear deal with Iran.

HILLARY CLINTON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Is it perfect? No. Is it better than alternatives? Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Major backlash over comments of Mike Huckabee.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The desperate search off the coast of Florida. Two teens missing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We maintain our perpetual optimism that we're going to find somebody.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're on the go as much as they possibly can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This will continue on until we find where our boys are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll alternating between deep, deep grief, as well as intensed anger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This attack was meticulously planned.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This man was certainly of unsound mind because you know what? He wrote it down.

ANNOUNCER: This is "NEW DAY" with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to your NEW DAY. This is Monday, July 27th, 6 o'clock in the east.

The Donald's poll power only grows. And his latest statements stands out for his accuracy and selflessness. "It is not about him," Trump says, and he is right. The latest CNN/ORC poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with Washington, especially in the wing of the GOP and that's a big reason that Trump is face of this content.

PEREIRA: GOP voters in particular not happy with the status quo. In fact, the majority of them saying their views are not represented at all in Washington. That's nearly double the number of Democrat s who feel that way. [00:06:00] CNN's Athena Jones live in Washington breaking down these numbers for us. Athena?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela. A lot of interesting numbers here and this is the first poll we've done after Trump made those controversial remarks.