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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Sanders Appears On "The Late Show"; Cliven Bundy Arrested; Federal Government Sues Ferguson, Missouri; Kerry Calls For Cease-Fire In Syria. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired February 11, 2016 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:31:14] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: What a critical night for Democrats in the race for president. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton take the debate stage. A PBS debate that airs right here on CNN. Hillary Clinton needs to turn things around. A laser focus on minority voters.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: South Carolina turning into a battlefield for Republicans running for president. The new attacks as the race shrinks.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman. 31 minutes past the hour now and we are just hours away from the new showdown in the race for president.
The PBS Democratic debate that will air right here on CNN tonight. It is crystal clear where Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are drawing new battle lines for this face-off -- minority voters.
After a high profile meeting with Al Sharpton in Harlem, Bernie Sanders hit the late show with Stephen Colbert. He repeatedly brought up the issue of racial oppression. He addressed whether the political revolution that he is calling for could end in violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, CBS HOST, "THE LATE SHOW": Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable, is what John Kennedy said. And if your answer is not the answer, is violent revolution inevitable?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well I certainly hope not but I hope -- and what the goal of this campaign is about is to look at the civil rights movement, look at the women's movement, look at the gay moment, understand that when people come together, we can accomplish enormous things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The debate takes place tonight in Milwaukee at 9:00 p.m. Again, it's a PBS debate airing right here on CNN.
Senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns has the latest. JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, this morning, the focus is turning towards Milwaukee and the pivotal debate there tonight between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. It's so important because the former secretary of state lost momentum in the drubbing she took in New Hampshire. She's already trying to make changes to her campaign to appeal to younger voters. Bernie Sanders is going to try to build on fund raising success as well as that big win in New Hampshire to show he's not a one-state wonder. So a lot riding on the debate tonight. At the same time, the candidates are looking toward the next time the voters go to the polls. The pivot to South Carolina is a challenge for these candidates because of the demographics. African-American voters with big influence there. But interesting Bernie Sanders didn't just fly right down to South Carolina after his big win.
He went to Harlem to meet with reverend Al Sharpton and Sharpton wasn't issuing any endorsements at least at this point. He's waiting to meet with Hillary Clinton. And talking with someone familiar with Sharpton's thinking, he's apparently got concerns about both candidates. There continue to be questions about whether Sanders can actually do the things he's talked about on the campaign trail. My understanding is that while it all sounds good, there's skepticism about whether Sanders can deliver. And misgivings about Hillary Clinton, too. Though she polls very well with minorities, there are questions about things Bill Clinton did as president that could affect Hillary's campaign.
The wounds have not healed over the rhetoric and that sometimes divisive battle in the South Carolina primary in 2008. Bill Clinton seen as going a little too far at times. There's also his signing of the welfare reform bill while he was president and the crime bill that led to higher rates of incarceration. Bill Clinton has said he regrets that, but the source said the question is whether the African- American community is going to take oops, I'm sorry for an answer. But today, the focus on Milwaukee and latest face-off between the candidates in that debate. John and Christine --
[05:04:51] BERMAN: All right, Joe Johns, thank you so much.
The Democratic presidential debate sponsored by PBS airs tonight. You can see it right here on CNN, also your local PBS station. That is live at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Joining us to figure out what will happen tonight to break down this crucial action, this debate, CNN politics reporter Tom LoBianco. Tom, good morning to you. To a certain extent, this is the first day, the first event of the rest of our political lives in the Democratic race. Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, out of Iowa, out of New Hampshire. Out of two states that are very white, very liberal, now facing the rest of the country, facing a much more diverse country. How do you think that will play out on the stage tonight?
TOM LOBIANCO, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Well, you can see it already. Sanders was prepping this -- throughout New Hampshire, he was really talking about where the individual freedoms and individual rights, a lot of the old civil rights, the civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, he's been talking about this for a while. Clinton, in an interesting way, in her closing speech on Tuesday night, was sounding almost more like Sanders, talking more about income inequality. You can both see them moving more to their weaknesses. And like you said there, in Nevada and South Carolina, there are going to be two incredibly important tests. Real major gauges of whether or not these guys will go the distance. It's incredibly important. And tonight's going to be a big -- it's going to be the first time they appear on stage head-to-head post-New Hampshire in that check on the minority vote to see where they are. What is their message and what do they think will work there?
ROMANS: Yes, when you're leaving Iowa and New Hampshire, those are two very small unique states. And a lot of times you hear people say they may have outsized influence of what happens next but clearly very different electorates as they go forward. I want to listen to something that Jay Carney, who used to be the president's spokesman, said yesterday on CNN. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY CARNEY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don't think there's any doubt that he wants Hillary to win the nomination and believes she would be the best candidate in the fall and the most effective as president in carrying forward what he achieved.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: So the president would like Hillary Clinton carrying forward his legacy. But for some of these Sanders voters, Sanders supporters, they don't necessarily want a continuation of the last eight years of president Obama. They want a revolution.
LOBIANCO: Right. That's right. I mean the entrance polls from Iowa, the exit polls out of New Hampshire, one of the interesting questions there was the gauge of what do you think of the president. And the voters who were going with Clinton said, yes, we like the direction. Keep going. The voters who are going with Sanders said, we like the direction and more of it. We want it more liberal. So that's what they want. There's -- Bill Press is one of the big Sanders surrogates out there, big Sanders supporter, big voice in the liberal movement, and he said that he wrote that book saying that there's disappointment on the left with Obama. And you can see that in that base for Sanders.
BERMAN: There's not much disappointment among the minority community, though, with president Obama, and to the extent that he's willing to put his thumb on the scales and say more kind things about Hillary Clinton, it could help in the next few weeks as many of these states have a disproportionately high minority vote. So that will be interesting to see. Hillary Clinton was not on the campaign trail. Hillary Clinton was not in public yesterday. A full day off meeting with advisers, likely, which is an eternity, and I'm just very curious if you think we will see a change on the stage tonight from her?
LOBIANCO: Well there's been questions on the leadership in her campaign. And you know, it's a good question. How do they change the message? Axelrod had that very funny tweet a couple days ago where he said, at what point does it, do you stop questioning the advisers and start questioning the principle in these races? She's got to do something. She already started making that adjustment on Tuesday night, that message adjustment. It was very interesting when she said that she wanted to see small dollar donations from supporters. It wasn't quite the donation blast that Sanders got on Tuesday night but it's an acknowledgment that she has to play across the board. And she's got to start talking more income inequality. She start doing that -- that's her weakness. She is playing to it.
ROMANS: Let's quickly talk about the GOP before we let you go. Tonight we're going to have this Democratic debate, the GOP, Ted Cruz saying this is now -- he wants it to be a two-man race. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[05:39:53] SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think at this point it is becoming more and more a two-man race between me and Donald Trump and what we're seeing is conservatives uniting behind our campaign. And if conservatives continue to unite, we're going to win the nomination and that's also how we win the general.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: There's seven people in that two-man race, for the record. Still kind of a crowded field even with two out now.
LOBIANCO: Right. Not quite mano a mano. He needs it that way because that's how he wins. If it ends up being a three-way, ultimately, and Rubio there looked like a real threat. He still is a threat but not as much so after New Hampshire, but when it's a three- way, it is easier for Donald Trump to walk away from it. If it's Cruz locking it in, he stands a much better chance. His path becomes much clearer. He needs it and wants it desperately. And South Carolina is crucial in his game plan.
ROMANS: Crucial. Ooh, that's a new headline. Crucial.
BERMAN: Oh, I like that. Cruz campaign patenting that right now. 5:40 am. Tom LoBianco, thanks so much. Great to have you with us.
LOBIANCO: Thanks, guys.
BERMAN: All right. Breaking overnight. The FBI moves in on the remaining protesters occupying an Oregon wildlife refuge. A new arrest is made. We have breaking details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:45:18] The nation's top health officials testify today at a senate hearing where lawmakers are considering a request from president Obama for $1.8 billion in funding to fast track a vaccine for the Zika virus. The Centers for Disease Control now confirming it has identified the virus in two babies who died in Brazil from microcephaly. This is the strongest link yet between Zika and that heartbreaking birth defect.
The six-week standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge may soon be over. The FBI surrounded the compound where the last four occupiers remain holed up. It appears the armed protesters plan to leave the refuge and surrender to Federal agents this morning. Meantime, Cliven Bundy, he's the father of the protest leader, he was arrested at the Portland airport just hours ago by the FBI. Now it's not known what the charges are, but a post on the facebook page for the Bundy's Nevada ranch says the elder Bundy was on his way to the scene of that standoff in Oregon.
The federal government is suing Ferguson, Missouri in an effort to force reform in the police department and court system. It comes in response to city officials' rejection of a deal with the justice department, a deal negotiated after a report found widespread racial discrimination throughout Ferguson's law enforcement. The city became a symbol of problems with policing and race following the shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in 2014. That officer involved in that shooting was not charged.
The Flint water crisis front and center on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers held a second hearing Wednesday. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder declined to testify. He asked the state legislature for another $195 million in funding for Flint. The city of flint is now under a boil water advisory following a water main break that officials say may have allowed bacterial contaminants to enter the water system.
Time for an EARLY START on your money. The Dow suffering, suffering through a four-day losing streak. Futures suggest it will be five thanks to a big drop in oil prices overnight. Huge stock market losses in Europe and Asia right now. Look at those. Drivers will save hundreds of dollars at the gas pump this year thanks to that crash in oil prices. Now travelers are finally seeing lower airfares as well. Airfares dropped 6.2 percent in the third quarter of last year. Average ticket now $372, the cheapest since 2010. Increased competition from low-cost carriers like Sprint and Frontier have major airlines dropping prices to stay competitive. Cost of jet fuel is down nearly $1 a gallon over the past year. That helps carriers make more money which allows more flexibility in ticket prices.
Happening right now, the U.S. and world leaders are pushing for a cease-fire in Syria. The civilian death toll skyrocketing as air strikes increase. Team coverage breaking it all down next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:52:15] ROMANS: Secretary of State, John Kerry, is calling for an immediate cease-fire in Syria. He is in Germany right now for a meeting of major world powers. There's growing concern on two fronts over Russia's full throttle air support for the Syrian regime offensive against rebel forces. Not only is it threatening the peace process, it is also triggering a refugee crisis of overwhelming proportions. We're covering both of these developing stories, these angles.
Let's start with Nic Robertson in Munich. Good morning, Nic. NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good
morning, Christine. You really can't underestimate the importance of the talks here right now. The peace talks ongoing in Geneva last week barely got off the ground in Geneva last week, if that. They've been put on pause because of those Russian air strikes in and around Aleppo. Because they're supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad, causing so many casualties on the ground, that the opposition just were really in a position where they couldn't, in good conscience, continue with the talks. That was a non-starter. So what you have here right now, later today, you will have those 18 principle countries and groups of countries, the European Union, the Arab League -- who will sit down to try to figure out a way to push this forward. Now perhaps no surprise, we are hearing from the Russians now that they're proposing a cease-fire, a cease-fire, we understand, that should begin on the 1st of March. The opposition is saying, well if Russia is serious about a cease-fire, then let's have it now. I'm also hearing that probably the emphasis in these talks later tonight is going to be to put pressure on Russia to bring down the timeline if they are serious about that cease-fire to get it going as quickly as possible to get the talks up and running. There's a lot of concern. If this period of a cease-fire is allowed to wait for a couple of weeks, then the opposition is probably not going to be well placed to come back into the peace talks. There is a lot of focus, a lot of hope here that all of those other nations that will facing off around the table with Russia and with Iran, that they can pressure them to get the talks going soon by bringing that cease-fire forward. Christine --
ROMANS: All right, Nic, in Munich for us this morning following those talks. Thank you for that, Nic.
Now those Russian air strikes in Syria are coming dangerously close to the Turkish border, destroying or uprooting the lives of countless thousands of civilians. For more on that part are the story, we turn to CNN senior international correspondent, Arwa Damon. Arwa --
[05:54:46] ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. And if you'll remember when the Russian air strikes allowed the Syrian regime to cut off a vital supply line from Turkey to rebel held areas of Aleppo, they not only hampered supply routes for rebel fighters, they also caused a massive humanitarian crisis when it comes to trying to get much-needed food supplies in, but also causing tens of thousands to flee toward Turkey's borders and since the regime managed to take over and cut off that supply route, they cut rebel held areas in half and they have been moving closer towards Turkey's borders. In the last 24 to 48 hours, air strikes happening about a ten-minute drive away from the Turkey's borders causing tens of thousands more people to flee as well. Meanwhile, Turkey says it has an open-door policy, but its gates do remain closed.
In the aftermath of these air strikes, it is absolutely devastating and heart breaking and violence that is only too familiar in Syria's war zone. One video posted to youtube showed a little girl in complete shock. She was bloodied, she had shrapnel in her head that doctors were trying to remove. She was trying to speak, but quite simply couldn't. And this is just one example of the countless lives that this ongoing fighting has been claiming. Meanwhile, not many are really putting a lot of hope in the fact that these cease-fire talks will actually amount to anything. The opposition fighters say they have been betrayed too many times by the international community while the Syrian regime, for its part, has massive support from Russia but also from numerous other actors on the round to include Iraqi militias and of course that vital support that it does get from Iran.
ROMANS: All right, Arwa Damon, thank you so much for that report. Thanks, Arwa.
Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning. A drop in oil prices is sending global stock markets tumbling. Crude below $27 a barrel. Dow futures down almost 300 points. European stock markets are sinking. Stocks in Hong Kong plummeting, investors there returning from a holiday break and catching up on all this selling.
In the midst of that emergency water crisis, Flint, Michigan has a major housing problem. The average vacancy rate in Flint is 7.5 percent, that's nearly five times higher than the nation wide average. This is according to new data from RealtyTrac. 1 in 14 houses is vacant but in the five zip codes closest to the city center, look at that, one in five homes sit empty. The city's housing market hit hard during the great recession but prices rose last year. Now there are signs that the water crisis is straining Flint's housing recovery. Median home price fell eight percent in December, the biggest drop anywhere in the country.
57 minutes past the hour. Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, facing off tonight on the debate stage. "NEW DAY" picks up the reporting now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Just hours from now, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton face-off in a key debate.
SANDERS: This country is supposed to be a nation of fairness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the president has signaled, while still remaining neutral, that he supports Secretary Clinton's candidacy.
SANDERS: Go your own way. The revolution is possible. You are the revolution.
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'd go home if I didn't think I could compete.
CRUZ: The only candidate who can beat Donald Trump is me.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Jeb has no foreign policy experience. None.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The last thing we need is another Bush. That I can tell you.
He's a low energy person. JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You're looking at the guy that
should be president of the United States. Because they've written me off in this campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIS leaders are determined to strike the U.S. homeland.
Additional attacks in Europe and attempted direct attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota, and Michaela Pereira.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": John Berman pondering his notes at the last second. Good morning, welcome to your NEW DAY. It is Thursday, February 11, 6:00 in the East. Alisyn was hurt in a bar fight but fine so John Berman joins us this morning.
And there is a major moment upon us. The debate tonight. Critical for Hillary Clinton if she plans to take back the momentum from Bernie Sanders. What will this rumored tone shift be?
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": In the meantime, the Republican candidates hitting a new battle ground in South Carolina, bracing for a hard fight. The GOP field narrowing down now to seven. Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina both ending their bids. How the upcoming contest change the race?
We begin with our coverage with senior Washington correspondent, Joe Johns, here with us with a look at the high stakes Democratic race. Good morning, John.
JOHNS: Good morning, Michaela. All eyes on Milwaukee this morning as the Democratic candidates prepare to go head-to-head for the first time after the first in the nation primary. Bernie Sanders will be looking to maintain his momentum and show he's not just a one-state wonder and for Hillary Clinton, it'll be a chance to try to change the narrative.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS (voice-over): Bernie Sanders raising over $6 million in the 24 hours after polls closed in New Hampshire. Gaining momentum before tonight's crucial PBS Democratic presidential debate. Descending on New York City in a victory lap celebrating his sweeping win in Tuesday's primary bringing his anti-establishment message to "The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert.
