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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Boeing Under Scrutiny After Another Crash; Ethiopian Airlines Crash Kills 157 People; Another Border Battle; Fox News Condemns Jeanine Pirro; Punch On the Pitch; Trump Budget Will Seek $8.6 Billion For Border Wall. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired March 11, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN HOST: Two plane crashes in five months, now big questions for Boeing over a new model jet many Americans fly. We're live at the site of the latest crash in Ethiopia.
JESSICA DEAN, CNN HOST: Declaring a national emergency, spend billions, then get Congress to pay for it, that is just part of the president's new budget setting up a new battle over the border.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANINE PIRRO, FOX HOST: Omar wears a hijab. Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law?
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BRIGGS: In a rare rebuke of one of its stars, Fox News now condemning Jeanine Pirro, she questioned whether a controversial congresswoman's religious beliefs oppose the constitution.
DEAN: And a soccer fan in England, runs on the field and sucker punches a player in the head. Wait until you see how Jack Grealish responded. Good morning everyone. Welcome to "Early Start." I'm Jessica Dean in for Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: Happy Monday my friend.
DEAN: You too.
BRIGGS: Scary -- scary incident there in soccer. I'm Dave Briggs. It is Monday, March 11, 4:00 a.m. in the East. We start with that plane crashed.
Boeing facing serious safety questions following the second crash of a new 737 in the last five months. All 157 people on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi died Sunday morning when their plane went down shortly after takeoff. 189 lives were also lost when a Lion Air flight crashed in late October. Both flights involved brand new Boeing 737 Max 8 airplanes.
DEAN: There is no evidence that the two incidents are linked, but if one issue caused both of those disasters, Boeing might have to be very quickly implement modifications to its planes. American and South West operate dozens of them. This morning Ethiopian airlines is grounding all Boeing 737 Max 8's. So is Cayman's airways and China's Civil Aviation authority have suspended all domestic flights using the Max 8. Boeing now delaying plans to unveil its huge new 777X jetliner this week.
BRIGGS: Into Sunday, the Ethiopian Airlines crashed eight Americans were among the 157 killed and 19 of the dead were United Nations staff members.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEWOLDE GEBREMARIAM, ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES, CEO: We don't know the cause of the accident. We will comply with all the international regulations as an airline will be fully supporting and cooperating with the investigation and we will know the exact cause.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Robyn Kriel joining us live from the crash site in Ethiopia with the latest, Robyn, good morning.
ROBYN KRIEL, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. As you can hear from behind me, there is still digging going on, there is still recovery operations happening here at the site. Spanning about 500 meters with debris and pieces of the Ethiopian aircraft (inaudible) to a strewn across this field.
And just a short moment ago, several bodies were brought out and everyone forms a sort of line and everyone takes a moment of silence. They turn off their heavy machinery and they just remember the 157 people from 35 different countries including the United States, Israel, Ethiopia, Kenya, Britain, Ireland just to name a few.
So it is an extremely tragic crash site not just because of all the lives lost, but also because of the people that are here. Just regular Ethiopians, but who are keep apologizing to us, they say they are so sorry for this disappointment, for this tragedy. Ethiopian Airline staff come around offering coffee to journalists and to rescue workers saying hospitality through tragedy, they are trying desperately hard to try to salvage in more ways than one their reputation. It is a very sad scene.
BRIGGS: All right. Devastating. Robyn Kriel live for us this morning at the crash site. Thank you.
Back here, we switch to politics, where the president will deliver a budget proposal this morning, his first under a divided government. He is promising to balance the federal budget in 15 years by slashing spending for education, health, the environment, foreign aid and other nondefense items. It's a plan lawmakers will likely ignore as the nation's debt reaches record heights. High on the president's agenda, White House official has confirmed he will seek $8.6 billion for his border wall. DEAN: The budget proposal has an additional $3.6 billion in military
construction funds to pay back the money Trump redirected using his executive authority. White House correspondent, Boris Sanchez is traveling with the president and has more now from West Palm Beach.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[04:05:03] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Jessica, in the proposed budget, President Trump is asking all federal agencies to cut 5 percent of their spending except those agencies related to defense. The president asking for a $35 billion increase in defense spending over last year, including $8.6 billion for his long promised border wall.
This is actually the first time in Trump's presidency that the administration is requesting funding for the border wall from different sources. The president asking for $5 billion from Customs and Border Protection and an additional $3.6 billion from military construction funds at the Pentagon.
Democrats are not happy about this budget. The congressional leadership and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, put out a joint statement and the write quote, President Trump hurt millions of Americans and caused widespread chaos when he recklessly shut down the government to try to get his expensive and ineffective wall which he promised would be paid for by Mexico. Congress refused to fund his wall and he was forced to admit defeat and reopen the government. The same thing will repeat itself, if he tries this again. We hope he learned his lesson.
Democrats are essentially daring the president to try to shut down the federal government again. It would be the third time in his presidency that the federal government is shut down over the issue of immigration. Dave and Jessica.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DEAN: All right. Boris, thank you.
It seemed like the 2020 Democratic hopefuls were everywhere at south by southwest in Austin this weekend. Last night's CNN town hall, South Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg called for generational change in America. At 37, Buttigieg is the youngest candidate in the race and he had some harsh words for fellow (inaudible), Vice President Mike Pence.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vice President Pence would be a better or worse president than President Trump?
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA: Oh. Does it have to be between --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Politics is about choices, man. You know that. BUTTIGIEG: I mean, I don't know. It is really strange, because I
used to at least believe that he believe in -- I disagreed with him ferociously on these things, but I thought, well, at least he believes in our institutions and he is not personally corrupt.
How could he allow himself to become the cheerleader of the porn star presidency? Is it that he stopped believing in scripture when he started believing in Donald Trump?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Wow. Also, in her town hall last night, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii focused on foreign policy, but the Iraq war veteran would not say whether she believed Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad is a war criminal.
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TUSLI GABBARD, (D-HI), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think that the evidence needs to be gathered and as I have said before, there is evidence that he has committed war crimes, he should be prosecuted as such.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But you're not sure now?
GABBARD: Everything that I have said requires that we take action based on evidence. The evidence is there, there should be accountability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: For the record, evidence has been gathered and the U.N. has concluded Assad was behind in April 2017 chemical weapons attack.
DEAN: There was a Texas sized buzz for native son Democrat, Beto O'Rourke, even though he hasn't officially declared, O'Rourke appeared for the premier documentary about his Senate race against Ted Cruz. Now, he has teased a 2020 run, but did not reveal his timing.
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REP. BETO O'ROURKE, (D) TEXAS: We got to be a part of this amazing thing in Texas over the last two years, and it continues. And we are so excited about what you're doing, Rhonda, what you are doing, what so many other people are doing and we just want to continue to be a part of it.
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DEAN: In the meantime, take a look at the latest, CNN, "Des Moines register" Iowa poll. Joe Biden still undeclared in this race tops all Democrats at 27 percent. Bernie Sanders is just two points back with the rest of the field well behind.
Fox News condemning remarks from one of its own top hosts last night. Jeanine Pirro on Saturday questioned whether Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's religious beliefs run counter to the U.S. constitution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANINE PIRRO, FOX HOST: Think about it. Omar wears a hijab which according to the Koran 33:59 tells women to cover, so they won't get molested. Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law which in itself is antithetical to the United States constitution?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: Her comments came at the end of the week of controversy for Representative Ilhan Omar, it began with the Minnesota Democrats suggestion that Jewish money is behind congressional support for Israel. Omar has drawn criticism from all quarters, but Fox says Pirro went too far.
BRIGGS: The network said on a statement quote, we strongly condemn Jeanine Pirro's comments about Representative Ilhan Omar, they do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly.
[04:10:05] Pirro herself did not apologize, but offered this explanations. I did not call representative Omar un-American. My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course, because one is a Muslim does not mean you don't support the constitution.
DEAN: The controversy around Omar cast a cloud over Democrats all last week and the GOP took notice. Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney was one of 23 House Republicans to vote against a resolution condemning hate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. LIZ CHENEY (D), WYOMING: It was clearly an effort to actually protect Ilhan Omar, to cover up her bigotry and anti-Semitism by refusing to name her. The Democrats have yet to take any action to remove her from her committee. And they've got a real problem. I mean, the extent to which they are now abiding by anti-Semitism and enabling anti-Semitism in their party is something we watch them struggle with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEAN: The resolution against hate started out focused narrowly on anti-Semitism, it was gradually broadened all week to include groups across racial, ethnic and religious spectrums.
BRIGGS: A check on CNN Business, the worry over higher interest rates appears to be over at least for now during an interview on "60 minutes," FED chairman, Jerome Powell says the central bank will continue to take a wait and see approach to rates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEROME POWELL, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL RESERVE: We see the economy as in a
good place. We think that the outlook is a favorable one. Inflation is muted. And our policy rate we think is in an appropriate place. So what we said that he would be patient.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: After four rate hikes last year, central bankers unanimously agreed to keep rates steady at the beginning of 2019. The fed had floated plans to raise interest rates three more times this year and now expects to raise rates only two times in 2019. Powell said while America's economy is strong, the main risks are now from slower global growth.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POWELL: I would say the principal risk to our economy now seem to be coming from slower growth in China and Europe. And also risk of Brexit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Powell also said attacks by President Trump had zero influence on the decision to slow down interest rates hikes and waved off any imminent concerns of a looming recession and Powell made clear that the president cannot fire him in that interview with Scott Pelley.
DEAN: All right. Well, a woman tries to take a selfie with a jaguar and you guessed it, it didn't end well. Why the zoo says the woman now is at fault.
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BRIGGS: Four 16 Eastern Time and a woman recovering this morning after an encounter with a jaguar at a zoo in Arizona. It happened Saturday night at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix. Witnesses say she crossed over a barrier between the public and the animal's enclosure to take a photo. The female jaguar reacted reaching out and grabbing the woman's arm. Another zoo guest distracted the jaguar and the animal let the woman go. The injuries were non-life threatening. Zoo officials say there were proper barriers in place and it is not a wild animal's fault when they are crossed. They say the jaguar will not be put down.
DEAN: The one mile main track at Santa Anita Park will reopen today for limited training. Officials said, the training will be restricted to the joggers and gallopers. Last week the legendary Southern California course suspended racing in response to the deaths of 21 horses since late December. Track officials say they have done extensive testing, expecting, and fixing the soil composition, they say the lack of significant rain since last Wednesday has also been helpful.
BRIGGS: Well, it's never easy to hear bad news about a hospitalized family member, but it is the way a California woman learned her grandfather was dying that she says made it far worse. From a live doctor appearing on a screen through a video link by a robot.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, (inaudible) we can treat effectively. I can give you morphine, that will make you feel better, but there is a risk that that could suppress your breathing. Do you understand what I'm saying?
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DEAN: (Inaudible) was sitting by her grandfather's bedside at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Freemont when that robot delivered the grand prognosis, 78 year-old, Ernest Contana (ph) died the next day. (Inaudible) says it was horrible for her and her grandfather and the hospital should have had more dignity. A hospital's spokeswoman says they quote, regret and we fell short of the family's expectations.
BRIGGS: You won't believe this, a soccer fan in England arrested for running on to the field and punching a player in the head. It happened during the 10th minute of the match between Aston Villa and rival Birmingham city. You can see that fan run toward for footballer Jack Grealish from behind and sucker punch him.
The fan was taken into custody by security and escorted the way. Grealish though got the last laugh, he scored the winning goal for Aston Villa and leapt into the stands to celebrate following the match, an apology from the Birmingham City squad. Teams said the fan who attacked Grealish has been barred for life. Should be more to come on that. There should be probably some type of punishment for that team to prevent this from ever happening again.
DEAN: That's so scary. Essentially when you are in a spot like that.
BRIGGS: Thankfully he didn't have any sort of weapon. Yes.
DEAN: ISIS as a territory is on its last legs. The final push to wipe out the terror groups last enclave in Syria is under way. We're live in Eastern Syria that's next.
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BRIGGS: The final push is under way to wipe out the last ISIS enclave in Syria. Right now a fierce assault by U.S. backed Syrian Democratic forces is under way in the village of Baghouz. CNN is the only U.S. network to witness what could be the final assault on ISIS in Eastern Syria. Our team there includes Kareem Kaders, Scott Mcqueeny, Adma Doby (ph) and our senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman live in Eastern Syria. Ben?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Dave, well, overnight we saw intense bombardment of this small encampment, it's only about half a kilometer -- half a mile square, but there is still signs of life inside. We saw through our binoculars earlier today, people moving among the tents and the wrecked cars that are in that area. And also you can see I hope in the distance the black banner of ISIS still flying.
[04:25:03] Now, this is the third time the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic forces have tried to clear this small patch of land, the last bit of what was the so-called Islamic State that stretched from the outskirts of Baghdad to Aleppo in Western Syria, but at this point it is not clear if they are also going to call another halt to the fighting to allow some civilians out of this last encampment that ISIS holds.
We were actually just on the edge of the encampment yesterday an hour before the offensive began. And I can tell you, it was hairy.
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WEDEMAN: Gun fighting is hitting around the corner from us, because there is a sniper in an ISIS building just 200 meters from where we are. So if we were to go around this corner here, we'd be exposed to that sniper.
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WEDEMAN: And what we also saw when we were there is how ISIS people have been trying to survive this bombardment. We saw the remains of tents and inside the tents they dug trenches about a yard, a yard and a half deep to try to protect themselves from what has been fairly intense bombardment, certainly overnight it was pretty crazy, Dave.
BRIGGS: Pretty crazy to see you there in that helmet and that vest. Terrific reporting, Ben Wedeman, just our team there, Jessica, just a terrific job they've done bringing us those pictures. Not wearing the helmet and vest for dramatic effect to keep themselves safe. We continue to hope they remain safe.
DEAN: Absolutely. Well, Boeing is facing some big questions, two of its newer planes crash in five months. The latest model is being put on hold. We're live at the site of the latest crash in Ethiopia.
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