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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Clinton Wins Kentucky, Sanders Wins Oregon; Trump Wins Oregon, Open to North Korea Talks; Deadly Suicide Bombings Rock Baghdad. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired May 18, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:02] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight: split decision. Bernie Sanders takes Oregon, Hillary Clinton wins Kentucky, as a new war ignites inside the Democratic Party.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, Donald Trump closer to officially clinching the Republican nomination and then offering an olive branch to North Korea. We're live to explain.
Nothing really surprises us anymore, does it?
Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Boris Sanchez.
ROMANS: So nice to see you.
SANCHEZ: Same to you, Christine.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's Wednesday, May 18th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.
Breaking news this morning, war brewing in the Democratic race for president. Overnight, Hillary Clinton barely edging past Bernie Sanders to win victory in the Kentucky primary. Sanders, as expected, takes Oregon by a wide margin. But a win in Kentucky, this Clinton win Kentucky brings to Clinton to within 100 delegates, including superdelegates, of clinching the Democratic nomination -- though Sanders remains confident that he has a path to the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It will be a steep climb. I recognize that. But we have the possibility of going to Philadelphia with a majority of the pledged delegates. Before we will have the opportunity to defeat Donald Trump, we're going to have to defeat Secretary Clinton.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Let's get the latest from CNN's Jeff Zeleny with the Sanders campaign in California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Boris, Bernie Sanders making clear that he is going to keep going in this final month after winning in Oregon and narrowly losing in Kentucky. He's making the case to his supporters, as defiant as ever, that he's going to make sure that every voice, every vote is counted. Now, he did not necessarily tell his big crowd of supporters last night in California how difficult the math is. He did acknowledge that he has a steep hill to climb, but he said, "We've had a steep hill to climb this entire campaign." He said it's important to defeat Donald Trump, but he also said that Hillary Clinton should also be defeated.
But this is the case he made for going forward for why he's staying in this race.
SANDERS: There are a lot of people out there. Many of the pundits and politicians, they say Bernie Sanders should drop out.
(BOOS)
The people of California should not have the right to determine who the next president will be.
(BOOS)
Well, let me be as clear as I can be. I agree with you. We are in until the last ballot is cast.
ZELENY: Bernie Sanders clearly making the case he's going forward even as the Clinton campaign shifts almost entirely to Donald Trump.
Now, Bernie Sanders knows that the mathematically speaking, it's an uphill climb for him. He didn't exactly level with his supporters how difficult this is. But going forward in the last final month, unity in the Democratic Party much more of an open question than ever before. That's something that Bernie Sanders barely addressed in his victory speech Tuesday night in California -- Christine and Boris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Things heating up. Jeff, thank you.
Donald Trump, the only Republican still running for president, winning Oregon's primary, as expected, of course. This as Trump moves to unify the Republican Party under his control with a deal that will have Trump raising money for down ballot GOP candidates. The presumptive nominee also raising eyebrows with new comments over North Korea and its nuclear program.
CNN's Jim Acosta has more from Trump Tower in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Boris and Christine, as he's closing in on clinching the GOP nomination, Donald Trump is assuming more control over the Republican Party. Trump and the RNC announced joint fundraising agreement last night that will allow the real estate tycoon to raise money for other GOP candidates.
But Trump is still capable of stirring up controversy. The latest example, his comments to "Reuters" that he would speak with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. And those remarks set the stage for a big foreign policy meeting Trump will have later today, with former secretary of state Henry Kissinger.
The other big headline from the presumptive GOP nominee is that he's also filed his personal financial disclosure form with the Federal Election Commission. Trump says he reported an income of nearly $560 million and a net worth of $10 billion. The Clinton campaign responded that Trump's PFD is no BFD and that he should release his tax returns, something he says he will do after he is no longer under an audit -- Boris and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta, thanks for that, Jim.
Let's break down the primary results and talk about all the day's political action, so much going right now.
CNN politics reporter Eugene Scott is with us this morning, bright and early, 4:04 a.m. Washington Time.
Nice to see you. Good morning. Thanks for getting up so early for us, Eugene.
EUGENE SCOTT, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: No problem.
ROMANS: Another big night, a razor-thin win in Kentucky for Hillary Clinton, but she won Kentucky. She had invested a lot of time and effort in Kentucky. She wanted that win. She eked it out. Oregon went, as expected, to Bernie Sanders.
Hillary Clinton now within 100, what, 100 delegates of being able to clinch the nomination? What does last night do for her? Does it change the board here at all? You know, Bernie Sanders in California last night still plugging along.
SCOTT: Well, for her, it's certainly a morale booster. I mean, the narrative up until now has been that she keeps losing and yet is still the front runner, and that's been an issue of concern to many people in the party, especially those who are supporting Bernie Sanders. But this shows that she still has more support than he does at the end of the day, no matter how small the gap is.
SANCHEZ: Eugene, despite Clinton being fewer than 100 delegates from the nomination, as we heard Sanders continues pushing on, he actually spoke out about some of the controversy surrounding last week at the Nevada state convention. And he says that the party is kind of rigging this against him. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: Let me also say a word to the leadership of the Democratic Party.
(BOOS)
A party which incredibly is allowing a right-wing, extremist Republican Party to capture the votes of a majority of working people in this country.
(BOOS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Sanders seemingly very disappointed in his own party. We've heard Harry Reid, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz come out and speak out against Sanders treatment of what happened in Nevada. How does the party handle this Bernie insurgency moving forward?
SCOTT: They're going to have to do something. As you've seen, the Never Hillary movement isn't just a Republican movement. It's a movement within the Democratic Party as well.
There's definitely going to have to be some kind of talk from leaders in the Democratic Party that will encourage Sanders supporters to come alongside whoever will be the nominee. All signs point to it being Hillary Clinton right now and asking them to get on board. That is what will be needed to be victorious over Trump in the end.
ROMANS: You know, Eugene, we're showing pictures of that, you know, chaos at the Paris hotel in Nevada. Look, this is usually three or four days after an event. It's not news anymore. It's almost more newsworthy every day because it's showing -- showing this insurgency against the party establishment but also showing, maybe foretelling some drama going forward.
Listen to what a Sanders supporter, this voicemail that a Sanders supporter left to Roberta Lange, the chairwoman of the Nevada State Democratic Party. I want you to listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SANDERS SUPPORTER: Hi, Roberta Lange. This is a citizen of the United States of America, and I just wanted to let you know that people like you should be hung in a public execution to show this world that we won't stand for this sort of corruption. I don't know what kind of money they're paying to you, but I don't know how you sleep at night. You are a sick, twisted piece of (EXPLETIVE DELETED) and I hope you burn for this. You cowardless (EXPLETIVE DELETED) running off the stage. I hope people find you.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ROMANS: Roberta Lange saying as the days go on, she's getting more and more like that. She spoke to CNN yesterday. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTA LANGE, CHAIRWOMAN, NEVADA STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: I've not received an apology. I -- you know, I've not received anything from the Sanders campaign. I haven't seen anything that said that this should stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Bernie Sanders' spokesman saying overnight again and again, they don't endorse any of this kind of behavior. But what does this say going forward about what's happening inside the Democratic Party?
SCOTT: Well, what it says is that the rift that we have seen and come to expect in the Republican Party is not unique to the Republican Party. There are people in the Democratic Party who are really frustrated, really upset with how things have gone this far and will be deeply upset if Bernie Sanders is not the nominee.
The problem is that there's just nothing that would indicate that he would be as of now based on pledged delegates, as well as votes that have been cast. There's going to have some way people are going to be able to get together, come together in the end and get past this level of deep discomfort and anger and anxiety and even very hateful words if the Democratic Party is going to be victorious at the end.
SANCHEZ: Switching over to the Republican side. Now, Donald Trump no stranger to controversy, courting more of it now with his comments about North Korea. Here's what he told "Reuters".
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I would speak to him. I would have no problem speaking to him. At the same time, I would put a lot of pressure on China because economically we have tremendous power over China. People don't realize that.
REPORTER: But you say you would talk to Kim?
TRUMP: The one -- I would speak to him. I have no problem with speaking to him.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: By him, of course, he's referring to Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. This is seemingly funny. Back in 2008, I remember then-Senator Barack Obama came under fire for saying he would speak to the leader of Iran, speak to leaders in Cuba.
[04:10:07] Trump not nearly catching as much flak. How much has Donald Trump changed the platform of the Republican Party?
SCOTT: Well, this isn't a new move from Donald Trump. We've heard him say very favorable words in the past about Putin, so it wasn't a big shock to me at least, someone who's been following this campaign based off of what he has said in the past.
However, we must realize that this really is a different tone, a different shift from a Republican presumptive nominee. I think it's fair and important to acknowledge that he didn't say anything incredibly favorable about him. He simply said he'd speak to him. That's still a bit much for some people in both parties.
ROMANS: Well, it's exactly what Kim Jong-un wants. He wants to be recognized by the leader of the United States of America, legitimize him within his own borders, his own boundaries. That's why the critics of Donald Trump and his foreign policy say Donald Trump does not -- with comments like this, does not appear that he thought deeply about these issues and what it says about America.
Eugene Scott, so nice to see you. We're going to talk to you in a few more minutes. Thank you for getting up so early for us. Have a cup of coffee, please.
Donald Trump wants to get rid of the Wall Street regulation, the Wall Street regulation bill known as Dodd/Frank.
Here's what he told "Reuters" in that audio interview yesterday.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TRUMP: Much of it is very bad. Much of it gives so much credit, so much power to the regulators that the bankers are unable to function. I would say it'll be close to a dismantling of Dodd/Frank. Dodd/Frank would be a very -- is a very negative force.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ROMANS: Donald Trump echoing what some CEOs, what some bank executives have complained about. Dodd/Frank was enacted after the 2008 financial crisis aimed at creating more stability. Trump also claims there is a bubble in the tech industry. He says that some tech stocks are running on weak concepts and saddling for too much money. He warns the tech bubble could burst. He compares it to dot-com boom in the late 1990s.
Trump also said he does not think Fed Chair Janet Yellen is doing a bad job. Now, that's different than what we've heard from him. He tweeted earlier this month that he'd replace her at the end of her term. He likes the low-interest rate environment, he says, except when it causes inflation. So, Donald Trump weighing in on some important aspects of the economy.
SANCHEZ: We did see a small uptick in inflation. Makes you wonder if the Fed might raise rates.
ROMANS: We did. And that was something that hurt stocks yesterday. You're right.
You've been watching the stock market.
SANCHEZ: I've been watching you is what --
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: New reaction coming in from around the world after Donald Trump says as president, he would sit down one-on-one with North Korea's dictator. More on this, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:16:44] ROMANS: A bill that would allow families of 9/11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia passing a key hurdle in the Senate. Lawmakers giving unanimous approval to the legislation that could make the Saudi government liable for any part it may have played in the terror attacks. The Obama administration has lobbied against this bill. Now, 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi citizens. Saudi Arabia denies any involvement.
SANCHEZ: The Senate has also approved a $1.1 billion compromise bill to combat the Zika virus. President Obama asked for $1.8 billion in emergency funding about three months ago. House Republicans have introduced their own measure to fight the virus, calling for just over $600 million in funding, a figure that the White House calls woefully inadequate. The president is now threatening to veto that measure.
ROMANS: It took eight months for the Senate last night finally confirmed the nomination of an openly gay man as secretary of the army. Eric Fanning becomes the first out gay leader of any branch of the U.S. military. The milestone comes five years after the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy that barred gay and lesbian troops from being open about their sexuality.
SANCHEZ: The South Carolina legislature passing a restrictive abortion bill that bans that procedure after 19 weeks. Similar laws are in effect in 12 other states. The bill is now headed to South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Back in March, Haley said she'd almost certainly sign it but she needs to look at the details once it finally reaches her desk.
Donald Trump opening up a fresh new can of foreign policy worms, announcing if he becomes president, he'd have no problem sitting down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. That's a radical departure from current U.S. policy. Trump says he will try to convince Kim to kill his nuclear weapons program.
Let's bring in CNN's Paula Hancocks. She joins us live from the phone in Seoul, South Korea, this morning.
Paula, how are people responding in South Korea to this news that Trump would seek relations with Kim Jong-un?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, certainly, Boris, there are some that are particularly surprised. Of course, it's not the first time that Donald Trump has managed to surprise the South Koreans, having previously said that he could pull U.S. troops out of the country and South Korea could get their own nuclear weapons. So, I think this is just another statement that has surprised many.
For others, though, they say that he might actually have a point. They're pointing out that the Obama administration's strategic patience policy with North Korea clearly has not been working. The fact that in the past eight years, North Korea has made leaps and bounds when it comes to its nuclear and missile programs, so why not try to talk to Kim Jong-un? Why not try a different approach?
And, of course, it's worth remembering that President Obama about nine years ago when he was campaigning to be president said something very similar in a CNN Democratic debate. He said that he would be willing of hostile countries. At that time, for example, Iran, Syria, and North Korea, saying it was important to try and find an opportunity to build on relationships.
So, some are saying that potentially this is not as radical an idea as it seems. But, of course, Donald Trump doesn't like talking about Kim Jong-un. In the past, he's called him a maniac. He's also said he deserves credit for being able to eliminate his rivals so well -- Boris.
SANCHEZ: Paula Hancocks reporting live from Seoul -- Paula, thank you.
[04:20:02] ROMANS: All right. Nineteen, 20 minutes past the hour.
Dozens killed as ISIS launches a new wave of attacks. Their new shift in strategy, we've got that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: More bombings and bloodshed in Baghdad. Explosions ripping through three neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital on Tuesday, killing at least 46 people, wounding more than a hundred others. ISIS is claiming responsibility for one of the attacks. Iraq's interior ministry reporting one of the suicide bombers involved may have been a woman.
CNN's senior international correspondent Arwa Damon -- she is monitoring the latest developments live from Istanbul.
[04:25:01] And we have seen the threat of ISIS, these dramatic attacks continue, even as ISIS territory has been shrinking.
Is there a change in strategy here, Arwa?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it could be a change in strategy or rather a revival of an old strategy. Remember, ISIS basically used to be al Qaeda in Iraq. And Al Qaeda in Iraq was notorious for these types of attacks, launching and sending suicide bombers to go after these so-called "soft targets".
Now, you mentioned the female suicide bomber there in one of the attacks. Yes, originally Iraqi officials thought that it may have been a female suicide bomber. Later, though, in the ISIS claim of responsibility for that attack, they did say that it was a man who first threw grenades into the crowds before detonating his explosives. And that, yes, just one of three attacks that took place on Tuesday.
The U.S. military is saying that this uptick in violence we've been seeing over the last few weeks, much of it claimed by ISIS, much of it targeting the country's Shia population as ISIS attempts to re-foment those sectarian tensions that exist. The U.S. military saying that this is because ISIS is feeling under
pressure in other parts of the country and ISIS is on its back foot. Well, that is something of a narrow way of looking at a very complex situation, other analysts would say. And they would add that ISIS at this stage is perhaps also attempting to go after these targets in Baghdad to try to draw security forces away from those various different front lines and force them to concentrate their efforts on trying to secure the capital.
But you also have to realize how these kinds of attacks resonate amongst the population. Here are its security forces who are being promoted, being out there fighting ISIS, taking the battle to ISIS, yes, backed by the coalition and very heavy air strikes. And yet, they still aren't capable of securing their own capital.
And, of course, in all of this, you also have the political mess that exists right now, this political chaos that is lending itself to a political vacuum that ISIS is also very capable of exploiting. So, to try to correlate an uptick in violence with a weakened ISIS is not necessarily the most productive way to analyze what is a very complex situation at this stage.
ROMANS: Interesting. All right. Arwa Damon for us in Istanbul, monitoring all that's happening in Baghdad. Thanks for that, Arwa.
SANCHEZ: Breaking news overnight, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton splitting primary states overnight, but could their battle leave the Democratic Party badly bruised?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
