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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Dallas Gunman Had Been Planning Bigger Attack; Obama To Attend Memorial In Dallas; Nationwide Protests Against Police Brutality; First Look At GOP Platform; Bernie Sanders Set To Endorse Hillary Clinton; GOP And Democratic Conventions This Month; Mortgage Rates Near Record Lows; Line Set To Launch $1.1B IPO. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired July 11, 2016 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:31:00] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Disturbing new information this morning on the gunman who killed five police officers in Dallas. Was he plotting an even bigger attack?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Police and protesters facing off across the country. Hundreds arrested, officers injured. New video overnight, ahead. Welcome back to EARLY START, I'm Alison Kosik.

BERMAN: Nice to see you this morning, I'm John Berman. Thirty minutes past the hour. We do have new details this morning on the killer who murdered five police officers in Dallas. Officials say the gunman acted alone and that he'd been practicing for this attack for months.

Dallas police chief David Brown tells CNN he believes the shooter had an even bigger, deadlier assault planned for the city. Chief Brown also revealed disturbing details about the hours' long standoff with the gunman. The chief describing the killer as "obviously delusional", singing to himself, even writing messages on the wall in his own blood.

CNN's Ed Lavandera has more from Dallas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, in the CNN interview with the Dallas police chief, David Brown provided some of the most chilling and descriptive details of the standoff in the tragic shooting from last Thursday night.

The chief says that after the shooting erupted his officers started following Micah Johnson inside the El Centro College building, at one point following him through a stairwell before he was cornered inside the second floor of a building there leading to that multi-hour standoff.

The chief says that Johnson wrote, on the ground or on a wall with his own blood, the initials -- the initials R.B., and investigators are still trying to figure out what that is a reference to. They haven't figured that out yet. There was also some other writing that he had left in his own blood as well.

And then, the police chief also says that Johnson requested that he would only speak with a black negotiator there at the scene. All of this while Micah Johnson continued to fire rounds of shots at the officers who were there inside the scene.

The police chief describes Micah Johnson as someone who was very much under control, yet delusional at times, singing and laughing at the officers, asking about how many of the officers he had been able to kill throughout all of that scene.

And the police chief also says that there is clear evidence that Micah Johnson was mounting an arsenal and, perhaps, had an even bigger planned attack but for some reason switched and decided to make his attack last Thursday night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID BROWN, DALLAS POLICE CHIEF: It appears that our search of this suspect's home in Mesquite leads us to believe, based on evidence of bomb-making materials and a journal, that the suspect had been practicing explosive detonations and that the materials was such that it was large enough to have devastating effects throughout our city and our north Texas area.

We're convinced that this suspect had other plans and thought that what he was doing was righteous and believed that he was going to make law enforcement and target law enforcement -- make us pay for what he sees as law enforcement's efforts to punish people of color.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Those are some of the details revealed by the police chief in an extraordinary interview with CNN -- John and Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[05:35:00] KOSIK: All right, our thanks to Ed Lavandera for that. And President Obama and former president George W. Bush will be in Dallas on Tuesday to speak to an interfaith memorial service for the slain officers. The president, cutting short a European trip to be in Dallas, will also meet with the families of the fallen officers. Before leaving Spain Sunday the president condemned attacks on police officers, physical or verbal, as a disservice to the cause of criminal justice reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: First of all, any violence directed at police officers is a reprehensible crime and needs to be prosecuted. But, even rhetorically, if we paint police in broad brush without recognizing that the vast majority of police officers are doing a really good job and are trying to protect people and do so fairly and without racial bias -- if our rhetoric does not recognize that then we're going to lose allies in the reform cause.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Breaking overnight, protests in Baton Rouge are growing larger and more violent six days after the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling. Forty-eight demonstrators were arrested last night for blocking streets and throwing chunks of concrete at police in riot gear. None of the officers was hurt. More than 130 protesters in Baton Rouge have been arrested since Sterling's death.

KOSIK: The most violent protests over the weekend happened in Minnesota where demonstrators trying to shut down an interstate clashed with police, leaving 21 officers injured and more than 100 protesters under arrest. This, just miles from the place where Philando Castile was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop.

CNN's Rosa Flores has more for us from St. Paul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, for the most part, this is what protests have been like here in Minnesota after the death of Philando Castile. Very peaceful -- people just coming together to express their concerns because of officer-involved shootings. Now, all of that changed overnight. Twenty-one police officers were injured, according to authorities, and 102 protesters were arrested.

Now, here is how the situation escalated. There were multiple protests happening at the same time. Now, the situation escalated overnight when, we're told by the police, that protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police officers, rocks, pieces of rebar, pieces of concrete.

Now, that injured multiple police officers from what we're told. Those are non-life threatening injuries and they're expected to be ok, but as you might imagine, community leaders here are very concerned. Here is what the police chief had to say.

TODD AXTELL, ST. PAUL POLICE CHIEF: We had 21 police officers last night that were injured as a result of rocks, bottles, rebar, Molotov cocktails, and other items that were thrown at our public servants, and it's a -- I just can't believe that this occurred. This is something that just doesn't happen in St. Paul.

FLORES: Now, protesters have been demonstrating in front of the governor's mansion since the killing of Philando Castile. They're asking for justice for Philando Castile. Now, we know that the governor is also asking for the U.S. DOJ to get involved to have a separate investigation, other than the one that is being held by the state agency. Now, the latest that we know from the U.S. DOJ is that they are monitoring and assisting the state -- John, Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right, thanks, Rosa. A total of at least 300 people were arrested across the country this weekend protesting the deadly police shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge. In Atlanta, a fourth straight night of demonstrations. Thousands took to the streets there, there were 10 arrests. Hundreds of protesters in New York marched through Midtown on Sunday. Demonstrators held signs demanding change.

In Washington, D.C., thousands turned out for several marches, including one outside the White House. A protester there told reporters "I'm tired of being so sad". More than 20 arrests this weekend in Chicago. Most of them came Saturday night when demonstrators tried to disrupt a Taste of Chicago festival. Several officers were hit by thrown bottles. There were no serious injuries.

KOSIK: All right, stunning new changes from Democrats and Republicans days before their conventions, making big changes to their party platforms. What we've learned overnight -- that's next.

[05:39:54) COMMERCIAL BREAK

[05:44:05] BERMAN: With less than a week to go before the Republican convention we're getting our first look at the first draft of the party's 2016 platform. It calls for better trade deals to put America first. And in a major shift on gay marriage, past demands for a constitutional amendment declaring marriage to be between one man and one woman have been dropped. They said the decision will be left to the states.

The Republican position remains unchanged with no exceptions for rape or incest, exceptions favored by Donald Trump.

KOSIK: Tuesday looking like unity day for the Democrats with Bernie Sanders expected to formally endorse Hillary Clinton at an event in New Hampshire. This coming after the Democratic platform committee adopted some of Sanders' key positions. Democrats agreeing on a $15 per hour minimum wage, punishing companies for greenhouse emissions, and a government-run alternative to private health insurance -- the so-called "Public Option".

[05:45:00] BERMAN: All right, joining us to discuss, best-selling author and "Newsday" columnist, Ellis Henican. Ellis, great to have you here.

ELLIS HENICAN, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, "NEWSDAY" COLUMNIST: Good morning, guys.

KOSIK: Good morning.

HENICAN: Hello.

KOSIK: Hi.

BERMAN: What a moment in politics, right? We're a week before the Republican convention, Donald Trump due to pick his running mate any day, and yet we are consumed by this crucial discussion right now on race and whether or not we are a country divided or united.

HENICAN: Well, John, it's one of those issues that remains under the radar for times and then something happens and it bursts up into our faces. And you know what, it's not going to be solved until we address the underlying social issues and I've got to tell you, I don't know that we're anywhere near close to that. KOSIK: You know, President Obama having a NATO meeting over the weekend in Poland -- having a news conference about this.

HENICAN: Yes.

KOSIK: His second, at least, since these moments have happened all week. I want you to listen to what he said and then we'll come back and talk to it -- talk about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: As painful as this week has been I firmly believe that America is not as divided as some have suggested. Americans of all races and all backgrounds are rightly outraged by the inexcusable attacks on police, whether it's in Dallas or any place else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: OK, so you've got him saying he doesn't see this as a nation that's divided, yet you see what's happening on the streets in America. You can even pull up some of these Pew Research Center polls, one of them saying only 19 percent, about one in five Americans, says that race relations are getting better. That's versus four in 10, 38 percent, who say it's getting worse. Is President Obama looking out of touch with Americans and how reflective is that on Democrats?

HENICAN: Oh no, clearly we're not all one big happy family on that issue in this nation but I think the president is doing what Dale Carnegie said all leaders should, which is give folks a name to live up to. Even if they're not quite there yet, say I know -- I know we're better than some people portray us to be. Well, maybe that produces a little -- a little unity.

BERMAN: Look, he's got a big speech in Dallas tomorrow. I think this country needs to come together and I think a lot of people will be looking to the president to set the tone for the nation to come together. Let's talk pure politics if we can in these stakes right now. One of the names that's been discussed for Donald Trump is Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.

HENICAN: Yes.

BERMAN: Now, people in Trump world had warned me. They said look, Michael Flynn is a registered Democrat. That's going to create vetting problems. They've sort of been warning me of the Michael Flynn thing, despite the fact that he'd be getting in vogue (ph). And then this weekend he makes statements about abortion, which are diametrically opposed to what a lot of people in the Republican Party think. Let's listen to what Michael Flynn had to say this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. MICHAEL FLYNN (RET.), ADVISER, TRUMP CAMPAIGN: Abortion -- I think it's a -- I think, for women -- and these are difficult issues but I think women have to be able to choose what they -- you know, that's sort of a right of choice but I think that that's a -- that's a difficult legal decision that -- and I think that women are so important in that decision-making process.

MARTHA RADDATZ, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Same-sex marriage?

FLYNN: They are -- they are the ones that have to make the decision because they're the one that's -- the ones that are going to decide to bring up that child or not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That's choice. I mean, that's choice. That is not the Republican Party's position.

HENICAN: And I've got to tell you, the skills of being a great general obviously very different from the skills of being a great political leader. That was a very awkward answer.

BERMAN: Did he just talk himself out of a V.P. pick?

HENICAN: He may well have. By the way, him being a Democratic -- if Trump could -- described that in a way that made him very appealing, right -- bipartisan, cutting across the lines. But already, the right to life groups are saying that is a disqualifying comment for a vice president in the Republican -- in the Republican Party. Yes, I think it's devastating unless he backs away from it immediately.

KOSIK: All right, so the Republican convention next week. The anti- Trump forces traveling to Cleveland this week to try to convince the rules committee to allow delegates to break from the primary results and quote, what they say, "vote their conscience". Could this really gather enough momentum, that you could see?

HENICAN: You know, it doesn't look like the numbers are there, does it? I mean, the slogan sounds great. I think there's a lot of emotional support, but the problem all along has been if not Trump, who? And the party doesn't really seem to have yet even rallied around any single alternative.

BERMAN: By the way, Ted Cruz is speaking at the convention so that option seems to be precluded right now.

HENICAN: I don't see it. I don't -- who's it going to be? I don't see.

BERMAN: Ellis Henican will be Cleveland, available. Thanks so much for being with us.

HENICAN: Good to see you guys.

KOSIK: Thanks.

BERMAN: We appreciate it. All right, let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY". Chris Cuomo joins us now. Morning, Chris.

KOSIK: Good morning. CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": All right, good morning, my friends. We do have new information that the plot of this mad man in Dallas was much more extensive than even what we had to live through as a country. We're going to give you the details on what police were able to find out about the larger plotting that was going on here and what may have motivated this guy on a deeper level.

But then we're going to put him to the side and deal with the question that is hanging over this country. There's no question that after these incidents there is a need for unifying, but how? We know why. We know why it's in our interest. We know why that makes us better, but how? Who can do this?

[05:50:00] Is this President Obama in Dallas, as John pointed out? Is this speech going to be a touchstone for the path forward or is it going to take something else? We're also going to get different perspectives on this situation because that's what it's all about right now, my friends. We'll get the police perspective, the protesters' perspective, and then there's a lot in between.

KOSIK: OK, an important conversation.

BERMAN: All of the above, that's what we need. Chris Cuomo, thanks so much.

KOSIK: All right, smart homeowners are rushing to do one little thing and it could save them thousands of dollars. I'm finally going to tell you what it is if he doesn't talk about emoji. We'll get an EARLY START on your money, next.

[05:50:50] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:55:00] BERMAN: Calls for peace and justice echoing across the nation's capital in the wake of last week's police shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, as well as the murder of five officers in Dallas. Washington residents took part in rallies, protests, and prayer on Sunday. One gathering brought religious leaders and law enforcement together. CNN's Sherisse Pham was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHERISSE PHAM, CNN REPORTER: Good morning, John and Alison. Now, this was the first Sunday following what has just been a horrific week for this nation and pastors had the difficult job, not only of consoling their parishioners, but also offering them something of a way forward, and that's what this rally was really meant to do.

We talked to Rev. Howard John Wesley. He's the pastor of a historic Baptist church in nearby Virginia, the same church the Obamas have celebrated the last two Easters. And during his sermon he quoted from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s letter from a Birmingham jail. We asked him why and here's what he told us.

REV. HOWARD JOHN WESLEY, PASTOR, ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH: I wanted our congregation to hear that what he wrote in 1963 is as real and relevant in 2016 as it was back then. And there's some real specific principles in there that brought us through civil rights that will also bring us through this moment.

PHAM: Volunteers handed out pledge cards to everybody at this rally and I just want to read to you one of the pledges, something that organizers have highlighted as very important. It says, "I commit to express my support and appreciation for the sacrifices that most law enforcement officers make on my behalf."

So, D.C. police leaders also spoke at this rally and this really did seem like an event -- an opportunity to bring two communities that are so divided just a little bit closer together -- John, Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK: All right, let's get an EARLY START on your money. We're seeing Dow futures pointing higher right now, solid green arrows there. We're also seeing nice gains in European stock markets. Check out the jump in Tokyo. That coming after Friday's strong U.S. jobs report and the election results in there. Oil prices falling, now trading below $45 a barrel.

And mortgage rates are sinking and could hit a record low, and guess who you can thank? The Brexit vote for that because it sent investors rushing into bonds, which are tied to mortgage rates. The nationwide average of a 30-year fixed rate sliding to 3.41 percent over the past week. That's just 10 basis points away from the all-time low of 3.31 percent, and that was actually hit in November of 2012. And you look at the 15-year, now down to 2.74 percent.

BERMAN: Wow.

KOSIK: That's actually the popular refinancing tool. Yes, wow is right. And homeowners are rushing to get a better deal there. Zillow says -- get this -- refinance requests -- they surged 107 percent over the past week, so you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The biggest tech IPO of the year is a company you may not even have heard about. It's called Line and it's a rapidly growing messaging service. It features stickers, which are basically like big emoji. There are new ones added every day and users earn them by playing games and other activities. The app also lets customers avoid text message fees.

But here's the thing. Line is facing significant competition from Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat. The IPO coming amid ongoing volatility following the Brexit vote, though, so the $1.1 billion IPO will be a big test for the tech sector. And if you're interested, Line is going to begin trading in both New York and Tokyo. That happens later this week.

BERMAN: What the world needs now, emoji. All right, disturbing new details about the man who killed five police officers in Dallas. "NEW DAY" starts now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(Sirens) BROWN: The suspect had been practicing explosive detonations. We're convinced that this suspect had other plans.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: This is deeply troubling and it should worry every single American.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When the officers are the ones that are hurting us, who do we call?

GOV. MARK DAYTON, GOVERNOR OF MINNESOTA: Justice will be served in Minnesota.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESUMPTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE: Racial divisions have gotten worse, not better.

(Protesters)

OBAMA: This is not how we want our communities to operate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota.

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome to your NEW DAY. It's Monday, July 11th, 6:00 in the east. Alisyn off, Poppy Harlow here. And in the spirit of needing good news, let's just start with that. Congratulations on the baby.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.

CUOMO: You're back to work. She's good at sleeping through the night, true?

HARLOW: Can you believe it? Three months old and sleeping through the night. Gurgling, cooing, and all those adorable things.

CUOMO: Unfair. I have a 6-year-old in my bed every night. We will discuss what you are doing differently.

HARLOW: These things are cyclical. I think I had a good week. Let's see if it lasts. It's good to be back with you.

CUOMO: It is. It's good to have you here --

HARLOW: Thank you.

CUOMO: -- and good to have some good news. Now, let's get to Dallas. We now know it could have been much worse, there's no question. The murder of five police officers hangs over that city and this nation like a paw, but the city's police chief now says the killer was planning a larger attack. We have details of this former military madman's plot ahead.

HARLOW: Meantime, hundreds arrested in protests across this country over the weekend over back-to-back police killings of black men. The national debate on race and justice certainly reaching a tipping point. We have it covered the only way this network can. Let's begin with Victor Blackwell, live for us this morning in Dallas. Good morning, Victor.