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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
The Latest on Chinese Tariffs; Florence Aftermath. Aired 5- 5:30a ET
Aired September 18, 2018 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN HOST: The president's latest tariffs on China mean half of Chinese imports face an extra cost. China is expected to retaliate.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN HOST: Water overtaking this high way for miles as water levels and the death toll continue to rise in the Carolinas.
ROMANS: And a mix of new stars and old favorites take top honors at the 70 Emmy Awards while you were sleeping. We'll tell you how it turned out. Good morning and welcome to Early Start. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: And I'm Dave Briggs. We'll also show you a dramatic proposal and what she said at those Emmys. It's Tuesday, September 18, 5 a.m. in the east. We start with the latest regarding the Supreme Court. It promises to be one of the most dramatic days in memory on Capital Hill.
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford both set to testify, Monday, about the decades old allegations of sexual assault that have thrown Kavanaugh's nomination into a tailspin, the stakes for the White House and lawmakers, enormous, ahead of the midterm elections with full female voters, in particular, galvanized by the Me Too movement.
ROMANS: At the eye of the political storm, President Trump showing noticeable restraint. Instead of going on the attack, here, the President says, he is open to a delay to get Kavanaugh confirmed the right way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'd like to see a complete process. I'd like everybody to be very happy. Most importantly, I want the American people to be happy because they're getting somebody that is great. I want him to go in at the absolute highest level. And, I think, to do that, you have to go through this. If it takes a little delay, it will take a little delay. It shouldn't, certainly, be very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Again, a measured - measured response from this president. Two key Senate Republicans now say Monday's hearing will be crucial to determining how they vote on Kavanaugh's nomination, Congressional Correspondent, Phil Mattingly, has the latest for us this morning from Capital Hill.
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello Christine and Dave. There will be a public hearing. It will not be a committee vote to approve Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination, this week. There will be a public hearing next week. Brett Kavanaugh is expected to testify. His accuser is also expected to testify.
Really, the allegations that have riled, both, publically and privately, the U.S. Senate, Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans for the better part of the last couple of days, coming to a head with a recognition in a private meeting between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, that moving forward without airing out the allegations, publically, simply, wasn't an option. Why was it not an option? Well, take a look at some of the Republican senators who have very real questions.
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE: There are an awful lot of - of questions, the inconsistencies, gaps. And that's why, to be fair to both, we need - we need to know what happened. If Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying.
SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: We'll have to see it as it unfolds. It's a - all I could say is, this was - these were serious allegations, and as soon as she came forward she deserved to be heard. So, that's what we're doing as the - as the committee.
MATTINGLY: So, you guys, obviously, the big question now is, what happens at this public hearing, and then in the wake of this public hearing, if Brett Kavanaugh who at one point, was pretty much on the glide path to confirmation. Can he still get the requisite number of votes?
Everything will, mostly, hinge on who believes who at this public hearing. Obviously, there are a lot of days before then and we've seen a lot happen over the course of the last 72 to 90 or so hours. But those are the big questions going forward. I will tell you this, there's one thing to keep a close eye on; the split between committee Republicans and committee Democrats, not just over the nomination, but these allegations, has become stark.
It has become a very deep divide to where both sides are barely even talking to each other. How that will matter when this actual public hearing comes to be. How the hearing is actually held. The dynamics of that hearing as it happens. Well, it will certainly be one to watch and as I noted, one with enormous stakes, Dave and Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Phil. Thank you for that. That Monday hearing is on the calendar, but there are signs Democrats want to delay it. Senate Judiciary Ranking Member, Dianne Feinstein, says Republicans are rushing the process. She is one of several democrats asking for the FBI to investigate the assault claims first.
BRIGGS: Judge Kavanaugh spent nine hours at the White House, Monday, huddling with his confirmation team. One official describing him as shaken, but focused. The administration is determined to defend Kavanaugh's integrity and bolster his public image ahead of Monday's hearing. White House officials are now contacting many of the 65 women who signed a letter of support for Kavanaugh to see if they are willing to, publically, back the judge next week.
ROMANS: President Trump ordering the declassification of materials related to the Russia investigation. That includes selected sections of the application for surveillance on a former Trump Campaign Advisor, Carter Page. The President's top allies claim without proof, that the FBI has wrongfully - had wrongfully obtained its warrant for Page and is hiding information that could discredit the Mueller probe.
The President also ordered the Justice Department to release all text messages related to the Russia investigation from four former top FBI officials, and one current Justice official, all of them regular Twitter targets of the President.
[05:05:00]
BRIGGS: Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee warns the release of these materials could compromise sources and methods used by law enforcement, but the top Republican on the committee, Devin Nunes, disagrees.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DEVIN NUNES (R), HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: I don't know how many times they're going to run that play call, but it's laughable that they're saying this is going to, somehow, endanger national security. This is, really, full transparency for the American people.
This will be all of the information, really, that is - that I think the American people will need to see because for two years, we've been force feeding this Russia Kool-Aid to the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Not clear when these materials will be made public.
ROMANS: All right, Florence has finally made its exit from the Carolinas, oh, but not so fast, the death toll and the flood waters continue to rise here. The former hurricane is being blamed, now, for 32 deaths.
Virginia reporting its first storm related fatality after a tornado from the system's outer bands collapsed a building near Richmond. Yesterday this train derailed in Lilesville where the - the storm washed train tracks away. A dam burst in the very same area, last night, forcing evacuations.
BRIGGS: With more rain coming, officials are bracing for catastrophic and historic river flooding across the Carolinas. Take a look at Interstate 40 in Pender County, water as far as the eye can see overflowing from the Cape Fear River. That river will start rising again today. So, conditions could get even worse. ROMANS: James Ammons just moved to Wilmington a few weeks ago. He lost his car in the storm when he said he tried to help a girl who - who needed food. He's been in and out of three shelters, but he's keeping it all in perspective.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES AMMONS, EVACUEE: We've got people in here who've lose houses, people who've lost relatives, people - you know, and it's - it's hard to see that. And - but, at the same time, you just got to be grateful for what you have right now because I think, to a certain extent, I feel like that's what's happening to a lot of people is that, you know, we haven't been so grateful for what we have so it's being taken away from us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Later this morning residents of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, where Florence made landfall, they will be allowed to return home. Still about 350,000 customers in North and South Carolina without power, at least 2,600 people have been rescued from flood waters. And, again, those waters will keep rising.
BRIGGS: Yes. For a look at the biggest threats remaining in the Carolinas and how the reminisce of Florence will soak the Northeast today. Let's check in with Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning Dave and Christine. Yes, the flooding, still an ongoing issue across portions of the Carolinas. We're going to expect to see these flood warnings in place for, at least, the next several days, maybe even the next week or so as the gauges continue to report a moderate to major flood stage, and the fact the numbers have risen a little bit in the last 24 or so hours.
And we're watching all of that water, gradually, recede back through a lot of these counties, and eventually on into the Atlantic Ocean. So, that's the biggest concern in this slow motion disaster as often described when it comes to these, sort of, flooding events.
But here's what's left of this system. Notice the post-tropical system right around portions of New York into Western Pennsylvania. That's, essentially, where the - the core of what is - what was once posed - what was once Florence beginning to push through the region.
I expect some heavy rainfall into the afternoon hours to the late morning, early afternoon. Philly and New York get some - a few thunderstorms. And that is about it, generally speaking, less than an inch.
A few pockets around, so, southern areas of Vermont and New Hampshire could get a couple of inches. But a front comes by and skirts this offshore. And, finally, we begin to see the weather pattern, at least, improve for the eastern United States, guys.
BRIGGS: OK, Pedram. Thanks, a new darling of comedy cleaning up while you were sleeping at the 70 Emmy Awards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL FERRELL, ACTOR: Outstanding comedy series goes to, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: The Amazon series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, was the biggest winner, taking home five Emmys, including best comedy series, the show's star, Rachel Brosnahan, winning for lead actress.
ROMANS: On the drama side, HBO's Game of Thrones was, once again, king winning best drama series for a third time. The show was hosted by SNL Weekend Update duo, Colin Jost and Michael...
BRIGGS: Che.
ROMANS: ...Che. The pair addressed Hollywood and the Me Too movement in their monologue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHE, CO-HOST, EMMY AWARDS: It is an honor to be here, sharing this night with the many - many talented and creative people in Hollywood who haven't been caught yet.
COLIN JOST, CO-HOST, EMMY AWARDS: This year - this year, the audience is allowed to drink in their seats. Oh, you're excited about that?
(APPLAUSE)
Yes, because the one thing Hollywood needs, right now, is people losing their inhibitions at a work function. Netflix, of course, had the most nominations tonight.
(APPLAUSE)
That's right - that's right. And the (INAUDIBLE) network executive. That's the scariest thing you could possibly hear, except maybe Sir Ronan Farrow is on line one.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Well played. It was also a big night for veteran actor, Henry Winkler, who got a standing O after winning his first ever Emmy for his supporting role in HBO series Barry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENRY WINKLER, AMERICAN ACTOR: I only have 37 seconds. I wrote this 43 years ago. (APPLAUSE)
[05:10:00]
OK, well guys, can I just say Skip Brittenham said to me a long time ago, if you stay at the table long enough, the chips come to you. And tonight, I got to clear the table.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Forty three years ago during The Happy Days, of course.
ROMANS: One of the night's memorable moments was the surprise marriage proposal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLENN WEISS, AMERICAN DIRECTOR: My mom wore on your finger in front of all these people, and in front my mom and your parents watching from above, will you marry me?
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: After winning an Emmy for directing the Oscars, Glenn Weiss proposed to his girlfriend on the Emmy stage. She said yes.
BRIGGS: A night that was all about speed and quick speeches. That was a power move.
(LAUGHTER)
That was a power move by Glenn because he's saying, look, I'm going to take my time with this proposal. Good for them. All right, ahead on the show, North Korea says gangster logic by the United States' slowing denuclearization talks, the third summit of the year happening right now between north and South Korea. We're live in Seoul with what it means.
[05:15:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: All right, as promised, the Trump administration announcing a new round of tariffs on China, this time on $200 billion worth of goods. The new tariffs go into effect later this month, the 24th.
They start at 10 percent and they jump to 25 percent at the end of this year. Combined with tariffs enacted earlier this year, roughly now half of all products China sells to the United States will be subject to American tariffs.
That means you, the consumer, will likely pay a little bit more for a number of things. New items include a wide of array of tech products like routers, circuit boards and other I.T. equipment, bad news for companies like Facebook and Google which rely on Chinese electronics for their cloud computing and their data centers.
Apple caught a slight break here, the Apple Watch and other Bluetooth devices are exempt for now. Yesterday, President Trump threatened additional tariffs and - and called on China's leaders to take swift action to end their country's unfair trade practices.
And that did not go over well, overnight China announced it will be forced to take countermeasures but no specific numbers yet.
BRIGGS: So watch that space. This morning a third Korean summit is underway. South Korean President Moon Jae-in landing overnight in Pyongyang, greeted by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
The meeting comes as North Korea takes a fresh shot at the United States over the denuclearization process. Joining us live from Seoul, Paula Hancocks with the latest. Paula, good morning.
What are they hoping to accomplish during this summit?
PAULA HANCOCKS, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Well David, well (ph) certainly a very warm welcome, as you said, for President Moon Jae-in. He has been tasked by both President Trump and also Kim Jong- un according to the Blue House, of being the chief negotiator between Washington and Pyongyang, until they can actually get more of an active dialogue together.
And as he was being warmly welcomed, there was also an article on the front page of the state run newspaper blaming the U.S., saying the U.S. is totally to blame for the deadlock when it comes to the relations between the U.S. and North Korea.
Not this was really just to show as well that Mr. Moon has his work cut out for him. This article went on to blame conservative politicians, saying that they are stubbornly insisting that there is denuclearization first and they will discuss concessions later.
Now effectively that is what we're hearing from Washington publicly, but it was interesting the article was very careful not to mention the U.S. president Donald Trump himself, blaming elsewhere.
But it really does show Mr. Moon that it is going to be very difficult to be this chief negotiator between two sides, which are very far apart. Pyongyang believes that have already made significant concessions, they want the U.S. to do the same. Dave.
BRIGGS: Just startling images though, isn't it Paula? Seeing Kim Jong-un so normalized and so celebrated there in South Korea. Paula, thank you.
ROMANS: All right, fewer refugees will be allow into the U.S. next year than any other time since the resettlement program started nearly 40 years ago. Only 30,000 people will be allowed in 2019, a 33 percent cut from this year's low of 35,000. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claims the drastically reduced number
of refugees should not be the soul barometer of the administration's commitment to humanitarian efforts.
Refugee resettlement agencies and immigrant rights groups, they want more people allowed into the country. They cite the rising number of refugees who need help.
BRIGGS: All right, coming up, we'll talk a little sports, heading (ph) for the cycle, so nice, the Brewer's Christian Yelich did it twice and made some history in the process. Andy Scholes up (inaudible) with the Bleacher Report next.
[05:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRIGGS: All right, let's talk some sports. Week two of the NFL season wrapping up late with Monday Night Football, Bears and Seahawks. Andy Scholes with the Bleacher Report.
And Andy, that Raiders trade of Khalil Mack not looking so good this morning, is it?
[05:25:00]
ANDY SCHOLES, SPORTS ANCHOR, CNN: (SPORTS)
ROMANS: All right, Dave. Thank you so much. It is impossible to overstate how much is riding on Monday's hearing on Capitol Hill. Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford. They will both share their stories. Who will senators believe? Who will the voters believe just weeks before -- weeks before the midterms?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: He said/she said in front of a national audience. Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, both expected for a riveting day of testimony next week.
BRIGGS: Expect to pay more for your tech products. The president's latest tariffs on China mean half
