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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
New Wildfire in Southern California; Melania's Call; White House Shake-Up; Fatal Air Force Jet Crash. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired November 14, 2018 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:14] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: A new wildfire sparking in southern California overnight, and it's spreading quickly. The death toll rising to 50 people statewide.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY: I give him my honest advice and honest opinions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A top national security official preparing to be fired after the first lady makes an unprecedented public statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Everybody wants to work in this White House. We are a hot country. This is a hot White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: President Trump looking to replace at least two other top officials. Who else is on the chopping block?
ROMANS: An Air Force jet crashes in Texas overnight killing one pilot, sending another to the hospital. We have the latest on the investigation there.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: Good morning. Good morning to all of you. I'm Dave Briggs. It is Wednesday, November 14th, 4:00 a.m. in the East. It is 1:00 a.m. in California. That's where we begin this morning with breaking news.
With 50 lives already lost to the California wildfire, the threat may be widening this hour. Forty-eight of those fatalities have occurred in northern California where six more victims of the Camp Fire were found Tuesday. Officials are now compiling a list of the missing, though they are reluctant to estimate how many people that might be.
ROMANS: And in southern California, a brand-new wildfire is burning east of Los Angeles county in San Bernardino County. It is being called the Sierra Fire. It is approximately 20 acres in size now with high winds, high winds fanning the flames. No evacuations ordered at this time.
Now, the death toll from the Woolsey Fire there in southern California stands at two with more than 400 structures destroyed, another 57,000 considered to be in danger.
CNN's Scott McLean has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Christine, there are thousands of firefighters on the front lines trying to stop this fire from spreading. But for many people here in Malibu, it really doesn't get much worse. Case in point, we're standing on what once was the family home of Thomas Hirsch. He grew up here, his family lived here.
And when we think of Malibu, we often think of the rich and famous. That is not the case for this family. His parents bought the house in 1965 for just $39,000. And they're 94 and 97 years old. And so, they've accumulated a lifetime worth of things.
So, today, Thomas was trying to find anything of value that he could salvage. And he managed to find a sterling silverware set that had been melted into a blob. He actually just found it right over here.
Now, despite the destruction and despite his parents' age, he says that they want to rebuild.
THOMAS HIRSCH, PARENTS HOUSE BURNED IN WOOLSEY FIRE: We're survivors. What we build will come back, and take whatever insurance money they had and clean it up and rebuild it and make it nicer than it was before. I told my dad this, and he says, Tom, you can't make it nicer than it was.
MCLEAN: The big concern is with the wind. Red flag conditions had been extended now until Wednesday evening. That means the conditions are prime for flames to spread quickly or fires to start. As for any rain in the forecast, well, that might be in two weeks maybe. So, whenever firefighters are able to finally stamp out this fire, it will be with no help from Mother Nature -- Dave, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Scott McLean in Malibu for us.
More than 13 million people, 13 million people in California right now under red flag warnings.
I want to get straight to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, good morning, Dave and Christine.
Yet another day where we're watching very carefully when it comes to how things will play out. Once again, critical concern and extreme concern for fire weather behavior includes Los Angeles County down towards San Diego County where humidities will struggle to get above 5 percent. We know the winds will be gusty at times, but quite a little bit weaker than yesterday at least.
But take a look at this, containment to the north for the Camp Fire up to 35 percent. Officials now saying November 30th, that's the target date for containment, and fully containment across that region. To the south, we're up to 40 percent containment. But uncertain as far as when conditions will be good enough to put the fire out in its entirety, at least contain it in its entirety.
And the forecast for this afternoon yet again, 35 to 50 miles per hour. Tell you what, that is plenty strong here to cause the fires to continue spreading into new areas. And, unfortunately, that's going to be the case at least through today.
But by tomorrow afternoon into, say, Friday, we begin to see winds die down, becoming breezy which is pretty seasonal for this time of year. But again, expecting some numbers to improve there as we go in towards Friday and Saturday -- guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: Pedram, thank you.
Meanwhile, an imminent shakeup at the White House and a stunning, unprecedented move by First Lady Melania Trump. Melania calling for the removal of deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel.
[04:05:05] And CNN learned President Trump has told people he's prepared to fire her. Ricardel clashed with the East Wing staff during Mrs. Trump's recent trip to Africa.
Listen to what she told ABC News during that trip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
INTERVIEWER: Has he had people that you didn't trust working for him?
MELANIA TRUMP: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: Did you let him know?
MELANIA TRUMP: I let him know.
INTERVIEWER: And what did he do?
MELANIA TRUMP: With some people, they don't work there anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Sources tell us Ricardel has also butted heads with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Chief of Staff John Kelly in recent weeks. So far, no official word from the White House on her status.
More now from senior White House correspondent Pamela Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: A stunning string of events here at the White House surrounding deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel. Earlier today, Melania Trump, the first lady, issued a statement. And here's what the statement said: It is the position of the office of the first lady that Ricardel no longer deserves the honor of serving in the White House.
The statement came out around the same time that Ricardel was at the White House attending a ceremony with President Trump. So, immediately, White House officials began scrambling in the West Wing. They were caught off-guard, according to sources, that the statement was even going to be released.
Now, there had been an ongoing feud behind the scenes between staffers for the first lady and Mira Ricardel surrounding a trip to Africa. There was a dispute over a plane seat and other issues. But the fact that this has spilled into public view is extraordinary.
Now, in terms of her future, that's unclear. A source telling my colleague, Jeff Zeleny, that the president has made the decision to fire her. Yet, throughout the day, she was still in her office, according to White House officials who couldn't give a clear answer on what her future holds.
Now, we have reached out to Ricardel, and she has not responded for comment. All of this raises the question of what will be next for John Bolton, the national security adviser, who brought Ricardel on board to the NFC.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: Pamela Brown there, thank you.
Other senior White House members could be unemployed in the next few hours or days. Sources telling CNN virtually no one feels completely secure with the exception of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The president is expected to ask for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen in the coming days.
ROMANS: And CNN has learned he is also discussing potential replacements for Chief of Staff John Kelly despite announcing Kelly would remain on the job until 20. In fact, the vice president's chief of staff, Nick Ayers, has told two friends he is in the running for Kelly's position. Ayers has grown close to the president and key members of the administration, including the president's daughter and son-in-law.
BRIGGS: CNN learning President Trump's legal team could submit answers to questions posed by special counsel Robert Mueller any day now. A source says the president met again with his lawyers Monday, and they're nearing completion of written answers to Mueller's questions. Those questions said to focus on Russia collusion and not obstruction of justice. Still unresolved is the question of whether Mr. Trump will sit down for an interview with the special counsel. CNN has reported that Mueller's team has begun writing its final report.
ROMANS: Later this morning, Matthew Whitaker will speak publicly for the first time since President Trump appointed him acting attorney general. He'll be appearing at a Justice Department summit in his home state of Iowa at the same time the state of Maryland is arguing in court that the president bypassed the Constitution and illegally appointed him. The state is asking a federal judge to replace him with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley downplaying concerns raised by Democrats that Whitaker might interfere in the special counsel's investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA), CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: The president said that he wasn't going to do that. So doesn't matter what Whitaker thinks. The president said it isn't going to be done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Senior administration officials tell CNN the president is in no rush to nominate a permanent replacement for his ousted attorney general, Jeff Sessions. And that Whitaker appears poised to remain in the position for weeks if not months.
BRIGGS: Another White House event today. President Trump expected to announce his support for new criminal just reform legislation. The bill is backed by a name you may have heard in this newscast a time or two already, son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner, along with a bipartisan of group senators. Proponents made several changes to the bill to gain support of law enforcement groups. They include stiffer sentencing guidelines for fentanyl-related crimes and expanding the definition of serious violent crime.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged to bring the bill to the floor if he has the 60 votes needed. The question is whether Democrats will support the compromise or hold out for more ambitious overhaul.
[04:10:01] ROMANS: All right. This is the final full day for Florida election officials to recount all the votes from three undecided statewide races, the deadline to finish the job Thursday afternoon. And that's not sitting well with Democratic Senator Bill Nelson. His campaign has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that the deadlines are arbitrary and impose a severe burden on the right to vote.
BRIGGS: They'll need a lot more time to get the recount done in Palm Beach County. Voting machines there are overheating and malfunctioning. That means officials will have to start with the recount of nearly 200,000 early ballots. In Broward County, embattled election supervisor Brenda Snipes suggesting she may step down after all the controversy and criticism.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRENDA SNIPES, BROWARD COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS: I've not made any decisions. Whatever I do I will contemplate it carefully and make what I think is the correct decision for me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Miami-Dade and Broward County insist they will meet tomorrow's recount deadline.
ROMANS: Still counting votes in Florida.
BRIGGS: What a mess.
All right. Ahead, a cold case cracked in Ohio. Who police arrested in the killing of eight family members.
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[04:15:15] BRIGGS: Breaking news at 4:15 Eastern Time.
A military training plane crashing in Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, Texas. According to officials there, one pilot was killed, another has been transported to a local hospital. The Air Force T-38 Talon went down at the base at 7:40 p.m. last night. We are monitoring that situation. We'll bring you updates throughout the morning.
ROMANS: A husband and wife and their two adult sons charged with murdering a family of eight in Ohio in 2016. The eight victims ranging in age from 16 to 44. They were found shot to death at four crime scenes in the small town of Piketon. At one scene, police found a 4-day-old baby lying next to his murdered mother. That child and two officers survived the killings.
Police say four members of the Wagner family carefully studied the habits and routines of their victims for months before committing the massacre. The motive appears to involve custody of a child.
BRIGGS: The Los Angeles Rams offering thousands of free tickets to first responders and wildfire victims for one of the most anticipated games of the year, Monday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This game was originally scheduled to be played in Mexico City but had to be moved to the L.A. Memorial Coliseum because the field did not meet NFL standards.
Shakira concert, apparently, ruined the field temporarily. Hips don't lie, my friend. Hips don't lie.
ROMANS: Interesting. All right. Look at this -- U.S. oil prices plummeting 7 percent to a
one-year low. Just above $55 a barrel on Tuesday. It was crude's worst day since September, 2015. Crude oil is down 12 straight days in a row. The longest losing streak since futures trading began in March, 1983.
This is a huge reversal considering oil spiked to a four-year high of $76 a barrel last month. Crude oil crashed into what's known as a bear market last week, and the selling has accelerated since then. Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia announced plans to cut shipments by 500,000 barrels per day.
President Trump is lobbying the kingdom and OPEC to keep output on track, to keep pumping as much oil as it can. The president tweeted Monday afternoon, quote, hopefully Saudi Arabia and OPEC will not be cutting oil production. Oil prices should be much lower based on supply.
That is right. The leader of the free world, the president of the United States, is weighing in on prices in the global market. Much of the concern surrounds sanctions imposed on Iran. The Trump administration initially, remember, vowed to zero out Iran's oil special report, but then decided to allow eight countries including China and India to keep buying oil from Iran. So, it's actually some of the weakening U.S. and its sanctions on Iran oil that are helping keep the supply going and keep prices down.
BRIGGS: It cannot be a double-edged sword. Lower oil prices can have a negative economic impact in our economy.
ROMANS: But it can be good for airlines and for transportation companies that are consumers of oil. It's good for drivers if you start to see gas prices decline. So, that's one of the reasons I think the president is interested in keeping oil prices low.
BRIGGS: Interesting to see him put his thumb on the scale there.
ROMANS: Yes, it really is.
BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, a cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militants bringing an end to the most intense round of fighting between these two sides in four years. We go live to Israel, next.
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[04:23:08] ROMANS: It is quiet right now in the skies over Gaza. A cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militants bringing an end to the most intense round of fighting between the sides since the 2014 war. Militants fired 400 rockets into Israel between Monday and Tuesday with Israeli air strikes hitting over 100 targets in Gaza.
Let's go live to Israel and bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann.
Oren, what are you seeing? OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, we just saw 24 hours
of the most violent and most volatile period we've seen between Israel and Gaze since the end of the 2014 war, arguably bringing the two sides closer to a war than at any point since the end of the 2014 war.
Now a very different story. The sounds we're hearing behind us are not the sounds of air strikes and rockets. Instead, it's the sounds of construction, of cars going about their daily day. People returning to their routine both here, and we know from our CNN teams inside Gaza, very much there. A collective sigh of relief on both sides of the Gaza border here.
It was 6:00 p.m. last night when a statement came out from Gaza announcing a cease-fire brokered by the Egyptians who stepped in to mediate between Israel and Gaza, saying it would bring an end to this round of hostilities.
Israel didn't acknowledge the cease-fire, there wasn't really a statement from the Israeli side saying, yes, an agreement had been reached. But since the announcement, the skies here have been quiet. Again, bringing to an end the most volatile 24 hours we've seen since the end of the 2014 war. In the fighting, 7 people were killed in Gaza according to the Palestinian ministry of health. One person was killed here in the city of Ashkelon, right behind me, which is where we're standing now.
But this round it seems for now has come to an end. The question, how long will the cease-fire hold and what happens from here? This round of fighting put behind us at this point -- Christine.
ROMANS: Hope so.
All right. Thank you for that, Oren Liebermann, for us in Ashkelon. Thank you, sir.
[04:25:00] BRIGGS: British Prime Minister Theresa May will call a special cabinet meeting today after the U.K. and E.U. negotiating teams reached a Brexit draft in Brussels. A British government source says the deal has been reached at a technical level but says may will need to win her cabinet support. Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson making it clear he will vote against the agreement, calling it utterly unacceptable to anyone who believes in democracy.
ROMANS: All right.
BRIGGS: Tell us how you really feel.
ROMANS: Yes.
Twenty-five minutes past the hour this morning. The death toll rising in California. California is burning. Fifty people are dead in those wildfires. Millions are under red flag warnings. A new fire is sparked in southern California.
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