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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
House Passes Two Shutdown-Related Bills; Trump, Dems to Meet Again on Shutdown; Kevin Hart Comeback?; Texas Star Donates Playoff Check to Family of Slain Girl. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired January 04, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: Day two of divided government in America. The new House passes bills destined to go nowhere in the Senate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: We are not doing a wall.
MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have no deal without a wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Day 14 of the government shutdown. Will another Situation Room sit-down today do anything to break the stalemate?
BRIGGS: Rare escape caught on video. A man trapped on the second floor of his burning home with only one way out.
ROMANS: Who will host the Oscars after Kevin Hart quit? How about Kevin Hart? A new interview out today fuelling speculation he could make a comeback.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BRIGGS: Good morning. Good morning, everyone. I'm Dave Briggs. Friday, January 4th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
We begin our second week of this partial government shutdown. So, we have another meeting in the Situation Room this morning between the president and congressional leaders. The aim: to find a way to end the partial government shutdown. But at the moment, Democrats and Republicans seem deeply dug into the positions and in no mood to compromise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: We're not doing a wall. Does anybody have any doubt that we are not doing a wall? So that's it.
REPORTER: Do you worry about backlash? PELOSI: No, it has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with a wall is an immorality between countries. It's an old way of thinking.
PENCE: The president's made it clear. We are here to make a deal, but it's a deal that's going to result in achieving real gains on border security, and you have no border security without a wall. We will have no deal without a wall.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: CNN's Manu Raju has the latest on the stalemate from Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Good morning, Christine and Dave.
Now, Democrats in the House, on their first day in power, moving to reopen parts of the federal government that have been shuddered since before Christmas in the aftermath of that bitter feud between Democrats and Republicans over the president's demands for billions of dollars in funding for his border wall.
Now, two measures passed the House last night. One, to reopen the Department of Homeland Security through February eighth, punting on the funding wall -- funding of the wall. And then another to reopen the other agencies on funding levels agreed to by both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate side in the last Congress, hoping that could persuade some Republican senators to support it.
But the problem is this: The president opposes these measures because it does not fund his wall.
So now, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will not put those bills on the floor, even the one to keep the Department of Homeland Security open until February eighth. That's the same bill he put to the floor before Christmas. He thought, at the time, President Trump was going to sign it into law. The president changed his mind -- he opposed it.
And so now, we're at a situation where it's unclear where the standoff is going to end. Still, leaders and the White House plan to meet today behind closed doors to see whether or not they can come up with any sort of solution. But pessimism is growing intensely on Capitol Hill that any deal could be reached anytime soon which means, Christine and Dave, this could be going on for quite some time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Manu Raju, thank you.
President Trump showed up in the White House briefing room yesterday. This is his first official appearance there. Don't call it a briefing. He arrived on short notice. It was a two--minute warning. And this is billed as a briefing but it was not, in a sense that he
took no questions. Instead, he congratulated Speaker Nancy Pelosi on her, quote, tremendous, tremendous achievement. He spoke about infrastructure as an area of common ground with the Democrats.
The president spent the rest of that eight-minute appearance pushing for his border wall backed by officials from border patrol and ICE.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I have never had so much support as I have in the last week over my stance for border security. Thank you all very much. Appreciate it. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: So, not really a briefing.
BRIGGS: Yes. There are though, the first two Republican senators to break with the president, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine have said they want to go ahead and reopen the government and end the partial government shutdown. Now both are up for re-election, proper context, but some breaking there.
New York Congressman Jerry Nadler reintroducing a bill that will bar President Trump from firing special counsel Robert Mueller for anything short of serious misconduct or other good cause.
Senator Ron Wyden, a ranking member of the Finance Committee, reintroducing a measure requiring sitting presidents and presidential nominees to release their tax returns to the public.
And, Representative Brad Sherman of California defying the wishes of Speaker Pelosi by introducing articles of impeachment against President Trump on day one of this new Congress.
ROMANS: Last night, Democrats passed a new package of rules that will reshape the way the House conducts business.
[05:05:01] Among the changes, the measure creates a new select committee on climate change. It bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
It allows people to wear religious headgear in the House chamber where -- fun fact -- hats have been banned since 1837. And that new religious headgear rule passed, at least in part, to accommodate new Muslim-American congresswomen, one who wears a hijab.
In fact, Democrats are touting this as the most diverse House of Representatives ever. Two Muslim-American lawmakers, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, sworn in by Speaker Pelosi.
History also made as the first two Native American women elected to Congress, Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids, hugged on the House floor Thursday after they were officially sworn in. And, of course, Speaker Pelosi, herself, making history as the first woman to retake the speaker's gavel, sworn in surrounded by all the children who were present on the House floor, her grandchildren and the children and grandchildren of others as well. It's a big moment there. Very cool.
BRIGGS: Great moments for the 116th Congress. Powerful images.
A pointed and funny moment from Pelosi at the Capitol Hill news conference. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer accidentally gave the wrong time for today's White House meeting and Speaker Pelosi stepped in to correct him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. STENY HOYER (D-MD), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: And the president has asked us to come down to meet tomorrow at 10:30. And we will do that and we'll have a discussion. At 11:30? Excuse me, 11:30.
PELOSI: Well, he told me 11:30. Maybe the real meeting is at 10:30 with the men.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Did you hear Pelosi? She suggested maybe the men had a separate meeting earlier. Pelosi's first speech after reclaiming the speakership heralded the largest number of women in the House.
ROMANS: All right. Many of the same fears that impacted last year carrying into this one. The Dow dropped 660 points. That's 2.8 percent after Apple warned it will miss sales forecasts because of weakening growth and trade tensions in China. Apple plunged 10 percent, its worst day in nearly six years. The S&P fell 2.5 percent. Nasdaq fell 3 percent, back in bear market.
Even the administration officials are warning of more China trouble ahead for corporate America. The chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Kevin Hassett, told CNN more U.S. companies with sales in China will follow Apple's footsteps by downgrading their outlooks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN HASSETT, CHAIRMAN, WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS: We have the U.S. growing at 3 percent. The fourth quarter is looking at 3 as well, but the rest of the world is slowing. And that is having an impact on earnings.
And, you know, it's not going to be just Apple. I think there are a lot of companies in the U.S. have sales in China that are basically going to be watching their earnings be downgraded next year until we get a deal with China.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: Ouch.
All right. Beyond Apple, investors were rattled by report showing U.S. manufacturing in December deteriorated to two-year lows. This morning, all eyes to the jobs report coming out in the couple of hours.
A weak December report could reinforce jitters that the U.S. economy is slowing. And right now, the futures is higher because the Chinese confirm there would be trade talks on January 7th and January 8th with the U.S. delegation in Beijing.
BRIGGS: For the latest on the American ex-marine sitting in the Russian prison and charged with espionage. Paul Whelan's lawyer says his client's detention without bail excessive and unwarranted. But a Russian news agency claims the government caught Whelan red handed.
CNN cannot independently confirm that report. For the latest, let's get to senior international Sam Kiley who's live for us in Moscow this morning -- Sam.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Dave, that latest report coming from the local online tabloid level news agency suggesting from their sources that Mr. Whelan was caught red handed, allegedly, taking delivery of some kind of electronic device. He was tailed to his room in the hotel which is next to the Kremlin where he was believed to have been attending a wedding. He was arrested there on December 28th and charged with espionage.
His lawyer says he is upbeat. That he's well in prison. He had visits from Jon Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador. He is also a dual national with the United Kingdom. The British ambassador asked for access to him.
And Mike Pompeo is saying that they are taking this to the highest level which is confusing because he doesn't fit at all with the highest level of the CIA or intelligence officer. He received a bad conduct discharge from the U.S. marines. He was dismissed on charges of larceny. That precluded him from being an American spy, Dave.
[05:10:00] BRIGGS: OK. Sam Kiley, live for us, it's 1:00 there in Moscow, thank you.
ROMANS: OK. Sources tell CNN the Trump administration is scouting locations for a second summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, despite talks being at a stalemate.
The developments come from after the president, President Trump, announced from the Oval Office Wednesday that he received what he called a, quote, great letter from Kim. He didn't say what we as in the letter, but sources familiar with it say it was designed to remind Trump of the strength of their relationship and reinforce the president's enthusiasm for the process. At the same time, an op-ed Thursday in North Korean state run newspaper warns Washington to avoid meddling in its affairs with South Korea. BRIGGS: Yes, reinforcing the point that Kim Jong-un can distract the
president with the letters. Doesn't think he can. He can distract the president, while making it clear they want the U.S. out of South Korea.
All right. Ahead, the first big named candidate for the 2020 race hits the road. More on where Elizabeth Warren is headed.
ROMANS: And one man harrowing escape through the window of his burning home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Later today, Senator Elizabeth Warren is heading to Iowa, making her first trip to the state that starts the Democratic nominating process, just about a year from now. She will arrive in Council Bluffs this evening for the next of five stops. Warren launched an exploratory committee for a 2020 presidential bid on New Year's Eve. That allows her to begin raising money for the campaign. It makes her the first big name candidate for the race. A lot have noted she hired top guns in Iowa, veterans of the Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama organizing events in that state in past years.
BRIGGS: Police in Texas releasing video in the hunt for the gunman who killed a 7-year-old girl.
[05:15:02] It shows the suspect's car near the scene of the fatal shooting. Jazmine Barnes was killed while riding in the car with her family on Sunday. Tips have poured in to investigators, but the suspect is still on the loose.
CNN's Nick Valencia spoke to the victim's family who say they are living in fear.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Christine, it was earlier that we sat down with LaPorsha Washington. She's the mother of Jazmine Barnes. We also spoke to Alexis Gilbert, that's Jazmine's sister.
Both LaPorsha and Alexis were in the car at the time of the shooting. In fact, Alexis says she made eye contact with the suspected shooter. She also says the description is slightly different from the man she saw. Choking back tears, both of them sitting next to each other, spoke to CNN.
What did his face look like? What was his demeanor?
ALEXIS DILBERT, SISTER OF JAZMINE BARNES: He just looked sick. He looked in the car and looked sick. Like his face was really pale. That is all I can remember. His eyes were blue. His face was thin and pale.
LAPORSHA WASHINGTON, MOTHER OF JAZMINE BARNES: The next thing you know, I didn't hear the first gunshot. All I remember is my glass shattering. I turned the light on in the car and turned around and looked at my baby. She leaned over on the door and blood was everywhere.
VALENCIA: LaPorsha Washington says she believes that race played a factor in the shooting. The Harris County sheriff says it is part of the investigation, but right now, it's not their focus.
Meanwhile, the family is terrified and scared the gunman may come back and hurt them. Social activist Shawn King, as well as the attorney representing the family, Lee Merritt (ph), have banded together and raised $100,000 reward for any information leading to the capture of a suspected killer -- Dave and Christine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: All right. Thank you for that, Nick.
A dramatic video from Southern California, as a husband and wife jumped from their second story apartment to escape smoke and flames. Marco Hernandez says he and his wife were trapped in their bedroom by heavy smoke, before firefighters arrived, Fernandez lowered his wife to safety with the help of people believe and moments later, he took the leap himself, more like to drop himself. He landed hard, but uninjured. The cause of fire is under investigation.
BRIGGS: In Oklahoma, four people killed in weather-related crashes, and a state trooper narrowly avoided becoming the fifth. Watch this dash cam video closely. The lieutenant rendering aid at the scene in Tulsa and the car hits the ice and spins and hits the pickup truck which hits the lieutenant. The driver, of course, ticketed for going too fast. Conditions certainly could have been much worse for everyone.
ROMANS: Could Kevin Hart still end up hosting the Oscars? In the interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres" show airing today, she called the academy because she wanted him to host. It comes a month after he backed out over an outcry of past homophobic tweets and his initial reluctance to apologize.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN HART, COMEDIAN: And I had to address it and apologize, and say I understand what those words do and how they hurt. I understand why people would be upset, which is why I made the choice to not use them anymore.
I don't joke like that anymore because that was wrong. That was a guy who was just looking for laughs and that was stupid. I don't do that anymore.
I'm on social media every day. I've got over 40,000 tweets. To go through 40,000 tweets to get back to 2008 -- that's an attack.
That's a malicious attack on my character. That's an attack to end me. That's not an attack to just stop the Oscars.
Somebody has to take a stand against the, quote-unquote, trolls. You have to.
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": Right, but they're going to win if you don't host the Oscars, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Hart tells Ellen he has regrets. He will reevaluate taking the hosting role. The headline is Ellen wants Kevin Hart to host the Oscars.
BRIGGS: A prominent leader of the lesbian community.
ROMANS: She really wants him to do it. She thinks he is brilliant. She thinks he is multifaceted. She accepts his apology.
BRIGGS: She called the Academy and told them. They said, oh, my God, we want him to host. So, we'll follow this.
Ahead, the boo birds out in San Antonio for a former Spurs star. Andy Scholes with details in the "Bleacher Report."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:23:02] BRIGGS: Houston Texans star DeAndre Hopkins donating his entire paycheck from tomorrow's playoff game to the family of the late Jazmine Barnes. That's the 7-year-old who was killed in that drive-by shooting in Houston. And Andy Scholes has more in the "Bleacher Report."
Andy, a lot of Houston athletes have stepped up whether it is the hurricane in Puerto Rico or hurricane in Houston and now, Hopkins with this shooting.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Dave. Hopkins said the story hit home for him because he has a 5-year-old daughter himself. He will be playing tomorrow in Jazmine's honor.
Hopkins sending this tweet yesterday. When I see Jazmine Barnes' face, I see my own daughter. I am pledging my paycheck this week to her funeral costs and to support in bringing this man to justice. We are speaking with the media yesterday. Hopkins says he is trying to do what he can to help.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEANDRE HOPKINS, TEXANS WIDE RECEIVER: I hate to hear what happened. You know, the city of Houston, you know, is always supportive of me and this team. You know, I felt in my heart it is right that I give back. I wasn't blessed with a lot of things. My mom and myself always said, once we get to where we get to, we want to give back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: More than 800 donors have donated to the go fund me account for the funeral expenses. Shaq stepped up to donate. He and Houston police officer Kenneth Miles dropping off a cashier's check to Jazmine's family to cover the costs of her funeral.
All right. In the NBA, James Harden continues his historic run against the Warriors last night. The Rockets down as many 20 in the second half and Harden with a minute to go and the step-back three to tie the game. We go to overtime.
Down two in the closing seconds, Harden hits a game winner over Draymond Green and Klay Thomson. Just an impossible shot. Rockets win 135-134.
[05:25:01] Harden with 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds. Fifth straight 40-point game. He became the fifth player in NBA history to hit five threes straight. Harden is favorite to win MVP once again this season.
Also in the NBA, Raptors star Kawhi Leonard making his return to San Antonio last night and the fans there much happy to welcome guard Danny Green.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: The 6'8" guard from North Carolina, number 14, Danny Green. The 6'7" forward, from San Diego State, Kawhi Leonard.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Green receiving loud cheers and Kawhi booed. Anytime Kawhi touched the ball or was shown on the JumboTron or touched the ball, the fans let him have it. Fans will never forget how he forces his way out of San Antonio. Kawhi's mom wearing her son's Raptors jersey and sitting in the stands with the spurs fans. She got into it with a few of them. The Spurs blew out the Raptors 125-107.
All right. Finally, UConn's epic winning streak has finally come to an end. Baylor beating UConn 58-57 last night in Waco. That snapped the Huskies 126-game regular season winning streak. They had not lost in the regular season since November of 2014.
Dave, you know, they can't win forever. This was eventually going to happen. Hat's off to UConn for this incredible run.
BRIGGS: Yes, it's a loss to remind you how remarkable. Gino has been there, 11 national titles, 19 final fours. Not too bad.
Andy Scholes, thank you.
SCHOLES: All right.
BRIGGS: Christine, over to you.
ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Dave.
We are hours away from another White House meeting between President Trump and Democrats aimed at ending the government shutdown. The big question today, will either side budge?
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