Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Another Paycheck Missed, Shutdown Hits 35 Days; Cohen Subpoenaed; U.S. Orders Personnel to Leave Venezuela; Saints' Watson Blasts Goodell for No-Call "Silence". Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired January 25, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:02] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: A huge relief, surprising given with what you saw there. Some good news after a police officer falls through that ice to rescue a young man.
All right. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday, January 25th, it is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
And it is no pay payday Friday. Eight hundred thousand federal workers missing a second check. This is day 35 of the partial government shutdown. Democrats and Republicans dueling bills to reopen the government failed. Both of them failed in the Senate.
Remarkably though six Republicans crossed the aisle to vote for the Democrats bill that had zero border wall money. Now, more than a dozen senators are working behind the scenes to put pressure on both sides.
BRIGGS: They want President Trump to reopen the government temporarily and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to make more commitments on border security. The White House indicating that it would be open to a three-week stopgap funding bill only if it included a large down payment on the wall.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One of the ideas suggested is that they open it, they pay sort of a prorated down payment for the wall which I think people agree that you need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Democrats were skeptical.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: He is talking about a prorated down payment for the border wall.
SEN. BEN CARDIN (D), MARYLAND: I have no idea what that means.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Speaker Pelosi herself called the president's down payment not reasonable. A senior Democratic aide tells CNN, quote, the idea he has leverage here is not in touch with reality.
Certainly, one big issue remains, a lack of clarity on what the president would accept in any type of deal.
BRIGGS: CNN learning exclusively about one possible tactic, the White House preparing a draft proclamation to declare a national emergency along the southern border and identifying more than $7 billion in potential funds to build the wall. As soon as today, the White House may invite a group of congressional leaders for a meeting with the president.
ROMANS: The shutdown has tempers flaring in the Senate. Typically mild mannered Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet unloading on Senator Ted Cruz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D), COLORADO: These crocodile tears that the senator from Texas is crying for first responders are too hard for me to take.
When the senator from Texas shut this government down in 2013, my state was flooded. It was under water. People were killed.
This idea that he was going to build a medieval wall across the southern border of Texas, take it from the farmers and ranchers that were there and have the Mexicans pay for it isn't true. That is why we're here, because he is now saying the taxpayers have to pay for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: That fueled some speculation that Bennet would run for president in 2020 because that is the environment in which we exist.
Some government workers have been overwhelmed by the emotional and financial burden of the shutdown. TSA officers living in their cars in Hawaii unable to afford the commute between home and the airport have started submitting resignations. An air traffic control official from Ft. Worth has major concerns.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK DANIELS, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION, FT. WORTH CHAPTER: There is horrific now than ever. It is becoming less safe to get in that plane. We have the front seat to watching this unravel and crumble and we need somebody to hear and listen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: In Illinois, Eric Schwab who was once homeless is donating groceries to TSA agents at the Quad City International Airport.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC SCHWAB, COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS: I get emotional when I think about doing it and the people who have contacted me, agents, our federal agents who are literally working without a check.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: U.S. federal courts run out of operating funds today. Prosecutors handling cases from sex crimes to illegal border crossings are warning austerity budgets will weaken law enforcement. In Washington state, unemployment benefits are being extended to employees who are working but not receiving pay during the shutdown. New Mexico, California, Vermont and Colorado doing the same.
ROMANS: The administration's lack of empathy for federal workers, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross admitted he doesn't understand why federal workers are visiting food banks. He says they should just get loans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILBUR ROSS, COMMERCE SECRETARY: I don't really quite understand why because as I mentioned before, the obligations that they would undertake say of borrowing from a bank or credit union are in effect federally guaranteed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Now, he said there is no, quote, liquidity crisis. That's what we call it, there's no liquidity crisis for federal workers who will miss their second paycheck today, a remark widely you viewed as a modern day "let them eat cake" even on the president's favorite cable news channel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[05:05:01] TUCKER CARLSON, FOX NEWS HOST: Those are the last things that most Americans need. That was an idiotic thing to say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Ross has company. Earlier this week, the president's daughter-in-law.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARA TRUMP, CAMPAIGN ADVISER: But this is so much bigger than any one person. It is a little bit of pain, but it is going to be for the future of our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: And earlier this month, the White House economist Kevin Hassett said furloughed federal workers were actually better off because they didn't have to use their vacation days for the holidays. Now, cue the cleanups all around, of course. Here's the commerce
secretary on Bloomberg yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSS: We're aware -- painfully aware that there are hardships inflicted on the individual workers. All I was trying to do is make sure that they are aware that there are possible other things that could help somewhat mitigate their problems.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The president also attempted to clean up the message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Perhaps he should have said it differently. Local people know who they are, where they go for groceries and everything else. I think what Wilbur is probably trying to say is that they will work along.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Now, there are local credit unions who are reaching out to federal workers saying we can help you with low interest loans about that, so I would encourage workers to do that. But some people are worried about their credit score. You know, they're worried about interest rates, 6 percent to 9 percent. And they don't know when they will get paid again.
That is a real worry here. When will you start paying back that loan? Also, if you are talking air traffic controllers, border patrol agents, are we asking them to go like be scouring for personal finance help today? I mean, they are working their job, it is not their problem. It should not be their problem.
BRIGGS: Ed O'Keefe, a political reporter had an interview with a federal worker, who has $1.06 left in her bank account on payday.
All right. Starting today the U.S. will send asylum seekers at the southern border back to Mexico. Some individuals who arrive at California's San Ysidro port of entry will be given a notice to appear in U.S. court. They will then be told to remain in Mexico until their court date arrives. The action applies to immigrants primarily from Central American countries. Those with a well founded fear of staying in Mexico along with unaccompanied minors will not be forced to return.
ROMANS: All right. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has been subpoenaed by the Senate intelligence committee to testify in mid- February. Cohen intends to be there. The questioning expected to take place behind closed doors. A source tells CNN Cohen has the same concerns about the safety of his family that led him to postpone his appearance before the House Oversight Committee. This is the first subpoena that he could face before reporting to prison March 6 to serve a three-year sentence. BRIGGS: House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings says his committee
is demanding white house documents to determine if an explosive report about senior Trump adviser Jared Kushner is true. NBC News reporting that two White House security specialists rejected Kushner's application for a top secret clearance but were overruled by their supervisor. Two sources telling NBC that supervisor Carl Kline overruled career security experts in at least 30 such cases, a number the sources called unprecedented.
ROMANS: NBC reports that after Kushner received top security clearance, his file went to the CIA for approval of the very highest clearance level. Two sources tell NBC the CIA balked and called the White House to ask how Kushner earned even a top secret clearance.
CNN has not independently confirmed this NBC report. Now, we reached out to the White House and to Kushner's attorney. So far, they have not commented to us. The White House and CIA told NBC they don't comment on individual clearances.
BRIGGS: We'll have Karoun Demirjian who covers national intelligence for "The Washington Post" and CNN in the next half hour to ask about it.
ROMANS: A huge relief for a family in North Carolina. A little boy who vanished three days ago has been found alive.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:13:01] BRIGGS: The State Department is ordering all non-emergency employees to get out of Venezuela. There is a growing diplomatic crisis and power struggle. President Trump has recognized the opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president, a significant blow to the Nicolas Maduro regime.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo making the president's case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: The time for debate is done. The regime of former President Nicolas Maduro is illegitimate. His regime is morally bankrupt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: At least 26 people have now been killed in the violence in Venezuela. Overnight, interim President Juan Guaido called on Venezuelan diplomats to stay in the U.S. after Maduro ordered the embassy in the U.S. to close.
Stefano Pozzebon has the latest from Caracas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Well, Christine, Dave, neither Nicolas Maduro nor the White House are walking away from the dramatic standoff that is taking place here in Caracas around the U.S. embassy. Yesterday, Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington and of every consulate of Venezuela in the United States and reiterated that the U.S. administration had until Sunday to evacuate the embassy here in Caracas or face the consequences of the disruption of the international diplomatic relations between Caracas and Washington.
But on the other hand, the U.S. administration is saying loud and clear that it does not recognize the rule by Nicolas Maduro, and he says that those words and orders are meaningless.
And as we see this brewed up -- this diplomatic crisis that could definitely turn out into a very tense international standoff between Caracas and Washington is different, it's difficult to see how this could translate for the average Venezuelan people -- for the people who are feeling the burn of five years of deep economic collapse and have the feeling that this crisis has only just begun -- Christine, Dave.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[05:15:09] ROMANS: All right. Thank you so much for that, from Caracas.
China, Turkey and Syria now joining Russia in criticizing the U.S. for recognizing Guaido as Venezuela's president.
Let's shift to Caracas to Moscow now, I want to bring in CNN's Fred Pleitgen.
Fred, you spoke exclusively with Russia's deputy foreign minister.
What is he saying about all of this and what is Russia's stake here?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the stakes are huge for the Russians. You know, there is big relations between Nicolas Maduro and Vladimir Putin, those have expanded, Christine, in the past couple of years. The Russians even recently flying two nuclear capable strategic bombers to Venezuela. Obviously, also, a clear show of force by the Russians aimed at the United States.
And so therefore, the deputy foreign minister made no secret of the fact that the Russians are squarely in the corner of Nicolas Maduro and warned the U.S. about any sort of intervention.
Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEI RYABKOV, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: There are dangerous signs of something going on along these lines. We warn everyone, not just the U.S., but some others who may entertain these ideas from this type of action. The resort to military power would be catastrophic.
(END VIDEO CLIP) PLEITGEN: Just last night another phone call between Maduro and Putin where Putin reiterated his support for Nicolas Maduro and says that he believes the protests in Venezuela were induced from the outside.
But, you know, when you have a top Russian official in front of you, you always have to ask about President Trump's possible relations with Russia. I did that as well. Here's what the deputy foreign minister said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: There are even some questioning whether President Trump is an agent of Russia. What do you make of that?
RYABKOV: I mean, it's completely, completely out of touch with anything that could be conceived as, you know, anywhere close to the reality.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: I sort of confronted him with the fact that there had been so much evidence already presented by the U.S. about the meddling in the 2016 election. But once against he said the Russians didn't do it -- guys.
ROMANS: All right. Thanks so much for that. Fred Pleitgen for us this morning in Moscow -- thanks, Fred.
BRIGGS: We'll switch to a little sports ahead.
One New Orleans Saints player calling out the NFL commissioner for his silence on the no call that cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl. Andy Scholes has that in the "Bleacher Report" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:22:02] ROMANS: In North Carolina, happy ending to a potentially tragic story. A missing 3-year-old boy has been found alive and well. Casey Hathaway disappeared Tuesday after playing outside his grandmother's house.
Casey has now been reunited with his family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just want to tell you that we're very thankful that you took the time out to search for Casey and pray for him. He is good. He is good. He is up and talking. He already asked to watch Netflix, so he is good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Casey said to be in good health. He is being evaluated at a local hospital.
Heart pounding video out of Toledo, where police officers fall through ice during a rescue. A 17-year-old was trapped. Officers walk on the ice to throw him a flotation device and the ice starts to break and an officer falls in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give me your hand, given me your hand. (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Fortunately, everyone got out and has recovered, Dave.
BRIGGS: Good stuff.
All right. It's now been five days since arguably the worst no call in NFL history cost the Saints a trip to the Super Bowl and the NFL is still yet to officially say anything at all.
Andy Scholes has more in the "Bleacher Report".
Presumably, Roger wants to wait until this press conference when all anybody will ask about is the no-call.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'm not sure that is the best way to address it, but I'm not in charge in NFL.
But, you know, remember the Saints head coach Sean Payton met with the media right after the game, he said he just got off the phone with the league and they told him they blew the call. And despite trying to get an official statement from the league, Roger Goodell, they just remained silent on the matter.
Well, Saints tight end Benjamin Watson, doesn't understand why no one can get a response from the commissioner. He posted a letter to Goodell on Twitter yesterday, it reads: Your continued silence on this matter is unbecoming of the position you hold, detrimental to the integrity of the game, and dismissive to football fans everywhere. From the locker room to Park Avenue, accountability is what makes our league great. Lead by example. We are waiting.
Now, as you mentioned, Dave, Goodell is scheduled to give his annual state of the league address Wednesday in Atlanta.
All right. For a record time 50th time, LeBron James will be start thing in the all-star game. He's the top of vote getter again this. He's going to be joined by James Harden, Paul George, Steph Curry. Starters from the West, the five starters from the East, the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and Kemba Walker.
Now, LeBron and Giannis were the top vote getters, so they get to draft the teams. And the draft will be aired live this year on inside the NBA on TNT, that will be February 7th. Reserves will be announced next Thursday.
The Warriors are in the nation's capital last night taking on the Wizards.
[05:25:02] Steph Curry spending time with a big fan, he brings him out on to the court, lets him take a few dribbles. And this is really cool. He gets the pass from him and Curry knocks down the three. Awesome assist there, surely a moment that that kid will never forget.
Now before the game, Warriors making a trip to former Barack Obama's office in D.C., a member from the Warriors staff posted this pic of the team with Obama, but the picture has since been cam deleted. Traditionally they visit the White House to celebrate their titles, but many said that they would not go that the White House and President Trump then withdrew the invitation.
Nancy Pelosi at the game last night and afterwards she spoke with Curry outside the locker room. According to "The San Francisco Chronicle", one of the reporters says, Curry told Pelosi, continued luck and success making this country better.
Dave, no word on if they discussed the shutdown when they met outside.
BRIGGS: Just another power play by Nancy Pelosi.
Andy Scholes, thank you, my friend. Have a great weekend.
SCHOLES: All right.
BRIGGS: Romans, over to you.
ROMANS: All right, Dave.
Another missed payday for 800,000 federal employees, day 35 of the government shutdown. A dozen senators now trying to bridge the gap to end the stalemate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
