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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Acting Attorney General Says Robert Mueller Almost Finished; Roger Stone Arraignment Today; Senator Kamala Harris Makes Her Pitch to Voters; New U.S. Sanctions Target Venezuela's Oil Industry; Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 29, 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] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: If they press a volume button to dismiss the call. Apple said it identified a fix and it will release it in a software update later this week. Now to avoid the bug, Dave Briggs, disable Facetime on all your devices until Apple releases a software update on an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll down to Facetime then toggle off the green button at the top of the screen. Got that?

DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: And go get an Android.

(LAUGHTER)

BRIGGS: That is terrifying. I'm sorry --

ROMANS: Do you really think your phone is not always spying on you? I mean, I don't mean to sound naive or a conspiracy theorist?

BRIGGS: I don't. I read a headline like that, I just want to smash the device. But EARLY START continues right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW WHITAKER, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL: The investigation is, I think, close to being completed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The acting attorney general says the end of the Mueller probe is near, but Democrats have new concerns about just how much will be made public.

BRIGGS: Kamala Harris facing the voters. What the Democratic 2020 hopeful says about her policy, her record, and debating Donald Trump.

ROMANS: Parts of the U.S. will feel colder than Antarctica. Days of dangerous weather ahead from the Upper Midwest to the Deep South.

BRIGGS: And important news all you Apple users, a Facetime bug lets people eavesdrop on your iPhone. Hear your conversations, even see what's happening in your world.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs. ROMANS: That's your phone may be spying on you. I'm Christine

Romans. Of all the things we have to worry about.

BRIGGS: Yes. Yes.

ROMANS: It's Tuesday, January 29th, it is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

Let's begin this morning with the clearest sign yet the Russia investigation is nearing its end. Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker told reporters he has been fully briefed and he says the end of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe is in sight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITAKER: Right now, you know, the investigation is, I think, close to being completed and I hope that we can get the report from Director Mueller as soon as we -- as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: CNN reporting suggests it was hot in there.

The Russia probe has already shown signs it's wrapping up. Some of Mueller's prosecutors have moved to different jobs and his office has some moved some cooperating witnesses, like former National Security adviser Michael Flynn, toward sentencing.

Whitaker also rattled some Democrats when he said Mueller's decisions will be reviewed by the Justice Department.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHITAKER: I am comfortable that the decisions that were made are going to be reviewed, you know, either -- through the various means we have.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: And Democratic Senator Chris Coons called Whitaker's remarks chilling. As things stand, the attorney general decides how much of Mueller's report is released to the public. For now that's Whitaker, most likely Bill Barr in a few weeks. He vows the report won't be withheld for an improper purpose, but he won't guarantee to release it in full.

BRIGGS: There is a move in Congress to ensure no matter who is AG at least some of Mueller's findings see the light of day. Bipartisan legislation filed Monday would require the special counsel to summarize his findings in a report to Congress and the public.

ROMANS: All right. Roger Stone faces arraignment this morning in federal court in Washington. He was indicted last week on seven charges including five counts of lying to Congress, all this for his interactions with WikiLeaks. Now some expect the judge to impose a gag order on the longtime Trump friend and ally. So Stone is doing what he can now to shape the narrative. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER STONE, LONGTIME TRUMP ASSOCIATE: To form my house with a greater force than was used to take down bin Laden or El Chapo or Pablo Escobar, to terrorize my wife and my dogs, is unconscionable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: That's right, the bin Laden raid in Fort Lauderdale. As you can see from this exclusive CNN video the FBI knocked on Stone's door and did have a warrant. And according to a lawyer for Stone, associate Andrew Miller, Robert Mueller still wants witness testimony for a federal grand jury. He says the special counsel's team made it clear an additional indictment of Stone or others is in the works.

Senator Kamala Harris making her pitch to voters at a CNN town hall in Iowa, the first major television event of the 2020 race. The California Democrat laying out her agenda. Her top priority, a tax cut for the middle class. She backs Medicare for all and doing away with private health insurance, supports a green, new deal to fight climate change, paid parental leave, and what she calls reasonable gun control like an assault weapons ban. She has a message for anyone who doubts her readiness to lead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My entire career I've heard people say when I ran and ran as the first woman who would win, it's not -- people aren't ready, it's not your time, nobody like you has done that before, I haven't listened and I would suggest that nobody should listen to that kind of conversation.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:05:08] ROMANS: And she rejected criticism from liberal circles than in a her career as a prosecutor, she didn't do enough to reform criminal justice. She now says there is still progress to be made on criminal justice reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: There are some people who just believe that prosecutors shouldn't exist and I don't think I'm ever going to satisfy them, but I will also that there is so much more work to do. And do I wish I could have done more? Absolutely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: All right, for Democrats, spoiler alert. Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has Democrats concerned after he announced he is considering a White House bid as an independent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't help elect Trump, you egotistical, billionaire (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The concern among Democrats is that Schultz could help President Trump by splitting the Democratic vote. Mike Bloomberg is thinking about entering the race as a Democrat. He believes an independent run by Schultz could wind up getting the president reelected. But Schultz is not buying it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD SCHULTZ, FORMER STARBUCKS CEO: About 42 percent of the electorate self -- affiliates himself, identifies himself as an independent. Of those 42 percent, have never had a legitimate choice to vote for what they believe in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: And we could soon be hearing from Joe Biden. The former vice president says he is a lot closer to making a decision about running now than he was before Christmas, Dave.

BRIGGS: One week from tonight, President Trump will deliver the State of the Union. The president on Monday accepting Nancy Pelosi's invitation to give a speech to Congress on February 5th. It was originally scheduled for tonight, but delayed due to the government shutdown. The resolution coming after weeks of sparring between the president and House speaker that included Pelosi calling on the President Trump to delay the speech until the shutdown ended and the president firing back by canceling Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan.

Seventeen days and counting until the next potential government shutdown. A 17-member bipartisan committee from the House and Senate trying to find common ground on a funding deal that covers border security, immigration and some type of border barrier. And they're flying blind because no one knows what the president is willing to sign.

ROMANS: Republican Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee tells CNN he wants President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stay out of the talks. He says their involvement will only complicate matters. As for the chances of another shutdown, Sarah Sanders said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The president doesn't want to go through another shutdown. That's not the goal. The goal is border security and protecting the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: That by the way the first press briefing of the entire year. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale pushing the president to hold firm on border wall presenting him with internal polls that shows voters in key swing areas believe a border wall or fence is needed. ROMANS: All right. The government is open for business, but the

damage has been done. The Congressional Budget Office tallying the shutdown cost at about $11 billion in GDP because of delayed paychecks, reduced working hours, stalled contracts. According to the CBO, about $8 billion of that will come back as workers return. But $3 billion will never be recovered. It's considered lost.

Now investors will have to wait for the first estimate of fourth quarter GDP. The Bureau of Economic Analysis, its report on GDP has been delayed through next week because of the break in data collection. It was closed. The bureau was closed.

The shutdown has also delayed other economic reports normally put out by the Census Bureau including trade, construction spending, and retail and new home sales. A spokesperson for the bureau said it's working on publishing a revised schedule as soon as possible. The missing economic reports just another reason shutdowns are stupid. It has created some uncertainty for investors in businesses, you know, about the health of the economy.

BRIGGS: Four Houston police officers shot while trying to serve a search warrant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bring down two more ambulances. We need more ambulances. We have officers shot. A lot of people have been shot. We need more ambulances.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're still in the house. They're still in the house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The incident unfolding at 5:00 p.m. yesterday. About a dozen narcotics officers and several patrol officers approaching a residence where police suspected drugs were being sold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ART ACEVEDO, HOUSTON POLICE CHIEF: Immediately upon reaching the door, the officers came under fire from one or two suspects inside the house. Once the officers reached the door and the gunfire began from the suspects, one of the suspects actually retreated momentarily to the back of the room and then that suspect came back and again engaged the officers in gunfire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Police returned fire killing two suspects at the scene. Two of the wounded officers were in surgery last night in critical but stable condition.

[05:10:02] ROMANS: All right. A life threatening hard freeze making parts of the U.S. feel colder than Antarctica. Millions of Americans at risk from the coldest air in a generation. Wind chills all over the Midwest, get this, will range from minus 20 to minus 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The biting cold already causing at least one death in Minnesota, two in Illinois. The Illinois governor warning residents to watch out for hypothermia. Schools in Chicago today are closed.

Honestly that says a lot when you're closing schools. In Minnesota's Twin Cities they're also closed today and tomorrow. Michigan and Wisconsin both declaring states of emergencies.

BRIGGS: Even in the Deep South, a deep freeze. Empty store shelves spotted at this grocery store in Alabama ahead of the cold. The governor there declaring a winter weather emergency. About 3,000 flights delayed or canceled outright today and yesterday. Mostly in Chicago, Atlanta, the host of the Super Bowl this, and Detroit.

Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri with the brutal forecast.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Dave and Christine, a pretty incredible pattern here the next couple of days and we're talking about really dangerous wind chills that are extending from about 30 to 55 below in some areas.

In fact, in northern Minnesota, as cold as 65 below wind chill could be expected into the next couple of mornings and that is precisely why schools have been canceled across some of these areas. And, in fact, 42 below, what it feels like right now in places such as International Falls.

And look at this trend. This is a multiday trend here so we get not only the current shot of cold air but an additional reinforcing shot of Arctic air comes in through Wednesday and Thursday. And eventually, all of that cold air wants to end up across the northeast albeit a little bit more modified, a little intense, but still impressive nonetheless.

And look at Chicago. Low temperatures Wednesday minus 24. Seventeen above here in the coldest time of year is what is considered the average low temperature. And even in Minneapolis, eight is what is average low and 31 below is what we're aiming for over the next couple of days.

But, again, the front extends on towards the south. A quick shot of snow showers possible into Jackson and Birmingham. But if you look at these temperatures in Chicago, it could easily be the coldest afternoon in recorded history and one of the coldest, if not the coldest overnight ever observed in the city's history as well for the city of Chicago -- guys.

ROMANS: A reminder, Check on your elderly neighbors.

BRIGGS: Yes.

ROMANS: Give them a phone call and don't start the car in the garage. That's something when we have these cold snaps often can turn tragic.

You know, I grew up in Iowa, so I -- those cold, cold winters, this is -- this is beyond what is normal. BRIGGS: Yes. This from the front of the "Wall Street Journal," this

is a person here. A person.

ROMANS: In Wisconsin.

BRIGGS: Literally frozen in Wisconsin.

ROMANS: All right. Stay warm, Midwest.

BRIGGS: Wicked winter weather.

ROMANS: All right. The White House says all options are on the table to deal with the crisis in Venezuela. Troops could even head to Colombia if you believe John Bolton's notepad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:59] ROMANS: The U.S. stepping up efforts to force President Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela. New sanctions target Venezuela's oil industry in an effort to deprive the Maduro government of the cash that allows him to hold power. As for the further U.S. action, National Security adviser John Bolton is not ruling anything out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The president has made it very clear on this -- on this matter that all options are on the table.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: You saw that yellow pad Bolton was holding there? We all noticed the scribbling that appear to say "5,000 troops to Colombia." Currently, there are just a few hundred U.S. troops there. Asked to explain the notes, the White House telling CNN, quote, "As the president has said, all options are on the table."

We get more now from the crisis in Venezuela from Nick Paton Walsh who was in neighboring Colombia.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Dave, mounting U.S. pressure against the government of Nicolas Maduro. He's going to be facing on Wednesday and Sunday renewed calls for protests inside Venezuela. We don't know quite what following the people that will bring on the streets is the key test really here. Whether they can, on the streets, keep up pressure.

But Juan Guaido has been clear to the people who support him he's trying to get humanitarian aid in here. He's trying to get his hands on assets to the Venezuelan government that have been sanctioned and taken out of their possession abroad to try and ease the intense economic crisis. It's causing people, frankly, to be on the brink of starvation.

Hyperinflation, the calls to Venezuela government just yesterday to revalue their currency. And we've also heard from the U.S. administration, National Security adviser John Bolton appealing to the Venezuelan military who stood staunchly by Nicolas Maduro despite calls for them to rise up to appealing to them to enable an orderly transition. But we have to see, though, whether this external pressure really translates into change internally.

When I was there recently we didn't get the feeling, frankly, the country was on the brink, but this is a very volatile situation with a lot of pressure from abroad and it really isn't quite clear exactly how the security forces will play out in the weeks ahead -- Christine, Dave.

ROMANS: All right. Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much for that from Bogota.

BRIGGS: All right, ahead, the opening act for Super Bowl LIII, Brady, Jared Goff and others meeting the media in Atlanta. Andy Scholes with the "Bleacher Report" where it is cold down there, buddy. Get a jacket. We'll talk to Andy in a minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:49] ROMANS: All right. Here's the tech privacy outrage story of the morning that everyone is talking about. A new bug in Apple's Facetime lets users eavesdrop on other people without them even picking up the call. It is activated when users call someone via Facetime, swipe up to add another person to the call and add their own phone number. The person who initiated the call has been able to hear live audio on the other person's phone even though the recipient has not even accepted the phone call.

In some cases the bug can also show live video of the other person if they press the volume button like they're trying to dismiss the call. Apple said it has identified a fix for the problem and will release it in a software update later this week, Dave.

BRIGGS: Deleting Facetime. Yes.

All right. Let the talking begin. The Rams and Patriots kicking off Super Bowl week with opening night. Andy Scholes has more in the "Bleacher Report."

Good morning, my friend. Pretty chilly morning there I understand.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's chilly, Dave. And it's going to get even worse. We'll have more on that in a minute. But you know, opening night used to be just called media day, but it's turned into this big primetime event. The Rams and Patriots meeting with over 2,000 media members from all over the world last night. As always, it was quite the scene. There was a clown, there were sombreros, there were fans in the stand wearing goat masks.

[05:25:0040] Gronk, he made quite the entrance with some dance moves when the Patriots were introduced. That impressed Tom Brady. And speaking of number 12, he of course had the biggest crowd around him during his session. But the NFL kid reporter this year, 8-year-old, Camdyn Clancy, made his way up through that horde of media and he asked Brady how he deals with all the haters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM BRADY, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK: How are you able to focus despite the negative fan base?

CAMDYN CLANCY, KID REPORTER: AKA the haters.

BRADY: AKA the haters. I don't know, what do we do about the haters? We love them. We love them. We love them back because we don't hate back. We appreciate it and we love them and we wish them the best in their life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now Brady also taking the stage with Rams quarterback Jared Goff last night. And Brady, 41 years old, this is his ninth Super Bowl. Goff meanwhile just 24, playing in his first. And Brady, well, not giving Goff any pointers for play in the biggest game of his life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What sort of advice would you give this guy as he gets ready to take on the big, bad Patriots.

BRADY: I'm not giving him any advice.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: And pretty cool story for this game. Identical twin brothers Jason and Devin McCourty playing the Super Bowl together for New England. And it isn't that new for Devin. It's going to be his fifth Super Bowl. Previously he had to bring his brother Jason as his guest, but this year they're going to take the field together. But on opening night, Devin got his own podium while Jason, well, he was forced to mingle with the crowd.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what would your mama say about you letting your brother just walk around aimlessly?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She'd be disappointed. Yes. I mean, I'm the favorite to win anyway, so I think her expectations for him are a little bit lower than mine. So it is what it is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Who came out first?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I did. I'm the middle child, so this is good for me. I needed this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To be sitting here in the Super Bowl with a chance to win the biggest game of the season, man, has been a blessing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Yes, Jason on the Browns last year, so definitely quite the turnaround, Dave. And as you said, it's going to get much colder today, a chance of two inches of snow in Atlanta. And Atlanta does not do well in the snow.

BRIGGS: No.

SCHOLES: So the city is basically shutting down for the afternoon.

BRIGGS: All right. Hunker down. Get a jacket. I think all kids at next year's opening night, right? The kid reporters, with all due respect to our colleagues, that is good stuff.

Andy Scholes, thank you. Stay warm. We'll see you in a bit.

SCHOLES: All right.

BRIGGS: Romans, over to you.

ROMANS: Dave Briggs, what do I see on your John Bolton notepad there?

BRIGGS: Just some John Bolton notes.

ROMANS: Oh I see, your --

BRIGGS: Just some John Bolton notes.

ROMANS: Your to-do list. All right. Thanks.

BRIGGS: The Super Bowl moves to Saturday night by the way. There's an EARLY START suggestion out here if you want to zoom in.

ROMANS: Very well played. Well played, Dave Briggs. All right. Thanks.

Twenty-seven minutes past the hour. Kamala Harris lays out her policy and how she'd oppose the president, all at a CNN town hall, but Democrats are growing anxious about a third party bid from the former Starbucks CEO.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)