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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Dow and Nasdaq Extend Winning Streak to Nine Weeks; Huawei Releases New Foldable Phone to Take on Samsung's Foldable Phone; Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity Reaches Space for a Second Time; Green Book Movie Wins Best Picture at the Oscars; Rami Malek Wins Best Actor at the Oscars; Spike Lee Wins First Oscar; Congress Returns to Jam- Packed Calendar; Cohen's Public Testimony Clashes with Trump-Kim Summit; President Trump Delays Tariff Hikes on China; Kraft Faces Charges of Soliciting Prostitution; R&B Singer R. Kelly Indicted on 10 Counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse; Knicks Snap 18-Game Home Losing Streak; Serena Williams Narrates Powerful New Nike Commercial; Dog Runs 83 Yards to Make Amazing Frisbee Catch. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired February 25, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CO-HOST, EARLY START: Have Dow futures up a triple digit -- I mean, you could see the Dow above 26,000 at the opening bell this morning. Wall Street pointing to a higher open. For the week of the Dow and the Nasdaq extended their winning streaks to nine weeks now.
The S&P 500 ended the week slightly higher, this week, investors will finally get a look at fourth-quarter gross domestic product, GDP, that report was delayed because of the government shutdown. Analysts lowered their forecast following December's surprisingly weak retail sales report.
The Atlanta Fed GDP now modeled that we watched predict just 1.5 percent growth for the quarter, 1.5 percent. Other big banks looking for growth in the 2 percent range. If you thought the Samsung's foldable was pricey, meet Huawei's foldable 5G enabled phone, the Mate X.
The cheapest version of the Mate X is the Mate X or Mate 10, do you know? I never knew, they always have this --
DAVE BRIGGS, CO-HOST, EARLY START: The turkeys will tell you about five, four, three --
ROMANS: Two little names, anyway, goes --
BRIGGS: Yes --
ROMANS: For $2,600 including taxes. Huawei launched its new foldable device on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, huge gathering of the mobile industry in Barcelona. The Mate X or 10 is said to compete with Samsung's Galaxy fold which is priced at about $1,960 before taxes.
Huawei made no secret of the fact, it's comparing itself to Samsung's own point during the Huawei launch. The two prices were compared side-by-side on a huge screen. One thing Huawei didn't mention at the event, recent U.S. accusations over securities.
Samsung said that it expects to launch the Galaxy Fold April 26th, Huawei has not released a launch date for its phone. All right, if you're willing to spending $250,000 for a quick trip to space, that option is getting closer to reality. VSS Unity, Virgin Galactic's rocket-powered plane climbed to a record altitude of nearly 56 miles during that test flight on Friday.
The second time that plane has reached space, its back-to-back test flight successes mean Virgin Galactic could be on track to start flying tourists to space this year. It's not clear how many more test runs Galactic will fly before its comfortable putting paid customers on board.
Virgin Galactic has also said it still has a way to go in testing the many factors that could affect this flight.
BRIGGS: All right, EARLY START continues right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA ROBERTS, ACTRESS: And the Oscar goes to "Green Book".
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Big upset, the night "Green Book" takes the big prize in Hollywood's biggest night. Who won, who lost? And why Spike Lee though like feels it's a bad call.
BRIGGS: A critical week on the Hill, Congress hears from Trump's personal lawyer this week and the House intends to end Trump's national emergency.
ROMANS: President Trump heading to Vietnam where he'll meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Can the president convince the north to give up their nukes?
BRIGGS: President Trump announcing he'll push back its own deadline for tariffs on China and the hopes he can get more time for a new trade agreement. We're watching how the markets are reacting this morning.
ROMANS: So far, markets like it, but the key here --
BRIGGS: Yes --
ROMANS: Is it symbolic or is it going to be real progress, real structural change, we just don't know that yet. Good morning everyone, welcome to EARLY START, I'm Christine Romans --
BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs, thank God, this show still needs host, the Oscars did not, we'll tell you how that turned out. Monday, February, 25th, 5:00 a.m. in the East. Hollywood gave its biggest honor, the big picture Academy Award to "Green Book".
It also took home an Oscar for best original screenplay, it's a film about a white man who drives a black jazz musician through the deep south in the early 1960s. "Green Book" also took home an Oscar for best original screenplay.
ROMANS: "Roma" was one of the top contenders for Best Picture with a big push from Netflix. But the film did not go home empty-handed, taking three Academy Awards with Alfonso Cuaron winning his second Oscar for best director, along with the best cinematography award.
BRIGGS: All rights, let's bring in CNN entertainment reporter Chloe Melas this morning who stayed up --
ROMANS: Chloe!
BRIGGS: All night, probably didn't sleep at all --
ROMANS: Nice to see you, Chloe --
BRIGGS: Howbeit, great to have you here this morning --
CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: In the hour --
ROMANS: Is it good?
BRIGGS: Yes, it's enough. It was a surprising night on all fronts, but let's start with Glenn Close who all the critics said was a slam- dunk to finally get her Oscar.
MELAS: Yes, OK, well, let's back up. Olivia Colman, great job and the favorite. OK, she's a great actress, this is her first Academy Award, she gave such a charming cocky speech, but even she acknowledged like, Glenn, this is something way that I wanted things to go.
Glenn Close has been nominated for an Academy Award, guys, seven times. That makes her a record-breaker here for the most nominated actress for an Academy Award ever to not win one. You know, she was really great in the wife and a lot of people feel like she was --
BRIGGS: Fantastic --
MELAS: Robbed of that. So let -- you know, I'm sure she has many more films to do, so maybe she'll be nominated for an eighth one day and win.
BRIGGS: We really -- we really hope so.
ROMANS: We really loved her --
BRIGGS: She was incredible.
ROMANS: We really loved her Gina King(ph), and it feels where she could talk. We saw that when -- that film together, that was a really great one --
BRIGGS: She was spectacular --
ROMANS: And you both are big fans of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and the performance of Rami Malek --
[05:05:00] MELAS: Oh, yes, and the fact that they opened the show with Queen, with Adam Lambert singing "We Will Rock You", it is my son's favorite song and he is only 21 months old and we play it all the time.
Rami Malek, you know, he did such a great job embodying Freddie Mercury. I know some people feel like there were other actors in that category that should have won, but he was incredible, he's been sweeping awards season, and he also gave a really heartfelt speech talking about the fact that he is the son of Egyptian immigrants.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RAMI MALEK, ACTOR: We made a film about a gay man, an immigrant who lived his life just unapologetically himself. And the fact that I'm celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we're longing for stories like this. I am the son of immigrants from Egypt, I'm a first generation American --
(APPLAUSE)
And part of my story is being written right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MELAS: An incredible speech, really powerful. And you know, a lot of people this morning though are talking about Spike Lee. He won an Oscar --
BRIGGS: Yes, they are --
MELAS: People are happy about that, some are not happy --
BRIGGS: Just adaptive screenplay though, not best director --
MELAS: For "BlackkKlansman", yes, he didn't win "BlacKkKlansman", some people aren't happy about that. But he has said a lot of interesting things. Last night, he got political and I think we have some sound of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPIKE LEE, FILM DIRECTOR: The 2020 presidential election is around the corner.
(APPLAUSE)
Let's all mobilize, let's all be in the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate. Let's do the right thing.
(CHEERS)
You know, I had to get that in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MELAS: That's not all he said, OK, and he's Spike Lee, I've interviewed him, he is a great guy and he always gets political --
BRIGGS: Yes --
MELAS: Obviously, he has a big message here. But he clearly is not a fan that "Green Book" won best picture. Take a listen to what he had to say about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: I'm snake bit. I mean, every time somebody is driving somebody, I lose. But they changed the seating arrangement.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We saw a little bit of a reaction to the "Green Book" win. Can you give us your thoughts on that best picture win?
LEE: Let me take another sip.
(LAUGHTER)
Next question! No, I thought it was court side of the garden, the ref made a bad call.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MELAS: That reference there to the driving movies, he is talking about --
BRIGGS: Yes --
MELAS: Driving Miss Daisy --
ROMANS: Right --
MELAS: When he lost out on an Oscar on that film. There was a lot of controversy surrounding "Green Book" from the director being accused of sexual misconduct on set which he apologized for Viggo Mortensen using the "N" word during some press that he was doing.
And also the family felt like that this movie exaggerated the relationship between --
ROMANS: Yes --
MELAS: The two men. So there was some controversy, but it's a great movie, you know.
ROMANS: Speaking of exaggerated relationship, the chemistry between Gaga and Cooper is like pretty intense. I mean, at this moment, I mean, I don't know if my husband was sitting in the audience if I pretend that closely.
BRIGGS: This is incredible, some were uncomfortable with this because it was so close. But I though these are two performers delivering a spectacular -- well, performance --
ROMANS: I'm not speculating here because I know Bradley Cooper is very happy in his relationship --
BRIGGS: Yes --
MELAS: Has a baby, but Lady Gaga is newly single, she just called off her engagement. But, no, I mean, look, they had great chemistry.
BRIGGS: But look at this look.
MELAS: Wait, look at this look --
BRIGGS: They're performers, they nailed it. I don't want another -- I don't get it.
MELAS: They should win Oscars for that right there.
BRIGGS: Yes --
MELAS: I know they were really nervous especially Bradley Cooper to get on the stage and do this. I mean, Lady Gaga is a class act. She's an incredible performer --
ROMANS: Right --
MELAS: She carried that performance.
ROMANS: Right --
MELAS: But yes, people have been talking about their chemistry for a while now --
ROMANS: What a great --
MELAS: Both on and off screen. So --
ROMANS: What a great performance. You're right --
BRIGGS: It's like our chemistry, Chloe --
MELAS: Exactly --
BRIGGS: It's --
MELAS: Like are you going to sing this morning maybe?
ROMANS: No --
BRIGGS: Nobody wants that, the ratings --
ROMANS: No -- BRIGGS: Would plummet. Great to have you here, Chloe --
ROMANS: Chloe Melas --
MELAS: Nice to see you --
ROMANS: Thanks for coming in early for us.
BRIGGS: All right, now to the other drama playing out of the country, Congress returns today to a packed calendar and things could get very interesting this week because the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testifies before three committees on Wednesday's testimony will be public.
Also on the docket, the first attempt by House Democrats to block President Trump's border wall national emergency. Along with threats to subpoena special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian collusion even if it comes out this week. CNN's Sarah Westwood at the White House with more.
[05:10:00] SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Dave, Congress is returning today for a blockbuster week on Capitol Hill starting with the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen will be testifying this week before three different congressional committees.
On Wednesday, he will be testifying publicly before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the same day that President Trump is slated to sit down face-to-face with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un.
On Tuesday, House Democrats will move forward with a vote to block the president's national emergency declaration, a vote that is expected to pass the house overwhelmingly. The Mueller probe is also nearing completion although we don't expect to see Mueller hand over his final report to the Justice Department this week.
That could be coming in the days ahead. Now, Democratic Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff said he is prepared to subpoena the Trump administration if that Mueller report is not made public.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: We will obviously subpoena the report, we will bring Bob Mueller in to testify before Congress, we will take to court if necessary. And in the end, I think the department understands they're going to have to make this public. I think Barr will ultimately understand that as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WESTWOOD: Now, all of this could create quite the split-screen for President Trump as he tries to conduct diplomacy overseas. Christine and Dave. BRIGGS: Sarah Westwood, thank you. President Trump flies to Asia
today for his second face-to-face summit with Kim Jong-un. The meeting will take place around the same time Michael Cohen testifies in public on Capitol Hill. Let's go live to Hanoi and bring in CNN's Will Ripley.
And Will, we say those two things together because the fear is that the president will take some symbolic win because he needs a victory, given what happens on Capitol Hill. What are the expectations?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the indication we're getting just within the last hour or so, Dave, is that it's exactly what could happen here in Hanoi. The South Korean Blue House telling reporters they believe there's a great possibility that Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump will announce an end to the Korean war or at least an agreement to end the Korean war which obviously would be significant, you know, an official end to the conflict that's been in a technical state of ceasefire since 1953.
And it certainly would be a big headline that could pull attention away from all of the crowd from Washington. And in fact, we know that's exactly what President Trump is coming here to Hanoi, hoping to do. Now, to set the scene for you here, I'm outside the Melia Hotel where we are pretty certain this is where Kim Jong-un is going to be staying.
Of course, they keep it top secret, but his security detail -- Kim's security detail is here, the Vietnamese army is here sweeping for mines, and guests at the hotel have been told to expect a head of state coming possibly by tomorrow, Dave.
BRIGGS: And the backdrop of course plays a key role here as Washington cites the Vietnam economy as what's possible for North Korea. Tell us about that.
RIPLEY: Yes, I mean, I'm standing in Hanoi which, you know, essentially a good portion of this city was destroyed during the Korean war, and now I'm surrounded -- I mean, just less than a block away by new construction.
This is a city has risen from the ashes and a real example of what can happen when a country normalizes relations with the United States and as a result opens up its economy to trade and all of the economic opportunities that President Trump is trying to sell Kim Jong-un on as an incentive to give up his nuclear weapons.
So it's really no coincidence that here in Hanoi, this is going to be pointed to by the U.S. as a model that North Korea could follow if they decide to take that step to actually start getting rid of their arsenal, but of course, the North Koreans have been reluctant to do that until they get security guarantees.
One of those conditions though, an end to the Korean war which again we're hearing is another distinct possibility here in Vietnam.
BRIGGS: Pivotal week there. Will Ripley live for us in Vietnam this morning, thank you, sir.
ROMANS: All right, global relief that President Trump delayed jacking up tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. The president tweeting about substantial progress in talks with China, pointing to important structural issues, intellectual property protection, technology transfer, Ag, services, currency and many other issues.
Stock markets around the world breathing a sigh of relief, look at Shanghai up almost 6 percent, it was a terrible year last year for Chinese stocks. Any kind of relief from the trade war very good for Shanghai stocks. The mood extending to Wall Street, futures are higher, you could see 26,000 plus on the Dow Jones Industrial Average at the opening bell.
Now, the announcement comes after two days of high level trade talks in D.C., the president did not specify what the new deadline for raising tariffs would be or when he would meet with his Chinese counterpart. New this morning, "Reuters" reporting Wang Yi; China's top diplomat said this trade negotiations between China and the U.S. have once again achieved concrete progress. Those are important words, and provided positive prospects for bilateral relations and the global economy.
That just crossing a few minutes ago. So you're hearing from Chinese state media and Chinese top diplomats there, praising the president for hitting the pause button on jacking up those tariffs.
[05:15:00] BRIGGS: Ratchet it up and then ratchet it back down --
ROMANS: Right --
BRIGGS: Similar to North Korea. Ahead, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, one of dozens who could be charged today with soliciting prostitutes. Comes after a sex trafficking ring was broken up in Florida, details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Charges could come as early as today against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. The 77-year-old billionaire accused of soliciting prostitution and is among more than a 100 people linked to a large scale sex trafficking crack down in Florida. CNN's Polo Sandoval is there with the very latest from Jupiter.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Christine and Dave, good morning to you. Is today that we could potentially find out more coming from the Palm Beach County city Attorney General's office. Exactly, what may come next for about 200 of those men though identified as essentially seeking out these paid sexual services in various spas located here at the treasury coast of Florida.
[05:20:00] Of course, we're standing outside one of them which is where police say Robert Kraft visited on at least two occasions. These are allegations that his spokesperson has denied -- categorically denied that Mr. Kraft did anything illegal. I should mention though, that as we wait for more from authorities,
we're learning really a little bit more about what's happening inside of these locations. According to the Martin County Sheriff's office, the women, mainly adult-aged women from China were subjected to some very difficult conditions inside, forced to work as basically modern day sex slaves. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM SNYDER, MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: It was clear that multiple women were working and living inside the spas. They were cooking on the back steps of the business. They were sleeping on the massage parlor on the massage tables. They had no access to transportation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: However, the sheriff goes on to say, this was really a massive multi-month, multi-agency investigation, believe it or not, it actually started as one red flag that came from a health inspector back in July who visited an area spa, then noticed an indication that people were living at that location. They started asking questions, began surveilling some of these locations and that eventually led to the arrest of at least seven operators of these locations and charges filed against about 200 Johns.
Christine and Dave, and that includes Robert Kraft. Back to you guys.
BRIGGS: All right, Polo, thank you. R&B singer R. Kelly expected back in an Illinois courtroom this morning after spending the weekend in jail. A judge set bail at $1 million hours after he was convicted of ten counts of aggravated sexual abuse against four victims.
R. Kelly's attorney spoke about the challenges finding $100,000 in cash his client needs to post bond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE GREENBERG, ATTORNEY FOR ROBERT KELLY: This is someone who should be wealthy at this stage of his career. And through mismanagement, through people, hangers on and bad contracts and bad deals and bad leases like he had on a studio, he really doesn't have any money at this point. I don't even think he owns the rights to "I Believe I Can Fly". He's trying to get it together.
He doesn't have it sitting in the banks, sitting in a shoe box, sitting anywhere, no.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: R. Kelly's attorney initially proclaimed all the women accusers were lying. He later clarified that Kelly is presumed innocent. Prosecutors claim three of his victims were underage at the time of the alleged crimes between 1998 and 2010. CNN has learned Kelly also has nearly $170,000 of unpaid child support and more than $165,000 in unpaid rent. BRIGGS: All right, ahead, the woeful New York Knicks pulling off such
a stunning upset, they got a mention at the Academy Awards. Andy Scholes has more in the "BLEACHER REPORT" next.
[05:25:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRIGGS: Although there were some sports news so big last night that Samuel L. Jackson interrupted the Oscars. Andy Scholes has more in the "BLEACHER REPORT". Good morning my friend, if there was a razzy for sports teams, it would probably go to the Knicks.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS REPORTER: Yes, and good morning, Dave, you know, this was big news if you are a Knicks fan like Spike Lee. The team winning their first game at Madison Square Garden since December 1st. The win over the Spurs snapping an 18-game home losing streak for the team.
And as Samuel L. Jackson delivering the news to Spike before announcing he won his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for "BlacKkKlansman".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMUEL JACKSON, ACTOR: Spike, I'm so glad you're sitting down. After 18 consecutive home losses, the Knicks won tonight. I repeat, the Knicks won tonight defeating San Antonio 130-118.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: I love how Spike was yelling back to Jackson, we're trying to tank. Good news for Spike, Knicks still have the second worst record in the NBA. Serena Williams is also on hand for the Oscars last night, and she introduced the clip for "A Star is Born". And during the show last night, her new Dream Crazy Nike ad also made its debut.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we stand for something --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If we show emotion, we're called dramatic. If we want to play against men, we're nuts. A woman competing in a hit job, changing her sport, landing a double court 1080 or winning 23 grand slams, having a baby and then coming back for more, crazy and crazy. So if they want to call you crazy, fine. Show them what crazy can do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: All right, and finally, this is the best sports highlight from the weekend, it happened at the Alliance of American football game in Orlando. Yuri the dog setting a world record catching a frisbee toss that traveled 83 yards!
ROMANS: No way -- SCHOLES: And then as you can see, Yuri was there early, guys, could
have caught it if it went the full 100. I'm impressed its handler can throw a frisbee 83 yards. That is a --
(CROSSTALK)
I mean, I play frisbee with my dog Lola Beans(ph) on a daily basis, I'm lucky to throw it 25 yards.
ROMANS: What's your dog's name?
SCHOLES: I mean -- Lola Beans(ph).
ROMANS: Oh, that's so sweet --
BRIGGS: Lola Beans(ph)?
SCHOLES: Yes, she's a mini Doodle and her favorite thing in the world is playing frisbee. I'm always impressed how good she is --
BRIGGS: Oh, this train's come off the rails --
SCHOLES: It's impressive that dogs are just like innately --
BRIGGS: All right --
SCHOLES: Good at these things.
ROMANS: Yes, all right --
BRIGGS: We immediately await your Instagram video later today on frisbee talks, thank you, Andy.
SCHOLES: All right --
ROMANS: Nice to see you, Andy. It was an Oscar ceremony for the history books. We'll get you caught up on all the wins and the drama next!
END
