Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Anheuser-Bush And Keurig Have Teamed Up To Launch The Keurig Drinkwoks Drinkmaker; Peloton Hit With A Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit For Using Songs Without Permission; Senator Warren Is All In On A Plan To Do Away With The Electoral College; FDA Approving The First Drug To Treat Postpartum Depression. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired March 20, 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 NEWS ANCHOR: Are K-Cup pods for your coffee, for your tea, what about a cocktail, Dave Briggs? Anheuser-Bush and Keurig have teamed up to launch the Keurig Drinkwoks drinkmaker. It's an in home bartending machine that will offer mixed drinks, chilled beers, and ciders. The machine rolls out across Missouri, Florida, and California later this year and will start at just under $300. So after you have all those drink then you hit the Peloton, right?
Oh, no. Peloton hit with a multi-million dollar lawsuit for using songs without permission. Peloton sells stationary bikes, provides a monthly streaming service for members to live stream different classes while they bike -- I think they have like 600 thousand subscribers at this point on the Peloton. A group of music publishers though representing several artists is suing Peloton for copyright infringement. The lawsuit seeks more than a $150 million dollars in damages. Peloton told the Wall Street Journal, yesterday quote "we just received the complaint this morning, and we are evaluating it. Peloton has great respect for songwriters and artists." Both of us happen to be Peloton users.
DAVID BRIGGS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Avid Peloton riders.
ROMANS: I assumed they were paying for that music.
BRIGGS: I safely assumed they had as well. I do a lot of the scenic rides without music, myself.
ROMANS: Oh you do? Oh I like (ph) --
BRIGGS: Early start continues right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Breaking overnight, the very Boeing 737 Max that went down off Indonesia last year nearly crashed the day before. Who stepped in to save the day?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Republicans, if they're in a certain group, there's discriminations. I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be.
BRIGGS: Alongside the Trump in the tropics, the President continues to air his grievances and stands by as Brazil's president lashes out his gaze (ph) and the free press.
ROMANS: A warning from FedEx, the world is slowing down. Trade tensions a big problem, it's a major shipping bell weather of the economy worldwide.
BRIGGS: The FDA approves the first drug to treat postpartum depression, but you'll need patience and some serious cash.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: Good morning everyone and welcome to Early Start. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, March 20. It is five A.M in the east --
BRIGGS: Hump day.
ROMANS: -- halfway through the week, a busy news week. And breaking overnight, some stunning revelations about the doomed Boeing jet that went down of Indonesia last October, killing 189 people, Bloomberg is reporting that when the same Lion Air plane encountered trouble a day before the disaster, the crew had help from an unexpected source, an off duty pilot who just happened to be traveling in the cockpit.
BRIGGS: CNN has previously reported a flight crew experienced issues on that same Boeing 737 Max 8 a day before the Lion Air crash, but that disaster is under renewed scrutiny following last weeks Ethiopian Airlines crash. CNN's Mellissa Bell, live in Paris with the details. Melissa, good morning.
MELISSA BELL, CNN REPORTER: Good morning, Dave. So much scrutiny, as you said, on this particular piece of software. This was the automatic flight software that we now believe was responsible for that Lion Air crash, which has repeatedly had its nose pushed down by this piece of software, the pilots managing trying to pull it up several times we now know according to that report into that crash back in October.
Of course, in the end they failed to do so and it crashed into the Java Sea. But the day before, think of all the passengers on a flight that went from Bali to Jakarta, who were saved essentially because there was a third pilot in the cockpit, he wasn't even meant to be there, an off duty pilot who was able to counteract to disable that particular system that also had tried to push the nose of the plane down. And the reason that that is a subject of so much scrutiny now is because of course we know that the Ethiopian Airlines that took off from Addis Ababa on March the 10th crashing just a few minutes later with 157 people onboard being killed, Dave.
That plane we now know had a very similar trajectory to one involved in the Lion Air crash. And since that latest crash of the Ethiopian Airlines jet, this investigation that's been announced from the transportation department into the FAA and how the certification process for this particular piece of software worked.
BRIGGS: They had a period that Boeing had an awful large self role in there that needs some looking at. Melissa Bell, live in Paris this morning, thanks.
ROMANS: We in badly (ph) in need of an ally, the President found one at his front door. Jair Bolsonaro the President of Brazil who's combative political persona echoes President Trumps, fawned over his American counterpart at the White House yesterday. There was diplomacy between the pair, President Trump announced the U.S. will designate Brazil a major non NATO ally, which will help it purchase military equipment.
BRIGGS: The two leaders then echoed each other, airing a litany of grievances, Mr. Trump denouncing big social media companies, complaining they're biased against the GOP.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[05:05:00]
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It seems to be if they're conservative, if they're Republicans, if they're in a certain group there's discrimination and big discrimination. I see it absolutely on Twitter, and Facebook and I will tell you there is collusion with respect to that because something has to be going on.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: The President's statement came hours after Facebook apologized to White House Social Media Director, Dan Scavino for briefly blocking some features on his account. See the company said it automated systems mistook Scavino for a bot.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN NEWS REPORTER: Then the so called Trump of the Tropics mirrored his role model on several topics, including bashing the free press.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAIR BOLSONARO, PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL: May I say that Brazil and the United States stand side by side in their efforts to ensure liberties and respect to traditional family lifestyles, respect to God our creator against the gender (ph) ideology or the politically correct attitudes and against fake news.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: He has spoken out before against --
BRIGGS: Said he could not love a homosexual son.
ROMANS: Among other things, a lot of other things, a lot of other things, then there was this -- President Trump refusing, once again, to let John McCain rest in peace. He tweeted twice about the late Senator over the weekend. He was asked about it in the Oval Office.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: I'm very unhappy that he didn't repeal and replace Obamacare as you know. He campaigned on repealing and replacing Obamacare for years and then he got to a vote and he said, thumbs down. I think that's disgraceful, plus there were other things -- I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: That didn't sit well, as you might imagine, with several -- including the man who lost the 2008 republican nomination to McCain, Senator Mitt Romney. "I can't understand why the President would, once again, disparage a man as exemplary as my friend John McCain."
And McCain's widow, posting a truly hateful message she received from a stranger. You can read it yourself. Here are the parts suitable for television, at least. Ms. McCain commented "I want to make sure all of you can see how kind and loving a stranger can be. I'm posting her note so her family and friends could see.
ROMANS: That we live in environment on social media where anyone would think there's -- it's proper to say such things -- it's just awful.
BRIGGS: Disgusting.
ROMANS: Senator Elizabeth Warren is all in on a plan to do away with the Electoral College. The Democratic candidate telling voters in Birmingham, Alabama they should push their lawmakers to sign onto a compact that would award electoral votes to the winner to the popular vote.
The twelve states, and Washington D.C. are in so far, but it can't take effect unless enough states join forces to control 270 electoral votes, the number needed to win the presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH WARREN, MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR: Here's a job for you and Alabama. Start pushing your state legislature to sign on as well. No tell them this, don't laugh. This is not a red versus blue, you can do this at the state level. Look, if nothing else, you can make them a little uncomfortable about it, right?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: President Trump, of course, won the Electoral College in 2016 and claims he would've won the popular vote if not for voter fraud. Naturally, he is taking a side on this issue tweeting campaigning for the popular vote is much easier, I used to like the idea of the popular vote, but now realize the Electoral College is far better for the USA. A 2020 programming notice, CNN will host a Presidential Town Hall tonight with former Colorado Governor, John Hickenlooper, Dana Bash moderates live from CNN center in Atlanta. That's tonight, 10 eastern here on CNN.
ROMANS: All right, an ominous warning from FedEx basically saying the entire world is slowing. FedEx earnings slumped more than 20% compared to last year. A host of problems, the trade war between the U.S. in China means tariffs and counter tariffs. Higher cost for its trucks makes it's more expensive to move freight, the looming Brexit deadline has also slowed trade, and worker shortages are the downside from a strong labor market.
This paragraph in its earnings report sent the stock down more than 5 percent, here we go, "slowing international macroeconomic conditions and weaker global trade continue." Now the good news, the U.S. domestic economy is strong, and trade talks between the U.S. and China do resume next week according to an administration official.
We know Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and the trade rep, Robert Leitheiser, they go to Bejing for discussions meant to finalize an agreement. It's then expected that Chinese delegation will come to Washington for more talks, the two sides hope to reach an agreement to be signed in late April at Mar-a-Lago.
Search warrant documents that lead to the Michael Cohen raid have been released, here are the main take aways from what we can see and what we can't, all materials related to the Stormy Daniels hush money payment have been redacted, they may pose the greatest threat to the President from the southern district of New York investigation which appears to be ongoing.
[05:10:00]
BRIGGS: The documents show Cohen was a target, special council Robert Muller, early on prosecutors and the FBI getting approval to search Cohen's email accounts in July of 2017, that's two months after Muller's appointment and long before the April 2018 raid on Cohen's home, office, and hotel room.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REPORTER: Any concerns about what the FBI might find, Mr. President?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No. No I'm not.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: When the special counsel office reviewed Cohen email's, the Department of Justice filtered out confidential attorney client communications so the White House is not likely to find too much privileged information.
BRIGGS: And there's a fun fact, federal prosecutors used a new law signed by President Trump to go after Cohen. You see, after investigators got a search warrant for Cohen's Gmail account, Google declined to produce data stored on servers outside of the United States. Few weeks later, the President signed the Cloud Act, which gives U.S. law enforcement new legal pass to pursue data stored overseas.
ROMANS: All right, the FDA approving the first drug to treat postpartum depression. Zulresso will be administered as a continuous intravenous infusion over the course of 60 hours. It rebalances hormones that spike during pregnancy and plummet after childbirth, the drug has been shown to work within hours.
The treatment will cost on average $34,000 per patient, that's before drug company discounts. Postpartum depression affects one in nine new mothers. That medication will be available in June. That's really an important development there.
BRIGGS: And delivered over 60 hours requires a medical stay. Ahead, three kids safe from a burning building in Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: They had to jump from the window into the arms of police.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:15:00]
BRIGGS: Florida prosecutors offering a plea deal to New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and 24 other men accused soliciting prostitution at a Jupiter day spa.
To get the charges dropped, Kraft and the others would have to admit that they would have been found guilty at trial. It's not clear if the 77 year old billionaire would accept such a deal, Kraft has denied through a spokesman that he committed any crime. He's due in court for his arraignment on March 28th.
ROMANS: All right, four tanks still burning at this huge chemical fire in Texas, a thick plume of black smoke billowing from the Houston area facility -- storage facility now for more than three days. Now, fire officials don't know how long this is going to take for this fire to burn itself out.
The smoke can be seen for miles over the Deer Park community, that's where the tanks are located. And there are concerns, growing concerns about air quality. The Deep Park independent school district cancelled classes today under pressure from parents who are justifiably worried here, five other nearby school districts also canceling classes today.
BRIGGS: Devastation in Nebraska, the state's governor submitting an expedited emergency deceleration for relief from the catastrophic floods. At least 95 percent of Nebraska still reeling from last weeks storms, Vice President Pence surveyed the flood damage across the state yesterday, said he's going to make sure all federal resources are made available to the state.
Flood records have been shattered in 17 places in Nebraska. And check out this time-lapse video in the city of Lincoln. flooding restricting the city's water supply and swallowing an entire power pole. The Wall Street Journal Estimates farmers are loosing $1 million dollars a day in the flooding. They're already reeling, of course, from the trade war with China. Floods are affecting fourteen states, which you've mentioned.
ROMANS: They are heroes in blue. Police in Des Moines, Iowa responded to an apartment fire early Tuesday. Heavy smoke prevented them from entering the building so they positioned themselves outside and caught three children who were dropped from a third floor window to escape those flames.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLICE OFFICER: Send them down. I got them. Yup, drop them, drop them. Keep going.
ROMANS: None of the children, none of the officers were injured. The Des Moines police department gave a shout out on social media to the life saving officers. Cole Johnson, Craig Vasquez, Tyler Kelley, and Casey Sanders. If you listen, that sounds like a young baby, do you hear that crying?
BRIGGS: It does sound like it, nice job by these responding officers.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRIGGS: The road to the final four begins with the first four, the NCAA tournament tipped off last night, continues tonight, Andy Scholes tells us who's moving on in the bleacher report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:20:00]
BRIGGS: All right, let the madness begin folks, the NCAA tournament kicked off last night with the first four in Dayton, Ohio -- Andy Scholes tells us who's moving on on the Bleacher Report, good morning, buddy.
ANDY SCHOLES, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Dave. You know, most people don't pay much attention to the first four where they're filling out their bracket, but here's why you should. One team from the first four has advanced to the second round each year since it's inception in 2011. Syracuse made it all the way to the sweet 16 last year after playing in the first four.
So, if you like that stat, Belmont could be in line for some upset in the tournament this year, they used a 16 to three run to pull away from Temple to win 81 to 70. They will now play Maryland in the first round. In the 16 seed playing game last night, Fairleigh Dickinson used the big second half to win it's first ever tournament game. Cool moment for their coach, Greg Herenda, 11 months ago he was seriously ill with life threatening blood clots. He said to be able to be on the court leading his team to a tournament win, it was overwhelming. First four, it wraps up tonight, North Carolina Central takes on North
Dakota State for the right to face number one, Duke. Then it's Arizona State against St, John's, winner get 6 seed (ph), Buffalo. You can watch those games on truTV starting at 6:40 eastern, and make sure to fill out your bracket for the games tip off tomorrow. You can go to CNN.com slash brackets to play along with us.
The Angels are backing up the Brink's truck to Mike Trout. They actually might need a fleet of Brink's trucks, the team reportedly finalizing a 12 year deal worth $430 million to lock up the 27 year old for the rest of his career. This will be the richest deal in American sports history, it would pay Trout about $36 million a year.
[05:25:00]
This easily surpasses the deal Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies earlier this month. Trout, regarded as the best player in baseball, he's finished in the top two in MVP voting six of his seven years winning the award twice. And speaking of baseball, the regular season actually starts here in about five minuets, the Mariners and A's going to open things up in Japan.
This is supposedly going to be the last hurrah for Ichiro Suzuki, the 45 Japanese star signing a deal to play for the Mariners with this series in mind, Ichiro, of course regarded as Japan's most famous athlete ever, he's batting ninth for Mariners in the opener playing right field. All right, and finally with the help of the make a wish foundation, the Nashville Predators make it a young fans dream come true, the team signing three year old Asher Collier to a two day deal -- Asher suffers from cerebral palsy and short bowel syndrome.
He got to lead the Predators onto the ice for last nights game, also got a full bag of gear and he got to participate in practice. And the Predators won three to nothing last night and, you know Dave, they nicknamed -- the players nicknamed him Asher Smasher, they may want to keep him around, three oh is a pretty good result, might need to extend that deal.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Bring him back every night, thank you very much, Andy Scholes. Romans, what's going on?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: All right, thanks guys. Breaking overnight at that Boeing plane that went down off Indonesia last year, nearly crashed the day before. Wait till you hear who helped keep that Boeing jet in the sky.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
[05:00:00]
