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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Migrant Crisis Worsens; Trump Vows to Continue Census Fight; Critics Question Trump July 4th Event; USWNT Advances to World Cup Final Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired July 03, 2019 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


[04:00:19] MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN ANCHOR: Extreme overcrowding, prolonged detention, immediate attention required, damning findings by an internal watchdog as the border crisis spirals out of control.

DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: The president taking direct aim at the Supreme Court over a ruling on the census. He's vowing to keep fighting even though the census is already being printed.

KOSINSKI: And one win away. The U.S. women's national team heading to the World Cup final.

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is EARLY START. It certainly is early, isn't it? I'm Michelle Kosinski.

BRIGGS: I'm Dave Briggs.

And the U.S. did it without their best player.

KOSINSKI: I know. That gives everyone hope.

BRIGGS: Terrific effort by the U.S. team. That's right.

Wednesday, July 3rd, 4:00 a.m. in New York. It is 10:00 a.m. in France.

We begin, though, with the crisis on our southern border. A new and dire warning about conditions for migrants detained at the southern U.S. border. Extreme overcrowding, prolonged detention, without proper food, hygiene, or laundry facilities, just part of what's laid out in a report by the Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog.

The I.G. says these and other problems require immediate attention and action. The warnings prompted by unannounced visits from inspectors in early June. Over the last few months, the growing influx of migrant families and children has led to longer times in custody and overcrowding at facilities intended to be temporary.

KOSINSKI: The situation at the border grows more urgent by the day. The border patrol now leading the search for a 2-year-old missing in the Rio Grande. Monday, the woman told agents she had lost her daughter on the way. Of course, this comes just a week after the harrowing image of a man and his daughter who drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande.

CNN's Nick Valencia has more on conditions at the border from El Paso, Texas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Michelle, this new report by the office of the inspector general is based off of five visits to the southern border, principally in McAllen and Weslaco, Texas. And what is clear from the images that is how overcrowded these facilities are. In some cases, migrants don't have enough room to lay down comfortably on the concrete.

According to inspectors in this report, the conditions in these facilities are so dangerous, they pose a health and safety risks not just to the agents but also to the migrants in custody. Now, here's some other thing that stand out from the report. Half of the 8,000 detainees in custody in McAllen were held longer than the 72 hours which is required under law. A third of the children were also held longer than the law allows.

Now, we've heard from DHS officials who say they're doing the best they can with the resources they have. But to Democratic lawmakers, some who visited the southern border this week, it's simply not enough -- Dave, Michelle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSINSKI: Thanks, Nick.

BRIGGS: Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson claims when Democrats toured a migrant detention center in south Florida Tuesday, they were only permitted to see a single classroom and an empty dorm, along with some supplies like soap and toothpaste. That's where the access ended.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. FREDERICA WILSON (D-FL): I asked to see the girls. There are 700 girls in this facility. I saw 30. When I tried to go into the dormitory that houses the girls, they said to me they were anyone take -- they were in intake and it might be dangerous or contagious.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINKSKI: Congresswoman Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania became emotional when describing a meeting with detained migrant children. She said members of the group shout that they were members of Congress who were there to help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MADELEINE DEAN (D-PA): You know what they did? They passed a note under the floor -- under the door. And we got in trouble. The guard worried we were sending something. The children sent us a note ou

And the note said, how can we help you? The children wanted to help us. That's inhumanity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: There's also new fallout from that Facebook group of current and former Customs and Border Patrol agents who joked about the plight of migrants. At exclusive interview with CNN, one agent claims he heard a supervisor making fun of dead immigrants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANONYMOUS BORDER AGENT: He was making fun of them.

VALENCIA: Saying what?

ANONYMOUS BORDER AGENT: That what difference does it? It's just another life. He made a comment also regarding running over illegals. I'm like, you cannot run over people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The U.S. Border Patrol chief says the words of those few individuals on Facebook directly undermines the public trust.

[04:05:00] KOSINSKI: President Trump taking a direct shot at the Supreme Court days after it ruled the 2020 census cannot contain a citizenship question. The president tweeting: It's a very sad time for America when the Supreme Court of the United States won't allow a question of, is this person a citizen of the United States.

He also vowed to keep fighting to add the question even though just hours earlier the administration announced a census question would not be on the 2020 census. It was Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross who originally ordered the Census Bureau to add the question. Yesterday, he said the bureau would go ahead and print the form without it despite his disagreement with the high court ruling.

BRIGGS: It's billed as a salute to America. But there are growing questions whether the president is planning a salute to Trump. Yesterday, he claimed in a tweet that the Pentagon and our great military leaders are thrilled to be participating in a military parade.

Also, sources tell us the president's political ally received some of the 500 VIP seats. Those tickets will grant entry to the areas closest to the Lincoln Memorial where the president will speak. Remember the event is being held on the National Mall, not a private space like the White House.

That's not sitting well with former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEON PANETTA, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The president does a great deal of harm by politicizing this event, I think the military, frankly, we have always taken the position, those of us that have been involved with the military, that we don't have to display our power to anybody. We're the strongest military power on the face of the earth. We don't have to roll tanks down the street. We don't have to roll troops down the street because we know that we are strong, and we can take on any enemy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Nine hundred members of the D.C. National Guard have been called up to help with traffic control and security. That's nearly triple the typical guard activation for the event. Overnight, the Pentagon began delivering a pair of M1 Abrams tanks to the National Mall for a small stationary display of American military might.

CNN's Barbara Starr has more now from the Pentagon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It will be a very different event for the U.S. military which generally has not participated in national July 4th events. Expect to see the chairman of the Joint Chiefs Staff, General Joseph Dunford. He has been invited by the president to attend. Other senior officers are expected to attend, as well.

But the big issue, of course, is the U.S. military wants to stay out of partisan politics. And if President Trump's remarks veer into those partisan politics, expect to see those senior officers stay very quiet and not react. They do not want to be part of a political event.

So when people arrive on the National Mall, July 4th, what will they see in president Trump's salute to America? There will be a flyover, some of the latest military aircraft, Air Force F-22s and F-35s, the plane that is used as Air Force One, the new Marine One helicopter, the B-2 stealth bomber.

There's also going to be a very small number of armored vehicles on the ground -- Dave, Michelle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSINSKI: Barbara, thank you.

BRIGGS: The president's big Fourth of July bash will have a party crasher, though -- the infamous 20-foot-tall balloon depicting the president as a baby in diapers. The National Parks Service issued a permit to the group, Code Pink, for the baby Trump balloon to be displayed on the Mall. Regulations will prevent the balloon from taking flight during the event.

The group expressing its frustration says the permit is not in the location it requested which is within the line of sight of the president's podium at the Lincoln Memorial. No one seems to know why Mike Pence abruptly canceled an appearance in

New Hampshire Tuesday, moments before Air Force 2 was about to take off. The vice president was scheduled to speak about the opioid crisis at an addiction recovery center in Manchester. An advanced staff member told the audience there was an emergency, and Pence would not be coming.

The vice president's office is only saying there was no cause for alarm. One person familiar with the cancelation described it as a site issue. Another said there was a problem clearing one or more of the people involved.

KOSINSKI: The U.S. women's national team is headed back to the World Cup, this time for the final. The defending champs beating England 2- 1 in a hard-fought semifinal.

CNN's Amanda Davies is live in Lyon, France, with more.

And what a match that was. Sorry about your team, though, Amanda. So sorry. So sorry.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. Thank you, good morning.

Sometimes in life, Michelle, you've just got to put your hands up and say you were beaten by the better team, and that's exactly what I've got to do this morning, because the USA deservedly celebrating a place as you said in a record fifth women's World Cup final at the expense of my team, England.

[04:10:11] It was a game that had a bit of everything. There was shock and intrigue when Megan Rapinoe was left out of the starting lineup only for it to be revealed later she's suffering from a small hamstring injury. But no Rapinoe, no problem.

There was stunning quality across the board. Christine Press with that early goal. Crystal Dunn was a real rock in defense. Rose Lavelle was immense in midfield.

Then there was Alex Morgan on her birthday, creating headlines not only with her goal, her sixth of the tournament, but also her celebration. She hasn't given anything away about what she meant by sipping her tea. She left us guessing. Was it a dig at a very English tradition, more of a coffee girl myself? Was it a reference to the Boston Tea Party and July 4th week? Regardless, it was a 30th birthday to remember for her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Would you say it's the best birthday forever?

ALEX MORGAN, USWNT CAPTAIN: I would say so. I mean, how can you beat this? Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIES: What a night, as well, for goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, answering those who questioned her credentials in sensational form. She proved the match winner. She saved the penalty from England's captain later in the second half. It really was as stunning as you would want a World Cup semifinal to be.

The USA know they'll be back here in the big one on Sunday. Later on Wednesday, we'll be finding out if it will be the Netherlands or Sweden who will be joining them.

KOSINSKI: Well, hopefully, Rapinoe will be okay for the next one. Even if it's just so that she can -- she can be there and play for, of course, what will be the final win for the USA.

Sorry, Amanda. So sorry, so sorry. Did I -- didn't many do that. Just a reaction.

BRIGGS: Nice salute.

DAVIES: I'm used to it as an England fan.

BRIGGS: Thank you, Amanda. Should be a great world cup final.

KOSINSKI: We'll have a cup of tea in your honor today.

BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, not guilty on the top charges. A Navy SEAL acquitted of killing an ISIS prisoner in Iraq could be a free man today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:58] BRIGGS: The Los Angeles Angels making an emotional return to the diamond after the death of their teammate Tyler Skaggs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: We send our deepest sympathies and condolences to his wife and his family, as well as to his Angels teammates and the entire Los Angeles Angels family. Tyler passed away yesterday at the age of 27.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Players and fans observing a moment of silence before last night's game in Texas.

The Angels' manager Brad describing how the team is coping with such a devastating loss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRAD AUSMUS, MANAGER, LOS ANGELES ANGELS: We were able to talk about Tyler and laugh about some of the stories and some of the goofy things he did, listened to some of his music. So, it was good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Angels players wore Skaggs' number 45 on black patches on their uniforms last night to remember their fallen teammate. They won the game defeating the Rangers 9-4.

KOSINSKI: Decorated Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher found not guilty of premeditated murder and all the major charges against him for the death of an ISIS prisoner in Iraq. Fellow SEALs offering conflicting accounts of Gallagher's behavior at his military trial. Two witnesses say they saw him fatally stab the victim. One altered his story for the first time on the stand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREA GALLAGHER, EDDIGE GALLAGHER'S WIFE: I was feeling like we're finally vindicated after being terrorized by the government that my husband fought for for two decades in the war on terror. He's fought every major enemy of the United States. He is a righteous and noble individual. We need afford the benefit of the doubt to our war heroes who we send over there to fight these evils.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: The jury did find Gallagher guilty of posing for a photo with a dead prisoner. That carries a maximum four-month sentence. He could get time served when he's back in court later today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEE IACOCCA, AUTO INDUSTRY ICON: Quality, hard work, commitment, the stuff America was made of. Without them, there is no future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Lee Iacocca, legend in the auto industry, has died. For decades, he was one of America's best-known business executives. The former Chrysler CEO and Ford president was also a master pitchman, appearing in a series of TV commercials telling consumers if you can find a better car, buy it. He's also credited with saving the number- three automaker, Chrysler, from bankruptcy in the 1980s.

Before that at Ford, Iacocca developed the Mustang. Once asked about the secret to his success, he said "I hire people brighter than me, and then I get out of the way." Iacocca is survived by two daughters and eight grandchildren. He was 94.

KOSINSKI: Just represents the '80s in a lot of ways.

BRIGG: Absolutely. He's an icon.

[04:20:00] KOSINSKI: A shame the video looks old though. It makes me feel old.

Well, mourners lined up outside the Long Island funeral homes to honor September 11th hero Luis Alvarez. He will be laid to rest today after succumbing Saturday to a 9/11-related cancer. In his dying days, Alvarez valiantly spoke before Congress in an effort to get first responders a permanent Victims Compensation Funds.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LUIS ALVAREZ, 9/11 HERO: Their families would love to have time with them and made mine had time with me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that Congress will address extending the 9/11 Victims Fund. But when that will happen is unclear. Alvarez will be honored with a key to New York City following an emotional appeal by fellow 9/11 first responder John Feal on "NEW DAY." Mayor de Blasio tweeting it would be his honor to do so.

BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, a U.S. airline now the first to drop a route because of the Boeing 737 MAX issues. We'll tell you which airline, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:26:04] BRIGGS: Check on CNN business now. After two failed attempts, President Trump has put up two new selections for the Central Bank, Christopher Waller and Judy Shelton.

Trump announced his plans in a tweet Tuesday, but it's unclear when he'll make the nominations official. Waller serves as executive vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Shelton is a longtime fed critic who has publicly supported Trump's views on currency. In a paper last year, she wrote, quote: We make America great again by making America's money great again.

Trump's previous nominees, Steven Moore and Herman Cain, withdrew after criticism. There's also a nomination for Europe's top job, Christine Lagarde, has been tapped as the next president of the European Central Bank, an appointment that would make her the first woman to lead the institution. Last year, "Forbes" ranked her third on its list of the world's most powerful women behind only Angela Merkel and Theresa May.

KOSINSKI: Putting his foot down without a Nike Swoosh on it, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell slamming the shoe brand's decision to cancel a sneaker featuring the Betsy Ross version of the American flag.

A Nike spokesperson tells CNN the company decided to halt distribution based on concerns it could unintentionally offends and detract from the Fourth of July holiday. But according to the "Wall Street Journal," Nike received a complaint from former NFL star Colin Kaepernick because the Betsy Ross flag represents a time when African- Americans were enslaved.

Senator McConnell doesn't see it that way.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I hope Nike releases these shoes or some other shoemaker picks up the flag, puts it on a pair of shoes, and starts selling it. I'll make the first order. (END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Republican Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona retaliating against Nike, ordering the state to revoke a financial incentive package for the company to build a plant outside Phoenix. But in a twist, Georgia Lord, the mayor of Goodyear where the plant is to be built, says she will honor the deal with Nike.

BRIGGS: New fallout from the ground in the Boeing 737 MAX fleet. American Airlines becoming the first to cancel a route, eliminating its direct flights between Dallas and Oakland. American, United, and Southwest have each canceled hundreds of daily flights due to the worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX in March, following the two fatal crashes.

American says the Dallas-Oakland route will be dropped beginning Friday and through at least September 3rd.

KOSINSKI: Well, I wonder if that's just the beginning of that.

BRIGGS: Well, hopefully, this plane is back in the air late this summer. We hope. It looks like.

KOSINSKI: The visuals matched the report. The homeland security watchdog warns of extreme overcrowding, prolonged detention, and more at facilities once meant to be temporary, a bad situation getting worse on the southern border.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END