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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Southern California Hit by Worst Earthquake in 20 Years; Tensions Brew Between Iran and Britain; Study Says Rise in Anti- Semitism Attacks in Europe. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired July 05, 2019 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:32:17] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: Aftershocks are likely for weeks after the worst earthquake in Southern California in 20 years.

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight. Three people stabbed. More than a dozen trampled during a post-fireworks stampede in Chicago.

BRIGGS: And it's deadline day for the Justice Department. Will they defy the Supreme Court and try to add a citizenship question to the U.S. Census?

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. We start this morning with a glimpse of the fireworks in the nation's capital last night. As you can see as well, a bit of an overcast, cloudy, rainy evening.

KOSINSKI: Yes, smoking.

BRIGGS: But if you look hard, Michelle Kosinski, you can --

KOSINSKI: I see a few.

BRIGGS: You can see a few.

KOSINSKI: They found them. They found the -- the camera was looking, too, like how can I (INAUDIBLE) this.

BRIGGS: Yes. Mother Nature didn't exactly cooperate with the show in the nation's capital, but it was a beautiful scene if you could get a position to see them.

KOSINSKI: There's a nice one. Spectacular.

BRIGGS: Hope you all had a wonderful Fourth of July. Happy Friday, everyone. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.

KOSINSKI: It is Friday, the Fourth of July, and now Friday.

BRIGGS: It's too bad.

KOSINSKI: So two holidays in a row. I'm Michelle Kosinski. It's 33 minutes past the hour here in New York.

Well, they are starting to pick up the pieces in one Southern California community after the worst earthquake in that part of the state in 20 years. Quake magnitude 6.4 was centered near Ridgecrest, about 150 miles north of Los Angeles. Scientists recorded more than 150 aftershocks of magnitude 2.5 or greater. The city of Ridgecrest announcing a state of emergency. Mayor Peggy Breeden spoke to CNN but was interrupted by an aftershock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR PEGGY BREEDEN, RIDGECREST, CALIFORNIA: This would either be our seventh or eighth one we've had. Oh, my goodness, there's another one right now. Oh, my goodness.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, my goodness. Are you OK?

BREEDEN: Yes.

BALDWIN: Breathe, just breathe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Broken gas lines in Ridgecrest may be what caused this house fire here. Outages in the city of 28,000, leaving many without air conditioning in the 100-degree heat. Elsewhere a garage fire consumed two classic cars. This roadway near Ridgecrest will need some work before it's safe to drive on again. And video from inside a Ridgecrest Walmart shows the true force of this quake. Meantime, 110 miles away in Studio City, the news team from a CNN affiliate KCBS was shooting a promo for their morning show when the studio began to shake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait, earthquake.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's going on?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you serious?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're in your first earthquake. Are you OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's an earthquake?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the worst it's going to get, right?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, shoot, it's shaking. Look.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You feel it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, shoot.

[04:35:02] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this thing for real?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh. Just look it. Shoot you, guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Well, their news is going to change. It's a good thing they didn't shoot that promo. Everything changed after that.

Well, back in Ridgecrest, folks now facing a monumental cleanup job. A lake of liquor on the floor at Ed's Mini-Mart and books littering the floor at the city library. The work may not be finished. The U.S. Geological Survey says aftershocks are likely for the next couple of weeks.

CNN's Nick Watt has more from Ridgecrest.

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dave and Michelle, the biggest earthquake in Southern California in 20 years, a 6.4, but the location here was key, out in the Mojave Desert.

Now, Ridgecrest, this town of 30,000 people, this bore the brunt. Authorities here tell us that they have been dealing with some downed power lines, some fires, some broken gas lines. Also, some minor injuries being treated here at the hospital. Also, the hospital was evacuated to assess damage. There are some cracks in walls around here. There are some cracks in the roads as well.

But what everybody is waiting for are the aftershocks. There have been -- there were more than 30 aftershocks in the first hour after that 6.4 hit. And we are told by seismologists at Cal Tech that they expect an 80 percent probability that there will be an aftershock that's greater than a 5.0. Could be today, could be tomorrow, could be next week. And, of course, that is what authorities are preparing for.

Also, this was felt from Vegas to the coast. One hundred fifty miles down the road in Los Angeles, there was a little bit of panic and people were wondering why did our early warning app not triggered? Well, it didn't trigger because the earthquake, by the time it got to L.A., was only a 4.5 and that's under the threshold for that app to trigger. That has already been changed.

So here in Ridgecrest, they are still waiting for the aftershocks. In Southern California, in general, we're all still waiting for the big one.

Dave and Michelle, back to you.

BRIGGS: Nick, thanks.

And breaking news now, overnight three people stabbed, 16 others trampled while leaving a fireworks show at Navy Pier in Chicago. Police believe someone yelled gun or shots fired which caused a stampede. Panicked visitors swarmed the waterfront restaurant Harry Carey's Tavern to escape what they thought was an active shooter turns out was a man who people thought was shot actually suffered a puncture wound from an overturned table. You could see the police response there. Panic in Chicago.

KOSINSKI: Today is the deadline for the Justice Department to tell a federal judge of whether plans to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Doing so would defy the Supreme Court. Earlier this week President Trump ordered the DOJ to find a way after the administration had already conceded the Census would be printed without the question.

BRIGGS: A source familiar with the discussion tells CNN there are limited paths forward. One option would be an executive order from the president, but that would likely be challenged in the lower courts. Also, the possibility of an addendum or supplement to the Census with a citizenship question. And officials are considering going back to the Supreme Court directly with a motion to reconsider.

KOSINSKI: Another black eye for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CNN has learned border agents allegedly tried to shame a migrant by making them hold a sign in Spanish that translates to "I like men." That's according to e-mails written by an agent who witnessed this incident. E-mails show the March incident as one of many in which the Border Protection agent says he witnessed several colleagues displaying poor behavior and management's failure to act.

No comment yet from Homeland Security's Office of Professional Responsibility or a lawyer for the migrant.

BRIGGS: DHS is already investigating a closed Facebook group for current and former Border Patrol agents that reportedly included jokes about migrant deaths, derogatory comments about Latina lawmakers and a sexually graphic meme involving at least one agent. A memo obtained by CNN shows that a senior Border Protection official warned all agency employees last year of potential discipline after being told of a private Facebook group with inappropriate and offensive posts.

KOSINSKI: Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg scolding a man who made a comment about racial conflict at a campaign stop in Iowa. David Begley of Omaha told the mayor of South Bend problems between police and the black community could be solved by just telling the black people in his city to, quote, "stop committing crimes and doing drugs." That comment drew boos from the crowd and this response from Buttigieg.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D-IN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The fact that a black person is four times as likely as a white person to be incarcerated for the exact same crime is evidence of systemic racism. [04:40:05] It is evidence of systemic racism and with all due respect,

sir, racism makes it harder for good police officers to do their job, too. (END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Begley told CNN afterwards he resented being dismissed as a racist. South Bend has become a flash point for racial controversy following the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer. Buttigieg admits he has not been able to ease tensions between his police force and African-Americans.

BRIGGS: Let's check on CNN Business now. Another major coal company has filed for bankruptcy despite President Trump's efforts to bring the industry back. Revelation Energy LLC, the third company since May and fourth since last October to file for bankruptcy. According to court documents, the company employs 1800 workers across four states. Although Trump claims there is a rebirth in coal, CBS News reports that 51 coal plants have closed and eight coal companies have filed for bankruptcy since his election.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. coal consumption has plunged 39 percent, its lowest level in 49 years. Last month the Environmental Protection Agency said states can set their own carbon emission standards for coal-fired power plants. The Affordable Clean Energy Rule is aimed to boost the struggling industry but scientists say it will likely increase carbon emissions nationwide. It's also unclear how much the industry can benefit from the plan as it faces competition from cheap natural gas and renewable sources.

Look, all along it was said when the president was trying to prop up the industry that the economy will take care of this on its own.

KOSINSKI: You're right. Right. I mean, and --

BRIGGS: Yes. And it looks like that's the case.

KOSINSKI: And then you have cities in Europe, I think it was London just this past year, that went for like the longest period of time in history without burning any --

BRIGGS: Is that right?

KOSINSKI: Yes. Burning no coal.

BRIGGS: So it looks like it's on its way out regardless of efforts.

KOSINSKI: Yes. Hard to bring it back at least. Well, Iran has already set its plans to increase its uranium enrichment next week. Now the U.K. says Tehran tried to skirt European sanctions, sending an oil tanker to Syria.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:46:18] BRIGGS: Tensions brewing this morning between Britain and Iran after British Marines seized an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Gibraltar. It's believed the ship was taking crude oil to Syria violating E.U. sanctions. Just moments ago Iran demanding the return of the ship. Tehran says the seizure was, quote, illegal.

Nic Robertson is live in London with the latest. Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, good morning, Dave. The Iranians were even calling it an act of piracy. They're saying that the ship must be returned to Iran. They're saying that Britain has no right to enforce its sanctions or E.U. sanctions in what they call an extra territorial manner. This began 24 hours ago when the authorities in Gibraltar, which is a

British overseas territory, population by 30,000 people, British, who got information that led them to believe that this tanker was carrying crude oil on the way to a refinery in Syria and that this refinery, Baniyas, was under E.U. sanctions and that meant that they should interdict and bring the ship under their own control and bring it to their territorial waters, which they did with the help of British Royal Marine commanders. 30 specialist forces landed on the vessel and secured it. But it's kicking off this huge diplomatic storm in many ways, more

than just the tension with Iran, which is of course the crux of it, but the acting Spanish Foreign minister says, hold on a minute, this ship may have been interdicted in Spanish territorial waters. They're looking at it. The Spanish acting foreign minister also says that the ship was interdicted at the request of the United States. The Iranians are saying that as well. And Maritime Tracking Agency

says the ship may not have been carrying crude oil on the way to a Syrian refinery, that it may have been carrying already refined fuel oil that is heavier. The ship took off from the Persian Gulf two and a half months ago when around the -- went around the coast of Africa to get to the Mediterranean. It switched its tracking beacon on and off. They've acted in a suspicious and erratic manner, but it is really

kicking off tensions between Britain and Iran, tensions between Britain and Spain, and raising questions about the real reason that this ship was interdicted. Under E.U. sanctions against Syria or because it was carrying Iranian oil -- Dave. BRIGGS: OK, Nic Robertson reporting live for us from London this

morning. Thank you.

KOSINSKI: Disturbing and damning report about hate. An E.U. study found nearly half of young Jews in Europe have been subjected to anti- Semitic harassment. And almost that many have thought about leaving their home country because they don't feel safe.

CNN's Hadas Gold is in London with more -- Hadas.

HADAS GOLD, CNN MONEY, POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Michelle, this is a really alarming study. As we've seen a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, the European Union decided to survey more than 2700 young Jews between the ages of 16 and 34 to see how they feel about being Jewish in Europe. And the results are a little bit depressing honestly. They said about 44 percent that have experienced anti-Semitic

harassment. That's 12 percent more than their elders. 41 percent said they've considered leaving Europe because of anti-Semitic fears, and 45 percent have said they chose not to wear anything that's overtly Jewish like a Star of David or a kippa, the traditional skull cap, for fears of being harassed. What we've seen is the past few years in Europe is that these aren't

just fears that Jews feel. There's actual tangible results. There have been tangible increases in anti-Semitic attacks in places like France and in Germany. Obviously Europe has such a sad history with anti-Semitism with the holocaust, of course. [04:50:05] It is a really depressing numbers to see. It's coming also

on the heels of CNN's own good work on anti-Semitism and the poll and the study that we did which showed that one in five Europeans feel actually that anti-Semitism is brought on by Jew's own actions -- Michelle. KOSINSKI: Many people in Europe now don't remember the holocaust,

another poll that came out recently.

Thanks so much, Hadas.

BRIGGS: All right. Ahead, there's a battle for the top spot in the video game world. CNN Business cites the details on how Apex Legends plans to beat the formidable Fortnite, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:55:09] KOSINSKI: Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor has died. The Indiana woman was leading her annual educational trip to Poland when she passed away on Thursday just miles from the Auschwitz concentration camp. Eva was tortured there by the Nazis 75 years ago. And her mother, father, two older sisters were killed in a gas chamber. She described that night in CNN's "Voices of Auschwitz."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EVA MOZES KOR, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: The other kids who were in the barrack that first night we arrived, they said, look there, see the smoke and the flames. Well, your families must be burning right now there. And I said, that's not possible. Burning people? That is crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: As a little girl Eva and her twin sister Miriam were chosen by the Nazis as subjects for experimentation and survived. After a decade a Israel Kor moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1960 and preached forgiveness for decades. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb says the world just lost a giant. Eva brought light into darkness and provided comfort to those in pain unlike anyone we've ever met. Eva Mozes Kor was 85.

And "MAD" magazine, the iconic humor publication, will stop creating new content after next month's issue and disappear from newstands after 67 years of satire. You'll only be able to get it at comic book stores and through an online subscription. Alfred E. Neuman and company aren't entirely going away, though. The magazine will still publish its end-of-year special, books and special collections.

BRIGGS: All right. Joey Chestnut is still the top dog.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is nothing in this earth that is not now a monument to this man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The competitive eater inhaling 71 hotdogs and buns in 10 minutes --

KOSINSKI: Gross.

BRIGGS: -- to win his 12th Nathan's famous Fourth of July hotdog eating contest. But he fell just shy of his own record of 74 dogs set last year. On the women's side, reigning champ Nicki Suto chomped her way through a sixth consecutive title knocking back 31 hotdogs.

You're welcome, folks.

All right, 4:57. A check on CNN Business this morning. A look at markets around the world. Asian stocks closed mostly higher. European stocks pointing lower. On Wall Street stocks are barely released. As investors wait for the latest jobs report. Economists expect the economy to add 160,000 jobs in June while the unemployment rate remains at an historic low of 3.6 percent. Any sign of weakness could increase calls for interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve later this month. That report 8:30 a.m.

If you have Ford's newest super car in your dream car list, well, you might want to reconsider. Why? Well, it's illegal to drive the Ford GT MK 2 on public roads. The 700-horsepower super car also costs 1.2 million bucks and only 45 of them will be built. The car was designed to show what the Ford GT could be if all restrictions for street use or racing requirements were removed. The new Ford GT MK 2 available for ordering now if you have a million bucks to burn.

Fortnite arguably the biggest game in the world, now electronic arts Apex Legends is aiming for the top spot. The company is hoping an e- sports deal with ESPN will expand Apex's audience. The two already have a partnership with Madden NFL. Analysts say if people play Apex as a sport, the game could start winning back fan attention and viewership on live streaming services.

The e-sports industry has attracted millions of viewers across multiple platforms. Goldman Sachs estimates the industry could reach about $3 billion in market size in 2022.

Thanks to all our international viewers for joining us. Have a great rest of your day. And for our U.S. viewers, EARLY START continues right now.

KOSINSKI: Aftershocks are likely for weeks following the worst earthquake in Southern California in 20 years.

BRIGGS: Breaking overnight, three people stabbed, more than a dozen trampled during a post fireworks stampede in Chicago.

KOSINSKI: And it's deadline day for the Justice Department. Will they try to add a citizenship question to the Census and what other options is the White House considering?

Good morning, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Michelle Kosinski.

BRIGGS: And I'm Dave Briggs. Friday, July 5th, 5:00 a.m. in the East. We will show you that Trump's speech a bit -- in just a bit. We start this morning with the spectacular Macy's fireworks display all across New York City. You can see different points.

KOSINSKI: Sparkling.

BRIGGS: And when you check online and on Twitter, some terrific images.

END