Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
GOP Impeachment Trial Plan Remains A Secret; Deadly Rampage In Paradise; Super Bowl LIV, Chiefs Versus 49ers; Impeachment Trial Begins Tomorrow; President Trump Talks Impeachment At Texas Rally; Formerly Known As His Royal Highness; SAG Award Make History; Navy To Name Aircraft Carrier For Black World War II Hero; Bitter Cold Across Eastern Two-Thirds of U.S.; Coronavirus Spreading From Wuhan, China; Venezuela's Guaido To Meet With Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Today; At least Two Dead, 15 Injured In Kansas City Shooting; Wind Chill Advisories For Temperatures Feeling Like Minus 24-35 Fahrenheit; Dentist Convicted After Extracting A Tooth On A Hoverboard; Michelle Obama Shares Workout Playlist. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired January 20, 2020 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Why is McConnell being so secretive about his proposal?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN NOBLES, CNN HOST: One day from the president's impeachment trial, Democrats want to know how the GOP plans to proceed and why those plans are still private.
LAURA JARRETT, CNN HOST: And the much coveted The New York Times Democratic endorsement is out. And more than one candidate has a reason to celebrate.
NOBLES: Two police officers dead, two people unaccounted for along with the suspect after a deadly rampage in Hawaii.
JARRETT: And who you got? Super Bowl LIV is set. The Chiefs and the 49ers will square off for the Lombardy trophy. Welcome back to Early Start everyone. I'm Laura Jarrett.
NOBLES: I'm Ryan Nobles. It is 31 minutes past the hour here in New York. Thanks so much for joining us this morning.
Rules for the President Trump's impeachment trial still under lock and key just a day before the trial gets under way. Republicans who are already trying to limit new evidence Democrats can introduce are now trying to limit the trial duration as well. Instead of 24 hours of opening arguments over 10 days like the Clinton trial, four sources tell CNN that Senate GOP leaders are considering two 12-hour sessions for both sides to move things along. But with no formal plan in place Democrats are ramping up pressure on the majority leader. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHUMER: Why is McConnell being so secretive about his proposal? Well, there are two obvious answers. One, he wants to rush this thing through so quickly because he's afraid of what the American people might hear. And there's a second reason. He's afraid that more damning evidence would come to light.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: President Trump has until noon today if he wants to file a trial brief with the Secretary of the Senate. His lawyers fought back ferociously this weekend after Democrats 111-page trial memorandum called the president's conduct the worst framers -- the framers worst nightmare. The president's lawyers called the articles a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the 2016 vote and interfere with the 2020 election. Republican Senators who will serve as jurors already lining up to support that claim.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DAVID PERDUE (R-GA): My personal preference, Chuck, would see this thing dismissed out of hand because I think it's an illegitimate process in the House.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This has been a political hit job. This is political revenge and what they're doing to the presidency is a danger to the institution itself.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've seen the president in public ask the Ukrainians to get involved, ask the Chinese to get involved.
RICHARD SHELBY, (R) ALABAMA: Well, those are just statements, political. They make them all the time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: Alan Dershowitz is a newly named member of the Trump legal team. He argues that abuse of power and obstruction of Congress even if proven do not amount to impeachable offenses. But he didn't always feel that way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN DERSHOWITZ, TRUMP IMPEACHMENT DEFENSE LAWYER: Without a crime there can be no impeachment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So it certainly it doesn't have to be a crime. If you have somebody who completely corrupts the office of president and who abuses trust and who poses great danger to our liberty you don't need a technical crime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham says the president very much wants to deliver his State of the Union speech on February 4th with the impeachment trial behind him.
JARRETT: the president on the road in Texas last night speaking to farmers, the loudest applause came when President Trump went off script talking about impeachment. And without question the crowd at that Texas rally had the president's back. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich has more from Austin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Ryan and Laura, the president speaking to a couple thousand farmers here in Austin, Texas. And he did not waste any time touting his two big trade agreements. The phase one trade deal with China, which he signed just last week and USMCA which he plans to sign very soon. But his biggest applause line actually came when he mentioned impeachment. Take a listen to how the crowd here reacted.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're achieving what no administration has ever achieved before, and what do I get out of it, tell me? I get impeached. That's what I get out of it. By these radical left lunatics, I get impeached. But that's OK, the farmers are sticking with Trump. They're sticking with Trump.
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERS)
[04:35:18]
YURKEVICH: You hear the crowd really giving their support to the president. So we wanted to ask farmers how do they feel about impeachment?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trump is innocent. He didn't do anything that he should have not done. He was doing everything that he did was for our benefit as this country. And we need to recognize that and let this move forward. The politics of it, it doesn't help us on the ground at all. It needs to go away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I go by what we see and what impacts us directly. The political side of it, there's always going to be that. That's just the nature of Washington, D.C. But as far as that goes that doesn't have any impact on how I vote next time around.
YURKEVICH: Farmers we spoke to say while they will be paying attention to impeachment it is not top of mind for them. What they really want to focus on are these two new trade deals which they say are promises that have been delivered by the president. Ryan and Laura.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: All right, Vanessa, thanks so much. And breaking overnight The New York Times editorial board bucking tradition with its highly sought after endorsement in the Democratic primary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In this perilous moment both the radical and the realest models want serious consideration. For this reason we are breaking with convention and putting our support behind not one but two candidates. Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: The Times editorial board acknowledging divisions within the party writing, Ms. Klobuchar and Ms. Warren right now are the Democrats best equipped to lead that debate. May the best woman win.
NOBLES: The decision might be a blow to the front-runner and former Vice President Joe Biden. The editorial board writes, quote, his agenda tinkers at the edges of issues like health care and climate but merely restoring the status quo will not get America where it needs to go. And an almost Trumpian take down of Senator Bernie Sanders the Times writes, three years into the Trump administration, we see little advantage into exchanging one over promising divisive figure in Washington for another.
JARRETT: Sparring this weekend between Biden and Sanders are both almost 80-year old over social security. Sanders directly attacking Biden's record but also forced to admit that a video of one of his aides promoted should have included a fuller context. That video supposedly showed Biden backing cuts to social security. In reality Biden was mocking cuts proposed by former Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan.
NOBLES: Two police officers shot and killed responding to a domestic violence call in Hawaii. Authorities say the first officer to arrive outside a home in Waikiki found a stabbing victim. When she and other officers approached the home, suspect Jerry Hanel opened fire. And another group of officers arrived. They were fired on as well. Officers, Tiffany, Enrique and Kaulike Kalama were killed. The Honolulu police chief says the families and the department are devastated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF SUSAN BALLARD, HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT: They left in the morning alive and they get notified -- you know, they come to the hospital and find out that their loved ones are no longer around, so very emotional, very emotional.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible)?
BALLARD: I'm sorry? I did. They were like my kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: The gunman also allegedly set a fire that completely destroyed at least seven homes. Police say it will take several days to process the scene. The work includes removing the possible remains of three people now unaccounted for. Two adult females and the suspect. JARRETT: The FBI and local law enforcement in Virginia all responding
to threats of violence at a big gun rights rally today in the state capitol of Richmond. Federal authorities already arresting several suspected neo-Nazis around the country concerned they were planning violence. Governor Ralph Northam declaring a state of emergency after it was learned out of state hate groups planned to attend. The second amendment attorney, Tim Anderson acknowledging there is a different atmosphere at the annual gun rights rally.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM ANDERSON, SECOND AMENDMENT ATTORNEY: It just didn't start today. This started back in November. We peacefully demonstrated throughout the commonwealth. And if anything bad comes out of tomorrow, I hope that the world understands that it's not Virginia gun owners that are causing this. It is the same kind of terrorist organizations that have caused unrest in other places.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: The Virginia House Republican leader says anyone spreading white supremacist garbage is not welcome in Richmond.
NOBLES: It is freezing in New York City this morning.
JARRETT: It's no joke.
NOBLES: And it's going to be like that across the country. It is cold and getting colder. Who will get the worst of the early winter cold snap?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:40:00]
JARRETT: Prince Harry making his first public statement since Buckingham Palace announced he and his wife Meghan would give up their royal titles and would no longer represent the queen as working members of the royal family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY, OF WALES: The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. There was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I haven't always gotten it right, but as far as this goes there really was no other option.
What I want to make clear is, we're not walking away and we certainly aren't walking away from you. Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the commonwealth and my military associations but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: CNN's Max Foster is live for us at Buckingham Palace. Max, he says he wanted to try to figure out a way to do this, to keep serving without public funding. Why couldn't he do that?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Because that's the halfway House the queen wasn't willing to accept. You can't have some elements of your public service and keep the bits you like and then go out on private income.
[04:45:05]
You're either in or your out, and he's mentioning there those military associations which were the core elements of what he wanted to keep doing, essentially. But those are public service roles which he was only given because he was a senior royal. He's giving that up, and that's the price he pays for this move that he wanted to make.
And he said he's sad about this, he's expressing his sadness and this is the first sort of sense we've had from his side of how this was a compromise ultimately and everyone lost out a bit here.
JARRETT: And the palace released some details over the weekend about Harry and Meghan's future role. What can you tell us about that, Max?
FOSTER: Well, their future roles are yet to be carved and one of the topics they're still working through is the brand of Sussex royal, which they really built themselves around in this new website is Sussex royal as well. But it does look as though they're going to have to take the title royal out of there or that's at least part of the debate simply because the big question now is how they continue and earn private incomes without to be seeming to be cashing in on the royal brand.
So there are no commercial agreements signed as yet, but they're clearly looking at them. They're going to need them. I think there's also questions about staffing, the public service staff here, aren't going to be working for them anymore. So, how are they're going to match all of that up. So, we're learning more about their future roles but it's going to be outside this entire fold which is what Harry is sad about.
Interesting as well in his speech, distancing Meghan from all of this. She was obviously in Canada as all this played out. He's saying it was his decision to reach this deal, and that she's the same person that he married. So, that is really speaking to this narrative that perhaps Meghan was behind all of this. He's saying that was not the case.
JARRETT: Clearly trying to push back on the idea that she was the cause of all this. All right. Max Foster, thanks so much for that.
NOBLES: One hundred thirty-nine new cases of pneumonia in China including a third death all caused by a new strain of coronavirus. Health officials say the respiratory disease related to SARS has spread from the central city of Wuhan to Beijing in (inaudible).
Officials are concerned the disease may spread further as Chinese tourists travel for the lunar new year holiday. South Korea has now confirmed its first case. In United States, the CDC says, airports in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles will start screening passengers arriving from Wuhan.
JARRETT: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido defying a travel ban impose by a socialist leader, Nicholas Maduro and making a surprise appearance in neighboring Columbia. Guaido is recognized as Venezuela's rightful president by the U.S. and in nearly 60 other countries. He's set to meet with Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo today and then travel to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. It's part of an effort to ramp up pressure in his U.S. supported campaign to oust Maduro.
But Guaido's popularity is weakening at home where his backers have grown weary and frustrated. Maduro tells the Washington Post, he thinks he now has the upper hand and says it's time for direct talks with the U.S.
NOBLES: History and a lot of laughs at the Screen Actors Guild awards.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:50:00]
JARRETT: Following some breaking news at least two people have been shot and killed at a club in Kansas City, Missouri, 15 others showed up at local hospitals with injuries. The suspect is believed to be one of the deceased. Police believe a shooter opened fire on a group standing in line waiting to get in and was stopped by an armed security guard. Not clear if there was a specific person targeted or if there was a disturbance that led to the shooting.
NOBLES: Arctic air rolling across much of the eastern two thirds of the United States creating hazardous conditions. In Iowa a state trooper and an Omaha man near the shoulder of I-90 nearly crushed by a truck that lost control on the ice. Wind chill advisories posted across the northern plains in upper Midwest, were temperatures could feel 25 to 35 below zero. More now from meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Ryan and Laura, good morning, guys. Yes, the cold air here going to be the significant story moving forward over the next couple of days and really not just for the Midwest or northeast but even down south in the parts of central Florida over the next couple of days. We'll see wind chills dropping down pretty significantly.
In fact this time yesterday compared to this morning temperatures running about 15 to 20 degrees colder this morning than this time yesterday. And in New York City, about 13 degrees colder this morning than this time yesterday as well. So, certainly becoming noticeable. And in fact wind chills in the afternoon hours you'll notice they'll struggle to get up above zero across portion of the upper Midwest while Chicago only 20 and look at New Orleans will feel like 46 degrees where temps were well into the 70s just a few days back. So, about 10 to about 15 degrees below average for this time of year in New York City, about 31 for the afternoon high, that is about 7 degrees below average for this time of year. And you'll notice, again, it does shift into parts of Florida in the next couple of days. But there is light at the end of the tunnel and it does warm up into the 40's and gets above average and stays there for a few days as early as Thursday and Friday. Guys.
JARRETT: All right. Pedram, thanks so much for keeping us updated.
A dentist in Alaska convicted after he was filmed extracting a tooth on a hover board. The patient seen on the video testified she never consented to being filmed and only found out about the video after she was contacted by investigators.
[04:55:00]
According to a lawsuit filed by the state, Seth Lockhart joked that performing oral surgery on a hover board was a new standard of care. Lockhart was also charged with fraud, theft, bogus Medicaid charges and other crimes. Sentencing is set for April.
NOBLES: It was a historic night at the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the actor goes to, Parasite.
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Parasite became the first foreign language film to win SAG coveted best ensemble prize last night. The other top awards went to Joaquin Phoenix, who won outstanding male actor for Joker. Rene Zellweger outstanding female actor for her role in Judy. The supporting movie awards went to presume favorites Laura Dern for Marriage Story and Brad Pitt Once upon a time in Hollywood. In his acceptance speech, Pitt not take himself too seriously.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRAD PITT, ACTOR: I've got to add this to my Tinder profile. Let's be honest it was a difficult part, a guy who gets high, takes his shirt off and doesn't get on with his wife. There's a big stretch.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: As if on cue Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston later picked up a trophy for the backstage drama of the morning show, it marks the first win for fledgling streaming service Apple Plus.
And as we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the U.S. the Navy is set to name a $12.5 billion aircraft carrier after the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross for Valor. Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris Miller was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941.
He manned a machine gun on the USS West Virginia to fire back at attacking Japanese planes. At the time African-Americans were not allowed to operate guns in the Navy.
NOBLES: If you need some motivation to stick to your new year's resolution to get fit former first lady Michelle Obama is here to help.
Mrs. Obama shared her go-to work out play list on Twitter. She says the songs always give her that extra boost to get her through her toughest work outs. The playlist made up of 36 songs featuring a range of artists. Simply, the Destiny's Child, Lizzo and (inaudible) Cardi B. During her first tenure as -- I'm sorry during her tenure as first lady Mrs. Obama championed health and fitness.
JARRETT: Bad boys for life winning big at the box office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bad boys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One last time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One last time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: It's the third installment in the Bad Boys franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as two detectives shooting their way across Miami. Sony says the film will bring in an estimated $60 million over the U.S. over the holiday weekend. It's expected to cross the $100 million mark worldwide. That's the second biggest opening ever for both the holiday weekend and the month of January.
NOBLES: Super Bowl LIV will feature the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 37-20 in the NFC championship game. Raheem Mostert, what a game, rushing for 220 yards, four touch downs for San Francisco. The Kansas City Chiefs defeating the Tennessee Titans, 35-24 in the AFC title game. Patrick Mahomes, threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for a touchdown. This is going to be a powerhouse matchup. The Chiefs have the lead sixth ranked offense. The Niners have the second best defense. Super Bowl LIV, February second in Miami.
JARRETT: Have you ever been to a Super Bowl?
NOBLES: I have never been to a Super Bowl.
JARRETT: Yes, it looks like a good time, right?
NOBLES: I don't know how much the actual football you watch, when you go to a Super Bowl.
JARRETT: Thanks to our international viewers for joining us. Have a great rest of your day. For our U.S. viewers, Early Start continues right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHUMER: Why is McConnell being so secretive about his proposal?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: One day from the president's impeachment trial Democrats want to know how the GOP plans to proceed and why those plans are still private.
JARRETT: The much coveted The New York Times Democratic endorsement is out. More than one candidate has reason to celebrate.
NOBLES: Two police officers dead, two people unaccounted for along with the suspect after a deadly rampage in Hawaii.
Good morning. Thanks for starting your day with us. Welcome to Early Start. I'm Ryan Nobles.
JARRETT: And I'm Laura Jarrett. So great to have you here as usual, Ryan. It's Monday, January 20th, Martin Luther King day. It's 4:00 a.m. in the east, just two weeks until the Iowa caucuses, 5:00 a.m. -- (inaudible) rules for the president's impeachment trial still under lock and key just a day before the trial gets underway. The Republicans who are already trying to limit new evidence, Democrats can introduce.
END
