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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Biden To Announce Executive Actions Against Gun Violence; Lead Investigators About-Face On What George Floyd Said; Biden Administration Reviewing Files For More Child Separation Cases. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired April 08, 2021 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[05:32:08]
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone, this is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett. About 31 minutes past the hour here in New York.
And in just a few hours, President Biden will take his first steps against gun violence as the country now faces at least 20 mass shootings in this year alone. Biden expected to release a series of executive actions that he can take without congressional approval.
So here is what we know.
He plans to tighten up rules on so-called ghost guns, which are homemade or assembled from kits without serial numbers. He also plans to restrict the stabilizing braces that make it easier to handle a gun's recoil.
He'll direct the Department of Justice to release model red flag laws for states. Those are the ones that allow authorities to take guns from people who are found to be a danger to themselves or others. Biden will announce new intervention programs for communities hit hardest by violence.
And finally, the president plans to nominate a gun control advocate as the next director of the ATF -- the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF hasn't had a director confirmed in six years.
Well, just five states have had 43 percent of the country's new coronavirus cases in the last seven days. New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey reporting over 196,000 of the nation's 453,000 cases.
Dr. Anthony Fauci warning young Americans they are now being infected at much higher rates.
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DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: More than 75 percent of individuals 65 years of age or older have had at least one shot of a two-shot vaccine, which means when you look at the entire population there's relatively more protection among older individuals as opposed to younger individuals.
So what we're seeing now is what appears to be, but it's actually the reality of disproportionately more infections in younger individuals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Health experts say highly contagious variants are driving the rise in cases we're seeing.
CNN has reporters covering the pandemic coast-to-coast.
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MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Martin Savidge in Atlanta.
Today is the day Georgia rolls back most of its longstanding COVID-19 restrictions amidst concerns from local businesses and public health experts.
Starting today, the state's months-long ban on gatherings of more than 50 people in one place will be lifted per orders from the governor. Restaurants and bars will be able to seat their patrons closer together, and the same is true of movie theaters. Additionally, police officers are barred from shutting down businesses that don't comply with the scaled-back distancing rules.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Tom Foreman in Washington, D.C. where the federal government is going to pitch in to help families bury the folks who have died from COVID-19. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is going to be in charge of this program, one of the largest of its kind.
[05:35:05]
What they're doing is inviting people to apply for this assistance. They could get up to $9,000 per burial. The goal here is not merely to pay for those costs but also to help these families, many of whom lost primary breadwinners to the virus.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Elizabeth Cohen.
During the pandemic, stay-at-home orders helped curb the spread of the virus but they also took a toll, especially on some communities in the United States. The study shows that the stay-at-home orders were associated with unemployment, food insufficiency, mental health issues, and that these problems were worse for Black, Latino, and low- income communities.
And unfortunately, many of the communities that were hard-hit by these orders were also hard-hit by the virus. ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I'm Alexandra Field in New York City.
The city has announced a new program for people who are suffering from long-term COVID symptoms. That program will include resources and referrals. It will also include outreach to patients who reported they were still experiencing symptoms at the end of their isolation periods.
New York has also set up COVID Centers for Excellence, which will provide holistic care for people who are continuing to experience symptoms and may need treatment for months or possibly years.
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JARRETT: All right, thanks to Alex and the rest of our correspondents for those updates on the virus.
Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon will not face charges after she was arrested last month for knocking on Gov. Brian Kemp's office door as he signed the state's new law rolling back voting rights. Her lawyer says she should never have been arrested in the first place and they are weighing their next legal action. Cannon was facing charges of felony obstruction and disrupting a general assembly session.
Now to the Derek Chauvin murder trial where the defense attorney introduced a new element to the jury on Wednesday. Chauvin's lawyer played a short clip of police body camera footage for the lead state investigator into the death of George Floyd who then changed his mind on the witness stand about what Floyd said as Officer Chauvin kneeled down on him.
CNN's Adrienne Broaddus is live in Minneapolis with more on this.
Adrienne, this entire case really comes down to a legal issue, of course -- what was the substantial causal factor in George Floyd's death. Was it the knee on his neck for over nine minutes or was it the drugs in his system? I wonder, watching this sometimes, whether the jury is getting that. And I think yesterday's testimony complicated it even more.
ADRIENNE BROADDUS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Complicated, indeed. Some big moments out of the courtroom yesterday and the question jurors likely wrestled with overnight was what did George Floyd say. This after the defense attorney Eric Nelson introduced that new element you just talked about. Let's take a listen.
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ERIC NELSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: And I'm going to ask you, sir, to listen to Mr. Floyd's voice.
GEORGE FLOYD: (INAUDIBLE).
NELSON: Could you hear that?
JAMES REYERSON, SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT, MINNESOTA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION: Yes, I did.
NELSON: Did it appear that Mr. Floyd said "I ate too many drugs"?
REYERSON: Yes, it did.
FLOYD: (INAUDIBLE).
MATTHEW FRANK, PROSECUTOR: Having heard it in context, are you able to tell what Mr. Floyd is saying there?
REYERSON: Yes. I believe Mr. Floyd was saying "I ain't do no drugs."
FRANK: That's a little different than what you were asked about when we saw a portion of the video, correct?
REYERSON: Yes, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROADDUS: And once again, the defense focused on George Floyd's drug use. By using that video the defense was trying to get Floyd to admit he consumed drugs and that ultimately led to his death.
But that's a question the jurors are going to have to decide, and they're going to have to weigh the credibility of that VCH -- VCA agent that testified because first, he said he heard something, and then he said he heard something different after that video was replayed within context.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, we also heard from multiple members of law enforcement, including a use of force expert with the Los Angeles Police Department. He testified, saying Chauvin used excessive and deadly force. We also heard from forensic scientists -- or forensic experts, you can say, who said they found pills in the back of the police squad car with Floyd's DNA on those pills.
So the big question is what is next. We know we are going to hear from the Hennepin County medical examiner. We should hear from the medical examiner later this week. And the medical examiner will be able to talk about the autopsy and the cause of death.
[05:40:01]
Back to you.
JARRETT: All right. Adrienne, thank you so much for your coverage on this -- appreciate it.
The Biden administration now reviewing more than 5,600 new files to determine whether more children were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border than previously known.
Former President Trump's zero-tolerance policy resulted in border officials separating thousands of children from their parents. The question for the Biden administration is how to undo all the damage.
Priscilla Alvarez is live in Washington this morning.
Priscilla, hundreds of files. It sounds daunting, to be honest. So how does the Biden administration plan to even start this and sort through all the missing files, the wrong dates, the doubled-up cases? Where do they start?
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN IMMIGRATION REPORTER (via Cisco Webex): Laura, there is no doubt that this is a challenge. A senior Department of Homeland Security official told reporters just yesterday that they are meticulously going through thousands of files, both of separations that we know occurred as well as files that haven't been reviewed yet.
Those 5,600 files you mentioned -- that falls under the 'have not been reviewed' yet. They date from somewhere between January of 2017 to July of 2017. And what officials are looking for there are clues -- clues that a child may have been separated from a parent or guardian when crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Now, what the -- all of this is part of that task force that President Joe Biden set up in his first few days in office. That task force intended to identify and reunify families who were separated under the Trump administration.
Now, on that latter part, the reunification, the official couldn't provide a timeline as to when that's going to happen but said they're going through those files and buttoning up systems to make sure that they can do those reunifications smoothly when it is time.
So still a long road ahead, Laura.
JARRETT: OK. So speaking of reunification, you're also learning that the parents of 445 migrant children separated at the border, under Trump, have still not been found. Now thankfully, that number is actually down from 506, if you can believe it.
Where do the lawyers believe that the parents of the rest of the children are? I imagine these are probably the hardest cases that are left, right?
All right, it looks like we may have lost Priscilla Alvarez there but we thank her for her coverage on all of these immigration issues. She's been doing such great work. Thanks, Priscilla.
All right. Rudy Giuliani's son Andrew says he plans to run for governor of New York next year. His candidacy could set up a high- profile showdown against Andrew Cuomo if the embattled Democratic incumbent decides to run for a fourth term.
Andrew Giuliani would face a longshot battle in the heavily Democrat state, though. His only political experience has been as an aide to former President Trump.
And on the west coast, Caitlyn Jenner is being advised by a former Trump campaign manager as she considers a run for governor in California. Sources say Brad Parscale is not a paid adviser but helping Jenner as a friend to find people to fill key campaign roles if she decides to go forward with the run.
New information on what caused that car crash that seriously injured Tiger Woods, but investigators didn't look at everything. That's next.
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[05:47:24]
JARRETT: Authorities now say Tiger Woods' February crash was caused by excessive speed and his inability to handle a curve. The L.A. County sheriff announcing Woods was driving up to 87 miles per hour -- that's nearly double the speed limit -- when he lost control of his vehicle. But the sheriff says investigators did not get a warrant for blood tests in the case because there was no evidence of impairment or intoxication.
On Twitter, Woods thanked the good Samaritans who came to his aid and says he continues to focus on recovery.
Well, as Tiger recovers, golf fans will return to Augusta, Georgia for today's Masters Tournament. Coy Wire is already there with this morning's Bleacher Report. Hey, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Laura.
Very interesting energy here in Augusta. The 2021 Masters being played less than five months after last year's edition, which was pushed back due to COVID.
A limited number of patrons will be allowed on the grounds here at Augusta National Golf Club each day. Masks and social distancing still required. But the fans -- with those fans will come a sense of normalcy, and the players -- they can't wait to see them.
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JORDAN SPIETH, 2015 MASTERS CHAMPION: The patrons play such a massive role into this tournament -- the echoes, the roars down in the valley. And especially come the weekend I think it's going to feel -- it won't take many people for it to feel close enough to normal to be a fantastic event.
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WIRE: Jordan Spieth, one of the favorites to win this 85th Masters, and so is defending champ Dustin Johnson. But winning back-to-back Masters incredibly tough. Only three players in history have ever repeated a chance at this major -- Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods.
D.J. certainly has the skill and temperament to pull it off. All eyes will be on him to see if he can.
Now, before the first group tees off at 8:00 eastern, a Masters tradition with the honorary starters. Joining Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will be Lee Elder. Back in 1975, Elder became the first black man to play in the Masters.
Now age 86, he's still breaking barriers, still smiling. He'll be the first African-American to open the most prestigious tournament in golf, ever mindful of a very different and painful era but still relishing every moment he's seeing.
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LEE ELDER, BROKE MASTERS COLOR BARRIER IN 1975: If they say that they are not nervous, they're not human. You know, you can only accomplish so much. The nervousness won't last long but it's certainly going to last my introduction. It's something that I will never forget and will always cherish it.
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JARRETT: Very cool.
[05:50:00]
WIRE: So inspiring Laura to be with Lee. He said his message to others, you have to take a look at where you come from in order to get to where you're going. Goal-setting is so important. He's here with his daughter. It should be a very special time for him and his family.
JARRETT: Very special.
All right, Coy. Thanks so much -- appreciate it.
Well, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal making one man's day a lot better and a whole lot cheaper by paying for his engagement ring. The gesture caught on camera as Shaq is seen slyly taking out his credit card and handing it to the store clerk as the customer was getting ready to pay.
The basketball star spoke about the gift during the NBA after-show.
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SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, NBA HALL OF FAMER AND TNT BROADCASTER: And this is something that I do every day. Yes, I'm into making people happy, so whenever I leave the house I just try to do a good deed. At first, he didn't want to take it. He said no, I can't do that. I said don't worry about it, I do it all the time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: I bet he's glad he did take it. Shaq says he is just trying to make people smile.
Well, Jack Hanna, the beloved animal expert and wildlife conservationist, has been diagnosed with dementia. Hanna's family shared a letter on social media saying his condition progressed much faster than anticipated and the 74-year-old is retiring from public life.
Jungle Jack Hanna became a national celebrity making frequent appearances with his exotic animals on late-night and daytime T.V.
Target planning to spend more than $2 billion by 2025 to support Black-owned businesses. The company plans to add more products made by Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs while spending more with Black-owned marketing agencies and construction companies.
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STUDENTS AND STAFF, DEER CREEK PRAIRIE VALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: USA! USA! USA! USA!
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JARRETT: A raucous shout-out from students and staff at an Oklahoma elementary school there to celebrate the school's beloved cafeteria manager becoming a U.S. citizen. Yanet Lopez, known to all as Ms. Yanet, took a victory lap, waving an American flag. The school posted pictures of the celebration on Facebook, saying quote "They are honored to work with one of the best U.S. citizens they know."
Well, it's a designer bag that costs more than many cars and it's shaped like a plane. CNN's Jeanne Moos wonders if the airplane bag will take off.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fasten your seatbelts -- this bag has hit some turbulence.
PHILLIP BLOCH, CELEBRITY STYLIST: I think the average consumer is going to go what?
MOOS (voice-over): This Louis Vuitton airplane bag sells for 39,000 bucks. You can buy an actual plane for less, noted someone, posting a used Cessna selling for just over $32,000 to prove it.
The luxury design house showed a travel-themed collection at its latest men's show and there it was -- more of a collector's item or as celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch put it --
BLOCH: And I think it was the fantasy we all want. We all want to escape our living rooms right now.
MOOS (voice-over): Yes. Well, for $39,000, can it fly? Can you even find things to put in there? Where's my ChapStick? Have you checked the cockpit? On the bright side, look at all the miles to be earned on purchasing this.
Covered with the famous Louis Vuitton logo, it looks like a military transport plane, but who would be transporting it?
BLOCH: Well, you will definitely see that bag in rapper's videos. It's very Cardi B maybe. Lady Gaga would live for that bag.
MOOS (voice-over): It's the work of Louis Vuitton men's artistic director Virgil Abloh who once tweeted then later deleted "Design is the freshest scam. Quote me on that one."
And the non-fashionistas ragged on the bag. Someone offered to just glue some handles on this. Some who follow fashion were smitten.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very cool. It looks so good.
MOOS (voice-over): But that wingspan --
BLOCH: You would have a lot of plane crashes with that bag. You'd be crashing into everything.
MOOS (voice-over): This is a bag that practically invites you to pick it up.
FRANK SINATRA: (Singing "Come Fly with Me")
MOOS (voice-over): Just don't expect it to fit in the overhead luggage bin.
BLOCH: I think that's something that would have to sit on your lap like a service dog.
MOOS (voice-over): It goes perfectly with that $1,100 Louis Vuitton mink sleep mask.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JARRETT: Jeanne, thank you for that.
Thanks so much for joining us, everyone. I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.
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[05:59:22]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joe Manchin stating yet again we're not going to do anything with the filibuster.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I was Joe Biden, I would support getting rid of the filibuster.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The president going through these executive actions that they believe are going to stem some of the gun violence that we've seen.
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't need to wait another minute to take common-sense steps that will save lives in the future.
NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That more contagious coronavirus variant first found in the U.K. now dominates here. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All the more reason to get vaccinated as quickly as possible.
FAUCI: Hang in there a bit longer. Each day more and more people by the millions are getting vaccinated.
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ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY. It's Thursday, April eighth, 6:00 here in New York.
