Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Tear Gas, Arrests in Second Night of Protests Over Police Killing; Chauvin's Defense in George Floyd Murder Case Begins Today; U.S. on Track to Vaccinate 50 Percent of Adult Population This Week; Biden Talks Infrastructure with Bipartisan Lawmakers. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired April 13, 2021 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:41]
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Christine.
I'm Laura Jarrett. It's Tuesday, April 13th. It's 5:00 a.m. here in New York.
This morning, the Twin Cities crying out for justice as America faces another unarmed black man killed at the hands of police while another police officer is on trial just miles away.
Peaceful protesters out Monday night in Brooklyn Center, north of Minneapolis, but as the night went on, the curfew doing little. Police firing tear gas and stun grenades as officials say protesters threw bottles, fireworks and bricks at police. More than 50 people were arrested in Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis.
ROMANS: It was the second night now of protests after officers killed 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop. Yesterday, officials released the body cam footage and we want to warn you, this video is disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(INAUDIBLE)
POLICE OFFICER: I'll tase you. I'll tase you. Taser! Taser! Taser!
Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED). I just shot him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The officer who fired her weapon identified as Kim Potter, she has been placed on administrative leave. A 26-year veteran of the police department who the chief of police says made a mistake.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHIEF TIM GANNON, BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE: As I watched the video and listened to the officer's commands, it is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their Taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet. This appears to me from what I viewed and the officer's reaction and distress immediately after, that this was an accidental discharge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Daunte Wright's aunt on CNN not buying that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
NAISHA WRIGHT, DAUNTE WRIGHT'S AUNT: You don't mistake a stun gun from a gun. You don't mistake that. If I made a mistake like that I would be in a jail cell. They would be trying to put me under.
That's not fair. We got several police officers in all of our family. I don't have nothing bad to say about them, but what I've got to say is she needs to pay for what she did to my family. My family's blood is on their hands. My brother, my sister is hurting.
How do we put life back together after this? Some people say, oh, it's God's plan. That was not God's plan.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
JARRETT: Vice President Kamala Harris weighing in overnight as well, tweeting: Daunte Wright should still be with us. Daunte's family needs to know why their child is dead. They deserve answers.
ROMANS: So this happening ten miles from where former Police Officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for killing George Floyd. The defense about to get its turn this morning. The judge denied a request to sequester the jury and question them given the police killing of Daunte Wright.
Prosecution witnesses made the case that Floyd died not from drugs, not from a heart condition but from Chauvin's knee, Officer Chauvin's knee pressed down on his neck for more than nine minutes.
CNN's Sara Sidner is at the courthouse in Minneapolis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Laura, the defense is expected to begin its case in the Derek Chauvin trial today. We have already heard 38 witnesses from the prosecution, the prosecution ending its portion of the case and now, we will listen to what the defense is going to say. We expect them to bring in people from different aspects of this trial, for example, a use of force expert or two, a medical expert or two, definitely expecting their case to be much shorter, many fewer witnesses than the prosecution.
And the judge said that he expects to give the jury Friday off, but that we are expecting to hear closing arguments potentially next Monday. So this case is about to wrap up. Now, as to what happened on Monday, we heard from one of George
Floyd's family members, one of the people that was closest to him, his younger brother, Philonise Floyd.
[05:05:11]
PHILONISE FLOYD, BROTHER OF GEORGE FLOYD: He was so much of a leader to us in the household. He would always make sure that we had our clothes for school, he made sure that we all were going to be to school on time and, like I told you, George couldn't cook but he will make sure you have a snack or something to get in the morning.
He was one of those people in the community that when they had church outside, people would attend church just because he was there. Nobody would go out there until they seen him. And he just was like a person that everybody loved around the community.
SIDNER: We also heard another prosecution witness both a medical witness and a use of force witness, both experts, both testifying to what we pretty much heard before, one, that George Floyd, according to the witness, died because of the officer's actions and as far as use of force, that witness saying that it was not necessary in this case at a certain point.
We have heard that over and over and over again in this trial. Now, the defense will make its case to the jury -- Laura, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JARRETT: Sara Sidner, thank you for that.
The Virginia attorney general now launching a civil rights investigation after video emerged of a uniformed black and Hispanic Army medic, Lieutenant Caron Nazario, being held in his car at gun point and dowsed with pepper spray by police the town of Windsor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK HERRING, VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL: One of the things that I'm looking into it is whether there might have been a pattern of misconduct, of police misconduct, either by these officers specifically or more broadly within the department. Because if so, then we've got more work to do to make sure that this never happens there again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: One of the officers wrote in his report that he pulled Lieutenant Nazario over because his brand-new SUV was missing a license plate when, in fact, a temporary plate was taped inside the rear window.
ROMANS: Attorneys for Lieutenant Nazario says he is gratified by the outpouring of support and encouraged that his story resonates with so many who are willing to speak out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN ARTHUR, ATTORNEY FOR LT. CARON NAZARIO: The officers told him they would destroy his military career if he tried. So, we're also -- he is a little bit concerned about retaliation. He was terrified he was going to get shot. Can you blame him?
I think he was -- displayed admirable calm. It's what I would expect from the United States Army officer to be able to remain that calm knowing that one wrong move and you're going to die.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: One police officer was fired for his role in that incident, CNN has not been able to reach Joe Gutierrez or the other officer or their representatives.
JARRETT: A suspect is dead and three police officers wounded after a high-speed chase in Georgia. A second suspect in custody. Authorities say the car was going 111 miles an hour on the interstate and three officers were shot during the pursuit. It ended with the suspects crashing into a school and running away. Police are not saying how that one suspect was killed.
ROMANS: Terrifying there.
All right. A big cinema chain closing its doors permanently after a brutal year for business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:12:59]
ROMANS: The latest now on the pandemic. Eleven states have now vaccinated half of their adult populations with at least one dose. That puts the U.S. on track to reach that milestone nationwide this week. Despite that, some states find themselves forced to consider again the kind of restrictions they imposed a year ago.
CNN has the pandemic covered from coast to coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Polo Sandoval in Detroit.
The head of the CDC responding to the state of Michigan's repeated requests to have the Biden administration increase the number of COVID-19 vaccines it's shipping to the state saying that that would be the best way to actually fight this most recent surge in COVID-19 infections.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky instead saying that perhaps the state should consider a complete shutdown, similar to what we saw at the beginning of the pandemic. Walensky explaining that's like got any potential benefit in a surge and vaccine amounts may not be seen or felt nor weeks and the state needs is an immediate solution.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam in Los Angeles.
For the first time in about a year for the majority of students in the Los Angeles unified school district, they're going to head back to campus for in-person learning. It kinds with kindergarten and first grade levels heading back to school and then, tomorrow, the second and third graders will be added into the fold and then on Thursday the fourth and fifth graders will also head back to campus.
The plan as it stands right now has middle schoolers and high schoolers heading back to campus later this month.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Nick Valencia in Atlanta.
NASCAR superstar Bubba Wallace is speaking up and speaking out about COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Wallace who is black is partnering with the North Carolina health system which calls vaccine hesitancy the biggest barrier to ending the pandemic.
Wallace played a major role in getting the Confederate monuments flag removed from the sport of NASCAR. He hopes to play a big role in also getting people vaccinated.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JARRETT: Thanks to Nick and other correspondents for those updates.
In a blow to California moviegoers and concession workers, 300 movie screens are fading to black for good.
[05:15:05]
After struggling during the pandemic, Pacific Theaters and ArcLight Cinemas will close their doors. Many in Hollywood mourning the theater theater's closure on social media. In a statement, the company thanked its employees, guests and members of the film industry for the years of support saying, quote, it has been an honor and pleasure to serve you.
ROMANS: Connecticut making a big new push to get students back in classrooms. The state is now investing $10 million of federal funding into a new effort to fight absenteeism. The program focuses on 15 school districts increasing the number of people who can directly support students and get them back in class.
JARRETT: Health officials growing increasingly concerned that youth sports may be spreading COVID and for good reason. A new survey shows more than one in four parents gave their kids sports groups a fair or poor rating in enforcing COVID restrictions. They were asked what they would do if their kid had COVID during the sports season, most said they would follow medical advice but 5 percent said they would let their children play if they felt well enough. Not good.
ROMANS: That 5 percent number terrifying. Actually, I have kids in youth sports. My personal experience has been it has been very, very good and parents have been so good about pulling their kids out, contact tracing, getting testing, you know, waiting, everyone has been so patient. That 5 percent of letting your kid play, that's troubling.
JARRETT: Yeah, that's troubling.
ROMANS: All right. Bridging the gap, President Biden hosts a bipartisan group of lawmakers to talk infrastructure. Why this group is key to moving the proposal through Congress.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:21:01]
JARRETT: President Biden trying to get momentum behind his $2 trillion infrastructure plans now. He held a bipartisan meeting in the Oval Office Monday, but it didn't include some of the usual suspects.
CNN's Jasmine Wright is live at the White House this morning.
Jasmine, good morning to you.
So, break it down, who was there and is any progress being made?
JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, this was really a first step, Laura. This was the president's first time to sit down face-to-face with lawmakers and discuss the bill as it was rolled out. You're right, missing was leadership, missing was high profile moderates like Senator Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, that we talked about often.
Instead a group of lawmakers who sit on infrastructure-related committees that will have influence on how this plan becomes a bill. Now, let's be clear about something, Laura, this conversation came down to two things, the size of the bill and how it will get paid for.
Republicans pushed back against that 28 percent corporate tax hike that is proposed with one Republican Senator Wicker telling Biden that if he tries to amend the laws that currently stands passed in 27 which is at 21 percent for corporations, it would be nearly impossible, almost impossible he said to get Republican support. They brought up things like user fees like gas tax to pay for it. Now, the White House said that that's not going to happen.
And also Republicans pushed back on that everything else that comes with this bill that is not traditional roads, not railroads, not roadways, right? But one thing was very evident from talking to Republicans and Democrats afterwards, that while President Biden is open to negotiating, he was open to hearing ideas, wanted to follow up, look, Laura, he wants this plan to be big.
Bottom line, right? He wants to be transformative, he wants it to do that everything else that is not just traditional railroads and roads and things like that. So, right now, it's not clear, one, how far up Republicans and honestly moderate Democrats who don't feel that good about the plan, how far up they're willing to go, but also how far down President Biden is willing to go to meet them.
JARRETT: So, Jasmine, you talk about something that's not maybe something we traditionally think of as infrastructure, but a critical piece of this is chip manufacturing. They're called semi-conductors, I think the president even held one up at one point in a meeting yesterday and said this is infrastructure.
It's a big part of life for all of us but if you drive a car, you play computer games, this is what you use to make them and now the White House is trying to boost America's role in this. Tell us about this.
WRIGHT: That's right. That was really evident by that meeting, right? President Biden sat with a bunch of tech CEOs, really saying that Congress was interested in investing in this domestically new industry really or industry that's been around that he wants to embolden it and that it is a part of infrastructure, right, because why, Laura? Because everything right now is going to come back to this American Jobs Plan.
The White House will tell you, yes, this plan is about making sure that people can pay for child care when they go to work and broadband, but it is also about making ourselves and different sectors of this country globally competition and this chip system is going to be one of those. As President Biden continues to sell this plan we're going to see him meeting with different stakeholders in the private sector really to get their buy in, boosting his claim that this thing needs to get done -- Laura.
JARRETT: All right. Jasmine, thanks so much.
ROMANS: Yeah, domestic manufacturing as infrastructure. That's the case the White House is making here and we know that investment in U.S. chip production is crucial. A shortage of computer chips has idled auto production in the U.S. in some companies. Intel is in talks with companies that design chips for car makers to make those chips in Intel's factories. The Intel CEO said it could be producing chips within six to nine months.
It would be critical to alleviate auto industry production delays, limited inventory and factory shutdowns.
[05:25:01]
Right now, a majority of chip manufacturing happens overseas, mainly in Taiwan, right? Where there's always the threat of Chinese intervention.
Intel has been working with U.S. officials to boost American chip- making since last spring. Last month, Intel said it will invest $20 billion in two new chip making facilities. It also plans to launch this new business unit to make chips designed by other companies and that could draw some business away from Asian chip manufacturers, Laura.
JARRETT: Policing in America on trial yet again as recent shootings spark pain and protests.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JARRETT: Good morning, everyone. This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.
ROMANS: Hi, Laura.
I'm Christine Romans. It is just about 30 minutes past the hour this Tuesday morning.
And we begin.
