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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Pope Francis in New York; Obama Meets with China's President. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired September 25, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:21] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Pope Francis waking up in New York. Set to speak before the United Nations this morning, just the beginning of the day that brings him all over the city.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: China's president wakes up in Washington. A key meeting at the White House this morning with President Obama. A big announcement on climate change, with growing controversies that will keep tensions high.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday. Let's say it one more time, it's Friday. September 25th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.
Let's begin here with the Pope. Pope Francis wakes up in New York City this morning, set to address the United Nations General Assembly. Pope Francis is expected once again to wade into political and diplomatic issues just as he did Thursday in an historic address to the joint session of Congress, the speech that's touched on immigration, climate change and the death penalty. Today, Vatican officials say his speech to the U.N. will also focus on climate change, in addition to poverty and social justice.
The pontiff's arrival in New York gripped this city last night. Huge crowds gathered to catch a glimpse.
John, you were there on Fifth Avenue. Unbelievable.
BERMAN: It was unremarkable. I saw this very images as the Pope came down Fifth Avenue, in the Pope mobile. They threw open the doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
It was overwhelming. It was really, really extraordinary.
ROMANS: Wow. CNN's Alexandra Field was also there. She filed this report on the Pope's day ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, John, thousands of people from all around the world lined Fifth Avenue, trying to catch a glimpse of the Pope as he made his way to St. Patrick's Cathedral, for a prayer service and then left riding along Fifth Avenue. So many who turned out to see him will follow him through the city.
The day starts with the address in English before the United Nations, then it's on to Ground Zero. After that, the Pope stops at a school in Harlem. From there, there's a procession through Central Park. Before he makes his way to Madison Square Garden for a mass before thousands of people who have been waiting for this moment. Many of them waiting to see the Pope in person, many of them particularly wanting to hear Pope Francis as he makes his address and for Madison Square Garden.
The next leg of this trip will be a visit to Philadelphia -- Christine, John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Alexandra, thanks so much.
With the big event during the Pope's first night in New York, with the evening prayer service at St. Patrick's Cathedral, beautifully restored after $177 million in renovations right there. The Pope led the prayers in English, though he delivered his homily in Spanish.
He begun the event with the prayer for the more than 700 victims of the Hajj stampede in Mecca, victims he called his Muslim brothers and sister.
More than 2,000 people, mostly clergy, were inside St. Patrick's for the service. You can see them there. Thousands more stood outside the cathedral. We were there for hours with them waiting to catch a glimpse of the Holy Father.
CNN's Jason Carroll was there, too.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine and John, this is what the faithful and dedicated looked like. These are some of the people who have been out here ever since very early on Thursday morning, waiting hours just to get a glimpse of the Pope.
These are the folks who didn't have tickets, but they wanted to come out here to Fifth Avenue just to get a quick look.
One of those people, Heather Christopher. Her brother is actually a Jesuit priest. He was inside for the service.
You were here outside. You were saying you wanted to come out here, feel the energy. What was it like for you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was absolutely amazing. My heart was pounding. I didn't expect that I'm going to actually see him in the motorcade, but I got to be in the right place at the right time and see him wave. I got a great shot of it. It was -- I'm still shaking.
COSTELLO: This is a pope that seemed to speak to so many people. Why do you think that is?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, it's not every day you see a man in this position and power that is just so humble and I really feel like that's what we need to take away. We need to stop judging each other and start embrace each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He brings something to this world that I think the world needs right now. There's so much controversy. Let's say gay marriage, what did this man say? He said, who am I to judge?
Let's say global warming is so controversial in this country. But he says we need to take care of our common home. We have to take care.
And this man, I heard him in Congress today on TV, he has this ability, unique ability to unite. I feel like -- I'm Catholic, but I feel he is transcending the religion. He is uniting people across ideological divides.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have been waiting a long time. Ever since the day it was announced that he was coming to New York, I've had it marked on my calendar.
[04:05:00] I saw the Pope in 2008 with my son, and I'm just happy and grateful to be here.
CARROLL: OK, very good.
At one point, Christine and John, he was able to reach out and physically touch some folks who came out here to line up on Fifth Avenue. Again, there were thousands of people who came out here. Obviously, he wasn't able to touch them all. But he is touching them in other ways -- Christine, John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right, Jason. Thank you for that report, Jason.
Breaking overnight, word that China will unveil a new cap and trade program to limit carbon emissions. The official announcement will come today at the White House during a state visit by the Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Administration officials say this is a big step forward in the global battle against climate change. For the first time, Chinese companies will bear a cost for emitting carbons into the environment. The Chinese and U.S. presidents are also expected to discuss a host of controversial topics, including Chinese military operations and advances in the South China Sea. They are literally building items, islands out of nothing. And also, cyber hacking, a big problem for both of the U.S. government and companies in the United States.
Let's get the latest from senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, it may not be on the same level the pomp and circumstance surrounding the visit of Pope Francis, but the White House is planning a warm welcome for Chinese President Xi. The White House will hold an official arrival ceremony for Xi later on the morning, complete with the 21-gun salute.
Later on in the evening, there will be a state dinner in Xi's honor. We hear lobster will be served.
But last night, President Obama and President Xi held a private dinner at the Blair House across the street from the White House.
But putting aside the social schedule, officials here at the White House have made clear they are very alarmed over what the Chinese are doing in cyber space. While the Obama administration has not publicly blamed Beijing for the hacking of data belonging to millions of federal employees, Chinese entities are privately considered prime suspects.
Now, the White House says it's holding off on any new sanctions until after Xi's visit is finished. But both President Obama and President Xi are expected to continue working on some sort of cyber agreement between the two countries, as well as discuss U.S. concerns about China's military build up in the South China Sea.
Now, President Obama has his hands full this week. In addition to the historic visit of Pope Francis, the president is gearing up for a historic visit on Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, something they haven't had in a couple of years on the crises in both Syria and Ukraine -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta, thanks for that, Jim.
U.S. military officials are claiming Russian jets are now flying in Syrian air space and turning off their transponders to avoid detection. They say U.S. satellites are picking their activity and also detecting Russian surveillance drones. The White House says no ISIS targets in the area. There are questions about the motives behind this Russian military build up.
BERMAN: Maybe it will come up when President Obama and President Vladimir Putin meet on Monday, around the discussions at the United Nations. This will be the first they meet a long, long time.
Republican leaders moving ahead with a series of bills to avoid a government shutdown next week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has scheduled a procedural vote Monday, two days before the end of the fiscal year. The measure calls for all federal funding to be extended through December 11th, including money for Planned Parenthood. House Speaker John Boehner is not indicating if he is willing to hold a vote on the spending bill that does not defund Planned Parenthood.
ROMANS: All right. Eight minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money this Friday.
European and Asian shares, look at that, they are mostly higher. U.S. stock futures perking up there, too. It could be a good end to a tough week for stocks, in part, because of the Federal Reserve warning of slowing global growth. That is the under current of the market.
Yesterday, the Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the central bank made the right call not raising interest rates. She gave a speech where she defended that move or the lack of a move. She indicated a rate hike may come later this year. She was briefly hospitalized. She had maybe dehydrated. The Fed said she is fine. But there was a bit of a scare there after a speech when she fell ill.
Apple enthusiasts, folks, it's official. The iPhone 6S is here. The people around the world are lining up to get one. The 6S and the 6S Plus, they feature a different touch screen that can sense how long and hard someone is pressing, plus a stronger aluminum body, faster processor and better camera.
BERMAN: A 6 Plus S, or 6S Plus. It's confusing there. The 6S Plus, or the 6 Plus?
ROMANS: I like, the 6S sounds like success. I wonder if that is the plan.
Some people who ordered them are not going to get them today however --
BERMAN: Because of the Pope.
ROMANS: Because of the Pope.
BERMAN: Blame the Pope. Take it up with Francis.
ROMANS: Pray for your iPhone, you might get it tomorrow.
Republicans are running for president firing back at Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders surging past Hillary Clinton in a key state. New drama in the race for president this morning. We have that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:13:16] BERMAN: A big moment for Republican candidates today at the Value Voter Summit in Washington. Donald Trump, seven other GOP contenders among the speakers. This as trump continues to lead in the CNN poll in New Hampshire. Trump on top with 26 percent, healthy margin right there.
There is also news, though, in the second tier. Look who is there. Carly Fiorina now in second place in New Hampshire at 16 percent, followed by Marco Rubio and then Ben Carson. He had been second in some other polls.
Look at that Jeb Bush, down in fifth place in New Hampshire.
The CNN/WMUR poll reflects Fiorina's debate surge in the GOP race. She is in Iowa today after a swing through South Carolina.
CNN's Sunlen Serfaty was with the candidates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine.
Well, Carly Fiorina has wrapped up her three-day tour in South Carolina where on Thursday, she visited a pregnancy center which advocates for finding alternatives to abortion. She watched an ultrasound being performed and really pushed her anti-abortion message that she has been highlighting since the last debate.
Now, meanwhile, as Donald Trump's feud and boycott with FOX News continues to swirl, Carly Fiorina trying to capitalize on that moment. Here's how she went out of her way to address the public spat here in South Carolina.
CARLY FIORINA (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Mr. Trump decided he would not appear on FOX News because a commentator said I had managed, and I believe I'm quoting here, to snip off his -- with precision during the debate.
(APPLAUSE)
[04:15:00] Now, you know, if I quit talking to all the people who attack me, I would have crawled under a rock long ago. That's part of it, you know? It's part of what it takes to be in the arena. You have to be able to take criticism.
SERFATY: Trump meanwhile has been really zoning in on Senator Marco Rubio, calling him a kid, characterizing him as someone who sits behind a desk, but doesn't get work done in Congress.
But Marco Rubio is now really hitting back, saying in a radio interview that he believes Trump is being exposed more and that's in his words a reason why he is becoming a lot more touchy these days. And this does follow a pattern that we are seeing from many of the Republican candidates really much more aggressively now going after Donald Trump -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Sunlen, thanks so much.
On the Democratic side, they are feeling the Bern in New Hampshire. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders leading Hillary Clinton by 16 points in that CNN/WMUR poll. Joe Biden, the vide president who has not entered the race, has 14 percent.
Now, according to the poll, Biden supporters in New Hampshire favor Clinton over Sanders 2-1 if the vice president decides not to run.
ROMANS: A team of NTSB investigators is due to arrive in Seattle today following a deadly crash involving an amphibious duck boat tour vehicle and a charter bus on a bridge Thursday, just a terrible scene.
Four international students who attended North Seattle College were killed on the bus. 14 people suffered injuries, at least 51 were taken to the hospital. The mayor calls it a dark day for Seattle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR ED MURRAY, SEATTLE: We've had a terrible tragedy. There's been a terrible loss of life and injuries. Our thoughts, the thoughts and prayers of the city, go out to everyone. To the families and to those impacted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Police officials say it is still not clear what caused the accident. The witnesses say the duck boat appeared to swerve and slam into that bus.
BERMAN: Police in Texas say an SUV carrying 15 people flipped during a highway chase Thursday, killing six and injuring seven others. Investigators say the driver and two passengers were part of a human smuggling right. The vehicle was packed with undocumented immigrants. Police tried to stop the bus, but the driver sped off and led the officer on that high speed chase.
ROMANS: Police in Delaware said they had no choice but to use deadly force against an armed man in a wheelchair. State civil rights officials are now investigating the shooting death of 28-year-old Jeremy McDole. McDole was killed Wednesday in Wilmington after officers responded to a call by a man who shot himself. McDole's family calls the killing unjust, this fatal encounter captured on this disturbing video.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's bleeding. He's bleeding.
POLICE: Hands up! Get your hands up!
(INAUDIBLE)
(GUNSHOTS)
BOBBY CUMMINGS, WILMINGTON POLICE CHIEF: I assure you that not one of those officers intended to take anyone's life that day. We are sorry to the family that this ended with the loss of their loved one.
PHYLLIS MCDOLE, FAMILY MEMBER: This is unjust. He was in a wheelchair, paralyzed from waist down.
POLICE: Hands up! Hands up!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: You know, police say a.38-caliber gun was recovered next to McDole's body. He was paralyzed from the waist down from a gunshot to the back in 2005.
BERMAN: New trouble for Bill Cosby. Fordham University in New York City and Marquette in Milwaukee have both rescinded honorary doctorates given to Cosby in response to a slew of sexual assault allegations against him. Marquette awarded Cosby the honor in 2013. Fordham granted him a doctor of fine arts in 2001. Fordham's president calls Cosby's actions, quote, "beyond the pale". More than 41 women claim they were victims of sexual misconduct.
ROMANS: Vladimir Putin chatting up Elton John for real this time. A Kremlin spokesman says the Russian president calls the singer just days after it was revealed a prankster claiming to be Putin had phoned Elton John to discuss gay rights. Elton John had previously BBC he wanted to meet with Putin to talk about the treatment of gays in Russia. A Kremlin official says Putin told John he was willing to meet if their schedules permit.
BERMAN: Hey, Elton, it's me, Vlad. How are you doing?
So, I have a call coming in. I'm sorry.
All right. Nineteen minutes after the hour. The death toll rising dramatically in the stampede near Mecca. A new investigation has been launched. We have new details right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:23:26] ROMANS: The death toll rising in Saudi Arabia. More than 700 people killed in a stampede in the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. Nearly 900 others injured in this crush of humanity during a ritual known as stoning of the devil. The Saudi Arabian King Salman demanding a review of safety protocols after the deadliest incident during that pilgrimage in 25 years.
Let's get the latest from CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon.
Arwa, I mean, the Saudi officials have worked for years at crowd control just to prevent this kind of tragedy. What went wrong here?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's what they're trying to figure out at this stage. Some sort of surge caused this stampede to take place at one of the intersections of two of the narrower roads inside the city of Mina, as it's known. That is not too far away from the stoning of the devil takes place.
This particular ritual is one of the last rituals of the pilgrimage of the Hajj where pilgrims will throw rocks or stones at three massive pillars symbolizing their rejection of the devil and of evil.
What happened, according to some eyewitnesses who managed to survive, is that it seems like two crowds came at each other and met at an intersection, began somehow pushing and shoving, and that then resulted in this horrific incident that left upward of 700 people dead.
[04:25:03] Saudi officials trying to figure out if perhaps one of the leaders of the groups of pilgrims took a wrong turn or if pilgrims were acting on their own, trying to take a short cut or somehow the Saudi security apparatus was at fault, because since the last stampede in 2006 that killed more than 350 people, Saudi Arabia has spent upwards of $1.2 billion trying to expand various sites where the rituals take place, especially those that are centered around Mina and where the stoning of the devil takes place, but that has traditionally where the stampedes have occurred in the past history.
They've also expanded and created different levels and overpasses that pilgrims can use exactly to try to prevent this from taking place. It is beyond tragic for so many who lost their lives there. Pilgrims, many of them from all remote stretches of the earth, all different types of backgrounds. For some, they would have saved their entire lives just to go on this one journey.
The journey is one of the pillars of Islam, but for many, the climax of their spiritual lives. For 700, it has ended in death.
ROMANS: Arwa Damon, thanks for that update. Authorities are to figure out what went wrong.
John, in New York yesterday, Pope Francis mentioned his Muslim brothers and sisters in his address at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
BERMAN: Right at the beginning of his address.
The Pope will be all over New York City today, in Central Park and a prayer service at the 9/11 memorial and museum, and a big speech before the United Nations in a few hours from now. We'll break down the day, next.
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