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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Who Will Replace Speaker John Boehner?; Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet Wins Noble Peace Prize; Terror Concerns Over Syrian Refugees; 40-Year-Old Hasselbeck Turns Back Clock. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired October 09, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, it looks like Netflix has a way of reeling you in, hooking you to its shows, and giving you no exit even if it's hiking those prices.

[05:00:06] MICHELLE KOSINSKI, ANCHOR: Binge watching is the American pastime now.

KOSIK: It has become that.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: It's the American way.

KOSINSKI: It's a sport.

BERMAN: EARLY START continues right now.

(MUSIC)

All right. The capitol in chaos. The man expected to be the next speaker of the House, he drops out. Now no one wants the job. What on earth will happen this morning? We will give you the latest information coming up.

KOSINSKI: And a new warning from the FBI and homeland security about Syrian refugees coming to the U.S.

BERMAN: We are just minutes away now from the announcement of who will win this year's Nobel Prize. We are monitoring the developments and bring it to you live.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

KOSINSKI: I'm Michelle Kosinski. It's Friday, October 9th. Five a.m. in the East.

Well, first, chaos in Congress doesn't sound like anything new. Republicans are desperate to find a leader. So far, no takers. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy dropping a bomb shell by pulling out of the race for House speaker, leaving avoid that Republicans are scrambling to fill.

The California congressman was a frontrunner to replace John Boehner, but he decided the party needs a new direction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA), MAJORITY LEADER: I'll stay on as majority leader. But the one thing I found in talking to everybody, if we are going to unite and be strong, we need a new face to help do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: House Republicans are hoping to convince Wisconsin's Paul Ryan to step up and run for speaker when they meet behind closed doors later this morning. So far, the former vice presidential candidate has declined the offer not once, but twice.

We get more now from CNN's chief political correspondent Dana Bash.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Michelle, shock, stunned, complete disbelief. We have run out of words to describe the feeling among House Republicans, what we witnessed and what we were part of when Kevin McCarthy went into what we thought would be an anti-climatic event. We thought he would get the majority of votes within the Republican caucus to be the nominee for House speaker.

And then before it started, it was over because we were learning very quickly standing outside the door that Kevin McCarthy, instead of giving his speech about why he wanted to be the House speaker, gave a speech of why he was dropping out of the race.

Lots of reasons why he did that. First and foremost, because it was going to be very tough to get the majority of the House, 218 votes, at the end of October. And another, we are told, if he did get that, it would be hard to govern. Right now, the question is, who is going to be House speaker? Somebody has to do the job. At this point, the name of the game is Paul Ryan.

Problem is he doesn't want the job and he made that very clear from the get-go. He doesn't want it. He wants to continue his current position of chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. It is a tax writing committee.

He is a self described policy wonk. He was looking forward to trying to reform the tax code and doing that with his current perch, and then may be leaving the House, not staying in Congress forever. He is a young man.

But he is getting a lot of pressure. House Majority Leader John Boehner is trying to convince him to stay. Others are trying to convince him to put his hat in the ring. There is a meeting later this morning among House Republicans where they're going to try to begin to sort out their differences and try to figure out if they can find that person to replace Kevin McCarthy to be in the running who can get the majority. All we know is John Boehner, the current House speaker, still insists he is out of there at the end of October -- John and Michelle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. We do have breaking news this morning. We just learned who has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Phil Black joins us now with that announcement.

Phil, a bit of a surprise.

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, indeed, John. You will be forgiven for not having heard of this organization. The Tunisian national dialogue quartet. It is a quartet, a combination of coalition if you like of four civil society organizations within Tunisian who the Nobel says has worked together to build a pluralistic and democratic society. The context here is the revolution that Tunisia underwent in the early days of Arab spring.

An authoritarian regime fell and has been replaced by a relatively stable democracy which has taken some Islamist leaning parties, some secular parties working together to try and build a democracy in a country that has very little if any democratic tradition.

It had held together, Tunisia, which still considered perhaps the one true success story of those Arab spring issues that took place few years ago.

[05:05:06] And so, the Nobel Prize is really awarding significant credit and perhaps encouraging, and perhaps in aspirational way, this organization with continuing to work together to build a democratic stable pluralistic society, and one that hasn't really known that before, without an overbearing authoritarian regime on top.

So, certainly, a surprise. It's not the German chancellor. It's not the pope. It's not any of a long list of grassroots activists and campaigners that we considered to be this year's favorites. The winner this year, the Tunisia National Dialogue Quartet for their work in helping to establish ad pluralistic democratic society within that African country -- John.

BERMAN: You know, Phil, the Nobel committee occasionally or almost always likes to make a statement with whom they make this award to. I think the context here is perhaps what is happening around the world. The results of the so-called Arab spring nations around the world. Libya, Syria, Egypt, the one nation which did emerge from the Arab Spring with at this point a somewhat functioning democracy is Tunisia. And perhaps that is what the Nobel committee is trying to say. There is a path out of this.

BLACK: Indeed. I think you are right. And the situation in Tunisia is such it's not guaranteed. It has been a rough year for Tunisia. There had been two significant Islamist terrorist attacks against Western tourists in that country.

Tunisia depends on Western tourism. It is the fundamental benchmark within the economy. The sector has taken a huge hit as a result of the carefully targeted terror attacks and deliberately targeted the tourism industry. The concern has been that these particular terror strikes wouldn't just harm tourism, but the economy with the overall political stability as well.

So, here we have the Nobel Committee very much doing what it can, making a statement, if you like, in support of those who are continuing to work together towards that goal that was initially realized, following that Arab spring revolution. It is not safe. It is not guaranteed. It is considered to be somewhat tenuous. And by no means certain and has taken significant hits this year with dozens of western tourists killed in that country as a direct result of people who are trying to tear down the positive result that revolution.

Here we have the Nobel committee awarding those working in a civil society level to maintain that success and see that democratic tradition really become entrenched.

KOSINSKI: Right. Even though the group might not be making headlines daily, this is at least a bright spot after the Arab spring. How surprised are you by this decision, Phil?

BLACK: Pretty surprised. As I say, not that surprised in the sense this organization works in total secrecy. So, every year, the process is fairly similar. People speculate or really they just guess. You guess based upon the events of the year that have gone by, putting those into some context, looking at the individuals and organizations that made a real difference.

But it's not unusual for the Nobel committee to award an organization or individual that has not received publicity, that does not have a particularly high profile nor is it unusual for the Nobel committee to be somewhat aspirational in who it gives that award to.

So, perhaps an organization that is working towards a particular goal, if you like, but where that goal is still not exactly guaranteed.

BERMAN: It is a great point. Phil Black for us, again, the Nobel Committee awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the Tunisian Quartet for forging peace in the nation after the Arab Spring.

All right. On the subject of peace, we go back to the subject, a place where there is none right now. Congress with pure chaos with Kevin McCarthy, the current House majority leader, out of the race for speaker. He dropped out of the race. The question is, who's next? Who might be the next viable candidate?

Well, Jason Chaffetz of Utah, he already declared he is running as is Daniel Webster from Florida. He was sort of the pick for so- called Freedom Caucus, members of the conservative wing of the Republican Party in the House, just a few other names in contention right now.

Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia, possible suggestion right there. There are others who have thrown their hat in the ring, or have at least been suggested. Tom Cole of Oklahoma is one. Among those who have, Newt Gingrich -- we're showing New Gingrich here.

This is a reminder you do not have to be a member of the House right now to actually be speaker. It could be anybody. It could be an actor. It could be a circus performer.

A few people have taken their names out of the running so far. At least they claim to. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state. She's a senior woman right now in the Republican Party in the House. Trey Gowdy, who chairs the House Select Committee in Benghazi, says he does not want the job.

[05:10:00] But you know what? They say that. Who knows? The House meets behind closed doors. Republicans do at 9:00 today. At this point, who knows what's going to go on?

KOSINSKI: I think this is more suspenseful than the Nobel Peace Prize.

BERMAN: Indeed.

KOSINSKI: There is someone taking credit for knocking Kevin McCarthy out of the race for House Speaker, and that is Donald Trump. Trump expressed doubts about McCarthy's fitness for the position last week, after the majority leader slipped up and revealed a House Select Committee on Benghazi was politically motivated to hurt Hillary Clinton, at least many thought he implied that.

Listen to Trump's reaction to McCarthy's decision to pull out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A lot of people are giving me credit for it because of the level of toughness. We need somebody that's very tough, and I have been saying that. I think Kevin is a nice guy. But we need somebody that's very tough and very smart. Not just tough. We need somebody that's very, very smart and can do the right thing for the country. Kevin was showing that it was a hard thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Chris Christie has some tough words. He is campaigning in New Hampshire. And he insists voters just don't care about the speaker race. He says the American people just want the dysfunction in Washington to end.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is an inside Washington, D.C. game, but I have to tell you the truth, Jake, nobody in America could care less about. They don't care who the speaker is going to be. What they want a Congress that's actually going to do something.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: Dr. Ben Carson is praising McCarthy for his decision to withdraw from the race. He says the California congressman is unselfishly putting the party ahead of his own political ambitions.

BERMAN: Ben Carson in the news for some other reasons. He's not backing down or changing comments he made about how he once deflected an armed robber at a fast food restaurants. Carson drew some criticism for suggesting what he says he would have done in the face of a mass shooter like the one at the Oregon community college. He says he would rush the gunman. Try to get the group to tackle him.

But this week, he also told a story about what he actually did when he was in a fast food restaurant when he was confronted with a would-be armed robber who put a gun in his ribs. Well, Carson said he did, instead of confronting the shooter, he say, hey, you don't want me. You want the guy behind the counter. He did not attack the suspect.

Listen to how he explains that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is somebody who comes into a joint to rob it. Not somebody who sequentially killing people.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: But you didn't know he was going to rob the joint.

CARSON: I did know that.

BLITZER: He potentially could have killed you.

CARSON: I did know that.

And the fact of the matter is, you know, maybe this is a level of sophistication that people learn from living on the streets. I knew that guy was not there to murder everybody.

BLITZER: How could you possibly know that? He had a gun.

CARSON: I knew he was not there to murder all the people. I knew he was there to rob the place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. Carson with some new controversy still with comments he made on CNN. He suggested to Wolf Blitzer that the Holocaust could have been prevented if the gun control laws in Europe could have been different at the time, perhaps if Jews had guns.

This is what he told Wolf.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: But just clarify, if there had been no gun control laws in Europe at that time, would 6 million Jews been slaughtered?

CARSON: I think the likelihood of Hitler being able to accomplish his goals would have been greatly diminished if the people have been armed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The Anti-Defamation League is calling those comments, calling them historically inaccurate.

KOSINSKI: Yes, the story just keeps getting more complicated by the day. And we're going to need an hour-long special of what he said and what he meant by that. We know you care so much so we have a programming note.

Don't miss the first Democratic debate hosted Tuesday by CNN and Facebook. Coverage from Las Vegas at 8:30 Eastern.

BERMAN: It must now be time for an early start on your money. Alison Kosik joins us with that.

KOSIK: Good morning. It is that time. And I'm watching stocks around the world, showing a mixed picture. It's a good start for stocks, though. Asian shares ending higher this morning.

European shares following their lead. U.S. stock futures, though, are slightly lower.

Yesterday, the Dow had another triple digit rally. Closing up 138 points. That makes it five straight days in a row for gains for the Dow. The S&P closing above 2,000 for the first time since August.

Wall Street is rallying around the news coming out of yesterday Fed meeting. The Central Bank saying it's still worried about low inflation and also about China's slowing economy. Chances of a rate hike seem less and less likely at the end of the year. So, you are seeing investors feel better about less uncertainty if that makes sense.

BERMAN: All right. Alison, thanks so much.

KOSIK: Thanks.

BERMAN: An American who helped stop a terror attack in Paris now attacked and stabbed in California. What on earth happened here? We have new details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:17:52] KOSINSKI: Unbelievable story out of the California this morning. Spencer Stone, that American hero who helped disarm an attacker on a train in Europe is in the hospital now after being stabbed during in an apparent drunken street fight. The violent confrontation involving Stone and a number of other men captured on surveillance video.

CNN's Kyung Lah has more from Sacramento.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John and Michelle, he is someone who is known an international hero, someone who thwarted a potential terrorist attack. Here in the streets of Sacramento, he was just another victim in a street fight.

Take a look at the surveillance video. You see a number of men -- they are in a fight. A large man in a white shirt in the center, his name is Spencer Stone. You can see he is fighting with a number of men.

Police say this all started in a bar and spilled out into the street. Stone was stabbed three times according to the hospital. Stone is known as one of three Americans who took down a would-be terrorist on a French train. His actions were hailed as heroic around the world, saving countless lives.

When he returned to the United States, he met with President Obama and he received a hero's welcome. He is now back in the hospital this time in serious condition. He suffered three stab wounds, according to the hospital. They say his injuries potentially life threatening at one point. He is now expected to make a full recovery. In the meantime, police are continuing to search for two suspects who they want to speak with -- John, Michelle.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: We wish him the best in his recovery.

KOSINSKI: Yes.

BERMAN: All right. Big surprises in the big leagues. Baseball's divisional playoffs now underway, and I've got to tell you, not the way I thought it would start, not at all. Who is on top after game one? Coy Wire has "The Bleacher Report," coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:23:19] BERMAN: All right. No Andrew Luck? No problem. The Indianapolis Colts, from Indianapolis, the city I can't pronounce -- they started 40-year-old quarterback, I guess, Matt Hasselbeck, against the Texans last night.

KOSIK: Coy Wire has more on this morning's "Bleacher Report."

COY WIRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to both of you.

It's a beautiful morning. Colts pro-baller Andrew Luck, he missed the second game in a row with a shoulder injury. So, yet, in comes Matt Hasselbeck. NFL years are like dog years. Trust me, I know.

So, that makes Hasselbeck about 280. On top of that, Hasselbeck reportedly missed meetings and practice times. During the week, hospitalized as recently as Tuesday getting I.V.s dealing with a virus.

Well, last night, he was sick with it. He found 34-year-old receiver Andre Johnson for two touchdowns. Hasselbeck who first on the league when Bill Clinton was president leads the Colts 27-20 win. Their second win with Luck sidelined. That extends the Colts' AFC South win streak to a record 16 games.

The Blue Jays hosting their first playoff game in 22 years. That's in Toronto -- they're taking on the Rangers. They get a scary moment, bottom in the fourth, Jose Batista grounds, and Josh slides hard into the second. Look at this -- knee to the face. Leaves the game and not return. But thankfully he passed the concussion test.

Now, David Price, they traded for him in mid-season, he didn't quite payoff. He was hitting batters. You can see the frustration. He gave up this two-run shot. Price is now the only pitcher in MLB history to go 0-6 in the first six playoff starts. Rangers take game 1 5-3.

Houston Astros in Kansas City against the Royals. Had to wait out the rain delay before they got rolling, like the Royals grounds crew.

[05:25:03] That guy was OK. Astros hitting was close, like this deep shot from Cory Springer. That gave the Astros some breathing room in the fifth. It was a solo shot to left.

But the best chance for the Royals all night came in the bottom of the fight with 2-1. And Escobar's shot to center, when (INAUDIBLE) robs him with a diving save. Astros take the game 1, 5-2. Now, usually, the post-season game is always have today, Toronto is hoping to right the ship against the Rangers. Astros and Royals at 3:45 Eastern.

The Cubs continue their quest to end their 107-year World Series title drought. They play the Cardinals at 6:45 on TBS. The night cap with Mets and Dodgers face off on TBS at 9:45 Eastern -- guys.

BERMAN: Big games on Turner Television Networks.

KOSINSKI: Violent video there.

BERMAN: Josh Alison (ph) is a great player, and hopefully, he'll be OK, but that was a bang to the head.

BERMAN: All right. Coy, thanks so much. I appreciate it.

WIRE: You're welcome, guys.

KOSINSKI: In case you haven't noticed, Congress is in chaos. The man expected to be the next speaker of the House, drops out of the running. Who will replace John Boehner? We are breaking it down, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSINSKI: Breaking news this morning: the winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize announced. We are live.

BERMAN: Congress in chaos. This morning, House Republicans are scrambling to find a new leader -- find someone they can all agree on to be the next speaker of the House. Someone willing to take the job.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.

KOSINSKI: I'm Michelle Kosinski. It's half past the hour.

Breaking news: the Tunisia National Dialogue Quartet awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize.