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Dems Set for First Primary Debate Tonight; Another Stabbing as Israelis and Palestinians Brace For Protests; Playboy is Covering Up; U.S. Versus Russia in Syria; Dutch Safety Board to Release Report on MH-17; Turkish Authorities Detain People In Connection with Two Deadly Blasts. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired October 13, 2015 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:01] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ERROL BARNETT, CNN HOST: Showdown in the desert. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and more, set for the first face to face Democratic Presidential debate. Could Joe Biden end up stealing the show?

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN HOST: Also ahead, another stabbing, as Israelis and Palestinians brace for a day of competing protests.

BARNETT: Plus big changes for an American icon, Playboy magazine said it's covering up.

Hello and a big welcome to our viewers here in the States, and those of you watching from all around the world. I'm Errol Barnett.

CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. This is CNN Newsroom.

Barnett: It is midnight in Las Vegas right now, and less than 24 hours away from the first Presidential debate of 2015 for the U.S. Democratic candidates.

CHURCH: Yeah, the stage is almost set, as you can see here from this time-lapsed footage showing work crews putting the finishing touches on the debate stage. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Jim Webb, and Lincoln Chaffee will soon step behind those podiums, and make their cases to the American people.

BARNETT: CNN John Vause is live in Las Vegas. For the preview of what we can all expect from the big debate. John?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL REPORTER: Just one point here, you say it's midnight. It is midnight here in Las Vegas right now. It's actually busier now here than a few hours ago. So, it was obviously coming out. This is the time of night, when people at the casinos have a lot of fun, as you can tell. Lots of people here for the gambling, some other people staying up for the debate. Five candidates will hit the stage on Tuesday night. And this will be the first opportunity for many of those candidates, at least the three of the know candidates to get some air time, maybe connect with some of the voters out there who have not heard about them. Make no mistake though, this is all about democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. As she faces off against her biggest rival so far, that's the senator for Vermont, Bernie Sanders. And we get the details now from Senior Political Correspondent Brianne Keiler.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

BRIANNA KEILER, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: As democratic Presidential contenders get ready for their first debate in Las Vegas, Hillary Clinton is the candidate to beat. In two states that could be key to slowing a Bernie Sanders' surge. A new CNN ORC poll of likely of Nevada Caucus-goers shows her besting Sanders by 16 points. The spread is even bigger in South Carolina. Clinton leads Sanders by 31 points. And the Vermont Senator sees opportunities in this debate to draw contrast with Clinton.

SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: I don't get into personal attacks, you know that. But is there difference of opinion? That should be discussed of course, that's what an election is about.

KEILER: Sunday on NBC, Sanders tried out one his main debating point. That Clinton is late to position, he always supported. Like her now off position to a trade deal, she backed as Secretary of State.

SANDERS: So people will have to contrast my consistency, and my willingness to stand up to Wall Street Incorporations, big corporations with the Secretary.

KEILER: Sanders trails Clinton nationally in the polls, but his lead in the all-important first primary state of New Hampshire makes him tough competition for Clinton. In 2008, she came from behind to win the New Hampshire Primary, after this moment went viral.

HILLARY CLINTON, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They still want to see us fall backwards.

KEILER: She spoke about it in a Buzz feed Podcast.

CLINTON: When it was over, I felt drained. I didn't feel anything other than that. I didn't realize it was going to be such a big deal to be honest.

KEILER: Tuesday night, the five Democratic contenders will take the stage at the Wynn Hotel on Las Vegas. For the lesser known candidates like former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the debate is a chance to find support that is so far eluded them. But one of the biggest potential challengers to Clinton and Sanders won't even be there. Vice President Joe Biden is still weighing whether to run. On CBS, President Obama said he understands why Biden might get in.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: If you're sitting right next to the President in every meeting, wrestling with these issues, I'm sure that for him he's saying to himself, I can do a really good job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BARNETT: So, John, this democratic debate is really the first opportunity for the lesser-known candidates to really present themselves on the national stage. But what do Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have to do to make the most of this platform?

VAUSE: Well, we are hearing from the Clinton camp as well from the Sanders' camp, and that, you know for Hillary this is all, Hillary Clinton. I should say, this is all about trying to restart the conversation, trying to start the energy and the excitement that she had at the beginning of her campaign, when she was the inevitable nominee, as supposed to just the probable nominee. As for Bernie Sanders, it's about trying to present himself as a viable Presidential nominee. For the Democrats, someone who Americans could like to see sitting at the White House. A short time ago, I spoke with a Democratic strategist and CNN Political Contributor Maria Cardona about that very topic.

[03:05:15] (START VIDEO CLIP)

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: The campaign is counting on this debate, to be the opportunity that she hasn't really had in the past three months for her to break through. And for her to do it on something that she is head and shoulders above the rest good at, and that is her policy prescriptions, her policy proposals, her visions of what she would do, should she have the voter's confidence that would make her President of the United States.

VAUSE: One of the big issues for the Clinton campaign is Joe Biden, the Vice President, is he in or is he out? Would he run? Would he won't? And is it a problem right now, in some ways for the Hillary Clinton campaign, they really don't know what to do. If he's in, you know how to campaign. If he's out, they know what to do. But right now, they can't know where there between, it's like they don't know where to go?

CARDONA: I would disagree with that. I actually think they know exactly what to do. And what they're doing is focusing on her and what she wants to tell the American people. What is her plan for how she wants to be a fighter for middle-class families, who has not necessarily gotten a chance to take advantage of the recovery that we have been in for the last six years, what is she going to do for them? And to tell you the truth, when she has competition, and in fact, if Joe Biden does get in, I think she will be a much better candidate for it. Because she's at her best when she is fighting, when she has to wake up every single day thinking that she's the underdog. That is when the fighter in her comes out, and that is when the American people will see, that is the woman that will fight for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Of course, another candidate, besides Joe Biden the Vice President who will not be on the stage Tuesday night, but will be very keen to hear what the candidates have to say is Donald Trump.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not rooting for anybody. I mean, I just want to see what they have to say. There are a lot of bad ideas out there, but I want to see what they have to say. I think it's going to be interesting to see you have three of them who are registered very low, but I think it's going to be interesting for at least the first 10 minutes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: The Republican front-runner appeared to be well aware of his audience Monday night. There was a bipartisan event, which is designed to show cooperation. Mr. Trump delivered more measured remarks to the No Label Conference in New Hampshire, which holds the country's first primary. And CNN's live coverage of the first Democratic Presidential debate starts Tuesday night 5 o'clock here on the west coast, 8 in the east. And for our international viewers, we will be replaying the entire debate Wednesday night 8 o'clock in London, 9:00 in Berlin. You will see it only here on CNN.

And Rosie and Errol, we will have a programming note for our viewers of CNN International, while our friends at CNN U.S.A. will begin their own post-debate analysis, we will be doing our own post-debate analysis. And we'll be looking at all of the issues which will resonate and could affect our viewers all around the world. So there will be a special programming note here for our viewers of CNN International. Rosie and Errol.

CHURCH: All right, very important to tune into that.

(CROSSTALK)

BARNETT: ... Because of some comfy shoes.

CHURCH: And we are still coming back for you, so don't go anywhere.

BARNETT: We'll see you later this hour.

VAUSE: Can't wait.

(LAUGHTER)

BARNETT: Alright. Now there are a lot of stories we're following for you here on CNN Newsroom. We're learning more now about a stabbing near Tel Aviv in Israel, and it happened in just a short time ago. An emergency services spokesperson tells us one person was wounded and taken to the hospital.

CHURCH: Now, this comes as Israeli police report multiple stabbings across Jerusalem Monday, and the killing of Palestinians they say were behind the incidents.

BARNETT: And the ongoing violence comes as Palestinians and Israelis are planning protests and counterdemonstrations, as you see on your screen. Erin McLaughlin joins us from Jerusalem and is following the latest developments for us. Erin, things are just getting worst there by all accounts. What are some of the specific details on these recent acts of violence we've seen?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Errol. Well, one stabbing incident Israeli police are talking about already this morning. They say a 22-year-old Palestinian man from East Jerusalem stabbed a man waiting for a bus near Tel Aviv. Now, people who are standing by saw the attack unfold. They managed to stop the attacker until police arrived, both the alleged attacker and the victim are being treated in hospital. We'll bring in more information on that as soon as we have it.

But it is part of this wave of violence we've seen in recent days, particularly brutal day yesterday, four stabbing attacks in Jerusalem, at least four Israelis wounded in those attacks. One of the attackers a 13-year-old boy, really illustrates the young and old are participating in these attacks, and both sides blaming each other for inciting this violence.

[03:10:10] BARNETT: And that's what's so unnerving, Erin. We refer to this as the cycle of violence because it just continues and gets worse. Considering that we got these demonstrations we're looking out for, what kinds of precautions are being made to prevent continued escalation of these tensions? You wonder what we can expect today.

MCLAUGHLIN: Israeli officials have announced increased police presence in cities across Israel as well as here in Jerusalem. Some 1,600 border reserved have been called up, additional military personnel deployed in the West Bank as well. But Israeli officials acknowledge that these type of loan-wolf-style attacks, very difficult to predict and to prevent. A lot of these people they say are self- motivated.

Now, in terms of the events that we expect today, a general strike has been called, predominantly Arab cities in Israeli. There is also expected to be a school strike at Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem, as well as some protests planned for the West Bank. A statement released by civil servants in the West Bank says the protests are meant to protests Israel's policies toward some of these alleged attackers. In many cases, the alleged attackers end up killed by Israeli forces before they're able to be brought to trial. Also meant to protest Israel policies towards the Holy Site known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and to Muslim as the noble sanctuary. A source of tension in all of this.

Tonight, in Jerusalem, near the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu residence, a group of Israeli settlers are expected to protest. The settlers saying they're expecting around 10,000 to show up. They're going to be protesting his handling of the security situation and a lack of building opportunities they say they have in the West Bank building opportunities that would of course be illegal under international law. It also shows just how much pressure the Israeli Prime Minister is coming under to handle all of this.

BARNETT: That's exactly right. Multiple stabbings on Monday. Another stabbing just outside Tel Aviv today. Erin McLaughlin live for us in Jerusalem with details on that and the upcoming demonstration. We'll certainly continue to watch this closely, joining us live. Thank you.

CHURCH: Alright, we turn now to another developing story. Iran's state media reports that the Iranian Parliament has given its approval to the nuclear deal Tehran reached with Western powers, now under the pact, strict limitations would be imposed on Iran's nuclear weapons program. We will get more details on this and talk to CNN Senior International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen. So Fred talk to us about the passing of this deal, but also there seems a little bit of question over access, these inspections what is going on with that? Some sort of change? Talk to us about that.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATION CORRESPONDENT: You know, there are a lot of big questions over access that has been going on for quite a while. On the face of it Rosemary, this vote of course is very much a victory for the moderates. The deal of course was one that was brought through by the more moderate President Hassan Rouhani and its foreign minister Javad Zarif, they're leading the negotiation. In effect, it's more a technical vote than anything else. The problem could not derail the nuclear agreement, because it's already been signed off on by Iran Supreme Leader.

But it was also a lot more controversial within Iran than many people think, there was a lot of debate about it, and there was actually the Supreme Leader himself said the parliament has to debate this nuclear agreement and then what happened was, the parliament then put in place a committee to try and look into all of this and that committee really had some very, very controversial hearings that happened there with hard-liners and moderates, really going at it in many of them. They also visited some of Iran nuclear sites that keep with themselves, what exactly would happen to those sites. There one very big visit to the Araq heavy water reactor, which of course is going to be heavily modified to make into it a light water reactor. And then, in effect the big question of course for a very long time has been the access and one of the things that the Iranian supreme leader has been saying, he's saying there is not going to be any sort of access to military sites by the international inspection teams.

But of course under the agreement, there is a limited access. There are this supposed to be limited access to these sites. So this certainly something that is still very much a point of contention, and where not really clear whether or not Iran and the other powers that are part of this nuclear agreement are really seeing eye-to-eye as to what that access to military sites actually means. So that certainly is something in the future, it could be a cause for concern. But on the face of it, and at the beginning now which this nuclear agreement being ratified by the Iranian parliament, that is certainly something that is a very good sign for the moderate forces, within Iran that has been fighting very hard for this, really have been part of a very controversial debate within Iranian society.

[03:15:15] CHURCH: All right, Frederik Pleitgen reporting to you from London on this approval that's coming through on the nuclear deal, approved by the Iranian parliament. Many thanks to you, Frederik.

BARNETT: And the U.S. and Russia are stepping up their roles in Syria, but on opposing sides. Will bring you details on this coming up.

CHURCH: Plus Turkish officials make progress in there investigation in the deadly bombings that pulled through a peace rally over the weekend. We're back in a moment, with that and more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN WEATHER WATCH: I'm meteorologist Allison Chinchar. You're watching CNN Weather Watch. We are dealing with the heat yet again, across much of the west coast, 29 degrees in Los Angeles, much of southern California dealing with record high temperature in many areas, for at least the last three day. Wind has been the big story across the northern plains and that's helping to fuel some wildfires, particularly in Wyoming over the last couple of days, 27 degrees in Denver. Partly cloudy skies into parts of Chicago. We could expect at least a few morning showers in Atlanta. High temperature of around 25 degrees. We've got that front that's beginning to push through, and it's bringing very windy conditions with it, a lot of area especially in the Midwest, dealing with winds up around 50 to 70 kilometers per hour as that front moves through and it's bringing much colder temperatures along with it, once it finally pushes through.

Kingston dealing with some morning showers and thunderstorms. High temperature around 31 degrees. Caracas also 31, again dealing with at least a few afternoon shower and thunderstorm. Again overall dealing with heavy showers in parts of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. But overall dry across much of Mexico. We move a little further south. We do expect to see at least a few isolated showers and thunderstorm in Magura, high temperatures of around 21 degrees. Salvador, 29 degrees with partly cloudy skies.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:19:40] CHURCH: We turn now to the conflict in Syria, the leader of the country's Nusra Front, a group fighting the Syrian government is calling on insurgents to retaliate against Russia's military intervention. Nusra leader urged more attacks on stronghold of Syrian President's Bashar al-Assad minority Alawite.

BARNETT: Russia Defense Ministry said it's launched more than 100 air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria. Observer group say the air strikes are mostly meant to bolster the Assad regime.

CHURCH: Meanwhile, the U.S. military is giving tons of ammunition and other supplies to Syrian rebel groups fighting the Assad regime.

BARNETT: And Turkey is blaming ISIS for the horrific attacks on its capital over the weekend. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(PEOPLE PROTESTING)

BARBARA STARR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was all caught on camera. Bombs killing at least 97 people and wounding nearly 250 at a peace rally in Ankara, Turkey. The Turkish Prime Minister says its government suspects ISIS is behind it. Russian President Vladimir Putin offering his condolences to the Turks, and taking a swipe at the Obama administration.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: let them name for us the specific places where terrorists that are hiding, with their headquarters and warehouses with weapons and equipments are. Give us the targets.

STARR: But Russian-backed attacks finding their own targets, mostly far from ISIS in the latest clashes in Northwest Syria. Anti-regime forces and civilians targeted with more than 500 missiles and hundreds of shells according to an observer group. CNN could not independently verify the video. President Obama adamant on CBS' 60 Minutes that Putin's moves into Syria were closely watched.

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: We knew that he was planning to provide the military assistance that Assad was needing, because they were nervous about a potential and collapse the regime.

STARR: Rebels may have been getting stronger with the help of anti- tank missiles like these.

(MISSLE FIRING)

STARR: Missiles many reports say were provided through the CIA. The U.S. air drop some 50 tons of ammunition, a boost to the Pentagon's program to armed other Anti-ISIS rebel groups. And drones operated by the U.S. Special Operations Command flying over Syria looking for ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and other top operatives.

The Head of Special Operations General Joe Votel in an exclusive interview with CNN said drones are just one crucial tool to get more intelligence about ISIS.

JOSEPH VOTEL, HEAD OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS: We very carefully study what ISIS does, what they say about themselves, what they purport through their ideology. That gives us a pretty good understanding of that organization.

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: CNN's Barbara Starr reporting there.