Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Israel Accepts Gaza Ceasefire; Border Deportations Begin

Aired July 15, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning, cease-fire rejected. Hamas refusing to accept a cease-fire plan with Israel, brokered by Egypt, firing more rockets over night. We'll take you live to Gaza with the very latest.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Deportations begin for thousands of children who crossed into the country illegally. This as the deadline fast approaches for Congress to figure out how to solve the crisis on the border. We will tell you what is happening today. That's ahead.

HARLOW: And a polar inversion in the middle of summer. It's bringing very big storms, really from coast-to-coast. Millions in the path of violent wind, rain and flooding. We are tracking just who will be hit hardest.

BERMAN: Crazy rain.

HARLOW: It is crazy rain all over.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm Poppy Harlow.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Thirty-two minutes past the hour right now. And we do have some breaking news for you this morning.

Israel accepting the terms of a cease-fire plan to try to end the bloodshed in Gaza. But the military wing of Hamas has rejected it, saying it is not worth the ink that it was written with.

The deal brokered by Egypt calls for Israel and Hamas militants to put down their weapons. This after seven days of violence and nearly 200 fatalities in Gaza. If the two combatants can somehow agree Gaza's border would be reopened with Israel and peace talks would begin in Cairo within days.

But listen to what a Hamas spokesman told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OSAMA HAMDAN, HAMAS SPOKESMAN: It's not really initiated. It's not really an idea. What they are trying to do is to corner the Palestinians and to help the Israelis more. I don't believe that this is a political thing to be done. It's close to be a joke.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: And this morning, over the last hour or so, more rockets have been flying out of Gaza and into Israel.

Karl Penhaul joins us live from Gaza this morning.

And, Karl, if these rockets keep on going, the question is, how long will Israel wait to respond?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, maybe not that long, John. In fact, a couple of minutes before we came to air, about a half mile over in that direction, we saw yet another militant rocket flying skywards and heading off toward Israel. While we were on the streets earlier this morning, we saw a barrage of seven rockets flying from one launch point as well.

And also in the last few minutes, way over there, toward northern Gaza, we have seen two plumes of smoke rising into the air. That is what we believe have been retaliatory airstrikes by the Israelis. The Israeli military not yet confirming that. Well, the Israeli military have said those in about three and a half hours since this truce was due to come into effect, then 22 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel.

At least Hamas and Islamist jihad confirming those kinds of figures saying that they have fired more than 20 rockets skyward. That is their response to this Egyptian offer of a truce. It is, right now, a resounding no -- John.

BERMAN: Resounding no. Gives you the sense that while there may have been an opportunity for peace overnight, that opportunity is fading or has faded already.

Karl Penhaul for us in Gaza this morning, thanks so much.

HARLOW: The U.S. has started the process of deporting undocumented immigrants who entered the country from Central America, specifically we're talking about 40 immigrants that have been already returned to Honduras, many of them children.

And Homeland Security officials say that this is just the initial wave of deportations as officials in Washington battle over what to do with thousands of other women and children who have recently come here illegally.

More now from senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Poppy, there will be more political wrangling this week over the fate of those unaccompanied minors fleeing to the U.S. from Central America.

Obama administration officials will meet with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on Wednesday to discuss their growing concerns about calls to the White House and Capitol Hill to send nearly all of the minors back immediately.

The administration and lawmakers in both parties are trying to change a 2008 law that's now seen as offering a loophole. The current migrants streaming across the U.S. border. Under that law designed to prevent human trafficking, children from non-border countries are afforded immigration hearings and not sent back immediately unlike young migrants from Mexico who face speedier deportation proceedings.

Now last week, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the White House is seeking changes to that 2008 law to give the Department of Homeland Security more flexibility in deporting those unaccompanied minors back to their countries of origin. But at Monday's White House briefing Earnest signaled a shift in tone on the future of those children, stressing some of these young migrants who have arrived in the U.S. from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala may ultimately be allowed to stay in the country if they can qualify for asylum status.

And the Department of Homeland Security said Monday that approximately 40 adults with children were returned to Honduras by immigration officials. The department said more are on their way back to their home countries -- John and Poppy.

BERMAN: Our thank to Jim Acosta at the White House.

Some other news to tell you about. Army officials say Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has had no contact with his family since being released by the Taliban after five years in captivity. They say Sgt. Bergdahl has refused to see his parents or even talk to them on the phone. Meantime, the Army sergeant has now returned to regular duty after completing the final phase of his reintegration.

Bergdahl has a desk job at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, the same base where he was receiving medical treatment.

HARLOW: The VA inspector general says nearly $400 million in improper disability payments could be sent out in the next few years. She testified at a House Veterans Committee the rush to satisfy a backlog of claims is leading to payments without verifying medical records. A whistle blower also testified dates were altered on paperwork in Philadelphia, in some cases by years to make it appear that claims were being processed a lot faster than they really were.

BERMAN: A big decision on Obamacare could come down as early as today. Three federal judges will decide if subsidies through federal health insurance marketplaces are legal. Critics say the subsidy should only be available to state-run marketplaces. While it sounds complicated, it will impact residents of about 36 states and has the potential to make health insurance costs spike for more than five million Americans and complicate the whole Obamacare process.

HARLOW: The already complicated process.

Just weeks before federal transportation programs are scheduled to run out of money, President Obama will make a big push today for more funding for infrastructure projects. House Republicans are also taking action. They are expected to vote on a bill that would extend funding for the federal highways until the middle of next year. But Democrats say the bill isn't comprehensive enough to fix all of the aging infrastructure in this country and say it simply delays a long- term solution.

BERMAN: The Federal Communications Commission is moving ahead to update the emergency alert system on television. The story was first reported by "The Hill." The new plan would allow the president to simply enter a code in order to speak to the entire country all at once in the event of a national emergency.

The current system is not capable of reaching the whole population in a single broadcast. The proposal will be released today and it will open to public comment for 30 days.

HARLOW: All right. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

European and U.S. futures are lower this morning. Stocks in the U.S. getting a nice boost yesterday from some deal announcement. Also better-than-expected earnings coming from Citigroup despite that bank agreeing to pay $7 billion in a mortgage related penalty to the Department of Justice.

The Dow up more than 100 points yesterday to finish once again above 17000. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 also closed higher.

And from one rally to another, guess what? Hotels are back in a big way. I mean, they never really left. But look at this booking data. It shows that in the first five months of this year, the industry is on track for its best year ever.

BERMAN: Wow. That's huge.

HARLOW: In prices. I know. Prices are going up. This, despite things like Airbnb. The daily rate for a hotel room had increased 5 percent in May from a year ago. Revenue per room up 10 percent. Why? Supply dwindled during the recession. Now things are improving, demand is up. That's a big win for hotels. Investors are liking that. Stock prices for Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton way up so far this year.

So they're worried about Airbnb and these competitors, not at all. They're doing pretty well.

BERMAN: You don't get the same hotel points at Airbnb.

HARLOW: (INAUDIBLE).

BERMAN: Yes, that's what I want. I want my rewards.

Happening now, the polar invasion. Temperatures falling fast, also the rain invasion. Violent storms threatening millions from Maine to California. We will track what you need to know, that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Millions across the country are facing the threat of severe, very severe thunderstorms and a ton of rain today. Take a look at the map, damaging winds and flooding expected over the next couple of day as a shot of unusually cold weather for this time of year is set to move in, impacting nearly everyone in the west, the south and well, right here along the East Coast.

BERMAN: Yes. It doesn't leave anyone. Maybe in Florida.

HARLOW: Just Florida.

BERMAN: If you live like in a 10-foot-square area of Florida you might be OK.

I want to show you this scene in Texas. A severe storm threat -- a severe storm there tearing through Ft. Worth with wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour. Look at that. The system leveled at least one home, downing trees and knocked out power to thousands.

HARLOW: And police crews, they are no match, take a look, for a powerful storm that tore off Volusia County, Florida. Strong winds taking down trees, power lines and crushing this police car in Port Orange.

BERMAN: In Minnesota, heavy rains caused lakes to swell near a resort in Otter Trail. High water has surrounded cabins, even shut down businesses there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHY MANTEUFFEL, LIMMER'S RESORT: We have never seen water this high. I have never had to wear hip boots to clean fish.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The resort has already put down hundreds of sandbags to try to save these cabins. Look at that.

HARLOW: Yes. It's been really tough there.

Jennifer Gray is tracking the severe weather from the CNN Weather Center in Atlanta.

Good morning, Jennifer.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, good morning, guys. We are going to look at another day, unfortunately, of severe weather. And this is for the northeast. And we're including places like D.C., Philly, New York. This is for large hail and damaging winds. Those are your main threats. We could see a couple of isolated tornadoes. But your main threat today will be the wind, the hail and even the rain.

Flood watches already in effect from Philadelphia all the way up through Boston. We are going to see anywhere from, say, two to four inches of rain outside of Boston. This is through Thursday. So over the next couple of days, picking up several inches of rain. And then between D.C. and New York, could pick up two to three.

So keep in mind, that cooler air, though, is behind that front. It is already starting to make its way into the Midwest. Current temperatures this morning, cool up in the north, 57 in Chicago this morning, 56 in Minneapolis. Starting out in Rapid City and Bismarck in the 40s today. We're already seeing those temperatures stay on the cool side for yet some folks, the second morning in a row.

And we'll see another couple of days with temperatures well below normal. Those high temperatures, as well, guys. Chicago only getting up to 69 this afternoon.

BERMAN: It's a cool day in Chicago.

HARLOW: We'll take a little reprieve, but we could -- use not to have the rain. That would be nice.

GRAY: Yes.

BERMAN: It was pouring off of my roof last night.

HARLOW: Pouring.

BERMAN: Just like dumping.

All right, Jennifer Gray, thank you so much.

HARLOW: All right. Let's take a look at what's coming up next on "NEW DAY."

BERMAN: Kate Bolduan is with us this morning.

Good morning, Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Hey, guys. Good morning, we're going to be following the breaking news as you have been concerning the Mideast conflict. Israel says it will accept a cease-fire proposed by Egypt. But with Hamas refusing to sign on, is there really any hope for the end -- for an end to the violence? Does this get them anywhere?

We are going to be live on the ground breaking down the very latest. We're going to take you there.

But we're also covering the federal investigation into the NFL over claims that players were given powerful painkillers to keep them on the field. Could the league now be facing a criminal case over it?

We're going to talk with former NFL player Coy Wire and a former NFL agent about the investigation. Just another hard hit coming at the league. My goodness.

BERMAN: Interesting stuff. All right, Kate, looking forward to that. Appreciate it.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, guys. All right.

BERMAN: Question for you. Is flying about to become the Wild West? New reports of a drone nearly taking out a helicopter mid-flight. Will this new wave of technology make the air waves less safe. We'll have the story after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: A scare in the air over Cleveland. Developing this morning, the FAA is investigating a near collision between a helicopter and a drone. This happened last Friday. The unmanned aircraft coming within 50 yards of the chopper at 1700 feet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW FERGUSON, HELICOPTER PILOT: It's scary. I mean, the bird strikes scare us. This is an unknown. We haven't had a -- any documented hits between an aircraft and a UAV. So, you know, no one wants to be the first.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That would be a terrible thing to be first in that. The near collision occurred five miles northeast of Cleveland.

HARLOW: Troubling findings from investigators who are looking into the mishandling of anthrax bacteria at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. New safety lapses uncovered including Anthrax stores in unlocked refrigerators and unrestricted hallways with no warning signs.

Investigators also finding dangerous materials being transferred using zip lock bags. Just last month, dozens of workers at the CDC were exposed to live Anthrax. A House committee begins a hearing on that incident.

Also this, a legal blow for former NFL star Aaron Hernandez in one of the two murder cases against him. A Massachusetts judge refusing a request from Hernandez's defense lawyers to suppress evidence from a cell phone and video surveillance footage taken at Hernandez's home just before and after the alleged murder of Odin Lloyd last summer.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to Lloyd's killing. He has also pleaded not guilty to a double murder back in 2012.

BERMAN: The prosecution rests in the trial of a college friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He is the first of three friends to be tried on charges of obstructing the investigation. They are not charged with any involvement in the bombings. Jurors could get the case Wednesday following closer arguments.

And take a look at new surveillance video played in the trial, showing the defendant and Tsarnaev entering and exiting the gym at the college campus a day after the attack. Prosecutors use this to show the close relationship between the two friends.

HARLOW: And Oscar Pistorius reportedly involved in a heated confrontation at a bar over the weekend in Johannesburg. The former Olympian is on trial for the shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

His representative says that a man confronted Pistorius Saturday night in an upscale club interrogating him about the trial when an oral argument broke out. There were reports of a brawl. But the bladerunner's handlers say that Pistorius left the club with his cousin, but no punches thrown.

All right. We got to show you this picture. This is a selfie for the ages. Not really a selfie, but it's an awesome photo of Beatle and a billionaire hanging out on a bench in Omaha and this kid found them. Money time, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right. Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning.

U.S. futures lower. The market, though, got a nice bump yesterday when strong earnings pushed the Dow up more than 100 points finishing once again above 17000. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 also ended the day higher.

And the World Cup may be over but there is one more title to give out. The most mobile sporting event. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was watched on more mobile devices than any other sporting event ever. Videos watched on smartphones spiked 152 percent the first day of the World Cup. That number held steady throughout. One in four World Cup videos were viewed on mobile devices.

That is an astonishing number. The World Cup was also the most tweeted about event, period. Both Facebook and Twitter reporting that Sunday's final was the most talked about event on both sides in their history.

And it may be the best selfie, ever. Maybe. Buffett and the Beatle on a bench. In Nebraska, a teen caught this photo of the very famous billionaire investor Warren Buffett and musician Paul McCartney together on an Omaha sidewalk. This happened on Sunday. Jacob Murray and his friends went out looking for the two after they saw an Instagram that they were just hanging out, getting ice cream. Murray then tweeted the image which immediately went viral. McCartney even later re-tweeted it, adding, "just hanging out with friends."

What a cool moment.

BERMAN: Ice cream with a little help from his friends, you might say.

HARLOW: Exactly. Exactly.

BERMAN: Paul McCarthy and Warren Buffett.

HARLOW: But I'm two.

BERMAN: And this kid. Look at that. There's the biggest smile on his face. Love that.

HARLOW: So cool. Yes, he said it was the coolest moment ever. In his young life.

BERMAN: It's all downhill now for him.

HARLOW: Indeed.

BERMAN: All right. "NEW DAY" starts right now.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. Cease-fire accepted and rejected. Israel says it halted strikes on Gaza this morning as part of a peace proposal. But Hamas launched new rocket attacks this morning. Egypt has entered the fray. What happens next?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking, deadly crash. Moscow subway cars derailed. At least 10 killed, 100 injured, half of them critical. And people are still trapped inside. We're going to go there live with the very the latest.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Under investigation. The Drug Enforcement Agency taking on the NFL. Did team doctors illegally give players painkillers to keep them on the field? How much danger were those players in and how hard a hit is this to the NFL?

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.