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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Robin Williams' Final Hours; Crisis in Iraq: More U.S. Advisors On The Way; Gaza Cease-fire Ends Today; Sales of Clippers Finalized

Aired August 13, 2014 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Crisis in Iraq. The U.S. is sending more military advisers as Islamic militants employ new tactics to dodge military airstrikes. This morning, the very latest on the hunt for ISIS, and the mission to rescue Iraqis trapped by the terrorists.

We are live.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: time ticking on a cease-fire in Gaza. It is set to end in a few hours with no plan as of now for any kind of longer lasting peace. Could Israel and Hamas come to an agreement before time runs out?

We're live in Cairo with word of a new offer on the table.

ROMANS: And new details on the tragic death of Robin Williams revealed as the world mourns yet another Hollywood legend this morning. We are remembering the screen siren Lauren Bacall.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: News siren Christine Romans.

I'm John Berman. It's Wednesday, August 13th. It's 5:00 in the East.

And up first, the final tortured hours in the life of Robin Williams. Grim new details emerging about the beloved actor's suicide. The Marin County sheriff's office described in detail, in really excruciating detail how the troubled star hanged himself in his northern California home. And we are finding out this morning that Williams was trying to get help from the depression that ultimately overcame him.

Let's get more now from CNN's Ted Rowlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine.

The folks here in the San Francisco Bay Area are still mourning the loss of Robin Williams. Last night, there was a tribute to Williams at the San Francisco Giants game. He was a longtime Giants fan and a member of this community. People really did have a special attachment with Robin Williams. And he had a special attachment with this area of the country.

Meanwhile, we did get the news yesterday on the specifics around his death. He did die of asphyxiation. That's the preliminary autopsy report. And he did die at his own hands, hanging using a belt in a closet.

His wife was with him the night before his death. She went to bed around 10:30, the next morning left thinking that her husband was just asleep. A personal assistant found Robin Williams just before noon. And he was in that state.

He also had cut his wrist with a knife, superficial cuts. They say it did not contribute to his death but also just difficult to detail to hear from people that were just so in love with Robin Williams and his work, and the idea that this man who gave us so much joy was in so much pain, it really has been tough on not only the people here but people around the world -- John, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. Thanks for that, Red Rowlands.

Now, on the heels of Robin Williams' death, we are learning about the loss of another screen legend. Lauren Bacall, famous for her throaty voice, her sultry look. She was a teen age model before becoming an overnight success in her big screen debut, 1944's "To Have and Have Not."

Her leading man in that film, the Great Humphrey Bogart, who became the love of her life. They married a year later, and they made several more films together. A legendary couple, really.

Lauren Bacall died in her home in New York City. She was 89.

BERMAN: You know how to whistle, don't you?

Three minutes after the hour.

We're going to move on now to the chaos consuming Iraq. The end could be near for that country's longtime leader, Nouri al Maliki. The embattled prime minister growing increasingly more isolated now that Iran, as well as the most loyal militia in that nation of Iraq have spurned him. This is in favorite of prime minister designate Haider al Abadi.

The United States sees al Abadi as the only hope now for the formation of the new Iraqi government. This as the U.S. military is concerned that ISIS might be changing tactics in the face of U.S. airstrikes. And ultimately, they might choose to try to blend in with the population which would make it much more difficult to target from the air.

Word this morning that the U.S. is sending an additional 138 advisers to Iraq to help plan the evacuation of refugees now under siege by ISIS militants.

We're going to have more later on this. Our Nick Paton Walsh is in Baghdad. We'll check in with him as soon as we can.

ROMANS: All right. To West Africa now where there's new hope in the battle to stop the spread of the deadly Ebola virus there. An experimental vaccine now being offered by Canada, 1,000 doses will be donated to the World Health Organization, which just ruled that the use of unapproved drugs is ethical in this fight for this outbreak. The WHO also pushed for faster production of ZMapp, an experimental drug already being used on two American Ebola victims. They're hoping to have it available by November, because this deadly virus is, frankly, show nothing signs of slowing down.

Well over 1,800 confirmed or suspected cases in four West African nations. More than 1,000 deaths.

As for stricken American missionary Nancy Writebol, there she is -- she's recovering in an Atlanta hospital. Her son says she still feels called to finish her work in Liberia and she may go back if she gets better.

BERMAN: That is dedication.

ROMANS: Sure is.

BERMAN: Texas Governor Rick Perry will meet with members of the Texas National Guard today. They are being trained for deployment to secure the border. This border comes at a cost of $18 million a month. At that rate, the money would dry up by October, but a Texas National Guard official says other states have offered to help share these costs.

Hillary Clinton and president Obama expected to meet tonight at the home a mutual friend on Martha's Vineyard. Former secretary of state called the president, called him by phone Tuesday, just to assure him that nothing she said in recent days was meant as an attack. But as we know, she did call him.

The former secretary of state opened a lot of eyes in an interview with "The Atlantic" when she called parts of the president's foreign policy a failure, specifically not intervening in Syria when she recommended years ago. An aide to Hillary Clinton said that the secretary and president will hug it out.

ROMANS: What is the etiquette on that when you've recently been a top cabinet official and then you leave, and the other person is still in office?

BERMAN: It's the tight rope she is walking trying to create distance from a president who is increasingly unpopular but not alienate all the very, very many supporters that he had when he ran for re-election and 2012, because she may need them. Yes, dot, dot, dot.

ROMANS: If what?

BERMAN: Dot, dot, dot.

ROMANS: You told me last week that this is -- BERMAN: There really is no dot, dot, dot.

ROMANS: Yes, you told me to stop saying --

BERMAN: No, she'll need them when she runs for president.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, John.

Six minutes past the hour. Now, that means it's time for an EARLY START on your money. European stocks are higher this morning. Utility and insurance stocks leading the way. Asian stocks also managed a higher close despite a report showing Japan's economic growth is collapsing.

U.S. stock futures, they're up after the stocks ended the day lower yesterday.

And more news on diversity or frankly lack thereof in the tech world. Apple became the latest company to report its employee makeup.

The company has 98,000 employees worldwide, including Apple Store workers, 70 percent of those workers are male. And that number gets even higher for leadership roles at Apple and technical positions. That puts Apple in line with other techs like Google and Facebook. About 55 percent of Apple's U.S. employees are white, compared with 63 percent of the U.S. population.

And there are some who have said, what is this keeping score in the tech world? You know, we're creating jobs all around the world, and maybe this is going to get more diverse as time going on. There's much more diversity in marketing and sales. But a lot of people, they see a bro-grammer culture. They see a part of the economy that's really moving and it's not including everyone.

BERMAN: A good word, bro-grammer, but maybe not the optimal culture --

ROMANS: All right. Happening now: time is ticking for cease-fire talks said to expire today. Can Israel and Hamas come to any lasting agreement? We're going to have the latest from Cairo on that.

BERMAN: Plus, the rain, severe storms leading to deadly floods in the Northeast. The rain will continue to fall today. Indra Petersons is tracking what you need to know, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: I want to go back to the chaos consuming Iraq right now.

Our Nick Paton Walsh is monitoring developments live from the phone in Baghdad this morning.

And, Nick, this morning, we are getting word that the United States considering possible great involvement. This is upping the number of troops they have on the ground there as advisers. But now, they're considering getting involved in a rescue mission to rescue these Yazidis, these religious minorities trapped on the mountain in Iraq.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, I think the report suggests that one of the number of options being looked at. Of course, the most complex, we have to bear in mind, the territory, it's really extraordinary and complex. Not only would you have to mount an airborne mission for potentially tens of thousands of people, you'd have to do so through hostile territory, either out towards Turkey, or towards Iraq, flying over complex Syrian borders to get them free of Iraq as well.

(INAUDIBLE) if you want to put presence on the ground that, too, is an extraordinarily complex, not only logistically, requiring support from the U.S. troops there, but also the American public opinion, exhausted by the Iraq conflict involvement in the past. But it's an issue for the Yazidis, what many refer to as potential genocide. In the hours ahead, thousands of people still trapped on Mount Sinjar, that is, of course, pressing on the Obama administration to have an extraordinary, complex now for the White House -- John.

BERMAN: The complicated nature of it illustrated by the fact that a helicopter crashed yesterday trying to bring aid to the people on that mountain.

Our Nick Paton Walsh, it was a great deal of political turmoil as the new prime minister designate tries to form a government. Our thanks to Nick.

ROMANS: All right. To Gaza now where the cease-fire ends in just over 12 hours. This morning, negotiators in Egypt are calling on Israel and Hamas to extend that truce and to keep talking.

Reza Sayah tracking these negotiations live from Egypt. And Egypt pushing the Palestinians and Hamas to extend the cease-fire, 5:00 p.m., midnight where you are, that's where this thing is up?

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Christine. And the bar is low here. And that's the talk according to Egyptian government officials. They're just pushing these two sides, the Israelis and the Palestinians to extend the cease-fire and continue talking.

Here's what a senior official told us a couple of hours ago: We want the two sides to agree to extend the cease-fire and continue talking, and that's what we're working on. This is a very sensitive time in the negotiations and it's hard to predict the outcome at this point. When you look at that statement, it's clear that these two sides are not talking about a permanent truce.

They're talking about extending the cease-fire beyond midnight tonight, to continue talking. Of course, that's what Israel wants but the Palestinians have not been onboard. They believe that Israel is using delay tactics in order to get back to a status quo, something that the Palestinians do not want. We've been monitoring our secret negotiations for the past couple of weeks now.

Two rounds of -- every time we do these reports, we're looking for any sign of progress, and we simply haven't been able to find one. Israelis told "Reuters" news agency yesterday they haven't made any progress.

Palestinians who are here in Cairo, they are choosing to remain silent. In the meantime, Egyptians, they're keeping positive. An official telling CNN that it's too early to judge this process, it's too early to reach conclusion, and we're still working at it. It's a little after noon Cairo time. The deadline for the cease-fire to end is midnight tonight.

We'll be keeping a close eye on things, Christine. We'll tell you what happen in the coming hours.

ROMANS: All righty. We'll keep checking with you, Reza, and find out if there's any progress in those negotiations. Reza Sayah for us this morning in Cairo.

BERMAN: Quarter past the hour right now.

Other news, Ukraine blocking a huge 280-truck Russian convoy reportedly carrying thousands of tons of humanitarian aid targeted for the people of eastern Ukraine. Ukraine says it wants international relief agencies to certify the convoys' contents before letting it pass its borders. The Ukrainian government is concerned that the effort may be more of a threat than a real offer of help. Ukraine believes that Russia may try to invade under the guise of humanitarian operations.

ROMANS: All right. President Obama offering condolences to the family of Michael Brown, the unarmed Missouri teen killed by a police officer over the weekend. The identity of the officer involved in that shooting is still not revealed because of security concerns. That's according to the Ferguson police chief.

A preliminary autopsy shows brown died from multiple gunshot wounds. Police won't release further details. The case triggering a broad review of police tactics by the Justice Department, rather.

BERMAN: Race car driver Tony Stewart not completely in the clear yet. Police are still investigating the death of Kevin Ward Jr. in an incident over the weekend. Stewart running ward down after he walked on the track after a wreck.

Ontario County sheriff show no criminal intent by Stewart. The legal experts warn that the racing star could still face charges if investigators do find that he acts recklessly. >

ROMANS: Historic flooding turned deadly in Detroit. More than a foot of rain shutting down five major freeways. Two deaths being blamed on the floodwaters, including a 100-year-old woman whose body was found in the basement of her flooded suburban home.

BERMAN: More rain in Maryland. A staggering 6.3 inches falling in Baltimore. That shattered a record of 60 years. It was still coming down overnight. Heavy flooding shut down highway, left dozens of drivers stranded, and facing serious danger.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was very scary sitting there in the car. Watching the water gets higher and higher and the grass disappearing and the water coming. And I was thinking about getting out and sitting on top of the car. I'm so glad they came.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: All right. There is more rain in the forecast. Indra Petersons is tracking the extreme weather for us.

This thing isn't over.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you're talking about that record 6.2 inches. What they normally see is 3.3 inches. Thanks to all that moisture pooling off of the Atlantic. We can show you some of the other records because it wasn't the other one out towards North Carolina about 3 1/2 inches, and New Jersey also seeing over three inches rain.

Remember, this is a short period of time. So, that flooding concern was really high, really along the entire Eastern Seaboard. Still looking at heavy rainfall -- we're talking about heavy rain, some places two if not three inches, especially in Long Island, they have the potential for rainfall rates right now 4 inches per one hour.

For that reason, they do still have flood warnings in effect also looking at New England as we go throughout the day, as that system will gradually pull off in the Northeast. So, a lot of people asking why are we getting so much rain. Well, think about all of that available moisture off the Atlantic. So, it's a slow-moving system, all that moisture is really being pulled in right along that frontal boundary. So, with that, you're getting the enhanced rainfall.

The second thing we're looking at is that system making its way out. There is another system making its way through, but keep in mind: very light scattered showers going to be out there. Generally speaking, things are clearing out. But, of course, for New England today, places like Boston, Long Island, still a ways to go.

ROMANS: All right, Indra. Thanks for that, Indra.

New developments in the mysterious Brooklyn Bridge flag swap. Two German artists are taking credit for switching the American flags to white flags last month. The pair says it was an art project meant to deal with, quote, "questions of historical legacy and art in the public sphere". The NYPD learned of the duo's claims after the story appeared on "The New York Times" Web site Tuesday. Police are now investigating.

BERMAN: I have a hard time getting upset about this. Art is art.

Anyway, the deal finally down. Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer now the official owner of the L.A. Clippers. This after a California court confirmed that former other than Shelly Sterling's rights to sell the team without her husband. Donald Sterling was forced to sell the team after being caught on tape making racist remarks. Ballmer says he is ready to take the Clippers to new heights by that

he means a championship, which it never done. First heights might be better. He plans to travel to Los Angeles later this week. He's going to have dinner with the team.

ROMANS: So, I think that's 12 times the revenue for the team. I mean, it's --

BERMAN: He paid a premium, a hefty premium for the Clippers.

ROMANS: But, you know, there's only 30 teams. So if you want it, you got to pay for it.

BERMAN: That's a great point. And you know what? He's got the money.

Coming up, it's only preseason, but someone forgot to tell the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cowboys. What touched off this wild brawl? Brian Mcfayden with the details in the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The San Francisco Giants paying tribute last night to one of their biggest fans, Robin Williams.

ROMANS: Brian Mcfayden has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report."

It's touching.

BRIAN MCFAYDEN, BLEACHER REPORT: Good morning, guys.

Yes, very touching last night. Robin Williams was seen multiple times at Giants games throughout the years. He even went so far as to pump the San Francisco crowd at 2010 playoffs, the same year the Giants went all the way to win the World Series. The Giants observed a moment of silence before their game against the White Sox. On the big screen, they showed a video clip, a clip from his movie "Mrs. Doubtfire", which was filmed and took place in San Francisco.

Trending on "Bleacher Report", the Cowboys and Raiders got into an old-fashioned brawl. We've seen these fights before but check out number 20, B.W. Webb of the Cowboys. He gets into an altercation with the Raiders fan. It looks like the fan reacts and hits Webb first. Webb reacts by shoving the fan a couple of times in the stand, shoving him anyway.

Afterwards, the Cowboys tweeted out a pic of the brawl with the caption, hey, UFC, some of these guys, they have a future with you.

Well, this is the Christmas present the NBA fans were hope for and pretty much expected. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are heading to Miami on Christmas Day. The NBA will officially announce the matchup along with the league's full schedule.

Back to you, guys.

BERMAN: They are good at business this NBA. Good for them.

All right. Brian, thanks so much.

ROMANS: A little tiny business of the NBA.

BERMAN: Yes, it's small.

ROMANS: They're getting a foothold I think in the sports world.

All right. Happening now, 138 additional advisers heading to Iraq. Why U.S. airstrikes may not be enough to stop terrorists in taking over that country. We're live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Crisis in Iraq. The U.S. sending more military advisers to help in the fight against ISIS. Could American troops soon be sent in on a rescue mission? We're live with the latest on the ground.

ROMANS: Temporary truce in Gaza. It ends in just hours. Time ticking on a longer-lasting peace plan. Can Israel and Hamas, can they come to a kind of an agreement to stop the violence? We're live in Cairo with the latest on these peace negotiations.

BERMAN: And new details in the tragic death of Robin Williams. This as Hollywood loses another legend, Lauren Bacall dead at 89. We're going to take a look back at her iconic career.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. Great to see you this morning. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. Twenty-nine minutes past the hour.

Let's begin with the grim new details about the final tortured hours of Robin Williams' life. The beloved actor's suicide confirmed by the Marin county's sheriff office described in detail how this troubled star hanged himself in his northern California home. We're also learning this morning, Williams was trying to get help for the depression that ultimately kid him.

More from our Ted Rowlands.