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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

NATO Takes on ISIS & Russia; The Hunt for ISIS; Remembering Joan Rivers

Aired September 05, 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: Happening now: President Obama meeting with world leaders for the last day of the NATO summit, trying to stop ISIS terrorists and Russian aggression in Ukraine. Could a peace deal be reached today? Or will Russia face new punishment? Live team coverage breaking it all down, ahead.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Home grown terror. New information about a wanted U.S. man accused of joining ISIS. This, as Iraq asks for the world's help to stop the terrorists from taking over that country. We'll have the very latest ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAN RIVERS, COMEDIAN: At 21, my mother said, only a doctor for you. When I was 22, all right, a lawyer, CPA. Twenty-four, she said, well, grab a dentist. At 26, she said anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Mourning a comedic legend. Joan Rivers dying at the age of 81. How this all happened and a look back at her iconic career this morning.

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

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. It is Friday, September 5th. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And up first, a strong show of solidarity with Ukraine in the final hours of the NATO summit. President Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, pledging to protect the battled nation of Ukraine from Russian aggression and a new round of economic sanctions targeting Russian banks and businesses could be announced today. Western leaders also talking tough about ISIS, vowing to build an international coalition to confront the terror group head on.

White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski is traveling with the president. She joins us live now from Wales.

I want to start with Russia, Michelle, because they are talking about a new round of possible sanctions. How harsh are we talking this time? MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Oh, we're not sure

exactly, yet. But we know that they are going to target key sectors of the Russian economy, which is what we've seen incrementally over the past few months. We're talking banking, defense, energy, still not the biggest of the biggest sectors, though, like Russia's biggest gas company.

And Vladimir Putin hasn't been targeted directly or members of his family. Members of his inner circle, yes. So, we could see more individuals as well.

But officials have been saying, we are still saving some for later. It's not like they want to unleash every possibility of sanctions right away, because they wanted to ratchet up the pressure.

Has it been working? Has it changed Russian behavior? In the short term, no. But these world leaders say it's the long term that they are looking at, because really, it's their only option other than military force.

And no one in the West is willing to use military force against Russia at this point. So, continued sanctions are the way to go.

Now, everybody right now is waiting to see what happens on the ground today in Ukraine. A meeting is supposed to take place between Ukraine and Russia, and they have been talking about being willing, both sides now, to present proposals leading up to a peace plan. That could determine whether or not a cease-fire starts today.

So, leaders at NATO who come up with this new round of sanctions are looking to see what happens there, likely before they implement this next round -- John.

BERMAN: That possible cease-fire deal injecting confusion into the sanction process.

Michelle Kosinski live for us in Wales -- thanks so much, Michelle.

KOSINSKI: Right.

ROMANS: All right. Meanwhile, the president of Ukraine and the NATO secretary general both expressing cautious optimism about a possible cease-fire with pro-Russian rebels being announced later. Now, this, as heavy fighting rages in eastern Ukraine. Pro-Russian separatists, Ukrainian forces engaging in a bloody struggle for a key highway near Donetsk.

I want to bring in Reza Sayah live from Kiev.

There's a lot of work to do to really secure a cease-fire here. What kind of time line are we looking at?

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it could happen today. It's still early, but this could be a turning point in this conflict, in a day when finally the fighting ends. It all depends on what happens at 2:00 p.m. local time. That's in about two hours in the city of Minsk, in Belarus. That's where both sides of this conflict are set to meet and both sides say they are prepared to sign a seven-point cease-fire agreement.

We should point out some NATO members and Western capitals expressed skepticism about this plan. They even criticized it, saying this is a ploy by Russia, by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an effort to delay the sanction, win some more time for the pro-Russian rebels in southeastern Ukraine. Other NATO members expressed cautious optimism.

However, Petro Poroshenko, the Ukrainian leader, says he is optimistic that this could work and pro-Russian rebel leaders say they are hopeful as well.

If and when this plan goes into effect, among the conditions are, an end to all military operations in southwestern Ukraine, the pulling out of all troops, the establishment of a humanitarian corridor and a positioning of international monitors to make sure that these conditions are met.

Mr. Poroshenko, yesterday said as soon as the deal is signed at 2:00 p.m., he's going to call off the Ukrainian forces from the region, then pro-Russian rebel leaders said, if they observe this happened at 3:00 p.m. local time, that's in about three hours, they'll stop fighting as well.

So, all eyes on 2:00 p.m. to see if, indeed, the cease-fire goes into effect.

We should point out, Christine, that this agreement does not address the core issues, the core demands. If indeed this works, after that, and stage two of this plan, that's when they're going to tackle the core issues, the core demands, which is going to be very complicated. But this seemingly, if the cease-fire works, will set the stage for those talks to take place.

ROMANS: All right. Reza Sayah for us in Kiev -- thank you, Reza.

BERMAN: Six minutes after the hour.

New information this morning about a U.S. citizen from Massachusetts who is now being linked to ISIS. Thirty-two-year-old Ahmad Abousamra is already wanted by the FBI. And now, intelligence officials believe he has joined ISIS using the computer skills he honed in Boston to help their social media campaigns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIE HARF, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: Obviously, we take seriously the threat of American citizens who joined terrorist organizations. We take additional care when thinking about options for taking them off the battlefield. But your citizenship cannot serve as a shield if you take up arms against the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: British Prime Minister David Cameron is trying to open up a legal path to possible military strikes against ISIS and Syria. He's declaring the Assad regime illegitimate, meaning, the West would not need the Syrian leader permission to enter Syrian air space under international law.

Now, Iraq's president is appealing for help to fight ISIS. He tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that ISIS can be wiped out if Iraq gets cooperation from the U.S. and neighboring Middle Eastern nations. According to Iraqi defense officials, a U.S. airstrike in Mosul did kill at least two high-ranking members of ISIS. There are reports the leader was also killed, but the Pentagon is denying that.

ROMANS: A doctor from Massachusetts, the third American to be diagnosed with the deadly Ebola virus is being flown home from Liberia to get treatment in a special bio containment unit in a Nebraska hospital. Dr. Richard Sacra contracted that disease while treating maternity patients in Monrovia. He's going to arrive in Omaha today, not a moment too soon for his wife.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEBBIE SACRA, WIFE OF DR. RICHARD SACRA: I just had a call from the doctor who put him on a plane to come to the United States. And he said that Rick is clearly sick, but he was in very good spirits and he was -- he walked on to the plane.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Some researchers are warning it's only a matter of time before isolated cases of Ebola are discovered in developed nations. They are warning the U.S. and other countries, it's time to be on alert. More than 1,900 people have been killed now by this virus in West Africa. That outbreak taking more lives than all other recorded Ebola outbreaks combined.

BERMAN: Wow.

Healthcare.gov has been hacked. The White House says hackers successfully installed malicious software on the Obamacare site in early July. And the breach was discovered last week. Officials say no consumer information was compromised. It turns out the server that was breached did not have a firewall or intrusion detection software installed on it. It's the kind of thing you might want on something like a healthcare.gov.

ROMANS: Uh-oh.

Yes, exactly. All right. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

European stocks mostly lower right now. The Asian stocks ended the day mostly down. U.S. stock futures slightly lower right now.

The Dow and S&P 500 hit intraday records yesterday, but stocks erased those gains and closed lower. This morning, all eyes on the jobs report. The August jobs report due out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

Here is the prediction from CNN Money: 226,000 jobs created. That would be 17,000 more than we saw in July. And an unemployment rate, 6.1 percent, a slight drop.

If those predictions hold, August would be the seventh straight month with more than 200,000 jobs added. That would be adding on now to the longest winning streak for job creation since 1996.

BERMAN: I'm taking the under. August is often a tough month for jobs.

ROMANS: I don't know. There's been strength in the labor market. And it's -- the momentum has been really interesting to watch. What I have been watching is how it's broadening out low-wage jobs, because we have seen a lot of low-wage job creation. It's broadening to some other areas, which is important to see.

BERMAN: That would be good news if it bears out today.

For your answers on all pressing job questions, Ms. Christine Romans is hosting a Facebook chat with U.S. labor secretary. Join in today on CNN Money's Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. You can start asking questions right now. I would do it right now.

Ten minutes after the hour.

This morning, tributes keep pouring in for Joan Rivers. She passed away Thursday at the age of 81. She was really showbiz through and through.

Those who knew her, they are saluting her just giant comedic talent and fearless approach to the craft. You know, Joan Rivers, she was already a legend when she became something of a fashion famous icon turning Hollywood red carpets into danger zones for celebrities.

CNN's Miguel Marquez has more on her death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Christine, a few hours after the announcement of her death, we got the first glimpse of Melissa Rivers, her daughter who's been by her side since this tragedy begin to unfold. She was returning to her mother's Upper East Side apartment, dressed in sunglasses, dark coat. She ran from a car into the apartment.

A few moments later, her son Cooper, Ms. Rivers' only grand child, emerged from that car as well, only 13 years old to deal with all of this. He then went into the apartment. The funeral set for Sunday here in Manhattan.

What brought us to this very, very sad end, though, was eight days ago when Ms. Rivers, after completing a show at the Laurie Beechman Theater, she was done by 9:30 or 10:00 p.m. She went to dinner. Early the next morning, she was at Yorkville Endoscopy where she had what should have been an outpatient procedure. She went into cardiac arrest, stopped breathing and was brought to Mount Sinai.

I can tell you, guys, that there are now two investigations related to Yorkville Endoscopy. Both the New York State Health Department has announced that it is investigating, and also the accrediting agency for those sort of facilities is investigating. The medical examiner here in New York also says that an autopsy will be done and the cause and manner of Ms. Rivers' death will be known -- John, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Eleven minutes past the hour.

Ferguson police responding as the Justice Department investigates their department following the deadly shooting of unarmed black teenager, Michael brown. We're going to tell what Brown's family and the Ferguson's top cop had to say. That's next.

BERMAN: Plus, an arctic chill on the way. Millions facing for a big drop in temperatures. Indra Petersons on what you can expect and when, just after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The Ferguson, Missouri police department responding to a federal investigation announced Thursday by the Justice Department. That probe, a little bit in response to the fatal shooting that set off weeks of protest. The Justice Department is looking into allegations of unlawful policing tactics in Ferguson over time, well- beyond the Michael Brown case. Chief Thomas Jackson says the allegations are without merit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Do you think there's a problem with the department when it comes to civil rights?

TOM JACKSON, FERGUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT: No, I don't. I think we work really hard to make sure we treat everybody fairly. I think there's a segment of the community that is a little bit distrustful right now in light of some of the events of recent weeks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: While that's happening, a judge is deciding whether to release Michael Brown's juvenile records after a request from some media outlets.

ROMANS: The Georgia father whose son died after being left in a hot car seven hours is now charged with murder in the boy's death. A grand jury indicting Justin Ross Harris on charges that include malice murder, felony murder and cruelty to children.

Police say back in June, Harris told them he drove to work without realizing that his son was strapped into a car seat in the back. At a hearing in July, a detective Harris was sitting in his office exchanging nude photos with several women the day his son died.

BERMAN: A 10-minute hailstorm pummeling farmers in central Minnesota. Apple trees, zucchini, soybeans and pumpkin crops decimated by hail the size of tennis balls, about the size of lacrosse balls, maybe tangerines as well.

Hours later, another storm packing 70-mile-an-hour winds dropped three inches of rain on that region.

ROMANS: You like to use the most descriptive words possible for a hail.

BERMAN: I always find it curious how we choose the size of ball that the hail represents.

ROMANS: What the hail, Berman?

BERMAN: It's either golf ball sized hail, there's tennis ball, there's lacrosse, what about high line?

ROMANS: All right. High light size hail.

Let's get a look at your forecast with Indra Petersons. Hey, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I got nothing for you there.

Let's talk about what the potential is for everyone out there today. We're really going to be watching a threat for severe weather kind of around the Ohio Valley, southeast, still looking from the storm, even out, really in the southwest, seeing an enhanced amount of moisture, thanks to, of course, some tropical moisture hanging off the coastline from the hurricane. What are we looking at? Even Detroit today, definitely watch for this, the threat for severe weather.

But watch this zone really spread as we go through Saturday. Look at the amount of cities in the Northeast impacted here by severe weather. We are talking Boston, straight down to New York City. We are going to have the threat. So, Saturday may be the day to plan indoors.

But you are going to notice the cold front makes its way through, again, look at the temperature. See this cold pool of air? This is what's expected to go further to the east, as we see that cold air makes it way through. They are complaining it has been so hot, there you go. Here comes it cool air as we go toward the weekend.

Maybe put it this way, Friday, today, about 88 in Boston. Down to the 70s by the time you go towards the weekend. It's not bad. We're talking about milder air that will feel like fall. Keep in mind, next week, this trend continues. You can see the country below temperature. Fall is a couple days away.

BERMAN: Fall is nice.

ROMANS: We like fall.

Thanks, Indra.

PETERSONS: Sure.

ROMANS: A potential disaster in the making in Hawaii's big island. Look at this a lava flow in Kilauea Volcano moving within a mile of residential homes, slowing advancing through cracks in the earth. It could hit those homes in the next five days. Just last month, the same region was battered by tropical storm, knocking trees into houses and taking down power lines. It's been a rough couple months there.

BERMAN: Indeed.

So, who says it's impossible for Super Bowl champs to repeat. The Seattle Seahawks kicking off the NFL season by kicking the Green Bay Packers -- well, you know where they kicked them. Brian Mcfayden has the "Bleacher Report", next.

ROMANS: If you happen to be an international road warrior going through those time-consuming customs lines can be a real exercise in patients, but there's a new way to speed up the process. If you are arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport n Atlanta, you can try out the new mobile passport control app. U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched the app just last month. Passengers fill out a customs declaration form through an iPhone or iPad, which an agent can then scan. The plan is to expand it to Android devices in the future, expected to roll out to other airports.

BERMAN: Oh, this is useful. You have my attention here.

ROMANS: Speaking of airport shortcuts, TSA pre-check picking up steam, passing the half million mark for enrollment last week. The program was launched in December. It lets you skip security lines, keep your shoes on and keep liquids in your bag among other perks.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks opened the NFL season last night against the Green Bay Packers in Seattle. And you know what? The Seattle Seahawks look like they might still be pretty good at football.

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

BRIAN MCFAYDEN, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, good morning, guys.

Seahawks started where they left off last year, by blowing out the competition. The Seahawks in the NFL put on quite a performance last night. Pharrell performed the pre-game concert, and Seattle unveiled their banner in front of the rabid home crowd on the field.

It was all Seahawks. They dominated on both sides of the ball. Packers never really had a chance in this one. Seattle wins it, 36- 16.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman almost looked bored out there last night. The Packers didn't throw the ball in his direction one time all game.

He did sit down with CNN's Rachel Nichols to talk about how his parents stayed humble during his rise to fame.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RICHARD SHERMAN, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: He's still working as a garbage collector and mom is still working with mentally and physically disabled kids. Not a lot has changed in that regard. Obviously, we have a little bit more comfort at home, you know, and few less bills and things like that. But in terms of daily life, man, you know, blue collar people are blue collar people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCFAYDEN: You can catch the full interview tonight on "UNGUARDED WITH RACHEL NICHOLS" at 10:30 Eastern.

This is trending on "Bleacher Report". This story is absolutely amazing. Devon Still was cut from the Bengals 53-man roster, but the team resigned him to their practice squad for a life-saving reason. His daughter Leah was diagnosed in June with pediatric cancer. And keeping Still on the practice team means he gets to keep health insurance and keeps getting paid.

Just a classy move by the Bengals. We wish all the best for his entire family -- guys.

ROMANS: Yes, that is a classy move.

BERMAN: So much bigger than football.

MCFAYDEN: Great story. Wonderful story.

BERMAN: All right. Happening right now, President Obama meeting with world leaders trying to stop Russia from invading Ukraine and stop the growing threat of ISIS terrorists. We are live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)