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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Obama to Address Nation on ISIS; Kerry Arrives in Baghdad; NFL Commissioner on Ray Rice Scandal

Aired September 10, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The hunt for ISIS. Tonight, President Obama reveals his strategy on how to take down the terrorists in Iraq and Syria. This morning, new information we're learning on what that plan might look like as Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in Baghdad.

We are covering all of the angles live right now.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman. Thirty minutes past the hour. Thanks so much for being with us.

So just what is the president's plan for fighting the growing threat from ISIS? We will get a much clearer idea tonight when the president addresses the nation primetime on his strategy.

Now we are getting some insight this morning into just what the president will say. An administration official tells CNN the president will focus on framing the threat posed by ISIS, he'll discuss actions he has already taken and will announce a series of new proposals to wipe out the terrorist group.

We're also being told that Congress will not be forced to vote on the issue on whether to use force since the president feels he already has the authority to take action.

A lot of members of Congress were pleased they will not have to vote before the midterm elections.

The president met with top congressional leaders at the White House Tuesday ahead of this address. House Speaker John Boehner says questions still remain to be answered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: Until we know what the strategy is, we don't know what's going to be involved. And so it's critically important that we take these in some organized steps. And the first step is, what's the plan?

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He'll talk about the risks that the -- that the United States faces. And he'll talk about the strategy that he has put together to confront those risks, to mitigate them, and ultimately to degrade and destroy ISIL. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Now the president's address comes as ISIS continues to fight for ground inside Iraq, not to mention Syria.

Our Anna Coren live in northern Iraq, in Irbil, with the very latest.

Good morning, Anna.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, as you say, intense fighting happening in many fronts here in Iraq. ISIS, yes, they are being hammered by those U.S. airstrikes as well as ground forces. But obviously, they are not retreating, they are digging in. And they are fighting.

We're seeing intense fighting at Hadithah dam, Mosul dam, and not far from us here in Irbil. But certainly from the people that we speak to in Kurdistan and what we're hearing out of Baghdad as well is that they are hoping that the president gives a commitment to this war against ISIS. Not boots on the ground. We've heard from President Obama that that is not going to happen. He's made that very plain. That he will not have troops here in Iraq fighting against ISIS.

But those U.S. airstrikes, critical. An intensification of those U.S. airstrikes, more than 150 to date. Well, people here in Kurdistan are hoping that there are going to be many, many more.

They're also wanting arms. They're wanting training and they're also wanting intelligence-gathering. That is critical.

It's also key, John, that they have that leadership. You know, the Kurds and the Iraqis have been operating quite separately, so they really need that guidance and that leadership from the United States to make these coordinated -- to make this a campaign where they can tackle ISIS together.

Obviously, the other thing which is major here is Syria. Everyone in Iraq knows that to defeat ISIS in this country, they need to take the fight to -- to ISIS in Syria. So we are expecting President Obama to authorize U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in Syria. Obviously, that would see a major escalation in this war. Obviously, also, a very complex terrain, new terrain, really, that will be -- that he's going to be ventured.

But this is -- this is going to be part of the plan. It has to be part of the plan. People here are saying that to defeat ISIS, degrade ISIS, to defeat ISIS, you need to take that fight to them in Syria, as well as here in Iraq -- John.

BERMAN: And that could be the key development coming from tonight's address. The announcement that the United States does intend to strike against ISIS by air inside Syria.

Our Anna Coren in Irbil, thanks so much.

ROMANS: The Secretary of State John Kerry has just arrived in Baghdad this morning, part of a swing through the Middle East to build diplomatic support in this ISIS fight. The prevailing hope from the West is the new more inclusive government in Iraq will help bolster efforts to defeat ISIS.

Kerry will also attend talks in Saudi Arabia with foreign ministers from countries including Iraq, in Egypt and in Jordan.

We're also hearing this morning the U.S. and Iran discussed the ISIS threat once again last week despite repeated insistence they're not working together.

I want to go to our global affairs correspondent Elise Labott. She is in Baghdad. She is traveling with the secretary, Secretary Kerry.

Good morning, Elise.

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER: Good morning, Christine. What officials are saying is listen, we have a general knowledge of what each other is feeling but we're not going to cooperate together. And when you ask U.S. officials what Iran is up to in the ground in Iraq, they really don't know. I mean, I think they have a general working knowledge that both of them are helping to working to help the Iraqi government but whether they're cooperating, it doesn't really look like that at this point.

But to the other point, Secretary Kerry, you know, U.S. sees this new Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the center piece to the U.S. strategy to combating ISIS, hoping that this more inclusive government that give Sunnis more power sharing in the government and a say in how the country is run is going to make these disaffected Sunnis that really felt marginalized under Prime Minister al-Maliki and in fact turn away from ISIS.

Because part of the lightning advance to Iraq is really seen in some ways because the Sunnis support them, because they had such hatred for this government. So Secretary Kerry will be emphasizing today in meeting with Iraqi leaders about an inclusive government. Then he goes on tomorrow to Saudi Arabia.

While he'll be looking for Sunni arms support to support this fledgling government, not just the kind of military support that we've been talking about that the Iraqi forces need. But also drying up the funding. Cracking down on the flow of foreign fighters from these countries into Iraq which is really seen as the lifeblood of this group -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Elise Labott for us, traveling with -- with the secretary.

Thank you so much.

Be sure to join us at 9:00 tonight for the president's speech. We're going to bring it to you live followed by full analysis here on CNN.

BERMAN: Thirty-six minutes after the hour right now. Big questions this morning about just how many Ebola patients or people exposed to Ebola have been evacuated to the United States.

The vice president of the Phoenix Air Group confirms that his pilots have transported, quote, "a lot" of other people who have been exposed to the deadly virus but will not say how many because of privacy concerns.

The company is under contract with the State Department.

One of four Americans infected with Ebola that we have been told about has arrived at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for treatment. His identity not being released.

The outbreak in West Africa keeps growing. Not much sign of progress in the fight. The death toll near 2300 with more than 4200 confirmed or suspected cases.

I want to show you a map right now of Africa published by researchers at Oxford. It shows 15 nations that experts predict are now at risk for Ebola outbreaks.

ROMANS: And as they're treating patients in the U.S., they're finding new important ways to try to save these lives. It's pretty interesting what they're finding and what they're trying.

BERMAN: And what you can do here is very different than what you can achieve on the (INAUDIBLE) over there.

ROMANS: Absolutely. Absolutely. They're learning so much more about the survivability of this disease by treating the patients here.

Time for an EARLY START on your money. European stocks lower this morning. U.S. stock futures down. It was a tough day yesterday, folks. Looking for answers on the massive Home Depot hack, by the way. Two senators are asking the FTC to investigate what could be the largest retail hack ever. Several states have launched a probe.

Cyber security journalist Brian Krebs who first reported this breach told me retailers just aren't prepared to protect against hackers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN KREBS, CYBERSECURITY JOURNALIST: A lot of people are going to be asking the question, you know, what if anything did Home Depot learn from the Target breach since pretty everything is almost exactly like the Target breach from the malicious software that was used, to the site that these stores end up for sale on? Even to the reporter who's telling the world about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Yes, same. I mean, replay the tape. What happened to Target, almost exactly looks like what happened at Home Depot. The breach could dwarf the Target hack that rocked the retail world. "The New York Times" reporting it could affect more than 60 million card holders. That Target hack was just a few weeks, three weeks. They didn't notice that this is five months. BERMAN: Five months. Five months.

ROMANS: Five months it went.

BERMAN: All right. Thirty-eight minutes after the hour.

Will former Ravens running back Ray Rice play in the NFL again? Commissioner Roger Goodell with an answer that might surprise you. This coming as Rice's wife breaks her silence on her husband's new punishment.

Andy Scholes joins to explain.

ROMANS: Plus, severe storms barreling through the Midwest, and it's not over. Indra Petersons with everything you need to know, hint, pack a sweater, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Ray Rice out of a job and it really does seem it's the NFL that is on defense this morning. The league was already under fire for handing down a paltry two-game suspension after Rice's domestic abuse against his wife became public. But now the league is facing accusations that perhaps it may have known or seen the video, showing the punch which emerged in public this week.

This video just coming out on TMZ this week. And now there are calls for Commissioner Roger Goodell to resign.

Andy Scholes joins us now from the CNN center with more now.

Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Yes, good morning, John. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell facing some tough questions about what the league knew about the video from inside the elevator and when did they know.

After seeing the video on TMZ on Monday the NFL suspended Ray Rice indefinitely. And people are asking why did it take seeing the video for that to happen and why did Goodell not see the video before handing down the suspension in the first place. On an interview with CBS News last night, Goodell reiterated that he tried to see the video but was unable to do so.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: We had not seen any videotape of what occurred in the elevator. We assumed that there was a video. We asked for video, but we were never granted that opportunity.

NORAH O'DONNELL, CBS NEWS: The question becomes, did the NFL drop the ball? Or was the NFL willfully ignorant about what was on this tape?

GOODELL: Well, we certainly didn't know what was on the tape, but we have been very open and honest. And I have also, from two weeks ago, when I acknowledged it, we didn't get this right. That's my responsibility and I'm accountable for that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: So Goodell says he -- he not only didn't see the video, he didn't know what was on it.

It's pretty incredible. Well, Goodell also says he wouldn't rule out Rice returning to the NFL but, quote, "We would have to be fully confident he is addressing this issue." Now yesterday, Ray Rice texted CNN's Rachel Nichols saying, "I'm just holding strong for my wife and kid. That's all I can do right now."

Now earlier in the day, Janay Rice defended her husband in an Instagram post, writing, "I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I'm mourning the death of my closest friend. But to have to accept the fact that reality is a nightmare itself. No one knows the pain that the media and unwanted opinions from the public has caused my family to make us relieve a moment in our lives that we regret every day as a horrible thing. This is our life. What don't you all get? If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you've succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow and show the world what real love is. Ravens nation, we love you."

The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, are no longer selling Ray Rice's jerseys on their official Web site. In fact, they're planning to allow fans to trade in their old number 27 jerseys for other Ravens gear. And the Ravens do play the Steelers tomorrow night on "Thursday Night Football."

BERMAN: I'm interested to see what the fans' reaction will be at that game.

All right, Andy Scholes, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right. Forty-seven minutes past the hour. A violent storms caused that mess across parts of the country. In Omaha, Nebraska, strong winds toppled power lines, trees, even parts of a car dealership.

BERMAN: Indra Petersons has a look at all of this in her forecast this morning.

Good morning, Indra.

ROMANS: Hi, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Some big changes. That is really a lot of people, we're talking about even 40s this morning. And a chance for, yes, snow, out through -- Montana, I should say. No, thank you. Billings right now currently in the 40s. Look at that temperature glide in Dallas right now is 83 degrees.

This is important because once you have that temperature clash, you have a cold front making its way right through it, we do typically see severe weather pop up. Unfortunately, that's exactly what we're already seeing even this morning. Look at all the lightning making its way to the Midwest. Flooding concerns very high in this region and then of course the threat for even more severe weather as we go through the afternoon.

Big cities, St. Louis, Indianapolis, even Detroit, even today, want to keep that in mind if you're flying into those regions. By tomorrow, look at the cities, we're talking about almost 40 million people looking toward the threat. We're talking New York City, Philly, D.C., guys, keep that in that, even stretching all the way back down through Charleston. That threat for severe weather will be out there.

Now here's where the kind of toss-up is, right? You want it warm with showers because that's what we're going to be seeing until the cold air builds and the showers go away into the northeast. But all that kind of chillier air does start to slide in as you go towards the weekend. If you want to get an idea for where the temperatures are, compared to average, well, take a look. We're talking about 50. Already 16 below average. More of that cold air fill-ins.

Look at Denver, not bad, in the 70s by the time it gets to the end of the week. They are 30 below average. I've been asking everyone in Facebook, it is a toss-up right? Do you want it warm and showery, cold and dry? I -- really I have no clue.

BERMAN: An impossible choice.

PETERSONS: Very much.

BERMAN: An impossible choice.

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: Ask the meteorologist what her favorite weather is, she's like, I can't decide.

BERMAN: As long as there's lots of it. That's what she says.

ROMANS: Thanks, Indra.

BERMAN: All right. An intense demand for change overnight in Ferguson, Missouri, as a judge decides whether slain teenager Michael Brown's juvenile records will be released. The latest next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: A tragic end to a bizarre story out of South Carolina. The bodies of five children have been recovered in Alabama after authorities were led to the site by the children's father identified as Tim Jones Jr. Law enforcement officials believe the children all ages -- between the ages of 1 and 8 years were killed in South Carolina but it's unclear how long ago.

BERMAN: It's just awful.

The first city council meeting in Ferguson, Missouri, since the Michael Brown shooting interrupted by protesters. They put their hands in the air yelling, "shut it down," voiced doubts about the city's planned reforms. Now this comes ahead of a planned protest this afternoon and they're shutting down a second of Interstate 70. Organizers are demanding that the governor appoint a special prosecutor to review the shooting by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson.

Meantime, a Missouri Family Court judge has denied a request for the release of any of Michael Brown's juvenile records. Some media outlets have been asking to take a look at those.

ROMANS: All right. To politics now, former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown back on the ballot in New Hampshire. He won a crowded GOP primary last night beating back nine challengers. Brown will face incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in November.

Meanwhile, New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo secured his spot on the November ballot. He beat Zephyr Teachout in the gubernatorial primary. The first time political candidate Teachout, she did give Cuomo a run for his money. She came away with about 35 percent of the vote.

And Congressman John Tierney becomes the first sitting Massachusetts Democrat in more than two decades to lose a primary. He was beaten by Seth Moulton, an ex-Marine with three Harvard degrees.

BERMAN: In a Red Sox hat.

ROMANS: In a Red Sox hat. This was last night. All primaries before November's general election.

BERMAN: Big news from the great state of Massachusetts.

Officials in two states asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate their bans on same-sex marriage. The request by Indiana and Wisconsin come just five days after a federal appeals panel in Chicago struck down the bans, although it will remain in effect until a final legal ruling is issued. The high court could decide as early as this month whether to take up that case.

ROMANS: All right. Listen up, students, you want to get paid well after college? We've got the list of schools whose graduates get paid handsomely.

BERMAN: Handsomely.

ROMANS: We'll get an early check of your money, next. I think yours is on that list. Mine is not.

(LAUGHTER)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: European stocks lower, U.S. stock futures barely moving right now after a rough day yesterday. The problem was fears the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates sooner than expected. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco released a report earlier this week saying that the public expects interest rates to stay low longer than the Fed does.

Apple making new bets where other companies have struggled. The company announced its first wearable device yesterday, the Apple Watch. It will pair with the users' iPhones. Comes with health and fitness. Samsung, Motorola and others have already launched smartwatches.

It's a little interest from consumers. You're going to have to try to get consumers to buy in here. It's unclear if they're going to be ready to pay 350 bucks or more for the Apple version.

Apple also announced Apple Pay. A new spin on mobile payments. Apple plans to make its one-tap payment system easier and more widely acceptable than others.

College pays off but which college pays off the most? According to a brand new study from Pay Scale, graduates from Harvey Mudd are in the highest salaries in the country. They make -- they start at 75 grand and make about $133,000 midcareer. Also the top five, the U.S. Naval Academy, MIT, Colgate and Stanford. One common factor in universities with well compensated grads, they grant a large number of STEM degrees.

BERMAN: There you go.

ROMANS: Science, technology, engineering and math.

BERMAN: I did not hear fine arts among them. Nor French.

ROMANS: Our liberal arts degrees are worthless. We have no future.

BERMAN: Thanks for watching. On that note, "NEW DAY" starts right now.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking new details on what the president will tell you tonight. His plan to take on ISIS.

Airstrikes in Syria, how long? How much? And the latest on what John Kerry is doing in Baghdad this morning.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Goodell speaks. The commissioner of the NFL says they asked for the Ray Rice elevator tape but never got it. This as he suggests Rice could eventually come back. We have the very latest.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Boiling over. A routine town hall meeting in Ferguson overflowing with anger. Residents lashing out at the government and police. This as a judge rules whether Michael Brown's juvenile records will be released.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

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

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, September 10th, 6:00 in the East.

Up first, a man with a plan. That's what President Obama is, he's now pitched Congress and is ready to present the plan to you. A major primetime address tonight starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. A big question is whether or not the president even needs approval before carrying out his plan.

In fact the administration feels they can carry out this plan without congressional approval, including clear acts of war like bombing in Syria. That's the big question.