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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

U.S. Terror Threats; The War on ISIS: New Help on the Way?; Late Night Protests in Ferguson, Missouri; Obama Sounds Urgent Alarm on Ebola

Aired September 26, 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: New help could be coming in the war on ISIS. In just hours, Britain will vote on whether to assist in U.S.- led air strikes in Iraq. Those airstrikes now hitting ISIS where it hurts most -- mobile oil refineries. This as thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing ISIS, line the Turkish border desperate to escape. Live team coverage, ahead.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Terror threats here at home. Americans assured that the subways are safe, but the FBI still has one big concern this morning. We'll explain.

ROMANS: Breaking news overnight. Late night protests again in Ferguson, Missouri. Just hours after the town's police chief tells Michael Brown's family. "I'm sorry".

BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: It is Friday, September 26th. It's 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And we do begin with terror concerns here in the United States. Federal, state and local officials are scrambling to reassure Americans that subway systems are safe to ride. This is after really getting blindsided Thursday by a warning from Iraq's new prime minister that ISIS, he says, has been planning a terror attack on American transit.

While officials are confident the subways are safe for now, they have seen no credible threat at all on the subway. It doesn't seem like the Iraqi leader knows what he is talking about. Officials do say that Khorasan, the al Qaeda cell offshoot in Syria, may still be a danger. The head of the FBI says there is no indication that the airstrikes this week disrupted Khorasan's plan to attack the United States.

CNN's Jim Acosta has more now from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, this all got started when the new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told reporters gathered at the United Nations that Baghdad intelligence services had information about what he described as an imminent terror plot aimed in the subway systems in both the U.S. and in France.

That obviously sparked a lot of concern inside the Obama administration. But senior administration officials said all day long that they had no credible evidence of any sort of plot.

And then late in the day, a top State Department official Brett McGurk, he actually went back to the Iraqi prime minister, went back to Haider al-Abadi, talked to him and the prime minister told Brett McGurk that he was only speaking in general terms, that this was not an actual imminent terror plot posed by ISIS against these subway systems. That obviously is going to be reassuring to people in New York City. The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, went out in front of the cameras to reassure New Yorkers that it was perfectly safe to ride the subway system there.

But it is important to point out what senior administration officials have been telling us for weeks, and that is that they don't believe that ISIS has the capability to carry out terror attacks on the U.S. homeland. They are much concerned about this new terror group Khorasan, which is comprised of former al Qaeda members. They say, and so does the FBI director, that that group is capable of carrying out terror attacks. It's something they'll be watching for -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta, thank you for that, Jim.

Air strikes against ISIS on Thursday focused on cutting off the terror group's income from oil sales. The Pentagon says U.S.-led airstrikes hit mobile refineries in remote area in eastern Syria. In Iraq, French planes hit near Fallujah. Meantime, no relief in sight for the tens of thousands of Kurdish refugees making a dangerous trip through the Syrian desert. They are fleeing advance of ISIS troops. When they arrive at the border, they are trapped in a no man's land between Turkey and Syria. Now, Turkey says it is prepared to accept more refugees, but its resources are stretched thin.

CNN's Phil Black is live now on the Turkey/Syrian border.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the Turkish authorities have been thrown up here recently, and this is the result. I want to show you what we are seeing here this morning with the latest wave of refugees who just arrived.

In this holding pen, which is where they are processed upon being allowed to enter, there are hundreds. You will see mostly women and children. They are tired, they are dusty, they are hungry, they are thirsty. They are carrying sacks, some suitcases and really stuffed to the brim with whatever they could grab and move on.

There are men in this number as well. They're at the mobile office just close by going through the process of registering their families, registering them here in Turkey as official refugees. While the women, the children, sit and wait and rest. The reason these people are still coming, it reinforces what we are hearing from fighters, local fighters across the border in Syria. That is ISIS is continuing to advance.

While ISIS forces may be recoiling from international air strikes in other parts of Syria, in Iraq as well. What they are doing here in Syria is advancing and taking more territory. The fighters on the ground are holding them back, as best they can, but they are outgunned, outnumbered. And they say that the airstrikes and other parts of Syria are actually driving more ISIS to this location, increasing the number that is bearing down on them.

And so, the result is what you see here around me. This tired group of humanity, really. These people who have effectively lost everything, who is telling us they decided to move on in the last 24 hours because they say the fighting and noise of war was getting so much closer to their homes, which proves that ISIS is making ground. ISIS s taking territory and despite the fact the fighters which stayed behind to fight the ISIS advance, what they are calling for the international strikes to assist them and strike ISIS in this region. Just over the border here.

Christine, they are saying that has not happened yet.

ROMANS: All right. Phil Black for us on the border -- Phil, thank you so much. And again, a reminder, ISIS is making advances and pushing those people to that border.

All right. British and American intelligence officials believe they have identified the masked man who speaks in the ISIS beheading videos. They decline to name him. Since August, ISIS has posted the gruesome video showing Americans James Foley and Steven Sotloff, along with Briton David Haines being killed. The FBI believes the same militant with the British accent dressed head to toe in black is the same militant speaking in all three videos.

BERMAN: Eric Holder, the first African-American attorney general, is stepping down. He calls his six years at the helm the greatest honor of his professional life.

His tenure, not without controversy. House Speaker John Boehner says the resignation is long overdue. But the attorney general is not going anywhere yet. He does plan to stay on the job until a successor is confirmed by the Senate.

The White House says they are just beginning the process of deciding who the president --

ROMANS: Six years, that's a long time for an attorney general?

BERMAN: It's a long time for any cabinet. There are only three of President Obama's cabinet in his positions, Arne Duncan, you know, the secretary of education. Also, Tom Vilsack, who is still the secretary of agriculture.

ROMANS: That's right. Interesting.

All right. Tens of thousands of families crossing the border this year failed to show up for required follow-up meetings with immigration agents. This is according to the Homeland Security Department. Nearly 60,000 immigrants were released into the U.S. by government officials. They gave them instructions. They released them and then they say come back in 15 days to the nearest immigration office. Tens of thousands of people did not do that.

Meantime, for the first time in decades, a new Department of Defense policy will allow a small number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to have the opportunity to join the military.

BERMAN: The FBI director raising concerns about Apple and Google's new privacy features on smartphones. James Comey accuses the two companies' marketing products that make data inaccessible to law enforcement. But Google and Apple announced that their new operating system will be encrypted and will require a pass code.

ROMANS: And, of courses, a lot of people unhappy with NSA collection techniques are saying, well, this is what we are asking these companies to do. We don't want anybody to be able to come in and get our data. So, it's a privacy move by some of these companies to have better encryption. Something apparently the FBI is not keen about.

All right. Eight minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

European shares mostly lower. U.S. stock futures are barely moving so far. But, you know, yesterday was pretty ugly out there, folks. It was the worst day for stocks in about two months. The Dow fell 265 points. It's about 1.5 percent. Tech stocks fueling the plunge. Apple leading the way. Apple shares, 4 percent bite out of the Apple. The company has made headlines for glitches with the operating system and the iPhone 6 bending, #bendgate. Stocks not far from records.

Half of the stocks in the NASDAQ are down 20 percent from their peak. So, a lot of people looking inside in the internals of the market and saying it looks like a bit of the tech bubble. The venture capitalist, he says the tech startups are spending too much money and they may fail when the market turns. He had a series of tweets that was scathing about some of these startups.

BERMAN: This guy knows a bit about starting tech companies.

ROMANS: Starting tech companies.

All right. Nine minutes past the hour.

Breaking news overnight. New protests in Ferguson, Missouri. Demonstrators arrested following the police chief's apology to Michael Brown's family. But does it mean he's ready to resign? What he told CNN, ahead.

BERMAN: And Britain will vote in just hours whether to join in on U.S.-led air strikes in Iraq. The prime minister minutes way from making his pitch. It is always exciting on the floor of the British parliament. We will take you there live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: So, still on the sidelines in the war against ISIS, at least, for the next hour or so is the United Kingdom. Prime Minister David Cameron convening parliament for a vote to authorize air strikes against ISIS in Iraq.

Standing by live now for us in London, CNN's Isa Soares. Isa, a big vote today and big moment for David Cameron.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely. Good morning, John.

Yes, a big vote expected to start in 15 minutes or so from now. If I checked, if Big Ben is correct behind me, and what is expected to start off with is David Cameron making a speech. The speech is pretty much -- pretty similar in terms of tone we heard at U.N. on Wednesday, making out a legal case and carefully making legal case for air strikes in Iraq.

I want to clarify toward you as we talk about air strikes only in Iraq. That is the motion on the table for parliament, not talking about Syria.

I spoke about 20 minutes ago to the U.K.'s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, and I asked him how realistic is that and how confident is he that this will go through. And he said he is confident and substantial majority will vote on this. He said, of course, many will seek assurances. Others will have concerns.

People I have been speaking to in last two days, John, they have been asking about what kind of strategy will the U.K. have in Iraq. How long and how much will it cost and what are the -- pardon me, the consequences involved in Iraq here at home for the people here.

So, on the whole, the majority expect to devote. The parties here have backed that vote, expected to back that vote. So, I think it will go through, but without a doubt, very, very heated debate in the Common -- John.

BERMAN: Always seems to be heated in the House of Commons.

Isa, this is all happening under the cloud of terror concerns in Britain. I understand there were new arrests this morning. What do you know about that?

SOARES: Yes, yes. In the early hours of this morning, we heard of two arrests. We have two individuals was stopped by metropolitan police on the highway here in London. Two gentlemen, one 33 years of age, the other is 42. We are known they were arrested as part of the nine arrests we heard yesterday, John, that you mentioned in your show, Islamist-related terrorism.

And this is what we know. We don't know anything else about the two gentlemen. But if you remember yesterday, those nine people arrested were arrested for being members of a banned organization. The main person we were able to confirm and British media is

confirming is Anjem Choudary. He's the cleric radical. He is very well-known here, quite a controversial figure as well. He has been protesting outside the U.S. embassy and as well in the streets of London handing out leaflets, ISIS leaflets.

So, this is what we know. The question is how many and what happens next and will they be charged and where will the investigation go from here -- John.

BERMAN: That is the environment under which this discussion battling is in Iraq which will take place behind you in parliament there. Isa Soares, thanks so much.

ROMANS: Overnight, several protesters took to the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, calling for the police chief resignation there. Thomas Jackson responded to protesters, marching right alongside them before the scene got pretty chaotic. The incident happened just hours after Jackson made a public apology for his actions following Michael Brown's shooting.

Jackson apologized to the family, apologized to the public. And he tells CNN he has no intention of leaving his job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF THOMAS JACKSON, FERGUSON POLICE DEPT.: I talked to a lot of people who have initially called for that and changed their mind after meetings and discussions about moving forward. Realistically, I'm going to stay here and see this through, you know? This is mine and I'm taking ownership of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The family of Michael brown has not seen the taped apology by Jackson. This according to their attorney.

BERMAN: We're learning more this morning about the suspect arrested for allegedly abducting Hannah Graham. The University of Virginia student is now missing for 13 days. Authorities say Jesse Matthew was questioned by investigators in a 2002 rape case, but never charged due to lack of evidence.

Now, Matthew waived extradition after his arrest in Texas just a few days ago. He will return to Virginia as early as today. His father spoke to CNN affiliate WTVR. He says he can't believe his son had anything to do with Hannah Graham's disappearance.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE MATTHEW, SR., SUSPECT'S FATHER: Kill or hurt somebody? That's not my son. The only thing I can see is him maybe trying to give the girl a ride home or help her out. If I did, I will go to him and bring him in myself. We will be behind you no matter what.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: Charlottesville police are appealing to the public for help in finding Hannah Graham. What they're doing now is they're asking property owners to check their surveillance cameras to see if they have clues.

ROMANS: Even the wildfire cameras, they want people to take a little look at your property.

BERMAN: Everything, any cameras you have.

All right. Let's take a look at the forecast for the weekend. Indra Petersons is here with that.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi.

Finally, actually have good news. We're going to start out west where they are continuing to get rain out there. The one concern is into the Southwest as we get through Saturday and Sunday, but they could have flooding concerns. They have seen so much rain in that region really in the last several weeks.

We jump to the East. There are still some showers. But you can tell, the low is really pulling offshore. So, conditions are improving as we go through the day and closer to the weekend. More importantly, you can see a couple of showers leftover down around the gulf. That is pretty much it, where we're actually going to be seeing high pressure, this dome building in.

What you need to know? It is sinking air. More importantly, it is sunshine, guys. We're talking about temperatures going way up.

Remember yesterday? Ten-degree temperature drop. Today, a 10-degree temperature climb. It is not more. That trend continues as we go through the weekend.

I mean, look at this, you are talking about temperatures that feel like you are talking about 80 degree temperatures. It feels like August for so many of us on the east coast.

Meanwhile, it feels like fall on the West Coast. Temperatures, everyone is wondering when we get fall leaves. Here is what it looks like in Upstate New York looking at the fall. By October, they were not too far away, we're going to start to see it kind of drop a bit farther south in toward the mid-Atlantic.

Not this weekend. And we're talking mid not upper 80s. See the smile. I'm very happy.

ROMANS: She's happy.

PETERSONS: I'm happy.

ROMANS: It's Friday. Everyone who loves Derek Jeter is happy.

BERMAN: Derek Jeter is always happy. That guy. All right. ROMANS: Derek Jeter, an unbelievable closing act at Yankee Stadium.

You could not write this if you tried to and it happened. A story book-ending. Andy Scholes with the emotional send off in the "Bleacher Report" next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: What a way to go out at home. Derek Jeter playing the role of the hero one last time in his final game at Yankee Stadium.

BERMAN: Andy Scholes has more in this morning's historic "Bleacher Report".

Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Good morning, guys.

Even the Red Sox fan like you Berman has to appreciate what Derek Jeter has meant for the game. The Yankees captain went out in style in his last game in the Bronx last night. In his first at bat, Jeter received a standing ovation and he nearly hit a home run. Check this out. The ball goes off the top of the wall. It would be good for an RBI double.

Let's fast forward to the bottom of the ninth. Game tied at 5-5. Jeter, the chance to be the hero and like he has done so many times in his 20-year career, Jeter comes through in the clutch. The walk-off single gives the Yankees the win. It gives Jeter a story book ending to his time in pinstripes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: What was going through your mind as you stepped into the batter's box one last time?

DEREK JETER, PLAYED LAST GAME AT YANKEE STADIUM: Don't cry. Everybody chanting, "Thank you, Derek." I'm thinking to myself, for what? I'm trying to do my job. So, thank you, guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: New York fans having an extra good morning today thanks to the Giants. Who said Eli Manning had nothing in the tank? Eli throwing four touchdowns last night as the Giants cruise past the Redskins, 45-14. Rough night for Kirk Cousins. He threw four interceptions in the loss.

The Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still had his world turned upside down in June when his 4-year-old daughter Leah was diagnosed with stage 4 pediatric cancer. Now, yesterday, Still was taking his daughter to the hospital for surgery. And he delivered one awesome pep talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEVON STILL, BENGALS: I'm going to ask you again, I'm ready for today. Are you ready for today? You ready to get this cancer up out you? Let's do it. Fist bump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: After the surgery, still posted on Instagram it was a success and it was the best news he had received in a very long time.

Guys, if you don't remember, Still was cut from the Bengals before the season started, but they added him to the practice squad to keep his insurance and take care of Leah. Just a great story all the way around. He is doing quite well on the field as well right. He's been added to the 53-man roster for the Bengals and he's playing pretty good.

BERMAN: Good for him. I love that video. He is now my new favorite person ever.

ROMANS: Fist bump. Love it. What a great dad.

BERMAN: Thank you, Andy. Appreciate it.

Twenty-six minutes after the hour. There could be new help this morning in the war against ISIS. British Prime Minister David Cameron just minutes away from asking legislators there to join in on the airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq. We will bring you his speech, always high drama in the House of Commons. These men are not just polite, and these women not just ornery on the floor, aggressive action. We'll have it, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)