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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Ebola Quarantine Controversy; ISIS Releases New Hostage Video; Targeted By Texts; British PM Security Scare
Aired October 28, 2014 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Controversy growing this morning over just how to treat people returning to the U.S. from West Africa. The CDC issuing new guidelines and some states push even further. This as a quarantined nurse is freed from an isolation tent in New Jersey and U.S. soldiers returning from the front line of Ebola in Liberia, they are quarantined in Italy. We are breaking down all the developments.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: ISIS releasing new video of a British hostage filmed inside Kobani, that key Syrian battleground city. What makes this video so different from those in the past? We are live with the very latest.
ROMANS: Targeted by text messages. New details this morning of the deadly shooting inside a Washington high school cafeteria.
Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. It is Tuesday, October 28th, 4:00 a.m. in the East.
And we do begin with the raging controversy over the Ebola quarantines and new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control. Should health care workers and others returning from West Africa be subject to automatic quarantine? The CDC advises against it and instead advises different measures for different levels of risk. A person considered high risk needs actively daily monitoring and must avoid public places says the CDC.
This would be someone who has come in direct contact with infected persons' bodily fluids. An individual who is some risk, characterized as some risk, that person must be monitored and use common sense and restricted movement. This is someone who has had contact with an infected person, but wore protective gear.
At low risk, someone should be monitored, but restricted. This is someone with minimal contact with an Ebola patient.
And no risk needs no monitoring. This includes who may have had contact with an infected person, but before they were symptomatic.
A number of states, though, were now taking additional steps on their own. Six states are monitoring everyone coming back to the United States from the Ebola zone. Those three West African nations where Ebola is such a problem. In New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, Virginia and Georgia, officials must check on travelers every day for 21 days and asking them about their temperatures and any other Ebola symptoms.
In New York, New Jersey and Illinois, anyone who has had direct contact with Ebola patients in West Africa will be quarantined for 21 days.
The White House acknowledges the states can do as they wish here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: State and local authorities have the authority to make these kinds of decisions about how to implement quarantine policies in ways that --
REPORTER: Put people on tents, they can do that?
EARNEST: Well, subject to the laws of these individual states. What we hope and what we think has been true and the vast majority of circumstances, is that these kinds of policy decisions should be driven by science.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Meantime, Kaci Hickox, the nurse who railed against being quarantined in New Jersey despite testing negative for Ebola, she has been released and she is back in Maine where she will be confined at home. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie insists he did the right thing by quarantining Hickox against her will after she arrived from treating Ebola patient in Sierra Leone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: She was running a high fever and was symptomatic. You live outside the state and you are symptomatic, we're not letting you go on to public transportation. It makes no common sense.
I'm telling you guys, this is now become a national policy eventually. Eventually, the CDC will come around.
If she is uncomfortable, and no one likes to be in the hospital. But she was under supervision by the CDC and our health officials at all times.
Now, I'm glad she is getting to go back home and hopefully her health will remain being good. And if it is, that's good for her, her family, and everybody else. We're not going to take any risks with the public health in New Jersey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: There is good news for a 5-year-old boy who just returned from West Africa and was being tested for Ebola in New York's Bellevue Hospital. Those tests came back negative. No sign of Ebola. Bellevue is also where New York's first Ebola patient, Dr. Craig Spencer, is in isolation. Hospital officials say Spencer remains in serious, but stable condition this morning. He caught Ebola while working for Doctors Without Borders in Guinea.
ROMANS: The U.S. military is taking its own precautions against Ebola. Right now, an Army commander and nearly two dozen personnel are effectively quarantined in Italy after arriving there from an Ebola aid mission in Liberia. Military officials say all army soldiers who serve in west Africa will go through controlled monitoring.
CNN's Al Goodman is live for us this morning in Madrid.
Hi, Al.
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.
He is the commander of the U.S. Army Africa. He is a major general. He and others in his group were met by Italian authorities, the Pentagon, tells CNN, in full CDC type protective suits when they arrived back at base at Vicenza, that base in northern Italy.
On the weekend, they were taken off to a separate area of the base where they're supposed to be isolated for 21 days.
Now, the military is not calling this a quarantine. They're calling it controlled monitoring. This major general had been in Liberia with his team setting up the initial response of U.S. military to help the Ebola crisis and gave an interview to reporters there earlier this month. He said there were extensive controls taken. He said he had his temperature taken about eight times in one day, between this and that. And he said, if you take standard precautions, everything should be all right.
But this is what has happened to the very high ranking officer and his team, as they've arrived back in Italy. Isolation, even though they are not showing any signs -- Christine.
ROMANS: Erring on the side of caution obviously.
Al, what will happen to U.S. troops transitioning through Spain where you are when they return from West Africa?
GOODMAN: Well, there are about 100 marines from a base where these U.S. troops are based here in Spain. They have already gone to some of the Ebola countries in West Africa as part of this mission. Now, Spain and the United States negotiated that these flights can go outbound and that incoming flights have not brought back U.S. troops on the ground at the Spanish bases according to a Pentagon official telling CNN.
This is obviously a concern for Spain where there was been a confirmed case of an Ebola a health worker, nurses aide who is now cured but she's still in hospital. For Italian authorities for sure, because what happens when U.S. troops come back to a joint base? It's an Italian or Spanish base? There might be U.S. troops base there, what if locals or nationals from Spain or Italy go off base?
You see the kinds of issues that the national authorities here in Spain and Italy are dealing with as they try to work out the problem with their U.S. allies -- Christine.
ROMANS: Al Goodman for us in Madrid, thank you so much, Al, for the report.
BERMAN: A chilling new twist this morning in the war against ISIS.
The terror group released a video that shows a British hostage John Cantlie in a Syrian border town of Kobani telling the world that is the town is firmly under ISIS control.
Now, what's really striking about the video is that Cantlie, who has been held since 2012, appears he is reporting from the scene. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN CANTLIE, BRITISH HOSTAGE: Hello. I'm John Cantlie. And today, we are in the city of Kobani on the Syrian and Turkey border. That is, in fact, Turkey right behind me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Very troubling.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is following developments for us. He is live for us just over the border in Turkey.
Good morning, Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, that video that you just saw with sophisticated drone footage. Technology is comparatively cheap, but it does show ISIS very much in grasp of how to use social media to frankly terrifying effects. We have no idea of the conditions that John Cantlie being kept under or his psychological state of mind, quite what it was that made him decide to have that war report almost for ISIS in which he goes through their point of view.
He does seem relaxed as he talks. His key points are the Western media coverage is based on Kurdish officials and White House officials saying how well the fighting is going and ISIS in control of much of the city. He talks about the waste of the coalition has put in with air strikes because as he refers to the mujahidin of ISIS is still to use light weapons in street-to-street fighting.
But it's I think shocking to see somebody in that position putting ISIS viewpoint forward. You have to think about the audience is to. This may not be so much of the western media, but perhaps those in the West who may be future recruits for ISIS.
And you can see clearly in the video from locations in which he's standing, he almost certainly is in Kobani, dressed in black and very much warming to his role as he gives a lengthy series of points ISIS clearly wanted him to make. You have to think, John, of the state of mind he must be, and duress he must be under after months of captivity under ISIS -- really chilling, indeed -- John.
BERMAN: No way of knowing a level of coercion he is under while doing this video. And that's for certain.
But one thing that is clear is this shows just how current and aware that ISIS is of the Western media, depiction of what's going on in that part of the world.
WALSH: Well, this is about a week old because it refers to the U.S. air drops and it makes some very specific references to the Western media, to almost, you might think Mr. Cantlie, his captors have been going through the press cuttings, keeping them and choosing to quote certain things back.
He seeks to address statements, one from BBC, for example, the British Broadcasting Corporation, about how much Kobani is controlled by the Kurds and to answer those with ISIS statements. It is pretty much very shocking to watch. I think also shows you how important Kobani is to ISIS. People know it is important to the Kurds, know it's important for coalition because of the air power they use to defend it.
What's clear from this propaganda video is the amount of time spent to put it together is very important to ISIS, too -- John.
BERMAN: Nick Paton Walsh for us on the border between Turkey and Syria -- Nick, thanks so much.
ROMANS: All right. Ten minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money this Tuesday morning.
U.S. stock futures pointing slightly higher. Stocks barely budged yesterday. Energy stocks took a hit because crude oil fell $80 a barrel, supplies rising, thanks to booming production in the U.S., global demand is weak. Falling prices, guess what, they are expected to continue in oil.
One stock to watch this morning, Twitter shares down more than 10 percent before the bell. Twitter's revenue is growing quickly, but its user base is not, causing some worries the site doesn't have the broad appeal of something like Facebook. A year after its IPO, the company still doesn't make money.
Watching Twitter and Facebook after the closing bell today. A lot of earnings are coming --
BERMAN: That making money thing is important for a company.
ROMANS: That is secret to the sauce is making money at some point.
BERMAN: All right. New details this morning on just how the Washington high school shooter lured his victims as one of those injured students shares a message she has for the cousin who shot him. ROMANS: Plus, residents evacuating their homes as lava inches closer
and that's not the only problem they are facing. The very latest on this after the break.
BERMAN: This is crazy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: We are learning this morning that the deadly shooting at Marysville High School in Washington was a set up of sorts. Authorities say 15-year-old Jaylen Fryberg texted five classmates to join him in the cafeteria where the shooting took place.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF TY TRENARY, SNOHOMISH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We know the shooter had arranged to meet with friends at the lunch hour on Friday. Witnesses confirmed that the victims were at the table when the shooter opened fire, striking the victims before turning the gun on himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Two of those students were killed. Three others are hospitalized this morning. Two in critical condition. One of the victims, a cousin of the shooter posted a Twitter message saying he forgives Jaylen. Police also say Fryberg sent a selfie to an ex- girlfriend showing him holding a gun sometime before the shooting.
ROMANS: The Colorado judge delaying the trial of accused movie theater James Holmes for six weeks pushing the proceeding back to January of next year. A defense request for a longer postponement was denied. The 26 years Holmes is charged in the shooting deaths of 12 people inside an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of sanity. If he is convicted, prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.
BERMAN: The man being held in the disappearance of Hannah Graham will appear in court for charges he faces related to a 2005 sexual assault. Jesse Matthew has been indicted for a number of charges including attempted capital murder for allegedly sexually assaulting a 26-year- old woman. Matthew has not yet appeared in court for Hannah Graham's disappearance or death.
ROMANS: Not competent to stand trial. That's the ruling from a federal judge in the case of accused to the White House fence jumper Dominic Adesanya. He was dragged screaming from the courtroom Monday after ranting at the judge. Adesanya was arrested after jumping the White House fence last week. He punched and kicked two Secret Service dogs who eventually took him down. He will remain in custody for more psychiatric evaluation and treatment until a court appearance in December.
BERMAN: Secretary of State John Kerry attends the military funeral for Corporal Nathan Cirillo in Ontario this afternoon. The Canadian soldier was shot and killed last week while serving as a ceremonial guard at the National War Memorial. After the noon ceremony, members of the public will be able to pay their respects as Cirillo's funeral procession winds its way through the city of Hamilton. That should be very emotional.
ROMANS: Five criminal cases in Ferguson, Missouri, have now been dismissed because the prime witness in each case for Officer Darren Wilson failed to show up in court.
Wilson is the officer who shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown. He hasn't been seen in public since the August incident. No comments from Ferguson police or from Officer Wilson's attorney.
BERMAN: Senate Democrats are launching a new round of attack ads in the last minute bid to hold on to their Senate majority. Those ads accused Republicans of harboring secret plans to slash Social Security and Medicare. Those ads are airing in states with critical Senate races in Arkansas, also Iowa, New Hampshire, and Louisiana, primarily targeting the older voting demographic.
ROMANS: President Obama will be back on the campaign trail today. The president will make last minute appearances in six states this week to boost Democratic support for candidates seeking to hold or win governorships. His first stop is in Milwaukee where he'll attend a rally for Democrat Mary Burke. She is locked in a tight battle with the GOP Governor Scott Walker.
BERMAN: This is actually one of the few, if not the only swing state that President Obama will be appearing in.
Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner trashed the president and foreign policy on the campaign trail. He was doing this while stumping for congressional hopeful in Iowa. He criticized the president's response to Russia's takeover of Crimea. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: And when you look at the chaos going on -- does anybody think Vladimir Putin had gone into Crimea had George W. Bush been president of the United States? No. Even Putin is smart enough to know that Bush would have punched him in the nose in 10 seconds.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The thing about this, though, is Vladimir Putin and Russia did invade a former member of the Soviet Union under George W. Bush.
ROMANS: Georgia.
BERMAN: Right, the republic of Georgia. That happened when Bush was president and it turns out that Bush did not punch anyone in the nose at that time.
Like President Obama, though, he was criticized for not reacting more forcefully at the time.
ROMANS: Was it Bush who said he could see into Putin's soul?
BERMAN: Yes.
ROMANS: OK. Nineteen minutes after the hour.
Meanwhile, both Clintons are pitching in to help Democrats. Bill Clinton today headlining a rally in Denver for Senator Mark Udall and Governor John Hickenlooper. Hillary Clinton stumping for New York Congressman Sean Maloney. She's backpedaled on her comments last week about job creation and what she meant to say is the economy only thrives when tax breaks aren't given to corporations that outsource jobs.
BERMAN: Former Senator Bob Dole wants Mitt Romney to make another run for the White House. The one-time Republican presidential nominee made the remarks Monday night while campaigning in Kansas for Senator Pat Roberts. Romney brushed off the remarks, chucking it up as a joke, saying in part, you never know what a 90-year-old will say.
It's interesting, Bob Dole ran for president three times and never won. So, maybe he is trying to bring Romney into that select club.
ROMANS: In other very high profile politics, this time in Canada, Doug Ford's hope of carrying on the Ford legacy as Toronto's next mayor has been dashed. Ford lost the mayor race to John Tory, a former cable company executive. Doug Ford stepped in when the cancer diagnosis forced his brother Rob out of the race.
Rob Ford will be returning to the city hall. He won a city on Toronto's city council. It's the first time I have done a story about rob ford that did not say crack-smoking Mayor Rob Ford.
BERMAN: Well, there you go. Glad you got it in.
ROMANS: Oh, there it is.
BERMAN: Slowly but surely, lava from Hawaii's erupting Kilauea volcano is moving closer to the homes on the big island. Look at this, civil defense officials say the lava flow is now within 70 yards of the nearest home in the village of Pahoa. Did I say that right?
ROMANS: Yes.
BERMAN: This could be a real problem for people there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM ORR, USGS GEOLOGIST: It's burning through thick brush and fern. A lot of smoke coming off the front. Methane explosions are going on. So, it's a noisy situation out there from all of the burning vegetation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: It's really, really dangerous. Many village residents have fled. There are reports some homes now are being targeted by looters.
ROMANS: That's unfortunate.
All right. A security scare for British Prime Minister David Cameron after a man nearly runs into him on the street. The dramatic moment caught on camera and raising new safety concerns. We are live in London, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: A bizarre incident in Britain involving Prime Minister David Cameron and a jogger. The man was arrested briefly after running into Cameron while out on a jog.
CNN's Max Foster is live in London with details.
Max, what is the reaction to the security scare? What exactly happened here?
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, everyone thinks this is extraordinary, as you can imagine. There are so many extraordinary things about the video.
Number one, a member of the public was able to get to close to Cameron. Number two, Cameron is rather swift to sidestep to get out of the way. At the same time, how security left him completely exposed by the car while stay focused on the guy that went towards him. The guy was arrested taken away by local police and eventually Cameron whilst away and taken back to London.
So, the whole thing was extraordinary. But then it gets more extraordinary when you consider someone called Dean Balboa Farley exposed himself as the man in that video. He was arrested but released pretty quickly. And he said he wasn't a terrorist. He wasn't a protester. In fact, he was just out jogging and he bumped into David Cameron. And certainly, the police's account of things backed up that, Christine, saying he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
ROMANS: And ran right into -- wow, that's something. Really something.
All right. I guess they'll be scrutinizing that video and trying to make sure that something like that never happens again.
Max Foster, thank you so much.
BERMAN: It raises serious questions, you know, given everything that's going on all over the world right now.
All right. Twenty-six minutes after the hour.
New guidelines, new controversy over how to treat people returning to the United States from West Africa. The CDC rolling out new rules, some states want even more. This as a quarantined nurse leaves isolation tent in New Jersey. We will have all the developments right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
