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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
New CDC Guidelines for Health Care Workers; British Hostage in ISIS Video; Targeted By Texts; Britain Security Scare
Aired October 28, 2014 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New federal guidelines this morning on how to treat people returning to the United States from West Africa. But do these guidelines go far enough? Some states don't think so.
This as the quarantined nurse is freed from her isolation tent in New Jersey and U.S. soldiers returning home from the Ebola frontline in Liberia, they are quarantined in Italy. We are breaking down all the latest developments.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New video released of ISIS hostage John Cantlie filmed in the battleground Syrian city of Kobani. We are live with what we are learning from this latest terrorist propaganda.
BERMAN: And new information on how the Washington state high school shooter carried out his deadly attack. It was a set up of sorts. This, as one victim shares a message for the cousin who shot him.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's 31 minutes past the hour this Tuesday morning.
Federal health officials rolling out new recommendations to counter the automatic quarantines adopted by some states concerning Ebola. The CDC guidelines have four different levels of risk to consider in deciding someone needs to be quarantined. Those risks ranged from no risk to high risk. Those in the high risk category would have come in direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluid, would have been pricked for example by a needle.
Meantime, there is good news for a young boy returned from West Africa and was tested for Ebola at New York's Bellevue hospital.
We get more this morning from CNN's Miguel Marquez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Christine, that 5-year-old boy has tested negative for Ebola but he's not leaving quite yet. Officials want to keep him here at the hospital and test him further to make sure that his blood is completely free of Ebola. That should be a few more days in the isolation unit chamber here before he can go home.
Meanwhile, Dr. Spencer who has Ebola over the weekend suffered -- started moving in the serious symptoms of Ebola, with gastrointestinal problems. He was able to do a quick interview with "The New York Times" when he's not feeling horribly, but officials here at the hospitals saying he's in serious, but stable condition. One of them saying he looked a little better from Saturday. So, hopefully, he has stabilized and will continue to get better.
Meanwhile, the controversy over the quarantine of not only Dr. Spencer, who is a doctor with Doctors Without Borders, and Kaci Hickox, who also quarantined in New Jersey, despite the fact that he had no symptoms and that she then tested negative for Ebola.
She has finally gone home, but Governor Christie who imposed that quarantine as she was flying in stuck to his guns.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: She was running a high fever and was symptomatic. If you live outside the state and you're symptomatic, we are not letting you go on public transportation. It makes no common sense. I'm telling you guys, this is going to become a national policy eventually. Eventually, the CDC will come around.
MARQUEZ: Kaci Hickox is now home in Maine where she will remain in quarantine, self quarantine for the next 21 days with state or local officials checking in on her daily. This is same sort of process that the CDC is now suggesting for states and if somebody is at high risk of possible contagion of Ebola. They go into self quarantine and get checked to make sure that those symptoms don't appear.
This as Doctors Without Borders, the group that sends a lot of folks to West Africa to fight this disease there, they are saying the onerous quarantines that New York and New Jersey have put on health care officials is already having an effect on their ability to recruit people to go fight this deadly disease -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Miguel Marquez, thanks so much.
The U.S. military is taking its own precautions against Ebola. The U.S. Army commander is among nearly two dozen personnel who are effectively quarantined in Italy after wrapping up an Ebola aid mission in Liberia.
CNN's Al Goodman is live in Madrid for us.
Al, good morning.
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, John.
He is the commander of U.S. Army Africa. He's a major general. He certainly was not expecting this reception when he landed back at a base in Italy on the weekend.
Pentagon officials telling CNN he was met by Italian authorities in full CDC protective gear. The general and also about ten other military personnel traveling with him, they were whisked off to the separate part of the base. They're going to be separated for 21 days with their temperatures being taken. The military calling this not a quarantine, but controlled monitoring.
Now, this general had been in Liberia, certainly a hard-hit Ebola nation, to set up the U.S. military aid effort there. He had been in effected areas. He spoke to reporters early this month while in Liberia, saying there was extensive monitoring of him. Even eight times in one day he had his temperature taken, as you got on and off planes. But, clearly, authorities in Italy and United States wanted to make sure that everything is fine -- John.
BERMAN: And, Al, what about the U.S. troops that will transition through Spain because Spain obviously is so close to the West African hot spots. What about the troops transitioning into there on the way out of West Africa?
GOODMAN: Well, none of these troops, including the general and his party, not showing any signs or symptoms of Ebola. But there are about 100 marines who are based at a Spanish base south of Spain who are now in Liberia as part of the same effort.
Spain has granted authority to the United States to take flights from Spain into Africa, the only thing that has returned is the air crews. They did not get off the planes. They didn't bring any passengers back. They've been allowed back in, but so far, no troops transiting back in.
And it's a political issue for the United States and its allies. Spain and Italy clearly on, do you let the soldiers walk around the bases where they are in contact possibly with Spanish or Italian troops, or civilians working on those bases. A lot of issues there, John.
BERMAN: Politics involved everywhere here, domestic and international, everywhere.
Al Goodman for us in Madrid, thanks so much.
ROMANS: A new propaganda video from ISIS this morning. It has the look of a broadcast news report. It shows British hostage John Cantlie who has been held for two years. He's in the Syrian border town of Kobani. He delivers the message that Kobani is firmly under ISIS control.
Here is a short clip.
(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)
ROMANS: CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is following developments for us. He is live for us this morning in Turkey.
And here is a man who has been captive for more than two years. He was abducted alongside Jim Foley, who was murdered, as have other hostages he had served with, has been with. Here is a man potentially fighting for his life and upon propaganda video, slick propaganda video, Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We have no idea about his state of mind, but he does sadly, some say seem quite relaxed as the war reporter for ISIS, giving their point of view about how ISIS feel they have more territory in Kobani than the western media or the White House, give them credit for. He, as part of the ISIS message, scorns the half billion dollars used in the coalition to put air strikes in and hold, it seems, most views ISIS back.
He is clearly in Kobani. That is obvious from the geography of the place he is standing in the landmarks you can see around him. A chillingly sophisticated video at times where a drone is used in the skies over Kobani, to point out certain landmarks and show some of the damage. Really, ISIS were paused perhaps to the high tech weapons the coalition throw at them. They don't have that, but they have a pretty high-tech grasp of social media that are adept at using that, to sell their message.
We have no idea of the state of mind that John Cantlie is in when he is asked to make these statements. But it was a surprising thing to be posted, to suddenly see someone in a British voice talking through precisely ISIS point of view from the ground there.
Let me bring you some breaking news, Christine, separately on the fight about Kobani. We are learning from forces within the Peshmerga ministry, remember the Iraqi Kurds who are supposed to be fighting for Kobani, traveling from northern Iraq to Turkey and Kobani. We are hearing that they could well be en route today or tomorrow.
A lot of controversy about what they do, they're clear now. They could be on the move today from northern Iraq into Kobani and they will be fighting when they get there, taking with them old, but heavy weapons to try to assist the fight for Kobani -- Christine.
ROMANS: Interesting. All right. Some breaking news there in the fight for Kobani. Thank you so much, Nick. Nick Paton Walsh this morning.
Thirty-nine minutes past the hour, time for an early start on your money. European stocks, U.S. stock futures are higher. Stocks barely budged yesterday. Energy stocks fell as crude oil fell to 80 bucks a barrel. Production is booming in the U.S. Global demand is weak. Falling oil prices likely will continue. That's driving gas prices down.
The national average for gallon of regular is $3.02 right now. The lowest on almost four years, down more than 30 cents in the last month. The Federal Reserve starts the two-day policy meeting. And Fed is expected to end its bond buying stimulus program this week.
If you're looking for any hint of a time line to raise interest rates. That's a big story, earnings and the fed. Fed and figures this week.
BERMAN: Fed and figures, frankly.
All right. Thirty-nine minutes after the hour.
Targeted by text, police revealing new details of how a high school shooter lured his victims. This as one victim shares a message for the cousin who shot him.
ROMANS: Plus, Democrats deploying a new strategy to keep control of the Senate as a new voice urges Mitt Romney to run -- Romney to run in 2016. One voice is urging that. We are breaking that all down, next.
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ROMANS: Welcome back. We are learning now that the deadly shooting at Marysville high school in Washington was something of a set up. 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 that the shooter had arranged to meet with friends at the lunch hour on Friday. Witnesses confirmed that the five victims were at the table when the shooter opened fire, striking the victims before turning the gun on himself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Two of those students were killed. Three others are hospitalized. Two in critical condition this morning.
One of the victims, a cousin of the shooter, posted a Twitter message, saying he forgives Jaylen. Police also say Fryberg sent a picture of himself to an ex-girlfriend, showing him holding a gun sometime before the shooting.
BERMAN: A Colorado judge has delayed the trial of accused movie theater gunman James Holmes, delayed that trial for six weeks, pushing the proceeding back to January of next year. Defense request for a longer postponement was denied. Twenty-six-year-old Holmes is charged in the shooting deaths of 12 people inside the Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. If he is convicted, prosecutors say they do plan to seek the death penalty.
ROMANS: The man being held in the disappearance of Hannah Graham will appear in the Virginia court for charges he faces related to a 2005 sexual assault case. 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 on the charges connected to Hannah Graham's disappearance and death.
BERMAN: Not competent to stand trial. That is a ruling from a federal judge in the case of accused 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 now set for December.
ROMANS: 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.
BERMAN: It's going to be an emotional day.
ROMANS: It sure will.
BERMAN: Five criminal cases in Ferguson, Missouri, have now been dismissed because the prime witness in each case, Police Officer Darren Wilson failed to show up in court. Wilson, of course, is the officer who shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown. He has not been seen in public since the August incident. No comment from the Ferguson police or Wilson's attorney.
ROMANS: Senate Democrats launching a new round of attack ads in a desperate bid to hold on their majority. Those ads accuse Republicans of harboring secret plans to slash Social Security and Medicare. The spots are airing in states with critical Senate races, Iowa, New Hampshire, Louisiana, and they primarily are targeting the elderly votes.
BERMAN: President Obama will be back on the campaign trail today. The president will make some last minute appearances in six states this week to boost Democratic support for candidates seeking to win or hold governorships. His first stop is in Milwaukee where he will attend a rally for Democrat Mary Burke who is locked in a really tight race with the Republican Governor Scott Walker.
ROMANS: House Speaker John Boehner trashing, trashing President Obama's foreign policy record. He's on the campaign trail this week, stumping for congressional hopeful Dr. Miller-Meeks in Iowa. He criticized the president's response to Russia's takeover of Crimea. Listen.
(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)
ROMANS: In the nose in 10 seconds.
The thing is, back in 2008, Putin did, in fact, invade another former member of the Soviet Union, and key ally, the Republic of Georgia. George Bush was president at the time. Bush did not punch either Putin or then-Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev, but like Obama, he was criticized by some for not reacting more forcefully against Putin in Russia.
BERMAN: Interesting, right?
ROMANS: Right.
BERMAN: So both Clintons are pitching in to help Democrats. Bill Clinton is headlining a rally in Denver today for Senator Mark Udall. He was in a very tight race, trailing in most polls. Also, the former president will appear for Governor John Hickenlooper.
Hillary Clinton was stumping for New York Congressman Sean Maloney Monday. She had to back pedal on comments last week about job creation. She said that corporations and businesses don't create jobs. She now says the economy thrives when tax breaks are not given to corporations that outsource jobs.
ROMANS: Bob Dole wants Mitt Romney to make another run for the White House. The one time GOP presidential nominee made those remarks Monday night while campaigning in Kansas for Senator Pat Roberts. Romney brushed off the remarks, chucking it all up to a joke, saying in part, quote, "You never know what a 90-year-old will say. Do you?"
BERMAN: Bob Dole ran in 1980, '88 and '96. So, he's a member of the three-time club. Maybe he wants another member.
A security scare for British Prime Minister David Cameron. This is remarkable. And it races serious concerns about his safety.
The troubling moment caught on camera. We will show it to you when we are live from London, next.
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BERMAN: All right. Welcome back.
A truly bizarre incident in Britain that put a scare into David Cameron's security detail. It's just stunning. It seems the prime minister and man out for a jog suddenly found themselves in a collision course. How did he get to close to the prime minister?
CNN's Max Foster is live in London with the details -- Max.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bizarre is the word, I think, John. Truly was.
When these images first came out, there was a huge amount of concern. Initially, it was some sort of terror attack and that was discarded very quickly. But then the assumption was that this man was a protester. He was arrested. He was thrown to the ground as you can see by
Cameron's security. But Cameron was left exposed as well here. So, a complete security blunder, it has to be said. He was pushed to the ground, taken away by police.
And police said he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And some Dean Balboa Farley has since come out as the man in the video, saying he was simply out on a jog. Nevertheless, Britain is on the heightened state of alert. The fact that this could happen is worrying people massively in the country.
Senior parliament saying he was very, very lucky that he wasn't a threat, this guy. He was just an accident. This was David Cameron's response afterwards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It might be nice to put on the record for once the debt I owe to the close protection team that protect me and the good job that they do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: The thing to point out on that, John, is that David Cameron has asked for less intrusive security. He wants security to stand back. I have been at public and private events with him. And, often you can't even see them.
So, he may be seeing some responsibility here. But certainly, the metropolitan police, the hierarchy there are very worried and they have launched a review into his personal security.
BERMAN: Obviously very careful getting that close to the prime minister.
Max Foster for us in London, thanks so much.
ROMANS: So many concerns about lone wolf terrorists with no infrastructure, really, just one person getting too close can be dangerous.
All right. Fifty-five minutes past the hour.
Some grim news for women. Hoping to earn as much as men for doing the same job, oh, boy, how the U.S. now ranks compared to other countries. An early start on your money will get you a little mad, next.
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ROMANS: All right. Just about the top of the hour, folks. Let's get an early start on your money.
It looks like it could be a good day for stocks. European stocks and U.S. stocks are both higher. You know, stocks barely budge yesterday. One stock we're watching this morning, Twitter. Shares down more than 10 percent before the bell. Twitter's revenue is growing quickly. Its user base, not so much.
That is causing worries the site doesn't have the broad appeal of something like a Facebook. We're going to hear from Facebook and get numbers after the closing bell.
All right. Troubling news. The gender gap is narrowing, but very slowly. According to a new report from the World Economic Forum, there is no country in the world, no country in the world, where women earn as much as men for doing the same work.
Here in the U.S., the wage gap narrowed by 1 percent last year. It now stands at 66 percent. Meaning women earn about 2/3 what men do for similar work. That puts the U.S. numbers 65 in wage equality out of 142 countries cording to the World Economic Report. There are lot of kind of different ways top slice those numbers, but no matter how you slice them, John Berman, men, make more than women for the same job.
BERMAN: And one percent closing the gap, not fast enough.
ROMANS: That's right.
BERMAN: EARLY START continues right now.