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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Nurse Fights Maine Ebola Quarantine; American Ebola Victim Speaks Out; Apple Pay Rival CurrentC Hacked; Iraqi Kurds: Syrian Rebels Tackle ISIS; Giants Win Third World Series in Five Years

Aired October 30, 2014 - 05:30   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: Not sick. Not backing down. A nurse recently returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa refusing a mandatory quarantine. The state of Maine threatening to sue, putting police officers outside her house, a tense standoff this morning, really could escalate anytime now. We will bring you the latest developments coming up.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists believed to be planning an imminent attack on America, survived U.S. airstrikes in Syria. U.S. military officials now sure they missed their targets. New information on what the Khorasan group could be planning ahead.

BERMAN: And the San Francisco Giants unstoppable, claiming their third World Series title in five years, one of the most epic pitching performances of all time. I submit the greatest World Series pitcher of all time. It happened, folks. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's 31 minutes past the hour. Let's begin with what is developing overnight. This tense standoff between the nurse and the state of Maine, does that state have the right to keep her quarantined? She has no symptoms quarantined though just because she treated Ebola patients in West Africa.

Kaci Hickox has no Ebola symptoms. She has tested negative for the virus twice, but Maine health officials have told her to remain isolated in her home. They say they will seek a court order to make sure that happens.

Overnight with her boyfriend at her side, Hickox told reporters that she will not let herself civil rights be violated by a policy that, quote, "is not based on science."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KACI HICKOX, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NURSE: It is not my intention to put anyone at risk in the community. We have been in negotiations all day with the state of Maine and tried to resolve this amicably. They will not allow me to leave my house and have any interaction with the public even though I am completely healthy and symptom free.

I am frustrated by this fact and I have been told that the attorney general's intention is to file legal action against me and if this does occur, then I will challenge those legal actions. I'm fighting for something much more than myself.

There are so many aid workers coming back. Doctors Without Borders estimated that 20 American aid workers are coming back from the Ebola response in the next month. It scares me to think at how they are going to be treated and how they are going to feel. When we let stigmatization win, we all lose.

MARY MAYHEW, MAINE HEALTH COMMISSIONER: There are other cases where individuals have not tested positive, did not believe that they were symptomatic and quickly developed symptoms while they were out in the public and have since been hospitalized. I do not understand why this common sense approach to ask someone to stay in their home for 21 days during the incubation period, why that is not a reasonable request?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Hickox said she is not sure what she will do today whether she will go into the nearby town of Fort Kent. She says she is only thinking 5 minutes ahead.

BERMAN: President Obama emphasizing the need for science-based response to Ebola flanked by health care workers and an Ebola survivor at the White House. The president praised their bravery in traveling to West Africa to fight the deadly disease.

He touted the federal guidelines and emphasized monitoring over quarantine. He also said the United States must lead in the fight against Ebola and warn that there could be more cases of that disease here in the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want America to understand the truth is that until we stop this outbreak in West Africa, we may continue to see individual cases in America in the weeks and months ahead because that's the nature of today's world. We can't hermetically seal ourselves off.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The freelance news cameraman who survived a brush with Ebola says he now understands the suffering those he did stories about in West Africa. Ashoka Mukpo spoke with CNN's Don Lemon Wednesday.

Mukpo fell ill one day into a shoot in Liberia for NBC News. He was air lifted to Nebraska Medical Center where he suffered through the worst of the disease and recovered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASHOKA MUKPO, FORMER EBOLA PATIENT: I used to see people who would be laying in front of treatment centers trying to get admitted. They are just laying on the grounds, in the gravel in the sun. I used to look at them and say my God, you know, you can't sit up at least. Once I was sick, I completely understood. You have absolutely no energy to walk 3 feet, which feels like you ran a marathon. I feel pretty good. I am happy to be alive and near family and friends and back home. It is a good feeling to be right at right now especially considering where I've been.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: It's amazing where he has been. The only remaining Ebola patient in the U.S. is Dr. Craig Spencer. He is in critical, but stable condition at Bellevue Hospital in New York. The New York City Health Department released a statement Wednesday night.

It called Spencer a hero and praised him for fully cooperating with the investigation to his movements around the city after he returned from Guinea.

BERMAN: All right, new worries this morning in the U.S. intelligence community, deep concerns that the first U.S. airstrikes in Syria last month did not kill key terrorist operatives. Operatives said to have special skills who could be actively plotting attacks against the United States.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr has the details.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: John, Christine, U.S. officials are telling CNN's Pam Brown and myself that they now believe two key operatives in Syria are still alive, two al Qaeda operatives belonging to the so-called Khorasan group.

The leader of the group, a man named, Al Fadhli and a French Jihadist named David Drugeon. They are so concerned about these people because they have the capability to work to make non detectible bombs that can get past airport screening.

And they also have the ability to recruit European jihadist, bring them to Syria, train them and send them back to Europe and possibly send them on to the United States. The Khorasan Group that these men belong to has been a big concern for the U.S.

It has been labeled an imminent threat to the U.S. because of this very capability. The U.S. attacked the Khorasan Group back on September 22nd with almost 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles, a number of sites.

They always worried that they did not get these two men. They don't know if they had left the site before the strike began or if possibly they are injured. This is the clearest acknowledgment we have now that the U.S. believes both of these very dangerous operatives are still alive -- John, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Barbara Starr, thank you for that, Barbara.

Time now for an EARLY START on your money, U.S. Stock futures moving a bit lower now after the fed ended its controversial bond buying program yesterday as expected, that means the party is over, folks. It was six years of unprecedented support for the American economy. Supporters of fed said, the flood of money sparked a recovery in housing and job growth. The fed is still keeping interest rates near zero and the fed promised to keep them low for a considerable time.

All right, how say are mobile payment apps, an Apple pay rival, not even on the market yet has been breached. Hackers stole e-mail addresses of anyone who signed up for the pilot program. It is called CurrentC.

It is backed by big retailers like Wal-Mart and best buy. It is also the reason CVS disbanded Apple Pay in their stores. Experts say though Apple Pay is more secure, but you see a lot more on this space, I think.

All right, 38 minutes past the hour. New help to fend off ISIS in a key Syrian city, hundreds of Iraqi fighters soon joining in the battle, will it be enough to stop the terrorists from taking the town? We are live on the ground with what's happening right now.

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ROMANS: Developing overnight, reinforcements for the besieged city of Kobani. Kurdish fighters from Iraq have arrived in Turkey near the Syrian border town. Syrian rebel forces entered Kobani on Wednesday. One rebel leader says the terrorists control half of Kobani.

U.S.-led air strikes so far haven't been able to drive them completely out. We are going to get the latest from our senior international correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh. He is on the Syrian border with Turkey. Good morning, Nick.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, we have speaking to officials from the Kurdish side in Kobani who confirmed that the Peshmerga have yet to arrive and also one of their commanders in Iraqi Kurds.

He said in fact it may take a day or two for them move from the position they are here, just under a mile from where I'm standing, a police complex on the main access road down to the official crossing to get you into Kobani where the two groups of Peshmerga, the motorized travelled at length through Southern Turkey and the guys who flew in from a plane.

It may take a day or two to actually put themselves into Kobani. It is down to security considerations. Remember the ISIS had a long time now to prepare for the Peshmerga to move in. What they will bring with them, that large convoy of heavy weaponry and hardware.

That could potentially assist the Syrian Kurdish fighters trying to hold onto Kobani. We hear planes above us. Most times of the day, the coalition is still in evidence here. But that fight still not over.

I'm surprised with the Syrian Kurds yesterday morning when they saw the Peshmerga. They had been less excited about the Turkey's bidding in arriving so quickly. The Peshmerga is here.

In reasonable term of the number of the battle behind me and potentially moving in later today and the cover of night, they have gone through Turkey with throngs of crowds welcoming them through.

The question now is, how fast can they get in and how quickly can they start changing the battle on the ground in Kobani -- Christine.

ROMANS: Will it be street by street fighting at this point? If you have the cover the coalition airstrikes around the town, do they need to go in street by street here?

WALSH: Effectively to regain entire control of Kobani, yes, they will have to go street by street and clear it out. The issue seems to be in the past few weeks, though, that ISIS positions have in the past been adequately defined.

The places they fire mortars from that the coalitions have put airstrikes. Yes, ISIS do have the defined the position. It is up to them to find the Peshmerga side. The ground forces to clear the territory and hold it. The question is, Christine, what fight does ISIS have in it for Kobani?

ROMANS: All right, Nick, thanks so much for that. Really interesting how that has evolved over the last couple of weeks, not being a critical spot to save for the coalition to now clearly going all out.

BERMAN: Just one of the things we are watching this morning.

Let's take a look at what is coming up on "NEW DAY." Alisyn Camerota joins us now. Hi, Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Hi, guys. Great to see you. So we, of course, will have more on that Maine nurse saying no to quarantine. Kaci Hickox insists she will not be bullied by the state because she has no symptoms. She vows to disregard any quarantine restrictions even if it means going to court. Does she have a case? We will ask Joey Jackson about that.

And the fiery Chris Christie strikes again, the New Jersey governor taking on a heckler. It is all on tape. We will show you that. Is a reenergized Christie gearing up for a White House run?

Plus do women just have to accept catcalls from men? That is all ahead on "NEW DAY" with Michaela, Chris and I at the top of the hour.

BERMAN: Interesting.

CAMEROTA: You are holding your response I see.

BERMAN: It is wise. We have a commercial break coming up. I will voice my opinions then. Alisyn, look forward to seeing you.

ROMANS: All right, 46 minutes past the hour. The San Francisco Giants World Series champions again. How they pulled this one off. We are live in Kansas City with the big game moments and reaction this morning next.

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ROMANS: San Francisco celebrating its third World Series title in five years. It took one giant pitching performance.

BERMAN: Epic. It's historic. He is the greatest pitcher in World Series history. We have the greatest sports reporter in World Series history with us. Andy Scholes live in Kansas City. Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Good morning, guys. You know what a game this was. Kansas City fans standing the all-time, they were yelling and hoping for the first World Series title in 29 years. One man, like you said, had epic pitching performance, his name is Madison Bumgarner.

Top of the fourth, Giants grabbed the lead with the broke bat single. Then after a shutout in game five, Bumgarner cruised to the ninth inning where we had high drama. Alex Gordon with a liner to center. Blanco misplays it, goes all the way to the wall.

Gordon ends up with a triple. A lot of people thought they should have sent him home because the very next batter, Bumgarner gets Salvador Perez to foul out. Giants win the World Series. Bumgarner with another five shutout innings. He is the MVP after an historic post season.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MADISON BUNGARNER, GIANTS PITCHER: Obviously it hasn't sunk in yet. Not enough time to think about it. This is as good as it gets. World Series in game seven.

BUSTER POSEY, GIANTS CATCHER: For me, it is hard pressed to find another performance like this ever. It has to be one of very few in the history of baseball. What he did tonight is incredible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: So the third World Series title in five years for the Giants. They got this one by doing something no one had been able to do in 35 years. That is to win a game seven on the road.

On the other side of things, what a disappointing ending for the Royals, you know, they were on the verge of completing one of the greatest runs in professional sports history. The fans, obviously sad they did not win it all, but very, very proud of this team.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't believe it. It's just -- we're just happy to have been here obviously, surreal.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was great to get here, but heartbroken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Guys, I was hoping for an early start party in the parking lot this morning, but as you can see, somber mood, the party is still going in San Francisco right now. We can start talking about this team or referring to them as a dynasty, three World Series titles in five years, just incredible.

BERMAN: It is astounding. Two teams that have three World Series titles since 2000, the San Francisco Giants are one of them. Andy Scholes, the other one is, of course, the Red Sox. I think everyone would like to see that match up next season, a battle of dynasties.

That would be good. Andy, thank you so much. In Kansas City, they have great fans there. They pull for their team. After they did not win, they were chanting for the Royals after the game, which was lovely.

ROMANS: A lot of class from K.C.

All right, if you are hoping to get a jump on Black Friday sales, you may be out of luck, some stores promising new policies this year. An early start on your money next.

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ROMANS: Let's get an early start on your money this morning. European stocks are moving lower right now so are U.S. stock futures. You know, the big news this week, the Federal Reserve ending its controversial bond buying program.

That means the U.S. economy is strong enough to go on its own, although, the fed is still keeping interest rates near zero. That helps. Promise to keep them low for a considerable time.

All right, this story I love. In recent years, Black Friday sales have crept into Thanksgiving Thursday. This year, some retailers are saying forget it. Enough is enough. Costco, GameStop and Nordstrom will be closed all day Thanksgiving Day.

BERMAN: Good for them.

ROMANS: They will not make Black Friday become brown Thursday. Costco employees deserve to spend time with their families. Last year, most major retailers started dealing between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Thursday night.

Now it is Thursday night on Thanksgiving. Last year, Kmart opened at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. It stayed open all day. I'll tell you on social media, the response has been overwhelmingly supportive.

There are a lot of people who say that this whole retail rush around a time that is meant to give thanks you survived a horrible winter was just inappropriate and there are some people who work at the retailers who like the overtime. Those retailers are making a stand. Interesting, right?

BERMAN: Very interesting, of course, people who shop no matter what so.

All right. Happening right now, there is a tense standoff that could come to a head at any moment. A nurse returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa is facing off against the state of Maine.

Kaci Hickox refusing to follow a mandatory quarantine. Police are gathered around her house. As I said this could come to a head at any moment. "NEW DAY" covering the latest right now.