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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Senator Rand Paul Building Anti-Establishment Coalition; Yemen in Crisis: Violence Escalates; Duke Wins NCAA Crown. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired April 07, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: EARLY START continues right now.

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ROMANS: The race for the White House heating up this morning. Republican Senator Rand Paul set to makes a major announcement.

Yemen in crisis. War intensifying in what was once a key ally in the war on terror. A ground assault on rebels who took down the president could soon begin as residents caught in the crossfire try desperately to get out. We are live with the latest.

And the Blue Devils on top. Duke defeating Wisconsin in a thrilling title finish. The big game, the celebration this morning, ahead.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Tuesday, April 7th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East. John Berman has the morning off.

All right. Happening this morning: another presidential hopeful entering the contest as Rand Paul prepares to officially announce his plans for a 2016 run. The Kentucky senator will enter near the top of a crowded Republican field. CNN polling putting him in third place at 12 percent. Even so, Paul hedging his bets, setting up an usual combined fund raising committee that will let donors give to both of his presidential and senatorial campaigns at the very same time.

We get more this morning from senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

The second Republican presidential candidate is going to throw his hat in the ring today. That Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky. He's going to have his announcement in Louisville, Kentucky, about midday.

He's going to try to run against Washington, trying to say he is a crusader from the outside, trying to build that coalition of libertarian voters, of younger voters, of Tea Party activists, all rallying against the establishment. If it sounds familiar, it probably should. He is not that different from Senator Ted Cruz, who, of course, was the first Republican to announce that he was running.

But Rand Paul is somewhat different. He has been out campaigning for longer than Ted Cruz. He is also running on his father's name. Ron Paul, of course, ran for president at least three times. He galvanized the support of libertarians.

So, Senator Rand Paul is a modern day version of his father's presidential candidacy. But the establishment is not taking him lightly at all. The Jeb Bush campaign in waiting we should say is watching this announcement very carefully. They believe that Rand Paul will be a force to be reckon with here.

But as Republicans are watching that, Democrats are still keeping an eye on Hillary Clinton. The Clinton campaign in waiting is on alert for a campaign at any day. It could come this week. It could come as late as next week. But by then, she is expected to be in the race as well.

So, the early version of the 2016 already is well under way. By the end of this week, we could have three candidates. And next week, Senator Marco Rubio is adding his name to the mix. So, a lot of political action here in Washington -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: A lot of political action in Washington. Jeff Zeleny, thanks for that.

Well, with Hillary Clinton's expected announcement coming in the next week or two, we are learning more about the kind of campaign she plans to run. Sources close to the Clinton organization telling the "Associated Press" she will bypass big speeches, the huge crowds in the early going at least. Instead, Clinton will initially focus on intimate events that will put her in direct contact with voters in early primary states. We'll also learn more this week about the Hillary Clinton e-mail controversy, as the Clinton Library releasing documents related to the former secretary of state, releasing those documents starting Wednesday.

Jeb Bush likely to face questions as he visits Colorado today, questions over his 2009 voter registration form. The Republican presidential prospect laughing off a small tempest over listing himself as Hispanic. Bush, of course, his wife and children are Hispanic. Son Jeb Bush Jr. tweeted a link to a new story about the form and the comment, "LOL. Come on, dad. You checked the wrong box. #HonoraryLatino."

Bush Sr. responded with his explanation. "My mistake. Don't think I fooled anyone." The spokesperson says it is unclear where the paperwork error was made.

The shape of Israel's plan to block President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran becoming clearer this morning. Just one day after a leading Democrat said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered no real alternative to the agreement hashed out last week in Switzerland. Israel detailed the changes it wants to the deal. But the administration may disagree over whether they are realistic, since they include Iran stopping all nuclear research and development and exporting its uranium stockpile out of the country.

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the White House is in rapid response mode as the president sells his nuclear deal with Iran. He's also taking on critics and Congress and U.S. like Israel. The president weighed in on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's demand that Iran recognize his nation's right to exist as part of a nuclear deal.

[05:05:01] The president insisted to National Public Radio that's a deal Iran never would have accepted.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The notion that we would condition Iran not getting nuclear weapons in a verifiable deal on Iran recognizing Israel is really akin to saying we won't sign a deal unless the nature of the Iranian regime completely transforms. And that is I think a fundamental misjudgment.

ACOSTA: Part of the reason there is so much skepticism is the fact that a big portion of the framework agreement touted in the Rose Garden last week is hardly settled. The White House conceded the U.S. and Iran have yet to agree on when sanctions on Tehran will be lifted, also a confrontation between White House and Congress is becoming even more of a possibility as Republicans say they are busy gathering up Democratic support for a plan to have Congress vote on the final nuclear deal.

The White House said, again, the president will veto the measure, but Republicans are getting increasingly confident they may have enough votes to override that veto -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta at the White House -- thanks, Jim.

In Yemen this morning, southern militia is attacks Houthi fighters across several provinces, with backing from air strikes by a Saudi-led Arab coalition. Now, there are signs the Saudis may also be preparing for a ground invasion. Pakistan says Saudi Arabia has asked it to provide war -- aircraft and war ships and crucially troops to join in the battle against the Houthis.

Now, as the Saudi-led offensive enters its 13th day, widespread power outages and shortages of food and water threaten to create a humanitarian disaster and refugees scrambling to evacuate the country in ever increasing numbers.

For the very latest on the situation, I want to bring in senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.

Good morning, Nic. Does it look as though a ground offensive could be possible here?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Saudis haven't ruled it out. And certainly, they have built up their border defenses. We were up in the mountains yesterday with their border guards. They've got new positions dug in on the mountain tops. They're collocated with the Saudi army.

Now, that is something new, but it's unlikely that they would put a ground force in through the mountains. Very, very difficult terrain. It does seem at the moment they are in a more defensive posture.

What we have seen, though, obviously, the continued Saudi air strikes. We heard, we've been talking with contacts in Aden, that key southern port where the fighting was yesterday. More than 50 people killed. Non-governmental aid organizations say a disaster is brewing there with a lack of fuel, a lack of electricity and lack of water and lack of food for the people there. Street fights going on yesterday.

The source we have been talking to in that city, today, however, says it is calm, and that overnight, there were air strikes. The Saudi leading coalition air strikes. There are presumably Saudi air strikes are all at least war ship barrages, artillery barrages. They're Egyptian warships off the coast there, supporting the Saudi coalition. They were targeting Houthi positions around the port of Aden.

So, calm at the moment. Also from the Red Cross this morning, we are hearing they have permission to get two aircraft into the country. One will land tomorrow. It will bring an 11-member medical team, with surgical experts, and another aircraft bringing supplies in, expected on Thursday. But, of course, the situation in Yemen really at the moment a multi-fronted war and difficult to know what is happening away from the key cities -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Nic Robertson, thanks for bringing that to us, again, a really important conflict to watch for what it means for the region and for war on terror abroad. Thank you so much.

Kenya continuing its offensive against al Shabaab as the manhunt continues from, excuse me, from Mohamed Mohamud, the named mastermind of the massacre at the university in the city of Garissa. This as Kenya's military takes out two al Shabaab camps in Somalia where Thursday's militants apparently were based.

CNN international correspondent Christian Purefoy on the ground in Kenya with the latest. And even as the focus really shifts on the manhunt for the mastermind here, very vivid reminder for you, Christine, about the sheer loss for those students.

CHRISTIAN PUREFOY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, as you say, Christine, tension is shifting to the security response to who is to blame for this. But really, a few minutes from where I'm standing is a place of absolute silence, and really difficult to comprehend the absolute horror that must have happened there a few days ago. Obviously, we are talking about the university where 147 people were killed by al Shabaab terrorists.

As you walk in, the first thing you see is obviously the destruction that the security forces brought in, the tanks, and you have bullet holes all over the walls of the dormitories. We even managed to get into.

[05:10:00] We were not allowed to film, but we got into one of the dormitories. You could see grenade attack and all the shrapnel that came up. But, Christine, it really is more of the personal things that make this story so much more shocking. You've got the washing still hanging on the lines that people have left there. And in those dormitories are students belongings that they simply left as they ran for their lives, and so many of those students now will not be coming back to collect those belongings -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Christian Purefoy, thank you for that, Christian.

Ten minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money this morning. U.S. stock futures barely moving right now after a surprising rise yesterday. Stocks absorbed a weak jobs report. Dow closed up 118 points. The New York Fed president easing some concerns about an interest rate hike, looks like likely the first hike won't come until the third quarter or maybe even later.

Starbucks offering employees a college degree, free of charge. Starbucks will offer four years of full tuition at Arizona State University online. This is available to the 70 percent of full and part-time employees who do not have a bachelor's degree. And there is not obligation to stay with Starbucks after graduation. One catch though, Starbucks will reimburse the workers at the end of each semesters. That means the workers have to pay the cash upfront.

Duke once again the kind of college basketball. The Blue Devils beat the Wisconsin Badgers, 68-63, to claim the NCAA championship. It is the fifth title for Duke under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. Duke actually trailed by nine in the second half before storming back, led by 23 points from Tyus Jones. He was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

Wisconsin senior Frank Kaminsky had 21 points, 12 rebounds, you know, he's losing effort. After the game, he tweeted, "Never been more proud of a group in my life. What we achieved will never been taken away from us. Thank you for having me at UW-Madison." Best of luck to all the incredible athletes.

Deliberations set to begin in the Boston marathon bombing trial following a dramatic day in court. The emotional closing arguments, next.

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[05:15:16] ROMANS: Jurors in the Boston marathon bombing trial begin deliberation first thing this morning. During closing arguments Monday, prosecutors linked the Tsarnaev brothers as a unified terror team. But Dzhokhar's attorney tried to persuade jurors that his client was merely influenced to carry out the attacks by his older brother.

CNN's Alexandra Field takes us inside the courtroom.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, survivors of the marathon bombings and family members filled the court to listen while prosecutors once again laid out the graphic details of those deadly attacks. They heard the prosecution implore the jury to find Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty of all 30 counts and they heard prosecutors tell the jury that Dzhokhar was a young man who wanted to terrorize, who planned to terrorize, that he and his brother considered themselves soldiers, mujahideen, and that they wanted to target the city of Boston.

Dzokhar's motive, according to the prosecution, laid out in the note he left in the boat, in which he writes, "We Muslims are all one body. You attack one, you attack us all."

For its part, the defense doesn't deny Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's participation in the events, but his attorney Judy Clarke says if not for Tamerlan, none of this would have happened. This is the strategy of the defense to show Dzhokhar as a younger brother influenced by his older brother. We'll see how of an impact that strategy has on the verdict phase of this trial. But it could have a significant impact on the sentencing phase of this trial.

If the jury finds Dzhokhar guilty of just one of 17 counts that comes with the possible death sentence, the jury will have to evaluate whether or not they choose to spare Dzhokhar's life -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Thanks for that, Alexandra.

Closing arguments expected today in the murder trial of ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez. The defense called three witnesses, resting its case in a single day. The jury could begin deliberations this afternoon. The former New England Patriot has pleaded not guilty in the shooting death of his friend, Odin Lloyd, in June 2013.

A North Carolina man charged with the death of three Muslim college students in Chapel Hill could face the death penalty. Craig Hicks was arrested in February for gunning down those victims. Police said an ongoing dispute over parking may have been a factor in that shooting. They said they aren't dismissing the possibility of a hate crime.

An explosion that rocked New York City's East Village now being investigated as a homicide. Investigators say it was caused by workers illegally tapping into the gas line. They are prepared to bring criminally negligent homicide charges against whoever is responsible. Two people died in that blast. Nearly two dozen were hurt.

A Maryland neighborhood in mourning today after eight members of a family found dead in their home Monday due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. Police say there was no evidence of foul play, but the power was off and the generator in the kitchen was out of fuel when Rodney Todd and his seven children ages 6 to 16 were all discovered in sleeping positions.

Todd's coworker filed a report with police when he didn't come into work on Saturday.

A strong storm system headed across the country. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri tracking that for us this morning.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Christine, good Tuesday morning.

Severe storms really going to ramp up the middle portion of the week. It's kind of up in that today with the temperatures in St. Louis and Nashville, up around 80, while Chicago and Minneapolis, 35 degrees cooler. That is where the severe weather today, a light risk at least for some thunderstorms and large hail as well and powerful winds. The zone stretches from Kansas all the way out to the Carolinas. But the concern comes Wednesday and Thursday, pretty expansive region. Some of the storms in the middle portion of the week for Wednesday could produce powerful tornadoes. We are watching this as we head in to Wednesday afternoon.

But between now and then, tremendous rainfall from portions of Kentucky down to Montgomery, Alabama, and on into Raleigh and Charlotte, with the temperatures out to the northeast remaining on the cool side. Boston back down to the low 40s for highs, while New York at 56, a couple days in the 40s, Christine. Good news on Friday and Saturday. New York shoots back up to 60 degrees by the weekend.

ROMANS: Sixty degrees by the weekend -- thanks, Pedram.

All right. They're celebrating on the campus of Duke University. Another NCAA title for Coach K, after a comeback win against Wisconsin. Andy Scholes has the details live from Indianapolis in our bleacher report, next.

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[05:23:16] ROMANS: Duke winning a thriller over Wisconsin to get the title. This game had it all.

And Andy Scholes stayed up late for it. Andy, how was the game?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Christine, I have to say this is one of the best atmospheres at a basketball game I have ever been. Wisconsin fans, they came in full force. I have to say, the stadium was possibly 80 percent Badger fans.

And one of the most famous former Badger JJ Watt, he was in attendance, sitting with Rory McElroy's Caroline Wozniacki, the Internet definitely had some fun with that. Now, the Wisconsin fans, they thought they had this one. They were up by nine in the second half, thanks to Frank Kaminsky. But Duke freshman Grayson Allen, he would singlehandedly get the Blue

Devils back in. He scored eight in a row at the one point. Then the vaunted Duke defense took over. Okafor shutting down Kaminsky late in the game. Duke star (INAUDIBLE) all night, but he came up big when it mattered most. And then, Tyus Jones hit some huge threes in the final minutes of this one. He was named the most outstanding player as Duke wins, 68-63.

CNN's Rachel Nichols spoke with Coach K moments after winning his fifth national title.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: You said so many times you love this team. How did that make that moment on the court holding that trophy more rich?

MIKE KRZYZEWSKI, DUKE HEAD COACH: Well, it's the best, you know, it's as good a feeling as I had in sport to win with this group. They are so young and so together and so gritty. So, just a pleasure to coach. This has been a joy to coach team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:25:03] SCHOLES: Now when I was walking around at the game last night, I bumped into Mitt Romney. It turns out, Romney filled out a better bracket than anyone in the country. He predicted Duke to beat Wisconsin in the final game. He had the entire Final Four correct. He finished in the 99.9 percentile of everyone who filled out a bracket in the ESPN bracket challenge.

So, Christine, when we are looking for advice next year when we were filling out bracket, we need to figure out who Romney is picking.

In case you're wondering who won the CNN bracket challenge, the honor goes to John King. The only person to pick Duke to win it out of all the CNN anchors.

ROMANS: There is a joke in there about Romney in the top 1 percent somehow. I don't know what it is. But there's a good news in there.

SCHOLES: I don't have it yet together.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks so much.

John King, good for you, John. Thanks.

The 2016 presidential race growing this morning. A big announcement coming today, and it could force other potential candidates to get their hats in the ring quickly. We are breaking it all down, next.

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ROMANS: The 2016 White House race growing this morning. Senator Rand Paul set to make his big announcement. What his path to victory could look like, the chain affect his announcement could have for other potential contenders.

Yemen in crisis. Once a key ally in the U.S. war on terror, war escalates. As thousands trying to evacuate. We are live with the very latest this morning.

Deliberations begin in the Boston marathon bombing trial following a dramatic day in court. The emotional closing arguments ahead.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. Thirty minutes past the hour this morning.