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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

First GOP Presidential Debate; MH370: Plane Wreckage Belongs to Missing Jetliner; Obama: Rejecting Iran Deal is a Vote for War; Movie Theater Attack. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired August 06, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:16] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: In just hours, Republicans running for president face-off in the first debate of the primary season. New information about their last-minute preparations and possible surprises on the way.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Part of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 found. Officials confirming the wreckage washed ashore in the Indian Ocean belongs to the missing jet liner. This morning, some families are demanding answers and asking more questions. Live team coverage ahead.

BERMAN: A new movie theater attack. A man armed with a pellet gun and hatchet goes after audience members. We'll have developments overnight. That's ahead.

ROMANS: Terrifying.

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

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is Thursday, August 6th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.

Nice to see you all this morning.

Ten presidential candidates are preparing for the first Republican debate in Cleveland, Ohio. That main stage event at Quicken Loans Arena begins on FOX News at 9:00 a.m. Eastern, with another smaller debate set for 5:00 p.m. featuring the seven Republican hopefuls who didn't make the cut for the premiere event.

For the latest on what we can expect, let's bring in CNN's Dana Bash. She's in Cleveland.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, I know you're both big sports fans. So, I'm sure you recognize what is behind me. The locals here call it The Q. It is the arena where LeBron James plays basketball now. But it is tonight the arena where the first Republican debate is going to take place.

It is going to be like nothing we've ever seen when it comes to political debates because we've never seen a billionaire reality star at center stage, which is what tonight is going to be all about.

The candidates have been in town. They have been prepping. They have been going over policies. They have been going over their one-liners, their zingers, trying to figure out exactly how to breakthrough because even though only 10 of the 17 are going to be on the main debate stage, primetime, it's still hard to get your message across when you are one of ten, especially if you're on the outside flanks.

So, some of those campaigns, sources inside have been telling me they're going to try to maybe seize on the kind of thing that Donald Trump has done very well, which is the outsider status.

Even one candidate's aide who's a senator told me that he's going to make the point that he is an outsider, because he hasn't been here that long and he's going to add up the number of years that everybody else on the stage has been in elected office because that is the thing that nobody wants to hear about if you are really pushing for an outsider and non-politician like Donald Trump.

But unclear how much that is going to be able to kind of carry the day when you have again so many candidates and you have the Trump factor and the Bush factor, because Donald Trump might be the most entertaining, Jeb Bush has the most to lose. He still has the $100 million plus in the account that major donors gave him from all over the country. He's got to prove that their investment is worth it and this is going to be a big setting for him to do that, especially given the fact the he's had some stumbles just this week.

The idea is he will have to show he has shaken off the cobwebs from being out of the game for almost 10 years, and that he has that fire in the belly which people are still saying, we're not so sure he has. So, that's just kind of the tip of the iceberg of what we're going to be looking for tonight. It's going to be a rather fun evening -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Our thanks to Dana Bash.

Sort of the first earning report for Jeb Bush, proving to those investors that $100 million is all worth it.

We have new details on exactly how FOX News plans to run this debate. The arena holds about 20,000 people. There will be 4,500 in the audience selected by lottery. To save the time, the candidates will not get opening statements.

The hosts will ask questions, with candidates giving 1-minute answers. Candidates called out by name, they get 30 seconds for rebuttal. Actual non-FOX humans get to submit questions submitted through Facebook, a debate co-sponsor.

'The New York Times" reports that 100 questions have been repaired, about half of which will actually get asked. I think if they get to 50 questions, that's a big night.

And for candidates who run over time, FOX News is considering using the 24-second shot clock buzzer that LeBron James and Cavaliers used in that same stadium.

ROMANS: All right. One possible tonight, a private conversation between Donald Trump and Bill Clinton as the billionaire neared his decision on whether to run for president.

Now, an aide confirmed to CNN the former president returned Donald Trump's calls sometime in late May. The aide said the 2016 race was not discussed. But an unidentified Trump ally told "The Washington Post" the real estate mogul did discuss an interest to run for the White House, and Clinton responded by analyzing Trump's prospects. Trump's team declined comments to CNN.

Interesting.

[04:05:00] BERMAN: So, the reason this is really interesting is because there are a lot of people on the right now, saying, look, Donald Trump is not one of us. Donald Trump has given money to Republicans. He invited the Clintons to his 2005 third wedding. There are pictures of Bill and Hillary Clinton laughing it up with Donald Trump in 2005 at Trump's own wedding.

I think the thing is, is that anyone on earth can call Bill Clinton and get political advice. Bill Clinton likes to talk politics. So, you know, Attila the Hun could call Bill Clinton and Bill Clinton would give him strategic advice right now. But it is interesting. I do expect you will hear more about this in the days.

ROMANS: As far as I know, Attila the Hun is out of the political game at the moment.

BERMAN: Well, he has not filed papers yet, yet.

ROMANS: All right.

BERMAN: All right. A breakthrough in the search for Flight 370. According to the prime minister of Malaysia, according to the prime minister, a wing part was found on Reunion Island and it did come from the missing jetliner. Physical proof he says that Flight 370 came to a tragic end in the Indian Ocean.

Other investigators -- they are not so fast to agree. They want more tests to confirm. They also want to test the flaperon to see if it gives any sign about why that flight ended.

CNN's Saima Mohsin live from the French aviation laboratory.

Good morning, Saima.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

There was a positive and emphatic statement from the prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, in a press conference last night. It caught us unaware as we waiting for a press conference from the French prosecutor. He stepped in to announce he believes it conclusively decided at the laboratory yesterday that investigators found that was a part from MH370.

The French prosecutor on the other hand used much more cautious language.

Now, I want to point out although this disparity has led to a lot of confusion amongst the family members, a lot more of them are raising more questions and less closure for them, this could just be legalese. This is the French prosecutor who's dealing with the manslaughter case here, not a politician or a leader of a country that's been deeply damaged and hurt by the plane's disappearance. So, that could account for that. It doesn't help the families, of course.

Now, there are more tests as you rightly say to be carried out today. The in-depth tests, I understand. They didn't really go into detail, John, about what about tests were conducted. They did tell us how they identified or strongly supposed as the French prosecutor put it that this flaperon belonged to MH370. Boeing said it was a 777. There were technical specifications that they could identify as being from the aircraft that MH370 was operating on. Now, that can be something as the paint on that particular plane, but he didn't go into those details.

Now, the tests today are likely to be more in depth, things like X-rays, sonograms, perhaps 3D imagery, more camera work. Maybe they'll start pulling the piece apart today, we don't know.

But those are the kinds of standard operating procedures that they do continue with. And that will hopefully lead us to the story of how did that plane go down in the Indian Ocean and more to link it to flight MH370 -- John.

BERMAN: Saima Mohsin in France where those tests do continue today -- thanks so much, Saima.

ROMANS: For the family members who lost loved ones on that flight, this brings little comfort. One woman whose husband was on the plane telling reporters it's just a flaperon. It doesn't prove anything. Those sentiments were echoed by others still in mourning 515 days after Flight 370 vanished.

Let's go live to Malaysia and bring in CNN's Andrew Stevens in Kuala Lumpur.

Good morning, Andrew.

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine.

A lot of anger as well as disappointment and sadness, that anger really coming from Beijing, and this has been a theme pretty much over the past 515 days from when the plane disappeared through the announcement from the Malaysian prime minister yesterday. The fact they do not believe what has been coming out from the Malaysian authorities. They say they are hiding the truth and the truth needs to be told.

Listen to what the -- a couple of Chinese family members said in response to this announcement from the Malaysian P.M. at 1:45 in the morning local time, that this was conclusive evidence that it was 370. Listen to the Chinese reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am suspicious of Malaysia Airlines' words because in the past, they have a track record of going back and forth in what they say of being true and not true. What I hope right now is for the Chinese officials to give me a confirmed answer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't believe it. I'm furious and I think this announcement is very irresponsible.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

STEVENS: Well, that's what you hear a lot from the Chinese, that they do want real answers. Interestingly, Christine, here in Kuala Lumpur, the families that I have spoken to say they are asking the question why did the Malaysian government have to make that statement when there does apparently now seem to be a little bit of daylight between what the Malaysians are saying and what the French judiciary is saying.

[04:10:09] The French are not saying definitively this is 370. The Malaysians are.

The families I speak to say it's real disappointment. Why couldn't they just wait for a couple of days so everybody is actually confirmed? I should add that the press release from the Malaysians when it came out did very clearly say that the French agreed, the Australians agreed, the Chinese agreed, everyone on the investigation team on the Reunion did agree that it was from 370.

The French have stepped back a bit from that, and that is what's worrying people here. And also, if it is true, Christine, finally, they say it is not the closure they need. They are still going to be holding out some hope. They still need more.

ROMANS: Certainly, we hope these lab tests continue, they will get some more answers.

Andrew Stevens, thank you for that.

There are also search crews combing the ocean floor right now. They're looking for the rest of MH370. We are live with that part of the story in about ten minutes.

BERMAN: This morning, a wave of reaction after President Obama made a stark and severe case for passing the nuclear deal with Iran. In a speech at American University, the president called next month's vote on the agreement the nation's most consequential foreign policy decision since Congress authorized the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The president claimed a no vote by lawmakers would inevitably lead to war.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have to be honest. Congressional rejection of the deal leaves any U.S. administration that is absolutely committed to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon with one option, another war in the Middle East.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Congress is scheduled to vote on the agreement in mid- September.

ROMANS: All right. The United States has launched its first air strike against ISIS in Syria, originating from Turkey. The Pentagon confirms a drone attack that hit an ISIS target on Tuesday originated from the Incirlik Air Base in Southern Turkey. It's a sign of a deepening cooperation between the two countries in this war against ISIS. Turkey is allowing the U.S. to set up a training site on its soil to build up a new force of Syrian rebels to fight the extremists.

BERMAN: The Internal Revenue Service was delinquent in its treatment of Tea Party groups seeking non-profit status, that ultimately led to extreme and inappropriate scrutiny. That is the conclusion of a new bipartisan Senate report. But Republicans and Democrats still disagree if the Obama administration influenced the process or IRS managers were motivated by their own personal political views.

ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money. European and Asian stocks are mostly lower this morning. So are U.S. stock futures. Yesterday, the Dow closed slightly lower, dragged down by media stocks.

Look at Disney -- Disney shares plunged 9.2 percent. The stock has had a really strong year. One of the best in the Dow. But now, Wall Street is worried about cord cutting. That triggered a selloff for media stocks.

Time Warner, the parent company of CNN, fell 9 percent. Viacom dropped 7.5 percent. Discovery Communications plunged 12 percent. Two others, 21st Century Fox and CBS, reported strong earnings after the bell. Shares are still down before the bell.

All of these companies rely heavily on fees from cable subscribers, and there are signs that small but significant sliver of households are unsubscribing.

BERMAN: This isn't about me, but I worked at both Disney and Time Warner. So, my 401(k) not so great yesterday.

All right. A hatchet-wielding attacker terrorizes an audience in a movie theater. New information about his mental health, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:16:44] BERMAN: New details this morning about an attack on Nashville moviegoers by a man wielding a pellet gun, pepper spray and a hatchet. The suspect was shot dead by police. We have the 911 calls released overnight.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

STEVEN: So I was in the movie theater, like literally a minute or two ago. And this guy, this shady looking guy stood up with like two bags and he walked to the back of the theater. He pulled out a hatchet and started attacking this family. And then he pulled out a gun, and we all ran out of the theater.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BERMAN: Police say 29-year-old Vincente Montano had been committed to a mental institution many times in the mid-2000s. Three days ago, his mother filed a missing persons report that said Montana is homeless and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. The only injuries reported by theater patrons were irritation from the pepper spray and a minor cut from the hatchet. That's lucky.

One moviegoer identified as "Steven" expressed relief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"STEVEN", VICTIM OF THE THEATER ATTACK: I am eternally grateful -- excuse me -- for the Metro Police Department for their fast response today and the fact that no one else got injured other than the person who did this.

I would ask anyone to pray for his family because he obviously has some mental problems or something else.

My family does not want any kind of 15 minutes of fame. We were not looking for any of this. We did nothing to bring this upon ourselves. And I am very, very grateful that no one else got injured here today other than the person who perpetrated this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: How terrifying. Again, those people are lucky.

Police say the weapon that Montano wielded which looked real was actually an air soft gun. That's a pellet gun. His backpack which was destroyed by the bomb squad, it turned out to contain fake explosives.

ROMANS: All right. New information on the New York prison escapee who was on the loose for three weeks until U.S. Border Patrol agents shot and killed him on June 26th. Toxicology reports show Richard Matt's alcohol level was 0.18 percent, more than double the limit for driving when he died. State police say an autopsy determined Matt died of brain injuries due to gunshot wounds to the head. The other inmate, David Sweat, who broke out of the Clinton correctional facility with Matt, he's now in solitary confinement at another upstate New York prison.

BERMAN: This morning, the death toll is rising in New York City's outbreak of Legionnaires' disease. Another person has died, bringing the total to eight. All of them were older and did have other medical issues. Another 11 cases of Legionnaires have also been reported, bringing the total number of cases to 97. The outbreak all traced to cooling towers in the South Bronx.

ROMANS: New legal trouble for Bill Cosby. The comedian now ordered by a Los Angeles judge to give a sworn deposition to lawyers for Judy Huth. She accused Cosby of sexually abusing her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974. Huth's complaint is one of several pending civil lawsuits stemming from dozen of accusations. The deposition is expected to happen in October.

BERMAN: All right. Jon Stewart's run with "The Daily Show" is almost over. The finale is tonight. Last night, he joked about eviscerating ISIS, racism, FOX News and Wall Street. His routine included a clip of EARLY START featuring the one and only Christine Romans.

[04:20:00] She's the one there on the left.

No, there she is now.

ROMANS: Jon Stewart watches EARLY START.

BERMAN: How do you like the fact that in his very last week, he includes Christine Romans as one of his final guests, as it were?

ROMANS: Can you tell you how many people texted me, or e-mailed me or reach out to me at social media? I mean, the guy has a lot of reach.

BERMAN: Almost as much as EARLY START.

ROMANS: Everything I did this week, that was the little clip is what everyone noticed.

BERMAN: You are an influencer.

ROMANS: Yes, I am.

BERMAN: An influencer.

Jon Stewart does say, no relation to Christine Romans, that the world is demonstrably worse than when he started 16 years ago. He does say one thing did change for the better. The New York Mets are actually in first place in the National League East.

ROMANS: He talks about the gravitational poll of the planet New Jersey, where he's going next. You know, I wonder how long he's going to say there. I wonder who at other media homes are going to be trying to get him.

BERMAN: I don't know.

ROMANS: We'll see. Will he retire?

BERMAN: EARLY START with John Berman and Christine Romans and Jon Stewart.

ROMANS: There you go. That'd be good.

All right. Plane wreckage -- 20 minutes past the hour -- plane wreckage washed ashore in the Indian Ocean confirmed to be part of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. This morning, where investigators are now looking for the rest of the missing jetliner. We are live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: This morning, investigators in France renew their microscopic examination of the wing component discovered on Reunion Island to confirm the Malaysian prime minister's declaration that the flaperon did come from MH370.

Twenty-three hundred miles to the East in the southern Indian Ocean, off the Australian Coast, the underwater search for more wreckage from the doomed airliner goes on. But does it go on just as before or has this discovery of the flaperon changed the strategy?

[04:25:04] Joining us for the latest on the search, CNN's Anna Coren.

Good morning, Anna.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

I think this makes authorities more determined than ever to find the wreckage, the main wreckage, and also those crucial black boxes. The discovery of this wing part, as it's known to be a flaperon really just confirms they are looking in the right place in the southern Indian Ocean.

Now, that priority search zone, which is off the coast of western Australia, or is about 46,000 square miles. Today, they covered about half of it. Now, we know this is a very slow and meticulous process.

The reason being is the rough weather and also the terrain, the under water terrain. We are talking about depths of 2.5 miles. Mountains, valleys, gorges underneath the ocean. That is why it is taking such a long time.

As for expanding this priority search zone, now no authorities have said that. As we know, Australia is leading the search, but as we heard from the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott earlier today, he believes that they owe it to the families, the 239 people onboard, to keep searching for the wreckage. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY ABBOTT, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: We owe it to the hundreds of millions of people who use our skies. We owe it to the 24 million Australians who use our skies. We owe it to them to ensure their travel is as safe as it possibly can be to try to get to the bottom of this terrible mystery. And that's why the search must go on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: One of the greatest aviation mysteries of all time. Now, Christine, as we know, until they retrieve those black boxes, they're not going to have the answers the families so desperately are craving, Christine.

ROMANS: An important development, of course, but so much more needs to be done. Anna, thank you for that this morning.

BERMAN: In just a few hours, Republicans running for president will be on the stage.

ROMANS: That's happening tonight?

BERMAN: Look at that. They will be looking at each other, the first primary debate of the season. Who will win? We'll tell you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)