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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Hillary Clinton Apologizes for Email Use; British Airways Plane Catches Fire; Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" Debut; Refugee Crisis Rocks Europe. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired September 09, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:21] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Overnight, Hillary Clinton with a brand-new Facebook apology for using a private e-mail server while secretary of state. But is it coming months too late?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A British Airways plane erupts in flames on the runway. Passengers onboard making an emergency exit.
Plus, Stephen Colbert's late show debut. The surprises, the jokes, what worked and what didn't.
BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Wednesday, September 9th. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East.
Nice to see you all this very early morning.
So, Hillary Clinton directly apologizing for using a private e-mail server while serving as secretary of state. The Democratic front- runner trying a new response to stubborn controversy, bringing the message of regret to interviews with ABC News, Ellen DeGeneres, and on Facebook overnight, she goes on Facebook and apologizes.
For the latest, let's bring in senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine.
Hillary Clinton is still leading in the polls. But the trend lines are troubling for her campaign. She has been dipping and Bernie Sanders and Vice President Biden who's not even a declared candidate at this point had been on the rise, particularly of concern this early states of New Hampshire and Iowa.
In polls, Democratic voters say they actually don't really care about this e-mail controversy but it is killing the Clinton's campaign to cut through the message that resonates with voters.
So, for the first time after months of resistance, Hillary Clinton trying to turn the corner on this by very directly apologizing.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In retrospect, certainly, as I look back at it now, even though it was allowed, I should have used two accounts -- one for personal, one for work- related e-mails. That was a mistake. I'm sorry about that. I take responsibility.
And I'm trying to be as transparent as I possibly can to not only release 55,000 pages of my e-mails, turn over my server, but I am looking forward finally to testifying before Congress, something I've been asking for for nearly a year.
KEILAR: That is certainly a big change from what Hillary Clinton said on Monday to "The Associated Press". She said she didn't have anything to apologize for because what she had done at the State Department using a private server, using a personal e-mail, was allowed -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Yes, it's really a full-court apology press right now. Again, on Facebook, she said, "I understand you may have more questions. I'm going to work to keep answering them." So, this apology will continue.
With Ellen DeGeneres, Hillary Clinton apologized, quote, "for the confusion caused by the e-mails." She also attacks her Republican opponents as out of touch and out of date.
But for the most part which you can see here showcased Hillary Clinton's personal side and seemed to target a key constituency, women.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I think it's just a reality that we're held to a higher, different double standard. And it gets a little old to be honest, but you just forge ahead. Don't let all these wonderful, beautiful, young women who are here: don't get discouraged. Don't give in. Don't give up. Don't quit on yourself. Embrace the future.
(APPLAUSE)
And I actually think, you know, look, I'm not asking people to vote for me because I'm a woman, but I think if you vote for somebody on merits, one of my merits is I'm a woman and I think that makes a big difference in today's world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The interview taped Tuesday at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, it airs on Thursday on Ellen's show.
ROMANS: A big day planned in Washington today. A highly-publicized really against the Iran nuclear deal, so big Donald Trump will be there, other candidates, past and present as well. He previewed his message in an op-ed posted overnight on "USA Today's" Web site, calling the agreement, quote, "bad, poorly constructed and terribly negotiated".
Trump writes, "It was amateur hour for those charged with striking this deal with Iran demonstrating to the world yet again the total incompetence of our president and politicians. A Trump presidency will force the Iranians back to the bargaining table to make a much better deal."
CNN's Sara Murray has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, John and Christine.
Donald Trump is back on the campaign trail here, right here in Washington, D.C. where he's holding a rally to protest the Iran deal. He's going to have plenty of firepower with him, joining him is Ted Cruz who is also running for president, as well as former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. They're expecting a pretty big turnout for that event.
[04:05:00] Now, most of yesterday, Donald Trump spent his time sparring with Jeb Bush. Trump released a video on Instagram criticizing Bush as a candidate who makes voters fall asleep, calling him low energy once again. The real jab came where he showed a woman at a Jeb Bush event actually falling asleep.
Now, Bush managed to hit back, he released his own video on Instagram. It shows Donald Trump praising former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saying she would be a great person to negotiate a deal with Iran. Obviously, that is a tough hill for Donald Trump to swallow today as he gets ready to hold this big rally here in Washington, D.C.
Back to you, Christine and John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Sara, thank you so much.
Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, free from jail, but now the open question is, whether it will stay that way? Federal judge released Davis said he was satisfied her deputies were issuing marriage licenses to the gay couples as he ordered.
Moments after her release, as you can see right here, Davis spoke to a cheering crowd.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM DAVIS, KENTUCKY COUNTY CLERK: I just want to give God the glory. His people have rallied and you're a strong people!
(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: Many Republican presidential candidates are weighing in in the controversy. Ted Cruz visited Davis yesterday. Mike Huckabee stood by her as she greeted supporters and she spoke at that rally.
Not every candidate, though, endorsed her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But I've already told her that if somebody needs to go to jail, I'm willing to go in her place. And I mean that, because I'm tired of watching people being just harassed because they believe something of their faith.
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't agree with the court's decision. But I have said that I was going to accept the court's decision.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What I would do this to woman is move her to another job where this is not an objection for her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The judge has ordered Davis not interfere with her deputy clerk's efforts to issue the licenses or the judge says he would send her back to jail. So far, Davis has not said what she plans to do when she returns to work.
ROMANS: The latest now on the Iran nuclear deal. President Obama on the verge of one of the most significant victories of his presidency, now that a group of undecided of Democrat senators, the group has come out in favor of the agreement. That means 42 senators now back the measure, all of them Democrats or independent. That would be enough to block a Republican-led Senate vote to overturn that deal.
BERMAN: Europe's growing migrant crisis now forcing the U.S. and its allies in its fight against ISIS. Officials have agreed to intensify the fight against ISIS nerve centers in Syria, rather than continuing the Iraq first approach to end ISIS expansion there. The U.S.-led coalition still faces the challenge of reaching a consensus on how best to target ISIS in Syria, whether to attack ISIS strongholds directly or focus on ousting Syrian leader Bashar al Assad.
The head of the National Security Agency says the recent hack of the unclassified network for the Pentagon's joint staff was sophisticated and persistent. The joint staff includes some of the most senior U.S. military officials. Admiral Mike Rodgers says hackers penetrated part of the network after a previous attempt failed, officials are investigating whether Russian hackers were behind this breach.
ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money this Wednesday morning.
Big rallies, big rallies in Asia overnight, folks, the best day in Japan in years. John, look at that, Japanese stocks up almost 8 percent. You don't
see that very often, the biggest one-day gain for the Nikkei since 2008.
European shares, U.S. stock futures are higher after a good day on Wall Street yesterday. The Dow surged 390 points, the second biggest gain for the year. The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ also up more than 2 percent. Tech stocks led that rally.
Speaking of tech -- today is the big day for Apple. The Internet ripe with rumors about Apple's next big reveal. The safest bet seems to be new versions of iPhone 6 and 6S.
An update to the Apple Watch is also likely. But the biggest surprise could be a larger iPad. A size between the current iPad and the MacBook; iPad sales have been falling. But Apple does not seem worry. CEO Tim Cook says demand still high.
BERMAN: I'm lobbying for calling the giant iPad, the Gipad.
ROMANS: Gipad, you should trademark that right now.
BERMAN: Yes, if they haven't thought of that. It should be a key to fortune.
All right. Now the moment you have all been waiting for, Stephen Colbert's debut on the late show. The fans seemed to like it before he said anything. They greeted him with a standing ovation at the Ed Sullivan. And the audience chanted "Stephen, Stephen", which is good because that's his name.
He began his first network monologue with a callback to his Comedy Central character, in a signature greeting, "hello nation".
Then, he began to search for the real Stephen Colbert.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, COMEDIAN: If I knew you were going to do that I would have come out here months ago. Thank you for joining me for the first episode of the late show starring Stephen Colbert. I am he.
You're all witnessing television history. And like most history, it's not on the History Channel. I'm so excited to be here right now.
[04:10:00] I am also so excited to be at home six hours from now watching this on TV. Hi, me!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Colbert's guests included George Clooney. That is George Clooney right there.
In addition to Mr. Clooney, Jeb Bush who was asked about his campaign slogan, which actually doesn't include his last name, Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have been using Jeb since 1994.
COLBERT: Yes.
BUSH: It connotes excitement. It connotes --
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: Jeb!
How many of us when we got excited about things didn't just go, Jeb?
BUSH: I ran -- oh, in Florida, they do. When they see me, most of them, either out of happiness or deep anger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The premiere episode wrapped with the new late-show band. It's in special guest, singing and dancing, along with Colbert, to the song, "Everyday People".
ROMANS: And my producer actually was in line, they were giving this out in line, it's cold brew, always refreshing.
BERMAN: He drank some of the cold brew.
ROMANS: Highest quality cold brew. He said he was really relaxed and seemed to have a really good time. His whole family was there.
BERMAN: Congratulations to him and him.
ROMANS: I don't know, we showed that clip where he said, you know, he knows that after nine months of one quality hour of television, if he has nine months to prepare one night of quality television he'll be able to do it over and over again.
All right. Eleven minutes past the hour.
Panic onboard a British Airways flight. The plane suddenly catching on fire. Passengers onboard sharing their stories, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Terrifying moments for passengers and crew members onboard a British Airways jet in Las Vegas. Flight 2276 was powering up for takeoff at the McCarran International Airport when the left engine burst into flames. Look at that.
This is how one passenger described what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY JENNINGS, BRITISH AIRWAYS PASSENGER: We were just getting speed to take off and just heard a big thud, I opened up the cover of my window and just saw flames on the engine. We suddenly start. We sat still for about a minute.
[04:15:01] Just waiting to hear what to do. And then we just heard the captain says it's an emergency. Evacuate.
REPORTER: How scary was it?
JENNINGS: It was pretty scary. Yes. Like, I mean, yes, it was more shock than anything. I don't know, yes, it was pretty scary stuff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: What an interview, as he's being wheeled into the ambulance there.
There were 159 passengers, 7 crew members onboard. Fire officials say 14 people suffered minor injuries requiring transport for medical car. Most of those injuries happened as passengers slid down emergency slides to exit the aircraft.
Fire officials tell CNN that the flames from the engine never breached the cabin. Still terrifying. No word yet on what caused the fire.
ROMANS: City officials in Baltimore today are expected to approve a settlement with the family of Freddie Gray. It means the city accepts all civil liability in the arrest and death of 25-year-old Gray, who suffered a spinal injury while in police custody back in April. Now, this proposed settlement doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing by Baltimore police, six officers will be criminally tried separately in connection with Gray's death.
BERMAN: More than a week after Illinois police officer Joe Gliniewicz was gunned down, three suspects are still at large. Police investigators are following nearly 200 leads. At a news conference, authorities said that the gun -- Gliniewicz's gun was found at the scene. They also said three people seen on surveillance video were involved in the killing. That's a big change.
Since Friday night, I was talking to authorities there, and they said they were on the verge of a breakthrough based on a surveillance video. But that doesn't seem to be the case.
ROMANS: Wow.
All right. Sixteen minutes past the hour.
The heat wave has been baking parts of the Midwest and the East Coast. It's about to end.
Let's get to the meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Christine and John.
Look at the temperatures from Tuesday. Record temps shattering some records that have been standing for 94 years. Central Park, 97 degrees. Previous record from 1919 was 93. Very easy to pick on how far we're above the normal. For about 20 degrees above the normal. And, of course, much of this September, a September to remember, the
temperature trend generally into the 90s, when he should be into the upper 70s, peaking in Central Park at 97 degrees yesterday.
Good news is we do have a front that is cruising across the Midwest, sparking some showers and thunderstorms around Missouri, northern Arkansas, with it, cooler air gets here some time later this week and the jet stream also take a nosedive. So, we kind of really set this cool pattern at least for a little bit beginning Friday into Saturday.
Some showers and thunderstorms possible Thursday night into Friday around New York and Boston. But look at the trend, 90 to 78. You have been dropping below average. How quickly things change by 72 degrees by week's end. And New York City also taking a dramatic drop in temperatures there into the Upper 70s by week's end, with your high temps, today still staying pretty toasty, about 90 in New York, 94 in Washington, D.C. -- guys.
ROMANS: Ninety in New York.
BERMAN: It hasn't rain since 1987. My lawn has no hope.
ROMANS: The lawns look horrible, look horrible.
BERMAN: Yes.
ROMANS: All right. Eighteen minutes past the hour.
Thousands of migrants pouring into Europe, government split over what to do, the European Union meeting right now. Major speech about what the priorities of Europe should be as this crisis unfolds. Live team coverage, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:21:50] ROMANS: Right now, European leaders meeting in France to grapple with the spreading migrant crisis. Hundreds of migrants in Hungary right there, breaking through police line at a holding camps.
CNN cameras capture mothers, and fathers, some of the children running right out of their shoes. Carrying their children on their shoulders for miles. Many of them finally surrounded by police and return to the camp.
Thousands of these people now making their way on to trains bound for Austria.
Hungarian police are no longer we're told checking for visas. The crisis is straining Turkey as Syrian refugees poured to the country, trying to find their way to Greece.
CNN has ever angle of this developing story covered, starting with CNN senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen in Berlin.
And, Fred, it's really clear here. Europeans have been spreading this alarm. This is not something that's happening now or next week or next month. They're planning for years of dislocated, desperate people either for economic reasons for persecution reasons and for survival trying to get to safe haven in Europe.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you're absolutely right, Christine. They're planning for a major crisis of immigrants coming here to Europe, that's going to last for a very long time. Right now, the big problem the European Union has it's absolutely divided on this issue.
Of course, we see the amount of people who are in absolute misery coming to Europe, they have been in Hungary and in Vienna and Austria over the past couple of days, and you could see thousands of people pouring here into the European Union and the head of the European Commission just held a very important speech and he said, listen, right now, the response Europe is giving is absolutely inadequate. He said Europe is not acting as Europeans and they certainly aren't acting as a union.
But the big problem that they have the countries higher in Europe are absolutely divided. On one hand, you have countries like Germany that are taking in a lot of refugees, that are treating this as a humanitarian issue. And on the other hand, you have countries like Hungary, like many Eastern European countries who don't want to take in more refugees, who feel that Europe should fortify its borders.
So, what the head of the European Commission did is he gave a speech where he said Europe needs to do both. On the one hand, they need to distribute the refugees that are coming in more fairly among many of the countries. So, it's not only country like Germany that are taking in refugees. But on the other hand, they also need to do more to fortify and to patrol their borders to make sure that the immigration that comes here to Europe at least in the long run is more clear and is more controlled than it has been in the past.
The speech that he gave is one that's very important. But the big question now is going to be, Christine, are the European leaders going to be able to come together and actually implement a common policy moving forward to try to alleviate some of the suffering that's going on of these people who are coming -- fleeing those wars in Syria and Iraq as well, Christine.
ROMANS: I have to say, Fred, it's been amazing the speed with which the Germans have been able to accept new people, resettle them and get them on track for the refugee status at least.
Fred Pleitgen, really interesting stuff. Thank you, Fred.
BERMAN: It's a huge regional problem across Europe, into Turkey as well, Syrian refugees overwhelming one port city, hundreds carrying back packs and garbage bags, full of belongings.
[04:25:06] They're hoping to embark on what could be a dangerous boat ride to Greece.
CNN's Ivan Watson live in Ayvalik in Turkey.
Ivan, good morning.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
Europeans concerned about the flood of migrants crossing their boarders, they better get ready because the smuggling business here in Turkey is booming. The boats are leaving from the coast of Turkey to islands like Lesbos, which is in the distance here, a Greek island.
They're leaving in board daylight. This is a smuggling operation that is sophisticated and very brazen, with more than 30 people piling on these pontoon boats, and being pushed by Turkish smugglers.
And what we saw in Turkish port city of Izmir where sidewalks and cafes jammed with Syrians. As you mentioned, they're carrying their backpacks with belongings. They're carrying plastic bags of freshly purchased life jackets that are on sale in cafes, even, advertised in Arabic. The Syrian refugees we talked to they're paying about $1,300 for passage from Syria and they're flying in a day prior from Syria, from the capital of Damascus, with the express purpose of getting to countries like Greece, like Germany.
This is happening under the eyes of Turkish police, who are right next to Syrians, as they were piling on to private buses to head for coastal villages for these sometimes cross sea passage to Greece . The Greeks say that islands like Lesbos, islands like Kos are receiving from 1,000 to 3,000 new refugees and migrants a day. This is problem that is not going away -- John.
BERMAN: Up 3,000 a day, on an infrastructure that's already strained in a country like Greece.
Ivan Watson, thank you so much.
ROMANS: This whole economy growing up around smuggling and getting people. As long as there's money to be made and people desperate to get out of there, it's just a dangerous --
BERMAN: A dangerous economy.
ROMANS: A dangerous situation.
All right. Hillary Clinton says she's sorry after months of defending her use of e-mail as secretary of state, now she's sorry. What's the change? What's the reasons maybe in the conversation about that e- mail server? We'll tell you after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
