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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

President Obama Going After Guns; Saudi Arabia Cuts Ties with Iran; Hunt for Gunman in Israel; Oregon Wildlife Refuge Protest; Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired January 04, 2016 - 04:29   ET

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

[04:30:45] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The first actual television commercial for Donald Trump unveiled this morning with just one month to go until actual voting in the presidential race. Candidates span out with a big push in Iowa and New Hampshire. We are there.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama ready to act on gun control without help from Congress. In executive action on background checks coming within days, Republicans, they are already gearing up for a big fight on it.

BERMAN: Dangerous tension in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia severing ties with Iran. Kicking out diplomats. New developments overnight in a conflict that could up-end U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: Good morning, everyone. I'm Christine Romans. It is 31 minutes past the hour.

This morning, it's all very real in Iowa and New Hampshire. The race for 2016 now taking place in 2016. The Iowa caucuses are just four weeks from today. The big news today, Donald Trump unleashing his first television ad of the campaign. We should get our first look at this at any moment. He also has new attacks on Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton ahead of the former president's first campaign stop.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think she's a flawed candidate. And you see what's happened recently and it hasn't been a very pretty picture for her or for Bill because I'm the only one that's willing to talk about his problems. I mean, what he did and what he has gone through I think is, frankly, terrible especially if she wants to play the woman card.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The rest of the Republican field also launching their final push. Ted Cruz and Chris Christie have multiple events scheduled today. Cruz in Iowa, Christie in New Hampshire. Marco Rubio is set to make appearances in both early voting states. Jeb Bush needs a comeback. And after pulling ads from Iowa and South Carolina, he will rely on retail handshaking politics. He's also keeping up his new sharper attacks on Donald Trump. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEB BUSH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And Donald Trump, I don't believe, is going to be the party's nominee. If he is, he's going to get crushed by Hillary Clinton. And I wanted to point that out. He said some things that are just outrageous. His views on policy have shifted with the winds. He is a strong supporter, until recently, of Hillary Clinton. And now he's the front running candidate for the Republican nomination. Someone has to call him out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Ben Carson has new campaign leadership this morning after his campaign manager and communications director up and quit. Carson told ABC News the campaign needs people with, quote, "the ability to execute and not just have good ideas."

John Kasich rolling out a major ad campaign in New Hampshire. He's been polling in the top five there in recent weeks. He is pinning his hopes on that states.

BERMAN: Happening this morning, Bill Clinton is set to make his first solo appearance on behalf of his wife. This is in New Hampshire. This comes as Donald trump and now others have raised his past sexual indiscretions as a campaign issue. On the stump, in New Hampshire. Hillary Clinton shut down a heckler who turned out to be a New Hampshire Republican lawmaker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Just -- just -- well, I'm going to call on people. I'm -- wait a minute, I -- I'm not going to take your question because other people have been -- yes, go right there. This man right there in -- here we go. Right there. You are very rude and I'm not going to ever call on you. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Clinton rival Bernie Sanders, he was pretty "STATE OF THE UNION" that he really just doesn't care about that issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think we got more important things to worry about in this country than Bill Clinton's sex life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: There you go. In just hours, President Obama meets in the Oval Office with Attorney General Loretta Lynch. They are set to discuss options for tougher gun restrictions. Within days, sources familiar with the issue telling CNN the president will announce executive actions on guns. The potential changes are drawing heated criticism from Republican presidential contenders who say they circumvent the will of Congress. For the very latest, let's bring in CNN's Chris Frates in Washington.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John and Christine. On his first full day back in Washington after the holidays, President Obama today plans to meet with the attorney general and other top law enforcement officials to discuss tougher gun restrictions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A few months ago I directed my team at the White House to look into any new actions I can take to help reduce gun violence. And on Monday, I'll meet with our attorney general, Loretta Lynch, to discuss our options because I get too many letters from parents and teachers and kids to sit around and do nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:35:07] FRATES: Sources say President Obama is expected to announce new executive actions soon. Expanding background checks on gun sales, aimed at closing the so-called gun show loophole which allows some gun sellers to avoid conducting background checks.

Gun control advocates have also pushed the White House to tighten regulations on the reporting of lost and stolen guns and they want the president to prevent more alleged domestic abusers and passengers on the no-fly list from buying guns. But before the president has even announced the details of his actions, Republicans running to replace him were seemingly competing on who would undo them faster.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: So he's going to sign another executive order having to do with the Second Amendment. Having to do with guns. I will veto that. I will un-sign that so fast. So fast.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This president is a petulant child. The fact is, if he wants to make changes to these laws, go to Congress and convince the Congress that they're necessary. But this is going to be another illegal executive action which I'm sure will be rejected by the courts. And when I become president, will be stricken from executive action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRATES: Democrats have applauded Obama's efforts. On Sunday, Bernie Sanders, whose Democratic rivals have called him weak on gun control, endorsed increased background checks -- John, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Chris in D.C. Thanks for that, Chris.

A special programming note. This Thursday at 8:00 p.m. President Obama will join Anderson Cooper for an exclusive, live town hall event about guns in America. Among other things, the president will discuss the executive action on guns. He is expected to announce that this weekend. If he will be taking questions from a live studio audience, a town hall on guns in America with President Obama. Moderated by Anderson this Thursday night 8:00 p.m. only on CNN.

BERMAN: The Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino is set to reopen this morning. That's of course the facility where 14 people were killed in a terror attack last month. The conference center where the shooting took place that will remain closed. There is a new security fence around the entire facility. A full day of events is planned to make the employees feel safe. Many of them have been working, working from home for the past several weeks on their computers and iPads.

ROMANS: A devastating earthquake hit northeast India overnight. At least six people were killed in the 6.8 magnitude quake. Dozens more injured. And you know, those numbers are expected to rise. Rescue efforts are being hampered by communications an power outages. The quake was centered near the border with Myanmar. There are reports of severe damage to residential and government buildings in the state of Manipur.

BERMAN: The potential for deadly flooding threatening millions from Illinois to Louisiana. The Mississippi River, it is beginning to recede in some parts around Missouri, but it is still over banks as it moves south and several states. Authorities in St. Francis County, Arkansas, searching for a man who was swept away by the floodwaters while riding his four-wheeler.

There is a very big cleanup effort underway in the St. Louis area this morning. The floods there triggered by 10 inches of rain over three days leaving behind enough silt and debris -- enough to keep workers busy for weeks if not months.

A closer look at the forecast coming up in just a few minutes.

ROMANS: All right. Camille Cosby is scheduled to be deposed Wednesday in a lawsuit brought by seven women who claimed they were sexually assaulted and defamed by her husband. The wife of comedian Bill Cosby tried to have a subpoena requiring her to testify thrown out, but a judge ruled her attorney's failed to prove the value of her testimony would be outweighed by the undue burden it might cause her.

BERMAN: Getting a first look at the wreckage of the cargo ship El Faro. The vessel sank October 1st. Caught in a category 4 hurricane while traveling from Florida to Puerto Rico. All 33 crew members on board died. Federal investigators are considering a search of the wreckage 15,000 feet down in an attempt to locate that ship's black box.

ROMANS: All right. 39 minutes past the hour. Let's get an EARLY START on your money. Stock futures are dropping amid a global selloff. China's stock market plunged. And officials there halted trading for the rest of the session. There was some weak manufacturing data out of China and it sparked this huge selloff in Chinese markets. That selloff spreading around the world.

We are also keeping a close eye on oil prices this morning. Crude initially moved higher after the news that Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran. But crude prices now stabilizing. Oil plunged 35 percent last year. That has been very destabilizing for many of these oil producers but it has been very good news for drivers. A new forecast says low prices at the pump will stay well into 2016. AAA predicts the national average for a gallon of regular will stay below $3 a gallon during 2016. Right now the national average $1.99. 21 cents lower than a year ago. Drivers saved about 540 bucks last year because of lower gas prices.

And I, on the way to work today, $1.77, I saw the prices in New York.

BERMAN: Oh wow.

ROMANS: Yes. $1.77.

BERMAN: Just stay there. Just keep buying gas as much as you can. That's as cheap it's ever going to get.

ROMANS: We'll see.

BERMAN: All right. A dangerous diplomatic situation in the Middle East.

[04:40:02] Saudi Arabia kicking out Iranian diplomats. This battle, it could get dangerous and up-end U.S. efforts in the region. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Dangerous diplomatic tension in the Middle East this morning. Saudi Arabia ordering all Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours. The move follows a weekend attack of a Saudi embassy in Tehran, sparked by Saudi Arabia's execution of a dissident Shia cleric. All this signaling just new dangerous developments in an already volatile region.

CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson tracking developments for us, live from London.

Nic, what's the latest this morning?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, John, all Saudi diplomats have been pulled out of Iran now. They're calling for all Iranian diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia within the next 48 hours. This stems from the Saudi Arabia's execution of Sheikh Nimr. The Saudis say that he was trying to essentially call for terrorist acts within Saudi Arabia. His supporters say that he had been calling for the peaceful overthrow of the Saudi royal family, the household family.

What has happened in Tehran Saudi diplomats are saying is provocation by Iranian leaders that led to these crowds coming out on the streets that then attacked the embassies there. They are blaming the Iranian leadership. They're saying that the Iranians are trying to ramp up tensions in the region.

For their part, the Iranians are saying that the Saudis are-- have internal problems that's why they executed this cleric, that's why they're behaving this way, and then escalating tensions. But in a region where these two big powerful nations are already essentially fighting proxy wars in both Yemen and Syria and have conflicting interests in Lebanon and in Bahrain as well, this is a very dangerous escalation of tensions.

[04:45:06] BERMAN: And it is these proxy wars, Nic, that I think are of enormous concern to the United States. Any sign that either side will use this new tension to escalate the situation in these four countries where these conflicts are raging?

ROBERTSON: I think we're seeing it already in Yemen. There was a peace process that began involved the Houthis who the Saudis say are backed by Iran and the Saudis. This began in Switzerland late last year to about two or three weeks ago. There was a ceasefire, together there's talks underway. That ceasefire collapsed over the weekend. So we're seeing already that the tensions essentially prolonging the battles on the ground.

The Iranians and the Saudis were supposed to be in the same room in Geneva in Switzerland later this month to discuss Syria. That now seems much less likely therefore any resolution because the two countries have significant influence in Syria, that means any kind of peaceful solution in Syria is pushed further down the road. It makes diplomacy in the region much tougher when these two countries are at loggerheads like this.

BERMAN: Yes. And needless to say, the United States is a long time ally of Saudi Arabia. But a new nuclear deal with Iran sort of caught in the middle, trying to balance the situation.

Nic Robertson for us in London, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right, in Israel. Israeli Security Forces widening the manhunt for the shooter suspected of killing two people and wounding seven others outside a Tel Aviv pub on New Year's Day. Now the shooting came amid a wave Palestinian attacks on Israelis and after an apparent ISIS threat against the Jewish state.

CNN's Ian Lee following developments live in Jerusalem -- Ian.

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine. Today, SWAT teams and terrorism units are going in searching construction sites and abandoned buildings looking for the suspect as this manhunt goes into the third day. Over 1,000 extra police officers have been deployed in the Tel Aviv and northern Tel Aviv area. And we're hearing also that parents -- some parents are keeping their kids away from school out of fear of this man that's still being on the loose, although the police have said that it is safe to send their children to school. There's been extra patrols. There's schools have extra security added.

But the main fear for police right now is that this suspect is still armed and dangerous. That's what they're considering. They fear that he could also try to carry out another attack. Now the family has said that he suffers from a psychological disorder and they're hoping that he can be captured alive. But right now, the main goal of the security forces is to, quote, "neutralize him." Whether that's capturing him or killing him.

ROMANS: They're looking at construction sites this morning, they're scouring, you know, all kinds of locations for him. But this happened on New Year's Day. It's sort of unusual for the suspect to be on the run this long, isn't it?

LEE: That's exactly right, Christine. When I was talking with police spokesmen, they were saying that, you know, they usually when it comes to a terrorism suspect, they haven't said it's a terrorism case. But they're leaning in that direction. They say usually a terrorism suspect is either killed or captured at the scene of the crime. Even if they do run, there's a lot of security in this country. They have cameras all over the place. They can usually follow that suspect and see in which direction he went.

So this is why they're searching house to house. He could be holed up somewhere and which makes it a very dangerous situation.

ROMANS: Right.

LEE: As they do consider him dangerous. They don't know if he's had any help. And he could try to take a hostage. The police just don't know.

ROMANS: All right. Ian Lee for us this morning in Jerusalem. Thank you for that, Ian. Keep us posted for any new development.

BERMAN: There are reports of a deal in the works to free a "Washington Post" reporter being held by Iran. Reuters quotes a senior Iranian official saying that unnamed Americans have contacted Tehran for a deal to swap Jason Rezaian. He was arrested in 2014 and convicted on espionage charges. But Iran has not announced his sentence. The speaker of Iran's parliament has hinted that Rezaian could be freed in exchange for Iranian prisoners in the United States.

ROMANS: Did you make a New Year's resolution, John?

BERMAN: I don't do resolutions.

ROMANS: You don't?

BERMAN: I don't believe in that.

ROMANS: You don't?

BERMAN: I don't.

ROMANS: Because you're already perfect.

BERMAN: No, I just -- I just think it's silly. It's like these fake challenges you set up for yourself.

ROMANS: OK. Well, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg set a fake challenge for himself. BERMAN: What does he know? What has he ever succeeded in?

ROMANS: A big goal.

BERMAN: Come on.

ROMANS: His goal for 2016. I'm going to tell you what it is right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:52:36] ROMANS: New developments in Oregon this morning with armed militia members occupying buildings in a federal wildlife refuge. Some of the schools in rural Harney County, Oregon, will be closed this week as a precaution.

This all began Saturday as a rally in support of ranchers, Dwight and Stephen Hammond, who were convicted of arson. The father and son pair expected to report to prison today while the protesters say they are staying put.

We get more this morning from CNN's Polo Sandoval.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, John and Christine.

Right now several of those men and women are hunkering down on federal property there, saying that they do not plan to move any time soon. They could have been standing up for the rights of ranch owners and land owners as well. But they hear from law enforcement, even some civilians, some say that they disagree. That they are simply seizing an opportunity to further what is a misguided cause.

Well, a group of individuals seized the unoccupied headquarters of a wildlife refuge Saturday. The group claims to be made up of, quote, "patriots and constitutionalists," taking a stand against the government's control and use of public land.

But Harney County sheriff David Ward disagrees. A portion of his statement, reading, quote, "These men had alternative motives to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States.

Among the armed protesters, the Senate, Nevada, rancher Clive Bundy. You'll recall he was at a center of a similar standoff with the federal government last year over grazing fees. Ammon Bundy is leading this new anti-government effort after the feds ordered the father-son ranching duo to federal prison. Dwight and Steve Hammond were convicted of setting fire to about 138 acres of federal land back in 2012.

But their attorney says, they don't condone this takeover, saying in a statement, quote, "Neither Ammon Bundy nor anyone within his group or organization speak for the Hammond family."

This monitoring the FBI is saying that they are closely monitoring the situation as this is a federal building. They are responsible for investigating what is a -- still an evolving situation there in Oregon this morning.

Guys, back to you.

ROMANS: All right. Polo, thank you for that.

BERMAN: All right. We have new serious flooding expected this week in parts of seven states as the surge of high water moves south along the Mississippi.

Let's get the very latest, bring in meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

(WEATHER REPORT)

[04:56:02] ROMANS: I got to tell you, I mean, the cherry blossoms are blooming right now.

BERMAN: I know.

ROMANS: I mean, it's nuts.

BERMAN: They were -- they're making snow like crazy in Vermont this week and it finally got cold enough to do that.

ROMANS: Right.

BERMAN: But it wasn't cold enough during Christmas. It was a real struggle for those ski areas up north.

All right. A real struggle for some coaches in the NFL. Those who already lost their jobs the minute after the season ended. The first to go, Cleveland Browns, head coach Mike Pettine, he's gone. San Francisco 49ers, they fired Jim Tomsula after just one season. Other coaches who could be in trouble, and there are many. Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants and Sean Payton for the New Orleans Saints. These guys are good coaches, they both won Super Bowls.

Some actual game time fireworks. That is Peyton Manning. Haven't seen him on the field for a long time. He came in late in the game for the Broncos. After Brock Osweiler threw about 12 interceptions. Peyton Manning led the Broncos to a victory. They are now the number one seed in the AFC because the Patriots lost most of their games at the end of the season.

The New York Jets going home. They had every opportunity to go to the playoffs. All they had to do was win. And they didn't. They lost badly to the Buffalo Bills. There's Ryan Fitzpatrick. Good education on that guy. Bad interceptions in the fourth quarter.

Pittsburgh, they won, so they are going to the playoffs. They will play in Cincinnati in a wild card playoff game on Saturday. The Chiefs and Texans will play in the other AFC match up.

In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Packers to win the NFC North. Their prize? They now get to play the hottest team in the NFL, the Seahawks, on wild card week. And Green Bay, they lost the game but they won the playoff match up contest. They will play Washington in the other NFC game. The 15-1 Carolina Panthers, they are the top seed.

ROMANS: All right. That's your sports. Here is your biz this morning to start the year, folks. Stock futures are lower this morning. After a big drop in China's stock market. Trading halted there for the remainder of the session. Fears about the country's manufacturing sector sparked all this. Global markets are down across the board. There will be plenty of data here at home for Wall Street to sort through this week highlighted by Friday's jobs report from the U.S. government.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is on paternity leave. But that is not slowing his ambitions. His goal in 2016 will be to develop an artificial intelligence system to help run his life. He will write the code himself. He wants it to control everything including the lights, music and temperature. In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg says I'll teach it to let friends in by looking at their faces when they ring the door bell. He made good on past New Year's resolutions including learning Mandarin and reading a new book every two weeks.

BERMAN: You think door bell management requires that much work? Do you have to, like, code artificial intelligence?

ROMANS: Hire a guy.

BERMAN: I mean, like, you know.

ROMANS: Just hire a guy.

And finally, winning Powerball won't make you as rich as Mark Zuckerberg, but millions are going to try to win anyway. The jackpot for Wednesday's Powerball drawing stands at $400 million making it one of the largest in history. That's $244 million cash value. Powerball -- look our crew just disappeared. They're going to buy their ticket. Powerball is available in 44 states. Officials say the chances of winning, 1 in 300 million.

BERMAN: So you're saying there's a chance?

ROMANS: There -- no, there is no chance. People hate it when I say this. If you don't have money in a 529 for your kids or grandkids you have no business playing the lottery.

BERMAN: Yes.

ROMANS: Seriously.

BERMAN: You will not win the lottery if you don't play. But good luck anyway.

EARLY START continues right now.

Just one month to go until actual votes cast in the presidential race. All the major candidates hitting the trail anew. And Donald Trump with his very first ad of the campaign season. It is out this morning. We should get our first look in just a few minutes.

ROMANS: President Obama set to unveil executive action on background checks for guns. Already his plans coming under attack from critics.

BERMAN: And a diplomatic standoff in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia kicking out Iranians. Will Iran respond? This with proxy wars raging all across --