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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Obama to Made Case for Gun Control in Town Hall; South Korea Increases Security After North Korea's Alleged H-Bomb Test; New Info on November Paris Attacks; Powerball Jackpot Climbs. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired January 08, 2016 - 05:30   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama making the case for gun control in a live CNN town hall last night. Did he convince opponents it's time for change.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: South Korea increased in security as it begins to broadcast propaganda across the border after North Korea's alleged hydrogen bomb test. Could this situation spiral out of control?

KOSIK: New clues this morning into November's terror attack and terrorist. What official say they just found concerning one of the fugitive terrorist.

Welcome back to "EARLY START" I'm Alison Kosik in for John Berman.

ROMANS: It's so nice to see you this morning.

KOSIK: Good morning.

ROMANS: This Friday morning. I'm Christine Romans. It is 31 minutes past the hour.

[05:30:03]KOSIK: And President Obama taking on Gun control, opponents face to face at a Town hall last night right here on CNN. The President answering questions from a gun executive, a sheriff, a rape survivor and a widow who all oppose his executive actions on gun violence that he announced this week.

The President pushed back against the claim. He wants to take guns away from law abiding Americans which he called an "imaginary fiction." The President is also taking questions from people who agree with his plan to expand background checks.

Among them, gun control advocate Mark Kelly, he's the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords who was gravely wounded in a 2011 shooting.

ROMANS: Now, the President's campaign for gun safety continues in this morning's "New York Times" with an op-ed that looks ahead to election season. The President writes "I will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support common-sense gun reform." All the Democrats running for the White House of course supports stricter gun laws. So the statement seems to aim at Democrats running in tight races for Congress who might want the President's help and support.

The latest, let's bring in CNN's Jim Acosta at the White House.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Alison, President Obama confronted critics of his executive actions on gun control at the CNN town hall last night. Gun right supporters told the President they worry those new executive actions in that expanding the nation's background check system to prevent law abiding citizens from buying fire arms.

President insisted his moves won't interfere with those rights. And the President went off on the nation's top gun law, be the NRA accusing the group of skipping the town hall so it can continue to mislead gun owners of boundaries record. He also blamed the NRA for skyrocketing gun sales across the country. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: ... our position is consistently mischaracterized. And, by the way, there's a reason why the NRA is not here.

They're just down the street. And, since this is the main reason they exist, you'd think they'd be prepared to have a debate with the ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: President insisted he supports the right to bear arms and the Second Amendment. The President also recounted his meeting with family members of the children killed in the Sandy Hook School shooting three years ago. Adding it was the only time he's seen the secret service cry on duty.

Christine and Alison.

KOSIK: All right. Jim Acosta, thanks for that.

And the NRA last night responded to President Obama on Twitter explaining why they won't sit down with him to talk gun control. They tweeted the President "Doesn't want an intellectually honest policy discussion. He wanted NRA to be an audience member at his PR stunt. No thanks."

The group also said the President's background check plan is a distraction from the fact that he can't "Keep us safe."

ROMANS: One question last night came from Taya Kyle, the widow of American sniper Chris Kyle who were shot dead by the (inaudible) in Texas. She said she wants to free them to carry whatever weapon she chooses and tie to regulations just won't stop criminals from getting guns. The President responded, his proposal was a keen to adding seat belts and air bags to cars gradually increasing safety without burdening gun owners.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: You will be able to purchase a firearm. Some criminals will get their hands on firearms even if there's a background check. Somebody may lie on a form. Somebody will intend to commit a crime, but they don't have a record that shows up on the background check system.

There is a way for us to set up a system where you, a responsible gun owner who -- I'm assuming, given your husband and your family, is a much better marksman than I am -- can have a firearm to protect yourself, but where it is much harder for somebody to fill up a car with guns and sell them to 13-year-old kids on the streets.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: President thanked Taya Kyle and her husband for their service. Taya will be live on "NEW DAY" later this morning.

KOSIK: The town hall on guns came just hours after a new CNN poll appeared showing most Americans support the President's plan.

[05:34:57] Two thirds including a majority of Republicans say they favor his executive orders increasing the reach of background checks and improving enforcement of existing laws. But many people are skeptical the proposal will have any effect. Less than half think it will reduce gun related deaths. Many also oppose the way the president is making the changes. More than half disapprove of using executive actions to tighten gun regulations.

ROMANS: While the president was making the case for tightening gun restrictions, Donald Trump was promising to get rid of some at a rally in Burlington, Vermont. Trump vowed to get rid of gun free zones in schools and on military bases. He called gun free zones bait for sickos with weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need our guns. We need the guns. I mean, whether we like it or not, we need our guns.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Now, Burlington is Bernie Sanders territory. Not only is Vermont the state he represents in the Senate. He was once mayor of Burlington itself, which made it challenging turf for a Trump event.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Alison, Donald Trump is used to loud and raucous rallies, but the one in Burlington last night certainly topped most of them.

Throughout the evening, he was interrupted by protesters again and again. Many of them were wearing Bernie Sanders shirts.

Take a listen to some of the action.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not Vermont! Trump ruins Vermont.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get Trump out!

ZELENY: And it was clear as the evening went along, Donald Trump was getting agitated by how long it was taking security to remove some of the protesters.

TRUMP: OK, security, move a little faster please. Thank you, security. Yeah. Get them out of here.

ZELENY: But after most of the protesters left, Donald Trump talked about guns. He said he is against any gun free zones in America. He also delivered sharp criticism of his Republican rivals, as well as the Democratic candidates.

From here, Donald Trump goes to South Carolina on Friday for another rally and kicks up his campaigning in Iowa over the weekend.

Christine and Alison.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KOSIK: OK, Jeff, thanks for that.

And breaking overnight, tensions on the Korea Peninsula ratcheting up. South Korea this morning tightening its "defensive posture" near the border with the north and increasing its cyber security defense following the North's claim it tested and H-bomb, also overnight.

South Korea renewing its propaganda broadcast, blasting messages across the DMZ on loudspeaker that something the North is regarding as an act of war.

Let's go to CNN's Will Ripley in Pyongyang. You just got back from a tour of a North Korean science center, what did you see there?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it's interesting because the focus of the science center, the center piece of it was a missile was used to launched a satellite in the space but could also potentially they used to launched a miniaturized nuclear warhead which North Korea claims it is in possession of.

It's interesting to see the leaders of both North and South Korea demonstrating power to their respective populations in different ways. You have the Supreme Leader here in the North, Kim Jong Un, ordering this nuclear test, claiming it's a Hydrogen bomb. And on the streets here, people have universally been praising that move.

And then in South Korea, the President appears to be trying to display strength to her population by turning on his propaganda loud speaker a little more than seven hours ago blasting South Korean propaganda across the demilitarized zone and then into the North which I the past has been considered an act of war by the regime here in Pyongyang and has led to very significant military tension.

So you have this clash that's happening on the peninsula and there's a lot of bunch certainly right now how North will react to this provocation from the South. But keep in mind how this all started, it was the nuclear test earlier this week. North Korea's fourth nuclear test in the last 15 years with no heads up, not even to its closes from China leaving many world leaders really unsure about how far this regime will go in trying to display its power to the rest of the world.

Alison.

KOSIK: Each side trying to show who is mightier. CNN's Will Ripley, live from Pyongyang. Thank you so much.

ROMANS: We're reporting pass the hour. Let's get an early start on your money. Dow Futures solidly higher right now. The Dow coming off its worse four day start to any year. Markets in Europe are up. Asia finish mixed. Some of the optimism coming out after China ditched that circuit breaker rules. Those rules have halted trading twice this week after big declines and actually sort of fed into the fear and uncertainty.

Now, if investors don't all you have to worry about is monthly jobs report from the U.S. Government later this morning and actually it looks pretty solid. CNNMoney Survey of Economists forecast 212 jobs created in December. Jobless rate expected to stay at 5 percent. And look at wage growth. Estimated to tick up to 2.6 percent year over year. If those predictions hold, it'll be a great year for hiring.

[05:39:58]So far, the U.S. economy has added 2.3 million new jobs in the year 2015.

KOSIK: And investors on Wall Street will be watching this report.

ROMANS: Absolutely.

KOSIK: Closely to see improvement but at the same time they don't want to see too much improvement because they don't want to see the Fed ...

ROMANS: Absolutely right.

KOSIK: ... continue raising rates in this environment right now.

ROMANS: Absolutely.

KOSIK: Breaking news, the announcement that fingerprints of the eight Paris attackers now a fugitive have been found. We'll tell you where this important clue was discovered, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: OK. We have breaking news this morning. New information, brand new information about the November Paris attacks. Prosecutors in Belgium revealing the fingerprints of Paris attack fugitive, Salah Abdeslam were found in a Brussels apartment. Of course, this coming on top of yesterday's terror attack on the Paris Police Station. You can see the suspect there shot and killed by police.

I want to bring in CNN terrorism analyst, editor and chief of the CTC sentinel, Paul Cruickshank live in Paris for us.

So let's start first with these fingerprints in Brussels apartment. This is France's most wanted fugitive. His fingerprints in Brussels, what can authorities do with this information to try to track him down?

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, unfortunately not very much because the trail went cold for Sala Abdeslam on the day of to the attacks on the 14th of November which is a Saturday. His last known where about were in Schaerbeek, this district in the central part of Brussels where they eventually later located -- this bomb factory.

By the way, we were first on CNN, globally to close and to break the story yesterday about the bomb factory that was located. That was the place where the Paris attackers put together the explosive vest.

[05:44:59] They actually found a sewing machine there that they used to put together those vest. We're also now hearing that they found several vest there. What Belgian investigators have been telling me is they believe that these explosive vests were built in Brussels but then transported all the way to Paris where they put the finishing touches on these devices in a hotel in Aloha ville (ph) which is on the Southern District of Paris.

There were syringes that were found there. And I'm told those syringes were likely used to secrete detonating explosive into the already fabricated suicide vest to finish the device so they could be used in the attack.

So all this coming, when we're also being told that there are two senior members of this conspiracy. More senior than Sala Abdesalam, more senior than Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the ring leader here in Paris. Still at large. Last known location, Brussels they were in touch with the Paris plotters giving orders during the periods of the attacks on the fourth of December. Belgian authorities were least grainy black and white pictures of them also some CCTV footage. But at that point they didn't know who they were.

Now they're pretty sure who they are. There's a lot of urgency in finding these two men.

KOSIK: So if they know their identities, Paul, then what kind of strategy are they using to find these two other most wanted men?

CRUICKSHANK: They are using many, many strategies. They oversee it. In Belgium, they have 10 people in custody. They are asking all of them a lot of questions trying to get information from those people. They have a lot of phones, a lot of devices that that going through a lot of digits of information they're trying to get information from. They have CCTV footage. They have the records of when these two men sends a western transfer to the female cousin of Abdelhamid Abaaoud so that he could get lodgings in Paris after the Paris attacks. They have records of trips of these two males to Hungary. They think one of them is very likely a Belgian national. They're not sure if the other is a Belgian national. And frankly, they have a lot of question still on the trajectory of these two guys, where they could be.

They only put out that most wanted notice on December 4 that was several weeks after the attacks. So they would have had plenty of time to get a long, long, way away from Belgium, guys.

ROMANS: So interesting. Now, Paul, what we're talking about two -- you're describing to me is a funded plotted plan conspiracy with cross border travel and many individual, right. Hotel rooms rented. Bomb making factories in apartments in Brussels and then yesterday we see this attack on to Paris -- of attempted attack on a Paris Police Station. A guy with a fake bomb belt with a meat cleaver with a printed out picture of ISIS, shot dead by police on the anniversary of Charlie Hebdo.

We've got ISIS plotted attacks and then ISIS inspired attacks. And in many ways, that inspiration attack is also very, very challenging for authorities.

CRUICKSHANK: Very, very challenging because how you going to tell him, you know, guy wakes up in the morning decides, you know, that's the day he wanted to go to paradise so to speak. How are you going to tell that as a security service? Very, very difficult event and especially if it's just one guy. He hasn't told other people. In France, they flagged 10.5 thousand people as radical extremist people with sympathies towards ISIS and al-Qaeda. That's a staggering figure.

To monitor just a few people 24/7 you need over 100 agents. So just think about that and think about the challenges that Europe, France is now facing. But very, very different results between ISIS inspired terrorism, lone wold terrorism and ISIS direct to terrorism where a 130 people were killed. And that the scale of the Paris attacks is becoming increasing apparent multiple safe houses rented in Belgium. Not just this bomb factory and an apartment in Schaerbeek and Brussels but also a whole villa in the South of Belgium in or Berlare where some of the plotters were congregating as a staging point before the attacks.

They also now, have very firm evidence that Abdelhamid Abaaoud on his way back to Europe, came back and spent time in Belgium in the time before the Paris attacks. There attacks were planned, prepared, coordinated and directed from Belgium.

[05:49:58]KOSIK: Amazing to see investigators piece together the background of how these horrific terror attacks were carried out in Paris. Paul Cruickshank, thank you so much for brining us those breaking details.

ROMANS: Sourcing is just excellent. KOSIK: Really good.

ROMANS: It's really been able to piece this together as authorities have.

KOSIK: All right, lots of fear and uncertainty in the stock market this week but investors, don't panic and we're going to tell you why when we get an early start on your money next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Welcome back. Two Iraqi refugees living in the U.S. are in federal custody this morning, facing terrorism related charges. The arrests, one in Houston and the other in Sacramento, do not appear to be directly related.

Authorities say the Texas man is charged with trying to provide material support to ISIS. Both are accused of lying to immigration officials about alleged ties to terror groups. Federal officials say there were also arrests in Milwaukee related to one of those suspects.

ROMANS: An Oregon sheriff plans to meet again today with protesters trying to peacefully resolve this armed occupation of a building on a national wildlife refuge. Harney County Sheriff David Ward met with the leader Thursday, offering safe passage out of the county but Ammon Bundy refused.

The group took over the building last week in a protest they say against federal land use rules. They have shown no sign of leaving. They're basically camped out there.

Oregon's governor says they "need to decamp immediately and be held accountable".

KOSIK: The Texas state trooper charged with perjury at the investigation of Sandra Bland's death is now in custody. Brian Encinia turned himself in Thursday afternoon. Bland was found hanged in her jail cell three days after being arrested by Encinia who claimed she was combative during a traffic stop. Prosecutors say the Texas DPS is now moving to fire Encinia.

ROMANS: Tonya Couch, mother of the so-called "affluenza" teen, she is now jail in Texas after being extradited from Los Angeles.

[05:55:04]Couch is scheduled for an arraignment this morning on charges of hindering the apprehension of a felon. That felon of course would be her son, Ethan Couch. The two fled to Mexico after the teen violated his probation in a drug driving crash that killed four people. Ethan Couch is still in Mexico. He is fighting deportation.

KOSIK: OK. The party is already on in Hollywood, leading up to the 73rd Golden Globes on Sunday. Ricky Gervais hosts -- returns to host the star-studded ceremony for a fourth time after a controversial three- year run from 2010 to 2012. The Globes, often a barometer for the academy awards. Among the films competing for best motion picture "Spotlight" and "Carol" on the drama side. "The Martian" and "The Big Short" are favorites in the comedy musical category a couple of my favorites of mine.

ROMANS: All right. Let's get an EARLY START on your money this Friday morning. We got a stock that feature is pointing higher, thank goodness.

A little bit of relief here after the Dow has lost more than 900 points in the past four sessions. That makes it the worst start to the year for the Dow. Europeans markets, they are up. Asia, you can see finished mixed. A major factor that could move the market today, the government's monthly jobs report, that's an hour before the opening bell.

Despite the market turmoil, now is not the time to panic folks. About 50 percent of Americans have some kind of exposure to the stock market, if you are one of them. The pro say, relax.

Here are two reasons. First, the U.S. economy is in solid shape. A major downturn, you know, crisis happen when the economy is struggling. Second, staying in stocks pays off historically. Since World War II, investors who remained in the stock market for at least 15 years made money, most times, lots of money.

The start of the year, any major market move also though is a great time to check your investments. I'm not saying just ignore it. Make sure you're diversified, have the appropriate risk for your, right. That means the closer you are to retirement you should be 100 percent in stocks and make sure you know your investing goals are.

Another money move that we don't recommend. Stocking up on Powerball tickets instead of investing in your 401k. I bet none of you are listening to me thought. So the jackpot Saturday's drawing now $700 million. That works out to $428.4 million cash after taxes. Those numbers will likely rise as people rush to buy tickets. They are financial planning I guess.

It's the biggest lottery jackpot in American history, surpassing a Mega Millions drawing back in 2012. So, let's remind you of your chances of winning. Oh no, it's such a downer, right? 1 in 292 million.

KOSIK: All right. President Obama standing by his executive action on guns during CNN's town hall last night blasting critics to insists he wants to take away law abiding American gun. "NEW DAY" picks that up right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I respect the Second Amendment. I respect the right to bear arms.

TAYA KYLE, CHRIS KYLE'S WIFE: I want the hope that I have the right to protect myself. That I have the freedom to carry whatever weapon I feel I need.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have been unspeakable victimized once already.

OBAMA: I just want to repeat that there's nothing that we'd propose that would make it harder for you to purchase your fire arm.

TRUMP: You know what a gun free zone is to a sicko? That's bait. I will get rid of gun free zones.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When you're running for president, everything is fair game and everything gets a little bet.

TED CRUZ, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not going to be taking legal advise anytime soon from Donald Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New terror fears in Paris this morning after a knife wielding man found with an ISIS flag is killed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The man approached the station brandishing a meat cleaver yelling Allahu Akbar, God is great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is "New Day" with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and ...