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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

American Sailors Have Been Freed; Obama Delivers His Final State of the Union Address; NFL's Rams Moving Back to Los Angeles. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 13, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Our breaking news this morning: Iran is demanding an apology from the U.S. after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard captured ten American sailors in Iranian territorial waters. Now, Iran is still holding those sailors. Nine men, one woman, on Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf .

The latest for this morning from Iranian media is that the sailors are likely to be released soon.

[05:00:03] For the latest, let's bring in international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson. He's monitoring the situation for us from London.

Any sign, Nic, that a handover is imminent?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: We are not getting any details of when it can happen. It's been a rollercoaster. The rhetoric has changed.

Late yesterday, it was that there was going to be a release. It was going to happen by daylight. We are already hours and hours late for that. Then, the rhetoric this morning, with the daylight came the rhetoric that has been acting unprofessionally. That these sailors have been provocative in their actions, that they were being interrogated to see if they were on an intelligence gathering mission.

Now, that message from there revolutionary guard, who controlled these sailors, they controlled that Farsi Island. They're the hard liners in Iraq. Now, the message is that perhaps they will be released soon. The process is going ahead.

And perhaps more importantly, the Revolutionary Guard saying now they believe these sailors ended up in Iranian waters, as they say, because of broken navigational equipment on their two boats. It remains really unclear the precise reason. But when you hear that kind of language, that does seem to sort of indicate that they're happy they weren't their intelligence gatherings, so they will be released soon.

But then after that, in the last hour or so, we heard from the army commander in Iran saying that this should be a lesson to the troublemakers in U.S. Congress and this will be the last time the United States makes mistakes in the Persian Gulf. So, you got conflicting rhetoric. So, I think until we get a positive

knowledge that these sailors have actually been released, it could still flip-flop either way at the moment, Christine.

ROMANS: We have heard from the secretary of state on this. We've heard from senior administration officials. The president did not mention this at all during his State of the Union. One comment about the Iran nuclear deal and moving forward on that.

The backdrop of all this is the Iran nuclear deal, the country is on the verge of having a potentially windfall when these sanctions are finally released, they can sell into the global market. I'm holding ten Americans clearly would not, wouldn't be terrible timing for that.

ROBERTSON: It couldn't potentially be hugely counterproductive. I mean, Senator Kerry has in his partner, Javad Zarif, one of the sort of moderates in Iran, somebody who's been willing to sort of change the relationship between the United States and Iran, agree this deal, Iran does want that money and the question has always been, how much are the hard liners controlling the moderates, like the foreign minster who Secretary Kerry talked, the hard liners who actually have these sailors.

How much do they really control things is what we are hearing from them this morning. Than trying to make it clear they're in control. They got the sailors. They'll decide when they're released.

We can judge it better in a few days, when we see how this plays out. When you have all these --

ROMANS: We are getting information right now. You are right. It has been such a roller coaster. So now they Iran, Revolutionary Guards say they have released the U.S. detained soldiers, according to State TV. We are getting the alert those sailors have been freed, Nic.

ROBERTSON: This is good news. Obviously, we're going to want to get some more confirmation from commanders in the Gulf, that they have custody of them. They haven't been harmed or mistreated.

But I think when we look at that, and this has happened in a period of 24 hours. We can quite clearly here say that Iran does not want to put this nuclear deal at risk. That they want these billions to come, and they don't want to jeopardize it be having what they've done in the Gulf by having a bunch of hard liners misinterpreted.

ROMANS: All right. Great. And again, that news that they have been released. We're going to wait for more details from the Pentagon and from U.S. sources to confirm that, of course, and to find out where, when and exactly happened there in that kerfuffle. Thank you so much for that, Nic, and we'll let you start working your sources. Thanks.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We await more news out of Iran, we are getting first word that ten U.S. sailors have been released.

We're going to turn over to the State of the Union Address. He urged Americans to turn away from the fear and tribalism that have dominated the campaign and the more welcoming optimistic vision for the country.

We want to bring out CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta for the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, in his final State of the Union Address, President Obama called on the nation to reject the politics of the vision the president urged Congress to pass new gun control laws, tackle climate change and close the detention facility at Guantanamo.

He also defended the Obama doctrine of seeking first before unilateral military action, pointing to the normalization of relations with Cuba and the Iran nuclear deal. But there was no mention of Iran, though, Tuesday, who detained ten American sailors.

The president also took aim at the race for the White House and some veiled jabs at Donald Trump. He asked Americans to respect the differences of their fellow citizens including Muslims. Here's what he had to say.

[05:05:01] BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As frustration grows, there will be voices urging us to fall back into our respective tribes. The scapegoat fellow citizens who don't look like us or pray like us or vote like we do, or share the same backgrounds.

We can't afford to go down that path. It won't deliver the economy we want. It will not produce the security we want. But most of all, it contradicts everything that makes us the envy of the world.

ACOSTA: And in one of the most emotional moments of the speech, the president called for a moon shot mission to cure cancer. It was a tribute to Vice President Biden whose son Beau died from cancer last year -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Thanks so much for that, Jim.

The reaction of the State of the Union has been pouring in overnight. Helping us break down the speech and the response, CNN politics reporter Eric Bradner. He's on the phone with us this morning. He is in Iowa, chilly cold, early Iowa.

Nice to hear. Thanks for check income with us.

ERIC BRADNER, CNN POLITICS REPORTER (via telephone): Absolutely.

ROMANS: Can we talk first here -- let's about Nikki Haley's response. I think that was just so interesting how she is there to give the Republican response. You know, often that response is full of contradictions for the president's vision, from the different party obviously. But she took a moment to hit actually twice almost, hit back Donald Trump, her own party's front runner. Listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. NIKKI HALEY (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard abide by our laws and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The far right wing of her party went bananas online overnight about that. It really caught a lot of, got a lot of attention, that she apparently calling out her own party's front runner.

BRADNER: Yes. Throwing a bucket of cold water on the sort of populous stuff that Donald Trump has sort of brought forward in the 2016 election cycle. It was a fascinating moment to hear her sort of echoing President Obama in criticizing Trump. And to make things a little awkward here on Thursday night when Trump comes as the Republican front runner to Haley's state, South Carolina, for another Republican presidential debate.

This is not the kind of a message you hear often in these Republican responses to Obama. But it does give you an indication that the establishment of the party, the leaders in the House and Senate invited Nikki Haley were looking for that kind of message.

BERMAN: Eric, you know, again, I just want to tell people we're getting word ten American sailors held by Iran have been released. That information just into CNN. That statement coming out of Iran. We are awaiting more details on that.

But as we wait more details on that, back to the politics, it was interesting to hear both President Obama and Nikki Haley making these references to Donald Trump, and to a lesser extent, Ted Cruz. I mean, President Obama used the phrase "carpet bombing".

I get the sense, though, the White House knows and has always known, every time that they go after Donald Trump, it may actually help Donald Trump.

BRADNER: Yes. You know, as with Donald Trump is someone whose entrance in the politics these last few years has largely been about lastly everything President Obama is for. Everything he represents.

So, it doesn't hurt Donald Trump. And, look, honestly, Democrats love the idea of getting against Donald Trump in a general election. I mean, Hillary Clinton was downright gleeful yesterday in Iowa when the topic came up. So, I don't think Democrats mind that, but it's definitely true.

I mean, President Obama certainly took some shots at Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, in his State of the Union, but by far, the biggest criticism was aimed at Trump. ROMANS: He also had a bit of criticism for himself, which I found

sort of surprising when he talks about what one of his big regrets about bipartisanship. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: It's one of the few regrets of my presidency, that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better. I have no doubt, the president with the gifts of Lincoln or Roosevelt might have better bridged the divide and I guarantee, I'll keep trying to be better so long as I hold this office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Acknowledging he does not have the gift of Lincoln or Roosevelt. You know, a rare moment of I guess humility, candor and regret there for him.

[05:10:05] BRADNER: Yes, a lot of introspection there. You don't really see that often. And Obama hasn't quite gone that far before. It's interesting to see a candidate of transformational change turn into this advocate for the sort of incrementalism as he's leaving office. Small steps made over the course of several presidencies are what he is talking about now.

You know, he is making a pitch to voters, people who elected him to continue his work. He's also saying that it can't just be about picking different candidates. It has to be about reforming a political system to reduce the influence money and change redistricting.

So, it's kind of a long slog as he's talking about it now. Not something that one person can change through force of personally. It's very introspective to hear him talk like that.

BERMAN: Eric Bradner for us by phone in Iowa. Eric, thanks so much for being with us.

BRADNER: Thank you.

ROMANS: All right. We've got breaking news this morning. American sailors detained by Iran, they now have been released. We are just getting word. Iran state media is saying these ten Americans have been released. We are getting confirmation. We've got new details for you right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: We have breaking news in the last few minutes. We have learned Iranian state television reporting in an on-screen graphic that the ten American sailors detained by the Iranians have been released. Those sailors, nine men, one woman, they were captured by Iran's revolutionary guard. They were taken to Farsi Island where after they strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

Joining us live with the latest from London, international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson.

So, Nic, a banner on Iranian state TV saying those ten have been released?

[05:15:03] ROBERTSON: Yes, and we've now seen the first photograph of them or what appears to be a first photograph of them. The state news agency Press TV put up on its web site a still picture of a group of what could be the American sailors in a room.

It's a room with a carpet, bare walls, no chairs. They were sitting on the floor around the walls.

It's not clear to us at the moment, without more details checking in this actually is a photograph of these sailors that the Iranians took prisoner. If it is, they appear to be in good condition. They appear all to be in uniform. They appear all to be together in a fairly relaxed environment.

But again, this has just been released, timed with this latest information from Iranian state media. And, of course, a key question now is the Iranians say they have been released. What condition are they in? How have they been released? Have they been handed over to the Navy at the moment? So, these are the questions.

It's been a rollercoaster to get here. It's been up and down. There have been allegations of spying that the Iranians have said these sailors were in Iranian territorial water, because their navigational systems have been broke down. There had been calls for a U.S. apology before they would have been released.

The expectation that they would be released several hours ago. But even by Iranian standards, this seems to have happened fairly quickly. I think we, obviously, the Pentagon will have the last word here on whether or not they've actually released safely back in American custody.

BERMAN: It's a good point. Nic, the news again, Iranian state TV is saying that the ten U.S. sailors held in Iran on Farsi Island, Iranian territory, have been released. We are trying to get confirmation from the Pentagon.

A number of questions, Nic, this morning, what about the two naval vessels? The patrol boats, these riverines, have they been released as well? Or do the Iranians maintain control of them? What conditions was this release made under? Did the U.S. have to agree to anything, any concessions? Any apologies which some if Iran were asking for?

Any of these details at this point coming in?

ROBERTSON: The best we can read at the moment and this goes to what the Iranians have said earlier, is that the sailors were in good condition, that they were in good health. Photograph they released reports these sailors. They do appear to be psychically unharmed as best we can see in this single photograph of the group of them in a room with the carpet and bare walls. The Iranians said earlier there's vessels were unharmed. So, it

appears there were no gunshots exchanged. As would the expectation would be that the boats would be released at the same time.

But again, none of this is clear at the moment. We really need to wait for it, if you will, objective details and information that comes from the sailors themselves, and obviously from the Navy.

ROMANS: We know there were nine men, one woman, two crafts, those riverines, two craft there, in the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. They were going from Kuwait I believe to Bahrain and there is an early reporting that maybe it was a navigational issue. Maybe a gas issue, Nic, a fuel issue.

For some reason, they were where they were not supposed to be.

ROBERTSON: Or a mechanical issue, it was another thing. You know, they have been out there drifting in the sea. One of the boats have become disable through a mechanical issue or fuel that runs out. It is a long journey, relatively long journey for relatively small size vessel between Kuwait and Bahrain.

If they have been drifting, perhaps, they could try to make it to this tiny piece of land. There are a few little islands in that area. They were baking tear way too Iranian control. There are multiple ways that we could read this, multiple errors, mechanical, other issues that could have happened here.

But I think what we can see is that the Iranians, you know, I give the example of it just a few years ago, 2007, 15 British sailors were captured by Iranians in a kind of a similar situation. They held them for 13 days. Here, the Iranians have released these sailors in just over a 24-hour period.

This in those terms is relatively speedily done. However, I think we have a huge amount to learn how precisely it happened and what the Iranians have done during this period.

BERMAN: Again, breaking news, Iranian state TV reporting that 10 U.S. sailors have been released.

But as Nic Robertson just reporting, many questions remain. We need confirmation from the Pentagon. We need to find out under what terms they have been released and what about the two naval vessels. Still, a very good news to wake to this morning. And as Nic also points out, this did happen relatively quickly.

Nic Robertson for us in London, thank so much.

ROMANS: All right. It took two decades, but the NFL will return a team to Los Angeles for the 2016 season.

[05:20:02] Team owners giving the Rams the green light to move from St. Louis back to L.A.

Andy Scholes has the details in this morning's bleacher report. There he is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The country's second biggest city is getting a football team, maybe two. The league owners approve the St. Louis Rams move to Los Angeles.

Andy Scholes has more in the bleacher report.

Hey, Andy.

ROMANS: Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys.

Yes, the Rams will be playing in L.A. next season. They might not alone. The NFL also giving the Chargers the option to join the Rams. Now, the owners voted 30-2 to approve the Rams' relocation to L.A., ending the city's 21-year NFL drought.

They will play in the coliseum until their brand-new stadium in Englewood is ready in 2019. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is spending $2 billion of his own money on the project.

Now, if the Chargers can work out a deal with Kroenke, they have a year to decide if they also want to move to L.A. Now, if they don't the Raiders will then have the option to join the Rams.

Yesterday in Houston, Roger Goodell spoke about the league's return to Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER GOODELL, NFL COMMISSIONER: We have been at this for over 20 years. We felt that we needed to have the kind of stadium and kind of project that has the vision, that has the facilities that would really bring a new kind of fan experience to the NFL an to Los Angeles.

STAN KROENKE, RAMS OWNER: It is bittersweet. We understand the motions involved with our fans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: It's very sad news to report this morning.

[05:25:00] Andrew Smith, who played for Butler during their Final Four round in 2010 and 2011 passed away Tuesday after a lengthy battle with cancer. Smith's former coach and current Celtics coach Brad Stevens, he skipped a game last week to visit Smith in Indiana. He reacted to the sad news before last night's game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRAD STEVENS, CELTICS HEAD COACH: When you coach somebody, I mean, you get a lot more out of coaching them then they do from you. So, that's that. I mean, I don't know if I can go on and on and it wouldn't do them justice.

So, he's special. He's tough. He set a great example.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Andrew Smith was 25 years old.

All right. The Cavs playing with the Mavs last night. Closing seconds, Cleveland down two. LeBron James throws down a monster, two- handed dunk over Devin Harris to tie the game. Send it into overtime. In the extra period, LeBron is too much for Dallas. Cavs win this by a final 110-107.

Now, Mavs owner Mark Cuban, he has some advice for the person who wins tonight's massive Powerball jackpot. He says first thing you do, you hire a tax attorney. Then, don't take the lump sum and you know what, tell family and friends no when they ask for money.

ROMANS: I think that's pretty good advice. Don't take the lump sum, a lot of people give that had advice, but if you're not good with money, you take the lump sum. You're just going to end the heartbreaking misery and you've got this big pile of money that people ask you for, you know?

SCHOLES: You know what else he said, Christine? He said, don't invest any of it. Put it in the bank.

ROMANS: Put it in the bank.

I'll tell you, people like Mark Cuban -- people -- I always say about the lottery. There are two kinds of people. The kind of people who think, how am I going to spend all that money? And the kind of people who think, how am I going to grow that money?

That's the kind of interesting way to look at it, right? He said hire a tax attorney, because you're going to grow that money.

BERMAN: Andy Scholes, I don't know what town you are.

SCHOLES: I know how to spend it.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: All right. Andy, take care, man.

ROMANS: All right. Breaking news this morning, our breaking news, the American sailors detained by Iran, they have been released. That's according to Iranian state media. We've got these new developments coming in by the minute. We're going to bring you the very latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)