Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Final Democratic Debate Before Iowa; Iran Releases Americans in Prisoner Swap; Three Americans Missing in Iraq; Wild Weekend on NFL Playoffs. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired January 18, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:07] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The big time clash on the debate stage. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, their final face-off before the first votes in Iowa. Who won?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now. Three Americans freed from Iran in a prisoner exchange. They are on their way home as sanctions are lifted giving Iran access to the world marketplace. Live team coverage breaking down the developments.

Good morning, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. It is Monday, January 18th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And two weeks from today, the first actual votes of the 2016 presidential contest will be cast in Iowa. Overnight, the final head- to-head face-off between the Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley. They went at each other in exchanges that really got testy at times.

Hillary Clinton is trying to blunt a late surge from Sanders in the polls in the early states. She went after Sanders on guns, on health care, and she really embraced President Obama as closely and more firmly as she ever has.

More now from senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, a lively democratic debate on Sunday night in Charleston, South Carolina. The final debate before Democratic voters make their choices in this primary race.

Just two weeks from today, the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary just one week after that. So Bernie Sanders was trying to show that he is in contention for this fight. There is no doubt that he is locked in a close race with Hillary Clinton in Iowa, in New Hampshire, but he was on the defensive throughout the debate on health care, on guns.

But here are a couple of exchanges that caught my attention throughout the debate. Senator Sanders likes to point out that he believes Hillary Clinton is too close to Wall Street.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't take money from big banks. I don't get personal speaking fees from Goldman Sachs. What I would do -- what I would do is understand that when you have three out of the four largest banks today bigger than they were when we bailed them out because they were too big to fail, when you have the six largest financial institutions having assets of 60 percent of the GDP of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: And by pointing out that Secretary Clinton receives speaking fees from Goldman Sachs, boy, that is music to the ears of Senator Sanders' supporters. He is trying to make the argument she is too close to Wall Street. But Secretary Clinton had an argument of her own to use against Bernie Sanders. It was all about President Obama. She was trying to embrace the president so tightly throughout the whole evening. She said that the reason that she is supporting her health care plan is to defend his legacy.

She had some strong words for Bernie Sanders about his own questionable support for President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And President Obama has led our country out of the great recession. Senator Sanders called him weak, disappointing. He even, in 2011, publicly sought someone to run in a primary against President Obama.

Now I personally believe that President Obama's work to push through the Dodd-Frank -- the Dodd-Frank bill and then to sign it was one of the most important regulatory schemes we've had since the 1930s.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: Now of course Secretary Clinton is trying to keep some questions and concerns and doubts alive in the minds of voters, particularly from South Carolina, particularly African-American voters, by saying that Bernie Sanders did not support the president. Well, that is one of the strongest things you can say. Now Bernie Sanders came back and said, look, of course I supported this president. Of course I support President Obama.

But those were just a couple of exchanges in the course of the two- hour debate. Of course, Martin O'Malley was also on stage there. He is struggling in the polls. So this is a tight contest between Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, both of whom will be campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire this week, two weeks before the voting begins -- John and Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Jeff.

Two weeks to go. Let's break down the debate. Who won, who lost and why.

CNN Politics reporter Eric Bradner live for us this morning from Charleston, South Carolina. That's where the debate was held.

You know, and you're going to hear, we're going to go through some of the sound showing their differences, trying to show the differences on health care, on guns, on, you know, support for the president. But there's one thing that really caught my attention here. You know, you remember way back when Bernie Sanders would not be drawn into a big debate about Hillary Clinton's e-mail. He said I'm sick and tired of hearing about her damn e-mail.

Then last night he was asked about the personal life and the personal misdeeds about of the former president Bill Clinton. And this is what Bernie Sanders said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANDERS: I cannot walk down the street -- Secretary Clinton knows this -- without being told how much I have to attack Secretary Clinton. Want to get me on the front pages of the paper? I can make a vicious attack. And I mean it seriously. You know that. We've been through this. Yes, his behavior was deplorable.

Have I ever once said a word about that issue?

[05:05:02] No, I have not. I'm going to debate Secretary Clinton and Governor O'Malley on the issues facing the American people, not Bill Clinton's personal behavior.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Interesting. And they did debate on the president's legacy and on guns and on health care. But on that point, he would not say more than the word deplorable.

ERIC BRADNER, CNN POLITICS DIGITAL REPORTER: Yes. Absolutely. Well, then there's a reason for that. And that's because Bill Clinton is so really popular among Democrats. Sanders can't help himself here by attacking Bill Clinton the way Donald Trump can with his supporters. Sanders did take one real shot at Clinton by hitting her for getting paid speeches to Goldman Sachs. That's something that's much more likely to resonate with his supporters because it's sort of accusing her of being too cozy with Wall Street.

But it's tough in a Democratic primary because he doesn't want to risk alienating people who might be attracted to his sort of fire and brimstone message here. But they do like Hillary Clinton personally. That's the thing here. Most Democrats like both of these candidates personally. They also like Bill Clinton and they also like Barack Obama, which is why you see Hillary Clinton definitely trying to tie herself so strongly to President Obama.

BERMAN: It was really interesting. You bring up a great point. They both have very high favorables. Even in Iowa, I think he's at 86 percent favorable rating, he's at 89 percent. So they don't go after each other personally, even though they try to make these end-runs on the issues. Hillary Clinton tried to do it last night on health care. Bernie Sanders, two hours before the debate, put out some of the details in his Medicare for all plan.

So Hillary Clinton, she talked about it last night. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I have to say I'm not sure whether we're talking about the plan you just introduced tonight or we're talking about the plan you introduced nine times in the Congress but the fact is we have the Affordable Care Act. That is one of the greatest accomplishments of President Obama, of the Democratic Party, and of our country.

Now there are things we can do to improve it, but to tear it up and start over again pushing our country back into that kind of a contentious debate, I think is the wrong direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: You know, Hillary Clinton is portraying herself in a very interesting way. I'm the candidate of not change in some ways she is suggesting. It's what she has right now. She has the administration. She has the president. She was part of it. She's trying to drape herself in it. But it does come with risks there.

BRADNER: Yes. And that's absolutely right. There's this dynamic developing in this race where Bernie Sanders is sort of the man of the moment of anger, of dissatisfaction. And, you know, we've known for a long time that Donald Trump sort of represents that on the right. But it exists on the left, too. And so Hillary Clinton is really running this sort of pragmatist. This candidate who can get things done within a political environment that a lot of Americans are eager to just scrap or break in any way they can.

And so, yes, Hillary Clinton is definitely cozying up to President Obama because he's still very popular with the Democratic base. She's hoping that really tying herself to Obama and portraying an attack on her as also an attack on Obama might do something to sort of energize her supporters to help them feel a sense of urgency knowing that Bernie Sanders is generating a lot of excitement and enthusiasm out on the campaign trail.

ROMANS: So let's look forward, though. He's generating a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in North -- in New Hampshire and in Iowa, but let's look forward here to South Carolina, which is where you are right now. A poll of South Carolina African-Americans, 82 percent, 82 percent Clinton. Sanders, 11 percent.

Is Hillary Clinton banking on moving through these first two -- these first two states and then really that's where the difference between Clinton and Sanders comes to the fore?

BRADNER: Absolutely. She would love to win Iowa, but if she doesn't, she is sort of eyeing South Carolina as a firewall. Bernie Sanders' support is concentrated among white liberal voters. The Democratic electorate overall is much more African-American, much stronger minority percentages and so South Carolina is the first state that you see that looks sort of -- looks more like the broader Democratic electorate.

So Hillary Clinton is talking more about gun control as an issue. She sees this appealing to African-American voters especially here in Charleston, where we were just sort of block away from the Emanuel AME Church where last year's racially motivated shooting took place and yes, Hillary Clinton is definitely trying to reach a broader chunk of the Democratic electorate than Bernie Sanders can win in Iowa and New Hampshire without a doubt.

ROMANS: All right. Eric Bradner, thank you for that. Nice to see you. Talk to you again very, very soon.

[05:10:03] Lots to digest this morning. He's been up all night. I don't know if he's been up all night or I don't know.

BERMAN: It's hard to tell.

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: It's hard to tell. You look great. Thanks.

Happening now, three Americans freed by Iran in a prisoner exchange. They are on their way home as international sanctions are lifted giving Iran new access to the world market. Live team coverage breaking it all down.

BERMAN: Missing in Iraq, believed to have been kidnapped. We are live with new information about their whereabouts next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking overnight. Three Americans released as part of the prisoner swap with Iran. They've landed at a U.S. air base in Germany putting them one step closer to home. They are "Washington Post" reporter Jason Rezaian, Marine veteran Amir Hekmati, and the Christian pastor Saeed Abedini.

Now less is known about two other men Iran has just released, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari. His captivity had not been previously reported. And then there's the student Matthew Trevithick whose release was not part of the original prisoner swap.

For the very latest, I want to bring in senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen who's live for us in Germany this morning.

Good morning, Fred. What's the latest?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Christine. Some very emotional times here at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, which is one of America's largest and best equipped medical centers outside of the U.S. This is where these three men have been taken and it's also the place where over the course of the next couple of hours, and also starting last night, they will be reunited with their friends and their loved ones.

Also we have to keep in mind, there were a lot of people in America, politicians, family members, friends who were also keeping their cases in the public light and a lot of these supporters are also coming here today to then be with these three men.

The other thing that's taking place here at the Landstuhl facility is that there's going to be medical evaluation of all three men. You remember that especially in the case of Jason Rezaian, there was a lot of concern about how he was doing when he was there in Evin prison.

[05:15:04] Also Amir Hekmati, he was in custody for four years. So unclear what state he would be in. That is going to be going on for a little bit. It's unclear when they're going to be able to travel back to the U.S. But I can tell you, them making it here was an absolute odyssey that took the entire weekend. They were supposed to fly out of Tehran late Saturday. But then there was some sort of mix-up at the airport.

The names of Jason Rezaian's wife and mother apparently were not on the flight manifest. It took a phone call from secretary of State Kerry to his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif where he said, listen, we have a deal about the release of these people. This has to work. And then Javad Zarif sent some of his aides to that airport and finally that plane, which was a Swiss plane was able to takeoff, fly to Geneva, in Switzerland, and then take these men here.

It was an operation that took a very, very look time but has now come to a very good end that these three Americans are now here in this American facility and getting the attention that they need -- Christine.

ROMANS: It's so interesting, too. You know, the Treasury Department late yesterday issued some new sanctions against corporations and companies that were doing business with Iran. These were sanctions having to do with missile technology. Interesting on the timing of that. The press release from the Treasury Department goes out after we know that these Americans are safely en route to where you are.

PLEITGEN: Yes. Absolutely. It was an absolutely interesting timing, but it also shows that there was this window of opportunity to get this prisoner swap going. We have to keep in mind that the U.S. also released seven Iranian Americans and Iranians on their side of the equation. It was that window of opportunity but both sides making very clear this doesn't mean that these nations now have normal relations.

There is still a lot of tension. The president yesterday in his address said he still has huge issues with the Iranians. For instance funding terrorism and also first and foremost with their ballistic missile program. And one of the things that the Iranians did was after the nuclear agreement, they came out and said this also doesn't mean we have better relations with the U.S. They started those ballistic missile test. Now you have those sanctions going on.

So the friction is still there. However, we are also seeing that now there are these channels. These diplomatic channels between the U.S. and Iran. And it's something that certainly the administration says has paved dividends both in getting the sailors released a couple of days ago and then in getting these three Americans released as well.

ROMANS: Yes. It's hard. I mean, you can't overstate how unbelievable that is to be able to pick up the phone and fix something with the Iranians quickly. That is something that has not happened in a very long time.

All right, Fred Pleitgen, thank you so much for that.

Secretary of State John Kerry, he'll be on CNN later this morning. He's going to talk to John about the nuclear deal and the freed prisoners. That's on "NEW DAY" at 8:00 a.m.

BERMAN: All right. Three Americans have gone missing in Iraq. There are unconfirmed reports that they were kidnapped by gunmen from their Baghdad neighborhood. It is believed they are contractors described by authorities as Iraqis who became American citizens. The State Department has confirmed it is working with government authorities in Baghdad to locate these individuals.

I want to bring in senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, who's watching these developments for us.

Nick, what do we know right now?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, John, as is often the case because of safety and the efforts to free individuals, there's minimum information available in the early stages of a kidnap. Those first 48 hours often the most sensitive chance people get to release those currently being held.

Now I have to say we don't precisely know if this is a kidnap but we're talking about the detention of what seems to be two Iraqi American nationals, people who have dual nationality and one person who is fully fledged American citizen.

Now they appear to have been taken from an apartment block in the southeastern area of Baghdad known as al-Dora. It isn't clear what they were doing there. It isn't clear necessarily who they work for. They are described as contractors. And they were taken away by several convoy -- a convoy of several vehicles from that apartment block at some point during Friday afternoon.

The news actually emerging only last night. Statements from State Department and the embassy confirming they are working with Iraqi authorities to try and liberate these three individuals.

Now obviously the timing, gives some to perhaps think there may be something going on here with linkage with the federal relations between the United States and Iran. This is an area of Baghdad pretty well controlled by Shia militia. They are close to Iran. It isn't clear who has these men, though many I think wondering quite why this occurred at this specific time. A lot of things to be filled in here but behind the scenes in some

degree of secrecy. And that's why we can't give you so much information. American officials working very hard to get these three individuals back safe on the streets again -- John.

BERMAN: Let's hope they have some success.

Nick Paton Walsh for us, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right, 20 minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money. This morning the stock market is closed today for the Martin Luther King Day. Investors frankly need a break. Over the first 10 trading days of 2016, the Dow has plunged 8.2 percent.

[05:20:03] Look at how many points that is. 1,436 points.

BERMAN: That's a lot.

ROMANS: The Nasdaq, the biggest loser, down more than 10 percent so far. The S&P 500 down about 8 percent.

The loss is hitting every sector of the economy. The worst performing stocks in the Dow 30 this year, a little company Dupont. Look at that. Just this year in 10 days, down 18 percent.

BERMAN: That's a lot.

ROMANS: Goldman Sachs, almost 14 percent.

BERMAN: That's a lot.

ROMANS: Same with chip maker Intel and Boeing, also dropping 13 percent.

BERMAN: That's a lot.

ROMANS: John's technical analysis of the market turmoil is profound to say the least.

There is one stock that has managed to get through the turmoil with a gain. Wal-Mart, it is up 1 percent on the year.

BERMAN: But I was right, at least.

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: You were right. Only before they fell 13 percent.

BERMAN: Yes.

ROMANS: Then it's something you can do about.

BERMAN: All right. The NFL final four is set. The Broncos and Panthers. They each managed to advance, albeit sort of barely to the conference championship games next Sunday.

Coy Wire with this morning's "Bleacher Report" next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. Super Bowl L just around the corner. And for the 50th consecutive year, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady going to the AFC championship game. The winner will go on to the Super Bowl.

ROMANS: So only one quarterback is going to Super Bowl.

BERMAN: Indeed.

ROMANS: Oh my. Coy Wire has more of this morning's "Bleacher Report." Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: Good morning guys. To quote John, that's a lot. What a weekend of wild football. Hope you guys did watch it. The Patriots, the Cardinals punched their tickets to the conference championship games on Saturday. And then the Panthers and Broncos did so yesterday. Peyton Manning back from his foot injury gets the start for the Broncos. But just like off-season, the Broncos' defense getting the job done.

Fourth quarter, Steelers up one. Vince Touissant coughs it up. Broncos recover and Manning wastes no time.

[05:25:06] Third and long finds (INAUDIBLE) for a huge gain setting up the go-ahead touchdown. CJ Anderson would punched it in.

You know, Manning didn't look so bad in his game at all. A lot of dropped passes from his receivers. He gets his 55th game winning drive of his career. Broncos win, 23-16.

That's going to set up that 51st rematch according to John Berman. Brady and Manning, actually round 17, next Sunday in the AFC title game. Brady who's dominated their matchups winning 11 of the 16. But they're 2-2 in the playoffs. This is going to be must see TV, guys.

All right. Probably the coolest story line from Denver Broncos. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, his mom was at the game, seeing her son play in person for the first time. Katina Smith went to prison when Demaryius was just 11 years old for narcotics trafficking but her sentence was recently commuted by President Obama. She was freed last November and given the game ball after the game with her son's big win there for the Broncos. A feel-good story for you.

All right. The Panthers, they came out fired up against the Seahawks to earn their spot in the NFC title game. The offense scored in less than three minutes. And then the Seahawks first possession, Luke Kuechly snags Russell Wilson's path, takes it to the house. The Panthers scored 31 points in the first half alone, totally overpowering the Seahawks from both sides of the pole but those Seahawks kept fighting. They came out in the second half, scored 24 straight. Put them within a score but that on-side kick was snagged by Thomas Davis Sr.

Panthers win 31-24. They're going to host the Arizona Cardinals in the late game next Sunday in the NFC championship game. I think the winner out of that one might be our Super Bowl champs, guys.

To college hoops. Oregon State and Utah. Crazy story. Oregon State's Jarmal Reid slips to the floor and it looks like he's complaining to the referee about a no foul being called. Check this out. He sticks out his right leg tripping the ref. Now he was ejected from the game. It looked intentional. PAC 12 is reviewing this. They're going to see if there's any further discipline coming for Jarmal Reid, guys. Crazy story. We'll keep you up to date on that.

But I got to note, John Berman, your Patriots, the last time they went to Denver back in November, they had first loss of the season. How are you feeling about this one?

BERMAN: Well, you know, they don't knock Edelman and Ron Gronkowski out of the game with cheap shots, I think the Patriots will do great. You know what I mean? Seriously.

WIRE: Seriously.

BERMAN: No, look, with Gronkowski and Edelman on the field in the playoffs, the Patriots I think are undefeated basically.

WIRE: They look so good, you know, running back has only touched the ball six times -- carried the ball six times for the Patriots last week. They're operating on all cylinders with those --

ROMANS: Coy, you can't see my "Daily News" but you know what he did? He drew little hearts on Tom Brady's face on my "Daily News."

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: See? Right there.

BERMAN: You know that's not true because if I actually drew it they would be big hearts. To be clear. All right, Coy.

ROMANS: OK. I drew the little hearts.

BERMAN: Thanks so much, Coy.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Coy.

WIRE: You're welcome.

BERMAN: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders not drawing hearts on each other's faces. Not at all. They faced off in their final debate before actual votes in Iowa. Who came out on top? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)