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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Bracing for a Monster Blizzard; "National Review" Slams Trump; North Korea Holding American Student. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired January 22, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:12] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: the East Coast bracing for a monster snowstorm. Seventy-five million people in its path. A blizzard that could break records.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: "The National Review" against Donald Trump. Noted conservatives banding together with scathing critiques of the Republican frontrunner. This morning, Trump is striking back.
Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.
ROMANS: So nice to see you this Friday morning, Alison.
I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday. January 22nd, it is 4:00 a.m. in the East.
Up first this morning, the biggest winter storm of the season bearing down on the East Coast. Seventy-five million people in the path of the storm that's shaping up to be a storm for the record books, frankly. States of emergency declared in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Blizzard conditions expected in Washington where more than two feet of snow could fall. Major cities including New York and Philadelphia could also get slammed. More than 4,500 flights canceled in the U.S. today and tomorrow.
CNN's Rene Marsh with the mess at airports up and down the East Coast -- Rene.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: The potential for more than two feet of snow is threatening to shutdown operations at major airports in the Northeast. We have already seen airlines cancel thousands of flights. And we expect today throughout the weekend, we will continue to see those cancellations build.
What a lot of airlines did ahead of the storm is offer passengers the opportunity to change their flight plans free of charge. But at this point, if your reservation has not been changed yet, your chances of getting out before the storm, slim to none. There is no clarity at this point when things will be back up and running smoothly -- normal operations for these airlines.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Rene Marsh, thank you so much.
KOSIK: And we're going to get into the storm track a little more.
ROMANS: I'm watching the storm totals for New York City. I mean, it's --
KOSIK: They are going down a bit.
ROMANS: Yes, depending on where the model shifts and where this breaking line is, you could either get a lot of snow in the New York metro area or one or three inches.
KOSIK: It's so hard to predict where Mother Nature is getting to --
ROMANS: I know, I know. That's why we need Derek and he's coming soon.
KOSIK: Yes, he is.
All right. Turning to politics -- breaking overnight, Donald Trump fixating on a new target. He is now slamming the conservative magazine "The National Review." It comes ahead of the special issue of the magazine that's being released today which opposes Trump's presidential bid. And this is going to be featuring an editorial labeling Trump as a threat to conservatism and includes essays from 22 prominent conservatives opposing Trump's candidacy.
Trump speaking after a late night rally in Las Vegas, dismisses "The National Review" entirely.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: "The National Review" is a dying paper. Its circulation is way down. Not very many people reading anymore. I mean, people don't even think about "The National Review." So, I guess they want to get a little publicity. You know, that's a dying paper. It's pretty much of a dead paper.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: And tonight, the publisher of "The National Review" says the Republican National Committee has disinvited the magazine from its role as a partner in the February 25th GOP debate that's going to be happening here on CNN. Jack Fowler says the RNC cited this special edition of the magazine as the reason for being disinvited. Fowler says "The National Review" expected the move, calling it a, quote, "small price to pay for speaking the truth about the Donald."
Meantime, ten days to the Iowa caucuses and Trump firming up his lead in the CNN poll. Thirty-seven percent of likely caucus-goers say they are behind Trump. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are the only ones in double digits.
However, a big caveat here, if you factor in the people who actually attended the caucus in 2012, it's Ted Cruz that actually takes a narrow lead. But that lead is very much within the poll's margin of error.
CNN's Sara Murray with the latest from the campaign trail.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning.
Donald Trump took a break from the campaign trail in Iowa last night to rally crowds here in Las Vegas and launch a spate of new attacks against Ted Cruz. With just about a week to go until the Iowa caucuses, he said Cruz has missed his moment and his campaign is going down the toilet.
All this happening as more Republican leaders are distancing themselves from Ted Cruz. And Ted Cruz is trying to paint Donald Trump as the establishment candidate.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is a bunch of big money in this race. The Washington establishment right now, they are abandoning Marco Rubio and rushing to Donald Trump.
MURRAY: And Donald Trump seemed to be relishing in Ted Cruz's latest attack, even saying it's OK to be a little establishment.
TRUMP: There's a point at which let's get to be a little establishment. We got to get things done, folks, OK? There is total gridlock. Guys like Ted Cruz will never make a deal, because he's a strident guy, no, you cannot have that!
[04:05:01] MURRAY: Now, Donald Trump isn't taking a long break from Iowa. He will be back on the trail there this weekend with three events and not much longer until the Iowa caucuses.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Thanks for that, Sara.
Meantime, Jeb Bush looking for a boost from a familiar face, his mom. Barbara Bush filming an ad to air New Hampshire where Bush needs a strong showing to keep his campaign alive. Mrs. Bush tries to distinguish Jeb from other candidates including presumably Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA BUSH, JEB'S MOTHER: Jeb has real solutions rather than talking about how popular they are or how great they are. He's doing it because he sees a huge need and it's not being filled by anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: A CNN poll this week showed Bush tied for third place in New Hampshire.
KOSIK: Marco Rubio taking his campaign to "The Tonight Show." He went back and forth with Jimmy Fallon over footwear after Rubio's high heel boots became a joke on the campaign trail. Now he says he saves the boots for nights and weekends. As far as his campaign, Rubio said for him, it's the White House or bust and he's not willing to be number two on the ticket.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)]
JIMMY FALLON, THE TONIGHT SHOW: So if you don't win the nomination, would you consider being vice president?
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No. That's not what I'm thinking about. I want to be like commissioner of the NFL, which is more powerful than president sometimes.
FALLON: You want to be commissioner of the NFL?
RUBIO: Yes. I mean, they have one now, I'm just saying that when the next one comes up, because -- I'm serious, that's a great job. You have a lot of power in that job. You can like suspend people.
FALLON: Yes, of course. But the president is, obviously --
RUBIO: No, that's my first choice.
FALLON: Yes. Second is -- I love that. You're a dreamer, man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: On the Democratic side, a new poll paints a similarly divided picture in Iowa. Our latest CNN poll shows Bernie Sanders turning the tables on Hillary Clinton. He jumps to an eight-point lead after trailing by 18 points last month.
The numbers show he needs to get new voters to the caucus or the lead could evaporate. The numbers essentially flipped when we asked previous caucus-goers whom they support. In 2008, it gives the edge back to Clinton. Again, worth nothing, all these numbers fall within the margin of error.
Clinton making her case to younger voters in Iowa, hoping a celebrity endorsement can seal the deal. Singer Demi Lovato coming out to stump for the former secretary of state.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEMI LOVATO, SINGER: I'm voting for her because I truly believe there is nobody more qualified to run this country -- our country, than our secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Clinton and Sanders are both ready to make a final push in Iowa. Neither is campaigning there today.
CNN's senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are both campaigning in New Hampshire on Friday, starting a contentious ten-day race to the caucuses. There is a bit of a fight over who's the more establishment candidate.
Of course, Bernie Sanders supporters believe he is an outsider. He's running as an agent of change. But Hillary Clinton on Thursday told CNN's Wolf Blitzer, not so fast. Why should she be the anti- establishment candidate?
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He has been in Congress. He has been elected to office a lot longer than I have. I was in the Senate for eight wonderful years representing New York. He's been in the Congress for 25. And so, I will let your viewers make their own judgment.
ZELENY: But Secretary Clinton says she is a candidate of change. She, of course, would be the first woman president and has many policy ideas.
We see the contour lines of the campaign shaping up as they both are rallying voters on Friday before coming back to Iowa before the final week long stretch before the Iowa caucuses begins.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: OK, Jeff, thanks for that. This is the age old question of the morning, who's going to get the most snow?
All right. Let's try to get the answer here from meteorologist Derek Van Dam.
Good morning.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Alison and Christine.
Well, one thing is for sure, Washington, D.C. falls within that large swath of heavy snowfall. But as we fine-tweak this forecast, it's really New York City and Boston that's still in question.
Take a look at the snow totals below me, 36 inches, a potential near Washington, D.C. All computer models again agreeing on that fact.
But one thing that's new that just happened overnight, is the fact that one American model, this is an outlier, mind you, is actually calling for over a foot of snow in New York City. Here at the CNN weather center, we do not believe that's what's going to happen. But regardless, there are still winter storm and blizzard watches in effect, New York, Philadelphia, all the way to Wilmington. It's Washington and Baltimore that is still under our winter storm, or rather blizzard warming. Winter storm warnings extending all the way to Nashville and even Little Rock, Arkansas, which has already received over 2.5 inches of fresh fallen snow.
Here's a look at the American model. The bull's-eye, again, still over the nation's capital, taking the snowfall out of New York.
[04:10:04] One thing for sure, though, the iciness is also going to be concern across the Carolinas, and into southern portions of Kentucky.
Here's the storm really starting to take shape. There has already been severe weather on Thursday, and the potential exists today once again for the Florida panhandle and southern portions of Georgia. By the way, there were over 50 reports of severe weather across Louisiana and Alabama.
The back side of the system bringing in colder air and also changing that precipitation over from rainfall into snow. So, one thing's for sure here, Alison and Christine, flight cancellations or delays certainly going to happen today and through the weekend -- road closures, coastal erosion and the potential of power outages as we pay very close attention to this major nor'easter developing.
Back to you.
ROMANS: Derek, when can we expect the snow to fall in the D.C. area?
VAN DAM: We expect that to actually take place late Friday evening, really ramping up in intensity by early Saturday morning. And the worst of it will be done by Saturday into Sunday morning.
ROMANS: All right. Good to know. Derek Van Dam, thank you so much for that.
KOSIK: Sunday will be (INAUDIBLE)
Breaking news this morning: an American student has been arrested in North Korea. That's according to state media. The student is said to be from a university in Virginia. Pyongyang says the student was planning to carry out a hostile act against the regime. The U.S. embassy in Seoul is aware of these reports. We're going to have more information as it becomes available.
ROMANS: All right. Time for an early start on your money.
U.S. stock futures are higher this morning. Europe posting gains. Stocks in Asia rallying with a huge gain in Tokyo. Look at that 5.8 percent pop in Tokyo. That is a big move for one day. A very big move.
The optimism is coming from this -- oil prices, they are pushing higher right now. Also comments from the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi that he will push more stimulus into the E.U. economy if needed.
The Dow closed solidly higher yesterday, gaining more than 100 points. And you look at the week so far, if the Dow can gain 105 points today, it would be a rare positive finish for this wild holiday shortened week. The catalyst, of course, oil prices, crude is rising now back above $30 a barrel.
But stocks have a lot of ground to make us so far in 2016. The Dow is still off 8.8 percent, really horrible performance. NASDAQ, look at that, down more than 10 percent. S&P 500 down 8.5 percent, heading into just the 14th trading day of the year.
KOSIK: It feels like it has been an entire year these past three weeks.
ROMANS: It does.
KOSIK: Two of the Americans freed from prison cells in Iran back in the U.S. The emotional homecomings, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:16:10] KOSIK: Two of the Americans freed in the prisoner swap with Iran now back on U.S. soil. Saeed Abedini reunited with family in Asheville, North Carolina. You are seeing lots of hugs and tears there. The pastor from Boise had spent more than three years in an Iranian prison.
Also back home, Amir Hekmati, who landed in Michigan. The U.S. marine was accused of spying five years ago. He says he is happy to be back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMIR HEKMATI, FREED IN PRISONER SWAP: Thank God for your support, everybody from the president and my family and every day Americans. I'm standing here healthy and tall and with my head held high.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Breaking in just the last few minutes, Jason Rezaian, "The Washington Post" reporter released by Iran, now headed back to the United States.
CNN's Phil Black is live in Landstuhl, Germany, where Rezaian had been staying since regaining his freedom.
Phil, he is on the way back to the U.S. Tell us what's going on. What's the latest?
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you touched on there, Alison, it is happy breaking news. All three of the Americans who were being treated here, being assessed physically and psychologically to determine whether or not they are up to getting the process of reintegrating back into U.S. society -- well, they all left.
The latest and the last was Jason Rezaian, "The Washington Post" journalist detained back in July 2014. He issued that statement just a short time ago, saying that he is overjoyed to be reconnecting with his family. They are all traveling together back to the States.
He talks about the plan from here, simply being relaxation, home cooked meals and movies and sports. He also went on to talk about his gratitude.
I want to read you a specific quote now from his statement. And in it he says this, "At some point, I will be ready to discuss my ordeal, but for now, I just want to express my profound appreciation for the tremendous support I have received. I am humbled by all I have learned about the efforts undertaken on my behalf."
And this follows the two other Americans returning home yesterday. I know you showed the video of Saeed Abedini, the pastor detained back in 2012, incredibly emotional welcome by his mother there on the tarmac as he comes off the aircraft and Amir Hekmati, back in Flint, Michigan, as well.
From here, it is an important step these three men have taken, but the doctors and specialists who work at the facility here specializing in the trauma, this isolation cases, these sorts of long- term ordeals, they say this is the first step in the long process to reintegrate and begin making up for loss time -- Alison.
KOSIK: You know, Phil, you talk about the trauma. Something we are yet to hear about. You see these men step off these planes and they look like they're in great condition. Obviously, they look overjoyed as can be understood. But they just look healthy.
BLACK: Yes, I think that's true. Everyone has observed that, everyone who has seen and heard from them. These are three happy, healthy men who appear to have endured their ordeals somewhat successfully. That is not to downplay just how difficult it was or how hard it will be to reintegrate. They have all endured really difficult hardship, only touched on it briefly.
I think we have seen a great degree of stoicism from them over the last week or so in the comments that they've made. They haven't wanted to go into the detail of the hardships, but hinted at it, talked about it slightly, talked about the great pressure that was often inhumane. We know from comments that Jason Rezaian made about the isolation he found to be the hardest part of the entire ordeal.
[04:20:00] So, there is no doubt these men have a difficult, long road ahead. But what has taken place so far is clearly very positive and they are all very overjoyed. There is no doubt to finally be going home -- Alison.
KOSIK: And definitely happy to see them with their loved ones and hugging like that outside the planes.
All right. Phil Black, thanks.
ROMANS: All right. CNN takes you inside Iran and what residents are saying about the Iran nuclear deal and their country's new relationship with the U.S. We've got that for you, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Welcome back.
Could decades of anger and frustration start to subside with the passage of the Iran nuclear deal? Every day Iranians sure hope so, looking for economic relief and place on the world stage.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran with more on how people there view the prospects of progress -- Fred.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning from Tehran, Christine and Alison., where there is a great deal of optimism after the nuclear agreement. People here tell us they're absolutely thrilled that the deal has come through and frankly, many of them say, they also are happy this prisoner swap took place between the U.S. and Iran. They believe that that's one more obstacle that is out of the way for Iran to get back on the world stage.
[04:25:02] Now, many of them believe that there is going to be a great deal of economic activity here very quickly. Iran, of course, wants to sell some 500,000 additional barrels of oil on the world market every day. And when you look at the flights that are coming in here to Tehran, they are absolutely packed with foreign investors looking to get in to what they believe will be an important emerging market.
People here believe that all this will happen very quickly, but so far, even though many of the sanctions nominally have been lifted, very little has actually happen. Still, pretty much impossible to pay electronically here in this country, so you still have to do everything by cash. And also, of course, a lot of these business deals that are going to happen, they simply take time to negotiate.
Now, at the same time, there are also the hard liners here in Iran. Many of them still remain very skeptical about the nuclear agreement. They're not sure it will hold.
And then, of course, you have some factions here who simply want to remain in a confrontive state with the United States -- Christine and Alison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: OK, Fred, thanks very much.
Terror group al Shabaab claiming responsibility for a Paris style attack on a beach side restaurant and hotel complex in the capital of Somalia. A suicide car bomber and gunman going on a rampage in Mogadishu. Government forces engaging gunmen in an intense hours long gun battle. Twenty people were killed, 17 were hurt. The government officials say all of the attackers are dead.
ROMANS: All right. Bracing for a monster blizzard here on the East Coast, 75 million people from the Deep South all the way up north in its path. Thousands of flights already canceled this morning.
We are tracking when and where it will hit and how much snow. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
