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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Donald Trump Vs. GOP Debate; Teacher Arrested in California Jail Escape; Peyton Manning Jokes About Retirement. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired January 29, 2016 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I guarantee you one thing: she will never get within ten miles of the White House.
[05:00:02] The days for the Clintons in public housing are over.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think Bernie Sanders is a good candidate for president -- of Sweden.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: CNN's Sara Murray was at the debate. She has even more highlights now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, Boris and Christine.
Donald Trump's decision to skip the last Republican debate before Iowa left the moderators with a little more room to drill in to some of his Republican rivals, in particulars questioning Marco Rubio about his shifting position on immigration.
MEGYN KELLY, FOX NEWS MODERATOR: When you ran for Senate in 2010, you made clear that you opposed legalization and citizenship for illegal immigrants. You promised repeatedly that you would oppose it as a U.S. senator as well. Within two years of getting elected, you were co-sponsoring legislation to create a path to citizenship, in your words, amnesty. Haven't you already proven that you cannot be trusted on this issue?
RUBIO: No, because if you look at the quote and it's very specific, and it says blanket amnesty. I do not support blanket amnesty. I do not support amnesty.
KELLY: You said more than that, sir.
RUBIO: No, I said I do not support blanket legalization.
KELLY: You said earned path to citizenship is basically code for amnesty.
RUBIO: It was.
KELLY: You supported earned path to citizenship.
RUBIO: It absolutely has been. And at the time and the context to that was in 2009 and 2010.
MURRAY: Now, some candidates and their staffers say that Donald Trump's decision to skip this debate yielded a more substantive and at times even more respectful debate. But Rand Paul tells me it was also disdainful of Iowa voters.
PAUL: I think the disdain and arrogance that Trump showed by not coming, may turn off Iowa voters. They say a third of the voters are undecided. So, I think it was good to be here, make the argument. We also think that a lot of the youth vote will come to us, because we think that they don't want the government collecting all their phone records.
MURRAY: Now, whether Donald Trump's absence actually hurts him here in Iowa is an open question. A number of his risky moves put a back fire on almost any other candidate in the race have only sent his numbers higher. So, we'll see if that holds true this time.
Back to you, Boris and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Sara, thank you. Late night for Sara, too.
Let's sort through the winners and losers in the debate. To help us with that, we'll turn to CNN politics reporter Jeremy Diamond. He's live in our D.C. bureau. We also got senior media correspondent Brian Stelter, host of "RELIABLE SOURCES", here in New York.
Good morning to both of you.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.
ROMANS: First to you, the latest round in the Trump versus FOX. Who won this one?
STELTER: I think Trump won because he didn't lose.
It sounds like a simple, but this was a draw last night. There was no shining moment at the debate. There were lots of intriguing moments, but nothing changed the dynamic. And so, for Trump not to be there, he did not help himself, but he didn't hurt himself either.
And because he is the frontrunner, that means he remains in charge. He remains kind of the power center of this race. And he remains the winner.
SANCHEZ: In the vacuum of Trump not being there. Cruz had a moment to shine. He suddenly felt he was targeted especially by the moderators. I want to play some sound for you of his fight with Wallace.
Let's show you the tape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The last four questions have been Rand, please attack Ted. Marco, please attack Ted. Chris, please attack Ted. Jeb, please attack Ted.
(BOOS)
CRUZ: Let me just say this.
CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS MODERATOR: It is a debate, sir.
CRUZ: No, a debate actually is a policy issue. I will say this, gosh, if you guys ask one more mean question, I may have to leave the stage.
(APPLAUSE)]
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The only laughter and applause for Ted Cruz.
But, Jeremy, let me ask you this -- did he do enough to stand out from Trump and try to get the advantage in Iowa?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Listen, he certainly was literally center stage. He took the place of the frontrunner, kind of the frontrunner substituting frontrunner. He was middle of the stage. He did take attacks from everybody else which kind of elevates your status in presidential politics. And he made his pitch to Iowa voters.
He was certainly prepared to take questions particularly on the immigration issue. He was prepared to answer questions about inconsistencies and pivoting to no other senators are endorsing me base I because I'm shaking things up, because I'm not establishment. And that's something that typically does well in Iowa. So, it remains to be seen and I guess we'll find out in just a few days whether Ted Cruz made a successful last pitch to voters.
SANCHEZ: You know, Jeremy, there was a lot of talk about amnesty. Moderators brought up pathway to citizenship and talking about the substance of border security and government surveillance. There were real issues there. No question.
But did Donald Trump's absence, was that the top story, not the fact that they were really getting into the nitty-gritty of policy?
DIAMOND: I think the fact is that there was no real big moment like Brian was just saying. None of the candidates had a big moment we will remember for the next few days, even. You know, there was nothing like that.
So I think by that fact Donald Trump's shadow still hung over it, because you were waiting and anticipating a moment that Donald Trump in the past has been able to deliver, whether in an entertainment sense or sense of taking another candidate down a peg.
[05:05:03] You know, you didn't have that last night. So I think, in that sense, Donald Trump was the winner because people were still thinking about him if they weren't already flipping to another channel to see his main event with veterans.
STELTER: There was a lot of that channel surfing going on. I'm curious to see the ratings later today, because this was a remote control debate. You wanted to see what is happening over with Trump.
I think Rubio hit it on the head. He said Trump is the greatest show on earth. He meant that as a putdown, as a slam against Trump. But people are tuning in for the greatest show on earth.
These candidates are running different campaigns, local Iowa campaigns. Trump is playing a national campaign right now. He is playing a media campaign. So far, that's worked for him. We will see in the few days, we got the countdown clock on screen. But so far, that's worked for him.
And I think his actual event was anti-climatic, the sheer existence of it was a bold, controversial move right out of his book from 30 years ago, "The Art of the Deal", he continues to know how to get press, get people to talk about him and change the roles of the game.
SANCHEZ: Speaking of the event he held, he had two other presidential candidates there. Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. There was a bit of an awkward moment we want to show you with Santorum.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not to be offensive, but I'll stand over here so I'm not photographed with the Trump sign. I'm supporting another candidate for president. That doesn't mean we can't work together when it comes to helping veterans. That's what Mike and I are doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: So, they ran from the undercard debate that they just completed, right?
SANCHEZ: And went over there.
Jeremy, what does this mean to have the previous winners in Iowa to have them with Trump there?
DIAMOND: I mean, there is an image last night that I can't shake from my head. You had Mike Huckabee on one side and Rick Santorum and Donald Trump. 2008, 2012 Iowa caucus winners and maybe 2016. You know, that certainly is what Donald Trump is hoping.
ROMANS: But neither of the men became president or the nominee.
DIAMOND: Yes, and listen, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum's campaigns have not taken off in Iowa. They are hugely respected and admired figures, particularly in conservative and evangelical circles in Iowa. That is what propelled them to a win. That's who Donald Trump is playing toward the votes with endorsement from Sarah Palin and endorsement from Jerry Falwell, Jr., the son of the late televangelist Jerry Falwell. So, you know, it couldn't have been more perfect in that sense as far as optics are concerned for Trump.
ROMANS: You know, Brian, let me ask you about Trump. He was -- yesterday for example, they said we have so many people who want to come to this -- to our veterans event that please be prepared. Not everyone is able to get in.
He is good at drumming up like the buzz and interest and feeling of behind the velvet rope, you get to be with Donald Trump, this celebrity figure. What do we know about FOX's attempts to get him to come to the debate stage?
STELTER: This is interesting. A lot of back and forth arguments here. FOX says they reached out to Trump a couple times yesterday, two to three phone calls. Trump is saying FOX is calling every 15 minutes, trying to woo him over the stage in a last minute sort of attempt, a desperate attempt to get him there.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Trump says FOX apologized to him. FOX says we acknowledged his concerns. I think we have all been in the situation where the spouse or something before, they think we apologized and we didn't, or maybe something happened between Trump and FOX. And the reality --
ROMANS: I don't know about your marriage.
(LAUGHTER)
STELTER: Or maybe my mom or something.
The reality here is that Trump was on the offense and FOX in the weird position of defense here. And this spat is going to continue. This fight is going to continue even though the debate is over.
ROMANS: FOX says look, you wanted $5 million to appear. And we don't do that.
STELTER: And we don't do that. And, by the way, we should say, one of the big questions is where is the money actually going? So, you raised $6 million. He says it is going to veterans. A lot of curiosity and a lot of questions about how that money is going to get to those groups, when and how and whether 100 percent will really go to them. It's going to require investigative reporting in the days, weeks and months ahead.
ROMANS: Oh, good. So, you got something to do.
STELTER: Yes, we're going to make sure the money gets to people, because there are questions about whether this was pandering to veterans or using them sort of as a prop. Nonetheless, the headlines this morning think are pretty pro-Trump just three days before the caucus.
ROMANS: So fascinating. All right. Thanks so much. We'll talk about a little bit later. There's so much to sort through. Thank you, guys.
SANCHEZ: We are following other news today. Three dangerous inmates breaking out of a California jail on the run this morning. But a woman who police say helped them escape has now been arrested. That story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:13:38] ROMANS: Welcome back. Thirteen minutes past the hour.
Still no sign of three inmates a week after they broke out of a jail in Orange County, California. Now, a woman who taught English as a second language at the jail is under arrest. Forty-four-year-old Nooshafarian Ravaghi was involved with one the fugitives, Hossein Nayeri.
We get more from CNN's Paul Vercammen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boris, Christine, the woman arrested, Ravaghi, began working here at the jail teaching English as a second language in July. In a group class setting, she met the suspected kidnapper and torturer Nayeri and they developed some sort of relationship. She helped them escape, according to officials, by providing him with mapping capability.
LT. JEFF HALLOCK, OCSD SPOKESPERSON: At this point, there is no confirmation she brought tools into the jail. She is denying having brought the tools. What we know is that she provided Google Maps, those types of things, to prepare for the escape.
VERCAMMEN: The sheriff's lieutenant also said that the attempted murder suspect Duong stole a white van in Los Angeles on Sunday. Apparently, Duong was taking that van for a test drive unaccompanied by a single owner when he simply did not return it. And officials believe that all three of the fugitives may be somehow living in that van -- Christine, Boris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[05:15:02] SANCHEZ: All right. Paul, thank you.
The standoff at an Oregon national wildlife refuge is not over yet. The FBI says the negotiators are talking to four people still holed up inside as they hope to bring the nearly month-long occupation to a safe and swift resolution. It comes as federal officials released video of the confrontation with protest leader Ammon Bundy that led to the shooting one of his followers, LaVoy Finicum. The FBI says the video is proof the shooting was justified.
ROMANS: Ethan Couch, the so-called affluenza teen, now back in the U.S. and the custody of Texas juvenile authorities. He's expected to appear in court later this morning. Couch returned Tuesday from Mexico where he fled after allegedly violating probation in a DUI crash that killed four people. A hearing on transferring his case from juvenile to adult court is set for next month. His mother, Tonya Couch, she is charged with hindering his apprehension. She is currently out on bail.
SANCHEZ: Michigan's governor facing a controversy in the lead contamination crisis. An activist group says documents show the governor's office started trucking coolers of purified water to state workers in Flint last January. Governor Rick Snyder didn't publicly acknowledge the problem with Flint's drinking water until October. Two Senate Democrats are proposing $600 million in the federal aid to replace contaminated pipes and treat Flint residents who've been harmed by the tainted water supply.
ROMANS: And that treatment will have to go on for years. Those kids are going to need special education, nutritional services, all kinds of interventions.
Meantime, an Ohio lawmaker is demanding answers from the state EPA from the water crisis in the town of Sebring. State Representative John Boccieri claims knew back in August about elevated lead levels found in the water and did nothing to protect the public. It wasn't until last week that Sebring residents were told about high levels being found at several testing locations.
SANCHEZ: Vice President Joe Biden defending the deportation policies to the house Democrats. He tried to step up the issue that sparked up anger among congressional Democrats. He said they are being carried out as humanely as possible, adding it's the kind of enforcement that results from a broken immigration system.
ROMANS: Seventeen minutes past the hour. Time to an early start on your money this morning.
A shocking move from the Bank of Japan has investors cheering this Friday morning. Global markets, global stock markets rallying as Japan adopts negative interest rates for the first time ever, negative interest rates. That move is meant to encourage borrowing and spending.
Back here in the U.S., the last trading day of January. Many are happy to close the books on the brutal month. Here's the damage report: the Dow and S&P on track to post their worst monthly drop since May 2010, both down more than 7 percent.
Look at the NASDAQ, the worst performance since 2008. Remember 2008, the economy was spiraling into a recession? Yes. So, down 10 percent, the NASDAQ, this one.
How are real people faring? Only one in ten investors made money in January. The average loss is 7.6 percent. That is according to our partners over at OpenFolio, CNN Money partners at OpenFolio.
SANCHEZ: Super Bowl 50 could be his last rodeo, but Peyton Manning is avoiding retirement talk at least until next week's media day we can't anymore. Andy Scholes with this morning's bleacher report, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:22:43] ROMANS: All right. Will Super Bowl 50 be Peyton Manning's last hurrah? The Bronco's quarterback is joking about retirement with reporters yesterday.
SANCHEZ: We have Andy Scholes with this morning's bleacher report.
Andy, good morning.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys.
SANCHEZ: The comment of the last rodeo coming at a moment with Bill Belichick after that game surrounded by cameras. Peyton really surprised that people heard him?
SCHOLES: You know, he joked about that yesterday. He said nothing at the 50 yard line is going o be secret. As you said, (INAUDIBLE) was right there when Peyton told Belichick that this might be his last rodeo.
So, of course, the media, when they met with the Broncos quarterback, they tried to get Peyton to confirm he is in fact retiring.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEYTON MANNING, BRONCOS QUARTERBACK: What happened to private conversations at the 50 yard line? I guess they don't exist anymore. No confirmation. We are on to Carolina -- North Carolina.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Peyton was in a joking mood. He also told the media he tried proposing a 9:00 curfew for the Broncos during the Super Bowl week, but it was not received very well by his teammates. Super Bowl 50 is nine days away.
All right. After coming in third place in the race to get to Los Angeles, the Raiders may now turn their attention to sin city. Las Vegas could be the new home of the Raiders. Owner Mark Davis is reportedly in Las Vegas today for a meeting with billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson.
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is looking to build a 65,000- seat dome stadium on land owned by UNLV across from the McCarron Airport. Now, the Raiders are currently looking for a new home and do not have a lease at a stadium for next season.
Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman has been suspended indefinitely for the vicious hit. Wideman cannot play until he meets with the league to discuss the incident. Wideman said after the game it was completely unintentional. The minimum suspension for deliberately attempting to injury an official is 20 games.
All right. Finally, Arizona State and Oregon State last night. Beavers at the free-throw line, well, the Sun Devils student section had a secret weapon to distract the shooter. That's Michael Phelps. Watch as he dances around, causes the player to miss his first free throw.
[05:25:01] And after the miss, they closed the curtain back up. And watch this, Michael Phelps stepped up his game, striping all the down to the Speedo. Of course, guys, the player would also miss the second free throw because who can make a free throw when Michael Phelps is dancing in his Speedo behind you?
ROMANS: I didn't notice the Speedo. I noticed the gold medals.
SANCHEZ: These distractions keep getting wilder and wilder. Andy Scholes --
SCHOLES: I don't know whether the student section, how they're going to be able to top that down. We'll have to see.
ROMANS: All right. Thanks for bringing that for us this morning.
SCHOLES: You're welcome.
ROMANS: Thanks, Andy.
SANCHEZ: Thank you.
SCHOLES: All right.
ROMANS: All right. Republicans running for president, facing off, full clothed, in the GOP. But their biggest competitor was at the stage across town. Was Donald able to trump his Republican rivals? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: The Donald versus the GOP debate. Republicans running for president face-off on the issues, while the frontrunner holds his own competing event. So, who made his best case to Iowa voters just days before the caucuses? We have live team coverage covering it all down.
