Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Trump Sees End If He Wins Indiana; Kerry in Geneva for Syria Talks; Clinton Beats Sanders in Indiana Polls; Prince's Family Heads to Court. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired May 02, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:13] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Is Indiana Ted Cruz's last stand? And Donald Trump declaring the race over if he wins tomorrow's crucial state primary. But it may not be voters who are keeping the Cruz campaign alive.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bernie Sanders laying out his path to victory. How he thinks he can beat Hillary Clinton and take the Democratic nomination.

KOSIK: Breaking news overnight. May Day marches turn violent in Seattle. Police clashing with protesters.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.

BERMAN: Nice to see you this morning. I'm John Berman. It is Monday, May 2nd. 4:00 a.m. in the East.

Donald Trump, he says the race for the Republican nomination is over if he wins Indiana's crucial primary election tomorrow. A brand new poll shows Trump with a double-digit lead in Indiana. A state many see as a must win for Ted Cruz. Both men have events scheduled across the state today.

CNN's Jessica Schneider is with the Trump campaign, she has more.

JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, an hour-long rally here in Fort Wayne where Donald Trump promised to bring jobs back to the state where he also used very harsh words against China saying it had raped the U.S. economy.

And Donald Trump also returning to his usual rhetoric about Lying Ted Cruz. Donald Trump slammed the alliance between John Kasich and Ted Cruz calling it just all part of this rigged political system.

Donald Trump also seized on Heidi Cruz's words that her husband is an immigrant. Of course, even though Donald Trump conceded that Heidi Cruz was likely just referring to the senator's Cuban roots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Heidi Cruz, nice woman, said my husband -- you heard about this, right. Said this one, my husband's an immigrant, right? Is an immigrant. And that's what I've been saying except a lot of people -- I think she was trying to say -- she was trying to put a little bit of a Latin turn on it. He was born in Canada, folks. He was born in Canada. One thing I tell you, number one, he's got -- he can't win. Got no path to win. And even if he had a path to win, which he doesn't, he has very few votes and he has very few delegates.

But I have been saying, he wasn't born in this country. And the first thing the Democrats would do, assuming he won, which he won't, so it doesn't -- I'm not even playing that card, is they will bring a lawsuit against him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: Now Trump did pull back a bit on his harsh tone saying that he does want the party to come together and saying that in the general election, he will be raising money for the Republican Party as well as congressional candidates and he urged this crowd please let's focus on Hillary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: You know the Republican Party has to come together, folks. And if it doesn't come together, it's going to be hard. But I'll tell you this. I'll tell you this. They said if it doesn't come together, does that mean you can't win? No, I think I can win. Why? Do you think it helps sad Jeb Bush? What's that, like two votes? Jeb and his wife. Jeb and his wife. Seriously. I don't think it matters. But it would be nice to have the Republican Party come together.

With that being said, I think I'll win anyway. I think I'll win New York State. I think I'll win Michigan. I think I'll win states that nobody ever won before as a Republican for many years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHNEIDER: Donald Trump has declared this race over. He says there is no road to victory for either Ted Cruz or John Kasich. And of course, Donald Trump touting that 15-point lead that he has in the polls going into Tuesday's primary -- John and Alison.

BERMAN: All right. Thanks to Jessica for that.

Donald Trump will be live on CNN this morning. He's going to be on "NEW DAY" during the 7:00 hour.

KOSIK: Should be an interesting interview.

All right. It may not matter in the end, but Ted Cruz notched new victories in the delegate selection process. From Arizona to Virginia, delegates were selected who must vote for Trump on a first ballot at the Republican convention, but who say they will vote for Cruz if there is a second ballot. Of course, if Trump reached 1,237 delegates, there will be no second ballot.

Cruz campaigning in Indiana is still hoping for an upset victory. He's throwing everything at Trump including the stab at the frontrunner's endorsement by Mike Tyson. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the choice for the people of Indiana. Do we stand with Carly Fiorina and Governor Mike Pence or do we stand instead with a convicted rapist Mike Tyson?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders also battling in Indiana. The latest poll there shows the Vermont senator trailing by a small margin. Clinton is already looking past this fight with Sanders to the general election campaigning late last night at an NAACP dinner in Detroit.

[04:05:07] Clinton slammed Trump over his role in what she calls the insidious birther movement and his hesitation to disavow former clan leader David Duke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We cannot let Barack Obama's legacy fall into Donald Trump's hands. We can't let all the hard work and progress we have achieved over the last seven and a half years be torn away. We have to move forward together. We have to bring our country together. We have to keep working toward that more perfect union.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: And Bernie Sanders is not giving up. He will be campaigning today in Indiana.

CNN's Jeff Zeleny is with him.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, Bernie Sanders making the case that he is still in this race. He is still fighting to win pledged delegates, still fighting to win super delegates, still fighting Hillary Clinton.

The question of course is the math. He knows it's very difficult. But he called this unusual Sunday news conference at the National Press Club in Washington to make the case that he is pressing forward, back on the campaign trail today in Indiana, tomorrow in Kentucky.

But I asked him about Donald Trump and whether any of Bernie Sanders' own words against Hillary Clinton will be used against him. Donald Trump of course is saying that he's going to put Bernie Sanders' words in his ads. And this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, I think that's nonsense. And I'm glad to see that, you know, he manages so get through to some media in making that point.

What is a campaign about? A campaign is supposed to be about not just political gossip. It's actually supposed to be differentiating the points of view the candidates have. Secretary Clinton and I have different points of view on a number of issues. And I have tried my hardest to run an issue-oriented campaign explaining to the American people the differences we have. I may be old fashioned, but that's kind of what I think democracy is supposed to be about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: And Bernie Sanders clearly says he is not troubled by the fact that Donald Trump may use some of his words in ads against Hillary Clinton. What we're watching for is the tone this week. Is Bernie Sanders going to adjust some of his rhetoric about those paid Wall Street speeches, about her honesty, her integrity. Is he going to be changing how he's campaigning both in Indiana and Kentucky, and as he goes forward into California in June.

Bernie Sanders is clearly staying in this race. The question is, how the Clinton campaign will now respond to him -- John and Alison.

KOSIK: All right, Jeff, thanks very much for that.

Time for an EARLY START on your money. Seeing some red arrows around the world. Let's take a look.

Asian markets closed mostly lower but we are seeing U.S. futures in the green. European markets, though, are lower as well.

We are seeing stocks hoping to turn around from Friday's losses when U.S. stocks suffered their worst week since February's freak-out, since the Dow fell 56 points on Friday adding to Thursday's triple- digit fall.

What happened? Investors took in a mixed bag of earnings before term companies like Apple, Microsoft, Google's parent company Alphabet and Chevron.

Happening today, Puerto Rico will default on $422 million of debt. In another alarm bell of how bad the situation is getting on the island. Today's payment is to the economic development arm of Puerto Rico. The big fear is that Puerto Rico will default on its July payment which would really rattle the bond markets. Congress in the midst of finalizing an aid package for Puerto Rico.

You know, one of the biggest tragedies is this we're seeing that brain drain happening.

BERMAN: Yes.

KOSIK: We're seeing people who grew up in Puerto Rico, were educated there, they're going elsewhere to get better jobs and better wages.

BERMAN: A lot of work to do to turn that situation around for sure.

KOSIK: Yes.

BERMAN: All right. President Obama, he got the last laugh at his final White House Correspondents' Dinner. You might have seen it live here on CNN Saturday night during our 68 hours of coverage. The president poked fun at celebrities, journalists and politicians. And he saved his best for a -- the candidates' most likely to succeed him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Is this dinner too tacky for the Donald? What could he possibly be doing instead? Is he at home eating a Trump steak? Tweeting out insults to Angela Merkel?

Hillary trying to appeal to young voters is a little bit like your relative who just signed up for Facebook. Dear America, did you get my poke? Is it appearing on your wall? I'm not sure I'm using this right. Love, Aunt Hillary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: He was really good.

OBAMA: He was very funny. As far as the former secretary of state, she apparently didn't mind the ribbing or trying to make the best of it. She tweeted last night, "Nice job last night, Aunt Hillary approves."

[04:10:03] KOSIK: OK. Good to know that she has a thick skin with that one. I was thinking, that's pretty hard.

BERMAN: He went right after Hillary quite from the start. The second joke the entire night was about Hillary Clinton so it's interesting to see.

KOSIK: It was a good one. It was a good laugh.

All right. May Day marches turn violent in Seattle. Officers injured. Protesters arrested. Dramatic new video next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Breaking overnight. What began as a peaceful demonstration for immigration and workers' right escalates to a violent May Day protest on the streets of Seattle. Fireworks were set off and windows smashed. Police made at least nine arrests, but not before using tear gas to control the crowd. Five officers were injured by hurled rocks and a spray paint even Molotov cocktails. This man that you're about to see here was among many in the crowd seeking medical attention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I need a doctor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: The mayor and the police chief visited the injured officers at the hospital last night and condemned the violence.

[04:15:07] BERMAN: The family of Prince heading to court this morning in Minnesota. A probate hearing will determine what becomes of the late singer's estate. An estate that reportedly includes a vault filled with unreleased songs. A source with firsthand knowledge tells CNN initial discussions between the entertainer's siblings have been contentious.

Let's get more now from CNN's Sara Sidner.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, we talked to Alfred Jackson, who is Prince's older half-brother. They share the same mother. He talked a lot about his relationship with Prince, but also talked about how he found out he died. He learned that from watching the news and was shocked and hurt. And then he talked about the fact that he was able to take a look inside Paisley Park after Prince's death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Jackson and I had a special supervised two- hour tour of Paisley Park. And it allowed Mr. Jackson to personally grieve and personally feel the warmth of Prince's spirit, the doves and everything.

SIDNER: What was it like taking a tour of Paisley Park after your brother died?

ALFRED JACKSON, PRINCE'S HALF BROTHER: We looked at the whole premises inside Paisley Park. We have seen the vault door, but we never entered.

SIDNER: What was the experience like?

JACKSON: He is just a genius the way he had then. He really is.

SIDNER: When you looked around, it looked like the work of a genius?

JACKSON: Yes.

SIDNER: What were you feeling at the time as you walk through?

JACKSON: I felt really great. I was hoping that he was still living. He's still be with me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: So we now know that rumored vault does indeed exists. But a source who is familiar with the discussions going on over the estate says that vault has not yet been opened. The family is expected to be in court later this morning to hash out some of the details of how to deal with Prince's estate -- John, Alison.

KOSIK: All right, Sara Sidner, thanks for that.

A tragic fire destroyed a 160-year-old New York City church. Almost 200 firefighters -- look how devastating it is. Almost 200 firefighters responded to the call last night at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava. It took three hours to beat back the flames. The historic building was gutted. Luckily nobody was hurt. Officials don't know how this fire started.

BERMAN: What a shame.

KOSIK: It really is.

BERMAN: What a beautiful church.

Public school teachers in Detroit are being told by their union leaders to call in sick today. This comes a day after the school district formed a union. It will be unable to pay its employees after June 30th. Detroit public school officials are calling on officials are calling on Michigan lawmakers to pass a $750 million education reform package or all summer programs will be suspended.

KOSIK: In a few hours, some 700 travelers will cruise into history. The Carnival Cruise ship Adonia becomes the first U.S. ship to dock in Cuba in decades. The visit to the once forbidden island happens about a year and a half after the U.S. announced that diplomatic relations would be restored between the two countries. The first person off the ship will be Arnie Perez, Carnival's chief legal officer. He is among a handful of travelers on the cruise ship who were born in Cuba.

Historic and beautiful. And I say lucky them.

BERMAN: Yes, it looks nice.

KOSIK: Really.

BERMAN: All right. More heavy rain and sort of flash flooding for the southeast today. Let's bring in meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Alison and John, good morning to you both.

(WEATHER REPORT)

JAVAHERI: Guys.

KOSIK: All right, Pedram, thanks for that.

Happening now, U.S. and world leaders trying to save a failing ceasefire in Syria. A humanitarian crisis worsening by the day. We are live next.

[04:19:45]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Happening now. World leaders gathering in Geneva hoping to resurrect a ceasefire that has all but collapsed in Syria. The U.N. warning the situation in Aleppo has turned catastrophic after a deadly air strike killed 50 people at a pediatric hospital. At least six of the dead doctors and nurses.

Secretary of State John Kerry blaming the bombing on the Syrian government, calling it a deliberate act. The Syrian government and the Russians denying any involvement.

Let's to go to Moscow live now and bring in CNN's senior international correspondent Frederik Pleitgen. You know, you look at the past week or 10 days. It's been a deadly week in Syria. 200 people at least killed and then you think about what happened a couple of months ago, the U.N. Security Council passing this resolution for a ceasefire. What does John Kerry think he can get done to actually put a ceasefire in place and let everybody abide by it.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, I mean, you're absolutely right.

[04:25:02] It's been an absolutely catastrophic week there in Syria precisely in Aleppo. And you know one of the reasons why Secretary of State Kerry is making such a big effort to try and revive the ceasefire there in Aleppo is because all the diplomats realized that if the ceasefire falls apart in Aleppo and the fighting breaks out in full force again, which many people believe it quite frankly has in the past week then they believe that the ceasefire as a whole could be dead.

Because if the Syrian government retakes Aleppo, they'll probably try and retake the entire country back from any moderate rebel groups. Now one of the things that Secretary of State Kerry said after landing in Geneva is that he realizes that the only way to try and bring the ceasefire back on track is to try and get the Russians on board.

Now it's interesting because the Russians at the beginning said they don't want to push the Syrian government back into abiding by the ceasefire there in Aleppo. However, they seemed to have changed that position somewhat. Over the weekend and the latest that we are hearing from Sunday is that they say they are part of negotiations to try and get the ceasefire back on track. It is a tall order. One of the positive things that happened on Sunday is that it appears to have been a little more quiet in Aleppo on Sunday than the previous days when those 250 civilians were killed there.

But it still is a long way off. Secretary of State Kerry in Geneva today had meetings with representatives from several countries, from Jordan to Saudi Arabia. The Russians not part of those meetings, but he has said that the U.S. is in constant contact with the Russians to try and make sure that all of this gets back on track because they know the stakes are high and many lives are at risk.

KOSIK: Fred, does the U.S. even have any leverage to get the Russians be on board with this idea to get the ceasefire back on track?

PLEITGEN: Well, I mean, certainly the U.S. does have a certain amount of leverage. One of the things that we have seen over the past couple of days is that the U.S. and Russia have on top of the regular cessation of hostilities also managed and brokered some local ceasefire, as they call a regime of calm, in other places in Syria. You have the regional around Latakia, which is the coast of Syria where 72-hour additional ceasefire was brokered. Then you have Damascus itself where they originally had said that a 24-hour ceasefire would be brokered. But now that has been extended by another 24 hours.

So clearly the Russians want to negotiate with the U.S. They want the U.S. to at least in some ways shape or form take the lead in all of this as well. But again, the Russians will be important if the U.S. is going to bring this back on track. But at the same time, of course, the Russians themselves are also in the situation where they don't want to be in Syria forever. They want to get this conflict over as with as well, and so certainly they believe the U.S. will be very important to making that happen and that they need to work together.

KOSIK: All right. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen, thanks so much.

BERMAN: All right. One day to go until the Indiana primary. Could be the last chance to derail the hopes for the frontrunners in both parties. Can Donald Trump, can Hillary Clinton be stopped? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)