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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
President to Meet With Bernie Sanders; Trump Faced with Task of Uniting the GOP; Hamas Praises Terror Attack in Israel. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired June 09, 2016 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[04:31:20] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bernie Sanders goes to the White House. He's got a meeting with the president in the oval office. This just days after Hillary Clinton became the presumptive nominee. What will the president say to Bernie Sanders? Will he try to push him out of the race?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump has a meeting too. He is meeting with top Republican donors this morning, faced with the task of uniting a very fractured party. Can he do it?
BERMAN: Breaking overnight. Hamas is praising a deadly terror attack in Israel. We're going to take you to the scene and we have new information this morning.
Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. Nice to see you this Thursday morning. It's 31 minutes past the hour.
The Bernie summit is upon us. In just hours, Senator Bernie Sanders flies from Vermont to Washington for a closed-door meeting with President Obama at the White House. He is sill a candidate for president despite the fact that Hillary Clinton is now the presumed nominee, having amassed well more than the needed number of delegates, including super delegates to secure the nomination. She also has a majority of pledged delegates.
White House insiders have made clear the president is itching to endorse Hillary Clinton and soon. But today, it will be more about body language and soft persuasion, more of a listening with Bernie Sanders rather than a direct call to drop out of the race.
Michelle Kosinski has the inside details from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, John and Christine.
Right, the White House is being so careful about this. It also makes me say, come on now. I mean, even now, they're not saying that Hillary Clinton is the presumptive Democratic nominee, because for them, it's all about respecting the process still, respecting Bernie Sander's decision-making and his supporters who ultimately, of course, they would like to see vote for Hillary Clinton.
So, last night, the president taped an appearance with Jimmy Fallon. Here is how he kind of framed things.
JIMMY FALLON, COMEDIAN/TV HOST: Is Bernie going to endorse Hillary?
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I'm sure they're going to have a conversation.
FALLON: Is he ever going to drop out? Or is he going to just stay in? It's like --
OBAMA: I'm going to be talking to him tomorrow. He's going to be coming to the White House.
And the main role I'm going to be playing in this process is to remind the American people this is a serious job. You know, this is not reality TV. My hope is, is that over the next couple weeks, we are able to pull things together.
And what happens during primaries, you get a little ouchy. Everybody does.
KOSINSKI: So, this meeting today between Bernie Sanders and President Obama here at the White House, and keep in mind this is the third time they had discussion in the past week.
Publicly, the White House says the president wants to congratulate Sanders, to talk about building on the progress he's already made on the issues. How he might play an important role and continuing to engage in the debate.
But behind the scene, we know the president wants to hear Sanders out, that this is likely to be a long meeting, at least an hour. And that ultimately, that's how the White House will decide moving forward, that they're going to hash out a plan of how to move forward.
Even if Sanders, though, wants to say in the race a while longer, and the White House doesn't necessarily see him staying in up to the convention, but the White House might not wait for him to fully leave the race before President Obama endorses Hillary Clinton, because they respect the process, you know, they might do something softer, maybe announcing something on social media before you see one of those big events where the president is standing there with Hillary Clinton.
Again, the White House wants to keep this as inclusive and positive as possible -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Michelle, thanks so much.
Hillary Clinton is trying to handle Bernie Sanders and his supporters gently.
[04:35:03] She has made no move, no overt move to push him out of the race. Instead, she is focusing on the general election and Donald Trump.
Early next week, Secretary Clinton is set to campaign in battleground states Ohio and Pennsylvania. She spoke to CNN about Sanders, though, and why she believes his supporters will ultimately get behind her.
CNN's Jeff Zeleny has more.
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JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, for her part, Hillary Clinton is giving Sanders the space he needs for now. She told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday that she respects Sanders supporters and believes the party will be unified against Donald Trump by the convention in Philadelphia next month.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A lot of his supporters and our supporters share the same goals. We want to raise the minimum wage, we want to have universal health care coverage. We want to fight inequality and create more economic opportunity for hardworking people. We want to make college affordable so it doesn't bankrupt kids and their families.
We have a lot of the same goals. Now, we may have approached it somewhat different, but our goals are the same. I really believe a lot of Senator Sanders' supporters will join us in making sure Donald Trump doesn't get anywhere near the White House.
ZELENY: The question is less what Sanders will do, but when? All eyes will be on him today. He also has also a rally set tonight here in Washington which holds the absolute last primary next Tuesday.
It's unlikely the patience of any Democratic leader will last beyond that if that long. By then, we are likely to hear a full-throated endorsement of Clinton from her biggest superdelegate supporter of all, President Obama -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Jeff Zeleny, thanks, Jeff.
Donald Trump has his own big day ahead of him. It has dollar signs all over it. He meets this afternoon in New York with top fund- raisers from 50 states, folks who might be feeling jittery.
This meeting comes from a pretty delicate time for Donald Trump. Many party leaders are nervous or flat-out angry about Donald Trump's claim that a federal judge is biased against him because of the judge's Mexican heritage.
House Speaker Paul Ryan called Trump's comment the textbook definition of racism, though, Ryan is asking anew for party unity. In other words, unity with Donald Trump. Senior political reporter Manu Raju has new reporting for us this morning from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: Good morning, John and Christine.
Now, there are several GOP camps forming on Capitol Hill. There are Republican leaders who say, look, the voters have chosen Donald Trump and he would be a much better president than Hillary Clinton. And then, there are Republicans in that never Trump movement like Ben Sasse, a senator from Nebraska, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Reid Ribble of Wisconsin, a congressman who did not hold back about Donald Trump when I had a chance to talk to him yesterday.
REP. REID RIBBLE (R), WISCONSIN: His comments over the weekend are authenticating what I believe is the man's core character. And, you know, something walks like a duck and talks like a duck, it's likely to be a duck. And if you continue to say what I believe are racist statements, you are likely to be a racist.
RAJU: Then, there are Republicans who are running in tough re- election races. This is where you're going to find the most distance from Donald Trump. Yesterday, Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said he's going to wait and see how this campaign plays out before he determines whether he can actually support Donald Trump.
Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire both said they would support, but not endorse the nominee, (INAUDIBLE) distinction there, but really an implicit warning that Trump could lose their backing.
And yesterday, I got a chance to catch up with Trump's biggest rival on the campaign, Ted Cruz, who told me, quote, "Time will tell on whether he would back Trump this year." So, we'll see if Trump's new tone and whether his speech will win over Republicans, particularly ones who are skeptical of him. But right now, a lot of folks are nervous -- John and Christine.
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ROMANS: All right. Manu Raju, thank you for that.
House Speaker Paul Ryan unveils the Republican Party's national security blueprint to the nation today. It looks like in an attempt to soften Donald Trump's policies. While Trump has proposed building a wall along the Mexican border and sending the bill to Mexico, Ryan's plan stresses the need for more than fencing to keep undocumented immigrants and illegal weapons out of the country. And while Trump has dismissed NATO as obsolete, Ryan urges modernizing and solidifying NATO, while encouraging allies to spend more on defense. Ryan's document, by the way, does not mention Trump.
BERMAN: The State Department is now broadening its investigation of the deliberate editing of an archive press briefing video. Just a week ago, a spokesman called the matter closed. Now, the about-face comes after Secretary of State John Kerry publicly demanded an explanation for the edit. State Department officials admit deleting a series of questions during a 2013 press conference about secret negotiations with Iran and basically lied about the secret negotiations. The secretary of state calls the actions stupid, clumsy, and appropriate -- inappropriate.
ROMANS: OK. Early start on your money Thursday edition.
[04:40:01] America has a record high number of job openings. Let me say that again, a record high number of job openings right now in America. That means employers are ready to hire again, but it also signals a problem.
Businesses say they can't find the skilled workers to fill those spots. There are 5.78 million openings right now according to the most recent data from the Labor Department. That matches the high reached in July of last year.
Another way to look at it, this is, as you know, John, my favorite chart about jobs. There are now 1.3 unemployed workers for every job open in America. That figure was more than six, it's almost seven during the height of the recession.
The major industry is looking for workers, trade, transportation, manufacturing, all of those have tens of thousands of new positions available nationwide. Many economists say the U.S. is near full employment and that has something feeling the Federal Reserve has not acted fast enough in raising rates.
More than 2/3 of economists surveyed by CNN Money feel the Fed is behind the curve. The Federal Reserve waited too long, John, to start raising interest rates. And now, worries about maybe those stalling hiring because of the concerns of the election and other things in May. The Fed should have been raising rates a long time ago.
BERMAN: There is near full employment that would lead to wage inflation, which would lead to prices going up overall, which would mean they should raise the rates.
ROMANS: But you are not seeing wage inflation yet and that's the thing. If there are all these jobs open, why aren't wages going up?
One thing you hear from especially in trade and transportation from CEOs and hiring managers, those fields, background checks. Some people can't pass the credit part of that or the criminal part of that. You know, you have this mismatch between the jobs that are available and people not qualified or don't have the right skills.
BERMAN: All right. We have new details released on how a Stanford student convicted of rape sentenced to just six months in jail. His letter pleading for leniency from the judge. That's next.
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[04:46:01] BERMAN: New backlash this morning against the judge who sentenced a former Stanford student athlete to six months in jail for raping an intoxicated and unconscious woman on campus last year. The lead prosecutor says he does disagree with the sentence, he does not believe Judge Aaron Persky should be removed from the bench.
New details are emerging about this case, including a letter written by the defendant Brock Turner, asking for leniency.
Let's get more from CNN's Dan Simon.
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DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, despite being found guilty, it seems clear that the defendant in this case, Brock Turner, is not acknowledging that he assaulted that victim. He said his actions were the result of binge drinking and the party culture on college campuses.
He said this to the judge when asking for a lenient sentence, quote, "One decision has the potential to change your entire life. I know I can impact the attitude and culture surrounded by binge drinking and sexual promiscuity that protrudes through what people think is the core of being a college student."
In the meantime, it is a bit ironic that the judge in this case, Aaron Persky, just got a brand new six-year term. He was supposed to face re-election on Tuesday, but because nobody was challenging him, he automatically got that new term.
Of course, there is an effort under way to recall him. You need about 70,000 signatures for his name to appear on a recall ballot. There is also an effort under way on change.org. More than 660,000 people have signed a petition asking for the judge to be recalled.
Now there is pushback among some of Aaron Persky's supporters. We spoke to a public defender who says the judge is a good person and he does not deserve to be recalled.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Thank you so much for that, Dan.
Baltimore police officer Caesar Goodson is set to go on trial today for his alleged involvement in the death of Freddie Gray. He is the third of six Baltimore officers to be tried in connection with Gray's death, and the only charged with murder. He was the driver of the van in which Gray suffered a fatal spinal injury. Goodson opted for a trial before a judge, rather than a jury.
Last month, the same judge cleared Officer Edward Nero of all charges. The first trial ended in a hung jury.
BERMAN: Attorney Jose Baez who famously won a murder acquittal for Casey Anthony will be defending former star NFL star Aaron Hernandez in this upcoming double murder trial. The 26-year-old Hernandez is already serving a life sentence for a murder in 2013. He is charged with fatally shooting two men outside a Boston nightclub in 2012. That's a separate case again from what he's already serving time for.
Prosecutors alleged it was because one of them caused Hernandez to spill a drink. Baez says he hopes the public keeps an open mind and lets the facts unfold in court.
ROMANS: At noon today, there will be a Muslim prayer service for Muhammad Ali. The service for Ali's body will be prepared for burial is at the Louisville's Freedom Hall. The event is open to the public. Some 18,000 people are expected to attend.
And then on Friday afternoon, a memorial service for Ali is scheduled, with Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal and Bryant Gumbel eulogizing the legendary boxing champ.
All right. Record setting temperatures are possible this weekend along the East Coast. The latest now from meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
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PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: John and Christine, get ready for one of the bigger heat waves in about three to four years time for a lot of people and notice parts of the northeast want to stay cool for much of this weekend, I think late this weekend, Sunday afternoon, we see the heat begin to build across parts of the northeast.
But the vast majority of it is parked in place around the central plains portions of the upper Midwest. In fact, the afternoon highs are already closing in on 90 or so, getting close in Minneapolis, while Kansas City, Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, all of them already pushing into the upper 80s and low 90s. And notice, the trend for the central plains is pretty impressive. Denver gets up into the mid-90s, while Wichita in 94 to 96 degrees.
Kansas City also into the mid-90s and climatologically speaking, we are about 4 to 6 weeks away from when the peak of summer heat occurs. That will be late July and into early August, certainly not early June, but we'll take it this time around and notice the rapid warm up on Saturday when all of this culminates.
[04:50:05] But some of these cities like Cincinnati, Des Moines, out towards Indianapolis and Nashville, among their hottest temps they've seen for this time of year in about 100 years period, especially for Nashville getting up to 100 potentially come Saturday afternoon, guys.
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ROMANS: All right. Pedram, thank you.
BERMAN: All right. Basketball news. There is still basketball news because the Cleveland Cavaliers, they won and won big last night in game three of the NBA finals. Look at that -- LeBron James with the alley-hoop.
Christine Romans can do that and even better sometimes. Yes, they dominated the game. ROMANS: I can do that left-handed. Right hand is too easy.
BERMAN: LeBron James can do it with both hands. James at 32 points, they won by 30 points. Steph Curry had a lousy game. He was benched at one point for poor defense.
Now, LeBron James called the game both a must-win and a do or die. Kevin Love sat out the game because of the concussion protocol. It is now 2-1, Warriors.
Game four is Friday night in Cleveland. Will game four be the first game in the series where both teams show up?
ROMANS: All right. The story -- the business story that set Twitter on fire. OK, a shareholder of one of Silicon Valley's most respected companies sets off a firestorm, calling one of finance's rock stars a lady CFO, a lady CFO. I'm going tell you who, next.
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[04:55:33] BERMAN: New this morning, Hamas is praising the deadly terror attack in Tel Aviv that killed four people and wounded five others. And just hours ago, the Israelis announced 83,000 entry permits for Palestinians have been frozen. Two Palestinian gunmen disguised as Hasidic Jews are now in custody for the killings at the upscale Sarona Market.
And this morning, there are reports Israeli authorities wanted that marketplace shutdown back in April because of security flaws.
I want to bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann live from Tel Aviv, not far, Oren, from that scene.
What's the latest this morning?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Standing right in front of that scene, in fact, and it is the beauty of this market that is also the reason for the security concerns. It is because of its openness, because it's accessible from all sides, unlike the other areas right in this area.
For example, the ministry of defense obviously is heavily secured, as well as the mall right next to this area. Not so much for the Sarona Market. You can see how open it is behind me. This, in fact, is the scene of the terror attack. It started at the restaurant farther down. That's Max Brener. It moved in the direction towards this restaurant, Benedict. Two gunmen opening fire at point blank range inside the first restaurant and then moving in this direction, they continued this way before they split.
Police shot and arrested one, and arrested the second suspect without shooting. Police have issued a gag order and any details that would identify those two suspects. They do say, though, that they are two Palestinians from the West Bank.
We have learned the identity of the victims in this case. The four Israelis that were killed in this terror attack last night. Two are women in their 30s, one is a man in his 40s, one in his 50s. All are from the Tel Aviv area. Those funerals are set to start later this afternoon.
Now, the Tel Aviv mayor are calling for people to remember the attack and not to let terror disrupt their lives and live in peace. That perhaps is why you see so many people out here this morning, so many people making sure that they do continue with their lives. That has been a call from the Tel Aviv mayor.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promising to attack the attackers. Those 83,000 frozen permits part of the beginning of the Israeli response to this terror attack -- John.
BERMAN: Israelis back on the streets within hours of that attack. And gain, this morning, right behind you, Oren, people there eating and dining and going about their lives.
Oren Liebermann in Tel Aviv, thanks so much.
ROMANS: All right. Let's get an early start on your money this morning. Dow futures are lower and sink with losses overnight in Asia and a weak opening in Europe.
Oil prices well above, wow, $51 a barrel. That's the highest this year.
The big three stock markets gauges are at or near significant milestones. The S&P 500 just 11 points away from a record high, just 11 away from a record high. The Dow closed above 18,000. The NASDAQ closing in on 5,000. These are psychological levels, of course, but for perspective, the Dow's low in February was 15,503. NASDAQ dropped to nearly 4,200. So, you can see the rally.
The energy sector leading the gains, up 15 percent in the past three months. Commercial services, that's like advertising and marketing firms. Also up big, utilities and health services, the big gainers.
All right. A shareholder calls Google executive "Lady CFO", eyes rolled. Twitter erupts around a tech industry already struggling with a diversity problem. A "USA Today" tech reporter covering this shareholder meeting tweeted this, actual quote from Google shareholder, "My first question to the lady CFO. My second question is to Mr. Drummond." Mr. Drummond is the chief legal counsel.
That lady CFO is Ruth Porat, a finance rock star. She is Alphabet CFO since May of last year. Oh, she was CFO at Morgan Stanley, leading the company through the little tiny problem called the financial crisis, not a hard job, and scoring big business with top tech firms.
This lady CFO, you know, yes, she's got some degrees. Wharton, the London School of Economics, Stanford. It gets better. The comment came after a vote where shareholders rejected disclosing more information about gender pay gaps.
Google has been working hard, spending a lot of money to improve diversity and grow its female workforce. You know, Eric Schmidt, its executive chairman, they say they are trying to disrupt the diversity gap in Silicon Valley, putting all this money and biggest brains behind trying to figure out how to get more women into tech.
Calling them ladies is not the way to do it.
BERMAN: No, no, that is inaccurate prescription right there.
ROMANS: That is a very awkward moment, and that shareholder was kind of roundly criticized by other shareholders.
BERMAN: Understandably and justifiably so.
EARLY START continues right now.
