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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump Campaign Pushes Back Against Media; Baton Rouge Neighborhoods Submerged in Floodwater; Simone Biles Going for Fourth Gold Medal; Usain Bolt Makes History in Rio. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired August 15, 2016 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:30] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: At this moment, police trying to calm dangerous protests in Milwaukee. At least one person shot. Police cars smashed. The tense moments happening right now.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump getting down to policy today laying out his plan to defeat ISIS. The question is, can he stick to his script?
ROMANS: Usain Bolt making history, rocketing to gold. But the runner not stopping there. The exciting moments of the Olympics.
Good morning. And welcome to EARLY START, everyone. I'm Christine Romans.
KOSIK: Good morning. I'm Alison Kosik. It is Monday, August 15th, it's 4:00 a.m. in the East.
And breaking overnight. Shots fired during another night of protests in Milwaukee. Demonstrations intensifying to the police shooting Saturday of an armed African-American suspect.
Last night, authorities say protesters swarmed a police station, throwing rocks, bottles, and bricks at officers. Police say one person was hit by gunfire. Officers used armored vehicles to rescue the victim who was rushed to the hospital. Officials are saying that one officer was hurt by a rock thrown at a patrol car. That officer also being treated at a hospital.
The violent protests on Saturday in response to the death of 23-year- old Sylville Smith. Governor Scott Walker -- it all led Governor Scott Walker to declare a state of emergency. But Milwaukee police have been trying to restore order on their own, without help so far from the National Guard.
ROMANS: All right, happening today, Donald Trump giving a speech in Ohio. He will lay out his plan for defeating radical Islamic terrorism. Now a senior Trump campaign official previewing this speech, telling us Trump will portray the war against Islamic terror as a titanic ideological struggle on par with the Cold War. Emphasize that the U.S. will abandon nation building or spread -- or spreading democracy in the Middle East. Make it clear that any country helping the U.S. defeat Islamic terrorism will be deemed an ally which campaign officials believe will expand the anti-ISIS coalition. Trump will also propose banning immigration from countries where the
U.S. cannot adequately vet visa applications especially those, the campaign official says, with a lot of terrorist activity. The campaign official also says a Trump administration would test the views of visa applicants and bar any who are anti-Semitic, anti-gay, or otherwise against American values of pluralism and freedom.
It is unclear how the immigration bans Trump is set to announce today fit with his previously described total ban on all Muslims coming to the U.S.
KOSIK: The "Wall Street Journal" urging the Republican Party to give up on Donald Trump if he doesn't change his act by Labor Day. That's three weeks away. The paper's conservative editorial page accusing Trump of alienating the party and running an incompetent campaign.
The "Journal" says if Trump doesn't turn things around, the GOP will have no choice but to write-off the nominee and focus on saving down- ballot candidates.
Trump spent the last week railing the media with a barrage of tweets like this. "I am not only fighting crooked Hillary, I am fighting the dishonest and corrupt media, and her government protection process. People get it."
The "Wall Street Journal" responding that the problem is Trump himself, saying he needs to stop blaming everyone else and decide if he wants to behave like someone who wants to be president or turn the nomination over to Mike Pence, his running mate.
More now on Trump's battle with the media from CNN's Chris Frates in Washington.
CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Christine and Alison. The Trump campaign spent Sunday pushing back against reporting that campaign officials have failed to tame the gaffe-prone candidate and put him back on track and back on message. Conceding that Trump may be beyond help. Now campaign chairman Paul Manafort was pressed about the narrative and Trump's falling poll numbers in some battleground states on CNN's Jake Tapper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL MANAFORT, DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: We think that contrary to your report and contrary to the "New York Times'" nameless sources story, the campaign is moving -- it could get forward and is very strong. We raised over $132 million in the last two months. We are organized in all 50 states. All 50 states. We have been in the battle ground states every day this month, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida multiple times this month and we're starting to get traction on those states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRATES: Now Trump chimed in on Twitter criticizing the media's coverage of his campaign. [04:05:03] Today he'll be in the swing state of Ohio to deliver a
speech on his plan to defeat ISIS.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden campaigning today alongside Hillary Clinton in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. He'll make the case that Trump is the most unprepared nominee in the country's history when it comes to national security. But couldn't make it a knock-off message with yet another development over her e-mails. Sources tell CNN that lawmakers could learn as early as today what Clinton told the FBI about her private e-mail server when the bureau sends a note from that conversation to Capitol Hill.
But it's sure to reignite the political battle over whether Clinton should face criminal charges for her handling of classified information.
Christine, Alison, back to you guys.
KOSIK: All right. Chris Frates, thank you.
More controversy for Donald Trump's camp. According to the "New York Times" campaign manager Paul Manafort allegedly received $12.7 million in undisclosed payment from the former pro-Russian president of Ukraine. Manafort served as a consultant and reportedly received the secret payments between 2007 and 2012.
The Clinton camp is calling the report further proof of Trump's troubling connections with the Kremlin.
ROMANS: All right. Republican vice presidential nominee, Mike Pence, says he plans to release his tax returns as his running mate, Donald Trump, is fighting calls to do the same. This just a few days after Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine released many years of their tax information. Pence tells WABC Radio that his returns will be a, quote, "quick read." And that he'll make it public before the election. He is also in the process of completing the financial disclosures required by law.
But to be clear, releasing tax returns is not a legal requirement for presidential candidates, but every candidate since 1976 has released his returns. Trump says he will not follow that standard because he is under audit. Now that does not prevent him from releasing them, according to the IRS.
So what could we learn from Trump's taxes? What would be in there that could be interesting for anyone trying to vet this as a candidate? Business and investment income. How much he made from his investments. What deduction he takes, including charitable donations. How much money did Donald Trump give to charity and what is his effective tax rate? How much did he pay in taxes?
KOSIK: Did you watch any movies this weekend?
ROMANS: I did not.
KOSIK: All right. So I didn't either but I'm hearing that Seth Rogen's "Sausage Party" is --
ROMANS: An upset, right?
KOSIK: Is sizzling at the box office this weekend. The raunchy low budget animated comedy about talking grocery store items raked in almost $34 million. Good for a second place finish behind "Suicide Squad." That was three times Hollywood projections.
ROMANS: Wow.
KOSIK: And almost twice the cost of making the film.
ROMANS: Somebody is making money.
KOSIK: Yes. Rogen is playing in this one, a talking hotdog named Frank in the film which also stars Kristen Wiig as a hotdog bun. So it's one of those animated films not quite suitable for the kids.
ROMANS: Not quite suitable. All right. It is eight minutes past the hour this Monday morning. At least five dead in the Louisiana neighborhoods submerged. Will there be relief from all this flooding? We're going to let you know next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:12:17] KOSIK: The death toll and the damage estimates keep rising with the flood waters in Louisiana. Five people have been killed and 10,000 more are in shelters this morning. The governor calling in the National Guard with two feet of rain triggering 20,000 rescues this weekend alone. President Obama granting the state's request for emergency assistance.
We get more now from CNN's Boris Sanchez in storm-battered Baton Rouge.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Alison, we're standing in what used to be a street in a neighborhood, now it's become part of the Manchac Bayou. It's actually a body of water that's just behind these homes. And from what you can see, it's covered, this neighborhood, in about two, almost three feet of water.
What I can tell you actually, this area didn't get that much rain compared to other parts of Louisiana. In fact, what's happened is that most of the flood water that was on the eastern and northern part of the state has moved in this direction and has caused several bodies of water, swamps and rivers to overflow and submerge neighborhoods.
It's really, really emotional out here especially when you see people come out in canoes and going into the water with high boots just to go inside their homes to try to retrieve personal objects.
I actually spoke to one woman who lives in a home here. And she told me that at midnight, around midnight last night, there wasn't that much water. She didn't think her home was going to be flooded. And then around 3:00 a.m., she had to rush out the door because there was about a foot of water that started entering her home. She came back here today. She told me she'd gotten brand new furniture for her home. She said she didn't care about the furniture, she cared about these photograph, these personal photographs that she was afraid were going to be destroyed. Fortunately she was able to recover them.
But that speaks to the emotion and the pain that this flood has caused. The governor has come out and asked people to stay at home. He says the danger is not over. Once it stops and the water starts to recede, we'll get an idea of just how extensive the damage from this -- from this flood was -- Christine, Alison.
ROMANS: Yes, Boris, just have another very busy day there.
KOSIK: Just incredible pictures.
ROMANS: I know, the Coast Guard says 118 rescues just yesterday. 766 people helped, just, you know, in a few hours yesterday. So what's in store for Louisiana today?
Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the latest on that.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Alison and Christine, good morning, guys.
(WEATHER REPORT)
[04:15:36] JAVAHERI: Guys.
KOSIK: All right, Pedram, thank you.
A massive police presence at New York's JFK Airport last night after reports of shots fired inside Terminal Eight. Authorities do not believe shots were actually fired and they're investigating whether a hoax phone call forces them to evacuate two terminals. Hundreds of passengers were forced to leave behind luggage and flee the airport with officers from the NYPD strike team, Hercules Strike Team, responding to the scene. The all-clear was given shortly after midnight.
Certainly scary for so many people traveling through the airport.
ROMANS: Yes. And what a nightmare but glad it wasn't -- they don't think it really was shots fired.
KOSIK: Right.
ROMANS: All right. Simone Biles picking up her third gold. Going for another today. We have all the biggest Olympic moments for you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:20:52] ROMANS: I'm just glued to some of these games in the Olympics.
KOSIK: Yes. ROMANS: A history-making weekend this weekend in Rio. Simone Biles
on the balance beam today going for her number four gold medal after winning her third for the United States in the vault. And the sprinter Usain Bolt with a win for the ages, becoming the first man to capture gold in 100 meters in three Olympic Games.
KOSIK: Plus a close call for four U.S. swimmers including Ryan Lochte. They were robbed at gunpoint on Sunday and lived to tell about it.
Let's go live to Rio de Janeiro and bring in CNN's Christina MacFarlane. Tell us more about this.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Alison and Christine. Good morning. I'll get to Lochte in a minute, but I want to begin with the odyssey we saw. And you said Usain Bolt becoming the first athlete to win three 10-meter titles on Saturday, making it 1 of 3 for that triple-triple. It may have not been his fastest final lap with just 9.81 seconds. Nearly two-tenths slower than his win in London 202 but Bolt turned on the speed when it mattered.
As you can see they're parring thorough the final 60 meters to edge clear the field and of American rival Justin Gatlin who finished in silver medal position. And while the cheers rang out for Bolt, Justin Gatlin was greeted by jeers from the waiting crowd, clearly voicing their disapproval with his doping past. Now the Lightning Bolt will return to the track this Tuesday to compete in the 200 meters.
But while all of this was going on in the gymnastics arena, Simone Biles just keeps killing it. Having clinched the team and individual all-around gold in the gymnastics, the American superstar added another. Her score was 15.966. A winning margin of .7. So that's three down, two to go for Biles. She's got the beam on Monday and the floor exercise on Tuesday. She is on course for a remarkable five gold medal haul here in Rio.
Elsewhere, though, it was a close call for the men's U.S. basketball team. Grinding out another win. This time against France. Now they failed to put away the game after taking a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson finally busted out of the shooting slump knocking down seven three pointers and scoring 30 points to lead the score, spurring them on to 100-97 victory. They now go 5-0 to lead group and clinched that first place. Their win marking the 22nd consecutive Olympic victory.
Now as you mentioned earlier, Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte and three American swimmers are safe and said to be cooperating with police after being robbed at gunpoint on Saturday after leaving a hospitality house heading to the Olympic Village that night. Their vehicle was stopped by a group of men dressed like police officers who demanded they handed their money and their personal belongings.
Now speaking to NBC, Lochte said he even had a gun put to his forehead by one of the men. Now fortunately they all walked away unscathed but without their wallets. And after the event, the Australian Olympic Committee announced it was
banning its athletes from going to the beaches here in Rio in between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The Olympic Games heading into its second week here with a sense of unease and caution around the ongoing security concerns here.
ROMANS: All right. Glad they're OK. Christina MacFarlane, thank you for that.
KOSIK: Boko Haram proposing a prisoner swap in a new video that was released on Sunday. A group of school girls abducted in 2014 appear in the background. The terror group wants Nigeria to release jailed fighters in exchange for the young women. The video also shows images of several dead and injured girls that Boko Haram claims were killed in Nigerian military air strikes.
ROMANS: Every time I see those new videos I just feel like their families --
KOSIK: It just -- your stomach.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Scouring the pictures for signs of their children. It's tragic.
All right. In this country, we're keeping an eye on Milwaukee. Dangerous protests intensifying overnight. We've got all the latest for you next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:28:55] KOSIK: Some really tense moments this morning. Ongoing protests in Milwaukee getting violent. At least one victim shot. We've got the latest information.
ROMANS: Today, Donald Trump set to unveil his plan to combat radical Islam. Trying to refocus on policy after weeks of controversy plaguing his campaign. How will this strategy effect his plan to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.?
KOSIK: Usain Bolt picking up his first gold in Rio. The track superstar going for a triple win this year. So far he did not disappoint.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik. Good morning.
ROMANS: Nice to see you this morning, Alison.
KOSIK: Good to be here.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is a Monday morning. It is 30 minutes past the hour. Let's begin in Milwaukee.
Breaking overnight. Shots fired during another night of protests there. Demonstrations intensifying in response to the police shooting Saturday of an unarmed -- of an armed, rather, African-American suspect. Last night authorities say protesters swarmed a police station throwing rocks, bottles and bricks at officers. Police say one person was hit by gunfire. Officers used armored vehicles to rescue the victim who was rushed to the hospital. Officials say one officer who was hurt by a rock thrown at a patrol car is now also being treated at a hospital.
