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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Donald Trump admits regret over colorful campaign statements. U.S. Olympic Committee forced to apologize to city of Rio De Janeiro. Aired 4:00-5a ET

Aired August 19, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:00:42]

CHRISTINE ROMANS, "EARLY START" ANCHOR: Donald Trump kicking off his campaign reboot with a stunner of bombastic candidate admitting he does have regrets about some of the things he's done and said in this campaign. Why is he finally admitting he may from time to time cross the line?

GEORGE HOWELL, "EARLY START" ANCHOR: Regrets from the Donald. We'll hear about that. The U.S. Olympic committee forced to apologize to the city of Rio de Janeiro. It comes out, the video shows the altercation that four swimmers claimed was an armed robbery. Authority say that was not the case. We will have reaction from Rio.

Good morning and welcome to "Early Start. I'm George Howell.

ROMANS: It is Friday. Thanks for being with here for me.

HOWELL: Friday.

ROMANS: It is Friday. I'm Christine Romans. August 19th, 4:00 a.m. in the east. And this, Donald Trump like we have never seen him before. The Republican Nominee in North Carolina last night making his first appearance as the campaign reboot. His speech did unveil a new Trump but not the way many expected. Instead, after hiring new campaign executives, famous for being combative, Trump came as close as he ever has to an apology.

Also, making news to last minute schedule change. He's adding a stop in Louisiana to tour areas devastated by flooding. This as Republicans try to paint President Obama as out of touch for sticking to his golf in vacation in Martha's Vineyard and they say neglecting Louisiana.

More now from CNN's Jason Caroll with the Trump campaign.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, George, this was a different Donald Trump that we heard in Charlotte when he gave his rally speech. You know, after it was over, I spoke to a number of people who were here. One woman told me, Donald Trump in her words was not just running his mouth. He sounded more presidential. He had more substance. Another man telling me he seemed to speak from the heart. One point that seemed to strike a number of people in the room was when Donald Trump now it wasn't in apology but he did say that he had regrets about some of the things that he has said in the past.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Sometimes in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. I have done that. And believe it or not, I regret it. And I do regret it. Particularly where it may have caused personal pain. Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: At the top of his speech, Donald Trump also talked about the heartbreak and devastation affecting the people of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We are now hearing that Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence will be visiting the region later today. Trump saying of what's going on in Baton Rouge. We are one nation. When one state hurts, we all hurt. We must all work together. Christine, George.

HOWELL: Jason, thank you. Starting today the Trump campaigns first TV ads of the general election begin airing in four battle ground states in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio and the ads themselves have not yet been released but we do know that Trump will be seriously out spent over the air over the next two weeks. Trump campaign and its allied super pacs are send to -- set to spend $7.9 million in those four states. Clinton and her super pacs have reserved $12.8 million worth of TV time for the same period. The Clinton campaign has spent more than $75 million in 10 states so far since locking up the Democratic nomination back in June.

ROMANS: The Clinton campaign taking action this morning trying to put a stop to questions about improper links between the Clinton foundation and the state department under Hillary Clinton's leadership. Our Joe Johns has the latest on that from Washington.

JOE JOHNS, SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: George and Christine, the Clinton foundation announcement addressing concerns about the appearance of cronyism and conflicts and how to avoid them if Hillary Clinton is elected.

[04:05:06] So they say no foreign donations to the foundation if she wins no corporate donations and part of this spurred by concern about even those suggestion of pay to play arrangement between the state department and the foundation. The Clinton camp has been forced to issue denials about big money donors trying to get access.

And there is more, the upcoming meeting of the Clinton global initiative in New York next month is to be the last. CGI brought together leaders from all over the world to talk about solutions to sometimes in tractable problems. And it appears Bill Clinton himself is taking on some of the same burden too.

A spokesman says he will not do paid speeches if his wife is elected. He hasn't by the way given a paid speech since November of last year. And says he won't give any between now and Election Day.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton meeting was on top law enforcement officials on Thursday. Also a little photo op, a meeting that's been in the works for weeks but using the opportunity to pushback on Donald Trump attempts to frame himself as the law in order candidate in the race. George and Christine.

HOWELL: Joe, thank you.

Republican leaders are slamming the Clinton foundation for continuing to accept foreign and corporate donations while Hillary Clinton is running for president. RNC Chairman, Reince Priebus calls it a massive ongoing conflict of interest that is unprecedented and unacceptable. He goes on to say this effort to shield Hillary Clinton and the Clinton foundation after more than a year of controversy is too little, too late. If everything was above board while Hillary Clinton ran, the state department as the Clintons have said then why change a thing?

ROMANS: New this morning, Republican vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence submitting his financial disclosure form to the Federal Election Commission. It's just 10 pages. Has few simple entries and it's a sure contrast from the 92 pages, 100s of companies and $10s million on Donald Trump's disclosure.

Pence made $173,000 as governor of Indiana from the start of 2015 through this summer. He also has pension accounts with the state government there. And between $1,000 and $15,000 in his bank account. He also like many American parents has a lot of parent plus student loans. He took out several of those to the loans for his kids from between $95,000 and $280,000. Rules allow candidates to give a range on accounts. It's the only financial document presidential and vice presidential candidates legally must submit. Pence also said he's going to release his tax returns that also shows he's got a, a little bit of money in a couple of 529 college saving plans.

HOWELL: Interesting. And so the head of the U.S. Olympic committee is apologizing to the city of Rio for the actions of the four American swimmers, who police say lied to them about being robbed at gunpoint. The U.S. OC Chairman Scott Blackmun and says the swimmers face potential consequences. He's tell Rio officials, "The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the best majority of its members. We apologize to our hosts in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence."

Two of the U.S. swimmers, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger have now left Rio for home after speaking with Brazilian officials there. They were pulled off their flight 24 hours before. And there is new video of that incident with police accusing the Americans of vandalizing a gas station. The two sides offering very different accounts about what happened next, we get more now from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh.

NICK PATON WALSH, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, George here is the scene of the crime or maybe the not crime, unclear at this stage. You recognize from the CCTV video, this alleyway down which you see the men walk. This is where they're alleged to have torn the poster off the wall and there were they're alleged to have urinated after a long night of celebrating.

Now, the question is what happened after that? They seem to emerge from here on the CCTV that we see. Out into the four court of the gas station after a night of celebrating, partying should we say? They got the wrong taxi first of all then they move on to the right taxi over here, on this side of the gas station. Then a man it's seen bending down into the car, he's dressed in black.

Now, this is where the story diverges quite enormously. Brazilian police say that this began a conversation in which all sides worked out how to recompense the gas station for the damages done here. And when a police arrive, everything was calm.

So as close to the four swimmers, they said, they spoken to all man say no. This actually marks a point where there's a drop in the CCTV footage of three minutes during which the man leaning in. According to the swimmers, made out lucky was a police officer showing them a badge, pointed a firearm at them and said give me money making this particular gesture.

[04:10:09] Now we still don't know how to reconcile these two accounts. We do know that Brazilians suspicions were necessarily aroused by this member returning home with substantial amounts of high value items on them.

Now we showed a CCTV from their village pass. But his all close people has accept that yes, they did pee behind this building. Maybe that they did damaged, suppose to the out right flat say the CCTV corroborates Ryan Lochte's original story. There was an armed robbery here by people they thought were police. These two, very different accounts, very hard to reconcile now. Christine, George.

HOWELL: Our CNN International Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh covering the story. Now the swimmers are searching that there are three minutes of missing footage is base on the initial release of the video which is an accurate assertion. But subsequent video released later by civil police and screened by CNN shows there is no gap in that footage. We will have more on the Olympic Games itself including another gold medal for Usain Bolt, imagine that just a little later in this half hour.

ROMANS: All right, 11 minutes pass the hour. Many are calling it ransom. The state department now calling it leverage, admitting hundreds of millions of dollars was held from Iran until Americans were released. Hear how the state department justifies that move. Next.

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[04:15:21] ROMANS: The White House insists it did not pay ransom to Iran for the release of U.S. Prisoners even though the state department now confirms a plane with $400 million in cash on palates on board that plane was "held up" and used as leverage to make sure the Americans were set free. Ransom or leverage? The state department denying and a quid pro quo existed linking the payment to the prisoner release. Spokesman claims the Iranian would've gotten the money anyway. Since it was Iranian money, it did belong to them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KIRBY, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: It would have been foolish and proven a irresponsible for us not to try to maintain maximum leverage. So, if you are asking me was there a connection in that regarded at the end game, I'm not going to deny that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Basic English, you're saying that you wouldn't give them the 400 million in cash until the prisoners were release. Correct?

KIRBY: That's correct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: House Speaker Paul Ryan says President Obama owes the American people a "full accounting" of his actions. He accuses the White House to pay in ransom and now trying to mislead the public about it.

HOWELL: The close call for the United State's military advisors in Northern Syria. They were nearby on Thursday when Syrian war planes launched an attack on the main U.S. Ally in the region. The Kurdish YPG. It's the first time occurred it's been targeted by the Assad regime in the Hasakah Province and which is under Kurdish control about 300 U.S. Military advisers are stationed in that area.

ROMANS: Chicago's police superintendent planned to fire several officers accuse of lying about the shooting death of an unarmed teenager two years ago. The officers filed reports -- their filed reports contradicted by dash cam video from the night upon McDonald was killed. The video showed that McDonald walking away from police with a knife in his hand, not lunging toward officers. Among those reportedly facing termination. The partner of the officer who pulled the trigger, that officer is already facing murder charges in the case.

HOWELL: The very latest now on the blue cut fire in San Bernardino, California. Three suspected looters arrested while trying to leave an evacuated home in a pickup truck. They told deputies they were picking up property for a friend live there.

Meanwhile some evacuees have been told they can return to their homes that is if those homes are still standing. The fire has burned down 36,000 acres forcing 83,000 people from their homes and it is only 22 percent contained this morning.

ROMANS: And it doesn't look like conditions are really improving not much for the blue cut firefighters. Let's get more from meteorologist Karen Maginnis this morning.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: What just about 36,000 acres and 1,600 fire personnel battling this huge blaze but is just jumping from the ridge tops also being fanned by the very warm breezes across this region. And firefighters are not going to get a break as high pressure starts to move in across the region. This is an area that has been battling severe drought now for the past several years. No let-up in the heat. The wind may slack off just a little bit. But firefighters are good to be battling these temperatures that approach the triple digit readings. But the humidity is going to be low. And this is an area that's very tricky to try to contain this fire.

Well as we take a look at the rest of the country, we've got some dramatically cooler air moving in across the great lakes in the Midwest. It's going to be a taste of fall in places like Minneapolis also green bay and Chicago with temperatures dipping into the 70s. So enjoy it while it lasts. Back to you guys.

ROMANS: All right, Karen, thank you.

HOWELL: Karen thanks. A fast moving developments in the American swimmer controversy in Brazil. More on the reaction at the robbery allegations from Ryan Lochte and three others were debunked. We are live in Rio next.

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[04:23:53] ROMANS: What a story. Damning evidence surfacing in the last 24 hours that four Americans swimmers were not innocent victims of an armed robbery but rather caught up in a tense altercation with officers after vandalizing a gas station.

So, what's the reaction in Rio as games begin to draw to a close? I want to bring into CNN's Christina McFarlane with the very latest. The twists and turns of this story at the past four days are so just been what with lash.

CHRISTINA MCFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They absolutely have Christine. And this new to -- I think that people are annoyed here in Brazil over what has come to light and the fact that Ryan Lochte and these U.S. swimmers have effectively high jacked the headlines over the past 48 hours.

But, it's not just here in Brazil. Take a look at Friday headline of "the New York post." And you'll see what I mean. It reads liar-liar, speedo on fire, the ugly American. Ouch that's going to hurt.

But, if there was one result that definitely broke through on Thursday. It was world's fastest man, Usain Bolt securing his eighth Olympic gold medal and his third straight 200-meter title and very few doubts it, it would happen.

But, unfortunately, there were no record-breaking times than Bolt posting 19.78 seconds but still managing to finish on with a meter ahead of the rest of the field.

[04:25:11] And later on Friday of course, it's the final for long that 4x100 meters to steal the triple-triple and Usain Bolt sporting immortality. But speaking of super human, if you think one sport is bad enough, how about competing in 10? USA's Ashton Eaton proves he was the world's greatest athlete by defending his decathlon title also on Thursday, becoming the first to do so since 1984. His point score of 8,953 equaling the Olympic record set back in 2004.

Now, over at the basketball arena. The women have advanced to their sixth straight Olympic final after defeating France. They will face Spain for the second time of this Olympic on Saturday while the men will also take on Spain in the semifinal later today, no pressure, boys.

Now, earlier we witnessed a strange scene at the athletic arena. The U.S women's 4x100 meter relay team competing alone or by themselves in a time trial to qualify for final later on Friday. This is after Allyson Felix was knocks during the heat earlier in the day by Brazilian runner who veered into her lane. And after filing a protest, the women was then allowed to compete in a time trial and then went on to secure the top spot with 42.70 seconds which is even faster than the Jamaicans. Who says there's no second chance in sports, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Christina McFarlane, thank you for that in Rio. We're still pre-dawn pretty soon that will be a beautiful live shot behind her.

HOWELL: Absolutely. Christina, thank you.

So, the latest reboot for Donald Trump, it is getting off to a surprising start. Trump admitting that he have some regrets about his conduct on the campaign trail. Regrets, he says. More on that and the state of the race as "Early Start".

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[04:31:02] HOWELL: Could call it a stunner from Donald Trump as he gets back on the campaign trail after repeated controversies. Trump admitting he has some regret about some of his past action on the stump. What we are hearing from Trump and what's next.

ROMANS: An apology from the U.S. Olympic committee to the city of Rio. Video showing the altercation between four swimmers and Brazilian police appears to show claims of an armed robbery at all. What's next for this embattle for that the swimmers? Welcome back to "Early Start". I'm Christine Romans.

HOWELL: And I'm George Howell. Thirty one minutes past the hour. And Donald Trump like we have never seen Donald Trump before, the Republican nominee in North Carolina last night.

His first appearance since the campaign reboot, his speech there did unveil a new Trump but not the way many people expected here. Instead, after hiring new campaign executives, famous for being combative, Trump came as close as he's ever has come to an apology.

Also, making news, well a last minutes schedule change, adding a stop in Louisiana to tour areas devastated by flooding. These as Republicans try to paint President Obama as out of touch for sticking to his golf vacation and they say neglecting Louisiana. For more on this, let's go to CNN'S Jason Carroll with the Trump campaign.

CAROLL: Christine, George, this was a very different Donald Trump that we heard in Charlotte when he gave his rally speech. You know, after it was over, I spoke to a number of people who were here. One woman told me Donald Trump in her words was not just running his mouth. He sounded more presidential. He had more substance. Another man telling me, he seemed to speak from the heart.

One point that seemed to strike a number of people in the room was when Donald Trump now it wasn't an apology but he did say that he had regrets about some of the things that he has said in the past.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Some times in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don't choose the right words or you say the wrong thing. I have done that. And believe it or not, I regret it. And I do regret it, particularly, where it may have caused personal pain. Too much is at stake for us to be consumed with these issues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROLL: At the top of his speech, Donald Trump also talked about the heartbreak and devastation affecting the people of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We are now hearing that Donald Trump and running mate Mike Pence will be visiting the region later today. Trump saying of what's going on in Baton Rouge. We are one nation. When one state hurts, we all hurt. We must all work together. Christine, George.

ROMANS: All right, Jason, thank you for that. Starting today, the Trump campaign first TV ads of election begin airing at four battle ground state Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio.

That the ads itself have not yet been released but we do know Trump will be seriously out spent on the air over the next couple weeks. The Trump's campaign and it's ally's super pacs are set to spend $7.9 million in those four states. Hillary Clinton's and her super pacs have spent $12.8 million worth of TV time for the same period. Clinton campaign spent more than $75 million in 10 states since locking up democratic nomination back in June.

HOWELL: The Clinton is taking action this morning to try to put a stop to questions about whether they we're improper links between the Clinton foundation and state department under Hillary Clinton's leadership. For more on this story, let's go to CNN Joe Johns.

[04:35:02] JOHNS: George and Christine, the Clinton foundation announcement addressing concerns about the appearance of cronyism and conflicts and how to avoid them that Hillary Clinton is elected.

So, they say no foreign donations to the foundation if she wins. No corporate donations. And part of this is spurred by concern about even those suggestions of paid to play arrangements between the state department and foundation.

The Clinton camp has been forced to issue denials about big money donors trying to get access. And there is more, the upcoming meeting of the Clinton global initiative in New York next month is to be the last. CGI brought together leaders from all over the world to talk about solutions to sometimes in trackable problems. And it appears Bill Clinton himself is taking on some of the same burden, too.

A spokesman says, he will not do paid speeches in his wife is elected. He hasn't by the way given a paid speech since November of last year and since he won't give any between now Election Day.

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton meeting with some top law enforcement officials on Thursday also, a little photo op, a meeting that's been in the works for weeks but, using the opportunity to push back on Donald Trump's attempts to frame himself as the law and order candidate in the race. George and Christine.

HOWELL: Joe, thanks.

Republican leaders are slamming the Clinton foundation for continuing to accept foreign and corporate donations while Hillary Clinton is running for president. The RNC, Chairman Reince Priebus calls it a massive ongoing conflict of interest that is unprecedented and unacceptable.

He goes on to say this effort to shield Hillary Clinton and the Clinton foundation after more than a year of controversy is too little too late. If everything was above board while Hillary Clinton ran the state departments as the Clinton have said, then why change thing?

ROMANS: All right, the head of the U.S. Olympic committee is apologizing to the city of Rio de Janeiro for the behavior of four American swimmers who police say lied, lied to them about being robbed at gunpoint.

The U.S OC chairman Scott Blackmun says these swimmers face potential consequences. He tells Rio officials, "The behavior of these athletes is not acceptable nor does not represent of values of team USA or the conduct the vast majority of its members. We apologized to our host in Rio and the people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal in the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence."

Two of the U.S. swimmers, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger now lift Rio for home after speaking with Brazilian authorities. They were pulled off their plane 24 hours earlier.

There's new video of the incident with police accusing the Americans of vandalizing a gas station. The two sides are still offering very different accounts about what happened next. We get more from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh.

PATON: Christine, George, here is the scene of the crime or maybe not crime, unclear at this stage. You recognize from the CCTV video the alleyway. Down which you see the men walk. This is where they are alleged to have torn the poster off the wall and there where they're alleged to have urinated after a long night of celebrating. Now, the question is what happened after that?

They seemed to emerge from here on the CCTV that we see, out into the four court of the gas station after a night of celebrating, partying should we say? They get the wrong taxi first of all and then they're going to the right taxi over here, on this side of the gas station.

Then a man is seen bending down into the car, he's dressed in black. Now, this is where the story diverges quite enormously. Brazilian police say that this begun a conversation in which all sides work out how to recompense the gas station for the damage done here. And when the police arrived, everything was calm.

Sources close to the four swimmers who said they spoken to all men said no. This actually marks a point where there's a drop in the CCTV footage of three minutes during which the man leaning in, according to the swimmers, made out lucky was a police officer showing them a badge, pointed a firearm at them and said give me money, making this particular gesture.

Now, we still don't know how to reconcile these two accounts. We do know that Brazilian suspicions were necessarily aroused by these men returning home with substantial amounts of high value items on them. That was shown at the CCTV from their village. But the source is close, the swimmers accept that yes they did pee behind this building. Maybe they did damaged the poster, the out right plot say the CCTV corroborates Ryan Lochte's original story.

There was an armed robbery here by people they thought were police. These two very different accounts, very hard to reconcile now. Christine, George.

ROMANS: All right, Nick, thank you.

The swimmers assertion that there are these three minutes of missing footage is based on the initial release of the video which is inaccurate assertion. The subsequent video later released by the civil police and screened by CNN shows no gap in the footage. We will have more on the Olympic Games themselves including another gold medal for Usain Bolt later in this half hour.

[04:40:04] All right, time for I'll start your money, stocks within shouting distance of record highs. Dow futures slipping a little bit this morning but were higher. So, it could happen a small gain would beat the all-time highs high set earlier this week.

Stocks markets in Europe, you can see there down just a little bit here. Asia closed higher. Another bull market to tell you about oil up 20 percent from its recent lows, supplies of oil are dwindling. And there are new hopes that OPEC would cap production. Something the market has been hoping for since oil prices crashed earlier this year. We going to see we have yet to the countries agree and even freezing current production levels though. What does it all mean for you? Eventually, higher gas prices but that may take a couple a weeks. Right now, the national average is $2.14. It's been stuck around that little for the past week. This time last year, though drivers are paying $2.66. So, you're still getting a break on the gas prices.

HOWELL: That's good news. The difference between ransom and leverage it can be a fine line. The state of department now admitting hundreds of millions of dollars was kept from Iran until Americans were released. Is that ransom? Is that leverage? We'll hear have state department offense that move next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:45:18] HOWELL: Welcome back to "Early Start." I'm George Howell.

The white house is insisting it did not pay ransom to Iran for the release of U.S. prisoners even though the state department now confirms a plane with $400 million cash was on board. And that was "Held up" and used as leverage to make sure the Americans were set free first.

The state department now denying any quid pro quo existing linking the payment to the prisoner release. A spokesman claimed the Iranians would have gotten the money anyway since it did belong to them. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KIRBY: It would have been foolish and prudent, irresponsible for us not to try to maintain maximum leverage. So if you are asking me, was there a connection in that regard at the end game, I'm not going to deny that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Basic English, you're saying that you wouldn't give them the $400 million in cash until the prisoners were released, correct?

KIRBY: That's correct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: The speaker of the house Paul Ryan saying President Obama owes the American people a "full accounting" of his actions. Accusing the White House of paying ransom and trying to mislead the public about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The Justice Department announcing plans to stop using private prisons. The government review found, they are not safer, they are not cheaper than facilities run by the federal bureau prisons. And right now, only 13 out of 146 federal prisons are privately run. They will be phased out. Less than 200,000 of America's 2.2 million adult inmates are in federal prison. The vast majority are held in state prisons. HOWELL: Chicago's Police Superintendent plans to fire seven officers accused of lying about the shooting death of an unarmed teenager two years ago. The officers filed reports that were contradicted by dash cam video from the night Laquan McDonald was killed. That video showed McDonald walking away from police with a knife in his hand but not lounging toward the officers. Among those reportedly facing termination, the partner of the officer who pulled the trigger, that officer is already facing murder charges in that case.

ROMANS: All right, the latest now on the blue cut fire in San Bernardino, California. Three suspected looters arrested while trying to leave an evacuated home in a pickup truck. They told deputies they were picking up property for a friend who lived there.

Meanwhile, some evacuees have been told they can return to their homes if those houses are still standing. The fire has burned 36,000 acres forcing 83,000 people from their homes. It's only about 22 percent contained this morning.

HOWELL: I just feel so bad for those families there because all you can do is watch that fire ...

ROMANS: I know.

HOWELL: ... come closer and closer, you know, to your home.

ROMANS: And between that story and Louisiana story, you just really feel for people and their property this week.

HOWELL: Absolutely.

ROMANS: Right, how about some business and political advice from Mogul Dolly Parton. She is drawing inspiration from every single one on America right now. She's getting inspired by politics, the bathroom bills, equal pay. I go on tour with the business mogul, next.

HOWELL: Very cool.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:51:59] HOWELL: What a story. Some damning evidence surfacing in the last 24 hours that four American swimmers were not innocent victims of an armed robbery but rather that they got caught up in an intense altercation with officers after vandalizing a gas station. Let's bring in CNN's Christina McFarlane live in Rio with the very latest. Christina, as the games draw to a close, you know, the accomplishments of these athletes, right now taking a back seat to this controversy.

MCFARLANE: Absolutely, George. The athletes here -- are they say, many of them beginning to go home now. We are drawing to a close with these Olympics. There not as much reaction as we'd expected, but there's no doubt people in Brazil are annoyed about what has come to light. And the fact that Ryan Lochte and these U.S. swimmers have effectively hijacked the headlines out over the past 48 hours. But it's not just here in Brazil. Take a look at Friday's headline of "The New York Post" and you'll see what I mean. It reads, liar, liar speedo on fire. "The Ugly American". Of course, referring to Ryan Lochte. But see, there was one result that definitely broke through on Thursday. It was the world's fastest man. Usain Bolt securing his eighth Olympic gold medal and his third straight 200-meter title.

Now, unfortunately, there were no record breaking times. Bolt posting 19.78 seconds but still managing to finish on with a meter ahead of the rest of the field. And later on Friday, don't forget, it's the final, so long, the 4x100 meters to steal that triple-triple and Usain Bolt is posting immortality.

Now, speaking of super humans, if you think one sport is bad enough, how about competing in 10? USA's Ashton Eaton through -- he was the world's greatest athlete by defending his decathlon title, also on Thursday. Becoming the first to do so since 1984. His points, score of 8,943 in fact equalled the Olympic record set in 2004.

Now, over at the basketball arena, the women have advanced to their sixth straight Olympic final after defeating France. It was their 48th straight win. They will face Spain for the second time at this Olympics on Saturday while the men will also take on Spain in the semifinal later today. No pressure, boys.

Now, earlier, we witnessed a rather strange scene at the athletics arena. The USA women's 4x100-meter relay team competing alone all by themselves in a time trial to qualify for the final later on Friday. Now, this was after Allyson Felix was knocked during the heat by the Brazilian runner who veered into her lane. And also filing a process, the women were allowed to compete in the time trial and secure the top spot with 42.7 seconds, even faster than the Jamaicans. Who says there's no second chances in sport, George?

HOWELL: That's the best part about it, Christina. Thank you.

ROMANS: Nice to see you.

Let's get an early start on your money. This morning -- this Friday morning, stock market has a chance to end the week at record highs. Dow Futures are lower, just a small gain away potentially from all time highs. Stock markets in Europe, down as well. Asia closed higher for the week. Oil nearing $50 a barrel after dramatic rise this week.

[04:55:02] All right, when life is exciting, song writers thrive. And these days, Dolly Parton is thriving, writing about the crazy stuff that's going on right now, she says. Today, she releases her 43rd studio album. Dolly tells me from politics to the bathroom bills and equal pay. She is inspired by everything that's going on right now, inspired to write about it. And she is known there, country music star by the way. She is a mogul. She owns restaurants, theme parks, a record label, film and T.V. production. No works.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: Starting, did you think, look, if I'm going to last, if I'm going to endure and if I'm going to make sure that the music business doesn't take advantage of me, I have to be in control of my image, my sound, my business, every angle of it.

DOLLY PARTON, AMERICAN SINGER: Well, you said it when you said the business. It is called the music business. So as soon as I could, I started my own publishing company, got my own record label now. And so I just -- I think it's important if you can to keep all of your goods, you know, to -- close to home. Where you can control it and know what's happening with it.

ROMANS: And how do you think that music helped to push along the women's movement over the past 40 years? Do you think that's been a factor?

PARTON: Music in general really have pushed through many ideas. Even in 9 to 5 whereas equal pay for equal work. And we've come a long way, Christine, but, you know, we've got ...

ROMANS: Well, I think we're still at 83 cents to the dollar.

PARTON: We've got a ways to go, that's what I'm saying but we're working on it. I don't care what if -- whether it's your raise or whether you're green, blue, black, red or alien gray or whether you're male or female or transgender. If you do work, you should be paid and appreciated for it and you should be respected and appreciated for who and what you are. Song writers, you know, actually have a field day when things in life are going on. I know I'm writing all sorts of things about the crazy stuff going on right now, get all kinds of thoughts.

ROMANS: And talk about the crazy things that are going on right now. Just give me -- I mean, maybe it's you keep your politics private, but just tell me what you think is happening in the world right now. I just spent two weeks of this political convention.

PARTON: I watch it all the time.

ROMANS: I'm curious of what you think.

PARTON: I think it's the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life. I think, oh my gosh, what is happening. But there are the thing that saves us all is the fact that we do know we're great. You know, this is a great country. And it's not just up to one person. Whoever gets in the White House isn't -- they're not going to be able to do it all. That's why we have, you know, all those people that work together.

ROMANS: Right.

PARTON: So, you just have to think well. We'll just hope for the best and we just pray hard for them. Whoever it is. But I usually don't talk politics. About who, you know, who I'm voting for and all but I'll tell you, right now, I'm not decided.

ROMANS: You're not decided? PARTON: No.

ROMANS: You have not decided. So you've got another three months to watch all that.

PARTON: I do. I'm just watching it close.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Very business savvy not to alienate anyone who could potentially buy an album or see her. I have a lot more with Dolly Parton in the days ahead. We have exclusive access to her tour. Her biggest tour in 25 years. She is a business mogul. You know, I love her as a musician.

HOWELL: And whispering everything.

ROMANS: She's a business mogul and has been for 50 years.

HOWELL: What a fascinating interview.

ROMANS: Yeah.

HOWELL: I can't wait to hear more of that.

ROMANS: Thank you.

HOWELL: "Early start" continues right now.

The Donald kicking off his campaign reboot with a stunner. Admitting he has some regrets about some of the things he said and done on the campaign trail. Why is he finally admitting that and what does it all mean?

ROMANS: The U.S. Olympic committee force who apologized to the city of Rio, it comes after the video showed the altercation that the four swimmers claimed was an armed robbery really wasn't. Authorities say that's just not the case. We have reaction from Rio from the American tabloid media which is having a field day this morning.

All right, good morning. Welcome to "Early Start" this Friday morning. I'm Christine Romans.

HOWELL: And I'm George Howell. It is Friday, August 19th. 5:00 a.m. on the east. Just a minute shy.

Let's have a second shy, that in Donald Trump like we have never seen him before. The Republican Nominee in North Carolina last night. His first appearance since the campaign reboot. His speech did unveil a new Donald Trump but not the way many people expected. Instead, at their hiring new campaign executives famous for being combative, Donald Trump came as close as he ever come to giving an apology.

Also making news, a last minute schedule change for Trump adding a stop down to Louisiana, to tour areas devastated by flooding. This as Republicans try to paint a president, President Obama, out of touch. They say, for sticking to his golf vacation and they say neglecting Louisiana.

For more on this, let's go to Jason Carroll with the Trump campaign

CARROLL: Christine, George, this was a very different Donald Trump that we heard in Charlotte when he gave his rally speech. You know, after it was over, I spoke to a number of people who were here. One woman told me, Donald Trump in her words was not just running his mouth. He sounded more presidential. He had more substance. Another man telling me, he seemed to speak from his heart.

One thing that struck a number of people in the room was when Donald Trump, now it wasn't an apology but he did say that he had regrets about some of the things that he has said in the past.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Sometimes it ...