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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Trump Moves to Toughen Laws Against Asylum Seekers; Trump Wants to Prevent Deutsche Bank and Capital One; Trump Takes Aim at Joe Biden; Army Veteran Arrested for Terror Plot in Los Angeles. Aired 5- 5:30a ET
Aired April 30, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: The president repeatedly going after him, meanwhile, despite warnings from advisers to keep quiet.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A murder mystery in Iowa, a driver shot in the neck as she drives home. A manhunt now for the shooter is underway.
BRIGGS: Grab your Kleenex, a man who got a heart transplant randomly meets the family of a man who saved him at a ball game. And a good message in there.
ROMANS: Yes.
BRIGGS: Good morning, welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: Good morning, I'm Christine Romans. It is just Tuesday, April 30th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
Let's begin here with the president. President Trump taking direct aim at migrants seeking asylum in the United States in a new plan to overhaul the nation's immigration system.
Priscilla Alvarez covers immigration for us here at CNN. She joins us this morning with more.
Priscilla, what does the president want to do?
PRISCILLA ALVAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So this is essentially a plan to toughen the asylum process in the United States. And so it does so in a couple of ways, all of which are different than how the process goes now. That is, adjudicating asylum applications within 180 days, and that is much faster than what we've seen given the overwhelmed immigration court system.
It also requires fees for applying for asylum as well as work permit applications. It bars migrants who have entered or attempted to enter the U.S. illegally from work authorization until relief is granted and it strips work authorization from migrants who have been denied asylum.
So taken together, this is a drastic change from how we currently operate asylum in the United States. Now it's worth noting that this is a directive from the president to the attorney general who oversees the immigration courts and the Department of Homeland Security secretary who will actually be on the Hill later today.
And it has the chance of affecting many migrants who come to our border. Remember that in March, we saw more than 96,000 apprehensions, many of whom were families and the administration has said that they have seen a 2,000 percent increase in claims of credible fear, which is the first step in the asylum process over the last five years. So if you think about all of those stats, this could really have a massive impact, assuming that it gets through each department and that it's not already met with legal challenges.
ROMANS: Right. Well, and also, I mean, the first thing I thought was 180 days, I mean, are you going to have to hire all kinds of processors and immigration judges to make that happen. I mean, there's got to be an infrastructure built, I think -- I would think around that.
This is not the first time also that the Trump White House has cracked down on asylum seekers, migrants and asylum seekers. How is this time different and why now?
ALVAREZ: So there have been several things that the administration has rolled out. I think the main point here is that the Department of Homeland Security particularly is feeling the strain of having so many asylum seekers come to the border because they require more processing, so they rolled out a number of policies like the so-called "Remain in Mexico" policy which was essentially some asylum seekers would have to wait in Mexico for their immigration court hearing.
We recently -- the 9th Circuit recently heard oral arguments in that case last week so we're waiting to see what the ruling is on that. The administration also tried an asylum ban late last year that was blocked by the courts. So they've rolled out several measures. This is another one in that plan, and I think it sort of indicates that they continue to struggle with how to address this population which is far different than what they saw years ago.
ROMANS: Yes. Absolutely. Priscilla Alvarez covers this for us at CNN. Thank you.
ALVAREZ: Thank you.
BRIGGS: OK. President Trump taking his stonewalling tactics to a new level. The Trump Organization and the president's family suing Deutsche Bank and Capital One to block congressional subpoenas. Deutsche Bank has loaned Mr. Trump more than $360 million in recent years. The filing claims subpoenas are being issued just to harass the president.
Adam Schiff and Maxine Waters, chairs of the House Intelligence and Financial Services Committees, condemned the lawsuit. In a joint statement they call it a legal ploy to, quote, "put off meaningful accountability as long as possible."
The suit is similar to one Mr. Trump filed earlier this month against his own accounting firm Mazars USA to stop it from complying with a subpoena for financial documents.
ROMANS: All right. Joe Biden brings his newly-launched campaign to Iowa today. The former VP kicking things off with a rally in Pittsburgh Monday. He called for a $15 minimum wage and a public option for Medicare to bring down health care costs. Biden says Democrats need to worry less about the president and look inward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Everybody knows who Donald Trump is and I believe -- I believe and hope they know who we are. We have to let them know who we are. Quite frankly, folks, if I'm going to be able to beat Donald Trump in 2020 it's going to happen here. It's going to happen here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: The president launching into a Twitter tirade branding Biden "Sleepy Joe" once again while touting the economy under his administration.
[05:05:04] CNN has learned Mr. Trump's advisers are urging him not to get drawn into a one-on-one verbal battle with Biden or any of the top candidates. They fear that could elevate his rivals, giving them oxygen to rise up. With 20 Democrats seeking the nomination, it was only a matter time before the party infighting started and here's a stark contrast Bernie is attempting to draw.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I helped lead the fight against NAFTA, he voted for NAFTA. I helped lead the fight against PNCR with China. He voted for it. I strongly opposed the Transpacific Partnership. He supported it. I voted against the war in Iraq. He voted for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Beto O'Rourke is looking to regain his footing in this crowded Democratic field. He's been criticized for lacking policies. So he just rolled one out and his first one on climate change. It calls for a $5 trillion investment and net zero emissions by the year 2050.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETO O'ROURKE (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The climate change that we're seeing here in the Central Valley that makes the water difficult to drink, the air difficult to breathe. We're talking about $5 trillion invested in infrastructure, in innovation, in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change. This is by far the most ambitious plan to confront climate change that we have ever seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BRIGGS: And what's next for rising Democratic star Stacey Abrams of Georgia? Well, she's decided against running for the Senate in 2020. She plans to focus on her voting rights project and has decided -- not decided whether to seek higher office.
ROMANS: A 26-year-old Army veteran charged with plotting a terror attack in the Los Angeles area. According to the Justice Department, Mark Domingo was radicalized online and seeking retribution for last month's deadly mosque attacks in New Zealand.
CNN's Jessica Schneider has more.
JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Dave, this 26-year-old former Army soldier who served in Afghanistan for four months has allegedly been plotting an attack since early March.
Authorities say Mark Steven Domingo began posting his support for violent Jihad online and then, for the past two months, repeatedly met with an FBI informant before ultimately staking out a spot in Long Beach, California, where he planned to detonate a homemade bomb on Sunday.
But authorities were tracking him the entire time and agents from the Joint Terrorism Task Force, they arrested Domingo on Friday after the FBI informant he had been talking with handed over the bomb materials to Domingo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK HANNA, U.S. ATTORNEY: This is a case in which law enforcement was able to identify a man consumed with hate and bent on mass murder, and stop him before he could carry out his attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER: Now what we know about this 26-year-old is that he served in the military from 2011 to 2013 and deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2012. But in videos recently, he proclaimed that he had become a Muslim and wanted to harm Americans, and Jewish people, and police officers, among others -- Dave and Christine.
BRIGGS: All right, Jessica. Thanks.
A standing room-only crowd of some 700 people turned out Monday at the Chabad of Poway synagogue to pay their respects to Lori Gilbert Kaye. She was killed Saturday in an attack on the synagogue near San Diego. Forty-five minutes before the funeral, people lined the sidewalk outside of the temple. A large screen was set up to accommodate those who couldn't fit inside. Lori's daughter Hannah choking back tears as she spoke about her mother.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANNAH KAYE, VICTIM'S DAUGHTER: I know my mother has already forgiven this man who shot her, not only because she had a profound and motherly capability to forgive me in our history together but because her mission, how she lived her life and her decision to preserve the life of the leader of the community, the children, all of us, automatically banishes the hatred that tried to take her light.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The family of the suspected shooter issued this emotional statement, saying of their son, quote, "He has killed and injured the faithful who were gathered in a sacred place on a sacred day. To our great shame, he is now part of the history of evil that has been perpetrated on Jewish people for centuries. Our son's actions were informed by people we do not know and ideas we do not hold. How our son was attracted to such darkness is a terrifying mystery to us."
BRIGGS: The FBI was alerted by tipsters to a threatening post on the anonymous message board 8chan minutes before the synagogue shooting. The gunman is charged with murder, attempted murder and arson of a house of worship. He will be in court today.
ROMANS: Now Boeing CEO says the safety systems on its 737 Max jets were properly designed and not at fault in two recent fatal crashes. A bit different from Dennis Muilenburg's comments earlier this month when he said it is Boeing who owned the responsibility to eliminate the risk and Boeing knows how to do the job.
On Monday he faced shareholders and reporters for the first time since the crashes that killed 346 people. And the CEO said some blame rests with the pilots.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[05:10:09] DENNIS MUILENBURG, BOEING CEO: When we design a system, understand that these airplanes are flown in the hands of pilots and in some cases, our system safety analysis includes not only the engineering design but also the actions that pilots would take as part of a failure scenario. All right. That's all baked into a system end-to-end analysis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Muilenburg says the pilots did not completely follow the procedures. That contradicts what Ethiopian officials said earlier this month. On Monday, Boeing and the FAA were sued by two Canadians who lost a total of 10 family members in the Ethiopian Airlines crash in March. One man's wife and three kids were on board the air craft visiting Kenya.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL NJOROGE, LOST FAMILY IN ETHIOPIAN PLANE CRASH: I wanted it to be that they had missed the flight and so I called my brother-in-law and he confirmed it to me that my entire immediate family had perished in the flight. Those six minutes will forever be embedded in my mind. I was not there to help them. I couldn't save them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: There is no date set for the grounded 737 Max fleet to return to the air.
ROMANS: All right. There's a lot to keep investors busy this week starting with trade. The Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and the Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, they are in Beijing in the hopes of finalizing a trade deal. Mnuchin told the "New York Times" over the weekend negotiations are in the final laps.
The Federal Reserve meets today on interest rates. Plenty of drama over whether super low inflation or super strong economic growth mean a rate cut or a rate hike. The question, how long can the Fed remain patient? The consensus is no move on rates right now.
Remember all those fears of that yield curb inversion that somehow we're going to pretend the recession, all of that seems overblown.
And major companies report first quarter earnings today. Apple, General Motors, General Electric. Google shares dropped 7 percent after hours Monday on weak earnings there. Revenue grew 17 percent but Reuters reports that's the slowest in three years, and down from 26 percent growth a year ago.
Also we have one more day in March and it was a record-setting month for the S&P, up 17 percent to record highs. Hopes for a U.S.-China trade deal better-than-expected, earnings and dovish Fed, all of those are drivers of this resilient stock market.
BRIGGS: A manhunt is underway in Iowa after a woman was shot and killed driving on a highway. Waterloo Police responded to a car accident on Highway 218 near the Green Hill exit early Sunday morning. They say a bullet struck the driver identified as Micalla Rettinger in the neck. The 25-year-old later died from her injuries.
The passenger in the car, Adam Kimball, was also injured. Rettinger's dad tells the "Des Moines Register," Kimball was her boyfriend. Another person in the car was not hurt. The victims returning home from work when the accident happened. Police say it does not Rettinger was specifically targeted.
ROMANS: Gosh, I wonder what happened? There was somebody out shooting? You know, was it somebody messing around on the highway? It's just --
BRIGGS: Terrifying time to be on that highway.
ROMANS: Yes. All right. Last time the president met on camera with Chuck and Nancy, this happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Oh, that. The trio back together again in public today for the first time, this time infrastructure is on the agenda. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:17:39] ROMANS: In a few hours, President Trump meets with congressional Democrats to discuss one area where they may be able to make progress, infrastructure. But the last time Mr. Trump sat down with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office, well, it led to a made-for-TV brawl over border wall funding. That resulted in the longest ever government shut down.
BRIGGS: The president has told Democrats several times he wants trillions for an infrastructure deal but his administration has proposed significantly less. Axios reports Democrats are insisting any infrastructure bill, quote, "must be real money," which means major spending not public-private partnerships or deregulation.
ROMANS: All right, 18 minutes past the hour. An 8-year-old boy from Ohio praised this morning for saving himself and his sister from a kidnapping attempt. It happened in Middletown northeast of Cincinnati. Chance and his sister Skylar were in the backseat of their grandmother's car as she took a woman to the ER. About 10 seconds later, a man hopped into the driver's seat and took off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SKYLARK WEAVER, CARJACKING SURVIVOR: My brother went to go grab me, opened the door and went out. My brother fell out but the guy pulled me back in the car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Wow. As Skylar tried to escape, her little brother grabbed hold of her and they both tumbled down of the moving car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE BLUE, CARJACKING SURVIVOR: I was acting in the moment because I didn't want my sister to get hurt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Officers spotted the vehicle and arrested the driver. He is now facing kidnapping and grand theft charges.
ROMANS: All right, this. A remarkable chance encounter at a baseball game had everyone in tears. On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals held Transplant Awareness Day at Bush Stadium. Donovan Bulger's family was there to honor their brother. He was just 21 when he died in 2016. Donovan was an organ donor and it turns out the man who received his heart was also at the game.
John Sueme was in heart failure for five years before he received Donovan's heart three years ago. After these families, it was a literally an emotional hug fest with John holding the Bulger family members close to his chest so they could listen to Donovan's heartbeat. And you know, an organ donation is such a special, special gift that a
family can give. Some of these families, some of these young donors, they're getting a heart, a liver, kidneys.
[05:20:05] BRIGGS: You've had experienced.
ROMANS: Yes, my mom received a liver transplant almost three years ago exactly, and is doing very well, and every day we pray and thank for that family that made that sacrifice.
BRIGGS: Spread that word.
Ahead, the Philadelphia 76ers went seven years without winning in Toronto. They picked up a good time to end a very bad streak. Andy Scholes has that story in the "Bleacher Report."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRIGGS: President Trump hosting the national champion Baylor Lady Bears basketball team yesterday at the White House.
[05:25:02] Andy Scholes has that in the "Bleacher Report," something the president has not done to this point.
Good morning, Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. Good morning. Dave. You know, this was the first women's team to get their own trip to the Trump White House after winning a championship. And President Trump keeping with his new tradition of serving fast food to the team. The Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey didn't appear to be the biggest fan of the burger selection. The players, though, they always seem to love it. Mulkey and Trump. they actually had a rather funny exchange when she presented him with his own Baylor jersey.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIM MULKEY, HEAD COACH: It may not be the right size but maybe Melania will wear it.
TRUMP: I love that short -- I'll give it to Melania. You know, I love the short sleeves. Such beautiful love. Great definition there.
MULKEY: Like I said, Melania may look better in it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: All right. Stanley Cup playoffs, the Stars and Blues playing an epic game three last night. First 2 1/2 periods. But the team scoring four goals in a five-minute span near the end of the game. The Blues would come out on top by a final 4-3. Now Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott, he was at the game, check him out, jumping on a Tomahawk stay. Also love the fanny pack he seemed to be wearing. And Elliot, a man of the people, he also went over and took a selfie with a fan after they got hit by a puck. That's pretty cool. NBA Playoffs last night. Sixers and Raptors squaring off in game two.
People watching the game not too pleased with Sixers' banner guy. There's a fan sitting courtside hold up a giant sign every time Philly scored. Now as for the game Jimmy Butler taking over in the fourth quarter, he scored 12 of 30 points in that period. Sixers gave their first win in Toronto 20-12 to even the period at a game apiece.
Now get to Blazers meanwhile playing game one of their second round series. Check out Gary Harris here. The incredible reverse layup. He just hangs in the air. Somehow gets his throw on the other side. Denver wins game one, 121-113.
Finally Texas out, Matthew Boling from Houston, running a sub 10- second 100-meter dash over the weekend at a high school regional meet in Texas. The senior from Strake Jesuit crossing the finish line at 9.98 seconds and for perspective, Usain Bolt's world record for the 100-meter, 9.58 seconds.
In other words, considerable win (INAUDIBLE) Boling so it's not going to be allowed in the record books but, Dave, I don't really care, Boling can still say --
BRIGGS: No.
SCHOLES: He's run the fastest 100-meter ever by a high schooler in all conditions and man, you give me all kinds of wins, I ain't running a sub-10.
BRIGGS: Well, just look at the competition, there's Houston, Texas, an extraordinarily talented field, he blew them away.
SCHOLES: Blew them away.
BRIGGS: By what looks like 10 or 12 feet. That is extraordinary. Andy Scholes --
SCHOLES: Incredible.
BRIGGS: Great stuff. Thank you.
ROMANS: Wow.
BRIGGS: Romans, what's coming up?
ROMANS: I couldn't even do that on a scooter. I couldn't do that motorized.
All right, 27 minutes past the hour. A new proposal could mean more roadblocks for asylum seekers trying to enter the United States.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:30:00]
