Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Dayton, Ohio Hit by Two Tornadoes; Trump Returning from Japan Visit; NYT: Trump Hardening Assault on Climate Science; Mount Everest Death Toll Up to 11; Burnout Now A Medical Diagnosis; Bruins Rally to Win Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired May 28, 2019 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: I don't think I ever had that moment with my father where he teaches me how to shave.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: You haven't had a moment with a razor in a long time, apparently.
BRIGGS: Excellent point.
ROMANS: Somebody get Briggs a razor.
BRIGGS: Who needs a razor? Sorry, Gillette.
EARLY START continues right now.
(MUSIC)
ROMANS: Another burst of tornadoes punishes the Midwest. Ohio and Indiana hit hard overnight, and more flooding could further devastate Oklahoma.
BRIGGS: Short-term research for a long-term problem. Is the White House trying to mislead the public about climate change?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIZZA ALEE, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER: It has become a death race there. And people are pushing themselves, who were not even capable of doing it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: A traffic jam at the world's highest peak. An American is now the 11th climber to die on Everest this year.
BRIGGS: And if you're feeling burnt out at work, you're not alone. Burnout is now an actual medical diagnosis. Is there a cure? Well, that's for another day.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Tuesday, May 28th, exactly 5:00 a.m. in the East. Good morning, everyone. The tornadoes keep oncoming. At least 449 of them reported in the month of May. The latest target, Dayton, Ohio, two tornadoes touching down there Monday night. Three miles and 30 minutes apart.
Dayton has lost power to water plants and pump stations. Officials are now asking citizens to conserve water. Sixty-four thousand customers are without electricity. Snowplows were brought in to move debris out of the streets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSHUA THOMAS, TORNADO SURVIVOR: I heard whistles, like a train was coming through. I told my fiance to get inside the tub. Next thing I know, windows was breaking, I heard a lot of debris flying around and just stuff crashing, and glass just everywhere back there right now. It's really terrible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: So far, no reports of injuries or fatalities in the Dayton area. A local church was badly damaged and its steeple winding up on the roof, on the street, excuse me, the tornado hitting when children were inside that church.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to say it's an act of god that there were no injuries with the young people that were inside the church, even though the church received structural damage, that can be replaced.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The city Celina, Ohio, was also hit by a tornado last night. Seven people were hurt and there is significant damage. Mayor Jeff Hazel tells CNN affiliate WHIO, power is out to the entire city, with door to door checks underway right now.
We are also getting reports of damage in Pendleton, Indiana. The Pendleton Heights High School now serving as a shelter for those who've been displaced.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole town is devastated. Trees are down on almost every street in the town.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: That was the terrified voice of Ben Smith, an Iowa State meteorology student who captured footage of a possible micro burst in Yorkville, Illinois.
Take a look at this hailstorm pelting Chicago's suburb of Oak Lawn. This is part of a much broader outbreak throughout the Midwest. Pedram Javaheri watching it all for us in the CNN weather center.
Good morning, my friend.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Dave.
Yes. You know, unfortunately, this pattern hasn't changed much in the past couple of weeks, and doesn't look like it's going to change over the next 24 hours, and just looking back through yesterday, 51 reports of tornadoes yet again. The last time we did not have a tornado in the country at any point was 12 days ago, and in this 12-day period, we have tabulated 328 tornadoes and the expansive area of coverage, really covering upwards of 17 states into the northern portions of the Midwest, and Ohio, near Dayton as you mentioned. One at 11:07 local time last night, another at 11:40 p.m.
The initial tornado here, debris ball signature indicated just north of town. That's how this. The debris was lofted several thousand feet into the atmosphere. So, quite a bit of damage done north of town across this region with a powerful tornado that touched down, and enough damage to leave parts of Montgomery County now 93 percent of the county without power even at this hour. An incredible event in the past few hours, and finally beginning to see conditions quiet down.
Some showers, a few residual thunderstorms, nothing left in the way of rotation, or severe weather for right now, but we expect activity to pick up again as the sun begins to rise in the next couple of hours -- guys.
ROMANS: Pedram, thank you so much for that. I know you keep watching it to for us.
Much of the water-logged Plains and the Midwest bracing for yet another round of heavy rain. The Arkansas River in Tulsa, Oklahoma, near a record crest. The River Spirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa has been closed almost a week now because of flooding, water overtaking the pool deck, tiki bar, the spa. The casino says more than 1,600 employees are being paid throughout the closure.
Now, the Tulsa County sheriff's office posted these photos showing dramatic flooding. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt says his state is not out of the woods yet.
[05:05:04] The president said he spoke with the governor from Japan vowing assistance.
BRIGGS: The Trump administration is hardening its assault on climate science. According to "The New York Times", the president is planning to limit climate science projections in federal studies to the year 2040 instead of the end of the century. The move effectively eliminates reporting on climate changes worst case scenarios and scientists warn it will present the complete with an incompletely and falsely optimistic picture.
ROMANS: So, this appears to be an effort to influence the conclusions of the next national climate assessment. The Trump administration has reportedly proposed a new climate review panel headed up by William Happer. Happer is a physicist known for defending the virtues of carbon dioxide, and has compared demonizing carbon dioxide to Hitler's treatment of the Jews. President Trump has already rolled back environmental regulations and pulled the U.S. out of Paris climate accord.
BRIGGS: An American climber has died on Mount Everest and that brings the death toll to 11 this year alone. Sixty-two-year-old attorney Christopher John Kulish of Colorado died Monday after reaching the top of Everest. His family says he died doing what he loved. Kulish is survived by his mother and younger siblings.
There are growing concerns about overcrowding at Everest. Last week, crowds of climbers got stuck in a line to the summit. Most people could only spend a matter of minutes at the summit without extra oxygen supplies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEE: It has become a death race there because there was a massive traffic jam and people are pushing themselves, were not even capable of doing it. They try to do it, they try to summit. And instead of summiting, they kill themselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Tourism officials in Nepal suggest that the deaths are related to heavy traffic at the summit are, quote, baseless.
ROMANS: All right. Breaking overnight, a deadly stabbing spree at a park in Japan. A 12-year-old girl and 39-year-old man were killed in the city of Kawasaki. That's 13 miles from Tokyo. Japanese broadcaster NHK reports a suspect later died from a self-inflicted wound. The stabbings took place during President Trump's visit to Japan. He says the American people grieve for the victims' families.
BRIGGS: President Trump wheels up from Japan on his way back to the United States. He used a Memorial Day address aboard a navy ship to thank the troops. He also questioned advances in technology, asking sailors if they preferred steam or electric based aircraft catapults.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, steam has only worked for about 65 years perfectly. Steam or electric. Ready? Steam? Electric?
They're always coming up with new ideas. They're making planes so complex you can't fly them. We all want innovation, but it's too much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: That sounded like a shot at Boeing on that catapult. He has complained about that before. He likes the old steam version apparently but the big takeaway from the president's trip to Japan is North Korea and Mr. Trump's efforts to get Kim Jong-un to denuclearize. The president increasingly isolated, siding with Kim over his own national security adviser on North Korea's recent rocket launches. John Bolton was noticeably absent from the state banquet in Japan.
Trump told CNN's Pamela Brown Monday he does have confidence in Bolton.
During his visit to Japan, President Trump took the side of Kim Jong- un over Joe Biden twice. First, he did it in a weekend tweet misspelling the former vice president's name while attacking him as a low I.Q. individual and stood by his remarks Monday drawing criticism from the 2020 Democratic contenders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's just one more example of Donald Trump proving that he cares about Donald Trump, first, last and in between, and not protecting the interests of the United States of America.
PETE BUTTIGIEG (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Kim Jong-un is a murderous dictator, and the Vice President Biden served this country honorably. It's just one more example of the way this president tries to draw attention to himself by saying things that shock the conscience.
SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Obviously, we have a crisis in North Korea, and we need to absolutely deal with it with a strategy, not with him doing foreign policy by tweet or lying to the American public and saying there's nothing to worry about.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We don't want a war but nobody should be believing that this guy has anything in terms of his values with the United States. We don't need to be praising Kim Jong-un.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Biden has not commented. He returns to the campaign trail today. Teacher town hall in Houston this afternoon will be just his 12th public event since entering the race.
ROMANS: About 10 minutes past the hour.
CNN exclusive, German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
[05:10:01] What she says about the European election and dark forces going mainstream.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: U.S. markets back open today. Monday was a break for investors as they brace for another volatile week. Last week, stocks fell for the week, several big days of declines. The Dow had its worst, longest losing streak really since 2011 on a weekly basis.
Investors are growing increasingly worried that the U.S. China trade war is here to stay. Trade tensions will stay at the forefront as retail earnings roll into the next week.
[05:15:03] Major retailers are already starting to warn that the trade war will affect business and could hurt customers. Kohl's, Home Depot, Walmart said tariffs will lead to higher prices on some items. A handful of retailers report earnings this week, so expect to hear more about the tariff danger.
Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, Costco, Lululemon, these are among the companies delivering first quarter results.
Investors will be looking at key reports this week for any signs of an economic slow down, the second estimate of first quarter GDP, that comes on Thursday.
BRIGGS: German Chancellor Angela Merkel says dark forces are finding mainstream support in her country and other parts of the world. There is work to be done to face up to them. Merkel sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour one day after nationalists failed to live up to a predicted surge in support in the European elections.
After 13 years as chancellor, Merkel has shoulders a lot of blame for Europe's populist wave in particular because of her handling of the refugee crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: What do you answer to the people who say that, you know, it was a great Germany, but these dark demons have risen again?
ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): Germany can and will not uncouple itself from developments we see all over the world. We see this in Germany as well, but in Germany, obviously, they always have to be seen in a certain context, and the context of our past, which means we have to be that much more vigilant than others.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Recently, German Jews were warned by a leading government official not to wear yarmulkes or skullcaps in public because of a rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Merkel says there's not a single synagogue or school for Jewish children in Germany that does not need to be guarded by police.
BRIGGS: The sports world mourning the loss of Bill Buckner. Buckner carved out an impressive 22 year career that included a batting title and all star game appearance and more than 2,200 hits. But he was scorned for decades by Red Sox fans because of that, Mookie Wilson, ground ball goes through Buckner's legs, game six of the '86 World Series, and that error may have cost Boston the title. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Number 6, Bill Buckner!
(CHEERS)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Buckner was finally welcomed back to Fenway Park in 2008 after the red sox won two championships. The team and his fans fondly remembering the late first baseman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A generation may have only remembered that moment in game 6 of the 1986 World Series, but the truth is, he was an extraordinary player, worthy of discussion for the Hall of Fame. And without question, he was a Hall of Fame gentleman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRIGGS: Buckner was battling Lewy body dementia and was surrounded by his family before his death. He was 69.
Ahead, the queen of the court is back at the French Open. Serena Williams making headlines for what she's wearing while she's winning. Andy Scholes has the "Bleacher Report" next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:23:05] BRIGGS: All right. The Boston Bruins rallying from two goals down to take game one of the Stanley Cup Final.
Andy Scholes is here with the "Bleacher Report" this morning.
Andy, they have the Super Bowl, they have the world Series, three more wins, they have the Stanley Cup in Boston.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, man, Dave, those Boston fans are so -- do they even appreciate the championships anymore? I don't know.
BRIGGS: No, fatigue.
SCHOLES: But anyway, you know, Dave, it had been 10 days for the bruins since they had last taken the ice. They definitely had plenty of rust to shake off in game one against the Blues.
Now, St. Louis has an incredible turn around story. They were the worst team in hockey on January 2nd, they're trying to win their first ever Stanley cup, they were looking good early. The Blues taking a 2- 0 lead in the second period but the Bruins would rally, up 3-2 now.
Watch the exchange between the Blues David Perron and the Bruins Torey Krug. Perron was all over Krug, even knocking his helmet off. But Krug gets up, gets down the ice and lays out Rob Thomas. Bruins end up scoring four unanswered games, to take game one 4-2.
The team who has won the Stanley Cup final has won 77 percent of the time.
All right. Serena Williams making a fashion statement, rocking a custom Virgil Abloh Nike's outfit. The cover up featured the words mother, champion, queen, and goddess. Last year the tournament banned the skin tight cat suit.
Serena struggling early in this match, dropping the first set. She then put on a Nike top and rolled up the sleeves, and, hey, that must have done the trick. She rallied to beat Vitalia Diatchenko, 2-6, 6- 1, 6-0.
All right. Brewers ins playing Memorial Day baseball. Check out, full on matrix to make that grab.
[05:25:04] Pretty incredible reaction from him. Jeffress would stay down for a minute but was fine. Probably just needed a second to gather himself out here after nearly being decapitated.
The Warriors making it official. Kevin Durant not playing in game one of the NBA finals. Steve Kerr saying he doesn't know if Durant is going to travel to Toronto for the first two games. One guy that will be on the court is Toronto native Drake. He sits courtside at pretty much every game.
And Kerr says he's ready for the Raptors super fan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE KERR, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS COACH: I'm not worried about Drake. I called him on his cell phone earlier, and my daughter's rolling her eyes right now, she's like, dad, no more dad jokes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: I like the way Kerr immediately started shaking his head, because he knew how bad of a dad joke that was.
BRIGGS: I thought it was solid, man. I thought it was a nice effort by Steve Kerr. The Drake cam will be a bit much in these finals.
Andy Scholes, thank you, my friend.
SCHOLES: All right.
BRIGGS: Romans, what's coming up?
ROMANS: All right. Watching these tornadoes, an astonishing, 449 tornadoes reported this month alone. Another damaging round overnight. Devastating a community in Indiana and cutting off water and power in Dayton, Ohio.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
