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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Biden Approves Florida's Emergency Declaration Ahead Of Storm; Top U.S. General In Afghanistan: "We Should Be Concerned" About Taliban; Russia Sets Daily COVID Death Record Five Times In Past Week. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired July 05, 2021 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: In effect for areas of Florida because that's where we anticipate the storm to go next.

Here you can see, again, that track's going to take it back out over open water and potentially making a second landfall, likely around the Tampa Bay region or just slightly north of that late Tuesday or very early Wednesday.

The key thing is really going to be the next 12 hours as it enters this incredibly warm water right here, allowing it the potential to perhaps strengthen a little bit more. Once it crosses over Cuba it will enter slightly cooler water temperatures. I know low 80s doesn't sound cool but for a storm, even a couple of degrees can make a big difference.

In addition to that, it is also going to enter a little bit of an area of some higher wind shear in some of the upper-level winds. That necessarily not favorable for the storm to further develop. So really, the next 24 to 72 hours is going to be critical for Florida to determine what this storm does.

Regardless of whether it strengthens again or not, flash flooding is going to be a concern with this storm as it dumps a tremendous amount of rain not only over Cuba but also over Florida. Widespread regions along the west coast, about four to six inches, but there could be a few isolated spots that get slightly more.

From there, the storm will continue off to the north and east, impacting Jackson, Savannah, and potentially, even Charleston, South Carolina.

Storm surge is also going to be a big concern mainly across southern Cuba. But even areas of western Florida could still pick up about two to four feet of storm surge with this particular storm.

So, Christine, going forward the real concern is really going to be what does this storm do in the next 12 hours to really determine some of Florida's impacts?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Can I ask you quickly, I'm seeing west coast impacts there. Would there be any impact or could there be impact on that terrible tragedy in Surfside where they're trying to pick through all of this rubble and find anybody who could have survived that building collapse?

CHINCHAR: Right, it's a great question and it's not out of the possibility -- realm of possibilities for them to get some of those outer bands closer in and around Miami. But certainly, the biggest impacts -- the brunt of this storm is really going to be focused --

ROMANS: West coast.

CHINCHAR: -- along the western coastline.

ROMANS: All right, Allison Chinchar. We know you'll stay on top of it for us. Thank you.

CHINCHAR: Thanks.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: All right. A fire in Arizona's Prescott National Forest is forcing people in nearby communities to evacuate their homes. The Tiger Fire, which started last week after a lightning strike, has consumed nearly 10,000 acres so far and forced the state to close the forest to visitors. Firefighters have been working to contain the flames but steep terrain and a lack of rain are making the job harder.

ROMANS: All right, to Afghanistan now. As the U.S. troop withdrawal there nears completion the Biden administration trying to nail down its policy on fighting terrorists using drones. The U.S. will continue to have the authority to carry out strikes against the Taliban in support of Afghan forces, but that authority does not necessarily extend to counterterrorism operations. So the National Security Council is studying whether to raise the bar for the CIA and the Pentagon to carry out deadly drone strikes and commando raids once U.S. troops are gone.

JARRETT: And the Army general in charge of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan says everyone should be concerned about the Taliban's advances on the ground there. General Austin Scott Miller says it's not just about the Afghan government's loss of terrain, it's also about the psychological impact on the Afghan people.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. AUSTIN SCOTT MILLER, U.S. ARMY: Hope actually matters and morale actually matters. And so, as you watch the Taliban moving across the country what you don't want to have happen is that the people lose hope and they believe they now have a foregone conclusion presented to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: CNN's Anna Coren filed this report from the Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, now vacated by U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Christine and Laura, we are here at Bagram Air Base. It's the first time we've been given access since the U.S. and NATO forces left last week, essentially ending America's involvement in this war.

We were taken to the airfield, which is behind us. It's a twin airfield two miles long. This used to be a hive of activity with fighter jets, cargo planes, and surveillance aircraft landing and departing constantly. Now it is completely deserted.

I want to show you here. There are the vehicles that the Americans have left. There are hundreds of pickup trucks and 4-wheel drives that have been left here like a -- like a car yard.

But it comes at a time when the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating. We know that the Taliban have claimed more than 150 districts in the last two months alone.

We heard from the vice president of Afghanistan today saying that there are tens of thousands of people who are fleeing the countryside because of the Taliban offensive, and that has been backed up by the United Nations that said more than 56,000 people have had to flee their homes in four provinces in the northeast of the country where much of the fighting is concentrated.

[05:35:10]

Earlier we saw a delegation from the National Security Council that came to inspect the premises here of Bagram Air Base. They're trying to work out what they are going to do with this enormous facility, which used to be a mini-city where tens of thousands of U.S. troops came through and U.S. presidents came through. Now, it has been handed over to the Afghans to fight the war on their own.

Laura and Christine, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, Anna Coren just filed that for us a few moments ago. Thanks, Anna.

U.S. cyber officials are tracking a huge ransomware attack on software vendor Kaseya. Kaseya's products are widely used by I.T. management companies. Now the White House is urging companies who believe their systems were compromised to immediately report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Cyber officials say the same malware in this attack was used to hit meat supplier JBS Foods last month.

Over the weekend, President Biden said the government is not certain who is behind the attack yet but he has directed federal agencies to assist in the response.

The attack on Kaseya is just the latest in a string of attacks in recent months. That JBS attack led to a temporary shutdown of beef plants. And the Colonial Pipeline attack, in May, disrupted gas shipments all along the east coast.

JARRETT: President Trump saying the quiet part out loud, appearing now to concede some of the core facts in the criminal case filed last week against his namesake company and longtime chief financial officer.

At a rally in Sarasota, Florida over the weekend, Trump tried to dismiss the case as politically motivated, brushing away but not really disputing a New York prosecutor's claim that CFO Allen Weisselberg received off-the-books compensation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They go after good, hardworking people for not paying taxes on a company car. You didn't pay tax on the car.

Or a company apartment. You used an apartment because you need an apartment because you have to travel too far where your house is. You didn't pay tax. Or education for your grandchildren.

I don't even know -- do you have to put -- does anybody know the answer to that stuff?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: He should -- he was the president. He has good lawyers. He's apparently failing to appreciate that he's still under investigation and anything he says can be used as evidence.

A Manhattan grand jury indicted the Trump Organization and Weisselberg last week, charging them with tax fraud, conspiracy, and other charges, alleging a 15-year scheme of tax evasion.

ROMANS: All right, to the holiday now. A reawakening in the nation's capital. Thousands of people packing the National Mall Sunday to celebrate a nearly-normal Fourth of July and to take in the fireworks.

We get more from CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): A spectacular fireworks here at the nation's capital. I'm right on the steps, of course, of the Lincoln Memorial. That is where thousands and thousands gathered. And on to the reflecting pool. And then, just below the National Monument.

That is where you saw for 17 minutes a light show that was absolutely extraordinary, accompanied by classical music and just families -- many, many families who gathered here in anticipation and excitement of this event. It started promptly at 9:09 p.m.

And this was markedly different than last year. You might recall last year, there was a fireworks display but the mayor -- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser discouraging people from going out the last time. There were masks required, as well as temperature checks, and a real fear of COVID.

Well, this go-round, the mayor says that the city is open for business here. There was no mask mandate, no social distancing -- just people gathered together having a great time here on this nation's birthday on this grand celebration.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, in Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Suzanne, thank you for that. It looked just beautiful.

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: I didn't hear anything last night. I don't know about you. That looked great.

Still ahead, summer sticker shock. Why you should brace yourself for higher prices as you head out on vacation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:43:29]

ROMANS: All right, a COVID spike in Russia. Russia reporting over 24,000 COVID cases in the past 24 hours, 654 deaths. On Sunday, Russia had its highest daily number of new COVID cases since early January. In the past -- just the past week, Russia has set a daily death toll record now five times.

Matthew Chance live in Moscow this morning. These are numbers going the wrong direction. Why, Matthew?

MATTHEW CHANCE, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, you're right. It's been like -- almost every day, it's been a new number -- a new record high in terms of infections and a new record high when it comes to deaths as well in any 24-hour measured period.

It's been slightly lower today, but over the weekend we saw the highest figures since the pandemic began, with about more than 25,000 -- 26,000, in fact, new infections across the country, mainly in Moscow, the capital, but also in major cities like St. Petersburg as well.

Look, there are a couple of factors. One of them is that the main vaccine in Russia, Sputnik V, which was the first vaccine to be developed by any country in terms of public use -- scientists here say that that's less effective against the Delta variant than it is against other strains of the -- of the -- of the virus. And so that's one factor playing into this.

But by far, the biggest factor is the fact that Russia has extremely high rates of vaccine hesitancy. People are deeply suspicious about getting any vaccine at all. And so we're seeing something in the region of 15 percent of the population have had the -- have had at least one jab so far, which is nowhere near enough to try and get to a level of herd immunity needed to protect against the Delta strain and all the other variants out there.

[05:45:00]

So the Russian government has started stepping up its campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated. Vladimir Putin, last week, telling people not to listen to rumors about the vaccine and about the virus that they may have heard, but instead listen to the science and to scientists -- something they should have been doing, of course, from the -- from the outset.

But there's also been tough new measures put in place as well. Anybody in public-facing jobs -- like in restaurants or in hospitality or in the transport business, for instance -- they're being told that if they don't get vaccinated by next week that you could face dismissal.

And so, the government here is saying look, we don't make vaccines mandatory. But, in fact, they're doing that by the backdoor in some sectors of the economy, by saying if you work in those public-facing jobs you have to get the vaccine or you'll get fired.

ROMANS: Wow, 15 -- just 15 percent of adults have received one jab. That is -- that is really a low number.

All right, Matthew Chance. Thank you so much.

JARRETT: All right. Rescue workers in Japan still searching for survivors after a huge mudslide in the coastal city of Atami over the weekend. At least three people have died and more than 100 still missing.

Torrential rains triggered the powerful slide that sent a tsunami of mud crashing down a mountain and into the city, destroying homes in its path there, you can see. Officials are investigating whether it was caused by development projects that deforested the area.

And look at these incredible pictures. A gas leak is said to be responsible for this eye of fire that was burning on the water surface in the Gulf of Mexico. This circular-shaped fire was burning close to a platform operating by Mexico state oil company, Pemex.

Officials say it was caused by a gas leak from an underwater pipeline. There were no injuries or evacuations and the company says there was no oil spill. They are investigating that incident.

ROMANS: That is just remarkable, those pictures.

JARRETT: I know.

ROMANS: All right, let's get a check on CNN Business this Monday morning. Looking at markets around the world to start the first full week of July, you can see Asian shares have closed mixed. And Europe has opened narrowly mixed here. U.S. markets, of course, are closed today for the Independence Day holiday.

Stocks ended on a high note last week. A strong jobs report pushed the S&P 500 to a record high on Friday, the seventh record in a row. The longest streak of record since all the way back in June '97. The Dow and the Nasdaq also ended the week with record highs.

Stocks have soared the first half of this year. The Dow and the Nasdaq are up, both nearly about 14 percent. The S&P 500 up almost 16 percent.

All right, planning a vacation this summer -- just about everything is more expensive. After a year of staying at home, Americans are now facing sticker shock for airfares, rental cars, hotel rooms.

Hotel room prices up 44 percent at the end of June compared to last year. Airfares, 24 percent higher in May. Rental car prices an astonishing 70 percent higher than pre-pandemic prices.

Your family road trip is more expensive. The national average price for a gallon of gas $3.13 right now, the highest price in seven years, up 44 percent from last year. Why? Well, gas prices are rising as the economy roars back to life and there are dislocations after shutdowns. Plus, there is a shortage of tanker truck drivers to deliver gas to gas stations.

So a variety of factors there -- $3.13 is the average.

JARRETT: The one thing is for sure, people want to get back out there.

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: People are tired of being at home.

All right. This may have been the weirdest thing on the internet this July fourth. Mr. Facebook himself, Mark Zuckerberg, celebrating Independence Day by posting this video on Instagram. It shows him riding a high-tech surfboard on a lake, holding Old Glory to the sounds of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

I will just leave that right there.

ROMANS: What is that?

JARRETT: I mean, it kind of looks like he's almost like levitating.

ROMANS: Yes, it does.

JARRETT: Obviously not, but --

ROMANS: All right.

JARRETT: -- having fun.

ROMANS: For the first time ever, a Major League Baseball player make the All-Star team as a pitcher and a hitter.

Carolyn Manno is here this morning in studio with the Bleacher Report. Good morning.

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, good morning you guys.

JARRETT: Hi.

MANNO: It's good to be with you. Happy holiday to you both.

ROMANS: You, too.

MANNO: The All-Star Game has been around for nearly a century so, really, a first in anything is a pretty big accomplishment, but Shohei Othani is a special player. He's baseball's first two-way star since Babe Ruth, but the first All-Star Game wasn't until 1933. That was well after Babe's pitching days were behind him. So, Othani making a little bit of history.

The Angels star, who turns 27 today and was named one of the American League's starting pitchers Sunday after being voted as the designated hitter on Thursday. The Japanese native has been solid on the mound in 12 starts. He's really shined at the plate, hitting his league-leading 31st homer in the Angels win over the Orioles on Sunday. That actually ties him with Hideki Matsui for the most in a major league season by a Japanese-born player.

Othani will also be featured in the Home Run Derby next Monday in Denver -- certainly busy.

Elsewhere, the Braves pulling off a stunning comeback against the Marlins. Check this out. So they scored four in the ninth to tie it and they thought that they had won it in the 10th after Austin Riley slid home on a wild pitch. But the umpires overturned it on a replay. And if you take a look, as Riley slid over the plate, you look closely you can see that this was the right decision here -- get the foot in front of it.

[05:50:07]

So the Braves actually ran out of position players. They turned to pitcher Max Fried to pinch-hit. He delivered the game-winning hit.

Eight-seven the final. Only the second time this year a team has rallied from four or more runs down in the ninth to end up winning the game.

And some further proof here that Mavs star Luka Doncic is a winner no matter what team he's on. On Sunday, the superstar led Slovenia to their first Olympic basketball appearance in the country's history. The 22-year-old's history triple-double effort against Lithuania in the finals of the Olympic qualifying tournament.

And after celebrating him on the court, as they should -- such a huge star making history with Slovenia -- the national team players ended up bringing the party to the post-game press conference. This is a little bit unorthodox but take a look at this. I don't think Luka Doncic seems to mind this at all. The Olympic men's basketball tournament begins on July 24th. Slovenia

is excited -- and you know that, they should be. Luka Doncic is a winner, pointblank.

And nothing goes better with your morning coffee than this annual Fourth of July tradition. Look away if it's too early. I know, it's too early. It's too early.

Joey Chestnut chowing down a world record 76 hot dogs to win the men's Nathan's Famous hot dog-eating contest for the 14th time. Joey Jaws breaking his own record in 10 minutes, eating one more dog than he did last year when the event was held inside without spectators.

Five thousand on hand, you guys, this year at a minor league baseball stadium on Coney Island right near the usual spot. And you know what he said? He said to be back in front of the fans, it just felt good.

But I have a hard time understanding how that's possible.

JARRETT: They almost look wet. Did he dip them in --

MANNO: Oh, yes. They're dipped in water. You've got to get the bun, too, Laura.

JARRETT: But how do you get the -- how do you -- how do you get it down with the bun? I just -- I love hot dogs --

MANNO: Yes.

JARRETT: -- but it's just gross.

MANNO: It's business, you know. This is not a pleasure -- this isn't a pleasant experience. It's completely disgusting. It's hard for me to watch but a lot of people are into it.

I mean, these are plain.

JARRETT: Yes.

MANNO: These are plain dogs.

JARRETT: I'm a Chicago person, no ketchup.

MANNO: OK, right.

ROMANS: Well, do you -- what, onions and tomatoes?

JARRETT: Onions, tomatoes, and mustard.

ROMANS: Yes, that's Chicago.

JARRETT: Yes.

All right, thank you, Carolyn.

ROMANS: Thanks, Carolyn. Have a great day. All right, thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans. Have a really wonderful holiday today, everybody.

JARRETT: I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" is next.

We leave you with Fourth of July fireworks from around the country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Brianna Keilar alongside John Avlon on this new day.

The rest of the tower in Surfside coming down overnight as a storm approaches and families wait.

Plus, Donald Trump appearing to publicly admit to the facts of the case against his business and moneyman. What this means for his legal jeopardy.

JOHN AVLON, CNN ANCHOR: And they refuse to pay taxes, recognize government, and don't believe the law applies to them. We're going to take you inside the sovereign citizen militia group at the center of an hours-long standoff with police.

And, the U.S. steps up evacuation plans for its embassy in Afghanistan as the threat of violence there rises as American forces leave.

KEILAR: A very good morning to viewers here in the United States and around the world. It is Monday, July fifth. John Avlon is in for John Berman this morning.

And this morning, nothing is left of the Champlain Towers South. Demolition crews detonating the standing portion of the collapsed condo building, bringing it down to the ground 11 days after its collapse.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

Demolition of Champlain Towers South.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Engineers were concerned the remaining structure was unstable and potentially dangerous with tropical storm Elsa bearing down on Florida.

AVLON: Search and rescue operations will resume when the site is deemed safe. Officials are hoping that the demolition will open a new portion of the site to search teams. No one has been found alive since immediately after the collapse. There are 24 confirmed deaths.