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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Biden Addresses Inflation Concerns As Consumer Prices Soar; Climate Summit Surprise: U.S. And China Pledge To Work On Emissions; Soccer Player Arrested, Linked To Attack On Her Teammate. Aired 5:30- 6a ET

Aired November 11, 2021 - 05:30   ET

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

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LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. This is EARLY START. I'm Laura Jarrett.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Christine Romans. It's 31 minutes past the hour this Thursday morning -- time for our top stories to keep an eye on today.

Several more defense witnesses set to take the stand today in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, including a doctor and a Kenosha police officer. On Wednesday, the 18-year-old murder suspect testified that he acted in self-defense when he shot at four people last year, killing two of them and wounding the third with his AR-15.

JARRETT: Schools in Texas are now legally allowed to require masks. The federal judge ruling Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on mask mandates is unconstitutional because it violates the rights of students with disabilities. This ruling affects about five million students.

ROMANS: Homeland Security is warning about diverse and challenging terrorism threats ahead of the holidays. The agency is concerned about violent extremism online, pandemic-relates stressors, and the potential to exploit recent events in Afghanistan.

JARRETT: A $20,000 reward for information that helps East Orange, New Jersey police find a missing 14-year-old girl. (Video of Donald Trump playing). It's not about Trump. It's been nearly a month since Jashyah Moore was last seen at a deli near her home.

ROMANS: All right, YouTube is removing the public dislike account on its videos. The goal is to improve the mental well-being of content creators and reduce targeted campaigns against them. YouTube viewers can still click the dislike button but only the account owner can see the count.

JARRETT: And this morning, President Biden is set to observe Veterans Days at Arlington National Cemetery. There will also be a flyover to mark the centennial anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Over the past two days, the public was allowed to lay flowers at the tomb for the first time in 96 years. ROMANS: All right, President Biden once again taking his sales pitch for the bipartisan infrastructure deal on the road hours after new data revealed Americans are paying more to shop than they have in 30 years.

CNN's Daniella Diaz, live on Capitol Hill. Daniella, is the president explaining how this bill will address the problems that are driving prices up?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: He is, Christine. That's part of what he's doing in trying to visit different parts of the country and tout this $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that he says will ease inflationary pressures and bring the cost of goods down.

You know, yesterday, he was in Baltimore and he cited specific provisions in this newly-passed infrastructure deal, which he will sign into law on Monday, that will aim to address some of these pressure points of inflation. He said specific funding will aid ports like the one he spoke from yesterday in Baltimore and will help ease supply chain issues, which is driving up the cost of goods.

You know, Biden acknowledged yesterday that the economy is something that Americans really, really care about -- especially the fact that gas prices are going up, the cost of food is going up, inflation rising. And he said consumer prices are one of the most pressing economic concerns of the American people. He said, quote, "and it's real."

Take a listen to what he said yesterday while he spoke, addressing Americans directly in Baltimore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today's economic report showing unemployment continued to fall, but consumer prices remain too high. It tells us the American people in the midst of this economic crisis and recovery is showing strong results but not to them. They're still looking out there. Everything from a gallon of gas to a loaf of bread costs more and it's worrisome.

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[05:35:11]

DIAZ: On one hand, he is touting this $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the House last week -- as I said, that he will sign into law on Monday.

But then, on the other hand, the White House is still pressuring Democrats to try to pass this separate economic bill that will likely be around $2 trillion that would have funding to help Americans directly with universal pre-K, funding to combat climate change. That would create thousands of jobs. Would have funding for childcare, expand the child tax credit. Expanding the nation's social safety net is something that would help

put money directly in Americans' pockets and ease some of these pressures of driving costs across the country, which is something that the White House is trying to pressure Congress to continue to work to pass. But, of course, there are still some holdups there.

But the bottom line here is the recess is happening here right now. There are not lawmakers here, so we'll likely get an update on that next week.

ROMANS: All right, Daniella.

DIAZ: Christine.

ROMANS: Thank you so much for that. Nice to see you.

All right, it is time for three questions in three minutes then. Let's bring in Zach Wolf, senior writer for CNN Politics and author of CNN's "What Matters" newsletter.

And inflation is running hot, right -- the highest since the 1990s. In your newsletter, you write this, Zach. "Inflation and infrastructure usually excite only professors and policy wonks" and me "but everyday Americans need to bone up. Infrastructure is the major accomplishment that could save Joe Biden's presidency. Inflation is the force that could doom it."

Say more. I mean, I argue there's not much, frankly, the White House can do about prices, especially gas prices.

ZACHARY WOLF, CNN POLITICS SENIOR WRITER, AUTHOR CNN "WHAT MATTERS" NEWSLETTER: I know. I feel bad answering this question for you, Professor Romans, but I will try.

So, I think that the problem for the Biden administration is very simple. He has made this bargain trying to sell this additional spending of trillions of dollars. He's gotten some trillions; he wants trillions more -- all this government spending to make peoples' live better.

And if everything's more expensive they're not going to feel that. If it's more expensive to fill up their car, to buy milk, to do all these things, they don't necessarily understand that the $300 or more dollars a month they're getting for children in their paycheck -- the essential raise that they've given parents -- it might not be felt.

So, having to explain that complicates this bargain that he's trying to make with the American people, and that makes it extremely difficult to sell something that people aren't noticing is happening.

JARRETT: Zach, the president was in Baltimore yesterday offering up his infrastructure and Build Back Better plan as solutions to inflation. But you do think he's done enough to actually sell that? Do you think he's actually convinced people the passage of those bills -- they're going to see it in their grocery bill every month? WOLF: No, he has not. And I think the White House would tell you that he hasn't yet, either. We're just entering the salesperson pitch version -- you know, portion of this effort. First, they had to pass it, and that was really hard. And now they have to go sell it, essentially. Having gotten it put into law they're going to go around the country and try to make people understand what's going on here.

And honestly, I think that things that will help peoples' live more immediately -- that's in the bill that hasn't passed.

JARRETT: Right.

WOLF: That larger social safety net bill. We're talking about universal pre-K. We're talking about extending the child tax credit. We're talking about giving help for daycare.

These are the things that help people individually right away. Expanding a port is going to help; it's just going to take a really long time.

ROMANS: Yes.

JARRETT: Well, that's part of the problem is the timeline on this stuff and everyone obviously wants the prices to go down right now. Fixing a bridge and a port would be great but it's going to take a really long time.

ROMANS: Their challenge is to say look, we're going to lower your childcare costs, we're going to lower your healthcare costs, we're going to lower your prescription drugs costs. We're going to do everything we can so that other costs are going down that we can control, and inflation eventually will come down to earth. Remember, it's reflating from a collapse last year.

JARRETT: Right.

ROMANS: It's important to put that into perspective.

Listen, Zach, let's talk about the January 6 investigation while I've got you here.

We've exclusively learned that the committee wants to speak to members of Mike Pence's inner circle. Some seem willing to cooperate. What could this mean for Trump's defense and for Mike Pence, himself?

WOLF: You know, it's interesting. Reading that report you get the impression that there are people who might want to talk but need to essentially be forced to talk --

JARRETT: Yes.

WOLF: -- or compelled in some way. So, this gets back into the -- you know, will they get all this done in time? That sort of runs underneath everything that's happening here.

But I also think Mike Pence is sort of emblematic of the rest of the party. Mike Pence clearly wants to get beyond Donald Trump. He wants to run for president. He wants to have a post-Trump career. But he's sort of stuck in this accountability phase where he can't anger the Trump supporters but he wants to move beyond the Trump era.

[05:40:00]

And I think his staffers -- or former staffers as -- you know, do they need to be subpoenaed to come in? Will they just willingly come talk? What are the optics to the rest of Republicans if they do just willingly come talk, and how does that affect Mike Pence?

Those are all things that I think are really -- we need to watch play out.

JARRETT: All right, Zach Wolf. Thank you so much for coming on.

WOLF: Thanks.

JARRETT: We'll be right back.

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JARRETT: A bit of a surprise at the climate summit in Scotland. The U.S. and China pledging to work together ahead of a virtual meeting between President Biden and President Xi as soon as next week.

CNN's Phil Black joins us live from Glasgow. Phil, good morning.

This deal between the world's two biggest polluters is a little bit short on details. What more do we know about this?

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Laura, it was a surprise but it is very much welcome. One of the big shadows over this conference -- and we've heard it from lots of people -- has been the suspicion that broader geopolitical differences between the U.S. and China have been hampering -- limiting the ability to make progress on climate issues.

[05:45:11]

Now it is these two countries essentially saying we're not going to link those other disagreements to the work we need to get done on climate. So, it's not rich in detail yet but it points to an intention to work closely and constructively together. It's a powerful message to the rest of the world -- the two biggest polluters saying they are going to work so closely and hopefully build momentum and set examples.

The key question, I guess, is can it make any difference to what's happening here in Glasgow right now? Around 200 countries are working through draft language on -- and agreements for when this conference closes.

There's some important stuff in there -- a strong argument for limiting global average temperature increase based on the science to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. And perhaps most crucially, instructions for all countries to go away,

revisit their emissions targets for this decade, and bring them back in a more ambitious way in one year's time.

That is important because what it means is that it is still theoretically possible, even once this conference closes, to achieve what the science says is necessary, which is cut emissions by around 50 percent by 2030. We know that we are nowhere near close to achieving that right now. If countries come back next year and perhaps the year after that -- but as I say, in theory, it remains possible.

Without that specific language -- and it will be under pressure from countries who don't want to do this -- it is very likely this conference and, indeed, the whole COP process would be considered to be a failure by many people.

ROMANS: Well, Phil, yesterday, transportation was the focus of the summit there. Transit, of course, responsible for so much of the carbon emissions around the world -- planes, cars, trucks, and so on.

Any progress in those talks?

BLACK: Yes, it is a key issue here, as you said, because it is such a big source of emissions.

The U.S. transport Sec. Pete Buttigieg is here talking about the implications of U.S. policy on climate, including, for example, U.S. plans to get its aviation industry to net zero, a hugely challenging task heavily reliant on big jumps in technology.

But the United States did not sign on to a declaration that was really being pushed by the British government here to commit countries to only producing zero-emissions cars by 2040. In the end, only about 30 countries did sign on. None of the car-making superpowers -- so, not the U.S., not Germany, not China.

We did see some big car companies add their name to it, like General Motors, Ford, Volvo, but a lot of them didn't. It would seem that despite the direction of the industry and of the market, it is clearly heading in that direction. The desire to sign on to a big global industrywide deadline -- it was just simply a step too far for the industry at this stage.

ROMANS: All right.

JARRETT: Phil, thank you.

ROMANS: Nice to see you, Phil, from Glasgow.

Let's get a check on CNN Business this Thursday morning, quickly. Looking at markets around the world you can see gains across the board. Asian shares have closed higher. Europe has opened higher. And stock index futures also leaning up a little bit.

It's Singles' Day, the world's largest annual shopping event kicking off in China today, so we will be watching that. Stocks slipped here in the U.S. after that October inflation report. Prices had the biggest annual rise since November 1990. The Dow closed down 240. The Nasdaq fell almost 1.7 percent. That's the worst day since the beginning of October.

There was some good news in the job market, though. Jobless claims fell to a new pandemic low. Just 267,000 people filing for benefits last week, almost back to normal-type levels.

Santa may not be coming to town this year. You can pin the title of Grinch on the tight job market. Demand for store Santas is soaring as malls try to return to normal. But you know what? Working Santas are scarce.

We are still in the middle of a pandemic. According to Santa bookers -- yes, there are Santa bookers -- the Jolly Old St. Nicks that are still out there -- that are still out there working -- they're more in the mood for taking than giving. What do I mean? They're demanding much higher hourly pay rates.

JARRETT: All right, a women's soccer star is under arrest accused of setting up a violent attack on one of her own teammates.

Andy Scholes has this morning's Bleacher Report. Andy, what happened?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Laura, this sounds a lot like the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan incident all over again, but this time in European soccer. So, Paris Sant-Germain player and French national team member Aminata Diallo was taken into custody yesterday morning as part of a police investigation into an attack on her teammate by masked men last week.

Now, according to "The New York Times," Diallo, pictured here on the left, allegedly hired two masked men to beat Kheira Hamraoui on the legs with metal bars in a plot for more playing time.

[05:50:01]

Now, Hamraoui was left badly bruised but with no broken bones. The injuries aren't considered career-threatening but they did force Hamraoui out of a women's champions league match on Tuesday. Diallo took her place in PSG's 4-nil win over Real Madrid.

CNN has reached out to Diallo, Hamraoui, and the prosecutor's office for comment.

All right, to the NFL. Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says a player on the team was rushed to the emergency room on Tuesday night due to shortness of breath.

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MIKE ZIMMER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS HEAD COACH: One of our players that was vaccinated -- he had to go to the E.R. last night because of this COVID. I mean, it's serious stuff. So, I don't know -- I mean, like 29 guys are getting tested because of close contact, including myself. So, we just do what we do. He's stable now but it was scary.

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SCHOLES: Yes. Multiple outlets, including ESPN and nfl.com, are reporting the player is offensive lineman Dakota Dozier, who was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list last Thursday.

Zimmer says the team is taking every precaution to prevent an outbreak within the facility. The Vikings currently have five players on the COVID-19 reserve list.

All right. In the NBA, the Lakers and the Heat playing a thriller last night. There were 33 lead changes in this one. Bam Adebayo saying this was a wild game from start to finish.

Russell Westbrook coming up big for the Lakers down the stretch. He knocked down two big shots in the closing minute.

The game went to overtime. In the extra period, Westbrook is going to find Anthony Davis there for the layup. That put the game away. L.A. wins 120-117.

Finally, Colts quarterback Carson Wentz's wife is expected to deliver their second baby at any time, but if she goes into labor on Sunday there's a chance he won't be there to meet his newborn daughter. And Wentz says he plans to play against the Jaguars on Sunday no matter what.

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CARSON WENTZ, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS QUARTERBACK: And if it comes down to a game, I told my wife I'm playing, and then I'll see you at the hospital afterwards. And she knew that. She knew that. She's been great.

But the coach has been understanding with meetings and everything. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. You know, I'm confident God will time it up the way it's supposed to work out.

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SCHOLES: And if it doesn't time out correctly, guys, I guess he won't be there. I just wanted to poll you -- poll you guys. How do you feel about that, missing birth for a game?

JARRETT: Can you guess? Not so great.

SCHOLES: Not on board for that?

JARRETT: Four thumbs down. Yes, we are not -- we do not co-sign on that.

ROMANS: No, no. That would never happen in my house -- never.

All right, nice to see you. Thanks, Andy.

SCHOLES: All right.

JARRETT: Thanks, Andy.

ROMANS: SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule on the way to the International Space Station.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three, two, one, zero. Ignition and liftoff.

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ROMANS: Four astronauts will spend 24 hours inside their capsule until docking tonight with the ISS. They will spend six months on a science and research mission to keep the 21-year-old Space Station adequately staffed.

JARRETT: All right, it turns out even prime ministers know how hard it is working from home when you have children. But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was updating New Zealanders on a COVID response during a Facebook livestream when she was unexpectedly interrupted by her 3- year-old daughter Neve. Watch this.

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JACINDA ARDERN, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: We've still got public health restrictions and need to keep it nice and safe. But you'll see the greatest (INAUDIBLE) for business --

You need to be in bed, darling.

NEVE, ARDERN'S 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER: No.

ARDEN: It's bedtime, darling. Pop back to bed. I'll come and see you in a second. I'll come and see you in a minute, OK?

Sorry, everybody.

NEVE: Come on, Nanny.

ARDEN: Yes, Nanny will take you down to bed. Thanks, Nana.

Well, that was a big-time fail, wasn't it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Like most 3-year-olds, Neve's patience is limited. A full four minutes later she crashed the livestream again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARDEN: And again, it's based on the health advice.

NEVE: It is taking so long.

ARDEN: Oh, it is? I'm sorry, darling. It is taking so long, OK. I'm sorry, everyone. I'm going to just go and put Neve back to bed

because this is well past her bedtime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Every working mom knows in your children's eyes you have one job, and that is mom.

JARRETT: No matter what --

ROMANS: There is only one job.

JARRETT: No matter what else is going on.

ROMANS: Exactly.

JARRETT: Bedtime negotiations are real, though.

ROMANS: I love it. I love it.

All right, thanks for joining us on this Veterans Day. I'm Christine Romans.

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

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JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. It is Thursday, November 11th, Veterans Day. Our thanks to those who serve and have served in the United States and all around the world. I'm John Berman with Brianna Keilar.

And this morning, gripping moments and new questions about the dramatic testimony of Kyle Rittenhouse on trial for homicide. Rittenhouse took the witness stand in his own defense and this is what the jury saw -- sobbing. The defendant appearing unable to speak at times as he explained how he fatally shot two people and wounded --