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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Kyiv Civilians Organize To Rescue Abandoned Pets; Senate Confirms Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson To Supreme Court; Tiger Impresses In Remarkable Return To Masters. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired April 08, 2022 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:31:41]

LAURA JARRETT, CNN ANCHOR: Among the many defenseless victims of the war in Ukraine, pets -- the cats, dogs, and other animals that people were forced to abandon as they fled advancing Russian troops. Rescuing those pets has become the job of an all-volunteer group based in Kyiv calling itself Zoo Patrol.

Let's bring in the group's founder, Dmytro Revnyk, and a member of his team, Andriy Lutsenko. Thank you both so much for joining us on the show this morning.

Andriy, first to you. Explain how this all started. How did the Zoo Patrol become a thing?

ANDRIY LUTSENKO, TEAM MEMBER, ZOO PATROL (via Skype): So, it's -- hi, everyone. It's a really cool, interesting story because once war started it was like a huge tremble (ph) for maybe the whole creative community because at once, guys stopped doing what they usually did, like in regular life.

And so, afterwards, how it was happened -- Dmytro -- he received a first request on the person who left his pet at home -- and the house was closed -- and asked him to -- actually, to locate the house and come and feed and take out the pet.

And afterwards, once the first mission was complete, Dmytro received around like 800 or even 850 requests in just three days. So we understood that the problem is really huge.

And afterwards, Dmytro had his own production team that worked in like video production house, and all the guys from creative industry, from production team who worked with, they joined it. Actually, the Zoo Patrol in this like telegram group. And from the starting of war the guys actually, like every day trying to save as much pets as possible.

So we started from Kyiv and afterwards you probably know that suburbs near Kyiv -- cities near Kyiv like hugely shelled, hugely bombed and a lot of -- a lot of pets left there because their owners were killed. Because someone left and decided to leave their pet or dog like at home. So it's like really -- currently, it's really like terrible situation

in the suburbs of Kyiv. So it's -- a lot of bodies are laying on the earth -- on the ground and these pets -- these dogs -- mostly dogs are starting to eat these bodies because they are like hungry and they are struggling from this -- starving from this.

So we are trying to do as much as possible to save as much as possible pets and bring it to the safe place in Kyiv.

JARRETT: Yes, you guys are doing so much and I know so many people are so appreciative. Pets mean so much to people.

Dmytro, I wonder, what is the hardest part of this?

LUTSENKO (translating): (Speaking foreign language).

DMYTRO REVNYK, FOUNDER, ZOO PATROL (via Skype): (Speaking foreign language).

[05:35:03]

LUTSENKO: You know, like Dmytro is treated to something hard and something tough because at the one moment, everyone was desperate and doing something positive, doing something useful would give us more confidence and more power like to leave more because you are doing something good.

So, it's not maybe about hardness of the process but, you know, maybe the hardest part is like to -- for now, is to keep a lot of -- a lot of animals because Dema has two offices which are already full of pets -- like more than 50 dogs and cats -- and cats in one office.

So for my opinion, the maybe toughest moment now is to keep -- to keep these pets like in a normal conditions. To have food for them and to have a good attitude to them while they are like in the -- in the Dema's office.

JARRETT: I wondered that. Where -- how are you feeding them? Where are you keeping them? Just anywhere you can?

LUTSENKO: So, as I told, like for now, Dema -- in his production house office he is keeping right there all the pets. They safe -- which didn't find the owners so far. As for feed, a lot of volunteers -- a lot of people -- just citizens of Ukraine -- of Kyiv -- they are just providing with help. So they are buying the food for pets. That's why -- that's why they're not hungry -- they're not starving here.

JARRETT: Wow. You guys are just taking on something so incredible, and it's just these small acts of kindness that add up to just a really heartening effort. I thank you both for all that you're doing.

And Dmytro, I know you have also a new baby on top of all of this, so you really do have your hands full of everything. Look at that. Oh, scrumptious.

All right. Dmytro, Andriy, thank you so much for spending a little time with us this morning. We appreciate it.

LUTSENKO: Thank you, guys. Have a nice day. And everything will be Ukraine. Bye-bye.

REVNYK: Thank you. Bye-bye.

JARRETT: Thanks so much.

Still to come, today's White House celebration for a true trailblazer. And Tiger Woods teeing off after a solid first day at the Masters. That's next.

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[05:41:36]

JARRETT: Just hours from now, a celebration at the White House for Ketanji Brown Jackson's historic confirmation as the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

CNN's Jasmine Wright is live in Washington for us this morning. Jasmine, for many years after the president is gone, then-Justice Jackson will be on that court. This is a huge stamp for the president's legacy. Who is going to be there today?

JASMINE WRIGHT, CNN REPORTER: Well, Laura, that's right -- a huge stamp for the president's legacy.

And so, scheduled to speak is President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Judge soon-to-be Justice Jackson. And the event is happening around noon today on the White House south lawn outside as the White House continues to grapple with a wave of positive COVID-19 cases from administration officials and other top lawmakers.

And just yesterday, we saw photos of Judge Jackson watching the returns of the vote alongside President Biden. In this photo you see they look very close, they look very happy. In another, they were holding hands. So, no doubt, they were celebrating this moment. You can see them holding hands right there.

And, no doubt, that celebration is going to continue because not only, Laura -- you're right. This is an achievement for Jackson personally after all of her hard work all of these years. An achievement for Black girls across the country and no doubt across the globe. But also, a personal achievement for President Biden who is struggling with low approval numbers from high inflation, from gas prices made worse by that Russian invasion, and from the ongoing pandemic.

So, no doubt, this is something that the White House is really going to lean in today and celebrate the president's first successful person that he was able to put on the Supreme Court of his presidency -- Laura.

JARRETT: And perhaps the only one.

Jasmine Wright, thank you so much -- appreciate it. So here is a look at how the historic moment of Judge Jackson's confirmation unfolded on the floor of the Senate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: On this vote, the ayes are 53, the nays are 47, and this nomination is confirmed.

(Applause)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JARRETT: Let's bring in April Ryan, CNN political analyst and Washington Bureau Chief for the TheGrio. April, so nice to have bright and early this morning. Appreciate you coming on EARLY START.

APRIL RYAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST, WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF, THEGRIO (via Webex by Cisco): Indeed, Laura. Anything for you. Good morning.

JARRETT: So, 233 years -- 233 years the Supreme Court has been in existence and, finally, yesterday, a Black woman is confirmed. What was going through your head as you watched it?

RYAN: Well, you know, I was watching the controlled excitement by Vice President Kamala Harris, who happens to be -- was presiding over the Senate yesterday to see this moment. And this moment is not just about this moment. There have been attempts to have a Black woman Supreme Court justice before.

I think about during the Obama administration people like Melanie Campbell and Mark Barreal (ph). Many of the civil rights leaders had been pushing for those moments during the Obama years. And we also heard that former President Bill Clinton had thought about putting Barbara Jordan -- nominating Barbara Jordan for that high court.

So this is a moment that has been building for decades, but it's finally here. She's won after 233 years. That's a long time for a first.

[05:45:00]

JARRETT: It is a long time, indeed. And yet, somehow, in the midst of all of that historic and just the monumental nature of the moment, some Republicans chose to walk out of the chamber yesterday.

We have the video. We can play it so people can see in case they missed it. Everyone's giving her a standing ovation. It's a historic moment for the country. Even if you did not vote for her it's a moment, and this is the one they chose to walk out on?

RYAN: This just further highlights and spotlights the divide that's in Washington. There is disdain -- political disdain for any success the other side might have. Right now, it's Republicans against Democrats. And who knows -- if Republicans have this wave during the midterms, as expected, who knows? It could be Democrats against Republicans. But this, once again, is a symbol. Not just a symbol but the actual fact that we saw the optics of the disdain, the divide. But you did have bipartisan support. All she needed was 50 and she received 53 yes votes -- three from Republicans and the rest from Democrats.

JARRETT: Well -- so that was an unfortunate moment -- a petty one -- but there were some tender ones as well. The vice president -- Vice President Harris gave Sens. Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock a piece of stationary to sort of commemorate the moment, and told them to write a note to a young girl in their lives.

And Sen. Warnock shared the note that he wrote to his daughter and I want to read just a little bit of it to you because I think it's so just telling for how people feel about this moment.

He's talking about Judge Jackson. He says, "In our nation's history, she is the first Supreme Court justice who looks like you, with hair like yours." And he goes on to say, "I write this note to say you can be anything, achieve anything you set your head and your heart to. Love you, Dad."

What do you make of that?

RYAN: You know, there is a moment for journalism but there is also a moment for humanity as a Black woman who is a mother of two daughters. And it does make you take pause and say there is a shift. The optics are shifting of the power structure in Washington. And yes, you can be -- as long as you have hard work behind you and a good education -- to be anything you set out to be.

But Laura, it's not just about the little Black girl. It's about any girl, any boy. I mean, I think about my conversation leading up to this moment with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who was elated over this moment, ready to cast this vote. A white woman who happens to pride herself in being a champion for people -- average people.

This is a moment not just for little Black girls and Black women, and the Black community, but it's a celebration for all to see a shift where everyone could be at the table and on the table.

And I think about the late Shirley Chisholm who ran for president in 1972 -- the first Black woman to run for president on the Democratic side.

JARRETT: Right.

RYAN: You know, she talked about if you don't have a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. Well, Ketanji Brown Jackson has a solid chair and she is at the highest court at that bench in October. So, things are shifting from 1972 to 2022.

JARRETT: Yes. She now has a chair for life. And it, as you said, is really a moment for the country to be proud of.

April Ryan, thank you so much. Appreciate you, my friend.

RYAN: Thank you, Laura.

JARRETT: Well, Tiger Woods completes a remarkable return to golf with an impressive showing to start the Masters. Coy Wire has more in this morning's Bleacher Report. He is live from Augusta National. Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning to you, Laura.

It has been 508 days since we've seen Tiger play his last competitive round here in Augusta and he looks as strong as ever. Filled to the brim with faith, it was clear that he worked hard to get his mind and body right after that near-fatal car accident 14 months ago.

And there was a sea of humanity to see that comeback. People on their tippy-toes. I saw one person literally jumping up so he could see Tiger tee off.

The five-time Masters champ played solid and at times, showed flashes of brilliance, like his approach for birdie here on the 6th. You'll see he finished with a one-under-par 71, which is incredible considering the long, grueling course that took its toll on him as the round went on with the rods and screws in his leg and foot. Tiger had a noticeable limp but he knows that's just his new reality -- listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, TIED FOR 10TH AFTER OPENING ROUND IN THE MASTERS: With all the hardware in my leg, it's going to be difficult for the rest of my life. It's just the way it is. But I'm able to do it and that's something I'm very lucky to have this opportunity to be able to play. And not only that, to play in the Masters and to have this type of reception. I mean, the place was electric.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[05:50:01]

WIRE: This place was popping, Laura. Woods is tried for 10th, just four shots behind the leader, Sungjae Im.

Tiger says that he has the ability to win the Masters but does he have the sustained ability? Last night, the 46-year-old said that there wasn't going to be an extra hours' long practice sessions like he's used to. It was straight to the rehab process to prepare for round two today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOODS: It's lots of ice -- lots of ice baths and I'm just basically freezing myself to death. And, you know, that's just part of the deal. Most sports -- if you're not feeling very good you've got a teammate to pass it off to and they can kind of shelter the load, or in football, one day a week.

Here, we've got four straight days and there's no one going to shoulder the load besides me, and I've got to figure out a way to do it. I know how to play; I've just got to get out there where I can play.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right, Laura. Tiger is scheduled to begin his second round this afternoon at 1:41 eastern. He's going to take that one step closer to making the cut here in Augusta.

JARRETT: All right, we'll see, Coy -- appreciate it.

We'll be right back.

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[05:55:20]

JARRETT: A critical reservoir -- the second-largest in the U.S., in fact -- that supplies water to some 40 million people across seven states and Mexico is running dry.

CNN's Bill Weir takes us there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just a couple of years ago, this part of Lake Powell was pretty enough to put in the brochure. But today, there is no water, only sand.

WEIR (on camera): You can't paddle around Lone Rock anymore.

WEIR (voice-over): If you haven't been out west in a while and haven't seen the state of the Colorado River and its reservoirs, you would be shocked.

This is what Powell looked like just last spring when you could still float around Lone Rock. But the satellite shows it losing island status as the lake level fell over 40 feet.

WEIR (on camera): And the lake used to go -- used to go half a mile around the corner. And now it starts way back here. I cannot believe this.

WEIR (voice-over): While hurricanes, floods, and wildfires can upend your life in a moment, droughts are slow-motion disasters, and this one is now in its 23rd year. With the region's population booming and another winter without enough snow, there are no signs of relief.

But when you are houseboating on what's left of Lake Powell, it's still gorgeous. It's still so easy to forget that just since the mid- '80s the water level has dropped 177 feet. That's like 10 of these yachts stacked on top of each other.

KENNETH RUNNELS, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, ANTELOPE POINT MARINA: This is a temporary dock to get us access to the -- to the marina.

WEIR (voice-over): So the tourism industry has no choice but to adapt, making ramps longer as the lake gets lower. RUNNELS: This was connected straight up there. So --

WEIR (on camera): At one point, we would have been high enough that would have been a straight angle.

RUNNEL: That -- yes.

WEIR (on camera): This is not a decade or two; this is a year or two since it's dropped.

RUNNEL: Yes. This is within two to three years.

MAX LAPEKAS, CO-OWNER, LAKE POWELL PADDLEBOARD AND KAYAK: If it continues to go down another 10-15 feet, we might have to shut down.

WEIR (voice-over): For Max Lapekas, the changing canyons means more people eager to explore them in his rental kayaks and paddleboards, but not enough safe places to put them in. And he knows the big picture -- 40 million people and their animals and crops in seven states and Mexico depend on Colorado River water not to recreate but to live.

LAPEKAS: Man-made climate change, I do believe is a thing, to a certain extent.

WEIR (on camera): Yes.

LAPEKAS: But I do believe the Earth goes through cycles and this could just be another cycle. But I don't see any good evidence of it getting any better anytime soon.

WEIR (voice-over): In a first-of-its-kind Gallup poll, one in three Americans say they've been personally affected by severe weather the past two years. And for those who have, regardless of party, they are much more likely to say the climate crisis demands action. But, only 3% say they've experienced drought. This may be because, for most, tap water keeps flowing. And here, houseboaters keep coming.

WEIR (on camera): What do you say to someone who sees this as proof -- alarming proof of sort of a man-made climate crisis?

RUNNELS: Some of it is man-made. There's no doubt about it. You've got more users using the water out of the Colorado River. You've got more -- you've got more of everything than you had 50 years ago. It's that simple.

WEIR (on camera): Would you label your business a victim of drought?

RUNNELS: We've had to change the way -- obviously, the way we do a lot of things. At this point, I would not say we're a victim.

WEIR (on camera): Yes.

RUNNELS: I would say we're an adapter.

WEIR (on camera): And from now on, it seems, anyone who wants to live in the American southwest will have to be an adapter.

Bill Weir, CNN, Page, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JARRETT: Our thanks to Bill Weir for that incredible report, as usual.

Thanks so much for joining me. I'm Laura Jarrett. "NEW DAY" starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Good morning to our viewers in the United States and around the world. It is Friday, April 8. I'm John Berman in New York. Brianna Keilar is in Lviv in western Ukraine.

And we do begin with major breaking news out of eastern Ukraine. Russian forces have hit a train station -- a missile attack on a train station here in Kramatorsk. Thousands of people at that train station trying to get out of the region.

Responders say at least 30 people were killed, including children -- 100 more injured. And we're told you can see bodies lying on the ground with their suitcases right next to them. These people trying to get out of that war-torn region.

The Ukrainian officials say the Russians knew what they were hitting.

I want to show you images of this train station from just four days ago. Look at this. You can see how packed this train station.