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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

White House: Get The New Omicron Booster And A Flu Vaccine; Justin Bieber Suspends World Tour Over Health Issues; Apple Debuts Pricier New iPhone At 'Far Out' Event. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired September 07, 2022 - 05:30   ET

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

[05:30:00]

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN REPORTER: Of course, as we know how it always happens with Congress, Christine, they wait until the last minute --

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: OK.

DIAZ: -- so we do expect this to really play out over the month.

ROMANS: OK, indeed, Daniella Diaz. Thank you so much for that.

All right, a fast-spreading wildfire is blamed for two deaths in Southern California. The Fairview Fire has burned at least 4,000 acres in Riverside County, destroying or damaging nearly a dozen structures and forcing residents to evacuate. The record-shattering heat not helping fire crews.

Let's get right to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. It just looks awful there.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLIGIST: It does. You know, Christine, this incredible heat wave here that's been in place -- really kind of a multiday event that has drawn out of the past week or so. And, of course, you're seeing records fall by the wayside across this region with almost 60 million Americans underneath heat alerts in spots yet again, up to 115 degrees.

And if you look at these numbers it's hard to believe that we're talking about early September with these temperatures because even in the heart of the summer season -- you put this in, say, the middle of July, it's still going to be an impressive heat wave. Over 50 records set on Tuesday and far from over for some of these areas.

Again, climatologically, the middle of July-early August when you typically see peak summer temps across North America. Of course, in the month of September, you typically begin to see a downward shift. But these records in some places are all-time September highs.

Death Valley, in fact, a 125-degree observation on Tuesday, one degree shy of the all-time hottest temperature in the world in the month of September, which was 126 in an observation not too far away.

Sacramento came in with its all-time hottest temperature ever, 116 degrees. And again, for any month for Sacramento, you'll notice the previous of 108 -- just shattering these records.

San Jose, Denver, San Francisco also seeing records fall with temps climbing up into the century mark in a few spots.

But look at Salt Lake City. The first six days in the month of September -- all of them have exceeded 100 degrees.

So again, wide-reaching impact. And any time you have these long- duration heat waves it certainly saps the soil and certainly the moisture within the vegetation here, so the fire weather really is heightened. And you'll notice that the 65 large active fires across the U.S., 63 of them across the western U.S., a couple of them around the southern U.S. speaks to just how extensive the heat has been across parts of the west.

And it continues for a couple of more days here in Sacramento, climbing up to 112 degrees, running 20-plus degrees above seasonal averages. But finally, Saturday, Sunday, Monday we come back down to reality across the region.

Before we get there, Christine, as many as 100 more records possible across the western United States.

ROMANS: Wow.

JAVAHERI: Again, a historic heat wave here that continues for at least a few more days before some relief eventually comes this weekend.

ROMANS: All right, Pedram Javaheri. Thank you so much for that.

JAVAHERI: Thank you.

ROMANS: All right. Later today, we'll learn just what Apple's new iPhone can do and what it will cost. And a needle for each arm every year. The future of vaccines in America.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:37:28]

ROMANS: The White House is urging Americans to get the new COVID Omicron booster and a flu shot at the same time. Federal health officials are also making it clear COVID booster shots might be needed every year because the country will be living with coronavirus for the foreseeable future.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ASHISH JHA, WHITE HOUSE COVID-19 RESPONSE COORDINATOR: But this week marks an important shift in our fight against the virus. It marks our ability to make COVID vaccines a more routine part of our lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Let's bring in Dr. Ali Raja. He's executive vice chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and also a professor at Harvard Medical School. Good morning. Thanks for coming by.

DR. ALI RAJA, EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, PROFESSOR, HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL (via Skype): Thanks, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, Doc, you say annual COVID booster shots are necessary. I'm wondering -- maybe it's going to be easier to message this idea of routine yearly vaccine because until now it's been different guidance for different groups and we sort of change, and maybe that confusion in messaging left some people more likely -- more -- less likely, rather, to get the vaccine. What do you think?

RAJA: I think you're absolutely right, Christine. The fact is that we know that an annual vaccination process if feasible, right? We've done it with the flu for years. People accept it and it becomes part of their annual primary care visit and it just becomes very routine for us. And it moves it from something that, as you said, has changing recommendations every few weeks or few months and can get confusing, especially to people who are already dealing with a number of other health problems and are at higher risk.

So, we need that this strategy works. We know we've got the infrastructure and the experience with annual shots. It should be very feasible. And like you said, I think it will be much more accepted.

ROMANS: Yes, and hopefully, we've learned something -- or public health officials, at least, have learned something from the reticence we've seen among some groups and we can figure out how to message and get more people on board with even getting that first booster.

Let's talk about school. I know you've got little ones and so do I. I've got three back to school now.

This is going to be anything but a normal year. I mean, some kids are wearing masks, some aren't. Some schools are still contact tracing. Others are saying nope, we're out of this business now. It's up to you and your family, and friends to let everybody know if someone has been -- has been ill or has been in close contact.

What's your advice?

RAJA: You know, I think you're right, Christine. This is going to be a tough and confusing year mostly because, as you said, the variations amongst -- you know, when my kids call up their cousins and they have completely different rules at their school than our kids --

ROMANS: Yes.

RAJA: -- do. It's just going to be a tough and stressful year.

[05:40:00]

You know, the fact is that I think that any school year beginning is really stressful for kids, whether you're going into a new grade or a new school. But on top of that now -- you know, my third-grader -- the majority of his education has been wearing a mask all the time. And now we're only going to see it during times where the community levels of COVID are really high. And so, he's going to be in an environment that feels kind of alien and very difficult.

And so, I think this is a time where parents and teachers need to be even more supportive than normal and be willing to talk about the fact that this is -- this is going to be a tough and not normal school year -- yes.

ROMANS: I've got to tell you, I'm so impressed by these kids. I mean, my kids --

RAJA: Oh, yes.

ROMANS: -- they went -- they have a -- you know, they have masks in their backpack. If they're uncomfortable -- if they're in a situation where they feel like they want to wear them they're going to. But I'm letting them figure it out for themselves.

But when you talk about learning loss over the past couple of years, the mental health strain of this uncertainty of this virus -- I mean, I'm pretty impressed that kids are heading back to school this fall in as good a shape as they are, to be honest.

RAJA: We're building a really resilient generation. They have been through so much, especially those who just started school over the past few years.

ROMANS: Yes.

RAJA: I can't wait to see where they go. They're going to be amazing.

ROMANS: So, a new report overnight, though, showing that more younger people received mental health care during the pandemic than before. You see this every day, right -- pediatric patients in the E.R. awaiting placement in psychiatric facilities. I mean, I don't know.

Is there more need for mental health treatment or is this a function of the pandemic that more people are seeking mental health treatment? What do make of this report?

RAJA: I think it's -- you know, you covered two of the main topics there, Christine. The fact is that we know that there has been stress in the pandemic that has led to an increased need. That's absolutely true for all the reasons we just talked about.

But secondarily, the fact is that we're talking about mental health more. We're being willing to get help and that translates into adults being willing to get help but also to kids being willing -- or parents being willing to have their kids get help.

But the other thing is that just like all of health care, just like all of the economy right now, there are staffing shortages out there everywhere. And so we not only have more patients but we have fewer available beds. And what that means is that while adults sometimes wait hours or days for psychiatric beds in inpatient psychiatric facilities, I've had kids wait weeks in my emergency department and other emergency departments around --

ROMANS: I know.

RAJA: -- the country because there just aren't beds anywhere.

ROMANS: Well, that's a -- that's a problem. That's a real problem. All right.

RAJA: Yes. It's a real problem.

ROMANS: Dr. Ali Raja, thank you. Nice to see you this morning.

RAJA: Thanks, Christine.

ROMANS: All right, 42 minutes past the hour.

Justin Bieber scrapping the remainder of his world tour due to health issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER: Singing "Ghost."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The singer suspended the tour in June after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which left his face partially paralyzed. He resumed playing live shows in July but now Bieber says he's just exhausted.

The Justice World Tour had been scheduled to run through March of next year. We wish him well.

All right. Ahead on "NEW DAY," Chicago's mayor and the governor of Texas battling over migrants. And Apple about to unveil a new iPhone with a new price tag.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:47:21]

ROMANS: So, Apple launches a brand-new iPhone today. The company is expected to go big with the latest model iPhone 14. The phone is reportedly larger and experts say it's going to cost maybe $100 more than the last version.

I want to bring in CNN business writer Samantha Murphy Kelly. Hi, Samantha. The tagline -- we all got this email last week with the 'far out' tagline about this unveiling today. You've got to hand it to Apple. They do such a good job of ginning up anticipation for what is now the 14th version of a -- of a product.

What do we think is going to happen here today? What is this phone going to have to make it different? SAMANTHA MURPHY KELLY, CNN BUSINESS WRITER (via Webex by Cisco): That's right. You nailed it with big. They're expected to do four different iPhones this year but only in two sizes. So it will be a 6.1 we're expecting, and a 6.7-inch device.

This 6.7-inch device with the two different sizes -- so, a basic model and a pro -- is actually quite a big deal because people who really wanted a bigger phone before had to pay those premium prices. So this is bringing that bigger size back to a more affordable level.

But across the board, we're really expecting a lot of the same that we've seen from Apple in years before -- slimmer, sleeker, faster, smarter. Nothing totally revolutionary but a lot of these little things certainly add up.

We're expecting, potentially, satellite connectivity, which would be a nod to the 'far out' invitation that you mentioned. And that would mean if you're out and in a location where you're not getting service, you still might be able to make limited calls or messaging in an emergency situation, which would be a pretty big deal.

Across the board, we're expecting camera upgrades, both with the basic line and premium pro line. A telephoto lens and 8K video. The ability to shoot ultra-HD video for the very first time on an iPhone would be a pretty big deal for sure -- definitely, probably the biggest change to come to the camera in years.

So, again, nothing totally big but a lot of these smaller things to complement IOS 16 software upgrades that the company announced earlier this year at its developers' conference. A lot of the things that people are excited about are the ability to edit messages or unsend them. And a lot more interaction with the lock screen widgets -- more personalization.

So it will be interesting for Apple fans who will definitely be tuning in later today.

ROMANS: Absolutely.

OK, what about pricing here? You mentioned that some of the bigger models might be coming to a more affordable price range. But there have been all of these supply chain issues. Inflation is such a problem. Are they going to have to raise prices overall for the iPhones?

[05:50:01]

KELLY: Yes. Analysts feel pretty strongly that they will. It could probably be about $100 more, especially in the pro line -- the premium line there. You might be able to justify that cost with these camera upgrades that are pretty significant. But at a time when inflation -- people are curbing spending, it's not something that people are going to be totally willing to -- you know, excited to spend more money on a device like this.

But more and more people are considering smartphones as an essential --

ROMANS: Right.

KELLY: -- device. You can debate that but people save up for it. So despite the cost, Apple might kind of soften this a little bit with trade-in incentives or throw in a subscription service. They might try to soften it a little bit.

ROMANS: Yes. I think it will be interesting. People -- if they really want their technology, they dig deep for it. I mean, they really do if it's something that they do think is an essential.

OK. So you've got Apple's even today. Samsung had a big release over the summer. Google just announced its new event for the -- for the new Pixel.

How effective are these big, fancy events at keeping people excited and to trade in their phones? They're going to convince you to pay hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars for -- to replace something that works perfectly fine right now.

KELLY: I know -- it's so true.

They are so effective, I would say. I mean these are infomercials at best, to your point. Apple's been doing these types of events for over a decade now since the iPhone 5. Every September, we're expecting this. People tune in -- it was supposed to be originally just a press presentation and now people just always want to tune in.

And it's really important for brand loyalty across the board, whether it's Apple or Samsung, or Google. They want to keep people in their ecosystem. They want to keep people excited. They want to tease what's coming. Even if they're not going to upgrade right away, people are going to know what they're missing. So then, when it's time for them to upgrade, they're going to remember that.

I mean, it's really important. Analysts from Wedbush recently predicted that there's one billion iPhones out there and one-fourth of those users -- which is massive -- 250 million users haven't upgraded in three to four years.

ROMANS: Wow.

KELLY: So there's definitely people who are going to be upgrading, and then you always have the people that upgrade year and year over again -- those loyal people. So --

ROMANS: Yes, the diehards.

KELLY: -- I definitely think people will be -- yes -- tuning in for sure today.

ROMANS: All right, Samantha Murphy Kelly. Thank you so much. I know you'll be writing about it for us and we'll be looking for your writing.

KELLY: Yes.

ROMANS: Thank you.

KELLY: Thanks.

ROMANS: All right. Two police officers now suspended amid an investigation of their actions at the Uvalde school shooting. Details just ahead on that. And the top three songs of summer revealed. Who is on top of the charts, next.

(COMMERCIAL)

[05:57:08]

ROMANS: All right, let's get a check on CNN Business this Wednesday morning.

Looking at markets around the world, Asian shares closed down here, declining after Chinese export growth slowed more than expected in August amid COVID-19 lockdowns in China. The Japanese yen, by the way, also a 24-year low against the U.S. dollar.

It was a little bit of the same for European markets as fears of a recession grow in the region. Worries about energy this winter.

On Wall Street, stock index futures, right now, looking up just a little bit here. All three indices fell during a chopping trading session to start the short week yesterday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq down for a seventh day in a row -- the longest losing streak there since November 2016. Investors are grappling with the potential for additional sharp interest rate hikes by the Fed later this month.

Meanwhile, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded now at $3.76. A gallon down another couple of pennies. That's 31 cents less than a month ago but still nearly a dollar more than a year ago. Lower oil prices and a quiet hurricane season driving down gas prices here.

All right. In a record settlement, e-cigarette maker Juul will pay a whopping $438.5 million to 34 states for the way it marketed its vaping products. A 2-year probe found Juul deliberately targeted its products to young people even though e-cigarette sales to children, of course, are illegal. Juul will now be forced to comply with a series of severe limitations on its marketing and sales practices.

And finally this morning, he's the biggest star in the world right now, so no surprise Harry Styles ruled the music charts this summer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRY STYLES, SINGER-SONGWRITER: Singing "As It Was."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: "As It Was" number one on Billboard's Songs of the Summer chart for 2022, holding the top spot for 12 weeks and counting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIZZO, SINGER, RAPPER, SONGWRITER: Singing "About Damn Time."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Lizzo's "About Damn Time" second in the summer survey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK HARLOW, RAPPER: Singing "First Class."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Jack Harlow finished third on the Billboard summer chart with "First Class."

So sad. Like, that means summer's over, right, when we're already compiling the songs of the summer. All right, welcome fall.

Thanks for joining us. I'm Christine Romans. "NEW DAY" starts right now.

[05:59:30]