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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

McConnell: Sending Migrants to Blue States a "Good Idea"; CBP Encounters with Migrants Tops 2 Million this Year; Impact of Expected Rate Hike when Fed Meets Today; Thousands Protest after Death of Woman in Police Custody; Draymond Green Sounds off on Suns Owner Robert Sarver. Aired 5:30-6a ET

Aired September 21, 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]

KRISTIN FISHER, CNN HOST: Daniella Diaz joins us live from Capitol Hill. Good morning Daniella! We know how Mitch McConnell obviously feels about some other members of Congress?

DANIELLA DIAZ, CNN REPORTER: Kristin this is such a partisan issue. We know immigration has always been such a divisive issue here on Capitol Hill. But we're really seeing it play out front and center with this issue of sending migrants to Martha's Vineyard with these Republican Governors making that decision.

Republicans on Capitol Hill largely praising DeSantis for that decision and Democrats criticizing these Republican Governors for that decision even some Democrats going as far as saying they would like some federal oversight for how these programs were paid. They would like that investigate unclear whether that will proceed.

But really the bigger picture here is Kristin, that immigration reform is a stalled issue on Capitol Hill. Democrats unable to pass any sort of immigration reform bills, despite having majorities in the House and the Senate and President Joe Biden at the White House.

And it's unclear whether this will even be addressed before the 2022 midterms, Kristin, because it's such a political issue. Democrats, of course, are calling what DeSantis did a political stunt Republicans really using immigration on the campaign trail to try to win over voters ahead of the 2022 midterms.

And we expect that to continue playing out in the next two months before the midterms before voter's turnout in November. And we don't expect to let up and unclear right now. But it seems unexpected that they will dress immigration before that, Kristin.

FISHER: Yes, kicking the can down the road yet again. Daniella Diaz, thank you so much. So now let's bring in Jasmine Aguilar. She's a Staff Writer for Time. Jasmine, good morning! And I'd like to start by actually reading an excerpt from your piece about some of the migrants that were bussed out of Texas.

You wrote and I quote, they were thrilled for the option of free transportation and were surprised to learn that Governor Abbott's intentions were less about accommodating them than inconveniencing his political opponents. And based on this new lawsuit, we now know that many of the migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard felt the same way right?

JASMINE AGUILERA, STAFF WRITER, TIME: Sure. Well, I mean, it's worth pointing out some clear differences, though. The migrants who arrived in Martha's Vineyard appear to have been misled. And at least from my reporting, based on my reporting in Del Rio, where basically that, that what you quoted in the story where that came from, is there's a process at least in Del Rio from Texas, this has been going on for a few months now.

People in Texas before they board, those buses are given an orientation. They're told about what their rights are. They're told about where they're going. They're told they can get off the bus at any point that they want. They can take it as far as they want. And that didn't appear to happen in Martha's Vineyard. It seems like there was a lot of misrepresentation going on there.

FISHER: So there's some very clear differences for you in terms of what the Governor of Texas did and what the Governor of Florida did? Jasmine, you know, border cities are more accustomed to dealing with migrants than you know, say Martha's Vineyard.

What are some of the biggest hurdles that migrants are facing in trying to, you know, build a new life in places other than these Border States like Texas, Florida and Arizona?

AGUILERA: Sure. I mean, there's the immediate shock, of course of arriving at a place that is surprised at receiving them. But really what happens is after they've arrived, they have to decide whether or not they're going to make an asylum case. Most of the people who are arriving right now are here legally, at least until their asylum cases decided.

So they've been permitted to cross the border, they are opening up asylum cases. And after that, that that process can take months can take years, the Biden Administration has attempted to expedite that process for them. But at this rate, considering the backlog in courts, it still may take months.

So in that time, many are reuniting with family members, loved ones in the U.S. trying to find work putting their kids in school, basically just trying to live a normal life while they figure out whether or not they can stay permanently in the U.S.

FISHER: You know, when you look at the numbers, border patrol encounters topped 2 million already this fiscal year a record. I know you've recently started covering Congress and we just heard from our Congressional Correspondent Daniella Diaz. But what's your take on where lawmakers are on immigration reform?

I know Daniella said you know that they're essentially kicking the can down the road past the midterms. But where do you think immigration reform stands? AGUILERA: I mean, I would agree. Immigration reform has been tried and failed multiple times through different administrations; Congress really has not acted meaningfully on immigration reform for probably about 30 years. And that's contributed to the problem that we've seen at the border.

The population who are arriving in those past three years has shifted dramatically. It's not the same now, as you know, 30 years ago, when DHS or CBP, any officials at the border, were able to just immediately return single adult Mexican men back to Mexico.

Now the complex situation is so complex, and our U.S. immigration laws have not kept up to it to that complexity, put that complexity, contributing to the problem that we see now. But whether Congress will actually work together on this I don't see that happening in the next few months or even in this administration.

[05:35:00]

AGUILERA: We may see later down the line, but right now, I'm not seeing any signs that immigration is an issue for Congress that they'll act anytime soon.

FISHER: All right. Jasmine Aguilera, thank you so much for getting up early with us!

AGUILERA: Thank you, appreciate it.

FISHER: Meanwhile, a critical test this morning to determine when NASA's Artemis Moon Rocket is going to be ready for liftoff and the Fed is expected to announce another historic interest rate hike what it means for you and your money?

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[05:40:00]

FISHER: The Federal Reserve is expected to make history today by raising interest rates three quarters of a point for the third time since June. It's a move that will impact Americans with credit cards, car loans, mortgages, and student debt. So let's bring in Jeanna Smialek, Federal Reserve and economy reporter for "The New York Times". Good morning, Jeanna!

So the Fed about to raise interest rates for the third time this year, we think likely three quarters of a point. What do you think? Is it a good idea, bad idea? Could the Fed go even higher?

JEANNA SMIALEK, FEDERAL RESERVE & ECONOMY REPORTER, NEW YORK TIMES:: Right. So this is the third three quarter point increase in a row, actually the fifth increase this year. So just a ton of tightening, we are seeing a lot - a lot of action from this Federal Reserve. You know, it's not far being it for me to say whether they're making good choices or bad choices.

But what is very clear and increasingly obvious, is that they are really trying to slow this economy down in order to get inflation under control. And it does seem likely and you know, I think we're going to get some sort of signal today that they are going to go further this year that they're going to raise rates even more.

And the big question that everybody on Wall Street and investors across the country are going to be looking for is just how much further are they willing to go? And just how much pain do they think that's going to inflict on the economy?

FISHER: Yes, so how likely is this soft landing that the Fed is, you know, clearly trying to engineer here? Do you think that they're, you know, pushing too hard to fight inflation?

SMIALEK: You know, when you talk to economists, they will say that there is still a plausible path to a soft landing, you know, the job market is very strong. And it's possible that we could cool it down without actually pushing ourselves into a recession.

I think most economists will tell you, though, that that path has gotten a lot narrower, you know, it's going to be very hard to pull this off. This is the fastest pace of tightening since Paul Volcker sat in Jay Powell's chair, you know, since Paul Volcker was the Fed Chair back in the early 1980s which if any of your viewers remember, that was a very painful experience.

We're not anywhere near those levels of extreme tightening yet, but we haven't done anything, you know anything comparable ever since. And this is the fastest we've been since then. So this is a very rapid pace of Fed tightening.

FISHER: Yes, and this is something that, you know, really affects almost everyone here in this country. It affects people's homes, their car loans, retirement savings. Do you think there's anything that people can do to try to limit the pain from these from these rate hikes?

SMIALEK: Right. Well, so the one I think positive piece of news is if you already own a mortgage, if you already have a mortgage, if you're locked into your house, you're obviously in pretty good shape right now, because inflation is eroding the value of that mortgage.

If you still have to take out a mortgage, if you want to borrow for a car, if you are hoping to switch jobs anytime soon, this is a very painful period, you know, it's expensive to do those things and the job market is likely to cool.

I think one thing is just to be prepared, you know, be aware that we are likely not feeling the brunt of this pain yet. It's going to really start to feel we're really going to start to feel this next year, and potentially even into 2024. That's when unemployment could be rising.

And so I think you know, as you're making your career decisions, as you're thinking about the next couple of years of your economic life, be aware that it could be a little bit of a bumpy ride for the next couple of years here. FISHER: Yes, so get prepared and know that it will likely get worse. Thank you Jeanne Smialek! So the Justice Department unveiling criminal charges against 47 people for allegedly stealing $250 million from a federal program to feed children during the pandemic.

Prosecutors say the defendant set up a network of shell companies to exploit a Minnesota nonprofit designed to provide meals to children from low income families. They now face charges of Conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and paying and receiving illegal kickbacks. The DOJ says it is the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date.

Well, Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones expected to take the stand today at his second trial to determine just how much he owes in damages to Sandy Hook families and a group of doctors and health experts now recommending that adults be screened for anxiety.

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[05:45:00]

FISHER: Protests are widening in Iran following the death of a 22- year-old woman in police custody. Videos on social media show a woman cutting her hair in protest as the crowd chants death to the dictator. Jomana Karadsheh is tracking the latest developments from Istanbul. So Jomana how widespread are these protests? And are you hearing anything from the Iranian government?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kristin truly remarkable and powerful images videos that we see coming out of Iran overnight. Like that video that you just played. You've got thousands of protesters across dozens of cities and towns across the country, from the Kurdistan Province in the Northwest of the country to the Capital Tehran.

Cities are considered even more conservative like - and Mashhad. You've got you know, the scope of these protests is quite rare. They're unprecedented in their feminist nature where you're seeing women at the forefront of these protests in these remarkable acts of defiance taking off their headscarves burning their headscarves after setting up bonfires on the streets and shouting death to the dictator.

[05:50:00]

KARADSHEH: I mean we have really never seen anything on this scale in Iran before. These are the sorts of acts that would end these women up in jail or even they would face flogging as a punishment for doing this. We've heard women chanting for freedom, freedoms that have been taken away from them since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

As you mentioned, this was all sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last week while she was in the custody of the country's notorious morality, police. You've got her family human rights groups, blaming this on the brutality and ill treatment by the morality police. The government has denied this. They've said that it's of natural causes, but really, you know, what we're seeing right now this has snowballed into much more than that. This is so much anger after decades of repression of women who are now saying, enough is enough. And despite the crackdown by the authorities, we're getting reports of more protests this morning, Kristin.

FISHER: Wow! And that video of that woman cutting her hair just stunning you're right you just don't see things like that in that country. Jomana, thank you so much! A crane crashes down in New York City's smashing into a car with a woman inside her incredible story ahead on New Day.

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[05:55:00]

FISHER: Just into CNN, the streak is over at 98 days. The national average price of gasoline rose slightly Wednesday to $3.68 a gallon according to AAA. That ends 98 consecutive days of falling prices at the pump the second longest streak on record going back to 2005.

And in sports Yankee Slugger Aaron Judge becomes only the sixth player in baseball history to crush 60 homers in a season. Andy Scholes is this morning's Bleacher Report. Good morning, Andy!

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Kristin. So Aaron Judge joining Babe Ruth and Roger Maris as the only players ever to hit 60 home runs in the American League and this turned out to be just one magical night at Yankee Stadium.

Judge came to the plate in the bottom of the night last night with the Yankees down eight to four and he crushed this ball sending it into the Bleachers in left. The crowds is going absolutely nuts. Studs now just one homerun shy of tying American League record.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AARON JUDGE, NEW YORK YANKEES OUTFIELDER: When you talk about Ruth and Maris and Mantle and all these you know Yankees greats that you know there are so many great things in this game. You know you never imagined as a kid you know getting mentioned with them but you know it's an incredible honor. You know something I don't take lightly at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Judges' home run made it eight to five with the Yankees then loaded the bases after that, and then Carlos Stanton hit an absolute laser for a walk off Grand Slam. Yankees went in dramatic fashion 9-8. Judge got 15 more games trying to break Maris' AL record Yankees going to host the Pirates again tonight.

The family of 12 year old Little Leaguer, Easton Oliverson, who was critically injured after falling out of a bunk bed, is suing the Little League World Series and the company that made the bed. The lawsuit was filed one month after Easton suffered a fractured skull requiring multiple surgeries.

Easton's family claims the beds at the Little League World Series were not safe because they did not have proper railings attached. The family is seeking at least $50,000 in damages for negligence and liability.

Golden State Warriors Star Draymond Green meanwhile, says the NBA should vote to determine whether suns owner Robert Sarver was allowed to be reinstated following his one year suspension. The NBA suspended Sarver fine of $10 million following an investigation into allegations surrounding racism and sexism during his time as owner. In his podcast, Draymond didn't hold back saying that punishment was too light.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DRAYMOND GREEN, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS FORWARD: Well, to think that someone like Robert Sarver that's acting in that manner can continue to represent us. Thus - you can continue to represent way more people than yourself with those views.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Alright, and finally, the Aces celebrating their first WNBA Championship in team history. Thousands of fans showing up on the Las Vegas Strip to party with the team and the best part was Aces Forward, Dearica Hamby announced to everyone during the parade that she and her husband are expecting their second child. So how about that Kristin? One day, Hamby is going to be able to or that child is going to be able to know that hey, they were a part of mom winning the WNBA title pretty cool.

FISHER: Yes, you can't drink some champagne to celebrate. But hey, it's worth it. Congratulations to her. And thanks so much for joining us. I'm Kristin Fisher. "New Day" starts right now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST, NEW DAY: The most significant Russian escalation since the invasion of Ukraine. Vladimir Putin mobilizes new forces. I'm John Berman with Erica Hill today, and it all comes with an ominous new nuclear language.

Just a short time ago, in a rare and highly anticipated address, Putin announced a partial mobilization in Russia which is set to begin today. 300,000 additional troops will be called up to fight. This comes as Russia has suffered humiliating losses to Ukraine with Russian troops retreating from occupied territory.

In the speech overnight which was riddled with false claims Putin used his most direct language date regarding the possible use of nuclear weapons.

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