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Is North Korea Preparing For Another Missile Launch?; Trump Expected To End Program Protecting Dreamers; Long Recovery Underway After Harvey. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired September 04, 2017 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:30:15] DAVE BRIGGS, CNN ANCHOR: The threat from North Korea is escalating by the day. South Korea says the North could launch another missile this week. What options does President Trump have?

Let's ask Democratic Senator Ben Cardin. He's a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Good morning to you, Senator.

SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MARYLAND), RANKING MEMBER, SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE: Good morning, Dave. It's good to be with you.

BRIGGS: Good to you have on this holiday.

Defense Secretary James Mattis warned of massive military response. What are the realistic military options to contain the North Korean nuclear threat?

CARDIN: Well, I think the military options are somewhat limited because of the risk factors involving South Korea, involving Japan.

One thing is clear. The president's tough talk has not appeared to change the calculation of North Korea.

What the president needs to do is engage China and, hopefully, Russia to put the type of pressure on North Korea that changes their calculations. We haven't seen that and that's our best option, rather than a military option.

BRIGGS: You talk about the president's rhetoric on Twitter.

Here's what Jeff Flake said about the North Korean threat and about the president's leadership on this issue yesterday on "STATE OF THE UNION".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: Well, I have a lot of confidence in our national security team, Gen. Mattis and others, but obviously that's something that they have to consider and everyone dealing with this situation has to consider.

This -- there -- you know, it becomes cliche to say there are no good options here, but there really aren't. I think we want somebody who is measured, and sober, and consistent, and conservative in this regard. But he has a good team around him and I have confidence in them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: We want someone who's measured, and consistent, and sober but presumably, he meant to say we don't have that.

Should the American people take comfort in what the senator said there about President Trump's leadership on this issue?

CARDIN: Well, I agree with Sen. Flake in that we want to see that type of measured and responsible leadership here.

General Mattis certainly has given us a great deal of confidence here and he's in charge of our military option and he's the first to acknowledge that that should not be used, only as a matter of last resort.

So what we really need to do is see a surge in diplomacy. We need to see the United States effectively change China's attitude towards North Korea. That would change North Korea's calculation. But without that, we're heading towards catastrophic results here.

BRIGGS: And, perhaps, that's the next move on trade.

But the next move the president is facing is this announcement tomorrow that we've been reporting he will end the DACA or Dreamers program tomorrow, which would change the status of 800,000 in this country, with a six-month delay allowing Congress to fix it.

Now, Republicans in both the House and the Senate have been clear they think Congress should be the one to fix it.

Here's what Speaker Ryan tweeted about this situation. "In our country, the conditions of your birth does not determine the outcome of your life. This is what makes America so great."

Can Congress come up with legislation to fix the Dreamers program and protect those 800,000 here?

CARDIN: If the Republican leadership will bring a bill to the floor of the Senate and the House, I am confident that we could pass such a bill. The Senate did that a few years ago. We passed comprehensive immigration reform that did deal with the Dreamers.

I met with the Dreamers last week in Maryland at an immigration roundtable. You're talking about disrupting families that have been in the United States for a long time -- disrupting the workforce.

The president putting out there that the DACA program could end in six months is not helpful and it's going to affect our economy. It's going to affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people here in the United States.

But Congress should pass comprehensive immigration reform and we certainly should pass a bill that protects the Dreamers.

BRIGGS: Yes. A progressive advocacy group says it would cost the economy more than $400 billion over the next decade.

Congressman Sessions just told Alisyn in the previous segment that a guest worker program ought to be the solution and they have the votes for it in the House. Are there the votes for that in the Senate?

CARDIN: Well, there might be, but let me just say the DACA children already have protection in the workforce. What the president is doing is taking away that protection that they have today -- that certainty that they have under the DACA program.

It's a temporary program but they're protected in the workforce, so they're working. So, I wasn't sure what he was referring to.

[07:35:02] Yes, we should pass comprehensive immigration reform. It should deal -- to make sure people have status here in the United States as a pathway to citizenship. Those types of issues should be dealt with, with comprehensive immigration reform. But at a minimum, we need to protect the DACA children.

BRIGGS: Also on the president's plate is Harvey funding and the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has suggested it might eclipse $120 billion.

Congressman Sessions says they should untie raising the debt ceiling and Harvey relief, but Treasury Steve Mnuchin has said he wants them together on one bill.

What is there the votes for in the Senate? Should they be tied together or separate?

CARDIN: Dave, we have an incredibly important agenda that we must get finished in September.

Yes, we have to take care of providing help to the people of Texas on Harvey. We have to deal with the debt ceiling so we don't default on our debt. We need to make sure our government stays open by the end of the month. We need to get rid of sequestration.

BRIGGS: Yes.

CARDIN: These are all issues that should have been dealt with. Houston -- obviously, the problems with Harvey are new but the others we knew about prior to going into the August recess. We've got to get our work done as quickly as possible and we have to achieve all of those objectives in September.

BRIGGS: Should they be separate -- raising the debt ceiling and Harvey relief?

CARDIN: I'm will -- I'm willing to consider issues brought together so that we can get things accomplished.

But I want to make sure that we take care of the people of Texas. I want to make sure that we don't default on our debt. I want to get rid of sequestration. I want to make sure our government stays open.

BRIGGS: A full plate when Congress returns to session tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of that holiday.

Senator, thanks for joining us.

CARDIN: Thanks, Dave.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Houston's mayor says the city is open for business but Harvey's effects are being felt by all Americans. We'll show you that in a live report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:41:28] BRIGGS: All right. Time now for the "Five Things to Know For Your New Day."

Number one, South Korea says it is seeing signs that North Korea is preparing to launch another ballistic missile. It comes just one day after Pyongyang says it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.

Sources tell CNN President Trump may end the program protecting so- called Dreamers -- those undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children -- from being deported. Trump is expected to give Congress six months to come up with a solution.

California Gov. Jerry Brown declaring a state of emergency as firefighters battle the largest fire in Los Angeles history. It has scorched more than 7,000 acres near Burbank. Evacuation orders have been lifted.

CAMEROTA: Salt Lake City police apologizing after an officer was caught on tape arresting a nurse for doing her job. Alex Wubbels refused to draw blood from an unconscious crash victim at the request of the police officer. That nurse will join us to explain the backstory here next hour.

BRIGGS: Looking forward to that.

Buckingham Palace announcing Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their third child. The queen is said to be delighted with the news. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge already have a son and a daughter.

For more on the "Five Things to Know" go to cnn.com/newday for the latest.

Three kids -- you have three, I have three.

CAMEROTA: It works.

BRIGGS: Stop sign or --

CAMEROTA: I think they should keep going. I think that they -- they should have as many kids as they can. They produce adorable children.

BRIGGS: Well, they have help, but I'm just saying --

CAMEROTA: They do have some help.

BRIGGS: -- three's a nice number to stop, with all due respect to my lovely children at home.

CAMEROTA: Fair enough.

BRIGGS: A nice place to stop.

CAMEROTA: Meanwhile, we have an update for you on Harvey. The survivors of Harvey are seeing the devastation of the storm now close up. People are beginning to come home and to begin the very painful cleanup efforts.

Houston's mayor insists that the city is quote, "open for business now."

CNN's Stephanie Elam is live in Houston. What is the latest, Stephanie?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

When you take a look at most of Houston it is dry, as the mayor has said. But what is happening now for people who were flooded out by Harvey is the cleanup.

And you take a look behind me. You can see this is one home. This is the home of John and Andrea Harris. This is where all of their worldly possessions were.

They said that in the middle of the night water started coming in through the back and they had to use an air mattress and they even found a boat to get their relatives out of here.

In fact, take a listen to what they said it was like coming back to their house.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN HARRIS, HOME FLOODED DURING HARVEY: Yes, we were seeing a whirlpool. That's what my house looked it. It was just someone in here spinning things around, throwing things everywhere.

I had things I thought was safe when I came -- my room, for instance. My colognes and personal items that was on the dresser were in my pantry, so it's traveled. I'm finding shoes in my tub.

ANDREW HARRIS, HOME FLOODED DURING HARVEY: Nobody knows how I feel because I'm homeless. I have no home to come to. I have no bed to lay in. I don't have nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And these folks also losing their cars because they all got flooded out as well. And as you can see here, Dave, this is what it looks like in this

community all up and down the street. Everything from inside being brought outside so that the mold doesn't set in. Everyone ripping out their homes but also hoping that FEMA will come in here and help them start to rebuild their lives, Dave.

BRIGGS: That hurricane funding couldn't happen fast enough.

Stephanie, thanks so much.

All right. J.J. Watt and his Texans teammates getting to work doing their part helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

[07:45:03] Andy Scholes has more in the "Bleacher Report." Hey, Scholes.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Dave.

You know, J.J. Watt has now raised more than $18 million for his hurricane relief fund but he says he actually hasn't touched any of that money yet. He says he wants to consult with experts on how best to use it.

In the meantime, he and his Texans teammates, along with some volunteers, handing out supplies all over the city of Houston yesterday. Now, all of these supplies were donated. Watt says he's really been touched by how many people have stepped up to help the city.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

J.J. WATT, DEFENSIVE END, HOUSTON TEXANS: I can't say thank you enough to the people around the world, and the people around America, and the people of Texas, showing their compassion, showing their true colors. Showing that when it's a difficult time -- when times get tough humans step up to help other humans, so I can't say thank you enough to them. I hope everybody in the world gets a chance to see this and understand how much we appreciate it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Now, when Watt started out he was just trying to raise $200,000 for his relief fund and, Alisyn, it's just incredible to think that he is nearing the $20 million mark.

CAMEROTA: That is remarkable. My producer just told me 175,000 people have gone on the GoFundMe page to give, so it's been quite a successful effort there, Andy. Thank you.

SCHOLES: It certainly has, yes.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much.

SCHOLES: All right.

CAMEROTA: So, President Trump is preparing to pull the plug on Dreamers, exposing hundreds of thousands of young people to possible deportation. What are the political pitfalls of this decision and the gains? We debate it, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:50:40] CAMEROTA: Sources tell CNN that President Trump is expected to end a program that protects the so-called Dreamers from deportation, but the president will give Congress six months to try to fix it. Many Republicans speaking out against the president's move.

So let's discuss it with CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona. And, Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, Dan Stein. Great to see both of you this morning.

Dan --

MARIA CARDONA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Great to have you here.

Dan, let me start with you. Just explain the thinking behind deporting these some 800,000 young people who were brought to this country through no choice of their own and are going to school. And, I mean, for them, America is their country.

DAN STEIN, PRESIDENT, FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM (FAIR): Well, remember, Alisyn, this DACA class of people we're talking about has been a political football ever since Dick Durbin -- Sen. Durbin created this class with the Dream Act in 19 -- like 2004. And it's been a political football ever since.

The Democrats didn't do anything about it in 2009 when they controlled Congress and the White House. And then during the Hillary Clinton campaign the so-called Dreamers, they were out there campaigning for Hillary -- a coordinated get out the vote campaign.

The Democratic Party has had routine opportunities to come forward and actually craft balanced, meaningful compromises that would have actually given the public and the Republican base confidence of enforcement going forward, but they haven't done that.

Now, what President Obama did was -- by his own admission Alisyn, routinely -- was illegal, unconstitutional. He said it over and over again. But then, right before the 2012 election, he said oh, I'm going to do something I know is illegal because I want to help Harry Reid out in his political campaign.

Now we've got these folks -- most of them are in their thirties and twenties. Yes, many of them came when they were very young but the problem it's an arbitrary amnesty program and the Republican base and FAIR will not accept any legislative amnesty for this group unless the Democrats come forward and meet the administration halfway on Donald Trump's very specific promises during his campaign to secure the borders, build the wall, interior enforcement, and cut chain migration. CAMEROTA: OK. Dan has laid it out perfectly there.

The argument on the other side, Maria, so what's your response?

CARDONA: Well, the response is that everything that Dan has laid out is actually incredibly misguided.

First of all, the Democrats did put forward the Dream Act in 2010 and it was not passed thanks to Republicans.

And if we recall, in 2012 and 2013, there was a bill in Congress that -- in the House, passed by the Senate, including Republicans, that was comprehensive immigration reform that then-House Speaker John Boehner -- Republican House Speaker John Boehner decided not to put up for a vote because he refused to have a bill that would be passed by the majority of Democrats --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CARDONA: -- and some Republicans.

Essentially, everybody who understood that the solution to all of this so that these kids would no longer be a political football for either party was to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CARDONA: And, yet again, Republicans refused to do it, which is why --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CARDONA: -- President Obama was forced to introduced DACA so at least these kids who are the epitome of the American dream, who are summa cum laudes, and who have bled and died in our military, have a way to be able to stay here and be able to continue to contributing --

CAMEROTA: Right.

CARDONA: -- to the society.

CAMEROTA: OK. So Dan, let's talk about that because I understand all the political finger-pointing and that you're asking for a legislative fix makes sense.

However, in the real world scenario what happens to these 800,000? I mean, these kids are some of the best and the brightest. They do want to do right by America.

STEIN: Well, let's --

CAMEROTA: They are going to schools. Go ahead.

STEIN: Look, the bottom line is some of them are. Some of them are doing very well, some of them are not. Some of them have gotten in trouble with the criminal justice system, and some Americans have lost loved ones because DACA beneficiaries have committed crimes, so let's not overgeneralize.

CAMEROTA: So why deport -- so why deport 800,000?

STEIN: The bottom line is -- look, Donald Trump made a very explicit --

CAMEROTA: Why not do it on a case-by-case basis?

STEIN: He made a very explicit campaign commitment and a promise that he was going to end illegal unconstitutional actions of President Obama. He has to make good on that marker with the people who put him in office. This was a major campaign promise.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

STEIN: And let's look at this now -- already, eight days ago, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi -- we're not going to have any kind of deal with President Trump in exchange for a DACA amnesty where we're going to give him anything that he wants. Now, what kind of reasonable compromise position is that?

[07:55:10] The Democrats have taken this position, not historically consistent with the Democratic Party, that they will oppose all U.S. Interior immigration law enforcement. They will deport -- they don't want anybody to be removed or deported.

Donald Trump needs to just stop DACA --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

STEIN: -- let the work documents expire.

If the Democrats want to come forward and start acting like grown-ups and talk about a serious, meaningful legislative compromise --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

STEIN: -- and try to fix everything that's wrong with the immigration system, I'm sure Donald Trump and FAIR will be on board. But we're not going to support any kind of stand-alone amnesty bill for this particular class that was arbitrarily defined for political purposes.

CAMEROTA: Go ahead, Maria.

CARDONA: It's kind of laughable that Dan would put out all of those requisites when it's actually been the Democrats that have put forward comprehensive immigration reform along with the help --

STEIN: That bill was -- that bill was trash.

CARDONA: -- along with the help of some sensible Republicans because why? They understand that the majority of Americans, Alisyn -- not just the majority of Democrats but the majority of Republicans as well -- the majority of Trump voters -- 75 percent of Trump voters, Alisyn, agree that these kids, the DACA dreamers, should be able to stay here in this country and be able to live out their lives in the place that they call home.

So again, Dan is talking about a very narrow and narrow-minded group of people that have been pushing President Trump to the most harsh, the most right-wing, the most conservative --

STEIN: Oh, give it a break.

CARDONA: places --

STEIN: That's just ridiculous.

CARDONA: -- where immigration reform stands.

No, it's not ridiculous, Dan.

STEIN: No, come on.

CARDONA: You know it's true, which is why you can't respond with any sensible data.

STEIN: The cornerstone of citizenship -- the cornerstone -- the cornerstone of citizenship --

CARDONA: And so --

CAMEROTA: Hold on a minute. Let me hear Dan out.

CARDONA: I haven't finished -- I haven't finished yet.

STEIN: Don't accept the rule of law.

CARDONA: So again -- so the majority of Americans agree that this is something that we should do. It is who we are as Americans.

CAMEROTA: OK.

CARDONA: It meets our American values. And so, President Trump is now ending this with six months of a -- of a time frame --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CARDONA: -- to do what?

So Dan, are you saying that in six months if Republicans and Democrats come up with a legislative solution that you'll support it because that's what President Trump is supposedly going to announce?

CAMEROTA: OK. Go ahead, Dan.

STEIN: Yes. If the Democrats come forward with something that sounds like helping Donald Trump fulfill his campaign promises, that's called the art of the deal. It's called acting like a grown-up. It's called legislative compromise.

CARDONA: I'm sorry, could -- STEIN: It would be great to see the Democrats act like grown-ups for a change and actually realize the American people want immigration brought under control.

CARDONA: The majority of Americans support the Dream Act. The majority of Americans want these kids --

STEIN: Not in -- not in isolation.

CARDONA: -- to stay. Yes, they do.

STEIN: They want Donald Trump --

CARDONA: Yes, they do.

STEIN: They want Donald Trump --

CARDONA: Yes, they do. So --

STEIN: -- to carry out his campaign promises.

CARDONA: So there is a bipartisan bill today --

STEIN: And the reason Hillary lost the election --

CAMEROTA: Hold on.

STEIN: -- was because of this issue. She lost the election --

CARDONA: There is a bipartisan --

STEIN: -- because of that position.

CAMEROTA: Hard to say that, Dan. Yes --

CARDONA: There is a -- but there is a bipartisan bill today, Alisyn --

STEIN: That's just ridiculous.

CARDONA: -- that can be passed tomorrow if Republicans come to their senses and understand that they have the obligation to do --

STEIN: Not going to happen.

CARDONA: -- what most Americans want.

CAMEROTA: OK.

STEIN: Never going to happen.

CAMEROTA: Dan, you had the first word; Maria, you got the last. Thank you both very much.

CARDONA: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Obviously, we'll see what Congress does.

We are following a lot of news this morning so let's get right to it.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to your new day. It is Monday, September fourth, 8:00 in the East.

Chris is off and my old friend Dave Briggs joins me. Great to see you.

BRIGGS: It's been awhile, my friend.

CAMEROTA: It has --

BRIGGS: Great to be here.

CAMEROTA: -- since 2012 but, yes, you're still watching CNN. Great to have all of you with us.

We do start with breaking news.

South Korea says Kim Jong Un is preparing to launch another intercontinental ballistic missile this week. Yesterday, the North detonated a sixth test described as the most powerful one yet.

So in just two hours, the U.N. Security Council will convene an emergency meeting as many nations push for stronger sanctions against North Korea.

BRIGGS: The U.S. is warning North Korea of a massive military response, while President Trump is blasting South Korea for quote, "appeasement."

All of this as CNN learns President Trump is expected to end a program that protects Dreamers from being deported again, pitting the president against many in his own party.

We have the global resources of CNN covering all of this for you.

Let's begin with CNN's Will Ripley, though. He was just in North Korea where he's been more than a dozen times. He's live in Tokyo with the breaking news.

Good morning, Will.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When we arrived in North Korea last week, officials there said they were furious with the United States over everything from President Trump's fire and fury threats to those joint military drills with South Korea that ended last week.

And they have now expressed their fury by launching, just in the last couple of weeks, multiple missiles and with their largest nuclear test ever. But there are indications this morning they may not be done. South Korea says they have intelligence. They are observing activity right now that indicates North Korea may be preparing to launch yet another ballistic missile.

This could be everything from a submarine launched ballistic missile to an intermediate-range missile like the one they launched over Japan last week, or South Korea says it could be an intercontinental ballistic missile like the two that they tested in July.

Only this time, South Korea believes they may attempt to launch this missile toward the Pacific Ocean.