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New Day
North Korea Launches Two Short-Range Ballistic Missiles; Michigan Voters React To CNN Democratic Debate; Italian Police Show Evidence Against U.S. Teens Accused Of Murder. Aired 5:30-6a ET
Aired July 31, 2019 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:30:00] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you all very much.
That sets the stage for an exciting night. You can watch tonight's debate live from Detroit at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: There is other news developing this morning.
North Korea has fired a new round of ballistic missiles. What we know about these weapons, and what will President Trump do or say about this? Will he continue to downplay the actions of Kim Jong Un?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:35:24] BERMAN: All right. Developing overnight, North Korea conducted its second missile test in a week and this morning, South Korea is providing new details, saying Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan.
Let's go live to CNN's Ivan Watson for the very latest on this. North Korea seems to be trying to send a message here, Ivan.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely -- some saber-rattling, a pre-dawn surprise with these two short-range ballistic missiles that were fired from North Korea's eastern coast into the ocean, off to the east of that coast.
Now, this comes exactly a month after President Trump's historic first steps across the demarcation line in the demilitarized zone with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It's also the second time in less than a week that North Korea has fired short-range ballistic missiles.
Last week -- last Thursday when it fired two missiles, it said this was a warning to South Korea. It appears to be angry about what are expected to be upcoming annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.
Now, a U.S. official has told CNN that the latest missile launches pose no threats -- no direct threats to the U.S. or its allies.
The South Koreans are not downplaying these short-range ballistic missile launches. There was an emergency meeting of South Korea's National Security Council. It issued a statement expressing concern about the missile launches, saying that they threaten to hurt the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.
And if you look at the range of these missiles -- about 250 kilometers -- about 155 miles -- that's easily within range of hitting the South Korean capital.
The Trump administration says it's still trying to work out face-to- face working-level negotiations with the North Koreans -- John.
CAMEROTA: We'll see how this changes that, Ivan. Thank you very much for the reporting.
All right. So, John and I are here in Detroit. This is in a state that went narrowly for Donald Trump in 2016. So what did Michigan voters think about the debate last night? We're going to find out, next.
BERMAN: What are they cheering for?
CAMEROTA: You.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:41:47] CAMEROTA: So, John and I are here in Michigan and this, of course, is a state that played a pivotal role in the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. President Trump won this state by 11,000 votes.
So, what did voters here think about last night's debate? Miguel Marquez spoke to some of them and he joins us now with more. What did they say, Miguel?
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning there, Alisyn.
We spoke to a small sliver of them just a stone's throw away from the Fox Theatre where the debate went on, and one thing was very, very clear. Progressives resonated with this crowd very heavily; centrists fell flat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: This is the CNN Democratic presidential --
MARQUEZ (on camera): We watched the debate with citizens in Detroit -- the local political activist group here. We're watching it in McShane's Pub, a spot in the historic Corktown neighborhood.
Who impressed you tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Elizabeth Warren. I think she did an excellent job. I was also impressed with Mayor Buttigieg. And, Bernie was Bernie.
MARQUEZ (on camera): It was standing room only in this pub tonight and the person who got the most love throughout the night was Sen. Sanders. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Trump is a pathological liar.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Mayor Buttigieg and Sen. Warren also got a lot of love from the crowd in this room tonight.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should stop using Republican talking points.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Who did you like tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Warren -- Elizabeth Warren. I really did.
MARQUEZ (on camera): What impressed you about her?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She knows her words. She has answers and solutions.
DEBBIE POSPIECH, DETROIT VOTER: I thought Elizabeth Warren did the best job tonight. She showed passion, empathy, energy, intelligence -- you know, grit, toughness.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Some of the centrists Democrats didn't do so well tonight, in this room at least. Governor Bullock, the congressman, Delaney, and Ryan, they got booed at certain points here.
Who did you not like tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Delaney is my least favorite, by far.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just -- I don't think he has the solutions that America needs right now.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Did anyone turn you off tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I wouldn't say that. There are people who I will not miss if they're gone, but not yet.
MARQUEZ (on camera): Did anything stick out or surprise you in this debate?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, I'd never heard from Steve Bullock before and it was kind of interesting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wouldn't say anyone impressed me in terms of becoming my candidate. I appreciated that Marianne Williamson was making a little more sense this evening.
DOMINIQUE CAMPBELL, DETROIT VOTER: Marianne Williamson tonight -- like, yeah. Like, I know she was Oprah's spiritual advisor. And I really appreciate just really, a candidate talking about dark forces at work. I was like whoa, like she actually said that in a debate.
(END VIDEOTAPE) MARQUEZ: Now, in addition to looking forward to tonight's second round of debates, there's something else that everyone I spoke to at this pub is looking forward to -- fewer candidates. They think that they will start to be culled out in the months ahead.
They think it's a great process. They think it's going to make a stronger nominee. They think that it's all fair. But they want fewer candidates, they want longer explanations, and they want more -- deeper discussion, essentially, in the months ahead -- John.
BERMAN: It's coming. That is coming. That is what is next, Miguel.
[05:45:00] MARQUEZ: It is coming.
BERMAN: Miguel Marquez for us in Detroit.
I think it's so interesting. It's such an important reminder. This is a primary -- this is a primary debate and you've got to appeal to Democratic voters and those are the ones who were in that bar last night.
CAMEROTA: And they see it differently than our pundits.
BERMAN: Sometimes.
CAMEROTA: And I think that is so helpful when Miguel goes out and talks to them, when I have my voter panels, because they just, often, have a very different take and sort of the, you know, cognizant.
BERMAN: And it's always nice to hear from people who are watching it before they're told by the experts who won and lost, also.
CAMEROTA: Why, yes -- great point.
BERMAN: All right.
So what happened in the moments before police say two American teenagers stabbed and killed an Italian police officer? The new evidence and video investigators are using to make their case -- that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:50:00] BERMAN: Disturbing new details emerging this morning in the case of two American teenagers accused of murder in Italy. Authorities there say the two men repeatedly stabbed an undercover police officer in a drug deal gone wrong.
Our Melissa Bell is live in Rome with much more. Melissa, what have you learned?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Look, John, we're getting a clearer idea of what the Italian authorities, at any rate, believe happened on that fateful night -- that is last Friday in the early hours between about midnight and 4:00 a.m. local time when those two American teens were involved in some kind of incident on the streets of Rome. UCTV footage, which we're about to show you, leaked to the press but then confirmed by the police to be genuine.
But also, a much clearer idea, thanks to the ruling that was published from the judge investigating the case about precisely what she'd been told by both men, including that one had confessed to having stabbed the undercover police officer. The other had woken up in the morning after a few hours' sleep, unaware until then that his friend had used a knife.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BELL (voice-over): American teenagers Finnegan Elder and Natale- Hjorth running through the streets of Rome in the early hours of Friday morning, carrying a rucksack after a botched drug deal.
FRANCESCO GARGANO, CHIEF OF ROME CARABINIERI: (through translator): We examined the surveillance footage of both Trastevere and the road the fugitives took to the hotel (INAUDIBLE). And by comparing them, we managed to identify these two Americans.
BELL (voice-over): What happened next has shocked the country. According to Italian authorities, a police officer, Mario Cerciello Rega, tried to stop the pair but was stabbed to death.
NUNCIA D'ELIA, PROSECUTOR OF ROME: (through translator): They were after money and drugs. We have clear evidence indicating that.
BELL (voice-over): Police say the two Americans had arranged to meet the owner of the bag to return it in exchange for money and drugs. They weren't expecting police to turn up instead.
GARGANO (through translator): And as soon as they identified themselves as Carabinieri, they were unexpectedly and immediately assaulted.
BELL (voice-over): Police say Cerciello was stabbed 11 times. According to court documents, Elder was carrying a 7-inch knife and also confessed to the stabbing. Police say he'd brought the knife with.
GARGANO (through translator): Some of the stab wounds went straight through the body the length of the blade -- through the stomach, the spine, and the intestines -- so it was impossible to react.
BELL (voice-over): The two teenagers dispute the police account, saying the plain-clothed officers did not identify themselves as Italian police.
But the pair have now seemingly turned on each other. Natale claims he was not aware that Elder was carrying a knife.
His lawyer issued a statement saying, "Mr. Natale has clarified his position, which is completely extraneous to the unpredictable conduct of others, which led to the death of a servant of the state." Under Italian law, the two suspects can be held in custody for up to six months, if not longer, before any charges are filed for a crime that has outraged the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BELL: So even as the two American teens await here in this Rome prison to find out what their fate is going to be, it continues to dominate the Italian media. It is on the front page, Alisyn, of every single newspaper this morning with this question, especially, that emerged from a press conference given by the prosecutor yesterday -- why was that policeman -- the one who was fatally stabbed -- confronting these two teens unarmed?
CAMEROTA: There are still so many questions, Melissa. Thank you very much for all of those developments.
Well, it was a Democratic debate filled with policy positions pitting liberal candidates against their moderate rivals. So who stood out last night? We have an all-star panel coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:58:20] BERMAN: The late-night comedians, they were live after the CNN debate. They gave immediate, funny feedback on the candidates. These are your "Late-Night Laughs".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, CBS "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": On the subject of health care, John Delaney tried to speak to his experience on the trail.
JOHN DELANEY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've been going around rural America and I asked rural hospital administrators one question.
COLBERT: Do you know who I am?
(LAUGHTER)
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, ABC "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!": This was some lineup, but it was actually more pileup than lineup. There were more characters than on the show "THIS IS US" in this debate, and there they are. Meet the new management team at Kinkos.
(LAUGHTER)
SETH MEYERS, HOST, NBC "LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS": Senator Delaney and others accused Bernie and Warren of trying to make private health insurance illegal. Warren stepped in to stop the bickering.
WARREN: Let's be clear about this. We are the Democrats. We are not about trying to take away health care from anyone. That's what the Republicans are trying to do.
And we should stop using Republican talking points in order to talk with each other about how to best provide that health care.
MEYERS: Elizabeth Warren will turn this car around right now and nobody's going to Disneyland.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: So we've got a tableful of elected officials who you'll see in a moment who are dying laughing right now.
CAMEROTA: Yes, they are chortling loudly and we look forward to getting their take on that because we have all of the key moments of last night's debate. NEW DAY continues right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WARREN: Our biggest problem in Washington is corruption. We need to have the courage to fight back against that.
SANDERS: Medicare for All is comprehensive. It covers all health care needs for senior citizens.
TIM RYAN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You don't know that, Bernie.
SANDERS: Second of all --
JAKE TAPPER, DEBATE MODERATOR, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT, ANCHOR, "THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER": We'll come to you in a second, Congressman.
SANDERS: I do know and I wrote the damn bill.
SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D-CO), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This isn't just a choice.
[06:00:00]
