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EARLY START

Search Is On For The Gunman Who Apparently Shot And Killed A Student On The University of Utah Campus; Turkey's President To Address The Murder of Khashoggi; President Trump In Full Campaign Mode; Trump Says He Will Cut Foreign Aid Over Migrant Caravan. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 23, 2018 - 4:30   ET

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


[04:30:00]

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNJITED STATES: You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE BRIGGS, HOST, EARLY START: Campaign of fear in full swing. two weeks to the midterm. President railing on Democrats, taxes, migrant caravan and much more, but much of it fails the fact check.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, HOST, EARLY START: Any moment, Turkey's president will address the Jamal Khashoggi murder. The CIA director now heads to the region. The White House increasingly frustrated with the Saudis.

BRIGGS: And who wants $1.6 billion? A record Megamillions jackpot drawing is tonight. We should warn you. 800 million tickets were sold in the prior drawing in which no one won, so your odds are one of 302 million.

ROMANS: Lump sum Megamillions, $904 million. You can buy countries and companies for money like that.

BRIGGS: You could buy a major league baseball team. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Dave Briggs.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is 30 minutes past the hour. The midterm elections are two weeks away from today. The president is in full campaign mode. Last night he was in Texas, embracing Senator Ted Cruz, the man he once called lyin' Ted during the 2016 campaign. He now calls him beautiful Ted. And Trump officially tagged himself with the label that has characterized his populist rhetoric.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much. And you know what? We can't have that. You know, they have a word. It sort of became old fashioned. It's called a nationalist. And I say really? We're not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK? I'm a nationalist.

(CHEERS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: President also escalating his rhetoric against this caravan, as the estimated 7,500 migrants slowly make their way through Mexico.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think the Democrats have something to do with it. And now they're saying I think we made a big mistake. That is an assault on our country. That's an assault. And in that caravan you have some very bad people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: Migrants in the caravan say they're fleeing violence and looking for economic opportunity but Monday the president threatened to cut aid to several Central American countries he said failed to stop the migrants.

ROMANS: The president also claimed that unknown Middle Easterners were embedded with the caravan. A senior counterterrorism official rejected that claim, saying there is no evidence that that is true. Our own reporters on the ground have said there's no evidence that is true. Even Jeff Smith at Fox News reported yesterday that their teams have found no evidence that that is true. The rally a chance for the president to hone his pitch to his base with early voting now underway in 21 states.

BRIGGS: President Trump's campaign rallies have featured a lot of rhetoric and a lot of it simply false. It appears the president is simply making up claims about migrant caravans, tax cuts, riots, clean air, voter fraud, the list goes on. We only have so much time here. And it caught the attention of former President Obama as he campaigned for Democrats in the state of Nevada.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unlike some, I actually try to state facts. I believe in facts. I believe in a fact-based reality. And fact-based politics. I don't believe in just making stuff up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Former Vice President Joe Biden campaigning for Democrats in Florida. He called President Trump's comments about the migrant caravan hysteria. And he says this president is a know-nothing when it comes to climate change.

BRIGGS: Prominent members of both political parties targeted by violence in just the last few hours. A suspicious package intended for Democratic super donor George Soros found in a mailbox near his Bedford, New York home. Authorities say an employee opened the package, revealing what appeared to be an explosive device, which did not detonate. The case has been turned over to the FBI.

ROMANS: And Republican Congressman Kevin McCarthy's office in Bakersfield, California vandalized last night. In a post on his verified Instagram account, the House majority leader McCarthy shows surveillance footage of the suspects and asks does anyone know these two guys. McCarthy says they threw a boulder through his window and took some office equipment.

BRIGGS: Any moment now we are expecting Turkish President Recep Erdogan to address the parliament with details of the investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's death. On Sunday, Erdogan promised he would remove the lid completely from what his staff is calling a cover up by the Saudis.

ROMANS: CIA Chief Gina Haspel is traveling to Turkey to monitor the investigation into the Washington Post columnist's murder. President Trump telling USA Today he still believes it was a plot gone awry and indicates he will oppose stopping arms sales to the kingdom as punishment. Still, the president does seem to be running out of patience with the Saudis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I am not satisfied with what I've heard. They want a month? That's a long time. There's no reason for that month (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:35:00]

BRIGGS: The president's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner has close ties to the Saudi crown prince. He confirmed on Monday that he spoke to Mohammed bin Salman and advised him to be quote truly -- fully transparent with this investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED KUSHNER, SENIOR ADVISER TO THE PERSIDENT: We're getting facts in from multiple places and then once those facts come in, the secretary of state will -- will work with our national security team to help us determine what we want to believe and -- and what we think is credible and what we think is not credible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRIGGS: The answers may come in just moments. Let's go live to Turkey and bring in CNN'S Ben Wedeman. Ben, good morning to you. Recep Erdogan expected to address all of this. It's been kind of a drip, drip, drip as Turks release details about may have happened. What do we expect him to say this morning?

BEN WEDEMAN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: As you said, it's been drip, drip, drip. This may be the splash from the president himself, who's promised that nothing about the incident, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi on the 2nd of October will remain hidden. Now, we're not altogether clear if this means he's going to pull out the audio recording that Turkish officials off the -- anonymously have insisted exists. A -- an audio recording that proves that he was killed on the 2nd of October. First tortured and then after being killed, dismembered.

Now we do know that for instance the United States has sort of said the -- the Saudis should come forward with as much information as possible, be as transparent as possible. Steve Mnuchin, the U.S. treasury secretary, who's in Saudi Arabia, but not at that investment conference, on his way in Jerusalem he said that the Saudis need to provide more information showing that the death of Mr. Khashoggi was not intentional. But certainly if you remember Clarissa Ward's reporting about a body double, a man who looked just like Jamal Khashoggi traveling around Istanbul dressed in his clothing, it would indicate that there is nothing about this incident that wasn't premeditated.

So it's going to be very difficult for the Saudis to get out of this hole they've dug.

BRIGGS: Such an interesting dynamic that President Erdogan now falling on the side of press freedom. We eagerly await those remarks. We'll take them live with you, Ben, when they begin. Thank you.

ROMANS: Heartbreaking overnight. The search is on for the gunman who apparently shot and killed a student on the University of Utah campus. Police say a series of shots were reported and the woman's body was found inside a vehicle. Police believe she had a previous relationship with the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Melvin Roland. Campus police say they don't believe they're dealing with an active threat. Classes, though, are canceled for today.

BRIGGS: All right. Tonight could be the night, the Megamillions jackpot $1.6 billion. That is of course a world record. If you want a cash up front, the lump sum is $904 million. The odds are certainly long. One in 302 million. The backup plan? Well, the Powerball jackpot is Wednesday. It's a measly $620 million, $354.3 million for the lump sum. Yes, I am playing. I believe you will?

ROMANS: I don't know. I don't know.

BRIGGS: No. Still my lotto wet blanket.

ROMANS: All right. Sorry. All right. Category four Hurricane Willa bearing down on Mexico's west coast but the rain threat extends all the way to the northeast this weekend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:00]

ROMANS: The Trump administration making it easier for employers to pay their workers for healthcare coverage, including on the Obamacare exchanges, proposed regulation of broadened so called health reimbursement arrangements.

Those are used by employers to provide workers with tax free funds to pay for healthcare costs. They can buy through their employer or on the Obamacare exchange. As the administration says, that will increase coverage for people who work at smaller companies, many of which don't provide benefits.

But critics say it could let employers move workers with high healthcare costs off their corporate plan and into the individual market. This stems from an executive order Trump issued last October.

It aims to increase choice in competition in the health insurance market.

BRIGGS: Nancy Pelosi says Democrats will use subpoena powers strategically if they take the House in the midterm election. At CNN's Citizen Conference, the House minority leader told Dana Bash she would use the threat of subpoenas to gain leverage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D) CALIF: Subpoena power is interesting, to use it or not to use it? It's a great arrow to have in your quiver in terms of negotiating on other subjects.

(END VIDEO CLIP(

Well she said she is pretty comfortable she'll be speaker again if Democrats win the House in two weeks, but told the L.A. Times she sees herself as a transitional figure.

ROMANS: All right, Hurricane Willa barring down on Mexico's western coast as a category four. The aftermath could be felt from Texas through the northeast in the coming days.

Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the latest.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, METEOROLOGIST, CNN: (WEATHER)

[04:45:00]

(WEATHER)

BRIGGS: All right, thank you P.J. The longest sea crossing bridge set to connect Hong Kong and mainland China. President Xi Jinping joined other officials for the ceremony dedicating the 34 mile span, it opens to the public tomorrow.

The bridge carries a price tag of $20 billion and stands to dramatically reduce commute times from roughly three hours to 30 minutes. The bridge has been a source of fierce criticism in Hong Kong, where it seems a tool to drag the autonomous city closer into Beijing's grip.

ROMANS: All right, the U.S. led coalition fighting ISIS says it hit two command centers the terror group placed inside Syrian mosques. Officials say the first attack on October 18th killed 12 ISIS fighters. The second strike Monday destroyed buildings ISIS used to launch

attacks on Syrian Democratic Force partners. A Pentagon spokesman slammed ISIS for misusing mosques and making them valid military targets.

The coalition force is trying to drive ISIS from its last remaining stronghold east of the Euphrates River.

BRIGGS: The last living participant in one of the most celebrated allied commando raids of World War II, one that thwarted Nazi plans for an autonomic bomb has died at the age of 99.

Joachim Ronneberg led the 1943 raid on a Norwegian power plant, developing a critical A-bomb ingredient, it required a midnight parachute jump onto a mountain, cross country skiing in sub zero temps and an assault on the isolated, heavily guarded plant.

The commando snuck past the guards, set explosive charges and blew up Hitler's hope for an A-bomb. Want more? Check out "Heroes of the Telemark", a 1965 Kirk Douglas flick.

What a story.

ROMANS: Look, that heroism of that generation to defeat the Nazis and unite the West, that's amazing. All right, Chick-fil-A wants to bring fast food not just to your cars, but into your living room.

We'll get a check on payment (ph) business next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:50:00]

ROMANS: A school grounds keeper who says he got terminal cancer from Round-up weed killer, will keep part of his multi-million dollar award. A San Francisco judge reversing her earlier decision will now uphold a jury's verdict, holding Monsanto responsible for DeWayne Johnson's disease. The judge did cut the punitive damages from $250 million to $39 million. Johnson will in total receive $78 million. Bayer, which just bought Monsanto called the decision a step in the right direction, but said the verdict is still not supported by the evidence.

BRIGGS: The South Carolina sheriff's deputy nearly died three weeks after she was shot in the standoff which left seven officers wounded. Deputy Farah Turner is the second officer to die from the attack. Former police Sergeant Terrence Carraway also killed when 74 year Frederick Hopkins opened fire on the officers as they served a (ph) search warrant. Hopkins faces murder charges.

ROMANS: A suspected cop killer in the Atlanta area is dead. Gwinnet County police say they were searching for 18 year old Tafahree Maynard on Monday, intending to apprehend him, but wound up fatally shooting him after finding him hiding in a shed. Authorities say he refused to obey their commands and show his. Officer Antwan Toney was shot and killed Saturday as he approached s a suspicious car that was parked near a middle school, 25 miles northeast of Atlanta. Police Maynard fired the fatal shot.

An emergency boil water advisory is in effect for the city of Austin. Officials say historic flooding in central Texas is causing very high levels of sediment. All Austin residents are being urged to reduce their water use. The city sys the boil water warning will end when Austin Water is able to stabilize its water treatment systems.

BRIGGS: In Wisconsin, a search warrant -- search is under way this hour for two cars spotted near the home of missing teenager Jayme Closs. Investigators are trying to track down a 2008 to 2014 red or orange Dodge Challenger and a 2004 to 2010 black Acura MDX. Authorities say the vehicles were spotted near the victim's home around the time of the crime. Closs' parents were found shot dead in their home last week. The 13-year-old vanished moments later. Police believe Closs is in danger and have asked thousands of volunteers to help them search for her.

ROMANS: The CDC now reporting 155 patients are -- are -- are thought to have contracted a polio-like illness that can cause paralysis in children. A number of possible patients is up from 127 patients a week ago. There are -- no new confirmed cases have been reported; 62 cases have been confirmed in 22 states. The average age of the patients with this disease is just 4 years old.

[04:55:00]

BRIGGS: The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. says five of its most valuable artifacts are fakes and will no longer be displayed. They were thought to be part of the historic Dead Sea scrolls, but scholars in Germany tested the fragments and found five of them show characteristics inconsistent with ancient origin. CNN raised questions about the museum's Dead Sea scrolls fragments last November when the $500 million museum was set to open. Scholars say the forgeries could be one of the most significant shams in the history of biblical archeology.

Maybe you can solve this mystery. A photographer took this awesome engagement photo at Yosemite National Park in California, but he just happened to be in the right place at the right time and he can't find the happy couple. The freelance photographer Matthew Dippel snapped the image at Taft Point on October 6th. He said he tried to find the couple immediately after, but no one came forward. Head to CNN's Instagram feed for more. What a special photo.

ROMANS: Yes, that's cool. All right, Amy Schumer is pregnant. The actress expecting her first child with husband Chef Chris Fischer. Schumer announced her pregnancy in an Instagram story about the upcoming midterm elections. Immediate (ph) tease (ph) the reveal in this separate Instagram, sharing a photo and her husband made to look just like expecting parents Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Schumer and Fischer tied the knot last February. Best wishes for her.

BRIGGS: Trying to figure out whose head -- yes, those bodies were...

ROMANS: Don't quite fit. BRIGGS: Yes, not exactly. All right. The fall classic begins

tonight. The American League Champion Boston Red Sox hosting N.L. Los Angeles Dodgers at Fenway Park. The Southpaw showdown in game, lefthanders Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw of L.A. take the mound. First pitch scheduled for 8:09 eastern time, low 40's and some rain in the forecast. Sounds lovely.

ROMANS: Sounds cold. All right, let's get a check on CNN business this morning. Stocks around the world falling overnight as global tensions rise. Look at that, the Dow features (ph) right now down more than 260 points. Investors are concerned about Saudi Arabia and the tension with the U.S. and China.

Wall Street closed mixed yesterday, the NASDAQ rose along with tech stocks. But the Dow and the S&P 500 fell, they were dragged down by these bank stocks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Mortgage rates are rising and that could hurt loan growth. Earning season in full swing, investors expect double digit profit growth But Wall Street is focused on the future, concerned about rising costs and trade disputes.

Self driving cars are headed to Washington D.C. Ford announced a partnership with the city yesterday, with plans to begin testing early next year. So far, self driving cars have been tested mainly in suburbs and smaller cities, but D.C. will prove a new challenge for Ford's vehicles. Driving in cities is significantly harder than in suburbs or on highways. Ford plans to launch a self driving ride service in the year 2021. Washington, D.C. will be its second launch city after Miami where Ford is already testing.

Chick-fil-a wants to bring fast food not just to your car's center console with the drive thru, but right into your living room. The restaurant chain has opened up two prototype restaurants in Nashville and Louisville devoted exclusively to delivery and catering. Chick- fil-a says its mission is to be convenient. Over the summer, the chicken chain started testing out a meal kit service too. The new restaurants don't have dining rooms, they are cash free. Customers have to use DoorDash or a credit or debit card. Would you get Chick- fil-a delivered?

BRIGGS: I would do anything for Chick-fil-a. But I don't want it delivered, it just doesn't -- it doesn't travel well.

ROMANS: We'll have to see how they make sure it doesn't get soggy. It's all in the packing

BRIGGS: Yes, in particular, the fries. All right, Early Start continues right now.

(VIDEO BEGINS)

TRUMP: And in that caravan you have some very bad people. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK?

(VIDEO ENDS) BRIGGS: Campaign of fear in full swing two weeks from the midterms. The president ripping on Democrats, taxes and migrant caravan and more, but much of it fails to fact check.

ROMANS: Turkey's president is about to lay out in details of the Jamal Khashoggi murder. The CIA director now heads to the region. The White House increasingly frustrated with the Saudis.

BRIGGS: And how does $1.6 billion sound? A record Mega Millions jackpot drawing tonight, drawing (ph) 302 million, but there's always a chance, my friend. Good morning, welcome to Early Start. I'm playing. I'm Dave Briggs.

ROMANS: I'm probably not playing. I'm Christine Romans. It's Tuesday, October 23, it's 5:00 a.m. in the east. The midterm elections are now two weeks from today and President Trump is in full campaign mode. Last night he was in Texas embracing Senator Ted Cruz, the man he once called "Lying Ted" in the 2016 campaign. He now calls him "Beautiful Ted" and President Trump officially tagged himself with the label that has characterized his populous rhetoric.

(VIDEO BEGINS)

TRUMP: A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much. And you know what? We can't have that. You know, they have a word, it's sort of became old- fashion, it's called a nationalist.

[05:00:00]