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EARLY START

Anti-Establishment Candidates Surge in Iowa; Suspected Texas Cop Killer Charged with Capital Murder; ISIS Blows Up Ancient Palmyra Temple; Turner Field Tragedy; Migrant Crisis Rocks Europe; Aired 4- 4:30a ET

Aired August 31, 2015 - 04:00   ET

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


[04:00:17] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Eye-opening developments in the race for president. Anti-establishment candidates soaring to new heights in Iowa. Bernie Sanders in striking distance of Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump surging further in front of his Republican rivals. We have all the new numbers.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama moving climate change to the top of his agenda. This morning he's heading to Alaska with a new warning about global warming.

BERMAN: Tensions rising in Houston. Thousands marching after the execution-style murder of a sheriff's deputy. The suspect in court this morning. We have the details ahead.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

KOSIK: And I'm Alison Kosik. It's Monday, August 31st, it's 4:00 a.m. in the East.

Up first, anti-establishment candidates soaring in the polls in Iowa. Bernie Sanders making a big move in the Hawkeye State. Now within striking distance of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton. While on the Republican side, Donald Trump holds on to the top spot with Dr. Bern Carson surging into second place.

For more on the poll numbers and what they might mean, here's CNN national correspondent Polo Sandoval.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, Alison, good morning. The new survey of voters in the key state of Iowa is now revealing both Democratic and Republican voters are turning away from the establishment. The "Des Moines Register" and Bloomberg Politics poll showing Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton lost a third of her support since May. Just a leads, though, 37 percent of likely Democratic caucus goers support her. And you have Senator Bernie Sanders who's receiving 30 percent and Vice President Joe Biden who is still weighing whether to get in the race or not, he's getting 14 percent.

Appearing on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" Sunday Sanders credited his pushing for the wealthy to pay more and also college affordability for the rise in his support. He's highlighting some of his policy difference with Clinton. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe we should expand Social Security by lifting the cap on taxable income. That's not Hillary Clinton's position. I believe that we've got to raise the minimum wage over a period of several years to 15 bucks an hour. Not Hillary Clinton's position. I voted against the war in Iraq. Hillary Clinton voted for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Clinton who last week ramped up her attacks on the GOP still does have a commanding lead nationally.

On to the Republicans now. Donald Trump is a frontrunner in Iowa as well as nationally. 23 percent of likely Republican caucus goers supporting him. But neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is also on the rise, he's in second place with 18 percent with no other candidate getting double-digits. The poll shows Trump has been able to dramatically reverse impressions of him. 61 percent of those questioned now have a positive view of him. In May, he only had 27 percent who rated him that way.

One key factor impacting the Republican contest in Iowa what the "Des Moines Register" calls the mad-as-hell contingent. It's a large group of likely GOP voters mad or frustrated with everyone from President Obama to Hillary Clinton to Republicans in Congress -- John and Alison.

BERMAN: All right. Polo, thanks so much.

New information this morning on the execution-style killing of Texas Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth. He was ambushed Friday night and right now it's not clear why.

The suspect, 30-year-old Shannon Miles will be arraigned later this morning on capital murder charges. His mother has now come forward claiming he could not have done it because he was shopping with her at the time.

Let's get more from CNN's Ed Lavandera in Houston.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, the suspect in the murder of Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth is expected to make a court appearance here in the Houston area Monday morning. Shannon Miles was arrested and charged with capital murder Saturday night after the attack here that investigators described as cowardly and cold blooded.

They say it was in execution-style murder after Darren Goforth had come out of this convenience store and his patrol car was there at pump eight. Investigators say he was shot several times starting in the back and had no way to defend himself. They say he was simply shot because he was wearing a police uniform.

So what you've seen here over the course of the weekend is an emotional outpouring of support for Goforth and his family. People have been coming, leaving balloons, flowers and messages. They've also been taking up a collection. Over the weekend nearly $50,000 in donations collected for Goforth's wife and two children. There is a go-fund-me page on the Internet. And as you talk to people around here, people really struggling to figure out what to do given the tragic nature and horrific nature of this shooting of the Harris County Sheriff's deputy.

They say this is really the best and only way that many people can kind of figure out how to show their signs of support. Not only for this family, but for the law enforcement community here in the Houston, Texas, area -- John and Alison.

[04:05:10] KOSIK: ISIS militants inflicting new devastation on the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. A massive explosion Sunday destroying the 2,000-year-old Bel Temple, considered one of the greatest sites of the ancient world. Just days earlier, ISIS extremists blew up the 2,000-year-old Baal Shamin temple in Palmyra. The U.N.'s Cultural Agency is calling the attacks war crimes.

BERMAN: A warning to Pakistan from National Security adviser Susan Rice. Rice says militants based in Pakistan are behind the series of recent attacks in Afghanistan. Attacks that are destabilizing the region. The White House is concerned Pakistani leaders are not doing enough to fight the extremists. Pakistan's prime minister has been invited to visit the White House in October.

KOSIK: The White House is preparing an unprecedented package of economic sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals who profited from their government's hacking of U.S. trade secrets. It's not clear whether those sanctions will actually be imposed or when. But a decision is expected within the next two weeks according to "The Washington Post."

BERMAN: President Obama heads to Anchorage, Alaska, highlighting climate change. He is scheduled to meet with Native Americans tonight before announcing the government is renaming Mount McKinley to Denali. This is a major symbolic gesture to Alaskan natives. The region is named Denali. The mountain has been Mount McKinley for over 100 years. It sort of set it back to what it was beforehand. The president will also be meeting with local leaders to develop management strategies in the region for fish and wildlife.

KOSIK: Time for an EARLY START on your money. Stock futures are lower this morning. Markets in Asia are taking another hit while stocks in the Europe are mixed. Investors will get a fresh start this morning but the market is coming off quite a wild week. The Dow dropped 1,000 points in early trading Monday before recovering slightly. The selloff continued Tuesday then a major rebound marking the biggest two-day point gain ever. And Friday stocks finished flat.

This week, the rollercoaster ride may keep going. A big focus will be Friday's monthly jobs report. That's one of the last major economic readings the Federal Reserve will have before deciding whether or not to raise interest rates in September.

BERMAN: His films are the stuff nightmares are made of. Legendary filmmaker Wes Craven has died after a battle with brain cancer. He introduced us to Freddy Krueger in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise. He later developed the "Scream" movies. Bloody, gore mixed with dark humor, all over his films. Wes Craven died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 76.

You know, I had a chance to spend a couple of days with Wes Craven about five years ago, did a profile on him on "Nightline." And he was lovely, a lovely guy. And I talked about him what drives him to be this creepy and twisted.

KOSIK: What's in his mind. Right?

BERMAN: And he said, you know, he's helping people. He says what he's doing is letting people be scared and express their fears but keeping it all in this box, in this safe place. So it doesn't creep into real life.

KOSIK: So he didn't sort of have art kind of creep into his life?

BERMAN: No. He actually didn't watch movies. He was raised in like a very religious Baptist house.

KOSIK: That's incredible.

BERMAN: He didn't see movies until, you know, he was like in college. He was a teacher, he's a philosophy and English teacher at -- in a college before he started doing films. He's a lovely, lovely, nice guy. Always claimed he was very happy, not as messed up as his films. He will be missed.

KOSIK: Absolutely.

The parents of a journalist murdered on live television speaking to CNN about their loss and their new fight to end gun violence next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:11:44] BERMAN: It is a battle they never planned to fight, but the parents of Alison Parker, the young reporter who was shot and killed on live television in Roanoke, they say they will not rest until their message about gun control is heard.

Andy and Barbara Parker, they sat down with CNN's Poppy Harlow to talk about their pain and their new life mission.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Alison and John. She came into the world with light. That is how the parents of Alison Parker described their beloved daughter to me in our interview. We sat down to talk about the remarkable woman she was, the remarkable daughter, friend and remarkable journalist. They told me so much about her life and what gave her such drive and such passion. They also spoke to me about the mission that they are now on for gun control and to change some of the laws in this country. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANDY PARKER, FATHER OF ALISON PARKER: It's the only thing that's giving me strength right now to go -- to take on this cause because, you know, I know that somewhere she'd be looking down and saying, you go, dad. This is what she would want me to do.

BARBARA PARKER, MOTHER OF ALISON PARKER: I can just -- I can see --

A. PARKER: This is her fight.

B. PARKER: It is her fight. And I can see Alison sitting there going.

A. PARKER: Yes.

B. PARKER: Because that's what she'd do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Their loss is unfathomable to most of us. But it has also ignited a fire in their bellies. And they have launched a fight and a fight, clearly as you can hear there, that they are so dedicated to. This is for their daughter in her name.

You can see much more of our interview and their wonderful memories of their little girl. We will have that for you ahead here on "NEW DAY" -- Alison, John.

KOSIK: All right. Thanks for that, Poppy.

Five more inmates at San Quentin Prison in California have been diagnosed with Legionnaires disease. Corrections officials say the inmates are being treated at outside hospitals. The source of the outbreak is still not known. Last week, nearly two dozen prisoners displayed symptoms of the severe respiratory illness. Officials say some 50 others are now under observation.

BERMAN: Thousands of people turning out to honor three firefighters killed battling wildfires in Washington state. More than 80 vehicles took part in the procession leading to the memorial service Sunday. Many held American flags and signs saying, "You are heroes."

Some cooler wet weather kept wildfires from growing over the weekend. Most of them, though, most of those fires far from contained. This fire you're looking at right here the largest from Washington state. History has burned more than 300,000 acres.

KOSIK: Just amazing to see those pictures.

Let's move to South Florida, though, under a Florida -- under a flood watch actually this morning. Drenched by the remnants of Tropical Storm Erika.

Let's get the latest from meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, John. Good morning, Alison. Let's show you what's happening across Florida with what is left of Erika now. Of course never made it here as a tropical storm, that was the good news, but plenty of rainfall to go around over the past 24 or so hours over this region. And in fact, you take a look. Showers and thunderstorms scattered about, the vast majority of them staying offshore right now but we do believe you get into some afternoon heating with this, you're going to get additional rainfall to come down.

In fact parts of central Florida already on about two to four inches of rainfall. And across the south, tremendously beneficial rainfall, granted not as heavy as you would hope for, but still about a one to two inch region there across southern Florida where we did pick up some rainfall to help with the drought issue.

[04:15:09] About 17 million people dealing with flood watches that are issued this morning in the forecast over the next few hours. Shows the moisture kind of streaming on and to the north and to the east, we get some enhancement in the tropical moisture there around portions of the Carolinas. So possibility of six plus inches of rainfall, maybe 10 inches south of Myrtle Beach. Possible.

So you look at this and you know, a flooding threat definitely exists for parts of the Carolinas. But besides that just a gorgeous set up with high pressure beginning to develop as we take in the temperatures. To the northeast, it is going to heat up, guys. Back up into the 90s, little September push for summer-like temps, this week.

BERMAN: All right, Pedram, thanks so much.

The American flag flying half staff Sunday at Turner Field in Atlanta. One day after a Braves fan died from a fall from the upper deck during a game between the Braves and the Yankees. The victim, 60-year-old Greg Murrey, who is a long-time Braves season ticket holder.

CNN's Boris Sanchez has the latest now on the investigation into how the tragedy unfolded.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Investigators conducting an autopsy Sunday afternoon on Greg Murrey to figure out exactly what caused him to fall from the upper deck of Turner Field during a game between the Yankees and Braves. They're especially looking at the toxicology report to see if alcohol may have played a role in the incident. So far they say they do not suspect foul play.

Witnesses tell us that during the 7th inning and Alex Rodriguez is approaching the home plate to go to bat, Gregory Murrey ran to a rail and to boo Alex Rodriguez. And that's when he tumbled over the railing falling between 50 and 80 feet, landing head first into a concrete walkway between two rows of seats.

Paramedics rushed over to him, administering CPR and they got fans out of the way. They rushed him to a hospital, but Greg Murrey did not make it.

It's important to point out this is the second time in two years that a fan has fallen to his death from the upper deck at Turner Field. In 2013, a fan reportedly committed suicide there by jumping from the upper deck. So far, we have no indication that that was Gregory Murrey's intention. We obviously need more information to find out specifically what happened.

In the meantime, his son Jason putting out a statement telling CNN, quote, "Gregory 'Ace' Murrey was a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend to many. He dearly loved his family, Atlanta, and the Atlanta Braves. Greg was a season ticket holder with the same seats for 23 years. The night Greg passed away he was doing one of his favorite things -- watching the Braves."

Difficult to imagine what that family is going through right now. The Atlanta Braves also put out a statement offering them their condolences.

KOSIK: All right, thanks for that, Boris.

Switching gears. Hard right turn here. It appears there's no bad blood between Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. The duo performed together Sunday night at the MTV Music Awards, following their feud on Twitter. Apparently they hugged it out in the end so it seems like everything is copacetic.

Swift took home the top price Best Video for her tune "Bad Blood" and Miley Cyrus, she was bringing in the shock factor. The singer was backstage changing when she left the curtain slip. Hmmm. Leaving the audience with an eyeful.

Kanye West also raising eyebrows promising to make a run for the White House in 2020 while accepting a Video Vanguard Award. And Justin Bieber showing off some flashy dance moves to his new single "What Do You Mean?" Afterward the pop star who's had his share of problems, he broke down in tears. The drama continued.

But the real mike drop of the night, Miley Cyrus' closing performance along with RuPaul's "Drag Race Queens."

Never a dull moment with that show.

BERMAN: These kids and their rock 'n' roll.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: I think this rock n' roll music might catch on.

KOSIK: I like the whole off-stage drama thing going on.

BERMAN: You know, one of the benefits of having to wake up to do EARLY START is not being able --

KOSIK: You have --

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: Yes, not being able to watch.

KOSIK: Getting watched it.

BERMAN: The VMA Music Awards, I feel like I'm 86,000 years old.

An urgent meeting happening in Europe. Leaders trying to solve a huge crisis. Migrants and a death toll that is quickly rising. We're live right after the break.

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[04:23:00] KOSIK: Germany, France and Britain calling for an urgent meeting of the EU's Interior and Justice ministers to cope with Europe's spiraling migrant crisis. That meeting is expected to take place in two weeks in Brussels. The goal, to establish welcome centers in Greece and Italy to house, feed and screen thousands of migrants who are fleeing countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.

Let's bring in CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon live from Budapest.

Arwa, I know that Hungary has been especially hit hard by this growing crisis. But we've seen the numbers of migrants really increase, topping 100,000 reaching the EU's borders. Why this increase?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: While the situation in Iraq and Syria, and most of these people are refugees from those two war-torn countries, are just continuously getting worse and families are making the impossible choice of bringing their children on this very difficult and dangerous journey where they end up living in complete squalor because so many of them tell us if they stay back in their homelands, they are going to end up dead anyway. And they have to somehow secure a future, any future, for their children. And they do believe that that future lies in Europe.

But this has been such an unspeakably difficult journey for them. Many have spent days in the rain, stuck at the Macedonian border with no shelter. Soaking wet. Children have been sick. They have run out of money by the time they reach this train station here in Budapest. They spent hours waiting under the beating sun along the Hungarian- Serbian border. Many of them also going through this Hungarian camp that they describe as being a prison.

Many of them say that the Hungarian authorities treat them like animals. And it is their treatment that has reduced them to living like this. There is no place to shower here.

[04:25:05] I was speaking to a mother of two who left her children behind in Damascus. She has a law degree. And she cried as she was talking about how painful it was to think of them. But she's making this journey so that they don't have to suffer this kind of humiliation and hardship. The numbers are only going to increase because the cause, what is forcing these people to make this journey, that is not being dealt with.

War, economic poverty, corruption, oppressive regimes. Those are all the key reasons why people are doing this to themselves and to their families. It's not because they want to. And Europe is now really waking up to a certain degree and recognizing that this is a problem that is only going to get worse. It has to be dealt with here in Europe in terms of handling those that are coming through and staking everything they have on Europe and its values of human rights and dignity. But also needs to be dealt with at the root of cause back in these various people's respective homelands.

KOSIK: All right. Men, women and children trying to find a better life.

Thanks so much, Arwa Damon.

BERMAN: New details in the investigation into the bombing of that Bangkok shrine. Thai police say they discovered bomb-making materials including fertilizer, gun powder, and digital clocks when they raided a second apartment just outside the capital. Police now say they are looking for two new suspects. One suspect was arrested Saturday, but he denied any involvement. The bombing killed 20 people, wounded more than 120 others.

KOSIK: Big new developments in the race for president. Sanders and Trump surging in Iowa. Clinton and Bush falling. Will 2016 be the year of the underdog?

We're breaking down the numbers next.

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