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EARLY START

Anti-establishment Candidates Surge in Iowa; Suspected Texas Cop Killer Charged with Capital Murder; Alison Parker's Parents Speaking Out; Migrant Crisis Rocks Europe; Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired August 31, 2015 - 04:30   ET

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


[04:30:17] ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Dramatic new developments in the race for president. A new poll revealing Bernie Sanders in striking distance of Hillary Clinton in Iowa. Donald Trump surging further ahead of his Republican rivals. The new numbers ahead.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama taking on climate change, also changing the name of an entire mountain, as he heads to Alaska with a new warning about global warming.

KOSIK: Thousands marching in Houston over the execution-style murder of the sheriff's deputy. The suspect in court this morning. Details ahead.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.

BERMAN: Great to see you today. I'm John Berman. About 30 minutes past the hour right now.

An undeniable trend developing in the race for the White House. The anti-establishment candidates soaring in the polls. Bernie Sanders made a big move in Iowa, now within striking distance of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

On the Republican side, Donald Trump out in front. But look at Dr. Ben Carson, surging into second place.

Let's get more now on the poll numbers. Here is CNN's 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. She still 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 differences with Clinton. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), 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. Now he is 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.

KOSIK: The latest now on the execution-style killing of Texas Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth. The officer 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 now coming forward, claiming he could not have done it because he was shopping with her at the time.

We get more now 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 an 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 also 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 the horrific nature of this shooting of this 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.

[04:35:06] BERMAN: All right. Ed, thanks so much.

ISIS militants inflicting new devastation on the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra. A huge explosion Sunday destroyed 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.

KOSIK: 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 combat the extremists. Pakistan's prime minister has been invited to visit the White House in October.

BERMAN: 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. Not clear whether these sanctions will actually be imposed or when. But a decision is expected within the next two weeks, that according to "The Washington Post."

President Obama heads to Anchorage in Alaska today for a three-day visit highlighting climate change. He is scheduled to meet Native Americans tonight before announcing that the government is renaming Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America. It's going to be called Mount Denali. That is a big symbolic gesture to Alaska natives. It was called Denali before it was called Mount McKinley. A hiker who was always climbing Mount McKinley when McKinley was nominated to be president, decided to name it now McKinley.

The president will also be meeting with local leaders to development management strategies in the region for fish and wildlife.

KOSIK: Time for an EARLY START on your money. Stock futures are looking lower right now. Market pointing to triple-digit losses for the Dow after stocks in Asia started off the week with a drop. It could be the biggest natural gas discovery ever. An Italian energy company says it has unearthed a super giant gas field in the Mediterranean. It covers 40 square miles and could contain 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Now the company won't know the true size until it explores the site which is located off the coast of Egypt. But it claims it would be able to provide that country with natural gas for decades.

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

KOSIK: And you had a chance to get to know him?

BERMAN: I did. I spent a couple of days with him on the set of "Scream 4" as he was filming it. And I got to day, he was such a nice, nice guy.

KOSIK: But not creepy?

BERMAN: No, I mean, look, anyone who would come up -- he told me a really funny story. He said -- he was a teacher. He'd been a college teacher. He taught English and philosophy. And then he went and directed "Last House on the Left," which is a deeply troubling film. Really, really messed up. He said all of his friends, his former teacher and professor, friends, they stopped talking to him. They moved away. And the reason was because he said that people don't like to think that people they know could have those thoughts.

KOSIK: That kind of -- yes.

BERMAN: And what he said is, you know, we all sort of have those thoughts. I just sort of put them in a safe place on the screen.

KOSIK: Yes. And everybody got to enjoy them.

BERMAN: He made me smile. He did. He was a nice guy. He will be missed. A terrific, terrific director.

KOSIK: All right. The parents of a journalist murdered on live TV speaking to CNN about their loss and their new plan to fight gun violence.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:40:17] KOSIK: The parents of Alison Parker are embarking on a battle they never planned to fight. Their daughter was shot and killed on live television in Roanoke last week. And they say they won't rest until their message about gun control is heard. Andy and Barbara Parker speaking to CNN's Poppy Harlow about their unimaginable 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.

BERMAN: All right. Poppy, looking forward to that.

Newark Airport resuming normal operations this morning following a security scare. A main airport terminal was evacuated Sunday night after a man used a secure hallway exit door as an entrance. You can't do that. The airport was locked down for about two hours while officials did a security sweep, delaying flights and frustrating passengers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They said nobody is going through. And we waited there about 15 minutes and they said, OK, everybody leave. Everybody has got to go outside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As he was being marched out of the terminal, he had a big silly grin. He was kind of laughing to himself as the officers walked him out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We didn't really know where we're supposed to be headed, where -- what gates were open, what terminals were open. So we've just kind of been waiting around. A lot people are flustered and irritated obviously but it's been exhausting.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Yes, I'm sure, no one else thought that was funny. Authorities said the unidentified man was stopped by Customs and Border agents, turned over to Port Authority police.

[04:45:03] KOSIK: 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 still is not known. Last week almost 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 a procession leading to the memorial service Sunday. Many held American flags and signs saying, "You are heroes."

Wet, cooler weather kept these fires from growing over the weekend. Most are really a long way until they are contained. This fire you're looking at right now is the largest in Washington state history. It has burned more than 300,000 acres.

Right now, we're talking about weather, we're looking at south Florida under a flood watch this morning drenched by remnants from Tropical Storm Erika.

Let's get the latest now from meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, John, and good morning, Alison. Look at the thunderstorms, seriously a complex of unorganized thunderstorms in the general area of southern Florida and essentially what is left of Erika across this region. And we're watching this carefully because we know that flooding has already been issue. As much as two to four inches has come down. The vast majority of that over central Florida and working way northward.

Unfortunately the severe drought is in the south. That is where the flood watches have allowed to expire with much of it now locked in across northern Florida. But thunderstorm activity this morning, most of it staying offshore. The concern is that moisture gets drawn up a little further to the north, parts of the Carolinas can get in on some heavy rainfall. Four to six inches, the general theme. Some areas could certainly get upward of 10 inches. That would be devastating flash flooding if that forecast verifies. So certainly something worth following across this area of South Carolina.

But generally speaking, we'll call for hot conditions yet again. It is kind of a summer September like pattern here where temps warming up well in to the 90s in and around New York City, 92 degrees. That is well above the average for this time of year.

I do want to show you something else that's happening. A trio of hurricanes across the Pacific. In fact, it is the first time in recorded history we had three major hurricanes simultaneously. The good news is that this one is the vast majority of them now look like they're going to not be impacting any land, especially the Hawaiian islands in this region.

BERMAN: Let's hope they stay out of the sea.

Thanks, Pedram.

All right. So it appears there is no bad blood between Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift.

KOSIK: Thanks goodness.

BERMAN: I know this has been bugging you.

KOSIK: I was worried --

BERMAN: Right. The duo performed together Sunday night at the MTV Music Awards. They apparently have been having a harsh feud on Twitter. After this performance, they hugged it out, which is wonderful. Swift took home the top prize Best Video for her tune "Bad Blood."

KOSIK: Actually that video is really good.

BERMAN: Is it?

KOSIK: I have seen it. It's awesome.

BERMAN: I'll have to take your word for that.

KOSIK: It's like total girl power.

BERMAN: Is it like "Thriller?" I've been "Thriller." Is it better or worse than "Thriller?"

KOSIK: Well, nothing can top "Thriller."

BERMAN: All right.

KOSIK: But it's a really good girl -- you know, woman rules, you know.

BERMAN: So this is Miley Cyrus who was the host. She wore a lot of different clothing. She changed backstage and people got to see a lot of Miley Cyrus. Maybe even a lot more than was anticipated or maybe exactly what was anticipated.

Kanye West raised some eyebrows. He promised he will run for president in 2020 while accepting his Video Vanguard Award. And Justin Bieber, he sang and danced last night to a new single "What Do You Mean?" Afterwards, you know, Justin Bieber has had some tough times lately. It was emotional for him last night. He broke down in tears afterwards.

I like the black T-shirt there. There's Miley Cyrus.

KOSIK: Very colorful.

BERMAN: This was sort of last performance. This was the end. The closing performance. Miley Cyrus dancing along with RuPaul's "Drag Race Queens." They're called.

KOSIK: Memorable to say the least.

BERMAN: It is the night I will never forget. KOSIK: Drama fest.

BERMAN: I will never forget it.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: I can say.

KOSIK: Probably because you didn't see it.

BERMAN: That's true. I will never remember it. But I won't forget it either.

KOSIK: All right. Europe struggling to solve a growing migrant crisis. The death toll of people trying to break through the borders is rising. We're going live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:52:51] BERMAN: 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 including Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq.

I want to bring in CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon live from Budapest.

And Arwa, you have seen this crisis firsthand. The horror. It's hitting hundreds very, very hard.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are. And they're also hitting Hungary very hard, though, because of Hungary's own policy and how its government has ended up handling this current ongoing crisis. I mean, along the way, people have been saying that yes they're going through so much. They spent days under the rain with no shelter. They have spent hours waiting under the beating sun and then they have been left to languish like this at the Budapest train station.

Waiting here now for days for Hungarian authorities to allow them to move to Austria and then Germany. People don't want to stay here. And they don't have the means to be able to care for themselves properly. These are not people that can afford a hotel. They haven't been able to shower for days. They are not used to living like this. A lot of people we've been speaking to don't want to be filmed because they say they are ashamed. They don't want their parents, their families back home to see them living like this.

The vast majority of them are refugees from the war zones of Iraq and Syria. They have brought their children, their babies, on this journey because, even though they know it's a great risk to them, they say that if they stay back home they are going to end up dead anyway. So why not take a chance and bring them to Europe so that they can give themselves, their families, their children, at this stage any future.

The Hungarian government has been coming under a lot of criticism for its handling of this crisis. And especially when it comes to the fact that they were not allowing refugees to board the trains. But right now, today, we have been seeing what at the very least seems to be at least a turning of a blind eye to what's going on because refugees who can prove that they are from Iraq or Syria have been today allowed to not only buy train tickets, but also board the trains and continue their journey onwards -- John.

BERMAN: Our Arwa Damon, looking at the difficulties all around you. Thank you for that report. Thank you for the reporting on this subject. It's been remarkable.

KOSIK: We're watching gas prices and they're plummeting ahead of the big holiday weekend.

BERMAN: Yes.

KOSIK: Good for us if we drive, right? That's next on EARLY START. We're going to have your money.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KOSIK: Good morning. Let's get an EARLY START on your money. The national average for a gallon of regular dipping below $2.50 this weekend. That's the lowest level for this time of year since 2004. At least according to AAA. And despite the recent jump in crude oil prices, drivers will still have more discounts because gas usually trails oil by about two weeks. So that's good news if you're taking a road trip this holiday weekend. GasBuddy says the drop should continue into the fall, although no states are posting averages below $2 a gallon just yet. We still got a little time, John.

BERMAN: And maybe a week or two. All right. EARLY START --

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