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EARLY START

Hurricane Michael Aiming for Panhandle; NY Gov: Limo Failed Inspection; Trump: Kavanaugh "Caught in a Hoax"; Kavanaugh Midterm Wave?; Beijing Accuses Ex-Interpol Chief of Corruption; Facebook Wants to Put a Camera in Your House. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 9, 2018 - 04:30   ET

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


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[04:30:55] GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: This storm will be life threatening and extremely dangerous.

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JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR: Forecasters say Hurricane Michael is gaining strength as it heads for the Florida panhandle.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The New York governor says the stretch limo that crashed and killed 20 people should never have been on the road.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want you to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family.

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JOHNS: President Trump apologizes to Brett Kavanaugh for what he now calls a political hoax.

ROMANS: Justice Kavanaugh joins the Supreme Court today, as Republicans hope for a Kavanaugh wave with the midterms now just four weeks away.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everybody. I'm Christine Romans.

JOHNS: And I'm Joe Johns, in for Dave Briggs. It is 31 minutes past the hour.

We begin with breaking news. The Florida Panhandle bracing for Hurricane Michael this morning, currently a category one. Hurricane Michael is expected to strengthen to a category three by the time it hits the panhandle midday Wednesday. States of emergency declared in both Florida and Alabama and emergency officials have ordered evacuations in at least ten counties, some mandatory, others voluntary. Florida Governor Rick Scott strongly urging people to heed all

warnings.

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SCOTT: Every family must be prepared. Every family. Remember, we can rebuild your house, but we cannot rebuild your life. Take this seriously and keep your family safe.

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JOHNS: Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera is standing by now live in the CNN weather center.

Ivan, what's the latest on Michael?

IVAN CABRERA, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Joe, good to see you. We are dealing with the category one hurricane, high end one, right? We're talking about 90-mile-an-hour winds. We have a new advisory in 20 to 30 minutes. Chad will have that at the top of the hour.

A hundred fifteen a mile an hour gust. We're still moving north/northwest at 12 miles an hour. Overnight, I thought it would blow up. It had a chance to do that. It still certainly does through the day today.

I want to show you something really interesting as I pause this. You will be able to see the lines there. When you start seeing this as kind of looking like a snail, some dry air has worked in. What does that mean?

Well, it means and I think at the top of the hour, probably going to be somewhere around 90 or 95. We are not in the triple digits yet. That is a possibility as we head through later today and then into a Wednesday. Hurricane warnings are posted from Pensacola to cedar key. This will be expanded.

Basically, if you are in this area and wherever you are tonight, wherever your head hits the pillow, that is where you're going to stay through the event. So, keep that in mind, this is the last day to get to where you need to be as the hurricane as it continues in, barreling up to the north.

A cat three, 115 and then 120. That is around Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., so some time midday or afternoon making landfall across the panhandle of Florida. It races off north and east. By then, it will be a big rain storm by then.

I want to zoom in to the landfall area here. Wednesday 8:00 a.m., 120-mile-an-hour hurricane just offshore. There is Panama City. We have the cone. If this moves a little bit further the west, it is bad news. That puts the storm surge in more populated areas.

If it shifts a little bit to the east, it will be the opposite. So, we still have a window as far as the exact center of circulation and where it makes landfall makes a difference. Here are the storm surges. This is going to be the deadliest part of

the storm. We are talking 8 to 12 feet of storm surge when it comes ashore. It will do that as I mentioned Wednesday and then, of course, there goes the rain. So, again, we are waiting for the National Hurricane Center for the advisory coming up in 20 minutes. Brand new track and new information from the hurricane hunters flying into the storm -- Joe.

JOHNS: OK, Ivan, thanks for that. We will be checking back in with you about 25 minutes.

ROMANS: Thirty-four minutes past the hour.

President Trump apologizing to new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during a ceremonial swearing-in event at the White House. Every sitting member of the Supreme Court member was there in attendance, along with top Senate Republicans. The president painting Kavanaugh as the victim of a political hoax.

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TRUMP: On behalf of our nation, I want to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering you have been forced to endure.

[04:35:10] Those who stepped forward to serve our country deserve a fair and dignified evaluation.

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ROMANS: The president also falsely claimed the allegations against Kavanaugh have somehow been disproved.

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TRUMP: Our country, a man or a woman, must always be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. And with that, I must state that you, sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent.

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ROMANS: And now, the president is trying to use the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh as a campaign asset, attacking Democrats as, quote, evil people for the disgraceful treatment of his nominee. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: A man that did nothing wrong. A man that was caught up in a hoax that was set up by the Democrats, using the Democrats' lawyers. And now, they want to impeach him. I heard this from many people. I think it's an insult to the American public. And I think you're going to see a lot of things happen on November 6th that would not have happened before.

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JOHNS: In just a few hours from now, Brett Kavanaugh takes his seat on the Supreme Court for the first time. He says the grueling process tested him, but did not change him. Insisting he will be an independent and impartial justice from day one.

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BRETT KAVANAUGH, U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: The Senate confirmation process was contentious and emotional. That process is over. My focus now is to be the best justice I can be. I take this office with gratitude and no bitterness.

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JOHNS: Kavanaugh went on to say he hopes to become a force for stability and unity on the Supreme Court.

ROMANS: All right. With exactly four weeks to go before the midterms, Republicans are hoping to get a boost from the Kavanaugh confirmation. But a majority of Americans oppose it, questioning his truthfulness and temperament to serve on the Supreme Court.

Take a look at this new CNN poll, 51 percent of Americans say Kavanaugh should not have been confirmed. That is up 12 points since last month. When asked about the sexual assault allegations against Justice Kavanaugh, 52 percent believe the woman, while 48 percent say they believe him. As for President Trump, his approval rating now stands at 41 percent. That is up five points from September.

JOHNS: Kavanaugh bump.

Turkey's president says it is up to Saudi Arabia to prove its claim that the missing Saudi journalist actually left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the last place he was seen. Jamal Khashoggi is a writer for "The Washington Post." The one time Saudi royal insider has been a prominent critic of the government. Turkish officials believe Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate, a claim that the Saudis vehemently deny.

Now, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh is standing by live at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Jomana, what's the latest?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Joe, as you mentioned, we are hearing from President Erdogan here in Turkey, who is saying that Saudi officials can't just get away by saying that Khashoggi left the consulate. You know, this has been the Saudi narrative over the past week that he was in there briefly and left that building. President Erdogan, like other officials here, are calling on the Saudis to release proof.

You know, one thing people are looking at is all these surveillance cameras on the building and why Saudi officials don't just release the video showing him leaving. Now, reportedly, some Saudi officials are saying that the cameras were not recording that day which, you know, Turkish officials are not finding that argument very convincing. So, while this is all going on, the trades of accusations between both sides, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Turkish authority did launch that criminal investigation over the weekend and looking at everything. They're looking at -- combing through security footage from the area. They are looking at who entered and exited the consulate.

And just to let you know, Joe, we have been able to obtain this photo that appeared to show Khashoggi entering the consulate on October 2nd at about 1:15 local time. This is what Turkish officials have been saying. That this is the first time we are obviously seeing this image.

Turkey has maintained over the past week they have video of him entering. What is missing is video of him leaving. And they say it is up to Saudi Arabia to prove this and one thing they are focusing on in the investigation is the group of 15 Saudis. They say they entered the country and entered the consulate that same day.

[04:40:02] They are really looking closely at that and putting the ball closely in the area of Saudi Arabia to prove their narrative, Joe.

JOHNS: Absolutely right. The most important thing there is seeing the video of him leaving the consulate if he did. Real mystery there.

Thanks so much for that, Jomana.

President Trump weighing in on for the first time on this disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi. Listen.

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TRUMP: I'm concerned about it. I don't like hearing about it. And hopefully, that will sort itself out. Right now, nobody knows anything about it. But it's a pretty bad stories going around. I do not like it.

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JOHNS: Vice President Pence also spoke out on the disappearance, an alleged murder in a tweet, saying, if true, this is a tragic day, and called violence against journalist a threat to freedom of the press and human rights.

ROMANS: All right. The International Monetary Fund, the IMF, has a warning for the U.S. President Trump's tariffs will hurt economic growth. The IMF cut its forecast for U.S. growth next year to 2.5 percent. Just months ago, it predicted 2.7 percent growth, but says Trump's actions will disrupt global growth and prosperity, especially tariffs on roughly half of the goods the U.S. imports in China.

The IMF also cut China's growth forecast next year, but says the world will feel the effect. If you have the two largest economies at odds, that's a situation in which everyone is going to suffer, adding that if the trade war continues to escalate, it expects lower business sentiment, volatility and financial markets, and slower investment.

The banking -- the White House is banking on the fact that the U.S. economy is so strong right now, this is exactly the time to hold China accountable. Not really concerned about numbers like those.

JOHNS: And it's funny. It seems like people on the left and right both get into that argument.

ROMANS: Yes, absolutely.

JOHNS: Troubling details about the accident that claimed 20 lives in upstate New York. What officials now say about the limo that crashed.

ROMANS: And a daring escape caught on video. Watch two guys get out of jail in garbage cans.

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[04:46:09] ROMANS: The limousine involved in the deadliest U.S. transportation accident in almost a decade should not have been on the road. According to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the modified vehicle was inspected by the state last month and failed. And its driver was not properly licensed.

Twenty people died in that disaster, seventeen of them birthday party guests. The town most of them called home reeling from the shock.

Our Miguel Marquez has more.

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MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine and Joe, this is an accident that has just punched a hole through the heart of the community in Upstate New York. This is a small town. The people who died -- a nurse, a teacher, a coach, people who worked with the intellectually and developmentally disabled.

Overnight, there was a vigil. A massive thousands of people showing up to this.

One of the people who spoke was a congressman who represents this area.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have always known it to be a loving community. As I gather with you this evening, I see it manifested in a very powerful expression. Look at the bridge filled with people. The walkways filled with people. To the family members, know your loved ones are loved by their community.

MARQUEZ: The investigation into this horrific accident is ongoing and it is an intense investigation, specifically looking at the 2001 Ford Excursion. It was modified, chopped in half and stretched out. It had gone through inspection just about a month ago and it did not pass that inspection say officials.

The driver was supposed to have a commercial driver's license. He didn't have that either.

They have been in contact with the owner in Pakistan at the moment, the company is cooperating with investigators. They have seized several of the vehicles from the company. They also issued a cease- and-desist order so that the company will not be operating, pending this investigation. But right now, this little town of Amsterdam, New York, is just really trying to come to terms with this grief that they are experiencing right now. It has shattered this community -- Joe, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Miguel Marquez, thank you for that report.

Anthony Weiner is getting out of prison early. According to multiple reports, the disgraced former congressman has been a model inmate and will be discharged three months early in May of next year. The 54- year-old Weiner has been serving a 21-month sentence for sending a sexual text message to an underage girl. Weiner's career and marriage wound up in shambles when it was revealed he was sexting young women using the pseudonym "Carlos Danger".

JOHNS: Two inmates who escaped over the weekend from a Kentucky jail are back in custody. Take a look at this surveillance video of Justin Stumbler and Jeremy Hunt who hid in garbage cans that fellow inmates rolled outside for pick up. You can see the two men popping out of the bins.

Stumbler was apprehended Monday morning, thanks to a police tip. Hunt was caught by authorities a few hours later, after a pursuit.

ROMANS: All right. Facebook releasing its first ever hardware. It's not creepy at all. A camera and smart speaker inside your house.

JOHNS: Right. Not creepy at all.

ROMANS: Consumers trust Facebook always listening in. CNNMoney is next.

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[04:54:21] JOHNS: China is now saying the head of Interpol who vanished after taking a flight to Beijing is being held and investigated for corruption. Beijing accusing Meng Hongwei of accepting bribes and other unspecified crimes. But Meng's wife is calling his detention political persecution.

CNN's Sam Kiley is in Beijing.

SAM KILEY, CNN JOURNALIST: Joe, this latest iteration of what has become a very intriguing story really begins now and focuses on Grace Meng, who has gone on the front foot, she has gone on offensive against the Chinese authorities with a short text message directly to CNN explaining her husband's detention as nothing other than political persecution.

[04:55:06] The Chinese authorities are saying that he is being investigated for corruption by the very ministry that he was until his arrest. At least, the vice minister in charge of, as well as being the president of the international policing organization Interpol. And now, the French authorities are giving police protection to Grace, his wife, because she has had death threats over the phone and over social media.

But she is saying she is going to speak out, it's very unlikely or unusual rather in these cases. Normally, relatives of people arrested in China take a low profile, hoping that there won't be any backlash against their loved ones. In her case, she's saying that she wants to speak out in order as she says to prevent other husbands and fathers as she puts it being taken into detention. So, there is still more legs on the story -- Joe.

JOHNS: Absolutely. Sounds like an accusation of bribery going on there. Thanks so much for that, Sam Kiley.

ROMANS: All right. Kanye West has been invited to visit the White House later this week. "The New York Times" reports President Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner preparing to host the rapper on Thursday. The paper reports West will meet with Kushner before having lunch with the president. The meeting is expected to focus on Kanye's desire to improve job opportunities for former convicts and boost manufacturing jobs in his hometown of Chicago.

JOHNS: Now, there's already bad blood between Kanye and Taylor Swift. Remember he grabbed the mic after the MTV Awards in 2009. Now, it appears President Trump is right behind Kanye. And he lashed out at the pop star one day after the long-time Nashville resident endorsed two Tennessee Democrats on Instagram. She called her fans to vote for Phil Bredesen over Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn.

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TRUMP: Marsha Blackburn is doing a very good job in Tennessee. She is leading now substantially, which she should. She's a tremendous woman. I'm sure Taylor Swift has nothing -- or doesn't know anything about her. And let's say I like Taylor's music about 25 percent less now, OK?

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JOHNS: No love lost there apparently. Swift endorsed Democratic Congressman Jim Cooper who's running for re-election to the House. So far, Swift has not commented on what the president said.

ROMANS: But the president said she doesn't know Marsha Blackburn. But in her Instagram post, Taylor Swift said that she examined her record and her record appalls and terrifies me, on her record with women and LGBT community.

JOHNS: Not exactly mincing words there.

ROMANS: She was pretty specific about the Marsha Blackburn record.

All right. Let's get a check on CNN Business this morning.

Global stocks mostly low today after a selloff in China sparked concerns about slowing global growth. Beijing injected cash into its struggling economy to spur growth, as it faces a trade war with the U.S.

It was a mixed day on Wall Street. Dow rose a little bit. S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell. For the Nasdaq, that is the third straight down day. Two reasons there, the possibility of slow growth hurts tech stocks and bond yields, rising bond yields. Yields on the ten-mark treasury hit a seven-year high Friday. The bond market was closed yesterday for Columbus Day.

Netflix is buying the production studio and expanding its media empire to New Mexico. The streaming giant will buy ABQ Studios in Albuquerque. Netflix already filmed some of its series in New Mexico, like the "Western Godless", but plans to film at least three more in the state. Netflix is framing this good for New Mexico, bringing a billion dollars in spending and a thousand jobs per year.

Netflix is also getting $14 million in local tax breaks and incentives. Netflix is ramping up production of the original content, spending $13 billion this year alone.

Facebook wants to put a camera in your house. Will consumers trust Facebook always listening in? Releasing the first ever hardware. A camera and smart receiver called portal.

Portal is built specifically for video calls. It will zoom in on a person's face or follow them as they move around the room. That's a bold more for a company facing privacy concerns. Facebook knows this and says privacy is built into every layer, including a plastic cover, that can slide over the camera.

JOHNS: I'm not down with Alexa either.

ROMANS: You're not?

JOHNS: No.

ROMANS: I don't want anybody -- I don't know.

JOHNS: No way.

ROMANS: I don't want anybody looking at me in the kitchen yelling at my kids over doing homework

JOHNS: EARLY START continues right now.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: This storm will be life threatening and extremely dangerous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: Forecasters say Hurricane Michael is gaining strength as it heads for the Florida panhandle.

ROMANS: The New York governor says the stretch limo that crashed killing 20 people should never have been on the road.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I want you to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: President Trump apologizes to Justice Brett Kavanaugh for what the president now calls a political hoax.