Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Shopping Online for Cyber Monday; Calls for Open Hong Kong Elections; Supreme Court Case on Online Speech; St. Louis Police Condemn Rams Players for Hands Up Gesture; North Korea Involved in Sony Pictures Hack?

Aired December 01, 2014 - 09:30   ET

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

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How come it's so random?

SCOTT STANZEL, AMAZON: Yes, it's very random and that's by design. We want to maximize our shelves so we can store as big a selection as possible. And, as you may have noted, 15 million products, approximately, in this building.

And by having random stow, we can get more products on the shelves. Our associates are really good at finding the best place to put an item when we get it in on the shelves. And whether it's -- you need a drill for the handyman in your family, you know, Legos for the kids or maybe the whole family wants to work on a puzzle or even your dog needs a chew toy, all those can go together because we tell the computer, here's where it is. So if you were to go order all of those things at once, they seem totally random to go together, the computer says to the associate, here's where they are.

ELAM: It's about the technology.

STANZEL: Yes.

ELAM: So tell me this, what about the big things? Because, obviously, this is small stuff. You guys sell all kinds of sizes.

STANZEL: Right.

ELAM: Where's the big stuff?

STANZEL: The big stuff are in different sort of facilities. This facility holds everything that's basically smaller than say an xBox. But we have facilities that will carry gas grills, kayaks, 100 inch TVs, mattresses, anything you can really think of. That's a different type of facility. But this is a facility that has all those items that are ready to go out the door at a moment's notice, but they're all basically smaller than an xBox.

ELAM: All right, and so let's talk about jobs here because you guys have to stock up for your seasonal -- your big season, right, because this is a big day for you guys.

STANZEL: That's right.

ELAM: How many people work here full time and how many have you hired on temporarily?

STANZEL: Yes, this is a huge day for use, obviously Cyber Monday is. But during the entire holiday season, it's incredibly important for us to hire on others to help us out during that busy time. We've hired 80,000 people during this holiday season to help us. And during -- in this facility in particular we have 2,000 full time employees, but we'll have thousands more in here during this period that are helping us get those packages out to everybody who's waiting on them.

ELAM: Waiting. And it's amazing to watch, Carol, I've got to tell you. Right now it's the quiet because they're in a little bit of a shift change here. It's still early here in California. This is going to be a very busy day and it is going to be bumping in here in a little bit.

So we're kind of here in the quiet before the storm, but we'll be out here all day seeing how they actually get all of the stuff into the boxes, sorted, taped, out, packed and out to your doors for all you shoppers, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: OK. Stephanie Elam, thanks for a glimpse inside. We appreciate it.

In other news this morning, some 40 people have been arrested in Hong Kong following a violent night of clashes between protesters and police during a pro-democracy demonstration. Protesters want the Chinese government to allow Hong Kong to hold open elections for its next leader in 2017. But the government shows no sign of adhering to that request, slamming what it says are, quote, "violent radicals who are provoking authorities."

Ivan Watson has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Calm returned to the protest encampment in downtown Hong Kong on Monday after a night of tense clashes. We witnessed the predawn confrontations. It took place when demonstrators from here sought to move out of here, to capture more territory as part of an effort to blockade the Hong Kong central government headquarters. This student leader's -- protest leaders said was an effort to try to put more pressure on the government to give in to the demonstrator's so called democratic demands. Well, within a matter of hours, the police had come in with batons, with pepper spray, they detained dozens of demonstrators and cleared out thousands of protesters and their barricades in a matter of minutes.

But here at the main protest encampment, the situation is still very much the status quo. What we have seen now for more than two months is this tent city has grown up here, as we see this entire area where the students are able to study. They even have exercise bikes here just to give you a sense of how permanent this encamping has become.

At the crux of the dispute, it's the demonstrator's demands for what they say should be a more democratic election for their top official in 2017. And chafing at restrictions made by the central government of China over how candidates can be vetted for that top position. The Hong Kong government showing no signs of giving into those demands. So this test of wills continues. And this is really a marathon drama continuing to be played out in the streets of this city.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, how much is too much on Facebook? A divorce case now has the nation's highest court looking to weigh in on what you can and cannot say about your estranged spouse. We'll talk about that next.

But first, Washington politics, protests and international incidents, a disappearing plane and a disease's sudden spread, legalizations and recalls and the inexplicable attraction of a dump bucket of ice water. Some say just some of the stories that dominated 2014. Now we want your top 10 choices. Vote for the 10 stories that got you talking in 2014. Go to cnn.com/yir.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In what could be a ground breaking decision, Supreme Court justices will hear arguments today that could decide the limits of what you post online. While going through a divorce, Anthony Elonis posted on Facebook -- posted this on Facebook seemingly directed at his wife. "There's one way to love ya, a thousand ways to kill ya."

Elonis says this was just a rap and he was blowing off steam. It was nothing more than that. Then after his wife filed for a protective order, Elonis posted this, quote, "fold up your protection from abuse order and put it in your pocket. Is it thick enough to stop a bullet?" He would eventually be sentenced to 44 months in prison for posting such thing on Facebook.

CNN justice correspondent Pamela Brown joins us now from Washington with more.

Good morning.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning to you, Carol.

This really is a ground-breaking case. It's the first time that the high court will examine free speech rights and social media. Oral arguments will begin at 11:00 this morning. And this case centers on this man, Anthony Elonis, who posted these harrowing messages on his Facebook page, initially directed, seemingly, at his estranged wife at the time. And then he went on to post messages seemingly directed at an FBI agent. He talked about shooting up a kindergarten class. But in this case, his attorney says, look, these messages were cathartic. That this was just an expression similar to the way a rapper blows off steam in a rap song and that he didn't intend to harm anyone. Here's what his attorney, John Elwood, had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN ELWOOD, ATTORNEY: He said, you know, this is therapeutic for me. This is just for me. It's not for anybody else. And there's a reason why all these graphic songs are written, in that they are cathartic. They work through experiences. When Eminem wrote these things, he hasn't been prosecuted for a felony for writing these songs, which are virtually indistinguishable about his ex-wife.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So the attorney there is arguing that what should matter is the intent of the person, not how a reasonable person would perceive the threat. However, the U.S. government disagrees with that. They say clearly in this case the ex-wife, due to these messages, feared for her life. And that's really what should matter here, how a reasonable person would perceive the threat. Don Verrilli, the solicitor general, will argue that this is similar to a bomb threat. It doesn't matter what the intendants of the person calling it a bomb threat. What matters is how people would react to that, the panic that may cause. And so that're really at the heart of the government's argument.

Elonis, by the way, was convicted by a Pennsylvania jury, sentenced to 44 months in prison due to this premise of his intent of posting these messages. So it's bound to be really interesting today here, Carol, listening to both sides argue this case. It's bound to be a close one.

COSTELLO: All right, we'll check back. Pamela Brown reporting live from Washington this morning.

Checking other top stories for you at 41 minutes past. Most Americans believe there will be more gridlock when Republicans take over both houses of Congress. A new CNN/ORC poll finds 50 percent of Americans think GOP control of Congress will be bad for America. The poll does shows the GOP brand is rebounding, but still lags slightly behind Democrats in terms of popularity.

Get ready to click away to order your next box of Thin Mints. Girl Scout cookies are going digital. Starting next year, Girl Scouts will be able to set up their own online shop. You'll even be able to pay with your credit card. The only thing is, parents will have to approve who can buy from their daughter's site.

Prince Harry is challenging you to share a secret. #feelnoshame is just one of the many efforts marking World AIDS Day today. The prince is revealing a secret in hopes of ending the stigma around AIDS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE HARRY: On today, World AIDS Day, my secret is, believe it or not, I get incredibly nervous before public speaking, no matter how big the crowd or the audience. And despite the fact that I laugh and joke all the time, I get incredibly nervous, if not anxious actually, before going into rooms full of people when I'm wearing a suit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: This is part of the #feelnoshame. A push by the charity the prince co-founded in 2006 after a trip to the African country -- after a trip to Africa, where more than 37,000 children are HIV positive.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The St. Louis police union is calling for NFL to take disciplinary action against five Rams football players who ran out onto the field hands up. Those five African-American players raised their palms in the hair in the, "Hands up, don't shoot" gesture before they took the field against the Oakland Raiders. The action seemingly at odds what the team had been preaching leading up to the game: unity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in this together St. Louis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One team that can accomplish anything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we work together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All eyes are on us now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole world is watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our children are watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's make them proud.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Proud to be a St. Louisan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Proud of how we move forward.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's better and stronger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When St. Louis stands together.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: So, the police union responded to the hands up gesture during Sunday's game with a statement reading in part, quote, "The St. Louis Police Officers Association is profoundly disappointed with the members of the St. Louis Rams football team who chose to ignore the mountains of evidence released from the St. Louis Country grand jury this weekend, engaging in a display that police officers around the nation found tasteless, offensive, and inflammatory."

So let's talk about this. Former NFL player Chris Draft was at the Rams game. And Rachel Nichols is here too, host of CNN "UNGUARDED". Thanks to both of you being here.

CHRIS DRAFT, FORMER NFL PLAYER: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here again. Chris, you were at the game on Sunday. You have pictures. What did you think as those players ran out onto the field?

DRAFT: Well, first, I didn't know exactly what Kenny was doing. He stopped and he put his hands up. And then I realized, I realized. I said oh my goodness. They're putting their hands up. And I thought it was a tremendous -- kind of tremendous gesture in terms of what they did. They stood in solidarity.

But I think what's unfortunate is it's seen as they're completely taking sides rather than it being a kind of surrender to progress, and saying one decision does not just clear everything up, that we have to commit to moving forward. And I think that's what the Rams have been about from the beginning in supporting the Ferguson community and moving forward. This thing is not over.

COSTELLO: Chris, this is what Jared Cook said to ESPN. He said, quote, "We haven't been able to go down to Ferguson to do anything because we've been busy. Secondly, it's kind of dangerous down there and none of us want to get caught up in anything. So we wanted to come out and show our respect to the protests and the people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world."

That kind of sounds like he's taking a side to me.

DRAFT: Well, that's the side of progress. Just because somebody is protesting doesn't mean it's a negative protest. Everybody around this country and around this world knows that something has to change and that is -- that's really what this is about. Are we willing to move forward?

As a football team, the Rams had a tremendous game. They were 50 -- it was 52 to 0 the other day. But they cannot come in today, this Monday after the game, and they can't just say that everything is all good. They're going go through the game film with a fine tooth comb and they're going to see that they could have improved. And I think in this situation is, yes, there was a decision. Yes, the grand jury came back, but that does not change that progress needs to happen, that we've got to move forward, that the community has to move forward and, you know, there has to be a resolve to be able to do that. One instance does not change it. COSTELLO: How did the crowd react?

DRAFT: Well, I heard a couple of boos. I heard that. But I think, across the board for the most part, people were supportive. And at the end of the day when you do a gesture like that, you're not going to have everybody on your side, but I think it's important to say that it's not a side that's against the police officers, it's not a side that's just completely against protesters, but it's a support for the protesters that have been positive, that are working hand in hand with the police.

You know, I was down last the two days with police officers in Ferguson. I was down there with them. And they absolutely have recognized that there are positive protests. Aeneas Williams is a former Rams player, has been with those groups in positive protest. And that's what's great about America. America allows us to have that protest.

COSTELLO: Well, the police association isn't so happy about that protest and, Rachel, you heard what I said. They want the NFL to take disciplinary action or at the very least they want an apology for these five players.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN HOST, "UNGUARDED": Yes, the NFL hasn't commented on this yet but I wouldn't be surprised if they take into account some of the details of this call for an apology.

The statement the police association released is based around quotes from their business manager, Jeffrey Roorda. He is, in fact, a former police officer who was fired from his job for filing, first, a false report against a suspect, then another false report against his own police commissioner. He is now a state legislator and recently submitted a bill into the state house saying that he wanted police officers involved in shootings on the job, their names to be kept secret.

So this is the person who is upset that the Rams are having a gesture in solidarity with protesters, who are generally protesting not just the grand jury decision but also just the interaction between police and minority communities, and drawing light to the fact that that could be done better.

So the fact that he's upset with people who are in solidarity, with people who think the police could be handling things better in minority communities, not a big surprise.

COSTELLO: Well, the NFL is dealing with enough controversy right now.

NICHOLS: And the NFL also doesn't really respond well to threats. And if you look at that whole statement, there are some threats at the end of that saying they're going to rally advertisers. And the NFL is a big successful organization, as we have seen, don't take too kindly to being threatened publicly. So I wouldn't expect them to crumble in the face of this statement.

COSTELLO: All right. Interesting conversation. Chris Draft, Rachel Nichols, thanks to both of you. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The first rule of Hollywood -- a little controversy can help at the box office. But what's happening to a new Seth Rogen and James Franco film could be a different story. Sony Pictures is reportedly exploring the possibility that North Korea played a role in a high profile hack and leak of the studio's latest big budget features, including "The Interview", a comedy starring Rogen and James Franco about an assassination attempt on the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. Rappaport, I'm Agent Lacey with central intelligence. You two are going to be in a room alone with Kim and the CIA would love it if you could take him out.

SETH ROGEN, ACTOR: Hmm?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Take him out?

ROGEN: For coffee?

JAMES FRANCO, ACTOR: Dinner?

ROGEN: For kimchee?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, take him out.

ROGEN: You want us to kill the leader of North Korea?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FRANCO: What?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So North Korea doesn't think that's so funny. CNN contributor and "Entertainment Tonight" host Nischelle Turner joins us now from Los Angeles. Hi Nischelle.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hi, Carol. How are you?

COSTELLO: Oh, it's so nice to see you!

TURNER: Yes, it is. Couldn't keep me away for very long, could you?

COSTELLO: Exactly. So let's talk about what's happening with Sony and the hack. Their movies are online, right? Is that what happened in a nutshell?

TURNER: Yes, basically it is what happened in a nutshell. This is a big deal, Carol, because not only have movies that are already been released and movies still yet to have been released been pirated, there is now this report that the FBI is looking into this hack as something that has to do with the James Franco/Seth Rogen film, "The Interview", which we know the North Koreans are not happy about. In fact, they gave that strongly worded letter earlier calling it like an act of war, this movie; they were upset about it. It's not the first too many they've been upset about a movie Hollywood has made, but there could be a lot of ramifications because not only have these movies been pirated, this group called GOP, they call themselves, also say that they have got a lot of sensitive information from Sony employees that they plan to release going forward.

So we don't know what they have and we don't know what's going to be released, but I can tell you that it is a big deal and a worry in Hollywood.

COSTELLO: I know that Sony suspects North Korea of hacking into their movies, but is there any real evidence of that?

TURNER: No. No, and I think that's why the FBI is looking into it. I mean, we know that they're upset about this film, "The Interview", but other than that there isn't any real evidence. I think that's why it's being investigated.

I think the big deal that they're looking at now is the piracy of these movies that have already been hacked and that are already out there online, like "Fury", which is Brad Pitt's new movie that is in the box office. That's been pirated 1.2 million times already. And "Annie", which is going to be released December 19, the Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, Quvenzhane Wallis film, that's been pirated over 200,000 times already. And there's another film out there, "Still Alice", which is said to be one of the best movies this year, which Julianne Moore is already being touted as a Best Actress candidate for, it has been pirated 100,000 times. So this is something Sony does not want to see, Carol.

COSTELLO: No, that means a big loss of money. Nischelle Turner, thanks so much. Nischelle Turner reporting live from Los Angeles.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

(MUSIC)