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New Day

Egypt Tries To Revive Cease-fire Talks; Exclusive: Alleged New Audio Of Brown Shooting; "Modern Family" Wins Best Comedy Series

Aired August 26, 2014 - 07:30   ET

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

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama will be in Charlotte, North Carolina, today to address the American Legion's national convention. The president is expected to comment on the sacrifices made by veterans. Tomorrow the Veterans Affairs Department is expected to release an internal investigation into patient care delays. Early reports indicate it will say there's no proof that any veterans died as a result of the long waits for care at the Phoenix V.A. hospital. As you'll recall, CNN first reported the problems in medical care at the V.A. hospital in Phoenix

Former FBI Director Louie Freeh is in a New Hampshire hospital after he was seriously injured in a car accident. A police official tells CNN that Freeh underwent surgery for unspecified injuries. State police say his SUV went off the road and struck a mailbox before it landed in some bushes. Freeh was director of the FBI from September 1993 to June 2001.

ALIYSN CAMEROTA, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: All right. We'll keep an eye on that. Michaela, thanks so much.

Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes showing no signs of letting up in Gaza. The latest Palestinian officials say killed nine and dozens more were wounded. This was in a blast that nearly leveled one of Gaza's tallest buildings. This as dozens of rockets were launched at Israel overnight, and there are reports that a new cease-fire deal could be close.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is live in Jerusalem with the latest. Hi, Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Alisyn. Yes, it could be close, but we've seen cease-fires come and go so far, and nobody is overly optimistic at this point. Apparently, the Egyptians are continuing to push their initiative.

We've heard from Mousa Abu Marzuk who is a senior Hamas leader that the Egyptian initiative is acceptable to them, but at moment there are no Israeli negotiators in Cairo so it's difficult to see how it's going to move ahead until they get there.

Now, regarding the situation in Gaza, you saw these two high rise buildings by Gaza standards, one of them 14 floors, almost completely leveled. This appears to be part of what is the Israeli version of shock and awe in Gaza. Instead of what we saw earlier in the conflict, individual homes or offices are being hit by missiles, now they are just taking down entire buildings where according in one instance the Israelis say there was a Hamas command and control complex.

But our crew in Gaza said that in one of those high rises that was brought down, there are also offices, stores and residences as well that were destroyed overnight -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Ben Wedeman, thank you for that update from the location. Thank you.

All right, meanwhile, next, there is new exclusive audio that we want to play for everyone that may shed light on Michael Brown's final moments, the sound of shots ringing out. You're going to hear it for yourself next, and we'll get reaction from Brown's uncle.

BERMAN: And "Breaking Bad" ends on a high note at the Emmys. We will show you all the highlights. You're going to want to see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Breaking overnight, CNN has exclusively obtained alleged audio of the shooting of Michael Brown recorded inadvertently during a video chat. The unnamed man says he handed the tape over to the FBI. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are pretty. You are so fine. Just going over some of your videos. How could I forget?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: Sort of have to ignore the conversation and listen to the background. You can hear several shots. CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of that tape.

Joining me right now Reverend Charles Ewing. He is Michael Brown's great-uncle. He joins us live from Ferguson this morning. Sir, good morning. I know you had a busy day yesterday. I thank you for joining us this morning.

CHARLES EWING, MICHAEL BROWN'S GREAT-UNCLE: Thank you very much. It was very busy day.

PEREIRA: It was an important day, too, and I really want to talk to you about that and your eulogy that you delivered, a beautiful and heartfelt eulogy, and I first want to, and I know that this is a painful subject because this is your great nephew.

You've had a chance to hear this audio. We've just played it again. I'm curious what your thoughts are. What comes to mind when you hear that audio?

EWING: When I heard the audio with the number of shots and regarding what the autopsy report is stating six shots, but we know, according to some witnesses, that there were more shots than six shots, and I'm not surprised when the audio video came out, not saying it's valid right now, but if it is valid I'm not surprised with the amount of shots that were fired that day at my nephew.

PEREIRA: The unnamed man has a lawyer who told CNN here that the FBI has a copy of that audio and that they are looking into it as well. Our audio expert says that there were ten shots fired. We know that six hit your great nephew. I wonder have the parents of Michael, have Lesley and Michael Brown Sr., have they heard this audio?

EWING: Well, I haven't talked to them last night because we had such a full day at the funeral and by me very tired I went home and laid down and I didn't get the report until later on last night from CNN news with Don Lemon.

And I was just in awe of the findings of the guy coming forth, whoever he is, with the audio tape, and I listened to it over and over and over again, and I myself as I laid there I counted the number of shots.

According to the reporting, there were six shots and then five more, a total of 11 shots, and my concern was the pause between the six shots and then the five shots. It was almost like, you know, why was there such a pause there?

PEREIRA: The pause is a real concern. There's a three-second pause between -- there's a three-second pause between those initial shots. We'll play it one more time for you. You can hear a pause. Our audio experts says there was ten and the one other, the 11th as you heard, he believes that's an echo. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are pretty. You're so fine. Just going over some of your videos.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: Obviously, investigators will have to listen to that and comb through that and get their audiologist on it to hear and to try to determine what that pause was. Are you concerned what the reaction is going to be if this is going to enrage people?

EWING: I am very concerned because of the fact we had buried my nephew yesterday, and I'm very concerned about the actions in a community with these later findings, and I'm very concerned, and we're praying for peace in a community and in a nation.

I was sharing -- we as a nation, we should set an example before the whole world that we must come together and healing can only take place if people are honest, when things are disclosed it breeds more animosity within people's hearts and it causes distrust in the community as well.

PEREIRA: People have said there's no justice, there's no peace without justice. I want to turn to your eulogy yesterday, very heartfelt eulogy. They chose you to deliver that for the family because we know it was a very, very personal day in a very public fashion, very hard to have to deal with that for the family and those that loved Michael Brown.

I want to quote something that you said yesterday, a bit of a rallying cry. You said there's a cry being made from the ground, not just for Michael Brown, but for the Trayvon Martins.

And for those children in Sandy Hook Elementary School, for the Columbine massacre, for black-on-black, crime. You made the remembrance, your remembrance of your great nephew, Michael more than about just his death.

EWING: Yes, I did, because the nation is hurting, and we have to realize that something has to be done, you know, with the guns and with the crime that's taking place throughout the nation.

My heart goes out to all people of the nation, of the United States of America, and we have to come together as a nation, you know. I still hold true our flag, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We should set a precedent and example for the whole world. The whole world is watching America, and we must show them an example that we as a nation, as a whole, black, white, in regards of what nationality that we should come together as a people to -- in order to heal the hurt within ourselves.

And to come together, sit down at the table and come to an agreement. We must be our brother's keeper. This is one of the -- the part of the message that I wanted to portray. We have to look out for one another.

PEREIRA: Pastor Ewing, a very moving speech yesterday. You also mentioned that you're great nephew had said prophetically that someday the world will know my name, and sadly that is true. Thank you so much for joining us.

I know this is an exhausting time both emotionally and physically for you and your family, and hopefully you can get some rest as the investigation continues and we get closer to justice. All right?

EWING: Thank you, and God bless you and God bless America.

PEREIRA: Amen to that. All right, we're going to take a short break.

Up next on NEW DAY, the Emmys, served up some memorable moments last night. One gem was a bit of a "Seinfeld" reunion of sorts that took that surprising turn. The superstar lip lock between Julie Louie Dreyfuss and "Breaking Bad's" Bryan Cranston. I didn't see that coming. I don't know about you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the third consecutive Emmy win for Julie Louie Dreyfuss. Over her career she's won five Emmys and had 18 nominations. Previous wins have been for "Seinfeld" --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: They really went for it.

CAMEROTA: That was one of the most memorable moments from last night's Emmy awards. Brian Cranston gave a passionate smooch and it looked like surprising smooch to his "Seinfeld" co-star. He made a bit appearance on it, Julie Louie Dreyfuss as she won the Emmy for her role in "Veep."

"Breaking Bad" is off the air and still racking up statues winning for Emmy Awards for best drama series as well as outstanding actor and supporting actor and actress.

Joining us to break down the highs and lows is CNN's entertainment correspondent, Nischelle Turner. Nischelle, great to see you.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. How are you, guys?

CAMEROTA: All right, so what were the highlights of last night?

TURNER: Well, there were a lot. Where would you like for me to begin? You guys were talking about the kiss with Julie Louie Dreyfuss and Bryan Cranston after she won for best actress in a comedy and Alison, I heard you say it looked like she was surprised.

CAMEROTA: You don't think so.

TURNER: They knew that was coming. That I believed that was long planned. Remember last year when Julie Louie Dreyfuss won, she had the whole bit planned with Tony Hale who plays her assistant in "Veep" come up with her, hold her purse and feed her lines.

The whole thing was planned. Her co-star Reed Scott told me on the red carpet before the show that if she were to win, they did believe that she had another really good bit planned because everybody was asking what would she do to top last year?

CAMEROTA: That's a good scoop. That's good scoop, Nischelle.

TURNER: You know, remember the bit earlier with them when she said, you look like this guy that I used to -- that played the dentist that I went out with on "Seinfeld." And he said, yes. Well, we kissed and she's like, did we? There you go, that's the culmination.

PEREIRA: He wanted to make her remember.

CAMEROTA: So other than that smooch, any big surprises last night?

TURNER: Well, I think -- I don't know if it was so much of a surprise, but I think it was more the anticipation was building, would "Modern Family" win for the fifth consecutive year in a row tying a record, and in fact, they did.

Because the thought there was because "Orange is the New Black" came in and enter that category of best comedy series, which everyone said is that really a comedy, I guess it's kind of a dramedy.

But when they entered the fray, people thought "Orange is the New Black" is the new hot thing so they may take it away from "Modern Family." But no tried and true. "Modern Family" won last night, and I have to tell you, last night's show was a bit of a win for network television.

We've heard so much being made of online and streaming services and also cable is taking everything away from network because they're able to push the boundaries. We saw network television come back last night in a big way and I think it was really good to see.

BERMAN: Netflix not so much.

TURNER: They didn't get shut out completely because Uzo Udoba did win in the acting category, won as creative arts Emmys the week before and so she won for a guest starring role in a comedy series.

So they didn't get completely shutout and let's say the second year for them, they had 31 nominations. So I think that is still a big win for Netflix.

PEREIRA: Can we say how great the ladies looked at the red carpet, a far cry from, you know, the prison uniforms.

TURNER: Speaking of Uzo Uduba, she was one of the best dressed last night in red Christian (inaudible) was working it.

BERMAN: I want to talk about Matthew McConaughey, because this guy, you know, not only good looking, but he wins everything except, again, not so much last night and they kind of made fun of him a little bit.

TURNER: A little bit? Jimmy Kimmel roasted him big time and it was hilarious. One the best moments I think of the show, I mean, it was just that funny. Jimmy Kimmel basically told him to go home because he didn't belong there.

He was a big movie star and last night was the night for television personalities and he was kind of encroaching on their territory. He also said because remember Matthew lost a lot of weight for "Dallas Buyers Club."

Jimmy looked at him and said, Matthew, I almost didn't recognize you, you've gotten so fat since the Oscars because he's gained some of the weight back. But you know, there was this big anticipation in the best actor in a drama category.

It was almost seemed to be a two-horse race between Matthew McConaughey and also Bryan Cranston. And of course, Matthew did not win, the Emmy last night. It was Bryan Cranston's night and he was visibly moved and good to see. Because Bryan Cranston besides being one of the best actors in Hollywood is one of the nicest men in Hollywood and he had I tell you "Breaking Bad" is a great show, but he had some of the richest material this season to submit to the Emmys. I didn't see any way that Bryan Cranston wouldn't win this award.

TURNER: Yes, you know, everybody was wondering what they would do, how they would appreciate it and I think Billy Crystal came out. He spoke from the heart. You could tell there was a genuine love and friendship there.

It was really poignant. It was funny and then they played some of Robin Williams' best moments. And at the end they played a really poignant moment. Let's listen to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY CRYSTAL, ACTOR: Some of the brightest of our celestial bodies are actually extinct now. Their energy long since cooled, but miraculously, because they float in the heavens, so far away from us now, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever.

And the glow will be so bright, it will warm your heart, it will make your eyes glisten and you'll think to yourselves, Robin Williams, what a concept.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Beautiful.

TURNER: What a concept. Billy Crystal said it was really hard for him to even talk about it because Robin had been a part of his life for 40 years and one of his best friends for 40 years. So it was so difficult for him to even speak those words.

CAMEROTA: He did a good job. He seemed composed. He seemed poignant and poetic and composed.

PEREIRA: And heartfelt. To do that in public, you know. All right, Nischelle --

TURNER: We have to go guys, but I talked about Uzo Oduba in red, but happy birthday to the lady in red in the studio. I give my love to Michaela.

PEREIRA: Thank you. Thanks so much, darling.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much, Nischelle.

All right, next on NEW DAY, new developments in the fight against ISIS in Syria. President Obama OKs air surveillance of the terrorists, could it lead to air strikes?

BERMAN: New audio obtained by CNN, it may shed new light on Michael Brown's final moments. The attorney for the man who captures it says it is the sound of intense gunfire, hear it for yourself next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Breaking overnight, preparing for air strikes, the U.S. now flying reconnaissance aircraft over Syria, tracking the terror group, ISIS. The Pentagon now making plans for an attack. We have the latest.

CAMEROTA: CNN exclusive, an audiotape allegedly of the moment Michael Brown was shot. The gunshots heard for the first time, how many shots were there, and what we make of the pause in the middle. We'll have that tape for you.

PEREIRA: Modern dynasty "Modern Family" wins big for the fifth time as "Breaking Bad" finishes off on a high note. We have all the best jokes, that kiss, and Billy Crystal's touching tribute to Robin Williams.

BERMAN: Your NEW DAY continues right now.

Everyone's fixing their hair. Good morning. Welcome back to NEW DAY. It is Tuesday, August 26th, 8:00 in the east. I'm John Berman joined by Alisyn Camerota. Great to see you again.

CAMEROTA: Great to see you also. You have to have great birthday hair.

PEREIRA: You have bad hair on your birthday. Nobody can help you.

CAMEROTA: You are looking fine on your birthday.

BERMAN: All right, big news this morning, President Obama, looking for eyes in the sky in the fight against ISIS. He has approved reconnaissance flights over Syria to get a better idea of where militants are stationed in trading.

So are airstrikes against ISIS, a sure thing in Syria. Will the president limit air strikes to Iraq where they are at least for now? CNN's Barbara Starr who has been ahead of the story has more from the Pentagon. Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. The president authorizing reconnaissance flights over Syria to gather fresh intelligence about ISIS movements, but the question now as you say is what will trigger a decision by the president to proceed with air strikes.