Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Hurricane Cristobal Forms; Surveillance over Syria; Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston Kiss Highlight of Emmys; Shows both New and Old Grabbed Awards Last Night

Aired August 26, 2014 - 08:30   ET

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


MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: CNN said to be from the very moment police shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown. In it you hear apparent gunfire, a pause, then more shots. CNN cannot independently confirm the veracity of the audio.

Russia and Ukraine's leaders will meet today discussing the conflict in eastern Ukraine. This meeting comes after Ukraine says it captured 10 Russian soldiers who allegedly crossed the border.

Palestinian officials say an Israeli air strike blasted a residential tower in Gaza overnight. The Palestinian health ministry said nine people were killed, 20 others injured.

And primary elections being held today in Arizona, Vermont and Florida, with a runoff for a House seat in Oklahoma. Some of the primaries could affect the balance of power in the house chamber next year. We'll be watching that, of course.

And we do update the five things to know, so be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the very latest.

Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thanks, Michaela.

There's trouble in the tropics -

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh.

CAMEROTA: John, there is because Hurricane Cristobal has formed in the Atlantic, with sustained 75-mile-per-hour winds. Meteorologist Indra Petersons is here to tell us how it will affect the East Coast.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, just think about it, this is the third system of the Atlantic season. All three of them hurricanes. Cristobal is now a category one hurricane, weak at 75 miles per hour. Remember, just 74 miles-per-hour does make it that cat one hurricane. But we are going to be watching it stay off shore. By Wednesday, going right between the outer banks and Bermuda, and staying a category one hurricane until finally it dissipates in some of those cooler waters.

But again, even though it's offshore, it doesn't mean we're not going to be feeling those effects on the East Coast. Still, look at the wave heights, five to seven feet, even anywhere up towards the outer banks there. And the other side of this is going to be the strong rip currents, guys. Remember, you have Cristobal out there. So you're talking about all those waves. But also you have high pressure here. So between the two, we're looking at these strong rip currents. And I know a lot of people are heading to the beach early, especially ahead of maybe the last week of summer before school starts and that is the East Coast.

Let's take to you the West Coast. This was a huge story, originally a cat five storm. Marie was out there. And this is huge, guys, we're talking about the waves now really impacting southern California starting today, lasting all the way even in through Thursday. This is very unusual for them, 10 to 15-foot sets are going to be out there. We're talking about the threat for beach erosion but also even just possible destruction to the piers and even some of these beachfront homes. This is not something they typically see. I'm terrified people are going to go out on the jetis (ph), they're going to try and look at these waves and all it takes is one of those sneaker waves out there. Unfortunately, that will take lives.

BERMAN: Don't do it.

CAMEROTA: A good warning.

PETERSONS: Please, do not.

BERMAN: Listen to Indra.

CAMEROTA: Thanks, Indra.

BERMAN: And next up for us on NEW DAY, "Modern Family," "Breaking Bad," the big winners at last night's Emmy Awards. We'll have a recap, the winners and the night's most memorable moments. Some really good ones. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: President Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria to gather information about ISIS strongholds. If we pinpoint their location, air strikes could be next. Syria says they oppose air strikes unless they are done in coordination with them. Syria's foreign minister said Syria is ready to collaborate and coordinate regionally and internationally to fight terrorists in accordance to the United Nations Security Council decision 2170. Let's bring in chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour to discuss all of this.

Christiane, great to see you.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, so it sounds like President Obama has a couple of bad options, either go it alone in Syria against Assad's warning or somehow turn Assad into an ally. How do you see the path forward?

AMANPOUR: Well, I think there is very, very little doubt that they will not be turning Assad into an ally. Everyone from General Martin Dempsey, the top commander in the United States, to the British foreign secretary have said that that is a no go area. We cannot turn Assad into an ally, even if we have a common enemy, which is ISIS. They don't -- they believe they don't need permission from Syria to attack ISIS strongholds inside Syria. And, of course, they know exactly where ISIS is. ISIS controls Raqqa province in Syria. It now controls a huge swathe of land inside Syria and Iraq, which the British foreign secretary has said is a terrorist state which is going to be launched, they are absolutely convinced that it is going to be used to launch attacks on Britain, on Europe, and perhaps even on the United States as well. So they're saying this has to be addressed now.

CAMEROTA: You interviewed U.N. Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon yesterday. What was his suggestion on how to combat ISIS?

AMANPOUR: Well, look, he is not a military man. He doesn't believe in military action, but he said that the intolerable barbarism of what ISIS has been doing has to be confronted. But that requires political will, it requires an international consensus, and as you know there hasn't been an international consensus over the last three years of this war that has raged in Syria, which is the birthplace of ISIS. This is actually what's happened, that other U.N. officials have said the international paralysis over the last three years in confronting what's going on in Syria has actually enabled this terrible group, and now the U.S. is saying that we need to confront ISIS on both sides of what is in a sense a non-existent border anymore. That's what General Martin Dempsey has said to the press over the last few days.

But the question is, how much of a strategic shift will President Obama make in taking on this group? And the other question is, if the United States and a coalition of allies does not take on this group, that de facto means that the west is prepared to live with an Islamic Caliphate, a terrorist state, at heart of the Middle East, raising armies, threatening minorities, and conducting the kind of brutality that we've seen, especially with the murder of James Foley.

CAMEROTA: You're coming to us from Britain. What are countries in Europe and Great Britain doing to combat radicalization at home, particularly the person who they believe assassinated or was involved in the beheading of James Foley?

AMANPOUR: Well, that is a massive question and a massive problem and challenge for many, many people in Europe. Their Muslim populations, people who feel either that they need to go off on an adventure or who feel alienated have been going in the hundreds to fight in the Syrian civil war. And as you know, ISIS has been very, very sophisticated with its recruitment, with its social media usage and many, many Britain's and other Europeans have gone over and, I might add, many Americans as well.

So what they're trying to do now is to try to figure out how to deradicalize them, if and when they come back. Some have suggested that they should be stripped of their citizenship. Some have suggested that there be very, very draconian measures put in place. The question is really how they're going to do it and what they're going to do. But there's no doubt that there have been long, long warnings about blowback from leaving the Syrian civil war to rage unchecked, and now these warnings are coming true, not just in the rise of ISIS, but in the very, very severe worry that they're going to come back and attack homelands in Europe and in the United States.

CAMEROTA: And do we know what's happening with the investigation into the man who was heard on that tape with a British accent, who had been involved with the assassination of James Foley?

AMANPOUR: Well, this again is, you know, they seem to make a bit of progress one day and then dispute it the next day. The British ambassador to the United States told CNN over the weekend that they are close to making an identification. The problem, though, is now they're trying to figure out whether the voice, that English accented voice that was clearly heard on the execution video, is actually from the same person who committed the execution, and that seems to be taking up a huge amount of time, as they forensically try to examine the video, voice analysis, and all the kind of analysis they can make of the shape of the executioner, the shape of the face, the style of the weapons that he used. You know, one man apparently had a knife. A different kind of knife was then seen at the site of the execution. It's very complex and they haven't yet been prepared to tell us that they've actually nailed down who was the murder.

CAMEROTA: It has been incredible, Christiane, because all they have seen are the man's eyes, and even from that they have been able to do some sort of facial imaging to try to imagine what his full face might look like and then match it with, I guess, known suspects that they have, but they do have their work cut out for them.

Christiane Amanpour, thanks so much for all of the information. Great to see you.

AMANPOUR: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: You can watch "Amanpour" on CNN International weekdays at 2:00 and 5:00 Eastern.

All right, next up on NEW DAY, a touching moment at the Emmy Awards. Billy Crystal paying tribute to his late friend, Robin Williams. We'll bring you his memorable words.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILLY CRYSTAL, COMEDIAN: It's very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the third consecutive Emmy win for Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Over her career, she's won five Emmys and had 18 nominations. Previous wins have been for "Seinfeld," "The New Adventures of Old Christine," -- PEREIRA (voice-over): I kind of feel that was the best moment possibly

from last night's Emmy awards. We were debating was it surprise or was it planned.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA (on camera): I'm going to go with planned now. Julia Louis- Dreyfus in a passionate kiss with Bryan Cranston as she goes up on stage to receive her award for lead actress in a comedy. The two had once appeared in a "Seinfeld" episode together. "Breaking Bad," boy.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA (voice-over): They went out with a bang, taking home best drama series as well as best lead actor for Bryan Cranston and best supporting actor and actress. "Breaking Bad" wasn't the night's only big winner, though. Joining us, a couple of winners in their own right.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA (on camera): Entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner - -

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: - - and a senior (inaudible) correspondent, host of "RELIABLE SOURCES," Brian Stelter. The competition, who got more sleep last night? I'm going to go with Brian.

BRIAN STELTER, HOST "RELIABLE SOURCES": I think so. I think four hours?

PEREIRA: Nischelle?

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Oh yes, you did.

(LAUGHTER)

TURNER: You did. You win.

PEREIRA: Alright, let's kind of go through the hits, runs and errors for those that are just waking up. We have to kind of lead with the kiss, because that was a really fantastic moment right there, Nischelle. We believe that it was planned because you heard about some chatter on the red carpet leading up to this.

TURNER: Well, she had a bit planned last year when she won, and yes, there was chatter on the red carpet from some of her co-stars on "Veep" that they believed she had something big planned for this year because everyone had been asking if you win how are you going to top that moment with Tony Hale last year? And I believe this is the moment, because we did see a little bit leading up to this with her and Bryan Cranston, talking about hey, you look like the guy I used to date that played the dentist on "Seinfeld." He said I am that guy, we kissed, remember? And she said I don't know if I do. Well, now - -

STELTER: It's sort of a shame, we all want real, unscripted moments

PEREIRA: That's alright.

STELTER: - - during these shows and they're all so planned.

TURNER: Yes, but you know what? She's so funny, who cares?

STELTER: There you go.

TURNER: That's a three-peat for her.

(CROSSTALK)

STELTER: It was a big deal for "Veep" as well. One of the best shows, it keeps getting better on HBO. It didn't win any of the top prizes - -

PEREIRA: That's true.

STELTER: - - so its good that Julia won.

PEREIRA: Another family favorite, got that? "Modern Family" which was a nice big nod for network, usually kind of shut out in past years.

STELTER: It was, five years in a row now "Modern Family" won. I remember writing about them in 2010 when they won, and I was so excited for them at the time. The kids were still young on the show, it was a brand new show. Now it feels a little long in the tooth, but this is that tug-of-war between network and cable. Sometimes people think networks are dying and cable is where it's at. Well, the reality is, the answer of the question what's the future of television? Its all of the above, it's network, its cable, its Netflix, its everybody, and it was nice so see networks win a bunch of awards last night.

PEREIRA: But Nischelle, interestingly enough, a lot of our favorites that are on Netflix and things, they were not shut out, but they weren't big winners last night.

TURNER: No, they weren't big winners last night. I still say, and I still maintain, that network is a big winner to get 31 nominations in its second year of go rounds for the awards season. More than doubled their amount of nominations last year, so in that right they are still beg winners because we don't even know how many people really still watch and subscribe to Netflix. So we don't even really - -

PEREIRA: "Orange is the New Black."

TURNER: - - know what the viewership is. Exactly. But I think cable has pushed the boundaries, so we did see cable leading the way. But I talked to so many people on the red carpet last night, so many celebrities who said this is the golden age of television. Its the golden era of television, there's so much good stuff out there to be consumed and that's being made. Chuck Lorre told me he has passed on so many great projects lately - -

PEREIRA: Its a good problem to have.

TURNER: - - and he hasn't had to do that in years. Exactly. He hasn't had to do that in years, so they're seeing this real resurgence of television and I have to agree, guys. I think there's some fantastic TV being made.

STELTER: And even though it wasn't a great night for Netflix, it is interesting to point out that "Sherlock," one of the biggest winners of the night on PBS - -

PEREIRA: Love that show.

STELTER: - -the only place to go and catch up on "Sherlock" right now is on Netflix.

PEREIRA: On Netflix.

STELTER: So it goes and shows the connections between these competing services.

PEREIRA: Symbiotic.

CAMEROTA: Now, what did you think of Seth Meyers hosting, Brian?

STELTER: You know, I'm a fan of Seth. I thought it was excellent, but I see why he leaned on a lot of his friends like Amy Poehler - -

TURNER: Yes.

STELTER: - -and Jimmy Fallon. I mean, Nischelle, that was not an accident, right?

TURNER: No, absolutely not. I think the smartest thing that Seth Meyers did was surround himself with very funny, complimentary pieces last night.

STELTER: Yes.

TURNER: I think it drove the show, I thought it was a good show and it made him look much better than he probably would have been if he tried to drive himself.

BERMAN: It is smart. You know, you guys were talking about Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and I don't want to let that moment pass because she's sort of entering this epic territory right now. She's like the Lucille Ball almost now - -

PEREIRA: Yes.

BERMAN: - - of modern TV.

STELTER: She's actually, I think she's getting better with age, she's getting more beautiful with age. She's got that thing about her that some actresses have.

BERMAN: And the fact that, by the way, I know you were complaining that she had something planned, if you would.

STELTER: Yes, yes.

BERMAN: Well, it just goes to show she has a pretty good idea she's going to win it if you plan something like that, you kind of think it's going to happen.

TURNER: I'm going to let the age comment on my birthday pass me by, Brian.

STELTER: I think you know what I mean. I think you know what I mean.

PEREIRA: One of the things that I wanted to talk to you about, and I know it's something that we've sort of chatted about a little bit, about this apparent kind of disconnect between Emmy voters and those of us that sit on our Barcaloungers and sofas - -

STELTER: Yes.

PEREIRA: - - watching this stuff every afternoon or evening, depending on when we time shift, or watch it live. There is a bit of a disconnect.

STELTER: Well, it is. It's like 19,000 people in the industry that vote for these categories. They are probably older than the viewers of a lot of these shows, and they're probably voting in some cases for their friends. I don't want to say "Modern Family" was the easy choice this year, but "Modern Family" was the easy choice this year in its fifth year on network TV.

TURNER: But Brian, let me disagree with you for a little bit there because "Modern Family" had great material this season.

(CROSSTALK)

TURNER: I mean, you had the whole Cam and Mitchell wedding, they were embarking on territory that we hadn't really seen before. I think they had one of their stronger seasons to submit this year, actually.

STELTER: I did say to my wife this morning I want to catch up on the most recent season on Hulu now, and that's the beauty of this world now is that we can go back and watch all of the episodes if we haven't seen them.

PEREIRA: And thus the beautiful relationship and where networks and online can kind of symbiotically exist.

STELTER: Yes, I mean, the history of media, the future of media is that nothing goes away. It's all just added to so Netflix is going to come back. Next year I bet they will be nominated for even more awards and it will be even more competitive.

PEREIRA: Can we finish off with, I think and it's fitting, too, the really moving and touching tribute to Robin Williams. Can we look at that real quick?

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

BILLY CRYSTAL, ACTOR: Well, 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 VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA: I think we kind of have to leave it there because he said it best, don't you agree?

STELTER: I loved that line what a concept.

PEREIRA: What a concept.

TURNER: What a concept.

PEREIRA: Brian and Nischelle, thank you so much to both of you. Go get some sleep, both of you. Be sure to join Brian for "RELIABLE SOURCES" Sundays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern only on CNN. And also, let us know what you think about last night's winners.

BERMAN: That's Brian in his junior high photo, by the way.

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: Go to Facebook.com/newday. Comment on our site.

We're going to take a short break, but up ahead don't we need some Good Stuff?

BERMAN: Absolutely.

PEREIRA: Always.

Clothes for a cause, a tremendous lady has been sewing. Sewing for a very good cause, we're going to tell you what it is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: (inaudible) from this song, but I want you to go a different

CAMEROTA: Okay.

PEREIRA: Direction for our, you follow me?

CAMEROTA: I'm open.

PEREIRA: For our Good Stuff today. A phenomenal woman. Oh, this woman means a lot to me, gives a whole new meaning to the term Iowa nice.

(START VIDEOCLIP) PEREIRA (voice-over): Since 2011, Lillian Webber. She has been sewing a dress a day, one a day, everybody, for a charity group that distributes them to orphanages and schools throughout Africa. She decided that she was going to set herself a goal of sewing dress number 1,000 by May 6th of 2015, which happens to be her 100th birthday.

CAMEROTA (voice-over): Wow!

BERMAN (voice-over): You're kidding me.

PEREIRA: Such a lofty goal doesn't mean Lillian's cutting any corners, though.

LINDA PURCELL, DAUGHTER OF LILLIAM WEBBER: She personalizes them all. I mean, it's not good enough that she just makes the dress, she has to put something on the front to make it look special to give it, like, her mark.

BERMAN: A little bling.

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: Everyday. So, she starts a dress every morning, gives herself a bit of a break in the middle of the day, then she adds all the finishing touches and embellishments in the afternoon. As for what happens after Lillian makes that 1,000th dress here she is in her own words.

LILLIAN WEBBER, SEWS DRESSES FOR CHARITY: When I get to that 1,000, if I'm able to, I won't quit. I'll go at it again, because there's no reason to not do nothing.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

PEREIRA (on camera): It's wonderful, online you can see pictures of the little girls in those villages wearing the dresses that she made and they wear them with such pride and its such a beautiful link, you know?

CAMEROTA (on camera): That's great.

PEREIRA: 99.

CAMEROTA: You know another beautiful link? Its her 100th birthday and it's your big birthday.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: Thank you very much. It's a wonderful day, thanks, guys.

BERMAN (on camera): We're celebrating just about every minute of this day.

PEREIRA: Not 100 yet.

BERMAN: Not 100 yet. Happy birthday.

PEREIRA: Thanks, honey.

BERMAN: That's all for us today. Time for "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello. Good morning, Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. I would sing, Michaela, but that would really spoil your birthday.

PEREIRA: Oh, come on, Carol.

COSTELLO: No, no, no, no, but have a great day, happy birthday. I'll see you tomorrow. NEWSROOM starts now.

(START VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Good afternoon, everybody.

COSTELLO (voice-over): Happening now in the NEWSROOM, a new plan and a new eye on ISIS, the White House looking to the Syrian skies as it considers taking military action against the terrorist group.

Searching for a killer, shocking new clues this morning. Word of a second terrorist in the James Foley beheading video. We'll break down the tape straight ahead.

And the Whopper goes north, Burger King announcing it's merging with Canada's coffee and donut giant, Tim Horton's. This morning, new calls for a boycott and claims of tax dodging.

Let's talk. Live in the CNN NEWSROOM.