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New Day
Turkey Asks for NATO Help; "I Am Cait' Shines Light on Jenner's New Life. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired July 27, 2015 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[08:33:53] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here are the five things you need to know for the NEW DAY on Monday.
Donald Trump surging to the top of the Republican field in the latest CNN/ORC poll, fueled by strong support among voters who say they aren't feeling that their views are represented in Washington. A majority of Republicans want Trump to stay in the race.
President Obama in Ethiopia this morning talking trade, terrorism, and the civil war in South Sudan, but the commander in chief also blasted the GOP's rhetoric on the 2016 campaign trail saying Americans deserve better.
Coast Guard crews relentlessly searching an area about the size of Maine throughout the night. They're looking for two 14-year-old boys whose 19-foot motorboat was found overturned off the central Florida coast.
Boy Scouts of America poised today to end its long standing ban on gay leaders, as the organization's board votes on the divisive issue.
Sad news, Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of the late Whitney Houston, passed away late Sunday with her family by her side. The 22- year-old had been in a coma since January after she was found unresponsive in the bathtub of her home.
For more on the five things to know, be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the latest.
Chris.
[08:35:02] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Mick.
The war against ISI -- and that's what it is: war -- it's taking a significant turn. Turkey asking for NATO help. What does that mean for U.S. fighting men and women? Answers ahead.
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CUOMO: The war against ISIS is very much on going and we have a significant development today. A new pact may allow Turkey and the United States to create what's called a safe haven against ISIS in Syria. Reports say the two countries will help patrol an area of about 60 miles long to create a safe zone for civilians.
Now, there's been a big humanitarian crisis going through the Syria border with Turkey and this now launches us into another mode where Turkey is now asking NATO for help. They're getting more involved. What does it mean?
Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, CNN military analyst, former commanding general of Europe and the Seventh Army.
Very good to have you, General.
You says this is a big deal. It is not a no-fly zone, but it's a safe zone. What does this mean?
[08:39:58] LT. GENERAL MARK HERTLING (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, Chris, it is a big deal, first of all, for U.S. forces. And if it wasn't complex enough, we just turned the reiastat (ph) up significantly on the complexities with Turkey coming into this fight. A very good thing that they are supporting with F-16s. Extremely good thing and a game-changer that they are allowing U.S. aircraft to use (INAUDIBLE) Air Base for attacks in the north. It will save significantly, increase loiter (ph), have faster strike times, and potentially even use drones from that base.
But it will be complex because, as we know today, the Turkish government has asked NATO for an article 4 hearing in Brussels, which means basically they are saying to the other 27 NATO members, hey, we feel like there is a security threat on our territory in Turkey and we may need various forms of assistance from the rest of NATO.
CUOMO: Well, you've said all along when people were questioning why Turkey wasn't doing more, you were saying they will when they feel threatened as if nobody wants to get in on this war unless they have to. So the good news bad news is, it's gotten bad enough that they think they need the help. NATO can very easily mean the U.S. Everybody's dismissing that saying, no, no, U.S. men or women will be involved on the ground. Do we know that for sure? You were involved with NATO peace keeping.
HERTLING: Well, it depends on what you're talking about. And, yes, I was. But let's talk about Turkey first. And I did say that several months ago. It's good that you - for you to remember that. But what we're talking about is Turkey does not see the same threats that we see. They do not have the same national security approach that we do. Their number one priority is getting rid of Assad. Their number two priority is helping to relocate the almost 2 million refugees, as Arwa Damon pointed out, that are in Turkey right now from Syria. That's a huge resource load on there. And then additionally to that, so you have the potential fights against the Kurds. And if that's not enough, you've got one more, and that's the securing of their border.
But all of these things have - and you can also add the fact that we had State Department and General John Allen in Turkey over the last several weeks attempting to convince them that they were making a huge strategic mistake by not getting more involved. All of these things have played a role to bring Turkey more effectively into this fight and it's a good thing because I think it will show other nations in Europe that they have to contribute too, other than just condemning ISIS.
CUOMO: Also, help people understand why Turkey matters. It's not just the shared border. They're a very well developed military there. They have a lot of fighting experience. What difference can they make here?
HERTLING: Well, I'll take it beyond the military approach, Chris. One of the things we have to concern ourselves with while everyone is focusing on the military approach to ISIS, the Turkish border, especially the two remaining major border points in northeastern Syria, excuse me in northwestern Syria are still allowing foreign fighters into Syria to fight with ISIS. If Turkey gets more involved, those border points will be closed for the inflow for freedom fighters or the ISIS fighters, the jihadis. The other things that it will do, it will cause more of a significant barrier for the outflow of oil corruption and it will eliminate some of the money markets that ISIS has been using.
So it's a continual sealing of ISIS in Syria, the containment of them in that small area which they occupy, and also bringing the safe haven and I think will allow the Syrian freedom fighters to take the fight to both ISIS and the Assad regime. So there are many second and third order effects to this thing that's already a confusing issue. It's going to get more confusing in the days ahead.
CUOMO: One more quick take on something that may make it even more confusing. There's a bubbling up of discussion that the U.S., the allies are going to have to engage Assad to get more of his help to get the job done in Syria against ISIS. That if you're not going to take him out, then you need his help. What will that mean in terms of the complexity of Turkey, who obviously, as you just said, wants Assad out, their volunteerism, and is this a new phase of, we need to pay more attention to what's happening in ISIS?
HERTLING: Well, there's - there's the constant approach toward different diplomatic measures, and I think that may be what's happening. Some of the nations around the world are attempting to suggest to Assad, hey, you've got to contain yourself. And there may be a small part of (INAUDIBLE) that he may be allowed to control, but I'm - you know, I'm not sure how that's going to go. That's just an option or a course of action that might be further developed. Because you're always looking for the diplomatic solution at the same times you're conducting the military campaign. So this is part of I, but I wouldn't lend a whole lot of credence to that ever happening.
CUOMO: And we've had people on the ground all along, but it does seem we're entering a new phase. The war on ISIS very real and demands our attention.
General Hertling, thank you so much, as always.
Mick.
HERTLING: Thank you, Chris. Have a great day.
CUOMO: You too, sir.
[08:44:52] PEREIRA: All right, Chris. Did you see it? Groundbreaking TV. Critics are calling it brave, candid, raw. Caitlyn Jenner's "I Am Cait" reality series premiered last night. How are audiences receiving the show documenting Jenner's new life? We'll take a look.
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CAITLYN JENNER, TRANSGENDER STAR, "I AM CAIT": Am I going to do everything right? Am I going to say the right things? Do I project the right image? My mind is just spinning with thoughts. I just hope I get it right. I hope I get it right.
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PEREIRA: That was Caitlyn Jenner on her new reality series, "I Am Cait," debuting last night on the E! Network. The premiere episode gave us our first look at Cait's new life interacting with her family, including her mom, her daughter, even Kim and Kanye. Now, how are audiences receiving the new show?
Let's discuss it with former managing editor of the "People" magazine, Larry Hackett. Transgender actress, Joslyn DeFreece is here. Good to have you both. You both watched the show. You've seen it. So did she, as she said, did - Joslyn -- did Cait get it right?
JOSLYN DEFREECE, TRANSGENDER ACTRESS, STAR OF "CARLA": Yes. She got it right, 100 percent. It was like so exciting and touching to watch. Very emotional experience for me.
PEREIRA: What do you think, Larry?
LARRY HACKETT, FORMER MANAGING EDITOR, PEOPLE MAGAZINE: I keep thinking about the genius of her campaign that is, you know, the "Vanity Fair" cover, the Diane Sawyer and now this. There was something almost -- She's so familiar that there's nothing almost shocking about it. Then again, she's just so likable. It carries the show.
PEREIRA: It was interesting because I was there was some rediscence and worry from some people that would concerned that the Kardashian noise would affect the true part of what was going on, the true issue. Did it for either of you?
[08:50:09] HACKETT: Not for me.
DEFREECE: No. I mean, I was shocked at how intimate it was.
HACKETT: Let me say this. She's an exceedingly wealthy person, and she lives in something of a cocoon with the wealth. There's a scene with Kim and Kanye where she's with Kim in her closet and there's new outfits and you're like, this is just --
PEREIRA: This is not anybody else's reality. HACKETT: It's not. And I thought - I must say, although I thought the
show was very effective and it's incredible that we have become so familiar with this that it didn't seem shocking in any way. I thought -- there was a scene at the end where she goes to visit another family and she talks on the show about how she wants to be an advocate. I thought that was the least effective to the show, to me.
PEREIRA: Oh really? OK. So you're talking - This scene that you're talking about is when she went to visit the family of a 14-year-old that had committed --
DEFREECE: Tyler Prescott.
PEREIRA: -- Tyler Prescott, that had committed suicide.
HACKETT: That's right.
PEREIRA: She has said quite openly that she wanted to do this because she wanted to serve as a role model.
HACKETT: The show opens with that notion.
PEREIRA: The show opens with that.
HACKETT: And I think it goes on, there will be more of that. It seemed to me a little tacked on. And again, she's getting used to this role. She wasn't born into the role of an activist.
PEREIRA: No -
HACKETT: And it seemed a little --
PEREIRA: And there's no playbook.
HACKETT: Absolutely. So I don't want to be too scolding about it, but it felt tacked on.
DEFREECE: And I thought, you know, one thing that she says in the episode was that she's not an expert but she's an expert on her story.
PEREIRA: Yes.
DEFREECE: And that's all she can be. And she can share that and touch people with what she's going through.
PEREIRA: Well, and the fact is, I think like, with any other community, right, there's a spectrum. The black experience isn't a single one. The gay experience is not a single one. There's a spectrum and everybody's going to have a different experience. But the thing is, is if the authenticity rang true and it did for both of you.
I want to show some clips because I think there was some very moving parts of it in particular and I want to ask you about it, Joslyn, after we watch it. This notion of family acceptance. This is a very touching moment when she has her mom come to see her. Let's watch this.
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JENNER: It's kind of tough to tell your mother all these secrets. You always have doubts in your mind of how that first impression is going to work out. You want it to be so good. She's never met Caitlyn and I'm just hoping for the best.
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PEREIRA: Where are you going in your head as you watch that?
DEFREECE: It's so touching. It's amazing, you know, it's like it really brings back this, you know, how important it is to have acceptance.
PEREIRA: Yes.
DEFREECE: How important it is to have acceptance and in that it changes your entire experience.
PEREIRA: And it's interesting, our families, right, they have so much power in our lives.
HACKETT: Absolutely.
PEREIRA: Whether it's good or bad. And to have that kind of support from her family has been pretty extraordinary.
HACKETT: And one of the things about her that I was struck by, both in the Diane story and the "Vanity Fair" is that she does not speak in therapy speak. She speaks very, very --
PEREIRA: Very clean speaking.
HACKETT: Exactly. As does the family. And they encounter and they deal with these issues in ways that are -- I find infinitely relatable.
PEREIRA: And talk a little bit more about the idea of the privilege. That's one of the things I want to hear. Because I want to hear what you're hearing within the transgender community about the fact that she's sort of becoming a poster child, if you will.
But, is there concern that this privilege -- she's white, she's affluent, she has power and prestige and fame -- Is there a concern that as the poster child, she's setting an unreal expectation or is there not that concern, they're just glad somebody's pushed the door open?
DEFREECE: I'm sure that there is that concern for some people. I mean, I've heard some people have that concern, but I think, honestly, one of the most touching things -- I was sharing this with Larry before - was that she acknowledges her privilege. That is so important, you know, I mean, to acknowledge that she is a wealthy, white celebrity is key because the access that she has and the resources that she has to health care, to, you know, fashion, you know, she's wearing Tom Ford, it's - That's not people's every day experience.
PEREIRA: Is it going to be catalyst for change in conversation in narrative in America, do you think?
HACKETT: I couldn't help but watch it. I watched it with my two teenage children last night and I could not help but be struck by how, in same ways, how ordinary it was, and that they were not struck -- nothing at all seemed --
PEREIRA: How about that?
HACKETT: It was incredible.
PEREIRA: You mean there was a dose of reality in reality television?
HACKETT: That's it. Again, I keep coming back to it, but her campaign and her reveal, if you will, has been so effective to mitigate against that that this show, at times, was almost boring. And that, to me, is extraordinary.
PEREIRA: (INAUDIBLE) Somebody hit him.
HACKETT: I say that as a compliment.
PEREIRA: I understand what you mean, though. I do understand what you mean. Larry, Joslyn, really great to have this conversation. If you haven't had a chance to view it, I encourage you to do that and if you have, what do you think? What's your tweet for us? You can send it to us, @newdaycnn or post your comment on facebook.com/newday.
Chris?
CUOMO: All right, Mick. As we know, you give because it's the right thing to do, not to get back. But sometimes - wow -- "The Good Stuff" is redonkulously (ph) good.
[08:55:03] Please start Monday with this. Straight ahead.
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CUOMO: All right. "The Good Stuff."
PEREIRA: I want one.
CUOMO: All right. After eating smoke all night long, these two New Jersey firefighters sit down for breakfast at a diner, but instead of getting a check, you know what they get? Liz Woodward, the server, brings them a note saying your breakfast is on me today. Thank you for all that you do, for serving others and for running into the places everyone else runs away from.
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UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: Started tearing up and it really made me feel good that us firefighters are wanted and people care about us.
LIZ WOODWARD, WAITRESS WHO PAID FOR FIREFIGHTERS' LUNCH: Unidentified female: I know it's been remarked as, you know, like I said, an extraordinary act, but it's not. It's small. It was just a little gesture.
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CUOMO: Oh, yeah? Then why doesn't everybody do it? Because it was nice. So the guys put the story on Facebook, then they learn about what you just saw. They learned that she's been trying to raise money for a special man, for her quadriplegic dad for years. So the good men got her story out. Since then, Liz has received more than three times what she asked for.
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UNIDENTIFIED FIREFIGHTER: If we need to start a fundraiser, whatever we have to do. We'll do something for her.
WOODWARD: I don't even know what to say to that. What a morning. What a way to wake up today.
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PEREIRA: Amazing. That's goodness begets goodness, Chris Cuomo. Thank you for that "Good Stuff." That ends our show for today. Let's hand it over to Carol Costello and "NEWSROOM."
