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Americans Airlifted from South Sudan; Retailers Customize Your Shopping; Inspire Barbecue; 30plus years of Snapshots with Santa

Aired December 23, 2013 - 10:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You know Fred just for a second, because I have known you for such a long time. I want to put into perspective folks might say. Ok why is Fred covering this from New York? You know you're one of the best international correspondents that we have I've been on the ground with you. This is an area you know, you have covered.

Put into perspective for us the situation right now how it's compared to the violence in the past? I mean we're talking obviously about American lives and missions. And you know how intense could this get and at what point is the President going to say, we have to take more action.

FREDRIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well it could get very intense there. And I do also reminisce about our times that we had together in Baghdad reporting that story there. But yes certainly I mean we have reported from that region quite a bit in the past and these are conflicts that can escalate very, very quickly and become very dangerous.

As I said, in the beginning this was just a political battle but you do have underlying ethnic tensions there between the two biggest tribes in that country that have spilled over and that have gotten bigger in the past. Remember this country is a very new one. As we said, it was part of Sudan. Many of the people that you're talking to now used to be in insurgent armies fighting against the government of Sudan.

Then the countries separated but those ethnic risks still has not been taken care of. And right now it seems as though all of this is escalating again. There have been massacres in the past of one tribe against another tribe. And of course there's old risk that just come to light and when these tensions resurface again.

So this is something that could escalate quickly. And one of the things that's quite telling Kyra is that the United Nations is saying they want to bring in additional piece peace keeping forces that have in the democratic Republic of Congo next door. But they are also calling on member states to bring in assets as well maybe transportation or something else to help them get forces on the ground as fast as possible to stop this from escalating.

So it could get out of hand very quickly and what it would take for a further American involvement is something of course or right now the U.S. is trying to stay away from that. But of course a very, very -- a very difficult situation and when that happens in one of the most volatile countries in one of the most volatile region in the world -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Fred Pleitgen keep us updated. Fred thanks so much.

The nation's largest bank is slapping some new safeguards in place after that massive security breach in the -- at the retail giant Target. It affects shoppers who used a JPMorgan Chase debit card at Target during that three weeks security failure. Their holiday shopping with that compromised debit card now has new ATM and purchase limits. Those details in just a moment.

But first, Target for its part is offering a free credit monitoring service for the roughly 40 million customers who have been exposed. And over the weekend it gives a storewide discount of 10 percent for all shoppers on both Saturday and Sunday.

Well the holiday shopping season is in its final stretch and as you watch your spending, so are retailers.

In fact companies are rolling out all sorts of new high-tech gadgets to monitor your shopping habits and makes specific appeals to get you spend -- to spend rather even more. That story from CNNMoney's Laurie Segall.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURIE SEGALL, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This holiday season, look for shopping to get a little bit personal. Welcome to shopping 2.0. Where stores know your gender, they know your mood.

With one new technology, they can even anticipate what you might want. That's Cako a cupcake store in San Francisco trying out a tech built by a company called Index. It helps retailers target products to you based on your taste.

ALBERT CHEN, CAKO OWNER: If you like the red velvet cupcakes, you probably like the combination of cream cheese as well as Cako Cake and so we recommend the pumpkin cheesecake cupcake.

JONATHAN WALL, INDEX CO-FOUNDER: Well kind of let Amazon as a back job for a lot of the things that -- that we do. Amazon is an incredible experience online and a lot of this has to with their ability to recognize who you are.

SEGALL: They want to bring that experience off line.

WALL: Off line retailers need to be able to recognize you really on any channel you engage with them whether it be online social are in store.

SEGALL: The technology, which you opt into, is banked into their payment system to collect your buying behavior. It's also integrated into a store's app so you'll get push notifications when enter the store. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So it will say, welcome back Mark. It might suggest a new product. Maybe provide you with an incentive to try something new.

SEGALL: The Index founders were previously behind Google Wallet. But this technology doesn't require a phone to pay.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You actually don't have to pull out your phone or your wallet. You walk up, you enter an Index pin and effectively log in to the store.

SEGALL (on camera): Right now the technology is limited to smaller retailers like Cako. But the Index founders are hoping that eventually the technology will be in major retailers. And imagine this, by walking into a store, you're actually logging into that store.

(voice over): Ads are getting smart too. Imagine technology that knows your gender and knows how you feel. Immersive Labs (ph) is making this possible with digital ads on phones or tablets that use the Web cam to analyze your reaction and whether you're excited by the product or not. Other entrepreneurs set out to transform the way we pay. And 'tis the season where surprisingly less might be more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See my wallet is filled with cards. Credit cards, debit cards, rewards cards, gift cards -- filled with them. Too many. This is a coin.

SEGALL: The connected device did combines all of your credit cards into one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of these cards are inside my coin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Instead of choosing inside the wallet, you'll be choosing on the coin.

SEGALL: Coin works as an app user swipe their cards take a picture and keep one card for all purposes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So all you ever need is one -- one coin for all your cards.

SEGALL: Laurie Segall, CNNMoney, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well still to come, free the duck. A reality check for Cracker Barrel -- they back pedal on its stance against "Duck Dynasty". And the star of the show breaks his silence, he says, "Hey I'm a lover, not a hater" -- that story after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the "Duck Dynasty" debacle just keeps on rolling this Monday morning. Phil Robertson, whose recent comments about gays and African-Americans placed him on suspension, still on the sidelines; the show, still under scrutiny; now after pressure from loyal fans Cracker Barrel is reversing its decision to pull some "Duck Dynasty" merchandise.

Nick Valencia is joining with more on the story. Ok, don't you know what you're -- you know what you're going to get when you see "Duck Dynasty".

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure.

PHILLIPS: I'm sorry, but I don't necessarily think that he would be one that would be real sensitive towards issues that we're sensitive about. I mean --

VALENCIA: And Cracker Barrel is doing its about face caving under pressure from their clientele base. They said they decided to pull the products initially owing to put them back on the show because he's getting vocal report. And this is what they had to say, they released a statement talking about why they decided to put this product back on the shelves. Saying, "When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers. Our intent was to avoid offending, but that's just what we've done."

They went on to say, "You told us we made a mistake. And you weren't shy about it." He's receiving a lot of social media reaction Kyra. "You flat out told us we were wrong. We listened. Today we are putting all of our Duck Dynasty products back in the stores."

And this really is about money, Duck Dynasty is a $400 million merchandising base. A lot of people watch this show -- about 12 million viewers and a lot of buy their product. Especially around the holiday time, you know this is Christmas week, so --

PHILLIPS: And there's actually a lot of people supporting this guy, right?

VALENCIA: Oh an incredible amount of vocal support not only in his hometown. But you know he has stirred this national controversy. But a lot of people are stepping up to support him.

And in fact he broke his silence this weekend. "The Daily Mail" this British media outlet spent the weekend with him, spent Sunday at a bible study where he remained defiant Kyra. He stood up to his comments. He's saying, "I'm a lover of all men and women I'm not a hater."

And this is what's -- what he had to say, he was just quoting the bible. "I am just reading what was written over 2000 years ago. Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom. All I did was quote from the scriptures. But they just didn't know it. Whether I said it or they read it, what's the difference? The sins are the same, humans haven't change."

And people are not only supporting it but the "Daily Mail" is reporting they're thanking him for saying these comments.

PHILLIPS: It's just, it's like, you know what you're going to get when you watch a show like that.

VALENCIA: Yes I mean punch lines people are saying you can judge a book by the cover in this circumstance.

PHILLIPS: I totally disagree with the guy. I think he's so narrow- minded and he really needs to like get with the times. But I mean you've got politicians that are expressing support for this guy too right.

VALENCIA: Yes.

PHILLIPS: But then again that's -- it comes down to money.

VALENCIA: It does come down to money, it comes down to tourism. The Lieutenant Governor for Louisiana coming out and saying they are a big contributor to our tourism. People come to West Monroe, people come to Louisiana because they watch "Duck Dynasty". And you know a lot of people who watch CNN may watch "Duck Dynasty" it as well, there's cross over here, of 12 million viewers -- lots of viewers.

PHILLIPS: I don't think the African-American population and the gay community is going to want to come there for yes a tourist -- well a tourist time there. Interesting.

Well, I wish this would just go away, but you know it's a talker.

VALENCIA: Yes it is a talker.

PHILLIPS: It's a popular show. All right Nick thanks a lot.

VALENCIA: Thanks Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Still to come. NBA player Jason Collins coming out as gay. One of the big sports stories of 2013.

Check out our top ten and find out how you can vote for your own as well.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the year's top ten sports stories are as much about bad behavior off the field as terrific play on it.

Bleacher Report's Vince Cellini, takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VINCE CELLINI, BLEACHER REPORT: The year in sports included the gruesome as in the horrific leg injury suffer by Louisville's Kevin Ware and the gullible as in Notre Dame linebacker, Manti Te'o and his fake Twitter girlfriend.

But our look back begins with the plug being pulled on Super Bowl XLVII.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CELLINI (voice over): Not long after Beyonce amped up the crowd at halftime, the Superdome in New Orleans was blanketed in darkness when a sensor monitoring the electrical load cut off power. For 34 minutes the Ravens and 49ers were put on hold.

With one second remaining it appeared as though number 1 Alabama and number 4 Auburn were headed to overtime. What happened next is a play for the ages.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 56-yarder -- there's not half a leg. Chris Davis takes it to the back of the end zone. There goes Davis. Davis is going to run it all the way back.

Auburn is going to win the football game. Holy cow. Oh, my God. Auburn wins.

CELLINI: LeBron James as separated himself as the greatest player in pro basketball and a worldwide brand as evidenced by appearances like this one in China. Back home James made good on his promise of multiple championships for Miami. When the Heat won a second straight title with James earning back to back league and final's MVPs.

They were both Miami Dolphins yet one felt more tortured than teammate. When Jonathan Martin accused Richie Incognito and other teammates of bullying, a voice mail from Incognito which used a racial epithet and the words "I'll kill you" surfaced. Incognito remains suspended. A probe continues and more importantly we're reexamining the pro football workplace. Intimidation and aggression are a part of the fabric of the sport but where does the locker room end and real life begin.

He was an American hero -- cancer survivor, a seven-time Tour de France champion. Yet Lance Armstrong could no longer deny the allegations of a doping scandal.

OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: In all seven of your Tour de France victories, did you ever take banned substances or blood dope?

LANCE ARMSTRONG, CYCLIST: Yes.

CELLINI: Armstrong was stripped of his titles, lost endorsements and was banned for life from cycling.

Gay athletes have long participated in major American team sports but did so in silence. Jason Collins though has emerged as a voice. The 34-year-old center said he spent a lifetime in secrecy but had to be true to himself and to others. A free agent -- Collins may never again play in the NBA but his announcement has a contribution far more important than points and rebounds.

It's been a stain on America's past time -- the steroid era. Former MVP Alex Rodriguez was among 14 players linked to a clinic which dealt in performance enhancing drugs. Rodriguez has denied the accusation and has appealed an unprecedented 211-game ban while fighting for tens of millions in future salary. While baseball judges A-Rod today, time will ultimately determine his place in history.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The troubled past of the Aaron Hernandez.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Aaron Hernandez charged with first-degree murder today --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oscar Pistorius. He is a South African Olympic star accused of murdering his girlfriend.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: The man known as the Bladerunner wiping away tears.

CELLINI: How does a successful athlete get charged with murder? The Bladerunner, Olympian Oscar Pistorius claims he mistakenly shot his girlfriend in his South African villa and will stand trial in March.

And former New England tight-end Aaron Hernandez who not long ago signed a $40 million contract is also awaiting trial. Prosecutors say he orchestrated the execution-style shooting of an acquaintance -- an accusation Hernandez denies.

A $765 million settlement between the NFL and ex-players over concussion related injuries was a good first step. Next is saving the game. The league hopes to committing millions to research and implementing new rules promoting safety will ease concerns about head injuries in a sport that will always be violent and never risk-free.

In April, a Boston tradition turned tragic. The bombings challenged a city and a baseball team to move forward. And they did. The slogan "Boston Strong" was a rallying cry. And five days after the bombing, Red Sox slugger, David Ortiz said what many were thinking.

DAVID ORTIZ, BOSTON RED SOX: And this is our (EXPLETIVE DELETED) city. And nobody going to dictate our city. Stay strong.

CELLINI: A World Series victory showed us all just how strong.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And let's add to this story to Vince's list. Peyton Manning, of course, setting an NFL record yesterday with his 51st touchdown pass this season. So we've got top 11 moments -- all right. Manning leads the Denver Broncos to a Super Bowl win, you can bet that story will make next year's top ten.

Again, you can vote on what you think 2013's top sports stories were, go to www.cnn.com/YIR -- that's "year in review" -- voting is open until December 27. We'll have the results December 30 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Did you get all those numbers?

Still to come, two brothers have been posing with Santa every year since birth. There you go. Fast forward. See what they look like now and what all the kids standing in line think of them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Where there is smoke in D.C., there is "Inspire Barbecue" -- a small restaurant that is making a big impact by teaching struggling young people the basics of working life. How to show up on time, balance a checkbook, take and give fair criticism.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're not giving all our secrets to him.

FOREMAN: Chef Furard Tate who grew up here cooked upped the idea.

CHEF FURARD TATE, OWNER, INSPIRE BBQ: How do you get out of poverty? You get out of poverty, through work. You get out of poverty through doing a good day's work every day and looking at the goodness of what you produced rather than what you don't have.

FOREMAN: Over the past three years, Inspire has taken in hundreds of young folks, ages 16 to 23, to work and learn for a period of time. Some have trouble with the law, some with drug abuse, some like Daniel Gaskins with education. He graduated high school, but quickly failed out of college, and by the time he found Inspire.

DANIEL GASKINS, EMPLOYEE, INSPIRE BBQ: All out of money I've earned. It was kind of a waste. It was just like where do I go from now? Where do I go next? Do I find a job? Do I go back in school?

FOREMAN (on camera): This place had to be like a God send.

GASKINS: It was.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Today he talks confidently about his future and his ideas.

TATE: You're learning how to do everything so that you can transition into permanent employment.

FOREMAN: These are life skills.

TATE: These are life skills.

FOREMAN (voice-over): So in the end this food is not just fantastic, it truly is inspirational. Tom Foreman, CNN -- I'm going to try another taste -- Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, two brothers spent more than 30 years straight snapping pictures on Santa's lap. And this is why I'm laughing because you're going to meet them in a minute. They were sort of sitting on Santa's lap and I'll get to that part in just a minute.

Ok here we go. Here's how we're going to rewind from 1980 when Michael Gray was just a tot. And then a few years later his brother Martin comes along. Then comes those ever so awkward teen years -- you know, bad hair cuts, weird Santa, matching sweaters -- all that kind of stuff.

And then bam, three decades later, you're married with kids. In all three pictures, 34 picture in all, they are with Santa every single year. Not once did these brothers, Michael and Martin miss a year with Santa.

They join me now live from Boston. Ok guys, full disclosure. The two of you are standing in line. Let's say, I don't know, maybe 20, 21, you're not four anymore. And some kid looks at you and says, "Are you serious? Where is your kid?" Did it happen?

MARTIN GRAY, 30 YEARS OF PICTURES WITH SANTA: We usually had to -- oh, yes.

MICHAEL GRAY, 34 YEARS OF PICTURES WITH SANTA: Oh yes. Plenty --

MARTIN GRAY: Many times. We got lots of questions.

MICHAEL GRAY: Plenty of awkward looks from parents and children alike.

MARTIN GRAY: Usually the parents were a little sketched out by our presence. But no we usually just had the explanation and we had a bit of preamble every time. We do this every year for our mom and it's a tradition. And we kind of had to explain it to everyone as we went.

MICHAEL GRAY: Yes.

PHILLIPS: All right. And so was there ever a time where Santa kind of looked at you guys and said, "Ok, guys, really? You're not sitting on my lap."

MICHAEL GRAY: Well, I think you can see through the evolution of the photos they kind of like shooed us to -- sitting on the side of the chair versus sitting on his -- Santa's poor knee.

MARTIN GRAY: Some of them were more welcoming than others.

MICHAEL GRAY: Yes.

MARTIN GRAY: Some were just like, come on, get in. And others were like, ok, get on the chair.

MICHAEL GRAY: Yes, yes. You're not getting --

MARTIN GRAY: Get on the chair.

PHILLIPS: Ok. So let me ask you, guys -- I'm going to ask you what do you think your most embarrassing photo was and what was your favorite? Let's start with your most favorite photo. What would you say, what year?

MARTIN GRAY: I think this year's was my favorite.

MICHAEL GRAY: Yes. I mean thought it was beautiful with all our kids. 2013 year -- yes, this year was an amazing year for our family. MARTIN GRAY: I have to give my wife credit Allison for the theme as well. She picked formal wear which I think us dressed to the nines really paid of. And our daughters looked great and his son looked very dapper as well.

MICHAEL GRAY: Yes, yes. I think my favorite -- I think the funniest one was the screaming child Martin --

MARTIN GRAY: That's a classic.

MICHAEL GRAY: I think it was -- I don't know '84 maybe.

MARTIN GRAY: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Actually I took note, '85 -- '85 was the first tears.

MARTIN GRAY: Oh ok. Those are embarrassing. And '97 was embarrassing as well. I was a bit overweight, had a terrible haircut and acne faced -- just a very awkward time in my life.

MICHAEL GRAY: Those beautiful teenage years.

PHILLIPS: Oh yes.

MICHAEL GRAY: They were so beautiful to us.

MARTIN GRAY: Children -- it gets better.

PHILLIPS: This is bull cut.

Yes, but how about Santa? He looks a little freaky there in the middle too.

MARTIN GRAY: He was enjoying it. I don't know what was going on there. I don't ask questions. But we had a good time with him.

PHILLIPS: Let me ask you guys. I know this has been a tribute to mom. And of course, you're having a blast doing it too. I think it's hysterical. And I loved seeing you from the beginning to now. How long are we going to do this?

MARTIN GRAY: Hard to say. I mean --

MICHAEL GRAY: I think we have, you know, the kids are going to be involved each and every year. So maybe when they start turning their teens and they don't want to do it anymore.

MARTIN GRAY: When their level of embarrassment outreaches our commitment level then we're going to run into issues.

MICHAEL GRAY: When they develop an opinion about the whole situation and then they don't want to have to explain why they're in line with us.

PHILLIPS: I love it. So it's when the son or daughter looks at you and says, "Ok, dad, it's just not funny anymore. Go away. We're doing this on our own."

MARTIN GRAY: The kids are making fun of me at school, "Dad this has to end. Let it go."

MICHAEL GRAY: It's all over the Internet, Dad, do we have to keep going?

MARTIN GRAY: What did we do?

MICHAEL GRAY: You're embarrassing us. We're going to stick through it. For our mother -- Jean Gray -- we love her very much.

PHILLIPS: Well, I'll you what -- I'm going to stay committed to you. I'm going to follow up every year and just see how much more cute this gets. Michael and Martin Gray, Merry Christmas you guys. And thanks so much.

MARTIN GRAY: Merry Christmas.

MICHAEL GRAY: Merry Christmas.

Thanks for having us.

PHILLIPS: You bet. My pleasure.

Thanks so much for joining us today.

"LEGAL VIEW" with Deb Feyerick starts right now.

DEB FEYERICK, CNN HOST: Well, one restaurant chain is now saying it made a mistake pulling "Duck Dynasty" themed products from its shelves.

Plus crazy, wild and extreme weather sweeping across the nation just as many of us get ready to head out for Christmas and New Years. Ice, snow, tornadoes, flooding, even warm temperatures in places, that's right, where it's supposed to be cold. What you can expect in the coming days.

And Target now itself a target of lawsuits after a huge security breach involving millions of shoppers. Two senators now calling for an investigation.

Hello everyone. I'm Deborah Feyerick -- in for Ashleigh Banfield. It is now Monday, December 23rd. Welcome to "LEGAL VIEW".

Well first up this morning, Crackle Barrel's big about face on "Duck Dynasty". The restaurant chain says it never should have yanked up "Duck Dynasty" merchandise from its shelves.