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Officials Warn Of Possible Measles Exposure At U.S. Airports; NYT: Boeing Preparing New Strategies To Regain Public Trust; Top Nine Entertainment Stories In 2019; Christians Gather In Bethlehem For Christmas Mass; Royal Family Attends Annual Christmas Day Church Service. Aired 3:30-4p ET
Aired December 25, 2019 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:30:00]
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN HOST: Here's CNN National Correspondent, Athena Jones.
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ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This holiday week could come with an unwanted and dangerous surprise - measles. Authorities say people infected with the highly contagious virus traveled through at least five airports in recent days and may have exposed others to the disease. Just the latest in a string of similar incidents this year, now happening at the busiest time to travel.
An unidentified person visited the airport and several other locations around Austin, Texas between December 14th and December 17th, including a restaurant, a grocery store and a Target.
DR. MARK ESCOTT, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH: Now, that individual became ill on December the 14th and developed a rash on December the 17th. On that same day, December 17th, he boarded a flight from Austin to Chicago United Flight 790 with a connecting flight to Virginia.
JONES (voice over): Health officials are working to inform people who may have been exposed.
ESCOTT: It's important to remember that measles can be a deadly disease.
JONES (voice over): In Chicago, health officials are investigating possible measles exposures around the same time at O'Hare Airport and two restaurants. The state of Virginia is investigating possible exposures at the Richmond Airport and a doctor's office.
On December 11th three unvaccinated children with measles visiting from New Zealand likely exposed travelers at Denver and Los Angeles international airports. The CDC is contacting passengers who flew on the same planes.
The measles virus spreads through coughing and sneezing and can live in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms can include a high fever, cough, runny nose, pinkeye and of course a red slouchy rash. On average, it takes about two weeks for the rash to develop and a person is contagious for four days before and after the rash appears.
The best way to stay safe make sure you receive the recommended two doses of the vaccine. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States nearly 20 years ago, but there has been an upsurge in cases as vaccination rates have declined. The CDC has reported more than 1,200 measles cases in 31 states and 2019, the highest number in nearly three decades.
ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NIH: I consider it really an irony that you have one of the most contagious viruses known to man juxtaposed against one of the most effective vaccines that we have, and yet we don't do and have not done what could be done, namely completely eliminate and eradicate this virus.
JONES: Now the CDC says the overall risk of getting a contagious disease on an airplane is low. But like any enclosed or crowded space, planes can create opportunities for transmission. Bottom line here, get vaccinated. If you've been vaccinated, you have a 97 percent chance of being protected against the measles. Athena Jones, CNN New York.
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BOLDUAN: Athena, thank you so much. And on any day it is the most solemn of ceremonies. The dignified transfer of a service member's remains killed overseas and returning to the United States. But it is particularly painful when it happens on Christmas Day, and that is today.
Today - this is today at Dover Air Force Base. The dignified transfer of Sergeant First Class Michael Goble of New Jersey. Sergeant Goble died Monday from injuries sustained during a combat operation Sunday in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan. He was among more than 20 American service members now to be killed this year in Afghanistan. We hold his family in our prayers and thoughts on this day. We'll be right back.
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BOLDUAN: It is a company in crisis. Not only is Boeing still facing questions after two horrific plane crashes killing 346 people in the past year, in just the past week, the company announced it was suspending production of the 737 MAX Jet and the company's CEO was fired.
Add to that now, another huge challenge, if and when the MAX flies again, will the flying public feel safe enough to get on board? Well according to "The New York Times" Boeing has actually been surveying thousands of passengers to get an answer to that question.
Joining me now is CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich, she has the details on this. This is fascinating for us. So what is the New York Times turning up? VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: "The New York Times" has uncovered that Boeing has been surveying thousands of people from around the world asking them whether or not they'd be comfortable getting back on this MAX Jet.
40 percent of the people that they surveyed in December said, no, they would not feel comfortable flying on this plane again. Same as in October, so not a lot of change there.
What's particularly interesting though is "The New York Times," through documents they got their hands on, has found that Boeing has also been reaching out to the airlines, making suggestions about how to deal with their passengers that may feel a little bit uncomfortable about getting back on this plane.
So, for example, if you arrive at the gate and realize, Hey, I'm on this 737 MAX, they're recommending that the gate agent either change him to a different flight or even the pilot come out and try to make the person comfortable. Also if someone is--
BOLDUAN: You know this isn't happening in a vacuum.
YURKEVICH: Right. I mean, in terms of like here are just some suggestions. This is--
BOLDUAN: This is specific. It's very specific.
YURKEVICH: They're hearing.
BOLDUAN: They have been hearing this understandably from passengers, of course.
YURKEVICH: I mean it's very - you could imagine that people who already have a fear of flying then getting on a plane that's potentially had issues in the past. The last point was that even if you're mid-flight, Boeing is recommending that they treat these passengers as if they're having a medical - a medical issue.
Encouraging agents to get involved and try to de-escalate the situation, which is a lot to ask, obviously, from agents who have their hands full to begin with. But clearly Boeing trying to pre-empt all of these challenges that they think that they may face in the future.
BOLDUAN: Very likely. Well, what is Boeing saying about this?
YURKEVICH: Well we reached out to Boeing, because we were wondering you guys are being so specific about these requests and suggestions of airlines. Here's what they told us in a statement.
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They said quote "We routinely engage with our airline customers' communications team to seek their feedback and brief them on our latest plans. Each airline is different in their needs, so we provide a wide range of documents and assistance that they can choose to use or tailor as they see fit."
But, you know, this is coming after you mentioned, this week they just fired their CEO. They're, obviously, trying to change - direction change the narrative. But in these documents that "The New York Times" got it's very clear that Boeing knows that they have such an uphill battle ahead, especially with getting passengers to feel secure flying again on these planes.
BOLDUAN: And no timetable of when and if that plane will get off the ground once again.
YURKEVICH: Right, right.
BOLDUAN: This is remarkable. Thanks Vanessa. Good to see you.
YURKEVICH: Thank you, Kate. Good to see you.
BOLDUAN: Coming up, so from explosive charges against R&B singer R. Kelly to Alex Trebek's courageous battle against cancer and to Lizzo's breakout year, a look back at the biggest entertainment stories of 2019.
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BOLDUAN: With 2020 just days away we are counting down the biggest entertainment stories of the year. Here is CNN Stephanie Elam.
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STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Winter came and went, the final battle for the Iron Throne, Avengers pack a punch at the box office and Lizzo storms the airwaves with her juice. Here's a look at the top entertainment news in 2019.
Number 9, Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek courageous battle against pancreatic cancer.
ALEX TREBEK, "JEOPARDY!" HOST: I have some news to share with all of you.
ELAM (voice over): Trebek announced his stage 4 diagnosis in March and vowed to aggressively fight the disease. He underwent intense chemotherapy and resurfaced just five months later to announce he was on the mend.
TREBEK: I'm happy to report I'm still here.
ELAM (voice over): And ready to return to Jeopardy! for its 36th season. In a touching moment like Trebek choked up during a very special Final Jeopardy! round.
TREBEK: What is - we love you, that's very kind. Thank you.
ELAM (voice over): A TV star embroiled in a hate crime scandal is Number 8, "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett who is gay and black claimed to have been the target of a racist and homophobic attack. Police say Smollett staged the attack to gain attention.
EDDIE JOHNSON, FORMER CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.
ELAM (voice over): Smaller was indicted on 16 felony counts, but prosecutors later dropped all the charges. Smollett maintains his innocence.
JUSSIE SMOLLETT, ACTOR: I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of doing what I was accused of.
ELAM (voice over): He didn't return for the show's sixth and final season.
A new type of battle brings us to Number 7, the fight for your streaming views and subscription dollars. Joining heavy hitters Netflix and Hulu are the new kids on the block Apple TV+, Disney+ and soon Peacock and HBO Max. Netflix is still the king with over 150 million subscribers. But industry insiders are watching the impact these new platforms will have against their established rivals.
FRANK PALLOTTA, CNN MEDIA REPORTER: Content is arguably at the core of any streaming service. That's why we've seen record setting production and licensing deals over the last few years.
ELAM (voice over): Oprah, Reese Witherspoon and J.J. Abrams are just some of the names behind original content coming out soon.
At Number 6, a sad farewell to a 90210 legend and a beloved rapper.
NIPSEY HUSSLE, AMERICAN RAPPER: Once again prevail.
ELAM (voice over): In March, Nipsey Hussle was shot and killed near a clothing store he owned in Los Angeles.
HUSSLE: That's why he follow me ...
ELAM (voice over): The Grammy nominated rapper collaborated with dozens of artists including Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. He embraced his role as an activist. Hussle had been scheduled to meet with city officials the next day to discuss ways to stop gang violence.
Actor Luke Perry was meant to join his original Beverly Hills 90210 classmates for a reboot of the show, but sadly the 52-year-old died of a massive stroke in March. Perry was best known for playing 90s bad boy Dylan McKay on 90210. But his most recent role on TV's Riverdale introduced him to a new generation of fans. Both shows a tribute to the actor they knew and loved.
Number 5, Lil Nas X breaks the music charts with "Old Town Road."
LIL NAS X, AMERICAN RAPPER: I got the horses in the back. Horse tack is attached... ELAM (voice over): The country rapper has jammed with Billy Ray Cyrus topped the Billboard Hot 100 for a record 19 weeks. Just a year ago Lil Nas X was flying under the radar, but that all changed when he self-released "Old Town Road" on iTunes, Soundcloud and YouTube.
But it was a viral TikTok meme that turned his new beat into a banger.
LIL NAS X: Yes, I'm going to take my horse to the old town road...
ELAM (voice over): The song hit a bump in the road when Billboard pulled it from the country charts, generating cries of racism. But the rapper turned it around and hit a string of personal and professional triumphs. He came out over the summer. His single went Triple Platinum and it reached Diamond status.
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LIZZETTE MARTINEZ, SURVIVOR: I never really recovered from it.
ELAM (voice over): At Number 4, Lifetime's bombshell documentary Surviving R. Kelly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A development now involving R&B singer R. Kelly, the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia is apparently now conducting an investigation following the release of that Lifetime docu-series called Surviving R. Kelly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, good morning.
ELAM (voice over): The embattled singer, spent his year in and out of court defending himself against sexual misconduct charges dating back 20 years. The R&B star was charged on 18 federal accounts in Illinois and New York.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Free you R. Kelly they go and free you.
ELAM (voice over): He has denied any wrongdoing.
R. KELLY, AMERICAN SINGER: I promise you, we're going to straighten all this stuff out. That's all I can say right now.
ELAM (voice over): Kelly remains jailed without bond.
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, ENGLISH ACTOR, DOCTOR STRANGE: We're in the end game now.
ELAM (voice over): And Number 3, Avengers End Game, knocked out an epic win at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time.
Diehard MCU fans packed theaters to the tune of $2.8 billion worldwide. End Game surpassed James Cameron's Avatar, which held the previous global box office record for 10 years.
CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ACTOR, PORTRAY AS THOR: I like this one. ELAM: End Game caps an 11-year buildup in the Marvel Universe which began with Iron Man in 2008. From Captain Marvel, to Black Panther, to Thor, and Guardians of the Galaxy, the Infinity Saga netted over $22.5 billion.
Coming in at Number 2, the final episode of HBO's Game of Thrones.
CERSEI LANNISTER, FICTIONAL CHARACTER: When you play the Game of Thrones, you win.
ELAM (voice over): The series finale capped off a nine-year television and pop-culture phenomenon. Making it one of the most anticipated endings in television history. The build-up through season eight had viewers anticipating an epic ending for the future of Westeros.
The finale titled the Iron Throne brought in a series record of 19.3 million viewers.
LIZZO, AMERICAN SINGER: I'd be waiting for this one. Turn it up.
ELAM (voice over): There's a new goddess on the popping hip-hop scene. Lizzo's meteoric rise makes her number one on our list. She's fierce unapologetic and her music is an anthem for self-love and body positivity. Lizzo turned her 2016 mainstream music debut into global success in 2019.
"Truth Hurts" topped the Billboard Top 100 chart for seven weeks. The music video has over 162 million YouTube views and she makes the splash with her confident message everywhere she goes.
2020 will be another big year for some of the newsmakers on our list. Lizzo is nominated for eight Grammy Awards, and watch for phase four of the Marvel movies to begin. Black Widow opens in May.
Stephanie Elam, CNN, Hollywood.
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BOLDUAN: Stephanie thank you so much. Coming up next an appeal for peace from the pope as he delivers his Christmas message to the world.
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BOLDUAN: On Christmas Day a very special celebration in a very special place, the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem. This is mass today at the Church of the Nativity. The place of worship is considered one of Christianity's most holy places. And it's atop, as it sits atop the Grotto of the Nativity, believed to be the spot where Jesus was born.
Another Christmas Day, tradition the Christmas message from the pope. In his seventh Christmas address Pope Francis called for peace and urged the Catholic faithful to embrace the light of Christ to help end conflict and injustice around the world. He also singled out those persecuted for their Christian faith and prayed for refugees and migrants suffering amidst war, political instability and natural disasters.
And there's even more cuteness flowing from the lens of British - the British royal family. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate tweeting out this new family photo for Christmas. With Prince William, you see right there, kissing their youngest son one-year-old Louis alongside four-year-old Charlotte and big brother George, who's like I'm done with this already.
Kate, has as become something of a tradition, is the photographer snapping the picture earlier this year. Earlier today the royal family attended church at the queen's Sandringham Estate in eastern England. It was the first time Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended the annual Christmas Day service. So you have that.
Thank you all so much for joining me this Christmas. I'm Kate Bolduan.
