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White House Keeping Quiet Publicly about Trump Documents Case; Trump Facing Criminal, Civil and Congressional Investigations; Ukraine and Russia Step Up Blame-Trading over Attacks on Zaporizhzhya; Monkeypox Vaccine Manufacturer Signs Agreement to Expand Capacity. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired August 20, 2022 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States and Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM, the White House is raising concerns about the classified documents that may have been held in Mar-a-lago.
And we're keep an eye on flooding in the southwestern U.S.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM, with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: The Biden White House is officially hands off regarding last week's FBI search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-lago residence. It turned up 11 sets of classified materials, including some with the highest secrecy.
Privately, some White House officials admit they're worried about what others documents might be out there. As Jessica Schneider reports, the Department of Justice is pushing back.
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JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Prosecutors have less than one week to submit proposed redactions to the judge so he can decide what might be released publicly.
It will likely be a tall task for this Department of Justice. They have said repeatedly that any redactions they would propose would be so extensive it would make the affidavit "devoid of content."
Regardless, the judge wants their recommendations by next Thursday at noon and then he might have additional discussions with the DOJ before he makes his final decision about what will be released.
So parts of it will likely be released, maybe not large portions. And certainly not the juiciest and most consequential details. Prosecutors warn the release of the affidavit will not only derail their investigation but could also endanger witnesses and even investigators working in this criminal probe.
There is revealing information in this that would make it very clear who exactly is a witness, who is talking to the Feds. And the concern is, it's been such a volatile situation in the days since the Mar-a- lago search, with people threatening FBI agents, that these witnesses could be in danger if any details in this affidavit come out.
So we'll see what DOJ proposes in the next week, because they have already argued that any redactions they would suggest would be so extensive there would be nothing left of substance. But in the end, they may have to compromise with this judge because the judge wants to publicly release at least part of the affidavit -- Jessica Schneider, CNN, Washington.
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BRUNHUBER: The Trump factor is looming over Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Some are aligning themselves as closely as possible with the former president. But others are trying to avoid him every step of the way.
Mitch McConnell admitted it will be tough for Republicans to retake the Senate. And other party figures urge candidates to focus on issues and not Donald Trump. Melanie Zanona has more.
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MELANIE ZANONA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With fewer than 100 days until the midterm elections, Republicans are starting to put a finer point on their general election strategy. In primaries, it's beneficial for a number of candidates to embrace Trump but in the general election, it is a different calculation.
I am told that Republican Tom Emmer, the head of the House GOP's campaign arm, has been privately counseling some Republican candidates to avoid any Trump talk and to not be distracted by the former president and told them focus on issues most salient, such as crime, inflation and the border.
I've talked to a number of these Republican candidates, who says they've tried to do exactly that. One said they only mentioned Trump when asked about him by constituents.
Another said they never mention him by name and only talk about his policies. But that is going to be increasingly difficult to do with Trump continuing to dominate headlines, under increasing scrutiny with myriad investigations and even teasing a potential presidential bid before the midterms.
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ZANONA: So there's a lot of concern among Republicans about this midterm election becoming a referendum on Donald Trump instead of Joe Biden. And we should also point out that this concern is not just limited to
the House. In the Senate, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell has warned that the fall fight is going to be extremely close, in part because of these Donald Trump-backed candidates, who have struggled in their races. Take a listen.
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SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I think there's probably a greater likelihood the House flips than the Senate. Candidate quality has a lot to do with the outcome. Right now, we have a 50-50 Senate and a 50-50 country. But I think, when all is said and done this fall, we're likely to have an extremely close Senate.
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ZANONA: Of course McConnell did not name Trump there. But it is clear that he is frustrated with how things are shaking out and he's trying to set some expectations ahead of November -- Melanie Zanona, CNN, Capitol Hill.
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BRUNHUBER: Earlier, I spoke with CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein and asked him about Liz Cheney's primary loss and whether she might run for president in 2024.
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RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Liz Cheney is not going to be the Republican nominee that. Is very clear. But if she runs in 2024, she could have influence over the outcome, particularly in a general election.
If you look at polling, Kim, consistently, somewhere, depending on the question, between 20 percent and 25 percent of Republicans consistently say that Donald Trump, Donald Trump's claims about the election are not true, that he is -- his actions after Election Day were improper, that he bears a responsibility for what happened on January 6.
And Cheney has the opportunity to remind those voters why they are uneasy with Trump. That's unlikely to stop him from winning the nomination if he seeks it. But the real leverage that those voters have, that Cheney has and that the dwindling band of Republican critics of Trump have, really in a general election is to withhold their votes in a general election.
And I think there are many people who correctly believe that the Republican Party is not going to change, you know, get off of this Trump-like path unless it is proved to them that it is electorally kind of a dead end.
And right now they do not believe that. But a Cheney candidacy that kind of moved those voters who are uneasy with Trump out of the Republican Party in a general election may be the kind of thing that could begin to get the party to rethink.
But you know it is pretty clear, it's an uphill fight at this point, given the level of dominance he's displayed over the summer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: We'll have more of my conversation with Ron Brownstein next hour on CNN NEWSROOM.
A federal judge won't be delaying a ruling ordering senator Lindsey Graham to appear before a Georgia grand jury. He has been fighting a subpoena investigating Republican efforts to overturn the state's 2020 election results.
The DA argued that his testimony is crucial to investigators and the judge agreed. Graham also has an emergency request before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to put the subpoena on hold while his appeal plays out.
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BRUNHUBER: Russia is on board with the international inspectors going to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant. The Kremlin and French government both say Russian president Vladimir Putin indicated his support for the idea in a conversation with Emmanuel Macron. The International Atomic Energy Agency has been pressing for a visit to the plant.
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VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): If Russian blackmail with the radiation continue, this summer may go down in the history of various European countries as one of the most tragic of all time because not a single instruction at any nuclear power plant in the world provides a procedure in case a terrorist state turns a nuclear power plant into a target.
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BRUNHUBER: Meanwhile, U.N. secretary-general Antonio Guterres says electricity produced at Zaporizhzhya belongs to Ukraine.
The IAEA said there's no immediate threat to nuclear safety, at least not for now, despite the repeated shelling of the plant. But as Fred Pleitgen reports, Moscow and Kyiv aren't mincing words as they blame each other for the attacks.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of bringing the world to the brink of a nuclear disaster, both sides claiming the other is targeting the atomic power plant in Zaporizhzhya in Southern Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin with a staunch warning after a call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
"Vladimir Putin in particular stressed that the systematic shelling by the Ukrainian military on the territory of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant creates the danger of a large scale catastrophe that could lead to radiation contamination of vast territories," the official Kremlin readout says.
These new images by private satellite company Maxar seem to show little to no additional damage on the area of the plant since mid- July. But the Ukrainians say Russia has moved heavy weapons into the power plant and is shelling Ukrainian towns nearby.
"It's unacceptable that Russia puts all of us on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe of a global scale," Ukraine's president said.
As the brutal war in Ukraine drags on, with neither side recently making significant territorial gains, the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, the biggest in Europe with six reactors, lies right on the front line.
One thing both Russians and Ukrainians can agree on: a full-blown nuclear catastrophe here could be as bad or worse than the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which contaminated large areas in Eastern Europe.
The Russians accusing Ukraine of planning a false flag attack.
"On August 19th, the Kyiv regime is preparing a provocation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant during a visit of the U.N. secretary- general, Antonio Guterres to Ukraine, as a result of which, the Russian Federation will be accused of creating a man-made disaster at this power plant," Russia's spokesman for the defense ministry said.
The Ukrainians reject those claims. And the U.N. secretary-general, who was in Southern Ukraine, once again, called for the power plant and its surroundings to be demilitarized.
ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: If we demilitarize, as we proposed, the plant, the problem will be solved.
PLEITGEN (voice-over): But Russia said it won't pull its army out of the plant; instead Kremlin-controlled media blaming the U.S. and its allies for the standoff and threatening the West with nuclear strikes.
"NATO should have no illusions," the anchor says. "You won't get away with this. And you can't hide from us anywhere. We have enough warheads for everyone to get what they deserve."
PLEITGEN: However, after that phone call on Friday between Macron and Putin, both Putin and Macron agreed that Moscow would allow a team of IAEA inspectors to visit that plant. And a Russian diplomat said it could happen in September -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
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BRUNHUBER: A new study is giving more insight into how long monkeypox sticks around in your home. Plus, U.S. lawmakers are urging social media companies to do something
about online threats to the FBI. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: A Danish company that makes monkeypox vaccines is expanding its capacity. Bavarian Nordic signed an agreement with a plant in the U.S. to speed more doses to market.
The Danish company's limited capacity has been one factor in straining delivery of more doses. But it will send more bulk vaccine to the U.S., who will repackage it in smaller doses.
A small case study suggested that monkeypox can linger on household objects. The study tested 30 items and 21 had traces of the virus. That indicates low risk of transmission.
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BRUNHUBER: For more on the monkeypox outbreak, let's bring in Dr. Sheila Young-Mercado, who is a health equity advocate.
Thank you so much for joining us. So Doctor, as we're still learning more about this virus and how it spreads, just for folks that are watching, how worried should they be?
And who exactly should go out there and get the vaccine?
DR. SHEILA YOUNG-MERCADO, HEALTH EQUITY ADVOCATE: You know, with any virus, we have to consider who is most at risk for serious illness.
With this virus and with COVID-19, the people who should, like, be prioritized for the vaccine are those immunocompromised or individuals who may be at a higher risk of serious complications for the virus.
BRUNHUBER: OK. And also, I mean, data suggests that Black and Latino men who have sex with men are far more likely to catch the virus than their white counterparts. It seems that the messaging isn't reaching those communities that need it most.
What is being done to head that off?
YOUNG-MERCADO: We need to provide education for folks to let them know that the community is being impacted. There have been town halls that have been held, webinars, groups getting to the -- letting folks know.
But it's not very much in the mass media. So I'm happy that you're really bringing this out for people so that they should, you know, know that there is a risk. And at this time, you know, really go back into certain communities
and, you know, see what folks are saying about how to stay safe. So there's been a lot of advice out there. There's some Google docs that are going around right now that have a lot of information on how to stay safe.
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YOUNG-MERCADO: You know, maybe not as much clubbing right now, limiting your sexual partners. Even though folks are using condoms or other protection, monkeypox can still be transferred just by being in contact with someone, even if the lesions aren't really showing.
So it's important that folks limit their activity at this time and try their best to cut back on some of them as this virus is going through.
BRUNHUBER: You and I talked about health equity and outreach to Black and Brown communities during COVID. And the Biden administration has taken hits about monkeypox, about how slow they've been to react to this. It seems that we haven't really learned a lot of lessons from the COVID pandemic. They should be so fresh.
YOUNG-MERCADO: You know, I will say that one thing that we do have is the fact that we do have a vaccine and we do have an anti-viral medication, which we didn't have immediately during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The thing that is different right now in the way that we're handling this is that we should have learned how to prioritize those who are at highest risk. We already know that, in the Black and Latino communities, you know, the risk of infection is so much higher. So they should be prioritized.
Now if you're going to set up your vaccination system so that everyone logs on and, you know, gets their appointment for the vaccine, that's not going to work for these communities, because people, again, are working multiple jobs to pay their rent in very high cost-of-living areas.
BRUNHUBER: The Biden administration announced a pilot this week that will make up to 50,000 monkeypox doses available to distribute at LGBTQ events.
Do you think measures targeted like that will work?
What more needs to be done?
YOUNG-MERCADO: I think that can work. But I also want to bring up that we're looking at one particular community. But really, this is a virus that everyone is at risk for. It may be in this community right now; however, it can spread to others. And so no one is immune.
This is -- and I want to be very clear about this -- this is not a virus that will only infect people who are part of the gay, the LGBTQ communities. We need to make sure there's no stigma that's being placed on the communities. BRUNHUBER: Really appreciate your insight, Dr. Sheila Young-Mercado.
Thank you so much for joining us.
YOUNG-MERCADO: You're welcome.
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BRUNHUBER: Some U.S. lawmakers are raising the alarm of online threats against FBI agents.
And a Saudi woman sentence to jail for tweets on political and human issues. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber, this is CNN NEWSROOM.
Prosecutors have less than a week now to tell a federal judge what they would like to redact in the affidavit that led to the search of Donald Trump's Florida home. The Department of Justice says they would have to redact so much that the document would be "devoid of content."
Legal experts have keyed in on one key phrase, that is "willful retention" of national security information. They say that suggests the president could be part of a criminal investigation.
Some current White House officials are privately worried about the volume of classified materials seized at Mar-a-lago and whether more sensitive documents might still be missing.
In the wake of that Mar-a-lago search, top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are sounding the alarm over the increasing and disturbing number of online threats against law enforcement. CNN's Brian Todd reports.
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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An urgent call from key members of Congress to social media companies: do something about the online threats to law enforcement.
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and other top Democrats on the House Oversight Committee sent letters today to the chief executives of eight companies, urging them to, quote, "take immediate action."
REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): I'm all for the First Amendment. What I'm not for is insurrection-type, violent-type speech promoted, passed on in these mediums, that could lead to a destabilized situation. TODD (voice-over): In the letters, members of Congress cite a post on the Donald Trump founded platform Truth Social, saying, quote, "Eff the Feds," and one from another user, quote, "Arm yourselves. We are about to enter into civil war."
JOHN SCOTT-RAILTON, SENIOR RESEARCHER, CITIZEN LAB, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO: My chief concern is, if this rhetoric continues, if the "enemies of the people" language continues, I'm worry that more people will be killed.
TODD (voice-over): The letters from Congress to the social media companies come days after a law enforcement source told CNN, there's an unprecedented number of threats the FBI is investigating against its personnel and property.
Also, a joint bulletin from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security obtained by CNN warned of a threat to, quote, "place a so- called dirty bomb in front of FBI headquarters."
The bulletin cites calls for civil war, armed rebellion, says specific law enforcement agents have been threatened with death. Analysts say far-right extremists, including white supremacists, who have access to firearms and explosives, could target FBI agents in the field.
JON LEWIS, RESEARCH FELLOW, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Now if you are a FBI agent, every single door knock you do, every single individual you go to interview, as it relates to the January 6 investigation, now you have to worry about do they want you dead when you knock on the door.
TODD (voice-over): The head of the FBI agents' association told CNN that threats against agents are, quote, 'real and imminent." It came in the wake of an attack on the FBI field office in Cincinnati. And in recent days, a Pennsylvania man was arrested for allegedly making threats on social media, saying FBI personnel, quote, "... deserve to die.
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TODD (voice-over): "My only goal is to kill more of them before I drop."
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Hearing agents talk about now carrying additional firepower, additional ammunition, the simple task of walking out of a field office and going to lunch now requires an extra layer of situational awareness.
TODD: Another big concern that members of Congress pressed the social media companies on, the practice of releasing someone's personal information online or on social media. FBI agents have been targeted with doxing in recent days, including information on one agent's wife and child -- Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: South Carolina's attorney general has announced more indictments against disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh. A grand jury announced nine more charges, including money laundering, computer crime and obtaining a signature by false pretenses.
The last indictments allege that he stole from his former law firm and his brother. A grand jury indicted him in connection to the deaths of his wife, Margaret, and youngest son, Paul, found shot to death in their home in June 2021. He pleaded not guilty to those charges.
A senior U.S. official says Iran has dropped a key demand that had been a sticking point in the nuclear deal. He said Iran didn't ask that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps be removed from the U.S. list of foreign terror organizations. The U.S. had repeatedly rejected the request.
Monday's version of the agreement has been described by the E.U. as the final draft.
On Friday, a member of an execution squad dubbed the ISIS Beatles was sentenced in Virginia. El Shafee Elsheikh was given eight concurrent life sentences and convicted for his role in the hostage taking and deaths of four Americans and several others, including U.S. journalist James Foley.
The anniversary of his 2014 beheading was Friday. Here's Foley's mother on the verdict.
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DIANE FOLEY, JAMES' MOTHER: Let the sentencing make clear to all who dare to kidnap, torture, or kill any American citizen abroad. The U.S. justice will find you wherever you are. And that our government will hold you accountable for your crimes against our citizens.
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BRUNHUBER: Prosecutors say he helped run a network of at least nine detention facilities in Syria, in which 26 civilian hostages from 12 countries were held.
The U.N. human rights office is urging Saudi officials to release a woman sentenced to 34 years in jail for her tweets. They say she never should have been arrested and charged in the first place. Jomana Karadsheh has more.
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JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So much anger, outrage and shock from human rights defenders around the world over the sentencing of Salma al-Shehab, a 33-year-old Saudi mother of two, a PhD. student at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
She was detained in January 2021 when she was on holiday back in Saudi Arabia and she was held for much of 2021 for questioning before she was referred to the country's specialized criminal court. That's the court that essentially deals with terrorism cases. And she was sentenced to six years in jail initially because of her
Twitter activity. Now she appealed that sentence. She made the argument that she is the mother of two young boys who are 3 and 5. Her own mother is ill and she needs to be there for her children.
And this month, the Saudi court came back with a decision to increase her sentence to 34 years in jail, followed by another 34-year travel ban. CNN was able to review court documents and it appears that the Saudi public prosecution brought this case against her.
They claim she was providing aid through her Twitter account in tweets to people who they say were aiming to destabilize the country, to undermine its security and public order.
Now we have gone through her Twitter account, as did Human Rights Watch. And from what you can see, she was supporting and voicing her support for dissidents, human rights activists, women's rights campaigners in the kingdom, people who were behind bars in Saudi Arabia because of their activism, because of calling for freedom.
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KARADSHEH: Now the Saudis have not said anything publicly about the case. We understand that she will be able to appeal this sentence. We've heard from the United Nations human rights office, that says that this case is an example of how Saudi authorities have weaponized the country's anti-terrorism laws, its anti-cyber crimes laws, to go after, to target, to intimidate those who attempt to speak out, to silence voices of dissent in the kingdom.
And we've heard from Saudi activists and others, who say that this is exactly the scenario they were warning about when world leaders like President Biden and president Macron and others, meeting with the Saudi crown prince, mending ties with the de facto ruler.
They said this was only going to embolden the crown prince and others not only to continue their harsh crackdowns in the kingdom but intensify it -- Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: The prime minister of Finland is pushing back after a leaked video shows her dancing at a private party. We'll look at what she's doing now to quiet critics and political opponents.
Plus a tropical storm warning has been issued for parts of Texas and Mexico. We've got the latest on that. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Somali police say at least 15 people were killed when gunmen attacked a hotel in Somali's capital. [04:40:00]
BRUNHUBER: Officials say large explosions rocked the Hyatt hotel in Mogadishu. They warned the death toll is likely to rise because casualties are still coming into the hospital.
The hotel was popular with lawmakers and government officials. The Al Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.
In the U.S., over 100 firefighters responded to a fire at a Massachusetts boatyard.
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BRUNHUBER (voice-over): The blaze burned several buildings, boats and cars. Witnesses say they heard a large explosion, followed by a huge plume of black smoke. At least four people were hurt. And high winds played a role in spreading the flames. Authorities are investigating what caused the fire.
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BRUNHUBER: Millions of people are currently under flood watches as monsoon storms pummel parts of the southwestern U.S. Near Phoenix, flash floods ripped through intersections, pushing cars to the side like toys.
Officials say the storms aren't over yet. Some areas are expected to see up to six inches of rain in the coming days. And tropical storm warnings are posted for parts of South Texas and Mexico.
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BRUNHUBER: And high winds are a factor in Argentina's wildfires. A prolonged drought has made them worse around the major riverside port of Rosario. The fire was partly under control last Sunday. But by Monday, strong winds changed all that. Haze from the fire has reached Buenos Aires.
And a drought has been officially declared in Wales as it faces conditions not seen in 40 years. Southwest Wales is the hardest hit , with some areas receiving just 65 percent of the expected amount of rainfall in July. It has put a strain on rivers, reservoirs and groundwater levels.
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BRUNHUBER: In China, the country issued its first nationwide drought alert with over 800,000 people facing shortages. More dry weather is expected in the coming days.
Finland's prime minister is pushing back against criticism sparked by a leaked video showing her dancing at a private house party. She was asked to take a drug test to prove she wasn't under the influence. Melissa Bell has the story. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A private video leaked to the public from a night of singing and dancing is causing quite a headache for the Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin.
Video of the 36-year-old leader of the Social Democratic Party shows her and friends, as she describes, partying in a boisterous way inside a private home. But that's where the fun stops.
The videos caused a political backlash, with some opponents calling the behavior unbecoming of a world leader, demanding that she take a drug test.
SANNA MARIN, FINNISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I consider these accusations to be very serious. And though I consider the demand for a drug test unjust, for my own legal protection and to clear up any doubts, I have taken a drug test, the results of which will come in about a week.
BELL: She says she's appalled that the videos were leaked, as they were filmed in a private setting. She said alcohol was consumed but that she was not aware of any drug usage. And at no time did the night out affect her work or her ability to perform her official duties.
MARIN: I didn't have any work meetings planned for that weekend. They are confirmed usually beforehand. And I didn't have any meetings, for example. Saturday or Sunday. I had work meetings on Monday but I, of course, handled -- we didn't have any government meeting during that weekend.
I had time off and spent it with my friends and did nothing illegal.
BELL (voice-over): As one of the world's youngest serving prime ministers, supporters say she's being targeted because of her age and gender. Her private life was previously under the spotlight last year when a photo of her in a night club surfaced after she tested positive for COVID-19 -- Melissa Bell, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: A Little Leaguer makes an amazing recovery.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're just so proud of him for his strength and for all the prayers and love and support we've received from so many around the world.
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BRUNHUBER: LIV Golf players who filed anti-trust proceedings against the PGA will reportedly have to wait well over a year for their case to go to trial. According to ESPN, a U.S. district court judge set January 8, 2024, as the date for the hearing. They were suspended for signing on with LIV Golf.
Baseball teams from around the world are in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with one common goal: winning the Little League World Series. And with them in spirit, a player who fractured his skull in one of the dorms.
Utah lost its first game but have a chance for redemption. Miles away, Easton Oliverson was cheering on his teammates from his hospital bed. Jason Carroll has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, buddy, food.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All right.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With every scoop, Easton Oliverson is defying the odds.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just like you're scooping a ball in left field.
CARROLL (voice-over): He's awake, alert and communicating.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you feel like it's going the right way or does it feel like it's getting stuck?
EASTON OLIVERSON, SNOW CANYON LITTLE LEAGUE PLAYER: It's going the right way.
CARROLL (voice-over): The 12-year-old Little Leaguer now out of intensive care. His father says it was just days ago when doctors told him he may not survive.
JACE OLIVERSON, EASTON'S FATHER: Doctors are saying he's 30 minutes max from dying with so much pressure on his brain stem, that here we are, not even three full days later, he has his mobility, his brain function and it's not by coincidence.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go Easton.
CARROLL (voice-over): Easton is a player on the Snow Canyon Little League team, the pride of Utah. They're the first team from the state to make it to the Little League World Series in its 75-year history.
So you can imagine all the excitement the team, his family had leading up to it. All that crushed Monday morning during an unimaginable accident when Easton fell out of his bunkbed while sleeping and hit his head.
J. OLIVERSON: It was so heart wrenching and couldn't believe what we had just experienced hours before, living the highs of highs and now having to feel like Easton is now fighting for his life.
CARROLL (voice-over): Doctors told them Easton had severely fractured his skull and punctured an artery outside his brain.
DR. FRANK MAFFEI, CHAIR OF PEDIATRICS, GEISINGER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: There are some children that arrive in a very, very poor neurologic state. And Easton's state upon arrival was among the poorest I've seen.
CARROLL (voice-over): Despite the injuries, Easton surprised doctors at Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital, when hours after surgery he showed signs of improvement.
DR. ODED GOREN, NEUROSURGEON, GEISINGER MEDICAL CENTER: He's making tremendous strides toward recovery. And we're expecting him to have a really near complete or complete recovery. We're all so happy.
CARROLL (voice-over): His family says well wishes have come in from all over the world, including from Easton's favorite players.
MOOKIE BETTS, LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Hey, Easton, it's Mookie Betts. I just want you to know that we are praying for you, thinking of you.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you, man. We're praying for you. Hoping that your recovery goes well.
CARROLL (voice-over): The family says it's not just doctors they have to thank.
J. OLIVERSON: The only reason that he's at this point in such a short period of time is -- is because of our heavenly Father and the way that he is showing people now that miracles do happen.
DEREK OLIVERSON, EASTON'S UNCLE: We 100 percent attribute that to the prayers that we've been receiving across the nation. We know and the doctors agree, there was divine intervention here.
CARROLL: When Easton's name was announced over the loudspeaker, the entire stadium was on its feet. We should also tell you that the opposing team during a pregame ceremony wore Snow Canyon baseball caps. That tells you the type of support there is here for Easton.
And no matter what the outcome of the game, Tennessee ended up winning, but what it shows you here is that the ultimate winner is Easton -- Jason Carroll, CNN, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Before we go, a group of Ukrainians is fighting Russian aggression but not on the military battlefield. Instead, they're putting up what some call cultural resistance. Have a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BRUNHUBER (voice-over): That's the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, rehearsing for their upcoming international tour. Dozens of musicians, including some refugees are performing. The orchestra's conductor says her baton is her weapon and the members are what she calls soldiers of music.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: They're wrapping up their first tour tonight at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back in a moment with more CNN NEWSROOM. Please do stay with us.
