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14-Year-Old Kills Self After Being Beaten By Four Teens; Tens Of Thousands Protest Proposed Judicial Overhaul In Jerusalem; Kansas City Chiefs Win Super Bowl In Game-Time Cliffhanger; White House Justifies U.S. Downing 3 Mysterious Objects From Skies. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired February 13, 2023 - 14:30   ET

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

[14:30:00]

STEPHEN ALLEN, USAID DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM LEADER: think it's important to note that Turkey in particular has a very robust national response infrastructure for crises like these.

But the level of crisis that we're facing here is higher than anything that they could realistically plan for on their national level, which is why they've asked for international help. And that's why we're here to support them.

We do have stocks and material that we are transporting to Turkey. We have shelter supplies, hygiene kits, things like that, coming from our warehouse in the region.

And we are working with others to bring in more supplies now to augment what the people of Turkey and the government have already been able to provide.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Stephen Allen, with USAID, thank you so much for your time. And thank you for what you're doing there.

For more information on how you can help the victims of the earthquake, go to CNN.com/impact.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST: The superintendent of a New Jersey school district resigns in the wake of a 14-year-old taking her own life after she was attacked by four other teens. We'll have the tragic details straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:33]

BLACKWELL: There's some alarming new information on the mental health of American children. This is according to a new CDC survey. Teenagers, especially girls, are experiencing more violence, suicidal thoughts and mental health challenges since the onset of the pandemic.

GOLODRYGA: More than 40 percent of high school students said that feelings of sadness or hopelessness prevented them from engaging in their regular activities for at least two weeks of the year. And 57 percent of girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021. And

52 percent of LGBTQ-Plus students have also recently experienced poor mental health. Of that, 52 percent, more than 22 percent attempted suicide in just the past year.

BLACKWELL: One tragic instance of teen suicide just happened in New Jersey. A 14-year-old girl took her own life after a video shows her being beaten by four other teenagers.

GOLODRYGA: Those teens are now facing charges and the school's superintendent has resigned.

CNN's Brynn Gingras joins us now.

What more can you tell us this sad story?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is just so scary. When you see the video and you see what happened, it's just real life, guys.

What happened -- we don't want to show you the whole video, to be perfectly honest. We'll just show still frames for it. But I'm going to describe to you what you actually see in it.

It's that 14-year-old Adriana Kuch, she's walking out of her high school with her boyfriend when four people, a group of people approach her, throw some liquid at her and take her to the ground and start beating her before school personnel actually intervene.

Now, her father claims that the school didn't do anything about it. All they did, they sent her to the school nurse. They didn't alert authorities. And we do know that the four students were suspended.

But he said he's the one who took this daughter to the police department, filed the police report.

And then that video circulated and then his daughter took her own life the next day. She was found dead the next day.

I want you to hear more from her father.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL KUCH, FATHER OF ADRIANA KUCH: They think it's fun to attack people and make videos and post them.

She blacks out. And they don't call an ambulance, they take her to the nurse's office.

Adriana was the most happy, beautiful young lady in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GINGRAS: Now, the school says they did alert authorities. Those four teenagers, they have been criminally charged. One of them with aggravated assault. And they said that the superintendent has resigned amid some

controversial comments he also made in the aftermath of all of this. This fallout is continuing.

There's been protests at the school, guys. People really upset, not just this incident, but saying there's really a cultural -- it's happened in the past. And the school doesn't do anything about. So they want reform.

BLACKWELL: What do we know about what's happened at this school before?

GINGRAS: At least one mom we know about has actually sued the school and said her daughter was the victim of bullying. The same -- similar, beaten. She actually provided a video to us.

And the school, as a whole, has talked about the allegations we've just seen and also what happened over this past week and said that they are looking back not only at recent incidents but past incidents.

And they're actually working with the Department of Education to reform any policies with anti-bullying.

Again, there's so many parents and students coming forward saying something needs to change because this is what could happen.

GOLODRYGA: Especially in light of social media.

GINGRAS: Absolutely.

GOLODRYGA: Thank you, Brynn.

BLACKWELL: Brynn Gingras, thanks so much.

There is help available for you and your loved ones. You can call or text the National Suicide Prevention lifeline at 988. Connect with trained counselors anytime, day or night. It's free and confidential. That number is 988.

[14:39:13]

GOLODRYGA: Well, turning overseas, incredible scenes out of Jerusalem where thousands of protesting are protesting Prime Minister Netanyahu's controversial plan that would allow lawmakers to overturn Supreme Court decision with a simple majority. We're live from the demonstrations ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: A judge is ordering portions of a Georgia special grand jury report into 2020 election interference to be released on Thursday. State prosecutors have investigated whether Donald Trump or any of his associates broke the law.

GOLODRYGA: The portions to be released will not include specific charging recommendation. Fulton County's district attorney suggested last month the special

grand jury had recommended multiple indictments. And said her decision on whether to bring charges is imminent.

BLACKWELL: Let's go to Jerusalem where tens of thousands of Israelis flooded the streets to protest against Prime Minister's Benjamin Netanyahu controversial plan to overhaul the judicial system.

GOLODRYGA: The proposal would allow lawmakers to overturn Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority. But many fear the changes will weaken the country's highest court and erode democratic checks and balances.

CNN's Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem.

Hadas, I know Prime Minister Netanyahu is saying people are reacting to this but you're seeing tens of thousands turning out in protest.

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the reforms are a long time coming, that the Supreme Court has become too powerful, too elitist.

And that this is something that the voters want because they voted him and his allies into power in those November election.

[14:45:05]

But we've seen in the regular weekly protests, usually on Saturday nights, in Tel Aviv, which is typically seen as the more left-leaning city, the biggest city in Israel.

But the reason the protesters have come on a Monday, to skip work, skip school and make the journey from all over the country to Jerusalem to protest in front of the Israeli parliament, because it was today that these reforms were getting one of their first sort of legislative tests. It was passings through committee hearing.

And they told me, they wanted their voices to be echoing through the halls of parliament. We actually heard from some lawmakers saying they could hear them within the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

Now, we don't have exact numbers. I was down there. Definitely tens of thousands. I've seen estimates ranging from 60,000 to 90,000 people. Absolutely flooding the streets.

For many of these protests, they really concerned that this is a weakening of the independence of the Israeli judiciary.

They worry this is just a way for Benjamin Netanyahu to get out of his ongoing corruption trial. I should say this is something is that he flatly denies.

And even worried that this is sort of beginning of the end of the Israeli democracy.

I know we're showing images from within the Israeli parliament. This is actually the committee meeting.

And that got very heated because opposition lawmakers were chanting at the coalition lawmakers.

At one point, one of them jumped over the table yelling "shame and disgrace" at the lawmakers trying to push this through. They were actually forcefully removed by security.

So far, this legislation is passing through. The Israeli president, though, last night, gave a rare televised address, warning that the Israeli society is on a potentially violent collision course.

He was calling for all parties to come together, to come to a consensus agreement on reform. Saying both sides have a right to their ideas and have good points.

Even President Joe Biden weighing in, in a statement in "The New York Times." It's very rare for a U.S. president to get involved in internal Israeli politics.

He waded in, saying one of the best parts of Israeli and American democracy is and independent judiciary. And he was also calling for content.

That message may have been heard because, tonight, we heard from the justice minister saying they are willing to speak with the opposition lawmakers and start a negotiation. We'll see how far that goes -- guys?

GOLODRYGA: Very heated at the Knesset.

Hadas Gold, thank you.

BLACKWELL: A reinjured ankle does not stop Patrick Mahomes from leading the Chiefs to another Super Bowl title. The details on his performance last night that scored a second MVP title.

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[14:52:07]

BLACKWELL: It was down to the wire, but the Kansas City Chiefs are once again Super Bowl champs.

GOLODRYGA: They had an amazing second half. Game MVP Patrick Mahomes and his team came back from behind to beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38- 35.

The Chiefs' second-half comeback was remarkable considering the star quarterback hurt his ankle early in the game.

CNN's sport anchor, Coy Wire, is in Glendale, Arizona, where the championship celebration is still going on.

I do have to say, Patrick Mahomes, going into half-time, he was in tears. A lot of us, I'm sure you included, didn't know what you'd see after the third quarter. He came back stronger than ever.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: He's so tough. That's how champions are made at moments like that, Bianna.

This game represented a takeover. With Tom Brady retiring, this is Patrick Mahomes' league. The 27-year-old because the youngest quarterback ever to start in three Super Bowls. Two wins, two MVPs.

Being around this week, his whole vibe is positivity.

He told me being a dad to his almost 2-year-old girl and 2-month-old son is giving him better perspective. He revealed this morning how he's going to celebrate ahead of Wednesday's victor parade in Kansas City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PATRICK MAHOMES, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS QUARTERBACK: Just going to spend that time with my family. I haven't even got to see my son yet because he was asleep by the time I got home yesterday. Spend the time with them and my daughter.

It's going to be a parade Wednesday. Enjoy it as a team. I'm sure the Chiefs kingdom will be out there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Some say a picture is worth a thousand words. Sometimes, you only need one, boss. Sunglasses after the fact, championship belt in one hand, Lombardi trophy in the other. Hang this one in the louvre, baby.

(LAUGHTER)

I love it. I love it.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk half-time. We've been talking half-time. Rihanna, comeback, live performance for the first time in seven years, first Super Bowl half-time show happened. She said she wouldn't perform for the NFL because of her support for Colin Kaepernick.

What stood out to you, Coy?

WIRE: Shine bright like a diamond.

(LAUGHTER)

WIRE: First time in seven years. She's pregnant again. Had her baby boy night months ago. So this performance, I am woman, hear me roar.

She said earlier this week, Victor and Bianna, she wanted to show her son someday mom wasn't going to back down from a challenge. Challenge accepted, challenge dominated.

GOLODRYGA: I don't think, purported, it's confirmed she's expecting baby number two. BLACKWELL: Yes.

GOLODRYGA: She looked no worse for wear there. She was incredible, dancing and singing. A blowout performance, especially knowing she was pregnant, too.

BLACKWELL: I like the colors, the red, the white, the platforms. That's what I got.

GOLODRYGA: That's a diplomatic answer.

BLACKWELL: That's my diplomatic answer. I like the platforms.

(CROSSTALK)

[14:55:02]

GOLODRYGA: And the colors are nice.

BLACKWELL: I like red.

All right, Coy Wire for us in Phoenix. Thank you, Coy.

GOLODRYGA: Thanks, Coy.

We just heard moments ago from the White House that the administration couldn't rule out where the recently downed aerial objects over North America had surveillance capabilities. Much more on what we've heard and what we're learning, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: -- Lloyd Austin is in Brussels. I think we have a signal up, he's speaking now about the object that was shot down by the U.S.

All right, we lost that.

Here is what we're going to do. We're going to try to get that recording. I watched a bit of it, and play it back for you and get the news from the defense secretary.

He is there in Brussels. We'll get that for you as soon as we can.

Let's go to what we learned from the White House today just a short time ago about the president's decision to shoot down three identified -- unidentified flying objects over the weekend, action America's military has never taken before until this past Friday.

National security official, John Kirby, said, after the U.S. recently discovered a spy balloon from China, NORAD, the command that defends U.S. airspace, started monitoring the skies more closely.

GOLODRYGA: Kirby said the U.S. is seeing more of these objects because we're looking for more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ADM. JOHN KIRBY, NSC COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: Their altitudes were considerably lower than the Chinese high-altitude balloon and did pose a threat to civilian commercial air traffic.

While we have no specific reason to suspect they were conducting surveillance of any kind, we couldn't rule that out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODRYGA: The Chinese balloon flew at 60,000 feet while the three unidentified objects had the altitude of 40,000 feet or lower.

Also, just into the NEWSROOM, sources say the objects brought down over Alaska and Canada Friday and Saturday both carried payloads or receptacles.

[14:59:57]

CNN's Kylie Atwood is at the State Department.

We'll start with CNN's Phil Mattingly at the White House.

Tell us more about what came out of that briefing, Phil.