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New Day
Taliban Attacks School in Pakistan; Bode Miller's Impact on Kids; Fallout from Sony Cyber Attack; Kiddie Cabinet Weights in on ISIS
Aired December 16, 2014 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get to Akita Shubert in London. She's live with the breaking details.
What is the latest, Atika?
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, that's been confirmed to us by the police chief there on the ground, that all six of the gunmen have been killed. They've cleared all of the buildings in the area. There were some slow going initially because they feared there might have been IEDs planted, but they say they've cleared that entire area now. So that's good news that that is over, but we are still looking to the death toll.
There are more 100 killed, most of them children between the ages of 12 and 16. They were brought to two hospitals in the area, and that is where many parents gathered, looking for their children, to find out whether or not they're among the dead. It is a very grim scene at the moment. Even though the siege of the school seems to be over, a lot of authorities there still combing the area, making sure it's safe.
CAMEROTA: It's so heartbreaking, Atika. The numbers are staggering. One hundred and thirty killed. Do we know how many students were in the school when this happened?
SHUBERT: Well, we know that there were about 1,000 students inside the school normally. There was something happening in the auditorium apparently as the school days was going ahead. The attackers apparently came over the wall. Some reports saying they were dressed in Pakistan military uniforms and that's how they slipped through. And then there was an explosion, according to some reports a suicide bomber. Now, we don't know where exactly that explosion occurred, if that's where most of the casualties were. We're still trying to get those details. But there are also reports that gunmen went from classroom to classroom taking shots at children there and then also targeting teachers as well. So those stories we are still getting now from survivors, but it's obviously deeply traumatizing, and particularly for those families who don't know what's happened in their children.
CAMEROTA: Oh, it just makes you physically sick to hear the details. Atika, thanks so much for the update.
Let's get over to Michaela now for other news.
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here we go with the five things to know.
At number one, the gunmen who held hostage -- several hostages in Sydney was a self-styled Muslim cleric. Officials say Man Haron Monis had a violent past. He used the Internet to spread his extremist beliefs.
Police in Pennsylvania mounting an all-out search, a manhunt for Bradley William Stone. He's suspected of killing his ex-wife and five former in-laws, including a 14-year-old girl.
Sony chief Amy Pascal said to be frantically calling people, trying to shore up support in the midst of its massive hack attack. Sony stock has plunged now more than 10 percent since the beginning of last week.
Bill Cosby's wife speaking out for the first time. Camille Cosby maintains that her husband is a kind, generous man. She blames the media for reporting un-vetted rape accusations against him.
In a little bit of football news, the New Orleans Saints keep their playoff hopes alive with a 31-15 win over the Chicago Bears Monday night. Drew Brees and company now sit atop the NFC South with a 6-8 record.
We do update those five things to know, so be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the very latest.
Chris.
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, so now how about a little Impact Your World, OK? This man has won six medals in the winter Olympics. The most of any American skier. But Bode Miller is not done yet. A friend's devastating ski accident inspired Miller's latest mission. He's going to help kids participate in the sport that he loves no matter what their disability. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BODE MILLER, OLYMPIAN: Do you want it signed in a different color?
CUOMO (voice-over): Bode Miller was inspired to start Turtle Ridge Foundation after a close friend suffered an accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
MILLER: I was trying to help him get re-involved in sports and just to watch him go through that, I saw how hard it was and how little support there was for him. People who are in a wheelchair or handicapped, we provide the sporting equipment for them and sort of the environment that allows them to sustain whatever sport that is.
CUOMO: Once a year, skiers flock to Bode-fest on Bode's home turf of Cannon (ph) Mountain, New Hampshire, for a day of fund-raising and a chance for kids to race the ski icon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's really cool and really fast.
MILLER: These are my super g skis. For those of you who watched the World Cup this year, that super g run for me was the best I skied all year.
CUOMO: It's also a chance to test out the latest equipment the foundation has helped develop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The program's really changed my life. I never thought that I'd be able to ski, but this program's really changed my opinion on adaptive sports.
MILLER: And we build some of our ski equipment and you give it to a kid who never had the chance to go up and experience what it is to ski down a giant mountain and you watch how life changing that can be for them. I think it's really - it's pretty incredible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CAMEROTA: That's wonderful.
CUOMO: Good for him, right?
CAMEROTA: Yes. Great story.
CUOMO: All right, so you want to learn more so you can help as well? Of course you do. So go to cnn.com/impact.
CAMEROTA: All right, so we are following all of the latest developments out of Pakistan. There's breaking news. At least 130 people are dead, most of them students, after the Taliban stormed a school.
And also, more fallout for Sony as is tries to fight back against a massive cyberattack. It's now trying to stop media outlets from reporting on this. Should CNN be reporting on it? We'll debate that.
CUOMO: And, we're going to talk about achieving peace through the eyes of the young. All right, we had the kitty cabinet weigh in on race in America. Now we're going to do something a little different. We're going to talk to them about the war on terror, ISIS, and you're going to get to see what you're teaching them, and what they can teach us.
CAMEROTA: Right.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEREIRA: Good to have you back with us here on NEW DAY.
Sony Pictures now in full damage control following a massive cyberattack. Now as this fallout widens, the company desperately trying to stop media outlets from disseminated the hacked material. Joining us to discuss all the elements, Brian Stelter, CNN's senior media correspondent and host of "Reliable Sources," Dawn Chmielewski, who is senior editor of Re/code and she joins us from California, and CNN correspondent Will Ripley.
Good to have you with us, Will. Always a plea pleasure, all of you.
Brian, I think we've got to start with you. First of all, we know the attorney for Sony has sent a letter to several media outlets essentially characterizing the leaked documents as stolen information that should be ignored and discarded.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yes.
PEREIRA: What do you think? What's your stance on this? Should the media be reporting on this content?
STELTER: There are no easy answers to this, and the information is stolen, but it's not the journalists that have stolen it. It is the hackers that have stolen it. They've put it out into public view. I think journalists are doing a good job of contextualizing the information and choosing what not to publish, what not to share. For example, Social Security Numbers and private medical records, we would never be trafficking that as journalists. This is hard, though, but there's newsworthy information in these files.
PEREIRA: Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin sounded off in an op-ed for "The New York Times." Let me read it in part to you. "I understand that news outlets routinely use stolen information. That's how we got the Pentagon papers, to use an op-used (ph) argument, but there's nothing in these documents remotely rising to the level of public interest of the information found in the Pentagon papers." It goes on to say, "let's just say that every news outlet that did the bidding of the Guardians of Peace is morally treasonous and spectacularly dishonorable." What's your response, Brian?
STELTER: Strong words. And Aaron Sorkin is one of the many folks who show up in these e-mails, in some embarrassing e-mails involving him, just like many others in Hollywood. I understand why he's saying it, but we're talking about public figures here, a-list actors and big celebrities and entertains and executives, too.
PEREIRA: Dawn, to that end, interesting to see that a website leaked what is purported to be the death scene from that, you know, controversial, at least as far as North Korea is considering, that film "The Interview," the comedy with Seth Rogan and James Franco. Along with that was leaked an e-mail from actor Seth Rogen discussing the changes that were made to tone it down. Talk about that a little bit, and if it -- this is the scene that is particularly controversial to whoever's upset about this, why put it on the Internet? Why leak it?
DAWN CHMIELEWSKI, SENIOR EDITOR, RE/CODE: That was an interesting throw down by the publication. I believe it was Gawker (ph), no? Correct me if I'm wrong, Michaela.
STELTER: Yes.
CHMIELEWSKI: You know, what was -- what was - what's interesting here is that Gawker hosted and edited, although I believe a two-minute-long clip, of the pivotal scene in the movie "The Interview." And the one that the hackers have objected to and presumably it has had an internal discussion in the newsroom about how such use might be protected under copyright concepts as a fair use. It's something that is the subject of the story, which goes on to talk about the debate between Sony executives and the filmmakers over what was appropriate to air and the sort of sensitivities around how to capture in a comic way the assassination of North Korea's leader.
PEREIRA: Will, we understand that the hackers have also come out and said that there will be more leaks because essentially Sony hasn't met their demands, which was including to not release "The Interview." That essentially points right to North Korea, does it not, or at least some sort of involvement from that country.
CHMIELEWSKI: It's hard, I mean we will find out. You know, we definitely have - that is definitely one possibility.
There's one thing I wanted to say, too, is that, you know, Sony has been talking about the importance of releasing this film and not being cowed, that the studio has a right to free expression under First Amendment concepts. So I find it interesting that now the same studio is serving journalists, who are reporting on this devastating hack and trying to curb our free expression rights here.
PEREIRA: Will Ripley, I want to bring you in. We know that the Sony chief in Japan took an unprecedented step and intervened in the business of a Hollywood studio a few months ago. Give us the latest on that and what you're hearing also on the ground there.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the CEO of (INAUDIBLE), he hadn't done that, it hadn't been done in Sony in the 25-year history of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which, of course, is the American subsidiary of Sony here in Tokyo. But the reason why he stepped in, in a large part you have to keep in mind the context here. Japan and North Korea are close neighbors. North Korea still influences through back channels some businesses, some lawmakers here in Japan. So there's certainly that pressure that he was facing. And when you're talking about a movie that characterizes the assassination of a sitting leader, something that big budget pictures hadn't done before, all of a sudden he started to think about the sensitivity of the political situation.
North Korea is a country that fires ballistic missiles, projectiles regularly into the Sea of Japan, and also these two countries are in the middle of some pretty sensitive talks right now just trying to normalize their relations all over again. So this is a real geopolitical mess that Sony has found itself right in the middle of with this film.
PEREIRA: And Japan is scrapping the release. That movie will not be shown there, at least that's the latest right now that we know.
Will, thank you.
I'm curious what you hear from your reliable sources, Brian, about what's going on internally right now at Sony. You get the sense that things have gone from bad to worse? What are the conversations you're hearing about?
STELTER: There's a lot of upset employees because it's a lot of, you know, regular employees, not the million-dollar executives with also have been affected with their Social Security Numbers online now.
PEREIRA: Nine to five guys, yes, sure.
STELTER: They're worried about identity theft. But there was a town hall at Sony yesterday and the message from the bosses was, we will get through this. This will not take us down as a company. The fact that they have - even have to reassure people about that shows just how bad this has been though.
PEREIRA: Dawn, I'm curious, you know, there's been this rumor of some sort of Christmas Day surprise. Are you hearing anything from your people over there at Re/code?
CHMIELEWSKI: Well, you know, this is -- the hackers are promising to deliver perhaps an unwanted Christmas present of more files. It's hard to imagine how this group can exceed the 16,000 documents that they delivered, you know, on Saturday.
PEREIRA: Yes.
CHMIELEWSKI: That's like four times the volume of the Pentagon papers dropped, just for context.
STELTER: And this is why this seems like extortion, you know?
PEREIRA: It's blackmail, yes.
STELTER: This is why Sony's lawyers are saying they do not want the hackers, do not want this film released and they're willing to release even more files to stop it.
PEREIRA: Brian Stelter, Dawn Chmielewski, and of course Will Ripley there. We appreciate it. Great conversation, guys.
RIPLEY: Thanks.
PEREIRA: Alisyn?
CAMEROTA: Okay, Michaela. We continue our coverage of breaking news out of Pakistan. At least 130 people dead in a school shooting there, most of them students. The standoff is over and police say all of the terrorists are dead. We'll also take a look at what it will take to achieve peace through the eyes of kids. Their perspective on the war on terror and what it will take to end it. Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: All right, first we want to update you on what was the top story this morning that you're going to want to pay attention to today.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
CUOMO (voice-over): The standoff at a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, it has ended and it's ended very badly. At least 130 people, most of them young, innocent school kids, have been killed by Taliban militants who stormed that school several hours ago. We will have more on what's going on in that situation throughout the morning as we learn more about who did this and what will happen next. The mission will move to one of recovery of course. And you, please, watch that continuing coverage throughout the morning with us.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
CUOMO (on camera): Now, we want to switch tone, all right? We've been very heavy this morning, and when we're dealing with the War on Terror, at the end of the day, what's our big motivation? Protecting our kids, keeping ourselves safe. This conversation that we're having about what to do, and the CIA, and Sydney, they're hearing us. They're hearing us and they're learning from us, for better or worse, and yet they're also developing their own ideas about right, wrong, and good, and bad, even on something like ISIS. You know, it's weird talking to kids about something this heavy. Hey, they know already. These kids are in third and fourth grade, they wanted to talk to us about it. They had a lot to say. So, we went to the kiddie cabinet on what is certainly something that is right for discussion. Look at what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CUOMO: Who knows that there's a war going on right now? Who is the war against? Who is fighting whom? Gabriel?
GABRIEL: ISIS.
CUOMO: ISIS? What does that mean, ISIS?
GABRIEL: They're a group of people that, they were attacking another country, and the country wasn't able to defend themselves very well.
CUOMO: What religion is ISIS, Gabriel?
GABRIEL: I don't know. I'm not sure.
CUOMO: Anybody know? Matthew?
MATTHEW: Muslim?
CUOMO: Yes. Muslims. What's the difference between Christian and Muslim? Gabriel?
GABRIEL: They don't believe in God that much.
CUOMO: Is that what you think?
GABRIEL: Um-hum.
CUOMO: They do, they believe in God. What is another difference between Muslims and everybody else? Anybody know?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Maybe because they want to start war and they don't want to make peace with most people here.
CUOMO: You think Muslims want war?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Um-hum.
CUOMO: Who else thinks that? Who thinks Muslims want peace just like Christians want peace? Should we be fighting against ISIS?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
CUOMO: No? But we are, right? Why should we not, Matthew?
MATTHEW: Because we're killing people that way.
CUOMO: Killing people. Well, we're told that we have to do it, because ISIS is killing all these people where they are, and the people can't defend themselves. So they need help, Gabriel, right?
GABRIEL: Yes, and ISIS is enslaving people and America is just trying to defend all the people. They don't want to hurt anybody.
CUOMO: Do you think that war is the answer? What is the first thing you should do if you don't like what I'm doing?
MATTHEW: Talk.
CUOMO: Second thing, I don't listen to you. I say I don't like what you're saying to me. I'm going to keep trying to hurt Matthew. I don't like it.
MATTHEW: Try to make it a law?
CUOMO: Okay. Try and pass a law, and I say I don't care about your law. I have my own law and I don't like Matthew. I'm going to take his pins. What are you going to do about it? Gabriel?
GABRIEL: Protect Matthew.
CUOMO: Protect Matthew. How?
GABRIEL: By putting a plane and transporting him somewhere else.
CUOMO: You can't move him. There's too many Matthews. Can't get him out of there. They have to stay there, I'm coming. What are you going to do, William?
WILLIAM: (INAUDIBLE) to protect him, more than one person should be trying to stop other people from hurting him, saying bad things to him.
CUOMO: And if I say I'll fight all of you, I don't care, I don't care. I'll come out, I'm going after Matthew and his pins. I want his pins.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why do you want to get all of his pins? Do you want them?
CUOMO: Yes, I want his pins. Give them to me now.
WILLIAM: So then we'll say just ask for them, maybe he'll give them to you.
CUOMO: He doesn't want to give me his pins.
WILLIAM: So then if he gives you a specific answer, just follow it.
CUOMO: No, I'm not going to follow it, because I want the pins, and I'm going to take them, and you can't do anything to stop me. I don't like any of you, and by the way, after I get his pins I'm coming after yours. Now, instead of pins what they're saying is this, everybody should be like me and believe what I believe. I believe what I believe, and everybody who lives around me, they should believe the same thing. And if they don't, then they are breaking the rules, and I'm going to punish them. That's what they're saying. What do you say, Adriana?
ADRIANA: I think that that's wrong.
CUOMO: Why? Who are you to say it's wrong? You believe differently from me, too. I don't like you. How are you going to stop me?
ADRIANA: The Army?
CUOMO: You think you go right to using force to stop me?
ADRIANA: Um-hum.
CUOMO: What about talking? Remember you said don't fight, talk?
ADRIANA: Yes.
CUOMO: Now I said one thing you don't like and you're ready to sick the Army on me.
ADRIANA: Yep.
CUOMO: Boy, you're quick, you're too quick. I can't wait for you to be president. I'll tell you what, we'll be fighting all the time.
ADRIANA: I will suffer for my country.
CUOMO: You will suffer for your country?
ADRIANA: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PEREIRA: I hope she never has to.
CUOMO: She's in the fourth grade. Now, she's joking, I'll suffer for my country. But what did I get? This is what I got from her, real quickly. They hear what you're saying. So, we have to be careful about what we tell kids, but you also don't want to shelter them from the realities because they have a purity in their morality judgments about they're supposed to - - You talk, you move, you find alternatives, and then, you know, if you have to - -
PEREIRA: You help each other, I love that.
CUOMO: Right. And then if you have to do it, then you fight, but it's such a last and remote possibility. Are they Pollyannaish, are they naive? Of course they are, but some of these things maybe we make too complicated.
CAMEROTA: But, I mean, I think you also look at the heart of the fact that there are no right answers. These are troubling times with troubling incidents and there are no right answers and the kids seem to understand that.
PEREIRA: And troubling consequences, too, which we've seen.
CUOMO: And the pins were, the kids in that Catholic school are awarded for good attendance.
CAMEROTA: Yes, yes.
CUOMO: Good behavior and doing well. So he had all these pins on.
CAMEROTA: And that's your school, right?
CUOMO: That is, I never got a pin.
CAMEROTA: No surprise.
CUOMO: All right, so this story with the kids obviously relates to the news that's going on and the situation we're seeing play out in Pakistan right now in the War on Terror. So let's get you to the "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello. You'll get the latest right after the break. Thanks for being with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
