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New Day

Coronavirus at Colleges and Universities; Twitter Flags Doctored Video; Kim Jong-Un's Latest Moves; Jamal Murray's Tribute. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 31, 2020 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Might say then and he's got to address that. He has, to an extent.

There is something happening at colleges across the country, Dr. El- Sayed, and we have, what, 8,600 -- 8,700 cases of coronavirus in 36 states right now, including 1,200 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It does seem as if so many of these colleges, which have brought students back on campus, are having serious issues.

What does this tell you? And how much of a concern should it be to the communities beyond the campus?

DR. ABDUL EL-SAYED, EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT: Well, what it's telling me is that young people are being young people. And sometimes young people don't make the safest decisions. And colleges and universities have brought students back, really having focused on what they can do to make the classroom environment safe. But, of course, when you come back to college, the classroom environment isn't the only place that you're spending your time. Neither is the dorm. When young people come together, especially after they've been cooped up for the entire summer and the spring with their families, they're looking to engage their peers. And sometimes that means that the basic things that we're doing to protect ourselves from this virus, sometimes that falls by the wayside. And I think what we're seeing here is the natural product of bringing young people together on a college campus.

And we -- we can't just blame the young people. We also have to ask, what was the wisdom? What was the argument from the higher-ups who made a decision to concentrate a group of young people on a college campus when they're predictably going to do what young people do on a college campus.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Dr. El-Sayed, do you know about these conspiracy theorists online who are trying to claim that the death toll from coronavirus is much lower than what we report every day than what, obviously, the -- all of the models show? And what it sounds like they're doing is saying, if there's a comorbidity, diabetes, obesity, it shouldn't count as Covid.

EL-SAYED: Well -- CAMEROTA: I mean, but -- although they wouldn't have died unless they had contracted Covid. So what are your thoughts?

EL-SAYED: Yes, I mean, we have to see this in the broader context of this politicization of this virus. And the reality of it is, you're exactly right, had there not been Covid, many of those people would not have died. And so as an epidemiologist, it's unfair to count or to discount any of the deaths where there were comorbidities that may have made Covid-19 more lethal. In fact, had Covid-19 not hit us, many of those people would still be walking around today.

And so this is because of the pandemic of Covid-19 and the whole goal of misinforming the public is to dissuade us from doing the things we need to do to stop this pandemic from -- from being transmitted between us. And so, you know, the -- is there an argument that we shouldn't be wearing masks? Is there an argument that we shouldn't be doing lockdowns if the case counts go high or shutting down schools? Of course it is. Why? Because it fits a political narrative that's been driven from the very top of a particular strain of our politics. And so, you know, recounting the numbers to try and justify something is, I'll be honest, just a slap in the face of science. And it's wrong, it's misinformation and, frankly, it is deadly.

BERMAN: Yes.

EL-SAYED: And we've got to think about this misinformation and, frankly, the -- the platforms that are hosting it need to step up.

BERMAN: It's not public health, it's the opposite of public health, it's public death. It's literally promoting something that will kill people.

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, we appreciate you being with us this morning. Thanks so much.

EL-SAYED: Thank you for having me.

BERMAN: So, this morning, it's not just the Russians spreading election misinformation. The number two Republican in the House tweeting a manipulate video of Joe Biden and now Twitter is taking action.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:37:40]

BERMAN: So, developing overnight, Twitter flagging a video shared by the second highest-ranking Republican in the House, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, for manipulating activist Ady Barkan's voice to make it sound as if he had convinced Joe Biden to defund police departments. Barkan has ALS and speaks using computer voice assistance. In reality, Biden has proposed investing more money in community policing. Congressman Scalise has since deleted the tweet.

Joining us now is CNN politics and technology reporter Donie O'Sullivan. Donie, so what's this all about?

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN POLITICS AND TECHNOLOGY REPORTER: Hey, John.

Yes, I mean I think this weekend was a real preview of what we're going to see more and more in the lead-up to November's election. Social media being used to misinform and mislead people about every aspect of American politics.

As you mentioned there, Ady Barkan, an activist, had that conversation with Joe Biden. And I think what is particularly distasteful, I guess, in what Representative Scalise said here was that Barkan uses a voice machine, he has ALS, and a machine to help him speak. So the fact that his voice was sort of edited and manipulated this way was particularly distasteful.

Now, I want to show you what Ady has said. He tweeted yesterday before Scalise took down the video. And he said, these are not my words. I have lost my ability to speak, but not my agency or my thoughts. You and your team have doctored my words for your own political gain. Please remove this video immediately. You owe the entire disability community an apology.

Scalise did remove that video. The video was also up on FaceBook. Twitter had placed a label on it saying it had been manipulated. FaceBook didn't do anything about it. We've reached out to them.

John.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh. Donie, I'll take it. I mean just the idea that not only do we have to worry about the Kremlin doctoring videos but our own, you know, elected officials is chilling.

So also tell us about what happened yesterday. What did Twitter do after President Trump retweeted that conspiracy theory about how the death toll of coronavirus is much lower than we all know?

O'SULLIVAN: Yes. Again, as I mentioned, a weekend really of misinformation online. The president of the United States retweeting an account called Mel-q (ph).

[06:40:01]

You may recognize -- you may have a guess and say that, yes, this is a QAnon county dangerous conspiracy theory that the FBI has warned about. President Trump, yesterday, retweeting an account, a QAnon accounts, that had false CDC information about the coronavirus. We've seen in recent weeks the president's failing, refusing to sort of disavow this movement and certainly followers, I think, of this dangerous conspiracy theory see the president retweeting something like this and they're very happy about it.

BERMAN: And, Donie, you follow FaceBook very, very closely. And it's interesting because Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO, is sort of, sort of making an apology over postings having to do with Kenosha. What's going on here? O'SULLIVAN: Yes, John, this really is the most important story here.

We've heard just earlier in this show, from Director Clapper, how Russia, China, and Iran and nation states are trying to interfere in the election. We know Russia did it in 2016, using social media.

Last week, when the developments were playing out in Kenosha, a group took to FaceBook, and self-style militia group, and advocated for people to take to the streets with arms. We obviously saw that a lot of that ended in violence last week. So this was an example where FaceBook was on notice. I mean they knew, as we all knew, that -- what was playing out in Kenosha. Yet even with that information, they were unable to find, on their own platform, a group advocating for people to take up arms in Kenosha. Far-right conspiracy websites actually wrote about the events being promoted on FaceBook. So far-right conspiracy sites were finding these posts before FaceBook were. Mark Zuckerberg came out on Friday, as FaceBook tends to do, they like to make these announcements or apologies late on a Friday, and here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK ZUCKERBERG, CEO, FACEBOOK: The contractors, the reviewers who the initial complaints were funneled to didn't -- basically didn't pick this up. And on second review, doing it more sensitively, the team that was -- that's responsible for dangerous organizations recognized that this violated the policies and we took it down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'SULLIVAN: So, I mean, you see there that he's blaming contractors, not full-time FaceBook employees. Contractors, of course, are a lot cheaper for FaceBook to employ.

But, I mean, look, we see this all the time. You know, FaceBook keeps missing these big things. They keep choking in the big moments. I mean they could have found this group, which was promoting violence in Kenosha, had they literally just typed into "Kenosha" into the search bar of FaceBook. The fact that they couldn't find this really doesn't, you know, inspire a lot of confidence in the company being able to find what Russia, and China and Iran and others might be doing to target what's happening here in the U.S.

John. Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Donie, thank you very much for continuing to cover this and alert us to the failings and exactly what's going on online. Thank you very much.

So tributes continue to pour in for actor Chadwick Boseman, who died Friday after a private four-year battle with colon cancer. He was only 43 years old. Last night, MTV Video Music Awards began by honoring him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We dedicate tonight's show to a man whose spirit touched so many. He's a true hero. Not just onscreen, but in everything he did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: The most celebrated role in Boseman's career was as Marvel's first black superhero in "Black Panther." Ryan Coogler, who directed the film, wrote a moving tribute to his star, saying in part, he lived a beautiful life and he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was.

Former President Obama said when he first met Boseman at the White House in 2016, you could tell right away he was blessed.

And one of Boseman's youngest fans, seven-year-old Keene Westbrook (ph), held a heartbreaking memorial in front of his Missouri home. Keene place his Black Panther toy on a shoebox wrapped in black silk. All of his Avengers action figures were in attendance.

BERMAN: Wakanda forever, that's the -- that's the symbol he's making there with his arms.

Look, Chadwick Boseman was a remarkable, remarkable man. And everything you hear about him, he made such an impact, not just on the screen, although he did play inspiring characters, from King Challa in "Black Panther," to Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, also James Brown. But off the screen as well, he taught theater in Harlem. You know, when he lived in Brooklyn, before he became a giant star, you know, he was always making sure to be part of the community. And you could sense the minute that people got the news, and they were so surprised.

CAMEROTA: Yes, because he worked while he was sick and people didn't know that.

[06:45:01]

BERMAN: Yes.

CAMEROTA: And he worked so well, you know, though he was sick. I mean, and his family said that he was going through chemo and he was strong through all of that, but nobody knew that.

BERMAN: Yes. Makes it even harder.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: The latest moves by Kim Jong-un raising questions about a potential power shift in North Korea and about the health of the reclusive leader.

CNN's Will Ripley has traveled to North Korea 19 times to report and he joins us now with more.

What have you learned, Will?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, we know that Kim Jong-un has not been out in public very much this year and there have been a lot of rumors swirling around about his health. Most recently it was that he was in a coma. That was a claim made by a South Korean lawmaker only for Kim to reemerge in state media just a couple of days later.

What we do know is that this leader, who has a reputation as a micromanager, is now delegating authority to his sister and other members in his circle. And that raises questions about why he's handing over some aspects of his control.

[06:50:06]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY (voice over): North Korea's propaganda machine portrays Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un as a modern man of the people. Like his father and grandfather before him, the third generation Kim rules with absolute power. Power protected by an oppressive military and police state, growing nuclear arsenal, and seven decades of pro-Kim propaganda.

The family formula kept the Kims firmly in power. Failure is not part of the Kim family brand. Except, this month, Kim did something almost unheard of, a shockingly rare admission that his plans failed. Kim's made big promises of a prosperous future. A future derailed by a dangerous triple threat.

DUYEON KIM, SENIOR ADVISOR, NORTHEAST ASIA AND NUCLEAR POLICY: Sanctions, plus coronavirus, plus mass flooding. So it would actually be foolish for him to deny any hardships when his people can plainly see that their country is struggling.

RIPLEY: Largely unseen, the leader himself, enough to fuel rumors ranging from Kim in a coma to hiding out from North Korea's allegedly non-existent coronavirus pandemic.

Kim's historic face-to-face meetings with President Trump catapulted the 30-something leader onto the world stage.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Got the letters also from Chairman Kim.

RIPLEY: All of those love letters failed to deliver results for either side. Diplomacy is all but dead until after the U.S. elections.

JOSEPH YUN, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: My thinking is that Kim Jong- un wants Trump to be re-elected. He has a personal relationship.

RIPLEY: A new president could also mean new North Korean provocations, like a long-rumored ICBM launch. Kim shocked many by handing over control of U.S. and South Korean affairs to his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong. The same younger sister who threatened and then delivered on a promise to blow up this liaison office in Kaesong, an unofficial symbol of Korean and U.S. diplomacy. Kim is also handing over control of other key issues to several top

deputies, sparking speculation of an internal scramble to fill a power vacuum amid rampant speculation about Kim's deteriorating health. Others say it's a signal, not of weakness, but newfound self- assurance.

YUN: I think you're seeing a leader who is comfortable, you know, delegating authority so that he's a degree of confidence.

RIPLEY: Confidence that also comes with far less global scrutiny. Pandemic restrictions have forced most foreign diplomats and aid workers to leave. Some say it may be for good. North Korea is facing its biggest crisis in decades in almost total isolation, with no way to know what's really happening beyond the propaganda.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY: So we wait to see what happens with North Korea leading up to the election in November. Now that Kim Yo-jong, his sister, who has a history of provocative behavior, is overseeing U.S. affairs, will they try to get the attention of the presidential candidates who haven't been talking about them a lot lately? And what exactly could that be? Experts have said that an ICBM launch is likely. The timing, though, still unclear, John.

BERMAN: It will be very interesting to see how President Trump reacts to that after this exchange of letters.

RIPLEY: Yes.

BERMAN: Will Ripley, thanks very much.

So two incredible moments from Jamal Murray. First, on the court, then off. The Denver Nuggets star brought to tears. "Bleacher Report" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:57:51]

BERMAN: What a powerful moment in the NBA playoffs. Star Jamal Murray from the Denver Nuggets, he paid tribute to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other victims of police brutality.

Andy Scholes with more in the "Bleacher Report."

Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John.

What a night for Jamal Murray. He came up huge for the Nuggets, scoring 50 points for the second time in three games to help force a game seven against the Jazz tomorrow night.

And you have to see what Murray was wearing for the game. He had custom made shoes with the faces of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor on them.

And after the big win, Murray, he was just overcome with emotion when speaking about the game and the continued fight for social justice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMAL MURRAY, DENVER NUGGETS GUARD: I just want to win. And in life you find things that hold value to you, things to fight for, and we found something worth fighting for as the NBA, as a collective unit. And I use these shoes as a symbol to me to keep fighting.

And, you know, it doesn't take one meeting. It takes a couple meetings, a few meetings, it takes phone calls, it takes resistance. It's not going to take one night. And we've been doing this kind of fight for 40 years. But these shoes give me life. Even though these people are gone, they give me life. They give me -- they help me find strength to keep fighting this world. That's what I'm going to keep doing.

SCHOLES: Yes, and after that interview on his way to the locker room, Murray just crouching down and crying there in the hallway. I'll tell you what, John, just an inspirational night for Murray both on and off the court.

BERMAN: Look, it is. And it's just a reminder how real this is for these players in the NBA, how deeply personal this struggle is. It may be that they know people that have dealt with these situations. It may be that they have themselves. This isn't abstract to them and it's just -- it's moving to see what it means to someone like Jamal Murray.

SCHOLES: Yes, certainly is, John.

CAMEROTA: All right, Andy, appreciate it.

NEW DAY continues right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman.

CAMEROTA: We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and all around the world. This is NEW DAY.

[07:00:00]

And as we begin a new week, 180,000 Americans have died from coronavirus. Three Americans have been killed in the protests.