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New Day

Griner in Russian Count Today; Survey on Vaccinating Kids; Murray's New Contract; Ethan Hawke is Interviewed about his New Documentary. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired July 26, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:00]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Avlon, thanks to both of you.

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: OK, guys.

KEILAR: So, Brittney Griner is back in court in Russia this morning. How the efforts to secure her release are going next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KEILAR: This morning, WNBA star Brittney Griner is returning to a Russian courtroom as a defense witness argued she likely used hash oil for medical purposes. Griner, who has pleaded guilty to drug charges, is set to be cross-examined tomorrow. And she is facing up to ten years in prison if she's convicted.

CNN's Kylie Atwood is live for us at the State Department with more.

Kylie, what can you tell us?

KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so what the defense did on Griner's behalf today in the courtroom was have a specialist come forth that was a narcologist. And what this person testified is that it was likely that Griner was using this cannabis oil that was in her bag for medical purposes and not for recreational purposes.

[06:35:09]

And this specialist talked about how there's frequent use of medical cannabis among athletes, particularly in the United States, because, of course, of the chronic pains that they face due to their injuries. And also said that it's incompatible with professional athletes to use a lot, to frequent use of the active component in cannabis because of the effects that it has on people. Of course, with the slowed reaction time and the like.

Now, in previous hearings, Brianna, we did see the defense bring former a letter from a doctor that was recommending that Griner use medical cannabis. That was part of their defense. And we have heard from Brittney Griner that she is guilty. She said that she did accidentally, of course, bring this cannabis oil into Russia. And we'll watch for more of this trial because we still don't yet have sentencing or a verdict.

Brianna.

KEILAR: All right, Kylie, thank you for the latest on that from the State Department.

This just in, a new survey is showing what parents of young children are now saying about getting their children vaccinated.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A Texas state trooper was at the scene of the Uvalde shooting five minutes earlier than previously known. What the new body camera video reveals.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:40:24]

BERMAN: This just in. A new survey shows what parents of younger children are now saying about getting their kids vaccinated.

With us now to talk about these numbers, CNN medical -- senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.

These numbers are pretty reveal. It's from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Elizabeth, what do they say?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: John, they really are. They show a real lack of enthusiasm for vaccinating young children, children ages six months to five years, against Covid-19. So let's take a look and let's -- it's actually gotten worse over time rather than better.

So, folks -- parents who say they will definitely not vaccinate their children in a July survey that the Kaiser Family Foundation did, 43 percent. If you go back to April, the definitely not crowd was only 27 percent. So there's more -- there's a - there's less and less enthusiasm for vaccinating very young children.

Now, let's take a look at how this works by party, because, as we know, vaccination has become so politicized. When you look at this definitely not crowd, Democratic-leaning folks, only 21 percent say that they will definitely not vaccinate their small children. For Republicans it's 64 percent. That is the huge, 64 percent of people who lean Republican say they definitely will not vaccinate their young child against Covid-19. And it's really unfortunate. This is a great opportunity to protect your child and they're not taking it.

KEILAR: Totally anecdotal. I was about a week into the process of getting my four-year-old vaccinated. And when we went, I found out he was the first person at the pharmacy of his age group to get the vaccine.

COHEN: Wow.

BERMAN: Wow.

KEILAR: I was floored by that.

But I just also wonder how this compares when you're looking at kids of other age groups, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Yes. So there's a distinct lack of enthusiasm for the younger children, but it's really not great for older children either. When you take a look at children five to 11, only 30 percent of them have been vaccinated. And it's been available to them for months now. And for older children, ages 12 to 17, it's been available for a very long time. And it's only a 60 percent vaccination rate.

So, vaccination rates for adults have gotten much, much better over time. These numbers are sort of lingering at some pretty low percentages.

BERMAN: Elizabeth Cohen, very revealing, thank you very much.

COHEN: Thanks.

BERMAN: Ahead, we are going to speak with Dr. Anthony Fauci to talk about all things Covid and monkeypox, also the latest on President Biden's Covid recovery.

As America's top general warns that China's military is getting more aggressive, we have new CNN reporting about allegations of Chinese influence at the Federal Reserve.

KEILAR: And a Georgia prosecutor is barred from investigating one of the so-called fake electors in Trump's plot to overturn the election results. The legal roadblock of her own making.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:47:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT": A chess robot grabbed and broke the finger of its seven-year-old opponent. The child apparently moved his piece too son and the robot grabbed his finger and squeezed it, causing a fracture.

You'll be glad to know the child is OK and the president of the Moscow Chess Federation, Sergey Lazarev, responded to the incident saying, the robot broke the child's finger. This is, of course, bad.

That is the most Russian response ever. In fact, this is what their condolence cards look like. Your husband is dead. This is, of course, bad.

TREVOR NOAH, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH": So that robot tried to kill that child and everyone just went back the next day like nothing happened? Also, who is programming a chess robot with enough strength to break a human hand? This is chess, on UFC. But this is how it starts, people. Siri stops listening to you. A

chess robot breaks a seven-year-old's finger. Next thing you know, your Roomba is sneaking up behind you with a knife. Prepare to die, humans. Prepare to die. Where are you, humans? Prepare to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: I'm 100 percent with Trevor Noah. I think we're underplaying this. If the chess robots are attacking us, what else matters? Seriously, if the robots are rising up, nothing else matters.

KEILAR: But, remember, we had an expert opinion on yesterday telling us that it was actually a case of unintelligence, artificial unintelligence, here with us.

You don't buy it? You're not buying it?

BERMAN: I think the robot needs to be put down. As far as we know, this robot is still out there.

KEILAR: I - no, I agree with that. The kid just went back to playing chess. That's what blows my mind.

BERMAN: Right. Well, he's patient 1 in the robot attack.

KEILAR: Oh.

All right, so Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray may have to start studying this playbook if he wants to keep this new contract.

Carolyn Manno has this morning's "Bleacher Report."

What's going on?

CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: My nephew is terrified of a Roomba. He might - he might know something that we don't.

BERMAN: Yes.

MANNO: I mean he's four or five. I think he's -

KEILAR: He knows.

MANNO: He thinks its catastrophic. Well, if the topic is intelligence, I'm really not sure how smart this next story is. This is a very bizarre move. This suggests very publicly that Arizona just re-signed a guy who doesn't like to do this homework. Kyler Murray inked a $230 million extension yesterday. He's (ph) been given Arizona through the 2028 season.

But the number making headlines is four. That is how many hours of mandatory study time is in wright for the elite quarterback. The NFL Network and ESPN reporting an independent study addendum in the contract written to make sure that the soon-to-be 25-year-old completes four hours of study each week on the team's next opponent. This is separate from the time that he spends in team meetings. It cannot include things in writing like video games or TV. Those would violate the terms of the new deal.

So, this is a two-time pro-bowler who has led the Cardinals to their first playoffs last season, now being told, hey, you've got to work from home. Nobody likes to work from home, right? But this is a very unusual move from Arizona to guarantee their investment. But embarrassing your quarterback publicly like this, questioning his work ethic, I'm not sure that that's the savviest move, if these concerns are valid.

BERMAN: I'd study -- I'd study extra for a couple hundred million dollars.

[06:50:01]

MANNO: If you're making more than $200 million, generational wealth, yes, at least four hours.

KEILAR: Make it worth his while.

All right, Carolyn, thank you so much.

There's a new CNN docuseries that is taking a look at the lives and the careers of Hollywood power couple Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. Director Ethan Hawke is going to join us to discuss the last movie stars.

BERMAN: And new CNN reporting, Chief Justice John Roberts went to great lengths to try to save Roe versus Wade. Also, an update on the investigation in on who leaked the opinion.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Legendary actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, a., they were awesome, b, they invoked the glamor of old Hollywood. Now, in the new CNN film, "The Last Movie Stars," streaming on HBO Max, director Ethan Hawke brings the Hollywood power couple's fascinating careers and complicated love story to life.

[06:55:15]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The glue that held Joanne and me together was that anything seemed possible. With all other people, some things were possible, but not everything. The promise of everything was there from the very beginning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Looks amazing. It sounds amazing.

Joining us now, Academy Award nominated actor and writer and the director of "The Last Movie Stars," Ethan Hawke.

Thanks so much for being with us this morning.

ETHAN HAWKE, DIRECTOR, "THE LAST MOVIE STARS": Hello. BERMAN: This looks so interesting and captivating and emotional. It all started because one of their children, one of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward's children came to you and asked you to make a documentary about their parents, right? Why did you say yes?

HAWKE: Well, I tried very hard to say no. I knew it would be a lot of work. I think I was a big fan of theirs. And when I first arrived in New York, they were kind of a beacon of light of what an American actor could be. And I've realized, in talking to their - to Claire Newman, that that light was missing in people's lives that that it might be a really wonderful moment to revisit them, you know? It's always a good time to have heroes.

KEILAR: Certainly a good time. And there's a heartwarming father/daughter moment in the film when you went to your daughter Maya for inspiration. Can you tell us a little bit about that moment and how it led you to an epiphany of putting the film together?

HAWKE: Well, you know, everybody - you know, we've all been living through the same thing for the last few years. And this was my pandemic project. So, I was stuck by myself trying to make sense out of this huge life. You know, this -- these two people had a 50-year love affair. All this work. All this stuff of life was in this documentary. And I was trying to make sense out of it. So, all the people closest to me, my children, my wife, they just never heard me shut up about it.

So, and I - then I realized in Zooming with my daughter that I had a - a discovery, which was this idea that in every relationship there isn't one person, and one person, there's this shared space that is the two people together. Joanne Woodward has this amazing quote that - when somebody asked her why their marriage made it. She said, well, there's his ego and there's my ego and there's our ego. And whenever we put our - you know, invest in our ego, things seem to work out for the best.

BERMAN: That is really neat.

KEILAR: That's interesting.

BERMAN: And it's really interesting to hear it in the context of two legendary performers like that where the ego, I would imagine, had to be pretty big, right?

HAWKE: Well, you know, we all suffer with the old ego demon. And so when society hero worship you like they would Paul and Joanne, it gets even harder, you know.

KEILAR: Yes.

BERMAN: So, you said this was your pandemic project, what, like a six- part documentary. We planted a garden. You know, I think yours may be slightly more impressive.

But I want to show people a little bit more of it so they can understand how you did this. So, let's watch a little -- another clip. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAWKE: One box of transcripts that I have.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you kidding? Are you -

HAWKE: Like, it's hundreds of thousands of pages. I'm trying to ask all my friends and -- to make these audios come alive. It's -- I'm trying to turn it into kind of like a play with voices.

A community looking back. And so that's what I'm doing here with you. And Sammy Rockwell is going read the director of "Cool Hand Luke." Laura Linney is going to do Joanne Woodward. Zoe Kazan is going to play Paul's first wife. Karen Allen is playing Joanne's stepmother. Josh Hamilton is going to read the director of "The Sting." Vincent D'Onofrio's going to John Huston. George Clooney agreed to read Paul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So, basically, you called in the super friends to help you with this documentary.

HAWKE: Right.

BERMAN: Explain how it works.

HAWKE: Well, luckily, you know, nobody was doing anything, so they had to pick up the phone, you know. And I also think that a lot of my friends and other artisans and craft people who work in the movie business, everybody's got some secret fascination with Paul and Joanne. They've got some story where they met them, or some moment that was important to them, some movie that meant something to them. And I think that the romantics in all of us also want to know how they did it, how they were able to share their lives with one another and have a lifelong love affair. So, I think we're all a little curious.

KEILAR: I want to ask you about you, since we have you here, because in a recent interview you said that you were at the beginning of your last act as an actor. What does that mean?

[07:00:00]

HAWKE: Well, don't worry, it's going to be a long act. It's going to be the best act.

I highly recommend you get your coffee. I'm not going anywhere. I didn't mean it like that.