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Kerry Arrives in Ukraine; Daughter Sued Her Own Parents; Priscilla Presley Helps Terminally Ill Adults; "Chicagoland"

Aired March 4, 2014 - 08:30   ET

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


KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: What do you make of steps so far the U.S. is putting out there and putting John Kerry on the ground?

FAREED ZAKARIA, HOST, FAREED ZAKARIA GPS: I think that President Obama used exactly the right word which is to isolate Russia because the truth is the U.S. by itself can't do very much by itself.

BOLDUAN: Right.

ZAKARIA: This is really part of this new world that we've all been talking about where the United States is a very, very important player. And in some ways the crucial player but in other ways you need the European Union to come on board for any kind of generous aid package, you need the Europeans, particularly the Germans. For any kind of sanctions, the U.S. sanctions against Russia will be meaningless if they do not include the European.

BOLDUAN: Do you think European -- European countries, our allies, will eventually get on board with the sanctions that the U.S. really wants because there's clearly hesitation at this point?

ZAKARIA: No --

BOLDUAN: And they're needed.

ZAKARIA: No, they won't. They will not. It seems to me that we can try and get them to -- go as far as they're willing to go on condemnation, maybe suspension from the G-8, NATO consultations with Ukraine.

Here's the problem, Europe is heavily dependent on Russian natural gas. If Russian natural gas shut down, I don't know, I haven't studied this in detail, but I think you would have power blackouts in Europe. They're that dependent on Russia for electricity, for natural gas.

And so it's difficult to imagine that they would be willing to do the only kind of sanctions that would matter which are sanctions on Russia's natural resources, oil and gas. If they don't do that, the sanctions are essentially meaningless.

BOLDUAN: I want your take. It's a little counterintuitive to that conventional wisdom that clearly it seems that Russia has the upper hand because they're the source of such massive energy output to Europe. But I was reading in the "Wall Street Journal", they hesitate, that they also think that this could be a double-edged sword for Russia. Just as much Europe needs the energy, Russia needs the money.

Do you think that could work that way?

ZAKARIA: Absolutely. Look, in broader terms, again, if we step back, this is a disaster for Russia. Ukraine has slipped out of its orbit. They are now having to mount this -- military operations which have scared the Poles, scared the Czechs, all the countries on the border of Russia are now on edge.

Their relations with Europe have gotten worse. And even if sanctions won't cripple the Russian economy, they're clearly going to be negative. Whatever sanctions are agreed to --

BOLDUAN: And that's looking in the long term, though.

ZAKARIA: Yes.

BOLDUAN: What the problem is, is what to do in the short term to diffuse the situation?

ZAKARIA: Exactly. And I think that what we're doing right now is correct, which is isolate Russia, deter it from any further actions that is moving into other parts of Ukraine. And the next step, I think, will have to be some -- we've got to bring Russia into -- as part of the solution because --

BOLDUAN: Fareed, I'm going to cut you off.

ZAKARIA: Sure.

BOLDUAN: Because we have Matthew Chance on the ground in Kiev and Independence Square where Secretary Kerry has been touring right now -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kate, thanks very much. Well, you can see we're in Independence Square, as you just mentioned. There's a whole lot of media, a lot of other personnel here. A lot of American officials as well, including the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who's been expecting these barricades that have become memorials to the people that died during the protests to oust of Viktor Yanukovych.

He's just about to walk past this now and hoping we could get some words with him.

Mr. Kerry, you're live on CNN. What's your reaction to seeing these things?

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: It's very moving. Very, very, very moving, very distressing and inspiring.

CHANCE: Do you think that Ukrainians paid too high a sacrifice? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sorry, we don't have time today. Thank you.

CHANCE: All right. Well, there you have it, Kate. We managed to get a brief word there from the secretary of state as he moved there with his entourage. Into this motorcade. I asked him what his impressions after seeing what -- a very, you know, emotional scenes here with the tens of thousands of flowers that had been laid in memorial to the people who died during the process.

He said it was very, very moving indeed. And then of course his press attaches were pushing us away saying they don't have time to speak any longer. It off now to meet with men who serve the interim Ukrainian administration, to discuss concrete ways in which the United States and its allies can help this country regain its territory in the Crimea -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Matthew, fabulous work on the ground. Just trying to get some answers. Great work out there as always. Thank you so much.

Fareed, I just want to get your final take. Clearly this is a show of support being on the ground. He's says -- Secretary Kerry telling Matthew Chance it's moving, distressing, inspiring to be in Independence Square.

ZAKARIA: I think this kind of symbolic things matter a great deal. I think it gives courage and support to the Ukrainian people. The next step, as Matthew suggested, is going to be to figure out how to get Crimea back. And there, I think, you're going to you have to get the Russians involved. And frankly it's not a bad scenario.

We get the Russians involved, you get some kind of political solution -- some kind of autonomy for Crimea. But you cannot to get established as a principle of international relations that you can send men in ski masks and unarmed -- unmarked uniforms and that that's how you take over a territory.

BOLDUAN: Fareed, thank you so much for being here. It's always great to have your perspective. Thanks.

ZAKARIA: Pleasure.

BOLDUAN: Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Kate. And rarely is the media more valuable than in a situation like this. You need people on the ground. CNN has them. In all the cities and places where things are going on, as well as the need for perspective and we'll be bringing you the best voices we can find on this throughout the morning. So stick with us as the situation in Ukraine continues to develop.

We're going to take a quick break here on NEW DAY. When we come back, what a case. Or is it a case? A teenager is suing her own parents saying they must pay for her college education? Is it about the law? Is it a good law or just a spoiled brat? We'll tell you the story, you decide.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Hey, welcome back to NEW DAY. All right, here's the situation and then you judge it for yourself. OK?

Eighteen-year-old Rachel Canning is an honor student. She's a cheerleader, she's a lacrosse player. She's at a private New Jersey high school. She wants to become a biomedical engineer. That's all good, right? Well, she also wants a court to force her parents to pay for that school. And turns out she moved out a while ago when she says her parents kicked her out. They say no, no, no. She left because she doesn't like their rules.

All right. Now question becomes is this just family politics that we've all heard before or is it actually a legal case?

CNN Legal analyst Sunny Hostin is here.

I laid out the facts pretty objectively there. That's what it is.

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes.

CUOMO: They say she looked for some kind of emancipation, not officially but that she left, which is her right at her age.

HOSTIN: Right.

CUOMO: She says no, they kicked me out, they must pay. What's the law?

HOSTIN: You know, the law is -- if she is truly emancipated, meaning she's outside of her parent's spear of influence, and she has independent status, they don't have to pay for her. But if she is non-emancipated, meaning she's still basically legally a kid, then they do have to provide for her.

New Jersey, in fact, is only one of four states that provide a parent in a situation of a divorce would have to pay for college. So that's really --

CUOMO: Wait, hold on. You're moving too fast for me. First, is she emancipated?

HOSTIN: I don't think so.

CUOMO: OK, so --

HOSTIN: I don't think so. But the argument can be made that, you know, she's living with her best friend's family now --

CUOMO: But it's an official process. Emancipation is an official process.

HOSTIN: That's right. And I think that's what --

CUOMO: Do you want to play by these rules? She's got to play by the rules. HOSTIN: That's right. And I think that's why she brought this court case because now the judge has to make that fast determination, is she really living on her own? Is she really independent? Does she not have to follow her parent's rules?

CUOMO: All right. So I'll give you that. Even though there's an official process for emancipation.

HOSTIN: Right.

CUOMO: And she -- seems to have apparently not followed that process. Let's say the judge says OK, she's emancipation. Now we get to the word provide.

HOSTIN: Right.

CUOMO: And in a divorce case you said, in New Jersey, one of few states who'd say, you'd have to pay, this isn't a divorce case.

HOSTIN: That's right. It's not a child support case. And so I think that's why legal, you know, nerds like myself are thinking this is really unusual, Chris. I've never seen -- I'm admitted in New Jersey. I have never seen this kind of case in New Jersey. And so I think this is really precedent setting.

But if I take my legal hat off and I put my mommy hat on, I think, how dare you, Miss 18-year-old?

CUOMO: Well, you're a very tough mom.

HOSTIN: I am a tough mom.

CUOMO: You're a tough mom.

HOSTIN: But, you know what, you're my kid, you follow my rules. You want me to pay for private school, you want me to pay for college, then I get to call the shots. I get to give you a curfew. I -- which is what her parents are saying, and her father, by the way, is a former police chief.

So he's saying you've got to listen to my rules. You've got to come in at 1:30 in the morning, which I think is a pretty good curfew, you have to follow my rules, you have to clean up, you can't borrow stuff from your sisters without giving things back.

Those are all normal parenting requests which apparently she doesn't want to follow.

CUOMO: But also, just a reflection of just an overindulgent perspective that might be generational. There is no -- I'll answer my own question. There is no legally defined right to private school.

HOSTIN: That's the thing. I'm thinking, what you want them, Miss 18- year-old, which --

CUOMO: What lawyer brings this case? HOSTIN: It's apparently her best friend's father is a lawyer. And -- and she's living with this family. And I also find fault with that. They are funding this legal battle. I think they need to stay out of it. Right?

CUOMO: Conflict of interests.

HOSTIN: I think they need to stay out of it. I mean, this is really a family matter. And I think when you have children you get to determine the rules. If she wants to go to public school, which is her right, her parents don't have to pay for that. And so I think the judge is really going to be in a difficult position. I -- I'm glad --

CUOMO: But how did it even get to there? It's civil so it's different than it is in a criminal in terms of initial sufficiency, what you need to bring in the case.

HOSTIN: That's right.

CUOMO: But why wasn't this thrown out?

HOSTIN: Well, you know, I don't -- I think it passes the legal smell test. I mean, she's saying there's a fact determination. She's saying they kicked me out, they abandoned me. And they're saying you no, no, no, you left.

CUOMO: But even if they did. Let's say -- let's assume all the facts in her favor which is what the law teaches us to do for summary judgment.

HOSTIN: Sure.

CUOMO: To kick out a case before you try it. So OK, I kicked you out. I'm a bad parent. I'm a bad parent, I don't want to take care of you. I'm neglectful of you. Not -- no way that triggers any kind of abuse but I don't want to pay for your school. I'm lazy, I want to buy a new set of golf clubs. So what is your legal remedy?

HOSTIN: Well, I think your legal -- you know, kids do have rights. What's in the best interest of this child? And parents --

CUOMO: By the school? I've never heard of that.

HOSTIN: Parents have a responsibility. And in New Jersey again, there's this little bit of precedent that says --

CUOMO: You don't find me a case where someone got forced to pay for private school in a situation.

HOSTIN: Isn't it interesting? But if that's what -- where she was, right? They put her in private school. And now all of a sudden then she's not listening to the rules. They're saying no more private school, no more car.

CUOMO: Life changes.

HOSTIN: No nothing.

CUOMO: Let's say, they don't like her grades so they pull her out. Is that something you can sue for?

HOSTIN: Chris, you and I are talking the same language because I'm thinking --

CUOMO: Well, I'm worried about this happening to me.

HOSTIN: I'm thinking --

CUOMO: I've got savvy kids.

(LAUGHTER)

HOSTIN: I'm thinking, hey, you know.

CUOMO: And I'm looking to get out of paying for private school so I'm trying to see if there's a loophole for me in this.

HOSTIN: I really think that she is going to be unsuccessful in this.

CUOMO: Right.

HOSTIN: Because I think it is precedent setting. But it is interesting. I think it's a commentary on this particular generation.

CUOMO: Yes.

HOSTIN: They feel that they deserve this kind of thing. And, you know, folks from our generation are thinking, good luck.

CUOMO: That's right. I think it's a little different.

HOSTIN: Good luck to you.

CUOMO: The school of hard knocks may need to be back in session. But there's going to be a message here and look, ultimately, what a horrible situation for the family to be in.

HOSTIN: Well --

CUOMO: That they're at a place where this kid feels like this is the only way to deal with her own parents.

HOSTIN: Yes. And I think what was interesting was yesterday her father released this message to his neighbors, to the community on Facebook saying, we are a normal family.

CUOMO: Yes.

HOSTIN: And we are heartbroken over this. But this is the situation that we are in. And he also took, you know, some pokes at the family that is behind this legal suit saying, you know, come on. You've got to stay out of it. And I agree with that position.

CUOMO: Sunny Hostin --

HOSTIN: But I'm kind of a tough mom.

CUOMO: You are -- you're tough in general.

HOSTIN: I am.

CUOMO: You're tough in general. Well, you do cross fit, right, Sunny?

(LAUGHTER)

Thanks for being here.

All right. Now I want to turn from a situation that shows that the world is going the wrong way to a situation that shows the world is going the right way.

"Impact Your World," Priscilla Presley is helping to make dreams come true for terminally ill adults. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRISCILLA PRESLEY, DREAM FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR: Hi Reba.

REBA ROBERTS, TERMINALLY ILL PATIENT: Hey.

CUOMO: Elvis fan, Reba Roberts was so thrilled when Priscilla Presley came to visit her Santa Barbara hospice facility, she broke into song.

Presley is a Dream Foundation ambassador. The charity grants wishes to adults with terminal illnesses.

PRESLEY: The requests you would think would be crazy things, but they're not. They're simple. They're about getting back with your family, having a reunion.

CUOMO: Like seeing your sister for the first time in four years. That was Roberts' wish.

ROBERTS: We just hugged and hugged and hugged.

PRESLEY: Really when you stop and think of it that you offer comfort, a closure to not just the recipients but to the family members, what they go through -- to try to grant that last wish when they really can't.

CUOMO: According to the Dream Foundation, around 20,000 wishes have been fulfilled in the past two decades.

PRESLEY: As sensitive a journey that this is, to see the smiles and the appreciation and the love, it's really unmatched that you're doing something and able to help others. The impact is immeasurable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: She says it. The impact is immeasurable. Cnn.com/impact.

Let's take another break. Coming up next on NEW DAY an illuminating look at one of America's biggest and in some ways most troubled cities and how people are trying to turn it around. A preview of CNN's new original series "CHICAGOLAND" -- you won't want to miss it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Welcome back to NEW DAY. The new CNN original series "CHICAGOLAND" takes a look into the lives of several people as they try to bring about change in the city.

One of those people is Liz Dozier, a high school principal. Watch as she talks to a student about shooting at their school.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIZ DOZIER, HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: You all know what happened?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

DOZIER: How many shots were fired.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like three.

DOZIER: You don't know what direction they were shooting in?

He was like no. I don't know what's going on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amnesia.

DOZIER: Right.

Were they from a car or are they just walking by?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just people just like walking I believe.

DOZIER: They started shooting?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One person. Yes.

DOZIER: It's hell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Unbelievable but a real life scenario. Joining me now to talk about this, Marc Levin the creator of "CHICAGOLAND". Marc thanks so much for taking the time.

MARC LEVIN, CREATOR, "CHICAGOLAND": Thank you for having me.

BOLDUAN: This is getting a lot of attention, this series. Why did you take on Chicago?

LEVIN: Well, you want to know where America is going, you usually stop in Chicago. Chicago is the quintessential American city. It's really shaped the American experience for much of the 20th century. And all the issues that we're dealing with in this city and in every city around the country whether it's the future of public education, public safety, public employees, how we run our city governments, all those issues are in play in Chicago in a very, very dramatic way with a dramatic cast of characters.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. I want to get to those cast of characters. But you also take a unique approach in filming this. This isn't a traditional documentary. You sit down, you have a couple of hours, you watch one documentary. This is broken into a series. Why do you think that this approach is so effective here?

LEVIN: In following these characters like Liz Dozier, the principal you just mentioned, you want to tune in next week. You want to see what happens. We follow them through a whole season arc as you would in a scripted series. The difference is this isn't scripted. This is real. We sometimes joke. We want to put the "real" back in reality.

But it's structured and edited and stylized in a way that a viewer doesn't think about, you know, I'm watching news or I'm watching something that is good for me. It's more like wow, this is exciting. This is amazing. I didn't expect this twist or this turn or this to happen in the school.

BOLDUAN: You're taking on and you're talking about very big themes in this series. You're talking about school, public education, guns, gangs -- this isn't just something you made up. This is what's happening in Chicago. Kids are killing kids on a daily basis in Chicago.

The big question of course is, do you see or do you find solutions?

LEVIN: Well, I would say most of the characters we follow from city hall from the mayor right on down to school principal or even a community organizer or an ex-gang banger, all these characters are trying to make a difference. That's kind of the unifying theme of the series. That they're leaders, they're agents of change, they're trying to make things happen.

And in Chicago, the murder rate has, over there time we were there, has decreased markedly. It's the lowest I think homicide since something like 1967. So they are making progress and that's part of the story.

BOLDUAN: What surprised you then during filming? Did anything surprise you?

LEVIN: What surprises you? Well, when you're standing outside of a high school -- and that high school seems orderly, well-behaved now -- it's come a long way. But you're standing outside on the corner and all of a sudden hear gunshots down the street and nobody seems to flinches or act as if anything unusual is happening.

BOLDUAN: It's everyday.

LEVIN: But I would say the most positive thing is look, I've been to Chicago many times, worked there many times. In the summer, Chicago is one of the most beautiful, spectacular cities in the world.

I mean we have the image now, you know. Yesterday the mayor and Jimmy Fallon jumped in Lake Michigan.

BOLDUAN: They did the polar plunge.

LEVIN: Right. And we have that image of the cold frigid Windy City, but it is a spectacular beautiful city with so much happening outside. So that's one of the great things. And also so much of what we know as American, whether it's the blues, gospel, house music, now this new music acid rap. So much has come out of Chicago.

BOLDUAN: Thank you very much Marc. The big premiere is this week. This new CNN original series, "CHICAGOLAND" airs this Thursday night at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 Central only on CNN -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right. Coming up on "The Good Stuff", a man who gave the gift of life gets a gift for himself -- an inspiring story of not just paying it forward but paying it back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: I like when they play us "Imagined Dragons" and it's perfect for "The Good Stuff". Here's today's edition.

Paying it forward and then paying it back. Let me explain. Minnesota cop, Carlos Baires Escobar spent two years waiting for a kidney, situation was desperate. So he took to social media and his prayers were answered in the form of 20-year-old Sebastian Rivera. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLOS BAIRES ESCOBAR, POLICE OFFICER: Without any reservations he just decided to help somebody who he didn't know before.

SEBASTIAN RIVERA, DONATED KIDNEY: I don't regret it at all. Helping someone out just because should be a normal thing you know?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Normal thing -- he gave him a kidney.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: Oh wow.

CUOMO: Unfortunately, Sebastian had to go through something other than just losing an organ. Shortly before he donated, crashed in the awful Minnesota weather and then with his recovery came an inability to work to pay to get the car fixed.

So that's when the man carrying his other kidney decided it was time to step up for Sebastian.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RIVERA: No, it's no good at all. ESCOBAR: So, I decided, you know, we should do something about that and just give him something back for something that I could never pay for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: So what did he do? Carlos is now using the fund that was set up to get his kidney instead to get Sebastian a new car. Isn't that nice? Isn't it inspiring? Wouldn't you like to help? Of course you would. You can donate at any U.S. bank branch to their, quote, "Help a Hero" fund. Gave him a kidney, found out he was in need, stepped up to get him a car.

CUOMO: That's not just stepping up. As you said.

BERMAN: Amazing story.

BOLDUAN: Oh my goodness.

CUOMO: Very nice.

OK. So there's a lot of news this morning. We leave you with "The Good Stuff". But we deliver you over to a good man -- "THE NEWSROOM" with Jake Tapper".

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Good morning and thanks for joining me for this special edition of "CNN NEWSROOM". I'm Jake Tapper, in for Carol Costello.

We begin this hour with Russia's invasion of neighboring Crimea.