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CNN NEWSROOM

Armed Black Teen Shot By White Officer In Missouri; What's Next After The Pope's Tumultuous Year; Tax Free Savings For Special Needs Families; Must-See Holiday Movie Releases

Aired December 24, 2014 - 16:30   ET

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


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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's just hope FedEx doesn't have any flat tires.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They've already talked with D.C. police.

JOSH LEVIN, WEST END CINEMA: We are not taking any extraordinary steps. We are anticipating a smooth day tomorrow.

BROWN: The movie is also now available online.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: It's an act of defiance by Sony because after all the hackers have said, if you do release this movie, we'll release more of your private, stolen information.

BROWN: A risk Sony is now willing to take as movie houses around the country get their Christmas delivery of the film just in time.

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BROWN: And the White House releasing a statement today saying as the president made clear on Friday, we do not live in a country where a foreign dictator can start imposing censorship here in the United States.

With today's announcements people can now make their own choices about the film and that's how it should be. So Dana, now you can watch the movie online today. It actually started a few hours ago. It's $6 to rent, $15 to own.

DANA BASH, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: What a Christmas eve sitting and watching the "The Interview," but I think people will do it just for the reason that you mentioned from the White House. Three cheers for free speech. Thank you very much, Pamela. Appreciate it.

And still ahead, we'll take you to the scene of a new police shooting. A white officer killing a black teenager in Missouri, it appears to be quite different from what happened in Ferguson. Do protesters agree?

And as Pope Francis celebrates Christmas mass, we'll get yet another eventful year for this pope and his attempts to address church controversies head-on. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Dana Bash. Another shooting by a white police officer leaves a black teenager dead, but this time officials say circumstances were decidedly different.

It happened late Tuesday night at a gas station in Berkeley, Missouri, just two miles from Ferguson where unarmed teen, Michael Brown was killed back in August.

Police say the officer was responding to a shoplifting report around 11:15 p.m. in the upper left hand corner of this grainy surveillance video, you can see the victim, Antonio Martin, pointing what police say was a loaded weapon at the responding officer.

The officer then opens fire, killing Martin. St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar briefed reporters earlier today.

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JON BELMAR, ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE CHIEF: The individual produced a pistol with his arm straight out pointing at the officer from across the hood of a police car. At that point, the officer produced his service weapon and fired what we think at this point is three shots.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now demonstrators quickly gathered at the scene hurling bricks and lit fireworks at police during violent clashes overnight. I want to go to CNN's George Howell who is live in Berkeley, Missouri -- George.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Dana, you know, you saw what happened overnight and you have to understand this being really the epicenter of the movement that we've seen here over the last several months, what happened here in Ferguson, the unrest back in august and then in New York, the protests and a case in Milwaukee, really this is the focal point and where it all started.

So when something like this happens people want to know the facts. They want to understand what happened and you know, tensions can get high as we saw last night, but the facts are starting to come out from what we see.

We're hearing the police account and we're also seeing video and the video tells a precise story from what we can tell so far. You mentioned that there's angle that has come out, the first angle where you see up in the corner of the screen and we've highlighted.

Where a person, two people are with a police officer, one of the people -- one of the men raises what looks to be a weapon. There is another angle that came out here within the last 30 or 40 minutes that doesn't show nearly as much.

If you can imagine, we see one angle coming from this way and this is the angle coming from the other way if you understand what I'm saying. It doesn't show very much, but in the very corner what looks to be Mr. Martin lunging forward. You can't tell much from that.

There is a third angle that has come out and we're still looking at that, Dana, that looks what could be the police officer falling back after presumably a firing his weapon, but falling back and then getting back up and running toward the street and then coming back.

So that -- we're waiting to get that video out toward you and it's sort of the process of getting all of the facts and getting as much information out and, you know, sharing that with people so that they can make up their own minds and see what happened here.

BASH: George Howell in Berkeley, Missouri, again, a very different circumstance and a very different community when it comes to local leaders and race and so forth. We'll have more on that later today. Thank you very much, George Howell.

Just ahead, Pope Francis as peacemaker and politician, where will he lead the Catholic Church in the year ahead?

And we're hearing a lot about "The Interview," but there are other big movies out this Christmas. A top film writer will reveal her list of must-see films.

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BASH: You are looking at live pictures from the Vatican where Pope Francis is celebrating Christmas mass at St. Peter's Basilica.

The service is the highlight of a very busy couple of weeks for the pope. Soon to come is his traditional Christmas day greetings and next week his new year's address to people around the world.

However, it is unlikely that tonight's sermon will raise as many eyebrows as earlier this week to cardinals and the members of the bureaucracy. In that address he quoted the pathology of power and quoting again, those who have a heart of stone.

That speech was only one of many ways Pope Francis tried to shake things up this year. We asked CNN Vatican correspondent, Delia Gallagher to recap the pope's 2014 and to look ahead to what promises to be an equally 2015.

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DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT ((voice-over): It was a banner year for Pope Francis. Change, the pope says, happens in small steps, but this year, Francis has made some pretty bold moves. He inserted himself into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a landmark trip to the Middle East.

Touching a wall that divides Israel and the Palestinian territories and bringing their leaders together for prayer back at the Vatican. He played peacemaker in a historic deal to open relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I want to thank his holiness, Pope Francis, whose moral example shows us the importance of pursuing the world as it should be.

GALLAGHER: Last year, he shook the church with a few simple words. Who am I to judge when asked about gay priests? This year he hosted a major church meeting called the "Zenith" to discuss a more welcoming stance toward gays and the divorced.

The pontiff is not afraid of friction. He thinks it's a sign of the kind of openness that can lead to making the right decisions. I would be worried and saddened, he said, if there weren't animated discussion.

Plan to see even more of the pope in 2015. Come September, Francis will visit the United States.

REVEREND THOMAS ROSICA, HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE: He's coming not to rally troops to become crusaders, but he's coming to encourage those who are in marriage and who feel from both sides I'm here to support you.

He's not coming to condemn those who have failed and to condemn those who are living in other unions or relationships that are not traditional marriage. He's coming to give people hope.

GALLAGHER: The highly anticipated trip could include stops in New York, Washington, and Mexico.

ROSICA: There is always the element of what I call the Franciscan surprise, and I think we have to be open to that. Many things are at play.

DALLAGHER: But his first scheduled trip of 2015 is to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in January, once again, showing his compassion for the poor, rather than the powerful.

So far Francis has proven in big ways and small to be pope of the unexpected. No doubt in the coming year, he'll continue to keep everyone on their toes. Delia Gallagher, CNN, Rome.

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BASH: And on this Christmas Eve, if you don't believe in miracle, I've got something that can give you faith. I found bipartisanship right here in Washington, even in a largely polarized Congress without a lot of fanfare.

They actually passed legislation before going home for the holidays that can make life easier for millions of Americans.

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BASH (voice-over): GOP Congresswoman Cathy McMorris-Rodgers will never forget the moment her doctor broke the news about her first baby.

REPRESENTATIVE CATHY MCMORRIS-RODGERS (R), WASHINGTON: He was diagnosed with down-syndrome three days after he was born and with that diagnosis comes a long list of potential complications.

BASH: And a warning.

RODGERS: They said, now, don't put any assets in his name.

BASH (on camera): Why did they say that to you?

RODGERS: In case, Cole, our son would ever have to qualify for some of these programs, they didn't want the assets to disqualify him.

BASH: To qualify for many government services, people with disabilities can only have $2,000 in assets and having a disability is expensive. Doctors, special schools and transportation, a financial strain for some 60 million disabled Americans and their families.

Before Congress left town, they created something new, tax-free savings accounts to pay for special needs for everything from autism to blindness.

REPRESENTATIVE PETE SESSIONS (R), TEXAS: My 21-year-old down-syndrome son, Alex Sessions, an eagle scout, a cool guy.

BASH: For Republican Pete Sessions, it's also personal.

SESSIONS: And he's learning how to do things, to be independent and this act will help him and tens of thousands more.

SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR (D), MINNESOTA: It allows parents, grandparents, friend, anyone or the person themselves to start putting money aside because you can think of no one that needs money more going into their future than a person with disabilities.

BASH: The issue created something rare, overwhelming bipartisanship because so many can relate. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar's daughter OK now, was born unable to swallow.

KLOBUCHAR: I was able to see life through the eyes of a parent with a child with disability.

BASH (on camera): What do you think your message, sitting together as a Democrat and Republican getting this done should mean?

KLOBUCHAR: I would say take heart.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are still people of goodwill that wants to work together to get things done and that's how we have to go into this New Year.

BASH (voice-over): The concept of these tax-free savings accounts came from everyday citizens like Steven Beck of Virginia who pushed hard for years to get it passed after dealing with the financial burden of raising his disabled daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bill passes.

BASH: Just a few days after watching the House finally approve the bill, Beck died suddenly of a heart attack and members of Congress moved to name this new law after him.

RODGERS: It is a tremendous example of a parent, a dad who had an idea as to how we could improve his daughter's lives and rallied the disabilities community, rallied Republicans, Democrats, House, Senate, and got it done and so you can make a difference.

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BASH: Before President Obama left the White House for a vacation in Hawaii, he took out his pen, signed the bill and made the Stephen Beck Able Act the law of the land.

Up next, Angelina Jolie, she worked behind the camera this time, and we'll share tips on which moves to see over the holidays.

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BASH: Those are some of the biggest new movies coming out this holiday weekend and the Hollywood awards season is right around the corner, if you can believe it. Look for moviemakers to show off their best work now. That's how it usually works.

But if you're heading to the movie theater tonight or tomorrow you probably want to know what's worth spending your money on and what's worth to skip.

Tatiana Siegel is the senior film writer at the "Hollywood Reporter." Thanks for joining us. Let's get to the movie that we're all are talking about "The Interview."

We're all talking about it as a patriotic movie because of the circumstances, but let's talk about the content. Will audiences like it? Are they going to laugh?

TATIANA SIEGEL, SENIOR FILM WRITER, "THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER": I think it's definitely aimed at the young male demographic and the frat boy. It definitely has become the must-see movie of the holiday frame.

I think that just because we've sort of been told you can't see this movie and now it will be available in 200 theaters. It's sort of something that everyone has to go see.

BASH: Angelina Jolie went behind the camera. She directed "Unbroken," but she was snubbed and the movie was at the Golden Globes when they put out their nominations. Do you recommend the movie?

SIEGEL: I think it's a great movie to see. It's very heart warming and it's a perfect holiday movie to see because this man, Lou Zamperini, his struggle was just an amazing, amazing journey.

This movie has been in the process of being made for almost I want to say 40 years. I think Tony Curtis was originally supposed to star in it. The fact that it's finally hitting the big screen and kudos to Angelina Jolie for finally getting it made makes it a must-see movie as well.

BASH: Let's do a little inside talk here. She was snubbed by the Golden Globes, but sometimes that might give her more of a chance with the Oscar nominations, right?

SIEGEL: Certainly, it does not rule the movie out from being one of the ten best picture nominees for the Oscars. I think the fact that she got snubbed by the Golden Globes had more to do with the fact that she was finishing up another movie and was distracted and couldn't necessarily campaign for the Golden Globe nomination.

Then it is quality but it's not the best-reviewed movie of the year so I don't think it's by any means a front-runner to win the Oscar, but I think it could get in there.

BASH: "Into The Woods," it's getting a lot of attention. The theatrics looked intense and kind of amazing. My favorite, Anna Kendrick is in it. It looks like a great family movie. You think so, too?

SIEGEL: It might be slightly scary, but I think families showed up for "Maleficent" which was also a little bit scary. I think it's the most family oriented movie to open this weekend. I think that it might not be totally appropriate for the little, little one, but I think it looks like a really fun movie for most of the family.

BASH: And we have time to review one more "Annie" this is an update of a classic that we've all seen on stage and film and this one has Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz. What's the buzz on this one?

SIEGEL: Well, the buzz is unfortunately the hackers that are behind "The Interview" scare also released this movie on the internet about three weeks prior to its opening, which is going to hurt it a little bit because some people have already seen it through piracy, unfortunately.

But I think families will definitely find something there for them. You know, it's a classic, but it's a very fresh one and it's something that's completely reinvented for the new millennium.

BASH: Who doesn't love little orphan, "Annie." Tatiana Siegel, thank you so much. Have a happy holiday.

And just ahead, all some folks want for Christmas is a drone. Well, aviation officials say that could be very dangerous for the rest of us.

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BASH: A giant panda is learning the hard way that life here in Washington does have its limits and everyone knows when you mess up. Yesterday, the cub, Baobao, touched a hot wire designed to keep her inside the panda compound at the National Zoo.

Her reaction, climb a tree where she feels safe. You know what? She's still up there. Look at the upper left part of the screen. That is panda cam and the zookeepers say the little panda will be fine and she will come down when she's ready. She was born at the National Zoo in August 2013.

Unless you've abandoned the internet altogether you've probably noticed that small commercial drones show up anywhere, even at weddings. Oops. Check this out, drones are now documenting the holidays in a new and beautiful way. This Christmas, many are hoping to find a drone waiting for them under the tree.

Rene Marsh joins me now to talk about these tiny flyers. Photographers are trying to use these. What are you hearing from your sources about whether or not this is safe?

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: You know, there is a top concern among safety regulators. It could crash into something or someone, in worst-case scenario could be injuries.

Most of the people flying these drones have zero aviation experience and so with so many of them flying off store shelves. Safety regulators are concerned it could mean more crashes into people, buildings or even passenger jets.

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MARSH (voice-over): Drones are in high demand this holiday. Industry analysts estimate companies like Amazon are selling 10,000 to 15,000 recreational drones every month.

PATRICK EGAN, DRONE INDUSTRY ANALYST: Now we're ramping up to Christmas. There's really no telling. It's just going to be a big drone Christmas. I think Christmas day there will be tons of drones out there flying around.

MARSH: The soaring sales are alarming federal regulators who fear more drones in the sky will mean more crashes. Watch as this drone slams into a building. Here's another where the pilot loses control.

EGAN: You have a lot of inexperienced people pulling them out of the boxes Christmas morning and flying them around and there will probably be some going down in different places.

ANNOUNCER: How do you make sure you stay off the naughty list?

MARSH: The FAA just released a video and web site as part of the safety campaign days before Christmas and there's reason for concern.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had a drone come within 50 feet of us.

MARSH: From July to November, there were more than two dozen reports of drones narrowly hitting commercial passenger planes.

EGAN: Put yourself in the position of where you would be if you were flying and think to yourself, is that safe?

MARSH: The rules are stay below 400 feet, away from airports and crowds and always keep the drone in your line of sight. After the gifts are unwrapped, the industry estimates tens of thousands of additional people will be flying drones, but with thousands already in the air, some are asking whether the safety campaign came soon enough.

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BASH: Rene Marsh, thank you very much. Have a happy and safe holiday. "ANTHONY BOURDAIN" starts right now.