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CNN NEWSROOM

Caitlyn Jenner Makes Stunning Debut On Cover Of "Vanity Fair"; A Scare In The Air; Boston Police Confirm Officers Have Shot And Killed Man They Say Was Armed; Secretary of State John Kerry in Surgery To Fix Broken Leg; Jeanne Moos Recalls Her Years At CNN. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired June 2, 2015 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:12] HARRY HOUCK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: And I've got a pension. And I've got a family. And I've got to worry about that. If politicians would give people the benefit of the doubt before they start jumping to conclusions, then you know, police officers might calm down a little bit.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Is it possible that other factors enter into this, too. We know that crime is cyclical. Sometimes it's high and sometimes it's not. The entire...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not like this.

COSTELLO: I know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not like this. And all this, and we can see countrywide you know, the police officers are being handcuffed and this is a result of that. We see all this rhetoric out there. You know, no more stop and frisk. Although we do still have stop and frisk in New York city. Now, what they got to do - we're down like 4,000 police officers in New York city since 9/11. All right. The police commissioner wants a thousand more police officers. De Blasio doesn't want to give. The city council does. We need more than that.

So what we would have to do is we have to take police officers out of the desk, put them out on the street, put them in these areas where the crime rates are through the roof. It's a temporary fix. Once that happens, they'll pull them out and mayor say, all right, we got the crime rate down but as soon as the cops leave, crime rate goes back up again.

COSTELLO: No, I'm just trying to - replace all of the liberal politicians, right, and that will solve the problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoever is in office that's handcuffing the police officers, all right, and you see it in most of these cities it's liberal, it's progressive politicians.

COSTELLO: But what about protesters out on the streets protesting? Don't they have something to do with it? Shouldn't their elected officials listen to them, too?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure, sure they should. What kind of neighborhood do you want to live in?

COSTELLO: There we have always enjoyable to talk to you. A debate I appreciate it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

COSTELLO: Stories we're following right now at the bottom of the hour, the senate is getting ready to vote any minute now on a new plan to restart the NSA data collections program with some modifications. This is a live look. After the vote senator Rand Paul, one of the most outspoken critics of the Patriot Act could speak once again from the senate floor. We'll keep you posted.

And nightfall is hampering search efforts for hundreds of missing people off the coast of central China. 458 passengers, mostly senior citizens were onboard when this ship sunk. Rescuers are tapping on the ship's hull hoping to find any survivors.

Still to come in the newsroom, shocking debut of Caitlyn Jenner. Some may call it not so shocking. Some may call it glamorous.

And you may not believe this. She needed spy-level security to keep this picture secret. We'll talk about that next.

[10:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A stunning debut by now most of you have seen this "Vanity Fair" cover. Caitlyn Jenner revealing herself to the world.

CAITLYN JENNER: The last few days of doing this shoot was about my life and who I am as a person. It's not about the fanfare. It's not about people cheering in the stadium. It's not about going down the Street and everybody giving you, "That a Boy, Bruce," a pat on the back. OK. This is about your life.

COSTELLO: True to the former Olympian's form, Jenner is breaking records becoming the fastest twitter account to reach two million followers in just four hours. As stunning as her debut, as perhaps the security measures "Vanity Fair" took to keep details hidden. A single computer was used to write the story and edit the pictures and that computer never connected to the Internet.

The assets were saved on a thumb drive each night and deleted from the computer. A hand deliverer would then get it to the printer. Let's talk about this and more. I'm joined by E! chief news correspondent Ken Baker and CNN video correspondent, Brian Stelter. Thanks to both of you for being here. I appreciate it. Can you guys hear me? I hope so.

BRIAN STELTER, SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: I've got you.

KEN BAKER, E! CHIEF NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I can hear you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Good. I'm just checking to see if gremlins were at work. So Ken, this is a remarkable moment, right? BAKER: I mean, really I think the overall reaction was that we saw an

instantly iconic "Vanity Fair" cover and a really profound Moment for a celebrity who has been in the public eye for most of his adult life who was living a lie and finally had the opportunity to come out and present herself as the person that she really is.

And I think that it was a profound moment and we saw not just you know, in the Twitter reaction but President Obama reacting to it. And it just had a level of pop culture awareness that we really haven't seen with a lot of stories in a long time. And certainly at the E! network where I work, there's going to be a docu series following Caitlyn's transition this summer.

And I think that this really did stoke a lot of interest in that series because people sort of who weren't following it very closely were sort of caught off guard. Like, whoa. That happened fast. But this has been at works for a very long time. And I know that from what I've been told that Caitlyn is very relieved that yesterday happened.

COSTELLO: Yes. Definitely. And you're right. She certainly did it her way, right? Brian Stelter, all of the secrecy that "Vanity Fair" went through to be true to like you know, be true to what Caitlyn Jenner wanted.

STELTER: Yes. The extraordinary measures the magazine took. But they worked. You know, how often do you see front pages of newspaper showing off another publication's cover. I mean, that almost never happens. And it goes to show this is such a special moment for "Vanity Fair" frankly but obviously the focus should be and has been on Caitlyn Jenner. You look at the two million Twitter followers, half a million on Facebook, she's on Instagram as well.

[10:40:00] She has all this social megaphones that she can and will use to speak and she's also using the media, using "Vanity Fair" to express what this means for her. What this moments means for her. Glad sad, this is accelerating acceptance of transgender individuals. I thought that was the best way to put it. It's accelerating, it's acceptance. That's already happening within the culture.

COSTELLO: It's interesting. So this docu drama, Ken, I'm sure that many, many people will watch it. How closely is Caitlyn Jenner connected to that producing-wise? Is she controlling everything that will happen on air?

BAKER: Well, Caitlyn has worked for years as previously Bruce Jenner with the production company Bunim Murray, so here's a level of comfort there with the producers and from what I'm told, you know, we're going to finding out more about it. But at the end of the day what this really is about is that Caitlyn Jenner is essentially, this is day two. And the public is probably going to take some time to get used to this.

I mean, certainly for a certain generation who remembers Bruce Jenner the Olympian, it's a lot more of a jarring transition. I think for younger people who knew Bruce Jenner just from keeping up the Kardashians to now embrace Caitlyn is probably a little bit easier. At least that's the feeling that I'm getting. But I mean, certainly, I mean, we have seen - this isn't - this is probably the biggest watershed moment I would say in pop culture for the transgender community in terms of the world of celebrity.

But you know, we've recently have seen with Laverne Cox from Orange is the new Black and some other high profile people. This has been sort of coming at us slowly. It's that kind of next wave for the LGBT movement. And Caitlyn had said that she wants to be a voice, wants to be an activist and an advocate for that community. So people in that community are very excited.

COSTELLO: I want to touch a bit on what you said about missing Bruce Jenner. Because I grew up in that generation. I remember the Olympics right where Bruce Jenner was. And there's a bit of sadness in me that I'll never see him again. And I've heard that from several people. So it's kind of an interesting reaction.

STELTER: You're touching on a generational difference here. People that did grow up with him and remember him on the Wheaties Box, do have more complicated feelings than younger people who we are seeing embrace him online with no reservations or no sadness about the past.

You know, generally speaking we see - I've seen a good amount of negative comments online. But I think it's been overshadowed and overwhelmed by all the positive comments online, all the positive reactions. You're right. There are so many emotions about this. And I think it's great that Caitlyn has been talking about that openly and talking about what that means.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. Thanks to both of you. I really appreciate it. Brian Stelter, Ken Baker, thanks so much. And by the way, you can catch Ken on E! News tonight at 7:00 and 11:00. Ken, thanks so much for being here. Brian, you too.

BAKER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: I'll be right back.

STELTER: Thank you, Carol.

[10:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A couple of breaking news stories to tell you about right now. First, is a scare in the air. Multiple bomb threats have been made against three commercial flights today. Let's bring in CNN Aviation Correspondent Rene Marsh to tell us more. Good morning.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. At this point, at least three commercial flights receiving these bomb threats this morning. The first one a United Airlines flight that landed in Chicago safely. We know that law enforcement met this plane. Passengers were deplaned. They checked the aircraft. They didn't find anything. Then another bomb threat called into a delta flight. Number 55 from Logos traveling to Atlanta. Same scenario. The plane landed safely. Authorities met the plane, they checked it. Passengers were deplaned. They didn't find anything.

And then U.S. Airways flight going into Philadelphia. It arrived from San Diego. Landed this morning. Same scenario. They checked this aircraft. They did not find anything. There are reports that there are other aircraft that received bomb threats this morning as well. We're working to confirm that. But at this point we can tell you at least three commercial flights receiving those threats. Of course, quite a scare if you're one of those passengers onboard and of course, this comes on the heels of just Memorial Day where we saw multiple flights bound for New York city receive bomb threats as well, Carol.

This is something that law enforcement, TSA, local law enforcement, they deal with this now. This has become a daily occurrence. Many of these situations they end up being not credible but they know that in this climate, in this day in age, they have to take each and every one of these threats very seriously and that's what we saw happen here today, Carol.

COSTELLO: But it also comes on the heels of the TSA administrator being reassigned because you know, it's just kind of scary right now, Rene.

MARSH: Right. I mean, just yesterday it's just embarrassing news for the TSA in which they did these undercover tests to test the system and they had a 95 percent failure rate. Undercover teams were able to get things like weapons and fake explosives through airport security checkpoints without TSA officers even realizing it. So that's very problematic.

It raises really red flags and just sounded the alarm for not only the Department of Homeland Security but people on Capitol Hill as well. Lawmakers already saying well, why do we spend millions and millions of dollars for equipment and training for TSA and they have such a high failure rate. So that's the topic of the conversation right now. Is TSA the best option.

[10:50:00] Also, we saw on the heels of that embarrassing news that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson they sent out a press release announcing that the acting administrator was effective immediately reassigned. So not a good day for TSA and then of course, law enforcement and TSA has to deal with these bomb threats to commercial airliners.

COSTELLO: Rene Marsh reporting live from Washington this morning, thank you. OK. The second breaking news story this morning. In Boston police now confirm that officers have shot and killed a man they say he was armed holding a knife and he refused to drop it. CNN's Deborah Feyerick is following the story.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And right now the information is very preliminary. We do know there's an active investigation that's going on right now. But what we do know is that a man apparently in his 20s was approached by members of the joint terrorism task force in the Rosendahl neighborhood of Boston.

It's unclear whether the man was under surveillance or whether in fact an arrest was about to take place. What we do know is that the man who has not yet been identified pulled out a knife and waved it at both an FBI agent and a Boston police officer. He was told to drop it multiple times. When he did not, it's not clear whether he lunged or what the circumstances of the shooting were but those two agents did open fire shooting the man.

He died of gunshot wounds at the hospital. Right now, the police commissioner has said that it's all under investigation. The FBI in Boston was also there this morning at the press conference. But the information very preliminary. And I asked a law enforcement official whether in fact, this has anything to do with ISIS or whether this has anything to do but an active terrorism investigation that was sort of culminating. I was given no details whatsoever.

COSTELLO: I'm sure you'll continue to dig.

FEYERICK: You bet.

COSTELLO: Deborah Feyerick, thanks so much. Coming up next in the "Newsroom," Secretary of State John Kerry is having surgery right now on that broken leg. The latest on his condition, next.

[10:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Secretary of State John Kerry is under the knife right now to fix that leg he broke over the weekend in a cycling accident. So, CNN's Elise Labott is live with outside Massachusetts General Hospital with more for you. Good morning.

ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. We understand Secretary Kerry started surgery a short time ago to set that broken leg. As you know his doctor Dennis Burke had flew over to meet him in Geneva and fly back and now he's doing that procedure.

Secretary Kerry started the morning by calling into the ISIS conference in Paris that he missed as a result of his bicycle accident. His deputy, Tony Blinkin and the envoy to the ISIS coalition John Allen sitting in for him. But we understand that Secretary Kerry did call in and made remarks to the group. You know, very adamant, Carol he wants to get back to work as soon as possible and calling in today I think he wanted to show everybody that he may be down but he's not out. Carol?

COSTELLO: Elise Labott reporting live from Boston this morning. Thank you. Checking some other top stories for you. After 56 minutes past an American being held by rebels in Yemen is now free. Freelance journalist Casey Combs arrived safely in Oman where he has met the U.S. ambassador and a counselor official last week two Obama official administrator met with Yemeni rebels to push for Holmes' release. The rebels are still holding at least three other Americans.

The U.S. navy is releasing new video of a Russian fighter jet flyby of the USS Russ in the black sea. The military says the video shows the aircraft and ship had a routine encounter which is far different than what Russia is reporting. Russian media says it forced the U.S. ship to head away from Russian waters. CNN just turned 35 years old and our Jeanne Moos has witnessed

practically all of those years. She's been here for 34 1/2 years covering both silly and serious stories. She takes a look back at some of the best and worst in her career.

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amid the hoopla of CNN celebrating 35 years of itself came this quiz question.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Richard Roth is the longest serving on air personality currently at CNN. Who is second? Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Larry King.

MOOS: Come on. Larry and his suspenders left CNN over four years ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jeanne Moos.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Correct.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at you.

MOOS: Look at you. Look at me. I'm the one who has been at the network for 34 1/2 years arriving at CNN for my first job in TV in Plattsburgh, New York. Like my friend here, those pigs would prove a prosthetic animals have been a highlight of my CNN years.

Have you committed adultery?

Some reporters pull out all of the stops. I pulled out short objects at the sword swallowers convention. I don't want to...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You didn't want to but you did a great job.

MOOS: In early the years of CNN people called us chicken noodle news. I split my time covering the silly and the serious. I have worn a lot of different hats. Mostly to keep my hair down.

The wind just blows it up.

One of my hairiest moments is when I mixed up an ex-president with the then current one. I got to pick a lot of my stories. Whimsical like ones like the life of a traffic cone how they give up theirs to protect ours and they spend their lives getting laid over and over.

What's the life span of a cone?

Over the years I probably have done thousands of MOS, man on the street interviews.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are the world's most famous street walker.

MOOS: While other reporters are out risking life and limb, I just risked limb.

Just kidding. Jeanne Moos still at CNN.

COSTELLO: And I hope she's here for a long time to come because she's pretty awesome. Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "At this Hour" Berman and Bolduan, starts now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN's Breaking News.