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Migrants Welcome in Munich; Dangerous, Difficult Journey for Migrants; Pope Francis Calls on European Catholic Institutions to Shelter Migrants; Oil-Rich Arabian Gulf Countries Offer Little Help to Migrants; Russia Increasing Military Presence in Syria; Report Refutes Conclusion in Disappearance of 43 Mexican Students Last Year; Carly Fiorina Says Migrants a Terrorist Risk, Blames Obama for Crisis; Polls Show Shake Up in Democratic Race for President; Palin: When Here, Let's "Speak American"; Muslim Flight Attended Suspended Refusing to Serve Alcohol; Interview with Actor John Barrowman. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired September 7, 2015 - 02:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:30] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Thousands offered the chance of a better life but millions still displaced in the Middle East and elsewhere. After this weekend's small victory for some migrants, we will examine where the crisis goes from here.

Plus, polling problems for long-time front runner, and hope for Bernie Sanders that Hillary Clinton has peaked too soon.

And a familiar face from the adventurous side of television joins me in the studio.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

JOHN BARROWMAN, ACTOR: See. They're going to watch you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: "Dr. Who" and "Arrow" star, John Barrowman, talks about his on and off-screen heroics.

Welcome to our viewers here in the U.S. and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN NEWSROOM.

Germany and Austria are dealing with the largest refugee crisis to hit Europe since World War II. Over the past two days, some 12,000 migrants have made their way to Germany. They were greeted with food, clothing and moral support, but the leaders of Germany and Austria are warning that this level of assistance is just not sustainable and, at some point, aid will be scaled back.

For so many migrants, the trek to Germany has been long, arduous and uncertain. They have carried their children, their baggage and their hopes across unfamiliar countries where most don't speak their language. Senior international correspondent, Atika Shubert, shows us the warm

welcome they are receiving in Munich.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(APPLAUSE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From morning until night, they keep arriving in Munich, treated like heroes by local residents.

For this Syrian woman, it's an emotional welcome after a harrowing journey.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my god. Oh, my god.

SHUBERT (on camera): So this is the process for refugees arriving here in Munich. Those initially arriving go to register with their I.D.s and are fingerprinted inside the train station and they line up here to board buses. While they are waiting, we are seeing volunteers coming by. There are about 150 volunteers here. Often they have the different languages they speak written on their vest, Arabic, Urdu. We have seen people coming by with food, snacks and water, and there's two medical tents here. Anyone needing medical attention or health concerns can be brought here to see doctors and nurses.

The process is, once they're on the buses, they are brought to temporary shelters. This could be anything from university dorms to unused housing that needs to be filled up or also container villages. They will then be found more permanent housing in the country.

The question is, how sustainable is this? Already we have seen several thousand people arriving here every day. And Germany has made clear that all of this is a temporary solution. The question is, how quickly can they come up with a joint asylum policy to deal with the thousands of people arriving here every day?

Atika Shubert, CNN, Munich.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And it has been a long and difficult journey for thousands of people seeking asylum in Western Europe. Many had to first get to Turkey and Greece after fleeing their homelands in the Middle East. But even after they reach the Balkans from Greece, their hardships were hardly over.

Our Arwa Damon has been with the migrants along each arduous part of the trek and she brings us this reporter as a notebook.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Greece/Macedonia border, four days spent under the rain after the Macedonians shut it down.

(SHOUTING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're dying.

DAMON: The children's clothes did not even have enough time to dry before the showers started again. And no one, not a single non- profit, not the government, to even provide something as simple as a tarp.

A pregnant Syrian woman, who did not want to be interviewed, grabbed my arm in the crowd. Eyes welling up, she plead, "Please do something, I don't want to lose my baby."

Hours after we met, the Macedonian police started letting people through, some so desperate they threw themselves across, others making a run for it.

(SHOUTING)

[02:05:08] DAMON: A mother lost her son. She, frantic, begging the police to let her through. It just didn't make sense. How could they be treated like this?

(SHOUTING)

DAMON: Brief flashes of relief, trains departing, carrying them through Macedonia, small faces pressed up against the glass, hands waving.

But the respite short lived. The further into Europe they moved, the worse their treatment became. Often traveling overnight on foot, train tracks lead the flow of humanity from Serbia into Hungary.

Here the real nightmare for most begins. Parched, they arrive. But there is no water. Just hours of waiting under the beating sun where buses finally arrive to take them to the transit camp where all say the conditions are inhumane and they are treated like animals, herded around like sheep and forced to scramble for food and water. And we are not allowed in.

At the Budapest train station, after waiting for days if not over a week, sleeping on cement, a moment of slight hope as a packed train departs. Also short lived.

An hour into what should have been a journey into the Hungary/Austria border, it stops. Whatever hope they had, shattered.

A little girl inconsolable. Her mother unable to speak. All they want to do is get out of Hungary.

Police order refugees off and into a camp, but they refuse.

(SHOUTING)

DAMON: Bedding down for the night up in the overhead compartments, parents trying to make their children as comfortable as they can, still struggling to believe that, in Europe, they are finding themselves reduced to this. It is heart breaking to witness.

(SHOUTING)

DAMON: Thousands take matters into their own hands and start walking from Budapest to the Austrian border, no longer willing to exist at the mercy of European leaders. We are in awe of their resolve.

Here they see the compassion of some of the Hungarian people, ashamed of their government's treatment of the refugees, handing out food and water and more.

(on camera): He was on his crutches the entire way, but then again, someone stopped and actually gave them a child's stroller. The injuries from a barrel bomb.

(voice-over): The men have children living under ISIS in Syria. Getting to Germany means a chance of bringing and saving them.

Almost all of these people have fled the war zones of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, homelands that no longer offer a future for them or their children. The world yet unable to resolve those wars. The people suffering the consequences deserve better than this.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Hungary.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

And the pope is calling on Catholic institutions throughout Europe to offer shelter to the thousands of refugees flooding in. Pope Francis urged other religious communities to do the same during an address in St. Peter's Square Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS (through translation) Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees who are fleeing death from war and from hunger and who are on the road in the hope of a better life, the Gospel calls us to give them real hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: As our Delia Gallagher reports, the Vatican is leading the way.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Pope Francis says the Vatican will welcome one refugee family in each of its two parishes. I spoke to the papal spokesman, Father Lombardy, earlier who said those families may not stay in the Vatican but could be hosted by families that attend mass at the Vatican parish churches.

There are some 120,000 parishes across Europe according to the Center for Applied Research and the Apostolate at Georgetown University, and that's not including convents, monasteries and religious institutions that the pope has called upon. And some European churches have begun to welcome migrants. In Milan, for example, there are 900 places available for refugee families. In Vienna, the archbishop announced there would 1,000 places would be made available for refugees.

The Vatican says there is no specific plan for implementation but it is their hope that Catholic institutions across Europe will heed the pope's call.

Delia Gallagher, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And the oil-rich countries on the Arabian Gulf have offered very little in the way of refuge for the migrants despite their close proximity to Syria and Iraq.

As Becky Anderson reports, many in the international community are demanding to know why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:10:15] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Exhausted and drained, but determined to make it, most are marching towards Germany where they are being welcomed with open arms. The majority are Syrian, and have traveled thousands of miles in search of a better life, often paying the ultimate price.

And now, questions being raised about why these people fleeing war couldn't find suitable refuge closer to home, namely in rich Arab Gulf countries that could afford to house them.

The uproar has gained momentum on social media. Images like these were widely circulated, calling on leaders to do more.

And the U.N. has voiced its concerns.

ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: And that is why we have been asking, not only the borders of the region are opened but all of the borders, special in the developed world are also open and this is true in Europe and in the gulf and everywhere where countries have the capacity to receive some Syrians and to integrate them into their societies.

ANDERSON: There more than four million Syrian refugees in the region. But according to Amnesty International, six gulf countries haven't offered any resettlement locations to the refugees. They have been giving money, though, and lots of it. Since the war broke out, Kuwait alone has donated almost $1 billion for the U.N. to help Syrians, making it the fifth-largest donor worldwide.

ABDULKHALEQ ABDULLA, RETIRED PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF UAE: There is a lot they have done that is not recognized by the international community. I don't think anybody, any country, any state has helped the Syrian refugees more so than the Arab Gulf states.

ANDERSON: But the Gulf States don't recognize the refugees as they are not signatories to the 1951 refugee convention.

So anyone who wants to enter has to meet standard visa requirements, which tens of thousands of Syrians do, and there are security concerns about hosting large populations from Arab states.

ABDULLA: Having the refugees feeds into ISIS appeal and violence in the region, which is already the most violent region on earth. All in all, anything that goes in the neighborhood impacts the security and the stability of the Arab Gulf States, who are by far the most stable and most secure of all Arab countries.

ANDERSON (voice-over): We have spoke to officials here in the UAE who say they have given almost half a billion dollars, citing their efforts to help Syrians in Jordan and Iraq, as examples.

For the moment, it seems the money will continue but the doors are staying closed.

Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: With all the hardships the migrants have endured, the weather has been one more burden for many.

Meteorologist Allison Chinchar joins us now with more on that.

Allison, as if these people have not had enough to deal with.

ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right. The good news is, in the short term, they may give a reprieve, but the long term, no, we are not looking at the weather to cooperate at all with any of these folks trying to migrate.

This is a look at Hungary where you can see they have a lot of people just coating in the rain with their umbrellas and rain gear trying to make it across without getting completely soaked. And another story is the heat. It's oppressive in certain parts of Europe pretty much all summer and trying to make sure they stay hydrated and cool on those hot days. We will get some reprieve from the rain in the short term. So areas like Budapest also into Germany. We will remain dry for most areas for at least the next 48 hours. But again in addition to that, we do see the return of some showers and thunderstorms especially by late weeks. Munich Wednesday and Thursday back up with the showers and thunderstorms and the heat not getting much relief back down to 22 degrees for high. Budapest dealing with showers and thunderstorms by the end of the week.

Now here is a look at the long term. Over the summer, we tend to have the dry, warm conditions. But as the jet stream begins to shift downward, we see the more storm systems approaching as we approach the winter time and much colder temperatures as well. Rosemary, unfortunately, as we head into winter, we're going to see more and more storm systems come in and the areas they really target are the areas where the migrants are being held up. Again, that's not good. If they can't make progress there, they are going to have to encounter a lot of difficult weather problems.

CHURCH: That is not good. Let's hope some progress can be made at least. And people can be found homes. We are seeing the Catholic community and Germany step up. We'll see what happens. We'll keep an eye on it.

(CROSSTALK)

[02:15:12] CHURCH: Thanks so much. We appreciate.

Desperation gives way to hope. Ahead, we will meet migrants who are waiting to begin the last leg of their journey. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHINCHAR: This is CNN Weather Watch. I'm Meteorologist Allison Chinchar.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. As we have seen in the unfolding migrant crisis in Europe, many Syrians are desperate to escape the civil war in their homeland. Well now reports suggest Russia is increasing its military footprint there. The U.S. is warning the Kremlin, if that is true, it could make the misery worse.

Senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, has more from Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:19:48] MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The fact that this has been raised with the U.S. secretary of state with the foreign minister gives the unconfirmed reports a degree of credibility. What we are talking is a report on an Israeli website last week quoting unnamed Western diplomats saying that a Russian expeditionary force has already arrived in Syria to prepare for the deploy of what it called a Russian aerial contingent of aircraft and attack helicopters to strike against ISIS targets in Syria. Also, citing "The New York Times" and other U.S. media are reporting that pre-fabricated housing units have been observed at a Syrian air base along with a portable air traffic control center.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made his concerns known to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. According to a State Department statement, Kerry warned that, "if the reports are accurate, it could further escalate the conflict and lead to a greater loss of innocent lives and increase refugee flows and risk confrontation with anti-ISIL coalition members operating in Syria." ISIL, of course, another acronym for Islamic State.

Now for its part, Russia denies it is getting more involved in Syria. "One should not believe these reports," said a Kremlin spokesman last week. On Friday, Vladimir Putin said it would be too early to speak about the military operations against Islamic State. "It is not yet on our agenda," he said.

But Russia is a key ally of Syria. It maintains a key naval base at Tartus, Russia's only Mediterranean port. The Kremlin is also deeply concerned about the future of Syria. Concerned that if President Assad falls, its influence in the Middle East would also suffer. So it's not beyond the realm of possibility that Russia, a sworn enemy of ISIS, may choose to strengthen its support for the Syrian government.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Officials in Guatemala are tabulating votes after Sunday's elections to select a new president, vice president, and members of Congress. Last week, former president, Otto Perez Molina, resigned over a bribery scandal and is in custody. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called the acting president to congratulate the government for holding elections.

Elsewhere in Latin American, a new independent report refutes the official conclusion in the disappearance of 43 Mexican students last year. The lengthy study says there is no way the bodies were burned in a landfill as the authorities in Mexico declared.

And Nick Valencia tells us what happens now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Mexican government says it will launch a new investigation into the disappearance of 43 college students last year after a freshly released independent investigation found inconsistencies in the government's official account.

The new report included investigators from Latin America and Europe. The report goes on the say there were contradictions in the government's findings, including casting doubt on why the students were targeted. The government said the attacks were a case of mistaken identity but this report says that not only did the federal police and state police know the students were there but they did nothing to intervene when local police shot the unarmed civilians. The government said also that police thought the students perhaps were rival cartel members. The independent report casts doubt on that, saying, more likely, the vicious attack was due to students inadvertently hijacking a bus linked to the movement of drugs and cash in the city.

Last Sunday, the Mexican government's attorney general's office hosted a press conference responding to the report.

ARELY GOMEZ GONZALEZ, PROSECUTOR GENERAL DE LA REPUBLICA MEXICO (through translation): According to the information regarding the specific findings of the ashes in the landfill, I have ordered an additional investigation about the fire regarding the absolute necessity of a new investigation with the highest level of investigators who have the experience needed for an issue of this magnitude. For this reason, we will request a new investigation led by a group of forensic investigators of the highest prestige.

VALENCIA: Also, on Sunday, Mexico's president took to Twitter to say thank you to the investigators from the independent Commission on Human Rights and says that the Mexican government is looking into it.

Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:24:29] CHURCH: The man from the U.S. state of Minnesota who killed the famed lion known as Cecil is ready to get back to work. Walter Palmer killed the lion in July during a hunt in Zimbabwe and has taken a lot of criticism for it. He did an interview with the Associated Press and he plans to reopen his dental practice on Tuesday. And he reiterated the hunt was legal in Africa and he needs to get back to his life, saying, quote, "I'm a health professional, I need to get back to my staff and my patients. And they want me back. That's why I'm back."

New poll numbers suggest Hillary Clinton is in a bit of trouble in a key primary state. Find out who a new poll says is now the top Democratic contender in New Hampshire. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: A warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and, of course, all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosemary Church. It is time to check the headlines for you.

The July 31st arson attack against a Palestinian family in the West Bank has claimed a third victim, a toddler, the child's father and now his mother have all succumbed to injuries from the firebombing of their home. The family's 4-year-old boy is the only survivor. Suspected Jewish extremists have been blamed for that attack.

At least 15 people are dead and close to 50 injured after a bus crash Sunday in Brazil. Officials say it happened on a winding road in a popular resort town between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. There may have been a problem with the vehicle's brakes.

Stocks in Asia are mostly lower today with shares in China off the most. Trading has closed for the day in Australia and Japan. There are the numbers. Nearly one and two-thirds off there in China for the Shanghai Composite.

[02:30:00] CHURCH: And leaders from Austria and Germany are warning that the outpouring of support for migrants flowing into their countries is unsustainable and will have to be scaled back. In just the past two days, more than 12,000 migrants and refugees arrived in Germany. Most came on trains from Austria.

There are thousands more migrants still determined to make their way across Austria into Germany and, for them, it is the final leg of a treacherous journey from desperation to safety. CNN's Fred Pleitgen met up with some migrants who made it as far as

Vienna.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hundreds of refugees are pouring to the rail station in Vienna, many with children, and all of them looking to complete that difficult journey.

The authorities have designated this platform here for trains for the refugees.

What we're seeing here also is an outpouring of support from the Austrian population. Many people bringing food and water, and helping these people along.

We have spoke to some of the refugees and they told us about the difficult journey they've had to make it to here.

UNIDENTIFIED MIGRANT (through translation): From Hungary, we went through torture. We walked 110 kilometers with the children. They didn't allow us to take cars or trains. The government fooled us. But the people were very nice. We arrived here safely. And we are comfortable here and we like the people and the government of Austria.

PLEITGEN: One of the things that is important to speed up the process and make everything work more efficient is they have a lot of people here who speak the local languages of the refugees. You have people who speak Farsi and Arabic. For the refugees also, is it important for them to know the process. It's important for them to know what will come next. What will happen when they get to Munich? How do they get on the trains best? That is something that is key to making this process work.

One of the things we have to keep in mind is that things are going well here at the Vienna train station but Europe is still facing a major challenge in dealing with the tens of thousands of people who have already come here.

I spoke with the spokesperson for the UNHCR, Melissa Fleming, and she says that Europe needs to find a common approach to make all of this work.

MELISSA FLEMING, UNHCR SPOKESPERSON: We have suggested big reception and registration centers in Greece and Italy and Hungary and run by the U.N., supported by UNHCR, where people could go there and register, and if they are refugees, they could be distributed and relocated to all countries in Europe.

PLEITGEN: As these thousands of people come to Europe, the material aid that they get from the folks in Austria and Germany is important, the food, water and toys for children. But in many ways, what is more important to these people is to be received with a smile and to be welcomed and shown they have a chance to integrate here in Europe and possibly start a new life.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And that was CNN's Fred Pleitgen reporting from Vienna.

Portuguese soccer legend, Luis Figo, says the world needs to help the migrants seeking refuge, and he believes that soccer can be a uniting force for them in their new homes.

He spoke to World Sports' Don Riddel.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LUIS FIGO, PORTUGUESE SOCCER LEGEND: I think it's hard to see the situation of all the people that tried to -- and they are fighting for a better life. I think the politicals and the countries in Europe should try to solve is this situation and they are trying to find better conditions of life. I say from here that someone have to do something to help them and to integrate in this situation.

DON RIDDEL, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Football can sometimes seem trivial when compared to the bigger events going on in the world. But we've seen recently, particularly in Germany, that football is doing its best to help. What more do you think your sport could do?

FIGO: Well, I think football have a huge power. Of course, football cannot solve all the problems. But with the power football have, I think we can handle part of the situation and try to help the way that is possible. So I think in Germany is a good example and they're trying to alert for the authorities and for the politicians to do something because I think these people is trying to run away from a war. If the war doesn't exist, I think this problem was not happening. So I think there's a conscience for everyone to solve the situation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:35:13] CHURCH: While many are calling on the U.S. to do more to resettle Syrian refugees, U.S. Republican presidential candidate, Carly Fiorina, thinks if America does, it could risk terrorists slipping in. She is blaming President Barack Obama for not doing more to stem the Syrian crisis, which has led to many fleeing to Europe.

Here's more of what she said Sunday on CBS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLY FIORINA, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER CEO, HEWLETT PACKARD: Those pictures are unbelievably heartbreaking and, unfortunately, we have known this crisis was coming for a very long time. This is an example of what happens when the United States fails to lead. President Obama had options in Syria three years ago. And he failed to exercise any of those options. And he has watched as this humanitarian crisis has grown and grown.

I think the United States, honestly, sadly, cannot relax our entrance criteria. We have to be careful who we allow to enter to make sure terrorists are not coming here. I think the Europeans have to continue to step up in terms of the money they provide for humanitarian relief. They have not done as much as the United States has done on that front. I also think they are beginning to step up and let the refugees cross into their borders.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton, is campaigning hard but some new polls show her losing more ground to Bernie Sanders. The latest in the race for the White House, that is coming your way very soon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:40:04] CHURCH: You're back with us. And there is a big shakeup in the U.S. Democratic race for president. Bernie Sanders is leading Hillary Clinton as the top contender in New Hampshire by nine points according to a new NBC/Maris poll. New Hampshire is a key state, of course, holding one of the first contests in the primary election season.

This comes as Hillary Clinton apologizes over the controversy over her private e-mail server. She says she has an explanation for why she used it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I am very confident that by the time this campaign has run its course, people will know that what I've been saying is accurate. They may disagree as I now disagree with the choice that I made, but the facts I put forth have remained the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Hillary Clinton is campaigning in Iowa where she is still topping the polls.

Earlier, my colleague, Michael Holmes, and Amber Walker asked senior Washington correspondent, Jeff Zeleny, was asked whether Hillary Clinton is losing support or Sanders is gaining momentum.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: I thin it's a mix. Bernie Sanders is up on Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. But I'm here in Iowa and Hillary Clinton is maintaining her lead here. But, boy, things have certainly changed over the summer months. The dynamic has shifted. There's no question. Senator Bernie Sanders is really tapping into what a lot of liberal Democrats want to hear. He is firing up crowds across the country. Tens of thousands of people are coming out to hearing him. He is attack Wall street and going after big business and billionaires. And Hillary Clinton is running more of an establishment campaign. And this, as we know, on both sides of the race, Democrat and Republican alike, voters are not in the mood for an establishment politician. That is one of the reasons that Hillary Clinton will have to shake things up in the coming weeks and months.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Jeff, what people say to pollsters and what they do in the polling booths are different things. An interesting thing you make about Bernie Sanders, he is resonating with questions of income inequality and going after Wall Street and making it a fairer place. But when it comes to international policy, sitting down with Vladimir Putin and dealing with Iran, they don't see him in that broader arena. Will that hurt him long term and help Hillary?

ZELENY: It is a challenge for Bernie Sanders long term once the race becomes more serious. It's important to keep in mind, Michael, polls are a snapshot in time, not predictive of what might happen some four or five months from now. But foreign policy is not on the minds of the American voters at this point despite all the challenges and crises happening around the world. But Hillary Clinton is definitely more experienced in foreign affairs and definitely more suited towards all of these negotiations, like you mentioned here. But her challenge will be trying to appeal to voters on these home-grown domestic issues here.

So you know, this is just a -- a summer-time thing that Bernie Sanders is drawing some attention here, not predictive of what's going to happen. But there is no question she has to shake up her campaign a little bit to get voters enthused about what she is saying here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Jeff Zeleny there.

Former U.S. vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, is speaking out on the 2016 election. In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Palin praised Republican presidential candidate, Jeb Bush, for being bilingual but she prefers people in the U.S. to, quote, "Speak American."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN, (R), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I think we should send a message, if you want to be an American, you better be here legally or you are out. And when you're here, let's speak American. Let's speak English. And that's kind of a unifying aspect of a nation is the language that is understood by all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Palin also admitted she is eyeing the position of energy secretary in a potential Donald Trump administration.

Well, lawyers for the women at the center of a fight over same-sex marriage licenses in the U.S. state of Kentucky are appealing the contempt charge against her. U.S. county clerk, Kim Davis, was jailed last week by a U.S. district judge for refusing to issue the licenses as required by her job. She says same-sex marriage is against her religious beliefs. The judge in the case says Davis will remain in jail until she complies with the law.

A Muslim flight attendant says she was suspended from her job for refusing to serve alcohol. She is now trying to get her job back at U.S.-based airline, ExpressJet, but she says her religion doesn't allow her to consume or even serve alcoholic beverages.

Nick Valencia has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:45:15] NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Charee Stanley says she was suspended from her job as a flight attendant because of her religious beliefs. This week, the 40-year-old Michigan woman filed a charge of discrimination against regional airline, ExpressJet.

The issue, Stanley converted to Islam two years ago. She says she only learned recently that her faith prohibits her from serving alcohol. She and the airline did work out an accommodation for two months until, she says, one of her co-workers filed a complaint against her saying, quote, "She was not fulfilling her duties by refusing to serve alcohol." Four weeks later, Stanley religious accommodation excluding her from serving alcohol was revoked by the airline and she was suspended.

LENA MASRI, ATTORNEY FOR CHAREE STANLEY: What we are asking for is that her employment be reinstated and that her reasonable accommodation be reinstated as well.

VALENCIA: Her lawyer says her client's, quote, "sincerely held religious beliefs should not keep her from being a flight attendant."

MASRI: In this situation, the law requires that the employer accommodate her beliefs. She is not required to search for another job in order to have her beliefs accommodated.

VALENCIA: A spokesman for ExpressJet declined to talk about the complaint but in a statement to CNN said, quote, "We embrace and respect the values of all of our team members. We are an equal opportunity employer with a long history of diversity in our workforce."

CNN aviation analyst, Mary Schiavo, says a reasonable accommodation for Stanley may be difficult, given she works for a small airline.

MARY SCHIAVO, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: In the case of the airlines where you have just one flight attendant on a flight of 50 people or less, the pilot cannot come out of the cockpit to serve the drinks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Nick Valencia reporting there.

Well, from the stage to the small screen, actor, John Barrowman, has gained a legion of fans across the world, and he and his sister, Carol, are big fans of CNN. JOHN BARROWMAN, ACTOR: Good evening, I'm John Barrowman.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- to stop.

BARROWMAN: It's my show.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, it's not. It's not your show.

BARROWMAN: CNN International.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And he joins me right here on CNN. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE RILEY, WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN World Sports headlines.

Eugenie Bouchard has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of a locker room incident which resulted in concussion.

Meanwhile, can anyone stop Serena Williams from completing the calendar grand slam? Her next opponent in her way will be her sister, Venus. And on Sunday, Serena took care of business, 6-3, 6-3.

Lewis Hamilton dominated the Italian Grand Prix and he kept his victory after a serious investigation over the tired. Sebastian Vettel delighted the watching masses by taking second place. And he was helped by the dramatic departure of Nick, who had been pushing his countrymen hard. But he was stopped by an engine fire three laps from end. Streaks ahead of all of them was Hamilton who drove to victory by more than 25 seconds.

The new NFL season gets underway on Thursday and Tom Brady will take to the field for the New England Patriots. On Sunday, the 38-year-old spoke about recently Deflategate, the first time that Brady expressed regret that two team employees were suspended over the scandal indefinitely.

That's a look at all your sports headlines here on CNN. I'm Kate Riley.

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[02:51:17] CHURCH: Welcome back. If you happen to be wandering the streets of downtown Atlanta this weekend, you could have been forgiven for thinking you had entered a parallel universe. About 50,000 sci-fi fans and gaming enthusiasts invaded the city for the annual Dragon-Con was held in Atlanta. The event also attracts famous faces from the big and small screens.

Among them, this man, John Barrowman. His TV exploits have earned no shortage of fan boys and fan girls. He is a fan boy of CNN NEWSROOM and decided to pay him a visit.

Let's look at them moment on "Dr. Who," when Barrowman caught the public's attention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARROWMAN: Excellent bottom.

There's a time and place.

Should really be off.

Sorry old man. I got to go meet a girl. But you've got an excellent bottom, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And John Barrowman joins me now.

It is a pleasure and thrill to have you here at CNN studios.

BARROWMAN: Thank you very much. I'm very excited.

CHURCH: Thank you.

We want to talk about your character, Captain Jack Harkness, who you played in "Dr. Who," as an omni-sexual character, quite a turning point for that show. Talks to us about the impact of that.

BARROWMAN: The impact was it was the first time an openly gay man was playing a hero on television in a big sci-fi drama that was reaching out worldwide to many countries and we weren't apologizing for the character being omni-sexual. He was a ground-breaking character and it was nice to have him be a hero. Not many people in that position are portrayed as heroes. They are either the funny guy or the funny girl or someone that is looked upon as being the not so nice end of things. And this guy was a hero. And it was ground-breaking. It changed the attitude for gay and lesbian and bi-sexual and transgender people all over the world. They were looking at someone they could identify with, which was awesome.

CHURCH: That's incredible. As you mention, you worked as a gay activist, an author, a singer, a dancer, an actor, a comedian. And you have an MBE.

BARROWMAN: I do.

CHURCH: Tell us about that.

BARROWMAN: The MBE was given to me for my services to entertainment and also to charity. And you know, you mention the vast array of things I've been doing. When I got the letter and I opened it up in my manager's office, my manager looked at it first and he went, oh, my gosh. And I said, "What's wrong? Has something happened to someone?" And he said, "You're getting an MBE." And I said, "What have I done to deserve it? Really?" We looked at everything and you know, I thought, it's the biggest honor and something I'm exceptionally proud of you can be given by, you know, the United Kingdom and the queen. And I was really bowled over. I took the three most important people in my life to the ceremony, my mom, dad, and husband, Scott. When I walked out in front of the throne room to go in, I looked over at the three of them all sitting there beaming and looking at me. It is one of the most memorable and proudest moments of my career thus far.

[02:55:18] CHURCH: And you mention the charity work. You have done a lot of stuff with animals. But you are helping a boy with cerebral palsy.

BARROWMAN: Dowie James from Wales, part of the United Kingdom. And he is coming over to the U.S. and having trouble. His family were having trouble paying for the flight. I'm taking care of the flight along with British Airways to bring him to the states to bring him this operation. It seems so simple. His family approached me and needed money for operation. On one of the evenings of my tour, about 3,000, 4,000 people in Wales, in Cardiff, they donated money and got part of the operation paid for. It's a simple operation. When a child goes to his mother and says, why can't I walk like my brothers and sisters, and there is an operation that can fix it, you get him the operation no matter what. We are flying him over. And with a lot of physiotherapy and work, he will be on his feet and we'll help this young man walk.

CHURCH: That is cool.

Any breaking news for us on Captain Jack or, of course, Malcolm Merlin from "Arrow"?

BARROWMAN: For Captain Jack fans there will be audio plays coming out. Although he is not on the TV screens he never goes away. If you enjoyed season three of "Arrow" you will love season four. It is a calm ride that will throw you off balance. And Malcolm will surprise you an awful lot. I really can't tell you anything. I'll get in trouble.

CHURCH: A last line and best line from Captain Jack?

BARROWMAN: Well, as he would say, the 21st century is when it all changes and you've got to be ready.

CHURCH: John Barrowman, thank you so much for joining us.

BARROWMAN: It's a pleasure. I watch you all the time. One of the best news shows on the air.

CHURCH: We like that.

(LAUGHTER)

BARROWMAN: Love it. Thank you. CHURCH: And he is truly wonderful. John Barrowman there.

Thanks for watching. I'm Rosemary Church. Keep me company in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM coming up in the next couple of minutes, in fact. Back in a moment.