Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

"Cecil the Lion" Killer Returns to Work; Tensions Rise as Refugees Flood Europe; Rookie Receiver Quits NFL. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired September 8, 2015 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:29:52] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Boris Sanchez joins me now. He's following the story. Good morning.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning -- Carol.

A relatively smooth greeting for Dr. Walter Palmer as he walked into his office. Only a handful of protesters out there. Some of them you might have heard chanting "extradite Palmer," very different from what we say that last week of July when his office had to be shut down after there were so many protesters outside, very aggressive and very angry . There were much fewer of them out there today though they had strong words and were very passionate about what they were saying.

Here is what one of them told a CNN affiliate shortly after Palmer walked in to his office.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CATHY PIERCE, PROTESTER: I live in Minnesota, and very few people came out the last one we had, but doggone it, we're going to still come. Whether it's one of us or two of us, we're going to come and stick up for Cecil.

I mean there's not going to be any lions left whatsoever in a few years. My grandkids, your kids, aren't going to see them in the wild. And these hunters are killing them just for their heads and their fur. That's sick.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Though there were a few them, they're obviously very determined to get their message across.

Also interesting to note, we heard from police that they wouldn't have a preventative presence out there initially there were police out there we saw among the crowd.

We also saw, was appeared to be a bodyguard with Walter Palmer. So obviously he's not taking any chances with the crowds out there.

COSTELLO: All right. Boris Sanchez -- many thanks. I appreciate it.

And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

Despite executions of senior staff and recent all-out war with the South, Kim Jong-un remains solidly in power. That's according to a North Korean defector who tells CNN life in the reclusive nation is, quote, "hell on earth".

Kyung Lah has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: To the outside world, Kim Jong-un appears overly young, at times a caricature. But to his people there is little doubt about their dictator's capacity says this North Korean defector.

"They are terrified," he says. "The fear grows more intense every day."

Fear that drove this defector to dare the harrowing escape out of the North Korea. He agreed to speak with us only if we completely hid him in the shadows and altered his voice. This defector who worked among Pyongyang's elite fears the regime would murder his family trapped in the North or hunt him down.

But he wants the western world to know what life under Kim Jong- un is really like.

So you think he's more of a tyrant than his father?

"Kim Jong-il didn't kill people in his inner circle", he says "but Kim Jong-un killed many of his own." Purging close advisers like his own uncle, Jang Song Thaek, his former right hand man executed.

"After that I thought I need to hurry up and leave this hell on earth."

Is that how it feels like in North Korea? Hell on earth?

"Yes, of course."

You see these crowds cheering and crying as Kim Jong-un approaches. Do they believe.

"It's blind worship. They're programmed to clap and cheer when they see Kim Jong-un on TV. But in my personal opinion upper class elites don't believe it."

This number a quite high.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quite high.

LAH: Seoul National University interviewed 146 North Koreans who defected in 2014. The most extensive research conducted with recent defectors. The defectors perceive internal support was highest in 2012 when Kim Jong-un took control. But they believe that support has steadily dropped during his reign. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A new leader.

LAH: "Can the new leader earn trust from his elites after the purges," he asks? They could be feeling anxious. Their loyalty weakened. It's already happening, believes this defector.

"I can tell you for sure upper class North Koreans don't trust Kim Jong-un."

Do you see the regime lasting?

"There is no collapse of North Korea while Kim Jong-un is alive" says this defector. North Korea will not collapse as long as Kim Jong-un lives.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Still to come, Germany is the new home for thousands of refugees flooding into Europe but not everybody is laying out the welcome mat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:38:38] COSTELLO: Frustrated and fed up with authorities as Arwa Damon showed us earlier, hundreds of migrants taking matters into their own hands this morning, breaking past security along the Serbia/Hungary border. It was a dramatic scene you can see families here gripping their children as they run past officials.

These are just some of the heartbreaking images coming as Europe struggles to deal with this crisis. It's important to remember tho8ugh that for these families, enormous danger still exists. CNN's senior international correspondent Atika Shubert live in Germany. She's at a refugee center to tell us more.

Hi -- Atika.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi -- Carol. That's right. I'm at a temporary shelter that's actually still being built. It's shipping containers actually bolted together and made into one bedroom apartments. You can see it's still being built here but there is also a playground. There is a communal kitchen inside, communal showers as well. And each one bedroom apartment has its own little kitchenette and toilet.

So it's the kind of clean and safe temporary home that will welcome refugees when they get here and German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants to build 150,000 of these. Unfortunately, even though many refugees have had a warm welcome here, there is a small segment of the population here that is not happy with the situation. And it was actually a shelter like this that was burned down yesterday morning police believe by right wing extremists.

[10:40:00] In fact, the Ministry of Interior has given us some data on this. They say that there have been more than 340 attacks like this, everything from vandalism to hate speech to arson attacks and that's a huge jump from last year. And the fear in the German government is that the more refugees come in, the more of this tension will continue to rise. So it is a big concern for them -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But as of right now, Germany is still going to accept some 20,000 migrants or refugees, right?

SHUBERT: Yes. In fact, over the last few days they have accepted 20,000 people coming in from their borders. What Germany has said is that it will take in 800,000 people who are seeking asylum. They will then process that and not everybody will get refugee status. Some will have to be returned home, but that those from Syria and Iraq will have their applications sped up so that they'll have a better and quicker chance of settling here in Germany.

COSTELLO: All right. Atika Shubert reporting live from Berlin, Germany this morning.

Checking some other top stories for you at 40 minutes past the hour, another sign that Pope Francis is trying to create a more welcoming and merciful Catholic Church. The Vatican today announcing reforms by the Pope -- making it much easier and cheaper for Catholics to get a marriage annulment. Under the new process, annulments will be free except for some small administrative fees and they will take fewer than 45 days.

Four Mexican officials are now facing charges following drug lord El Chapo's elaborate escape from prison this past July. Arrest warrants have been issued for two security guards at the prison and two intelligence officials. The charges come just hours after this tweet angered authorities. See up there -- El Chapo's son posting this photo suggesting he's with his fugitive father. When the photo was taken and where is still a mystery.

The Virginia Tech football team used their season opener against Ohio State to honor the victims of last month's deadly shooting on live television. The two teams wore stickers with the number seven WDBJ's channel number on their helmets in memory of Adam Ward and Alison Parker. The Buckeyes went on to win the game 42-24.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, an NFL rookie walking away before his very first game. Why he says "I quit".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:46:46] COSTELLO: Two Texas high school football players could soon be facing charges after attacking a game official. Keep your eyes on that ref. Within seconds he's blindsided, tackled to the ground. Another player then diving on top of him helmet first. The players were ejected from the game and suspended from school.

Police are now investigating the incident, and according to reports the attack happened after game officials ejected their team's starting quarterback from the game. And, of course, these boys could now face criminal charges for what they did on the field. At just 23 years old, Adrian Coxson was living his dream. Last

month the Green Bay Packers rookie was gearing up to make his NFL debut. But now just days before the season opens, Coxson is walking away, choosing his life and his well-being before the game he loves.

Coy Wire is following the story for us this morning. Good morning -- Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: Good morning to you -- Carol.

Adrian Coxson was an undrafted wide receiver out of the University of Stony Brook in New York trying to make the team with the Green Bay Packers but everything changed on August 1st. Coxson was taken off the Packers practice field by an ambulance after suffering what was later determined as a grade three concussion. Coxson said he was examined by doctors and was advised to retire saying, quote, "The next hit to my head could possibly kill me," end quote.

Now, the Packers released Coxson just 16 days later with an explanation that's not often seen, quote, "failure to disclose a physical condition," end quote. Coxson disputed that and eventually reached an injury settlement with Green Bay in addition to keeping his $5,000 signing bonus.

Now, this is the second time a young NFL player has retired due to concussion concerns in the last six months. Up and coming star linebacker for the 49ers Chris Borland, remember he walked away from the game and likely millions of dollars last March -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I'm just curious because you played football for a long time. If you had known then what we know now about concussions, would you have done anything differently?

WIRE: That's a great question -- Carol. And some players have said that they would not have played the game. Some players say that they won't let their children play the game now knowing some of the long-term adverse effects that playing the game can have on the body.

I have had damage done to almost every major joint in my body. Take a look at this photo. This is a picture of the titanium plate and four screws that are in my neck right now. I see the scars in the mirror every day. I feel the pain every day that was caused by the game.

But looking back on it, I certainly had concussions as well. And the only thing I would change, Carol, and this would be my message to current players and parents who have children playing the game is that when you do have an injury, allow your body the proper time to heal because without question I was encouraged and pressured back onto the field to play too soon after injuries. And I now know that that wasn't wise -- Carol.

COSTELLO: No. And they say they're not doing that anymore and let's hope they're telling the truth.

Before you go, I wanted to ask you about Roger Goodell, too because he broke his silence about Deflategate and I wondered what he said.

WIRE: Well, first of all, he said he was glad football is back as many fans are, but the most intriguing thing that jumped out to me was that he is now open to having someone else be the judge and jury when it comes to the NFL's discipline process.

[10:50:02] Remember, he has been the judge and jury for several years now, and people were not happy about that. He almost seemed relieved to say, you know what, I am open to changing. Maybe we'll have a discipline panel and that there can be a discipline officer who will handle the appeals process. He seems to be wanting to get out of this. He said he's already talked to the owners about it over the past couple of years.

COSTELLO: All right. Coy Wire reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

WIRE: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: This just in out of Baltimore. The city has just reached a $6.4 million settlement with the Freddie Gray family. Gray died in police custody, as you know, back in April after the 25-year- old suffered a grave injury to his neck. The wrongful death settlement will now have to be approved by the city's official spending board, and remember the officers involved have yet to go to criminal trial.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Stephen Colbert poised to take over "The Late Show" with a little help from some high profile politicians. A live report next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:12] President Obama has tackled issues on Capitol Hill, survived criticism and fished for support. How did America's leading man do in the Alaskan wilderness? Mr. Obama recently had the adventure of a lifetime alongside Bear Grylls. NBC's "Today" show leaking this exclusive sneak peek of the pair's upcoming episode.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am in what's called the bubble, and Secret Service makes sure that I'm always out of danger, which I very much appreciate, but it can be a little confining.

Every once in a while if I do something unexpected, the phrase we use is that the bear is loose. So to be with Bear in the woods, it doesn't get any better than that.

Bear.

BEAR GRYLLS, TV HOST: Hey, Mr. President.

OBAMA: How are you doing?

GRYLLS: How do you do, sir?

OBAMA: Good to see you, sir. It's wonderful to meet you.

GRYLLS: What a great place to meet.

OBAMA: It is spectacular. This has to be one of the best days of my presidency. First of all, I'm not in the office. Second of all, I'm not wearing a suit.

One of the main purposes of our trip is to highlight the effects of climate change, what's happening to the planet.

GRYLLS: You're so right. I think speeches are one thing but I mean we live and breathe this stuff every day because we're out in it and we see the harsh kind of reality of it and a lot of it actually is quite shocking.

OBAMA: That's exactly right. And, you know, I have got two daughters, and I don't want grandkids too soon, but eventually I hope to have some. I want to make sure that this is there for them, not just for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Very first episode. OK.

In other TV news this morning, for fans of Stephen Colbert, an agonizing nine-month wait is almost over. Yes, tonight is the night. Colbert makes his return to television as host of the CBS "Late Show" and he'll do it with his trademark mix of comedy and politics.

Senior media correspondent Brian Stelter joins me from the Ed Sullivan Theater here in Manhattan. Good morning.

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

The newly renovated Ed Sullivan Theater. Almost as soon as David Letterman stepped down from "The Late Show", this theater has basically been rebuilt from the inside. Also has a brand new marquee and the words "Colbert" up the wall. Everything here now ready for tonight's premiere. Colbert and his staff are inside working on some sort of monologue although he has said even that might change.

It might be a different kind of monologue on this new "Late Show". Like you mentioned, he's been off Comedy Central for nine months. That means his fake blow hard conservative character has been retired. So what will the actual Colbert be like? Well, he talked to another CBS show, "CBS Sunday Morning" about what it is like to be retiring the character. Look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT, TV HOST: I worked really hard to be that other guy for ten years. But I hope people -- I thank God, you know who I am. I hope they'll find out pretty quickly that the guy they saw for ten years was my sense of humor the whole time. It is I guess flattering that people thought I was an actual pundit or a newsman eventually over the years, but it's really nice to not have to pretend it anymore.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STELTER: Yes, the real Colbert making his premiere tonight. There will be a couple of pieces of memorabilia from his old show on the stage however. Pretty much everything else is being kept a tightly guarded secret but we do know that George Clooney and Jeb Bush will be the big first guests tonight -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And there will be a host of politicians to follow, right?

STELTER: There will. Most interestingly Joe Biden on Thursday. Lots of speculation that maybe he will drop some hints about a presidential bid on Thursday night. And then next week he actually has a sitting Supreme Court Justice, Stephen Breyer. When is the last time you saw a Supreme Court justice on a late night show?

I think the two most interesting guests are actually from the business world. He has the CEOs of Uber and Tesla on the show -- two Silicon Valley stars. Again, not people you normally see in late night. So I think it shows that Colbert wants to bring a somewhat more serious sensibility to the show, sort of the same way David Letterman did decades ago.

COSTELLO: It's interesting because Jimmy Fallon is still to happy-go-lucky. There's no stress at all in his show. He has really no edge, he's just a happy guy. And I guess Stephen Colbert is going to be -- he's not as acerbic as David Letterman so he's somewhere in between, right?

STELTER: I think that's exactly right. You think of Fallon, you think of lip-synch sink battles and slow jamming the news. A lot of fun, on that show. Jimmy Kimmel on ABC, a lot of the same. Maybe Colbert wants to be that slightly more upscale or more serious late night show. Maybe also stealing some viewers from Comedy Central now that Jon Stewart has stepped down from "The Daily Show".

And he's no longer the force on Comedy Central. But Trever, Nola will be starting on the Comedy Central show, the "Daily" show in a couple of weeks. And course, Larry Wilmore has Colbert's old spot. So what we're seeing is sort of the completing of the changing of the guard in late night.

A whole lot of new faces on at 11:00 and 11:30 p.m. And Colbert is going to show us what his version of that will be tonight.

COSTELLO: Lots to keep track of if you're Brian Stelter. Thank you so much, Brian. I appreciate it.

Thanks for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"AT THIS HOUR" with Berman and Bolduan starts now.