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Papal Diplomacy; The President And Pocahontas; Royal Engagement; Investigative Journalism Exposes Fake Roy Moore Accuser; The Pursuit Of Truth Despite Attacks On Journalism. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired November 28, 2017 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:16] BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: Here is the world moral conscience yet even in the face of atrocity, even for someone so political
that was one word that he couldn't say we explain next. And from what he couldn't talk about what the American presidents maybe shouldn't Trump
freshest gap. Ahead then from Republicans to royalties, you are going to marry a prince for sure, never be a princes, we hear for Harry and Meghan.
From London to Myanmar, New York to Cairo, it is your world and we are connecting it.
I'm Becky Anderson, live from Middle East programming hub in Abu Dhabi. A highly anticipated speech from Pope Francis. It is 7:00 the evening here
we begin this hour with a highly anticipated speech on a highly charged topic from Pope Francis, he is in Myanmar right now. Human rights
activists and hope that he will talk about the plight of the Rohingya Muslims minority. Hundreds of thousands of him as you know have fled to
Bangladesh. Well his speech alongside on Aung San Suu Kyi, the Pope said religion could play a major role in resolving conflicts, but it is not
specifically referred to the plight of the Rohingya. Our CNN correspondent Delia Gallagher joining me now from Yangon in Myanmar. He calls for peace
without using the term Rohingya. Why?
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT : Well Becky in you might look at that the other way how he needs is the use of the word shutdown
dialogue with the very people that you need to achieve that so I think it was a very calculated pragmatic dance on the part of (inaudible) spoken
about the Rohingya people before they are well aware here and what he think about it and may have reference that in private meeting, but I do say in
public, in his most important speech here, he did not directly mention the Rohingya people and that will surely come as a disappointment to the human
rights activist and others but hope that he would, but he did speak them about protecting ethnic minorities and the importance of human rights in
general, but in a more positive and forward-looking right since we have some of what the Pope has to say, Becky.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE:
POPE FRANCIS, POPE (TRANSLATOR): Religious differences may not be a source of the vision and distrust, but rather a force of unity, forgiveness,
tolerance and wise nation building. The religions can play significant role in repairing the emotional, spiritual and psychological wounds of
those who suffered in the years of conflict.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GALLAGHER: Becky, the speech was very strong on the need for democratic order in Myanmar for the protection of the right, he said quote, of all the
people who called this place their home that is the reference to the Rohingya people who had been here for generations that who's right and
citizenship are not recognized by Myanmar's government. On balance Becky, a speech yet do not satisfy those people that want your top language from
Pope Francis, but perhaps one achieve to the best of coming here which is open up a dialogue with the leaders of Myanmar, in the hope of nearly
establishing a long-term democracy or human right for Myanmar. Becky?
ANDERSON: Delia the Vatican quick to point out the district was organized back in the summer before the very visible images of hundreds of thousands
of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar, he will go to Bangladesh where, correct me if I'm wrong he will meet a group of Rohingya.
GALLAGHER: That is correct, Becky. On Friday in Bangladesh there will be an inter-religious meeting and at that meeting there will be, what the
Vatican has said, the small group of Rohingya refugees. Obviously he could not come here and not meet with them, it is not a schedule that he will go
to any of the refugee camp. So it seems that what they have done to bring some of the refugees to the Pope in the context of an interreligious
meeting which is important because that is the aspect for the Pope perhaps, it is his strength to try and get all of the villages, the primary Buddhist
country, there is a rising Islamophobia here, so he is working also the social aspect of this, to try and change the mentality here which again in
the minority. That religious meeting will be significant and of course he will be meeting with some of the Rohingya refugees, to show his support for
the Rohingya, Becky.
[10:05:14] ANDERSON: Delia Gallagher is in Myanmar for you, thank you. Our president fought all that is what Kenya's very Kenyatta promised that
his inauguration yesterday in Nairobi. He was sworn in for his second term as president of violence and contested election, Kenyatta won 98 percent of
the votes. It was boycotted by the opposition with a vote of turnout of left tem 40 percent.
Meanwhile police fired tear gas at a rally held by opposition supporters, some protesters threw rocks and burned tires. CNN saw some being beaten by
police. Well CNN Faria Sevenzo joining us now from Kenya's capital at Nairobi as I said officially reelected with 98 percent of the vote,
important to note of just under 39 percent of voters though turning out at the swearing-in ceremony, Faria today, he said and I quote in the spirit of
inclusivity, he would try to incorporate some of the opposition's ideas, likely?
FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there Becky, I mean in the moment we are not there yet, where Mr. Kenyatta's speech try to take the nations this
morning. We are at the point where he is sworn in in as president, begin his final term as president. But as you just mentioned. We are also
following Odinga's convoy and as soon as Odinga finish speaking, the police left off several bottles of teargas, we witness people being beaten in this
area. We don't know whether they were there for the rally or just citizens of this poor area. Now you know, (inaudible) all this are Odinga
strongholds and we saw soldiers ordering passersby to move with their hands raised. Now you can tell, that if the situation is that fired up, if the
animosity between the two sides seems exist also the president's as he sworn in, Mr. Kenyatta has a mountain to climb in order to unite this
country.
ANDERSON: Faria Sevenzo in Nairobi monitoring the story for you from there. Faria we appreciate it. Well 50 minutes of carnage, more than 300
people killed as they tried to pray including 27 kids and by some estimates a quarter of the community's male residents. These horrific figures don't
even fully capture the impact on Friday's attack on a mosque in Egypt's Sinai. Despite a long-standing government banned on reporters in the area,
CNN has obtained exclusive video of the aftermath of the massacre as new details emerge and I have to warn you, the images that you are about to see
are disturbing. Ben Wedeman with more from Cairo.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Blood and gore soaked the mosque's carpet splashed on the walls, and stained the pavement of the
entrance. The authorities had banned the media from going to the site of the worst terrorist attack in Egyptian history, but CNN has obtain,
exclusive video and accounts from eyewitnesses.
This young man's father was killed in the massacre. He recalls men in military uniform with long hair, firing indiscriminately the mosque. Off-
camera, another eyewitness says he heard the attacker shout they will kill all infidels. He said the militants threaten the Sufi-built mosque five
times in the past. The ISIS affiliate here, at the province of Sinai, has yet to claim responsivity, but at a statement from the public prosecutor
said the attackers, numbering between 25 and 30, wave ISIS's black banner. For years, the Sinai has been a battleground between militants and the
Egyptian state.
In the chaos of 2011 uprising that toped of the regime of Hosni Mubarak, thousands escaped from prison, many going to the Sinai. Shortly
afterwards, one group (inaudible) emerge, pledging its allegiance to ISIS in 2014, renaming itself (inaudible) Seena. They waged a relentless
guerrilla war against the army and the policed hiding amongst a population resentful of the heavy hand of the government in far-off Cairo. By some
estimates, they killed more than 1,000 soldiers and policeman.
Will Wyatt Seena claimed responsibility for the 2015 downing of metro jet flight 9268, killing all 224 passengers and crew. And it carried out a
series of attacks in the Nile valley, in December against a Coptic cathedral in Cairo and this year, boasted of attacking churches on Palm
Sunday. Friday's mass massacre is the first time they target a Muslim house of worship, and that is new and dramatic change in targets, warns
analyst Hisham Hellyar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[10:10:31] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the Christian attacks, it seemed to be creating some sort of divide within society to take advantage of. They
failed. And now they are just going after anybody that doesn't support what they want to do. And I this that is really the message that people
have to take away from this, that there is no type of target anymore, when it comes to groups like this, everybody' a target unless they are on their
side.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: Hours after Friday's attack, President Assisi vowed to respond to the terrorist with brute force. He came to visit the wounded in hospital.
His prescription for the terrorists, no mercy. Killing them would be best, he says. To end the bloodshed in Sinai, more bloodshed.
(END VIDEO)
ANDERSON: Well a disturbing possibility and as ever only people caught up in the middle of all of this. Ben Wedeman joining me now from the capital
in Cairo. Ben CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour spoke with Egypt's foreign minister Samey Shoukry, he gave us his take on
why there been so many attacks. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMEY SHOUKRY, FOREIGN MINISTER, EGYPT: We are seeing your increase double of the foreign fighters that are crossing borders that are fleeing areas of
conflict in Syria and Iraq and winding up in the various parts of Africa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That explain why on the face of it at least Egypt's liaison ministry campaign against Jihadist insurgency in this area is not working.
WEDEMAN: Yes and no, I mean yes in the sense that they had been fighting this insurgency eventually since 2011, are they thrown a lot of heavy
hardware insurgents, but until now they seem to be alienating a lot of the people who live in the North Eastern Sinai Peninsula and then not really
having much effect in bringing this insurgency to an end. At the same time certainly wiped this attack seems to indicate is that perhaps there are
elements who are coming fled Syria and Iraq and are making their way here. We spoke to somebody and said that among the attackers he heard Cairo
accent and of course the accent between the Sinai in the Cairo is very different and analysts believe that given the brutality of this attack, it
would indicate that the attackers don't really care about what the local people think. Because until now by and large the ISIS affiliate in the
Sinai has focused on the Army on the police on Christians but not the in general populous except for those who perhaps are cooperating,
collaborating, informing for the Egyptian government, Becky.
ANDERSON: Ben from ISIS, to civil wars, to dictator's crack down violence has stain so many parts of this region in particular. And journalist take
great pains to report the story, Ben you and your team no exceptions, standby.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gunfire all around us and we believe that Kaddafi forces are doing a roundabout movement, we are rushing out of the area.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good luck guys, Alex.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well that clip from CNN coverage of the war in Libya than in 2011 when you are the best with TV reporter to report from inside the
country, a question to you. Do President Trump attacks on the media attacks including attacks on this network that he made some justice we can,
do they make journalist, the job of the journalist more difficult, there I said, more dangerous?
WEDEMAN: It is complicated, because essentially the government still around this part of the world, get the message that this is a president
that does not support back, endorse the work of people, journalist who work for American on networks when they are in a dangerous area, basically the
government wherever or whatever group is operating where you are will know that you are not really supported by your government and you may be fair
game for that may have some unprecedented results.
[10:15:42] ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman, always a pleasure Ben, at Cairo, Egypt for you today with some extraordinary reporting. Thank you.
Still to come this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY, OF WALES: All the stars align, everything was just perfect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: When Harry met Meghan the stars align and now this tow are now engaged. We are live at Buckingham Palace for you, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:20:00] ANDERSON: Well congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their engagement for the Cambridge country. We are learning more
today about how Prince Harry how he got down on one knee to pop the question. Meghan's eager answer and the British response to the response
of the British people, CNN Erin McLaughlin is outside Buckingham Palace with all of the details on what will be the wedding of the year and we are
soon to find out when, where and perhaps who is invited as we await those details. How did this all happen?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Becky. We are waiting for those details we hope to find out more out of the palace briefing that
was scheduled for this hour, just when this wedding is going to be what we know that it will be in spring 2018, you know what month is of course the
key question. We know that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant and she is reportedly expecting in April, so as possible if they could plan around
that pregnancy so maybe a May wedding will have to wait and see, in terms of the venue allots the speculation around that as well, Royal watchers
favoring maybe Windsor to Westminster, you know my personal favorite is a Malibu wedding which would be the fitting the first Californian Royal, but
again would have to wait hopefully we find out the answers to some of the key questions on the minds of Royal watchers on both sides of the Atlantic
very shortly.
ANDERSON: All right. Let us hear from the lovebirds themselves. He is Harry said he proposed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY: It happen a few weeks ago. Few months in our cottage, just a typical night for us.
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY'S FIANCEE: We are just roasting chicken and having, just an amazing surprise, it was so sweet and natural and very
romantic, he got on one knee.
PRINCE HARRY: Of course.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it an instant yes from you?
MARKLE: Yes, as a matter of fact I barely did not let him finish proposing, can I say yes now?
PRINCE HARRY: (Inaudible) the ring in one finger, can I give you the ring? It was really nice moment just the two of us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And this is how long after you first met?
MARKLE: A year and half. A little bit more than that?
PRINCE HARRY: Yes. A year and half then.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For most people it would be quite a whirlwind, is that how it felt to you?
MARKLE: I don't think that I would call it a whirlwind in terms of our relationship, there had been layers attached to it, how public it has
become. After we had a good five or six months, it wasn't just privacy which was amazing, I think we were able to really have so much time just to
connect and we never went longer than two weeks without seeing each other even though we are doing a long-distance relationship so it's - we made it
work.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How did you first meet?
PRINCE HARRY: We first met with a mutual friend.
MARKLE: We should hide her privacy, don't say too much of that.
PRINCE HARRY: It was through her and we met once and twice in London. And last July and then it was, I think about three maybe four weeks later that
she joins me. We spent and enjoyed for five days it was fantastic so then we were really by ourselves. Which was crucial to me to make sure we have
a chance to get to know each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sounds like a long distance relationship, you were working on suits. You got lots of commitment at your end, how was it? To
keep things going.
MARKLE: It was just a choice, I think that we realize we are going to commit to each other and we knew we had to invest the time and the energy
and whatever it took to make that happen. Yes with filming schedule it was not the easiest because it included a lot of travel, back and forth, but --
PRINCE HARRY: having over here for four days or a week and then going back and filming the next day, wake up calls on Monday, straight into set.
MARKLE: Right off the plane and straight to set.
PRINCE HARRY: Just trying to stay as close as possible, but you know on two different time zone. We are five hours apart does have challenges but
we made it work and now we are here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:25:04] ANDERSON: Well Erin good luck to protecting the privacy of friend who set them up for this blind date, I do hope the press are not all
over her like a rash when they find out. Listen who is going to be invited will be an interesting one and we do know the Prince Harry is a good
relationship for example with Pres. Obama we got an image here of them sitting together at an event and that was absolutely lovely I think that if
image of them but I do get on I we really well will find out who is invited at the back end of that is press briefing today, as well.
MCLAUGHLIN: We have to wait and see on that one Becky and see what comes out of this briefing but other high profile name has been mentioned by
royal watchers including Justin Trudeau the Canadian Prime Minister we know what Megan Markel sort of adopted Toronto as her hometown was where the
show Suits would be base out of another name that people had been speculating about as well as Serena Williams the tennis star that
celebrated nuptials on her own she seems to be a good friend of Megan Markle. Some of the high-profile name for the course you have senior
members of the royal family including the Queen which will course be there as well.
ANDERSON: The question will be will Obama be invited from not be invited of course. All right. We are going take a very short break, standby,
because I got details on the wedding very shortly while everyone is awaiting for those with excitement about the impending nuptials loads of
people wondering the costs also to tie the knot. Well to find out the wedding like this you might just have to sell an awful lot, testaments from
a Royal wedding will start well into six figures if you want to be a curious cat, interested in this ceremony. Hop on to cnn.com to find out
more details. And I promise you more details after the short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: It wasn't supposed to be a controversial event but that was before U.S. President Donald Trump went off script during a
ceremony honoring native American veterans of World War II.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I want to thank you because you're very, very special people. You were here long before any of
us were here. Although we have a representative in Congress who, they say was here a long time ago. They call her Pocahontas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that was a shot at U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who claims to have Native American ancestry. But she is accused of doing that
to further her career. Well a Native American leader tells CNN, the reference to Pocahontas, a real life figure from the 17th century was
inappropriate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSSELL BEGAYE, PRESIDENT, NAVAJO NATION: The word Pocahontas as a jab to a senator, you know that belongs on a campaign trail. It doesn't belong in
the room when our war heroes are being -- are being honored.
To use that person in that way, you know, is unnecessary and it's being cultural insensitive. I asked the president to respect our people, to
respect our heritage, to respect who we are as native Americans specially war heroes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, more on that in a moment. I want to get you some breaking news at this point. And just moments ago, we updated you on the royal
wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Well now we can tell you when and where that wedding is going to take place. CNN's Erin McLaughlin is outside Buckingham Palace with the
details. Erin.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky. We're just getting these details from Kensington Palace. Now we know that this royal
wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will take place in May of 2018.
No specific date as for the day in May that the wedding will take place. But we know that it will be in May. We also know that the wedding will
take place at Windsor Castle, St. George's Chapel according to Kensington Palace, Windsor has become a special place for both Meghan and Harry and
that they're very grateful to the queen for letting them use St. George's Chapel for what will no doubt be a very special occasion.
Also worth noting that Prince Edward, his royal highness, also got married, Charles' brother -- Prince Charles' brother also got married at Windsor
Castle. So clearly that is a special venue for the royal family.
And then we're also hearing that Meghan Markle will become a U.K. citizen. She will retain her U.S. citizenship but she'll be a common citizen of this
country. That is expected according to Kensington Palace to take several years.
And we're hearing about the first royal appearance for the couple. That's expected in Nottingham on Friday, so some of the details that we're getting
now coming out of this briefing, that just happened a short while ago.
ANDERSON: Erin McLaughlin, on the story for you out of London today. Well, back to American politics now and Trump's off the cuff remark about
Pocahontas.
It certainly isn't the first time off the cuff remarks or Twitter declarations have come back to haunt the president. Alex Burns is a CNN
political analyst and national political reporter for The New York Times.
Joe Johns is with us from the White House. Starting with you, Joe, it looks like a slur, it sounds like a slur, with respect, Mr. President, it
is a slur, right?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think if you talk to the people for whom the message was intended, they will tell you and in fact the president of
the Navajo Nation has said on CNN domestic just this day that it was -- in his ears, at least a racial slur. It could have been racially insensitive
as well.
[10:35:00] So clearly some problems there with what the president said. It was an off the cuff remark he made using this term that he'd used before
Pocahontas to describe Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
And not very well take quite frankly by the Navajo, especially given the fact that these were World War II heroes being honored at the White House
by the president of the United States. And complicated I think by the fact that some of this occurred before the cameras in the background a portrait
of President Andrew Jackson.
The president who in 1830, signed something called the -- essentially a bill allowing Native Americans to be walked, if you will, in what was
something of a Death March from the east of the United States to the west of the United States, so all of this problematic, and bad timing, even
though apparently some of it could be construed as an accident, Becky.
ANDERSON: All right. Alex, look, some people say these could be construed as accidents, these off the cuff remarks. Others will say these are just
highly insensitive.
And then you've got this fact is not a fact, labeling anything that doesn't -- he doesn't like or doesn't agree with us fake news or alternative
truths. Is there anyone close to Mr. Trump who's prepared to say, stop this?
ALEX BURNS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Becky, the short answer is no. You have people who are close to him in the White House who try to control him
or rein him in here and there to say to him, you know, it would be good if you didn't say X at event Y.
But no, there is no body who is in very close proximity who as far as our reporting suggest is willing to go into the Oval Office and really try to
lay down the law and say Mr. President, you completely blew it yesterday and that can never happen again.
And this is something by the way, that we have seen people try to do in the past with zero effects. So if you're John Kelly, the White House Chief of
Staff, if you're any number of his senior advisors, I think there is a sense of almost futility at this point.
That at the event yesterday with the Navajo code talkers was a just classic set piece presidential event where he could have come out looking bigger
than what he went to it looking and that's obviously not what happened.
ANDERSON: This fake news line, which is getting pretty boring, isn't it? I mean, many people say he uses it to deflect from other stories is just
childish.
But in the case of accusing reporters who are risking their lives in conflict zones, it's outright dangerous and potentially life threatening.
Are those around did not get that?
BURNS: Look, I think the people around him would rather him not continue to attack network after network, after newspaper after newspaper. This is
another one of the features of -- it's one of the most consistent features of a politician who is all over the map on so many subjects.
You never know what's going to trigger it. It may be something he saw on TV. It may be a newspaper article that he read and didn't like.
The thing that makes his advisors most nervous, Becky, is when he goes after outlets on specific stories and specific claims that they know to be
true, where he's not just taunting people but he is making claims in his own defense about fake news that will later inevitably be found to be fake
themselves.
ANDERSON: Or revising history, apologizing for those tapes, Joe, when was it -- just before the election and then now saying they're not true. If
there was -- if there was anything that you can wager is bothering him most, I'm talking about the president here, Joe, what is it at this point?
JOHNS: The president does not like criticism. I think it's quite clear that he doesn't like criticism from our network, he doesn't like criticism
a variety of news organizations that don't sing his tune.
And like everyone else, when he hears criticism, he wants to lash out very directly and as he said before, strike the perpetrator of defense harder
than he's been struck. So he likes to counter punch.
I think the word that we use here and he does that with a vengeance, of course, a lot of times when you look at the people who have brought
information forward about this controversy or that controversy, often started by the president, the fact of the matter is, he's dealing with the
truth.
[10:40:00] And that sometimes is hard for this president to take.
ANDERSON: To both of you gentlemen, thank you. You're watching Connect the World, viewers. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, in a show of how
important what we do as journalists is.
The Washington Post exposes a woman that's making some serious but false allegations. And Donald Trump hits the media again especially this
network. We will separate the facts for you from the fiction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Over the past few weeks we've heard wave after wave of sexual assault allegations against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Many news
outlets have covered these stories, including CNN.
But for real news organizations, allegations as serious as this, like everything else, are placed under the microscope, fact checking, not only
the stories that we are told, but the people bringing them to us as well.
Well the Washington Post demonstrated the power of investigative journalism after a woman approached them claiming she was a victim of Moore. CNN's
Brian Stelter walks us through the full story here. Brian, explain if you will.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is an extraordinary and really disgusting example of an anti-media campaign. An attempt to embarrass The
Washington Post, expose its alleged bias, actually backfired on the conservative organization that tried to pull this off. Let me start here
at the beginning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STELTER: The Washington Post says this woman identified as Jamie Phillips approached the paper about three weeks ago, falsely claiming that Senate
GOP nominee Roy Moore impregnated her as a teenager, leading to an abortion.
During routine fact-checking, The Post uncovered several inconsistencies in her story, including in this fundraising post for a woman with the same
name that said she accepted a job working for a conservative media outlet to combat the mainstream media. In a subsequent interview, reporters
pressed Phillips about that online post and explained that she was being video recorded.
STEPHANIE MCCRUMMEN, WASHINGTON POST REPORTER: Do you still have an interest in working in the conservative media movement to combat the lies
and deceit of the liberal MSM? Is that still your interest?
JAMIE PHILLIPS, FALSELY ACCUSED ROY MOORE: No, not really.
MCCRUMMEN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Not at this point.
MCCRUMMEN: No?
STELTER: Phillips claimed that the job was with The Daily Caller. But the site's executive editor later told The Post that none of us has interviewed
a woman by the name Jamie Phillips.
During previous conversations, The Post says that Phillips pressed reporters to give their opinions on the effects that her claims could have
on Moore's candidacy, raising eyebrows. But she insisted that she was not working with anyone that targets journalists.
MCCRUMMEN: Are you in contact with other people?
[10:45:00] Are you in contact with the Roy Moore campaign?
PHILLIPS: No, no.
MCCRUMMEN: Or Steve Bannon?
PHILLIPS: No.
MCCRUMMEN: Or Breitbart?
PHILLIPS: No, not at all.
STELTER: However, on Monday, reporters for The Post saw Phillips entering the offices of Project Veritas, an organization that uses fake stories and
secret recordings to try to discredit news outlets.
AARON DAVIS, WASHINGTON POST REPORTER: Did Jamie Phillips work for Project Veritas? Did you guys send her to pose as a victim of Roy Moore to The
Washington Post?
JAMES O'KEEFE, FOUNDER, PROJECT VERITAS: I'm 15 minutes late to this meeting. So, I got to -- I got to run. But I will -- we will get in touch
with you, OK?
STELTER: Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe refusing to answer repeated questions.
DAVIS: Did Jamie Phillips work for Project Veritas? Did you send her to approach The Washington Post under a false name and with a fake story? If
you're not going to answer that question, we're done.
O'KEEFE: I want to talk about one of your national...
DAVIS: I'm disappointed. All right.
STELTER: The newspaper now stinging the supposed sting artist, deciding to publish off-the-record details, saying this so-called off the record
conversation was the essence of a scheme to deceive and embarrass us. We weren't fooled and we can't honor an off the record agreement that was
solicited in maliciously bad faith.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STELTER: Inventing a fake sexual assault allegation in order to discredit real women who have come forward and embarrass the news outlet that covered
those allegations, I don't know, I can't see how can you ever think much lower than that.
ANDERSON: Yes and given the context of going on at present, it's relatively unique, isn't it? That the -- an organization like the
Washington Post, as they say, would just dumped the idea and off the record but important at this point.
STELTER: Absolutely right. You know, for example, The Washington Post is the outlet that broke the Roy Moore story three weeks ago, reported the
first allegations it has to Moore, that's why this conservative provocateur decided to target The Post and try to expose its liberal bias.
But of course, what it really exposed was The Washington Post being careful, being accurate, you know, the attempt here was to support Roy
Moore and hurt The Washington Post. And that obviously back fired.
Meantime, Roy Moore is in Alabama, continuing to sort of campaign, mostly avoiding public events. Always avoiding interviews and he's going to see
if he can win the race in Alabama.
Two Fox News photo journalists were actually manhandled at a campaign event last night. Their cameras were shove off to the side. It seems that
Moore's campaigning is really trying to avoid the press.
But at the same time you have these conservative groups trying to prop up more and smear the Washington Post as an example of the complicated and
fraught times for news outlets trying to just accurately cover this campaign.
ANDERSON: Which is why it's extremely important that you and I had this discussion, thank you, Brian. Brian Stelter is in New York for you.
Stories like that show us just how powerful and essential reporting is.
So next up, this team, our team, my team here, are going to show you what it's like for journalists right here at CNN who risk their lives to bring
you the world or bring the world to you with facts first.
[10:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well tonight's Parting Shots for you, Donald Trump again criticizing his favorite target, media, and specifically us here at CNN on
Twitter.
He asked if we were most dishonest, corrupt and/or distorted in our political coverage. Well we are used to coming under fire and in some
cases actual gun fire here at CNN, CNN International, CNN's reporters and some that you have seen this hour as well our producers, our camera
operators and other crew risk their lives in some of the most dangerous places. Why? Well want to bring you the facts first.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(GUNFIRE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ISIS is less than a kilometer away, firing at Iraqi Special Forces' position. This is a constant day in and
day out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait!
(RAPID GUNFIRE)
(SCREAMING)
WALSH: We're leaving in area, there's gunfire all around us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've never been this far inside rural North Korea.
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We have to wrap it up right now, because our escorts are understandably quite anxious about spending too much time
on scene.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The panicked family, trapped in their room, smashed the window and screamed for help. We managed to get the mother across to
safety using a foam mattress and it immediately became clear the cause of her panic. Her daughter was severely disabled.
(GUNFIRE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They and we accordingly open. We're seemingly taking a potshot at something in the distance. A lot of the
fight has then opened up. I know some bit (Inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Minutes into our flight now, Sabina stopped breathing. This young woman is going into cardiac arrest. It is aggressive, but I
just delivered a cardiac thump. A quick strong hit to the chest. Whether it work or not, I can't say for sure, but she came back.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is basically what is left of rebel- held Aleppo. The streets are largely deserted, the buildings have been destroyed, and the people who once lived here have been pushed out.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do know that there's a Taliban stronghold about a few meters from here, in base of these mountains.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Across the world, people watching this broadcast is that Zimbabweans are celebrating. How do you feel?
(CHEERS)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, today of nothing, finally (Inaudible) around the compound and are getting attacked all sides.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, hassle up, grab it and be ready!
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These are locals here, we're handing out whatever they have. And you can see the children, the families running
to collect. International aid organizations are trying to make it more organized approach.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's really not a matter of if, but probably when, when it comes to North Korea.
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've got little Aziza (ph) here, she is not happy, because she says her father got left behind.
(GUNFIRE)
WATSON: The gunners are opening fire targets below. They're protecting the helicopter, but it's terrifying these little kids who are traumatized
after a week trapped on that mountain.
The problem is, we're flying over ISIS front lines. This is the only protection we have right now, to protect the aircraft and its precious
cargo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of a sudden, this area filled with smoke. There is concern that may be another bomb or another attack coming. So they've
asked for all the lights to be turned off. They don't want to be a target themselves.
WARD: They are not welcome on this shore, the coast guard waves them further on. How many hours have you been on the boat? Since early in the
morning? Do you know how to swim?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)
WARD: No one does.
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've been waiting the last few hours just to receive word as to whether the auction has started. I'm
speechless. I don't know how to put this into words. There were human beings auctioning off other human beings.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We realize we're trapped. Vehicles, wreckage, everywhere. Our MRAP takes a direct hit.
(BEEP)
[10:55:00] LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even FEMA hasn't set foot in some parts of Puerto Rico. This woman doesn't even know who I am. But I'm
the first person seems to land here since hurricane Maria battered the island.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, you can always follow the stories at the team here is working on throughout the day and often on the Facebook site. You will
find out much of what some of our reporters around the world are doing from some of the world's most dangerous places.
The very best that CNN has to offer. Including things like my interview with the F1 legend Jackie Stewart. Check it all out by going to
Facebook.com/cnnconnect. I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World, thank you for watching. I'm going to leave you with these images. We all
after all are just human, right?
END
