1 00:00:00,834 --> 00:00:21,621 We go further, so you can. >> IMAGINE NOT FLINCHING TO THE THUNDER OF INCOMING SHELLS AS YOU WALK THROUGH WAR. 2 00:00:21,621 --> 00:00:30,830 WE MET UKRAINIANS WITH AMAZING SURVIVAL STORIES, IN THE FACE OF THE RUSSIAN ASSAULT-- AND WE SAW GROWING BREAD LINES, IN A 3 00:00:30,830 --> 00:00:36,936 COUNTRY THAT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD EXPORTERS IN THE WORLD. >> SO WE'RE TAKING FOOD FROM THE 4 00:00:36,936 --> 00:00:41,641 HUNGRY CHILDREN AND GIVING IT TO THE STARVING CHILDREN. ( TICKING ) >> WHAT'S EUROVISION? 5 00:00:41,641 --> 00:00:48,848 ♪ ♪ ♪ WELL, IT RIVALS ANY MAJOR EUROPEAN SPORTING EVENT, ♪ ♪ ♪ 6 00:00:48,848 --> 00:00:56,122 PITTING NATION AGAINST NATION, WITH MOST OF THE CONTINENT TUNING IN ON THE FINAL NIGHT. WE WENT TO ICELAND, AND TALKED 7 00:00:56,122 --> 00:01:04,831 TO THE PRESIDENT. ♪ ♪ ♪ YES THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT, ABOUT WHY WINNING EUROVISION THIS YEAR 8 00:01:04,831 --> 00:01:09,702 WOULD BE A DREAM FOR THIS ISLAND DANCING IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. AND REALLY, HOW MUCH DID ANYONE KNOW ABOUT SWEDEN... 9 00:01:09,702 --> 00:01:17,676 ( ♪ WATERLOO ♪ ) ...BEFORE ABBA WON EUROVISION IN 1974? ( TICKING ) 10 00:01:17,676 --> 00:01:24,884 >> MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BECOME FOLLOWERS OF A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT BIRDS AREN'T REAL. 11 00:01:24,884 --> 00:01:30,890 THAT'S RIGHT. THE BIRDS YOU THINK YOU SEE FLYING IN THE SKY ARE ACTUALLY GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE DRONES. 12 00:01:30,890 --> 00:01:40,667 SOUND INSANE? IT'S MEANT TO. THE BIRDS AREN'T REAL MOVEMENT IS, THANKFULLY, PURE SATIRE, 13 00:01:40,667 --> 00:01:45,705 INTENDED TO MIRROR SOME OF THE ABSURDITY THAT'S TAKEN FLIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 14 00:01:48,140 --> 00:01:53,179 ( TICKING ) I'M LESLEY STAHL. I'M BILL WHITAKER. I'M ANDERSON COOPER. 15 00:01:53,179 --> 00:01:57,817 I'M SHARYN ALFONSI. I'M JON WERTHEIM. I'M SCOTT PELLEY. THOSE STORIES, TONIGHT, ON 16 00:01:57,817 --> 00:02:07,560 "60 MINUTES." ( TICKING ) 17 00:02:09,696 --> 00:02:15,134 >> Scott Pelley: IN EUROPE, THESE ARE DAYS OF PERILOUS ESCALATION. FIGHTING HAS SPILLED BEYOND UKRAINE INTO NEIGHBORING 18 00:02:15,134 --> 00:02:24,244 RUSSIA AND MOLDOVA. TODAY, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, NANCY PELOSI, SAID SHE, AND A U.S. DELEGATION MET WITH 19 00:02:24,244 --> 00:02:31,818 UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, AND PLEDGED U.S. SUPPORT UNTIL "VICTORY IS WON." CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING 20 00:02:31,818 --> 00:02:38,691 $33 BILLION IN AID WHILE THE U.S. RUSHES HEAVY ARTILLERY INTO THE FIGHT. YESTERDAY, MORE RUSSIAN MISSILES 21 00:02:38,691 --> 00:02:48,801 STRUCK THE VITAL PORT CITY OF ODESA. ODESA IS A MAJOR EXPORTER OF GRAIN AND TONIGHT, THE HEAD OF 22 00:02:48,801 --> 00:02:55,841 THE UNITED NATIONS' WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME TELLS US, THE SEAPORT THERE MUST BE REOPENED TO PREVENT STARVATION. 23 00:02:55,841 --> 00:03:02,682 THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME IS FEEDING THE HUNGRY IN UKRAINE WHILE FIGHTING FAMINE AROUND THE WORLD. 24 00:03:02,682 --> 00:03:14,694 WE TRAVELED TO UKRAINE AND THE PORT OF ODESA, TO WITNESS THE HARVEST OF WAR. FAITH DRAWS HUNDREDS TO A CHURCH 25 00:03:14,694 --> 00:03:25,905 IN ODESA, A CITY WHERE EVERYDAY, THE WAR'S EVACUEES COLLECT 10,000 LOAVES OF HOPE. THEY COME, WEARING THE CLOTHES 26 00:03:25,905 --> 00:03:37,951 OF A PREVIOUS LIFE, WITH NOTHING IN THEIR SACKS, NO JOB, NO HOME, JUST A CHANCE TO ENDURE ANOTHER DAY OF WAR WITHOUT HUNGER. 27 00:03:37,951 --> 00:03:49,896 AROUND THE CORNER, THOSE WHO ALREADY HAD WORRIES ENOUGH, COLLECT MERCY IN BOXES THAT FEED A FAMILY OF FOUR FOR TWO WEEKS. 28 00:03:49,896 --> 00:04:01,207 PASTA, OIL, CANNED MEAT. IT COMES TO 38.5 POUNDS SO; A MOM CAN REALLY USE A HAND. IN UKRAINE, THE UNITED NATIONS' 29 00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:06,746 WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME IS RUNNING HUNDREDS OF SITES LIKE THIS. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU FEAR MIGHT BE STARVING IN THIS 30 00:04:06,746 --> 00:04:12,785 COUNTRY? IN ODESA, WE SPOKE WITH DAVID BEASLEY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE U.N.'S WORLD FOOD 31 00:04:12,785 --> 00:04:18,725 PROGRAMME. >> David Beasley: YOU GOT TO ASSUME THAT MILLIONS ARE AT STAKE RIGHT NOW. 32 00:04:18,725 --> 00:04:24,430 WE'RE REACHING ABOUT 2 MILLION ALREADY. WE HOPE TO SCALE UP TO 4 MILLION IN THE WEEKS AHEAD AND 6 MILLION 33 00:04:24,430 --> 00:04:31,337 BEYOND THAT. IT'S GOT TO BE DEPENDENT UPON TWO THINGS: MONEY AND ACCESS. >> Pelley: BUT ACCESS HAS BEEN 34 00:04:31,337 --> 00:04:39,979 CUT OFF TO THE WAR'S VICTIMS IN THE HEAVILY BESIEGED CITIES OF EASTERN UKRAINE. >> Beasley: WE CAN'T REACH THEM. 35 00:04:39,979 --> 00:04:46,319 WE'RE BLOCKED. WE CAN'T GET INTO THE BESIEGED CITIES LIKE MARIUPOL, MYKOLAIV, AND KHERSON, AND I COULD GO ON 36 00:04:46,319 --> 00:04:54,159 AND ON. THEY HAVE TO BE STARVING. >> Pelley: WHY WOULD THE RUSSIANS NOT ALLOW FOOD TO BE 37 00:04:54,159 --> 00:05:01,734 DELIVERED TO STARVING PEOPLE? >> Beasley: IT'S BEYOND IMAGINATION. WHY WOULD YOU DENY INNOCENT 38 00:05:01,734 --> 00:05:10,743 VICTIMS OF WAR, FOOD? NON-COMBATANTS? IT'S JUST WRONG. EVIL. 39 00:05:10,743 --> 00:05:22,822 >> Pelley: EVIL, THAT ANDRII KHLUDOV HAS WITNESSED. KHLUDOV'S FAMILY ESCAPED THIS. THEIR HOMETOWN OF MARIUPOL HAD 40 00:05:22,822 --> 00:05:30,830 400,000 RESIDENTS. RUSSIAN FORCES COULDN'T TAKE IT, SO THEY ARE SHELLING MARIUPOL TO RUIN. 41 00:05:30,830 --> 00:05:38,838 >> Andrii Khludov ( translated ): WE ALL LOST LOVED ONES, RELATIVES, HOUSES, JOBS. 42 00:05:38,838 --> 00:05:46,179 I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT WE WOULD CALL A NORMAL EVERYDAY LIFE, ALL OF IT IS GONE. >> Pelley: YOU SHOT A VIDEO IN 43 00:05:46,179 --> 00:05:50,817 MARIUPOL. WHY DID YOU SHOOT IT, AND WHAT IS ON IT? >> Khludov ( translated ): 44 00:05:50,817 --> 00:06:02,095 I FILMED THE VIDEO TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON. >> Pelley: KHLUDOV RECORDED THE EVIDENCE, SOMEHOW NUMB TO THE 45 00:06:02,095 --> 00:06:14,907 SHELLS THUNDERING IN THE DISTANCE. IT'S A TOUR OF MISERY; BLOCKS OF SHATTERED APARTMENT BUILDINGS, 46 00:06:14,907 --> 00:06:34,894 AND CRATERS ON THE LAND. >> Khludov ( translated ): THERE ARE NO MORE UNDAMAGED HOUSES, STORES, PHARMACIES, OR 47 00:06:34,894 --> 00:06:46,906 SCHOOLS LEFT. >> Pelley: HIS PARTNER, HANNA, SAID, "I HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. 48 00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:56,082 HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THINGS LIKE THIS." ROSTYSLAV IS 15, A YOUNG MAN WHO CLOTHES HIMSELF IN HOPE OVER 49 00:06:56,082 --> 00:07:08,361 EXPERIENCE. >> Rostyslav ( translated ): HOUSES WERE HIT BY MISSILES, APARTMENTS, CARS BLOWN UP. 50 00:07:08,361 --> 00:07:17,069 WE HAD GRAVES IN OUR YARDS, A LOT OF GRAVES. >> Pelley: VLADIMIR PUTIN SAYS THAT HE IS LIBERATING THE PEOPLE 51 00:07:17,069 --> 00:07:30,049 OF UKRAINE. >> Khludov ( translated ): OH, HE'S LIBERATING US: FROM HOUSING, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, 52 00:07:30,049 --> 00:07:38,957 COMFORT, WORK, HOME. LIBERATING US FROM LIFE. IF KILLING IS LIBERATING, THEN THEY'RE LIBERATING US. 53 00:07:38,957 --> 00:07:50,169 >> Pelley: ODESA HAS HAD ENOUGH OF LIBERATION. THIS MONTH, AN OIL TERMINAL WAS DESTROYED. 54 00:07:50,169 --> 00:08:01,414 THEN, ON APRIL 23rd, THE DAY BEFORE ORTHODOX EASTER, A MISSILE BLEW A FOUR-STORY HOLE THROUGH THIS APARTMENT BUILDING 55 00:08:01,414 --> 00:08:07,353 ON KOROL'OVA STREET. VALERIA GLODAN AND HER THREE-MONTH-OLD DAUGHTER, KIRA, WERE KILLED ALONG WITH SIX 56 00:08:07,353 --> 00:08:19,031 OTHERS. 145 ARE HOMELESS. ODESA'S MAYOR, GENNADIY TRUKHANOV, TOOK US IN SO THE 57 00:08:19,031 --> 00:08:27,039 WORLD COULD SEE IT, UP CLOSE. >> Gennadiy Trukhanov ( translated ): THESE ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE IN THESE 58 00:08:27,039 --> 00:08:35,014 APARTMENTS. THEY WERE PREPARING FOR EASTER. EVERYONE COOKING EASTER CAKES, COOKING FOOD. 59 00:08:35,014 --> 00:08:42,655 A FAMILY CELEBRATION. >> Pelley: WHO WOULD GIVE THIS KIND OF ORDER? >> Trukhanov ( translated ): 60 00:08:42,655 --> 00:08:53,266 THIS COULD BE DONE ONLY BY THOSE WHO AREN'T HUMAN. WHEN I TURN TO GOD, I ASK THAT HE WILL ENLIGHTEN RUSSIAN 61 00:08:53,266 --> 00:08:59,305 SOLDIERS, RUSSIAN OFFICERS, SO THEY WILL NOT LOSE THEIR HUMANITY. AT LEAST, THOSE WHO HAVE NOT 62 00:08:59,305 --> 00:09:06,812 LOST IT ALREADY. >> Pelley: THROUGH THE WEAVE OF REBAR, WE NOTICED LYUDMYLA. SHE AND HER KIDS WEREN'T HOME 63 00:09:06,812 --> 00:09:14,220 THAT MORNING, BUT HER HUSBAND WAS. >> Lyudmyla ( translated ): MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING RIGHT 64 00:09:14,220 --> 00:09:19,091 THERE, RIGHT BEHIND YOU. AND AT THE MOMENT OF THE EXPLOSION, HE GOT OUT THROUGH THE WINDOW, BUT HE WAS BADLY 65 00:09:19,091 --> 00:09:31,103 BURNED. >> Pelley: ANDREY WAS BURNED, OVER 40% OF HIS BODY. >> Lyudmyla ( translated ): 66 00:09:31,103 --> 00:09:38,444 MY HUSBAND WILL RECOVER. ALL THE MONEY WE HAD, BURNED. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT. BUT I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS. 67 00:09:38,444 --> 00:09:50,323 AND PEOPLE HELP, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. >> Pelley: OPTIMISM, SCAVENGED FROM INADEQUATE MATERIALS, SEEMS 68 00:09:50,323 --> 00:09:59,198 TO PREVAIL IN ODESA. THIS SETTLEMENT ON THE BLACK SEA BEGAN NEARLY 3,000 YEARS AGO. TODAY, 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE DEFY 69 00:09:59,198 --> 00:10:11,077 THE RUSSIANS, BY SIMPLY GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY, INTERRUPTED FROM TIME TO TIME BY SIRENS AND A RECORDED VOICE-- 70 00:10:11,077 --> 00:10:21,554 "DEAR CITIZENS, TAKE COVER." ( AIR RAID SIRENS ) ODESA'S PORT IS CLOSED. WHICH HAS CUT OFF ONE OF THE 71 00:10:21,554 --> 00:10:31,097 WORLD'S LARGEST EXPORTERS OF FOOD. UKRAINE, THE SIZE OF TEXAS, IS NUMBER FOUR IN CORN AND WHEAT, 72 00:10:31,097 --> 00:10:38,304 NUMBER ONE IN SUNFLOWER OIL. DAVID BEASLEY TOLD US HALF THE WHEAT THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME NEEDS WORLDWIDE IS STUCK IN 73 00:10:38,304 --> 00:10:44,310 UKRAINE. >> Beasley: UKRAINE IS THE BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD. THEY GROW ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED 74 00:10:44,310 --> 00:10:52,852 400 MILLION PEOPLE. WELL, THAT'S GONE. YOU'RE ALREADY SEEING FUEL PRICING SPIKE, FOOD PRICING 75 00:10:52,852 --> 00:10:58,891 SPIKE, COST OF SHIPPING SPIKING. IT'S ALREADY CREATING HAVOC FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR AROUND THE WORLD. 76 00:10:58,891 --> 00:11:07,767 BUT THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT NOT JUST THE POOREST OF THE POOR, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERYBODY. >> Pelley: BEASLEY IS THE FORMER 77 00:11:07,767 --> 00:11:17,643 GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA. HE'S LED THE U.N.'S WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME FOR FIVE YEARS. HIS $10 BILLION AGENCY FIGHTS 78 00:11:17,643 --> 00:11:27,253 HUNGER TRIGGERED BY POVERTY, CROP FAILURE AND WAR. TODAY, IN 81 COUNTRIES, W.F.P. IS FEEDING MORE THAN 145 MILLION 79 00:11:27,253 --> 00:11:36,962 PEOPLE. IN 2016, WE WERE WITH THEM IN SOUTH SUDAN AS THEY DROPPED FOOD TO VILLAGES CUT OFF BY MONSOON 80 00:11:36,962 --> 00:11:41,567 RAINS. >> Beasley: SO, JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT CAN'T GET ANY WORSE, ETHIOPIA, AFGHANISTAN. 81 00:11:41,567 --> 00:11:47,173 AND YOU SAY, "IT JUST CAN'T GET ANY WORSE." THEN BOOM, UKRAINE. BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD, NOW 82 00:11:47,173 --> 00:11:55,347 BREAD LINES. >> Pelley: THE LOSS OF THAT UKRAINIAN BREADBASKET MAY BE FELT AROUND THE WORLD FOR YEARS 83 00:11:55,347 --> 00:12:01,954 ACCORDING TO ARIF HUSEIN, THE W.F.P.'S CHIEF ECONOMIST. >> Arif Husain: THIS IS THE TIME FOR FARMERS TO BE OUT THERE 84 00:12:01,954 --> 00:12:05,591 PLANTING CORN. >> Pelley: RIGHT NOW? >> Husain: RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THEIR TIME, AND THEY ARE 85 00:12:05,591 --> 00:12:10,763 NOT. WHY? BECAUSE FARMERS ARE SOLDIERS. WHY? 86 00:12:10,763 --> 00:12:15,501 BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH DIESEL. LOOK AT WHEAT. RIGHT NOW, IN THE GROUND IS WHAT 87 00:12:15,501 --> 00:12:23,242 IS THE WINTER WHEAT. IT NEEDS PESTICIDES. IT NEEDS FERTILIZER. SAME ISSUES. 88 00:12:23,242 --> 00:12:30,349 NO LABOR, NO FUEL, NO MACHINERY. OUR ESTIMATES ARE BETWEEN 30% TO 50% WILL ACTUALLY BE HARVESTED. WOULD THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE 89 00:12:30,349 --> 00:12:34,987 WORLD? HELL YES, IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD. >> Beasley: WE HAVE TO OPEN UP 90 00:12:34,987 --> 00:12:41,327 THESE PORTS. YOU, YOU'VE GOT TO OPEN THEM UP AND WE GOT TO PROTECT THEM SO THAT FOOD CAN MOVE IN AND OUT OF 91 00:12:41,327 --> 00:12:49,602 THIS COUNTRY FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD. IT'S A HUMANITARIAN NEED, THE WORLD DEMANDS IT, WE HAVE TO 92 00:12:49,602 --> 00:12:58,878 HAVE THOSE PORTS OPEN, WE HAVE TO. >> Pelley: YOU SEEM TO BE SUGGESTING THAT N.A.T.O. 93 00:12:58,878 --> 00:13:07,319 WARSHIPS WOULD HAVE TO COME INTO THE BLACK SEA TO SECURE THE SHIPPING OUT OF THE PORT. >> Beasley: I'M A HUMANITARIAN 94 00:13:07,319 --> 00:13:13,926 GUY, BUT IT ISN'T COMPLICATED. THE WORLD LEADERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME TOGETHER SOMEHOW AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PROTECT 95 00:13:13,926 --> 00:13:17,463 THESE SEAWAYS. THE PORTS HAVE GOT TO BE OPENED UP. SO, WHATEVER THE WORLD LEADERS 96 00:13:17,463 --> 00:13:23,302 NEED TO DO, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO THEM. BUT I KNOW ONE THING, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. 97 00:13:23,302 --> 00:13:32,578 >> Pelley: TIME AND MONEY. DAVID BEASLEY TOLD US HIS BUDGET IS SHORT $10 BILLION WORLDWIDE BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF 98 00:13:32,578 --> 00:13:39,285 FUEL, FOOD, SHIPPING, ALL MULTIPLIED BY COVID. >> Beasley: SCOTT, BEFORE UKRAINE I WAS ALREADY CUTTING 99 00:13:39,285 --> 00:13:44,823 RATIONS TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. WE'VE ALREADY CUT RATIONS TO OVER 8 MILLION PEOPLE DOWN TO 100 00:13:44,823 --> 00:13:51,096 50%. IMAGINE TELLING YOUR CHILD, "I CAN ONLY FEED YOU HALF OF WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY 101 00:13:51,096 --> 00:13:55,467 DIET." >> Pelley: HOW DO YOU PRIORITIZE? >> Beasley: SO, WE'RE TAKING 102 00:13:55,467 --> 00:14:01,840 FOOD FROM THE HUNGRY CHILDREN AND GIVING IT TO THE STARVING CHILDREN. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT 103 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:08,581 NOW. >> Pelley: FOR ALL THE MILLIONS HE'S REACHING, EVEN WITH HALF RATIONS, BEASLEY IS MOST WORRIED 104 00:14:08,581 --> 00:14:14,587 ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE LIKELY STARVING IN RUSSIAN OCCUPIED UKRAINE. HE IS PERSONALLY NEGOTIATING 105 00:14:14,587 --> 00:14:20,593 WITH RUSSIA FOR ACCESS. >> Beasley: I HAVE WRITTEN. I HAVE CALLED. I KNOW THE UNITED NATIONS' DOING 106 00:14:20,593 --> 00:14:26,398 EVERYTHING IT CAN IN GENERAL TO GIVE US THE ACCESS BECAUSE WE ARE IMPARTIAL. WE'RE NEUTRAL. 107 00:14:26,398 --> 00:14:31,470 AND ALL WE'RE ASKING IS, "GIVE US THE ACCESS TO REACH THE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF THIS WAR." >> Pelley: BUT IT IS IN THE 108 00:14:31,470 --> 00:14:38,577 RUSSIANS' INTEREST TO STARVE THOSE PEOPLE OUT. >> Beasley: WELL, SURE WOULD APPEAR SO, WOULDN'T IT? 109 00:14:38,577 --> 00:14:47,353 >> Pelley: FOOD IS NOW A WEAPON IN THIS WAR. A RESTAURANT COOKING FOR THE DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATION, 110 00:14:47,353 --> 00:14:55,461 WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN, WAS HIT IN AN AIR STRIKE, WOUNDING FOUR. AND NOTICE THE SANDBAGS SHIELDING THE CHURCH BASEMENT; 111 00:14:55,461 --> 00:15:05,471 THE EMERGENCY RATIONS ARE DOWN THERE AND NO ONE HAS CONFIDENCE THAT THE CHURCH ISN'T A TARGET. THE KHLUDOV FAMILY OF MARIUPOL 112 00:15:05,471 --> 00:15:14,647 HAS NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT A RUTHLESS ENEMY. I WONDER IF YOU THINK YOUR FAMILY HAS A FUTURE IN UKRAINE. 113 00:15:14,647 --> 00:15:26,759 >> Khludov ( translated ): I WOULD LIKE UKRAINE TO DESTROY RUSSIA TO THE GROUND. SO THIS FASCIST STATE, FOR WHICH 114 00:15:26,759 --> 00:15:35,968 THERE IS NO PLACE IN MODERN SOCIETY, CEASES TO EXIST. I WOULD LIKE UKRAINE, AND ALL OF US WHO LIVE IN IT, TO START 115 00:15:35,968 --> 00:15:47,413 BUILDING A NEW LIFE, TO BUILD OUR NEW HOME. >> Pelley: WE NOTICED SOMETHING IN THE SANDBAGS GUARDING THE 116 00:15:47,413 --> 00:15:55,654 FOOD SUPPLY-- THE BAGS THEMSELVES. BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO USE FOR THEM NOW, THE PEOPLE OF ODESA 117 00:15:55,654 --> 00:16:07,499 USED SACKS FOR FOOD EXPORT. BAGS MEANT FOR OATS, AND PEAS AND SPICES ARE FILLED INSTEAD WITH SAND-- THE BARREN HARVEST 118 00:16:07,499 --> 00:16:13,072 OF WAR. ( TICKING ) 119 00:16:14,506 --> 00:16:20,746 >> WITNESSING UKRAINE UP CLOSE: >> Pelley: I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIAN 120 00:16:20,746 --> 00:16:28,554 NEIGHBORHOODS. >> AT 121 00:16:30,055 --> 00:16:37,162 >> Jon Wertheim: WITH EUROPE CONVULSED BY WAR, A CAMPY, INTRA-CONTINENTAL SONG CONTEST MIGHT SEEM ESPECIALLY FRIVOLOUS. 122 00:16:37,162 --> 00:16:46,004 BUT IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING: THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL POINT. "EUROVISION" LAUNCHED IN 1956, IN PART A POST WORLD WAR II 123 00:16:46,004 --> 00:16:52,678 EFFORT TO UNIFY EUROPE. A CROSS BETWEEN THE OLYMPICS AND "AMERICAN IDOL," TODAY IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND WACKIEST 124 00:16:52,678 --> 00:16:58,817 MUSICAL EVENT, CONSUMING THE CONTINENT FOR WEEKS EACH YEAR AND CULMINATING IN A LIVE TV SHOW. 125 00:16:58,817 --> 00:17:06,358 THE SEMIFINALS AND FINALS DRAW AN AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 180 MILLION FOR A CONTEST THAT MIGHT PIT A BULGARIAN CROONER 126 00:17:06,358 --> 00:17:14,867 AGAINST A GERMAN DISCO ACT—- LET THE GLITTER AND THE UMLAUTS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. "EUROVISION" 2022 CONCLUDES IN 127 00:17:14,867 --> 00:17:22,875 TURIN, ITALY, LATER THIS MONTH. WE WENT TO ICELAND, A COUNTRY OF 350,000 SOULS WITH AN OUTSIZED PASSION FOR "EUROVISION," TO 128 00:17:22,875 --> 00:17:30,082 MEET THEIR CONTENDERS. FOR ALL THE SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS AND RAINBOWS IN REYKJAVÍK, THE ESSENCE OF 129 00:17:30,082 --> 00:17:36,088 ICELAND REVEALED ITSELF ONE SATURDAY IN MARCH, INSIDE THIS FERTILIZER FACTORY CONVERTED INTO A CONCERT HALL. 130 00:17:36,088 --> 00:17:44,863 >> ♪ TAKE UP THIS STAGE BABY, TURN THIS AROUND ♪ >> Wertheim: RAPPING THEIR WAY OUT OF A GIANT DISCO BALL: THE 131 00:17:44,863 --> 00:17:50,836 DAUGHTERS OF REYKJAVÍK, THE ODDS-ON FAVORITE TO WIN ICELAND'S ANNUAL“ SÖNGVAKEPPNIN,” OR SONG 132 00:17:50,836 --> 00:17:56,842 CONTEST. >> ♪ CALLING OUT IN THE RAIN ♪ >> Wertheim: IT'S A NATIONAL PRELIMINARY, A SORT OF PLAY-IN 133 00:17:56,842 --> 00:18:02,948 TOURNAMENT TO DETERMINE WHO WILL REPRESENT THE COUNTRY AT "EUROVISION" IN ITALY THIS YEAR. ♪ ♪ ♪ 134 00:18:02,948 --> 00:18:08,854 TELL ME THE NAME OF THE CONTEST. >> Jón Jónsson: "SÖNGVAKEPPNIN." >> Wertheim: "SÖNGVAKEPPNIN." >> Jónsson: YOU GOT IT. 135 00:18:08,854 --> 00:18:13,826 >> Wertheim: BACKSTAGE, THE >> Wertheim: BACKSTAGE, THE EVENING'S HOSTS GRACIOUSLY APPROVED OF OUR PRONUNCIATION 136 00:18:13,826 --> 00:18:18,163 AND EXPLAINED "EUROVISION'S" APPEAL. >> Björg Magnúsdóttir: WE HAVE DARKNESS HERE, LIKE, NINE MONTHS 137 00:18:18,163 --> 00:18:24,169 A YEAR. SO, THIS IS KIND OF THE ANTIDEPRESSANT. ( LAUGHS ) 138 00:18:24,169 --> 00:18:30,809 THAT TAKES US FROM DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT. AND ALL THE NATION-- WE DON'T AGREE ON ANYTHING IN ICELAND IN 139 00:18:30,809 --> 00:18:38,951 GENERAL, EXCEPT FOR, LIKE, WE LOVE SWIMMING POOLS AND WE LOVE "EUROVISION." >> Wertheim: DANCING BY ITSELF 140 00:18:38,951 --> 00:18:46,925 IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC, ICELAND USES "EUROVISION" AS A BRIDGE TO THE CONTINENT. LAND OF VOLCANOES AND BLUE 141 00:18:46,925 --> 00:18:54,166 LAGOONS, ONCE THE PROVINCE OF VIKINGS, AND NOW PROUDLY PROGRESSIVE. ♪ ♪ ♪ 142 00:18:54,166 --> 00:18:59,438 RÚNAR GÍSLASON IS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE ICELANDIC CONTEST AND ACCOMPANIES THE WINNERS TO "EUROVISION." 143 00:18:59,438 --> 00:19:07,045 >> Rúnar Gíslason: WE ARE HERE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN ICELAND ON AN ISLAND, ISOLATED. AND WE JUST LOVE TO MEET THE 144 00:19:07,045 --> 00:19:12,718 WORLD AND CONNECT AND UNITE WITH PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> Wertheim: THIS HELPS YOU FEEL MORE A PART OF EUROPE? 145 00:19:12,718 --> 00:19:22,995 >> Gíslason: DEFINITELY. ♪ ♪ ♪ "EUROVISION" IS A TRAVELING CIRCUS WITH A BIG TENT, ONE YOU 146 00:19:22,995 --> 00:19:32,704 TRULY HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE. ♪ ♪ ♪ 40 COUNTRIES SEND ONE ACT-- AND OVER THE YEARS, THEY HAVE RUN 147 00:19:32,704 --> 00:19:38,443 THE GAMUT-- TO PERFORM A THREE-MINUTE SONG FOR A PANEL OF JUDGES AND MILLIONS OF TELEVOTERS. 148 00:19:38,443 --> 00:19:44,349 ♪ ♪ ♪ NO, YOU CANNOT VOTE FOR YOUR OWN COUNTRY. THE WINNING COUNTRY GETS 149 00:19:44,349 --> 00:19:51,256 BRAGGING RIGHTS AND HOSTS "EUROVISION" THE FOLLOWING YEAR. ♪ ♪ ♪ ITALY WON LAST YEAR, FOR THE 150 00:19:51,256 --> 00:19:56,194 THIRD TIME, WITH THE ROCK ACT MÅNESKIN. ♪ ♪ ♪ BUT A NORDIC COUNTRY LAYS CLAIM 151 00:19:56,194 --> 00:20:02,467 TO "EUROVISION'S" MOST FAMOUS WINNER. ♪ WATERLOO, I WAS DEFEATED YOU WON THE WAR ♪ 152 00:20:02,467 --> 00:20:07,039 >> Wertheim: THAT WOULD BE ABBA IN 1974. ♪ ♪ ♪ THE SWEDES, WITH SIX WINS, ARE 153 00:20:07,039 --> 00:20:15,180 THE CONTEST POWERHOUSE. ♪ ♪ ♪ BUT NO COUNTRY ROCKS OUT TO "EUROVISION" HARDER THAN 154 00:20:15,180 --> 00:20:24,222 ICELAND. IT JOINED NATO IN 1949, BUT LOCALS JOKE THE COUNTRY REALLY ARRIVED ON THE INTERNATIONAL 155 00:20:24,222 --> 00:20:30,095 SCENE IN 1986 WHEN IT WAS FIRST ADMITTED TO "EUROVISION." >> Gíslason: THE WHOLE NATION DIDN'T THINK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE 156 00:20:30,095 --> 00:20:37,970 BUT THE COMPETITION. ♪ ♪ ♪ WE HAD WATCHED IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND ENJOYED IT, BUT NOW WE 157 00:20:37,970 --> 00:20:45,177 WERE IN THE COMPETITION. ♪ ♪ ♪ WE REALLY THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD WIN THE COMPETITION. 158 00:20:45,177 --> 00:20:50,248 WE WERE ABSOLUTELY SURE ABOUT THAT. >> Wertheim: ICELAND'S PRESIDENT GUNI JÓHANNESSON RECALLS THE 159 00:20:50,248 --> 00:20:57,356 LETDOWN. HE WAS 17 THEN. NOW, HE IS THE RARE WORLD LEADER WHO CLEARS HIS SCHEDULE AND 160 00:20:57,356 --> 00:21:03,061 OPENS THE DOORS OF HIS RESIDENCE TO TALK "EUROVISION." >> Guni Jóhannesson: I REMEMBER THAT AS IF IT HAD-- HAD HAPPENED 161 00:21:03,061 --> 00:21:10,235 YESTERDAY. IT WAS LIKE, "WHAT?" ZERO POINTS FOR ICELAND, AND WE ENDED UP IN 16th PLACE. 162 00:21:10,235 --> 00:21:15,574 IT WAS A REALITY CHECK FOR US ICELANDERS. >> Wertheim: HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS CONTEST MEANS TO THIS 163 00:21:15,574 --> 00:21:24,282 COUNTRY. >> Jóhannesson: WELL, WE'RE A SMALL NATION. IT'S ME, MY MOTHER, AND SO ON. 164 00:21:24,282 --> 00:21:32,891 WE STILL LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN COMPETE WITH THE BIG GUYS AND THE BIG GIRLS. >> Wertheim: WHAT MAKES FOR A 165 00:21:32,891 --> 00:21:37,663 GOOD ICELANDIC ENTRY INTO THIS CONTINENT-WIDE CONTEST? >> Jóhannesson: I'M NO EXPERT, BUT THE CATCHINESS IS THE KEY 166 00:21:37,663 --> 00:21:42,334 FACTOR THERE. IT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT GRABS YOU. ♪ DON'T YOU KNOW 167 00:21:42,334 --> 00:21:48,974 YOU MAKE ME FEEL BAD ♪ >> Wertheim: AT THE FINAL ROUND OF "SÖNGVAKEPPNIN," FIVE ACTS BELTED OUT ORIGINAL 168 00:21:48,974 --> 00:21:56,715 COMPOSITIONS, ONE CATCHIER THAN THE NEXT. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Gíslason: WE CALL IT THE 169 00:21:56,715 --> 00:22:00,285 ICELANDIC SONG CONTEST AND THE "EUROVISION" SONG CONTEST BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT THE SONG. 170 00:22:00,285 --> 00:22:09,661 IT'S ABOUT THE ACT. ♪ ♪ ♪ IT'S ABOUT THE LIGHTNING AND THE GLIMMER AND THE SHOW OF IT. 171 00:22:09,661 --> 00:22:15,133 ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Wertheim: THE FEMINIST HIP-HOP COLLECTIVE CERTAINLY GOT THAT MEMO. 172 00:22:15,133 --> 00:22:22,374 TELL ME THE NAME OF YOUR BAND? >> REYKJAVÍKURDTUR. >> Wertheim: WHICH MEANS? >> DAUGHTERS OF REYKJAVÍK. 173 00:22:22,374 --> 00:22:26,344 ( LAUGHTER ) >> DiSa: LET'S ANSWER EVERYTHING LIKE THIS. ( LAUGHTER ) 174 00:22:26,344 --> 00:22:30,615 >> Wertheim: HOW LONG HAVE YOU GUYS ALL KNOWN EACH OTHER? >> NINE YEARS. ( LAUGHTER ) 175 00:22:30,615 --> 00:22:35,153 >> Steinunn: WE'VE BEEN A BAND FOR NINE YEARS. >> Steiney: WE DECIDED THIS FALL LIKE, "OKAY, LET'S DO IT THIS 176 00:22:35,153 --> 00:22:43,762 YEAR. AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO GO 190%--" >> Sura: ALL IN-- 177 00:22:43,762 --> 00:22:50,902 >> Steiney: --"IN," YOU KNOW? ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Wertheim: UNQUESTIONABLY THE MOST CHILL OF ICELAND'S 178 00:22:50,902 --> 00:22:56,374 HOPEFULS: SISTERS, SIGGA, BETA, AND ELÍN, THEIR KID BROTHER ON DRUMS, PERFORMING A COUNTRY SONG. 179 00:22:56,374 --> 00:23:03,215 "SÖNGVAKEPPNIN" UNPLUGGED, AS IT WERE. ♪ ♪ ♪ MUSIC RUNS IN THEIR BLOOD. 180 00:23:03,215 --> 00:23:11,189 THEIR MOTHER COMPETED HERE. >> Sigga: BUT SHE CAME SECOND. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. LIKE, WHY? 181 00:23:11,189 --> 00:23:16,728 >> Wertheim: DISAPPOINTMENT IS A REPEATING BEAT IN ICELAND'S RELATIONSHIP WITH "EUROVISION." >> Jóhannesson: WE'VE NEVER WON 182 00:23:16,728 --> 00:23:22,934 THE THING, AS YOU KNOW. TWICE BEEN CLOSE. TWICE IN SECOND PLACE. >> Wertheim: AN HISTORIAN BY 183 00:23:22,934 --> 00:23:30,408 TRADE, PRESIDENT JÓHANNESSON IS A TROVE OF "EUROVISION" TRIVIA. >> Jóhannesson: I CAN EASILY RECALL WINNING ENTRIES. 184 00:23:30,408 --> 00:23:39,217 SANDRA KIM IN '86, BROTHERHOOD OF MAN, SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME IN '76, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. >> Wertheim: YOU KNOW IT'D BE AN 185 00:23:39,217 --> 00:23:47,192 ACT OF JOURNALISTIC MALPRACTICE IF I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO SING. >> Jóhannesson: ( LAUGHS ) I SING IN THE BATHTUB, I SING IN 186 00:23:47,192 --> 00:23:54,533 THE SHOWER. DO I SING LIVE IN "60 MINUTES?" >> Wertheim: HE SURE DOES. >> Jóhannesson: ♪ SAVE YOUR 187 00:23:54,533 --> 00:24:00,438 KISSES FOR ME ♪ SAVE ALL YOUR KISSES FOR ME BYE, BYE ♪ AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. 188 00:24:00,438 --> 00:24:06,311 THAT'S ALL THE SINGING YOU'RE GOING TO GET FROM ME. ♪ SAVE ALL YOUR KISSES FOR ME SAVE ALL YOUR KISSES FOR ME ♪ 189 00:24:06,311 --> 00:24:12,484 >> Wertheim: THAT SONG WON FOR THE U.K. ♪ ♪ ♪ AND, WHILE THERE'S NO BIG CHECK 190 00:24:12,484 --> 00:24:20,692 OR RECORDING CONTRACT AT STAKE, THE WINNER GETS AN UNDENIABLE CAREER BOOST. ♪ ♪ ♪ 191 00:24:20,692 --> 00:24:27,933 CÉLINE DION OF QUEBEC WENT GLOBAL AFTER A WIN FOR SWITZERLAND IN THE '80s. THE RULES ALLOW FOR RINGERS, 192 00:24:27,933 --> 00:24:34,039 EXPLAINED DAVE GOODMAN OF "EUROVISION," THOUGH MOST ACTS SING FOR THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES. >> Dave Goodman: JULIO IGLESIAS 193 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:39,277 DID "EUROVISION" IN THE EARLY 1970s. HE SANG FOR SPAIN. ♪ ♪ ♪ 194 00:24:39,277 --> 00:24:46,885 >> Wertheim: TRUE, BUT IGLESIAS DIDN'T ALWAYS CARE TO ADMIT IT. I GATHER JULIO IGLESIAS WASN'T ALWAYS SO FORTHCOMING ABOUT 195 00:24:46,885 --> 00:24:51,456 HIS-- HIS "EUROVISION" PAST. >> Goodman: IN THE 1980s HE'S ON RECORD AS DENYING HE TOOK PART ACTUALLY. 196 00:24:51,456 --> 00:24:57,462 BUT THERE WAS A PERIOD WHEN IT WASN'T SEEN AS FASHIONABLE TO SAY THAT YOU'D DONE THIS COMPETITION, BECAUSE IT'S 197 00:24:57,462 --> 00:25:03,335 CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS. >> Wertheim: TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, IT SEEMS IN SOME CORNERS PEOPLE MIGHT LOOK DOWN, LOOK 198 00:25:03,335 --> 00:25:09,708 DOWN THEIR NOSE AT "EUROVISION." >> Goodman: YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN CERTAINLY OVER THE YEARS THE IDEA THAT IT'S SORT OF LOW 199 00:25:09,708 --> 00:25:14,246 CULTURE, THE "EUROVISION" SONG CONTEST, BECAUSE IT'S POPULAR. BECAUSE IT'S ENTERTAINMENT. ♪ ♪ ♪ 200 00:25:14,246 --> 00:25:21,286 WE'VE HAD HAMSTER WHEELS ONSTAGE. WE'VE HAD PIANOS ON FIRE. ♪ ♪ ♪ 201 00:25:21,286 --> 00:25:27,058 THE GREAT THING ABOUT "EUROVISION" IS THAT YOU CAN COME WITH ANYTHING YOU LIKE. ♪ ♪ ♪ 202 00:25:27,058 --> 00:25:33,231 >> Wertheim: ICELAND PUSHED THE EUROVISION ENVELOPE THREE YEARS AGO WITH HATARI, SELF-DESCRIBED ANTI-CAPITALIST PERFORMANCE 203 00:25:33,231 --> 00:25:39,804 ARTISTS. ♪ ♪ ♪ AS ICELANDERS DO, THE WHOLE COUNTRY ADOPTED THE LOOK. 204 00:25:39,804 --> 00:25:45,243 ♪ ♪ ♪ AND LEARNED THE LYRICS. >> Jóhannesson: ♪ WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE 205 00:25:45,243 --> 00:25:49,214 IT'S THE END ♪ >> Wertheim: ( LAUGHS ) THIS DOOM MUSIC. >> Jóhannesson: YEAH. 206 00:25:49,214 --> 00:25:55,553 >> Wertheim: AFTER PERFORMING IN THE FINALS, HELD IN ISRAEL THAT YEAR, HATARI SNUCK A PALESTINIAN BANNER UNDER THEIR CLOTHES AND 207 00:25:55,553 --> 00:26:03,395 RAISED IT ON CAMERA. I GATHER ICELAND WAS- WAS FINED FOR THAT? >> Gíslason: YEAH. 208 00:26:03,395 --> 00:26:08,566 IT WAS 500,000 ICELANDIC KRONAS. THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH. AND THEY SHOULD'VE PAID IT, THE GUYS, BUT WE DID. 209 00:26:08,566 --> 00:26:12,671 >> Wertheim: YOU PAID THEIR FINE FOR THEM-- >> Gíslason: YEAH, YEAH, WE DIDN'T CHARGE THEM FOR IT. 210 00:26:12,671 --> 00:26:18,677 >> Goodman: WE'RE VERY, VERY PROTECTIVE OF THE FACT THAT THIS ISN'T A POLITICAL PROGRAM, AND NOT A POLITICAL COMPETITION. 211 00:26:18,677 --> 00:26:24,649 ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Wertheim: AND YET, THE UNION OF EUROPEAN BROADCASTERS THAT PUTS ON THE COMPETITION HAS 212 00:26:24,649 --> 00:26:32,624 BANNED RUSSIA THIS YEAR. UKRAINE, MEANWHILE, SELECTED ITS ACT JUST DAYS BEFORE THE INVASION. 213 00:26:32,624 --> 00:26:36,695 WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN ACT THIS YEAR? >> Goodman: THEY'RE CALLED THE KALUSH ORCHESTRA. 214 00:26:36,695 --> 00:26:42,667 ♪ ♪ ♪ AND THEIR SONG'S CALLED "STEFANIA." I THINK IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THEIR 215 00:26:42,667 --> 00:26:48,673 MOTHER. WE BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE DISPENSATION TO TRAVEL, TO COME TO TURIN. 216 00:26:48,673 --> 00:26:54,245 >> Wertheim: LEAVE UKRAINE AND-- >> Goodman: TO LEAVE UKRAINE. WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT WE WILL SEE THEM IN TURIN. 217 00:26:54,245 --> 00:27:00,752 ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Wertheim: BACK IN REYKJAVÍK, A GROUP OF HARDCORE FANS HAD UKRAINE ON THEIR MINDS AS THEY 218 00:27:00,752 --> 00:27:10,695 ARRIVED BY CHARTERED PARTY BOAT FOR THE ICELANDIC FINAL. AND BACKSTAGE, IT WAS EASY TO FORGET THAT, ULTIMATELY, THIS IS 219 00:27:10,695 --> 00:27:17,902 A COMPETITION. TENSION EMERGED LATER IN THE EVENING, AS RUNAR TABULATED THE RESULTS—- A MIX OF THE JUDGES' 220 00:27:17,902 --> 00:27:23,274 TALLIES AND FANS VOTING BY PHONE. ICELAND'S FIELD WAS WINNOWED TO TWO ACTS: THE DAUGHTERS AND THE 221 00:27:23,274 --> 00:27:30,715 SISTERS. THEN... >> Jónsson: ME HKKANDI SOL. SIGGA, BETA & ELÍN. 222 00:27:30,715 --> 00:27:35,653 >> Wertheim: UPSET AT "SÖNGVAKEPPNIN!" FEW IN THE VENUE WERE MORE SHOCKED THAN THE SISTERS 223 00:27:35,653 --> 00:27:41,493 THEMSELVES. I FEEL LIKE I AM TALKING TO ATHLETES AFTER A BIG GAME. >> Sigga: WE FEEL LIKE THAT. 224 00:27:41,493 --> 00:27:47,465 THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER COMPETED IN ANYTHING. AND WE SUCK IN SPORTS. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A TYPICAL 225 00:27:47,465 --> 00:27:54,739 "EUROVISION" SONG. >> Eytho: THIS IS LIKE AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW. 226 00:27:54,739 --> 00:28:03,648 >> Wertheim: AFTER HUGGING THEIR PARENTS AND, OF COURSE, THE HEAD OF STATE, SIGGA, BETA AND ELÍN SET OFF ACROSS EUROPE ON A TOUR 227 00:28:03,648 --> 00:28:09,988 OF PRE-PARTIES, MAKING NEW FANS ON THE ROAD TO TURIN, JUST AS THEY TRY TO MAKE "EUROVISION" HISTORY FOR THEIR COUNTRY. 228 00:28:09,988 --> 00:28:15,527 WHY HASN'T ICELAND WON THIS DAMN THING? >> Goodman: IT'S ABOUT KEEP TRYING. 229 00:28:15,527 --> 00:28:24,436 ♪ ♪ ♪ A SONG LIKE ICELAND'S CAN DO WELL BECAUSE IT CONNECTS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE SECRET OF 230 00:28:24,436 --> 00:28:30,809 "EUROVISION" IS CREATING A CONNECTION. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Wertheim: THE SISTERS WILL 231 00:28:30,809 --> 00:28:39,551 PERFORM THE SONG, "ME HKKANDI SOL," IN ICELANDIC. TELL ME WHAT THE LYRICS MEAN. >> Sigga: THE CHORUS, "WITH THE 232 00:28:39,551 --> 00:28:47,225 DARKNESS OF WINTER THE SUN RISES." ( SISTERS SPEAKING ICELANDIC ) OH, IT'S JUST MELTS THE-- 233 00:28:47,225 --> 00:28:50,662 >> Elín: MELTS THE HEART. >> Wertheim: WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SOUNDS BETTER IN YOUR NATIVE TONGUE-- 234 00:28:50,662 --> 00:28:55,533 >> Sigga: I TOLD YOU, I TOLD YOU. ( LAUGHS ) ♪ ♪ ♪ 235 00:28:55,533 --> 00:29:03,508 >> Wertheim: AND SO, FOR ALL THE FLAMING PIANOS, ICELAND WILL TRY AND SNAP ITS EUROVISION LOSING STREAK WITH A HARMONY ABOUT THE 236 00:29:03,508 --> 00:29:09,914 SUN RISING AFTER PROLONGED DARKNESS. >> Jóhannesson: WE'RE JUST ESCAPING FROM THIS PANDEMIC. 237 00:29:09,914 --> 00:29:16,855 THERE'S A WAR GOING ON IN EUROPE. WHO WOULD'VE BELIEVED THAT? SO, "EUROVISION" IS FUN, IT 238 00:29:16,855 --> 00:29:21,292 DOESN'T MATTER ONE THING IN THE LARGER SCHEME OF THINGS. BUT IF YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO THINK LIKE THAT-- IF YOU'RE 239 00:29:21,292 --> 00:29:24,362 NEVER GOING TO HAVE FUN THEN WE'RE DOOMED. >> Wertheim: MORE IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER, MAYBE? 240 00:29:24,362 --> 00:29:31,603 >> Jóhannesson: EXACTLY. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Wertheim: MAKE SONGS, NOT WAR. 241 00:29:31,603 --> 00:29:40,478 SOME THINGS NEVER GET LOST IN TRANSLATION. ♪ ♪ ♪ ( TICKING ) 242 00:29:43,681 --> 00:29:52,423 ( TICKING ) >> Sharyn Alfonsi: THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSPIRACY THEORIES: THE MOON LANDINGS WERE FAKE, 243 00:29:52,423 --> 00:30:00,031 ELVIS IS ALIVE, PAUL IS DEAD. BUT AS DISINFORMATION HAS SPROUTED ACROSS THE INTERNET, MORE MALICIOUS CONSPIRACY 244 00:30:00,031 --> 00:30:06,738 THEORIES HAVE ENTERED OUR HOMES, WORKPLACES AND EVEN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS. SO YOU MIGHT NOT BE SURPRISED TO 245 00:30:06,738 --> 00:30:12,510 LEARN THAT MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BECOME FOLLOWERS OF A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT BIRDS AREN'T REAL. 246 00:30:12,510 --> 00:30:19,684 THAT'S RIGHT, THE BIRDS YOU THINK YOU SEE FLYING IN THE SKY ARE ACTUALLY GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE DRONES. 247 00:30:19,684 --> 00:30:25,690 SOUND INSANE? IT'S MEANT TO. THE BIRDS AREN'T REAL MOVEMENT IS, THANKFULLY, PURE SATIRE, 248 00:30:25,690 --> 00:30:31,996 INTENDED TO MIRROR SOME OF THE ABSURDITY THAT'S TAKEN FLIGHT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> Peter McIndoe: ARE YOU READY 249 00:30:31,996 --> 00:30:40,371 TO MARCH? >> YEAH! >> McIndoe: ARE YOU READY TO MARCH, ARE YOU READY TO MARCH? 250 00:30:40,371 --> 00:30:47,245 >> Alfonsi: THAT IS PETER McINDOE, THE FOUNDER OF BIRDS AREN'T REAL, FALLING OVER HIMSELF TO LEAD A FLOCK OF HIS 251 00:30:47,245 --> 00:30:52,951 FOLLOWERS INTO A FRENZY ON THE STREETS OF HOLLYWOOD. >> BIRDS AREN'T REAL! >> Alfonsi: FORTUNATELY, THIS 252 00:30:52,951 --> 00:31:00,592 RALLY, LIKE MOST THINGS IN HOLLYWOOD, IS FAKE. 200 SELF-DESCRIBED BIRD TRUTHERS, ALL IN ON THE ACT, 253 00:31:00,592 --> 00:31:07,498 PLAYFULLY PROTESTED THE VERY SERIOUS-SOUNDING “BIRD DRONE SURVEILLANCE CRISIS.” >> McIndoe: IF IT FLIES? 254 00:31:07,498 --> 00:31:12,103 IT SPIES! IF IT FLIES? IT SPIES! >> Alfonsi: "IF IT FLIES, IT 255 00:31:12,103 --> 00:31:16,307 SPIES," THEY CHANTED. >> McIndoe: BIRDS AREN'T REAL! >> Alfonsi: THEN CALLED OUT THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA'S SUPPOSED 256 00:31:16,307 --> 00:31:23,414 AVIAN AGENDA. >> McIndoe: CNN? PRO-BIRD! >> Alfonsi: ACCUSING CNN OF 257 00:31:23,414 --> 00:31:31,756 BEING PRO-BIRD. A FEW DAYS LATER WE WENT ALONG AS PETER McINDOE, STILL IN CHARACTER, SOMBERLY EXPLAINED TO 258 00:31:31,756 --> 00:31:36,494 US WHY BIRDS AREN'T REAL. SO, WHAT DO BIRD TRUTHERS BELIEVE? >> McIndoe: EVERY SINGLE BIRD IN 259 00:31:36,494 --> 00:31:44,002 THE SKY IS A ROBOT. THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BASICALLY MASSACRED 12 BILLION BIRDS, BEAUTIFUL LIVING BIRDS 260 00:31:44,002 --> 00:31:52,977 UING CROP-DUSTING AIRPLANES FLYING OVER, OVER THE STATES OVER THE COURSE OF 40 YEARS. AND AS THE REAL BIRDS DIED, THE 261 00:31:52,977 --> 00:32:00,318 ROBOTIC DRONES ROSE. NOW WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THERE'S 12 BILLION ROBOTIC BIRDS WATCHING US EVERY SINGLE DAY. 262 00:32:00,318 --> 00:32:04,555 BIRD WATCHING GOES? >> BOTH WAYS! >> McIndoe: BIRD WATCHING GOES? >> BOTH WAYS! 263 00:32:04,555 --> 00:32:10,995 >> Alfonsi: McINDOE KEPT UP THE ACT. >> McIndoe: I NEVER HEAR ANYONE ASKING, "HEY, WHY DON'T OUR 264 00:32:10,995 --> 00:32:16,734 PRESIDENTS TALK?" THEY, THEY, TWEET ON THE BIRD APP WITH THEIR LEFT-WING, OR RIGHT-WING POLITICS, YOU KNOW? 265 00:32:16,734 --> 00:32:23,308 I THINK A LOT STARTS TO UNFOLD, AND THE MATRIX STARTS TO SHATTER THE MORE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK. >> Alfonsi: WHAT BIRD IS MOST 266 00:32:23,308 --> 00:32:27,845 SUSPICIOUS TO YOU? >> McIndoe: REALLY EVERY BIRD. >> Alfonsi: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SEAGULLS? 267 00:32:27,845 --> 00:32:32,317 >> McIndoe: UH, I DON'T TRUST THEM, I'LL TELL YOU THAT. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE BEACH AND YOU GOT SOME FOOD LEFT OVER, 268 00:32:32,317 --> 00:32:37,655 AND A SEAGULL COMES OVER AND TRIES TO GET IT? THAT'S NOT CAUSE IT'S HUNGRY. YOU KNOW, THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA 269 00:32:37,655 --> 00:32:43,828 WANTS TO SELL US THIS LIE THAT, "OH, BIRDS ARE HUNGRY." YOU KNOW, WHEN IN FACT THE SEAGULLS ARE TAKING YOUR FOOD TO 270 00:32:43,828 --> 00:32:47,865 BRING IT BACK TO THE PENTAGON FOR D.N.A. HARVESTING AND TESTING. >> Alfonsi: HOW DO YOU FEEL 271 00:32:47,865 --> 00:32:52,804 ABOUT "60 MINUTES?" I'M SURPRISED YOU'VE DECIDED TO SIT HERE WITH US. >> McIndoe: I'M NOT GOING TO GO 272 00:32:52,804 --> 00:32:59,143 ON NEWS SHOWS, BUT SHOWS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CLOCKS AND TIME I'M OKAY WITH SHARING MY INFORMATION WITH. 273 00:32:59,143 --> 00:33:03,981 AND I, I UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE THE MEDIA. SO, THANKS FOR, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR, ON, ON YOUR 274 00:33:03,981 --> 00:33:09,554 CLOCK SHOW. >> Alfonsi: WITH THAT, HE FINALLY BROKE CHARACTER, AND WE MET THE REAL PETER McINDOE. 275 00:33:09,554 --> 00:33:12,523 >> Alfonsi: YOU'RE THE PERSON THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, BUT HAVEN'T SEEN. >> McIndoe: OKAY, GREAT. 276 00:33:12,523 --> 00:33:15,727 WELL, WONDERFUL TO MEET YOU. >> Alfonsi: YEAH, NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO. >> McIndoe: WELCOME TO BIRD 277 00:33:15,727 --> 00:33:20,832 HISTORY. >> Alfonsi: McINDOE, THE 24-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE DROPOUT BEHIND BIRDS AREN'T REAL IS, 278 00:33:20,832 --> 00:33:28,639 FORTUNATELY, NOTHING LIKE THE MEGAPHONE CARRYING CHARACTER UNDER THE COWBOY HAT. >> McIndoe: WHO WILL SAVE US? 279 00:33:28,639 --> 00:33:37,014 >> Alfonsi: HE TOLD US IT'S ALL A PARODY, AND IT'S SPREAD TO BILLBOARDS, BUMPER STICKERS, AND POPPED UP AT HALFTIME DURING THE 280 00:33:37,014 --> 00:33:40,718 N.C.A.A. MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LAST MONTH. WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF ALL OF 281 00:33:40,718 --> 00:33:48,393 THIS? >> McIndoe: SO, IT'S TAKING THIS CONCEPT OF MISINFORMATION AND ALMOST BUILDING A LITTLE SAFE 282 00:33:48,393 --> 00:33:55,032 SPACE TO COME TOGETHER WITHIN IT AND LAUGH AT IT, RATHER THAN BE SCARED BY IT, AND ACCEPT THE LUNACY OF IT ALL AND BE A BIRD 283 00:33:55,032 --> 00:34:00,338 TRUTHER FOR A MOMENT IN TIME WHEN EVERYTHING'S SO CRAZY. >> BIRD'S AREN'T REAL! HEY! 284 00:34:00,338 --> 00:34:04,675 >> McIndoe: THE VISION WAS CREATING SOMETHING THAT REFLECTED THE ABSURDITY THROUGH THE EYES OF THE MOST CONFUSED 285 00:34:04,675 --> 00:34:08,679 ARCHETYPE. PEOPLE, WHEN THEY MAKE FUN OF ME, DON'T REALIZE PEOPLE ALSO MADE FUN OF THE FOUNDING 286 00:34:08,679 --> 00:34:13,951 FATHERS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY STORMED TH-- THE BRITISH GATES AND TOOK OVER. >> Alfonsi: THE HUMOR IS MEANT 287 00:34:13,951 --> 00:34:23,628 TO BE APOLITICAL. McINDOE'S CO-CONSPIRATORS: CLAIRE CHRONIS, CAMERON KASKY AND CONNOR GAYDOS, SAY IT'S 288 00:34:23,628 --> 00:34:28,699 BECOME AN OUTLET FOR A GENERATION THAT'S BEEN SURROUNDED BY CONSPIRACY THEORIES. 289 00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:35,907 >> Connor Gaydos: IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR I THINK OUR GENERATION TO LAUGH, TO MAKE FUN, TO KIND OF BE LIKE, LOOK, 290 00:34:35,907 --> 00:34:42,547 HERE'S LIKE A LAUNDRY LIST OF THINGS THAT HAVEN'T COME TRUE. >> Cameron Kasky: YOU'VE BEEN LYING TO US SO WE'RE GOING TO 291 00:34:42,547 --> 00:34:47,051 LIE TO YOU BACK, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT REALLY IS FUNNY. >> Alfonsi: IS THERE ANY DANGER 292 00:34:47,051 --> 00:34:52,824 OF ADDING TO THE NOISE? >> Kasky: ALWAYS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT USING LANGUAGE THAT ACTUALLY 293 00:34:52,824 --> 00:34:59,430 HARMFUL AND HATEFUL CONSPIRACY THEORIES USE TO TARGET PEOPLE. >> Alfonsi: CAMERON KASKY WOULD KNOW. 294 00:34:59,430 --> 00:35:04,635 >> Kasky: WELL, I'VE BEEN TARGETED, DOXXED AND HARASSED BY QANON BEFORE. WE ARE THE MASS SHOOTING 295 00:35:04,635 --> 00:35:12,109 GENERATION. >> Alfonsi: WE FIRST MET KASKY IN 2018 AFTER HE SURVIVED THE HORRIFIC SHOOTING AT HIS 296 00:35:12,109 --> 00:35:16,747 PARKLAND, FLORIDA, HIGH SCHOOL WHERE 14 CLASSMATES AND THREE TEACHERS WERE MURDERED. >> WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION. 297 00:35:16,747 --> 00:35:24,055 >> Alfonsi: KASKY HELPED CREATE MARCH FOR OUR LIVES, AN ORGANIZATION THAT CALLS FOR STRONGER GUN LAWS. 298 00:35:24,055 --> 00:35:31,295 >> Kasky: MY FRIENDS AND I WERE CALLED CRISIS ACTORS AND, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF HAD THIS STRANGE PERSPECTIVE ON CONSPIRACY 299 00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:36,767 THEORIES BECAUSE THE INTERNET WAS TELLING ME THAT MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE CHILD TRAFFICKERS BECAUSE THEY'RE 300 00:35:36,767 --> 00:35:40,771 ADOPTION LAWYERS. >> Alfonsi: ISN'T THERE PART OF THIS THAT'S JUST SAYING SIMPLY LOOK AT ALL THESE CONSPIRACY 301 00:35:40,771 --> 00:35:45,943 THEORIES. THEY'RE RIDICULOUS. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE RIDICULOUS SO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS 302 00:35:45,943 --> 00:35:49,347 RIDICULOUS. >> Gaydos: THAT'S THE IDEA. >> Claire Chronis: FIGHTING LUNACY WITH LUNACY. 303 00:35:49,347 --> 00:35:55,586 >> Alfonsi: FIGHTING LUNACY WITH LUNACY. >> Chronis: YEAH. >> Alfonsi: McINDOE'S BEEN 304 00:35:55,586 --> 00:36:01,959 REBELLING SINCE HIS DAYS GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN ARKANSAS. >> McIndoe: I GREW UP IN A REALLY FUNDAMENTALIST COMMUNITY 305 00:36:01,959 --> 00:36:06,964 THAT WAS, LIKE, HYPER CONSERVATIVE. >> Alfonsi: WERE CONSPIRACY THEORIES A PART OF THE 306 00:36:06,964 --> 00:36:10,301 COMMUNITY? >> McIndoe: OH, I MEAN, EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY. >> Alfonsi: REALLY? 307 00:36:10,301 --> 00:36:14,105 >> McIndoe: OH, YEAH. >> Alfonsi: WERE YOU IN TROUBLE A LOT? >> McIndoe: YEAH. 308 00:36:14,105 --> 00:36:24,448 I MEAN, IT WAS JUST CAUSE I'D SPENT MOST OF MY TIME IN THOSE COMMUNITIES ARGUING WITH PEOPLE. THERE WAS HOMECOMING AND I GOT 309 00:36:24,448 --> 00:36:28,819 VOTED MOST LIKELY TO GO TO JAIL. NOT EVEN KIDDING.“ MOST LIKELY TO GO TO JAIL: PETER McINDOE.” 310 00:36:28,819 --> 00:36:35,793 >> Alfonsi: McINDOE STAYED OUT OF JAIL AND ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WITH NO INTENT TO HATCH BIRDS AREN'T 311 00:36:35,793 --> 00:36:44,936 REAL. THE IDEA WAS AN ACCIDENT. A DAY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S INAUGURATION IN 2017, McINDOE 312 00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:48,839 WAS HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDS IN MEMPHIS ON THE ROOF OF A BUILDING WHEN THEY HEARD DEMONSTRATORS IN THE STREETS 313 00:36:48,839 --> 00:36:52,443 BELOW. >> LOVE TRUMPS HATE, LOVE TRUMPS HATE. >> McIndoe: I REMEMBER THINKING 314 00:36:52,443 --> 00:36:56,113 IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING IF SOMEONE WAS IN THIS SITUATION WITH A SIGN THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON 315 00:36:56,113 --> 00:37:00,818 HERE. >> Alfonsi: AND SO, HOW DID YOU GET TO BIRDS AREN'T REAL AS THE THING THAT'S ON THE SIGN? 316 00:37:00,818 --> 00:37:07,158 >> McIndoe: I DON'T EVEN KNOW. IT WAS JUST THE MOST ABSURD THING I COULD THINK OF. I'M ANGRY, AND I'M HERE TO 317 00:37:07,158 --> 00:37:12,897 PROTEST. >> Alfonsi: SIGN IN HAND, HE TOOK TO THE STREETS OF MEMPHIS, AD-LIBBING A STREAM OF 318 00:37:12,897 --> 00:37:17,401 ABSURDITIES. >> McIndoe: WAKE UP AMERICA! BIRDS ARE NOT REAL, THEY'RE A MYTH, THEY'RE AN ILLUSION. 319 00:37:17,401 --> 00:37:23,674 THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> Alfonsi: HIS FRIENDS LAUREN KERSTELL, ALLY PERKINS AND JENNY BAILEY COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT WAS 320 00:37:23,674 --> 00:37:29,046 COMING OUT OF PETER'S MOUTH. >> McIndoe: THEY'RE NOT REAL, THEY'RE FAKE. >> Jenny Bailey: PETER JUST GOES 321 00:37:29,046 --> 00:37:32,283 ALL OUT AND HE JUST STARTS, LIKE, SCREAMING, LIKE RANDOM STUFF, LIKE OFF THE TOP OF HIS HEAD. 322 00:37:32,283 --> 00:37:36,687 LIKE, JUST WHATEVER HE THOUGHT OF IN THE MOMENT. >> Alfonsi: AND IT'S NOT SCRIPTED, HE'S JUST 100%-- 323 00:37:36,687 --> 00:37:39,657 >> Bailey: NO. >> Alfonsi: IMPROVISING THIS MOMENT? >> Bailey: YEAH. 324 00:37:39,657 --> 00:37:43,027 HE'S LIKE, “BIRDS AREN'T REAL. THEY'RE A LIE.” AND JUST LIKE WHATEVER WOULD COME UP TO HIS HEAD, HE'D, LIKE, 325 00:37:43,027 --> 00:37:47,331 SAY IT. >> Lauren Kerstell: IT WAS JUST INCREDIBLE HOW HE CREATED THIS WHOLE CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY 326 00:37:47,331 --> 00:37:50,234 OFF THE BAT. LIKE, HIS IMPROV WAS-- >> Ally Perkins: SO QUICKLY. >> Kerstell: FLAWLESS. 327 00:37:50,234 --> 00:37:53,004 >> Perkins: YEAH, IT WAS IMPRESSIVE. WE WERE LIKE, "OKAY. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?" 328 00:37:53,004 --> 00:38:00,111 >> McIndoe: THERE IS A BIRDEMIC HAPPENING. >> Alfonsi: PETER'S FRIEND ALLY INNOCENTLY POSTED A VIDEO OF 329 00:38:00,111 --> 00:38:05,349 THAT DAY ONLINE, AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED. >> McIndoe: BIRDS ARE NOT REAL. SO, I'M GETTING PICTURES SENT TO 330 00:38:05,349 --> 00:38:10,655 ME OF BIRDS AREN'T REAL GRAFFITI AND BIRDS AREN'T REAL CHALKBOARDS AND SEEING, YOU KNOW, CHANTS. 331 00:38:10,655 --> 00:38:16,027 >> BIRDS AREN'T REAL! >> McIndoe: IN CAFETERIAS AND YOU KNOW STADIUMS LIKE “BIRDS AREN'T REAL” AT HIGH SCHOOLS. 332 00:38:16,027 --> 00:38:20,731 >> Alfonsi: DID YOU THINK AT THAT POINT, LIKE, “THIS IS AWESOME” OR “WHAT HAVE I DONE?” >> McIndoe: I REMEMBER BEING 333 00:38:20,731 --> 00:38:26,237 FASCINATED BY IT. I REMEMBER THINKING, “OKAY, WHY DO PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH THIS SO MUCH?” 334 00:38:26,237 --> 00:38:33,144 AND JUST THINKING, LIKE, THERE WAS THIS ENERGY IN MEMPHIS FOR THIS IDEA, AND THAT I WOULD ALWAYS REGRET IT IF I DIDN'T 335 00:38:33,144 --> 00:38:38,649 LEAN INTO THAT. >> Alfonsi: WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS THINK WHEN YOU SAID,“ I'M DROPPING OUT OF COLLEGE, 336 00:38:38,649 --> 00:38:44,055 I'M MOVING TO MEMPHIS.” >> McIndoe: YEAH... >> Alfonsi: TO START A FAKE CONSPIRACY THEORY? 337 00:38:44,055 --> 00:38:49,393 >> McIndoe: YEAH, I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. I WAS TRYING TO DESCRIBE TO THEM IT COULD BE A VERY INTERESTING 338 00:38:49,393 --> 00:38:55,633 ART PROJECT, SORT OF LIKE A MIRROR TO, YOU NOW, JUST THE SEEMINGLY EXPONENTIALLY GROWING ABSURDITY OF THE WORLD AND 339 00:38:55,633 --> 00:39:03,207 AMERICA. AND, LIKE, IF WE CAN MATCH THAT WITH A CHARACTER IN A LIVING WORLD, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. 340 00:39:03,207 --> 00:39:08,079 AND THEY'RE JUST LOOKING AT ME, LIKE, “PLEASE STICK WITH THE PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE,” YOU KNOW. >> Alfonsi: McINDOE ENLISTED HIS 341 00:39:08,079 --> 00:39:13,017 FRIEND CONNOR GAYDOS, A HISTORY BUFF, TO WRITE A BACKSTORY FOR THE BIRDS MOVEMENT. >> Gaydos: THE C.I.A. WAS SO 342 00:39:13,017 --> 00:39:19,090 SICK AND TIRED OF THE BIRDS POOPING ON THEIR WINDSHIELDS, SO THEY'RE LIKE, "WE'RE SICK OF THIS, WE'RE FED UP WITH THIS. 343 00:39:19,090 --> 00:39:22,860 LET'S HIRE, YOU KNOW, ENGINEERS TO, TO GET RID OF THESE STUPID BIRDS. AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, LET'S 344 00:39:22,860 --> 00:39:29,033 REPLACE THEM WITH ROBOTS AND SPY ON PEOPLE." SO, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A JOKE. >> PLEASE REMEMBER, STAY CALM. 345 00:39:29,033 --> 00:39:34,472 >> Alfonsi: BUT THEN, THEY TOOK THE STORY A STEP FURTHER. EVERY CONSPIRACY NEEDS A“ DEEP STATE” WHISTLEBLOWER. 346 00:39:34,472 --> 00:39:41,011 >> WELL, I SAW SOME THINGS THAT I REALLY WISH I HADN'T SEEN. >> McIndoe: ARE YOU REFERRING TO BIRD-DRONE SURVEILLANCE? 347 00:39:41,011 --> 00:39:48,052 >> YEAH. >> Alfonsi: McINDOE INVENTED, AND INTERVIEWED, A CHARACTER CALLED EUGENE PRICE. 348 00:39:48,052 --> 00:39:54,725 PRICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FORMER C.I.A. OFFICER WHO BURIED EVIDENCE OF THE BIRD GENOCIDE AND THE RISE OF THE DRONES. 349 00:39:54,725 --> 00:40:01,031 WHEN YOU WERE HIRING AN ACTOR TO PLAY EUGENE PRICE, WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THAT ACTOR? >> McIndoe: THE OLDEST MAN I 350 00:40:01,031 --> 00:40:08,305 COULD FIND. I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD JUST HAD SOME GUILT WEIGHING DOWN ON THEM 351 00:40:08,305 --> 00:40:16,914 FOR YEARS. LIKE, I REALLY WANTED BAGS UNDER THE EYES, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. WE RELEASED A VIDEO TITLED "THE 352 00:40:16,914 --> 00:40:21,018 CONFESSION OF EUGENE PRICE," WHERE HE, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON RECORD, AN EX-C.I.A. AGENT CAME OUT AND SAID 353 00:40:21,018 --> 00:40:29,026 EVERYTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE. DID YOU KEEP ANYTHING? >> NO! 354 00:40:29,026 --> 00:40:33,030 >> Alfonsi: THAT VIDEO GOT OVER 10 MILLION VIEWS ON TIKTOK. ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT BIRDS AREN'T REAL? 355 00:40:33,030 --> 00:40:36,600 >> Gaydos: I'VE IRONICALLY MET PEOPLE WHO GO, "OH, I KNOW," AND THEY'LL ACT LIKE THEY'VE ALREADY KNOWN. 356 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:39,336 >> Alfonsi: THAT BIRDS AREN'T REAL? >> Gaydos: YEAH. THEY'LL BE LIKE, "OH, I KNOW, I 357 00:40:39,336 --> 00:40:44,308 KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THE C.I.A.," YOU KNOW, "THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT." >> Alfonsi: BUT THE GAG IS 358 00:40:44,308 --> 00:40:49,013 APPARENT FOR ALL TO SEE IN McINDOE'S BEAT UP VAN THAT HE BOUGHT FOR $2,000. >> McIndoe: THIS IS OUR CHARIOT. 359 00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:56,320 >> Alfonsi: WOW! >> McIndoe: THIS IS OUR LOYAL DUCHESS. TAKES US WHEREVER WE NEED TO GO. 360 00:40:56,320 --> 00:41:00,925 >> Alfonsi: SUPER UNDERSTATED, RIGHT? >> McIndoe: YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE LOW KEY, YOU KNOW? 361 00:41:00,925 --> 00:41:07,498 >> Alfonsi: BLACK, AND WHITE, AND CRAZY ALL OVER. IT IS A MOBILE MANIFESTO CALLING PIGEONS LIARS AND CLAIMING BIRDS 362 00:41:07,498 --> 00:41:13,103 CHARGE ON POWER LINES. >> McIndoe: THE GOVERNMENT HAS SOLD THE PUBLIC ON THIS LIE OF POWER LINES OR, OH, YOU'RE 363 00:41:13,103 --> 00:41:21,011 TALKING TO PEOPLE THROUGH THESE WIRES, TELEPHONE WIRES, YOU KNOW, WHEN REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY PUT UP POLES AND WIRES FOR 364 00:41:21,011 --> 00:41:29,587 DRONES TO SIT ON, AND CHARGE. >> Alfonsi: WE FOLLOWED PETER McINDOE IN HIS VAN AS HE TRIED TO SPREAD THE FEATHERED GOSPEL 365 00:41:29,587 --> 00:41:33,757 ON THE STREETS OF ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. >> McIndoe: I'M PART OF A MOVEMENT THAT BELIEVES EVERY 366 00:41:33,757 --> 00:41:38,062 BIRD IS A GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE DRONE. >> Alfonsi: ONE PERSON THOUGHT HE SHOULD SEEK HELP. 367 00:41:38,062 --> 00:41:41,999 >> MAYBE YOU SHOULD SEE SOMEBODY. >> Alfonsi: ANOTHER WANTED TO PRAY FOR HIM. 368 00:41:41,999 --> 00:41:46,203 >> LORD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PETE. I THANK YOU FOR HIS HEART. >> McIndoe: JUST KNOW YOU'RE 369 00:41:46,203 --> 00:41:49,006 BEING WATCHED. KNOW THAT IT'S-- >> FOR WHAT REASON THOUGH? >> McIndoe: FOR WHAT REASON? 370 00:41:49,006 --> 00:41:51,909 >> YEAH. WHY ARE THEY WATCHING ME? >> McIndoe: THEY WANT MASS CONTROL. 371 00:41:51,909 --> 00:41:56,347 SO, YOU'RE WOKE. >> Alfonsi: REMARKABLY, MOST OF THE UNDER 40 CROWD WAS IN ON THE JOKE. 372 00:41:56,347 --> 00:41:59,650 >> BRO, I'M TIRED OF THOSE BIRDS SITTING ON THE POWER LINES, DRAINING ALL OF OUR POWER, AM I RIGHT? 373 00:41:59,650 --> 00:42:05,155 >> Alfonsi: HOW DO YOU MAKE A LIVING DOING THIS? >> McIndoe: BARELY. I, WE, WE HAVE SHIRTS ON OUR 374 00:42:05,155 --> 00:42:09,159 WEBSITE. >> Alfonsi: DO YOU THINK YOU'LL HAVE TO RELY ON T-SHIRT SALES FOREVER? 375 00:42:09,159 --> 00:42:16,800 >> McIndoe: NO. EVERYONE'S REACHED OUT TO US ABOUT BOOKS AND MOVIES WHICH HAS BEEN INTERESTING, BECAUSE THE 376 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:20,471 IDEA HAS NEVER BEEN PACKAGED INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> LET'S GO! >> Alfonsi: McINDOE SAYS MORE 377 00:42:20,471 --> 00:42:25,276 THAN A MILLION PEOPLE NOW CALL THEMSELVES BIRD TRUTHERS. THEY'VE FLOCKED TO RALLIES AROUND THE COUNTRY. 378 00:42:25,276 --> 00:42:31,682 IN FRONT OF TWITTER'S HEADQUARTERS, THEY DEMANDED THE COMPANY DROP ITS BIRD LOGO. >> THEY'RE TRYING TO BRAINWASH 379 00:42:31,682 --> 00:42:38,322 YOU. >> Alfonsi: AND IN ST. LOUIS... >> BIRDS AREN'T REAL, BIRDS AREN'T REAL. 380 00:42:38,322 --> 00:42:41,458 >> Alfonsi: McINDOE BRAZENLY BURNED A CARDINALS' FLAG IN THE SHADOW OF THE ARCH. >> BIRDS AREN'T REAL! 381 00:42:41,458 --> 00:42:49,166 GO! >> Alfonsi: IN AN AGE OF OUTRAGE, PETER McINDOE IS HOPING TO DROWN OUT THE CHORUS OF CRAZY 382 00:42:49,166 --> 00:42:59,310 IN THIS COUNTRY, WITH A LITTLE CRAZY OF HIS OWN. >> BIRDS AREN'T REAL! BIRDS AREN'T REAL! 383 00:43:01,578 --> 00:43:09,954 ( TICKING ) >> Whitaker: I'M BILL WHITAKER. WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITIO 384 00:43:12,056 --> 00:43:17,127 ( TICKING ) Captioning funded by CBS and FORD. We go further, so you can.