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American Morning
President Bush Travels to Ireland and Turkey for Meetings; Below the Beltway?; Surprising Developments in Scott Peterson Trial
Aired June 25, 2004 - 9:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Some are saying it's a bombshell in the Scott Peterson trial. Is it? The surprise admission from a key prosecution witness.
Also, President Bush starting yet another trip overseas; at this hour, in fact. What will he do in order to ask the allies for their help in Iraq?
And just what is it about the T.D. Jakes that attracts so many people? They say it's the raw energy and a powerful message. We'll hear from him this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody.
Some of the news making headlines this morning: a lot out of Iraq to cover. We're going to take a look at a new poll asking Americans how they feel about the war. The scales may actually be tipping against the President here. We're going to take a look at what that all might mean.
HEMMER: Also this hour, a hearing today in the Michael Jackson case. This could be the one that determines if the trial stays on the front page or gets moved down a bit. The judge hearing arguments about secrecy. And we'll get to it as well.
Jack is out. Toure is in. More in a moment there.
O'BRIEN: The Toure experience. It had us all laughing a little bit this morning.
We start, though, this morning with new poll numbers now out on Iraq and the presidential campaign, and they suggest that months of bad news out of Iraq have really taken a political toll on President Bush. According to a new CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll, for the first time since the war began, a majority of Americans, 54 percent, say the U.S. made a mistake sending troops into Iraq. That is up from 41 percent that said that at the beginning of the month.
When asked who would do a better job handling the situation in Iraq, President Bush or Senator John Kerry, the numbers were just about even. Forty-seven percent said the president, 46 percent said Senator Kerry. It was also a virtual tie among likely voters as to whom they would choose for president. Forty-nine percent said they would vote for President Bush. Forty-eight percent said that they would choose Senator John Kerry.
President Bush is heading to Ireland for a summit with the leaders of the European Union before traveling on tomorrow to the NATO summit in Turkey. Dana Bash is live at the White House with more.
Dana, we've just seen the president taking off, getting ready to get out of Andrews Air Force Base.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Soledad. The president is on his way at this time. His first stop, as you mentioned, is Ireland. And the goal during his five-day trip is to continue discussions that he started earlier this month in Sea Island, Georgia.
That was at the G8 summit, and the goal there, like it is now, is to continue to try to put past differences over the Iraq war behind them in order to aid Iraq with security. Now, the president will be carrying with him a letter from Iraq's prime minister, Iyad Allawi, asking NATO countries, half of whom are not involved in Iraq right now, to help out with security training Iraqi forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: The prime minister has made a specific request to NATO. The international community has stated publicly that they want to help make sure that we have success, because it's critically important that we succeed this Iraq. It's critical to our security interests as a country, to the security interests of the region, and of the entire world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, administration officials here do concede that even modest request, just to train forces, not to send their own troops to Iraq, could be a tough sell, even and especially because many of these European leaders are facing some people on the ground, their own constituents, who are quite wary of Mr. Bush and his policies. And Soledad, that will be on display for Mr. Bush in Ireland and elsewhere around Europe. There are massive protests planned during Mr. Bush's trip.
Now, as for him, his message will be to NATO countries that he needs help from, they should remember that there were sacrifices made from other countries that helped them promote their own democracies -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Lots of demonstrations and lots of security as well. Dana Bash joining us from the White House this morning. Dana, thanks.
Bill?
HEMMER: Let's stay in Washington now. A sharp exchange of words in the Senate this week involving the vice president. Ed Henry's on Capitol Hill explaining this.
Ed, good morning. ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
The real irony here, of course, is that the Senate just moved to increase fines for broadcasters who transmit obscene content over the airwaves. Now you have the vice president of the United States on the Senate floor using the "F" word, off camera, of course, in a private exchange with Senator Patrick Leahy. It happened on Tuesday.
The real significance, though, is that the vice president has really been under pressure, under fire for his ties to Halliburton. Senator Leahy is one of the people leading the attacks, and Vice President Cheney usually keeps his counsel, does not show emotion. But this might be a sign that these attacks are getting to him a little bit. He's feeling that heat.
Here's how it went down. The Senate was meeting, as I said, privately. They were not in session on Tuesday afternoon to take the official photograph.
All 100 senators -- Vice President Cheney is the president of the Senate, so he was there. He approached Senator Leahy, asked him why he kept up these attacks over Halliburton. Senator Leahy responded that he did not see Vice President Cheney stop the Republican attacks on Leahy and other Catholic senators who were accused of being anti- Catholic last year.
That led Vice President Cheney to use the "F" word in a very sharp way, right back at Senator Leahy. It was a very crisp exchange. This was confirmed by the vice president's office by saying that it was a "frank exchange." That's a new euphemism, I guess, for using an obscenity. The bottom line here is that this is just the latest sign that this presidential campaign has gotten nasty and it's gotten personal -- Bill.
HEMMER: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: A frank exchange. That's sort of interesting.
Well, when testimony resumes on Monday in Scott Peterson's double murder trial, a police investigator will continue to be cross-examined by the defense. Earlier this morning, we spoke with reporter Gloria Gomez about some surprising developments in this trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GLORIA GOMEZ, REPORTER, KOVR: Well, it was very dramatic in the courtroom yesterday, because Mark Geragos showing that this police detective, Detective Brocchini, actually omitted some information from his report. And he did it in a pretty dramatic way.
Actually, when an investigator actually submits a report, he puts it on a tape recorder, and, you know, actually has a dictation report. Well, when he did that, he played that for the jury, which clearly showed this tip coming in from a woman who claims she saw Laci Peterson on December 23. And Laci asked if she could use the restroom. Well, that dictation was played for the jury. And then Mark Geragos played on a full screen the actual final report that did not have that final version of the report. And Detective Brocchini admitted, "Yes, I took that part out of the report."
Now, that's significant, because prosecutors contend that Laci did not know about the boat, and that Laci's hair ended up on a pair of pliers because that was part of the crime scene, that Laci's body was dumped in the boat and then later dumped in the bay. So obviously that's contradicting what the prosecution's been saying the whole time.
O'BRIEN: Gloria, then let me jump in here. How big of a deal is this? I mean, it sounds like you're saying it's a bombshell. Is it?
I mean, they ended court on that. And so this gives something important for everybody to sort of mull over, over the weekend.
GOMEZ: Right. But, of course, sources telling me new information is the fact that this wasn't information that was hidden from the defense. In fact, this woman was interviewed by several police detectives. And there are several reports indicating what this woman had said.
So this wasn't anything the defense didn't know about. And one reason Brocchini actually took that out of his report is because he found out later that this woman had been interviewed by several other detectives. So he didn't just want to be redundant, repeating the same information over and over again.
O'BRIEN: But it seems as if that information's not going to come to the jurors yet until maybe next week. So what's the court's reaction been on what seems to be at this point sort of a big bombshell?
GOMEZ: Well, I know that -- I was in the courtroom when all this happened. And clearly, there was a big buzz in the courtroom. Everybody talking about it as Brocchini was testifying.
I looked to see what the jury was doing, and they were paying attention to everything, and taking a lot of notes during this. But, of course, you know, when we get to hear Brocchini testify on Monday, he will actually clarify exactly why he took this out of his report. And clearly, they're probably going to want to bring in this witness to see how credible she is, because sources say that when she actually talked to police, she wasn't sure if she saw Laci on the 20th or the 23rd. And then she even said she wasn't even sure if it was Laci.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The prosecution's going to try to repair any damage done by Detective Brocchini's testimony next week. That was Gloria Gomez talking to us a little bit earlier this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: In another courtroom now, Michael Jackson not expected to be there today in California today for a pre-trial hearing in that case. Ted Rowlands live in Santa Maria this morning with more details there.
Ted, good morning.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, Jackson will not be here. We're told Thomas Mesereau Jr., his defense attorney, will represent him in court today. At issue today is the unsealing of documents.
The news media, including CNN, has hired an attorney to argue that some of the documents in this case, including search warrants and partial grand jury transcripts, should be released to the public. Jackson is facing multiple charges of child molestation and conspiracy, and even the details of those charges have not been made public.
Both sides in this case, the defense and prosecution, will argue that Jackson's right to a fair trial is tantamount in this case and supersedes the public's right to know. Therefore, all of the documents should be remained sealed.
Again, Jackson will not be here. He is out on $3 million -- $3 million bail. A judge here earlier this week -- or earlier this month denied a request to reduce that bail here in Santa Barbara County. The trial is set for September 13 tentatively. We should know -- this should be a relatively short hearing here this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: Yes, thanks for that. Ted Rowlands in California -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Some state of the art spy technology is now being used to scour U.S. borders, but can that technology truly do the job? CNN's Jeanne Meserve has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At an Army base 20 miles from the Mexican border, an unmanned aerial vehicle is launched, but not for a military mission. It's high-tech cameras and sensors are scanning the brush and sands of the desert landscape for illegal immigrants. It is part of a four-month study by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to determine if the UAVs have a part to play in protecting the border.
(on camera): Is it potentially a silver bullet?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, absolutely not. Absolutely not.
MESERVE (voice-over): But the UAVs may be a valuable tool. Able to stay aloft for up to 20 hours at a stretch, sending back real-time images night or day, the UAVs are virtually invisible and inaudible to people on the ground, making them ideal for surveillance. And, some worry for spying.
ROBERT SMITH, BORDER PATROL: I can tell you, from a policy standpoint, the Department of Homeland Security is not going to use these things to be able to spy on people in their homes or in their backyards any more than they do with any other piece of equipment that they have. We just don't do that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't want people to fear that they're being spied on while sunbathing or engaging in personal activities in their backyard.
MESERVE: UAVs are not cheap. This four-month trial has a price tag of $4 million. But perhaps UAVs could bring some monetary efficiencies, giving Customs and Border Protection information that allows them to calibrate their responses to intrusions.
MICHAEL WIMBERLY, U.S. BORDER PATROL: We should have been here looking at this technology long ago.
MESERVE (on camera): Why weren't you?
WIMBERLY: Frankly, I don't think we had the vision.
MESERVE (voice-over): There is little argument that the situation right now is dire. More than 100 migrants have died in the desert heat along the southwest border already this year.
(on camera): UAV surveillance might save some and stop others. In the Tucson sector of the Mexican border alone, 1,500 people a day are stopped. Nobody knows how many go undetected.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Fort Wachuka, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The border patrol says U.S. -- UAVs patrolling the borders could drastically cut dangerous smuggling operations as well.
HEMMER: About 12 minutes past the hour now. Last night, Larry King sat down with Bill Clinton, his first live prime time interview since the release of his book. He talked about Osama bin Laden, also that connection of the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen that happened in October of 2000, while Bill Clinton was still at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I regret deeply that I didn't get him. I tried everything I knew to get him. I wish -- the only real regret I have in terms of our efforts is, nearly everybody in the world knew that he did the USS Cole in October of 2000.
I knew what our options were. I knew what our military options were. I knew what our covert options were. And I felt I couldn't take strong military action against Afghanistan because the FBI and CIA didn't officially agree that bin Laden had done it until after I left office. If they had done so when I was in office, I would have taken stronger action, even as a lame duck president.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HEMMER: Again, Bill Clinton last night. The book tour continues as well.
In the meantime, almost 14 minutes past the hour, back to Daryn Kagan, the headlines this morning -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, good morning.
Well, we're going to start in Iraq, where a roadside bomb has killed a police officer in Baghdad today. And fighting in Fallujah has left at least seven Iraqis dead. The clash is coming one day after insurgent strikes throughout Iraq in which nearly 100 people were killed. Officials warning of intense violence leading up to the handover of power in just five days.
The field of possible replacements for outgoing CIA director George Tenet is apparently narrowing. Sources telling CNN that the frontrunner for the post, Republican Congressman from Florida Porter Goss, he has charged the House -- he has chaired the House Intelligence Committee since 1997. If he's nominated and approved, Goss would take over when Tenet leaves as the director. And he's planning on doing that next month.
In Los Angeles, three police officers will be investigated for excessive use of force. The announcement coming yesterday, one day after news helicopters captured officers beating a suspect, a suspected car thief, with a flashlight. The man was reportedly not seriously hurt during the incident. All the officers at the scene have been reassigned to desk duty.
Some lucky seniors will be getting a jump on Medicare prescription drug coverage. The Bush administration says 50,000 people will be chosen in a lottery to get coverage now. Among those picked, people with serious illnesses, such as cancer, who need the costly drugs. Others will have to wait until 2006 for coverage.
And in sports, some young guns sharing the spotlight in New York last night for the NBA draft. Dwight Howard ending up as the number one pick. You haven't heard of him? Well, he's just coming out of high school here in Atlanta.
He's going to the Orlando Magic. He was one of eight high school players chosen in the first round. Kind of looking like a freshman year.
Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks, Daryn.
Time to check in with Toure. He's got the "Question of the Day."
Hello.
TOURE, ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE: Hello.
The Dwight Howard situation is going to be a lot different. Last year, Lebron and Carmelo came in and made a boom right away.
HEMMER: That's right.
TOURE: Dwight Howard is a big question mark. You know, we don't know what he's going to be able to do.
HEMMER: Well, he's got a talent, but we'll see what level he plays now.
TOURE: He's got the size. Yes, it's not going to be an immediate impact like before, like last year.
HEMMER: I see. What's his favorite rock 'n' roll band of all time?
TOURE: I don't know. Well, he's a big Christian guy. So he may not be...
HEMMER: Maybe he's listening to that John Tesh album that Soledad's got.
TOURE: Perhaps.
O'BRIEN: Well, and there's tons of Christian rock out there.
TOURE: That's...
O'BRIEN: He could be listening. It's true.
TOURE: "Question of the Day."
O'BRIEN: Good.
TOURE: You know, we haven't talked about Nirvana. We haven't talked about Cream, Blind Faith, Traffic. There's some great bands that haven't been brought up yet.
O'BRIEN: Do the R&B groups count as a band? Like Gladys Knight and the Pips kind of thing, I mean, are they a band if they don't play instruments? The Temptations, great, but not really a band, right?
TOURE: I mean, I would think that's a little different. Just -- I mean, different era. And like the -- you know, like that's a -- that's a range around a singer.
HEMMER: You'd call that a group, too, and not so much a band.
O'BRIEN: Yes, a group and not a band.
TOURE: Yes, a group rather than a band for...
O'BRIEN: Thank you for the clarification, Bill.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: And Luther and Mariah don't count. O'BRIEN: Luther -- Luther doesn't have a band, I don't think. I love him, though.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: A couple of answers. From John in Japan -- love the e- mails from Japan.
HEMMER: Yes.
TOURE: Isn't that so exciting? "U2 would have never have played live without the sound of the Ramones in '75. Any rock 'n' roll fan would surely agree, the best was Joey, Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee."
Wow.
O'BRIEN: That's a good one.
TOURE: Japan repping for New York rock 'n' roll. How about that?
Marcus says, "When sad and lonely, when love becomes too much to endure, a tear may fall from my eye as I gently turn on The Cure."
O'BRIEN: I like that one.
TOURE: "Why Can't I Be You," an amazing record.
And the last one, "I can't write a poem, but my vote is Pink Floyd." And we may have another vote for Pink Floyd from the desk of young Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Yes?
TOURE: Lenny Kravitz, eh?
O'BRIEN: Not open yet.
HEMMER: That was a good one.
TOURE: And the Beastie Boys, which is hot.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Beastie Boys?
TOURE: This is a great record.
HEMMER: Is it really good?
TOURE: Yes. Oh, yes. This is in my car right now.
HEMMER: I'll check it out this weekend. "No sleep 'Till Brooklyn," and beyond.
TOURE: No... HEMMER: 1985. Thanks, Toure.
TOURE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Chad Myers again at the CNN Center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: What a mess. All right. Chad, thanks.
Still to come this morning, finding faith by the thousands. The phenomenon that is the bishop T.D. Jakes, and why he says there's a resurgence of spirituality in this country.
HEMMER: Also, a bit later, we'll talk to an 11-year-old girl who made the "Extra Effort." Taught her community a real lesson in effort. You'll hear about it, one penny at a time, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: He's been called America's best preacher and has been on the cover of TIME Magazine. Bishop T.D. Jakes draws huge crowds to hear his spiritual message. We've got more now from CNN's Eric Philips.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TD JAKES, PREACHER: He stoops down, down, down! (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At MegaFest 2004, Bishop T.D. Jakes lives will change.
JAKES: I think there's a great deal of hunger right now in our country for spirituality.
PHILIPS: One hundred thousand pre-registered for this Christian convention in Atlanta for men, women and children, the brainchild of Bishop Jakes. Upwards of 50,000 more were expected to register on site.
JAKES: I think there's a resurgence of faith in our culture. Not necessarily religion, but faith. Read the handwriting on the wall. America is interested in faith.
PHILIPS: And interested in the comfort increased faith can bring about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got a daughter in the Air Force, and she's already been overseas once. And I pray for her daily.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People need something, and they are looking for something that they can grab hold to.
PHILIPS: Crowds are drawn to Jakes' no-holds-barred, down-to- earth comedic style and messages of empowerment. His 28,000-member Potter's House Church in Dallas is evidence of that. But he's quick to pass on the credit.
JAKES: I'm not the message. I'm the messenger. I'm not the mail. I'm the postman.
PHILIPS: With a message these people are eager to receive.
Eric Philips, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Bishop Jakes also brings message to more people with his weekly television show, which is broadcast nationally -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad.
In a moment here, time to kick off the weekend with a little "90- Second Pop" coming your way. After a nervous breakdown, a movie flop, and a lost record deal, Mariah Carey's luck may be changing. Team Carey wants to give the star a makeover.
And the Wayans brothers poking fun at "White Chicks" this weekend. But will that be enough to knock off the notebook? "90- Second-Pop" is coming up.
Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Yes, it sounds bad really pretty much everywhere. All right. Chad, thanks.
You can get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. We want to remind you to sign up for AMERICAN MORNING "Quick News" at cnn.com/am.
Still to come this morning, Martha Stewart wants a new trial. The government's had its say, so what's the judge going to decide? Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" just ahead as we continue right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Wanted to get you down to Wall Street on this Friday as we close out the week. A lot of attention given to stocks and how the -- how the markets have done.
There were some economic numbers out a bit earlier today that certainly investors will be chewing on today as the day grows older. Off about 35 yesterday for the Dow. The Dow 30. The blue chips opened today at 10,443 as we get ready to close out the week.
That's the scene on Wall Street. And there's the opening bell. Nasdaq market site right around Times Square; 2,015 is your opening mark. Off about five points in trading from yesterday.
So welcome back, everybody. And good morning again.
O'BRIEN: And it is exactly half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Still a very tense situation in Iraq. Fighting today in Fallujah. We know that at least seven Iraqis have been killed, and it comes on the heels of one of the deadliest days in a long time. We're going to bring you an update from Iraq in just a few moments.
HEMMER: Also, on the lighter side today, looking for something to do over the weekend? Our "90-Second Pop" panel taking a shot today at a one-time pop superstar who wants to get back on top. Mariah Carey has plans, she has this strategy. We'll see if it's going to work.
And also, if you're looking for a movie, not a great recommendation for our panel, by the way. We'll tell you what's hot in a moment here.
O'BRIEN: They've got some ideas.
HEMMER: They've got a couple.
O'BRIEN: Yes, nothing great, though.
We start, though, with the -- the handover in Iraq, five days before that handover of power. Security is heightened this morning after heavy violence across the country. Fighting between insurgents and coalition forces resumed early today in Fallujah, with at least seven Iraqis reported killed, dozens wounded. Brent Sadler live for us in Baghdad this morning.
Brent, good morning.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Yes, continuing clashes in Fallujah. Seeing a very heavy violence the previous day, along with violence in other parts of Iraq, to the north, in Mosul, where more than 60 people were killed and more than 220 people injured in a string of suicide bombings and various attacks against government and police installations, also in other cities.
That was 24 hours ago. The situation in Fallujah today, much quieter, but very tense in that city.
We just have confirmation on the ground here from U.S. officials that there has been another attack by U.S. forces, an air strike against a suspected safe house of the wanted militant, Abu Musab al- Zarqawi, suspected to having links to al Qaeda and also suspected of having a very big hand in this latest upsurge in terror activity in many towns, five towns in Iraq, 24 hours ago.
Now, we understand from the military officers here that they were acting on multiple confirmations of actionable -- actionable intelligence from sources within the coalition, intelligence sources within the coalition, and also form within the Iraqis themselves. Also hearing, at a news conference now, Iraqi officials, interior officials, defense minister, saying that there will be -- expect there to be preemptive strikes against Zarqawi's terror network in Iraq as and when the Iraqis take over sovereignty come June the 30th.
In addition to that, certainly U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell referred to the upsurge in violence, saying that the U.S.-led coalition had misjudged, underestimated the nature of the insurgency that now posed a very great threat as we go to this very crucial moment of the handover in -- of sovereignty in just five days -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Brent Sadler for us in Baghdad this morning. Brent, thank you.
Still to come this morning, the outlook on the U.S. economy is not as rosy as previously thought. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business" just ahead.
Also this morning, John Kerry looks for a little help from Hollywood.
Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HEMMER: Best rocker of all time, Kylie Minogue.
JESSICA SHAW, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Get Toure back.
HEMMER: I mean, is there any debate? "90-Second Pop" on a Friday. They came to play today. Say hello to B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor, US Weekly.
Good morning, B.J.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, US WEEKLY: Good morning.
HEMMER: Jessica Shaw from The Shaw Report in Entertainment Weekly.
Good morning, Jess. Nice to see you.
SHAW: Good morning.
HEMMER: Josh Elliott from Sports Illustrated here as well.
Welcome back.
JOSH ELLIOTT, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Good morning.
HEMMER: You're our man for Mariah. ELLIOTT: Yes, obviously.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: You're the short straw.
ELLIOTT: Yes, Mariah Carey has a book coming out. We have -- we cannot confirm yet if she realizes that that will actually involve...
SHAW: Writing.
ELLIOTT: ... writing words.
SIGESMUND: Josh, she wrote 15 of her number one singles.
ELLIOTT: Yes.
SIGESMUND: And she's not using a ghostwriter.
HEMMER: So give her credit where credit's due.
SHAW: Allegedly not using a ghost writer.
ELLIOT: She's not going to use a ghostwriter for a genre that requires at least a sentence a page. Yes, that's...
HEMMER: But the book that she's writing is children's books, right?
SHAW: She's trying to be Madonna.
HEMMER: Uh-huh.
SHAW: She's like, I'm going to reinvent myself, write a children's book, have a career...
ELLIOTT: Which is to basically say, whatever I was doing before is not working.
SIGESMUND: What this exemplifies is the fact that she peaked in her mid 20s. She was huge. But what do you do when you're sort of an aging, so to speak, hot diva who always was a sex kitten? She's kind of got to grow up.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the movie this weekend.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
HEMMER: The Wayans brothers are back. The movie is called "White Chicks."
SIGESMUND: Right.
HEMMER: The reviews so far are pretty decent. What do you think? SIGESMUND: Well, you know, this is going to be the big movie. This is the time of year for huge, goofy movies like this. Look at how well "Dodgeball" did last weekend.
The premise is very simple and easily understood. Two black FBI agents go undercover as white hotel heiresses, a la Paris and Nicole Hilton, and infiltrate...
SHAW: What makes you think that?
SIGESMUND: ... and they infiltrate the Hamptons' social scene. It basically rips off "Some Like it Hot" and "Tootsie." None of the laughs are original. But, you know, if you feel like turning off your brain and going to see a movie brought to you by the "Scary Movie" guys...
HEMMER: Why not? Sure. And what else are weekends for, right?
SIGESMUND: Yes, exactly.
HEMMER: What about "The Notebook?" How does that stack up?
SIGESMUND: And then "The Notebook," this is like an antidote to all the action movies out there. It's catered to women. It's a romance.
HEMMER: God.
SHAW: It's all chick flick, all the...
SIGESMUND: It is -- no. All chick flick all the time.
(CROSSTALK)
SHAW: And I cannot wait to see it.
ELLIOTT: It's good looking woman has to decide between one good looking guy and another good looking guy with a beard.
HEMMER: Jessica, let's talk about The Shaw Report, otherwise known as the lame summer season of the most stupid TV reality shows.
SHAW: Yes.
HEMMER: Is that the way you call it?
SHAW: Sure, absolutely. I'm going to say that "Outback Jack" is in, though.
SIGESMUND: It is the summer, you know...
SHAW: Right.
SIGESMUND: ... and that's -- that's what we're talking about.
SHAW: "Simple Life," I see all five minutes. Go -- I think if you want to see that, go see "White Chicks."
And "Who Wants to Marry My Dad" perhaps the most terrifying TV show ever...
HEMMER: Uh-huh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hate it, horrible. It's absolutely horrible.
SHAW: ... especially since NBC is promoting it as the most romantic show ever.
HEMMER: Best rock 'n' roll band of all time?
ELLIOTT: I'm going to go with Led Zeppelin.
SHAW: Rolling Stones.
HEMMER: Jessica? B.J.?
SIGESMUND: I will go with U2 as well. I'm sorry, that is -- that is Toure's track (ph) answer of the day.
SHAW: I want to change to Kylie Minogue. Kylie Minogue.
HEMMER: No, no. You're locked in.
ELLIOTT: Toure and B.J. were huddling in the back.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Thanks, guys. Have a great weekend, OK? Good to see all three of you.
Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill. Thanks.
Now, it's time to take a look at the action on Wall Street this morning. The market digesting a surprising economic report.
And then Martha Stewart still waiting. The latest on her case, all from Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Where do you want to start?
ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Let's start out with the economic news a little bit, because it is surprising, Soledad. The economy grew at 3.9 percent in the first quarter. And the reason that's a surprise is because this is the final revision.
Initially, we had been looking at 4.4 percent in the first quarter. And you can see that's quite a bit lower than initially seen there. So we're half a percentage point lower, you know, which is not so good, really. But the markets don't seem to be minding it too much this morning. The Norwegian oil strike is over. Maybe that's why the market's up.
O'BRIEN: Is that right?
SERWER: Yes, it is.
O'BRIEN: Really? Seriously?
SERWER: The government's ordered an end to it. I'm serious.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
SERWER: So, actually, that's true. And the oil markets are responding positively, and stocks are as well. You can see the Dow is up 11 percent. The Nasdaq is also up this morning.
One stock on the move, Nike, up $2.85. Its profits soaring, up 24 percent. Selling a lot of high-end shoes, Soledad. That's all I can say out there.
O'BRIEN: Yes, no question.
SERWER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk about Martha Stewart.
SERWER: Yes. We talked about this yesterday. As expected, the government did file a motion to deny the request for Martha Stewart to have a new trial.
Now, what that means is, Judge Miriam Cedarbaum can now rule on whether or not she will allow a retrial or not. It is expected that she will side with the government and deny a retrial, which would open the way to a sentencing early next month for Martha Stewart.
O'BRIEN: When does she have to make that decision? When will we know? When does Martha start -- stop waiting to know her fate?
SERWER: Right. It's entirely up to the judge, that's my understanding. But it's also my understanding that she will rule within the next couple days. Possibly very soon.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. Great.
SERWER: One last revision on my best band pick.
O'BRIEN: What did you -- you started with...
SERWER: This is my final one.
O'BRIEN: What did he start with? Does anybody remember?
SERWER: I don't even remember anymore. I think it was a fog -- I now decided that Captain & Tennille, no question.
O'BRIEN: Are they a band?
SERWER: Well, OK. Then Wang Chung?
O'BRIEN: Are they a band?
SERWER: Everybody Wang Chung tonight, yes. OK.
O'BRIEN: See, and you're the people who make fun of me.
SERWER: ABBA? Just you.
O'BRIEN: Hey, I like ABBA.
SERWER: OK. All right, there you go. OK, we're for ABBA, you and I.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks, Andy.
SERWER: OK.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, one witness makes a surprise revelation in the Scott Peterson trial. A look at that's just ahead when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Forty-four minutes past the hour now. To Daryn Kagan and the headlines this morning.
Daryn, good morning.
KAGAN: Bill, good morning once again.
Stepped-up security ahead of President Bush's arrival in Ireland today. The president leaving the White House just a short while ago. He will be in Ireland for a summit with European leaders. His talks with allies expected to focus on Iraq. President Bush then heads to Turkey for next week's NATO summit.
To California and the Scott Peterson trial. A Modesto police detective admitting yesterday that he omitted information from an interview transcript that showed Laci Peterson may have been in the warehouse where her husband's boat was stored. The defense implies that Laci's hair could have gotten into the boat during that visit. The trial resumes on Monday.
Also in California, lawyers in the Michael Jackson case are heading to court. A pre-trial hearing today focusing on whether details of the case will remain secret. Media outlets fighting to unseal key documents in the case. A judge will hear complaints on the issue today. Jackson is not expected to attend that hearing.
And in politics, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry with a campaign event in Ohio today. He plans to focus on the economy. Last night, Senator Kerry getting some help from some of Hollywood's A list. The concert and fund-raiser dinner in Los Angeles bringing in $5 million for Kerry's campaign. Comedian Billy Crystal reportedly calling the event "Woodstock for really, really rich people."
On that note, we'll toss it back to Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right. Daryn, thanks. Before I let you go, give us a look at what's ahead this morning at 10:00.
KAGAN: We have a huge hour. "Fahrenheit 9/11," the movie, is coming out at theaters across the country today. Michael Moore will be my guest.
Also, we have Walter Cronkite. And that is just in the next hour, Soledad. It's a huge morning.
O'BRIEN: Wow. All right. We like to hear that. Daryn, thanks.
Now to check with Toure. He's got the "Question of the Day."
TOURE: We've got to say that the crew generally thinks Zeppelin and the Beatles, right, guys? So they'll move the camera off of me if I don't say what they think. And Public Enemy, I was just suggested, has not been mentioned yet. Awesome band.
E-mails, a final batch. We have one great, great poem coming up.
O'BRIEN: I love poems. They've been good so far.
TOURE: Jay from Norfolk, Virginia, says, "How about the Jackson Five? They played instruments." Yes, OK, Jay. Tom...
O'BRIEN: Didn't they write the song about the rat, "Ben?" I think that disqualifies them immediately. Or whatever.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: Tom from New Orleans says, "When the media sneers (ph) less than fresh and media darlings listen to John Tesh, the cure to sugary pop is in my player, the best and heaviest band is surely Slayer.
O'BRIEN: Oh!
HEMMER: Oh!
TOURE: And here's a great poem. This is perhaps the poem of the day from Mary. "There once was an anchor named Soledad..."
O'BRIEN: Oh, no.
TOURE: "...whose looks you must agree are not bad."
O'BRIEN: Oh, thanks, Mary. TOURE: "She does interviews with grace, with that glow on her face..."
O'BRIEN: That's makeup.
TOURE: "May her twins arrive healthy and glad."
O'BRIEN: Oh, that's neat. Thank you.
HEMMER: Oh. Yeah!
O'BRIEN: Can you point down her choice -- does that mean that she supports Old Town (ph), too?
HEMMER: No.
TOURE: No.
HEMMER: Thank you, Mary. Very sweet.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's very nice.
HEMMER: It's been good having you, Toure.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
TOURE: Thank you for having me.
HEMMER: Sorry it has to end so soon.
TOURE: I know. But you guys make it so easy. Thank you so much.
O'BRIEN: Parting is such sweet sorrow.
TOURE: Well, I'll see you on Monday anyway.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: It's not easy to hold up the column while Jack Cafferty's out, let me tell you.
TOURE: Right.
HEMMER: Well done.
TOURE: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
Still to come this morning, penny by penny, one little girl was on a mission to save a school program from chop -- from the chopping block. But you won't believe just how much those pennies turned into. We're going to tell you about her "Extra Effort" just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Open for a good weekend weather-wise. A last check with Chad Myers this morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Yes, that's one of the warmer days for sure. All right, Chad. Thanks a lot.
Well, each Friday in our "Extra Effort" series we pay tribute to those going the extra mile to help others. And this morning, we meet a young girl who used her spare time to collect some spare change, and lots of it for California schools facing budget cuts.
I recently spoke with 11-year-old Zoe Oppenheim and Gloria Johnston. She's the head of the school district that was the beneficiary of Zoe's penny drive. And I began by asking Gloria just how badly her schools, in fact, have been hit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GLORIA JOHNSTON, SUPERINTENDENT, WEST CONTRA COSTA SCHOOL DISTRICT: It's been incredibly dramatic for us, and devastating, because we have some of the poorest and most disadvantaged students in the country. And the cuts have -- have really impacted the students throughout the district.
O'BRIEN: So what Zoe did is pretty remarkable.
And, Zoe, let's go back to you, and ask you, how much money you able to raise? And where did you come up with this idea of collecting pennies to -- to basically fund the school district?
ZOE OPPENHEIM, RAISED MONEY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT: Well, we raised $2,300. And we got the idea from New York. Some people did a penny drive, too. So we thought that would be good.
O'BRIEN: I should -- I should mention, Zoe, that this isn't raising money for your school, this is raising money for another school. Why did you do something that I think lots of people would think is just incredibly selfless?
OPPENHEIM: Well, there's a lot of reasons. First of all, it could be our school, too. So, I mean, if we don't do anything, this could get worse and worse. And another thing, there -- I think every kid should get the same amount of library programs, music programs, sports, all those programs that they're not getting and that we're getting.
O'BRIEN: Dr. Johnston, I guess you have called Zoe the catalyst, because other people started raising money as well. Give me a sense of the overall tally on how much money you've been able to raise. And will this help some of these programs that Zoe was just talking about?
JOHNSTON: Well, it's true. Zoe sort of kicked off the conscience of people who realized that, due to the dramatic budget situation in the state of California, and in our district also, that they could find a way to help. And so about $800,000 has been raised through various private and corporate donations.
Zoe said when she gave her money to elementary music, that she wanted all of the students to be able to have a chance to have a kind of program that every student should have. And so we just -- we think she's pretty spectacular. And we know, however, that she represents a lot of young people in this country with a conscience, who are generous, and who are always ready to step up and help others. We're just happy that she came forward to help our district.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Despite Zoe's penny drive and many other generous donations, the West Contra Costa school district is still $400,000 short of what they need to keep all programs running -- Bill.
HEMMER: I want to check in with Aaron Brown right now and get a preview of what's happening later tonight on "NEWSNIGHT." Here's Aaron.
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Thank you, Bill.
Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," Michael Moore's new movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," began causing a commotion long before its nationwide release today. Tonight, we'll get a fact check from Jeff Greenfield, how much of the movie to believe. We'll also take a look at the impact the movie might make. Will it change any minds, or is it simply preaching to the converted?
We'll have that story, plus all the day's news, of course, morning papers. And this being Friday, we'll dabble with the tabloids, too. All that and more on "NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
HEMMER: Good deal, Aaron. Thanks for that and have a great weekend.
Jeff Greenfield has that later tonight with Aaron Brown. In a moment here, Michael Moore talks with Daryn Kagan. His own view as that film gets ready to go in theaters across the country this weekend. He called it his own personal op-ed piece. Daryn talks to him about it next hour.
We're back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: We've got to run. Thanks for being with us today. Before we go, though, overall, the winner was what online?
TOURE: The Jimi Hendrix experience.
SERWER: It was?
HEMMER: Yes. TOURE: It's got to be, baby.
HEMMER: Yes.
SERWER: It was? All right, I'll go with that...
TOURE: I'm not as good at numbers as Andy, but it's got to be Jimmy.
SERWER: Well, you add it up. You add it up, right?
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: We've got to run. Have a great weekend. Here's Daryn Kagan now at the CNN Center.
Daryn, good morning to you yet again.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Daryn.
HEMMER: And have a great weekend yourself.
KAGAN: Absolutely. You guys have a great weekend in New York City. We'll get started here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta.
Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. As always, we begin with the headlines.
Two U.S. Marines have been killed and a third wounded in an attack in eastern Afghanistan. The U.S. military is releasing few details about last night's attack. U.S. forces have stepped up operations in the region, where Taliban-led insurgents are hiding.
Sources tell CNN that the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee has emerged as the frontrunner to head the Central Intelligence Agency. Porter Goss is a Florida Republican and served as an agent in the CIA's clandestine service from 1960 to 1971. Embattled CIA Director George Tenet announced his resignation earlier this month.
Aired June 25, 2004 - 9:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Some are saying it's a bombshell in the Scott Peterson trial. Is it? The surprise admission from a key prosecution witness.
Also, President Bush starting yet another trip overseas; at this hour, in fact. What will he do in order to ask the allies for their help in Iraq?
And just what is it about the T.D. Jakes that attracts so many people? They say it's the raw energy and a powerful message. We'll hear from him this hour on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody.
Some of the news making headlines this morning: a lot out of Iraq to cover. We're going to take a look at a new poll asking Americans how they feel about the war. The scales may actually be tipping against the President here. We're going to take a look at what that all might mean.
HEMMER: Also this hour, a hearing today in the Michael Jackson case. This could be the one that determines if the trial stays on the front page or gets moved down a bit. The judge hearing arguments about secrecy. And we'll get to it as well.
Jack is out. Toure is in. More in a moment there.
O'BRIEN: The Toure experience. It had us all laughing a little bit this morning.
We start, though, this morning with new poll numbers now out on Iraq and the presidential campaign, and they suggest that months of bad news out of Iraq have really taken a political toll on President Bush. According to a new CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll, for the first time since the war began, a majority of Americans, 54 percent, say the U.S. made a mistake sending troops into Iraq. That is up from 41 percent that said that at the beginning of the month.
When asked who would do a better job handling the situation in Iraq, President Bush or Senator John Kerry, the numbers were just about even. Forty-seven percent said the president, 46 percent said Senator Kerry. It was also a virtual tie among likely voters as to whom they would choose for president. Forty-nine percent said they would vote for President Bush. Forty-eight percent said that they would choose Senator John Kerry.
President Bush is heading to Ireland for a summit with the leaders of the European Union before traveling on tomorrow to the NATO summit in Turkey. Dana Bash is live at the White House with more.
Dana, we've just seen the president taking off, getting ready to get out of Andrews Air Force Base.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Soledad. The president is on his way at this time. His first stop, as you mentioned, is Ireland. And the goal during his five-day trip is to continue discussions that he started earlier this month in Sea Island, Georgia.
That was at the G8 summit, and the goal there, like it is now, is to continue to try to put past differences over the Iraq war behind them in order to aid Iraq with security. Now, the president will be carrying with him a letter from Iraq's prime minister, Iyad Allawi, asking NATO countries, half of whom are not involved in Iraq right now, to help out with security training Iraqi forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: The prime minister has made a specific request to NATO. The international community has stated publicly that they want to help make sure that we have success, because it's critically important that we succeed this Iraq. It's critical to our security interests as a country, to the security interests of the region, and of the entire world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: Now, administration officials here do concede that even modest request, just to train forces, not to send their own troops to Iraq, could be a tough sell, even and especially because many of these European leaders are facing some people on the ground, their own constituents, who are quite wary of Mr. Bush and his policies. And Soledad, that will be on display for Mr. Bush in Ireland and elsewhere around Europe. There are massive protests planned during Mr. Bush's trip.
Now, as for him, his message will be to NATO countries that he needs help from, they should remember that there were sacrifices made from other countries that helped them promote their own democracies -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Lots of demonstrations and lots of security as well. Dana Bash joining us from the White House this morning. Dana, thanks.
Bill?
HEMMER: Let's stay in Washington now. A sharp exchange of words in the Senate this week involving the vice president. Ed Henry's on Capitol Hill explaining this.
Ed, good morning. ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
The real irony here, of course, is that the Senate just moved to increase fines for broadcasters who transmit obscene content over the airwaves. Now you have the vice president of the United States on the Senate floor using the "F" word, off camera, of course, in a private exchange with Senator Patrick Leahy. It happened on Tuesday.
The real significance, though, is that the vice president has really been under pressure, under fire for his ties to Halliburton. Senator Leahy is one of the people leading the attacks, and Vice President Cheney usually keeps his counsel, does not show emotion. But this might be a sign that these attacks are getting to him a little bit. He's feeling that heat.
Here's how it went down. The Senate was meeting, as I said, privately. They were not in session on Tuesday afternoon to take the official photograph.
All 100 senators -- Vice President Cheney is the president of the Senate, so he was there. He approached Senator Leahy, asked him why he kept up these attacks over Halliburton. Senator Leahy responded that he did not see Vice President Cheney stop the Republican attacks on Leahy and other Catholic senators who were accused of being anti- Catholic last year.
That led Vice President Cheney to use the "F" word in a very sharp way, right back at Senator Leahy. It was a very crisp exchange. This was confirmed by the vice president's office by saying that it was a "frank exchange." That's a new euphemism, I guess, for using an obscenity. The bottom line here is that this is just the latest sign that this presidential campaign has gotten nasty and it's gotten personal -- Bill.
HEMMER: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: A frank exchange. That's sort of interesting.
Well, when testimony resumes on Monday in Scott Peterson's double murder trial, a police investigator will continue to be cross-examined by the defense. Earlier this morning, we spoke with reporter Gloria Gomez about some surprising developments in this trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GLORIA GOMEZ, REPORTER, KOVR: Well, it was very dramatic in the courtroom yesterday, because Mark Geragos showing that this police detective, Detective Brocchini, actually omitted some information from his report. And he did it in a pretty dramatic way.
Actually, when an investigator actually submits a report, he puts it on a tape recorder, and, you know, actually has a dictation report. Well, when he did that, he played that for the jury, which clearly showed this tip coming in from a woman who claims she saw Laci Peterson on December 23. And Laci asked if she could use the restroom. Well, that dictation was played for the jury. And then Mark Geragos played on a full screen the actual final report that did not have that final version of the report. And Detective Brocchini admitted, "Yes, I took that part out of the report."
Now, that's significant, because prosecutors contend that Laci did not know about the boat, and that Laci's hair ended up on a pair of pliers because that was part of the crime scene, that Laci's body was dumped in the boat and then later dumped in the bay. So obviously that's contradicting what the prosecution's been saying the whole time.
O'BRIEN: Gloria, then let me jump in here. How big of a deal is this? I mean, it sounds like you're saying it's a bombshell. Is it?
I mean, they ended court on that. And so this gives something important for everybody to sort of mull over, over the weekend.
GOMEZ: Right. But, of course, sources telling me new information is the fact that this wasn't information that was hidden from the defense. In fact, this woman was interviewed by several police detectives. And there are several reports indicating what this woman had said.
So this wasn't anything the defense didn't know about. And one reason Brocchini actually took that out of his report is because he found out later that this woman had been interviewed by several other detectives. So he didn't just want to be redundant, repeating the same information over and over again.
O'BRIEN: But it seems as if that information's not going to come to the jurors yet until maybe next week. So what's the court's reaction been on what seems to be at this point sort of a big bombshell?
GOMEZ: Well, I know that -- I was in the courtroom when all this happened. And clearly, there was a big buzz in the courtroom. Everybody talking about it as Brocchini was testifying.
I looked to see what the jury was doing, and they were paying attention to everything, and taking a lot of notes during this. But, of course, you know, when we get to hear Brocchini testify on Monday, he will actually clarify exactly why he took this out of his report. And clearly, they're probably going to want to bring in this witness to see how credible she is, because sources say that when she actually talked to police, she wasn't sure if she saw Laci on the 20th or the 23rd. And then she even said she wasn't even sure if it was Laci.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The prosecution's going to try to repair any damage done by Detective Brocchini's testimony next week. That was Gloria Gomez talking to us a little bit earlier this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: In another courtroom now, Michael Jackson not expected to be there today in California today for a pre-trial hearing in that case. Ted Rowlands live in Santa Maria this morning with more details there.
Ted, good morning.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Yes, Jackson will not be here. We're told Thomas Mesereau Jr., his defense attorney, will represent him in court today. At issue today is the unsealing of documents.
The news media, including CNN, has hired an attorney to argue that some of the documents in this case, including search warrants and partial grand jury transcripts, should be released to the public. Jackson is facing multiple charges of child molestation and conspiracy, and even the details of those charges have not been made public.
Both sides in this case, the defense and prosecution, will argue that Jackson's right to a fair trial is tantamount in this case and supersedes the public's right to know. Therefore, all of the documents should be remained sealed.
Again, Jackson will not be here. He is out on $3 million -- $3 million bail. A judge here earlier this week -- or earlier this month denied a request to reduce that bail here in Santa Barbara County. The trial is set for September 13 tentatively. We should know -- this should be a relatively short hearing here this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: Yes, thanks for that. Ted Rowlands in California -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Some state of the art spy technology is now being used to scour U.S. borders, but can that technology truly do the job? CNN's Jeanne Meserve has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At an Army base 20 miles from the Mexican border, an unmanned aerial vehicle is launched, but not for a military mission. It's high-tech cameras and sensors are scanning the brush and sands of the desert landscape for illegal immigrants. It is part of a four-month study by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection to determine if the UAVs have a part to play in protecting the border.
(on camera): Is it potentially a silver bullet?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, absolutely not. Absolutely not.
MESERVE (voice-over): But the UAVs may be a valuable tool. Able to stay aloft for up to 20 hours at a stretch, sending back real-time images night or day, the UAVs are virtually invisible and inaudible to people on the ground, making them ideal for surveillance. And, some worry for spying.
ROBERT SMITH, BORDER PATROL: I can tell you, from a policy standpoint, the Department of Homeland Security is not going to use these things to be able to spy on people in their homes or in their backyards any more than they do with any other piece of equipment that they have. We just don't do that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't want people to fear that they're being spied on while sunbathing or engaging in personal activities in their backyard.
MESERVE: UAVs are not cheap. This four-month trial has a price tag of $4 million. But perhaps UAVs could bring some monetary efficiencies, giving Customs and Border Protection information that allows them to calibrate their responses to intrusions.
MICHAEL WIMBERLY, U.S. BORDER PATROL: We should have been here looking at this technology long ago.
MESERVE (on camera): Why weren't you?
WIMBERLY: Frankly, I don't think we had the vision.
MESERVE (voice-over): There is little argument that the situation right now is dire. More than 100 migrants have died in the desert heat along the southwest border already this year.
(on camera): UAV surveillance might save some and stop others. In the Tucson sector of the Mexican border alone, 1,500 people a day are stopped. Nobody knows how many go undetected.
Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Fort Wachuka, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The border patrol says U.S. -- UAVs patrolling the borders could drastically cut dangerous smuggling operations as well.
HEMMER: About 12 minutes past the hour now. Last night, Larry King sat down with Bill Clinton, his first live prime time interview since the release of his book. He talked about Osama bin Laden, also that connection of the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen that happened in October of 2000, while Bill Clinton was still at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I regret deeply that I didn't get him. I tried everything I knew to get him. I wish -- the only real regret I have in terms of our efforts is, nearly everybody in the world knew that he did the USS Cole in October of 2000.
I knew what our options were. I knew what our military options were. I knew what our covert options were. And I felt I couldn't take strong military action against Afghanistan because the FBI and CIA didn't officially agree that bin Laden had done it until after I left office. If they had done so when I was in office, I would have taken stronger action, even as a lame duck president.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HEMMER: Again, Bill Clinton last night. The book tour continues as well.
In the meantime, almost 14 minutes past the hour, back to Daryn Kagan, the headlines this morning -- Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, good morning.
Well, we're going to start in Iraq, where a roadside bomb has killed a police officer in Baghdad today. And fighting in Fallujah has left at least seven Iraqis dead. The clash is coming one day after insurgent strikes throughout Iraq in which nearly 100 people were killed. Officials warning of intense violence leading up to the handover of power in just five days.
The field of possible replacements for outgoing CIA director George Tenet is apparently narrowing. Sources telling CNN that the frontrunner for the post, Republican Congressman from Florida Porter Goss, he has charged the House -- he has chaired the House Intelligence Committee since 1997. If he's nominated and approved, Goss would take over when Tenet leaves as the director. And he's planning on doing that next month.
In Los Angeles, three police officers will be investigated for excessive use of force. The announcement coming yesterday, one day after news helicopters captured officers beating a suspect, a suspected car thief, with a flashlight. The man was reportedly not seriously hurt during the incident. All the officers at the scene have been reassigned to desk duty.
Some lucky seniors will be getting a jump on Medicare prescription drug coverage. The Bush administration says 50,000 people will be chosen in a lottery to get coverage now. Among those picked, people with serious illnesses, such as cancer, who need the costly drugs. Others will have to wait until 2006 for coverage.
And in sports, some young guns sharing the spotlight in New York last night for the NBA draft. Dwight Howard ending up as the number one pick. You haven't heard of him? Well, he's just coming out of high school here in Atlanta.
He's going to the Orlando Magic. He was one of eight high school players chosen in the first round. Kind of looking like a freshman year.
Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks, Daryn.
Time to check in with Toure. He's got the "Question of the Day."
Hello.
TOURE, ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE: Hello.
The Dwight Howard situation is going to be a lot different. Last year, Lebron and Carmelo came in and made a boom right away.
HEMMER: That's right.
TOURE: Dwight Howard is a big question mark. You know, we don't know what he's going to be able to do.
HEMMER: Well, he's got a talent, but we'll see what level he plays now.
TOURE: He's got the size. Yes, it's not going to be an immediate impact like before, like last year.
HEMMER: I see. What's his favorite rock 'n' roll band of all time?
TOURE: I don't know. Well, he's a big Christian guy. So he may not be...
HEMMER: Maybe he's listening to that John Tesh album that Soledad's got.
TOURE: Perhaps.
O'BRIEN: Well, and there's tons of Christian rock out there.
TOURE: That's...
O'BRIEN: He could be listening. It's true.
TOURE: "Question of the Day."
O'BRIEN: Good.
TOURE: You know, we haven't talked about Nirvana. We haven't talked about Cream, Blind Faith, Traffic. There's some great bands that haven't been brought up yet.
O'BRIEN: Do the R&B groups count as a band? Like Gladys Knight and the Pips kind of thing, I mean, are they a band if they don't play instruments? The Temptations, great, but not really a band, right?
TOURE: I mean, I would think that's a little different. Just -- I mean, different era. And like the -- you know, like that's a -- that's a range around a singer.
HEMMER: You'd call that a group, too, and not so much a band.
O'BRIEN: Yes, a group and not a band.
TOURE: Yes, a group rather than a band for...
O'BRIEN: Thank you for the clarification, Bill.
(CROSSTALK)
TOURE: And Luther and Mariah don't count. O'BRIEN: Luther -- Luther doesn't have a band, I don't think. I love him, though.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: A couple of answers. From John in Japan -- love the e- mails from Japan.
HEMMER: Yes.
TOURE: Isn't that so exciting? "U2 would have never have played live without the sound of the Ramones in '75. Any rock 'n' roll fan would surely agree, the best was Joey, Johnny, Tommy and Dee Dee."
Wow.
O'BRIEN: That's a good one.
TOURE: Japan repping for New York rock 'n' roll. How about that?
Marcus says, "When sad and lonely, when love becomes too much to endure, a tear may fall from my eye as I gently turn on The Cure."
O'BRIEN: I like that one.
TOURE: "Why Can't I Be You," an amazing record.
And the last one, "I can't write a poem, but my vote is Pink Floyd." And we may have another vote for Pink Floyd from the desk of young Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Yes?
TOURE: Lenny Kravitz, eh?
O'BRIEN: Not open yet.
HEMMER: That was a good one.
TOURE: And the Beastie Boys, which is hot.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Beastie Boys?
TOURE: This is a great record.
HEMMER: Is it really good?
TOURE: Yes. Oh, yes. This is in my car right now.
HEMMER: I'll check it out this weekend. "No sleep 'Till Brooklyn," and beyond.
TOURE: No... HEMMER: 1985. Thanks, Toure.
TOURE: Thank you.
HEMMER: Chad Myers again at the CNN Center.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: What a mess. All right. Chad, thanks.
Still to come this morning, finding faith by the thousands. The phenomenon that is the bishop T.D. Jakes, and why he says there's a resurgence of spirituality in this country.
HEMMER: Also, a bit later, we'll talk to an 11-year-old girl who made the "Extra Effort." Taught her community a real lesson in effort. You'll hear about it, one penny at a time, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: He's been called America's best preacher and has been on the cover of TIME Magazine. Bishop T.D. Jakes draws huge crowds to hear his spiritual message. We've got more now from CNN's Eric Philips.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TD JAKES, PREACHER: He stoops down, down, down! (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At MegaFest 2004, Bishop T.D. Jakes lives will change.
JAKES: I think there's a great deal of hunger right now in our country for spirituality.
PHILIPS: One hundred thousand pre-registered for this Christian convention in Atlanta for men, women and children, the brainchild of Bishop Jakes. Upwards of 50,000 more were expected to register on site.
JAKES: I think there's a resurgence of faith in our culture. Not necessarily religion, but faith. Read the handwriting on the wall. America is interested in faith.
PHILIPS: And interested in the comfort increased faith can bring about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got a daughter in the Air Force, and she's already been overseas once. And I pray for her daily.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People need something, and they are looking for something that they can grab hold to.
PHILIPS: Crowds are drawn to Jakes' no-holds-barred, down-to- earth comedic style and messages of empowerment. His 28,000-member Potter's House Church in Dallas is evidence of that. But he's quick to pass on the credit.
JAKES: I'm not the message. I'm the messenger. I'm not the mail. I'm the postman.
PHILIPS: With a message these people are eager to receive.
Eric Philips, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Bishop Jakes also brings message to more people with his weekly television show, which is broadcast nationally -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Soledad.
In a moment here, time to kick off the weekend with a little "90- Second Pop" coming your way. After a nervous breakdown, a movie flop, and a lost record deal, Mariah Carey's luck may be changing. Team Carey wants to give the star a makeover.
And the Wayans brothers poking fun at "White Chicks" this weekend. But will that be enough to knock off the notebook? "90- Second-Pop" is coming up.
Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Yes, it sounds bad really pretty much everywhere. All right. Chad, thanks.
You can get the latest news every morning in your e-mail. We want to remind you to sign up for AMERICAN MORNING "Quick News" at cnn.com/am.
Still to come this morning, Martha Stewart wants a new trial. The government's had its say, so what's the judge going to decide? Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" just ahead as we continue right after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everybody. Wanted to get you down to Wall Street on this Friday as we close out the week. A lot of attention given to stocks and how the -- how the markets have done.
There were some economic numbers out a bit earlier today that certainly investors will be chewing on today as the day grows older. Off about 35 yesterday for the Dow. The Dow 30. The blue chips opened today at 10,443 as we get ready to close out the week.
That's the scene on Wall Street. And there's the opening bell. Nasdaq market site right around Times Square; 2,015 is your opening mark. Off about five points in trading from yesterday.
So welcome back, everybody. And good morning again.
O'BRIEN: And it is exactly half-past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Still a very tense situation in Iraq. Fighting today in Fallujah. We know that at least seven Iraqis have been killed, and it comes on the heels of one of the deadliest days in a long time. We're going to bring you an update from Iraq in just a few moments.
HEMMER: Also, on the lighter side today, looking for something to do over the weekend? Our "90-Second Pop" panel taking a shot today at a one-time pop superstar who wants to get back on top. Mariah Carey has plans, she has this strategy. We'll see if it's going to work.
And also, if you're looking for a movie, not a great recommendation for our panel, by the way. We'll tell you what's hot in a moment here.
O'BRIEN: They've got some ideas.
HEMMER: They've got a couple.
O'BRIEN: Yes, nothing great, though.
We start, though, with the -- the handover in Iraq, five days before that handover of power. Security is heightened this morning after heavy violence across the country. Fighting between insurgents and coalition forces resumed early today in Fallujah, with at least seven Iraqis reported killed, dozens wounded. Brent Sadler live for us in Baghdad this morning.
Brent, good morning.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Yes, continuing clashes in Fallujah. Seeing a very heavy violence the previous day, along with violence in other parts of Iraq, to the north, in Mosul, where more than 60 people were killed and more than 220 people injured in a string of suicide bombings and various attacks against government and police installations, also in other cities.
That was 24 hours ago. The situation in Fallujah today, much quieter, but very tense in that city.
We just have confirmation on the ground here from U.S. officials that there has been another attack by U.S. forces, an air strike against a suspected safe house of the wanted militant, Abu Musab al- Zarqawi, suspected to having links to al Qaeda and also suspected of having a very big hand in this latest upsurge in terror activity in many towns, five towns in Iraq, 24 hours ago.
Now, we understand from the military officers here that they were acting on multiple confirmations of actionable -- actionable intelligence from sources within the coalition, intelligence sources within the coalition, and also form within the Iraqis themselves. Also hearing, at a news conference now, Iraqi officials, interior officials, defense minister, saying that there will be -- expect there to be preemptive strikes against Zarqawi's terror network in Iraq as and when the Iraqis take over sovereignty come June the 30th.
In addition to that, certainly U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell referred to the upsurge in violence, saying that the U.S.-led coalition had misjudged, underestimated the nature of the insurgency that now posed a very great threat as we go to this very crucial moment of the handover in -- of sovereignty in just five days -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Brent Sadler for us in Baghdad this morning. Brent, thank you.
Still to come this morning, the outlook on the U.S. economy is not as rosy as previously thought. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business" just ahead.
Also this morning, John Kerry looks for a little help from Hollywood.
Stay with us. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
HEMMER: Best rocker of all time, Kylie Minogue.
JESSICA SHAW, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Get Toure back.
HEMMER: I mean, is there any debate? "90-Second Pop" on a Friday. They came to play today. Say hello to B.J. Sigesmund, staff editor, US Weekly.
Good morning, B.J.
B.J. SIGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, US WEEKLY: Good morning.
HEMMER: Jessica Shaw from The Shaw Report in Entertainment Weekly.
Good morning, Jess. Nice to see you.
SHAW: Good morning.
HEMMER: Josh Elliott from Sports Illustrated here as well.
Welcome back.
JOSH ELLIOTT, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Good morning.
HEMMER: You're our man for Mariah. ELLIOTT: Yes, obviously.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: You're the short straw.
ELLIOTT: Yes, Mariah Carey has a book coming out. We have -- we cannot confirm yet if she realizes that that will actually involve...
SHAW: Writing.
ELLIOTT: ... writing words.
SIGESMUND: Josh, she wrote 15 of her number one singles.
ELLIOTT: Yes.
SIGESMUND: And she's not using a ghostwriter.
HEMMER: So give her credit where credit's due.
SHAW: Allegedly not using a ghost writer.
ELLIOT: She's not going to use a ghostwriter for a genre that requires at least a sentence a page. Yes, that's...
HEMMER: But the book that she's writing is children's books, right?
SHAW: She's trying to be Madonna.
HEMMER: Uh-huh.
SHAW: She's like, I'm going to reinvent myself, write a children's book, have a career...
ELLIOTT: Which is to basically say, whatever I was doing before is not working.
SIGESMUND: What this exemplifies is the fact that she peaked in her mid 20s. She was huge. But what do you do when you're sort of an aging, so to speak, hot diva who always was a sex kitten? She's kind of got to grow up.
HEMMER: Let's talk about the movie this weekend.
SIGESMUND: Yes.
HEMMER: The Wayans brothers are back. The movie is called "White Chicks."
SIGESMUND: Right.
HEMMER: The reviews so far are pretty decent. What do you think? SIGESMUND: Well, you know, this is going to be the big movie. This is the time of year for huge, goofy movies like this. Look at how well "Dodgeball" did last weekend.
The premise is very simple and easily understood. Two black FBI agents go undercover as white hotel heiresses, a la Paris and Nicole Hilton, and infiltrate...
SHAW: What makes you think that?
SIGESMUND: ... and they infiltrate the Hamptons' social scene. It basically rips off "Some Like it Hot" and "Tootsie." None of the laughs are original. But, you know, if you feel like turning off your brain and going to see a movie brought to you by the "Scary Movie" guys...
HEMMER: Why not? Sure. And what else are weekends for, right?
SIGESMUND: Yes, exactly.
HEMMER: What about "The Notebook?" How does that stack up?
SIGESMUND: And then "The Notebook," this is like an antidote to all the action movies out there. It's catered to women. It's a romance.
HEMMER: God.
SHAW: It's all chick flick, all the...
SIGESMUND: It is -- no. All chick flick all the time.
(CROSSTALK)
SHAW: And I cannot wait to see it.
ELLIOTT: It's good looking woman has to decide between one good looking guy and another good looking guy with a beard.
HEMMER: Jessica, let's talk about The Shaw Report, otherwise known as the lame summer season of the most stupid TV reality shows.
SHAW: Yes.
HEMMER: Is that the way you call it?
SHAW: Sure, absolutely. I'm going to say that "Outback Jack" is in, though.
SIGESMUND: It is the summer, you know...
SHAW: Right.
SIGESMUND: ... and that's -- that's what we're talking about.
SHAW: "Simple Life," I see all five minutes. Go -- I think if you want to see that, go see "White Chicks."
And "Who Wants to Marry My Dad" perhaps the most terrifying TV show ever...
HEMMER: Uh-huh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hate it, horrible. It's absolutely horrible.
SHAW: ... especially since NBC is promoting it as the most romantic show ever.
HEMMER: Best rock 'n' roll band of all time?
ELLIOTT: I'm going to go with Led Zeppelin.
SHAW: Rolling Stones.
HEMMER: Jessica? B.J.?
SIGESMUND: I will go with U2 as well. I'm sorry, that is -- that is Toure's track (ph) answer of the day.
SHAW: I want to change to Kylie Minogue. Kylie Minogue.
HEMMER: No, no. You're locked in.
ELLIOTT: Toure and B.J. were huddling in the back.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Thanks, guys. Have a great weekend, OK? Good to see all three of you.
Here's Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill. Thanks.
Now, it's time to take a look at the action on Wall Street this morning. The market digesting a surprising economic report.
And then Martha Stewart still waiting. The latest on her case, all from Andy Serwer, "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Where do you want to start?
ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Let's start out with the economic news a little bit, because it is surprising, Soledad. The economy grew at 3.9 percent in the first quarter. And the reason that's a surprise is because this is the final revision.
Initially, we had been looking at 4.4 percent in the first quarter. And you can see that's quite a bit lower than initially seen there. So we're half a percentage point lower, you know, which is not so good, really. But the markets don't seem to be minding it too much this morning. The Norwegian oil strike is over. Maybe that's why the market's up.
O'BRIEN: Is that right?
SERWER: Yes, it is.
O'BRIEN: Really? Seriously?
SERWER: The government's ordered an end to it. I'm serious.
O'BRIEN: Oh.
SERWER: So, actually, that's true. And the oil markets are responding positively, and stocks are as well. You can see the Dow is up 11 percent. The Nasdaq is also up this morning.
One stock on the move, Nike, up $2.85. Its profits soaring, up 24 percent. Selling a lot of high-end shoes, Soledad. That's all I can say out there.
O'BRIEN: Yes, no question.
SERWER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk about Martha Stewart.
SERWER: Yes. We talked about this yesterday. As expected, the government did file a motion to deny the request for Martha Stewart to have a new trial.
Now, what that means is, Judge Miriam Cedarbaum can now rule on whether or not she will allow a retrial or not. It is expected that she will side with the government and deny a retrial, which would open the way to a sentencing early next month for Martha Stewart.
O'BRIEN: When does she have to make that decision? When will we know? When does Martha start -- stop waiting to know her fate?
SERWER: Right. It's entirely up to the judge, that's my understanding. But it's also my understanding that she will rule within the next couple days. Possibly very soon.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. Great.
SERWER: One last revision on my best band pick.
O'BRIEN: What did you -- you started with...
SERWER: This is my final one.
O'BRIEN: What did he start with? Does anybody remember?
SERWER: I don't even remember anymore. I think it was a fog -- I now decided that Captain & Tennille, no question.
O'BRIEN: Are they a band?
SERWER: Well, OK. Then Wang Chung?
O'BRIEN: Are they a band?
SERWER: Everybody Wang Chung tonight, yes. OK.
O'BRIEN: See, and you're the people who make fun of me.
SERWER: ABBA? Just you.
O'BRIEN: Hey, I like ABBA.
SERWER: OK. All right, there you go. OK, we're for ABBA, you and I.
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks, Andy.
SERWER: OK.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, one witness makes a surprise revelation in the Scott Peterson trial. A look at that's just ahead when we continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Forty-four minutes past the hour now. To Daryn Kagan and the headlines this morning.
Daryn, good morning.
KAGAN: Bill, good morning once again.
Stepped-up security ahead of President Bush's arrival in Ireland today. The president leaving the White House just a short while ago. He will be in Ireland for a summit with European leaders. His talks with allies expected to focus on Iraq. President Bush then heads to Turkey for next week's NATO summit.
To California and the Scott Peterson trial. A Modesto police detective admitting yesterday that he omitted information from an interview transcript that showed Laci Peterson may have been in the warehouse where her husband's boat was stored. The defense implies that Laci's hair could have gotten into the boat during that visit. The trial resumes on Monday.
Also in California, lawyers in the Michael Jackson case are heading to court. A pre-trial hearing today focusing on whether details of the case will remain secret. Media outlets fighting to unseal key documents in the case. A judge will hear complaints on the issue today. Jackson is not expected to attend that hearing.
And in politics, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry with a campaign event in Ohio today. He plans to focus on the economy. Last night, Senator Kerry getting some help from some of Hollywood's A list. The concert and fund-raiser dinner in Los Angeles bringing in $5 million for Kerry's campaign. Comedian Billy Crystal reportedly calling the event "Woodstock for really, really rich people."
On that note, we'll toss it back to Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right. Daryn, thanks. Before I let you go, give us a look at what's ahead this morning at 10:00.
KAGAN: We have a huge hour. "Fahrenheit 9/11," the movie, is coming out at theaters across the country today. Michael Moore will be my guest.
Also, we have Walter Cronkite. And that is just in the next hour, Soledad. It's a huge morning.
O'BRIEN: Wow. All right. We like to hear that. Daryn, thanks.
Now to check with Toure. He's got the "Question of the Day."
TOURE: We've got to say that the crew generally thinks Zeppelin and the Beatles, right, guys? So they'll move the camera off of me if I don't say what they think. And Public Enemy, I was just suggested, has not been mentioned yet. Awesome band.
E-mails, a final batch. We have one great, great poem coming up.
O'BRIEN: I love poems. They've been good so far.
TOURE: Jay from Norfolk, Virginia, says, "How about the Jackson Five? They played instruments." Yes, OK, Jay. Tom...
O'BRIEN: Didn't they write the song about the rat, "Ben?" I think that disqualifies them immediately. Or whatever.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: Tom from New Orleans says, "When the media sneers (ph) less than fresh and media darlings listen to John Tesh, the cure to sugary pop is in my player, the best and heaviest band is surely Slayer.
O'BRIEN: Oh!
HEMMER: Oh!
TOURE: And here's a great poem. This is perhaps the poem of the day from Mary. "There once was an anchor named Soledad..."
O'BRIEN: Oh, no.
TOURE: "...whose looks you must agree are not bad."
O'BRIEN: Oh, thanks, Mary. TOURE: "She does interviews with grace, with that glow on her face..."
O'BRIEN: That's makeup.
TOURE: "May her twins arrive healthy and glad."
O'BRIEN: Oh, that's neat. Thank you.
HEMMER: Oh. Yeah!
O'BRIEN: Can you point down her choice -- does that mean that she supports Old Town (ph), too?
HEMMER: No.
TOURE: No.
HEMMER: Thank you, Mary. Very sweet.
O'BRIEN: Well, that's very nice.
HEMMER: It's been good having you, Toure.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
TOURE: Thank you for having me.
HEMMER: Sorry it has to end so soon.
TOURE: I know. But you guys make it so easy. Thank you so much.
O'BRIEN: Parting is such sweet sorrow.
TOURE: Well, I'll see you on Monday anyway.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: It's not easy to hold up the column while Jack Cafferty's out, let me tell you.
TOURE: Right.
HEMMER: Well done.
TOURE: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Thank you.
Still to come this morning, penny by penny, one little girl was on a mission to save a school program from chop -- from the chopping block. But you won't believe just how much those pennies turned into. We're going to tell you about her "Extra Effort" just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Open for a good weekend weather-wise. A last check with Chad Myers this morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Yes, that's one of the warmer days for sure. All right, Chad. Thanks a lot.
Well, each Friday in our "Extra Effort" series we pay tribute to those going the extra mile to help others. And this morning, we meet a young girl who used her spare time to collect some spare change, and lots of it for California schools facing budget cuts.
I recently spoke with 11-year-old Zoe Oppenheim and Gloria Johnston. She's the head of the school district that was the beneficiary of Zoe's penny drive. And I began by asking Gloria just how badly her schools, in fact, have been hit.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GLORIA JOHNSTON, SUPERINTENDENT, WEST CONTRA COSTA SCHOOL DISTRICT: It's been incredibly dramatic for us, and devastating, because we have some of the poorest and most disadvantaged students in the country. And the cuts have -- have really impacted the students throughout the district.
O'BRIEN: So what Zoe did is pretty remarkable.
And, Zoe, let's go back to you, and ask you, how much money you able to raise? And where did you come up with this idea of collecting pennies to -- to basically fund the school district?
ZOE OPPENHEIM, RAISED MONEY FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT: Well, we raised $2,300. And we got the idea from New York. Some people did a penny drive, too. So we thought that would be good.
O'BRIEN: I should -- I should mention, Zoe, that this isn't raising money for your school, this is raising money for another school. Why did you do something that I think lots of people would think is just incredibly selfless?
OPPENHEIM: Well, there's a lot of reasons. First of all, it could be our school, too. So, I mean, if we don't do anything, this could get worse and worse. And another thing, there -- I think every kid should get the same amount of library programs, music programs, sports, all those programs that they're not getting and that we're getting.
O'BRIEN: Dr. Johnston, I guess you have called Zoe the catalyst, because other people started raising money as well. Give me a sense of the overall tally on how much money you've been able to raise. And will this help some of these programs that Zoe was just talking about?
JOHNSTON: Well, it's true. Zoe sort of kicked off the conscience of people who realized that, due to the dramatic budget situation in the state of California, and in our district also, that they could find a way to help. And so about $800,000 has been raised through various private and corporate donations.
Zoe said when she gave her money to elementary music, that she wanted all of the students to be able to have a chance to have a kind of program that every student should have. And so we just -- we think she's pretty spectacular. And we know, however, that she represents a lot of young people in this country with a conscience, who are generous, and who are always ready to step up and help others. We're just happy that she came forward to help our district.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Despite Zoe's penny drive and many other generous donations, the West Contra Costa school district is still $400,000 short of what they need to keep all programs running -- Bill.
HEMMER: I want to check in with Aaron Brown right now and get a preview of what's happening later tonight on "NEWSNIGHT." Here's Aaron.
AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT": Thank you, Bill.
Tonight on "NEWSNIGHT," Michael Moore's new movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," began causing a commotion long before its nationwide release today. Tonight, we'll get a fact check from Jeff Greenfield, how much of the movie to believe. We'll also take a look at the impact the movie might make. Will it change any minds, or is it simply preaching to the converted?
We'll have that story, plus all the day's news, of course, morning papers. And this being Friday, we'll dabble with the tabloids, too. All that and more on "NEWSNIGHT," CNN tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
HEMMER: Good deal, Aaron. Thanks for that and have a great weekend.
Jeff Greenfield has that later tonight with Aaron Brown. In a moment here, Michael Moore talks with Daryn Kagan. His own view as that film gets ready to go in theaters across the country this weekend. He called it his own personal op-ed piece. Daryn talks to him about it next hour.
We're back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: We've got to run. Thanks for being with us today. Before we go, though, overall, the winner was what online?
TOURE: The Jimi Hendrix experience.
SERWER: It was?
HEMMER: Yes. TOURE: It's got to be, baby.
HEMMER: Yes.
SERWER: It was? All right, I'll go with that...
TOURE: I'm not as good at numbers as Andy, but it's got to be Jimmy.
SERWER: Well, you add it up. You add it up, right?
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: We've got to run. Have a great weekend. Here's Daryn Kagan now at the CNN Center.
Daryn, good morning to you yet again.
O'BRIEN: Hey, Daryn.
HEMMER: And have a great weekend yourself.
KAGAN: Absolutely. You guys have a great weekend in New York City. We'll get started here at CNN headquarters in Atlanta.
Good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. As always, we begin with the headlines.
Two U.S. Marines have been killed and a third wounded in an attack in eastern Afghanistan. The U.S. military is releasing few details about last night's attack. U.S. forces have stepped up operations in the region, where Taliban-led insurgents are hiding.
Sources tell CNN that the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee has emerged as the frontrunner to head the Central Intelligence Agency. Porter Goss is a Florida Republican and served as an agent in the CIA's clandestine service from 1960 to 1971. Embattled CIA Director George Tenet announced his resignation earlier this month.
