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CNN Live At Daybreak

Controversy Over U.N. Ambassador Nominee John Bolton; Silicone Breast Implants Reconsidered; Colorado Blizzard; Culture of Influence

Aired April 11, 2005 - 06:27   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Loose cannon or global problem- solver? There are many adjectives for the man President Bush wants to represent the United States on the world stage.
It is Monday, April 11. You are watching DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

President Bush's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has become a lightening rod for controversy. Hard-line conservative John Bolton has drawn some pretty strong criticism. Bolton's Senate confirmation hearing begins today.

Senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth joins us now live with the latest.

Good morning -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Three days of grueling hearings are expected for John Bolton, who is President Bush's pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to the U.N. A lot of this is because of what Bolton has said on the record. He had very kind and respectful words for the United Nations when he was introduced by Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, a couple of months ago.

Years ago, Bolton said things such as, you could tear down the top 10 stories on the U.N. secretariat building and not lose anything, there is no such thing as the United Nations. He may have been trying to make another point there.

He has been President Bush's strong arms control expert for several years. He had a lot to do with the U.N. before the first Gulf War. Critics and actors have fought an Internet war involving advertisements and things Bolton has said. Supporters think he's the man the U.S. really needs at the U.N. to help shake it up and try to change the way the U.N. does business to reform it, something Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants to do. But many people say Annan has lost his luster over oil-for-food and other scandals -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, I was just going to say, Richard, that many Americans think it's time to shake up the United Nations. So, maybe many in the public are happy with the president's choice. ROTH: Yes, they've been talking about tough love, that Bolton is the man, and even some at the U.N. recognize that because of the situation the building is in that the only one who can help the organization's credibility inside the United States is a tough player such as John Bolton.

COSTELLO: Well, we'll see what happens in the Senate. Richard Roth reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

It is 6:30 Eastern.

"Now in the News."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in Texas to meet with President Bush. The two are expected to discuss Sharon's plan to withdraw troops from Gaza and to build a new Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

Former President Bill Clinton is planning a major announcement this morning on behalf of his foundation's AIDS initiatives. He's expected to expand the scope of the program to more rural areas throughout the world.

The official photographs of the royal wedding are being released today taken in the White Drawing room at Windsor Castle. The newlyweds are joined by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh and Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand.

Here are some great pictures of a tornado touching down near Russell, Kansas. Several twisters were spotted in the north and central parts of the state. No injuries or damage to report, just these amazing pictures for you this morning. Wow!

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: It's time to check in with CNN's Bill Hemmer for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.

Back here in New York now, it looks like accused serial bomber Eric Robert Rudolph will be spared the death penalty. Authorities say they have reached a plea deal that will keep Rudolph in prison for life. Now, some of his alleged victims are angry over that agreement. And we'll talk to a nurse today who was wounded in one of the bombings. She's about to have her 20th surgery as the result of that attack. So, she'll be our guest this morning.

And Michael Jackson, that trial continued in graphic testimony, too, last week. Can the defense now stem the tide? We'll talk with one expert inside the courtroom, and we'll get her reaction as to how the jurors are reacting so far.

So, that's coming up in about, oh, 27 minutes or so, Carol, on a Monday morning.

COSTELLO: We'll be there. Thank you, Bill.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, 13 years later after they were taken off the market, are silicone breast implants safe? Experts consider lifting the ban. I'll talk with a surgeon about the dangers and possible benefits.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The international markets are in negative territory this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down 129 points, the London FTSE down nearly 17 points, the German DAX is down 11.5 points.

It's 6:35 Eastern. Here is what will be making news today.

Pentagon officials reportedly say military operations in Iraq are making enough progress to allow them to start planning for significant troops reductions by early next year. That's according to today's "New York Times."

Jury selection resumes today in the murder trial of Charles McCoy, Jr. He's the man accused in the series of highway shootings in Columbus, Ohio, that killed one woman and terrorized the city. McCoy has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity.

And an autopsy is planned today or tomorrow on former NFL defensive lineman Al Lucas. He died from a presumed spinal cord injury suffered while trying to make a tackle for the Los Angeles Avengers.

In health news this morning, the FDA is thinking about lifting the ban on silicone breast implants. You'll recall the implants were banned back in 1992 over concerns of possible silicone leakage and what that can do to your immune system.

Let's head live to Atlanta and Dr. Grant Carlson from the Emory University School of Medicine.

Good morning, Doctor.

DR. GRANT CARLSON, EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. I remember back in the '90s when so many women sued Dow Corning and other companies over silicone breast implants. These companies literally paid out hundreds of millions of dollars because juries found leaking implants led to connective tissue disorder. Is that not an issue any longer?

CARLSON: No, it's not. We have no evidence today that silicone gel implants cause or is predisposed to chronic illnesses such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue disease and lupus scleraderma.

COSTELLO: It's interesting you say that, because this pretty much destroyed Dow Corning, these lawsuits.

CARLSON: Yes, it did.

COSTELLO: Well, why couldn't they find that out before? And why is this coming to light now?

CARLSON: The entire silicone gel implant issue was extremely emotional and controversial in the early 1990s. There are clearly some patients who had implants placed with the older devices that had problems. And we really had trouble explaining why that was so. And it really wasn't until the late 1990s that we had data that really showed us that they indeed had no relation to these chronic diseases.

COSTELLO: Aren't they using a slightly different kind of gel now?

CARLSON: Yes, they are. There was a concern in the early models of the silicone gel implant that it was a fairly liquid form of gel. Today, it's more of what's called cohesive gel. So, if there was a tendency for the cover or shell to rupture, the gel would stay in place. It's stickier, if you will.

COSTELLO: So, if it does break inside of your body it won't go all over the place, it will just stay in one concentrated area?

CARLSON: That is correct. In other words, it's confined to the capsule around the breast implant.

COSTELLO: Do women still request these kinds of implants?

CARLSON: Yes, they do. And breast augmentation, there are 250,000 cases a year that are being performed in the United States. And in Europe, over 90 percent of the implants that they use in cosmetic augmentations are silicone gel.

COSTELLO: So, I take it you believe that we should start using silicone gel implants once again.

CARLSON: Yes. I think that it's clear that they're superior in their feel and also in their appearance.

COSTELLO: Dr. Grant Carlson, we'll see what they come up with when these government hearings take place today. Thank you for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

CARLSON: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Complaining about the pollen and April showers? Be glad you don't live in Denver. But if you do live there, stick around to see how much of a headache this spring blizzard will cause today.

And later, has the media been Oprahfied? She's just one person who wields a whole lot of influence. We'll check out "TIME" magazine's top 100.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:40 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Cardinal Bernard Law, who was accused of covering up priest sex abuse in Boston, celebrates a mass to remember the pope today in Rome. That prestigious role has angered abuse victims as well as other American Catholics. They do plan to protest.

Tokyo rocked by a strong earthquake this morning. The magnitude 6.1 quake caused minor damage to some buildings and delays in public transportation, but there were no injuries.

In money news, if you're overweight you may have already experienced this. A new Rice University study finds that obese shoppers face discrimination from retail sales clerks. It includes less eye contact and more rudeness.

In culture, comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosts this year's Country Music Television Awards show. It's tonight in Nashville, Tennessee.

And in sports, Jeff Gordon overcame some early tire troubles to win his sixth race at Martinsville Speedway. He becomes the first driver to win two races this season. Teammate Jimmy Johnson held on to the points lead with an eighth place finish.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Stick around, Chad, because, as you've been telling us, spring has not sprung in Colorado.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: In fact, it's a winter wonderland there. We have some pictures for people to view now. Look at that. That's unbelievable. A blizzard has dumped two feet of snow in parts of the state. As you said, it's making travel treacherous.

So, joining us live from Denver is Captain Joe Black. He's the police liaison to the Office of Emergency Management in Denver.

Good morning.

CAPT. JOE BLACK, DENVER POLICE: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Was this a surprise? I mean, do blizzards normally happen at this time of year in Denver?

BLACK: This is Colorado. We can have any type of weather anytime.

COSTELLO: So, were you prepared?

BLACK: Well, you know, every time something happens, we seem to learn from mistakes, and we seem to prepare. We have on this particular storm -- you know, the Emergency Management crew has three different weather outlets that provide, you know, up-to-date weather information. And so, rather than just taking one firm's word for it, including the National Weather Service, we have three.

And we were able to, you know, make our determination that they weren't kidding, there was definitely a blizzard coming. And so, we made adequate preparations.

COSTELLO: OK. So, what has it done to the city of Denver? Has it shut it down?

BLACK: No. Denver is pretty resilient with blizzards. You know, we've had them at Christmastime in 1982. We've had them -- another spring blizzard a couple of years ago that dropped a fair amount of snow. Everybody just prepares for it. You know, the word goes out that, you know, travel is discouraged. And so, we have less travel on the road, which makes it easier for the plows to go out and do their jobs.

And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of people. You see Saturday a lot of people were at the grocery store getting the things they need so they wouldn't have to go out and things like that.

So, you know, the police departments and the fire departments get information knowing that this is coming, as does our regional transportation district or buses and mass transit. So, basically, there's a call down that goes out that everyone knows that it's coming and to take the adequate precautions.

MYERS: Captain, I was looking at the DOT Web site. This is Chad Myers up in the weather office. I-70 is still closed from Kansas to Aurora, and also US 6, Loveland Pass is closed. Any updates on that? That was 15 minutes ago.

BLACK: No. It's still probably going to be the same, at least until, you know, probably about midday until, you know, the plows -- it depends on what the wind is doing. Right now I'm looking out of my window and it's still pretty windy and blowing the snow around up in Denver itself.

MYERS: There's the live radar from I-80 Cheyenne right on down I-76 through Rogen (ph) all the way back down even into Denver. It's still snowing a little bit, but the blizzard warnings have, in fact, been canceled for your area. That's some good news. But still, heavy snow is coming down across all of the Denver metro area, including I- 70 right on up to Eisenhower Pass -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad. And thank you, Captain Joe. We appreciate your time this morning.

BLACK: OK. Bye-.

COSTELLO: Good luck.

He seems so lackadaisical about it. MYERS: He sounds in such good spirits, doesn't he? Hey, it's snowing. It always does that.

COSTELLO: Yes, whatever.

CNN's Soledad O'Brien joins us now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning -- Soledad.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.

We're talking about Rome today. There's a special mass that's celebrating the life of Pope John Paul II. But controversy could overshadow that. It's because Cardinal Bernard Law is going to preside, and victims of priest sex abuse say that Cardinal Law covered up the scandal when he was the archbishop of Boston. We're going to talk to one of those victims this morning. She's leading a protest in Rome today. What does she want the Vatican to do with Cardinal Law? We will ask her.

Also, we'll have the very latest safety ratings out for some popular minivans. Which ones were rated the safest? We're going to talk to the editor-in-chief of "Automobile" magazine.

You know, you would think with a minivan the whole point of buying it for your family, Carol, of course, is to get a safe vehicle. Not so in the past, but things have changed. We're going to talk about that.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Soledad.

Oprah, Karl Rove, Jay-Z, think they don't have anything in common? Think again. We've got details on who might have the most influence over you and your children.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: For those of you not hip to this, that is Jay-Z. And what do Jay-Z and Kim Jong Il have in common anyway with two presidents and the most-wanted terrorist in Iraq? They all made this year's list of 100 most influential people, according to "TIME" magazine.

The issue hits newsstands this morning. George Bush is on the list, as is the leader of North Korea. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger also made it. Those are the people you would expect to be on such a list. But surprisingly, quite a few familiar faces from the entertainment industry make up a good 25 percent of the issue as well. And it's that section that got our attention this morning.

Joining me now to talk about the culture of influence from the entertainment world, A.J. Hammer from "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on our sister network Headlines News.

Good morning -- A.J. A.J. HAMMER, CNN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, we were surprised at the number of celebrities on this list.

HAMMER: Don't you love the fact, by the way, that George Bush and Jay-Z are on the same list? That probably doesn't happen too often.

There's no denying the impact that celebrities and entertainers have on our pop culture. And it's proliferating more and more with the advent of new technologies, and there's no escaping it. So, it's not such a big surprise.

COSTELLO: You know, I was just going to ask you that, because the influence of celebrities past, let's say someone like Katharine Hepburn, who influenced people by the way she dressed. But you didn't hear much about her personal life.

HAMMER: Right.

COSTELLO: I mean, which would you say would have more influence on the populist? Would it be someone like Katharine Hepburn in that time? Or would it be someone like J.Lo in this time?

HAMMER: Well, in the case of J.Lo, as you mentioned, we just know so much more about every aspect of her life. And what we knew about Katharine Hepburn, you know, was fodder here and there, but the fact that she was this masterful actress. Somebody like J.Lo, we know all about her businesses and her empire, but we also know everything that's going on in her personal life.

I would say it's not so much the aspects of their personal life that are having an influence, in the case of somebody like J.Lo anyway. Somebody like Oprah Winfrey, however, it's perhaps a little different.

COSTELLO: Yes, that is a little different, because she takes her money and she does good in the world. She really tries to promote the right things. I've been poking fun at Hilary Swank, and people have been angry at me. But I'm trying to figure out how Hilary Swank is influencing my life. I mean, I know she grew up in a trailer park and she's a girl made good, but, you know, a lot of people do that, frankly.

HAMMER: One of those angry e-mails came from me, by the way, about Hilary Swank.

I think what it is, is that she has been identified as one of the great actresses of our time. And there's no denying, you know, look, she won two Oscars...

COSTELLO: But she's 30, A.J.!

HAMMER: ... and has won two Oscars, and well-deservedly so in each case. And, you know, the writer in this particular magazine article, she is written about by the person who wrote "Million Dollar Baby" as someone who burrows into a character and somebody who envelops a character. All great actors and actresses do that. But I think because of her standing, because of the fact that she won these Academy Awards at such a young age, two of them, she's being looked at as one of the next great actresses of our generation. And it is a great story.

COSTELLO: It is a great story. I'm just -- I don't know. I'm always confused when people so young make lists like this, because they still have a lot more to learn.

HAMMER: Well, let's look at somebody like Jay-Z, who we were playing just a moment ago and you were dancing, I noticed, a little bit.

COSTELLO: I was?

HAMMER: Jay-Z is 34 years old. And in addition to having risen out of the projects and creating a name for himself with, you know, lyrics that while at times are controversial he certainly has influenced a whole generation of younger rappers and has gone on to create this amazing business, $350 million a year for his clothing business alone.

COSTELLO: Wow! You know, I was just going to mention the issue of money, because these celebrities make so much money. And, you know, money is power.

HAMMER: Yes, it is.

COSTELLO: And they can invest in things they want to come to the forefront. So, in that sense, they do influence just by merely from the power of their money.

HAMMER: Don't dismiss Hilary Swank.

COSTELLO: I'm not. I won't. A.J., thank you very much. We appreciate you being here.

You can catch A.J. and Karyn Bryant every evening at 7:00 Eastern on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on CNN Headline News. And for the complete list of "TIME's" 100 most influential people, check out this week's special edition of "TIME."

And in the news to come this week, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings begins chemotherapy today. Jennings announced last week that he has lung cancer. The 66-year-old Jennings says he smoked until about 20 years ago.

Also tomorrow, a nomination hearing is tentatively scheduled for John Negroponte. If confirmed, he will be the first director of national intelligence.

On Wednesday, Eric Rudolph is to begin pleading guilty to carrying out a deadly bombing attack in Atlanta and one in Birmingham and other places. In a plea agreement, Rudolph will serve life without possible parole.

And on Thursday, the airlines' ban on cigarette lighters goes into effect. Lighters will be outlawed on airplanes and beyond airport security checkpoints. But you can bring matches aboard still.

And you know what Friday is? It's the tax man day. The deadline to file those tax returns is midnight local time. Just a reminder for you.

You are watching DAYBREAK for a Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, some beautiful pictures of the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. Hopefully, Chad, it will be great week weather-wise for people to go and take in the cherry blossoms.

MYERS: Very, very nice. In fact, it was a beautiful weekend for the parade and everything there. The cherry blossoms are a little late-blooming this year. So, if you're not going to get there until Monday or Tuesday, you're still in really great shape. Beginning to fall off a few of the trees though today, Carol.

I love it when it falls like that, like snow. You can just begin to see some of the petals coming down.

Don't touch the trees, though.

COSTELLO: No.

MYERS: It's an offense. You don't want to...

COSTELLO: You could be fined for that.

MYERS: Big-time. Exactly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Carol, we're giving away a coffee mug today. Your questions for today. Here they are. What safety -- the safety of what surgical device is being considered by a FDA panel today? And who is the creator of "Desperate Housewives?"

Go to CNN.com/daybreak and submit your answers there. We did not have a question because obviously of the pope coverage on Friday. So, we don't give away one, but we'll certainly give away one tomorrow.

COSTELLO: Yes, we will. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.


Aired April 11, 2005 - 06:27   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Loose cannon or global problem- solver? There are many adjectives for the man President Bush wants to represent the United States on the world stage.
It is Monday, April 11. You are watching DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

President Bush's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has become a lightening rod for controversy. Hard-line conservative John Bolton has drawn some pretty strong criticism. Bolton's Senate confirmation hearing begins today.

Senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth joins us now live with the latest.

Good morning -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Three days of grueling hearings are expected for John Bolton, who is President Bush's pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to the U.N. A lot of this is because of what Bolton has said on the record. He had very kind and respectful words for the United Nations when he was introduced by Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, a couple of months ago.

Years ago, Bolton said things such as, you could tear down the top 10 stories on the U.N. secretariat building and not lose anything, there is no such thing as the United Nations. He may have been trying to make another point there.

He has been President Bush's strong arms control expert for several years. He had a lot to do with the U.N. before the first Gulf War. Critics and actors have fought an Internet war involving advertisements and things Bolton has said. Supporters think he's the man the U.S. really needs at the U.N. to help shake it up and try to change the way the U.N. does business to reform it, something Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants to do. But many people say Annan has lost his luster over oil-for-food and other scandals -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, I was just going to say, Richard, that many Americans think it's time to shake up the United Nations. So, maybe many in the public are happy with the president's choice. ROTH: Yes, they've been talking about tough love, that Bolton is the man, and even some at the U.N. recognize that because of the situation the building is in that the only one who can help the organization's credibility inside the United States is a tough player such as John Bolton.

COSTELLO: Well, we'll see what happens in the Senate. Richard Roth reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

It is 6:30 Eastern.

"Now in the News."

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is in Texas to meet with President Bush. The two are expected to discuss Sharon's plan to withdraw troops from Gaza and to build a new Israeli settlement in the West Bank.

Former President Bill Clinton is planning a major announcement this morning on behalf of his foundation's AIDS initiatives. He's expected to expand the scope of the program to more rural areas throughout the world.

The official photographs of the royal wedding are being released today taken in the White Drawing room at Windsor Castle. The newlyweds are joined by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh and Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand.

Here are some great pictures of a tornado touching down near Russell, Kansas. Several twisters were spotted in the north and central parts of the state. No injuries or damage to report, just these amazing pictures for you this morning. Wow!

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: It's time to check in with CNN's Bill Hemmer for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning -- Bill.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.

Back here in New York now, it looks like accused serial bomber Eric Robert Rudolph will be spared the death penalty. Authorities say they have reached a plea deal that will keep Rudolph in prison for life. Now, some of his alleged victims are angry over that agreement. And we'll talk to a nurse today who was wounded in one of the bombings. She's about to have her 20th surgery as the result of that attack. So, she'll be our guest this morning.

And Michael Jackson, that trial continued in graphic testimony, too, last week. Can the defense now stem the tide? We'll talk with one expert inside the courtroom, and we'll get her reaction as to how the jurors are reacting so far.

So, that's coming up in about, oh, 27 minutes or so, Carol, on a Monday morning.

COSTELLO: We'll be there. Thank you, Bill.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, 13 years later after they were taken off the market, are silicone breast implants safe? Experts consider lifting the ban. I'll talk with a surgeon about the dangers and possible benefits.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The international markets are in negative territory this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down 129 points, the London FTSE down nearly 17 points, the German DAX is down 11.5 points.

It's 6:35 Eastern. Here is what will be making news today.

Pentagon officials reportedly say military operations in Iraq are making enough progress to allow them to start planning for significant troops reductions by early next year. That's according to today's "New York Times."

Jury selection resumes today in the murder trial of Charles McCoy, Jr. He's the man accused in the series of highway shootings in Columbus, Ohio, that killed one woman and terrorized the city. McCoy has pleaded innocent by reason of insanity.

And an autopsy is planned today or tomorrow on former NFL defensive lineman Al Lucas. He died from a presumed spinal cord injury suffered while trying to make a tackle for the Los Angeles Avengers.

In health news this morning, the FDA is thinking about lifting the ban on silicone breast implants. You'll recall the implants were banned back in 1992 over concerns of possible silicone leakage and what that can do to your immune system.

Let's head live to Atlanta and Dr. Grant Carlson from the Emory University School of Medicine.

Good morning, Doctor.

DR. GRANT CARLSON, EMORY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. I remember back in the '90s when so many women sued Dow Corning and other companies over silicone breast implants. These companies literally paid out hundreds of millions of dollars because juries found leaking implants led to connective tissue disorder. Is that not an issue any longer?

CARLSON: No, it's not. We have no evidence today that silicone gel implants cause or is predisposed to chronic illnesses such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue disease and lupus scleraderma.

COSTELLO: It's interesting you say that, because this pretty much destroyed Dow Corning, these lawsuits.

CARLSON: Yes, it did.

COSTELLO: Well, why couldn't they find that out before? And why is this coming to light now?

CARLSON: The entire silicone gel implant issue was extremely emotional and controversial in the early 1990s. There are clearly some patients who had implants placed with the older devices that had problems. And we really had trouble explaining why that was so. And it really wasn't until the late 1990s that we had data that really showed us that they indeed had no relation to these chronic diseases.

COSTELLO: Aren't they using a slightly different kind of gel now?

CARLSON: Yes, they are. There was a concern in the early models of the silicone gel implant that it was a fairly liquid form of gel. Today, it's more of what's called cohesive gel. So, if there was a tendency for the cover or shell to rupture, the gel would stay in place. It's stickier, if you will.

COSTELLO: So, if it does break inside of your body it won't go all over the place, it will just stay in one concentrated area?

CARLSON: That is correct. In other words, it's confined to the capsule around the breast implant.

COSTELLO: Do women still request these kinds of implants?

CARLSON: Yes, they do. And breast augmentation, there are 250,000 cases a year that are being performed in the United States. And in Europe, over 90 percent of the implants that they use in cosmetic augmentations are silicone gel.

COSTELLO: So, I take it you believe that we should start using silicone gel implants once again.

CARLSON: Yes. I think that it's clear that they're superior in their feel and also in their appearance.

COSTELLO: Dr. Grant Carlson, we'll see what they come up with when these government hearings take place today. Thank you for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

CARLSON: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Complaining about the pollen and April showers? Be glad you don't live in Denver. But if you do live there, stick around to see how much of a headache this spring blizzard will cause today.

And later, has the media been Oprahfied? She's just one person who wields a whole lot of influence. We'll check out "TIME" magazine's top 100.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:40 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Cardinal Bernard Law, who was accused of covering up priest sex abuse in Boston, celebrates a mass to remember the pope today in Rome. That prestigious role has angered abuse victims as well as other American Catholics. They do plan to protest.

Tokyo rocked by a strong earthquake this morning. The magnitude 6.1 quake caused minor damage to some buildings and delays in public transportation, but there were no injuries.

In money news, if you're overweight you may have already experienced this. A new Rice University study finds that obese shoppers face discrimination from retail sales clerks. It includes less eye contact and more rudeness.

In culture, comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosts this year's Country Music Television Awards show. It's tonight in Nashville, Tennessee.

And in sports, Jeff Gordon overcame some early tire troubles to win his sixth race at Martinsville Speedway. He becomes the first driver to win two races this season. Teammate Jimmy Johnson held on to the points lead with an eighth place finish.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Stick around, Chad, because, as you've been telling us, spring has not sprung in Colorado.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: In fact, it's a winter wonderland there. We have some pictures for people to view now. Look at that. That's unbelievable. A blizzard has dumped two feet of snow in parts of the state. As you said, it's making travel treacherous.

So, joining us live from Denver is Captain Joe Black. He's the police liaison to the Office of Emergency Management in Denver.

Good morning.

CAPT. JOE BLACK, DENVER POLICE: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Was this a surprise? I mean, do blizzards normally happen at this time of year in Denver?

BLACK: This is Colorado. We can have any type of weather anytime.

COSTELLO: So, were you prepared?

BLACK: Well, you know, every time something happens, we seem to learn from mistakes, and we seem to prepare. We have on this particular storm -- you know, the Emergency Management crew has three different weather outlets that provide, you know, up-to-date weather information. And so, rather than just taking one firm's word for it, including the National Weather Service, we have three.

And we were able to, you know, make our determination that they weren't kidding, there was definitely a blizzard coming. And so, we made adequate preparations.

COSTELLO: OK. So, what has it done to the city of Denver? Has it shut it down?

BLACK: No. Denver is pretty resilient with blizzards. You know, we've had them at Christmastime in 1982. We've had them -- another spring blizzard a couple of years ago that dropped a fair amount of snow. Everybody just prepares for it. You know, the word goes out that, you know, travel is discouraged. And so, we have less travel on the road, which makes it easier for the plows to go out and do their jobs.

And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of people. You see Saturday a lot of people were at the grocery store getting the things they need so they wouldn't have to go out and things like that.

So, you know, the police departments and the fire departments get information knowing that this is coming, as does our regional transportation district or buses and mass transit. So, basically, there's a call down that goes out that everyone knows that it's coming and to take the adequate precautions.

MYERS: Captain, I was looking at the DOT Web site. This is Chad Myers up in the weather office. I-70 is still closed from Kansas to Aurora, and also US 6, Loveland Pass is closed. Any updates on that? That was 15 minutes ago.

BLACK: No. It's still probably going to be the same, at least until, you know, probably about midday until, you know, the plows -- it depends on what the wind is doing. Right now I'm looking out of my window and it's still pretty windy and blowing the snow around up in Denver itself.

MYERS: There's the live radar from I-80 Cheyenne right on down I-76 through Rogen (ph) all the way back down even into Denver. It's still snowing a little bit, but the blizzard warnings have, in fact, been canceled for your area. That's some good news. But still, heavy snow is coming down across all of the Denver metro area, including I- 70 right on up to Eisenhower Pass -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad. And thank you, Captain Joe. We appreciate your time this morning.

BLACK: OK. Bye-.

COSTELLO: Good luck.

He seems so lackadaisical about it. MYERS: He sounds in such good spirits, doesn't he? Hey, it's snowing. It always does that.

COSTELLO: Yes, whatever.

CNN's Soledad O'Brien joins us now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning -- Soledad.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.

We're talking about Rome today. There's a special mass that's celebrating the life of Pope John Paul II. But controversy could overshadow that. It's because Cardinal Bernard Law is going to preside, and victims of priest sex abuse say that Cardinal Law covered up the scandal when he was the archbishop of Boston. We're going to talk to one of those victims this morning. She's leading a protest in Rome today. What does she want the Vatican to do with Cardinal Law? We will ask her.

Also, we'll have the very latest safety ratings out for some popular minivans. Which ones were rated the safest? We're going to talk to the editor-in-chief of "Automobile" magazine.

You know, you would think with a minivan the whole point of buying it for your family, Carol, of course, is to get a safe vehicle. Not so in the past, but things have changed. We're going to talk about that.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Soledad.

Oprah, Karl Rove, Jay-Z, think they don't have anything in common? Think again. We've got details on who might have the most influence over you and your children.

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COSTELLO: For those of you not hip to this, that is Jay-Z. And what do Jay-Z and Kim Jong Il have in common anyway with two presidents and the most-wanted terrorist in Iraq? They all made this year's list of 100 most influential people, according to "TIME" magazine.

The issue hits newsstands this morning. George Bush is on the list, as is the leader of North Korea. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger also made it. Those are the people you would expect to be on such a list. But surprisingly, quite a few familiar faces from the entertainment industry make up a good 25 percent of the issue as well. And it's that section that got our attention this morning.

Joining me now to talk about the culture of influence from the entertainment world, A.J. Hammer from "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on our sister network Headlines News.

Good morning -- A.J. A.J. HAMMER, CNN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So, we were surprised at the number of celebrities on this list.

HAMMER: Don't you love the fact, by the way, that George Bush and Jay-Z are on the same list? That probably doesn't happen too often.

There's no denying the impact that celebrities and entertainers have on our pop culture. And it's proliferating more and more with the advent of new technologies, and there's no escaping it. So, it's not such a big surprise.

COSTELLO: You know, I was just going to ask you that, because the influence of celebrities past, let's say someone like Katharine Hepburn, who influenced people by the way she dressed. But you didn't hear much about her personal life.

HAMMER: Right.

COSTELLO: I mean, which would you say would have more influence on the populist? Would it be someone like Katharine Hepburn in that time? Or would it be someone like J.Lo in this time?

HAMMER: Well, in the case of J.Lo, as you mentioned, we just know so much more about every aspect of her life. And what we knew about Katharine Hepburn, you know, was fodder here and there, but the fact that she was this masterful actress. Somebody like J.Lo, we know all about her businesses and her empire, but we also know everything that's going on in her personal life.

I would say it's not so much the aspects of their personal life that are having an influence, in the case of somebody like J.Lo anyway. Somebody like Oprah Winfrey, however, it's perhaps a little different.

COSTELLO: Yes, that is a little different, because she takes her money and she does good in the world. She really tries to promote the right things. I've been poking fun at Hilary Swank, and people have been angry at me. But I'm trying to figure out how Hilary Swank is influencing my life. I mean, I know she grew up in a trailer park and she's a girl made good, but, you know, a lot of people do that, frankly.

HAMMER: One of those angry e-mails came from me, by the way, about Hilary Swank.

I think what it is, is that she has been identified as one of the great actresses of our time. And there's no denying, you know, look, she won two Oscars...

COSTELLO: But she's 30, A.J.!

HAMMER: ... and has won two Oscars, and well-deservedly so in each case. And, you know, the writer in this particular magazine article, she is written about by the person who wrote "Million Dollar Baby" as someone who burrows into a character and somebody who envelops a character. All great actors and actresses do that. But I think because of her standing, because of the fact that she won these Academy Awards at such a young age, two of them, she's being looked at as one of the next great actresses of our generation. And it is a great story.

COSTELLO: It is a great story. I'm just -- I don't know. I'm always confused when people so young make lists like this, because they still have a lot more to learn.

HAMMER: Well, let's look at somebody like Jay-Z, who we were playing just a moment ago and you were dancing, I noticed, a little bit.

COSTELLO: I was?

HAMMER: Jay-Z is 34 years old. And in addition to having risen out of the projects and creating a name for himself with, you know, lyrics that while at times are controversial he certainly has influenced a whole generation of younger rappers and has gone on to create this amazing business, $350 million a year for his clothing business alone.

COSTELLO: Wow! You know, I was just going to mention the issue of money, because these celebrities make so much money. And, you know, money is power.

HAMMER: Yes, it is.

COSTELLO: And they can invest in things they want to come to the forefront. So, in that sense, they do influence just by merely from the power of their money.

HAMMER: Don't dismiss Hilary Swank.

COSTELLO: I'm not. I won't. A.J., thank you very much. We appreciate you being here.

You can catch A.J. and Karyn Bryant every evening at 7:00 Eastern on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on CNN Headline News. And for the complete list of "TIME's" 100 most influential people, check out this week's special edition of "TIME."

And in the news to come this week, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings begins chemotherapy today. Jennings announced last week that he has lung cancer. The 66-year-old Jennings says he smoked until about 20 years ago.

Also tomorrow, a nomination hearing is tentatively scheduled for John Negroponte. If confirmed, he will be the first director of national intelligence.

On Wednesday, Eric Rudolph is to begin pleading guilty to carrying out a deadly bombing attack in Atlanta and one in Birmingham and other places. In a plea agreement, Rudolph will serve life without possible parole.

And on Thursday, the airlines' ban on cigarette lighters goes into effect. Lighters will be outlawed on airplanes and beyond airport security checkpoints. But you can bring matches aboard still.

And you know what Friday is? It's the tax man day. The deadline to file those tax returns is midnight local time. Just a reminder for you.

You are watching DAYBREAK for a Monday.

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COSTELLO: Oh, some beautiful pictures of the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. Hopefully, Chad, it will be great week weather-wise for people to go and take in the cherry blossoms.

MYERS: Very, very nice. In fact, it was a beautiful weekend for the parade and everything there. The cherry blossoms are a little late-blooming this year. So, if you're not going to get there until Monday or Tuesday, you're still in really great shape. Beginning to fall off a few of the trees though today, Carol.

I love it when it falls like that, like snow. You can just begin to see some of the petals coming down.

Don't touch the trees, though.

COSTELLO: No.

MYERS: It's an offense. You don't want to...

COSTELLO: You could be fined for that.

MYERS: Big-time. Exactly.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Carol, we're giving away a coffee mug today. Your questions for today. Here they are. What safety -- the safety of what surgical device is being considered by a FDA panel today? And who is the creator of "Desperate Housewives?"

Go to CNN.com/daybreak and submit your answers there. We did not have a question because obviously of the pope coverage on Friday. So, we don't give away one, but we'll certainly give away one tomorrow.

COSTELLO: Yes, we will. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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