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Protests Over Public Housing in New Orleans; Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized; CIA Tapes: President Bush: "Wait and See"

Aired December 20, 2007 - 14:01   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You can't fight city hall. Don't tell these guys. They are storming the gates in New Orleans and police are fighting back. What's got everybody so fired up five days before Christmas?
Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips in Atlanta. Live coverage this hour, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Well, what's going on with Rudy Giuliani? It's something we've been trying to figure out all morning.

He checked into a hospital when he was out on the campaign trail and now we've just learned that we're expecting an announcement from that hospital in Missouri where he had been treated. Apparently, he had some flu-like symptoms, he didn't want to fly back to New York. He checked himself in.

Word is he's doing OK. But we'll take that news conference live as soon as it happens.

Dana Bash is on the campaign trail. She's going to bring us details as well in just a moment.

Now let's take another look at what's happening in New Orleans. At the top of the hour we were telling you about the protest that's been going on right there in front of the city hall, the gates. Live pictures coming to us from our affiliate WDSU.

The rain coming down now, but it's not chasing away the protesters. These folks say they do not want the housing developments torn down. However, the mayor says this has been going forward, we're going to tear down these housing developments, we're going to put in better housing/condos for those living in the housing developments.

But, you know, those that are living there now are afraid that they're not going to have any place to go while these buildings are being fixed and replaced. And if you know New Orleans, you'll know how dilapidated these housing developments are. They've been crime- ridden, very popular for drug running, lots of murders take place in those housing developments.

So, according to the mayor, this is an effort to clean the up the city, have better housing for folks. But protesters, as you see, are very concerned about losing their homes.

Just moments ago, Travers Mackel with our affiliate WDSU filed this report for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRAVERS MACKEL, REPORTER, WDSU: I just spoke to a city hall spokesperson here. A lot of people have been asking, where is Mayor Ray Nagin? Is he going to make a comment?

That city hall spokesperson told me moments ago in a text message that it's to be determined, that the mayor is around, and there is a chance he could either come down and make a statement or make one later in the day. But a lot of these people have been asking, where's the mayor in all of this?

You can see the crowd once again mounting up here towards the fence, and that city hall spokesperson told me that it's still to be determined. The mayor is here. It's not known yet if he will come down or if he will make a statement on the whole situation later in the day. You have to believe that there will be a comment from the mayor's office and from city hall with what is happening here at city hall, in the council chambers, and outside.

And these people are standing, I should point out, that you're looking at live in a storming rain. It is raining pretty hard outside, and they are -- they are rallied back up against the fence.

Obviously, it's very peaceful. It doesn't look like it would be physically possible for them to break through the amount of chains and padlocks they have on these gates. But I don't know, you never know. Enough people get behind it, maybe so. And as you heard from Bill Quigley (ph) in our live interview that we did, he can't promise that that's not going to happen

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: All right. And that report was coming from Travers there from our affiliate WDSU. He was talking about not hearing from the mayor about this so far.

We have not heard specifically from the mayor about those protests, but I can tell you we did just get a memo that the mayor just distributed to all the councilmen and councilwomen who will be voting on the demolition of these housing projects. He lays out what the deal is that he struck with HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, after Hurricane Katrina, but he makes a point in this letter as they get ready to vote on the demolition of these housing developments.

He says, "I ask that you consider including these conditions," and he lays out what he hopes to see for the replacement of these housing developments. "As part of your demolition motions and during your discussions and decisions making this process, these measures will ensure that once the current aged and deteriorated buildings are demolished, new and better housing will be immediately constructed."

And there's the sticking point, immediately constructed. These protesters are concerned they're going to be out on the streets while their homes are being reconstructed and rebuilt.

So we're going to follow the protests, follow the situation there in New Orleans. Obviously, nothing is easing in that city, especially since Hurricane Katrina, when it comes to all economic backgrounds, specifically those that have been living in those dilapidated housing developments.

Now, something else that we've been following, and that is the condition of presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani. As you know, he was out on the campaign trail. He had to check into a hospital in Missouri.

Apparently, he had some flu-like symptoms, he didn't want to fly back to New York. Doctors held him there. Now we're being told that we are going to get a live news conference out of the hospital, or coming from the hospital, rather, on the condition of Rudy Giuliani.

Dana Bash is in Iowa. She's been following the story for us.

Do we know anything, Dana? Does it look like he just wasn't feeling well, he got checked out, everything's OK? Or could there be more?

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, maybe we're going to get more information about that, Kyra, from this press conference that we're expecting at the bottom of the hour as you mentioned, because basically what we know now is that the mayor did check himself into this hospital in Missouri last night. It was a quite dramatic way that it happened because he had already taken off on his plane from Missouri back to New York, but he was feeling bad, apparently had been feeling bad all day, but he was feeling so much worse that he called his personal physician, and he suggested that they turn the plane around, go back to St. Louis, and he check into the hospital.

So that's what he did. And early this morning, very early this morning, we got word from the Giuliani campaign, Kyra, that he was going to be released from the hospital today and make his way back to New York.

Obviously, that has not happened yet. So we're going to hopefully get some more information from the hospital about just what the status is, when he will be released. I can tell you that Giuliani's aides say that he's feeling much, much better, that he is joke around with aides, apparently ready to get out.

But maybe what we'll also hear, Kyra, is exactly what tests the doctors and nurses did on him in this hospital in Missouri to make them feel so confident that he can get out. Again, a lot of questions unanswered, but what we do know from the Giuliani campaign is that he's feeling better and eager to go home

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll follow up.

Dana Bash, appreciate it.

(NEWSBREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Well, we're following obviously the severe weather with Chad Myers, but our other two top stories right now, protest in New Orleans out in front of the gates of city hall. We're getting calls into the NEWSROOM now though about who these protesters are, do they really live in the housing developments, or are these just a bunch of rebel rousers coming in and starting trouble.

We're trying to fish through that and figure out who exactly is protesting there in New Orleans as there is a vote that's about to take place to demolish housing developments to rebuild them into better facilities for those that live in them right now. So we're trying to hammer that out.

Also, Rudy Giuliani, what is his health condition right now? He checked into a hospital while out on the campaign trail. He said he had flu-like symptoms.

We're going to get a live update from the hospital in Missouri. We'll bring you those two big stories. And, of course, following all the severe weather.

Stay with us. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: 2:13 Eastern Time. Two big stories we continue to follow right now, one out of New Orleans.

Protests going on outside city hall, trying to figure out who exactly these protesters are. We're getting word now from New Orleans that some of them might just be from out of town, but the protests are against a vote that's supposed to take place there at city hall to demolish housing developments and rebuild nicer ones.

But the question is, will these folks -- how long will they be out of a home and is it worth it? We can tell you those housing projects are pretty dilapidated, a lot of crime, a lot of murder, a lot of drug-running. Something obviously has to be done, and city hall and the councilmen and women are voting on it today.

Other side of the screen, Rudy Giuliani on the campaign trail. He looks good there, but he checked himself into a hospital in Missouri, apparently flu-like symptoms. He didn't want to fly back to New York.

Not sure what's going on. We did hear from one of his representatives saying he's feeling well, he checked out, and he should be heading back to New York. But we are expecting a live news conference from the hospital there in Missouri.

We'll let you know what doctors say about his condition and why he checked himself into the hospital. Meanwhile, President Bush says that he's reserving judgment on the CIA's destruction of the videotapes showing the interrogation of terror suspects. At a White House news conference seen here earlier, Mr. Bush reaffirmed that he had no knowledge of the tapes destroyed in 2005 until a recent briefing from CIA Director Michael Hayden

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It sounds pretty clear me when I say I have -- the first recollection is when Mike Hayden briefed me. That's pretty clear.

Secondly, I am confident that the preliminary inquiry conducted by the AG and the IG of the CIA, coupled with the oversight provided by the Congress, will end up enabling us all to find out what exactly happened

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, several congressional panels are looking into that matter now, and in just a moment we're going to get reaction from Capitol Hill from our own Brianna Keilar.

But first, let's go ahead and go over to the White House. Kathleen Koch bringing us up to date.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, well, you heard the president discuss those two ongoing inquiries by the CIA and the Justice Department. And so he went on to say in the press conference very much what we've heard from Press Secretary Dana Perino, that until those investigations are concluded, he's not going to render judgment on the tapes' destruction, and he says that he won't be rendering any opinion from the podium.

So while the White House is saying it's not going to be talking, it's not going to stop reporters from asking. And certainly there will be more questions tomorrow when, in federal court here, in D.C., in district court, before a federal judge, Bush administration attorneys will be appearing to begin discussing -- begin answering questions about why the tapes were destroyed and whether or not that may have violated a court order in 2005 to preserve evidence of all detainee interrogations.

Now, back to the president's press conference, he touched on a lot of issues. He talked about Iraq. He was also asked about Afghanistan, whether those countries are making progress toward peace and stability.

And on Iraq, the president said he wasn't satisfied that in Baghdad that enough progress was being made, but he said it's wrong to say that nothing is happening. On Afghanistan, the president described it as a country -- a society that is evolving, and he said it will take a while for a country that's been "brutalized by tyranny and racked by war to meet expectations."

And it was interesting. The president really did quite a tap dance to avoid being pulled into any discussion regarding the 2008 presidential campaign, but he did predict, at least in his opinion, that the GOP would win back the White House.

Back to you

PHILLIPS: Kathleen Koch, appreciate it.

Now let's get over to Capitol Hill. Brianna Keilar also tracking this for us -- Brianna.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, one of the things President Bush said that really caught the attention of some folks here on the Hill was about earmarks.

As you know, Congress passed a massive spending bill yesterday that includes close to 10,000 earmarks. That now goes to President Bush, and he hinted during his press conference that his administration could be looking into purging some of that pork.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: The bill they just passed includes about 9,800 earmarks. Together, with the previously passed defense spending bill, that means Congress has approved about 11,900 earmarks this year. And so I'm instructing Budget Director Jim Nussle to review options for dealing with the wasteful spending and omnibus bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: This was met with some skepticism here on the Hill that President Bush would actually be able to carry that out because he doesn't have a line-item veto. Now, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "The last person who should be lecturing Congress about this is President Bush. His administration is the worst abuser of the process and engages in fiscal policies that have driven this country deep into debt."

Really, the feeling coming from Democratic leadership, at least in the Senate is that this is part of an ongoing -- basically a P.R. push by the White House to emphasize fiscal responsibility to appeal to part of their base while their approval rating are low -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Brianna Keilar from the Hill.

Thanks, Brianna.

Two other top stories that we're following for you right now, those protests in New Orleans out in front of the gates of city hall. Apparently, they don't want those housing developments torn down.

Council members getting ready to vote on tearing them down, rebuilding new condos that are cleaner, safer, better for the people of New Orleans. The question is, where will they go when that happens? It means who knows how long they will be out of a home while that is taking place. Protesters not happy about that. Police had to use pepper spray, stun guns to try and fight back the crowds. Word is there's some out- of-towners there causing a little trouble. Not all those people are from New Orleans. We are trying to hammer that out and get more details for you.

There on the other side of the screen you see Rudy Giuliani out on the campaign trail looking good there. Wasn't feeling so good, checked himself into a hospital. We're expecting a live briefing from the doctors there in Missouri.

Apparently he's checked out OK and he will be released and he's going to go back home. But we're going to try to get more information from that live news conference.

We're following both those stories right now, 2:20 Eastern Time.

Stay with us right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: 2:30 Eastern time, here are some of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM. Tensions run high at a hearing in New Orleans over plans to demolish public housing complexes. Police used chemical spray and stun devices just outside City Hall.

And we're waiting for a news conference at a St. Louis hospital where they conducted precautionary tests on Rudy Giuliani. The Republican presidential candidate was hospitalized overnight for flu- like symptoms.

And a 15-year-old girl is in the hospital today one day after she was rescued from the California wilderness along with her father and two brothers. Lexi Dominguez woke up in the middle of the night complaining of foot pain.

President Bush just signed a law that gives a tax break to struggling homeowners. Perfect timing, don't you agree, Susan Lisovicz?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Kyra.

Tech stocks meanwhile are posting solid gains, the rest of the market trying to get on terra firma. Software maker Oracle soaring more than seven percent after posting a big jump in quarterly profits. It could be a sign some tech companies are insulated from the latest economic troubles.

Let's check the numbers out. The Dow industrials right now up 22 points after being under pressure most of the session. The NASDAQ composite has been rallying all day. It's up 30 points or one percent.

We are seeing, however, fresh trouble from the mortgage meltdown. Bear Stearns reporting its first quarterly loss in its 84-year history. It also announced a writedown of nearly $2 billion because of its exposure to those risky mortgages. That was higher than expected and the CEO says he and the members of the Executive Committee at Bear are going to forego their bonuses as a result. It's that bad, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Hasn't been much good news for homeowners this year, but relief in sight for some people.

LISOVICZ: That's right, and that's what we're talking about, tax relief to be specific. Today, President Bush signing a bill in the last hour that gives a tax break to those who catch a break from their mortgage lenders. In the past, when the lender forgave some the loan because of a foreclosure or a renegotiation, the forgiven amount was taxed and now for the next three years, that forgiven amount is tax- exempt and President Bush says he'd like to see more relief for homeowners.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Congress needs to pass legislation permitting state and local governments to issue tax-exempt bonds for refinancing existing home loans. The Congress needs to pass legislation strengthening the independent regulator of government-sponsored enterprises, like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, so we can keep them focused on the mission to expand homeownership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LISOVICZ: It's too soon to say whether Congress will enact those additional changes.

In the next hour, GM unveils a hot new ride, but might it be the last of its kind? GM says one of its most famous brands could face extinction. That story in the next hour of NEWSROOM.

If Don were sitting next to you, Kyra, he'd be guessing a mile a minute. He might just simply -- I think he'd be all over it, let me put it that way. He's so into cars.

PHILLIPS: That is true. Yes, he is, he's got, I think like four of them now.

But anyway, all right, Susan, talk to you again in a little bit.

LISOVICZ: I'll see you in the next hour.

PHILLIPS: Also, we're still waiting for that announcement to come from that hospital in Missouri where Rudy Giuliani checked himself in, not feeling really well. His spokesperson says that he's doing OK and will head back to New York. But we're going to hear from the doctors hopefully any moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The brutality, the agony and the death, U.S. troops have found a suspected terrorist hideout just north of Baghdad. They call it an organized torture complex. CNN's Harris Whitbeck is in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The al Qaeda complex was found in Diyala province north of Baghdad, thought to be a safe haven for the Iraqi insurgency. As U.S. troops swept the area, they came upon what appeared to be an underground detention facility. It turned out to be that and more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The building we're in right now, it's a torture facility. It's got a lot of chains up on the ceiling. It's also got the chains where they would shackle the people up there and in addition, we have several different torture implements.

WHITBECK: According to the U.S. military, 24 insurgents were killed and another 37 were detained in the operation. A large weapons cache was also found. As U.S. soldiers searched the area, the horror of what had transpired there began coming to light. The remains of 26 people were found buried in shallow graves.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now, we're not having any luck with identification because the remains are anywhere between six to eight months decomposed, but the local nationals are helping out, as you can see behind me. The grim reality of it all has kind of hit them.

WHITBECK: The U.S. military says as it's increased operations in Baghdad and Iraq's western provinces, it is forcing al Qaeda and other insurgent groups to find safe havens elsewhere.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It says that the surge is working. These people are now on the move. Before, they had sanctuaries all over Iraq, particularly in the Sunni provinces out west. The tribal leaders have banded together to push them out of those areas, and they're now on the move.

WHITBECK (on camera): But while they might be on the run, the U.S. military says insurgent groups like al Qaeda are still very capable of staging spectacular attacks, particularly against infrastructure, and of running more torture and detention centers to keep local populations in check.

Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And a good will gesture on a Muslim holiday. The U.S. military released 100 detainees in Baghdad yesterday just in time for the festival that marks the end of the annual Islamic pilgrimage. In all, 1,850 detainees have been let go during the holiday period.

We also expect to see Rudy Giuliani walk out of a St. Louis hospital any time now. These pictures from yesterday in Missouri just a few hours before he checked himself in, complaining of flu-like symptoms. A spokeswoman says the Republican presidential candidate didn't feel well enough to continue on a flight to New York, but doctors found nothing alarming and cleared Giuliani to fly home today.

We don't why he is still not been released, but when we do see him, we'll get more information, you'll be the first to know.

Earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," our senior medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, took a look at Giuliani's symptoms and what tests that he may have undergone.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You can get significant headache, you can get significant congestion. Some of that may get worse when you're on the plane and you get the pressure inside the cabin. It's hard to say. I just heard from Dana for the first time that he didn't have some of the classic sort of gastrointestinal symptoms that sometimes accompany the flu. That would have been something that, I think, obviously can make you really miserable, may put you in the hospital as well.

But keep in mind, Alina, this is something that surprises people, but about 200,000 people every year do get hospitalized for the flu. That's a small with respect to the overall number of people who get the flu, but still a larger than a lot of people think. So it could just be that.

You know, the precautionary tests, you may want to distinguish to make sure this isn't an pneumonia, for example, so a chest x-ray. You might want to get your white blood cell count checked to make sure you're not developing an overwhelming infection in the body. And just your heart rate and your blood pressure, and make sure nothing else is amiss as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: In the political ticker time and another presidential long shot apparently getting ready to get out of the race. Colorado Republican, Congressman Tom Tancredo, has scheduled a news conference next hour where he is expected to make the official announcement. One poll released yesterday put Tancredo's nationwide support at less than 1 percent.

A donation is a donation, right? Well, a known white supremacist made a $500 contribution to the presidential campaign of Republican Ron Paul. Is Paul going to keep it? You better believe it. Campaign spokesperson says the donor wasted his money thinking he could influence the outspoken congressman. And Paul will use the donation to spread the message of freedom.

And an outspoken former Democratic congresswoman from Georgia has entered the race for the Green Party presidential nomination. Cynthia McKinney announced her candidacy on her Web site. She lost her Congressional seat in 2006 after a well publicized run-in with the capital police.

And for all the day's political stories, including the close three-way race for Democratic votes in Iowa, log on to our special political news Web site. It's at cnnpolitics.com.

Politics of Christmas, 'tis the season for ho-ho-ho. Vote for me, she says. Vote for me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Christmas messages from the presidential candidates. CNN's Joe Johns looks at what they are saying or not saying in their holiday ads.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Top of my Christmas wish list, more political ads. And Santa has been very generous. Here's one from Hillary Clinton, and she knows just what all you good girls and boys want ...

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Where did I put universal Pre-K. Oh, OK. There it is.

JOHNS: But seriously, folks. Take John Edwards, please. He's deadly serious ...

JOHN EDWARDS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: One out of every four homeless people on our streets is a veteran. Thirty-seven million Americans live in poverty. Who speaks for them? We do. This is a season of miracles.

JOHNS: So he hopes. On the Republican side, look at Rudy in a Santa red sweater. And look, Santa's with him. This ought to be good ...

RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Job growth, fiscal discipline, strict constructionist judges.

JOHNS: But wait, there's more ...

GIULIANI: A fruit cake or something.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A fruit cake?

GIULIANI: What, it'll be a really nice fruit cake ...

JOHNS: So much levity. Time for a true meaning of Christmas ad. For that we turn to our resident minister ...

MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What really matters is the celebration and the birth of Christ.

JOHNS: Can't argue with that, although there are some arguing with the floating cross, or is it a book shelf. They see it as a subliminal message, a message about Christ, on Christmas? Shocking. Too much controversy.

Time for the video equivalent of a warm cup of cocoa, loaded with marshmallows with the warm and fuzzy Obamas ... MICHELLE OBAMA, WIFE OF BARACK OBAMA: We'd like to take a moment to thank you and your family ...

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Merry Christmas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Happy holidays.

JOHNS: Nice ads. I'll put them next to my lump of coal.

Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kareen Wynter in Los Angeles. At first, it was the Golden Globes. Now it's the Screen Actors Guild awards. I'll tell you who got top SAG nominations. Coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, Screen Actors Guild nominations came out this morning and there were the usual suspects, and perhaps a few surprises. Entertainment correspondent Kareen Wynter joins me now with all that scoop.

Hey, Kareen.

WYNTER: Hey there, Kyra. That's right, they're out and it seems that one film in particular is leading the pack.

Such a beautifully produced film, "Into the Wild," that you're seeing there. It actually got four SAG nominations. Now the drama was directed by Sean Penn and stars Emile Hirsch, Hal Holbrook and Catherine Keener.

Now this was actually, Kyra, a big surprise for the roadtrip movie, since you know, last week it was shut out of getting any nominations at all at the Golden Globe announcements. The flick also received nods for best performance by overall cast, outstanding performance by a lead actor and outstanding performances by male and female in supporting roles.

Now other nominations for best performances by a male actor in a leading role were some similar names and some not so familiar ones. Of course, you know, heartthrob George Clooney, he had to top the list with recognition for his film, "Michael Clayton." And then Daniel Day-Lewis with "There Will Be Blood." And rounding off the list are Ryan Gosling for "Lars and the Real Girl," Viggo Mortenson for "Eastern Promises" and then Emile Hirsh with "Into the Wild."

In the female category, it was Cate Blanchett with "Elizabeth, The Golden Age," Julie Christie in "Away from Her" and Marion Cotillard in "La Vie En Rose." Angelina Jolie in "A Mighty Heart" and newcomer Ellen Page in "Juno." Also, the big screen didn't get all the love here.

Some television shows, they got top honors, big honors as well. A number of primetime shows got multiple nods, including NBC's "30 Rock," HBO's "The Sopranos" and ABC's "Ugly Betty." They all got three SAG nominations each, Kyra. How about that?

PHILLIPS: Wow. Well now that we know the nominees, the big question is will the SAG awards suffer the same fate as the Academy Awards and Golden Globes with regards to the ongoing writers strike?

WYNTER: You know, for now the show will go on, Kyra. The Screen Actors Guild, they worked out an agreement. It's an interim one, with the Writers Guild of America. In essence, what we're seeing here is, that they won't be picketing or protesting, which is what's going on here, during the actual broadcast in January. Both guilds, they have this bond of solidarity. SAG also says that it supports WGA's efforts to get a fair contract. The SAG awards, by the way, will be announced January 27th.

OK, coming up tonight on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT," the blame game. Does Britney Spears bear some of the blame for her kid sister getting pregnant at 16-years-old? Was Britney a bad influence? A heated debate on TV's most provocative entertainment news show -- 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific --Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Kareen Wynter, we'll be watching.

Well, Tony Parker says it's not true. He says he did not cheat on his wife and "Desperate Housewives" star, Eva Longoria. San Antonio Spurs basketball star is suing a Web site that claimed that he had an affair with a French model. Parker says the story was false and defamatory and he wants at least $40 million in damages. Parker and Longoria were married just last July.

Now another story involving an athlete and an entertainer. Dallas Cowboy's wide receiver, Terrell Owens, is apologizing for his remarks about Jessica Simpson. Simpson was at Sunday's game to watch her boyfriend, Cowboys quarterback, Tony Romo. Well, Romo had the worst game of his career and later Owens suggested that Simpson distracted him and should stay away. Now Owens says he was just joking, says he apologized to Romo and hopes to speak with Simpson soon.

Well, here's somebody who doesn't do stuff halfway. And if you think you do it up for Christmas, you better stick around for this one.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Kids and Santa Claus, they're a magical part of the holiday season except when the kid is terrified of the strange, bearded man in the red suit. I-Reporters have been sending in their snapshots of, you know, those memorable moments. We've all had them.

These are twin brothers, Will and Alex Gabri (ph). Their mom joked that the Santa had just told the tots that they were on the naughty list. And check out little Audria Lockhart (ph) in full squall. This was taken in 2005 when she was only 10-months-old. Her father tell us she had the same reaction last year, but they're hoping the third time is a charm when she sees Santa this weekend. Good luck, Audria.

And there's one of our favorite vintage snaps taken of the Johnson family back in 1962. Notice an exasperated Santa has little David in a headlock and his leg tightly clamped down on three-year-old Kathy, while older brother Stephen maintains his cool. Their mom tells us the kids suffered no long term effects from this dramatic experience. In fact, listen to this, little Kathy grew up to be Kathy Johnson Clark. That's right, the Olympic gymnast who won medals in the 1984 Los Angeles games.

Send us your photos and your interesting stories by going to cnn.com/ireport.

This time of year, a lot of folks decorate their homes. Candy Strand does, that's for sure. And in the spirit of the holidays, she decorates herself, fittingly enough, with a colorful strand of light bulbs. And that makes Candy the dancing light lady of Tallahassee, Florida. Her nightly show can last up to four hours, we're told. And here's the part that you might find a bit illuminating, Candy says that she isn't trying to outdo the neighbors, she's just trying spread a little holiday cheer.

One hundred and fifty thousand lights, computer synchronized to music for the past fours years. Computer engineer, Robert Cox (ph), has set up his display for community service and charity. But donations, and a number of visitors, have dropped lately. So, he shot and sent us this video via I-Report to keep the spirit and visibility alive. 'Tis the season.

Next hour of NEWSROOM starts right now.

So he shot and send this video via i-Report to keep the visibility and spirit alive. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

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