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President Obama To Be First U.S. President To Chair a U.N. Security Council Session Today; Haggling over Health Care Reform; Diagnosis Critical; Terror Plot Indictment; Unemployed for Almost a Year

Aired September 24, 2009 - 12:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: OK, time for your midday reset. I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM.

It is noon in Pittsburgh, where President Obama and G20 leaders gather today to grapple with the global economic crisis.

At the United Nations in New York, the parade of speeches from world leaders continues. Israel's prime minister, perhaps this hour.

Also, we will tell you about a bit of U.N. history made by President Obama.

And in the Bahamas, movie star John Travolta, star witness in an extortion trivial that involves the death of Travolta's son, Jett.

Let's get started. For the first time ever a promising experimental vaccine appears to be preventing HIV infection. The vaccine cut the risk of becoming infected by more than 31 percent when previous vaccine trials completely failed. Scientists say a lot more research is needed, but it is an important first step.

And just last hour, the governor of Massachusetts named a temporary replacement for the late senator Edward Kennedy. He is Paul Kirk, Jr., a former Kennedy staffer, and onetime chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL KIRK, (D) U.S. SENATOR-DESIGNATE: Consistent with Senator Kennedy's wishes and the expectations of the governor and the legislators, I shall not be a candidate in the special election for the United States senate in December or January.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Kirk's appointment gives Democrats a critical 60th vote in the Senate as the health care overhaul moves ahead. President Obama calls Kirk an excellent choice.

Some sparks in the Senate Finance Committee meeting on health care this morning. The committee rejecting an effort by Republican Senator Orrin Hatch that could have put reform on hold. The panel is going over hundreds of amendments to Chairman Max Baucus' health care reform plan. The chairman not particularly happy with Republicans on the panel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MAX BAUCUS, (D) CHAIRMAN, FINANCE COMMITTEE: Attacks against this bill are essentially a defense of the status quo. They're a defense of the status quo because there's not an alternative on the other side. There is not. There is not. All the amendments today are not -- that's -- health reform plan, but, rather, they're attacking this, attacking that. Something here, something there. I don't know what the Republican alternative is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Coming up in 30 minutes, I'll be talking live with Democratic Senator Kent Conrad about today's discussions. But also I should add here, at about that same time, Senate Finance Republicans are going to hold a media availability. And we will have that for you live as well.

Another rejection for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi as he delivered his 96-minute rant to the United Nations General Assembly. Officials in New York's Westchester County yesterday dismantled a tent set up for the Libyan leader on Donald Trump's estate. The town of Bedford said the tent violated zoning codes. Gadhafi's request for space to put his tent up in Central Park Inglewood, New Jersey, and Manhattan's Upper Eastside, were all rejected.

The fight against AIDS getting a boost today. What does this experimental HIV vaccine have that we haven't seen before? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Doctor Sanjay Gupta breaks it down for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I think it's safe to say that over the last 25 years, a lot of people in the scientific community were hoping there would be a day like this, where they'd be able to report that a vaccine showed at least some degree of effectiveness when it came to HIV/AIDS.

You've got to understand there's been a lot of pessimism, and a lot of it for good reason. There have been two vaccine trials in the past. One showed absolutely no benefit. Another one showed that it might actually increase the likelihood of developing an HIV infection. So, the idea that a vaccine could possibly work at all was something that people were cautiously optimistic about.

Now, keep that in mind as I outline what the study was all about. They followed approximately 16,000 people. The study took place in Thailand. These were people who were considered high risk for developing HIV infection. Over a period of six months, about half the group, about 8,200 people, received a series of six shots; four priming shots and then two booster shots. Three years later they were followed, and here's what they found.

In the people who did not receive the vaccine at all, who received a placebo, 74 of those people developed an HIV infection, as compared to 51 in the vaccine group. If you do the math, it's about 31 percent decrease, overall, in the likelihood of developing infection if you got the vaccine.

Again, what this shows more than anything else is proof of principle. The proof that a vaccine could work. Before these study results came out, a lot of people simply thought that wasn't possible.

Why is this different? Why did this work when so many others did not work before it? A lot of people believe it may have to do with the sequence of six shots. A shot a month over six months. Maybe that made a difference. It's worth pointing out that those who developed an HIV infection even after having received the vaccine they really got no benefit from this. The viral loads were really no lower.

Those will be two areas where researchers are focused on now to make this a better vaccine and make it worthwhile, even for people who still get the infection in some way.

A lot of work still needs to be done for the 33 million who are living with HIV around the world. Keeping in mind, of course, over 2 million people still die every year, from HIV, as well. So, a lot more work to be done, but exciting news, no doubt. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

President Obama makes history, again, this time becoming the first U.S. president to chair a U.N. Security Council meeting. The summit-level session wrapped up just last hour with a resolution to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Live now to our White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, in New York.

And, Suzanne, what is the significance of this agreement?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a unanimous agreement and it is significant, because essentially it very much mirrors what the president's own agenda is when it comes to a nuclear-free world, and his own vision, his own commitment, to this.

It is a goal that he laid out in Prague in April, and President Obama called for deeply cutting U.S. and Russia arsenals, adopting a treaty banning all nuclear tests and tracking down loose nukes. It is an agreement in this area that world leaders, they all stand with president Obama, and it's the one concrete thing he can walk away with after two days in New York .

It's also important because it puts more pressure on Iran to give up its own nuclear ambitions having these other countries lead by example. Here's how the president put it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This very institution was founded at the dawn of the atomic age, in part because man's capacity to kill had to be contained. And although we averted a nuclear nightmare during the Cold War, we now face proliferation of a scope and complexity that demands new strategies and new approaches.

Just one nuclear weapon exploded in a city, be it New York or Moscow, Tokyo or Beijing, London or Paris, could kill hundreds of thousands of people. And it would badly destabilize our security, our economies, and our very way of life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: And, Tony, it also reaffirms previous sanctions on Iran and North Korea for their nuclear activities, so it is reaffirms what the president was talking about.

HARRIS: Yeah. Suzanne, how did the president -- how did it go for the president overall these last two days? Did he get some, most, of what he wanted?

MALVEAUX: He certainly set a different tone. The nuclear agreement is important. He did get Russia's leader to consider tougher economic sanctions against Iran if it continues to pursue its nuclear ambitions. He didn't move the ball forward on Middle East peace. Getting the Israelis and the Palestinians back to serious negotiations, that, Tony, obviously is going to take a lot more time.

HARRIS: Yeah, that's for sure. It always has. Suzanne Malveaux for us in New York . Good to see you. Thank you.

Speeches are continuing right now at the United Nations General Assembly. We expect to hear soon from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. We're told he will deliver a fiery speech defending Israel and denouncing Iran. And you can watch it live right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

The first speaker in the afternoon session is Venezuela's controversial President Hugo Chavez. He is set to address -- to begin his address about three hours from right now. And later, Afghanistan gets a turn to address the world body. A representative will be speaking for President Hamid Karzai, who is not at the U.N. due to political problems, which we have documented, at home.

G-20 leaders descend on Pittsburgh today. Protesters beat them there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Power to the people!

CROWD: Power to the people!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Protesters are on the streets for a number of causes. Everything from global warming to HIV research to those opposed to bank bailouts. The G20 leaders go to Pittsburgh today with a broad goal to rewrite the financial regulations that the Fed -- that fed that -- that fed last year's global meltdown. Ed Henry joining us from Pittsburgh.

And, Ed, what do you think the goal is here? What can be accomplished by these world leaders in your view?

ED HENRY, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the key is and the goal from President Obama is to try and get his colleagues to commit to try and rebalance the world economy so that it's not quite as vulnerable as it has been in recent months, to these international shocks. But that's going to be a heavy, heavy challenge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY (voice over): When these 20 leaders last met, it was spring in London, and the global recession was still catching fire. But as President Obama wrapped up his first big moment on the international stage, he declared they were putting out the flames.

OBAMA: We finished a very productive summit that will be, I believe, a turning point in our pursuit of global economic recovery.

HENRY: Five months later there are signs that the recession is coming to a close, but unemployment is still sky high, helping to fuel protestors already waiting for the leaders in Pittsburgh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No peace! No jobs!

HENRY: The president acknowledged to CNN's John King that unemployment may get worse in the next few months, which is why he will be pushing his counterparts to sign on to a specific pledge to make the global economy more balanced.

OBAMA: We can't go back to the era where the Chinese or the Germans or other countries just are selling everything to us, we're taking out a bunch of credit card debt or home equity loans, but we're not selling anything to them.

HENRY: But getting the Chinese to sign on will be difficult, especially after Mr. Obama slapped a tariff on Chinese tires, which raised questions about whether leaders are reneging on free trade promises they made in London.

STEVEN SCHRAGE, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INT'L. STUDIES: So, is the United States going to be standing up and stopping the slippage or is it going to be further pushing the world downward toward trade climates and possibly a downward spiral to new types of protectionism?

HENRY: Another potential dispute, European leaders continue to push hard for a crack down on bonuses paid to bankers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We have to reach something in the area of compensation.

HENRY: And while Mr. Obama, last week, reiterated his call for a broader reform of Wall Street, his hand has been weakened by inaction in Washington.

SCHRAGE: The U.S. is really handicapped by the fact that its own reforms haven't gotten out of Congress. So, while they can talk about the broad reforms, until the United States has really acted, it's hard for them to really set the course.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: Now, part of the reason that those Wall Street reforms have not taken place, haven't picked up a lot of steam on Capitol Hill, is obviously a lot of the attention back in Washington has been on health care reform. But just yesterday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was on capitol Hill trying to push lawmakers in both parties, to say, look, after the crisis of earlier this year and late last year, it's time to really come up with some new rules of the road and that is certainly going to be their message here, as well, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes. And, Ed, one more quick one. Is this just going to be more talk, or might we actually see some action at this time?

HENRY: That's the big question ultimately. Because all sides can say look, we're going to do this, we're going to do that. They sign these big pledges. But then do they actually follow-up? They made a lot of promises back in London in early April. This will be a big test for President Obama and the other leaders to see whether they actually follow-up on it.

And, you know, this G20 - as an institution -- really came to prominence in the 1990s when there were smaller financial crises. And now this is the third time they've met since last November, because of this international financial crises. And there's some talk they may not meet after this for some time because there is that concern. Is it just talk or is it action? And that's why there's a lot at stake here this week in Pittsburgh, Tony.

HARRIS: Our Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry, in Pittsburgh, ahead of the president's visit to the G20 later today.

Ed, good to see you. Appreciate it. Thank you.

And we have some new information about a terror plot out of New York . CNN's Deborah Feyerick joining us on the phone with the very latest.

What are you learning?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We can tell you, the imam, Achmad Azali (ph) the man accused of lying to investigators, and possibly tipping off a key suspect in the investigation to detonate bombs in the United States, was released on $1.5 million bond. His parents, and brother, putting up the money in order to allow him to be released. He will be confined to his home, the mosque, and a funeral business he runs.

We're also learning that the key suspect, Najibullah Zazi, will be transported to New York either today or tomorrow. An indictment issued by the government says in the summer of 2009, Najibullah Zazi went to a beauty supply store with some others and bought large quantities of industrial-strength peroxide and acetone, and then in the days before his trip to New York, on September 9th, he actually checked into a hotel in the Denver area and made a series of calls seeking to correct a mixture of ingredients, the kind of ingredients, to make explosives.

So, he is going to be brought here within the next couple of days. And as for the imam, well, he is going to be released, and he could be home by tonight - Tony.

HARRIS: Wow. All right, Deborah Feyerick for us.

Deb, appreciate it. Thank you.

For those hoping the weather would help solve the wildfire problem out West, forget about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

You recognize that music? Boy, hi. Boy, do we have something special for you tomorrow. Hard to believe it's been 25 years since the, oh, so funny -- can I hear the music a bit more? Ah, Dr. Cliff Huxtable, his wife, and five children became one of TV's favorite families.

Bill Cosby's sitcom wife, Phylicia Rashad and TV son, Malcolm Jamal Warner, will join us live in the NEWSROOM tomorrow as part of our Essence "What Matters" segment. They will share some of their favorite moments with us. And we want to hear from you as well. Send us your favorite Claire and Theo moments from the show, to CNN.com/tony and we will share them on the air with you tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Boy, crews battling a raging wildfire in Southern California planned major air assaults today. The fire is threatening hundreds of homes in Ventura County, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, firefighters are also trying to protect multibillion agricultural groves and gas and oil pipelines. Boy, Chad Myers, triple-digit heat.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah.

HARRIS: Santa Ana winds.

MYERS: Could be a little bit.

HARRIS: Not helping the situation at all.

MYERS: One hundred degrees today, without the fire heat, just the air temperature; 101 tomorrow, and 99 as we get into the weekend. But then cooling off with fog by Monday. So, that's what they want. They want that moisture, that marine layer, to some in from the ocean, settle over this land. And although it won't get it wet, it will moisten the stuff down there, the weeds and the grass and all that, it will -- it will just get enough moisture there that it will be a slowing-down-the-fire process, where the firefighters can actually get to it. And they can make a difference.

The good news, at least at this point in time, the winds aren't that bad. Simi Valley at 8 miles per hour, Santa Clarita, 5 miles per hour.

Although temperatures beginning to warm up. They will cover that up. Simi you are up to 86 and Santa Clarita up the same and then back over towards Covina and Pasadena, 80 degrees.

So, you have to realize that it is still early. I mean, it's only 9:30 out there, so as good as it could be, it will probably get better for those folks. And it will, finally, for the weekend.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Chad, appreciate it. Thank you.

MYERS: Sure.

HARRIS: A disturbing find in a day care center, authorities uncover an alleged dog fighting ring.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's get you to our top stories now. President Obama heads a rare meeting of U.N. Security Council heads of state. It is the first time a U.S. president has chaired the session. The world leaders adopted a resolution focused on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.

An Afghan immigrant, suspected in a U.S. terror plot, has been indicted for conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction. Najibullah Zazi is accused of trying to detonate bombs in the United States. He was arrested last weekend in Denver.

The FBI is investigating the bizarre death of a census worker in rural Kentucky, a law enforcement official tells the Associated Press, the man was found hanged from a tree with the word "fed" scrawled on his chest. He says they are looking at whether he was a victim of anti-government sentiment.

We will get another check on our top stories in about 20 minutes.

Police in suburban Chicago say they have raided a home day care and found a dog fighting ring. Nine malnourished and battered dogs, four of them puppies, were rescued. The day care operator's husband was charged with felony dog fighting along with two others and the day care was shut down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF TOM DART, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: This is a difficult one to completely sum up, given the carnage and given what you've seen on these poor dogs. But then when you add to it that this was going on within feet of a day care center. There was a swing set, within less than 10 feet of a swing set was a log that the dogs were chained to. It's very unsettling to put it lightly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Investigators say the garage floor was spattered with blood. Meanwhile some of the parents whose children had been going to the day care say they've been happy with the care their children received.

Joining me in just a couple of minutes here, Senator Kent Conrad with the inside scoop on what's working and what's not when it comes to health care reform.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, you know, some of that anger we saw at this summer's town hall meetings on health care spilling over into the Senate Finance Committee this morning. Live now to our congressional correspondent, Brianna Keilar.

And, Brianna, if you would, walk us through, talk us through the particular sparks that are flying this morning.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a lot of tension, and we're seeing it spill out during this process, Tony, fueled, no doubt, from fundamental differences, but also, I imagine, from some exhaustion. This committee is working on day number three at this point. They've been starting in the 9:00 hour in the morning, going until 11:00 p.m. at night. So I think it's fair to say that Democrats and Republicans here may have had enough of each other.

Just listen to this sort of squabbling session between Democratic Chairman Max Baucus and Republican Senator Jon Kyl.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JON KYL, (R) ARIZONA: Mr. Chairman, let me just complete my thought here.

SEN. MAX BAUCUS, (R) SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: In about one minute you'll complete your thought. OK. We've got to get . . .

KYL: I'll complete my thought and then make another point, Mr. Chairman.

BAUCUS: This is your delaying, senator, and we just have to move on.

KYL: Mr. Chairman -- Mr. Chairman, I am not delaying. I'm making an extremely important point.

BAUCUS: It's a very, very important point, but you're also delaying. So let's -- other senators have amendments they wish to offer?

KYL: Mr. Chairman -- Mr. Chairman . . . BAUCUS: Just, go ahead, complete your thought and then I'm going to have to recognize the other senator, in deference to and courtesy -- be courteous to other senators who also want . . .

KYL: Mr. Chairman, it's courteous if you don't interrupt somebody right in the middle of the sentence of an important point they're trying to make.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Now, this all kind of erupted after Senator Baucus accused Republicans of not having a comprehensive, alternative plan for overhauling health care and saying essentially that equals voting for the status quo, which is certainly not acceptable, Tony. That really got Senator Jon Kyl up in arms. He said, no, we don't have an overarching plan like (INAUDIBLE) what you have. And it just sort of went on and on, as you can see.

HARRIS: I -- look, I think you're absolutely right about that. Look, these are some long days turning into long evenings and folks are over-caffeinated and stuff happens. And it hits the wall and the fan and everything else. All right.

You know, there is a lot of talk, Brianna, about Medicare. This wouldn't have anything to do with, say, the 2010 midterm elections, would it?

KEILAR: There certainly is a political element you can tell when you're listening to this, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes.

KEILAR: And the way Medicare for seniors factors into this is under the Senate Finance Committee plan by Senator Baucus, it aims to trim down Medicare by about $400 billion over 10 years. It's a lot of money. But it is really just a small fraction of the overall cost of Medicare, which is really rather large.

AARP isn't really upset -- really upset about these costs, but Republicans are saying there's really no way to make these cuts without hurting seniors. And, Tony, they are -- seniors are a very robust voting bloc. I can't tell you how many I spoke with at town hall meetings this summer, in August, and really just some of the -- almost of the entire audiences of these town hall meetings I went to were senior citizens. They are watching this debate like a hawk and so it's really factoring into this debate between Democrats and Republicans.

HARRIS: Yes, I think you're absolutely right about that.

Brianna Keilar on Capitol Hill.

Brianna, thank you.

A key player in the health care debate, Democratic Senator Kent Conrad. If he can break away from what's going on right now, he'll join us next with an update right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. We are back talking about the fiery health care debate underway this week in the Senate Finance Committee. We are talking with North Dakota Democrat Senator Kent Conrad.

Senator, thanks for your time. Good to be with you.

Got to tell you, I watched, and I told you just a moment ago, I watched for about three hours last night. My goodness. But here's one of my overarching views of this process is, I came away convinced last night that this committee can get this done by next week.

So, I'm wondering about some procedural things here. Why is the committee spending so much time, for example, talking about Medicare reimbursement rates when the chairman has repeatedly, time and time again, making the point that the states set reimbursement rates. I mean it seems like that's settled business. It should be understood by everyone in the committee and we can move on.

SEN. KENT CONRAD, (D) NORTH DAKOTA: Well, one would think so. I mean last night part of the discussion, as you heard, was reimbursement rates for doctors. And, you know, under Medicaid, that is determined by the states. It's not determined by the Congress. And yet, as you saw, we spent a lot of time talking about that last night.

HARRIS: All right. Well, . . .

CONRAD: On the larger question, if I could just say this with respect to Medicare. I think it's very important for people to understand, there is $400 billion of savings out of Medicare, but that's over 10 years.

And it's from providers. From the hospitals. From nursing homes. From home health care. Those are largely negotiated savings. The reason they are willing to take reductions from the increases that they'll be getting is because they see 30 million more people being covered, means a whole bloc of new business and . . .

HARRIS: Right.

CONRAD: So they're willing to give up some of that to help finance the overall package.

HARRIS: OK. Another point here, and this is a procedural point as well, because, again, in watching last night, I believe you can get something done by next week if -- so, why are you spending so much time talking about malpractice reform when your committee, to my understanding, doesn't have jurisdiction on that issue?

CONRAD: You know, there are strong feelings on the committee about medical malpractice reform. And actually there are areas where we have agreement on the need for medical malpractice reform. But our committee, the Finance Committee, does not have jurisdiction over that issue. That is in the -- that is in the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee. If we were to take action on it in our committee, there would then be a point of order, an objection, when we got to the floor.

HARRIS: Yes.

CONRAD: But it's not as though the issue won't be addressed, because when we get to the floor, the Senate floor, where all senators are present, then it is in order to consider amendments on medical malpractice.

HARRIS: Got you.

CONRAD: So I know this is arcane and it's procedural, but it also matters.

HARRIS: But the big picture is, is that it's taking valuable time. And another point here. I heard you on a few occasions last night look to a Republican colleague and say, look, I am as concerned about this particular issue or that particular issue as you are and we should work together on that issue. Why aren't there more bipartisan, co-sponsored amendments on such an important piece of legislation?

CONRAD: Very good question. Tony, I think part of the reason is, this product that Chairman Baucus has put forward as a proposal is largely the result of very lengthy bipartisan discussions. There were six of us, three Democrats, three Republicans, given the responsibility to help the chairman shape this proposal. We had 61 meetings. So the proposal itself is very much affected by these bipartisan discussions. I think at this point people are wanting to make amendments that distinguish them from the positions that are in the chairman's mark. And that becomes more partisan.

HARRIS: Got you.

CONRAD: But the underlying mark is really very much a reflection of these long, bipartisan discussions.

HARRIS: Got you. Can you get something out of your committee by next week?

CONRAD: I think we could. Look, there are -- I think it's pretty clear there are some of our colleagues who are engaged in a bit of a stall, a bit of a slowdown. That's understandable. Look, even though we've been at this, in our committee, for well more than a year, and we have had hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours of discussion, dozens of meetings, dozens of hearings. As I say, our little group of six, three Democrats, three Republicans, we've had 61 meetings. So the notion that somehow there's a rush here, I think is just for those who have just kind of tuned in here at the last minute. We've been working on this for well over a year. I think we could complete our part of it by sometime next week.

HARRIS: OK. Senator Conrad, we appreciate your time. We know you have to get back to work on this, but we appreciate you taking the time out of the ongoing markup to give us, in essence, a status update. Thank you for your time. We appreciate it.

CONRAD: You bet.

HARRIS: And I should add here that Senate Finance Republicans are scheduled to hold a news conference essentially any minute now. And we will have that for you as well.

Let's get to our top stories now. Terror suspect Najibullah Zazi indicted on a charge of conspiracy to detonate bombs. Zazi's father, New York Imam (ph), has been released on a $1.5 million bond. Zazi and his father are two of three Afghan nationals arrested in connection with a wide-ranging terror investigation.

Jaycee Dugard's lawyer says she has mixed emotions about her alleged captor's arrest but also realizes some terrible things were done to her. Police say Phillip and Nancy Garrido held Dugard for 18 years and that he fathered her two girls. Right now Dugard and the children are getting psychological help.

The governor of Massachusetts names Paul Kirk Jr. a the interim senator from Massachusetts. Kirk will fill the seat left vacant by the death of Ted Kennedy until a January special election. Kirk was a longtime senior aide to Kennedy.

More on the breaking story of an indictment of an accused terrorist. That is next in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. We have breaking news on an alleged terror plot that's been unfolding in both New York and Denver. Terror suspect Najibullah Zazi is charged with conspiracy to detonate bombs. Let's go to our Jeanne Meserve. She's in Denver.

And, Jeanne, you just left the courtroom moments ago. What can you tell us?

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I can tell you that the hearing on his detention was postponed until tomorrow because of the new charge that has been brought against Najibullah Zazi. A grand jury in the eastern district of New York charging him with one count of conspiring with others to detonate improvised explosive devices within the United States.

In that paperwork, which the government has filed, supporting his continuing detention, there are allegations by the government that in July Najibullah Zazi searched the Internet for components of TATP. TATP stands for triacetone triperoxide. It is a very powerful explosive. It is what was used in the London train bombings and also what Richard Reid intended to use during his attempt to light his shoe during a transatlantic flight.

Now, in addition, in July, August and September, according to the government, Najibullah and others purchased large quantities of hydrogen peroxide and acetone from beauty supply stores in the greater Denver area. Those are two of the components of TATP. It also says on September 6th and 7th, Najibullah Zazi rented a hotel suite here in Denver. When authorities searched that suite afterwards, they found in the vent above the stove, residue from acetone. That, again, one of the components of TATP. In some of the bomb-making instructions, it says that heating the ingredients is part of the action of creating an explosive.

In addition, it says that on September 6th and 7th, he communicated with another individual about the exact formula for formulating a bomb. And in September it says that he conducted an Internet search of home improvement stores in the Queens area for muriatic acid. That would be the third component of TATP. Shortly after that, he left for Queens, New York. There were searches in that area that turned up a scale and batteries with Zazi's fingerprints on it. According to this document, those are things that could be used in the formulation of TATP.

So, these are the new things we've learned from the government paperwork filed today. But, again, Mr. Zazi remains in custody until tomorrow, when there will be a hearing on this matter.

Tony.

HARRIS: Some significant new developments. Jeanne Meserve for us in Denver.

Jeanne, thank you.

You lose your job today, and you might be in for a very long layoff. So, how do you cope?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: You know, they say it can be a full-time job trying to find a job. In today's "Money & Main Street" segment, Poppy Harlow sits down with a couple of job seekers who have been pounding the pavement full time for nearly a year.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rachel Gold and Anthony Barberio don't have much in common. Rachel is 28 and worked in recruiting after graduating from college. Anthony is 46. He worked on Wall Street for 20 years, but he never went to college. The thing they do have in common, a long job search after being laid off. Rachel lost her job back in November.

RACHEL GOLD, JOB SEEKER: I definitely didn't think that I would be sitting here, you know, nine months later, you know, without employment.

ANTHONY BARBERIO, JOB SEEKER: When I first was let go, I figured maybe a month, two months, you know? And I didn't think it would last this long.

HARLOW: For Anthony it's been more than a year since he was laid off. And each day brings more work to find work. GOLD: This afternoon at 2:30, I have a recruiting meeting with somebody that I was networking with. Tomorrow morning at 10:00 I have another meeting with a recruiter. I'm not sure if they have positions but, you know, just to do some networking.

HARLOW: Rachel spends a lot of her time making business connections using social networking sites and she also applies for jobs online every day.

HARLOW (on camera): So you've applied for more than 650 jobs.

GOLD: Correct.

HARLOW: How many interviews have you had out of that?

GOLD: Maybe 10.

HARLOW (voice-over): Anthony has applied for hundreds of jobs, too, and he's using employment agencies in his search. But when his unemployment benefits run out, he'll be forced to stop looking on Wall Street and take any job he can find.

BARBERIO: Well, I'm going to put, like, a deadline as to when I'm, you know, going to have to really seriously, you know, look for something, you know, whether it be a department store or something like that.

GOLD: These are people that I've e-mailed.

HARLOW: Until a job comes along, Rachel has started a blog, kickedforward.com, based on the quote "when life kicks you, let it kick you forward."

GOLD: It's difficult, but, you know, I think I'm just trying to be as optimistic as possible that I'll find a position soon.

HARLOW: Rachel says she started to get more interviews since we first talked with her in August. And despite the tough job market, Anthony says he's hearing about more openings and hoping one of them is for him.

BARBERIO: I'm anxious to get back to work. You know, I mean, you know, almost a year in the house, you know, it could drive somebody crazy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: It certainly can. I just got off the phone with Anthony, Tony. He hasn't found a job yet, but some help may be on the way for people struggling to find work. Earlier this week, the House approved a bill that would grant more than a million unemployed Americans an additional 13 weeks of jobless benefits. Tony, that would be in any state that has over 8.5 percent unemployment. Now it heads to the Senate. We'll see what happens there. We're tracking it.

Tony. HARRIS: Like Michigan, right? And you spent some time recently . . .

HARLOW: Like Michigan to name -- yes, about 27 states, actually, have higher unemployment than that.

HARRIS: That's right.

All right, Poppy, thank you.

HARLOW: Sure.

HARRIS: And for more stories of people surviving in a tough economy, watch for more "Money & Main Street" reports tonight at 8:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: On camera, right? OK. So we've got something pretty special for you tomorrow. You know, hard to believe, Kyra, 25 years, right?

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: I cannot believe. And this was one of my favorite all-time shows.

HARRIS: OK. Top rated for, what, seven, eight of its 10-year run, right?

PHILLIPS: Yes.

HARRIS: "The Cosby Show." Twenty-five years old. Cliff, Claire, Theo, Rudy, who am I leaving out here?

PHILLIPS: You're getting all -- you're getting all the players.

HARRIS: There's one more daughter that I'm leaving out here. Olivia.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh.

HARRIS: Vanessa.

PHILLIPS: Vanessa.

HARRIS: Thank you. What is wrong with me? So, tomorrow, here's what we've got going for you. We've got Phylicia Rashad who's going to be here.

PHILLIPS: Oh, she's amazing.

HARRIS: We have got Malcolm Jamal-Warner who's going to be on the program tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: Oh, my gosh. All these folks are live with you?

HARRIS: Tomorrow, "What Matters" our partnership with "Essence" magazine.

PHILLIPS: Very nice.

HARRIS: That is tomorrow. And we want you to send us your favorite moments from "The Cosby Show" and we'll talk about them tomorrow.

And Phylicia will share some of her moments. Theo will share some of his moments. That is all tomorrow. And I am so long in the show. Let me -- let me hand it over...

PHILLIPS: You remind me of Bill Cosby, though. Just saying outrageous, crazy things and just going on and on and on and making everybody laugh.

HARRIS: How about this? Twenty-five years ago, I had a full head of hair and - and a mustache. Now I have a bald head and a bald lip.

Pushing forward now with the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM with Kyra Phillips!