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Mystery of NWA Flight 188 Grows; A Look at the Afghanistan War Plan; Reforming Health Care, Return of the Public Option; 1,000 Swine Flu Deaths Vaccine Demand Exceeds Supply; Should More Troops be Sent to Afghanistan?; Untangling a Taboo Topic "Good Hair"; Red Faces in the News
Aired October 24, 2009 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hey everybody from the CNN Center, you are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Hey there Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: How you doing T.J.?
HOLMES: I am well. I am T.J. Holmes, this is Betty Nguyen. We're ready to get this thing started.
NGUYEN: Yes we are, it's 11:00 A.M. right here on the east coast, 8:00 A.M. on the west coast. Let's get right to it.
What happened aboard Northwest Airlines flight 188 the other night is an even bigger mystery this morning after one of the pilots speaks about it for the first time. Now, let me give you some background here, the plane left San Diego Wednesday evening bound for Minneapolis. Along the way, air-traffic controllers lost contact with the pilots and the plane did not land as scheduled. In fact, it missed Minneapolis all together by 150 miles. And by the time the pilots responded, the flight was over Wisconsin. So, had they fallen asleep? Were they distracted? Were they arguing? What was going on? Well here's what the co-pilot told CNN affiliate KGW.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD COLE, FIRST OFFICER, NORTHWEST FLIGHT 188: Nobody was asleep in the cockpit. And no arguments took place. But other than that, I cannot tell you anything that went on because we're having hearings this weekend, we're having hearings on Tuesday. All that information will come out then.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No arguments took place? That's the statement that's out there all over the place.
COLE: There was no arguments at all in the cockpit. That was -- that wasn't even an issue, absolutely not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Not arguing, not sleeping. What else could you be doing that could distract you from landing a plane for an hour and 18 minutes? CNN's Jeanne Meserve looking into the investigation for us now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The cockpit voice recorder from Northwest flight 188 was headed over to investigators Friday afternoon, but it is only 30 minutes long. Recordings of what was happening in the cockpit during the period the plane was out of radio contact were likely taped over. Investigators want to know why the plane did not respond to repeated radio calls as it cruised from the Rockies almost to the Great Lakes.
STEVE WALLACE, FMR. FAA ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS CHIEF: For an airline crew to have no contact with air traffic control for one hour and 18 minutes is unthinkable in the domestic United States.
MESERVE: A police report identifies the captain as Timothy Cheney, the first officer as Richard Cole. Police who interviewed them after landing described them as cooperative, apologetic and appreciative and say breathalyzer tests were negative. While they were in the air and incommunicado, air-traffic controllers made repeated attempts to reach them on regular and emergency frequencies.
CRAIG BOEHNE, NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSN.: Once the airplane passed over the airport at cruise altitude, then the level of concern and anxiety increased significantly.
MESERVE: Controllers feared the plane had been hijacked. Fighter jets in Wisconsin were put on alert. There were interagency phone calls in Washington. The TSA checked to see if there had been screening issues with passengers. Then with the help of other pilots, controllers eventually made contact with the plane. They found the pilots' responses vague. They asked them to make extra turns on his way back to Minneapolis to verify he was in control of the aircraft. Crew members explained the gap in communication saying they had been distracted by an intense discussion on airline policy. Others suspect they were asleep.
(On camera): Investigators will analyze the flight's data recorder. If it shows the plane's controls being operated during the one hour and 18 minutes of radio silence, it would appear to confirm that the crew was awake, not asleep. But the investigation has just begun. The NTSB hopes to interview the pilots this weekend or early next week. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: So, they wanted a reality TV show, and police say what they delivered wasn't real at all. Newly released court documents say the mother of the so-called balloon boy confessed to police that it was all just a hoax, planned well in advance as a publicity stunt. Police say charges are pending against Richard and Mayumi Heene, reporting that their six year old son took off in a homemade experimental aircraft last week. The couple allegedly hoped that the headlines would help them land a gig on a reality television show.
HOLMES: How did that work out?
Turning to Pakistan now, where covert help from the U.S. in the fight against the Taliban. The latest assistance reportedly being two suspected U.S. drone missiles in northwest Pakistan this morning. The target, a suspected militant hideout in the village of Damadola. Local officials say 16 people were killed. The strikes coincide with Pakistan's response to Taliban bombings across the country in the past two weeks.
NGUYEN: Across the border in Afghanistan, more threats from the Taliban promising to disrupt the presidential runoff that is just days away, this comes as President Obama mulls whether or not to deploy more U.S. troops there. CNN White House correspondent Elaine Quijano is live in Washington, she joins us now. Elaine, what's the latest on possibly adding more troops? Have you heard any word?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You know, that's the $64,000 question right now, Betty. President Obama, though, Betty, we know of course the stakes could not be higher when it comes to these elections in Afghanistan. In fact it was just about a week ago that White House officials were saying, look, the United States really needs to ensure that it has a credible partner in that country.
In fact, the White House press secretary Robert Gibbs even said, look, it doesn't matter how many additional troops you send to that country if you don't have a credible, legitimate partner there. That is why what is happening now in Afghanistan is really so critical to the United States. Why that internal political situation in that country matters so much to the Obama administration. Take a listen to what the U.S. defense secretary, Robert Gates, had to say about the administration's ongoing Afghanistan review.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GIBBS, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We're looking at a full range of activities, and our strategy in Afghanistan, as has been said publicly in Washington and as I said, we're not pulling out. I think that any reduction is very unlikely. The question is do we have the strategy right in light of the situation we face. Does it need refinement in some way?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And Secretary Gates was meeting with NATO allies there. Something else, Betty, for the administration to consider -- America's NATO allies are now saying they're getting behind the strategy that was put forward by General Stanley McChrystal. He, of course, is the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and he wants tens of thousands of additional U.S. forces in that country. Why? Not just to fight the Taliban but also to help basically boost the numbers of Afghan troops. We're talking about Afghan military and police forces here. But, again, this is no small thing. America's NATO allies now backing that strategy, certainly something additional for the White House to consider as it moves forward with its deliberations.
NGUYEN: Really, Elaine, it looks like the next couple weeks are going to be pretty critical.
QUIJANO: Absolutely. Of course November 7th is when these election runoff -- the runoff elections, rather, are set to take place. In the next couple of weeks here, Defense Secretary Gates is saying look, the beginning of the end is in sight when it comes to the analysis that the administration is doing that it's going to be in the next two or three weeks that there are going to be some very specific options put forward here for President Obama to consider.
NGUYEN: Elaine Quijano joining us live. As always, we do appreciate it. Thank you Elaine.
HOLMES: Stay with Afghanistan here now. The presidential campaign resumes today. As you just heard Elaine say there, that the runoff is slated to happen on November 7th. The candidates here, incumbent Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah. Both men speaking with CNN, one speaking to John King, the other with Fareed Zakaria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): President Karzai has been asked about the possibility of a negotiated settlement, and he has said that that's simply not possible. He says it would have no legitimacy. But he also did tell our Fareed Zakaria that it sounds like he means after the election because of the confidence in his voice but that he is more than willing down the road to invite you into a government. I want you to listen.
PRES. HAMID KARZAI, AFGHANISTAN: If he wants to come and work in my government, he's most welcome. I'm known for consensus and building it and (INAUDIBLE) that's a good trademark.
KING: Is he Dr. Abdullah known for consensus and coalition building? And would you welcome a spot in a Karzai government should he win this election?
ABDULLAH ABDULLAH, AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think I left Mr. Karzai's government some three and a half years ago. Since then, I have not been tempted to be part of that government. And my thrust in becoming a candidate was not to be part of the same government and part of the same deteriorating situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And the two election rivals you could see in two interviews, all starts 9 o'clock eastern tomorrow. John King speaking as you saw there with former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and then at 1 o'clock Afghan President Hamid Karzai, talking to our Fareed Zakaria. In the upcoming presidential runoff in Afghanistan, be fair, the smart lineup of Sunday talk again begins at 9 o'clock eastern tomorrow right here on CNN.
NGUYEN: Well, Chatham, New Jersey, is on the edge right now after a priest was found dead inside a church rectory. Sixty one year old Reverend Ed Hinds was found yesterday morning after he failed to show up for morning mass. Neighbors describe Hinds as gentle, dedicated and hardworking. The killing is the town's first in 20 years. Prosecutors say the preliminary autopsy shows Hinds was beaten to death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BIANCHI, PROSECUTOR: Mainly focused to the front part of his body and some wounds on the back. There was a fight that preceded it. It just was in a very localized area. And again, there was blood spatter in various locations in the kitchen and different areas of the wall and the floor inside the location.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Police aren't saying if they have a suspect just yet.
HOLMES: Los Angeles police say they have arrested five people suspected in a string of celebrity burglaries. Police aren't saying exactly who all these stars are, however, some Los Angeles affiliates are reporting that Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton among those who were targeted. Also saying that this band of burglars actually a group of women who are obsessed with celebrities who have gone around burglarizing the celebrity homes. Police have recovered many of the stolen items and are still serving search warrants at five locations.
NGUYEN: Stay tuned because we have a new twist in the debate over health insurance reform.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Democratic leaders are exploring including a government- run insurance plan when a health care bill hits the Senate floor but with a provision that allows the states to opt out. Senator Patrick Leahy says they need to find a way to gain support for a so-called public option for those who need it most.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY, (D) VERMONT: I want public option very, very much. I wanted to have competition in the insurance plans which is what I think it would get. I suspect that most states, seeing real competition there, are not about to opt out. I think they might have a very difficult time. So I want to look at the wording that may be the compromise to get public option. But I think we would make a horrible mistake to pass health care without a public option in there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, republicans in their weekly address continue to hit back at the democrats' reform plan. Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska says the health care legislation will mean higher premiums across the board, while the White House says prices would be lowered.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MIKE JOHANNS, (R) NEBRASKA: Republicans are in favor of lowering costs. Reforming insurance so Americans can get care when they need it and providing assistance for those who can't afford insurance. You see, we stand ready with ideas to tackle those challenges, but hundreds of pages filled with back-room deals, higher insurance premiums, higher taxes and cuts to Medicare are not the answer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, can members of Congress ever get together on health care reform? Why not? They have such a history of working so well together.
NGUYEN: Don't they though? Our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, has been watching it all in Washington. Paul, as you just heard, we're hearing more talk about that public option. Why is the democratic leadership pushing it so strongly now?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You know, it's funny, too, because we spent so much time the last couple of weeks talking about that senate finance bill which didn't have the public option. But it's back guys. This is like a movie sequel, return of the public option, right? We are hearing a lot about it this week. Public opinion one reason as well. Take a look at these brand new numbers this week from CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation. You can see here an uptick, six points now, an uptick in support for the public option. It was 55 percent back in August, 61 percent now.
An ABC/"Washington Post" poll shows pretty much the same thing. You hear different stories from each side. The democrats say the public option which as you know is the government plan, will compete with the private insurance, they say it's good, it will bring down costs and increase competition. Republicans say just the opposite. It will mean higher costs for you, higher taxes, higher premiums and you know what, it will drive private insurance out of business. That's the debate right now.
HOLMES: The debate, but still it might not even mater. Some states, at least the idea they're tossing around is letting states opt out.
STEINHAUSER: Right.
HOLMES: I guess Paul, what's the point of that? Is that going to help get some votes? Will that really change the face of health care in this country if some states can just say no, we're not going to offer this to our folks?
STEINHAUSER: That is what the senate is looking at right now. Dana Bash and our Hill team did some really good reporting. The Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, trying to put one big bill together, is now talking about this kind of plan, you just mentioned it. That some states could opt out if they don't like it. The thought is that that would allow more moderate democrats and even maybe some republicans to come on board. The problem is there's one very important republican we keep talking about her, Olympia Snowe, the only republican so far to vote for any of these democratic plans. She doesn't like that opt out at all. She likes what's called a trigger, which starts with no public option but if insurance rates don't come down, that triggers the public option. That's what she's pushing for. Why is she so important guys? Because the White House really wants to have some republican support here, they want to say this is a bipartisan bill.
NGUYEN: OK. What kind of timetable are we looking at for actually getting this whole thing pulled together?
STEINHAUSER: Can I say Merry Christmas? You know what, our producer on the hill --
NGUYEN: Before the end of the year and that's what the president wants.
STEINHAUSER: He could get it as a Christmas present. That's what they think. It could go well into there because you're not going to have floor votes in the House and the Senate on a bill in each chamber probably until next month. And then if that happens, you have to take those two bills, put them together, you have Thanksgiving break, you're coming back, we're getting towards Christmas. Remember, the White House wants to get it done this year. Why? Next year is an election year, tough to get things done then, guys.
HOLMES: And their holiday breaks aren't like our holiday breaks.
NGUYEN: Not at all. I kind of want their breaks.
HOLMES: Paul Steinhauser, a friend of our show here on CNN Saturday and Sunday morning, our deputy political director. Always good to see you, thanks so much buddy.
STEINHAUSER: Thank you T.J. Betty.
NGUYEN: Now for a quick check of our top stories, 16 people dead at a suspected militant hideout in northwest Pakistan. Pakistani officials say they were killed when two missiles fired from an unmanned U.S. drone struck their village. It comes as the Pakistani military has stepped up efforts to clear insurgents out of tribal areas.
NGUYEN: All right. They say we weren't sleeping. They say we weren't fighting. So, what in the world were you doing to miss your landing spot by 150 miles? Denials now from one of the pilots on that wayward Northwest Airlines flight that missed that airport. But First Officer Richard Cole on flight 188, he stopped short of saying exactly why he and his colleague didn't respond to air-traffic controllers who were trying to radio them.
NGUYEN: And there is a new twist, if you ever wanted to see one, I guess, in the so-called balloon hoax. Well here it is. While Richard Heene says that the massive search for his son was real, he did believe that his son was actually trapped inside a run away balloon, his wife is telling a different story. She in court documents told a sheriff's deputy that she and her husband knew their son was hiding and they also were told that -- the children, that is, to lie to authorities and to the media. We're going to get another update on this story and some of the other top stories in 20 minutes. HOLMES: A lot of you out there are getting those flu shots right about now, some of you getting that nasal mist. But millions of people going without it because you can't find it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Swine flu numbers they are up and they are rising. Get this -- 46 states are now reporting widespread cases of the illness and doses of the vaccine are falling way short of demand.
HOLMES: The CDC reporting a grim milestone. More than 1,000 people have died from the virus. We'll get the latest now from our Kitty Pilgrim.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forty six states now reporting widespread swine flu. Many millions of cases and the virus continues to spread 1,000 deaths, 20,000 hospitalizations.
DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, DIR., CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: We expect that influenza will occur in waves, and we can't predict how high, how far, how long the wave will go or when the next will come. We're now in the second wave of pandemic influenza, and whether this will continue through the fall into the winter, whether it will go away and come back, only time will tell.
PILGRIM: Sixteen million doses of the vaccine are now ready to ship. Eleven million doses are now available to the public. While more and more vaccine is hitting the market, the CDC admits it is not enough.
FRIEDEN: We share the frustration of people who have waited online or called a number or checked the website and haven't been able to find a place to get vaccinated.
PILGRIM: Dr. Frieden called the technology being used to create the vaccine antiquated.
FRIEDEN: The technology that we're using, although it's tried- and-true, is not well suited for pandemics.
PILGRIM: The CDC says the Department of Health and Human Services has spent more than $2 billion trying to develop a newer method of vaccine production. But even it could, during a pandemic would not be the time to release a new product to market. Dr. Frieden says while new technologies would not help with this year's swine flu pandemic, they are needed to develop seasonal flu vaccines each year. Kitty Pilgrim, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: All right. Speaking of the flu, swine flu, H1N1, whatever you want to call it, we're getting new word from the White House in fact.
HOLMES: Elaine Quijano on this story for us. We're just getting this word this morning. The president stepping this up and shows he's obviously taking this very seriously.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's absolutely right. Just moments ago Betty and T.J., the White House announced that the president is declaring a national emergency here in order to deal with the H1N1 flu. This is what the actual declaration says here, the proclamation talks about allowing the secretary of health and human services Kathleen Sebelius, if necessary, to basically waive temporarily some federal requirements if it should be necessary for some health care facilities, for hospitals, clinics, in order for them to better be able to deal with the H1N1 influenza pandemic.
What this obviously is intended to do is to ensure that if there is a massive surge in the number of H1N1 cases here, that in fact some of the bureaucratic, if you will, requirements that might be in place and impede the treatment of some of these H1N1 victims, that those would be temporarily lifted. I'm going to read you a little bit now from the proclamation itself. This says that the rates of illnesses continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities. Thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic and in further preparation of the nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response.
What we should make absolutely clear here, this is very similar to what the administration, what White Houses have done in advance of, say, a national disaster in preparation for a hurricane, let's say, in order to better mobilize resources, in order to better funnel resources to the problem. So, again, this is just coming out moments ago. We're waiting for some further background from the White House or the department of health and human services as to what this means in practical terms. But again, what this does is it temporarily will allow the waiver of some federal requirements in order for health care facilities to better treat the wave of H1N1 patients expected. Betty and T.J.?
NGUYEN: Any way though, I don't know if you know this at this point, does it free up any additional funding or is it just freeing up those resources?
QUIJANO: We're looking at that right now. We don't see a monetary figure here. I have to tell you in just my quick read of this, I don't see anything Betty that lays out any kind of figure, but we're trying to get some more answers for you here. We should also mention one thing it talks about, as well, is certain requirements under Medicare, Medicaid or the state children's health insurance program, that those requirements could be temporarily waived or modified, as well. We're going to get some clarification for you here on whether or not this does mean in fact emergency funds, but we don't see that here, at least my first read here as we get this. Betty?
NGUYEN: All right. Elaine Quijano joining us live with the latest on that. Thank you Elaine.
HOLMES: And of course another big debate going on, on Capitol Hill right now. Whether the U.S. should send more troops to Afghanistan. We're talking to a retired U.. General. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: President Obama of course considering his options on sending more troops to Afghanistan. I spoke with one, with retired U.S. general George Johann about whether U.S. troops should be sent.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEN. GEORGE JOULWAN, U.S. ARMY (RET.): It's important that when we do commit these forces that there's a legitimate government to work with. That's part of the overall strategy of McChrystal and I think of the United States and by the way of NATO. So you need a legitimate government. If this election is run fairly without any fraudulent voting, et cetera, then I think we could say that whoever wins has won legitimately.
HOLMES: But general at the same time, could it possibly do more harm than good given that the situation as we know, we see day in and day out, seems to be deteriorating in a lot of ways in Afghanistan and any further delay just gives that situation more of a chance to really just keep rolling down the hill and building momentum in a bad way?
JOULWAN: I agree with you that I believe the Taliban does have the momentum and delay does favor them to a degree. But it's important we get the clarity right in the mission. We haven't done that for eight years. And I think it's important that that clarity come through of what is our mission, what is our purpose. The meeting in Bratislava yesterday with all the defense ministers of NATO, who, by the way, have the responsibility along with the United States for Afghanistan, McChrystal briefed them. This gets the consensus you need. This gets the other things beside troops, all those other developmental agencies that grow capacity in government, development. All those things are important. And to do that, you need to get NATO and the international community involved. So I think it's important to get the mission right. If that takes a little bit more time so, be it. But I think it's important.
HOLMES: Sir, explain to our viewers here, to the American public how, you know, this is the general on the ground. He says what he needs. Why doesn't he just get it? Why won't the policymakers just give this guy on the ground what he needs? You're used to having to deal with some things like this. Explain if you can right quickly just how this is kind of a delicate dance and why, for a lot of people say hey, this guy's in charge, he says this is what he needs to win, give it to him.
JOULWAN: Because there is a process here of battle plans coming forward and briefed to the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the chiefs and the political side in the White House and elsewhere in Washington. And this has to be a political decision not just a military decision. And sometimes that's not understood. I think it's important for military commanders like McChrystal to give their clear military advice. He's done that. He's given his assessment. What he has called for he said if you agree with that assessment, this is what I need to do it. They're trying to get the clarity in terms of the mission that I think is so important here. We haven't done that before. It's important to do it now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: We have a check of the top stories in just three minutes. But first though, a peek of some of the most amazing images in the world with our own Josh Levs. What do you have, Josh?
JOSH LEVS: This is so cool, Betty. What is this exactly? Here's a hint. You've probably taken a lot of them, eaten them, actually. This next one is where we all come from in a way. They've all just won a huge award. Did they deserve it?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Some of our top stories here. Afghanistan getting ready for a presidential runoff. The Taliban is getting ready for it, as well, it's warning potential voters to boycott the ballot box or face the consequences. Afghans set to go to the polls November 7th.
NGUYEN: A team of U.N. nuclear inspectors is en route to Iran's holy city of Khun to check out the country's recently rebuilt nuclear facility built under a mountain. The team's mission, to determine the extent and intentions of Iran's nuclear program.
HOLMES: And police in Chatham, New Jersey, are warning residents to stay vigilant after the discovery of a 61-year-old priest dead in his parish rectory. Investigators calling father Ed Hinds' death a homicide but are not saying how he was killed. As of right now no suspects, no arrests. Another check of your top stories coming your way in about 20 minutes.
LEVS: This is so cool. Life as you have never seen it before. A bunch of images have won this big international award, and this is one of them. It's from Wellcome Images and they look at medical images and life. Check this out, popsci dot com which we link to from cnn.com, is calling them the most amazing medical images of 2009. Let's do this. I want to zoom into the screen over here on my left and I'm going to tell you what these images are, how they won and what we're looking at here.
We're going to start off with this one which is one of the first ones you'll see from Wellcome Images. This is actually a pill. It could be any pill. The blue coating is the part on the outside of any pill you might take, this is the part that actually affects you. They put them under a microscope, sometimes use dyes or illustrate the colors on afterwards. All the shapes you're about to see are real. Let's bang through some of these tough images of the year. The next one you're seeing is the inside of a small intestine. They said they took this image inside a mouse. Where it's the same as what people have. We have these here, they're called Villi.
Let's go back to a few more. This next one is a close-up of an aspirin crystal. The fourth one I want to pause on, let's take a look at this next one, this is an image of just before conception, just before fertilization. What you're seeing here, looks like the sun but it's actually an egg and what my director called little swimmers over there, sperm trying to get through, which would be conception. They're taking these actual moments from life and capturing them. Let 's go through a few more. Really stunning images, one of my producers here called them hauntingly beautiful. This is a seed from a plant called a bird of paradise. Again, you pick these images from real life, you put them under a microscope, you start to see what it was surrounded by.
We have time for a couple more. This is sensory nerve fibers, these are highlighting the basket of nerves on a hair follicle. If someone touches your hair, you feel it a little bit. That's those nerves. This is a lung cancer cell. It looks beautiful here, obviously an unfortunate thing, lung cancer. And so I must end on this last one here. This isn't imaging, people are saying what would happen if you could make a huge image of DNA? Little tiny people that are going and changing it. Everything I've just showed you is at this link.
Let's go to this graphic, I've put it right there so you can see it and see what you're thinking about it. We have this graphic for you. It's at cnn.com/josh, it's also up on Facebook and Twitter. My page is Joshlevscnn and I'll tell you, we are hearing a lot of buzz about this online, a lot of people weighing in. I would obviously love to know what you think. Betty and T.J., I love that we take moments for stuff like this. Because where else are you going to see these incredibly cool images getting all this attention online from around the world?
NGUYEN: Yes, they're pretty fascinating.
LEVS: Great stuff.
NGUYEN: Thank you Josh.
HOLMES: All right, we're talking about hair.
NGUYEN: Let's talk about it. What kind of hair?
HOLMES: Good hair.
NGUYEN: And what's the difference? How do you know? So subjective.
HOLMES: All hair is good hair so I'm told. But the movie "Good Hair" is creating a lot of buzz about the relationship between black women and their hair and we're getting answers and advice --
NGUYEN: From?
HOLMES: A fella, Chris Rock, stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Now it's time for us to talk about crack. Of the creamy variety. Let me explain. Have you heard of this stuff? It's called creamy crack, this is some toxic stuff that people put in their hair, actually. What about relaxers, does that sound familiar? Weaves? This is all the language of hair. And Chris Rock has decided to put together a movie, it's a comedy but it's kind of in documentary style, kind of informative, as well, it's called "Good Hair." It opens nationwide this weekend, and with it, of course, Chris Rock, comes comedy but also here a little controversy and criticism. You know he's a man that's known for making people laugh. He's pulling back the curtain now on a subject that some black women really don't want to talk about. But he talked to me, and so did Nia Long. Take a look and then we'll talk about the controversy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS ROCK: What's your definition of good hair?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Something that looks relaxed and nice.
PAUL MOONEY: If your hair is relaxed, white people are relaxed. If your hair is nappy, they're not happy.
HOLMES (on camera): Tell me first, you all just tell me, how would you all define good hair? Not the movie, actual hair. What is good hair?
NIA LONG, ACTRESS: All hair is good.
ROCK: There you go. All hair is good. You have good hair. She's got good hair.
LONG: As long as it's behaving.
ROCK: As long as it's not attacking you. It's not flesh-eating hair.
HOLMES: Some people need work to get it to behave. Would you agree with that?
LONG: Anything good takes work.
ROCK: Yes. It takes a little work.
LONG: A little product.
ROCK: A little TLC.
HOLMES: How much work for both of you? How much work and TLC did this take? How much work and TLC did that take?
LONG: OK.
HOLMES: I didn't mean to say it like that.
ROCK: This takes a lot less work.
LONG: This actually took this morning 20 minutes.
HOLMES: That's not bad.
ROCK: Twenty minutes but 20 minutes with engineers and architects.
Just yesterday, my daughter came into the house and said, daddy, how come I don't have good hair? I wonder how she came up with that idea.
LONG: Within the black community, if you have good hair, you're prettier or better than -- the lighter, the brighter, the better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want to go like this, like Farrah Fawcett.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're so many pressures to straighten your hair.
ROCK: Look at my ring, still there?
LONG: Black hair is a big issue. What's more beautiful, straight hair or curly, kinky hair? It's been a huge issue within the community. I think if you look at sort of their journey of black women and their hair, we've tried to assimilate to the images of white women where the hair has been straighter or blond or lighter. And this is a great film simply because it creates awareness. It's really a conversational piece, this film and your hair. But ultimately, if you're OK with who you are on the inside and you're OK with sort of your own spiritual sense of self, then it really doesn't matter what your hair is doing. That's why it could be looking crazy and it's still good hair.
ROCK: Has anybody ever tried to steal your hair?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
ROCK: If you see some black women, just run the other way.
My daughters, I just wanted to, you know, I wanted this document to exist. You know what I mean? There hasn't been a movie about black women's hair. And it's such a rich, rich, rich topic that can be used educationally and comedically. And when I say comedically, I'm not making fun of black women in this movie at all. And I'm not judging anybody for doing anything to their hair. You know I'm on, there's lots of movies with me with a jheri curl, that exist.
HENNE: Lots?
ROCK: There's a few.
LONG: And that was by choice, by the way. His jheri curl was a choice.
ROCK: Choice. Pookie has a jheri curl in New Jack City.
Tell us how dangerous relaxer is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sonyhydroxide will burn through your skin.
ROCK: So that can's got a good perm.
HOLMES: What do you tell your daughters? That was part of the reason behind the movie. You had an incident, one of them saw another girl's hair and thought that was good hair or straight hair.
ROCK: Yes. My daughter was raving too much about her friend's hair, and I'm like, you get a little pissed. It's like when my wife raves about somebody else's house. Hey, you have a nice house. Your hair is addicted to relaxer?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am on the creamy crack.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Creamy crack.
ROCK: So what's in your hair now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a weave.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a weave. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two-pieces here like extensions.
RAVEN SYMONE: Like that.
ROCK: At the end of the day, it's fashion, in a sense. You know? It's --
UNIDENTIFEID FEMALE: It's an accessory.
ROCK: It's an accessory. And if you're changing it because it's an accessory, it's great. If you're changing it because you want to be somebody else, then there's a problem there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The black hair business is a $9 billion business.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of these can run you $5,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I have a layaway plan.
ROCK: So you can layaway the weave?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.
ROCK: Have you ever put your hand through a black woman's hair?
UNIDENTIFEID MALE: Hell nah, not a black woman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You just don't touch it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do not touch my weave. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
ROCK: Does your wife let you touch her hair?
AL SHARPTON: The question is do I let her touch mine.
(END VIDEDOTAPE)
HOLMES: OK now here it is. While that is funny. But a lot of people are upset with Chris Rock?
NGUYEN: Why?
HOLMES: A lot of black women are upset with Chris Rock, it feels like he is putting black women and their hair under a microscope, examining them, making fun of them even.
NGUYEN: He is making fun.
HOLMES: He has a comedic take on it, but not necessarily making fun I would say..
NGUYEN: He told the one lady if you see black women coming, run, because she had this great hair. That's making fun of it.
HOLMES: OK, w ell now you see why a lot of people are upset then. But he was even sued, someone tried to stop the movie from coming out because they say he stole their idea for a documentary they did several years ago. Some black women just don't appreciate it.
NGUYEN: Not even just black women, women in general, you don't mess with our hair. We're kind of off limits some times. Right, Fred?
HOLMES: Fredricka?
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now I'm wondering like how I'm going to get roped into this one?
HOLMES: You knew it was coming.
WHITFIELD: Well, that's interesting stuff.
NGUYEN: That's all you're going to say is that's interesting?
WHITFIELD: I haven't seen her yet.
NGUYEN: You know what creamy crack is though,, right?
WHITFIELD: I do. I do know what the creamy crack is. But I can't say it was part of the American lexicon until this movie.
NGUYEN: It's true.
WHITFIELD: Thanks a lot, Chris Rock.
HOLMES: He put it out there. You're absolutely right. WHITFIELD: He did. He did.
HOLMES: You didn't want to reveal any secrets this morning?
NGUYEN: That's not a weave. That's the real deal.
WHITFIELD: I got off the creamy crack a long time ago.
HOLMES: Well, you look good. Your hair looks good this morning. Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: Thanks. Producer's yelling at me, we're running out of time. Something else that really fascinated people for the last week or so has been the balloon boy.
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Come to find out this story takes yet another turn, our legal guys will be delving into this one. This time a lot of folks suspected that it might be a hoax. The police reveal last weekend, yes, it is a hoax. Guess what? They came to that conclusion because the mother, Mayumi Heene revealed that it was a hoax just two days after the incident. So now what kind of charges might she and Richard Henne be facing? Our legal guys will delve into that one.
And then, we're going to be talking about the mellowing on medical marijuana. Yes, this week, the federal government came out with this stipulation saying, you know what, if it is legal in your state, then no longer will it be a federal case that will be pursued or even prosecuted, at least in the case of marijuana being used for medicinal purposes in the 13 or so states where it is now legal. We will be delving into this in the 4:00 Eastern hour. An entire hour, what does this mean now for other states? Does it mean the road will be opened up for other states to now make medicinal marijuana legal or might this mean that there are new hurdles in which to encounter? All that four o'clock Eastern hour.
HOLMES: We have marijuana and crack all in this segment.
WHITFIELD: I know, that was scary, wasn't it?
HOLMES: Yes. All right, thank you so much --
WHITFIELD: And medicinal purposes.
HOLMES: Yes, and creamy crack. All right, get that straight.
NGUYEN: These are all legal items at the moment.
HOLMES: Yes, they are. Thank you Fredricka.
NGUYEN: And the NEWSROOM does continue at the top of the hour with Fredricka Whitfield. So join us for that.
In the meantime, we have a lot coming up. Definitely want to stay tuned for that, we'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Everybody has those moments where you really, really try hard to pull your foot out of your mouth.
NGUYEN: They are tough. Yes, everybody flubs and make bloopers, what not. But for those of us who work in front of the cameras, this week was one for the doozies. Our Jeanne Moos puts them all together for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What do a pigeon, a giant seagull, a fan falling off a cab, an anchor making the gesture for crazy, and Al, Jesse, Jesse, Al, Al, Jesse, have to do with one another? It's the week in bloopers, and what a week it was. This Australian anchor got caught making the internationally-known gesture for crazy coming out of a taped sound bite with a senator.
It was so quick you might think you're crazy. The anchor later apologized to the senator who laughed it off saying maybe I am crazy. Here's what happens when you get your reverends mixed up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Joining me now to talk about this and the nation's real problem of joblessness, the Reverend Al Sharpton. What's your reaction to hearing someone say, you know, when it comes to income inequality, all's well, the rising tide floats all boats?
JESSE JACKSON: I'm Reverend Jesse Jackson.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. I don't -- you know, I'm so sorry, the script in front of me said Reverend Al Sharpton, I'm looking at your face, I know who you are Reverend Jackson, we all do. I'm sorry.
MOOS: Good recovery. Blame it on the teleprompter. Here's a little refresher. Reverend Al Sharpton. Reverend Jesse Jackson. This Australian nine news anchor has a lot of gall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say they hope someone burdened with information will help solve --
MOOS: The seagull sauntered past the camera shooting a skyline.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I knew that it had happened because I could see in the monitor in the back of the studio, I could see this gigantic thing walking behind me, and I said, I think that's a bird.
MOOS: This bird took on the Eagles at Sunday's televised game between Philadelphia and the Oakland Raiders. The pigeon hung out on the field and even joined the Raiders kickoff coverage. Talk about a wing formation. The Raiders and the pigeon beat Philadelphia, the baseball fans celebrated the Phillies getting into the World Series by dropping the F bomb and falling off a taxi. This guy didn't over tip, he tipped over. I'm Jeanne Moos.
JACKSON: I'm Reverend Jesse Jackson. MOOS: CNN, New York.
HOLMES: Oh, that was a tough one.
NGUYEN: You know what? I've spent time with these guys together, they're very competitive.
HOLMES: Yeah it was a dead pin on the Reverend Jesse Jackson.
NGUYEN: You know what, Reverend Sharpton called him up and let him know about, it I'm sure.
HOLMES: That was a moment. I don't want to be any one of those three involved in that. That was an awkward moment, as they say.
NGUYEN: Indeed.
WHITFIELD: Well hopefully you don't have any of those and we don't either.
HOLMES: Let's get it right today, okay?
WHITFIELD: You all have a great day.
HOLMES: You, too.
NGUYEN: We'll see you.
