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Brazil Expected to Hand Boy Back to New Jersey Dad; Health Bill Heads for Passage; Retaliation for Drug Lord's Death

Aired December 23, 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: Time now for your top-of-the-hour reset.

I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM.

It is 3:00 p.m. in Brazil, where a New Jersey father appears on the brink of getting his son back. An international custody battle possibly ending on the eve of Christmas Eve.

It is noon in New York, where new retail sales figures are in. Are you spending a lot this holiday season? We will take you live to the New York Stock Exchange for answers.

And it is 8:00 p.m. in Yemen, where al Qaeda militants are finding sanctuary. Is this growing terrorist haven the new, next big war front?

Let's get started.

"I won the case, now give me back my son." A New Jersey father is closer than ever to ending a frustrating five-year ordeal to bring his son home from Brazil.

Let's go to Ines Ferre in New York for the latest.

And, boy, I've got to ask you, first of all, is the boy's Brazilian family giving up on all appeals?

INES FERRE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's what they say. They say that they are not going to be appealing anymore. A lot of developments have been happening in these past few hours.

The lawyer for the Brazilian family saying that they want a peaceful handover, that they're in no rush, that he will be meeting with an intermediary to set up a meeting between the maternal grandmother in Brazil and David Goldman so that she can tell Goldman about what the boy likes, what he likes to eat, et cetera. They say that they want this to be a really smooth handover.

Now, we spoke to the maternal grandmother, Silvana Bianchi (ph), in Brazil, and she told CNN that she's very disappointed by this ruling. She said, "Sean is very sad, because it has never been his desire to go back to the states. He got especially disappointed about not having the right to speak in his own country about what he wanted for himself." You'll recall that the grandmother was really pushing for the boy's testimony to be heard in court.

Now, as far as Goldman's concerned, we're told that he's cautiously optimistic, of course, as he has been over these past five years, but that is becoming more and more real to him, that his expressions, his body language are really changing, that he's really starting to believe that this will happen. And we also spoke last night to the paternal grandfather in New Jersey, who spoke to CNN about the anticipation of having Sean return to the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARRY GOLDMAN, SEAN GOLDMAN'S GRANDFATHER: I'm going to hug him and kiss him and tell him how much I love him and missed him, and go on from there. I just feel, again, cautiously optimistic.

I've been on the top of this roller-coaster so many times, that to slide down the other side -- as David has said many times, until the wheels are up on that plane and Sean and David and the congressman and all are on it, it's not a done deal. And hopefully that's going to happen soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FERRE: And the paternal grandparents telling CNN that they are really impressed by the stamina that David Goldman has shown. This has been a long, five-year battle for him, and they really feel like this is finally coming to a close -- Tony.

HARRIS: Well, Ines, let me ask you -- and clearly, David Goldman is getting closer here to a really nice moment, a reunion with his son, permanently now. But is there any guidance on when this mediated handover will actually take place?

FERRE: Right. We still don't have a timeline yet.

We're told that it probably won't happen today. In fact, the grandmother also telling CNN that they're not -- they don't know when Sean will be returning to the United States. We're still awaiting word as to when this will happen, but, again, they just say they don't want to rush this.

HARRIS: Yes. Yes.

FERRE: They want to it be really smooth.

HARRIS: Well, after five years, yes, I guess you can wait another day if you have to, if it's on the right path here.

Ines Ferre for us in New York.

Good to see you. Thank you.

You know, we are expecting to hear from Sean Goldman's Brazilian relatives this hour. When that is happens, we will bring it to you live. A 15-year-old boy who was viciously set on fire is getting his Christmas wish. Michael Brewer is out of the hospital and at an undisclosed location. He is still recovering from burns over 65 percent of his body.

About two months ago now, after allegedly being attacked by teens, last hour we got an update about Michael's remarkable recovery, it has to be said, from his mother and a doctor at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIE BREWER, MOTHER OF MICHAEL BREWER: I don't have the words. I'm just ecstatic. He's just so incredible -- he's strength, his determination, his will to survive. You're going to make me cry.

He's just incredible. He is incredible. He gives me the will to get up, and get up, go every day.

He doesn't feel safe going back to the neighborhood. The families of the boys live within five blocks of us, so he does fear for his life going back there.

DR. LOUIS PIZANO, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI JACKSON MEMORIAL BURN CENTER: About two weeks in to Michael's hospital course, the same thing happened to him as we would expect. He had a number of infections, he took a turn for the worse. And at one point, we weren't even sure whether or not he was going to survive his injuries.

Once he recovered from it and he started to turn around, he progressed very, very quickly. And the real reason for that is because of Michael's stamina, his endurance, and his basically desire to improve.

And Michael's worked with us very, very hard. He spends a lot of time with therapists, and he does what we ask him to do. And it's very painful, and it's hard for an adult to accomplish what he's done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: OK. And once again, Michael's mother says they are not taking him home because he fears for his safety. The families, again, of the teens who allegedly set Michael on fire still live, I think you heard, within five blocks there in the neighborhood.

Train service starting to get back to normal on the Northeast Corridor. Commuters are boarding again after a power outage earlier this morning that shut down service to thousands of people, including those traveling between Jersey and New York.

The Senate health care reform bill headed toward final passage tomorrow, but before the Christmas Eve vote, the bill has to clear another procedural hurdle today.

National political correspondent Jessica Yellin is back with us from Capitol Hill.

And, Jessica, if you would, walk us through what happens later today and then tomorrow.

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: OK, Tony.

Well in the very rules-driven way that the Senate works, voting begins this afternoon at precisely 2:21 p.m. There will be five votes in all, and most -- four of them are just small matters that are not likely to affect the final bill in any way. Not necessarily small, but there's a point of order, a constitutional challenge, a motion to table an amendment.

Don't need to worry about those. Here's what we should be focused on.

The very last vote is the fifth vote. It's a motion to proceed that tees up the big vote on the final bill tomorrow. They need 60 votes for that to clear today. And so we will be looking to see that they get through that 60-vote hurdle which is expected to happen, you know, without a problem today.

HARRIS: Got you.

YELLIN: And all the voting, all told, is supposed to last until about 3:30, 4:00 this afternoon, and then we can look ahead to tomorrow's big one -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. And if you would, take us through what we can expect when the holidays are over -- really jumping ahead here -- and the real work of reconciling the House and Senate bills actually begins.

YELLIN: Right. Well, the big challenge, as you know, is that the House version of the health care bill is different significantly from the Senate version of the health care bill. They have to merge the two, and work on this will begin even before the Senate and the House leadership returns from their Christmas break. So, staff will be back after the actual little Christmas holiday, but before senators are back.

They'll begin talking about language and negotiations. I mean, how do you really decide which is the abortion language they should use? How do you pay for this? These are all big issues.

And the people who will really be making the decisions are the Democratic leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, talking with the White House. And then they'll also be taking input from some of the most influential committee chairs who helped write the various versions of this bill, including Max Baucus, Harkin, Dodd in the Senate. And then over on the House side, you have Rangel, Waxman, and George Miller, who is not up there, but he'll be part of the discussion.

They'll bring in others, but a lot of this negotiating will go on over the phone, through staff, in the days to come, well before you see House and Senate members back here in Washington.

HARRIS: All right. Terrific stuff.

All right. Jessica Yellin for us on Capitol Hill.

Jessica, good to see you. Thank you.

A closer look now at what the Senate health reform bill would mean for your medical coverage. Here are some of the details on what is and isn't in the legislation.

The bill does not include a public option. Instead, it would create a not-for-profit private plan overseen by a government agency.

The bill puts additional regulations on the insurance industry and includes $10 billion for new community health centers. Nearly all Americans would be required to get insurance or face fines.

The government would subsidize coverage for families making about $88,000 or less. Medicaid would cover families making just over $29,000. Businesses with more than 50 employees could face fines for uninsured workers. Smaller businesses with employee salaries averaging $50,000 or less could get tax credits.

And just minutes ago, a Colorado judge sentenced the father of the so-called Balloon Boy to four years probation and 90 days in jail. Richard Heene addressed the court this morning and apologized to rescue teams who responded to the family's false 911 calls. His wife is also being sentenced today. She faces up to two months in jail and fines.

Not even a policeman's relatives are safe in Mexico's war against drug lords. A family gunned down in an apparent retribution.

And our "Random Moment" in 90 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: In Mexico's deadly drug war, it's not just authorities putting their lives on the line. Their loved ones can be at serious risk as well.

Senior Latin America affairs editor Rafael Romo is joining me now.

And Rafael, so Mexico, last week, takes out one of its most wanted drug cartel leaders, but that is not the end of it, is it?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AMERICA AFFAIRS EDITOR: We're talking about a new low point, a new low level, Tony. And definitely, Mexican authorities expected violence after last week's death of drug lord Arturo Beltran Levya. But nobody thought the victims would be family members or a Marine who died in the operation where a drug lord was also killed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ROMO (voice-over): It was a solemn and somber memorial for a soldier who gave his life for his country. Mexico was honoring Melquisedec Angulo, a Marine in the Mexican armed forces who died last week in a raid in central Mexico.

Angulo was killed in a shootout with members of a powerful drug cartel. The leader of the drug cartel, Arturo Beltran Leyva, his brother Hector, and five of their associates were also killed. Only seven hours after the fallen Marine had been laid to rest in an apparently act of retribution, gunmen attacked his home in the Mexican state of Tabasco.

Authorities say the hit men killed his mother and three other relatives. Another family member was seriously injured.

PRES. FILEPE CALDERON, MEXICO (through translator): This is a coward and despicable act. These reprehensible actions show how organized crime operates without regard to anything, killing innocent victims.

ROMO: For people in Mexico, this apparently act of retaliation is nothing new. Drug traffickers routinely kill police officers and government officials, especially those involved in anti-narcotic agencies. Many times, family members are caught in the crossfire, if not intentionally killed.

CALDERON: We will not be intimidated by unscrupulous criminals like the ones who have committed these atrocities. Those who act in this way only deserve to be repudiated by society and should pay for their crimes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMO: And Mexican media is reporting this afternoon that two suspected cartel members who allegedly participated in the attack against the family were captured last night, not too far from where the shooting took place. Police also seized three vehicles and several high-caliber weapons at the hotel where they were arrested.

HARRIS: Wow. So, Rafael, what do these murders say about President Calderon's war on drugs? How big of a setback is this?

ROMO: When he took office in December of 2006, he said, "I am not going to look the other way. I am going to fight these drug cartels." And he said from the beginning, it's going to be bloody, it's going to be dangerous for the entire country. But this is a dirty job and somebody has to do it.

HARRIS: Yes. It's turned out to be prophetic.

Rafael, appreciate it. Thank you.

ROMO: Sure.

HARRIS: Still to come -- snow, sleet, freezing rain. Just in time for Christmas. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: So, who's been buying what for Christmas? And are retailers happy about the numbers?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Let's get you caught up now on our top stories.

A sentence has just been handed down in the Balloon Boy case. The boy's father, Richard Heene, getting 90 days in jail and four years probation. In court, Heene apologized to lying to authorities and telling them that his son had taken off in a homemade balloon. His wife's sentencing is under way right now.

U.S. investigators are headed to Kingston, Jamaica, where an American Airlines jet skidded off the runway, injuring dozens of people yesterday. The 737 was landing in bad weather.

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

Thousands of BlackBerry users finally have access to e-mail and Internet after a massive outage. Were you impacted by this?

Well, the outage lasted most of the night. The company estimates 100 percent of its customers in the United States and Canada were affected. This is the second outage in less than a week.

All right. The rush is on. Tomorrow is the last shopping day before Christmas. As of Monday, 40 percent of us still had not crossed everything off our lists.

Susan Lisovicz is at the New York Stock Exchange with details.

So, Susan, folks are, as usual, waiting until the last minute. And what are folks buying this year?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you're going to like this, Tony. Electronics.

HARRIS: Oh, yes.

LISOVICZ: And probably, you are among them doing the shopping.

HARRIS: Tell me about it. Oh, yes.

LISOVICZ: Topping toys even this year. This is from America's Research Group.

It says 34 percent of us are buying electronics, compared to 28 percent buying toys. After that comes kids' clothes, women's clothes, men's clothes.

One of the reasons why we're seeing electronic top toys is that, you know, they're cheap. Prices of a flat-panel TV, so low now that they're a mass product. We're seeing them for under $500. Also Blu- ray DVD players can be found for under 100 bucks.

HARRIS: Wow.

LISOVICZ: Wal-Mart announced today that some of its after- Christmas sales, a lot of them in the electronics area. You get a $50 gift card if you buy an Xbox and an eMachine Netbook goes for under $230.

HARRIS: That's crazy. That's crazy good. Maybe I did my shopping a little early here.

LISOVICZ: You're going to add some names.

HARRIS: Yes, add some names. No, just add more gifts for the kids.

LISOVICZ: Tony Harris, Tony Harris, Tony Harris.

HARRIS: There you go.

LISOVICZ: One for you and one for me.

HARRIS: And one for you.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

HARRIS: Appreciate it. Thank you, Susan.

And, as always, CNN is your source for the latest financial news. If you want the latest information, terrific analysis, just head on over to CNNMoney.com.

You know, there is still some concern that a double-dip recession could ruin any signs of recovery we're seeing right now. But a member of the Obama administration is trying to ease those fears by putting his mouth where your money is.

Christine Romans joins us live from New York now.

Christine, good to see you again.

Boy, we've got the money players today.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi.

HARRIS: Some bold words from the Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, huh?

ROMANS: He's pretty much making a vow that there won't be a second-wave financial crisis. The battle days of last fall when we were worried about the banking system going down, he says there won't be a second wave to that, and that he, at the Treasury, and the government's going to make sure that simply just doesn't happen again.

He was speaking to NPR yesterday. He talked to "GMA," "Good Morning America," with George Stephanopoulos early today.

I mean, he's out there saying that the economy is stabilizing. In fact, growing. And as Susan mentioned, that we could have jobs growth next year. He quoted economists, because that's really the conventional wisdom, that at some point next year, you will start to actually be creating jobs.

This is what he said, his pledge, his vow about the second wave of the crisis. He said, "We cannot afford to let the country live again with the risk that we're going to have another series of events like we had last year." So he is pretty much saying that's the pledge there, and he's guaranteeing it.

You know, Tony, there's a lot of risks. There's a lot of doomsday scenarios that people are still talking about. But others are saying, look, this thing is going to gain some momentum, this economy. The second quarter, we saw just barely a negative growth.

HARRIS: Yes.

ROMANS: You know, third quarter we saw 2.2 percent. The economy actually grew. Fourth quarter, you know, fourth quarter might be better than that, many are saying, but it's fragile. All these gains still are fragile, and we won't know for sure until we see how next year plays out.

HARRIS: And we're starting to see housing...

ROMANS: The Treasury secretary...

HARRIS: Yes, we're starting to see housing bounce back a little bit; right?

ROMANS: With a lot of government support, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes.

ROMANS: With billions of dollars of taxpayer money supporting housing. You know, home credits.

HARRIS: Right. Right. Right.

ROMANS: We're seeing people -- we're seeing one in 10 Americans is receiving food stamps, Tony...

HARRIS: Wow.

ROMANS: ... is being fed by the American government. So we still have a fragile situation here. Look into 2010 as the year of recovery and repair. And the Treasury secretary saying that that seems to be the direction he's looking into. He does not see a repeat of the financial crisis we had last fall.

HARRIS: All right, Christine. Appreciate it. Thank you.

ROMANS: Sure. HARRIS: And today's "Giving in Focus" story is tied to the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. One of the day's faces of the story is Trakr, a German Shepherd who located the last survivor under 30 feet of rubble. Trakr died this year, but his story lives on.

The story from CNN's photojournalist Bethany swain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMES SYMINGTON, TRAKR'S HANDLER: We arrived at Ground Zero within 14 hours of the towers collapsing. K-9 resources were in short supply, and we immediately began searching for survivors.

Sometime late on the morning of September 12th, Trakr got a hit, indicating that somebody alive was buried beneath the surface. These rescue workers later pulled a woman, the last survivor, from the rubble. And I'm extremely proud of the role that Trakr played in her recovery.

Trakr initially was trained as a police dog, trained to find live people, evidence and drugs. He helped locate hundreds of people, recovered over $1 million worth of stolen goods. But the culmination of his amazing career was finding the last survivor at Ground Zero.

When I first met Trakr, when we first started working together, cloning wasn't even an option. So it wasn't even a consideration until one day I happened to see a TV report and they're talking about a cloning contest.

Fireworks International was the company that was responsible for the pony contest. In June, I received not, one but five amazing replicas of Trakr.

Come! Good boys!

I tried to choose a name to pay tribute who Trakr was. There was Trust, who is very focused; Solace, who's extremely curious. There's Valor, who is extremely courageous. Prodigy, who is the problem solver, extremely intelligent. And there's Deja Vu, who's the -- he's the lover of the group.

All extraordinary dogs.

Meeting those puppies for the first time was amazing. It was moving, but it was also bittersweet, because, sadly, Trakr passed away in April, peacefully at her home at the age of 16.

I respect the clonings now for everyone.

Let's go!

I train, foster and rescue dogs, and I strongly encourage anybody who can provide a good home for a dog to go out and adopt a dog from a shelter or a rescue group.

This is Trust. He's the oldest.

Team Trakr is not about holding on to the past. It's about continuing a legacy.

I've launched the Team Trakr Foundation -- come. Good boy. Sit -- an international not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing unique canine search and rescue groups to the United States around the world. In essence, canine teams without borders.

The launching of the Team Trakr Foundation is simply my way of continuing an extraordinary journey of one remarkable dog, and I owe Trakr that. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about Trakr, but I don't know if the puppies contribute to that or not. I just think he always had and always will have a special place in my heart. And these puppies, they're certainly going to complement that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Boy. Tune in to CNN's hour-long special "GIVING IN FOCUS." On Christmas Day at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. You can also catch an encore presentation on December 26th at 3:00 p.m.

Could it be a major shift in the war on terrorists? A new battleground in the fight against the Taliban.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: You know what's coming, right? If there is anything big better than being home for the holidays, it is being home from a war zone for the holidays. Santa Claus, a moment ago, helping to welcome back 170 members of Indian's National Guard. These hugs, I just want to linger on these pictures here. These hugs a long time coming. The unit has been in Iraq for a year. We got a few more here? Let me know when we get close here to running out of video. This is good stuff. OK, we're about to run out.

As for the war in Afghanistan, it appears most of you are against it. A new/opinion research poll finds 55 percent of Americans oppose the war. Forty-three percent favor it. Interestingly, 59 percent of respondents say they support President Obama's decision to send more troops over there. Thirty-nine percent oppose that decision.

A new front is opening up in the war against al-Qaeda. Yemeni sources confirm the U.S. military issues in drones to fight the terrorists groups in Yemen. Paula Newton reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the latest al-Qaeda battleground. Yemen. The terrain as wild and unforgiving as Afghanistan and a weak government is fighting rebel movements in both the north and the south. U.S. and U.N. officials say al-Qaeda is exploiting what could be a growing sanctuary for terror training and operations.

Air strikes reported on terror strongholds in recent days come as little surprise, but some media outlets like Iran's press TV are portraying the air strikes against al-Qaeda in the south as American led.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thousands of civilians have been killed in U.S. air strike.

NEWTON: It was the same on the Russia Today Network when it described strikes against separatist rebels in the north.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now the rebels say the U.S. has joined the Israelis.

NEWTON: Other rebel sources told journalists the Saudi Air Force flying American-made planes were responsible for some of the attacks. While CNN cannot independently verify any of those claims, a Yemeni government source who has been briefed on the matter tells CNN American drones have been key in providing intelligence for air strikes against al-Qaeda. Some U.S. Senators say they must do all they can to deprive al-Qaeda of a safe haven.

SEN. BEN CARDIN (D), MARYLAND: We have limited options at this point. We should go after them in Yemen. It means we should make sure that they cannot have safe havens in Yemen.

NEWTON: And yet Yemen, a poor, struggling nation, with a long porous border with Saudi Arabia and a short distance to Somalia could become a hub for extremists to plan and launch attacks. Even U.N. officials concede the U.S. and its allies may have little choice but to go after al-Qaeda in Yemen so it can continue to keep the terrorist organization on the run.

RICHARD BARRETT, U.N. AL QAEDA & TALIBAN MONITORING TEAM: We're not going to eliminate al-Qaeda, just through killing people and finding them in these difficult areas of the world, but I think that there has been great strides made in reducing the appeal of al- Qaeda and forcing them into these sort of more limited areas of operation.

NEWTON: U.N. and U.S. officials just back from Yemen agree, in the year to come, this vulnerable country will continue to be a challenging front line in the battle with al-Qaeda. Paula Newton, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: The Mojave Desert in the center of a political dust storm.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Call it a clash of the environmentalists. Tension is growing between conservationists and renewable energy developers. This had better be good. Alison Kosik has our "energy fix" from New York. And Alison, here's where I'm a little confused, aren't they usually on the same side? ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They really are, but this time they're choosing opposing sides, Tony, and the conflict is really heating up in California right now. Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation this week to make 1 million acres in California's Mojave Desert off-limits to development and that's to preserve their natural beauty.

You can see the proposed monument area right here in red. But here's the catch, developers were targeting that land for large solar power farms. Senator Feinstein released a statement saying conservation and renewable energy development can and must co-exist in the California Desert, and this legislation strikes a careful balance between these sometimes competing concerns.

Now, although it prohibits energy development within a specific area, it would allow faster and cheaper development of private and other public lands in the desert -- Tony.

HARRIS: So, Alison, what's the impact of this? Does this complicate renewable energy efforts in California thinking there are jobs probably at stake here, green jobs?

KOSIK: Yes, and you're right, and Governor Schwarzenegger's office is chiming in about this, saying that it's concerned this will chill investment in the desert and make it harder to build on what it calls some of the best solar fields in the world. There's already evidence that this is happening. Solar developers have postponed several proposals for this desert land, and a few projects have been dropped altogether. But the governor's office said it's still confident California will be able to meet its goal of getting one-third of its electricity from renewable resources by the year 2020.

Still of course, there's a lingering question whether it's all going to be produced in California. Some analysts say tough land- protection laws could end up pushing solar development over the border into Nevada or Arizona.

Tony, I know you want to read more on the energy stories, go ahead and check out cnnmoney.com and follow us on Twitter.

HARRIS: OK, I will do that, Alison. I appreciate it, thank you.

KOSIK: OK.

HARRIS: Let's get to our top stories now.

The Senate healthcare bill faces one last procedural hurdle this afternoon, that's expected to clear the way for a final vote at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, Christmas eve. The Senate bill would then have to be merged with the House version.

Sentences have just been handed down in the balloon boy hoax. The boy's father, Richard Heene, getting 90 days in jail, while his wife, Mayumi, got 20 days. Both will serve 4 years probation for the phony police report.

We are waiting to hear from the Brazilian relatives of 9-year- old Sean Goldman. Earlier today, their lawyer said they want to appeal a ruling that gives custody back to Sean's American father. David Goldman has been fighting to get his son back for five years now.

Lobbyist spending, well, record amounts despite this bad economy. It's time for us to track the money.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, you know, they spend big money to influence Congress and the federal government, and lobbyists are having a banner year, in spite of the recession. They're on pace to shatter the records set -- wait for it -- yes, last year. The story now from CNN's Lisa Sylvester.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Recession? What recession? Certainly not for the lobbyists on Capitol Hill. The lawyers and representatives of special interest groups are having a banner year, according to the nonpartisan center for responsive politics.

DAVE LEVINTHAL, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: Despite the recession, despite all the economic turmoil, lobbyists and the clients of lobbyists are on pace to spend a record amount of money in 2009, breaking even the high-water mark that they set in 2008. It's probably going to be over $3.3 billion, with a "b," that was the number set last year.

SYLVESTER: Driving the lobbying boom is the massive health care bill being debated in Congress. Leventhal says in the only first nine months of this year, Pharma, the lobbying arm for the pharmaceutical industry, has spent $20 million on lobbying. Individual drug companies added even more. Pfizer, more than $60 million. Eli Lilly topping $9 million, Glaxosmithkline, a little over $6 million and Johnson & Johnson more than $4 million.

Spending to get their message across seems to have worked with the pharmaceutical industry, which recently managed to defeat a Congressional amendment that would have allowed the reimportation of less expensive prescription drugs from countries like Canada.

Pharma argued that there was no way to guarantee the safety of those drugs. But health compare is only one of the major issues that Congress has taken up. The Stimulus Bill, proposed new financial regulations and energy reform have also brought out the lobbyists. The gas and oil industry, for example, has spent more than $120 million, the first nine months of this year.

MARIANNE LAVELLE, CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY: The mystery is really making its voice heard. We've looked at the lobbying on this, and there are about 2,800 lobbyists working on climate change on the hill.

SYLVESTER: The group with the deepest pockets remains, though, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, with so far this year has spent more than $65 million on lobbying, three times more than anyone else.

(on-camera): On the health care bill, it's not just drug companies and insurance companies, who you might expect, that have hired the big lobbying guns, but groups like the American Beverage Association are also jumping in. The organization is actively lobbying to try to keep a soda tax out of the final bill.

Lisa Sylvester, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: It is the end of the year, that means it's time to look back on some of your favorite headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK, with the countdown to Christmas under way, cnn.com is highlighting some popular videos all about the holidays. Josh, is this good? You got some good stuff for us?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I always look for fun stuff to lighten it up.

HARRIS: All right, good, good.

LEVS: Let me just show you, first of all, where I'm grabbing it from. This is cnn.com right here and if you scroll down, you'll see editors' picks and what you're seeing are some of the popular videos and they had the section called "Year-End Reviews" and stuff for the holidays. I was looking at what was really popular. One of them is popular is this, that's nice, it's called "Behind the scenes at the "Nutcracker", which is really a popular performance. Ballet moms get feedback. Let's take a look at this.

HARRIS: All right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JODY JAMERSON, STARS IN THE NUTCRACKER: Remembering the steps. That's what I was nervous about. But once I start doing it, it's also, like, rushing back to me, that I just forget and just do it. When I get called up for the curtain call, I feel really small, but I feel like I have a big part. And I don't worry about, like, what's going on. I'm performing in front of a million people, just makes me feel so good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: That's a sweet feature. It was put together by our producer, cnn.com, Joe Parker. And, Tony, speaking of the "Nutcracker" I have surprise for you.

HARRIS: I am not surprised. I'm not surprised.

LEVS: He knew we were going to go after this. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Twinkle Toes, Tony "twinkle toes" Harris. Take a look. Hold on, the good steps are coming out. There you go.

HARRIS: Please be good. Please be good.

LEVS: Watch the big finish. Watch the big finish. Here it comes. Shazam! Tony's got the moves. We even made it bigger! Wait, we got a version here that makes it even bigger.

HARRIS: I'm sweating. I can't believe it. I'm sweating.

LEVS: Hey, guys to go to the next video. I want you to see where we cued up as much as we could. There you go. There you go. All Mr. Tony Harris. You know J.T. might have brought sexy back. I think Tony is bringing suave back, America. Here it goes. What was the words for that, Tony, what was that in ballet language? What did you do for us?

HARRIS: I'm sweating!

LEVS: It was so beautiful. I'm so happy right now. Tony Harris was invited to be a celebrity who performed in one of the performances locally, Tony, right?

HARRIS: Josh, I want to see you in my office after.

LEVS: It's so worth it! Beautiful job. You should feel very proud. America's applauding for you right now.

HARRIS: I am moving on.

LEVS: We're going to post it. It will be up on the blog at cnn.com.

HARRIS: God, I'm sweating.

It's the season to give. We wanted to know what your best gift ever was. The best gift you've ever received. I got to get through this. That's the question on our blog.

Megan wrote, Josh, I want to see you. My little pony was always my favorite gift and honestly still would be. Not one of those new ones, though. At this point, awesome socks are pretty high up there, but that was the worst gift when I was a kid.

I'm with you on that, Megan. Denise said, one year when I was about 8, I got what I asked for, a pogo-stick. When I walked out and saw it there, it was the best day of my life. I jumped on the pogo- stick until the rubber came off of the bottom and the foot peg, and it squeaked horribly with every step.

And Holly writes, the best gift ever was delivered almost six years ago on Christmas eve, our daughter Riley, it was definitely a memorable Christmas, one spent in the operating room with holiday music playing in the background. The doctor with huge ornaments, his earrings! And a holiday dinner of yummy hospital food.

We still want to hear from you. Just go to cnn.com/tony.

Still to come -- no martinis, shaken or stirred. No babes, and a used Toyota Camry instead of an Aston -- I can't get out of this segment, can I? We'll be back in a moment. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The Afghan James Bond, no martini, no girl, no Aston Martin, but he has a role to play in the country's unification. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports from Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The terrorists have stolen an experimental nuclear device.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): And now they want to blow up Kabul. Only one man can save the day. If you haven't guessed by now, it's the Afghan James Bond, called Secret Agent Nijat, the savior, a fictional hero in a country where violence is all too real. His identity is never revealed on screen, until now. Afghanistan's 007 is played by a man called Qaseem Elmi.

QASEEM ELMI, PLAYS "NIJAT": He has to make sure that that bomb, that nuclear bomb, doesn't explode.

PLEITGEN: Instead of an Aston Martin, he drives a used Toyota Camry.

ELMI: What's happening, man?

PLEITGEN: That's not the only difference. This is not a Hollywood James Bond, the screenwriter says, there's no alcohol and no love story. It's an Afghan James Bond. It's a low-budget movie. Production costs, $2,500. None of the cast has ever acted before. And the special effects, well, let's say they had to improvise.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, you've got a fire cart behind the stack of colored paint. A little dish taped to his chest.

WALIED OSMAN, PRODUCER: We couldn't get rid of the smoke bomb, so instead we had all the guards smoking cigarettes.

PLEITGEN: What started as a small project has gained momentum. The filmmakers say they want to take the movie to international film festivals. It has an important message. Set in a stable and prosperous Afghanistan of the future, Secret Agent Nijat is only shown in shadows, so in a war-torn ethnically divided country, all Afghans can rally behind their hero.

ELMI: And anyone could be a James bond, could be working in such an efficient way, and could have the same kind of love for the country. PLEITGEN: In the end, Nijat single handedly defeats the bad guys and disarms the nukes.

OSMAN: It's a fantasy that one man, our James Bond, can take care of, you know, the problem and save -- save Afghanistan from another, you know, disaster.

PLEITGEN: So Afghanistan's first 007 has to do more than just save his country. He must try and unite its people as well. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Kabul. >

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: We are "pushing forward" with the next hour of "CNN Newsroom" with that man, Richard Lui.