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American Morning
Heat Wave for the Ages; Independents Move Right; Venus Williams Talks Career; Gaga Giving Back; Life after Foster Care; Get a Job or your Money Back; President Obama Versus Arizona
Aired July 07, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. It's 8:00 here in New York on this Wednesday. Another scorcher, July 7th. I'm Kiran Chetry.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. I'm John Roberts. Thanks so much for being with us today.
We got a lot to talk about this morning. Let's get right to it.
A dangerous heat wave engulfing the northeast, sweltering triple- digit temperatures, shattering records from New York to Virginia. And the heat will not be letting up any time soon.
CHETRY: It's a frightening fall. Someone trying to reach out and catch a foul ball, the Texas Rangers game. Well, he ends up falling 30 feet from the second deck to the field-level seats. The reactions from the players -- there you see it. The fans, even umpire who saw it and heard it says it all. Incredibly, though, the man escaped without serious injuries.
ROBERTS: And go directly to jail for 90 days. That's what Lindsay Lohan got. She didn't take it well -- the actress sobbing in court while hearing the news that she is doing time. How much of that 90 days, though, she'll do, remains to be seen.
CHETRY: Well, it's a heat wave for the history books and it's hanging dangerously over the northeast for a third straight day, sizzling triple-digit temperatures shattering records in several states yesterday. And today, this heat wave continues.
ROBERTS: It was 103 degrees in Central Park yesterday. Record temperatures were also recorded in Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, a 92-year-old woman was discovered dead in her apartment. She did not have any air conditioning.
Well, for the latest forecast and when this heat wave is going to end, Rob Marciano is in the extreme weather center.
And "extreme" is the word of the day, Rob. No question about it.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, for sure, John. You know, and some of the records that fell yesterday, my town, over 20 of them in some of the bigger towns and cities. Some of these records have been held for over a decade, including Baltimore 105, to Atlantic City, 102.
And, again, these are temperatures that are measured in the shade and they don't include humidity. So, what it feels like in the sun is a lot hotter than that. Heat index today will again be between 100 to 105. Anywhere from Connecticut down through the mid-Atlantic, we have heat advisories and heat warnings in effect. Philadelphia, you are going to be under the gun again today.
We will actually see temperatures creep maybe moderate a couple of degrees in New York City. It might only get to, say, 99 or 100. But a bit more of a southerly component that will bring in humidity levels just a little bit higher and that will make it feel about as hot as it was yesterday. So, not a lot of relief today.
These are the records and the highs in the forecast: 101 expected in Philadelphia, the record high is 98; 101 expected in D.C., the record is 99. And the forecast for Richmond, Virginia, is 102 degrees.
So, another day of triple digit heat. We will start to see some moderation as we go on through time. But, in the meantime, we are starting to see this expand as well. Detroit, back to Ohio River Valley, and some of this heat is beginning to sneak down to the south, quite frankly, where it should be.
This is typically the hottest time of year, next couple of weeks. And we are certain to be feeling it after one of the coldest and snowiest winters that we've seen in quite a while. So, 2010 certainly is shaping up to be a year of extremes.
John and Kiran, back up to you.
ROBERTS: Stay inside where it's air-conditioned or very least, stay in the shade if you are outside. Rob, thanks.
MARCIANO: Yes, sir.
CHETRY: Well, meanwhile, this heat wave is testing the limits of the power grade in the northeast. As we know on, air conditioning is the place to be. Everyone is running it nonstop.
Well, New York, it will be near 100 degrees again today. And the power company is pleading with people to try to conserve energy any way they can.
On the phone with us right now is Michael Clendenin of Con Edison.
Thanks for joining us this morning.
MICHAEL CLENDENIN, SPOKESMAN, CON EDISON (via telephone): Hi. Good to be here. Thank you very much.
CHETRY: First of all, just give us the status update. How are things looking today? CLENDENIN: Well, we serve 3.2 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, and we have about 6,000 experiencing power outages right now. They are scattered throughout our service area.
We've done some voltage reductions in the neighborhoods where we are working on equipment. But it's the kind of thing we expect in heat waves like this. And we're working very hard to try to minimize the impact and prevent small problem from getting bigger.
CHETRY: And what are you asking people to do right now, to do their part, I guess, to make sure that we don't experience more widespread blackouts or brownouts?
CLENDENIN: We want people to just conserve as much as possible. We've been encouraging them to try to set their air conditioners at 78 degrees. Not run it, obviously, when they're not home. Set it to a timer so it only goes on when you get home.
Other things, too, you know, just general conservation tips and ways to keep your home cool, like pulling the blinds and shades down, and not running washers and dryers and things like that until nighttime. Those of appliances generate a lot of heat.
You know, our customers have been doing -- we think a great job of that, too. And we expect it to reach an all-time peak yesterday and we didn't. And we think our customers deserve a fair share of credit for that.
CHETRY: So, do you think that you guys dodge a bullet in terms of having to deal with any widespread outages? Today, it's supposed to be cooler obviously. We broke a record yesterday, 101 in Central Park.
CLENDENIN: Yes. Well, so far, I'd say we dodged major bullets. But I think there's still a big shoot-out going on. OK?
CHETRY: No, I understand. I mean, look, we've gone through three major blackouts in the New York City area in the last 50 years. And, of course, we remember what happened back four years ago, Long Island City, tens of thousands of people in Queens also left without power for more than a week.
Are we able to test this surge in demand? I mean, do we know that the power system can handle it?
CLENDENIN: Well, so far we don't have the kind of problems in a local network like we did four years ago in Long Island City. We are staying on top of things. We are -- any equipment problems come up, we're getting on top of them right away to try to repair them and get them back in service.
So, so far, we are handling it. It is a very, very tough challenge. Our men and women are working around the clock. And we know we got another tough day ahead of us today. That's for sure.
CHETRY: All right. Well, we know people are going to be running the A.C., but if you can turn off other nonessential appliances and try to wait on the dish washing and washing of dishes until the evening hours, that's -- that's the best you can do right now.
CLENDENIN: Absolutely. Thank you. The thing is, again, not use anything you don't absolutely need. And, you know, that helps you and helps your wallet certainly. And it helps your neighbor because it will help protect the grid.
CHETRY: Good advice.
Michael Clendenin, spokesperson for Con Edison this morning -- thanks so much.
CLENDENIN: OK. Thank you.
ROBERTS: You know, I was walking around the streets of New York yesterday, there are several stores that have their doors open as you walk along. It's 100 degrees on the sidewalk and you feel that cold blast of air.
And, of course, it's to entice people to come into the store. But do you think that, you know, environmentally, it makes sense to do that? No. Shut the doors. Yes.
New this morning: emergency officials resuming the search this morning for a missing 13-year-old boy who was pulled into a creek after dangerous flash flooding in Oklahoma City. They say several people were left stranded in their cars. Others in a mobile home had to be rescued.
And the high winds forced Peter Frampton and the band, yes, to cancel a concert in the town of El Reno, just west of Oklahoma City. The giant tent for the concert collapsed at the Lucky Star Casino. Two workers were hurt in that. And, of course, obviously, they're going to have to reschedule that concert.
And it's LeBron TV. LeBron James, the NBA's prize free agent says he's going to announce the team that he's signing with tomorrow night during a live one-hour TV event on ESPN. LeBron's people reportedly wanted to sell ad time for the special. Before you say it's a money grab, they're going to donate the proceeds to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
CHETRY: Good idea.
Well, there are new polls out showing that independent voters are leaning decisively towards Republicans in this year's midterm elections -- in some cases, by a 12-point margin. We're going to be joined by our own independent analyst, John Avlon, to talk about whether or not Democrats need to be worried about these new numbers.
Eight minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Independent voters can play a critical role in the midterm elections and that may be bad news for the Democrats.
CHETRY: Yes, look at the polling. There's a new Gallup Poll out showing that independents prefer Republican candidates by a 12-point margin, 46 percent to 34 percent.
So, how much could independents impact -- independents impact the fall elections?
We have CNN's contributor and independent analyst John Avlon joining us this morning.
Thanks for being here.
JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning.
CHETRY: When you look at this 12-point margin and you see them favoring Republicans over Democrats -- is it because we're in a bad economic time right now and you're just sort of blaming the incumbent? Or are Democrats doing something that is particularly bothersome to independent?
AVLON: It's a great question. It's a little bit of both. Independent voters traditionally have been deficit hawks since the days of Ross Perot and they're angry about the spending. They're concerned about the debt and deficit.
But also, independent voters tend to like divided government. They think whenever there's unified controlled government, one party controlling the White House and Congress, it leads ideological arrogance and legislative overreach. That's in part what they're reacting to. They like the checks and balances of divided government.
But if there's one issue, it's spending. And that's going to be tough for Democrats to regain their credibility with independents.
ROBERTS: A handful of governors running as independents.
AVLON: Yes.
ROBERTS: Probably the one who is faring best as independent is Charlie Crist in Florida -- actually doing very well.
AVLON: He's in first place now since declaring his independence. He's gotten into the poll position down there in Florida. We've also got four governors, independents running for governor along the east coast, very competitive candidates in Maine and in Rhode Island with Lincoln Chafee.
So, it's part of a larger trend. Remember, independents are the largest and fastest growing segment of the electorate.
CHETRY: Yes.
AVLON: It's not Democrats or Republicans.
ROBERTS: They're certainly important. CHETRY: No, but it's important to remember that the reason he had to go independent is because he was sort of, you know -- rhinoed out of the GOP, I mean, if will you, and he was facing opposition from somebody who was far more conservative.
AVLON: That's exactly right. And, look, in a close partisan primary, the more centrist candidates always going to be on the losing end. But they are generally going to be more competitive when it comes to the general election.
And the rise of independents is in reaction to the polarization of the two parties. That's part of the dynamic here. And if you really look, if you drill down this poll, one of the really interesting things you see, too, it's not just general. If you look at the 60 most competitive House seats that's controlled by Democrats, independents are leaning to Republicans by a 50 percent to 29 percent margin.
ROBERTS: So, for people -- so, for people, like Harry Reid in Nevada, who are trying to get re-elected using independents, hoping that they're going to siphon votes away from Republicans, do you need to sit back after looking at this polling and say, whoa, time to change strategy?
AVLON: Not. Harry Reid's case, he got a gift. Remember, extremes are always their own sides, ultimately, their worst enemy. And by running against Sharron Angle, very popular among the tea party crowd, but has opinions which might not translate so well to centrist and independent voters. That puts Harry Reid, who's in a very vulnerable position, all of a sudden, looking stronger and stronger.
But in House seats, and all those swing House seats, Democrats should be afraid. They should be very concerned. This is a wakeup call. Independents are swaying against them.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: So, again, all politics is local.
AVLON: All politics is ultimately local.
CHETRY: It is interesting, though, because when you drill down a little bit more in our own polling at CNN, it shows that even though people are upset about the economy right now, they actually blame Republicans more for it. When you take a look the poll: who's more responsible for current economic problems? Republicans 41 percent; Democrats, 28 percent; and both, 26 percent.
So when it comes to the economy -- I know you said that independents don't like the spending -- but they're almost saying it was the prior administrations that got us into this.
AVLON: This is one of the most fascinating findings because it really is the one glimmer of hope for Democrats. You got independents angry at both parties. But when it comes to economy, that CNN poll shows that independents blame Republicans more than Democrats. So, it's a slight silver lining that may be Democrats can try to use to try to turn this tide. But it's a -- it's a serious swing.
ROBERTS: So, when it comes to the actual election, midterm election, always down over presidential here, there's going to be intensity on both Democratic and the Republican side to vote for their candidates. Do independents share that same intensity? Or may we see them not come out in numbers that they would typically come out even in a midterm year?
AVLON: Well, as you said, independents are typically low turnout, high intensity elections. But this year, the intensity is not only on the Republican side but also among independents who are swinging towards Republicans. Independents -- registered independents who are frustrated with President Obama while all of a sudden feel a decisive shift towards the Republicans. The Democrats have to make up that intensity gap.
And there's larger dynamic here as well. In the last 70 years, there only have been two cycles where the party out of power didn't make significant gains. So, Americans like checks and balances. The winds are at the Republicans' backs here.
CHETRY: All right. And it may be all up to the independents.
AVLON: It is.
CHETRY: All right. Thanks so much. John Avlon, always great to see you.
ROBERTS: Good to see you this morning, John.
We're going to continue on our "Big Stars, Big Giving" series today. Alina Cho catches up with somebody who's relatively a new star but has already decided that she is going to give back. Alina Cho with Lady Gaga coming up in just a few minutes.
Fifteen minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Eighteen minutes after the hour. Christine Romans "Minding Your Business" this morning. How are you?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I had a really interesting afternoon yesterday with a young woman named Venus Williams talking business with -- with a tennis star. She has a book she is pushing called "Come To Win" where she talked to a lot of different business leaders. Everyone from Jack Welch to Vera Wang to Jeff Drucker from all different kinds of industries, about this intersection between business and sports. And you know, I asked her about her own sort of diversified outlook. You know, she does fashion, she does still this, she is writing a book, tennis, all of this stuff. And I asked her you know, what is in it for her after tennis and when will that be. This is what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VENUS WILLIAMS, TENNIS PLAYER: Well, there's going to be a long life hopefully after tennis. And I -- I have loved tennis for so long and I still do and I will love it for a long time after. But I also want to do something that I love after tennis. And in the book, you will read that it says how my parents, they brought us up to be entrepreneurs. So it is really my upbringing of really wanting to have my own businesses and to have something that has impact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: She lives competition, fierce competition. She loves the battle. And this is someone who is looking -- she is only 30 years old. She is looking for what the years ahead are going to bring in terms of that competition and that battle. And will it be in business and how will she do it. You know, I asked her about Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova. Only three have ever won 5 Wimbledons. She did not make it last time. She was out this year. I asked her how that felt. She said, look, I lost the match. I lost. Failure. But that's what you take from sports and business. You take the failure. And you learn how to apply it for the next time so that you don't fail again. If you can't learn from failure, then you are not good in sports and you are not good in business or whatever it is in your work life that's so important.
CHETRY: Also, really not be afraid to be a risk taker either in either one of those. I mean, for people that want to start their own businesses, there is a lot of risks.
ROMANS: That is so funny that you say that. Because she said that if you are not failing, then you are not taking enough risks. And that's the way I feel when I walk off the court.
ROBERTS: So, what's her passion? What sort of businesses does she want to get involved?
ROMANS: She loves fashion design and interior design. You know, I asked her -- she has a team of adviser. She and her sister both do. But they are -- they seem to be -- I have interviewed both of them and they seem to be quite savvy about their name as a brand and how they can use that going forward. And other sports stars try to do that and can't do it well. Some do it very well. Tiger Woods, for example, until recently, have done that very, very well. But they are really looking to the future. They don't want to retire and then try to start in the business world because then you are just trying to play our name.
ROBERTS: Just get the ball rolling early.
ROMANS: So to speak, getting the ball rolling early, yes. Also, what I -- fascinating about her, she is pushing this book. Every answer she managed to bring it back to the book and put the name of the book in it which is classic. That's like your classic pushing. She's -- she savvy and she knows what she is doing.
CHETRY: Other question about that, are they sort of branching out on their own or are they coming together? Because people love the -- the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena.
ROMANS: Right. Both. They have managed to keep their own identity in business because she is doing a lot of these fashion stuff on her own and also interior design on her own. She went to school and she has got a degree in it now. She is doing that in Florida. But at the same time, they are also minority partners in the Miami Dolphins together as a team. They own a home together and they live together in Florida. You know, together in that real estate venture. They are together. But they also have very independent business ventures.
ROBERTS: But, she is not leaving tennis any time soon?
ROMANS: I don't think so. People keep speculating and she just kind of laughs and says oh no, I love this way too much. And I'm still good at it. That is what she said.
ROBERTS: She definitely is. Christine, thanks so much. You can see more of Christine's interview, by the way, with Venus Williams this weekend on "Your Money." Plus everything you need to know about your house, your job, your savings. "Your Money" airs Saturday 1:00 P.M. Eastern and Sunday 3:00 P.M. Eastern, only on CNN.
CHETRY: And here is somebody else who certainly knows how to turn things into a huge, huge marketing success. We are talking about Lady Gaga who has parlayed her singing into a huge, huge business. And she is giving back as well. She is going to be sitting down with our Alina Cho. We are going to see some of that coming up. Twenty- two minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: We are still talking about "Bad Romance."
ROBERTS: I thought that she was fascinating. Ellen Fisher.
CHETRY: It was a fascinating study about how love is also an addiction.
ROBERTS: Yes, very powerful one too.
CHETRY: Well, your top stories just a couple minutes away. First though, an "AM Original," something you will see only on "AMERICAN MORNING." In just two years, she has become a Grammy winning singer, with several number one singles. She has also become a fashion icon.
ROBERTS: But now Lady Gaga is teaming up with another famous face to spread awareness about AIDS. Alina Cho joins us now in part three of our series "Big Stars, Big Giving." Good morning to you.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys. You know, there is no denying that Lady Gaga is one of the biggest stars on the planet. She has that unique ability to influence her fans whom she calls little monsters through her music, her fashion choices, and yes, a philanthropic partnership with Mac cosmetics. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHO (voice-over): The paparazzi is gaga over Lady Gaga.
CHO (on camera): What do you say to your critics who say this is all about shock value?
LADY GAGA, SINGER-SONGWRITER: You are right.
CHO (voice-over): Gaga, as she likes to be called, is the master of performance art. A music and fashion phenomenon at age 24. Two Grammys, six number one hits, more than 15 million records sold. A bonafide talented. But this is what gets everyone's attention.
CHO (on camera): How do you even decide what to wear?
GAGA: For me, it is important to always keep that connection with my fans. So, no matter what I'm wearing, whether it is high fashion and it was on the runway last week or it is a leather jacket that I found at vintage shop, I need to create things and wear things that they can always replicate.
CHO: But the truth is that most people in the world can't do this. Right?
GAGA: That's not exactly true. The last thing you want to do as an artist is create something that feels like you can't touch it or you don't deserve it or I can't have that. My hair bow, you can make the hair bow for $2.
CHO (voice-over): And Gaga fans, she calls them little monsters, do try to replicate her look. Whether it is that bow made entirely of hair or this red latex Elizabethan dress which she wore to meet the queen. Lady Gaga's fashion choices always inspire. Even make headlines around the world.
CHO (on camera): And so what do you think the biggest misconception is about you?
GAGA: I don't feel like there is any misconceptions about me. I am whatever you perceive me to be.
CHO (voice-over): Today she has the house of gaga, advisors who consult with her on her look. And yet when asked who inspires her, she says her mother. But it is another mentor, Cyndi Lauper, who Gaga is teaming up with to promote AIDS awareness through sales of lipstick made by Mac Cosmetics.
CYNDI LAUPER, GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER: Does she do a little stuff like me and a little stuff like Madonna and a little stuff like David Bowie and a little bit of Elton John, that's what it is.
CHO: Gaga recently sang for free at this black-tie affair benefiting AMFAR, the foundation for AIDS research. Her outfit made of crushed pearls is meant to blend and be one with the piano. GAGA: It is not about money. It is not about prestige. It is not about class. It is about having an identity. And the trick is through the pop music, through makeup, through femininity, you sort of encourage young people no matter who you are, and where you come from, harness your identity.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Listen, you can't say she is not passionate. And if there was any doubt about Lady Gaga's influence, listen to this. Just this week she became the first living person on the planet to get 11 million fans on Facebook. That even beats President Obama who has 9.9 million fans. Also the Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper From Our Lips campaign with Mac Cosmetics has been the most successful in the company's history. It is unbelievable, really. They have sold $5 million worth of lipsticks. All of that money goes towards AIDS research. So, you know, it is a great thing at 24 for her to think about philanthropy is really incredible because she has so much money, it is great that she is giving back, you know, a little bit.
CHETRY: It is cool. You said living fan because Michael Jackson --
CHO: Michael Jackson has the most at 14 million. That's right.
CHETRY: Love to come anywhere near his success.
CHO: That is right. She is creeping closer at 11 million.
ROBERTS: It is great to see her getting involved in philanthropy. Because it does tend to be, as long as the money is coming in, a lifelong pursuit.
CHO: It certainly is. And you know what, I think, a lot of people sort of think about it later on in life and sort of - they have that epiphany where they think I have to give back because I reached a certain point in my career. It is great that she is doing it at 24.
CHETRY: Good for her. Keep those crazy outfits coming. She has never answered how she figures out what to wear every day.
CHO: She has plenty of advisers.
CHETRY: Thanks, Alina.
ROBERTS: All right. Crossing the half hour now, that means it is time for this morning's top stories. Really feeling the heat across the Northeast today. The heat wave is one for the ages. Featuring triple digit temperatures. Shattering records from New York to Virginia. And relief, not on the horizon. At least not any time soon. Our Rob Marciano tracking this dangerous system in the extreme weather center for us today.
CHETRY: Waiting for a verdict on climate-gate. An independent report is due out this morning. It examined whether scientists were hiding and manipulating data on climate change. You may remember all of it started after emails from a leading climate research unit in England were hacked and leaked online. Back in April, a separate independent panel found the scientists were just, quote, "disorganized."
ROBERTS: And this just in. Former Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega was sentenced to seven years in jail by a French Court. The charges, money laundering. He was also fined $2.7 million, the amount he is accused of laundering through French banks. He will be behind bars until he is 83-years-old.
CHETRY: And a developing story this morning, President Obama versus the state of Arizona, the administration taking a bold political stand in a big political year with the midterm elections coming up. It is suing the state over the new very tough and very controversial immigration law.
The court filing basically accuses Arizona of overstepping the constitution, writing, quote, "A state may not establish its own immigration policy or enforce state laws in a manner that interferes with the federal immigration laws." Our Suzanne Malveaux has the fallout live from the White House this morning. They are gearing up for a fight.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: They certainly are, Kiran. I want to apologize for the background noise you may be hearing to make it difficult to hear us. There is a lot of construction going on here at the White House.
Clearly, there is a battle that's moving forward. One of the things behind the scenes that's happening is an incredible pressure on the president to push forward on comprehensive immigration reform to do something along those lines.
He had promised it would happen in the first year or so. He's not been able to deliver on that promise. There are a lot of Hispanic groups looking to the president and say which side are you on. Are you on the right side of this issue? Here's how president Obama explains it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: States like Arizona decided to take matters into their own hands. Given the levels of frustration across the country, this is understandable. But it is also ill-conceived.
And it is not just that the law Arizona passed is divisive, although it has fanned the flames of an already contentious debate. Laws like Arizona put huge pressures on local law enforcement to enforce rules that ultimately are unenforceable. It puts pressure on already hard-strapped state and local budgets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Kiran, the Arizona governor, Jan Brewer, she was here at the White House before she visited with President Obama. They were trying to figure out a way to move forward here after a lot of comments back and forth over this new Arizona law.
And one of the things that she said is that she was pleased she was getting a reassurance from the president that White House officials will be visiting Arizona, trying to figure out a way to help secure the border. We saw that the Homeland Secretary Security Janet Napolitano went to Arizona. So there has been a lot of discussion with the Arizona governor.
But it has been inadequate in her view, and she put out this statement regarding the lawsuit, saying that "It is wrong that our own federal government is suing the people of Arizona for helping them enforce federal immigration law as a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement.
Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice."
It should be noted that what the president and federal government are saying is that this is not an issue of civil rights, a violation of civil rights, but they say this is about states' rights, its responsibilities versus that of the federal government.
And they say border security ultimately is up to the federal government. It cannot be usurped by the state.
CHETRY: Arizona planning to fight back, of course, and it could go all the way to the Supreme Court. Suzanne Malveaux for us this morning. Thanks so much.
Still ahead, we are going to be talking to the author of a fascinating study. It is a little bit controversial. An article in "New York" magazine and says all joy, no fun. It is the premise that parents, people that have kids, are less happy than their childless peers. Surprise you?
ROBERTS: Considering that most people say, oh, the kids bring such joy into my life, that's a strange find.
CHETRY: We are going to explore some of the reasons and theories behind that when Jennifer Senior from New York Magazine joins us. It's 34 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: If have you kids, then you undoubtedly have experienced the 4:00 a.m. diaper changes, being up in the middle of the night, doing everything for the terrible two little beings that don't seem to really appreciate it. Well, how about the embarrassing public temper tantrums?
Whatever happened to the joy of parenthood? Is it a myth? A "New York" magazine article suggests that children may bring you join but actually make you less happy.
The author of the article is Jennifer Senior. She is a contributing editor at the "New York" magazine and joins thus morning. Thanks for being with us.
JENNIFER SENIOR, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Sure.
CHETRY: It certainly seems to fly in the face -- the premise, and a lot -- you talk about how study after study has shown when you talk about happiness, people who have children are in study after study found to be less happy than their childless peer.
SENIOR: And it's the deepest violation of a paper's intuition. I don't know if you remember this part of my story, the fellow who wrote the book "Stumbling on Happiness," a Harvard psychologist, told me when he goes on a lecture circuit and talks to people about this, when he mentions it, and he always mentions it briefly, they always argue with him.
It is this -- it brings out this violent outpouring of suspicion and skepticism. No one can believe it is true, or if they believe it's true, they say it is not true of me. It is true of other people.
CHETRY: But the interesting thing is that it seems to also fly in the face of just what we -- human beings from the beginning of time --
SENIOR: The species needs to keep going.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: That's right. It didn't --
SENIOR: We're not always incentivized by happiness. It is not like fear -- there are lots of things incentives. Happiness is not necessarily one.
CHETRY: How do most of the studies define happiness? When they figure out, are you happy, how do they define that?
SENIOR: And that is a crucial stage. That's the other people ask immediately, what's happy? The answer, it turns out, in most of them, is moment-to-moment happiness. It is a gauge of moods.
So yes, you know, as you are going about your everyday life and hanging out your kid is throwing the tantrum in the middle of a public place and lie down on the floor did go limp, that's not fun necessarily. It does not measure something larger, like what they mean to you.
CHETRY: The purpose, your feelings of satisfaction and purpose with your life in general. Is that increased with children?
SENIOR: It is harder to measure that. It is not like academics have great standards for figuring out larger existential questions to people.
There are studies, for instance, that try to separate like -- are you having fun? Do you find this rewarding? On the study -- in the studies that try to make the distinction, you know, whether parents having fun on whether they are finding it gratifying, parents say they find child rearing immensely gratifying. Not so fun.
CHETRY: I was teasing you before the break. Are some people just more wired towards liking kids? I joked about that. I find having walking into Chucky Cheese without getting dirty looks. Some people just don't like to do kid things. Others do. But they don't necessarily love their children any less.
SENIOR: It varies from stage to stage. You can particularly see this, I think, you know, just anecdotally, this is not in any way scientific, but with fathers -- all the fathers that say, yes, I don't go to the playground. I like the older stuff when they are more interactive.
I mean, we are -- you hear all sorts of people, you know, delighting in different stages of parent.
CHETRY: The interesting thing is -- you are in the trenches. Have you a two and a half year old. Does this change as kids get older and not in the diapers and temper tantrum phase?
SENIOR: Yes. This is all custodial and administrative. Yes. Most of the studies show when the kids are young, satisfaction levels are down here somewhere below missile silo. Then go up. During six and 12, things ease up. You are not as happy as you were before having a baby.
CHETRY: Part of that, the interesting this, part of this -- they sort of compare these things as -- gets in the way of your first love, your relationship, the reason you got married in first place, your spouse. This suffers, the relationship, the marital relationship suffers when have you children.
SENIOR: That is one of the most depressing consistent points, that children really compromise marital satisfaction. My favorite factoid I unearthed is 40 percent -- at least this was in one very well designed study -- 40 percent of arguments among married couples, about their kids with children.
And the others -- money and religion, all the other things, personal habits that annoy, that was a distant second. Really like -- it didn't even come close to that. And also, it was explicitly about kids. Not about the money. Think about how many money arguments indirectly --
CHETRY: I let me ask you one quick question. What changed from now, from our generation now and prior generations when it comes to this? Before it didn't seem like we analyzed everything back in the day.
SENIOR: First of all, there is this other obsession and preoccupation with our own happiness. But starting with the boomers and perfected by the time X-ers came along. But I think that also something crucial, we are having kids later. We are getting married later and having children later.
And the longer you defer this, the more -- the contrast, I think, feels that much more pronounced. So you know you can really compare a before and after.
If you spent ten years of your adult life without children enjoying the free-wheeling rhythms and doing what you want and then suddenly tethered to this schedule on and this person, as we were joking during the break, never thanks you, things like this, right, then there is a collapse in gratitude.
CHETRY: There is a special joy, you are right. It's a fascinating, provocative article. I'm glad you came here and broke it down for us. Jennifer Senior, great to talk to you.
SENIOR: You too.
CHETRY: It's 42 minutes past the hour. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Welcome back to The Most News of the Morning. I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. It is 45 minutes past the hour.
Here is a look at the weather map. East of the Mississippi, another scorching day; we will see records drop in the central part of the country where we saw flooding rains yesterday.
We had flood watches up for much of Oklahoma; Oklahoma City just got hammered yesterday with heavy, heavy rain.
Some wind and some rain across the Gulf Coast as well. And there's a little something brewing down there that we will speak of in just a second.
Meantime, 105 is the high temperature in Baltimore, Maryland, that's a record; Central Park, 103; Philly, 102 and 102 in Atlantic City. And some of these records over a decade old in some cases, and today not going to be a whole lot better.
We may see some of the heat begin to sink a little bit farther to the south. Maybe a little bit moderation in some cases, but generally speaking, the heat indexes are what it feels like will be up and over 100 degrees. And that is as measured in the shade.
Heat warnings and advisories out from New York back through Philly and through D.C. and it's also expanded back to Detroit into the Ohio River valley. We'll see temperatures maybe a couple of degrees cooler today but humidity levels will be up.
So what it feels like what it does to your body is going to be pretty much the same thing. So a dangerous heat for sure. The forecast for New York City is 99 degrees. That should break a record and 101 is the forecast we're going for in Philadelphia. And 101 as well is what we expect this afternoon in D.C. and 102 degrees again, as measured in the shade and not including humidity in Richmond, Virginia.
All right, let's talk about what's going on across the tropic. We have a disturbance that's rolling across the Yucatan Peninsula. It is emerging into the Gulf of Mexico. It could become our next tropical depression.
The general forecast track of this thing is to take it towards the Brownsville area much like Alex.
How strong will it get? We'll just have to wait and see. But it will spread showers and some thunderstorms and maybe some breezy conditions across and near the Gulf spill. So we'll have to watch this very, very carefully.
That's a quick check on the weather. AMERICAN MORNING will be right back. It's 47 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Coming no to ten minutes to the top of the hour. We're back with The Most News in the Morning and an "A.M. Original", something that you'll see only here on AMERICAN MORNING.
You know, for a young person, life can be uncertain enough if you have loving parents and a strong family support system. But imagine being a foster child who is about to be put out on your own and you're just barely finishing high school?
Well, that's the situation because of California's massive budget cuts. It's taking a heavy toll on some of its most needy kids.
Yesterday we introduced you to Carla, a foster teen, about to be emancipated from Child Protective Services. So where does she go from here?
Thelma Gutierrez has got the follow up to the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When we first met Carla, she was in foster care. She had just turned 18 and was about to age out of California's child welfare system, scared, anxious, and alone.
CARLA, FOSTER CARE TEEN: What am I going to do? How am I going to support myself? How am I going to know what to do? How to do it? Where and when? All those things.
GUTIERREZ: Carla has no job, no apartment, no family. She told me she has never met her father. Her mother is mentally ill and homeless.
(on camera): Seems like you have a lot of hurt inside.
CARLA: Yes.
GUTIERREZ: What do you want for your future?
CARLA: To have what I didn't have in my childhood.
GUTIERREZ: Like what? CARLA: Birthday party, have my own place.
GUTIERREZ: Four thousand teenagers like Carla leave California's foster care system every year; 65 percent have no place to go. And deep budget cuts may mean even less help in the years ahead.
(on camera): So where do they go when they have no place to go?
LAURI BURNS, THE TEEN PROJECT: Unfortunately, this is it right here.
GUTIERREZ: On the street?
BURNS: They are living on the street.
GUTIERREZ: Lauri Burns, founder of the Teen Project, was once in foster care herself. She survived on the street as a teen prostitute. She says what's happening to foster youth is a crime.
BURNS: Young adults leaving prison, they get $200 when they leave. But foster kids get nothing. Not even $10. Just a good luck and they are out.
CARLA: Since the day I -- the day I move out is so soon, I think just realized that I'm -- really, really scared.
GUTIERREZ: Before she can begin the next phase of her life she must say good-bye to the past. Her foster mother and father who have been her family for the last two years.
(on camera): This is D-Day for Carla. We are here in a family court for an emancipation hearing. In just a few minutes the judge will terminate Carla from the Child Welfare System.
(voice-over): Judge Carolyn Kirkwood has presided over hundreds of termination hearings. She worries what happens when they leave the system.
JUDGE CAROLYN KIRKWOOD, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA: They are facing poverty. They are facing premature pregnancies. They are facing homelessness. We have to help a child see that they have a future story. That they can graduate from high school; that they can go on to college.
GUTIERREZ: Carla tells Judge Kirkwood that's exactly her plan.
KIRKWOOD: Dependent child proceedings are terminated. Congratulations.
GUTIERREZ: In this five-bedroom home, Lauri Burns tries to save foster teens like Carla from the sort of life she led on the streets.
In three years, she raised money, started an organization, and with the help of volunteers, built The Teen Project home. And this is where Carla and four other young women will live under the supervision of a house mother while they go to college. Carla even has a full scholarship to the Paul Mitchell School where she will study cosmetology and prepare for life on her own.
CARLA: My wish would be to find success and happiness.
GUTIERREZ: And that, she says, would be a first in her life.
Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Orange County, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: so at the moment it is a great way forward for Carla but imagine the thousands of other kids who don't have that same opportunity and how tough it is for them.
CHETRY: I can't imagine. This provides yet another safety net hopefully that this will be, you know, the beginning of things to come for her, being able to get out on her own and be independent. But you're right there are so many others who aren't lucky enough to have that situation.
ROBERTS: There are a lot of 18-year-olds that go off to college and they start to build a life for themselves but they still have that support system back home; kind of frightening doing that with no safety net.
CHETRY: I can't imagine.
We are going to take a quick break and will be back in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, countless laid-off blue collar workers are scrambling to find jobs and for some the solution is going back to school to relearn new skills.
ROBERTS: But it could be risky to start a new career late in life unless your school is offering a money-back guarantee.
Dan Simon brings us this morning's "Building up America" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Set it to the ground.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Eric Gibbs works as a roofer, George Suffin an assembly line worker at GM; both now unemployed in the state of Michigan.
ERIC GIBBS, LAID OFF WORKER: When I got laid off from my roofing company job, I searched for probably a good six months straight, nonstop, eight to ten hours a day, applying anywhere I could. Driving anywhere I could. Going even to McDonald's and trying to apply.
SIMON: Equally bad luck for George, who at 56 has it even harder with employers.
GEORGE SUFFIN, FORMER ASSEMBLY WORKER AT GM: It became clear that the jobs I wanted weren't out there. The skill set that I currently have; I needed a different skill set for the work I want to do.
SIMON: Then came along an offer that sounded almost too good to be true. And it came from the most unusual of place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to be able to cut that out.
SIMON: Lansing Community College is hoping to attract even more students with this tempting offer.
BRENT KNIGHT, PRESIDENT, LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Get a skill, get a job or your money back.
SIMON: Sounds like something from a late-night infomercial. Lansing says if you enroll in at school and do not find a job, it will, indeed, give you back your tuition money.
School President Brent Knight came up with the idea.
KNIGHT: This is an effort to try to help people who are very discouraged. Michigan has had high unemployment. So, there are thousands of people here who are discouraged and don't think that they can get a job no matter what they do.
SIMON: George and Eric see it as a win/win. They learn some new skills. And if they don't find a job, there's nothing lost.
GIBBS: There's no way you can lose. If you don't get a job within 12 months, they give you your money back and you're in the same boat as you were since you started.
SUFFIN: Fairly confident. I think there will be job offers.
SIMON (on camera): A job or money-back guarantee might sound insane, especially during a recession. But Lansing is being careful about who they admit for what is now a pilot program. It's only available to 26 students they believe will be successful in the job market. And it's only available right now in two areas: one for computer machinists, the other for pharmacy technicians.
KNIGHT: We're acting like an employer, in a sense. We admit people to the program who we think an employer would hire.
SIMON (voice-over): If it's successful, Lansing will expand the program; a new spin on old-fashioned marketing -- a money-back guarantee where this time the product happens to be an education.
Dan Simon, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: And when do you ever get a money-back guarantee with education? CHETRY: Yes. Not bad.
ROBERTS: Not Harvard, that's for sure.
That's going to wrap it up for us. Thanks so much for joining us. We'll see you again bright and early tomorrow
CHETRY: Hope you have a great day. Stay cool.
Meantime "CNN NEWSROOM" with Kyra Phillips starts right now.
