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American Morning
Northeast Heat Wave Increases Power Demand; A Spy for a Spy; Passport Fees Increasing; New Surveys for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'; Emmy Nominations Announced
Aired July 08, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning there. It is Thursday, July 8th. Time to wake up. I'm Kate Bolduan, in today for Kiran Chetry.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Can I finally wake up now?
BOLDUAN: Yes, you can.
ROBERTS: Because I've been staying asleep for the past two hours.
I'm John Roberts. Thanks for being with us today.
And here are the top stories.
A little less heat, a little more humidity. It means another sweltering day ahead in the northeast and mid-Atlantic. When will all of this heat begin to chill out? The latest on the extreme weather is just ahead.
BOLDUAN: And the U.S. and Russia trying to clean up a messy scandal, working on a deal to swap spies. Ten suspects rounded up in America, in the U.S., last week, could be shipped out of the country today. While in Russia, the family of a jailed scientist convicted of spying for the United States says he's been released and may soon be headed for Vienna.
ROBERTS: Plus, it's like Christmas morning for your favorite stars of the small screen. The primetime Emmy nominations will be announced this hour. You'll see it as it happens live from Hollywood right here on the Most News in the Morning.
We begin, though, with the blistering heat wave that has been gripping much of the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic States. Days of record breaking triple-digit temperatures have led to record demand for electricity. Utilities up and down the east coast are pleading with the public to conserve.
Jason Carroll is following all that. He's live outside of Time Warner Center here in New York this morning.
Jason, how does it feel out there in New York this morning?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It feels a lot better compared to yesterday morning and the morning before that. But even so, in Maryland, John, they are reporting a heat-related death there. The governor asking the people in his state to take whatever steps necessary to stay cool.
Meanwhile, here in New York, yesterday, we had the opportunity to hang out at Con Edison's command center to see what steps they are taking to deal with the heat wave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Day four of the Northeast heat wave brought some lower temperatures but not low enough in Boston.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One thing about guys, people from the south, we are not that bunch of wimps, you know, what I mean? We'll take it.
CARROLL: Record highs in several eastern cities, including Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. Record sales of air conditioners in many New York City stores.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, they're going on as fast as they are coming in.
CARROLL: The city's pools filling to capacity.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's refreshing. It's cool. And it's keeping us from passing out in the sun.
CARROLL: Demand for power a concern in New York. Con Edison has been running its emergency response center since Tuesday.
Inside their war room, various departments work together to prevent blackouts.
(on camera): As you take a look around the room, you can see that the center is broken up into different sections. You've got logistics back here. You've got customer service right here next to me. Back over there, you have gas and steam (ph).
We are told the center will stay open until the temperatures are back to normal.
JOHN MIKSAD, CON EDISON: All the analysis that's happening right over here.
CARROLL (voice-over): John Miksad oversees the entire operation.
MIKSAD: I look at this for us as round two. I think that this might be the last round of this fight.
CARROLL (on camera): You are using all of these fight references.
MIKSAD: It is a fight.
CARROLL: So, are you on defense at this point? Are you on offense? Where are you?
MIKSAD: That's a really good question. I think, right now, we are on offense.
CARROLL (voice-over): Some 5,700 customers are without power in New York City. The majority of the system is holding. Thanks in part to the city's large office buildings and businesses heeding calls to help reduce energy consumption. Yet the centers numbers show demand is still high.
MIKSAD: Twelve thousand four hundred and ninety-one megawatts of demand.
CARROLL (on camera): If you'll translate that, what does that mean?
MIKSAD: That's 12,500 million watts. So, one megawatt is enough to light a thousand homes.
CARROLL: Does that make you nervous?
MIKSAD: It does make nervous, yes.
CARROLL (voice-over): The operation here will run 24 hours a day until temperatures and demand begin to drop.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And in terms of demand, these cooler temperatures that we are experiencing out here, at least here in New York for right now, will definitely help ease some of that demand. Even so, the folks there that you saw working at the command center will be working 12- hour shifts until further notice.
ROBERTS: Jason, yesterday, you profiled a couple here in New York City who are confined to their six-floor walk-up because the woman couldn't walk down the stairs. They were sweating up a storm there. They didn't have any air conditioning and didn't have the money to do it.
We said yesterday, wow, can we get these folks help? And we did. What happened?
CARROLL: Yes. Alfred Roblero, as you say, living up there with his wife on the sixth floor. And we went out there, told the story about how he is suffering. You know, there are thousands of people who are suffering just like him, without air conditioning. You know, there's a viewer, John, who saw the story, heard about it, e-mailed and said he wanted to do something to help. Alfred ended up getting not one but two air conditioners.
Our cameras were there yesterday when they showed up. And here's what Alfred had to say. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALFRED ROBLERO: Yes, he's a Good Samaritan, you know? (INAUDIBLE) not everybody takes that chance, think about the other person.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Yes, a Good Samaritan willing to help out Alfred who didn't have the money for an air conditioner, John, because he's trying to put his daughter through school. So, it's good to see at least one person out there getting help. But it's a reminder of how many people are out there like Alfred who are suffering in the heat -- John.
ROBERTS: Do we have a name for this Good Samaritan? We should lift them up for doing something nice.
CARROLL: He prefers to remain anonymous.
ROBERTS: Aha! All right. Well, anonymously, it was a wonderful thing he did.
CARROLL: Absolutely.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Jason.
BOLDUAN: So, when will this oppressive heat let up? That's a question so many are asking now. Rob Marciano is tracking this extreme weather for us.
Hey there, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, again, guys.
Temperatures are a couple degrees cooler to start the day today than they were at this time yesterday. So, that's certainly optimistic. But, still, pretty toasty in New York, 81 degrees, 83 currently in D.C. and 81 degrees in Richmond. We will see another day where it will get into the 90s, but I don't think we'll see temperatures get up and over 100 degrees at least so widespread.
These are the records for yesterday. Richmond got up to 104. Philly, 103; Baltimore, 101; and New York City got up to 100 degrees as well.
So, you'll take the, what, lower 90s? That would be a nice thing. And I think you'll see that. The core of the heat is going to begin to drift a little bit farther to the south here today and tomorrow where temperatures will be in the upper 90s, in some cases will be touching the 100-degree mark.
Ninety-eight degrees expected in Atlanta, 96 degrees in Raleigh, and 88 to 90, maybe 92 degrees expected in New York City. And certainly, in the lower 90s across D.C. Still, by any other standard, a very, very warm and sticky for sure.
We'll talk more about tropical depression number two. It will make landfall near the Texas coastline later on today. Talk about that in the next half hour -- John and Kate.
ROBERTS: Looking forward to that, Rob. Thanks so much.
Seven minutes after the hour.
New this morning, police in Norway arresting three people in connection with a failed attack on the New York City transit system last year. The men are suspected of having ties to al Qaeda and officials believe they were planning other similar attacks in England. The suspects were being watched for several months and were taken into custody with the help of U.S. intelligence.
BOLDUAN: And the Coast Guard is still trying to find a teenage girl and a 20-year-old man who are still missing after a tour boat accident in Philadelphia yesterday. The NTSB is investigating why a barge collided with the stalled duck boat on the Delaware River -- 37 people were saved after the boat overturned in the water.
ROBERTS: Plus, the fight over President Obama's deep water drilling ban is heading to a New Orleans courtroom. The judge overseeing Hornbeck versus Salazar will begin to hear oral arguments later on today.
Also because of rough weather and high seas, officials in the Gulf still have not been able to hook up that other ship, the Helix Producer, to the riser that's coming up there out of the Gulf. It can produce another 25,000 barrels of oil per day. So, we're still in the same situation we were a week ago.
BOLDUAN: Exactly.
ROBERTS: A bad weather there.
Eight minutes after the hour.
Tom Fuentes, former associate director of the FBI, coming up to talk about the potential of a Russian spy swap. Is Anna Chapman headed back home? We'll find out -- coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Coming up now 11 minutes after the hour.
Straight from the chapters of the Cold War, 10 suspected Russian spies could be leaving America on a jet plane within hours. The hasty transfer of five of them from Virginia and Boston to New York City is fueling speculation that a spy swap is in the works with Russia said to be offering in return a jailed scientist convicted of spying for the United States.
CNN contributor and former FBI assistant director Tom Fuentes is with us live from Washington this morning.
Let's get to the spy swap in just a second, Tom. But, first of all, these arrests in Norway said to be connected with the 9/11 plot here last year in New York and potentially another one in England. How significant do you see these arrests as being?
TOM FUENTES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, John.
I think they are significant. And it just shows the global connections that come up in a case like that. You know, at the time of the investigation, a year ago almost, you have e-mail records, phone records being analyzed by the FBI and other services. And they're going to have connections to other people, friends, relatives, associates and terrorists around the world.
So, that leads to an investigation with our foreign counterparts, the U.S. counterparts around the world. And then they obtain records, surveillances, conduct their own investigation, and see whether they tie back to other ongoing cases. And it appears that's what you have in this case in particular and in many similar that you do have these connections.
ROBERTS: Yes. Our homeland security analyst, Fran Townsend, says this morning, it shows the value of being able to flip a suspect -- Najibullah Zazi was talking with investigators at length. Do you think they got all this information from him?
FUENTES: Well, a great deal would come from him personally. But, again, it would also come from his telephone records, his travel, his e-mail, friends and associates of him who would also be interviewed, and then their records and e-mails. So, the case has become a spider web and expand exponentially around the world.
ROBERTS: All right. Let's get to the potential spy swap here. It's been 24 years since the last time we saw one, Natan Sharansky was the last very publicly walked across Potsdam Bridge in Berlin, there's this swap that happened. Do you think it's going to happen again, Tom?
FUENTES: Well, it appears so. I know right now the negotiations are ongoing. And they are very sensitive. So, assuming that the agreements are reached by both countries, it could happen very quickly, even as early as today.
ROBERTS: Now, why would a swap be in this nation's best interests as opposed to prosecuting?
FUENTES: Well, I think, you know, the greater geopolitical issues come into play here, that the U.S. and Russia are trying to hit the reset button on relations; President Obama hosting Medvedev recently. You know, they want -- they want to put this behind. I think both countries want to say, OK, it's over. This particular group has been neutralized and has been dismantled and that will be sufficient.
And also, you don't have actual espionage charges.
ROBERTS: Yes.
FUENTES: They didn't get far enough to actually steal state secrets from the United States. So, they are not looking at life in prison in the United States. They would get lesser sentences anyway if convicted. So, it would be in the U.S.' interests if a greater gain can be obtained by doing the trade, go ahead and do it.
ROBERTS: Yes.
FUENTES: And, of course, the Russian federation does not want their trade craft on television every day of the week as the trial progresses. They don't want the world to see what these people did and how they did it as a result of the prosecutions that would come up.
ROBERTS: So, Russia is offering up in exchange Igor Sutyagin, a Russian nuclear scientist who was convicted in 2004, passing secrets to the United States. How valuable is he to us?
FUENTES: Well, I don't know at this point. I don't think he's been doing too much research in the gulag. So, at the moment, he's not going to be that valuable from that standpoint. But just the idea that, you know, a trade to have both sides appear to be winning something valuable for themselves.
ROBERTS: So, what's the swap then? What's the calculation of the swap? Is it a 10 for one? Is it a 10 for 10? Does the value of the detainee affect the calculus?
FUENTES: Not necessarily. It could be 10 for one. It could be other individuals thrown into the mix as well. You know, it is not believed that anybody from a U.S. service is actually in jail in Russia at the moment to actually trade for besides Sutyagin. So, it doesn't necessarily have to be all those individuals.
But from the Russian standpoint, they would like to get all 10 of them in a position where, again, they are not on trial in the United States where it's going to be on television every day of the week for a long time, showing exactly what this group did here.
ROBERTS: Well, it appears at least to the attorney for one of the detainees that not all 10 want to go to Russia. Vickie Velez's (ph) attorney said why would she want to go to Russia? She's got no interest in going. So could that derail the deal or would they just to a deal for (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm sure that's under the discussion of who wants to go and who doesn't want to go. I think - but, you know, that's been a problem even going back to the Soviet Union days with the KGB.
They would go through all this training and expense and have somebody come over here and start spying on us only to realize hey, it is not so bad here in the United States. I don't want to go home.
I think that -- you know, you could very easily have that. These people have been subsidized by the SBR from Russia. They lived the good life in the United States now for up to even 10 years. Why do they want to go back? You know, another thing when they get back, they are probably going to get very negative performance appraisals from the SBR for having been caught here.
ROBERTS: Although, in the past spies who have been caught here ended up on postage stamps in Russia or the Soviet Union so --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, again, they didn't -- they didn't actually -- excuse me. But they didn't actually obtain state secrets here so in some cases it's going to appear to be a failed mission.
And I know, John, it is breaking your heart to see Anna Chapman go back, but I think that -- I think you will see her on the talk show circuit in no time. These guys will be celebrities once this all settles.
ROBERTS: You are going to get me in trouble with the wife here, Tom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
ROBERTS: Thanks for that. Tom, good to see you this morning. Appreciate it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're welcome.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: I think someone is blushing. Something I'd always try to do and Tom Fuentes can accomplish.
ROBERTS: Yes, my face is now the color of Anna Chapman's hair. Imagine that.
BOLDUAN: OK. OK, what have we got? If you've got a broken iPhone, we may have a man for you. Coming up the so called "iPhone Doctor." He says he's never come across an iPhone he can't fix. You'll meet him ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Coming up now, 20 minutes after the hour. New this morning, Google's shares fall sharply in 2010. Contrary to the nearly 40 percent growth rate that the Google enjoyed in recent years.
The internet giant had a 3 percent gain on Wall Street yesterday, but the stock is down still nearly 30 percent overall this year, which is worse than the drops from its biggest rivals, Microsoft and Yahoo.
BOLDUAN: And passport fees are getting a little pricier. Beginning next Tuesday, the first passport book you will -- first passport book will set you back $135. That's up from $100 which it used to be and you'll have to pay $110 to renew your passport from now on.
Folks have been outspoken about the hike and United Airlines joined in the criticism saying the increase could keep people from buying international flights.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: United Airlines is charging me for my bags.
BOLDUAN: Here we go, here we go.
ROBERTS: That's like the Fox complaining about the hens, isn't it? Christine Romans joining us on "Minding Your Business." We can talk about this.
ROMANS: I know, John, and I get all fired up with these airline issues, right?
BOLDUAN: I know talk about winding somebody up, say baggage fees.
ROBERTS: Models for customer service.
ROMANS: UPS has this (INAUDIBLE) where you can ship your bags ahead and United Airlines has that too. They have a special for $79 you could ship your bags ahead and I keep thinking, the old days you would take your two bags on. But anyway, look at the Wall Street rally yesterday. Optimists won yesterday parting the gloom.
ROBERTS: Finally.
ROMANS: It's been pretty gloomy, right, for a few weeks.
ROBERTS: So does that mean it is over?
ROMANS: No, it is never over. You know, this has been such a choppy and nutty year. A lot of people are saying that the summer is going to continue like this. The Dow is back above 10,000 that - for a few weeks kind of paused. That's what it looked like yesterday.
Some people were speculating to me late in the afternoon, John and Kate, that they thought maybe there may have been a computerized trade going on. Just like that day we saw it going down right --
They thought that once had you the banks start to rally and once you had the euro starts to get a little stronger and the dollar got weak and crude oil futures were up, and there was this idea that maybe the worst, know --
ROBERTS: Just a minute, we were talking not even a week ago, Monday and Tuesday, we were talking gloom and doom, double-dip recession.
ROMANS: Bargain hunters -
BOLDUAN: It's Thursday.
ROMANS: Maybe it got too gloomy. I don't know. But - so, anyway, yesterday the market had a really big day. I wanted to show you the S&P if we've got it because this is what is most likely in your 401(k). The S&P--
ROBERTS: So we got nothing in our 401(k). That's comforting.
ROMANS: The S&P 500 is down about 6 percent so far this year which is not a good performance at all considering the huge rally that we've had last year. But this whole idea of how much is the global economy going to slow down and will it actually slow down enough to be another recession, still obsessed with this. At least yesterday --
ROBERTS: For yesterday and today, it doesn't seem so because although - because our investments went down so much we couldn't afford to produce an S&P graphic. We are sorry about that.
BOLDUAN: We are cutting costs like the airlines.
ROMANS: I think I ordered that for (INAUDIBLE). Sorry, guys.
BOLDUAN: They are telling me that's true.
ROBERTS: I still love the fact that -- the United Airlines is trenching about the price of the passport.
ROMANS: I know, $110 to renew that's really ouch.
ROBERTS: It is, it is.
ROMANS: Ouch, that's a lot.
ROBERTS: But still for an airline to complain about that?
ROMANS: Please. Eyebrow raise.
ROBERTS: You do that so well. Emmy announcements coming up from Hollywood later on this hour. We will have all the excitement for you. It's 23 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BOLDUAN: There is at least one doctor left in New York City who will still make house calls. A lot of people swear he's nothing short of a lifesaver.
ROBERTS: They call him Dr. Brendan. He's not a real M.D., but he's got plenty of suffering patients in the throes of Smart phone withdrawal. Our Poppy Harlow here with this morning with an "A.M. Original." A story you will see only on "American Morning." This is a guy who is probably going to be on the bad side of Apple because he's --
BOLDUAN: You think?
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: I'm nervous about this piece.
ROBERTS: He is --
HARLOW: Nervous. I'm afraid he will send me hate mail.
ROBERTS: He is an after-market guy working against a company that doesn't think too kindly.
HARLOW: This is -- it is really just -- a great entrepreneurial story of this guy who barged in here a year ago. Now, he's fixing iPhones and making a lot of money doing it.
It is because so many of us become addicted to our gadgets, whether it's our iPhones, Blackberries, they are fragile and they're expensive. We all dropped them and broken them so the big question is where do you turn?
Well, we found a fix and a doctor in a place you probably didn't expect, an apartment on New York's lower east side.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do everything from, you know, from iPhones, iPads, the iTouch.
HARLOW (voice-over): He is known around town as Dr. Brendan. If your iPhone looks like this or this, he can bring it back to life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Aside from liquid damage, there's not -- you know, generally not an iPhone I can't fix.
HARLOW: If it is crushed, busted, broken, 28-year-old Brendan Mcelroy knows how to fix it and he says he will do it for less than half of what Apple charges.
(on camera): Would you consider yourself a tech geek?
BRENDAN MCELROY, IPHONE FIXER: I'm a bit of a tech geek. I'm not a full line tech geek.
HARLOW (voice-over): After dropping his own iPhone while bartending last year, he surfed the web and taught himself how to fix it.
MCELROY: I will be honest, I butchered it a bit.
HARLOW: He is not a real doctor, but self-proclaimed tinker who zips from customer to customer on his motorcycle.
MCELROY: This is my fourth house call of the day.
HARLOW: This emergency call is at the hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is this problem with the LCD screen where there is a stripe in the middle.
HARLOW: Ten minutes, 75 bucks, and it is done. There's one catch. Having your iPhone fixed outside of Apple could void your warranty.
(on camera): Why Dr. Brendan?
DR. SEETAL MEWAR, CUSTOMER: Apple is a total hassle to me. The one time I went in there you have to schedule the appointment, you wait, tell you they can't fix it.
HARLOW (voice-over): Next stop, back home to more customers.
MCELROY: So what's up with your phone? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I dropped it.
MCELROY: No.
HARLOW: It is a story he hears over and over again.
MCELROY: Were you very upset?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
MCELROY: No, you weren't? Some people break down and cry.
HARLOW: The fix just takes a tiny screwdriver, razor blade and of course, the screen.
MCELROY: Courtesy of China. That is a new iPhone screen there.
HARLOW (on camera): How did you find all the right components?
MCELROY: I found something -- some codes from some distributor that claimed to sell these parts. I e-mailed them. I was very nervous because it is like send this cash to China. You know, and --
HARLOW: But it worked out.
MCELROY: It worked out.
HARLOW (voice-over): It's 5:00 p.m., he's already fixed seven iPhones and more customers are on their way. In fact, business is so good that Dr. Brendan quit his bartending gig and is opening his own store this fall.
(on camera): What's the oddest story you've heard about someone broke their phone?
MCELROY: There has been a lot of stories. My girlfriend saw my text messages and threw it at me. There was -- another one that someone's son actually bit the phone.
HARLOW: Did you fix it?
MCELROY: Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: That's not even the worst one. The worst ones he said are those that have fallen in the toilet. He says he keeps a pair of rubber gloves around for those ones. Not for morning television.
But honestly, he says he has spent a single dollar on advertising. It is all word of mouth. He has people sending him their iPhones from Greece, from Barbados.
BOLDUAN: No.
HARLOW: I swear to God. All over the place. ROBERTS: So these parts that he's getting from China, are they falling off of a truck?
HARLOW: You know, I asked him that because he says, look, I sent some cash over to China and I hope that they will send me the parts, but look, he said these are not actual Apple parts, but they come from distributors that say they are exactly like the Apple parts.
So take him at his word, but he does promise if he breaks his phone while he's fixing it, which he says he has never done, he will just fix it again. That's his warranty.
BOLDUAN: I will never say this again, but I hope Apple executives are sleeping in today and not seeing this story.
ROBERTS: Well, for his sake, yes. They've known to be a little heavy-handed from time to time.
HARLOW: Yes, but it is all legit. Honestly, it is his business. He can do what he wants. Let's see what Apple says.
BOLDUAN: That's right.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Poppy. Great story.
BOLDUAN: So we are half past the hour. And that means time for this morning's top stories.
Another red hot day in the northeast, with little relief from a sweltering heat wave that just won't quit. It is blamed for at least two deaths. And the record breaking temperatures are putting a big strain on the power grid. Utility companies are urging people to conserve electricity.
ROBERTS: In just a few hours time an alleged serial killer dubbed the "Grim Sleeper" will be arraigned in a Los Angeles courtroom -- 57-year-old Lonny Franklin Jr. was arrested yesterday, wanted for at least ten murders dating back all the way to 1985.
The suspect got the nickname "Grim Sleeper" because of long breaks between attacks. Investigators used DNA evidence from a family member to track Franklin down. Mixed emotions for relatives of his alleged victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONNELL ALEXANDER, SISTER MURDERED: It is definitely going to bring some closure, you know. It is not going to bring her back. I may sleep a little easier.
PORTER ALEXANDER, DAUGHTER MURDERED: I know that my daughter is smiling down knowing that we got him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And a camera catches the jolt from a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in southern California yesterday. The quake was centered about 60 miles northeast of San Diego. It shook -- look at them. It shook buildings but spared the region from major damage. Scientists say it followed a cluster of earthquakes along the San Jacinto fault line.
ROBERTS: New developments this morning as 400,000 troops are being asked to take an online survey about repealing the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The questionnaire focuses on the impact of the ban.
And there are some pretty specific and intimate questions. But now a legal group representing gay and lesbian troops are telling them not to take the survey. For more on this we go to Barbara Starr. She is live at the Pentagon. Barbara, what's up?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. Just a short time ago, a group called the Service Members Legal Defense Network, a very long standing group that has represented military members, who are gay and lesbian at the Pentagon is trying to throw out at the service, has issued a statement saying that they recommend gay and lesbian service members do not take this Pentagon survey.
Their statements saying we recommend that lesbian and gay or bisexual service members don't participate, quote, "in any survey being administered by the Defense Department."
This survey went out to 400,000 service members yesterday. This is the survey asking them what they believe the implication would be of trying to amend the "don't ask, don't tell" law. About 100 questions -- how would they feel about it? How should it be implemented in the military? What are the ramifications?
Not whether they approve of changing it. That's up to President Obama and the Congress together to change that law. But once it is changed, if it is changed, what are the implementation issues.
Very specific questions. As you say, John, they ask them to talk about what would be the implication on unit morale and readiness if you thought your commander was gay or lesbian? How would and you the troops in your unit feel about that?
Other questions -- in a war zone, if you had to share a room, bathroom facilities or an open base shower, which is what happens in a war zone, let's face it, how would you feel about it? A number of questions -- how would you react? What would you do? Would you just carry on with your professional military life? Would you talk to the other person about it? Would you talk to a chaplain?
And basic questions about the overall impact on the force. For example, if this law is repealed, would you still want to continue to serve in the military?
The answers are due back to the military in a couple of weeks. But now this latest development, there is a recommendation from those who represent gay and lesbian members of the military not to participate because they say that there is no guarantee of their confidentiality and no guarantee if they are inadvertently outed that the Pentagon won't prosecute them.
ROBERTS: What does the Pentagon say about that?
STARR: Well, the Pentagon says that they have hired a research firm to conduct this survey and that the research firm has promised all data, all personal information about identities, will be stripped out of the questionnaire and that the Pentagon will not see any of the personal identities of the people.
But there is concern, you know, that there will be inadvertent outing and that the gay and lesbian members will have no absolute protection of privacy on this, John.
ROBERTS: All right, we will see which way in goes. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon this morning. Barbara, thanks.
New this morning -- West Virginia Governor Joe Mansion says that he's going to push for a special election in November to fill the Senate seat of the late Robert Byrd. The popular two term Democratic governor says he is likely to be a candidate.
Byrd was the nation's longest serving senator when he died last week at the age of 92. Two years remain on his term. Manchin supporters were urging him to appoint himself, but I guess he wants a special election.
BOLDUAN: And a Connecticut priest is charged with stealing over $1 million from his church to pay for his secret life of luxury. Prosecutors say that for the last seven years the 64-year-old was dining at fancy restaurants, staying in high-end hotels, and even paid for male escorts with the congregation's money.
The scam was uncovered by an audit from the local archdiocese.
And coming up, the primetime Emmy announcement, your favorite, my favorite. We're live from Hollywood later this hour. Stay with us.
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BOLDUAN: Just like us, a lot of people are up very early this morning in Hollywood, and there is exactly one reason why. They are watching us.
ROBERTS: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Watching -- oh.
ROBERTS: We're the reason why everybody gets up so early.
We are also just seconds away from the prime time Emmy nominations. Making the announcement this morning, star of "Community" Joel McHale and Sofia Vergara from "Modern Family," which is supposed to be a great show. Brooke Anderson is there with us this morning. Brooke, my favorite is "Lost," "House," "24," "Grey's Anatomy." But who are the odds on favorite today?
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You like the dramas, those thrillers, John. I can't believe you haven't seen ABC's "Modern Family." It is considered possibly a fresh0faced newcomer to the Emmys this year. A lot of people expect "modern family" to be nominated in the comedy category.
Of course, we will hear those perennial favorites like "30 Rock," "The Office," Alec Baldwin's name, Tina Fey's name. and I think right now the -- yes, the nomination announcements are getting underway. Let's take a listen. We have the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Chairman John Shaffner introducing the presenters.
JOHN SHAFFNER, CHAIRMAN, ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES: -- ever to select the nominees. Joining me this morning to present the nominations are Sofia Vergara, who currently stars in the ABC's series "Modern Family," and Joel McHale, who stars in NBC series "Community." Sofia, Joel, thank you so much for being here at this very early hour here in north Hollywood, and congratulations on the success of both of your shows.
I personally have had the pleasure of designing a pilot for Joel. So now can I say I worked with Sofia? Well, carry on.
JOEL MCHALE, ACTOR: Thank you, John.
SOFIA VERGARA, ACTRESS: Good morning, everyone.
MCHALE: Sofia, please.
VERGARA: Thank you, Joel. The nominations in the comedy series category are "Curb your Enthusiasm," "Glee," "Modern Family," "Nurse Jackie," "The Office," and "30 Rock."
MCHALE: The nominees for lead actress in a comedy series are Leah Michelle, "Glee," Julia Louie-Dreyfus, Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie," Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation," Tina Fey, "30 Rock," and Tony Collette, "United States of Tera."
VERGARA: For lead actor in a comedy series, the nominees are Jean Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory," Larry David, "Curb your Enthusiasm," Matthew Morrison, "Glee," Tony Shalhoub, "Monk," Steve Carell, "The Office," and Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."
MCHALE: The made-for-television nominations are "Endgame." "masterpiece, Georgia o'keefe. "Moon shot." "The Special Relationship." "Temple Brandon." And "You don't know Jack."
VERGARA: The nominees for the miniseries categories are "The Pacific." "Return to Frankfurt" from masterpiece.
MCHALE: The nominees for lead actress for the miniseries or movie are -- Maggie Smith, "Capturing Mary." Joan Allen, "Georgia O'Keefe." Dane Judi Dench, "Return to Frankfurt." Pope Davis, "The Special Relationship." And Claire Danes, "Temple Brandon."
VERGARA: The nominees for lead actor in a miniseries or movie are Jeff Bridges, Sir Ian McKellan, Dennis Quaid, "The Special Relationship," Michael Sheen, "The Special Relationship," and Al Pacino, "You don't know Jack."
MCHALE: Here are this year's nominees for reality competition program, "The Amazing Race." "American Idol." "Dancing with the Stars." "Project Runway." and "Top Chef."
VERGARA: The nominees for outstanding variety music or comedy series are "The Colbert Report." "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." "Real Time with Bill Maher." "Saturday Night Live." And "The Tonight Show" with Conan O'Brien.
MCHALE: The lead nominees -- the nominees for lead actor in a drama series are Brian Cranston, "Breaking Bad." Michael C. Hall, "Dexter." Kyle Chandler, "Friday Night Lights." Hugh Lori, "House." Matthew Fox, "Lost." And John Hamm, "Madmen."
VERGARA: The nominations for lead actors in a drama series are Kyra said Sedgwick, "The Closer," Glenn Close, "Damages." Connie Britton, "Friday Night Lights," Julianna Margulies, Mariska Hargitay, and January Jones, "Madmen."
MCHALE: Sofia, let's complete the Emmy announcements by bringing back the sexiest man in Hollywood, John Schaeffner, to announce our final category.
SHAFFNER: Wow, thank you. Hello, again. The nominations in the drama series category are "Breaking Bad," "Dexter," "The Good Wife," "Lost," "Madmen," and "True Blood."
Sofia, Joel, thank you again for joining us this morning. Sofia, I have good news for you. You have been nominated in the supporting actress category for your performance on "Modern Family."
VERGARA: Thank you.
SHAFFNER: Joel, I'm really sorry you did not get a nod this year but I'm a big fan of your work.
MCHALE: All right, I phone -- I phoned it in so --
SHAFFNER: And I said, I just know that an Emmy -- an Emmy will be coming your way soon, maybe next year.
There is a complete list of all of the Emmy nominees on our Web site at Emmys.com. Please be sure to join us on Sunday, August 29th, live from coast to coast. Yes, at the same time for everyone on NBC when we open the envelopes for all of our categories.
Thank you all for joining us this morning. We'll see you at the Emmys.
VERGARA: Thank you. MCHALE: Congratulations Sofia.
SHAFFNER: Thank you.
ROBERTS: All right, so there you have it there, the Emmy nomination for this year and Brooke Baldwin is there watching all of the action. And Brooke, the -- the only -- did I say Brooke Baldwin? I'm sorry, Brooke Anderson.
I've having one of those studio moments all morning.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: That's ok.
ROBERTS: Brooke Anderson joins us this morning. Only the only ooh that came up here in the studio was when Conan O'Brien got the nod for an Emmy nomination for "The Tonight Show". How about that?
ANDERSON: He's -- he is certainly did and he's going to be competing against "The Colbert Report", "The Daily Show", "Bill Maher", "SNL". And when Conan was announced, there was an audible, ooh, wow --
ROBERTS: Yes.
ANDERSON: -- here in theater as well.
So -- and we know Conan O'Brien is joining our family at CBS this fall. So we're really excited about that. And yes, he had a very short stint at "The Tonight Show" when he replaced Jay Leno. And we know how that ended. It kind of all blew up. And NBC had a tough time with the situation and the shake-up.
But yes, Conan O'Brien has been nominated. So -- so I'm sure that that is -- a great morning for him. And some sweet revenge in a way, shall we say.
ROBERTS: A little Hollywood intrigue there. Yes.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: Any other surprises? I mean --
ANDERSON: Yes.
BOLDUAN: -- I was very excited to see "True Blood" being nominated. I'm a huge fan, even before vampire mania took over. I'm a huge fan of that.
ANDERSON: Yes, I'm a -- I'm a fan of "True Blood" as well. It was nominated for best drama. And also you know, I really love the fresh faces and newcomers are not only making a big splash with viewers, with television viewers, but with the Emmy voters. Because let's face it, as much as we love "30 Rock" and as much as we love "The Office", ooh are always shoo-ins for nominations, it's nice to see some other quality programming get some recognition as well.
Take "Glee" for example, it's the musical comedy hybrid. It was nominated for best comedy. Also, its actress Lea Michelle nominated on -- in the individual category as well as Matthew Morrison. You know, this show has made a tremendous impact, has a loyal following. Its fans even call themselves Gleeks.
And I was happy to see "Modern Family" and "Mad Men". The fourth season begins later this month. So that will be great summer programming. Exciting time here, the Emmys will be handed out August 29th -- guys.
ROBERTS: Yes, I like the fact that both Tina Fey and Amy Poehler -- were nominated, Amy Poehler's new show, "Parks and Recreation" is great.
ANDERSON: Yes.
ROBERTS: It's like -- it's like a different take on "The Office." And then my program --
ANDERSON: Yes.
ROBERTS: -- "Lost" and Matthew Fox got nominated.
ANDERSON: That's right.
ROBERTS: And (INAUDIBLE) as well, so I'm glad to see them all in.
ANDERSON: That's -- that's right. Me, too, yes.
ROBERTS: All right. Brooke Anderson, great to see you this morning. Thanks so much.
BOLDUAN: Thanks Brooke.
ROBERTS: I'm telling you, I don't know what it is.
BOLDUAN: You are dealing with a Baldwin and you saw Brooke. I mean, don't worry.
ROBERTS: Gosh, it's a senior moment morning and no problem.
BOLDUAN: Stay with us. We've got to -- I've got to talk to him.
ROBERTS: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Stay with us.
ROBERTS: Just give me a t-shirt.
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ROBERTS: It's 10 minutes now at the top of the hour.
A developing story this morning: CNN's Susan Candiotti has new details in the Russian spy story. She's on the phone with the very latest.
We have been hearing all this talk about it. Deals being worked out on a spy swap. But you've got some other information, Susan? SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): That's right. There is even more. This is coming from a source with detailed knowledge of the investigation, John. And this source says that not only are those plea talks under way and things moving very rapidly, as we have been reporting, but that pleas are expected today in court at the arraignment and that the defendants could be deported as quickly as tonight. And this is on -- could be as -- deported as quickly as tonight.
So I'm being told that they are expected to plea to the current charge which you remember is failing to register as a foreign agent and sentenced to time served. Now, the question, of course is what would happen to all the children involved in this -- in this case. And that remains unclear.
Would these people be able to get on the plane and go leave the children behind? Would that -- would that still have to be worked out? We don't know. But remember, they were indicted just yesterday by a grand jury -- that indictment unsealed -- and charged with conspiracy to act as secret agents on behalf of Russia.
And that was 11 of the defendants. Nine of them were also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. And you will also remember that all of them, those that were not already under arrest and detained in New York, were moved to the New York area from Boston and from Arlington, Virginia. And so that happened quickly. That happened just yesterday. They are all in place for the arraignment this afternoon.
ROBERTS: So, Susan, they could deport them. There could be a swap without a plea. This idea of them having to march into court and say yes, we plead guilty to the charges. Is that political more than legal?
CANDIOTTI: Well, certainly that's a question that everyone is asking. And it certainly appears to indicate that if indeed a swap goes through. This will be one of the biggest ones, as you know, and have been -- discussing all morning in history.
So what else is happening behind the scenes, you know, we have yet to find out for sure. But certainly we have been reporting at least since yesterday that the state department has had discussions about this case with the Russians and so obviously something is happening and has been happening behind the scenes.
ROBERTS: Susan Candiotti for us this morning with the latest on that. Susan thanks.
A bunch of things, Kate, moving very quickly here and we should know soon what's going on.
BOLDUAN: absolutely. A lot of moving parts. I'm having a hard time keeping track of it. That's why we have Susan.
Stay with us. We will be back with much more after the break.
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BOLDUAN: It has been hot all across the northeast. And Rob Marciano is keeping track of the extreme weather for us. Hey there, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning again Kate. Hi John.
We are talking about the heat and also this tropical depression which is going to make landfall here in the next few hours. It is about 70 miles now southeast of Brownsville. Not very impressive but the problem is that it is right on the heels of Hurricane Alex which brought a tremendous amount of rainfall to Texas. And it is pretty much going to go right up the Rio Grande which is at flood stage already. As a matter of fact, near record flood stage.
Northwest will be moving at 15 miles an hour and wind not the big issue with this. It will be the rainfall as we go forward.
Tropical storm warnings are up for southeast Texas. And here's where all that rain rotating around the system across the southeast Texas coastline and will get up towards the Houston as well.
Also look as the rain trying to squeeze out of those clouds across the New York area, on Long island and Connecticut. Maybe a sprinkle or spritz to cool you off. That's going to be about it. Temperatures will moderate somewhat from the record highs yesterday; 104 it was in Richmond; Philadelphia, 103; Baltimore, Maryland saw 101; and New York City, again, got up and over the century mark yesterday.
The heat will begin to shift a little farther to the south today. This cool front which will bring a nice punch, 15, 10 degrees cooler temperatures is just crawling. It's not going to get through the New York City area probably until this weekend.
I should also mention our friends in the Pacific Northwest are enduring some heat as well. The century mark may be touched in Portland, Oregon and temperatures could get into the 90s in Seattle.
D.C. Metro, you might see some delays because of haze. Same deal with Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas and Houston, threat for showers there and maybe thunderstorms up in Denver. That's the latest in the weather department. John and Kate, back up to you.
BOLDUAN: Thank you so much, Rob. It is just about three minutes to the top of the hour. Stay with us. We will be back right after the break.
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ROBERTS: that will wrap it up for us this morning. Thanks so much for joining us. We will see you back again tomorrow.
BOLDUAN: Absolutely. "CNN NEWSROOM" with Kyra Phillips starts right now.
