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Economic Conditions Plague President's Poll Numbers; Charlie Rangel Holds 80th Birthday Party; JetBlue Employee Continues to Enjoy Spotlight; Pakistan: The River Took Everything; NHTSA Can't Find Flaw In Recalled Toyotas; Study: Stress May Delay Pregnancy

Aired August 12, 2010 - 07:00   ET

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


JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome to the Most News in the Morning. It's Thursday. It's the 12th of August. Thanks so much for joining us. I'm John Roberts.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry. A lot to talk about this morning, so let's get right to it.

First of all, it may seem to many that we just went in reverse, Wall Street waking up in the red for the year this morning. The markets and bad economic news from around the world becoming a major problem politically as well for the White House, which may have mistakenly said at one point, this was the summer of a recovery. Our Ed Henry has the brand new poll numbers.

ROBERTS: Riot police are called in to calm a chaotic scene on the streets of East Point, Georgia, where 30,000 people showed up to get on a list for government subsidized housing. Officials have bracing for more crowds today. A live report from the Atlanta Suburb just ahead.

CHETRY: And it was one of the largest recalls in automotive history but was it even necessary? Government investigators still cannot find a flaw in all of those wrecked Toyotas. So, what really caused all of those sudden acceleration claims?

ROBERTS: Up first, down arrows and bad vibes today, a general feeling that we are going in the wrong direction the morning after a dreadful day on Wall Street.

CHETRY: The Dow will try to bounce back today after a 265-point plunge yesterday, a sell-off that put Wall Street in the red for 2010. On top of that, President Obama's approval numbers are also in the red. Obviously some tough numbers to deal with this morning at the White House on both fronts, and that's where our Ed Henry is for us this morning.

So talk to us a little bit more about the White House's plan right now. As we had eluded to. They had called it the summer of recovery.

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kiran. It's certainly looking like that is facing a stiff challenge right now. They say they don't govern by polls here at the White House, but you can hardly ignore these new numbers in the NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll showing the presidential approval rating at 47 percent, disapproval among the American people at 48 percent. That's in line with some of our recent CNN polling.

But more worrisome for the White House when you dig into these numbers is the fact that now six in 10 Americans including 83 percent of those all important independent voters that swung Barack Obama's way in 2008, six in 10 Americans saying they're either somewhat or not confident that he has the right economic policies to turn this economy around.

And that's why even yesterday here at the White House when the president was touting his signature on a new manufacturing law that he hopes creates some jobs, he was still a bit on the defensive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Now, we knew from the beginning that reversing the damage done by the worst financial crisis and the deepest recession in generations would take some time, more time than anyone would like.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: And obviously, when you look deeper into these polls as well, the NBC/"Wall Street Journal" poll saying two in three Americans basically are saying that they do not believe this economy has hit rock bottom. That would obviously run counter to this whole White House push for what they call the recovery summer. If there is a recovery, Americans are saying they're just not feeling it yet, John and Kiran.

CHETRY: And you can take a look at it $1.2 trillion spent so far in direct economic stimulus by this administration since the recession started. Is it a miscalculation that things would have gotten better? There's a true belief that things would have gotten better by now and they just simply haven't?

HENRY: What they would say inside the White House is that bottom line is when the president took office things turned out to be even worse than they expected then, and it's run a pattern throughout that despite the stimulus, despite other policies that they believe have sort of cushioned the blow at least, they believe this has just been a global recession that's exceeded anybody's worst expectations.

They're looking for little rays of hope as they read the tea leaves in the election results this weekend. One quick example would be Tuesday night, the Colorado Democratic Senate primary. The president got behind the incumbent Michael Bennett, a lot of pundits thought he might lose. Former president Clinton was behind the opponent Andrew Romanoff.

In the end Bennett won with fundraising and help from President Obama and the White House is taking that as a positive sign if the president gets out there and makes the case that things are not perfect, but they would be worse if you went back to some of the Republican policies they think started the whole thing. They think that message can resonate.

But look at what Democratic pollster Peter Hart is saying this morning. He's basically saying this is a JetBlue election. People are hurling in invective and running for the emergency exits.

CHETRY: I think we're going to hear JetBlue references a lot, lately. All right, Ed Henry, thanks so much.

Many Americans, as we've been talking about still don't feel we've hit rock bottom. Are we headed from bad to worse? Coming up in just a few minutes we'll ask Sean Tully from "Fortune" magazine where the arrows are pointing long term.

ROBERTS: Also new this morning, police in East Point, Georgia, bracing for more crowds this morning a day after 30,000 people turned out to apply for public housing.

Riot police were needed to control the crowd, which was three times larger than the city had planned for. The East Point housing authority will begin collecting applications for the waiting list today. There are currently no housing vacancies.

CHETRY: By this afternoon same-sex marriage could be officially legal in California. Right now there is a temporary stay in place due to the overturning of the state's ban on same-sex marriage. A federal court in California will rule today whether that stay is permanent.

ROBERTS: Here's why you wear your safety harness. Just ask this roofer in New Brunswick, Canada, who had an extraordinary close call. He was working on the roof when he slipped on some rotted wood and fell over the edge of the eave there. He was saved by his safety harness.

CBC reports the man was dangling about four stories above the paved driveway, but firefighters quickly showed up and got him down. There he's coming down the ladder the right way as opposed to going down off the edge of the roof. The guy was kind of indignantly hanging there.

CHETRY: Plus, who started the argument that led to the flight attendant's Steven Slater's now legendary on-the-job meltdown. There are other passengers, one in particular on the flight now telling the "Wall Street Journal" that Slater is the one who started the confrontation, not the passenger whose luggage fell on Slater's head.

The man of the hour, meantime, is still speaking out albeit a little reluctantly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you have to say to all the people saying you're a hero? STEVEN SLATER, JETBLUE FLIGHT ATTENDANT: It's so encouraging and so special. There are some really great people out there. I'm getting a glimpse of that. It's a surprise, because obviously I've been away for a little while.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What about your mom? Your mom was so sweet yesterday. She talked to some folks --

SLATER: Wonderful woman.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She said you may have had a little breakdown.

SLATER: I can't go there right now.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He answered your question.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: And now JetBlue is showing that it's not without a sense of humor in all of this with this online statement, which reads, in part, "While this episode may feed your inner office space, we just want to take this space to recognize our 2,300 fantastic, awesome, and professional in-flight crew members for delivering the JetBlue experience that you've come to expect of us."

In other words, all you 2,300 other passengers don't go out the escape slide.

CHETRY: "Inner office space," I love it. It's all over a stapler from Milton, but we'll see what happens with this one.

His job may be in jeopardy, but you couldn't tell that last night. Long time New York Congressman Charlie Rangel celebrating his 80th birthday/fundraiser in Manhattan. While he is facing a public ethics trial that could get him expelled from Congress he didn't appear too worried.

ROBERTS: No, he was celebrating with a parade of New York's powerful political figures. CNN's Mary Snow following the story for us this morning. He seemed to have the look on his face -- what, me worry?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No JetBlue references at this party last night. This party really tested political loyalty for the man considered the dean of the New York congressional delegation serving 20 terms. Leading up to the bash not all politicians were eager to say they'd be there, but in the end they did show up.

Setting the scene outside last night's party, a few protesters did gather, some calling on Congressman Charlie Rangel to resign. At one point our cameras were rolling. A protester heckled Rangel's longtime friend and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, shouting that Rangel was a crook. He showed them how he really felt, turning around and raising his middle finger.

It was a very different mood inside the Plaza hotel. Rangel showed no signs of the troubles he faces. He was clearly in a mood to celebrate his 80th birthday. He faced a packed house with New York's political leaders showing up, even Democrats facing reelection knowing the scrutiny they can fails for attending. Rangel thanked his friends and made it clear he's not going anywhere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. CHARLIE RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: This damn sure ain't no funeral, is it? I ain't thinking about giving it up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: While there was no mention of the 13 ethics violations Rangel is facing, the Reverend Al Sharpton did reference it, blaming the media. And New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg joked about those who didn't show up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK CITY: Now, I know a few people couldn't be here tonight, because, as they tell it, either they had to get a haircut unexpectedly or they were sure they'd have a headache. But, Charlie, as you know, they were with you as long as they could be.

(LAUGHTER)

REV. AL SHARPTON, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: Charlie Rangel will rise from the ashes and show that we will never fall on such allegations. We will rise as the phoenix and keep on fighting. Happy birthday, Charlie.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHETRY: Ending the night, Dionne Warwick sang "That's what friends are for." And the friends at last night's party also paid. This was a fundraising event for Rangel's reelection campaign, tickets ranging from $200 to $2,500. And with last night's focusing on the past, his campaign says now focusing on his reelection bid he will be out campaigning today.

CHETRY: Interesting how many people referenced his ethics allegations or the charges at this birthday party knowing the cameras were rolling.

SNOW: There were a few who did, but the majority did not and kind of steered clear of it.

CHETRY: Got enough fodder for a campaign ad, though.

SNOW: Exactly. CHETRY: Thanks, Mary.

ROBERTS: Mary, thanks.

The golden bear still has some game left in him. Look at this -- 70-year-old golf legend Jack Nicklaus opens his newest course on the shores of Lake Michigan yesterday playing a skins match for charity. Check out Jack making a little bit of magic on the 10th green.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: Good thing he hit it dead center because that's the only way to drop it in the hole when going that fast. It was from 100 feet. Afterward Jack was asked how he managed to sink that long uphill snaking putt. His three-word answer, it was "just pure freaking luck."

The man who is trying to break Jack record for most major victories has fallen on pretty hard times these days. At the Bridgestone tournament last week he shot 18 over par, 30 shots off the lead, tied 78th out of a field of 80. We'll ask Amy Alcott what is wrong with Tiger Woods in the next hour of "AMERICAN MORNING."

(WEATHER BREAK)

CHETRY: We're following some breaking news right now as well out of Bogota, Colombia, this morning, a strong explosion being reported outside of a radio station. We're going to have much more on that in a live report coming up.

Also ahead, President Obama saying the worst is behind us, but there's a poll out showing many Americans aren't buying that. They're worried about the economy and don't necessarily think it will improve in the coming year. We'll talk about whether this is the start of a double-dip recession that we've been dreading. It's 13 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Fifteen minutes after the hour. Breaking news just coming in of a strong explosion in Bogota, Colombia. A column of smoke and considerable damage being reported at the headquarters of a Colombian radio station and television station. Not sure at this point what the source of the explosion was, but there are reports that it was a car bomb.

Our Karl Penhaul is actually in the Colombian capital. Here are some pictures from Caracol TV. And we'll get Karl on the phone in just a little while. He'll give us an update on exactly what's going on there, but you can see that there's a lot of damage to the outside of the building. I don't know about any casualties at this point. CHETRY: All right. We'll continue to follow that.

Meantime, a lot of people are waking up this morning saying that this is what a recovery looks like? Think again. There's been some rough economic news, and yesterday, it sent stocks into the red for the year.

Meanwhile, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC news poll shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that the economy has not yet reached rock bottom. Here to talk about it is Shawn Tully, editor-at- large at "Fortune" magazine. And of course, Sean, the big question everybody is asking particularly with weakness in overseas economies driving the markets down yesterday, are we headed for a double-dip recession?

SHAWN TULLY, EDITOR-AT-LARGE AT "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: We don't know because you have to kind of put a probability on all of these things. Probably not. We've only had one double dip, really bona fide double dip in history which happened during the depression. We all know that economic policy was completely wrong-headed. So, it's very, very unlikely. Most recoveries are simply recover. The problem is this one is very, very slow.

With the kind of monetary stimulus we have now, we're going to come out of this. It's going to probably be slow, but we don't really know that. The problem that we're facing now -- and this is the problem that is really bothering voters, is this tremendous build-up in government debt that is pushing us toward a possible financial crisis, and I think what a lot of consumers and voters are really reacting to is the possibility that we just can't pay our bills.

In other words, the deficit is so enormous and the build-up in debt so huge that not only are we going to be spending $1.08 on interest on the debt by 20/20, but we have the spike in interest rates if foreign investors lose confidence in us, that spike could happen much earlier. We have the possibility of debt crises in other countries, Greece, for example. That could trigger a crisis in America that could drive our rates up, make it impossible for us to borrow.

This is undermining confidence in the U.S. economy. This is an issue that voters understand. They understand deficits. This is what Ross Perot ran on. And he was a marginal candidate who got 20 percent of the vote, right? So, we know that this is a big populist issue, and whether we have some more growth or not, this is bothering voters. And they know that this is casting a pall over our long-term economic outlook and has to be addressed.

CHETRY: This is sort of the crux of the struggle right now for, you know, our lawmakers and for others making policy, our policymakers, is that, you know, long view, you're right, I mean, this debt is a problem. At the same time, how are you going to tell people who have been long term unemployed, who are relying on food stamps and who need as you talked about this incredible amount of stimulus that is come out there $1.2 trillion, I believe, since the recession began that we can't afford to pay for this, and so, we're not going to do it. How do you sort of balance those two things?

TULLY: You have to have the plan to address it because you have to restore our confidence by both consumers and small businesses that create jobs. Right now, confidence is being very severely undermined, not only by the long term debt outlook but by some of the short term things that you're talking about. For example, we're going in the beginning of 2011 to much higher tax rates for high earners. Now, that's supposed to be the rich, right? I call these people the Henrys, the high earners and not rich yet. I invented that. Anyway --

CHETRY: $250,000 and above in the family --

TULLY: Right. But the point is that these aren't rich people. These are small businesses that file personal tax returns for their businesses. Half of all small business income is taxed above that rate on personal returns. Therefore, companies are looking at the fact that a big increase in their cost. Now, they have to pay in 2014 $2,000 for every employee that they don't insure for health care cost, right? So, what people do, what companies do in tough times is the easiest thing to cut is labor.

This is the difference between us and Europe. In Europe, it's pretty hard to cut labor. In the U.S. it's easy. But then it gets hired back rapidly in a recovery. That cannot happening this time. So, the cost that's easy to cut is labor. It's not being hired back because they see future costs rising so rapidly.

ROBERTS: Yes, that they don't want to hire those employees back.

TULLY: They don't want to hire those employees back.

ROBERTS: All right. You said it here this morning, there are no double-dip recession which, if you're correct, is good news. Shawn, great to see you this morning.

TULLY: Thank you. Good to see you.

CHETRY: Thanks, Shawn.

ROBERTS: We're telling you about breaking news, an explosion in the Colombian capital of Bogota. It just so happens our Karl Penhaul is in the city, and he joins us now on the telephone. What do you know about what's going on, karl?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: About three quarters of an hour ago now on the main street in downtown Bogota, a loud explosion occurred, sending black plumes of smoke about 150 feet up into the air. I'm now down there on the scene. And the explosion occurred outside a bank branch that also at the foot of the same building where one of Colombia's main radio stations is based.

Now, initial reports from (INAUDIBLE) there are, as one can see, parts of a vehicle shooting across the six lanes of this main street, of this main avenue. And initial reports from police, that this may have been a car bomb. But forensic teams and explosive experts are on the scene trying to work out exactly what may have happened. What I can tell you is that it's not a mass casualty scenario. Initial reports are from police and from health care workers on the scene speak of two injuries, but certainly no reports of dead at this stage.

That could have been due to the hour. It was about around 4:00 and about 15 minutes before 4:00 when this explosion occurred. Bogota is not a city that comes to live very early. And so, at that time of day, there were not that many people here on the ground. But certainly what is not clear from police or from the explosive experts yet is exactly what the cause of the explosion was, nor what the intended target is.

And even less, is there any word yet about which group may have been behind this, though of course, if it is confirmed that it was a car bomb, then the suspicion will of course fall on the FARC leftist guerrillas or possibly on drug traffickers as well.

CHETRY: Do they have -- Karl, as you talk about that, is there any history of attacking media? I mean, as you said, this was a radio station there.

PENHAUL: Again, there is a history in Colombia, a past history in Colombia whereby both guerrilla forces and drug cartels have targeted media organizations. And the radio station in this case closest to the explosion is Caracol radio. That is one of Colombia's largest and most prestigious nationwide networks. And in fact, the explosion occurred right at the foot of the building where Caracol radio is housed. And certainly, the building -- that building is about a ten-story building, and there are windows that have been blown out throughout that building.

So, I would expect the Caracol radio has sustained some damage, although, I do know that the radio station is still on air at the moment. But certainly, not out of question that the radio station could have been the target. What is also important to note is that the main financial district of Bogota, indeed of Colombia, is just about three blocks away. That's where the major bank head quarters are housed and, also, that's the place for Colombia stock exchange as well. Unclear whether that may have been an intended target as well.

ROBERTS: All right. Karl Penhaul from the Colombia capital of Bogota for us this morning with the very latest. And you can see by the small amount of debris that's left from that vehicle very, very powerful bomb but doesn't appear to be a whole lot of structural damage, and as Karl said, because of the early hour, no known casualties at this point, just a couple of injuries. So, some good news in this event this morning.

Twenty-four minutes after the hour. We'll be back in just a moment. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Coming soon to a shopping mall near you a smart phone app that sends money-saving coupons to your cell phone just as soon as you step in the shopping center. It's a joint venture between mall owner, Simon Properties, and a Silicon Valley company called Shop Kick. And here's how it works.

Speakers that were installed at the mall entrance send out a signal that can only be read by smart phones. The signal identifies which store you're entering and sends Shop Kick bucks for that store straight to your device and you get on the spot savings. Retailers like Macy's and Best Buy have already signed on to the program.

CHETRY: And they also install a small microchip in your brain and lead you to the food court. Kidding.

All right. Keep you eyes on the sky tonight because it could be quite a show come 10:30 eastern. That's when the Perseid meteor shower starts. And if the skies are clear, astronomers say that it will light up the night with as many as 50 shooting stars an hour. What a sight if you're in a place where you can actually get a good look.

ROBERTS: Yes, unlike, New York City where there's so much light you don't even know there's a sky out there.

And authorities in East Point, Georgia, on high alert this morning after a chaotic scene in the Atlanta Suburb yesterday. Police tried to calm an angry crowd of some 30,000 people who showed up to apply for government-subsidized housing. The crowd was triple what the city had expected. Doug Richards with CNN affiliate, WXIA, has the story for us this morning from East Point.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From what I see, this is a conspiracy --

DOUG RICHARDS, AFFILIATE, WXIA (voice-over): An unhappy crowd had stewed in a hot parking lot over much of a three-day period.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is ridiculous. It's like animalistic conditions. It's inhumane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Giving out right here.

RICHARDS: They had gathered to get a piece of paper, an application for federally subsidized housing, a chance to merely get on a waiting list.

KIM LEMISH, EXEC., DIR., EAST POINT HOUSING AUTH: There are no open slots, and we made that very clear to the applicants that were coming here starting Monday when they started showing up. We made it very clear that we did not have vouchers to give out. We did not have any public housing vacancies at this time.

RICHARDS: But they had spots on a waiting list. And for folks in this crowd, it represented sufficient reason to clamour on to a lot of hot asphalt and stay for hours or even days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The economy is bad right now, and they're willing to offer assistance with housing. If they are, you know, it's something you wouldn't want to pass up. RICHARDS: The East Point housing authority had 10,000 applications, and it seemed as if that many hands reached toward housing officials and police officers as the applications became available.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You see it right here. It's not pulling (ph) up there right here and right here and not organized. They should have did a little bit better. Some folks fell out here.

LEMISH: As far as the housing authority is concerned, it was a success today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody is having a hard time because they have no type of structure system going on.

RICHARDS: East Point housing officials say they gave applications to everybody who wanted one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People passing out. For a minute, I thought I was going to lose my life in the crowd trying to get a package. People knocking you down. Just all kind of things. It's chaos out here. And this shouldn't have even been legal.

CRANDAL JONES, EAST POINT CITY MANAGER: When you look at the economy and you look at the desperation that folks have of having affordable housing, this is what you get, unfortunately.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHETRY: And the part that makes it even worse is knowing that they don't have any vacancies at these public housing buildings right now, and there are so many people.

ROBERTS: They said that they made it clear, but it seems to me that there might have been some sort of breakdown in communication. Doug Richards, by the way, from our CNN affiliate, WXIA, reporting, and we thank Doug for that report.

Meantime, you may remember they recalled 9 million cars after drivers claimed that their Toyotas were accelerating out of control. There were questions was it a sticky gas pedal, was it electronics flaw? Government investigators now say they can't find anything wrong with dozens of Toyotas that were wrecked. So, is one of the largest automotive recalls in history really necessary? We're going to talk about it coming up. Twenty-nine minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Crossing the half hour right now. Time for a look at our top stories. And this is just in to CNN. The reports that the hunt for a serial slasher, person wanted for stabbing victims to death, that hunt is over this morning.

Our local affiliates in the Detroit area say police have a suspect in custody. This is a suspect -- there you see an artist rendering -- who may have targeted African-American men primarily as his victims. We're just a few minutes away from a news conference. And we will bring you all of the information when we get it.

ROBERTS: We are following breaking news this morning. A strong explosion in Bogota, Colombia. Looks like a car bomb. CNN's Karl Penhaul heard the blast. Considerable damage is being reported at the headquarters of a Colombian radio station. A lot of windows blown out. Some nearby buildings damaged as well. No building collapse, though. And apparently when it comes to casualties, a couple of minor injuries but nothing else because it was so early in the morning when this bomb went off.

CHETRY: And a baby boom among illegal immigrants in the U.S.. According to a new survey out, the Pew Hispanic Center reporting an estimated 340,000 of the more than four million babies born in the United States were born to illegal immigrants. That's about one in every 12 babies born in America. The report could add fuel to the debate over automatic citizenship for the children of the illegal immigrants.

ROBERTS: Well, the United Nations says it's already the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history, worst than that earthquake a few years ago and it's about to get worse. More torrential rain is in the forecast as the death toll from catastrophic flooding tops 1,300. Fifteen million lives may change forever from this. And in a country where the United States is not well liked, our war machines are now saving lives and maybe, as Barbara Starr shows us, helping keep a friendly government from collapsing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fourteen million Pakistanis, six million of them children, affected by the floods. Here in Washington, Pakistan's ambassador trying to reassure local Pakistanis his government is doing everything it can.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So how prepared can any government be for an event that happens only once in 90 years? No one can.

STARR: Pakistanis wonder if their already weak government can handle the crisis. (INAUDIBLE) was in the flooded area, just days ago --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't see a lot of presence from the government of Pakistan over there. This is rather disappointing.

STARR: That sentiment a concern for the U.S.. If Pakistan loses the people's confidence, it could mean a new security crisis.

BRUCE RIEDEL, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Pakistan has had four military coups in the past. And the failure of the civilian government to respond to this enormous human tragedy is going to increase the risk of yet more military takeovers in Pakistan.

STARR: The U.S. is increasing its assistance. More military helicopters in addition to food and money. The Agency for International Development is coordinating much of the effort and is trying to combat the impression in Pakistan that the Taliban is providing more aid than the Pakistanis themselves.

(on camera): The Taliban claim they're out there helping. Tell me what you know about that part of it.

MARK WARD, ACTING DIR., OFFICER OF FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE: They are probably out there helping in some communities. They were probably there before the rains started. They have no more access than we do.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We all want to escape.

STARR (voice-over): For Sameer, memories of utter devastation.

SAMEER AHMENT, PAKISTANI FLOOD SURVIVOR: The river had just taken everything on its route. And people were helpless. They're still helpless. Everyone wanted to just get out and they were swimming for their lives.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: Sameer tells us he and his friends who were there with him got buses and a series of buses so they could keep moving south getting out of the way of the floodwaters. Late yesterday, Defense secretary Robert Gates authorized 19 additional U.S. military helicopters to go to Pakistan to help with the effort, two already on station this morning, beginning to help with evacuation efforts. But this crisis is growing. The floodwaters are moving south. Already more than 600,000 homes in Pakistan destroyed. John, Kiran.

ROBERTS: Just a terrible situation there. Those folks certainly can't get enough help. Barbara Starr for us this morning. Barbara, thanks.

CHETRY: So sad.

Also still ahead, government investigators are tearing apart dozens of wrecked Toyotas. They're trying to get to the bottom of these unintended acceleration claims. Many drivers blaming them for their wrecks. Experts say they still can't find anything wrong with the cars. But could it all be driver error, accident after accident? We're going to talk with someone who studied a lot about this, Peter Valdez Pena, senior writer for cnnmoney.com. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

CHETRY: Thirty-nine minutes past the hour. Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.

Today we're talking about Toyota's troubles. You may remember nine million recalled cars later and the government still can't find a mechanical problem with all those Toyotas. There's a new government report out that says that it was driver error that may have been the cause of the unintended acceleration incidents that triggered the recall. So was the Toyota safety scandal overstated? Peter Valdes Dapena, he's a senior writer with cnnmoney.com is helping us mind our business this morning when it comes to the story. Welcome.

PETER VALDES-DAPENA, SENIOR WRITER, CNNMONEY.COM: Good morning.

CHETRY: So we are talking about these reports and they look at 58 cars, literally took them apart. Studied the so-called black boxes, the data recorders in the cars and they didn't really find a major mechanical problem with these cars. What's going on?

VALDES-DAPENA: Well, they did find in one case pedal entrapment where a pedal got caught mainly by a floor mat. That's something Toyota actually had a recall for.

CHETRY: Right.

VALDES-DAPENA: What they found in a lot of other cases is either the drivers either didn't put the brakes on or they put their brakes only partway. Now, a driver error has always been a major cause of unintended acceleration incidents. I mean, it's genuinely unintended but there are cases where a driver puts their foot on the breaks or they put them on the gas, thinking they're hitting the brake and the car begins to accelerate quickly and they panic and thinking that they're stepping on the brake they just press down that gas pedal even harder.

And at that point, they don't stop until they hit something. So this is a known issue with unintended acceleration and we've known that many of these cases are undoubtedly due to driver error. So in some ways, this isn't really that surprising.

CHETRY: One of the things, though, that is interesting about this is that it did lead to eventually a nine million car recall. There were problems as you said that Toyota acknowledged. I think part of -- at the time, what was scaring people is that nobody could really figure out or pinpoint exactly what the problem was.

There was some talk back in this past January, Toyota did inform the Highway Traffic Safety Administration that they had certain gas pedals that could have had a sticking defect. On top of that as you mentioned, the floor mat issue and then there were questions about whether this was an electronic flaw. Put that together and the nine million cars were recalled.

VALDES-DAPENA: Well, wait a minute. If the cars weren't recalled over an electronic flaw. That's never been proven and actually found.

CHETRY: Right.

VALDES-DAPENA: Some people have really said that look, there are They said there are cases we can't explain. It has to be something that we can't see that leads people to say maybe well it's an electronics flaw. Now, Toyota has been testing for this and it's something actually that the government along with the Academy of Sciences and NASA are actually looking into that but there's never been any kind of real evidence that there is any kind of electronics flaw.

It's just one of the things where people say, well we can't think of anything else, maybe it's the electronics but it's never been shown and I don't know that it's ever going to be shown that that was a reason for it.

CHETRY: Yes. I mean, you're right. They were not able to prove it. But at the same time, we recalled nine million cars. Was that a hasty decision?

VALDES-DAPENA: No. The cars were recalled for reasons that were sound. I mean, there really was an issue. A state trooper in California's family was killed because their car's gas pedal got stuck in a floor mat that wasn't designed for that car. Now, initially Toyota's response was reasonably to say "look, just don't put these extra thick floor mats in your cars but took the extra step of trying to alter the cars so that wouldn't happen.

That's a genuine issue. The sticking gas pedal where the pedal got stuck a little bit of the way down, that's actually a lot less frightening and threatening because the pedal got stuck a little bit of the way down. Of course, it's actually very easy to control in that circumstance again, it was a legitimate reason and cars were recalled for steering issues and other things.

Toyota has clearly got some quality problems here that they need to deal with. No, those decisions weren't hasty. But, on the other hand, I don't think we need to panic people by going out and make a lot -- and we need to remind people that the biggest factor here is panic. The thing you need not to do behind the wheel of your car is get so scared is that you panic.

Let's say that you do step on the wrong pedal, you need to respond appropriately. Make sure you're stepping on the brakes and not the gas. If your car does go out of control, shift it into neutral and drive off to the side of the road. That's the really important thing to tell people to do so they don't have fear work against them behind the wheels of their cars.

CHETRY: Right. Is there a legitimate question about perhaps a design flaw if it is easy to mix-up the two or is this with every model of every car?

VALDES-DAPENA: Well, it happens to a certain extent of every single car on the road. Every car has some unintended acceleration complaints. Many of those complaints are going to be due to driver error. Yes, I think we have a lot of these. You need to start looking at things like -- is there something to do with the pedal design.

Toyota for instance is putting in brake override on their cars. Up to now if you step on the brakes and your foot is on the gas, the car will continue to accelerate. In many cars if you step on the break, there's an automatic switch that cuts off gas to the engine and drops engine power. Toyota is going to put that on all their cars going forward. That's a major step in the right direction. There are other things you can do in terms of the pedal design or the way the pedal and how the gas pedal reacts to foot pressure to make it feel more natural. So people don't make this kind of error or the car feels different so that people really understand what's going on.

CHETRY: So as opposed to electronics issue it's about making the car itself a little bit more foolproof when it comes to the unintended acceleration.

VALDES-DAPENA: Yes, I think that a lot to do with it.

CHETRY: Well, it's great to get your take this morning. Peter Valdes-Dapena, senior writer at cnnmoney.com. Thanks.

VALDES-DAPENA: Thanks a lot.

CHETRY: John.

ROBERTS: Coming up on the most news in the morning, new evidence out today suggesting that women who have a high level of stress are less likely to get pregnant. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta has got details in this morning's "Fit Nation" report. Stay with us.

The mid-Atlantic is seeing some really strong storms right now. Live picture of the White House this morning. Look at that. Pretty amazing the level of darkness that's out there. Come on, it's quarter to 8:00 in the morning. It looks like it's the middle of the night. The nation's capital, parts of Maryland getting hammered with some severe storms. Rob's has got the forecast right after the break.

It's 45 minutes after the hour.

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ROBERTS: Forty-eight minutes after the hour.

You saw the pictures just a moment ago. You can barely see the White House because it's so dark in Washington. Mid-Atlantic under the gun this hour, severe storms marching through the area. Warnings are all up.

Rob Marciano is checking in on things for us this morning, and they got some good action there in Washington this morning, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, and yesterday with a record high temperature in the upper 90s, almost touching 100, some folks are saying, OK. Now we're -- we're at least cooling off.

But it is coming down torrentially right now, and we'll take (ph) you a couple of -- more pictures of -- the shots either at the Capitol or -- or at the -- at the White House, very, very dark. It is -- yes, flash flood warning, severe thunderstorm warning in -- in and around the D.C. area. This line is intense. We got some lightning, as you're seeing, there as well and some gusty winds, even a little bit of hail up to -- up to, in some cases, almost an inch in diameter.

So some -- some damage possible with this line of thunderstorms that now is rolling through the D.C., up through the Baltimore area. Any time you see that pink right around Silver Springs, that -- that may very well be a little bit of a -- of the hail core and you'll get some wind and heavy rain right through D.C. heading towards Alexandria right now. This is moving southeast at about 30 miles an hour, and all the heat that built up yesterday certainly helping fuel this little cluster of thunderstorms that's rolling eastward across the -- the beltway right now.

All right, this was tropical depression number 5 yesterday. It has diminished as far as the tropical nature of it is concerned. But you can see it's got a little bit of swirl and it's got a lot of rain as well.

Flash flood warnings out for Southeastern Louisiana with this, torrential downpours as well. Not quite the severe nature that the -- as are the storms in D.C., but still heavy, heavy rain across Southeastern and Eastern Louisiana.

Mentioned the records in D.C. yesterday, 97. It was 103 in West Plains, in Blacksburg, Virginia, you've seen 91 degrees. So, again, this slew of high temperatures. And there were spots in the Midwest. There were up and over 100 degrees yesterday and they didn't even break records.

So the heat and humidity continues in this part of the country. Extreme excessive heat warnings are out again today, and stormy conditions expected across the northern tier later on and a little bit of cooling trend trying to make its way down to the south and east, slowly but surely. But, right now, D.C. is getting crushed with some heavy rain and thunder and lightning.

John, Kiran, back up to you.

CHETRY: Pretty severe there. All right. Hope for the best. Hope it passes quickly. Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, guys,

CHETRY: This morning's top stories just a few minutes away, including breaking news we've been following now. A serial killer is in custody after a three-state slashing spree. We're going to speak with police in one of the cities where he was suspected of committing some of the crimes at the top of the hour.

ROBERTS: At half past the hour, no one left behind. Modern day Marines go to the South Pacific on a mission to finally bring their fallen brothers home.

CHETRY: Also, at 40 minutes past hour, Tiger's last shot to grab some good headlines this year. The final major of the year getting underway after the most dreadful performance of his career last weekend.

We'll ask a pro golf hall of famer, is it his swing or is it all in his head?

Those stories and much more at the top of the hour.

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CHETRY: Fifty-four minutes past the hour. Time for our "Fit Nation" report.

You know, people have always said, if you're trying to get pregnant, it's best to relax, don't worry about it, don't stress yourself out too much. Well, now there's a new study that says higher levels of stress can reduce a woman's chances of getting pregnant.

ROBERTS: Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins from us now from Atlanta with details. And, Sanjay, you know, doctors always say, hey, you need to reduce the stress in your life, but it's so difficult these days. But is -- is this really a big wakeup call for women who are trying to get pregnant?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think so. I mean, I think the numbers are going to be surprising to a lot of people. And -- and when you talk about stress and its impact on all sorts of things, including fertility, it's always this sort of vague concept.

I mean, we know as a woman ages, her fertility reduces. If they drink, if they smoke, that they -- if they're obese, those -- those things all affect fertility. But with regard to stress, it wasn't something that was easily quantifiable. That's what the study was -- was really all about. The (INAUDIBLE) 300 women, all of childbearing age and -- and measured various stress levels through questionnaires, trying to figure out who are at the highest levels of stress and who are at lower levels of stress.

And what they found was that women who had the highest levels actually reduced their -- their chance of fertility by about 12 percent. Interesting, guys, the way they did this, they actually measure something in the saliva known as alpha amylase. People say how do you measure stress exactly. Besides the questionnaires, they measured this particular substance, which seems to be a very good corollary with how much stretch is in your body at any given time.

Twelve percent reduction in fertility -- really quick, you know, a woman's chance of getting pregnant any given month among the age of 30 is 20 percent. A woman's chance of getting pregnant any given month at the age of 40 is around five percent. So you reduce that by another 12 percent and -- and that's why this is -- this is significant.

CHETRY: Interesting. So does it matter what kind of stress mothers are under and also what are some of the ways to try to relieve it that actually work? GUPTA: Right. You know, when -- what's sort of interesting is that simply trying to get pregnant for a woman can be stressful. So they can have a lot of stress just because of that process as well. So it didn't seem to matter overall, though, the -- the type of stress. If women keep in mind these numbers that, you know, the chance of getting pregnant, even as you're younger is still, you know, low. Twenty percent at age 30 is not high.

So if you keep in mind that unlikely any given month, I think that does reduce your levels of stress. But take a look, I mean, some of the things are going to be obvious in terms of what people can do, as much as you think about prenatal vitamins and prep -- and preparation for pregnancy, think about your stress and meditation, yoga, taking a vacation. Don't do what the JetBlue guy did necessarily, but, you know, maybe sometimes you need a reboot -- sort of button on your life before you're thinking about getting pregnant.

Obviously, no smoking and drinking. Those things for sure reduce your chances.

ROBERTS: All right. So, again, the doctor says, hey, you need to reduce the stress in your life.

GUPTA: And -- and I tell you why and I tell you how a little bit more.

ROBERTS: All right. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much. We really appreciate it.

GUPTA: Thanks, guys. All right.

ROBERTS: So coming up about three minutes to the top of the hour, top stories coming your way in 90 seconds. Don't go away.

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