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Waiting To See Mega Millions Winners; Kentucky Versus Kansas Tonight; Schools Brace For More Rowdy Fans; Justice Department May Probe Prosecutor; Audio Expert: Teen Was Crying For Help; North American Leaders Meet In D.C.; Bill Clinton On Presidential Run For Hillary; Three Big Primary Races Tomorrow; Co-Host Blake Shelton's Bad Joke; Taylor Swift: Entertainer Of The Year; Can We Stay Calm And Talk Trayvon?; Obama Donor Accused Of Fraud; 2012 Airline Quality Report Released; Hiring up for College Grads; Swift Named "Entertainer of the Year"; Recruits Pursue Humble Hoops Star
Aired April 02, 2012 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Debit card debacle. If you had problems with your Visa card this weekend, we'll tell you what was behind the holdup and if your card will actually work for you this morning.
And Taylor Swift, she does it again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Academy of Country Music Entertainment of The Year goes to -- Taylor Swift, everybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So if you win the top honor at the CMA awards again, can we just go ahead and call you the new queen of country? I think we can.
We begin this morning, though, with a mystery. Who are the three lucky winners who matched every single winning number in the largest jackpot in American history? It turns out we may never know.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENNIS WILSON, DIRECTOR, KANSAS LOTTERY: Kansas, one of the few states that allows them to be anonymous and we leave that up to them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Winning tickets were bought in three states, Kansas, Illinois and Maryland. Took only a buck for the winners to cash in and get their share of the record-breaking jackpot.
A billion tickets were sold, and a lot of you that played, I know, were hoping not to go to work today. But alas, joining me now to talk more about the winning jackpot, Neysa Thomas.
She is the deputy executive director for the Kansas lottery. Welcome, Neysa. So how many calls have you gotten from the media in the last couple of days?
NEYSA THOMAS, DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KANSAS LOTTERY: I can't count them, too many. It has been so exciting.
COSTELLO: So do you know who the winner is? You must know who the winner is in Kansas.
THOMAS: We don't know who the winner is. They have not come forward yet. We know that it was sold in the northeast region, which is comprised of 21 counties.
COSTELLO: Really? Is that unusual that someone wouldn't at least tell you or come forward and tell you, the lottery commission people that they won?
THOMAS: I think that they have some things to do before they come in. We hope they will seek legal counsel and financial advice before they come into the lottery offices.
COSTELLO: They don't have to reveal themselves in Kansas, right?
THOMAS: That's correct.
COSTELLO: Why?
THOMAS: Just the way our Kansas statutes were written. I think all the states are a little different, and Kansas allows our winner to remain anonymous.
COSTELLO: So when you deal with these big jackpots, are you seeing more and more that people really don't want to come forward?
THOMAS: Well, in Kansas, we have had a couple of jackpots, and we did have one winner that went, that did seek publicity, and so it is just going to depend on the individual.
COSTELLO: OK. So what exactly can you -- you told us where the lottery ticket was sold, the winning ticket. Is there anything else you can tell us about the winner?
THOMAS: Not at this time.
COSTELLO: We're dying to know.
THOMAS: I know.
COSTELLO: You know, the "New York Post" had this story that said this woman named Merlandi Wilson in Maryland won the lottery and the Maryland lottery officials are going who? Do you find that strange?
THOMAS: No. I think there is going to be all sorts of stories floating in all the states.
COSTELLO: But this one as far as you know is not true?
THOMAS: I wouldn't have any knowledge about anything in any other state.
COSTELLO: OK. We do know the Maryland lottery officials don't know anything about this lady. Thank you so much, Neysa, for joining us. We appreciate it.
THOMAS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Also this morning, police in Kentucky are bracing for more violence, understandable after what happened this weekend at the University of Kentucky beat Louisville. Yes, it took the fun right out of March madness.
Just a few hours from now police in Lexington will discuss how they will try to prevent a replay of that. Rowdy Kentucky pouring into the streets and torching couches and trash and even some cars, more than 50 fires in all and some 20 arrests.
Somehow, no one was seriously hurt. Kentucky fans went berserk after their team advanced to the NCAA finals by beating instate rival Louisville.
Tonight, Kentucky squares off against Kansas and win or lose, police in both college towns are bracing for the threat of more violence.
Carlos Diaz, by the way, he is in New Orleans for the national title game. So tell us a little about the police prep, what they're doing to make sure that doesn't happen again?
CARLOS DIAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is unusual to talk about the fact that Saturday's game was probably the bigger game for fans in Lexington because they wanted to beat Louisville.
But tonight, they're talking about having further no parking zones. They also want to have a bigger police presence. They're going to basically blanket the campus. They might even have to blanket the campus of Louisville, Kentucky.
Because of the fact if the Wildcats lose tonight, the fans in Louisville might actually be happy and riot there. But basically, John Calipari, the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats said he was not pleased with these fans performance after the game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN CALIPARI, KENTUCKY HEAD COACH: The state of Kentucky is so connected to this program. It is the commonwealth's team. They go overboard sometimes. I think we twittered some things and I had Duane Twitter some things out, calm down, and relax, and come on, let's go use common sense, but I was disappointed to hear it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: So let's talk some college basketball. Tonight, you have a matchup of basketball royalty when you have Kentucky taking on Kansas because these are the two winningest teams in the history of college basketball. No two programs have won more games than these two programs.
It is a lot different than last year when you had UConn and Butler, a power house against an underdog. This year Kentucky is the heavy favorite and Carol, a record-breaking 75,000 fans will be in the Louisiana Super Dome tonight to watch this matchup. So it's going to be a very big game.
COSTELLO: Wow! And you will be one of them, you lucky dog. Carlos Diaz, thanks so much.
Now, new developments in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teenager whose case ignited nationwide outrage. Later today, the Martin family will formally ask the U.S. Justice Department to review the conduct of the state's attorney who initially reviewed the case.
According to reports the prosecutor overruled the police department's efforts to file charges against the gunman, George Zimmerman. Also this morning, there are new doubts cast on Zimmerman's description of the deadly struggle.
Audio experts have analyzed the 911 tapes and say the calls for help were coming from the teenager and not Zimmerman. The community watch volunteer says the teen was brutally beating him and he fired his gun only after neighbors ignored his desperate pleas for help.
So let's head to Sanford, Florida, George Howell is covering the story from there. So we know the family reached out to the Justice Department. What do they want to hear?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, at this point, they want to see whether the Department of Justice will look into this. The attorney said he does not know how or when the DOJ will look into this.
But we know that that request will be written and filed today and as you mentioned, what they're looking into is the state prosecutor, Norm Wolfinger, they want to determine whether he somehow interfered with the investigator, the lead investigator, Chris Soreno in this case.
Again, they're waiting to hear back from the Department of Justice, Carol, to see if they will move forward on this.
COSTELLO: OK, let's turn now to those audio tapes. These experts are coming out and saying that it wasn't George Zimmerman's voice shouting for help. What can you tell us about that?
HOWELL: Well, two experts who spoke to the "Orlando Sentinel" and in fact, we had them on our air this morning, and we actually heard from them, their thoughts on this. Keep in mind with these audio experts, the analysis is not 100 percent accurate. It can't be determined with certainty.
When you look back at the police report, the police report does say according to the investigator that the investigator believed that it was George Zimmerman who was yelling for help.
And in fact, his brother, his father, they say that it was his voice, but take a listen to what the audio expert had to say this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZORAIDA SAMBOLIN, HOST, CNN'S "EARLY START": We know this is not an exact science here, but in your opinion, is there a chance here this is not Zimmerman's voice?
EDWARD JOHN PRIMEAU, AUDIO ENGINEER AND FORENSICS EXPERT: There is a huge chance that this is not Zimmerman's voice. As a matter of fact, after 28 years of doing this, I would put my reputation on the line and say this is not George Zimmerman screaming.
SAMBOLIN: And can you put a percentage on that?
PRIMEAU: Well, that's a tough question. I am going to say about 95.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: So at this point, those audio experts, that's their belief as to the yell for help on that 911 audio. But again, that can't be determined with certainty -- Carol.
COSTELLO: George Howell reporting from Sanford, Florida.
We're just about an hour away now from a meeting at the White House. President Obama is hosting Canadian prime minister and the Mexican president and they are going to talk about lots of things, issues on the agenda for today's North America Leader Summit including the economy, trade, and energy.
Hillary Clinton, 2016? Despite the secretary of state's repeated insistence that she will not run for president again, her husband reopened the door to a possible future bid. Former President Bill Clinton says he will be happy either way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: I believe that she is being absolutely honest with you when she says she doesn't think they will go back into politics. But if she comes home and we do the foundation things the rest of our lives, I will be happy if she changes our mind and decides to run, I will be happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: During his interview this morning with ABC's "Good Morning America," the former two-term president also predicted President Obama would win re-election by a significant margin. I bet you are really surprised by that prediction.
Republican leaders are back out on the campaign trail today drumming up last minute votes before tomorrow's big primary. Voters in Maryland, D.C. and Wisconsin cast ballots tomorrow.
Our political director, Mark Preston, is here. So Wisconsin is the big prize this time around.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It is the big prize. It's the big prize because it's Middle America and if Mitt Romney can win in Wisconsin, he can help erase the idea that he can't connect with working class voters, which Rick Santorum has done so well, Carol, in this election so far.
COSTELLO: So what are the polls saying?
PRESTON: Well, the polls are saying that it is Mitt Romney's race now to lose, but the polls have been wrong in the past and we do have to be careful.
You know, right now, Mitt Romney is up in double-digits in some and single digits in others, but he does have the Wisconsin Republican establishment behind him.
COSTELLO: He is expected though to take all three races and for obvious reasons, Maryland and D.C., tell us why.
PRESTON: Well, because Maryland and D.C., if you are a Republican and you live in Maryland or you live in the District of Columbia, your views are probably a little more centrist than they are say in Alabama or Mississippi.
You might be a government worker. You might be somebody who works for a company that works with the federal government. So your views don't tend to be as socially conservative. They tend to be more fiscally conservative.
And that's why we take Mitt Romney is going to do well. If he's able to pick up Wisconsin, an incredible amount of pressure will now be thrust upon Rick Santorum as if there already hasn't been to get out of the race.
COSTELLO: OK, so if Mitt Romney wins Wisconsin and Maryland and D.C., is it safe to say that he is going to get the nomination?
PRESTON: No. I will tell you the reason why. I mean, yes, OK, if I am a betting man, I would say he is going to get the nomination. But look, stranger things have happened.
And the fact is Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have both said they are going to stay in the race until Mitt Romney gets 1,144 delegates, which is what you need to clinch the nomination.
Stranger things have happened and until they get out I think we have to play it out.
COSTELLO: All right, Mark Preston, thank you.
Viva Las Vegas rolled out the red carpet for some of country music's biggest names this weekend. Stars hit the stage for the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Carrie Underwood kicked things off.
Wow. Veteran co-host Blake Shelton even made a little news of his own when he decided to joke at the rumor that Taylor Swift and Tim Tebow had been out on a date.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLAKE SHELTON, COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST: And now I guess the Broncos were so anxious to win another Super Bowl they were actually willing to sacrifice a virgin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Man, Shelton went on to say now we know what he has been praying for. The joke choked. We see Taylor Swift's face there, like you didn't go there, but that did not ruin her night. She won the night's biggest award for a second year in a row, Entertainer of The Year.
Just ahead, a new embarrassment for President Obama's re- election campaign. A volunteer fundraiser is accused of fraud. More on that straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Trayvon Martin, we can all agree what happened that February night was a tragedy, but that's about it because the Martin case has become about so much more than just a case of injustice or not.
I am sure none of you are surprised by this. It's become a political slug fest. On one side, MSNBC's host, Al Sharpton has become the de facto public voice for the Martin family.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK: What is messing them up is when they see young, beautiful sisters and young strong brothers walking with their heads held high, walking with dignity, walking with pride and walking with integrity in tact demanding justice for their brother.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Sharpton's call for a boycott of businesses in Sanford, Florida though, so alarmed some of the local branch of the NAACP they felt they had to set the record straight. Politicians are wearing hoodies to show sympathy for Trayvon Martin.
On the other side, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have blasted President Obama for saying if he had a son, he would look like Trayvon.
Gingrich called Obama's comments disgraceful and Santorum accused the president of injecting race into the tragedy. The conservative web site, "The Daily Caller" published Trayvon Martin's tweets, complete with rap-laced slang.
And then there are those defending gun rights. Conservative pendant, Ann Coulter says no matter whose story you believe, the stand your ground law is innocent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANN COULTER, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: The stand-your-ground law only applies, only is relevant if someone had an opportunity to retreat and the law says you don't have to retreat. In neither narrative is retreating an option. It has nothing to do with the stand-your-ground law. This is simple self-defense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And even with the state's attorney, the FBI, and possibly a grand jury reviewing the case, the Trayvon Martin case has become less about what actually happened that night and more about partisan politics.
So talk back question today, why can't we have a rational conversation about what happened to Trayvon Martin? Facebook.com/carolcnn and I will read your comments later this hour.
Also this morning, President Obama's re-election campaign is facing some embarrassing claims against one of its own volunteer fundraisers. The "Washington Post" is reporting that one of the 400 people holding that trusted position is accused of big time fraud. The "Post" says she accused of bilking a businessman out of more than $650,000.
CNN's Athena Jones is at the White House. So what's the Obama campaign saying?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I spoke with the campaign spokesman this morning and they're not commenting specifically on this case of this woman, this New Yorker, who has been accused of these crimes.
But they say that more than 1.3 million Americans have donated to the campaign and we constantly review those contributions for any issues. This is from campaign spokesman Ben Labolt. He said that some issues are easy to identify and others more difficult.
But once an issue has been raised, we address it promptly as we will do in this case. And so he wasn't able to say what exactly they will do to address this and couldn't answer at the time whether or not they will be returning this money, but they're certainly looking into it.
We have confirmed though according to the campaign web site that this woman has raised between $50,000 and $100,000 as a bundler for the Obama campaign. We also know that last year she donated $5,000 to the campaign and then $35,000 to the Obama victory fund also last year.
So that's what we know so far. We're still following this, Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, I am sure you are still digging. Athena Jones live at the White House this morning.
The 22nd Airline Quality Rating report is out this morning. When it comes to issues like your lost luggage, late arrivals and fare increases, the report gives us a look at the best and worst of the 15 largest airlines.
So let's head back to Washington and check in with Lizzie O'Leary. What can we learn from this report?
LIZZIE O'LEARY, CNN AVIATION AND REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Carol, we should point out that this is about as you pointed out being on time, bags, customer complaints, things like that and we can tell you the top three here, AirTran comes in at number one, getting the best overall rating followed by Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue.
They have been in the news for other reasons, but as far as customers go over the past year or so they are coming in, in the top and when you look at the other side of this, this is kind of the regional carriers. You see the folks who do smaller routes for the big airlines, so that's Atlantic, Southeast, Mesa, and American Eagle. They scored at the bottom for all of these things.
That of course is on time performance, baggage, customer complaints. It isn't about safety. It is about how people feel about their airline.
COSTELLO: Gotcha. So overall, what are we seeing in the industry?
O'LEARY: Well, it might not feel like it, but they're getting better. The trend has been toward an improvement, and actually things have been ticking up over the past decade or so.
One interesting thing to note, we look through the numbers and none of the big legacy carriers have been at the top number one in almost 10 years.
That sort of shows you that a lot of the newer airlines, smaller airlines, more niche airlines tend to get better feedback from the customers according to this group of experts that get surveyed every year.
COSTELLO: Lizzie O'Leary, thanks as always.
Early spring feels more like mid-summer in Atlanta. The temperature today could hit 90 degrees. Look at that haze out there. It has been that way for much of the country setting temperature records in March.
Reynolds Wolf is coming up to tell us just how warm it was in the month of March.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: The song "Soak Up the Sun," and that's what much of the country has been doing. This is Atlanta. The metro temperature could hit 90 degrees today. It is only April 2nd.
Atlanta can expect high 80s for much of the week. It's not just Atlanta. Other places have also seen the warmest March ever -- Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Do you like the heat or more on the cool side? Should spring be like spring?
COSTELLO: I actually love it, but it scares me a little. What does it mean?
WOLF: Well, it may not mean much at all. They have only been keeping records since 1880 and the earth is about 4.6 billion years old. So you know, it certainly is impressive and going to stick around possibly for today.
In fact take a look at what we have in terms of our numbers, take a look. Here you go, warmest March on record for Chicago, for Washington, D.C., even Minneapolis and also Atlanta, Detroit, and Cleveland have to be folded into that as well.
But it is the second warmest March on record for New York City, Philadelphia, and Denver. In fact, that's March. April started off pretty much the same way. Tallahassee yesterday was 90 degrees, one degree shy of 90 in Sioux Falls and Joplin, very warm there, double 88 there.
Let's see in Rapid City 86. In New Orleans 86, but one thing to focus is just because you have those temperatures in the city, there is some places in surrounding areas that may indeed have gotten into the low 90s. No question about it.
And today, we expect the warm temperatures to be right back up, but we may see some of the temperatures drop back down a bit in the coming days especially here on the east coast.
So that's some good news, certainly in Atlanta, by the time we get to Friday and Saturday, it should be back into the 70s so a little bit of a cool down. Not quite hard summer just yet. Just a little pop up of warm temperatures.
COSTELLO: OK, break out my shorts. Reynolds Wolf, thank you so much.
Sarah Palin to co-host the "Today Show." Is she ready? Are you? Our "Political Buzz" panel weighs in next.
And after being in a slump for years, the hiring outlook is on the rise for college graduates and that could mean big things for the economy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: "Political Buzz" is your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing with us today are CNN contributors on the left, Maria Cardona, Will Cain is in the middle and on the right, Dana Loesch. Welcome to all of you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks, Carol.
COSTELLO: Actually, you're on the right more than the middle, aren't you?
I knew when I said that I was wrong, but you're right to correct me, Will Cain. OK, first question, "Politico's" big headline mentions there is a Romney that Democrats fear and it isn't Mitt, no, it is Ann Romney, the Mrs. Could she not one who helps her husband connect with voters? Dana?
DANA LOESCH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I look at it like this. If Mitt Romney is going to be pose a successful challenge to Barack Obama going into the general election because mathematically you have to look at who the nominee will be at this point.
Ann Romney, for someone who's been a non-Ron as everybody knows this entire time, I like Ann Romney. She seems like a very nice lady. He is going to have to really lean upon her since he didn't court a lot of grassroots conservatives.
He is going to have to rely on his wife to make up some of the gaps. So I think she is going to be a formidable force going forward in the general. Wives usually are. Aren't they?
COSTELLO: Maria.
MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I wouldn't use fear as any word to describe what Democrats feel about anybody in the Romney campaign right now, Carol. But if you look at her as somebody who will be more appealing to women then I would say, yes. If you look at her as somebody who can make robotic like Mitt Romney seem a little bit more human, then I would say yes.
I think that certainly she is his best asset. But you know what she's not on the ticket. And unfortunately, he'll be the one who will be pushing the policies that are anti-women, anti-middle class, anti- workers; and that's going to be a detriment to the whole Romney campaign.
COSTELLO: Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Look it's true, where Mitt Romney is cold and calculated and not terribly full of personality, Ann Romney seems warm and authentic and somebody everyone likes. With that being said, everyone talks about how little the vice presidential pick means. It's like, do you ever really analyze the vice presidential pick and let that influence the president that you're going to vote for? I would offer to you that the First Lady is of even less import, of even less influence. So no one decides which President they're going to vote for based upon who their First Lady is.
CARDONA: Yes.
COSTELLO: Wow. That's surprising.
DANA LOESCH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes.
COSTELLO: Ok onto the second question.
Sarah Palin, speaking of vice presidential picks, co-hosting "The Today Show" tomorrow. Matt Lauer called her earlier this morning and he could not resist asking Sarah Palin this question.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATT LAUER, TALK SHOW HOST: What are you doing to prepare? Are you reading some newspapers?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it begins.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can still turn that plate around, Governor.
SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER GOVERNOR OF ALASKA: Great ok that's a fine how do you do. That's a great start. Here we go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Of course the reference Palin's interview with Katie Couric in 2008 because Katie Couric will actually be co-hosting "Good Morning America" tomorrow. So you know they're competing.
So will you watch Palin, Maria?
CARDONA: I think I will watch her in between when I actually watch Katie Couric for real insight into the news. I think we're still all waiting with baited breath Carol to see if she can answer that question about what newspapers she actually reads. I think everybody who will be watching tomorrow will be watching because of that. She hasn't answered the question yet.
I don't think Katie has anything to worry about in terms of ratings when you're actually looking at who you trust for the news. I don't think that's going to be Sarah Palin.
COSTELLO: Will?
CAIN: Oh, I beg to differ. I think Katie does have something to worry about with the ratings. I will bet you and we could make a little bet right here that Katie will lose that ratings race tomorrow to Sarah Palin and if you got -- if you want to take me up on that bet?
CARDONA: I don't know, Will, last time you were on the air betting you bet that Rick Perry was going to be the next President of the United States.
CAIN: Gosh, gosh.
CARDONA: I don't know if you want to take that bet.
CAIN: I don't -- there is no tape of that. There is no tape of that. Sarah Palin is perfectly tailored to this job, Carol. She is charming. She can do high brow, low brow, she is attractive. She is going to -- she's going to be great on "The Today Show" tomorrow. Better -- I would say better than as a vice presidential candidate.
COSTELLO: Oh geez, Dana?
LOESCH: Yes I think Katie Couric is going to lose the ratings game just like she lost the ratings game the last anchor job that she had and that's the reason why she's hop-scotching around to all these other different networks.
So I think Sarah Palin is going to -- is going to best her yet and see this is the real war on women right here, the war on Palin, the war on people like Rebecca Clayfish you know the, keeping going I mean, that's -- that's exactly what it is. But no I will be watching Sarah Palin. I'll tune in just to see how she does.
And I agree with Will. I think she is really versatile. She can -- she can hold her own and -- and co-host "The Today Show" but I didn't, I was just waiting for Matt Lauer to ask something like that and he did not disappoint.
COSTELLO: That's right he did not.
Ok, time for your "Buzzer Beater" now 20 seconds each. "Mad Men" dissed Mitt Romney's father on last night's show. The program is set in the 1960s and referenced George Romney who was Michigan's Governor at the time.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Henry Francis. Well tell Jim he's on, he is not going to Michigan. Because Romney is a clown and I don't want him standing next to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, so guys, is this another case of liberal Hollywood striking again -- Will?
CAIN: Not really. Here -- let me explain something about bias. Bias isn't given to you overtly. So this guy, Henry Francis, I watch "Mad Men", he's a political operative. Would it be a surprise that a Democratic political operative, political operative would say something like that? No.
Bias is offensive when it's sold to you as though it's not, as though it's objective, as though it's down in the middle. This has no pretense so I am not offended whatsoever.
COSTELLO: Wow. That was deep. Dana?
LOESCH: I agree with Will, but then I don't agree with him. I can kind of argue both sides of this. I mean, they didn't say George Romney. They said Romney. And it's no surprise at all whatsoever that Matthew Weiner, he's the executive producer of "Mad Men" is a -- he's big time liberal. I mean, he was on "Real Time with Bill Maher" just discussing this the other day.
So I mean it's -- yes, I mean, you're going to expect something like this and of course the timing here during the -- the end of the GOP primary.
COSTELLO: That's right tomorrow is the Wisconsin primary and D.C., and Maryland. Maria?
CARDONA: Yes I sort of actually agree with both Will and Dana on this. I mean it's no surprise. I think it would be interesting to see is any reruns of "Boston Law" or any of the other shows that were running when Mitt Romney was Governor of Massachusetts to see if any of those lines actually come out in terms of how foolish people might have thought he was. That should be interesting.
COSTELLO: We'll dig through our vault and see.
CARDONA: Exactly.
LOESCH: And she agreed with, Maria agreed with us. We got her on record.
CARDONA: I know.
LOESCH: Change is happening.
CARDONA: See, I know, I know. People coming together.
COSTELLO: We end with a beautiful meeting of the minds.
LOESCH: Exactly.
COSTELLO: I'm going to sing like what am I going to sing? Kumbaya, that's it, I'm going to sing it in the break. Dana, Will, Maria thanks for playing today. We appreciate it.
CARDONA: Thanks, Carol.
CAIN: Thanks.
LOESCH: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Here is a great headline for Monday morning. More college grads are finding jobs. Allison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. Does that mean mom and dad can say get out of my basement now?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They can only hope. They can only hope, so yes, if you've got a college degree, it looks like hiring is kind of making a comeback here. Look it's not as good as last year. But it's still a double-digit improvement.
There was a survey done showing that employers planned to hire 10 percent more college grads this year. This survey came from the National Association of Colleges and Employers and so it's yet another look -- a more optimistic outlook than just a few months ago. You know if you put it in real numbers, almost 16,000 entry level positions have been listed for the class of 2012. You compare that to the class of 2010 which only had about 5,000 job postings, so what we're also seeing are reports of bigger job fairs at several colleges since these -- these companies are scouting for more of these college grads. Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, what about the salaries of these new jobs?
KOSIK: You know what it looks like the paychecks are getting a little fatter too. The median entry level salary for college grad is up 4.5 percent from last year. So if you put that in real dollars that's almost $43,000 a year. Not bad.
But don't rest on your laurels. No, no competition is going to be pretty darn tough. You know employers are getting more than 30 applications per posting. Because you also have to remember beside the folks who are just graduating, there are a lot of graduates who settled for a low-paying job during the recession or didn't find work at all so they're trying to sort of make their comeback and they're eyeing for those entry level jobs too that are a little bit better than the ones they settled for.
A tough competition out there but the job openings are happening if you're a college grad you have a better chance of landing one. Carol.
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik live at the New York Stock Exchange.
Something that looked suspicious caused the TSA to evacuate a dozen gates at Love Field in Dallas. We'll tell you what it was that's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Taylor Swift is just 22 years old but boy did she have a great night at the Country Music Awards and she won awards. I guess she won the same award two times in a row. It was quite a feat for anyone but she is 22.
Showbiz correspondent, Nischelle Turner, is here -- actually she's in Los Angeles and -- ok, so Taylor Swift won this "Entertainer of the Year" award two times in a row.
But there was this really bad joke that was told during the ceremony. Awkward.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It was awkward, Carol. I mean this still has some fans buzzing this moment, this morning -- excuse me. Now hosts Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire joked on stage about Tim Tebow and the rumors that he and Taylor Swift could be a couple and when they cutaway to Taylor Swift during the joke she gave them like a priceless confused reaction. And the consensus seems to be that Taylor Swift and Tim Tebow are not dating but they just had dinner together.
But that wasn't the only time her single status came up at the show. She was supposed to go to the show with high school student and cancer patient Kevin McGuire. You may remember the story. His sister started a Facebook campaign to have Taylor Swift be his prom date. She couldn't go to the prom but instead she invited him to the awards show.
Well, he had to be hospitalized at the last minimum on it Friday. He couldn't make it. Taylor Swift said hello to him from the stage after she won "Entertainer of the Year". I hope he was watching Carol and I hope that made him feel a little bit better.
COSTELLO: I hope so too. That's really sweet.
Ashton Kutcher, talk about him now. Has he really been cast to play Steve Jobs?
TURNER: It seems so, Carol. He is reportedly ready to play the late Steve Jobs in an upcoming bio-pick creatively titled "Jobs". Now, I kind of like the casting but some people may not think Kutcher is the right guy because it is not a comedy after all. But there is a physical resemblance between Ashton Kutcher and Steve Jobs when he was younger and "Variety" says the film will chronicle Jobs' meteoric rise from Northern California hippy to co-founder of Apple.
And I should point out. This is not the only Jobs biopic in the works. There's an adaptation of Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs that's also in the planning stages. But I mean listen, Ashton Kutcher is also kind of that hippy, that -- and he's a very smart guy, so I think he can channel that and do a good job with this.
COSTELLO: Maybe so. We'll see. Thanks very much, Nischelle. We appreciate it.
TURNER: All right. Bye Carol.
COSTELLO: Some middle school kids came across an unusual and possibly valuable find while they were doing a good deed. We'll tell you where they discovered this treasure and what happens to it now.
As more children are diagnosed with autism, the cost to care for them is also rising. Up next we'll hear about the emotional and financial toll from a family living with autism.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country now.
The TSA shut down Dallas Love Field for a short time after a suspicious device was found near the cockpit of a southwest airlines plane. Security evacuated a dozen gates as a precaution. Turned out the device was a student's science project and that project included a small robot.
A man who said he had a gun in his pocket picked the wrong store in Grand Rapids, Michigan to try and rob. This is surveillance video of what happened late last month. A customer who happens to be an Iraq war veteran and knows martial arts wrestled the alleged gunman to the ground and holding him in a choke hold. The man passed out and he woke up in police handcuffs.
In Oakland some middle school students cleaning up a local lake really cleaned up in a big way. They found two canvas bags full of watches, silver, antique jewelry and candlesticks. On "EARLY START" today, the kids talked about what's next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it would be great if the owners were found because I know what it is like to lose something, probably not that valuable, but it is great when it is returned to you. It would be really nice if the owners were found, but if they aren't found, then if it went to the school, that would be also cool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More library books.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: More library books. As the kids said, if no one claims the stuff in 90 days, the school might be able to keep it.
Today is World Autism Day. The CDC now estimate that is 1 in 88 children have autism. That is a 23 percent increase since 2009. As more children are diagnosed with the disorder, the cost for caring for those children is also rising.
CNN Money's Poppy Harlow, she's in New York and we're talking billions of dollars here.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY: Billions of dollars. This number just came out late last week. We were all shocked, $137 billion a year in the United States. That is what autism costs society according to a new study out by Autism Speaks. The lifetime cost for an individual, a family, raising someone with autism can be up to $2.3 million. That's for someone on the severe end of the spectrum.
29 states do have laws right now requiring insurance to cover autism treatment. Those are the states in yellow on your screen. But still, what we found out in researching this, Carol, is that so many families still struggle to pay for the costs that aren't covered by insurance. I want to show you one, this adorable little boy, Colton, you see him there on the plaza. We spent the day with his family. He is three years old, but eight months ago he was diagnosed with autism and first for his parents came the emotional shock and then the financial shock. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID PICCIANO, COLTON'S FATHER: It is approximately $1,000 out of pocket a month. Between everything, between all of the therapies --
HARLOW: So it is not all covered?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, oh, no, it is not all covered. We still have co-pays. Right now I have been fighting with insurance since like August to get him occupational therapy. We want to give him everything, every fighting chance that we can give him he is going to be something special. We just know it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: They're doing an incredible job raising him, and they have better health insurance than a lot of other families do out there. They're still struggling. They have put off their dreams of buying a home with a yard. They live in a condo. They also tell me we're not sure if we can afford to have a second child right now.
That's how much you have to put in after the emotional shock, how hard it is for families especially in this economy.
COSTELLO: It is not like their financial burden will go away because they still have to deal with Colton when he grows up.
HARLOW: That's the reality. And that's what we take a look at in the second part of this piece. We have it there online. What do you do when your child gets out of the education system?
We met a young man named Clinton. He's 21 years old. He's graduating from high school in June, and what happens to him then? That's what his parents are still worried about.
Also, what they didn't expect is when he turned into a teenager, some other things happened. He became more aggressive with the disease. He started breaking windows, overturning furniture, so he needs 24 hour care. Parents are worried what happens when we're gone and this is, I couldn't believe this number, his mother told me he is 3,000 on the waiting list to get into a group home for adults with autism.
It shows you the struggles the parents face from a young age when they first get diagnosed all through adulthood, Carol.
Poppy Harlow live in New York for us. Thanks.
COSTELLO: Ahead, a high school basketball player says he is focused on staying modest even though he is being recruited by almost every top college basketball program in the country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: I asked you to talk back on an important issue of the day. The question this morning, "Why can't we have a rational conversation about what happened to Trayvon Martin?"
This from Steven, "Because it is an irrational issue. How does stand your ground get revised to stalk and pursue? Had Zimmerman done as the dispatcher directed Trayvon would still be alive today and we would not have this circus of idiots in Florida."
This from Robert, "Are we honestly supposed to believe that there was a war on women for a week and a war on African-American teens for the next week? Which Democratic demographic group will be under attack this week?"
This from Chase. "I would rather have a gun in my hand and I a cop on the phone. I support the right to bear arms and the right to act when threatened, not saying what Zimmerman did was right but certainly he had the right if the situation truly did call for it."
This from Laura, "We unfortunately have parallel realities in the United States. Black parents have concerned that white parents can't even conceive of. And too often white people don't accept that those concerns are based in reality."
This from Riley. "Like carnival barkers chasing an audience, politicos and pundit pop up and cherry pick the truth in or out of context -- anything that might further their agenda. It is like a movie about a bad movie, about politics gone mad.
Facebook.com/CarolCNN if you would like to continue the conversation.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: If you have been captivated by March Madness this year, just wait until next year when you get to see Tony Parker play. He is so hot on the court he has been talking to recruiters since he was in the eighth grade. Here is CNN's Reynolds Wolf.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we go. Here we go, here we go, here we go.
How you feeling? How you feeling? What time is it? Yes.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Four years of varsity basketball and four straight Georgia State championship titles, 18- year-old Tony Parker is one of the most highly recruited players in America. The 6'9 center is a local celebrity at Miller Grove High School in Lithonia, Georgia. But those who know him well say he is unaffected by all the attention.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is so humble.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is really humble.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is a better person than he is a basketball player, and that's saying a lot.
TONY PARKER, HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYER: UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When the guy has back here, throws a bad look, a bad look on your coach, on your team. But when you have good character you can go farther.
WOLF: Good character and staying grounded, not an easy task considering the number of high profile schools pursuing Parker.
(on camera): Have you narrowed it down to a few?
PARKER: Yes, I probably narrowed it down to UCLA, Duke, Ohio State, Georgetown, Kansas, and Kentucky, that's it.
WOLF (voice-over): Parker started playing basketball when he was four years old. His father says he became a standout performer in seventh grade.
VIRGIL PARKER, TONY'S DAD: Went to the junior all American camp up in Virginia, and he really did good, and he had some good write ups.
WOLF: The next year before he even started high school, the college scouts started calling.
(on camera): How have you seen things change from your eighth grade year to our present time now?
PARKER: I was getting phone calls sparingly and now it is every day. It is a different coach.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- get Tony back to get big Tony out of the next --
WOLF: Sharman White is Parker's coach.
(on camera): If we can fast forward and you can say something to the university to let them know exactly what kind of young man they're getting, what would you say to that university?
SHARMAN WHITE, BASKETBALL COACH: I would tell them they're getting a very, very, very special young man, somebody they can put the face of the program and put the trust in the faith of their program in, and he won't let you down.
WOLF (voice-over): He hopes to study business management and journalism and he is the very interest of a renaissance man in the making.
HAZEL PARKER: He loves horses. And that's kind of unusual. And he likes to cook.
WOLF: The hardest part now, making the decision.
TONY PARKER: When you are in the gym late nights and early morning, you plan your whole life around this. Once you get to middle school, you watch college basketball and it is all you want to do in life. And you just have to see which one you love the most and that is a very, very hard decision choosing from all these great schools where you can be a great -- where you can get a great education as well.
WOLF: Reynolds Wolf, CNN, Lithonia, Georgia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Wow. NEWSROOM continues right now with Kyra Phillips.
