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Report: NSA Bugged E.U. Offices; Looking for Snowden; Marriage Laws & Motivation; Record High Temps in Southwest; Housing Market Factor; Some Student Loan Rates to Double; NFL Players in Trouble with Law

Aired June 30, 2013 - 18:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: This hour, we've got the stories everyone is talking about.

Furious, that's how headlines around the world are describing the European Union's reaction to a new report that accuses our NSA of bugging E.U. offices on both sides of the Atlantic.

After the Supreme Court shot down gay marriage restrictions in California, opponents rushed to stop the weddings. They've got an answer, but not the one they wanted.

Heat records smashed across the West. It's not over. We go live to Death Valley straight ahead.

And a sight reminiscent of the Arab Spring, massive demonstrations in Cairo that just may be a powder keg waiting to explode.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.

We're going to begin this hour with the alleged bugging of European Union offices. According to a German justice minister, if the accusations are true, it is reminiscent of the Cold War. European officials are angry and demanding answers.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is on the story for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The German publication "Ders Spiegel" is reporting that the NSA, the National Security Agency, spied on offices of the European Union, provoking outrage from those U.S. allies. The president of the European parliament issuing a very tough statement, saying he wants answers from the U.S., and adding, quote, "I am deeply worried and shocked about the allegations of U.S. authorities spying on the E.U. offices. If the allegations prove to be true, it would be an extremely serious matter."

"Ders Spiegel" is indicating its information came from material provided by Edward Snowden, the self-confessed NSA leaker. Now, here in Washington, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a reply to the European saying, quote, "The United States government will respond appropriately to the European Union through our diplomatic channels. While we are not going to comment publically on specific alleged intelligence activities, as a matter of policy, we have made clear that the United States gathers foreign intelligence of the type gathered by all nations."

So that's certainly far short of a denial that the U.S. spied on its allies. And it should be noted that the U.S. assumes the allies spy on the U.S.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Barbara, thank you very much.

And the newspaper which first broke the story of NSA spying activities is adding to today's revel revelations. According to "The Guardian," 38 embassies and missions across the world were targets of U.S. intelligence, and techniques covered everything from planted bugs to data collection using specialized antenna.

As far as Edward Snowden, as far as we know, Snowden is still in a transit zone at Moscow's airport. He flew there from Hong Kong last week. Snowden is facing espionage charges in the U.S. which yanked its passport and asked other countries not to give him asylum.

CNN's Karl Penhaul takes us to Moscow's airport and traces the path possibly taken by Snowden.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the view that may have flashed in front of Edward Snowden just after touchdown at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Through passport control, even though by then U.S. officials had revoked his travel documents. Then, perhaps Snowden would have put the four laptops he was reportedly carrying through a scanner.

What really happened next is a puzzle more complex than any in these airport magazines. There is no isolated transit lounge. Like all other international passengers, the leaker would have had free run of terminals D, E and F, a maze of tax-free and coffee shops close to 3/4 mile long and more than 50 departure gates bustling with travelers.

Even so, it would be tough for one of America's most wanted men to stay hidden in plain sight.

So, we checked a handful of more private VIP and first class lounges. No sign.

Has he perhaps donned a classic spy disguise, dark glasses and a Russian hat? Maybe even a T-shirt tribute to the first man in space. If Snowden needs a stiff drink to steady his nerves on the lam, what better than a drum of this, a taste of what could be the next stop on his odyssey.

The scandal Snowden has generated seems like a throwback to the Cold War, every bit like these Soviet mementos on sale.

And so far, President Obama reduced here to a smiling matryoshka doll is floundering in efforts to hunt him down and bring him home.

(on camera): It's early hours in the morning now and the passengers thinned out. The question is, though, if Snowden is not in this sprawling airport departure area --

(voice-over): -- has someone let him slip out of one of many side doors like this?

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Sheremetyevo Airport, Russia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, Karl.

California's new wave of same-sex marriages survived a legal twist today. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request to stop California from issuing same-sex marriage licensees. The request came from Proposition 8 backers who argue a 25-day waiting period for Supreme Court decisions to become final was being ignored. Justice Anthony Kennedy acted on his own and rejected the request without consulting other justices.

An historic Supreme Court ruling this week set the stage for California same-sex marriages to resume. Another ruling struck down key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Rainbow flags were flying at guy pride parades around the world today with a special nod to the historic rulings in the U.S. New York's parade honored the Stonewall riots which helped launch the modern gay rights movement. San Francisco is holding its biggest ever pride parade, about 1.5 million people are celebrating there.

In Toronto, thousands of people showed their pride, including Kathleen Wynne, Ontario's first openly guy premier.

The first week of testimony in the George Zimmerman murder trial, plenty of explosive and sometimes uncomfortable moments in this Florida courtroom. Twenty-two witnesses took the stand, providing crucial testimony for the six female jurors who will eventually determine Zimmerman's fate.

Martin Savidge outside the courthouse in Sanford, Florida, now.

Hello, Martin.

You know, you've been there all week. What is the defining moment? Do you think there was a defining moment going on to jurors?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And I thought about that question a lot. I don't know if I could say there is a defining moment. There have been defining moments. You know, we had the testimony that came from Rachel Jeantel for some people. That was defining because they heard what she was saying Trayvon Martin was seeing and going through. There were others who thought the testimony that was given on Friday, Jonathan Good, for instance, that he was a key witness, an eyewitness, 15 to 20 feet away from the struggle these two were having, the teenager and George Zimmerman. He gave a remarkable account.

And there is more yet to come in what could be some dramatic testimony, including perhaps the parents of Trayvon Martin taking the stand and the question everybody wants to know is, you know, will George Zimmerman take the stand? I think he would like to.

I think his attorneys would say, well, wait a minute here. There is a strategy and reason why we might not want you to take the stand. So, week one turned out to have a lot more twists and turns many people including those who cover this case anticipated. That only makes you say, boy, week two could have a great deal more.

LEMON: Oh, absolutely. You know, Martin, what about the statements from Zimmerman to police in the days following the shooting? The written statements, there is audio and that video reenactment that we've all seen and just watched so many times on television. Are those expected to come into court this week?

SAVIDGE: You know, I believe they are. Of course, you know, it's going to be up to the prosecution to introduce them. And that's -- that remains to be seen.

You know, there's a strategy to this. Once evidence is introduced, you also have to understand that you may be able to use it, meaning the state can use it, but then the defense may be able to use it, too, to their advantage. That's why we'll have to see.

There are a number of events that are already in there. For instance, the call that George Zimmerman makes to the nonemergency line. That's been introduced. And that's going to be crucial because that weighs to the time line here. And you actually hear what's going on.

As you point out, the reenactment. You could then try to compare the two. How does the reenactment compare to that telephone call he makes? Do they match up or does it seem like George is changing his story for his benefit.

So, that's what I think the state is going to try to show, is that his story does not always hold up and it doesn't hold up with the reality of what we know.

LEMON: OK. So, Marty, you know, you've been in that courtroom. And I just have to say this. Looking at that video of him showing police what happened on the night of Trayvon Martin's death, and there it is right there. Looking at him there, he is a fairly thin man. And then in the courtroom, he has gained over 100 pounds. Clearly, this has been stressful on him.

You can -- we are watching on television cameras on the television. Can you feel it? Can you see it in his face? Does he -- you know, is there fear there? What's going on? SAVIDGE: Well, you know, I'm not an expert at body language and I certainly can't tell you what is going on inside his head. I think what I noticed, and this is just me as an observer in the courtroom and watching.

Initially when this trial began, George Zimmerman just was there. But I have noted as it progressed, especially towards the end of the week, he's become more active in what is happening inside that courtroom. He is paying closer attention.

There are times people thought he was actually nodding off. We don't see anything like that now. He's actually taking down notes and writing.

And I've seen him interact with the attorneys, his defense attorneys while they are questioning somebody. In other words, he seems to be offering advice or offering some insight or maybe suggesting even a question. I don't know.

So, his action within the case appears to be more confident. Once you take away from that -- I'm not going to be the one to make the measure.

LEMON: Yes, I noticed that, too, as an observer outside the courtroom, same thing.

Thank you, Martin. We appreciate it.

Other news now: President Barack Obama is in South Africa. It's an emotional visit. He stood in a very cell where Nelson Mandela had been imprisoned for many years.

The anti-apartheid icon wasn't with him. He remains hospitalized and critical condition, of course. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: President Obama will be in Tanzania tomorrow, the third and final leg of his week-long trip to Africa. The president wrapped up his tour today with a visit to the prison cell where Nelson Mandela was held for many years.

The visit was quite emotional with the ailing anti-apartheid icon still in critical condition in the hospital in Pretoria.

Also today, the president pledged $7 billion to help combat frequent power blackouts in parts of Africa.

It's time to talk politics and the impact of this week's big Supreme Court decisions.

E.D. Hill is back with us, a conservative analyst and author. She is in Austin, Texas.

And CNN contributor Maria Cardona is in Washington. She is a also a Democratic strategist. Good to see both of you.

OK.

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Nice to see you, Don.

LEMON: Let's start with the two rulings on same-sex marriage. In a pair of 5-4 votes, the court struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. It also refused to rule on California's Proposition 8, effectively making it the 13th state to allow same-sex marriages.

You know, E.D., I had been wanting to talk to conservatives about this on the air, at least. But to get -- do you think the courts made the right calls?

E.D. HILL, CONSERVATIVE ANALYST: I don't know if I'm conservative enough for you. I believe it is a states rights issue. I'm a big defender of states right.

I think it was wise for them not to get involved in California. You know, it appears that California just didn't follow the necessary protocol to be able to follow the path they wanted to. And, you know, that's the issue. I do think that was appropriate.

I also happen to be a pretty fair-minded person, I think. And, you know, honestly, I go back and forth. I'm not sure I made up my mind where I stand on homosexual marriage, on a gay marriage rights, but I do believe in fairness. It's hard to argue against what they decided in terms of the federal government.

LEMON: Yes. Would you say you're involving on this issue? Much like the president and Rob Portman and everyone else did?

HILL: Well, you know, you've I got a lot of people with bipartisan -- I shouldn't say with bipartisan. But with the states where this has passed, it's continuing to increase. I think we've got 30 percent of the nation's adults now live in states where they can, if they choose to, be married, whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.

And I do believe we are seeing the tide. It is moving in one direction. And I don't know if it's necessarily a matter of time until it's all that way, but it certainly has been moving in one direction.

LEMON: OK. Maria, I don't know if we need to discuss it. We talked about how you feel about this. You think it's a civil right and I would imagine you think the courts ruled correctly.

CARDONA: Absolutely. They did the right thing.

LEMON: OK. Let's move on. I want to zero in on the opinions that Justice Kennedy wrote, OK? The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those who sought to protect in personhood and dignity.

His point basically is that laws banning gay marriage were designed to harm gay and lesbian couples. But then Justice Scalia said in his dissent, he fired back. He said, "In the majority's telling, this story is black and white. Hate your neighbor or come along with us. The truth is more complicated."

And the conservative leader Ralph Reed makes a similar argument.

HILL: That's right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RALPH REED, CHAIRMAN, FAITH AND FREEDOM COALITION: Because somebody wants to affirm the institution of marriage that they are intolerant, by that argument, Barack Obama was intolerant 14 months ago. By that argument, 342 members of the House, 85 members of the Senate, including by the way, Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Pat Leahy who all voted for this law, and Bill Clinton who signed it into law were intolerant and motivated by an animus and hatred for gays.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, Maria, are laws banning same-sex marriage motivated by the desire to harm gays and lesbian?

CARDONA: I think they are motivated by a desire to protect something that the conservatives and others who believe that guys and lesbians should not have the right to be married in the same way that a man and woman do, I think these laws were designed to protect, you know? And again I don't think it's correct, but to protect what they believe is sacrosanct between a man and a woman.

Now, to me, that gets to the religious aspect of this. But from a civil rights perspective, this is why I think that the decision was correct. Because I do think by giving them the protection through the law, you're also denying 10 percent of the population the same rights and benefits and privileges that a man and a woman who marry are able to get. And that inherently is wrong and goes against American values. That is what I think the Supreme Court was trying to correct.

LEMON: Here what is I'm trying to figure out.

HILL: I do agree --

LEMON: Go ahead, E.D.

HILL: Can I interject?

LEMON: Yes.

HILL: I do believe a lot of people try to put this into a very personal argument, that you are evil if you don't agree with gay marriage, that you hate people, that there is something more personal about that.

I do believe -- Maria's got it really right. People have very different views for a multitude of reasons. Maybe they are just focused really on benefits. Maybe they are focused on the religious aspects of it.

There's a variety of things. But it is not black and white. It is multi-faceted and it's very difficult. That is why I believe it is best left at the states.

But that opens up a whole other can of worms. You know, what happens when you're married in California and you move to Texas? You know, what laws are the ones that supersede the other?

You file a federal tax return joint and you file the state tax return separate? I mean, we've got to figure this one out.

I think this is probably the reason we are unelected, but we elect people to go to Washington and do some work. These are the hard choices that they always pass off.

LEMON: OK. All right. All right. Thank you, guys. Appreciate it. I enjoyed that talk. I wish we had more time to talk about it.

Thank you. We'll see you again here on CNN.

Another big story today, the excessive heat --

CARDONA: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: -- is heightening its stranglehold on the West. Temperatures really are rising. They are huge in some areas.

We want to go to Tory Dunnan. She is Death Valley now where the temperature is a whopping 127 degrees. We want to get to Tory. We want to bring her up early. We're going to get her after the break.

But, now, because it's getting so hot here, we want to bring Tory up.

OK. So, Tory, you had your trusty thermostat earlier, thermometer -- excuse me -- earlier. What is it now?

TORY DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: All right, Don.

So, I have multiple things to show you here. This is my trusty thermometer here. It's reading above 130 degrees. Obviously, that is not the official temperature out here, but it's just been cooking in the sun.

But, Don, another thing I want to show you though is this actually measures the ground temperature. If I point it there and get a reading for you. Hold on.

It's closer to about 145 degrees. So, that gives you a point of just how awful it is standing out here in this heat. Your issues are just burning.

Let's bring in someone here.

Peter, come over here. You actually decided to come out here because you wanted to be part of potential history? PETER TELLONE, CALIFORNIA RESIDENT: Yes. We are desert adventurers and all. We would never miss the hottest temperature than ever. It's been 100 years. So, it's a good time to break that record.

DUNNAN: All right. I've got to tell you, take a look at this crew here. All these people have come to this area, Don. This is -- this is a basin.

And, basically, it's below sea level, some 282 feet below sea level. And people here think the temperature is going to be hotter here than in Furnace Creek. So, they gathered here and are trying to take the temperature themselves in hopes of reaching that level. But we'll see.

LEMON: Hey, Tory, I know that people talk to you when you're off camera. You're having conversation with those people.

What are they backing up to you saying, like, oh, my gosh, I can't believe, it's like hell it's so hot here?

DUNNAN: There is sort of a mixture of things. People say this is great, I never felt heat like this. Those people probably only been outside for a few minutes. Others are saying, you know, they never felt anything like this. They are from so many different countries. Trying to make sure they stay safe, as well.

And the biggest thing is all these people want someone to take the official measurement at this spot because they think it's hotter here than it is in Furnace Creek.

LEMON: Yes. This is me sending a note to the boss saying you should do live shots from the beach next week, all right? You earned your stripes. You've taken one for the team.

DUNNAN: As long as the beach is cool.

LEMON: Yes. Thank you, Tory. Appreciate it.

DUNNAN: How long will these unbelievable temperatures last, amid what about storms threatening the rest of the country? We've got that. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Will tomorrow bring much-needed relief to the Southwest?

We want to go to the CNN weather center and CNN meteorologist Jennifer Delgado. She's live there in the weather center.

Jennifer, I would imagine where Tory is, it's air-conditioning appreciation day.

JENNIFER DELGADO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely.

You know, I can tell you honestly, I am totally not jealous of her live shot and going out on that story, but it is brutally hot in parts of the Southwest.

Look at some of these numbers from yesterday, Don. For Las Vegas, new record, 115 -- 117, that was the record back in 2005. Death Valley, 128. And, of course, the all-time record for the warmest spot on earth, 134 degrees in Death Valley. We're getting very close to that with temperatures once again right near 130 degrees.

And look at the numbers right now. As you said, air conditioners are working in overdrive. And Imagine a lot of people are in the movies trying to get relief from the head. For areas, like needles, 118, 112 degrees in Phoenix.

Well, the heat is going to continue tomorrow. Even potentially some of these areas through Wednesday. And that's why we have these excessive heat warnings in place. Anywhere you are seeing in the pink shading, this is going to last until Tuesday.

And now, we're adding in the Pacific Northwest. They are going to be dealing with the heat because this bubble of warm air is going to be lifting up towards north.

Our friends in Canada are also going to be dealing with this extreme heat as we go through the next couple of days.

Now, in the eastern coastline, it's the opposite story. It's going to be cool, it's going to be rainy for the next several days as this ridge of high pressure is really going to be stalled out. And we're not going to see any relief any time soon.

Now, Don, you may be asking, hey, we have the holidays coming up. How is this going to affect the fireworks? So, keep in mind, we have a drought, we have heat wave over in the West. That means a lot of fireworks are going to be canceled there.

And then we have rain in the East. Yes, you know, that means we won't have a lot of displays as well. That includes the East Coast. But central part of the U.S. will be the right spot, even cool.

LEMON: Are you -- it's all bad news. You are all bad news, Jennifer.

DELGADO: I'm not all bad news. I gave you a bright spot, the Midwest.

LEMON: Jennifer, you're fired.

DELGADO: I probably am.

LEMON: Thank you, Jennifer. Appreciate it.

All right. So, what can you expect from the week ahead and politics, Wall Street, the world of entertainment? We've got your week's premiere, or primer, or primer, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: One of the most powerful signs yet of an improving U.S. economy has been the rapid boom in the housing market.

Tom Foreman has the latest in this week's "American Journey."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC TAN, REAL ESTATE AGENT: Modern luxuries combined with traditional charm. If you want to come inside and take a look, I'll show you what I mean.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Like the California summer, home prices around Los Angeles are heating up fast. Agent Eric Tan says condos that were going for $100,000 a year ago are now fetching $160,000, $170,000 and more.

TAN: The market has changed drastically. Everything is -- has a steady trend upwards as far as the sales price. And also competition for buyers.

FOREMAN: Tan works for Redfin where until fairly recently the CEO Glenn Kelman was --

GLENN KELMAN, CEO, REDFIN: Scared to death. Was probably how I felt a year ago. We were really worried about the market. It had been many years since we'd seen a rally. And now this year, we feel very confident.

FOREMAN: Confident because home prices in 20 targeted cities over the past year rose about 12 percent. And in some markets by even more. In Atlanta, prices shot up almost 21 percent. In Las Vegas, more than 22 percent. And in San Francisco, nearly 24 percent.

The general slow improvement of the economy and the re-emergence of investors who are convinced home prices have hit bottom are largely credited with making sellers so happy.

TAN: On the buyers' side, however, it's a completely different story.

FOREMAN (on camera): True enough. In some of the hottest markets, buyers who were calling the shots just a few months ago now find themselves in bidding wars for the most desirable properties.

(Voice-over): Still, the journey to a full recovery could yet see roadblocks and it will certainly take time. Even with the upward trend, one study found the average home value now is about where it was in 2004.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, Tom.

At the box office this week, "Monsters University" schooled, schooled its competition for the second week in a row. It pulled in more than $46 million. In second place is Sandra bullock and Melissa McCarthy buddy comedy "The Heat." "World War Z" finished third and "White House Down" finished fourth in its opening weekend. "Man of Steel" was fifth.

Let me give you a preview now of the other big stories this week from the CNN political desk to Wall Street to Hollywood. Our correspondents tell you what you need to know.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: I'm Paul Steinhauser at the CNN political desk.

Illegal immigration will be a topic of conversation this week as members of Congress head back to their home states and districts.

A sweeping immigration reform bill just passed by the Senate faces an uncertain future in the House.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is calling state lawmakers back in a special session this week to once again try and pass a controversial bill to ban nearly all abortions after 20 weeks.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. Wall Street is awaiting a number of economic reports this week. We'll get the latest construction spending in auto sales numbers as well as a key manufacturing reading. All of those are pretty important indicators of people's willingness to spend in this economic environment.

And then U.S. markets close at 1:00 Eastern on Wednesday ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. They're closed all day on Thursday, and then when markets reopen here in the U.S. on Friday, we'll get that all- important monthly jobs report. We'll see how many jobs were added in June and we'll see if unemployment moved up or down from the current 7.6 percent.

We'll track it all for you on CNN Money.

CARLOS DIAZ, HLN'S "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I'm "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT's" Carlos Diaz. Here is what we are watching this week. I'll bring you all of the best moments from the BET Awards. Plus the raw reaction to controversial Anna Nicole Smith and the movie portraying her.

"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" Monday through Thursday at 11:00 p.m.

LEMON: Thank you very much. That whooshing sound you may here is Congress about to miss yet another deadline. This time it's going to hit some college kids and parents helping pay their education.

Some student loan rates are about to skyrocket. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A sight-seeing tour over New York -- in New York City ended with a harrowing rescue today on the Hudson River. The helicopter made the emergency landing after the pilot reported losing power just minutes into the flight. The pilot was able to deploy built-in floatation devices to keep the chopper afloat. Fire officials say the pilot and four tourists were treated for minor injuries. The cost of a college education will skyrocket for thousands of students tomorrow. That's because -- interest rates, excuse me, on certain student loans are set to double.

CNN's business correspondent Zain Asher explains what this could mean for America's future grads.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RACHEL BOEHR, STUDENT: I'm almost $60,000 in debt which will affect my ability to get a mortgage, to have children and put them through a good education, and it will affect what kinds of jobs that I choose.

ZAIN ASHER, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Columbia student Rachel Boehr started out studying drama but skyrocketing tuition costs forced her to drop out. Now at age 30 she's only just finished her undergraduate degree.

BOEHR: We're asking too much of our college students and we're narrowing and narrowing the field of who can be a college student in the country.

ASHER: American college grads owe more than $1 trillion in collective student loans. As tuition costs continue to soar, rising interest rates could soon be their next headache.

Interesting rates for need-based or subsidized Stafford loans were fixed at 3.4 percent. Now that Congress hasn't intervened, that rate is scheduled to double.

RYAN MORGAN, STUDENT: Yes, I definitely think that doubling the rate to 6.8 percent would definitely increase default rates because, again, the students who are receiving the subsidized loans are from the lowest income brackets.

ASHER: While some lawmakers want to keep the rate at the lower 3.4 percent at least temporarily, others say student loan rates should be allowed to fluctuate along with market forces.

KALMAN CHANY, AUTHOR, "PAYING FOR COLLEGE WITHOUT GOING BROKE": I think there's going to be some kind of compromise, some kind of adjustment. I don't know if they're going to go for variable rate loan. My guess is they may just kick the can down the road and say, we'll just do this for one year and we'll revisit it another year later.

ASHER: The higher rates could be a revenue booster for government, generating $36 billion this year at a time when Congress is scrambling for new sources of cash. But raising the rates could also cost students as much as $5,000 more in loan re-payments over the next 10 years.

SARAH SCHUTZ, STUDENT: The president and Mrs. Obama just finished paying off their student loans. And I think that's a fact that they are 40 years old and they're still -- were paying off student loan debt is really scary. We could even be 50, 60 years old without having -- without having paid our student loans.

BOEHR: The politicians have to look beyond their own self-interest. Because college students like myself and my peers are counting on them.

ASHER: Zain Asher, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. A sight reminiscent of the Arab spring. Massive demonstrations in Cairo right now. Live pictures of Tahrir Square. That just may be a powder keg waiting to explode. We'll take a closer look next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Deadly protests rocking Egypt today.

You're looking at live pictures right now. At least three people killed and 174 injured in protests held exactly one year after Egypt's first democratically elected president came to power. Critics and supporters of President Mohamed Morsi hit the streets across the nation, clashing in some areas. A government-run newspaper described the situation as, quote, "Egypt is on the brink of a volcano."

Earlier this year there was a lot of long overdue conversation about guns in this country. Much of that has faded away, unfortunately. But gun ownership is far from fading away. Tonight on CNN's new show, "Inside Man," Morgan Spurlock steps behind the gun counter to find out who is selling, who is buying and why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you looking for today, man?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm looking for a .38, a little concealed job for the wife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have a look on it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pleasure meeting you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nice to meet you.

MORGAN SPURLOCK, HOST, CNN'S "INSIDE MAN": And business is booming at SSG. Just in the day I worked there, I saw husbands, hunters and whole families come in to purchase guns for all kinds of different reasons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So when you're carrying concealed, it's not about, you know, drop (INAUDIBLE). It's about what I can do to stay alive. You got to know when not to fire.

SPURLOCK: But mainly because they were afraid that tighter gun control legislation was coming. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two friends of mind who've never owned a gun in their lives think things are going to change so much that they want to, you know, get into the game.

SPURLOCK: One way or another, it's a fear-driven market.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This thing speaks all languages. In the middle of the night when somebody screams, get out of my house, I've got a gun, and they rack a shotgun, the next thing you hear is going down the hall away from you.

SPURLOCK: Have you been looking for this a while really?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really. Since Obama got re-elected. Making sure I get what I came here for.

SPURLOCK: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's really exactly what I'm looking for.

SPURLOCK: Well, that's it, man. Sold.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All you need is two forms of I.D. with the same name and address and a credit card or some money.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got that.

SPURLOCK: You don't need to ask for permission?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

SPURLOCK: Man, I'm giving you a punch. You may --

(LAUGHTER)

SPURLOCK: All right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, catch the rest of this all new "INSIDE MAN" 10:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

You know, a lot has been written about the relationship between the NFL and guns. That relationship soured even more this week. That's next.

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LEMON: There's been a lot of attention on the arrest of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez on murder charges. But Friday there was yet another incident involving an NFL player and guns. Indianapolis Colts player Joe Lefeged was arrested on weapons charges after a traffic stop.

Jason Carroll reports on the NFL's growing image problem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That surveillance was then destroyed.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aaron Hernandez' arrest on murder charges is the latest brush with the law associated with NFL players. This picture may look like a team's roster, but it actually shows more than two dozen players arrested for various crimes ranging from DUI to misdemeanor assault over the past year, according to the NFL.

MICHAEL MCCANN, LEGAL ANALYST, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AND SI.COM: We don't know if there are convictions in any of these arrests. And secondly, it's still a relatively small percent of all NFL players.

CARROLL: The percentage may be small, but the arrests attract a spotlight. Like when police charges rookie linebacker Ausar Walcott with attempted murder for beating a man outside a New Jersey club this week. Although they both pled not guilty, Walcott and Hernandez both had previous encounters with the law.

KEVIN ADLER, SPORTS MARKETING EXPERT: The league finds themselves in a situation like this. Not the least of which is at the team level team player personnel executives looking past a player's very public history, especially in the case of Aaron Hernandez for the sake of what they can do for the team on the field.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. So we'll open it up for questions.

CARROLL: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell toughened the league's conduct policy six years ago, making it easier to sanction players for infractions. Goodell declined our request for an interview but an NFL spokesman told CNN, "The average arrest rate per year of NFL players is consistently lower than the general population."

TJ WARD, CLEVELAND BROWNS: A few players can make the whole league look a certain way.

CARROLL: The vast majority of NFL players, Cleveland Browns safety T.J. Ward says he has not been in trouble, but understands how just one arrest can tarnish the brand.

WARD: A couple of issues can make the whole league look a certain way. It's all about perception, especially in our society. It's all about what people perceive, not necessarily what's true.

CARROLL: If the truth was in numbers, Consider this. Nielsen Ratings for the past NFL regular season were the highest in a decade. Despite everything, fans keep watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I sort of made the decision a long time ago to respect athletes for their performance on the field more so than for their behavior off the field.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love football. So I'll probably be following, but we'll see.

CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. So Terence Moore joins me now from New York. He's a columnist for Mlb.com. A sports contributor to CNN.com.

So, Terence, Aaron Hernandez was -- I mean, he was on his way, a lucrative career in the NFL, growing family, a luxury home. $40 million contract. Now he is accused of murder. I want you to look at this photo of Hernandez obtained by TMZ. No word on when this was taken, although it's believed to be some time in the recent past.

But he's hardly the first athlete to go -- to own a gun. A random player survey by "USA Today," it's unscientific and estimated that 75 percent of NFL players are gun owners. You've covered pro athletes on and off the field. Do you believe that number?

TERENCE MOORE, CNN.COM SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Easily. And I'll tell you, professional athletes, in general, certainly in the NFL. Now I want to tell you how bad it is, Don. You just showed a graphic that said 28 NFL players have been arrested since the end of the Super Bowl in February. Actually, that figure has gone up to 29, OK, as we continue to go on. It just gets worse and worse.

You know, that Aaron Hernandez situation, of course, is horrific. And he also is going to be charged, it looks like, with a double murder from last year.

And then just a few days ago you had a rookie linebacker for the Cleveland Browns who was just arrested for attempted murder. So this just goes on and on. And it doesn't look like there is any end in sight.

LEMON: It makes you wonder what happened to the good old days or maybe we're just sort of romanticizing, you know, the good old days, as we say.

MOORE: Yes.

LEMON: Is this a new generation thing? I mean, athletes 20 years ago, I -- maybe they did but they didn't sign big contracts and then run out and buy a gun, did they?

MOORE: Well, you know, the killing thing is new. The plotting to kill is new. You had Rae Carruth a few years ago, a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers --

LEMON: Yes.

MOORE: -- who plotted to kill his pregnant girlfriend. That was new. But the gun thing, that's been around forever. Look, 30 years ago, more than 30 years back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I covered the Oakland Raiders for the "San Francisco Examiner." OK? And back then there was no Internet, there was no 24-hour news channels, and virtually no drug tests. So it's sort of like the wild, wild west. And the wildest of the wildest were those Raiders that I covered. Now I bring that up, I'm going to give you one example. They had a defensive lineman named John Matuzack who had the biggest Lincoln Continental I've ever seen in my life. It had to be big because at all times he carried a machete and a Magnum in the car.

LEMON: My god.

MOORE: That was 30 something years ago.

LEMON: OK. All right. Imagine that. And there were typewriters back then, too.

(LAUGHTER)

MOORE: Right.

LEMON: So what about reports that Aaron Hernandez kept his ties to guys from the old neighborhood? I mean, that's a familiar story, right? A guy from a tough background makes it to the big time, but then he can't turn his back on his old friends who might be bad influences. Hey, what are you brand-new? You know, he doesn't -- what about that?

MOORE: Well, let's go to the positive here. OK. This is where you've got to like the Atlanta Falcons. Because the Atlanta Falcons have a standout wide receiver named Roddy White who nevertheless the first few years he was in the league he was a knucklehead. OK?

In 2009, the Falcons said OK, we want to sign this guy to a big contract, but they told him that you've got to get rid of your more than questionable friends before we do this. Some guys from South Carolina, there's about three or four of them. And to Roddy's credit, he got rid of them. And so to this day four years later, not only is he a great wide receiver, but he's basically a Boy Scout. So it can work out.

LEMON: OK. So Hernandez' college days are also, you know, getting new scrutiny. He was the best tight end in the 2010 draft, but he wasn't taken until the fourth round. Teams were supposedly afraid of his off-the-field trouble, so to speak.

I mean, Is there something more that teams or the league can do to help these guys? I remember, listen, I do have to say about -- you were talking about the Atlanta Falcons. I remember the first time I went to do something with the Atlanta Falcons, they were teaching their players how to keep their money, how not to spend all their money.

MOORE: Yes.

LEMON: And how to be good citizens. Is there something that these guys aren't doing?

MOORE: Well, there is something they can do more. OK? LEMON: Right.

MOORE: They have these rookie symposiums. What they need to do is expand it away from just rookies, include everybody. OK? Do it every year for everybody. Maybe do about two or three times a year.

LEMON: Five seconds left, Terence.

MOORE: And what have you. But here's the big thing, it's a violent sport and there is no way they can have a test on whether or not a guy is going to be a murderer or not.

LEMON: Thank you, Terence. Appreciate it.

Furious, that's how headlines around the world describing the European Union's reaction to reports the NSA was bugging EU offices. Details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Officials in Europe are demanding answers after a German magazine reported the U.S. National Security Agency bugged the European Union offices and hacked computers. A German justice minister said the spying allegations are reminiscent of the Cold War. These spying revelations reportedly came from documents released by NSA leaker Edward Snowden.

Get ready for another day of oppressive heat out west tomorrow. We've already seen records broken. Phoenix 119. Las Vegas 115. And the heat have even killed a Las Vegas man. Temperatures are teetering for a second day at 127 degrees in Death Valley, California.

I'm Don Lemon in New York. "ANTHONY BOURDAIN, PARTS UNKNOWN" begins right now.