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Report Increases Scientists Confidence in Reality of Manmade Global Warming; Government Faces Shutdown and Credit Default; High School Football Team Taken Off Suspension; Former CNN Anchor Battles Disease; Woman Writes Blog About Food and Marriage; "Saturday Night Live" Begins New Season

Aired September 28, 2013 - 10:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: Diplomacy can be so powerful. It can peacefully defuse the worst weapons of war.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: It seemed impossible two weeks ago, but new this morning there is now a deal on how to proceed with Syria's chemical weapons.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Do not threaten to burden the House down, simply because you haven't gotten 100 percent of your way.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: But sorry. Still no deal on that other matter. The budget bill hot potato is back in the House today and it's Republicans versus Republicans coming down to the wire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from New York, it's Saturday night!

BLACKWELL: We may be just two days from a government shutdown, but we're hours away from the return of SNL. "Saturday Night Live" is back with a bunch of new faces. We'll have a preview.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Well, we've been waiting for you. Good to have you with us. I'm Christi Paul.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Now 10:00 here on the east coast, 7:00 out on the west coast. You're watching CNN newsroom. And the clock is ticking down this weekend.

PAUL: Is it ever. A little more than two days, Victor, that's all the time Congress and the president have left to agree on this spending bill. Without one, the government goes into shut down mode as of Tuesday.

BLACKWELL: We're covering all the political maneuvering as we watch that clock tick. Chief Congressional correspondent Dana Bash is on Capitol Hill. At the White House is our Jim Acosta. Let's start with Dana. House Republicans meet at noon eastern. What's that about? What are they going to try to accomplish today? DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The House just came into session. Right down the hall from where I'm standing is Speaker Boehner's office, and he is meeting very shortly with Republican leaders to try to figure out the answer to the question, what are they going to do? They're trying to come up with the best plan that they think can be sold to the rank-and-file members in two hours at that meeting.

The big, big issue is that they are being pressed by the grassroots, the conservative grassroots led by Ted Cruz, not to stop fighting for at least some kind of repeal or delay of parts of Obamacare. Listen to what Ted Cruz is saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ, (R) TEXAS: Every Republican has been outspoken and eloquent against Obamacare. And then the House stands up and does the right thing, I think it will present a terrific opportunity for every Senate Republican to stand arm in arm with the House Republicans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: So they are trying to figure out exactly what they are going to add to this spending bill, likely something like a delay of Obamacare for a year, maybe repealing a medical device act, things like that. But one thing that they have made clear, Republicans sources, is that they're not going to give Senate Democrats and the White House what they want, which is a clean, no strings attached spending bill.

PAUL: All right, we want to bring in Jim Acosta at the White House, because, Jim, you listen to her, and nobody is moving at all, but as far as we know, neither side is talking to each other. Is there any indication that the president will in any way attempt to initiate some sort of negotiation?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Christi, as of last night the president had not talked to House Speaker John Boehner. We've reached out to White House officials today and they don't have any new calls or meetings or anything like that to tell us about.

Now, that doesn't mean that nothing is going on behind the scenes, but nothing that they want to talk about publicly at this point. But I can tell you a White House official has told CNN, basically, in response to some of this talk over with the House Republicans, that they might tinker with Obamacare as part of this continuing resolution vote they might have sometime this weekend.

This White House officials telling CNN, quote, "I don't think the president could have been more clear," and that is in reference to what he said yesterday, which is essentially he is not going to delay or defund or mess with Obamacare as part of this process, this prospect of a government shutdown or raising the debt ceiling. And the president again emphasized that this morning in his weekly address to the nation. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will work with anyone who wants to have a serious conversation about our economic future. But I will not negotiate other Congress's responsibility to pay the bills it has already racked up. I don't know how to be more clear about this. No one gets to threaten the full faith and credit of the United States of America just to extract ideological concessions. No one gets to hurt our economy and millions of innocent people just because there are a couple laws that you don't like. It hasn't been done in the past and we're not going to start doing it now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now, the president and you know White House officials have also done this. They have been ratcheting up the rhetoric in the last 48 to 72 hours. You've heard House Republicans called just about every name in the book by administration officials and top Democrats. But the president in raising the rhetoric over this prospect of going into default by hitting the debt ceiling, the president has called that a world economic shutdown. And so they are really, you know, warning the public as much as they possibly can that this could have severe consequences.

But at this point really, Christi and Victor, this White House, they're sort of spectators to what is happening on Capitol Hill. They can't make the House do what they want, and they've learned that time and again.

BLACKWELL: And we saw just a few moments ago that work has begun on the House floor. We'll see what comes out of this meeting at noon. Thank you very much for the reports. And as you can see right here, the House is in session. As we said, we'll bring you all the news on the budget resolution as it happens.

PAUL: This is so crucial. Just to let you know CNN's "CROSSFIRE" will have the latest on a possible government shutdown. That is tonight 7:30 eastern. That's special coverage of this showdown.

BLACKWELL: Same-sex couples across New Jersey are celebrating this weekend after a decision from a judge to allow same-sex marriage. October 21st, that's the big day. Of course, not everyone is on board with the decision. Margaret Conley is following the story from New York. Margaret, so New Jersey already has civil unions before this decision from this judge. What's the change here?

MARGARET CONLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, benefits. A New Jersey judge says civil unions are not enough for same-sex couples and ruled to allow same-sex marriage. Couples will be able to tie the knot starting October 21, and this would make New Jersey the 14th state to allow same-sex marriage. There was a rally to celebrate the decision by a county superior court judge. And before civil unions didn't legally allow federal benefits like certain tax breaks and health care, the same benefits that heterosexual couples get. Now this ruling changes that, and it draws on the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause. We spoke about this with CNN legal analyst Paul Callan. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: She's used the Supreme Court's decisions handed down earlier in the summer, very technical decisions that open the door just a crack to gay marriage, and she's used the rationale of those decisions to say the New Jersey constitution requires gay marriage because equal protection of the law requires that all New Jersey citizens be treated the same.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CONLEY: This comes a year after Governor Christie vetoed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. His reaction to yesterday's ruling, it appears he plans to appeal. His press secretary says, quote, "Christie's always maintained to abide by the will of the voters on the issue of marriage equality, and since the legislature refused to allow the people to decide expeditiously we will let the Supreme Court make this constitutional determination." Governor Christie, he wants this issue to be on the ballot box this Election Day. Christi, Victor?

PAUL: Let me ask you this. Is this court decision the end? Could it be turned over? Is it binding?

CONLEY: Right. Christi, this is a lower court decision made by a Mercer County Superior Court judge. It's binding unless there's an appeal. That's what Governor Christie was referring to in his statement. But this is a significant ruling and the rest of the country is watching this very closely. New Jersey is a bellwether state. This law could set the precedent, Christi, for the rest of America.

PAUL: Margaret Conley, we appreciate it so much. Thank you.

A former army sergeant is expected in court on conspiracy charges.

BLACKWELL: Investigators say Joseph Hunter ran a hit squad for what he thought was a Colombian cartel. But it turns out people he thought were part of the cartel were really informants. Hunter is accused of leading a security team of former soldiers from around the world who are ready to kill whoever threatened the cartel.

PAUL: The U.N. is moving to wipe out Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. As you know, the Security Council passed a resolution last night designed to remove those weapons by the middle of next year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: Tonight, with a strong and forcible precedent-setting resolution requiring Syria to give up its chemical weapons, the United Nations Security Council has demonstrated that diplomacy can be so powerful it can peacefully defuse the worst weapons of war.

(END VIDEO CLIP) PAUL: U.N. inspectors are already on the ground in Damascus, we should point out. Officials believe there are almost 50 chemical weapon sites in Syria. Getting to some of them will require them to move through rebel-held areas, too, so they may ask for so called third-party troops to help with security during the mission.

BLACKWELL: Now to a not so diplomatic welcome for Iran's president as he returned home to Tehran from New York today. A protester tossed a shoe in President Hassan Rouhani's direction. That's a big insult in Islamic culture. Supporters of Rouhani were there, too. The protester may have been upset by President Obama's historic phone call with Mr. Rouhani yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach an agreement over Iran's nuclear program. I reiterated to president Rouhani when I said in New York, while there were surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: It's the first time in 34 years that Iran and the U.S. have spoken directly.

PAUL: All right, ice melting, glaciers shrinking, rising ocean temperatures, a troubling new report predicts big trouble from global warming. Up next, find out the areas that are most at risk.

BLACKWELL: Plus her story inspired the world. Malawi Yousafzai, the teen who was many targeted and shot by the Taliban, all because she wanted an education. Now she's talking to CNN about her plans for her future.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Good morning, Miami. Look at this live look of beautiful skies out there. Thanks to our friends, our affiliate WPLG, giving us this beautiful view. Sunny skies, high expected in the mid-80s.

Of course, however, Miami apparently is just one of the major cities that can soon start facing some real issues as a result of climate change, so some scientists say. But for today, go enjoy it.

BLACKWELL: Christi, it is getting hotter, it's happening fast, and we're almost certainly to blame. That's the urgent news coming out of a new United Nations report on climate change, calling it the greatest challenge of our time. Think of this report as the Olympics of change information. It happens every four to six years and only the world's top scientists take part.

Our very own all-star panel of scientists has joined me know for more. Michael Oppenheim is an author on the IPCC panel, and he's a professor at Princeton University. In studio we have Marshall Shepherd, the president of the American Meteorological Society. Shepherd also authored a really good piece on CNN.com about climate change. So if you want to go and check that out, it's at CNN.com/opinion.

So let's start with the conversation. And I want to start with you, Michael. Tell me about the 95 percent confident, surer than ever that humans are responsible for spiking global temperatures since the middle of the century, 95 percent. To me, that sounds like there might be politics in there. Tell me if I'm right or wrong and why.

MICHAEL OPPENHEIM, DIRECTOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY'S SCIENCE PROGRAM: No. Scientists are very careful in looking at this important question of how much of the warming, which is approaching about two degrees Fahrenheit over the last 100 years or so, is due to human activity, the buildup of the greenhouse gases. The looked at this question starting about 20 years ago, and their confidence has improved that human are causing most of the warming over that period.

Originally we thought there was a discernible human influence, then we had likely, then very likely, and in the latest report that it's extremely likely. That means a 95 percent chance. This isn't politics. This is scientific calibration.

BLACKWELL: Marshall, what are we doing that's causing this?

J. MARSHALL SHEPHERD, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY: Clearly since we figured out how to burn fossil fuels, that's increasing carbon dioxide. It's not just carbon dioxide. We're changing the land cover, we're urbanizing our landscape. And it's important to note that the 95 percent is very important, because most people would grab an umbrella if you said there was a 95 percent chance of rain. You wouldn't say, oh, I'm not going to grab an umbrella. There's five percent uncertainty.

So we have to be careful not to mischaracterize the slight uncertainty that we see in any scientific information. If our pediatrician says our kid may have the flu, there's uncertainty in that information, but it's still enough for me to use that and take action.

BLACKWELL: There's a 2,500-page full report that's coming out, correct? If we've identified what causes it, Marshal, what can we do to reverse it? Is that possible?

SHEPHERD: Well, I think as scientists we put the information on the table. I think one of the things that's clear to me as a scientist, I talk about in that piece on CNN.com, we have to keep our eye on the ball, because there's a lot of distraction out there. The signal is pretty clear. We as scientists have to provide that information through or scholarly papers and our reports through National Academy of Sciences reports, and then our policymakers, people talk about mitigation, reducing CO2. Some policies are related to adaptations, it's going to happen, so we need to pull seawalls around certain places. So that's really what we're faced with right now.

There are even people talking about geo-engineering, changing the earth, but an old Pet Shop Boys song from the '80s say sometimes the solution is worse than the problems, so I think we need to study that for a bit.

BLACKWELL: Michael what does it look over the next 10 years, the next 50 years, 100 years? Walk us through the effects of this warming.

OPPENHEIM: I think the most noticeable thing right away will be more heat. The frequency and intensity of heat waves has already increased. It's expected to increase further as the warming continues. The sea level is rising. That's causing problems along the coast, for instance. When a storm like Sandy comes, it's pushing a higher sea level inland. That means record flood levels. Also, once thing we're fairly sure about is the intensity of precipitation, those really gully washing storms, like what happened in Boulder, Colorado area a couple weeks ago, the intensity of those rain storms is increasing.

We expect all those trends to grow further and further over the coming decades. The most important message in this report was that the window of opportunity to avoid what's called the dangerous warming, the area when all these can combine with each other and become very difficult to adapt to, that window is closing fast. If you want to think about policies, reducing emissions starting very soon, starting now, is an absolute necessity.

BLACKWELL: Michael, which cities are the most vulnerable?

OPPENHEIM: You name the coastal city, in general they're all vulnerable. In the U.S., you just go down -- Boston, New York, going into the south, Miami, New Orleans, those are the most vulnerable cities. They already have troubles dealing with sea level rise. In some cases are going to see sea walls. In other cases we need to restore natural barriers like wetlands. It will take a combination of clever adaptation and reducing emissions. We're never going to be able to reduce emissions enough to avoid all the consequence. But if we don't reduce emissions, we'll never be able to successfully adapt. We need both.

BLACKWELL: What about the west coast?

SHEPHERD: The west coast certainly has its own issues, too, because we know from the science that increases in wildfires, for example, drought, it's already very water-stressed region in the western part of the United States. Those are some of the concerns we would be dealing with there. One of the points I really want to make, we're in an era where some people are giving more credence to climate predictions from rodents that live in the ground or almanacs instead of peer-reviewed science. This science if fairly conclusive, it's fairly clear, and that's really the message I want to convey, because I think there's quite a bit of confusion out there in the public.

BLACKWELL: Professor Michael Oppenheim, and Marshall Shepherd, thank you both. And remember to reads Shepherd's full op-ed. Check out CNN.com/Opinion. Christi?

PAUL: Well, just days after suspending the entire football team from bad behavior off the field, the Utah high school team returns to the field on homecoming night. The outcome? The players say they will never forget it.

Also, you heard this one, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? What does this woman do? She started making sandwiches, hundreds of them. So did she get the ring? We find out live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Well, tough love on and off the field, should we say, for a Utah high school football team. The Union Cougars lost their homecoming game last night. But their head coach says he's so proud of them after he decided to suspend the entire team, all 41 players for an entire week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got to run. He's off to the races.

PAUL: With this 90 yard kickoff return, the Union Cougars were back on their homecoming game after a week in the national spotlight and the lesson of a lifetime.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good. That's how do you that, Billy. Nice.

PAUL: Head coach Matt Labrom fielded questions all week about the staff's decision to suspend every varsity and junior varsity player on the Utah high school football team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I never expected it to go like it did.

PAUL: Holding the team accountable for off-field misconduct by a few players got reaction from across the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you could tell the coach, I think he's wonderful.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just want you to know I give him an A double plus. That is awesome. We need more of that in this country.

PAUL: The coaches say the Cougars have had a few academic issues this season as well as some attitude problems. Last week, the staff learned that a player or two may have been involved in a cyber- bullying incident at the school.

MATT LABRUM, COACH, UNION HIGH SCHOOL: It just felt like everything was going in a direction that we didn't want our young men going. So we felt like we needed to make a stand.

PAUL: So the team had to trade in their jerseys and perform community service, elect new team captains, and attend a character education class.

JORDAN GURR, JUNIOR, UNION HIGH SCHOOL: I figured we had just been cut and we were done. I figured there were no more games.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're going to call pass interference.

PAUL: But back under the Friday night lights, a capacity crowd turned out to support the team at their homecoming game, a game this team will never forget.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it will affect us for the rest of our lives. I don't think we'll ever forget it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: It's good to see them back on the field.

For the past two decades Leon Harris has been bringing the news to viewers first here on CNN and for the past 10 years now on our affiliate in Washington, WJLA. But in today's "Human Factor" Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks about Harris' very close brush with death.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Leon Harris began his television career at CNN 30 years ago. He was on set for the network's coverage of many big stories, including the Oklahoma City bombings and the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Then in 2003 he moved on to local television as lead anchor for WJLA in Washington, D.C. All the time he was the pictures of health, but recently Harris had a real and terrifying brush with death.

LEON HARRIS, FORMER CNN ANCHOR: I sat there on the floor in the worst pain in my life. You would think that somebody with a college degree would know, you know what, maybe you should get some help.

GUPTA: After an hour Harris was found by his wife dawn, who immediately got him to the hospital.

HARRIS: If she hadn't come up stairs when she did, I wouldn't be having this conversation with you.

GUPTA: The diagnosis --

HARRIS: Necrotizing pancreatitis.

GUPTA: It is severe inflammation of the pancreas, the tissue dies, and that causes more infection. It can often be fatal.

HARRIS: So I ended up dying twice that one week.

GUPTA: In fact Harris spent the first nine days unconscious on a ventilator.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good to see you, man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good to have you back.

GUPTA: It took nearly six weeks, but Harris is on the mend. He recently got back on the air, but Harris has this advice.

HARRIS: Don't wait until you have as close a brush with leaving this earth as I did, before you decide that you're worst going to see a doctor.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Still ahead, a one-two punch -- first a possible government shutdown and then the debt ceiling deadline. So which one is most likely to impact your wallet?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: That was a quick half hour. Let's try it again.

BLACKWELL: Let's keep going. Five stories we're watching this morning.

PAUL: Number one, it is feared the death toll will increase in the collapse of an apartment building in Mumbai, India. At least 28 people confirmed dead, 60 others injured, and crews and search dogs are still scouring the wreckage for anyone who may be trapped.

An 11-year-old girl we know was pulled out alive after searchers heard her cries, but they also know more than 100 people may have been in that five-story building when it collapsed yesterday.

BLACKWELL: Number two, U.N. inspectors are in Damascus just hours after the Security Council passed a resolution to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons by the middle of next year. Officials warn inspectors may need armed guards to carry out the work.

PAUL: Number three, the jury in the Michael Jackson wrongful death suit could soon reach a verdict. Deliberations resumed yesterday. More than 50 witnesses were brought to the stand during this five- month-long trial. The Jackson family is asking for $1 billion in damages from AEG Live.

BLACKWELL: Up next, New Jersey now the 14th state to allow same-sex marriages, the ruling was handed down on Friday with the judge arguing that civil unions don't offer couples full protection under the law and that marriage must be allowed. Governor Christie says he will appeal the decision.

PAUL: Number five, House Republicans meet in 90 minutes now to decide how to handle that spending bill. Without it, the government shuts down on Tuesday. The Senate approved the measure Friday, sent it to the House. The Senate version pays for Obamacare. You know that's a sticking point for Tea Party Republicans in the House.

BLACKWELL: Government shutdown, potential default, they certainly have been buzz phrases for the week. But outside the Washington, what does it really mean for you?

PAUL: Our resident business expert Alison Kosik working with us this morning to help us sort it out.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It is confusing. How long have we been covering this ad nauseam, a government shutdown, hitting the debt ceiling? What's worse, right? First, the government shutdown if it happens, it would happen Monday night at midnight, so really beginning on Tuesday. To be quite honest, it will be a bigger convenience if you're looking to get a visa or a passport. But if you're a government worker, you'll feel the pinch the biggest because your paycheck will be delayed. Some may not even get paid at all. That could have a domino effect on the economy and it could affect consumer demand, especially as we get into the all-important holiday shopping season.

And it could also, as I said, hurt the economy if it drags on for a while, with one analyst say it could cut economy growth in half. In a shutdown let me get to a specific laundry list. First of all, many federal offices and programs could be shut down. You wouldn't be able to visit national parks and museums during that time. But parts of the government that provide critical services, they would remain open. So no worry there. Air traffic control, national security, that would all stay in place. Border patrol officers would still be in place.

You'll get your mail still. The government will still pay out benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. So I guess bottom line, with the government shutdown, it's not as drastic or as dire as if we hit the debt ceiling, which, by the way, if we hit the debt ceiling that could happen in about three weeks.

PAUL: That changes everything, because then ear talking about Social Security and Medicare certainly.

KOSIK: And that's a worse scenario. If Congress doesn't raise the debt ceiling in the U.S. quite simply could run out of the money to pay its bills. It could default on its obligation. So think of it as you've got a credit card and you've maxed it out, but the bank's not going to give you a new one, which means the U.S. couldn't pay federal workers, wouldn't pay Social Security to seniors or Medicare or Medicaid. And that could affect over 110 million people on one of those programs.

And let's not forget the markets here. How will they react? It could send interest rates shooting higher, which makes it more expensive to take out a car loan or home loan, and the markets would go nuts, at least in the short term, and that could affect your 401(k).

PAUL: We already saw that on Friday, too.

KOSIK: Yes, the market overall last week ended lower. It's been sort of on the path of trending higher, so you're seeing some nervousness. Traders and analysts think, you know what, lawmakers may come to some sort of deal. Until then, it's a little fuzzy.

BLACKWELL: The unknown is the scariest. Alison, thank you.

KOSIK: Sure.

PAUL: All right, some people will do anything for love.

BLACKWELL: Now one woman is taking that to an extreme. Really, why one author's promise in the kitchen is going viral and causing the internet to, let's say, heat up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: What will you do to get your man to pop the question?

PAUL: That's just a loaded question.

BLACKWELL: I'm just going to move on. How about making 300 sandwiches? That's exactly what one woman is doing.

PAUL: Stephanie Smith is the voice behind the blog that's gone viral called 300sandwiches.com. She's also a reporter for "New York Post," joining us live from New York. Good morning, Stephanie.

STEPHANIE SMITH, PAGE SIX REPORTER, "NEW YORK POST": Good morning. Thank you for having me.

PAUL: Sure. Tell us about this quest for a ring that turned into sandwich making.

SMITH: This all started as a joke between my boyfriend and I. He cooks most of the meals in our House and I wasn't that comfortable in the kitchen. But the only thing he wanted me to make for him was sandwiches. So one day I did. I made him a basic turkey and Swiss sandwich, and he devoured it. He loved it, even put a picture of it on Facebook. He blurted out those fateful words, "Honey, your 300 sandwiching away from an engagement ring."

And then I got the idea to track our adventures in the kitchen together, and sort the see where we end up as I make 300 sandwiches in order to see if we get engaged.

BLACKWELL: It seems a bit extremely. Do you think you really need to do this to get him to propose?

SMITH: Like I said before, if he wasn't the kind of guy that I would have made one sandwich for, I wouldn't have been making 300. I think the joy for us is really the journey as we go along making the 300 sandwiches and all the things we do together. But I still have no idea if he's going to pop the question at the end.

PAUL: Wait, you don't have a ring yet?

BLACKWELL: If you make 300 and he says we're still not there, he's just waiting for a lot of turkey and cheese.

PAUL: I heard something -- don't choose someone who has to think twice about choosing you. That does not mean that that applies to you. I'm just saying we need to point out that not everybody is comfortable, I guess, with what you're doing. One person wrote - "Sandwiches can signify thoughtfulness and love. This couple has distorted that into something altogether unsavory." Someone else wrote "I made 300 sandwiches, sold them at a sandwich booth, took the money and bought my oven blank jewelry." Did you think anybody would be so up in arms over this? SMITH: I knew I would get some response to it. Obviously if you look at it on the surface, it looks like I'm slaving away in the kitchen to earn a man's love. But if you read the stories, you'll learn he does most of the cooking at our household, also handles half the household stores, even he made me breakfast before I came on the show. So if you read how our relationship has grown and how we're connecting and enjoying cooking as a couple, you know there's more to it than just me making sandwiches to earn his love.

BLACKWELL: You also write for "New York Post." Is this a publicity stunt? Are you just doing it, I guess, to get here?

SMITH: No, I'm not doing this to get here. This started off as an inside joke between the two of us. As we told more and more friends, we got the idea to start the blog. I've been doing this for a year and really didn't tell a lot of people outside our close friends and family about it.

PAUL: Let me ask you this, what's the biggest lesson you have learned about your relationship by doing this?

SMITH: It's been patience, you know. In the beginning, I felt the pressure it to do what he's saying, churn them out, make them perfect. What I've learned is to be patient with myself and with the process, because the fun comes in the little -- the daily lessons as we learn together.

PAUL: That is true. It's the little simple things. If you can't be happy with the simple things, how can you be happy with the anything else? How many sandwiches are away from this?

SMITH: I'm about 123.

BLACKWELL: She's keeping count.

PAUL: I would be, too.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: Stephanie Smith, it's good to talk with you.

SMITH: Thanks for having me.

PAUL: Good luck to you.

Another inspiring story for you here. She was targeted and shot by the Taliban just because she wanted to go to school. That attack has not stopped her, though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALALA YOUSEFZAI: And when you raise your voice, when you speak up for your rights, you can change your future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Malala Yousefzai message on peace and education does not end there. Hear how she plans to make a difference.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Former and current gang members are joining a weekend summit calling for peace and an end to the reckless bloodshed in America's inner cities.

PAUL: They'll spend the weekend with community leaders and members of clergy in Chicago discussing violence and searching for solutions here. They're modeling this after a similar meeting held 20 years ago.

Also, a Pakistani girl who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban you know has inspired the world with her courage. Now Malala Yousefzai has received this year's Humanitarian Award from the Harvard Foundation.

BLACKWELL: The teen was shot in the head almost a year ago after speaking out for girls' rights for an education. At Harvard yesterday, she said she will not let the Taliban stop her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YOUSEFZAI: More than 400 schools have been blown up. Those people consider themselves powerful just because of having guns in their hands. But I think I am powerful if I empower myself with education and with knowledge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Her recovery has been remarkable, by the way.

PAUL: My gosh, what a spirit.

BLACKWELL: Last week she received the Clinton Global Citizens Award. She's 16 years old. She says she hopes to become a politician so she can inspire and encourage others.

"Saturday Night Live" starts the 39th season tonight, if I'm counting correctly. It's really unbelievable it's been that long.

PAUL: I know, several of the top stars announced they're leaving, though. So what is the show doing this year to stay fresh? We've got a little insight for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: The rivalry express makes another spot.

PAUL: Today's second of eight stops, Ft. Worth, Texas, for the big game between crosstown rivals SMU, TCU. Carlos Diaz, he's not going to miss it. He has a preview. Carlos, how are you doing?

CARLOS DIAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, Christi, I can tell you all about this matchup. SMU, TCU separated by 35 miles. They started playing in 1915, they play for an iron skillet. The series is 45-40 in favor of SMU. You don't want to see the stats. No, you want to see me get abused by the students here. Yesterday, the rivalry express, I got hit in the face with a baton. I got my arm burned on the grill, I got tackled by a bunch of students. You don't believe me? Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIAZ: Guys, hit it. All right, so here we go. Taking on SMU.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, go!

DIAZ: I'm not seeing any SMU anywhere.

The winning team basically this is their bragging rights right here.

They're two mascots that won't stop. He's about to charge.

Sorry about that. Don't interrupt me. Any advice for when I eat this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chew fast.

DIAZ: The most amazing tailgating mobile. It is a serious rivalry -- oh, c'mon, seriously, again?

That is a man sweater you have there, my friend. It's the TCU-SMU rivalry express. I'm flipping you the frog right now, baby.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DIAZ: They're getting ready to kick off. As you saw yesterday, guys, we had a blast. We had a great time. That's what rivalry express is about. We'll be in Nebraska next week, and then the express continues. As you see, it's a lot of fun.

PAUL: He gets paid for this, people. He gets paid for this.

DIAZ: Don't tell anybody at CNN and HLN, but I'm having a blast doing this. It's the most fun I've ever had on TV, but don't tell anybody.

PAUL: We love it. We are, too. Stay safe out there, Carlos. It's a dangerous place.

DIAZ: All right. Thanks, guys.

PAUL: Sure. Carlos Diaz for you there.

Here's a brawl you do not want to be in the middle of.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SHOUTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Good heavens, a bench-clears in your face all too extreme high school fight breaking out in the third quarter of an Indiana high school football game last night. Students, coaching, even fans in the stands getting involved. I am happy to tell you, though, no reports of serious injuries. I cannot say anything for repercussions.

From funny man John Belushi to Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey, the comedy icons. "Saturday Night Live" has had a long successful run.

PAUL: It's 39th season. Some of the show's biggest stars we understand are saying goodbye. That has a lot of fans asking, gosh, is "SNL: over the hill? Here is CNN's Nischelle Turner.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from New York, it's Saturday night!

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: "Saturday Night Live's" familiar opening includes some unfamiliar faces as it begins its 39th year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are six new cast members this season. That's the most in many seasons. But "Saturday Night Live" has shown an amazing ability to reinvent itself over the year.

TURNER: Established starts said goodbye at the end of last season. In their place, a half dozen new faces.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am so excited for them. And they're about to go on this life-changing journey. I'm excited to watch. I can't wait to watch the show.

TURNER: Do you have any advice when you come in to do a show like this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Enjoy each other.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Weekend Update with Seth Meyers.

TURNER: The next be departure, the show's head writer, Seth Meyers. He leaves early next year to take over NBC's late night talk show.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Losing so many cast members must make people at NBC a little nervous. They have gone through this before, so they know how to handle it. But it's like the seniors graduating from a team or from a high school. When the freshmen come in, the school feels different.

TURNER: One recent graduate has some advice for the incoming class.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just remember my first two seasons like I just didn't sleep. I mean like starting Thursday night I couldn't sleep because there was so much pressure much making it, am I doing OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll be right back.

TURNER: But it's fun. Basically just like have as much fun as you can, and it's going to be all right. TURNER: Bill Heder is heading to Hollywood like so many SNL players of the past. The legions are legend. So Andy Samberg who has spent seven seasons on the show has a few words of comfort for the newcomers who could be feeling the weight of TV history.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, you come in everyone is comparing you for what's been before, everything thinks it was better just before what it is now until you figure out what it is now, and the audience gets used to who you are.

TURNER: Nischelle Turner, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Nischelle, thank you.

BLACKWELL: We'll have to see who is the next great comedian. That will do it for us today. Thank you for watching

PAUL: Alison Kosik taking it over from here. Alison, good to have you in Atlanta.

KOSIK: Good morning to you. Thanks, Christi and Victor.