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Mom: My Son In Haunted By Demons; Report: Shots Fired At Honolulu High School; Obama Raises Federal Minimum Wage To $10.10/Hour For New Federal Contracts; Google Glass Gets Designer Frames; A Look Back At The Beatles

Aired January 28, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: Do you feel - because, you know, a lot of people are rooting for you, a lot of people want change when it comes to mental illness, mental health in this country and to get people to really take a serious look at it and make some change. Do you feel alone in this battle or in this situation with your son, or do you feel that you have a proper support system?

STEPHANIE ESCAMILLA, CHILD HAS MENTAL DISORDER: When it all began, I felt alone. I felt really alone. I didn't have the proper support system. Now it's a lot different. I have more support. I -- he has really great doctors that take care of him. I have more people I can reach out to. I didn't have those people before and so now it's a lot different. Of course, he's getting older and that's what's worrisome for me is because once he gets older, once he's able to make his own decisions, it's going to be really difficult for me to help him because he's made statements, when he turns a certain age, he's not going to want to take his medication. So that's really scary for me because when he becomes an adult, I don't know what I -- there's nothing I can do.

LEMON: Yes, he'll be on his own. I've read something on CNN.com, it says please, please help me, your son whimpers. He hears imaginary voices bark at him. He tells them go away, go away. When your son is having an episode, have you ever felt afraid for your own life? You talked about him taking his life, but for your own life. And how tough is it if you are fearful for your own son?

ESCAMILLA: I've only felt that one time and it was an episode where he said he was not himself, he was someone else. It was something that we had not experienced because every episode is always different. It's never the same thing. This time he was someone else named Michael. That scared me. He was threatening to hurt me, which he had thoughts of that.

But he had never verbalized it to me and told me he was going to hurt me like he did that day. I actually had to call the sheriff's department to help me. They transported him to a psychiatric hospital and that was the only time I ever felt threatened -- go ahead.

LEMON: I have one last question for you. The president is giving his state of the union tonight. He's going to talk about a lot of things, the economy, I'm sure health care, income inequality, and all those things. Would you like to hear something from people in power about mental health and really tackling that issue and getting rid of the stigma? What would you like to hear, not only from the president, but from leaders and from people around the country when it comes to this issue?

ESCAMILLA: I think they need to focus on -- I would like to hear them say they're going to make more beds available. I know that the funding was made available, but I think that that wasn't enough. I think there needs to be more funding so that there are more beds available for other -- I mean, there are millions of people that suffer with illnesses and there are not enough beds. And we need to focus on helping them, because that could be my son that could be the next person. That's my child. That's my heart.

You know, for them not to be any beds available to help him, I mean -- I mean, it just -- it's really hard and I would -- I mean, I think like any other mom going through the same thing I'm going through or any other dad, they want the same exact thing. They want more beds available. They want more funding. They want more resources available to them. And I think that's the only way that people will start focusing on that. We need to educate a lot of people in reference to what mental illness is.

LEMON: You need more help. Thank you.

ESCAMILLA: We need more help. Yes, thank you.

LEMON: Thank you, Stephanie Escamilla. Appreciate it. Really do. Best of luck to you, OK.

ESCAMILLA: You're welcome.

LEMON: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The breaking news here on CNN, another school shooting. The information is just coming over now. I'm being told that possibly two people are injured and shots are fired at a Honolulu high school, Honolulu high school. The incident happened shortly after 8:30 this morning in Honolulu. It's currently 9:36 now. This is according to our affiliate there in Honolulu, KHON, saying that two people possibly injured after shots fired at a Honolulu high school.

Again, according to our affiliate, police say there are possibly two people injured. The details are limited at this time, but police say the suspect is now in custody and at this time the school in Honolulu is on lockdown. But again, the information is just coming in. So we'll follow up on it.

But all the information I have from our affiliate now is that two people are possibly injured. Suspect in custody. It happened at 8:30 just over an hour ago in Honolulu. We'll update you just as soon as we get more information on this story. So make sure you stay tuned.

In the meantime, we got a glimpse of the president just a few moments ago. He has been preparing his "State of the Union" speech for days now. While not everything we hear tonight, of course, will become the law of the land, the speech offers the president a chance to address his largest TV audience of the year.

We've already gotten word that shrinking the gap between the rich and the poor will be a priority. He has been talking about income inequality and the president just raised the minimum wage for new federal contract workers.

So, let's bring in now two of our analysts, CNN political analysts, Margaret Hoover, a Republican consultant and Donna Brazile is a Democratic strategist. Thank you for joining me here on this very, very cold day. I hope you're warm.

So Donna, Speaker John Boehner said this morning that the president will run into a, quote, "brick wall" if he tries to bypass Congress with executive orders. Has the president given up on working with Republicans?

DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Absolutely not. Look, to the extent that the do nothing Congress would like to try to do something in 2014, this president I'm sure is willing to reach out and continue to work with the Republicans. But as you well know, Don, today they have taken up an abortion bill. One of the other issues that they'd like to take up is, of course, trying to defund, derail Obamacare.

But this president I think is doing what is right by the American people. He's trying to help them. Raising the minimum wage for federal employees, federal workers, federal contractors, that's a step in the right direction. Hopefully, we can get the minimum wage raised for all Americans.

LEMON: But the question is what kind of a message is he sending by doing it on the day of his "State of the Union," before the "State of the Union" without even saying, listen, we're going to do it. He said I'm doing it. Do you think that sends a positive or negative message, Margaret, to Republicans or is it just we're going to get it done with or without you?

MARGARET HOOVER, CNN POLITICAL COMMMENTATOR: Well, that's exactly what he's saying. You know, Don is right. He is doing the minimum wage. He's sort of pursuing all of his agenda item. But to do that on the day where you are going to Congress and basically say, I'm not going to work with you anymore. I'm just going to do it my way or the highway.

When look, a rising tide lifts all votes, his numbers are in the dumps in addition to Congress'. They could work together. This is really the last six months that they could do something together before he could be a lame duck president. So I would hope that the president could find some common ground with Republicans on some of the free trade agreements that are coming down the pike in the Senate.

You've got also a debt crisis debate around the corner. We could fix social security like he wanted to do back before he even became president. He said in a "Washington Post" editorial board meeting, this is an easy one, we can fix it together. So I would think the tone would be different on the day you go to Congress.

LEMON: I want to bring this up, though, because you're talking about going it alone, right? Let's consider executive orders here. That's what he means, right? For Obama has issued 167, George W. Bush issued 197 in his first five years. Bill Clinton issued 238 in his first five years. So the president is actually behind the pace set by his recent predecessors. His approval rating is 43 percent in our latest poll of polls. So can a president with an approval rating so low expect to push anything through Congress? First, Donna and then Margaret.

BRAZILE: He's the chief executive of the United States of America. I am grateful that the president is going to make this a year of action. In fact, I think it's important that we all try to act more to do as much as we can to help those who are still struggling through this great recession. The notion that this do nothing Congress is complaining, is whining about the president of the United States trying to jump start the economy, help those who are still struggling, I think we should applaud that.

And you know what? Don, he's leading by example. He's not waiting for John Boehner or Harry Reid or anybody else to act. The president said I'm going to use my pen and I'm determined to get things done to help the American people, who sent him to Washington to get things done.

LEMON: Margaret, that's a good point, though. Because if he doesn't get anything done, then his opposition will say, look, that president got nothing done. But then if he tries to get it done by using executive order then he's accused --

HOOVER: Both sides decry when executive order is issued. The Republicans always say, executive order, he's going around the Congress, it's unconstitutional. The Democrats said that about George W. Bush. We both know it's a tool the presidents have, they use executive orders to their power. I'm not decrying that. What we haven't seen from President Obama though is a successful strategy to work with Congress at all.

You know, his own press secretary, Robert Gibbs, called last year the lost year. This is a year he came out the high water mark of his influence, re-elected president, doubled down wanting to go for guns and couldn't get gun control, which, by the way, has gun checks, background checks, 90 percent approval rating with the American people, couldn't get it through a Democratic Senate. So this is a president who just has trouble working with Congress from the get-go.

BRAZILE: That's why we we're going to have four Republican responses tonight.

LEMON: We have got to wrap it up right here. Thank you, Donna Brazile. Thank you, Margaret Hoover --

BRAZILE: Don, I've got to tell you, the snowballs in New Orleans are freezing today.

LEMON: Yes, that's because they're everywhere.

BRAZILE: I had to tell you that.

LEMON: If the hurricanes were free, I'd be headed down there right now. Thank you, not talking about the storm, right?

BRAZILE: Talking about the one with the little straw.

LEMON: Yes, thank you, Margaret.

Make sure you catch CNN's special coverage of President Barack Obama's "State of the Union" address. It all starts tonight at 7:00 Eastern.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of Beatlemania, I'm talking to an expert about Americans who didn't really like the fab four at first.

Plus, Google Glass, more chic, less geek, now wearable tech comes in new styles and new colors. They are also available with prescription lenses. Only question, will your insurance call your new Google Glass? We'll tell you right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Google Glass may be exciting and useful, but fashionable and functional? Not so much. Well, that's until now because Google Glass is getting a makeover. Joining me now is Laurie Segall, CNN Money tech correspondent. So what are the specifics on this new line or range of Google Glasses? Will they look like this, hopefully?

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN MONEY TECH CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that's what they're going for because, I mean, you're a glasses guy, right? You look good in glasses.

LEMON: But I wouldn't wear those other ones.

SEGALL: That's the thing, right? This was the sentiment. Everyone thought this was such a cool concept, but not everyone really wanted to put those things on. So they launched four new frames. Thin and sleek, supposed to look a lot better. Also you can now get Google Glass with prescription frames, too, so that was a pretty big deal. Put up two new different sunglasses for Google Glass. So, you know, the idea is they want to be less cyborg and more Don Lemon hip, you know?

LEMON: I remember someone who had glasses like those, and I said you have to get rid of those. So they're moving toward mass adaptation, right?

SEGALL: That's the idea.

LEMON: Are people going to use them? Are they going for it?

SEGALL: I always say it like this. When the iPhone came out, it was almost like a shell of how cool it could be. We hadn't had all these ad developers build up all these crazy used cases for it. That's where we are with Google Glass. There was a firefighter recently using Google Glass to map out buildings and find fire hydrants. I mean, that kind of stuff is where it gets cool.

I actually sat next to a Silicon Valley investor recently and he was telling me they're investing in a company where doctors are essentially going to be using Google Glass while they're doing surgery so they can be hands-free. I mean, that's where the applications are really cool. And, you know, you've got to wait for the design to catch up. It looks like they are catching up -- Don.

LEMON: That's a little scary. It looks like we're going towards x- ray vision and I don't want that.

SEGALL: I'll keep an eye out.

LEMON: Thank you very much, Laurie Segall. Appreciate it.

SEGALL: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles!

LEMON: Can you believe it's been a half century since Beatlemania rocked the U.S.? Up next, we're going to speak live with a Beatles historian who talked about why they sparked such a frenzy, especially when music critics didn't catch on at first.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Here's one of those moments that a lot of folks never, ever get tired of reliving. Beware, though, you might date yourself.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles!

LEMON: It's the Beatles! In February 9, 1964, 50 years ago next month, the long awaited arrival of the Beatles, 73 million viewers, can you believe it? It was a record at the time. Tuned in to the fab four, old black and white TV sets. I remember those, dating myself and the girls in the audience screamed is loud, the folks at home could hardly hear.

We'll be looking at the Beatles on Thursday night, a fabulous documentary called "The '60s: The British Invasion." And with us now from Atlanta -- I would say Hotlanta, but it's not so hot there today. He is the author of the book "Beatles Versus Stones", as in the "Rolling Stones."

We are going to talk about that as well. There is Mr. John McMillan. So John, for those who live through it, what was so huge about this British rock band touring America?

JOHN MCMILLIAN, AUTHOR, "BEATLES VERSUS STONES": Well, they caught a lot of people unawares. There was a great deal of publicity, of course, by the time the Beatles arrived and they were successful in the United States. I don't think anyone quite anticipated the kind of hysterical frenzy that they evoked among very young girls. And of course, Beatle mania had struck in England first. But certainly Americans were caught off guard by how big a sensation the Beatles were as soon as they arrived at JFK Airport. LEMON: What was about them? Were they that different? I mean, there was Elvis or a number of other people around. What was it about these guys? They weren't that particularly handsome, were they?

MCMILLIAN: You don't think the Beatles are handsome? I think they're a handsome bunch of guys. They are certainly talented and charming, but they had a lot going for them timing-wise. You know, we think about the 1950s as an era that was starchy and conformist. And yet by the time the Beatles came to America, the baby boom generation was first beginning to reach its teenage years, and I think they were ready. They were galvanizing maybe a change in the broader culture's sensibility.

So I think that was a big part of their appeal. People used to ask -- there's a big topic of conversation 50 years ago. Newspaper editors and psychologists were weighing in, trying to understand, you know, what was the source of this reaction the Beatles were provoking and one ever came up with a completely satisfactory answer, but I think their timing and their talent had a lot to do with it.

LEMON: Yes, timing says a lot, it's everything. You talk about the Beatles versus the Stones, sort of yin and the yang of the British invasion. Let's listen to both, first the Stones.

So, John, the Beatles came across as more polished, probably a lot safer than the Stones. Is that why the Beatles were so much more popular here in America in 1964, do you think?

MCMILLIAN: Well, sure. I mean, a lot of journalists were actually perplexed by the Beatles. We look today, looking backwards and we see them as polished and everything else, but initially, journalists were really a bit taken aback by their hairdos and by the response that they elicited, but nevertheless, you know, the Beatles projected a kind of sexual charisma, but it was a charisma that was tamed and domesticated, I would say, for the young female fans.

The Stones, of course, went in a much more radical direction in the sense that they were the group that would appeal to a more disaffected young people. And certainly there's a big bifurcation there.

LEMON: Well, I like both of them. I think they're both great. Thank you very, John Mcmillian, I appreciate that. All right, stay warm in Atlanta.

Fifty years ago, the Beatles arrived in the states for their first American tour. See it all unfold as it happened with rare footage and interviews from the band that led the British invasion. "The British Invasion" premieres Thursday night at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN. Make sure you tune in to that.

More on our breaking news, shots fired at a high school in Honolulu, two injured. More right after this break.

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