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New Police Dispatch Audio Concerning Shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, Released; Rape Allegations against Comedian Bill Cosby Surface; Joint Chiefs Chairman Visits Iraq; Shortcomings at U.S. Facilities with Nuclear Bombs Unearthed; President Visits Australia for G-20; President Plans to Issue Executive Order Reforming Immigration System; Senator Rob Portman May Run for President in 2016; Documentary Examines Rising College Tuition Rates; New Product Dries out Cellphones Submerged in Water

Aired November 15, 2014 - 14:00   ET

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


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, hello again, everyone, I'm Fredericka Whitfield. Here are the top stories we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Brand-new auto and never-before-seen surveillance video capturing the moments hours after a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri. This surveillance video shows Officer Darren Wilson entering and then leaving a police station after he shot Michael Brown. Some eyewitnesses have said Brown rushed at Wilson first and then tried to grab his gun. Other witnesses have said Brown had his hands up, then Officer Wilson repeatedly fired on him. I want to bring in Stephanie Elam in Ferguson. So Stephanie, take us through these tapes.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredericka, when you listen to the tapes, you know we've heard from witnesses on Canfield, the avenue where Mike Brown was shot, but we hadn't heard more from the police side of things. When you take a listen to this audiotape, it gives a little bit more perspective to what they say happened in that two- minute window leading up to the death of Mike Brown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: "The St. Louis Post Dispatch" obtained the police audio and video through the state's so-called sunshine law according to the paper's timeline of the August night's encounter between Darren Wilson and Michael Brown. At 11:53 a.m. a dispatcher reports a stealing in progress at the Ferguson Market.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're detecting a stealing in progress from 90101, subject may be leaving the business at this time. Standby for further.

ELAM: The "Post-Dispatch" says about 19 seconds later dispatch issues a description of a suspect.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's going to be a black male in a white tee shirt. He took a whole box of the Swisher Cigars. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black male, white tee shirt?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's affirmative. She said he just walked out of store.

ELAM: And there's more detail in the police crosstalk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's with another male. He's got a red Cardinals hat, white tee shirt, yellow socks, and khaki shorts.

ELAM: According to the paper, at noon Officer Wilson reports he's back in service from another call. He then asks officers searching for the suspect if they need his help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you guys need me?

ELAM: Seven seconds later officers report the suspects have disappeared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dispatch relay. We couldn't hear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said that they disappeared.

ELAM: The paper says at 12:02 Officer Wilson responds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And 21, put me on Canfield.

ELAM: On August 9th Michael Brown's friend Dorian Johnson says they were walking down the street when Officer Wilson told them to get out of the road. According to Johnson he and Brown told the officer they were almost at their destination and would be out of the street shortly. But Johnson said the officer grabbed Brown by the neck and drew his gun, eventually shooting Brown.

By contrast, a Wilson family friend identified a Josie told local radio station KTFK that according to Wilson, Brown started a physical altercation with him and grabbed the gun, which went off. Both sides agree that Brown ran and then turned back. The "Post-Dispatch" says 41 seconds after Wilson's call another officer was about to arrive at the location. The radio calls also show other officers arriving at the scene and a call for a supervisor. And then, according to the newspaper, this call at 12:07 p.m. was the apparent sound of a woman wailing in the background.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get us several more units over here or there is going to be a problem.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Any available units that can respond to Canfield and Copper Creek advise.

ELAM: The "Post-Dispatch" also obtained surveillance video of Officer Darren Wilson hours after the shooting. The paper says the video shows Wilson in the white tee shirt leaving the police station for the hospital two hours after the shooting accompanied by other officers and his union lawyer. The video then shows him returning to the police station. (END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM: And here in Ferguson, everyone is focused on what will happen when the grand jury comes to their decision, whether or not they will indict Officer Wilson. It's less about Officer Wilson and more about what's going to happen here in the town. Some people really afraid that their children will be impacted and schools will be closed. They're worried about small businesses. And some people telling me that they plan to just buy groceries and stay in their house if they have to be there for more than one day, Fredericka, because of what they say may be some large amount of arrests here in their hometown.

WHITFIELD: All right, Stephanie Elam, thanks so much, in Ferguson.

So many are waiting to find out what the grand jury decides. More than 1,000 police officers have been done 5,000 hours of training on how to deal with potential unrest since those protests back August. Cedric Alexander joining me now. He is president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Good to see you.

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES: Good seeing you.

WHITFIELD: So what's your initial reaction to these audiotapes and to that video? How should it be interpreted? Is there anything to the timing or even the content?

ALEXANDER: Well, I think the community there is going to have to make some assessment of that video and the information that we're seeing being described. And how it will play itself or work its way into the grand jury is going to be interesting as well, too, should there be some significant reason for that to be the case.

WHITFIELD: So the police department not just in Ferguson, state troopers there in Missouri and maybe even other cities are bracing for that verdict and how that might elicit a public response. How do police departments brace for it? What does it mean that there have been these 5,000 hours of training? What is taking place?

ALEXANDER: Well, hopefully police departments across the country, certainly here in metro Atlanta and many of my colleagues, I've had an opportunity over the last few days to talk to around the country, we all are preparing for whatever the outcome may happen to be, but preparing in a sense that we are just doing what we feel we should be doing anyway. And that is working relationships with our community members and leaders, keeping making sure we keep open dialogue, making sure that we are being -- we are planning together in terms of if anything should erupt, how we're going to work this together as a team concept.

WHITFIELD: So what was learned from those volatile days right after the shooting? And for many, many days there were protests that were, you know, really heightened emotions that were under the microscope. What was learned in terms of law enforcement of what to do, what not to do, how to respond, how to calm? ALEXANDER: Well, let me say this first. People in this country have

the right to protest in an organized and civil manner. And as long as that is occurring, by our First Amendment rights, we all have the right to do that. It becomes problematic, of course, when people become violent, and that changes things somewhat.

But I think the important thing for all of us as we're going forward, particularly waiting on this decision to be made, that regardless of the outcome, we have to be peaceful in our protests, and because once you're not peaceful, your message gets lost in the violence. And I don't think anyone wants to message to get lost in here. But a lot of preparation has gone on across the country. But more importantly, Fredericka, in all of this is that we have to have continued police and community relationships always working and aligning with each other.

WHITFIELD: Do you think there's been any improvement in that department, you know, since August, particularly, in Ferguson or the surrounding communities?

ALEXANDER: You know, I've had an opportunity to visit there a couple of times. And they say they have done some things there, both in Ferguson and the county and the state police as well, too. So we're going to see if those relationships that they have developed post this shooting will work for them regardless of what the outcome of this is. But going forward, that community and communities across this country, quite frankly, there are many communities in which we really have to engage our communities and set some real parameters about how we're going to work together, because public safety is in the interest of everyone. And we all want to be safe.

WHITFIELD: Cedric Alexander, thank you so much.

ALEXANDER: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: Thank you for coming in studio.

ALEXANDER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Bill Cosby, one of America's most beloved entertainers, but over the years several women have painted a much different picture of the comedian, calling him a rapist. One of the women is Barbara Bowman, who was a teenaged actress being mentored by Cosby when she says he raped her. Alexandra Field is following the story. Alexandra, these accusations are hardly new, but what is new is Cosby was asked about it this morning on the air on the radio. What was said?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. These are old allegations that have resurfaced, but Cosby is continuing not to answer them. Through the years his attorneys have denied any of the allegations. But recently now we're learning that an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" which was scheduled for later this week has been canceled. There was another scheduled appearance at the end of October on Queen Latifah's show which was also canceled. Bill Cosby still chose to sit for the interview with NPR's Scott Simon. We're told it was pre-taped earlier this week. The interview was largely about his African art collection. His wife was by his side. Of course, with these allegations cropping up again, Simon does ask Cosby about the allegations, and he says nothing. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT SIMON, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: This question gives me no pleasure, Mr. Cosby, but there have been serious allegations raised about you in recent days. You're shaking your head no. I'm in the news business. I have to ask the question. Do you have any response to those charges? Shaking your head no. There are people who love you who might like to hear from you about this. I wanted to give you the chance. All right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: You heard Simon ask the question three times three different ways there. No response from Bill Cosby, none at all. But we are hearing from one woman who says that Bill Cosby raped her. She made these allegations years ago. Today after hearing that interview she's saying this. "I'm not surprised that Bill Cosby was speechless. He has met his maker. A simple shake of his head is implication of a man whose heart is heavily burdened with shame." Those words from Barbara Bowman, a young actress in the '80s who says that Bill Cosby was mentoring her at the time.

She then accused him of sexually assaulting her. She came forward around 2005 when another woman accused Cosby of raping her. That woman filed a lawsuit that was settled in civil court, and there was a confidentiality agreement pertaining to that lawsuit, Fred, so we haven't learned the details of it.

WHITFIELD: All right, Alexandra Field in New York, thanks so much.

All right, next, one of America's top military leaders making a surprise visit to Iraq. What it means in the battle against ISIS next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Momentum is starting to turn against ISIS. Well, that statement coming directly from America's top military leader, General Martin Dempsey, making a surprise visit to Iraq today. CNN's Arwa Damon joining me now from Turkey. So Arwa, you're on the ground there. What is likely the sentiment from others? Is that true, ISIS is -- their momentum is dissipating?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a bit hard to say that definitively at this stage, Fredericka. What we do know is that since this U.S.-led bombing campaign began, ISIS has been forced to change its tactics so they can no longer move about in large convoys. But in anticipation of the U.S.-led campaign a few months ago they took precautions. They prepared themselves. They buried their heavy weaponry, some of their armor, in areas along the Iraqi- Syrian border, for example. They moved the bulk of their fighters away from their headquarters in known areas.

Yes, they have been stopped from making key advances in very vital areas. Yes, the Iraqi security forces have managed to retake the city of Baiji, but that is by and large because of coalition air power and because of assistance they've been getting from Iran. So ISIS is perhaps stopped for the time being, but whether or not that's going to turn into something sustainable that's going to allow the Iraqi security forces to move in and recapture key territory and hold that territory, more importantly, we're going to have to wait and see.

WHITFIELD: And earlier, Arwa, in the week, General Dempsey testified before the House Armed Services Committee, and this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEN. MARTIN DEMPSEY, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF: I'm not predicting at this point that I would recommend that those forces in Mosul and along the border would need to be accompanied by U.S. forces, but we're certainly considering it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right, so how influential might this visit be to his decision-making?

DAMON: Look, he wants to make a firsthand assessment about the situation, speaking with key Iraqi players, and he knows the key players quite well having spent years in Iraq himself. He also wants to speak with his commanders to get a full picture as to what it is they need and what it is they believe the situation on the ground to be.

General Dempsey is a military man, and the military likes to keep all options on the table. He's also an individual who recognizes that Iraq is a very volatile situation. And as we've heard him and others say before, this is likely going to be one step forward, three steps back. So it's going to be an option he's going to want to keep on the table, should, and I shudder to think of how bad the situation has to be for it to require it, but should he deem it necessary that combat troops would go back to Iraq, Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Arwa Damon, thanks so much.

And in about an hour from now, we're expecting an Ebola patient from Sierra Leone to land in Nebraska for treatment right here in the United States. The patient is a surgeon and has dual citizenship. The U.S. State Department issued a statement about the transfer saying, quote, "The evacuation is at the request of his wife, a U.S. citizen and resident of Maryland, who has agreed to reimburse the U.S. government for any expense. Just as we have done in previous cases, every precaution is being taken to ensure the evacuation is completed safely and securely, that critical care is provided en route, and that strict isolation is maintained," end quote, from the State Department.

All right, a wrenching issue for the Pentagon. Why was there only one specialized wrench for three nuclear bases? (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the U.S. nuclear program needs a major overhaul, and he cites the defense department review that reveals some rather embarrassing deficiencies. Tom Foreman found out what the problems are. Tom?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Fredericka, this new report from the Pentagon is certainly dismaying to many people in the military and, frankly, alarming to others.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: In the dangerous world of nuclear missiles and strategic bombers, it's hard to imagine a simple hand tool could be a problem. But the Pentagon review found supplies were so neglected workers at three nuke sites were sharing a single specialized wrench for more than 400 missiles.

CHUCK HAGEL, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Now, how did they do it? They did it by Federal Expressing the one wrench around to each base. They were creative and innovative, and they made it work. But that's not the way to do it.

FOREMAN: The Pentagon is now acknowledging many such troubles including an inspection regimen that nitpicked insignificant details while ignoring potentially serious issues, like leaky hydraulic seals on aging missile blast doors, making it impossible to close them properly. A culture of inefficiencies, micromanagement, and daily shortages in equipment, qualified personnel, facilities, and funding, even badly outdated helicopters being used to service nuclear operations, choppers that came into service under President Nixon during the Vietnam War.

HAGEL: We just have kind of taken our eye off the ball here. And if we don't fix this, eventually it will get to a point where there will be some questions about our security.

FOREMAN: Officials say these problems grew in part from the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan which forced the Pentagon to choose between sending resources to battle or to the nuke program.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you have to make a hard choice like that, you're going to support the war fighter, and you make it as best as you can.

FOREMAN: Still embarrassing lapses have resulted, such as an incident last year in which a missile bay door was left open and unattended while one crew member slept and another went for food, and more recently reports of missile officers cheating on proficiency tests.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FOREMAN: Fixing all of this will not be cheap. The Pentagon currently spends about $15 billion a year on the nuke program. They say that will have to be increased by about 10 percent, and even then it's going to be take years to undo the damage. Fredericka?

WHITFIELD: Tom Foreman, thanks so much.

All right, the GOP says it will fight President Obama tooth and nail on immigration reform. But he may also have to face some skeptical Democrats. That's ahead.

How we pay for goods and services has changed dramatically in the past 10 years as we usher in the new era of mobile payments and the virtual wallet. That's the topic this week in our special series "Tomorrow Transformed" with Richard Quest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From paper to plastic, technology has revolutionized the way we pay. The credit card's magnetic strip changed the point of sale with one swipe. Today, we are waiving on our purchases though the era of contactless payments with the help of an inbuilt chip and antenna.

CHRIS KANGAS, HEAD OF CONTACTLESS PRODUCTS: Contactless was founded on the principle of advancing convenience but also achieving a high level of security.

QUEST: This advance in technology has paved the way for mobile payments. Consumers can now rely on virtual wallets to negotiate their daily life without using cash or a card.

The future will no longer be the smartphone in the palm of your hand. It may be something you wear on your wrist. Barclaycard recently launched the B.A. Band. It uses technology that can be built into other products, such as a key fob.

VALERIE SORANNO KEATING, CEO, BARCLAYCARD: The consumers want the things that they carry and the things that they wear every day to do more for them, including payments.

QUEST: While new technology is making the payments speedier, providers must convince shoppers that these transactions are safe. Apple Pay uses a fingerprint sensor to validate purchases. In the end, added security features will be crucial to winning over customers with different needs as tomorrow is transformed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Russian president Vladimir Putin is getting a very chilly reception at the G-20 summit. Leaders of the world's most powerful nations gathering in Brisbane, Australia, have been criticizing him over Russia's actions in Ukraine. Jim Acosta is traveling with the president. Jim?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Fred, this headline in this newspaper here in Australia really says it all. It says "Ice Cold War," and it shows the Russian bear duking it out with the Australian kangaroo. It's really been the G-19 plus 1, very isolated Vladimir Putin at this G-20 summit. The Russian president has gotten the cold shoulder from many of the leaders here in Brisbane. The summit's host, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, sent only low- level officials to greet Putin at the airport. Aides to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper say he told Putin, "I guess I'll shake your hand, but you need to get out of Ukraine."

We did see President Obama walking into dinner with German Chancellor Angela Merkel deep in conversation. And in the video, you can hear the word "ceasefire." The president piled on Putin in a speech earlier in the day, mentioning the downing of Malaysian flight 17 and vowing that the U.S. will continue to take on a lead role in standing up to Russia. Here's what the president had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're leading in dealing with Ebola in West Africa and in opposing Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which is a threat to the world, as we saw in the appalling shoot-down of MH-17, a tragedy that took so many innocent lives, among them your fellow citizens. As your ally and friend, America shares the grief of these Australian families and we share the determination of your nation for justice and accountability.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Russia created a stir at the summit by positioning some naval ships off of the Australian coast. Moscow said they were in the area for Putin's security, but Australia responded by sending its own warships to keep an eye on the Russians. Besides Putin, there are other big topics at the summit, such as Ebola with the G-20 leaders releasing a joint statement encouraging nations that haven't joined the fight against the deadly virus to start doing so. And the battle against ISIS is also a top priority, something President Obama will be discussing with leaders from au Australia and Japan tomorrow. The president will end the trip with a news conference before heading back to Washington. Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, Jim Acosta, thank you so much.

President Obama faces a new immigration battle when he comes back to Washington. White House officials say the president will fix the problem alone and move ahead with executive action to stop deportations. And that position has angered Republican leaders. Here's what the president said during his visit to Asia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: And I indicated to Speaker Boehner several months ago that if, in fact, Congress failed to act I would use all the lawful authority that I possess to try to make the system work better. And that's going to happen.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) HOUSE SPEAKER: We are going to fight the president tooth and nail if he continues down this path. This is the wrong way to govern. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Earlier I spoke with Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar. He's not too keen on the president bypassing Congress either.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REP. HENRY CUELLAR, (D) TEXAS: I think any plan should have three main concepts. One is you need to have sensible border security. And that's what I want to see. Two, some sort of guest worker plan to make sure that we address some of the needs that we have here in our economy. And then number three is what do we do about the 11 million or 12 million undocumented persons that we have?

The problem is that right now, you know, without all due respect to our Republican friends, because there are some Republicans that support immigration, but they're just saying we're going to stop the president. But we have at least two years this session to work on immigration reform. The Senate passed a package. On the House side, it never, never, never moved. So instead of fighting tooth and nail to stop the president, Boehner should be fighting tooth and nail to compromise to come up with some sort of consensus on immigration reform.

WHITFIELD: So if that doesn't happen, as we're hearing alluded to by Boehner, then the president says he's going to use executive action in order to make it happen. But you don't agree with that approach. Why?

CUELLAR: Well, I mean, I'm not going to -- if the president does that, I'm not going to vote to defund it like the Republicans are saying. I won't go that approach. I prefer that we have a bipartisan approach in Congress. That's the way it should be.

WHITFIELD: In this climate, is that realistic?

CUELLAR: In this climate, no. So therefore if the president decides to go this way, we are going to have some sort of limited immigration reform. I'm not going to defund that. I will support the president. I might not agree with everything because he's doing this in secret and we don't know what he's doing. I saw some suggestions that might come out, and I don't agree with all of them, but overall, I think we can work with him.

And remember, the president has the power to use an executive order just like other Democrats and Republican presidents have done in the past.

WHITFIELD: What are things you don't agree with? Because two of those items that you mentioned are in, I guess, the possible elements of his plan, these possibilities have been leaked by various sources, you know, tighter border protection, some sort of allowances for a guest worker program. The president apparently or possibly in this plan would be allowing people with children to stay. Migrant workers would be able to stay under certain conditions. What of the information that you're hearing might be in the president's plan you don't like?

CUELLAR: Yes, those things are fine. You've got to look at the details. I'm talking in particular, one thing and particular is the secured communities. The secured communities, if somebody gets picked up for a crime and they're taken to a jail, they'll use biometrics to check his criminal record, and under secured communities, they can use biometrics to check whether he's here legally or not. And if we catch a felon at that time, are we supposed to let them go? Should we get rid of the secured community and he's an undocumented person? No, I don't think so. Important, if he has been pocket-picker in the past, that's something different. But I think the secured communities can't be adjusted on priority, but it should be eliminated like the president is saying that we should eliminate it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was Congressman Henry Cuellar today.

A Republican senator from Ohio says he's mapping plans to run for the White House. Who is Rob Portman, and does he have a chance? We'll ask him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: We now know the results of Alaska's gubernatorial race. CNN projects independent candidate Bill Walker is the winner. He defeated Republican incumbent Sean Parnell. The race was too close to call on election night with Walker showing less than a 3,000-vote lead over Parnell. Well, that puts the governorship balance of power across country at 31 Republicans, 17 Democrats and one independent. The outcome of the race in Vermont still unresolved.

And just as we finished one election, the 2016 presidential contest could soon get an official candidate. He was on the short list to be Mitt Romney's vice presidential candidate, and now he's mapping out plans for a potential run for the top job. CNN's Erin McPike just sat down with Senator Rob Portman of Ohio.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you want to be president?

SEN. ROB PORTMAN, (R) OHIO: Well --

MCPIKE: We are here in Cincinnati. This is the home of Rob Portman who may be running for president in 2016. But Portman has been looking at a presidential race, thinking about it, for a very long time. His grandparents own a restaurant in Lebanon, Ohio. You may know that those distinguished guests are presidents.

BILL KILIMNIK, GOLDEN LAMB GENERAL MANAGER: That's 12 United States presidents, yes. This one was given to senator Portman for his service on the success of the financial cabinet with President George W. Bush.

MCPIKE: Portman's been raising his profile recently. Abc took his kayaking, Bloomberg took him bike riding, we got ribs.

PORTMAN: The chicken and the ribs.

MCPIKE: Chicken and ribs?

PORTMAN: Can I get that for lunch?

MCPIKE: Sure.

Are you running for president?

PORTMAN: I'm thinking about it. I probably have more experience than other people who are running or thinking about running.

MCPIKE: Rob Portman was in Congress for a long time, and then he was in President Bush's cabinet with a couple of different jobs, but then he got the bug.

PORTMAN: President Obama in 2008 ran a campaign with, among other things, a message of unity that I found really compelling. I didn't vote for him.

MCPIKE: One thing about him is that he is so nice.

PORTMAN: Thank you.

MCPIKE: But a lot of people in Washington say he's kind of boring, that he's not very exciting on the campaign trail. In 2012 when he was campaigning with Mitt Romney, he really sort of changed that wisdom. Bengals or Browns?

PORTMAN: Bengals.

MCPIKE: Skyline or Gold Star?

PORTMAN: Skyline.

MCPIKE: Ohio has been such a swing state. In 2012, of course, President Obama ended up winning, but not by much. Portman won by an 18-point margin.

PORTMAN: This notion that somehow, you know, the Democratic Party is invincible now in these purple and blue states, it's just not true.

MCPIKE: But do you want to be president?

PORTMAN: Well, I want to be in a position to help, to help people in their daily lives and help our great country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, so Erin McPike now joining me from Washington. So Erin, what's the strategy? Because I don't think I really heard a definitive. So I heard definitively he wants to help people, but I didn't hear a yes, I'm totally in. MCPIKE: Well, Fred, that's right. He's thinking about running, and

he told me that he'll decide sometime after the new year if he really is going to go for it. But he told me that his big weakness here is that he is unknown nationally, but that he does have a national network of donors that could keep his campaign afloat until debate season. And that's where he really shines. He was the stand-in for the Democratic nominees in debate prep for Republicans in the last four election cycles, so he's known to be a master debater, and he thinks that could carry him through, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, we will be watching, and you will help us as they peel back the layers on that decision. Thanks so much, Erin McPike, appreciate it.

All right, still to come, college costs are spiking year after year, which begs the question a new CNN documentary is asking, is a college education worth it?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, is a college degree worth it? You keep hearing that question asked. Millions of high school seniors and their parents are dealing with that right now. And a college education is only getting even more expensive. The College Board is out with new numbers showing in-state tuition at public four-year colleges up 2.9 percent, out-of-state tuition at public four-year colleges up 3.3 percent. Well, a new documentary, a CNN film, "Ivory Tower," jumps right into the issue of rising costs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The rise in student tuition is unsustainable. We cannot continue to charge significantly more the year after year after year without running into some kind of a brick wall.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: College tuition has increased more than any other good or service in the entire U.S. economy since 1978.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. Joining me right now from New York, Andrew Rossi, the film's director. Andrew, it is really the question that so many households are tackling with right now. Why did you feel like now's the time to have this kind of film?

ANDREW ROSSI, DIRECTOR, "IVORY TOWER": Well, I think this really is a unique time to look at this question, especially when the student loan debt has exceeded $1 trillion, which it did in 2011. And as tuition continues to soar, we've seen since 1978 tuition has been rising at a rate above 1,000 percent.

WHITFIELD: Unbelievable.

ROSSI: At the same time we do see that this bridge between adolescence to adulthood that college is, this sort of myth around it, still endures in many way as a great opportunity for students to understand what they want to commit to and to get a job. And so we see in the film this sort of, these competing views. Is it too expensive? What happens if you attend but can't actually graduate? Do you still have the mythic $1 million wage premium? All these questions are all ones that families are struggling with. So we thought now is a great time to really go deep into the field on campuses and see what students are learning.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And you have that one lady that you profiled who really was at that crossroad. She's really had actually already kind of crossed the finish line in terms of her four-year education but she's over $140,000 in debt and she has been unable to land a job of her major. And so she is saying should I have even done this? But you also have other students and experts in there saying but your earning potential is so much higher when you get that degree.

ROSSI: That's right, Fredricka. We see in the film Stephanie Gray, the student you mentioned, who actually has over $100,000 in debt. She has master's degrees. And when we see her in the film, she can't get a job at Starbucks, as she says, cleaning toilets.

But there are other students that we see, for example David Boone, who is a student at Harvard who was once homeless who has not been able to study computer coding and has a job during the summers at Microsoft. There are a range of experiences to consider in this question of whether that $1 million wage premium that we're talking about is one that's accessible to all. It is the average premium that those with a B.A. get. But we have to look at the other costs, whether student loan debt can be so crushing that it changes the calculus.

WHITFIELD: And we saw that graphic in your documentary talking about the 1,000 percent college cost increase since 1978 to near present day, and then just this past week we heard from the former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg who said, you know, here's another thing to think about, saying this, quote, "Today if your kid wants to go to college or become a plumber, you've got to think long and hard." And he went on to talk about how being a plumber could end up being more financially feasible and secure. So is that sort of the underlying issue even in your film, too, that maybe it's an issue about thinking about trades and vocations, and maybe four-year colleges are not the answer for everyone?

ROSSI: Absolutely. I think former mayor Bloomberg brings up a very interesting point, which is that college is not the only platform in which a person can develop themselves and become a successful economic actor in the greater economy. But, you know, and so trades and craft and vocational learning are also important.

That being said, college as this four-year rite of passage still has a lot of merits that go beyond the financial outcome for those who have the B.A.

WHITFIELD: Right.

ROSSI: So when we say, is it worth it, we need to look at both the financial reward and also the personal growth that one can go through. WHITFIELD: Andrew Rossi, it's fantastic food for thought for the

parent or kid about to go off to college and even for the parent or kid who, like in my case, first kid going off in about nine years. And it really is very sobering to see those kinds of numbers. But it gets the wheels turning about how do I make sure we can afford our kid going to college debt-free upon graduation. That really is the dream. That's becoming the dream these days. Andrew Rossi, thanks so much. And of course, you can see the broadcast premier of "Ivory Tower" on Thursday, 9:00 p.m. eastern, only on CNN.

All right, have you ever dropped your cellphone in a puddle, the sink perhaps, or even a toilet? If so, you're not alone. Millions have done that and do it every year. But now there's a high-tech solution to bringing soaked phones back from watery graves. Here's CNN's Laurie Segall.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAM COOKSON, TEKDRY: Twenty-two million people a year in the United States get a phone wet. We have a service that helps people who have gotten smartphones wet or other electronic devices.

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN MONEY TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: Right here we have a brand-new iPhone 6.

COOKSON: Brand-new.

SEGALL: We're going to dunk it in the water. I'd let you do it with mine, but I just don't trust you.

(LAUGHTER)

COOKSON: See the bubbles coming out?

SEGALL: Yes.

COOKSON: See how the bubbles have stopped? So what you should do is take it out and attempt to power it down. You put it in this special chamber. It uses low pressure and thermodynamics or heat at a very low pressure. You basically make the water turn into vapor and come out of the phone very quickly. So we'll open this up, put the phones inside, close it up. No tools, didn't have to open anything up. Turn it on.

SEGALL: OK, so 20 minutes has gone by.

COOKSON: Yes.

SEGALL: This right here means that there's no more water.

COOKSON: Moisture's out. No more water in the phone.

SEGALL: All right, let's test it.

COOKSON: That's a good noise.

SEGALL: Bad news for this guy. It's not turning on. All right.

COOKSON: I think it's going to need a charge.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Ooh. I don't know. That's a big risk to take. But, OK, we'll be impressed for now. Two out of three ain't bad.

I'm Fredericka Whitfield. Thanks so much for joining me. Much more of the Newsroom straight ahead, the top of the hour with Poppy Harlow. See you tomorrow.

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