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Massive Storm Kills at Least Six; Iraqi Forces Retake Most of a Key City; New Questions about White House Incident; New Questions About White House Incident; Frat's National Office Investigating Video; Serena Williams Makes An Emotional Return

Aired March 14, 2015 - 11:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Happening right now in the NEWSROOM.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It looks like an absolute bomb has hit it. It is devastating.

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WHITFIELD: Packing winds of 155 miles per hour, Cyclone Pam is churning in the South Pacific. So far, at least six people killed and an island nation devastated.

And two days after two officers are shot and injured in Ferguson, Missouri the suspect is still at large. Police chasing several new leads this morning as the manhunt continues.

Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go, guys. Come on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pass her up. Pass her up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Unbelievable Herculean strength used, trapped for nearly 14 hours in a ravine after a terrible car crash 18 month old Lily survives and her entire rescue is caught right there on camera.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hello everyone and thanks so much for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We start this hour with a state of emergency declared in the South Pacific after tropical cyclone Pam with the power of a Category 5 hurricane struck the island chain nation of Vanuatu. The fourth most powerful storm ever to make landfall took direct aim on the capital city of Port Vila. At least six people are confirmed dead, 20 others injured, and there are fears the death toll just could rise. Wind gusts up to 200 miles per hour tore houses apart and knocked down trees.

The Australian Red Cross says shelter, food and water are urgently needed. And official with the emergency aid group World Vision told CNN it looks like a bomb hit Port Vila and some villages are decimated.

Joining me from Port Vila is UNICEF acting chief, Andrew Parker. So you were there before the storm hit. How bad is it in your assessment?

ANDREW PARKER, UNICEF: I've seen many emergencies, Fredricka, and many cyclones, typhoons. This is as bad as any. Certainly the situation here is very grim. I would estimate that at least 90 percent, if not more, of all housing and buildings in Port Vila have been heavily affected.

WHITFIELD: So did people have shelter, generally? Were there others who just simply tried to ride it out wherever they were? They knew the storm was coming, right?

PARKER: Yes. The National Disaster Management Office has been communicating or was communicating for a full week prior to the arrival of Pam, as it was progressing south from the Solomon Islands, has been communicating throughout the nation with relay stations, on radio and others ways. So the population was prepared.

Shelters -- most people were staying at home, trying to ride it out. In reality many houses just were not built for this level of destruction. Even the mobile, the cell towers, for relaying mobile telephone signals are only rated officially for Category 3. They cannot stand Category 5. And there's only one left in the country.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness. And I mentioned that urgently need are food and water and even medical supplies. So if your view, how many more days can people go before this kind assistance perhaps comes from other nations?

PARKER: For Port Vila itself, people are relatively fortunate in the sense that there are some stocks, the private sector has been very supportive of the community. But the news out of Port Vila is just a wall of silence at the moment. With communications down, there's absolutely no idea of the impact or damage to the north nor is there real clear view as to what has happened to the islands to the south where Pam actually only left Vanuatu landfall about 5:30, 6:00 this afternoon.

WHITFIELD: All right. UNICEF acting chief, Andrew Parker -- thank you so much, I know you have a lot on your plate as you try to assist people there as best you can. Appreciate it.

Let's bring in CNN's Ivan Cabrera. So Ivan -- Pam, where is it heading now?

IVAN CABRERA, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's going to be heading to New Zealand as a weaker storm here but I'd tell you, the gentleman you just spoke with and the people that are actually able to talk with you and me right now, are in the least affected areas. There are people right now that I must imagine are in much rougher shape.

Here's Hawaii. Let's take you to where we're talking about here in the South Pacific. This is the island chain of Vanuatu. It's made up of several islands. Vila is the capital city here. There is the storm now to the south. Beneath there is Australia. We'll get to the forecast in a second as far as where it's headed.

I want to take you to the current stats here from tropical cyclone Pam. When we talk about a tropical cyclone that's what we call it in this part of the world. This essentially would still be the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. As it made landfall it was a Cat 5, the winds right now still at a 150 miles an hour. But it is safely now moving away from the islands here.

So the damage is done and at this point we're just going to be tracking this as a big rainmaker and there will be some gusty winds backing into the northern side, the north island of New Zealand that would happen at about 48 hours. We'll track that for you in the next few days here. But I don't think it's going to be anywhere near what they had in Vanuatu which, of course, there, this was a historic storm. They had never seen anything like it.

In fact we never even approached anything like a Category 5 storm making landfall in Vanuatu and it did and strongest landfall globally since Typhoon Haiyan which, of course, was back in the Philippines a couple of years ago. So it is going to take a while before we realize the essentially the calamity that is likely unfolding right now in those islands.

WHITFIELD: Oh my goodness. All right. Ivan -- thank you so much. We'll check back with you later on.

Well, here's an amazing twist to this story. CNN's Bill Weir host of "THE WONDER LIST" actually filmed his premier if you recall in Vanuatu. It focused on the area's beauty and the remoteness but in what now seems a premonition one resident expressed fears about rising waters on the island nation and how much devastation that would potentially cause. And now we've got this, Vanuatu being hit by this cyclone Pam.

Bill Weir joining us now from New York. So Bill, you know, while you were there, you know, how in your estimation would people there be able to handle this kind of devastation? They already expressed concern about rising water but this is something very different?

BILL WEIR, CNN HOST: It absolutely is, Fred. It casts the whole hour we did there in a completely different light. What drew me to the place was the romance, the paradise, the sun kissed, you know, sugar sand beaches, the fish -- all they could eat and all of that, but very different when you think about riding out a Category 5 storm in essentially a thatched hut.

This beautiful kids -- this is up in Molta Lava in the north -- folks who are really trying to embrace tourism. But to give you a sense of where they're starting from, they just got their first cement floor at the place we stayed. The owner had poured all of his savings into it not realizing that most westerners don't want to see concrete on vacation. In fact they told him to put sand over it.

He was asking me how he could get a toilet paper holder because if he just he got that for his new bathroom he would get a recommendation for tourists to come to his little bungalow. So we're talking about the most basic level of development for these folks who had to ride out these insane winds in what you're seeing there, thatch sided, open sided huts.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And that's in the northern portion that you mentioned and we understand from Ivan just telling us, it's the southern islands that got hit particularly hard. Do you suppose that, you know, the way of life is very similar? Did you get a chance to see the southern islands or is there a big difference between, you know, existence north to south?

WEIR: Even the places we hung out in the south, Tanna, which was the island where the prime minister is actually from. But we spent some time in the Siakel (ph) village where people live like it is 100 B.C. It's literally grass skirts in the woods, banyan tree houses, and, you know, they're perfectly content. They know what the modern world has to offer, but, you know, we're so used to in the West go to an interior room, get in the bathtub. There are no interior rooms much less bathtubs.

These are hardy folks. They've survived in this part of the world and they would tell stories about the big hurricane I think in 1938 that split up different communities and shaped that society, and you know they're going to be talking about this one forever -- the biggest ever.

And as one of the previous guests said, what's so hard is all those cell towers, which they just got about five years ago, the cell service there I was shocked to see how good it was, not to even be able it to communicate much less get to these places and see how these folks survived.

WHITFIELD: Wow, extraordinary view. Bill Weir, thanks so much for joining us and your perspective and what we believe to be these people being challenged like never before on being resourceful.

All right. Bill host of CNN's "THE WONDER LIST" which airs Sunday nights at 10:00. This week he's headed to Greece.

All right. Still ahead, new leads into who may have shot two officers in Ferguson, Missouri. Ryan Young is there.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, police officers still searching for whoever shot the two officers. Those officers have been released from the hospital. We'll have the story coming up in a live report. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Police are chasing several new leads in Ferguson, Missouri for the suspect who shot two officers. They're also considering increasing the current $10,000 reward. It's been more than two days since those two officers were shot and wounded at the end of a protest against the Ferguson police department.

Ryan Young is in Ferguson for us now. So how are they going about trying to find suspects?

YOUNG: Well, good morning -- Fred. If you look behind me right now -- all quiet outside the police department where obviously, the demonstration was happening when those shots were fired. They are still trying to find that two people of interest that they have identified. They haven't really shared with the media who those people are so far.

I can tell you there's been a lot of conversation in this community about where the actual gunfire may have started, people saying they heard the muzzle flashes but, of course, people heard that video and watched that video of the U-Stream of the bullets whizzing by -- a very dangerous situation.

I can tell you law enforcement has been getting help from the community but they desperately want more phone calls. That's why that $10,000 reward is so important. In fact, the police chief was talking about the situation very recently.

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JOHN BELMAR, POLICE CHIEF: This is really an ambush is what it is. I mean you can't see it coming, you don't understand that it's going to happen and you're basically defenseless from the fact that it is happening to you at the time. And that is something that is very difficult to guard against when you have a group of officers standing in a large group and then, you know, you have gunfire, certainly gunfire directed at them.

It's a tragedy either way because it undermines everything that everybody is trying to do in this. It really does. I won't walk away from the fact that it is not beyond the realm of possibility that having all those officers standing there together and the fact that two of those officers were hit, that these officers weren't targeted.

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YOUNG: And some strong language being used about whoever opened fire on the two officers. In fact, the attorney general called whoever did this, "punks" -- that's some very strong language. I can tell you there's been a lot of work to try to find whoever did this. It still continues and they're hoping like once I said before, more tips will come in -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Ryan Young, thank so much, from Ferguson. All right. Still ahead Iraqi forces are close to retaking a key city

from ISIS. We'll get the latest and also find out why this is such a strategic battle.

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WHITFIELD: Iraqi joint forces are taking a pause in their attempt to take back the strategic city of Tikrit. They've already recaptured about 75 percent of the city. Reuters is reporting they have now halted their offensive for a second day while they wait for reinforcements. Retaking Tikrit is an important step for the Iraqi government. ISIS has occupied the city since June of last year. Its close proximity to Baghdad and also seen as a threat to Iraq security.

So what can we expect next in the fight against ISIS. CNN military analyst Major General James "Spider" Marks is in Phoenix for us. Good to see you. Fewer than 200 ISIS fighters are holding out in that last part of the city. Why is the fight for Tikrit so important for ISIS? It's clear why it's important for Iraq to hold on to it but why for ISIS?

MAJ. GEN. JAMES SPIDER MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, it's important for ISIS primarily because this is the first real, I would say, robust engagement that's taking place between the Iraqi security forces and ISIS. This is an opportunity for ISIS to stand up and if they can withhold Tikrit or if they can attrite or really cause some damage to ISF, the Iraqi Security Forces, or if they can hold out on to a certain portion and remain in place and cause the Iraqi Security Forces to galvanize some additional forces this is a big win for ISIS. This is a big propaganda plot.

WHITFIELD: Are there any marked improvements for the Iraqi forces joint or otherwise? Because in recent weeks we've been talking about how they really have been upstaged by the ability and power of ISIS, so have things changed in any way and if so, why?

MARKS: Well, there are some results on the ground, obviously, in Tikrit, where ISF is being successful but keep in mind, Fred, that what the Iraqi forces have alongside them right now, are Shia militia and they are very -- and Quds force and the Iraqi Badr Corps, without getting into too much of the inside baseball of all these different players. What you have is Iranian influence in Iraq that is significant and is tactically available and making itself very, very successful in terms of these tactical engagements against ISI.

So this is a big deal for Tehran. They are exercising some very significant influence in this battle in Tikrit. Now tactically, that's good. The United States and Tehran, very ironically, share the same interests here in that we want ISIS to be destroyed. The challenge is that going forward strategically, obviously Iran has the upper hand in terms of influencing activities on the ground.

Our advisors, the United States presence certainly is robust and vigorous across the board, but we don't have troops on the ground that can really support the Iraqi forces. That's the issue right now. When it's any port in a storm, the Iraqi forces need help, Iranian are there, they're getting it.

WHITFIELD: So it's interesting that there would be this U.S. and Iran, you know, kind of parallel to strategic interests, but as it pertains to helping coordinate these joint Iraqi forces, would that put Iran or even the U.S. in the same company, you know, talking together for this military strategy or are those Iraqi forces just independently receiving instructions and guidance and then moving based on the Iranian and U.S. influence?

MARKS: Yes. I would think very simply, Iranian forces are saddling up next to the Iraqi forces on the ground. They are providing tactical support, irrespective of the coordination details that Iraq has very closely, very trusted, very deep, with Central Command, the United States Central Command, which has the overall responsibility there in Iraq.

So Iran is there and they're providing help at the tactical level. That's kind of how it's working right now.

WHITFIELD: Fascinating. All right. Spider Marks -- thanks so much. Good to see you.

MARKS: Thank you -- Fred. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Still ahead, new questions about an incident at the White House that put two Secret Service agents under investigation. CNN's Erin McPike is at the White House for us.

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're learning that initial reports about this incident may have been overblown. I'll have more on that after the break.

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WHITFIELD: Happening right now in the NEWSROOM: new questions today about the circumstances surrounding two Secret Service agents under investigation, were they allegedly driving drunk on White House property?

And the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at the University of Oklahoma is fighting back and lawyering up. The high-profile attorney for the disbanded SAE Chapter says he's not ruling out suing the school.

Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Rescuing Baby Lily. Not only will you get to watch the incredible rescue unfold but there's a mystery here as first responders tell a bizarre story of hearing cries for help but now wonder were those cries coming from the baby?

The NEWSROOM continues right now.

Good morning again, everyone. Thanks for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

CNN has learned some of the details surrounding the latest Secret Service scandal are being questioned. Law enforcement continues to investigate what happened at the White House involving two agents. Sources tell CNN allegations about drinking and driving, may not be true.

Joe Clancy, the new head of the Secret Service, is expected to appear on Capitol Hill next week to discuss all of this.

Erin McPike joining me from the White House; so is the direction of this investigation changing?

MCPIKE: Fred, I wouldn't say that it is changing. There is an investigation. The Department of Homeland Security is investigating. Also there will be some talk about this on Capitol Hill on Monday and Tuesday, but our latest reporting does kind of contradict or at least diverge from some of the original details.

And what we know is that there were two senior Secret Service agents who were at a retirement party for one of their colleagues on the evening of March 4th at a bar in Chinatown which is about seven blocks due east of the White House. At the end of that evening those two agents drove in a government car back to the White House, where there was some suspicious activity going on. There had been a bomb threat and that was being investigated.

So these two agents drove up to the barricade. The car nudged an orange barrel at the time. But as far as we know, from what we're hearing from sources now, there was no collision, there was no damage, there was no sort of confrontation and it may be that there was never even a suggestion that a sobriety test needed to happen.

Those two agents then went home. They have been reassigned in new roles in the Secret Service. But then here's where the trouble is. Joe Clancy, who is the director of Secret Service was told about this five days later and that is what some are questioning. It's calling into question some credibility. Has he really changed the culture of the Secret Service? And he will be testifying on Capitol Hill in private and public briefings on Monday and Tuesday.

Now Jason Chaffetz who's a Republican congressman and chairs the House Oversight Committee spoke to CNN yesterday about this and here's what he had to say.

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REP. JASON CHAFFETZ (R), UTAH: This is a big moment for Director Clancy. He has the opportunity to help clean this up. How he does it, the manner in which he does it, I think he needs to send a signal that there's going to be a new age of accountability and that means communicating at the very top right away.

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MCPIKE: And Fred, we should also point out that the only thing we have heard publicly from the Secret Service so far is that there is an active investigation under way over this issue. They have not put out any details yet about what they know of this incident.

WHITFIELD: All right. Erin McPike, keep us posted from the White House.

So is this more of the same for the Secret Service? Is there a new problem here? Joining me from Los Angeles is former Secret Service agent, Anthony Chapa. He also is with the Office of Professional Responsibility for the U.S. Secret Service.

Anthony, good to see you. So all of this sounds really strange, doesn't it and does it seem like a case that's overblown or does this smell of a cover-up?

ANTHONY CHAPA, FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT: Well, Fredricka, let me say that I represent myself and I'm not a spokesman for the secret service, but the situation is one that it never is what it appears on its face. Everything in my 25 years needs to be investigated and that's what's going on today.

So that, you know, Director Clancy can inform those that need to know just what actually happened. What is sad is that we're focused on the allegations, the agents in question, you know, still have their rights, prior due process, to explain what happened.

You know, I guess what is sad is that we're not focusing on the bravery of the uniform division officers that responded to that suspicious package and how they set up a net of communication and shared with all the joining police jurisdictions and have one officer tried to apprehend the individual and stop the vehicle and ended up getting assaulted by the car.

And then the woman escaped and the agents and officers responded capturing the person, finding that the device was a hoax device, and having to charge her for assault on the officer. That's what affects a lot of us today.

WHITFIELD: And those -- and what you spelled out does seem to be the business as usual, the expectation of the courage of Secret Service when tasked as they did carry out there, but what is unusual is yet another potential incident that certain certainly kind of scars the image if not wounds the image of Secret Service.

This investigation along with string of things that have happened in recent years from the prostitution scandal in Colombia, the breach in Atlanta, on the elevator with the president, and the armed man who did make it too the White House. Does all of this say to you that this really is the business of usual for the Secret Service or there is a problem, there are gaping holes and it does jeopardize the sanctity of what the U.S. Secret Service has always represented?

CHAPA: I think this incident alone and many others that are very positive to say that here was a situation where two supervisors, you know, had a focus of duty, that even though they were off duty, they could hear the situation was happening, felt that they needed to respond.

And had they gone out for a sandwich and had a diet coke, should they have responded, absolutely. Had they not responded, it would have been (inaudible) the duty. The fact that it's alleged that they may have had attended an event and had a beer that has to be investigated, and find out if that's the case.

But they went and the fact that the supervisors and the officers there felt that the leadership was now willing to listen to them and to hear that there was a situation that needed to be investigated at the highest levels, I think that speaks volumes of the new leadership and ability to report these things because Director Clancy has that reputation.

He's willing to talk to the newest employee, to the most senior employee. If you have an idea or concept or a new solution, he wants to hear it and he will put it into effect.

WHITFIELD: All right, Anthony Chapa, thank you for your expertise. Appreciate it from Los Angeles.

CHAPA: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: All right, words or actions, what defines racism? Is it singing a song like the fraternity members at the University of Oklahoma are now in trouble for? Many say they're not guilty of racism even though they may have been singing it, and others disagree. What do you think? Right after this.

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WHITFIELD: All right, once again this week, a story about people who are using offensive, derogatory, racist language and then soon to follow apologies or explanations saying it wasn't racists but a mistake, quote/unquote, "wrong and reckless."

This week's students with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon or SAE fraternity led and took part in a racist chant. Two of those students have been expelled by the university -- by the Oklahoma University, and friends and families say the young men shouldn't be labeled racists.

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MATTHEW LOPEZ, FRESHMAN, FRIEND OF PARKER RICE: That video does not represent his core personality. Unfortunately as things are, that might define him for a while, but it does not define him personally. Parker Rice is a charismatic, good person, with a good soul and spirit, that I feel truly did not believe in or did to the truly understand what he was saying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The 19-year-old Parker Rice, seen in the video, helping to lead the chant song released his own statement apologizing and saying, quote, "I know everyone wants to know why or how this happened. I admit it likely was fueled by alcohol consumed at the house before the bus trip but that's not an excuse. Yes, the song was taught to us, but that, too, doesn't work as an explanation," end quote.

Joining me now to talk about why there seems to be varying views about what defines racism, Paniel Joseph, contributing editor to theroot.com and founding director of Tough Universities Center for the Study Of Race and Democracy, good to see you, and Tim Wise, the author of "Color-Blind And Dear White America" and CNN political commentator, Van Jones. All right, Gentlemen, good to see you all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good to see you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.

WHITFIELD: So Paniel to you first, you know, this young man, Parker Rice says, you know, further down in his apology statement that it was wrong and reckless, but is it more than that? I mean, we're talking about lynching, the "n" word, "n" words will never be a part of this fraternity. Can you separate the racist language and the person using it?

PANIEL JOSEPH, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, THE ROOT.COM: Well, no. Fredricka, I don't think you can in this instance. I think it's an example of anti-black racism that even 50 years after Selma is really flourishing in parts of the United States especially college campuses, but really throughout our political, social, Democratic institutions.

And I think that young millennials like this 19-year-old boy who I am sure is an empathetic, compassionate young man in other ways is existing side by side with all these racist thoughts, these anti-black sentiments that he's fine with and his cohort is fine with.

So I think there's something wrong and the family can't say he's a fine young man who made a mistake. I think that what they are not understanding is that he's articulating what he's been inculcating all these different years, which is anti-black racist sentiments.

So He can enjoy black bodies on the football field at OU, but when it comes to joining his fraternity he can -- this song that creates a hostile climate for African-Americans because it's a hostile climate that black students are facing at OU.

WHITFIELD: So Tim, you know, what is the explanation? I'm not asking you to speak for these young people, but we're talking about this is another example of something that happens, it is offensive, it clearly sends a very strong message and makes a lot of students very uncomfortable, particularly those who are black.

But then you have got these young students, who say in their apologies, you know, that I was just wrong and reckless and it doesn't really mean anything. It's not a reflection of me. So is it taking especially talking college age kids, how is it that that explanation is enough?

TIM WISE, AUTHOR, "COLORBLIND": Well, of course, it's not enough. I think the problem in this whole discussion of, are these young men racist, are they not racist is the wrong discussion whether or not they are at their core, racist hateful people isn't the issue.

They were willing to participate in the performance of racism and historically that's been the bigger issue. You know, there were plenty of white folks that didn't own other human beings. There were plenty of white folks who did not actively discriminate in their businesses during segregation but they sat back and collaborated with it.

They participated in it, and so we've got to remember racism is not just about individual bad acts, it's about systemic inequality. And if these young men, I would say, even if we give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they're not horrible, racist people, that might be worse.

What does it say that good people, caring people are still willing because of group pressure, group think or this society's training to participate in racism?

Until we get to the place where white folks are prepared to stand up and challenge this, not just be passively nonracist. But actively anti-racist, we're going to have these kinds of things happening.

WHITFIELD: So Tim, does it underscore that some people just don't understand what racism is? They don't know how to define it? They don't know that, you know, uttering a few words can be just as harmful potentially as, you know, carrying out an act?

WISE: I think they clearly don't know what it means, but any time we think about a word that ends in those letters, "isms", we are talking about not just ideologies, we're talking about systems of inequity, capitalism, socialism, communism, racism as well.

It's not just individual prejudice, it's systemic inequality and as long as we continue to perform acts of individual racism, that maintains a system of inequity and that's what we really need to be focusing on and talking about.

Now I remember when I was in college there were two crosses burned at Tulane University, my senior year, 1989 and '90 and both times the individuals who did that said, well, I'm not sure it was racist.

You know, that first cross was only 2 feet tall as if somehow we can measure hatred with a slide rule and decide it's not racist. We're so intent on staying saying there are bad people over here and good people over here. And I think the key is good people can be caught up in bad systems and bad conditioning and act out in racist ways even if deep down they're good people.

WHITFIELD: And, you know, Van, Paniel, just last weekend, you and I were in Selma and the nation celebrating, you know, an incredible milestone 50 years after the Edmund Pettus Bridge and you know, movement thereafter about the Voting Rights Act.

And now we are having this kind of discussion precipitated by an incident involving college kids, you know, but it's not just that incident. There have been a string of situations that really has raised a lot of eyebrows.

When Paula Deen apologized for the use of the "n" word, you know, some people thought that wasn't enough, it didn't seem sincere enough, then there was Rudy Giuliani recently saying he's not like you, talking about the president of the United States.

And then you got fashion police, Juliana Rancic saying a Disney actress and singer smelled a petuli oil and weed because of her dreads and then now you have this, Van, in your view, what does this say about America?

What does it say about people who either say blame it on alcohol, or maybe have a sense of humor about it, I really didn't mean it, I mean, what's going on here?

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I cannot improve upon the first two comments what I can -- I understand and agree, if you pull back something interesting is going on because of social media, digital media, people have -- are no longer able to present just a unitary self.

Everybody has their public face and then they have all the other stuff even those of us who are part of this conversation. If you taped everything we said for 48 hours, we might be shocked to hear some of the things we've said, you know, just offhand comments or something about a woman or rich people or Republicans, whatever.

I would hate to hear a playback. What does it seen in it means that the idea are you a racist or not a racist is the wrong thing. Are there times, moments where you act or think racially insensitive thoughts? Are there times in your life --

WHITFIELD: So you're saying you can't get hung up on the label or whether you or not a racist, but it's the actions or what do you mean? What beyond that then?

JONES: Well, what I mean is that people are complicated. So what I think is going to be happening more and more is more and more of moments that you thought were private are going to be held up for public review.

I think we are going to find lots and lots of people are inconsistent, they feel one way in their heart, but they sometimes act differently. Guess what? I know I'm not supposed it to eat doughnuts. Sometimes I do. That does not make me a terrible person.

It makes me a human being. We have to have a conversation about it. People are so quick to say, my God, I am never racist, never had a racist thought. I never had a racist bone in my body, that's just not true. And so then we wind up with these crazy conversations.

I think more and more we're going to have to accept that people do act from a multiplicity of impulses, some of them are racist, especially as Tim said, in a society like this, let's have a honest conversation about the fact that none of us are perfect.

But when these moments come up, these pre-fabricated phony sounding apologies make it worse not better and so the people apologizing need to come from a different place, but those of us who hear the apology need to also think there, but for the grace of God, let me show grace, hope nobody is recording me tomorrow.

WHITFIELD: All right, Van Jones, Tim Wise and Paniel Joseph, thank you so much. That really is just kind of breaking the surface. I know we could go much deeper in this conversation because it is a deep and very big problem clearly.

And then we're going to talk about the legal aspects of that have been provoked by the actions of a few of those students at Oklahoma University. Thanks to all of you. I appreciate it. That's later on this hour. And we'll be right back.

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WHITFIELD: All right, welcome back. We have dramatic new video today, which captures the amazing rescue of an 18-month-old girl found in a partially submerged car. A police officer's body camera captured the scene last Saturday. The car was upside down in the Utah River in Spanish Fork, Utah.

And inside that car unknown to the rescuers, Baby Lily had been hanging upside down in her car seat for some 14 hours in freezing temperatures. The officer leapt into action to help first responders, and the fisherman who actually found the car. And inside the car, they found the mother, Lynn Jennifer Grossbeck, dead, and then this.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anybody here? Hello?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got it. Pass her up. Pass her up. Pass her up. Right here, right here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow, the video shows the officer racing the girl up the hill to awaiting ambulance and then all the way to the hospital. There, Lily actually made a full recovery, and has since returned home with her father, as you see there, amazing survival story. All right, tonight you get a rare inside look into Britain's royal family. CNN has an exclusive interview with Prince Charles. He talks candidly about his love for his wife, Camilla, and what it's like to live a very public life.

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PRINCE CHARLES: It's a peculiar thing. Sometimes the camera, but also inevitably you can be perhaps a bit more relaxed, but it's slightly more private. Meeting people without being totally surrounded all of the time by the dreaded camera.

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WHITFIELD: That dreaded camera. Well, tonight you can see the rest of this rare sit-down interview conducted by our own Max Foster with the prince there. Don't miss "Spotlight Charles and Camilla" tonight at 7:30 Eastern Time.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: How important is this to do together?

JULIA SMOOKLER, FIT NATION PARTICIPANT: You know, accountability is huge and I feel like we would hold each other accountable. We have the same goals. If you don't want to work out one day, but I do, let me help motivate you.

GUPTA: Is this going to be more supporting each other or some friendly competition?

EUGENE SMOOKLER, FIT NATION PARTICIPANT: I'm a little bit swimmer, just a little.

JULIA SMOOKLER: He's awesome.

EUGENE SMOOKLER: Yes, right. No, I think -- I really just want to support each other. I just want to make it fun for both of us and help one another.

GUPTA: Your husband, what are you most concerned about?

JULIA SMOOKLER: I'm concerned for us to stay on track, to make sure we really stick with it, and I think having that team support, knowing that four other members are doing it with us too, that's a pretty cool thing.

GUPTA: Any doubt right now that Joel is going to have difficulty crossing the finish line?

EUGENE SMOOKLER: I'm concerned because she had back surgery last year, disk bulge because she is delivering babies all of the time, that's not easy, and I was a little concerned, but she has the strongest work ethic I've ever seen.

So I don't doubt at all she'll finish. We may have challenges, but there's no one that can outwork her. So I'm really excited. I know she'll finish.

GUPTA: You're going to cross that finish line together.

JULIA SMOOKLER: It sounds good.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All very exciting. All right, this too is pretty exciting. It's a return that has been 14 years in the making. Serena Williams back in the tennis tournament that she had once refused to play in. CNN sports, Coy Wire, with us now with the story. It's incredible.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: Yes, it is an incredible story and we have some good stuff. This was an emotional return to Indian Wells, California, last night for Serena Williams. She hadn't stepped foot on the court since this ugly scene in 2001.

She was booed and she and her family hit with racially charged insults. She says she has forgiven everyone and now it's time to move on and be strong. It was a lot different scene this time, Fred. Serena heard the crowd cheer. She got a standing ovation. It moved her.

She got a little emotional and teary-eyed, but then the world number one got back to doing what she does best and that's slamming the court. Serena won in straight sets 7-5, 7-5. After the match, she admitted she was nervous but knew this moment was much bigger than that.

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SERENA WILLIAMS, 19-TIME GRAND SLAM CHAMPION: It was a really big statement, you know, and I felt like, you know, even to have an opportunity to have someone mention a statement like that was quite interesting. But it felt really good. It definitely feels like one of the biggest moments and the proudest moments of my career.

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WHITFIELD: Wow, one of the proudest moments so why now. Why did she decide this was the time to end this boycott?