Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Mexico Holds Election; Waldo Canyon Fires Contained; Colorado Fires Force Grandmother, Four Grandchildren Out of Their Home; Interview with Piano Player Chuck Leavell; What Will Affordable Health Care Mean to You?
Aired July 01, 2012 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, again everyone. Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Poppy Harlow, in for Fredricka Whitfield. A lot of news to tell you about. First off, spending an entire week without power during a life threatening heat wave. That's the dangerous reality facing many storm victims in the northeast. In Colorado raging wildfires aren't the only threat. Police are now telling evacuees to be on the lookout for burglars and bears when they return home.
Meantime Mexico holds a historic vote today. And its outcome could have a significant implication for Americans.
First the suffocating dangerous heat wave that is impacting tens of millions of people right now. Just take a look at how much of the United States is affected. We got 20 states under heat warnings or advisories right now and the sizzling temperatures aren't just uncomfortable, they can be life threatening especially for people who don't have air conditioning. And that's the situation in much of the northeast today where storms knocked out power to millions of homes.
CNN's Brian Todd joins us now from a cooling center in Burke, Virginia. Brian, thank you for being there for us. You know, people may not be able to get their power back for an entire week. That's what we are hearing. What are they doing in the meantime to stay safe?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Poppy, they are being advised to come to places like this. This is the Burke Center Library here in Burke, Virginia. It's one of more than 30 cooling centers throughout the state where people are being encouraged to go to. If you can't go to someplace like this people are being asked to go to malls, restaurants, places where you can just get inside and get away from the heat. It is miserable out here. I mean the temperatures in this area and all around this region spiking at or near 100 degrees.
So you are being asked to physically move in out of the heat as we're about to do. Again, this is the Burke Center Library. Three dozen or so cooling centers in this area. It is one of those set up here. You can kind of feel the relief as you go inside from out. We are going to talk to a gentleman back here who has came in here with his daughter. But you've got here is literally more than a million people without power in the state of Virginia right now. 739,000 customers, that translates to more than a million people according to Governor Bob McDonald so just in the state of Virginia. Those are the numbers you are talking about. A lot of the people as you mentioned are not going to get power back maybe for up to a week in some of the harder hit areas.
I'm going to talk here to Bruce Ross. He's a resident of Burke, Virginia, lives about five miles away from here, came in here with his daughter, Kaitlyn, to cool off from the heat.
Bruce, right now what is your biggest concern about the weather and the fact that you don't have power you got to go to work tomorrow?
BRUCE ROSS, BURKE, VA. RESIDENT: Well, basically keeping cool tonight and today. Had a hard time getting to sleep last night without any air conditioning. We are thankful that nothing really happened to our house and we're pretty safe. Those around us were safe but just uncomfortable with the heat and not having electrical power.
TODD: Kaitlyn, the thing that most bums you out about this weather is what?
KAITLYN ROSS, BURKE VA., RESIDENT: Not being able to go to the pool.
TODD: You had a swim meet this weekend, right? What happened with that?
KAITLYN ROSS: It got cancelled because the pools didn't have electricity.
TODD: Good luck dealing with it, Kaitlyn. Thanks very much, Bruce. Good luck to you and a lot of people around here dealing with those kinds of things, Poppy. You know, one of the things we are concerned about in this area, too, just a lot of damage. Power outages all over the place as we talked about, spiking temperatures. People are warning, medical officials are warning to get inside, stay inside. Just stay out of the heat no matter what you do. Prolonged periods inside. A lot of people misjudge the heat trying to do too much outside and that becomes a problem for the health of so many in this weather.
HARLOW: Absolutely, Brian. And we are looking at live pictures we just had on the screen for our viewers of some of the storm damage. So I know it's been pretty severe there, so many people. It is so wide spread coupled with the power outages and the record heat and the damage from those storms that have just ripped across this country. That video you are seeing just in, taped in from Arlington, Virginia. OK.
Let's move on. More than 800 heat records were broken over the weekend. Meteorologist Alexandra Steele tracking the weather for us from the CNN Weather Center. What are we talking about here? I mean this isn't short-lived, right?
ALEXANDRA STEEL, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No, Poppy. Let me just put a little perspective on this heat. First of all the breadth and depth of it we are talking about 45 million people, from the Carolinas to Kansas and Colorado, a, being impact by it. And b, also the degree to which we are breaking records. Now these records aren't just the hottest for the day or the hottest for the month. They are the hottest records, hottest temperatures these places have ever seen ever anytime of year since records began in the 1800s.
So it's incredibly dramatic. Dodge City, Kansas, 111. Colombia, South Carolina, Nashville, Tennessee, 109. And there were 140 all time records broken. Over 1,900 records one way or another. So, of course, the heat exacerbated by what you were just talking about that (INAUDIBLE) move, straight line winds associated with some strong thunderstorms, knocked out power from the Virginias to Ohio.
The nighttime temperatures dropping to the 70s and 80s only that really causes the most problems. And of course, heat the number one weather-related killer here in the U.S. again especially because of those nighttime temperatures. Today's high is actually already 104 in Atlanta, Georgia. These were today's highs. Now, tomorrow we will see, we will shave off a few degrees but it is negligible because, of course, those nighttime temperatures will stay so high. 97 down to Atlanta. 97 in Kansas City. So out of 100 degree territory but certainly staying well warmer than where we should be and certainly record breaking, as well. Poppy.
HARLOW: We are looking up on your screen there and we have to move to Colorado where you've got a lot of gusting winds, temperature heat an issue for firefighters there still trying to battle and further contain the Waldo Canyon Fires. Any progress for them today? Any good news for them on the weather front?
STEELE: Well, Poppy, there are three weather factors that really can exacerbate or help fires, one being temperature, one being moisture. But of course, winds. Now winds certainly are the biggest impact because they are the most unpredictable factor. Now what happens, winds feed that fire and kind of give it life with extra oxygen. So that's the problem. The stronger the winds the faster the fire spreads. And believe or not, Wildfires generate their own winds called fire whirls that can even hurl debris. So what we will see in terms of these winds today, gusting potentially 30 to 40, sustained though a lot less than that, Poppy, maybe 10 to 15 miles per hour throughout the day and tonight.
HARLOW: All right. Thank you so much, Alexandra. Appreciate it.
STEELE: Well, heat is also an issue for firefighters battling the Waldo Canyon Fire breaking at Colorado Springs. The fire forced, as you know by now, thousands of people from their homes and some of those residents have actually been allowed to go back today for the first time and survey the damage. (INAUDIBLE) what happened and you're seeing pictures. It is heartbreaking to see pictures like that on the screen, people looking at their homes and the massive, massive blaze. Unbelievable.
The fire victims have something else to worry about. Colorado Springs Police say there have been about two dozen burglaries in the area. Another worry, bears.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHERIFF TERRY MAKETA, EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO: We've actually had an invasion of bears in Green Mountain Falls. So we are working with DOW to try to persuade them to vacate the area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: And fire crews have been working around the clock to try to get a handle on this fire. Just take a look at how much folks in Colorado appreciate the work that these men and women on the frontlines are doing. They came out to show their support.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Grateful. So grateful. Can't even imagine how hard they are working and how tired they must be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: The Waldo Canyon Fire has burned more than 1,700 acres. The only good news we can tell you is that it is now 45 percent contained.
Well, right now the big focus on Colorado is helping people and helping them cope. Many are out of their homes. Some do not have a home. Many do not have a home to go back to. Sandra Endo is live in Colorado Springs with a look at the relief efforts. What are you seeing, Sandra?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Poppy, certainly relief is what thousands of these displaced residents really need right now here in Colorado Springs. As you mentioned, many of them were able to take a bus tour to survey their charred neighborhoods. But they are coming back with stories of devastation and very emotional. And the community is really bonding together here in Colorado Springs to help these people during these trying times.
We saw that first-hand at a local church here where they are collecting donated supplies from all over the country and really boxing them up, helping them out and really actually extending their help and services and support to the evacuees.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY SUTTON, VOLUNTEER: We had people from all over the country contact us. They sent in trucks of water, meals ready to eat, paper supplies here have been a big demand. But just anything at all as well as various food items, baby items, diapers and so on that just seemed to be the things that people need, something that you may not even think of until you get into a situation like this.
ENDO (on camera): I'm sure a lot of the displaced residents do feel like this is just heaven sent for them?
SUTTON: We have seen a lot of tears and a lot of hugs and very much appreciated.
ALLYN SINKOLA, VOLUNTEER: It's really been kind of an amazing thing to see people coming together and willing to help out the community. That's why I'm here. I just felt the need to come here and serve.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ENDO: Just like that man said we have seen so many volunteers coming out, everyone lending a hand, chipping in, to do whatever small thing they can do to really help this community bounce back. And while we are hearing reports of things getting better, the evacuation orders being lifted in certain communities, still we have spoken to so many people who say they may return to a home that was untouched by the fire but those surrounding areas are still without electricity, without power and water. So clearly times are tough for many residents here in Colorado Springs and they will need those relief efforts in the days, weeks and probably months to come. Poppy.
HARLOW: That is a really good point. It is not just about, you know, when the fire is all contained and out. It is about how they rebuild and people need to keep an eye on that and keep helping them through the months ahead. You're right, Sandra. Thank you so much.
Well, in Mexico right now, voters are heading to the polls to pick the country's next president. The United States, of course, watching closely. The outcome of today's election could signal a shift in strategy in the drug war in Mexico. The U.S. also shares billions of dollars in trade with Mexico and a border that stretches for nearly 2,000 miles.
Let's turn to Syria now. The violence continues just a day after world diplomats hammered out a peace deal in Geneva, Switzerland. According to activists, it is a newly updated number - at least 69 people have been killed across the country today alone. Foreign affairs correspondent Jill Dougherty sat down with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Geneva. Clinton said she is optimistic that a new plan will work but of course, in Syria there are no guarantees.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Unless I am wildly off base there is no way anyone in the opposition would ever consent to Assad or his inside regime, cronies with blood on their hands be on any transitional governing body. But I said weeks ago that Assad going could be an outcome as well as a precondition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Meanwhile Turkey scrambled F-16 fighter jets three separate times yesterday after Syrian helicopters came very close to the border there. So you see this is escalating.
UNESCO meantime, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization is condemning the destruction of three sacred tombs in Timbuktu, Mali. Islamic militants broke down doors and wooden gates and set those tombs on fire. They say people shouldn't worship saints and plan to destroy more tombs there.
I spoke with UNESCO's director general about what if anything can be done to stop that destruction. We're going to have that interview for you in the 5:00 p.m. Eastern hour.
And guess this, New Jersey's governor is known for calling it as he sees it. Wait until you hear the choice words that Chris Christie had for a reporter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is showing why he has a reputation for speaking his mind when something displeases him. This exchange came Saturday during a news briefing where reporters have been told in advance that the governor would only be talking about the water emergency in the state. Here's what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Monday, are you going to be (INAUDIBLE).
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: Did I say on topic? Are you stupid? On topic. On topic. Next question. Good. Thank you. Thank you all very much. I'm sorry for the idiot over there. Take care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Choice words. The reporters question was about a special joint session for the state legislature that the governor has called for tomorrow.
Moving on, the Supreme Court's ruling on health care is a very big deal for the Obama administration. But the question now is what effect is it going to have on the president's re-election efforts?
Let's bring in CNN contributor and Washington correspondent for "The New Yorker" Ryan Lizza. He joins me now from Washington. Ryan, you wrote a great piece in "The New Yorker" about what a second term could look like for President Obama. Let's get to that in a moment but let's talk about this election. I mean do you think that this election becomes another fight over health care reform or do we put that behind us as White House chief of staff Jack Lou called for this morning on CNN's "State of the Union"? Which is it?
RYAN LIZZA, "THE NEW YORKER": You know, I'm skeptical that health care remains front and center in the election for the following reason. I mean look, I think it should because at this cornerstone of Romney's policy proposals right now he said on his first day he's going to repeal Obamacare. And obviously, it's still an important issue to Obama so in terms of issues in this election it should be important. But I don't think either candidate has the incentive to make it front and center.
For Obama, look let's be honest this health care plan has never been wildly popular. And he hasn't really been running on it and I doubt that he's going to start running on it even though it now has the sort of, you know, stamp of approval of the Supreme Court. And for Romney, look, his strategy, this entire campaign has been make this election about Obama's last few years, make this a referendum on the president and sure, part of that is the unpopularity of the health care plan but it raises all kinds of questions about his plan in Massachusetts so makes him not a great messenger to bring that home.
So I think for both of these guys they're going to bring it back to the economy and sort of more forward looking agenda rather than fighting strictly over health care.
HARLOW: But there is the argument, Ryan, that, you know, Mitt Romney's has had a hard time really igniting the fire beneath those very conservative Republicans.
LIZZA: Yes.
HARLOW: The tea party, than actually him coming out immediately after the Supreme Court's ruling saying I am going to, first day in office, will work to have Congress repeal health care reform because that could really energize, galvanize a group of voters that he hasn't particularly excited.
LIZZA: Yes, I think you're exactly right about that and I think on both sides, there's going to be a lot of sort of, you know, micro targeting of the key constituencies. You know, for Obama when he came out for gay marriage or when he made his immigration announcements, excuse, announcement recently, those are big important issues for big groups of voters that are important to his coalition.
And for Romney I think you're right. I think in discrete ways he is going to be reminding conservatives of how much they dislike this Obama health care plan and reminding them that he promises to get rid of it. But I don't know, I'm a little skeptical that it's going to remain front and center in the campaign and I just think the economy comes back as the issue.
HARLOW: I think you're absolutely right. I spent the last week driving through the midwest and the rust belt and talking to folks in these towns. You know, not the folks in D.C., not on the coast but the people in the middle of America. And almost all of them it was jobs, jobs, jobs.
I want to get to your article in "The New Yorker." Talk about what the president might do if re-elected for the second term. Are we going to see massive push for immigration reform. You've talked to some advisors who said the housing reform a big push for the president, energy reform. Where did that go?
LIZZA: Well, I think it's going to be two-step process here. We have as CNN has been reporting a lot on recently, the fiscal cliff at the end of the year.
HARLOW: Sure.
LIZZA: That is - all of these budgetary issues are coming to a head on December 31st. And whoever wins in November. That is the first thing they're going to have to deal with after the election. That is going to be the big agenda item for either Romney or Obama. And because so many tax and fiscal issues come to a head at the same point that will be a vehicle for perhaps tax reform, entitlement reform and some kind of deficit package.
After that let's say it is Obama who is president I think he probably has a shot at one more big domestic agenda before people start focusing on who is running for president in the next cycle and the midterm elections and his political capital just kind of declines. And when you press Obama people on this they and his aides, they talk about immigration as the big issue and partly because they believe if they win it will be partly due to a big Hispanic vote and maybe some Republicans will come on board with a bipartisan immigration plan. So if he wins look for that as a big second term item.
HARLOW: You know, it's interesting, you conclude your piece in "The New Yorker" by saying you think President Obama has learned how to be a forceful president in these three and a half years, you say whether he's remembered as a great one depends on this election and if he is reelected and what he does on those years.
LIZZA: Yes, look, one-termers. Historians do not treat the one termers kindly. I mean just look at Carter and George H.W. Bush. You know, they each actually had a couple of big historic accomplishments, probably Bush more so than Carter. But because they didn't win reelection they are frankly, not to be too harsh, they're considered losers and they're not considered historic presidencies. You've got to win that second term to become, to be in the history books the way that say Reagan was.
And for Obama his health care law he has got to be the guy, the president that implements that if he wants to sort of salvage and save the health care law he probably needs to win that second term and that's because his first term initiative.
HARLOW: Ryan, thanks so much. I appreciate you coming in.
LIZZA: Hey, thank you, Poppy.
HARLOW: Sure. One other sign of just how bad the U.S. economy still is, large numbers of Mexican workers are giving up on the American dream and returning home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: It is election day in Mexico. Voters there are heading to the polls to pick that country's next president. The U.S. is watching closely because the outcome of today's election could dramatically change how that country fights the war on drugs. But there are also 2,000 miles of border that we the United States share with Mexico. And with the crack down on immigration and the U.S. financial crisis many Mexicans who came to the United States in search of work and the American dream are now going back home. As CNN's Miguel Marquez reports, the return is not often an easy one.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aurelio(INAUDIBLE) and his family returned from the U.S. to Mexico last September.
(on camera): How tough is the transition back? Very hard?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE) moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was 11. Later he went to New York and South Carolina. An electrician, he bought a truck and a house and then came the financial crisis.
(on camera): After the crisis how hard then?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More.
MARQUEZ: No job?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
MARQUEZ: He got deported. Now he and his entire family are starting over. His eldest son, Oscar, an American citizen is more comfortable speaking English.
OSCAR: (INAUDIBLE) Spanish. It is like hard to really communicate.
MARQUEZ: But he has bigger problems. He is one of thousands of kids (INAUDIBLE) stuck in the middle able to go to school but can't get a diploma. He is a U.S. citizen and doesn't have Mexican citizenship.
(on camera): Do you have any idea how you will get that document?
OSCAR: No.
MARQUEZ: That's a little scary though.
OSCAR: Yes.
MARQUEZ: You're how old?
OSCAR: 15.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): A lot to worry about for any 15-year-old. He and his family are in (INAUDIBLE), a picturesque village deep in the heart of the state of (INAUDIBLE). Getting here is a long, long drive through exotic and ruggedly beautiful terrain. Despite the remoteness signs of its ties to the U.S. everywhere. Yes, that is a Harlem Pizza.
(On camera): Migration is so common between (INAUDIBLE) and the U.S., it is as easy to get a slice of pizza here as it is a taco. But since the financial crisis the economy here has bottomed out. The unemployment rate here in (INAUDIBLE) is 20 percent.
(voice-over): That's four times the national average. The mayor (INAUDIBLE) says the town's main industry is dollars flowing in from family members working in the U.S..
MAYOR ULISES RODRIGUEZ CAMPOS, MEXICO: We don't have a huge source of jobs here he says. We don't have industries or large factories. And schools here about 10 percent of the kids are U.S. citizens. And the demographic shift is felt at the local hospital, too. This facility so successful now has several area towns to care for already treating nearly 4,000 patients a month and needs several more doctors to keep up.
DR. MIGUEL HAKIM SIMON, STATE OF PUEBLO: There is a significant number of reduction in the number of (INAUDIBLE) returning to the state.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): For small towns like (INAUDIBLE) the problem is many people choose to stay rather than head to the U.S.. Miguel Hakim who handles migrant issues for the state of Pueblo says that may soon change.
HAKIM SIMON: It wouldn't surprise me if we find that (INAUDIBLE) we start seeing many people from (INAUDIBLE) going back to the states especially to New York.
MARQUEZ: (INAUDIBLE) says he won't be returning anytime soon but his kids all U.S. citizens just might.
(on camera): And what do you want to be when you grow up?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A doctor.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Big dreams in a mini New York or as the locals call it -- Puebla York.
Miguel Marquez, CNN, (INAUDIBLE), Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: What an interesting story. Also all the devastation in Colorado the wildfires have caused it is not the worst tragedy that four young brothers there have faced. Let's take a look at one amazing grandmother. There she is, right there. We're going to talk to her after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: Dangerous conditions in the northeast. Trees and power lines are littering the streets after violent storms ripped through the region this weekend. More than 2.5 million people still don't have power or air conditioning during a record breaking heat wave. Some homes may not get power restored for another week.
Heat is also an issue for firefighters battling the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs. The fire forced thousands of people from their homes. Some of those residents have been getting a chance today for the first time to go back and see their homes and see what has happened. The Waldo Canyon fire is now 45 percent contained.
For one Colorado family, their hard times started long before the fires began. Susan Solich is a grandmother of four young boys. You see her right there on your screen. She is holding her grand son, Connor. But she is not just their grandmother. She is also playing the role of mom and dad after both the boys' parents died tragically over the last two years. And now this brave family has lost their home to the wildfires. Our Jim Spellman met them and asked the boys how they are feeling right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It kind of feels like sadness in my heart.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just miss them so much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of the time, I think why me? But that's pretty much normal, because like, people that go through that think, because like, why me? Why does this happen to me?
JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Do you ever get an answer to that question?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not really.
SPELLMAN (voice over): They managed as best they could.
SUSAN SOLICH, GRANDMOTHER: It's been a struggle. We've been in some counseling. We've gone up and down. But everyone's doing much better.
SPELLMAN: And then the fire came, forcing them to pack up what few things they could and head for safety.
SOLICH: And as we drove, we could see in our rearview mirrors the side of the hill just exploded. There had to be 40 fires, just bam!
SPELLMAN: Grandma's house was destroyed. The boys would have to start over yet again.
(on camera): Connor, tell me how all this makes you feel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like a little kid.
SOLICH: Like a little kid, he says.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Susan Solich joins us now. Susan, thank you so much for coming on to talk to us. First of all, let me ask you, how are your grandsons doing? Justin, Connor, Brendan and Tyler, beautiful little boys. They are so lucky to have you. How are they doing right now?
SOLICH: They're adjusting. They are very anxious and curious, and I had some friends that took them on a little trip for 4th of July, which was a blessing, to get them out of this community right now.
HARLOW: I know you said they went to Lake of the Ozarks and they might get to see some fireworks this week.
SOLICH: They did. Yes, not in Colorado, so they had to leave the state. Yes, ma'am. Absolutely.
HARLOW: When we were talking earlier, Susan, you told me that just today, you were able to drive your own car into your neighborhood and take a look at what has happened to your home. What did you see?
SOLICH: Well, I was actually pleased to see so many trees still up. So many of the homes were gone. And my home was completely gone. I've seen pictures, but it didn't really impact me the way pulling into my driveway impacted me. It was very, very sad. My home was gone. It was imploded into the ground. It was very sad.
HARLOW: I'm so sorry. I can't imagine what it is like going through that. Can I ask you, Susan, is that the home where you raised your daughter, Kim, the mother of these four young boys?
SOLICH: Yes. We have raised all of our children there. We haven't lived there the entire time of Kim, because I've lived there 18 years and Kim was early 30s.
HARLOW: We got to see a picture before we started talking of your whole beautiful family, Kim, her husband, and the four boys. One of the things we have heard out of Colorado that has been inspiring is how families have helped, the entire community has helped, and you even said the entire nation has helped you get through this. What is happening? What are people doing that is helping you guys?
SOLICH: Oh, people are just reaching out. They're donating clothing, food, money. The Red Cross has been amazing. The firefighters. President Obama was here. I mean, everyone in the nation is reaching out to try and help us, which is wonderful. We have lost 347 homes.
HARLOW: And you know, Susan, on our screen, our viewers now are looking at your Facebook page, facebook.com/flowersfamilyfund. That is how our viewers can help you and the four young boys. They can help Justin, Connor, Brendan and Tyler and you as you go through this. They can log on to your Facebook page and help you there.
Just give me a sense, Susan, of your feeling, your thought right now as you drove up to your home. Are you going to stay? Are you going to move out of state? How do you rebuild?
SOLICH: Well, we won't move out of state. I'm not sure. It won't be quite the same. It's kind of like "The Twilight Zone." It's our neighbors. So many of our friends are gone. And they won't be back. I'm not sure what our next step is. Right now we are just going to bed, getting up the next day and doing it again and trying to help each other.
HARLOW: That's all you can do.
SOLICH: The Red Cross is amazing, too. They are doing a lot of donations, and the Red Cross has been amazing here helping all families.
HARLOW: And Susan, just for our viewers, I want to pull up a photo again of your family, just to show them, your family. There you have Justin, Connor, Brandon, Tyler, your daughter, Kim and her late husband, as well. I'm so sorry for the loss of your daughter, for and knowing (ph) your whole family, what they went through. But I have to tell you, when I saw you holding young Connor and the way that I saw those boys around you, you are their hope now. You really, really are. So let us know anything that people can do to help. Please keep us posted, and we'll be in touch with you.
SOLICH: Thank you very much. Thank you.
HARLOW: Of course. Take care, Susan.
To find out more about how you can help those affected by the wildfires, just go to CNN.com/impact. We have got a whole list of organizations there that are working with the victims of these fires. Many different ways you can help, every little bit helps.
A successful health care insurance executive turns his back on the industry and his career. Find out why some in the industry are calling him a Judas for a decision he made based on his faith.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: One man's faith lead him to turn his back on a very successful career in the health care industry and come out in a very public way in support of President Obama's health care law. Wendell Potter wrote about his experience as a health care executive in this book, "Deadly Spin." He joins us me now live from Philadelphia. Wendell, good to see you.
WENDELL POTTER, AUTHOR: Thank you, Poppy. Thank you, I appreciate being on your show again.
HARLOW: Yes, we spoke last in 2009, shortly after you left your 20- year career. You were the head of corporate communications and the chief spokesperson for a major insurance company. And you know, it's interesting, Wendell, you told me at that time that you were part of the effort during the Clinton years to kill health care reform when they tried that time around. I'm wondering what your thoughts are now in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act.
POTTER: It's a great relief. I actually felt that the Supreme Court would uphold the law because I felt it was constitutional. But it was a big relief. And I think I was beginning to believe the conventional wisdom that it would be overturned. This was a hard fought victory that -- although it falls short in many ways of getting us to universal coverage, but it is a very big first step.
HARLOW: Let's talk about your step, the big step you made not that many years ago when you went to Tennessee to visit your parents and you saw something that completely changed your perspective and ultimately led you to quit your job, leave, you know, I would guess a pretty high paying position, and totally change your tune when it comes to the insurance industry.
POTTER: It really was, and it was in many ways the beginning of a spiritual journey for me. I had a true epiphany. And my trip that day, that weekend was a kind of a road to Damascus experience.
I read about something called the health care expedition that was being held near where I grew up. I went there out of curiosity. And what I saw were literally thousands of people who could have been my neighbors, friends, people I grew up with, who were standing in long lines waiting to get care that was being provided in animal stalls and barns. And they were soaking wet because it was raining that day. And I learned that most of those people had jobs. They were not people who were uninsured by choice. They couldn't get coverage, they couldn't afford it, or they had been refused coverage by insurance companies.
HARLOW: Do you think, Wendell, the law that we have now will solve problems like that? You said yourself this isn't universal health care. There are many that looked at the decision by the high court as both conservative and liberal in different ways, especially as it dealt with Medicaid and expanding Medicaid. What do you think, does this solve the problem that you saw?
POTTER: Not completely, but I'm an optimist. And I also like to see -- or refer to glasses as half-full. And I think that we have got more than a glass half full here. It brings -- or it will bring more than 30 million of the 50 million Americans who are uninsured into coverage. That is big. And it already is saving lives.
I talked to people who tell me that they are alive today because of the Affordable Care Act. And that will be true of many more people in the years to come as this is fully implemented. We have got much more to do, there is no doubt about it, to get to universal coverage. But this is a big step, and what I call the end of the beginning of reform.
HARLOW: And you have been one of the big, outspoken proponents of this plan. Of course, Mitt Romney campaigning saying that he will work, if he becomes president, to have Congress repeal it. So this is not fully over, but for now, this is the law of the land. So Wendell, thank you for joining us. I appreciate it.
POTTER: Thank you, Poppy.
HARLOW: And folks, for more on the story, check out our belief blog. It's at cnn.com/belief. You can add your comments there. Really fascinating story about Wendell. You can learn a lot more about him there.
Well, you know his love of music from his legendary work on the keyboard, but Chuck Leavell's love for the environment is just as deep. We are going to talk to the man who played with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, and the Stones.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: Look at that. Spain is happy today. The country has made history. Spain becoming the nation -- the first nation to capture back-to-back Euro Championships as it cruised right past Italy in a 4- 0 win. This marks the Spaniard's third consecutive major title overall. They are also of course the defending World Cup champions. People celebrating there in Madrid, loving this moment, loving this day. This comes after three weeks and 30 matches. Now the Euro 2012 has concluded. A lot for Spain to be happy about, especially right now. Their economy going through so much. Cheering crowds again in Madrid from that big win.
Take a look also at some live pictures we've got for you. We had them up right there. All right, there you go. The live pictures again, everyone, in Madrid, very happy. It is 10:45 p.m. They have just locked in that win. Big win, 4-0 over Italy. We are going to talk sports in depth and get to all of this in our 5:00 p.m. hour.
All right. Well, today our own Fredricka Whitfield goes face to face with a famous musician who is devoting much of his life to saving the environment. Chuck Leavell has played the piano and keyboards for such groups as the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers, but his passion extends well beyond the stage. Fredricka Whitfield recently caught up with Chuck at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: So great to see you.
CHUCK LEAVELL, MUSICIAN: Thank you, Fred. I really appreciate it.
WHITFIELD: So you are as well known a conservationist as you are a musician, playing with Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers. But what is it about being so connected to the environment and making that commitment to your tree farm and wildlife? How did that come to be?
LEAVELL: You know, the first connection people ask me about what in the world it seems like a dichotomy. But the very first connection is the fact that that marvelous instrument called a piano that has given me my career and my livelihood comes from what? Resource of wood.
(MUSIC)
LEAVELL: And so there's a direct connection in that way. But deeper than that, my wife's family has been connected to the land for generations as farmers and tending forest land, tending cattle, and just being good stewards of the land. So that began to rub off on me a long time ago. And eventually we acquired our own tree farm, and we've been managing that now for 30 years.
WHITFIELD: What do you want to see in -- back to conservation, what do you want to see in wildlife conservation and forestry conservation that is not being done right now?
LEAVELL: Well, Fredricka, I have a concern, and I wrote a book about this recently about what I call the invisible forest health crisis. The loss of land, natural lands to growth and development. Chief Tom Tidwell of the U.S. Forest Service recently shared a statistic with me that in the U.S., we lose 6,000 acres a day.
WHITFIELD: To development? LEAVELL: Yes. To growth and development. And so, you know, you are not going to stop it. But you can guide it and you can do it intelligently. And that was the subject matter of my book. It is called "Growing a Better America." Focus on the word growing, because we are going to grow, but we can do it better. We can do it smarter.
WHITFIELD: Individuals, are you talking, you know, the big corporations, companies, developers?
LEAVELL: All of the above. Absolutely all of the above. Individuals can do things. We can walk more. Leave that car sitting. You can walk to the office if you're close enough or take -- walk the kids to school or whatever. I mean, those are small things that we can do. But this is America. We can do this.
WHITFIELD: We're supposed to be able to do anything.
LEAVELL: That's right.
WHITFIELD: Thank you so much.
LEAVELL: Thank you. Really great to talk with you.
WHITFIELD: Fantastic.
LEAVELL: Appreciate it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: Chuck Leavell, very cool guy. All right, you can share your thoughts about today's "Face to Face" on cnn.com/fredricka.
You probably have got a lot of questions about how health care will impact you now, how the Supreme Court's ruling is going to impact you. We have got our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who is going to tell us how it impacts you. We've got some answers to those big questions. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: By now you know the headlines of the Supreme Court's historic decision to uphold the health care reform law. Let's push aside the politics of it all for a moment and focus on what it really means for you and your family. Earlier I spoke with chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta about how this law is going to impact you, especially when it comes to the cost.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The biggest question we're getting a lot is about -- it has to do with costs and individual costs. People who have illness or had some chronic disease, either as an adult or their children do, and their premiums are just too high. They pay a lot for health care. So they are wondering how will this law affect me. And I think what we are learning here -- and you can tell, as you pointed out, we are in front of Bellevue Hospital behind me. But what we're learning is that because there are these nondiscriminatory clauses, people cannot be discriminated against based on illness or preexisting condition, they would pay the same -- they would get a community rating. So you pay the same amount as another person your age living in your community who is healthy. So that is in part how the individual costs, as far as the premiums, will go down.
HARLOW: I know that a lot of the key provisions of the Affordable Care Act don't even take effect until 2014. So for folks listening and watching and saying that is me right now, you know, I have been discriminated against by my insurance company and I haven't been allowed to have coverage, how does that effect me now?
GUPTA: Well, one thing with regard to children, first of all, some of this has already gone into effect. So children cannot be discriminated against based on preexisting conditions.
Now, I'll give you an answer to the other part. It is a little bit more involved, but I'll it like this. If you are an adult who has an illness or had a disease, have a hard time getting insurance, as part of the Affordable Care Act, there will be temporary high-risk pools set up. That means you can join the high-risk pool, and that is going to be subsidized by the federal government, to the tune of $5 billion. They want to try and get people who have chronic illness insured now, and then in January of 2014, Poppy, as you pointed out, it would all shift. All of those people would get health care insurance under the Affordable Care Act, and those high-risk pools would go away.
HARLOW: You know, there are also a lot of people that oppose this law, not just politicians that were against it, but average Americans that oppose it. And their big concern is this is going to mean that costs are going to go up for me across the board. Indeed, the federal government will be allowed to implement what the Supreme Court has deemed a tax on anyone that does not choose to buy insurance. Do we have any idea what this is going to cost people if they opt not to buy coverage?
GUPTA: Yes. There is very specific numbers on this. So in the year 2014, if someone can afford to purchase health care insurance -- and there is a formula for that, Poppy, as you know -- if they can afford to purchase and they don't, as an individual they will pay $95, or 1 percent of their income, whichever is greater. By the year 2016, it goes up to $695 or 2.5 percent of your income, whichever is greater. So that is basically the penalty or the tax as it is being called now that will be levied.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: You can see "SANJAY GUPTA M.D." Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, also Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m.
A video causing outrage around the world. An autistic child gets smacked around as a camera rolls capturing it all. We're going to show you that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARLOW: Well, bullying, as you know, happens all around the world. It's been getting a lot of attention in the United States, but it happens everywhere. Watch this video as a 15-year-old girl smacks and kicks a 13-year-old girl who has autism. This happened at a bus stop. It is enraging. It happened in Belgium this past week. The girl's mother actually filmed this and posted the video online with her daughter's permission, because she is hoping that the exposure will stop the attacks and stop future bullying. This -- unbelievable to see that happen.
It is also pretty hard to believe July is already here. Certainly feels like it. It is hot outside. In fact, July 1st isn't just the start of the real dog days of summer, it's also the halfway point of the year, and interestingly, that is when several new laws take effect. Some of them are pretty quirky. We thought we'd run through them for you. Illinois, beginning today, taxi drivers will be able to charge passengers a $50 cleanup fee if they vomit in cabs, so don't vomit in cabs.
Next, Virginia, there is a law now that says that all electronic messages on outdoor advertising must remain in place for at least eight seconds, so drivers aren't distracted.
In Massachusetts, a law goes into effect banning the disposal of medical sharps like needles and syringes in household trash.
And in Idaho, police will now be able to issue warrants by fax.
In Kentucky all the folks with extra hogs, yes, pigs, on their hands well, they are not able to release them into the wild anymore.
So there, are your weird laws of the day.
