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No Pay to Play; Year-End Health Checks: Using Up Flexible Spending; Terror Arrests in Belgium; Jobless Claims Jump; Breaking News: Could Remains Found be Caylee Anthony?
Aired December 11, 2008 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Thrust into a scandalous spotlight, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., denies involvement in a pay-to-play scheme.
And building a bridge loan for the Big Three; the House completes one side. Will the Senate finish the job?
It's Thursday, December 11th. Hi everybody, I'm Heidi Collins. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The economy takes another hit this morning. The government reporting jobless claims last week rose to the highest level in 26 years.
CNN's Christine Romans is joining us now from New York with more on this.
So Christine, these numbers look pretty terrible?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they really are, the worst we've seen in terms of the labor market, in terms of the first time unemployment filing since back in that ugly, ugly recession of the early 1980s; 573,000 people lining up for the first time for jobless benefits.
And when you count people who have already been getting them, that number is now well over four million. That is a sign of a really tough, tough labor market. And we know, Heidi, every morning we see another company announcing layoffs.
Today Sarah Lee said it's going to lay off 700 positions, that's a big food company. We've heard from Stanley Works, that's a tool company, they're laying off one in ten of their workers, that's 2,000 workers there; closing three plants, cutting a level of management.
I mean, just the job cuts and the pink slip announcements in the past week include a public radio company, NPR; the professional football -- the NFL; 3M, the maker of post-it notes; Wyndham World, this is the company that owns hotels, --
COLLINS: Yes.
ROMANS: Electronic Arts, a video game marker. I mean, no corner of the labor market is immune here. And this is -- we've heard all of the worries about the financial systems, about the banks and about Wall Street and the auto sectors.
But the job market -- there's nothing more fundamental than the job market for every single American. And the job market here clearly, clearly in trouble. 573,000 job cuts -- first-time unemployment filings and we'll expect those numbers to continue like that in the coming weeks and months.
A lot of folks, Heidi, is talking about eight percent potentially unemployment; some economists saying nine percent for sometime next year. A UCLA study says two million more job cuts, two million more people losing their jobs expected sometime next year.
So this is important for everyone in their jobs, experts are telling me it's not a time for risk-taking in your job. It's a time to be very methodic about what you're doing at work and also don't panic if you lose a job. In some cases this is number crunching, that they're cutting a whole layer of workers. It might have nothing to do with your performance.
COLLINS: Yes, and the only bad news on that, is it's definitely going to have something to do with your wallet.
ROMANS: That is absolutely right.
COLLINS: Everybody very, very fearful I think in this entire job market.
CNN's Christine Romans -- thank so much from New York this morning.
Rescuing at least two of the Big Three automakers, a $14 billion plan speeds through the House. But some Senators are saying hold on a second.
CNN's Brianna Keilar is in Washington for this morning.
So Brianna we just had a chance to speak with one of those Senator, Senator Tom Coburn, he says, you know what? This $14 billion is just a big, fat waste of taxpayers' money.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And he's saying what many Senate Republicans are saying, that this is not a good idea basically. So this compromise deal to keep the Big Three automakers from collapsing, it passed the House yesterday. But that was really a tiny hurdle compared to what it will face now in the Senate.
This is a plan that was brokered by Democrats in Congress and the White House. $14 billion in emergency loans to the car companies and it establishes a car czar which the President would appoint. This car czar would lead the automakers through a restructuring that's supposed to make sure that they don't fold.
But as I said, Senate Republicans they have some serious doubts about whether this is just throwing taxpayers' money at car companies that will ultimately fold.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TOM COBURN, (R) OKLAHOMA: They need to have a plan, and they need to have that plan before we give them money, and not after we give them money. The only way you're going to have the pressure to drive the bargains for the people that are holding the debt and the UAW and the franchisees is to make the money contingent on solving the problem before we give them the money.
We'll never get the money back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: But here is the rub. Because those who are for this legislation say there is no time. The President of the United Auto Workers said this week that if Congress doesn't act this week, one of the car companies will have to liquidate.
The Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid, he was working the phones from his home until late last night trying to broker a deal so he can win over some Republicans to get the 60 votes he needs to push this through the senate. The White House as well doing the hard sell to Senate Republicans, but there's no agreement yet, Heidi.
COLLINS: Boy that's for sure, all right, we'll be watching closely today. CNN's Brianna Keilar from Washington this morning.
Thanks, Brianna.
A congressman with a famous name is thrust into the spotlight of the investigation surrounding Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The governor is accused of corruption.
One allegation: a Senate appointment for sale. CNN's Drew Griffin reports on the so-called Senate candidate number 5.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Call it business unusual for the Illinois Governor now ducking media staked out at his home and racing past cameras as he was driven to his Chicago office. One day after his arrest and amid calls from every corner of the state for his resignation, the Governor was silent.
Not so silent, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., who suddenly found himself defending his quest to fill the U.S. Senate seat Democrat Governor Blagojevich was allegedly trying to sell.
REP. JESSE JACKSON JR., (D) ILLINOIS: I reject and denounce pay- to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing.
GRIFFIN: A law enforcement source with detailed knowledge of the investigation confirms to CNN that Jackson, a Democrat, is the senate candidate number 5 talked about in the federal complaint against Governor Blagojevich.
On page 72 of the federal complaint, Blagojevich allegedly describes a deal being cooked up by an associate of candidate number 5. "We were approached pay to play that you know he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came then the other guy would raise a million if I made him a Senator."
It's a claim Jackson categorically denies.
JACKSON JR.: I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor.
GRIFFIN: So who are the other possible candidates one through six Governor Blagojevich was considering?
Number one is believed to be close Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett who has since been named to Barack Obama's White House staff.
Number two, possibly Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Madigan yesterday called for Blagojevich's resignation.
Number three, Democrat Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky says it might have been her and says she must not have been a serious candidate since the governor didn't ask her for anything.
Number four is described as a deputy governor; Blagojevich had three deputies until one of them, Bob Greenly resigned. Greenly would not confirm to the Associated Press if he was the candidate.
Number five is Jesse Jackson Jr.
And number six, the FBI complaint calls a wealthy man from Illinois who wants the seat and would pay for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: That was Drew Griffin of our Special Investigations Unit reporting for us today.
Governor Blagojevich is still in office this morning as you know. But there are plenty of options being discussed that could end his term early.
CNN's Susan Roesgen is joining us now live from Chicago this morning.
So have we seen the Governor yet today? Susan, you're kind of on Blagojevich watch, if you will?
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I am. And there are plenty of options for how he can get out of his house this morning. Let me show you what reporters are looking at here.
We're just going to walk across the street; this is the governor's house, Heidi. Down there is where the beer truck was earlier. The beer truck has moved. Now, we've got reporters across the street over there because they're waiting for him to come out the front. He could come out the front. But there's also an alley down the back that he can come out. And then a lot of reporters and photographers have been coming over here, too, Heidi, just to get a look between the two houses there. Thinking maybe he'll come out that way or the other way. Nobody really knows. And then there's his daughter that has to go to school, so we'll probably see her going to school later, too.
As you mentioned, there are quite a few things that could happen today if he leaves the house, if he decides not to work at home today, which is maybe something I would do.
He could go to work. He could come out and resign. He could simply do nothing. He would continue to be the acting Governor in that case. He could be impeached today if the -- not today, but they could start the process to impeach him if the state legislature decided to do that.
COLLINS: Right.
ROESGEN: And as we mentioned earlier, the State Attorney General could go to the Illinois Supreme Court and say that he is ineffective in his job and she would remove him from his job. So really the ball is in the governor's court right now. What he will decide to do we don't know.
COLLINS: Yes, maybe we should investigate that beer truck a little further. Maybe he was hiding out inside of there. Who knows?
ROESGEN: Yes, I slipped out in that.
COLLINS: Yes, maybe.
All right, CNN's Susan Roesgen on Blagojevich watch. Thanks so much Susan, live from Chicago this morning.
Barack Obama can expect plenty of Blagojevich questions today. The President-elect is holding a news conference to announce his choice for Health and Human Services Secretary. But that news conference may, of course, take a whole different direction.
CNN's Elaine Quijano is live for us in Chicago as well this morning.
Hi again, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Heidi.
That's right, today the stated of topic for that news conference is health care. As you noticed the President-elect is expected to formally announce his pick for Health and Human Services Secretary, Tom Daschle.
But again, this is a situation where the Blagojevich scandal certainly is over shadowing the President-elect's agenda. This will be the first time that there will be an extended Q&A session with the President-elect. You'll recall back on Tuesday after the Governor's arrest, Barack Obama did take a question from a reporter.
But since then there have been a lot of other unanswered questions that have been circulating. We should note that yesterday we did not see the President-elect, but through his aides he did, in fact, join the calls urging Governor Blagojevich to step down.
Now, again, it's important to say here that the U.S. Attorney involved in this case, Patrick Fitzgerald, has said quite plainly that there are no allegations against the President-elect. Nevertheless, there are these unanswered questions.
Blagojevich, again, just to remind people, facing these federal corruption allegations including trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated senate seat. Now, some of the questions that are still out there right now, did any of Obama's top aides have conversations with either the governor or people in the governor's office about this senate seat?
That would not be in and of itself anything wrong. In fact, it would not be unusual for that to have happened. It's just that we don't know the answer to that question right now.
Another question we don't know the answer to, why did it take a few weeks for Obama's top adviser, David Axelrod -- one of his top advisers David Axelrod, to correct a statement that he made a few weeks ago when he talked to a Chicago reporter and said, yes, Obama had a conversation with Rod Blagojevich? Why is it that that correction only came this week after the Governor's arrest?
So Heidi, a lot of questions out there right now.
Again, Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney, says well, there are absolutely no allegations against the President-elect in this federal complaint, but certainly this is a situation, again, that really has sort of taken over, if you will, the President-elect's message today is supposed to be about health care.
But you can bet again, a barrage of questions about the Blagojevich situation -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And we know you will be just one of the journalists there asking some of those questions. Elaine Quijano, I sure do appreciate that live from Chicago this morning.
So those questions and answers are now less than an hour away; Obama on his health plan. But expect plenty of questions about the Blagojevich scandal. We're going to bring it to you live when it happens, 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
Here is a very rare sight. Now, take a look at that. Looks pretty. But guess where it is? New Orleans. Rob Marciano, what in the heck is going on?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, kids waking up -- or were probably in school right now clamoring to get out or go home. A little snow out there Heidi, yes that's a rare sight in New Orleans, especially this early in the season. We'll talk about it and how long it's going to last but who is next.
Weather is coming up when the CNN NEWSROOM comes right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Storm damage in Northwest Georgia. You're looking at Harrelson County High School west of Atlanta. The school stadium scoreboard knocked over, fences twisted and heating and air conditioning systems knocked around. Thankfully, though, no injuries being reported.
Fog season in California's San Joaquin Valley proving to be dangerous for drivers; this is Visalia. Nearly 40 vehicles were involved in four chain reaction accidents yesterday morning. Traffic backed up about 16 miles while all the shattered glass and debris had to be cleaned up. Two people were hurt, but their injuries were not life threatening.
Storms, fog, and now this, snow in New Orleans we can't get enough of that shot. Look at it. It is not rare but is pretty uncommon for the city called the "Big Easy." In the distance, St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter; nice to look at but police are encouraging, of course, drivers to be very, very cautious. Several accidents, as you might imagine already being blamed on that weather.
Rare snowfalls, drenching rains and the threat of tornadoes, our meteorologist, Rob Marciano certainly has his hands full today.
Take it away, Rob.
MARCIANO: Yes, cool shot of New Orleans, I'm sure everybody, no matter your age, to see snow like that on the roof tops of the French Quarter, certainly an incredible sight.
We talked about it yesterday, how the storm was going to wrap itself up and the cold air was kind of festering over her and it's mixing with that moisture, and that's what we're getting. The good news is, unless you like snow, that it shouldn't last all that long.
But winter storm warnings have now been extended south to New Orleans and east along the I-10 corridor across southern Mississippi. Some of the casinos in Biloxi and Gulf Port will be getting some snow as well. We're getting reports of snow sticking in south central Mississippi at this hour, 2-4 inches possible.
Snow, yes, rare. It did snow in New Orleans back in 2004 right around Christmas time. So that was well timed. Their biggest snowfall ever in the '50s, they had about 4 or so inches; that came around Christmastime as well. Not unheard of but certainly a rare, rare thing. And there's your white. Baton Rouge, you're just about to get out of it; this will slowly move to the east. New Orleans, maybe another hour and a half, two hours, and then you'll be done as this low continues to march towards the north.
Really getting wrapped up, actually getting dry slotted in Montgomery, some heavier rains moving through Atlanta. This is all rain, maybe some flurries later on today but that's about it.
I should mention before we move to the north that there is likely going to be a tornado watch posted for much of the Carolinas. That's the other ingredient that we have to deal with today.
Cold rain across the I-95 corridor but icing across south central parts of New England including the Catskills and Northern Hudson Valley of New York, and then some snow expected across parts of northern New England and the Adirondacks of New York. The northern part of this system certainly nothing to sneeze at either.
Here is the other headache if you're doing some travel, over two hour delays in Newark, hour and a half at La Guardia, Atlanta getting in the action as well, Philly and Indianapolis.
Tomorrow we quiet it down a little bit. But another storm rolling in for the Pacific Northwest; certainly getting in to be an active period weatherwise -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, you're going to need a rest. You haven't worked this hard in a really, really long time. You'll need rest tomorrow.
MARCIANO: Are you giving me the day off?
COLLINS: No. I'm just saying you're going to need to knock it down a bit.
MARCIANO: Saturday is almost here.
COLLINS: Rob Marciano, thank you, we'll check back later on.
MARCIANO: OK, thank you.
COLLINS: Looking to save some money in these tough times? Start with your health benefits. But you've got to move fast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Just weeks to go before the end of the year, as you know. Now is the time to make sure you are getting the most out of your health benefits. You can start by not leaving one single penny in that flexible spending account. CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is joining us now to talk a little bit more about it.
Yes, if you leave it in there, you lose it.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The last thing in these tough economic times that any of us wants to do is to lose money because it's our fault. You don't want to lose money on your own account.
Let's talk a little bit about what you need to do between now and December 31st to make the most of your health care dollars. There are some specific steps you need to take.
For example, Heidi just mentioned, flexible spending accounts. You put the money in at the beginning of the year; you've got to spend it by the end of the year. Some people have until the spring if your employer lets you. But for a lot of people, you've got to do it now.
Also, get elective surgeries now if you've already met your deductible. If you've already paid your deductible, might as well do it now because your insurance will pay for it. If you do it next year, you have to pay the deductible again.
Also, the same is true for prescription drugs. If you've already met that prescription drug deductible, in other words, you've already paid out of pocket for your first thousand dollars of prescription drugs or whatever it might be, get it now it's on the insurance company. If you wait until next year, you'll have to pay that deductible again.
COLLINS: Yes, no question. I imagine that there might be some things that you don't want to do before the year is up, right?
COHEN: Yes. There are a couple things you don't want to do.
For example, if there are certain annual exams that you're allowed to have under your insurance, let's say an annual mammogram, if you got that one in January of this year don't go now to get another one because you've already had one in the calendar year. There are some things you don't want to do.
For more dos and don'ts go to CNN -- this is the new address -- so I actually have to look down and make sure I'm saying the right thing -- cnnhealth.com. This is a brand new health page done by our wonderful web producer, Mary Carter. It is beautiful. You've got to check it out; cnnhealth.com.
COLLINS: All right, very good. We will check it out, no question. Thank you CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.
COHEN: Thank you.
COLLINS: Suspected terrorists arrested in Belgium. We have a live report coming up on that.
Plus, swimming with sharks; Anderson Cooper gets up close and personal with the great white. What his adventure has to do with our "Planet in Peril."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: From celebration to chaos, a suicide bomber plunged into a packed restaurant in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk this morning. At last count at least 55 people are dead, more than 100 other people were wounded. Many families were in the restaurant celebrating the end of the hajj.
CNN's Michael Ware tells us there was also a meeting going on between Kurdish officials and Arab tribal leaders, two factions trying to gain control of that region. We'll stay on top of that story for you. Also terror arrests in Belgium. Belgian police say three people with links to al Qaeda are now in custody. The three were said to be close to committing a terrorist act. CNN's Paula Newton is live now in London with more details on this.
Paula, what do we know?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, in total there are 14 people now in custody. It was these three suspects that most concerned Belgian police. Right now there is a very large EU summit going on. As the police put it in Belgium, you can't be too careful.
Right now they believe that at least one of the suspects was ready to engage in a suicide attack. They believe he was probably headed back to Pakistan or Afghanistan. But again could not rule out attack in Belgium or elsewhere in Europe.
Heidi, we're learning a lot about these organizations now. These suspects were under surveillance for more than a year. It's these kinds of investigations, Heidi, that's helping us to really pry open the nuts and bolts, the inner workings of al Qaeda and how they get to those European extremists all too willing to carry out certainly a lot of their work around the world -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right, CNN's Paula Newton joining us live from London following the story for us.
Thank you so much, Paula. We know you'll continue to follow it.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe is brushing aside new calls for his resignation; those calls coming in the middle of a medical emergency in the country. More than 800 people dead and thousands more sick. But Mugabe down playing the crisis and now saying the cholera outbreak is over.
That medical crisis spreading into South Africa; cholera killed eight refugees coming into the country from Zimbabwe. More than 650 others are infected. The river between the two countries has tested positive for the disease.
Bit of a bumpy ride on Wall Street today and much of the hesitation due to troubling reading on the employment front. Our Susan Lisovicz is on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange now with more on that and some of the other factors that investors are focusing on.
Hi there, Susan. Talking about the jobs report.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's going to be a focus, no question about it, in the New Year as well. We did see a big jump in jobless claims, double what Wall Street was expecting; rising by 58,000 to a 26-year high. The number of Americans continuing to collect unemployment claims, meanwhile, rose by 338,000. We're talking about 4.5 million people collecting benefits. It suggests, obviously, they're having difficulty finding work, no surprise there. We do have some lay-offs, a perfect segue to tell you something that we've been talking a lot about in the last couple of weeks. Toolmaker Stanley Works will cut 2,000 jobs; that's about 10 percent of its workforce. It's also closing a few of its plants because of severe weakness in the global economy. And Sarah Lee, which obviously is famous for its pound cake, among other things, is cutting -- hopefully those are having good sales right about now -- cutting 700 jobs. It's outsourcing parts of its business as well, Heidi. So you're continuing to see the effects on corporate America as consumers pull back. Corporate America is, no question about it, feeling it as well.
COLLINS: Yes. Also some uneasiness today, I imagine, because of the auto bailout, people reacting to that as well, huh?
LISOVICZ: Yes. Because you know obviously the broader impact on the economy is so significant. And it's been this daily drama here. We saw Ford and G.M. shares drop when Republicans voiced their opposition to the bill that -- the package that Democrats had crafted. And you know, it passed the House. The Senate is a whole different story.
COLLINS: Right.
LISOVICZ: So we're seeing Ford shares down 4 percent right now. G.M. shares down as well.
And the overall market is down, but really off the lows of the session. Almost close to flat right now. The Dow is down eight points. The Nasdaq is down five. So pretty quiet. But, you know, that's been known to change and quite rapidly.
COLLINS: Boy, that's an understatement, certainly.
Susan Lisovicz, thanks so much --
LISOVICZ: You're welcome.
COLLINS: -- at the New York Stock Exchange this morning.
CNN getting an exclusive look at a new power cell that could revolutionize the energy industry. CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow has our Energy Fix.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Blacklight. The name conjures up a bad science fiction novel. But inside this laboratory, Dr. Randell Mills, who got his medical degree from Harvard, has toiled away for years on a new source of energy, a discovery, he says, on the scale of fire.
DR. RANDELL MILLS, BLACKLIGHT POWER FOUNDER: We think this will be the replacement for fossil fuel, gas, nuclear and other forms of energy. There's no nuclear radiation and there's no CO2 emissions. So we've done that all on less than $60 million with under 30 people. HARLOW: The process uses water, a form of salt and other common materials to create a chemical reaction they say is 200 times more powerful than gasoline or coal combustion. And it's cheap, estimated to cost one to two cents per kilowatt hour versus 6 to 10 cents for coal or natural gas.
The only problem, many scientists say the technology violates the basic laws of quantum physics.
What we're seeing is a significant burst of heat.
HARLOW: Blacklight hired engineering professor Peter Jansson of New Jersey's Rowan University to independently validate its claims.
JANSSON: The astounding part of this is it's all coming out in about 15 to 20, 25 seconds.
HARLOW: He's one of very few in the scientific community who is convinced that Blacklight is on to something. So are a growing number of Wall Street and business executives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: Now, New Mexico's Esticato (ph) Energy is the first utility company to sign on, announcing today it is licensing the Blacklight process to engineer a power plant that could provide electricity to some 3,000 homes and local businesses, Heidi. Pretty cool, but confusing. A bit confusing.
COLLINS: Yes, and I don't mean to be negative in any way, shape or form, but it almost sounds too good to be true. It's the ultimate energy fix.
So when will this power plant actually be up and running?
HARLOW: It's a great question. No greenhouse gas emissions, it's cheap, really almost too good to be true.
The company itself says it's at least five years away. The prototype you just saw, that's a 50 kilowatt thermal reactor, enough to power just a few homes. Utility companies say, hey, we want to one that delivers a minimum of 250 kilowatts before we put this technology to work in our plants. Blackrock (sic) says they'll deliver that by the end of next year.
Pretty cool solution. If it works, it will shake up the energy picture, certainly -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Yes, no question. All right. We'll be following that one, too.
Poppy Harlow, thank you.
HARLOW: You're welcome.
COLLINS: Reporter goes underwater. Our Anderson Cooper drops in on some great white sharks. He survived the encounter, and he's actually here to tell us what he has learned for our "Planet in Peril" special. Don't miss it.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Josh Levs.
We're going to be showing you some of the incredible video the "Planet in Peril" team took while they were on that journey, things you'll be able to see from the comfort of your own home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: The best of the year in movies and TV. Golden Globe nominations are just out and we've got them for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: All right. We just can't get enough of this picture. It is beautiful in New Orleans. Yes, that's Louisiana. Can you believe it? French Quarter is getting a whitewash.
Rob Marciano is standing by now to tell us how on earth something like this could happen.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Absolutely. All right, Rob Marciano, thanks so much. We'll talk to you in a little bit.
For now, though, a quick break here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Our planet is in peril, and that is our special tonight. We have correspondents looking at the fight over oil, land, water and food. As part of our documentary Anderson Cooper spent time recently in South Africa in the company of sharks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: When great white sharks start to circle your boat, the feeling is unsettling. Fifteen feet long, thousands of pounds, these are the animals of so many nightmares.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's the famous (ph) shark, Eddy.
COOPER: We come to dive with these great whites, to get an up- close look at them and the battle that's being waged around them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Please do not go down unless we tell you to.
COOPER: Mike Rudson (ph) takes tourists cage diving with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then you can lean back and (INAUDIBLE) and be comfortable. COOPER: It's become a big business, but it's also, he says, a conservation effort. He thinks if people can see these endangered animals underwater, they'll learn to appreciate them and want to help protect them.
Cage diving, however, is highly controversial. I'll tell you why in a second. Right now the water is filled with blood and fish parts called chum, and the great whites have arrived.
(on camera): Are there any recommendations for what to do?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, basically don't scare the sharks. You're going to --
COOPER: I'm not worried about scaring the sharks. Usually it's the other way around.
(voice over): After we get used to being in the water with the sharks inside a cage, we have a chance to do something that few others ever have. We'll go swimming with great white sharks without a cage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Anderson is joining us now from New York, sans the wet suit.
So Anderson, what about that free dive? What were you thinking?
COOPER: Well, you know -- cage diving is an amazing experience that tourists can do. And it does allow you to see the sharks up close. But it is an artificial look at sharks. They're lunging after bait, they're attacking the cage. And so we wanted to go out free diving with the great whites with the one expert who does this, a guy name Mike Rudson.
And his argument is, look, you need to see the sharks in their natural environment. You need to see them -- there is another side to these sharks. They're not always just killing and lunging after things. Yes, they're a top predator of the sea. And there's a lot about great white sharks we don't know that hasn't been studied. They've never been seen giving birth, they've never been seen mating.
So I wanted to just see these sharks in a more natural setting. And really the only way to do that is to go outside the cage and to just observe them.
It was scary though, there's no doubt about it.
COLLINS: I bet. Did you see any mating or birthing?
COOPER: I did not.
It was funny, as I was about to get in the water, and the water was filled with chum, with fish blood and parts which is what attracts the sharks toward the boat, and there were already three or four great whites circling. And I turned to Mike Rudson and I said, do you have any advice? And he said project confidence, which I'm not really sure how you do that through scuba gear, but I tried to project confidence under water as much as possible.
COLLINS: I swam with sharks once. Of course the difference is, probably, that I didn't know they were there and it was just a little hammerhead, it wasn't a great white. I did not make the conscious choice to jump in the water.
COOPER: Yes, it's hard making that choice.
COLLINS: Yes. Well, we are certainly going to be watching this special and sure do appreciate it.
Have a great day, Anderson. We'll be watching tonight, too.
COOPER: Thanks, Heidi.
COLLINS: Right now our Josh Levs is going to take us diving with the great whites, as well. And that's not all.
So hang on to your hats, I guess, huh Josh?
LEVS: Yes, you know most people don't make the conscious choice to jump in the water with sharks. But one thing I like -- here's what we've done, we've pulled up some of the really cool video we got for you at CNN.com. Some of this is real first-person stuff. I want to zoom in on this so you can see what it's like, if you want to feel it a little bit.
We have this really strong first-person video. You go to CNN.com -- I know it looks cooler on my screen. But double click it, it will fill up your screen. And you can see parts of the journey that they went on.
But also, I want to show you a bunch of other video we've got here. We have this video where they went and visited a gorilla population here. And this is pretty incredible. They do a story about how the gorilla population is in danger and facing some serious dangers now. So, we just want to show you a little bit of it here, what you can see on CNN.com.
And we also have a clip from it. Let's go to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER (voice over): So unstable rangers can't even enter the forest to patrol and protect them.
(on camera): There's nine gorillas in this group.
(voice over): During the lull in the fighting we visited Congo's gorillas in 2006. But today no one is sure if these same gorillas are even alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: You can learn a lot more on the special tonight, obviously.
One more thing I want to show you here, that I think is kind of amazing, that we were showing you last hour. And that is when Lisa Ling went on this journey along the Niger delta in Southern Nigeria through really dangerous areas. She deals with people who have all these weapons all around and she talks about the impact of the world's oil addiction on this area that's full of critical, natural resources.
Let's show you quickly. We have an image of the web page the control room can show you. Because I want you to visit this if you get a chance today. There it is. An advance of the special tonight, you can just go to CNN.com, click on "Planet in Peril." You'll see blogs, you'll see videos, you'll see galleries, you'll see so much. It gives you a good base of knowledge for when you watch that special tonight.
And then you can join us tomorrow, join the conversation, even tell i-Report what you want to do to help save the planet -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. Very good, Josh Levs. We'll check it out. Thank you.
LEVS: Thanks.
COLLINS: And oil, land, food and water, all things we of course need to survive. They're growing scarce as the world population grows. The battlelines are drawn. Watch "Planet in Peril" tonight, 9:00, right here on CNN.
Meanwhile, want to get to some breaking news now. Rob Marciano has been following the weather story all across the country today. Right now, a tornado warning right here in Georgia.
MARCIANO: Yes, we've been focused so much on this rare snow event in New Orleans. In the meantime, the Storm Prediction center just recently put a tornado watch out for a good chunk of southeastern Georgia and northern Florida. And just about as soon as they put that watch out, a warning popped up.
So we want to show that to you right now. There is the watch. It's in effect until about noon time Eastern time, so the next couple of hours. And that sliver of watch area is where we're -- where we're seeing the warning right now.
Come back down to it, this is Wayne County in southeast Georgia, warning in effect for the next 25 minutes. And this system is moving to the northeast at about 55 miles an hour. It's just near Jesup. So you see that spot there where Jesup is.
COLLINS: Yes.
MARCIANO: It looks like it's actually getting -- the last frame, Heidi, it looks like it's getting a little bit weaker. This was a radar-indicated tornado. And because I'm not seeing the polygon up anymore, I'm thinking they may have let that expire as it continues to weaken.
But nonetheless, a tornado watch out in effect until noontime.
Also severe thunderstorm watch out for a good chunk of northeastern Georgia and South Carolina until 3:00 Eastern time.
So, east side of this is rough thunderstorms, and the west side and south side, ironically enough, is where we're seeing the snow in New Orleans, which it is still doing right now. We'll continue to cover that part of the story as well.
COLLINS: Yes. Pretty bizarre, a lot going on, too.
All right, Rob. Sure do appreciate it. Thank you.
MARCIANO: You got it.
COLLINS: They are presidential advisers who work for free. So should the first lady get a paycheck?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Quickly now, a live shot for you because we are awaiting President-elect Barack Obama. As we've been telling you, he's going to be holding a news conference there in Chicago in just a few minutes. Going to announce Tom Daschle as his choice for health and human services secretary. But that event probably going to be dominated by questions about Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich. He is going to be taking questions.
So again, that news conference just a few moments away. We will bring it to you live just as soon as it gets underway.
Michelle Obama, adding another job title in addition to wife, mom, attorney. It will be first lady, of course. Lots of events to go to, hands to shake and all of that. So much so, in fact, some people are wondering should first ladies be paid.
Our Alina Cho takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She'll make history as the nation's first black first lady. But even before her husband's historic win, Michelle Obama was a powerhouse in her own right; an ivy league educated lawyer with a six figure salary. In a month, she'll be moving into a new home and a new full-time job, working for free.
ROBERT THOMPSON, SYRACUSE UNIV. NEWHOUSE SCHOOL: I think most Americans when they hear the phrase "First Lady" still think China patterns, tours through the White House.
CHO: Jacqueline Kennedy won an Emmy for her TV tour of the White House. William Howard Taft's wife, Helen, attended cabinet meetings, but she said only to keep her husband awake. Nancy Reagan had her "Just Say No" campaign. Then, came Hillary.
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER FIRST LADY: I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and made tea, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my --
CHO: Hillary Clinton redefined the role of first lady, taking on health, traveling the world. Yet she was never paid a cent.
LISA CAPUTO, FMR. PRESS SECY. FOR HILLARY CLINTON: We used to joke that we were a moving public works project. Wherever we would go, there would be new roads paved, literally. She defined that role for herself. And I think in many ways helped paved the ground for future first ladies.
CHO: Like Michelle Obama.
THOMPSON: More and more presidents are going to, I think, have spouses who actually come to the job with a life, with a career. And the kind of things that they do might, in fact, be useful things to employ.
CHO: But a salaried first lady? Some say the pay is in the perks. Big, fancy house, first-class travel, elegant dinners.
So what does the current office holder think?
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY: No, I don't think it should be a paid post. The spouse of the president is not an office holder. We weren't elected.
CHO (on camera): According to her social secretary, Hillary Clinton, for example, attended, on average, 500 events a year. She traveled to 82 foreign countries and all over the U.S. There are meetings, events, bill signings, photo ops with spelling bee winners, and of course, at this time of year, all those holiday parties. A lot of work, a lot of planning, but no pay.
Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: And the nominees are --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture. Tom Cruise, "Tropic Thunder" --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: More highlights from today's Golden Globe announcements.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: We are just moments away from comments by President- elect Barack Obama. Today's news conference expected to focus on his choice for health and human services secretary. But, we will likely hear a lot of questions about Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich. Again, that news conference just a few minutes away. Live shot for you there. We're going to bring it to you just as soon as it begins.
An actor who died last year of an accidental drug overdose is nominated now for his work as the Joker in the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight." Heath Ledger is among those nominated today for a Golden Globe award. CNN's Brooke Anderson is joining us now live from Los Angeles.
Brooke, there had been quite a bit of discussion about whether or not he would get a nomination for this.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: There has been quite a bit of discussion, Heidi. And his performance was phenomenal. Warner Brothers, the studio behind "The Dark Knight," has really been in a tricky, delicate situation because they have wanted to promote him during this award season, but they did not want to exploit his death and the publicity that surrounded it.
But well-deserved nomination, posthumously, for Heath Ledger here. Expect him, as well, to potentially get an Oscar nomination. In his category, best supporting actor for a motion picture for these Golden Globes, you've also got -- this is pretty interesting group. Tom Cruise for his hilarious scene stealing roll in "Tropic Thunder" and Robert Downey Jr. for his part in "Tropic Thunder." So, pretty notable category there as well.
And I want to move now to the biggie, the one -- the most meaningful category of them all in terms of the Golden Globe -- best motion picture drama. Here, you've got "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. It actually buttoned up five nominations in all. It's about a man who ages in reverse.
You've also got "Frost/Nixon." That's the story of David Frost interviews with Richard Nixon post-Watergate. Frank Langella, who stars in that movie, received an individual nomination as well. And he just told CNN moments ago he's very grateful for this recognition and that his collaboration with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer was one of the best experiences of his career.
Also, in that best motion picture drama category, "Slumdog Millionaire." This movie was actually filmed in Mumbai last year. It's the story of a street urchin who goes on to be on India's version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" So a rags to riches story.
And all the players in this film hope that people will watch the movie and see Mumbai for the beautiful place that it is, and still visit it despite the recent horrible tragedy that just occurred.
Now the Golden Globes, unlike the Oscars, also honor television. So one of the big notable recognized shows here is "Mad Men." It is the defending best TV drama from last year. It will go up against "Dexter," "House," " In Treatment" and the HBO new series, "True Blood," the vampire show. So we'll see what happens there, Heidi.
COLLINS: We sure will.
All right, Brooke Anderson thanks so much.
And sorry to cut you short there, but quickly we want to go ahead and get this news out right now that we are learning now. Breaking news in fact coming in from our affiliate WFTV. They are reporting, and this is what you're looking at, that the remains of a young girl have been found less than a half mile away from Caylee Anthony's grandparents' home.
Again, this is in East Orange County, half a mile away from Casey Anthony's parents' home of course, Caylee Anthony's grandparents' home. We are learning this just as we look at these pictures with you now. According also to WFTV, there has been some sort of bag in the area. It's on a trail from this location that has been found.
So, you can see all of the activity there. Of course, a lot of authorities on the ground and on this case and have been for a very long time, obviously, trying to find a body or any remains that are in existence of Caylee Anthony. The story has been going on for a very long time. I'm sure you remember that Casey Anthony -- Caylee Anthony is the little girl and Casey Anthony, the mother.
So we, again, are going to be watching this story very, very closely throughout the rest of CNN's coverage today.
I'm Heidi Collins. You can join us again tomorrow morning beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern.
And for now, CNN NEWSROOM continues with Tony Harris.
