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Reaching Out to Republicans; Closing Arguments Under Way in Scott Roeder Trial; Stimulus Investigation

Aired January 29, 2010 - 11:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I am so ready. Kyra, have a great weekend!

It is Friday, January 29th, and here are the top stories for you in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Crossing the political divide. President Obama huddles with Republican lawmakers. Can they all work together to put Americans back to work?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: There certainly will be freezing rain, an ice event with hundreds of thousands of people without power. This is has just started.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Chad Myers told you it was coming, Jacqui Jeras will tell you where it is going next, tracking the trail of ice and now from a wicked blast of winter.

And two-and-a-half weeks after their world crumbled around them, we will talk with an aid worker about how Haiti's earthquake survivors are coping.

Good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris, on Friday. And you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

All right. Let's work through. This a treacherous storm rolling east after slamming the southern Plains. Snow and ice have already paralyzed parts of Texas and Oklahoma, and storm warnings are up all the way to North Carolina and Virginia.

In Oklahoma now, more than 140,000 homes and businesses are without power. Schools and businesses shut down, and roads and highways are dangerous.

Similar scenes in Texas. Lubbock, Amarillo and much of the panhandle snowed in or coated with ice. And where the temperature is above freezing, we're talking about flooding rains. These scenes in Abilene, Texas.

Jacqui Jeras is tracking this big storm for us.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Checking the day's other big stories.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair getting grilled this morning and firing back, explaining his decision to take Britain to war in Iraq.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, FMR. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It isn't about a lie or a conspiracy or a deceit or a deception. It's a decision, and the decision I had to take was, given Saddam's history, given his use of chemical weapons, given the over one million people whose deaths he caused, giving 10 years of breaking U.N. resolutions, could we take the risk of this man reconstituting his weapons programs, or is that a risk that would be irresponsible to take? And I formed the judgment, and it's a judgment, in the end, it's a decision. I had to take the decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: One hundred seventy-nine British troops were killed in the Iraq War. Some of their relatives are at the inquiry listening to Blair's testimony.

In Wichita, Kansas, closing arguments are under way in the murder trial of Scott Roeder. He is accused of killing a high-profile abortion provider in church last May. In fact, Roeder, on the stand yesterday, told the jury it was true.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT ROEDER, DEFENDANT: I got up at that moment and followed him out into the foyer area. And I did what I thought was needed to be done to protect the children. I shot him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: OK. Roeder says he took a life in order to save the lives of unborn children.

More about this case in just a couple of minutes with Ryan Smith, the host of the program "In Session." Ryan will be right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

President Obama reaching out to Republicans and focusing on jobs. Later this hour, the president outlines his plan to offer tax credits to small businesses that hire new workers. Next hour, he huddles with Republicans at a GOP retreat in Baltimore.

Congressional Correspondent Brianna Keilar is joining us live from my hometown.

And Brianna, you've talked to Republicans. What do they want to hear from the president?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Tony, I just spoke with the number two House Republican, Eric Cantor. He said that what he's looking for is an olive branch. And it does seem that President Obama is coming here to Baltimore, to the House GOP retreat, with just that, really, a tax cut that is supposed to help small businesses. But what we're already hearing from Republicans, Tony, is that they don't really like his idea.

It's an idea for giving tax breaks for hiring new employees, giving tax incentives for expanding wages. And Republicans are saying that it's really fraught with problems, that they're worried some businesses might actually fire people before the tax break takes effect so that they can rehire them and get this tax cut. So what you're already hearing is he's coming with an idea, and before he's really talking about it to them, it's being panned already by Republicans.

We talked to some other Republicans. We talked Mike Pence, the conference chairman, and he said it's not so much what they're going to hear from President Obama that they're interested in. He said this isn't about hearing another lofty speech. He said this is about what Republicans are going to tell the president. He said that the remarks are going to take five or 10 minutes, and that the majority of their time spent with President Obama will be asking questions.

And I just understood, Tony, we just found out, this is actually going to be open to cameras, this Q&A period. So I was wondering before, what would it be like to be a fly on the wall? We don't have to actually wonder. We're going to be there.

HARRIS: Yes. All right.

So, the president is coming with some ideas, and already in some corridors of the Republican Party those ideas are being panned. So is this visit really going to make a difference moving forward, Brianna?

KEILAR: You heard President Obama, during his State of the Union a couple of days ago, talking about bipartisanship and governing. And, you know, there's been some talk of course from Republicans about that as well. But I've been asking them, "Are you going to meet halfway?" I'm not really getting a clear answer, so it makes you wonder, are both sides here really willing to meet in the middle?

You know, we're skeptical when we hear them talk about by partisanship, and the fact is right now, Tony, Republicans are very emboldened following that Senate election in Massachusetts where they gained the seat, following the governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia in November. They think that they may have a winning strategy, obviously, going into November. So I guess the short answer is we'll see.

HARRIS: We'll see.

All right. Brianna Keilar for us in Baltimore.

Brianna, appreciate it. Thank you.

We will bring you the president's remarks live, next hour, when he addresses the GOP House Conference.

President Obama, as you know, campaigned on the promise of trying to change the tone in Washington, to push for more bipartisan cooperation. Even during this week's State of the Union Address, he talked about reaching across the aisle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope, what they deserve is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences, to overcome the numbing weight of our politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: All right. So we have put together a bit of a blog question for you here. Do you think the president will be successful -- and why -- successful in reaching across the aisle and getting some cooperation from Republicans?

Log on to CNN.com/Tony and leave us a comment, if you would, please. We will air some of them during the next two hours of our program, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

He admits he shot and killed a doctor. Scott Roeder on trial for that killing, and eerily calm on the witness stand.

We will dig deeper with "In Session's" Ryan Smith. That's coming up in just minutes, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And there is a massive weather system across the midsection of the country, and it is causing plenty of warnings, watches. This thing is going to wreak real havoc. Jacqui Jeras will keep us updated throughout the hour.

But first, the latest numbers, the New York Stock Exchange. Let's look at the Big Board here for a Friday. We're in positive territory, up 71 points.

We are following these numbers throughout the day for you with Susan Lisovicz from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. Back to the case we were telling you about just a moment ago, that of Scott Roeder, who has openly confessed to killing an abortion provider in Kansas. Closing arguments under way right now.

Joining me in the NEWSROOM here is Ryan Smith, host of "In Session," which airs on truTV.

Ryan, good to see you.

We're already at closing arguments.

RYAN SMITH, HOST, "IN SESSION": Right. Closing arguments have started. And now the big deal is, what will the defense say to try to get Scott Roeder off? Because the tough thing here is Scott Roeder has already been on the stand, he's already admitted to everything the prosecutor said that he did.

HARRIS: What can they say to get him off?

SMITH: Right, it's tough. It's tough.

What they were hoping was that the judge would instruct the jury of what we call a lesser included offense, meaning if you can't accuse him -- you convict him of murder, then can you convict him of voluntary manslaughter?

HARRIS: Yes.

SMITH: The judge yesterday said no go on that because voluntary manslaughter involves an eminence of the crime. So, in a sense, if Scott Roeder was trying to protect unborn children by shooting Dr. Tiller, he would essentially have to -- the crime would have to be eminent and it would have to be an unlawful crime on behalf of Dr. Tiller. The judge threw that out.

HARRIS: Ryan, you never see what we saw in court yesterday from Scott Roeder, right?

SMITH: Oh, unbelievable. Unbelievable testimony.

HARRIS: Let's watch a little bit of the testimony. And then, will you comment on this?

SMITH: OK.

HARRIS: All right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, what are your feelings on the practice of abortion?

ROEDER: From conception forward, it is murder. It is not man's job to take life or -- it is our heavenly father's.

He is our creator. He gives and takes life. It's never up to man to take life, only in cases of self-defense or defense of others.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Look, the defense attorney saying they don't want you to get on that stand and they don't want you to testify, but this was -- well, what's your reaction to what we saw here?

SMITH: Exactly. Well, it's amazing testimony. And this is exactly what the judge didn't want.

He did not want someone to get on the stand and start talking about their views on abortion. But the problem was the defense was trying to show his belief in doing why he did what he did. So the key is, when that happened, the prosecutor started objecting. They had to start over.

HARRIS: Well, guilt or innocence is not at issue here.

SMITH: Right.

HARRIS: And maybe this is certainly back to the comment you made just a moment ago. What is at issue here?

SMITH: What they were hoping to do was establish this underpinning of he had an honest but -- even if unreasonable belief that what he was doing was to save the lives of unborn children, and it had to be done right there. So of that was the case, they were hoping that the judge would instruct the jury of, you can consider this as voluntary manslaughter and then he would get less than life in prison, which is the penalty for murder, and instead get maybe five to 10 years for voluntary manslaughter.

HARRIS: All right. Tone yesterday, what did we learn about Scott Roeder? You, watching this as an analyst, what did you learn about Scott Roeder?

SMITH: Well, the fascinating thing was his demeanor was just steely, very matter of fact. And this is a person who's had some extreme views on abortion. He's had some very excited views on abortion. He claimed that no one, only God should determine what happens to children in the womb, but on the stand, completely calm, completely controlled, very surprising.

HARRIS: Let's do this -- and I know we're running a bit long in the segment, but one more bit of the testimony yesterday that I think drives home the point you're making.

Let's roll this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without going into the details of what each type of abortion is, can you just tell us how many different types of abortions you're familiar with, and at least the name of those types of abortions?

ROEDER: Four or five, probably -- dilation, (INAUDIBLE), suction aspiration, partial-birth abortion, forceps, where they go in and tear the baby limb from limb.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Objection, Your Honor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And then the courtroom gets hot. SMITH: Right, because he's describing abortion and what he knows about it. That's irrelevant to the judge. So now what happens is closing arguments, and the judge will then put the instructions to the jury about murder, not anything lesser than that, and the jury has to decide.

HARRIS: Right. Good stuff.

When are you on the air, "In Session," truTV?

SMITH: The show is on from 9:00 to 3:00, every day, Monday through Friday, on truTV.

HARRIS: All right. Terrific.

He does a great job.

Ryan, appreciate it. Thanks for your time, buddy.

SMITH: Thank you.

HARRIS: Does building a bridge equal rebuilding the economy? We will ask a business owner who got some stimulus money whether it actually created jobs. We are investigating it on our Stimulus Desk.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: OK. "The Stimulus Project" now.

A bridge for Amtrak in Connecticut, is there a trickle-down effect that makes this a good example for stimulus spending?

The CNN Stimulus Desk and Josh Levs have been looking into this story all morning.

So, Josh, this particular project, a big jobs creator or not?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes. You know, Tony, we're about to take a look at that. I'll show you how many jobs, and I'm going to say what I keep saying all the time -- you know, there are lots of different sectors of the economy that have gotten a little chunk of this massive $862 billion stimulus pile.

And it's up to all of you to decide what's good, what's bad, how many jobs is enough. But we want to equip you with facts to make those decisions. And we're going to show you now -- this is our map showing you some of the projects that we've been looking at.

We're going to zoom in on Branford, Connecticut, because that's where there's this high-speed line that runs between New York and Boston, and there's been a bridge there that basically has some trouble and needed some help. And we're looking at it right here on this map. And I'm going to show you the total now. We're talking about more than $70 million spent in total from the stimulus pile to fund this project. And I believe that when you look at what the government is telling us, they're saying that, officially, they can only claim four jobs so far. But apparently it's going to be a lot more, because we're joined now by a man who is helping run this project, Arnold Weitzman, who is an engineer with one of the companies that's gotten about 10 percent of this.

Arnold, can you hear me there?

ARNOLD WEITZMAN, COO, AI ENGINEERS: Yes, I can here you. How are you doing, Josh?

LEVS: I'm doing great. How are you doing?

So, I understand your company got about $7 million of this $70 million pile. Talk to me about what you're doing with that funding, the kind of difference that the stimulus is making for you.

WEITZMAN: All right. Well, basically, had this job not started -- it had been delayed for three years -- at the end of July of this last year we started the job. It was bid as an Amtrak replacement of a bridge, and I had to make a decision of who I would bring onto this job.

Had the job not started, we would have had to have laid off about five people. Going forward, I have five people on here, but over the next five years -- this is a five-year job -- it will ramp up and I'll have as many as 12 or 13 people on this job for five years. That's a good thing in this kind of economy.

LEVS: Oh wow. Right.

I'm just saying, that's one of the things I always look at.

You know, and, Tony, we're often hearing these figures about jobs, how many jobs. I always want to know how long they last, because some construction jobs are just a couple of weeks.

You're saying you would have had to lay off five people, but because you got this $7 million pile, what you're going to be having is over five years. You're going to be having a lot more than that -- threefold, fourfold that number, basically. Right?

WEITZMAN: Yes. AI Engineers will have increased its revenue and been able to hire more people because of this job. And we've also been selected to do some work on paving jobs that will start this spring that are also stimulus money in the Connecticut area.

LEVS: Now, quickly, before I let you go, something I'm always interested in from companies that got stimulus funding, do you feel special responsibility that's different from what your project might have been otherwise because this is taxpayer funding, because this is stimulus funding? Do you feel that you need to do it more quickly? Do you feel the need to keep your books especially efficient?

Is there an additional responsibility that comes to America from having the stimulus funding?

WEITZMAN: Yes, absolutely, because what we have to do is we have to track all of the dollars and who's being hired and when they're being hired. So, with part of this project, we have to track not only our jobs, but the jobs of the contractor, the subcontractor, the suppliers, the police, everyone who's involved in the job, the Amtrak employees.

See, not only do we have $7 million, the contractor has $50 million, Amtrak has $10 million. And all of this money filters out from these organizations to suppliers, their shippers, everything. So AI Engineers benefits, then all of the other people involved in this job.

So, you almost have a spider work of jobs going out into the rest of the industry, and those people spend money and their spouses and everyone spend money. So it's spread out.

LEVS: Arnold Weitzman, thank you so much for joining us today.

Tony, yet just another example of someone out there who has benefited.

I feel a little guilty shrinking someone, but I've got to do it.

Quickly, before we go, we get to add this now to our total of how many dollars we have looked at here, Tony, of that massive pile of the $862 billion. We're now up to $8.4 billion that CNN has put under review, and we're still going, Tony.

HARRIS: Oh, yes. A lot of way to go. That's the way that program is supposed to work.

LEVS: Yes, but now we've got Arnold covered.

Bye, guy.

HARRIS: All right, Josh. Appreciate it. Thank you. See you next hour.

We will continue to investigate how your stimulus dollars are being spent. If you have something you think we should investigate, just give us a call on our tip line. Here's the number: 1-800-CNN- NEWS.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Toyota owners still confused about all the recalls and what to do.

Our personal finance editor, Gerri Willis, is here to sort it all out for us.

Good Friday to you, Gerri. If you would, guide us through all of this.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hi there, Tony.

Yes, the number of Toyotas being recalled now tops 5.3 million vehicles, and they're some of America's most popular cars. The problems, over time, gas pedals and some of the recalled cars, they become sticky, meaning in some cars the pedal goes down and doesn't come back up, even after you take your foot off the gas.

Here you can see some of the recalled cars.

Among them, the RAV-4, Highlander, Corolla, Tundra. If you do have one of these recalled models, call your dealership or Toyota's customer service center at 800-331-4331.

Understandably, the hotline has been mobbed, Tony, so you may want to wait until the off hours to make the phone calls. People are looking for help.

HARRIS: Trouble, trouble, trouble. How do you pinpoint the trouble here, Gerri?

WILLIS: Well, first, you have to realize this is a rare problem. OK? Even if your car is recalled -- and it won't happen all at once -- the problem takes time to develop.

We have reports that Toyota has figured out how to fix the problem, but no other details right now are available. And it may be a while before repairs make their way to consumers. I know this is frustrating. You've got thousands of dollars on the line here.

So, that said, right now it's up to you on how to proceed. Whether that means continuing to drive the car, or if you can carpool, or use a spare car in the meantime, you certainly should.

HARRIS: Yes.

WILLIS: If you want to inspect your gas pedal yourself, press down on it when the car is off. If you feel any hesitation, stickiness, or if the pedal is slow to return, you may want to keep that car in the garage. And certainly, if you have kids, it makes sense to drive another car, try to find some other option.

HARRIS: What happens if you're driving around in one of these recalled cars, Gerri?

WILLIS: Well, you know, look, stop driving. Make sure you can pull over and call the dealership so they can come and get your car. If you're still worried, take your car to a Toyota dealer and they can tell you if your gas pedal is OK.

And, of course, we're going to continue to follow this, because I know this is going to be really frustrating for a lot of consumers out there.

Don't forget, though, to tune into "YOUR BOTTOM LINE" this weekend. We'll talk about the impending credit card reform, what you need to know before it happens. Plus, online shopping scams, how one click could cost you.

That's "YOUR BOTTOM LINE," Saturday morning, 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, right here on CNN.

HARRIS: Can't wait. Have a great weekend, Gerri. Thank you.

WILLIS: Thank you, Tony.

HARRIS: Warnings, flight delays, and the worst is apparently yet to come on this big winter storm.

Jacqui Jeras is tracking it. We will talk to Jacqui in just a couple of minutes.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: We are awaiting President Obama's speech from Baltimore. While he is there he is touting a new jobs initiative. We will break down what it means to you.

That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: As we mentioned earlier, next hour President Obama will meet with House republicans. It is an effort to renew bipartisanship.

This week we're gauging the president's support, specifically with independent voters. Melissa Long joins us now to summarize the sentiment of this voting bloc. We're paying a lot of attention to this voting bloc, and this voting bloc loves the attention.

MELISSA LONG, CNN ANCHOR: And we are highlighting that voting bloc at this very moment because we know that President Obama acknowledged on Wednesday during his State of the Union that he's faced some political setbacks, certainly during his first year in office. As you know as well, his support has recorded some setbacks from the independent voters who played such a pivotal role in his campaign as well.

We want to look back nearly a year now. CNN Opinion Research Corporation polling, you can see a slow, steady decline of support from the independent voters. February, last year, you see approval rating 76 percent. Historically high support, of course. Then a few months later, looking to May, mid-May, 60 percent among this voting bloc. November of 2009, 52 percent. And then the most recent polling, January 22nd through the 24th, 43 percent; disapproval of 57 percent.

Let's compare that now to a more general poll, this is a general of all Americans. The support a bit higher at 49 percent comparing to those who disapprove at 50 percent. Tony, you can see this trend, again, a slow steady decline of support from the independent voting bloc.

HARRIS: OK. We are going to keep following the voices of the independents. We're going to find them wherever they are and we're going to ask them two or three questions to find out what they really are.

LONG: I also want to highlight some of the message that say they have been sending us.

HARRIS: They're talking back to us?

LONG: Absolutely. Well, we're trying to have an online conversation with them.

HARRIS: yes.

LONG: We have our independent voters...

HARRIS: I can't wait for this.

LONG: ... who have weighed in through iReport. This one is more animated. It's from a barber in Buffalo, New York. He calls himself an independent. His focus, all about jobs. And he actually was rolling the camera while working, so this is where you'll see him working. He chatted with another independent voter about priorities and the tenor of the State of the Union.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK QUAVIS, CNN IREPORTER: What really bothers me, though, is we have parties sitting at opposite sides and you watch one party rise and then you watch another party rise. Very rarely do they all stand up together. Aren't we the United States of America? To me that State of the Union address was a joke. It was a lot of talk but nothing seems to get done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LONG: I hope the guy in the chair liked his hair cut as well.

HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes.

LONG: iReporter Nelson May of North Carolina says he's an independent. He says the democrats and republicans, he says they're not doing their jobs, but still he has hope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NELSON MAY, CNN IREPORTER: You might have the new America in which these politicians reach across the party lines, come to some agreement and actually care about solving the problems.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: There you go. LONG: Now, our NEWSROOM blog, Tony, has been very busy with your viewers, independent voters describing themselves, sharing their political ideologies. Wanted to highlight a few.

HARRIS: Please, please.

LONG: He writes, "Independents don't care about political affiliations, they just want to see progress and results."

HARRIS: Amen.

LONG: Walter writes, "Independents want change. Neither party will deliver it. Limit representatives and senators to two terms, just as the president. Congress is not a 'career path.'" This viewer says, "Get in. Get things done. Get out and make room for others and ideas. Run again later, if you wish."

And then Cory also sharing this sentiment. "Independent means having the flexibility to vote for whomever I choose and not to be hamstrung by a single political ideology...I would argue that we independents are more clear about what we believe than are loyalists to either party."

As you know, again, President Obama meeting in less than an hour now with more than 100 republicans.

HARRIS: I cannot wait to hear the comments from the president and the reaction in the room. That's good stuff. It's great to hear from the independents, Melissa. Appreciate it. Thank you. Have a great weekend.

LONG: You too.

HARRIS: Since his campaign President Obama has expressed his desire for bipartisanship. Even during this week's State of the Union Address he talked about reaching across the aisle. Here's our blog question, "Do you think the president will be successful and why?" Tell us at CNN.com/Tony. We will use some of your comments, put them on the air just ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Jobs, jobs, jobs. That's the president's number one issue, and he is sticking to his word. President Obama is announcing a new initiative to get companies hiring again, but it doesn't come without some controversy.

Susan Lisovicz on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with details. Good to see you, Susan. Hello to you.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.

That's right. The president said jobs are the number one priority, how are you going to do it? Well, one of the ways, the president says, is with a new tax credit. A $5,000 tax credit for each new employee hired. It will be open to all businesses, but geared toward small businesses, which are actually the engine of employment in the United States. The credit will be capped at $500,000 for each company.

Now, how are we paying for it? Well, perhaps with some TARP repayments, because don't forget a lot of financials have already repaid TARP.

There are some safeguards, for instance, in this a company can't cut, for instance, 20 workers and then hire five back. It can't cut, say, a worker being paid $50,000 and then hire two at $25,000. It will all be worked out. But this is one of the details being worked on right now.

Another thing that's working today is the U.S. economy. The GDP came in for the fourth quarter, Tony, growth of 5.7 percent.

HARRIS: Wow.

LISOVICZ: We've got two quarters now of growth in the U.S., pretty much guaranteeing that the recession is over. The Dow is rallying on it. But we're, you know, kind of losing our triple-digit gains we saw earlier today.

HARRIS: Can I get started here for a second? Can I get started here, Susan?

LISOVICZ: Go ahead, Tony.

HARRIS: Now, I know why all the traders on the floor there are around you and there's a lot of picture taking going on today. Why? Because this is Susan's last day here at CNN, and I am going to miss her.

Susan, stay there for a second. I want to say some nice things about you, OK.

LISOVICZ: All right, Tony.

HARRIS: Here's the thing, no one joins a network like this knowing all things about all things, the world is just too big and complex. When you've never paid much attention to business news because you have taken a rather dim view of business people over the years, you know, sharks and other such niceties, a global economic crisis forces one, in this case me, to run screaming with pants on fire for help.

That lady right there, Susan, helped me. She was kind, patient and never made me feel self-conscious about my lack of interest in business news. Thankfully, I've got to say this, there are many people around here at CNN who are willing to teach you up in a number of areas. But Susan, that woman right there, is special.

Lady Lisovicz, thank you for your knowledge, thank you for putting up with my nonsensical rants, and I can't wait to see the next act in a wonderful career. My only regret is that you are leaving at the very moment I am finally able to spell your last name, L-I-S-O-V- I-C-and then where did this Z come from? I love you to death and thank you so much. LISOVICZ: All the traders want to know what the joke is, why I keep laughing. They want to get in on the joke and the joke, guys, is my last name, the spelling of my last name. They don't know how to spilt either, they just know me as Susan.

You know, Tony, I just have to tell you what a privilege it's been reporting for CNN and reporting from here. You know, I just want to share with you the emotion that has come with this job reporting from the floor of the greatest stock exchange in the world. When it came down here a decade ago, my producer at the time said it was like going to a cocktail party because everybody was so festive.

You know, people here were making money but people in the United States were making money. It was a mirror of what was happening at the time. And 9/11, these people came to work through a war zone. Some of the traders were wearing surgical masks because the smell was so terrible. But it showed the resilience of America, of Americans who said you've got to keep on working and get through it. And through this Great Recession, I mean all of the things that have happened, the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates to zero, 700- point sell-offs, AGI, Citigroup, GM shares going under a dollar, it all played out here.

We're all shell-shocked, aren't we, guys?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you, Susan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you.

LISOVICZ: Thank you.

It's been a privilege, Tony, working with you. Reporting is all about people. It's the people you work with both at CNN and the people you work with. It's the storytelling and I'm going to miss you. It's been a real privilege.

(APPLAUSE)

HARRIS: Well, I am going to miss you so much. Susan, we're going to bump out on these pictures of these traders. I know they want to get shots of you. Good luck in your next venture and please stay in touch.

(APPLAUSE & CHEERING)

LISOVICZ: Thank you.

(APPLAUSE & CHEERING)

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HARRIS: Let's get you caught up on our top stories right now.

Closing arguments today in an abortion opponent's murder trial in Kansas. Scott Roeder is charged with killing Dr. George tiller, one of the few doctors in the United States who performed late-term abortions. Tiller was shot to death in church. Roeder testified that he killed tiller to save unborn children.

Tens of thousands of people in the Southern Plains in the dark today. A big winter storm has spread ice, snow and freezing rain across parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas and the misery is moving east. Storm warnings are up all the way from North Carolina to Virginia.

Hospitals in Haiti running out of medicine two and a half weeks after the earthquake. Doctors warn they are dangerously low on basic drugs, such as antibiotics and painkillers. Aid workers say the need for medicine generally falls third on the list of priorities behind water and tents for shelter.

(VIDEO CLIP - DANCING & SINGING IN HAITI)

HARRIS: Despite tremendous hardships, the spirit of Haiti lives on.

(VIDEO CLIP - DANCING & SINGING IN HAITI)

HARRIS: This was the scene at Port-au-Prince last night. Hundreds of earthquake survivors on the streets waving their arms, as you can see here, and singing in a sign of strength to show the city is alive and people are moving forward.

Mercy Corps Cassandra Nelson joining me live from Port-au-Prince. Cassandra, good to see you. Thanks for your time over the last couple of weeks.

Boy, we have talked to you about the amount of aid that has been arriving, the logistical difficulties in distributing the aid, the effort to get safe water to the people. Talk to us today about the people themselves, the survivors, how they have been coping and how they are coping at this moment.

CASSANDRA NELSON, MERCY CORPS SPOKESWOMAN: Well, you know, I have to say that one of the really amazing things, and the really uplifting positive things about working on this response here, which has been very difficult, has been actually the opportunity to watch how the Haitian people themselves have really just recovered and moved forward as best they can given this terrible, terrible situation.

You know, the reality is several days ago the markets were opening. People are out and about, and they really are doing their best to carry on with their lives and put what they have back together. The situation is obviously incredibly difficult, but the -- I think the spirit and the resilience of the Haitian people has been just tremendous. And I think it's given everyone a sense of optimism that if we can get the aid moving and really engage the Haitian people in this recovery effort, that there is a tremendous opportunity.

HARRIS: Well, I'm glad you said that. You know, at some point the aid response is going to enter another phase without completely going away, whatever that phase is. Is there a transition plan in place that will -- let's see -- support the current effort and maybe even build toward some long-term recovery?

NELSON: Definitely. Certainly Mercy Corps is already looking at that. We are continuing with our immediate emergency programming, you know, for the most critical needs, but in parallel to that we're actually developing a lot of economic revitalization programs.

One of the biggest problems in Haiti historically has always been jobs, 80 percent unemployment rate in this country. What we're trying to do is to develop program that say meet the immediate needs of the people while putting them back to work. So we're doing things like cash for work immediately. We're starting that program this week to get people out and earning money so they can support the local markets.

But even longer term, we're looking at vocational training for displaced people. People who don't have a job now, they don't have a house. But if we can get them into a training program so they can secure a better future, we're definitely looking at those opportunities as well.

HARRIS: You know, I also know that you're going to be working with children who have gone through this and helping them psychologically as well, but that leads me to wonder what this has been like for you personally. I ask this of you because you've been with us over the last two weeks and my understanding is that you may be leaving for a while.

What is this experience, you do this, this is your work, what has it been like for you?

NELSON: You know, I have to say this has been probably the most challenging response I've ever done in my eight years with Mercy Corps. And I've done -- I've responded to the tsunami immediately. It has been incredibly trying in terms of the logistics and getting things out. But working with the Haitian people, as I said earlier, it's really given us a lot of hope and strength. We've actually gotten strength from the people here as well as hopefully we're giving them some strength back with a lot of our programming.

But it's been exhausting. I'm looking forward to a short break. The rest of the team will continue on here, but I think a lot of our immediate responders are going to start to kind of cycle out and take a breath to reflect on what's happened and so we can get back to work.

HARRIS: Well, you have been terrific with your time with us and I can't thank you enough. Get a bit of a break, you have so earned it. Then get back to work. I know I don't have to tell you that.

Cassandra, we appreciate you so much, thanks for your time.

NELSON: Thank you. Thank you very much.

HARRIS: It's been our pleasure. Two quick reminders here. We are hearing there's a verdict in the case of Scott Roeder, we will bring you that news when we get it. And we are also awaiting President Obama's remarks to the GOP House leadership. We will bring you those remarks live next hour right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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HARRIS: All right. This is heart health month, so let's get the skinny on the top ten foods that are good for you. Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, counts them down.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Time to cut through the clutter about what's really good for your heart. The biggest key, says registered dietician Page Love, is reducing the levels of inflammatory compounds in your body.

PAGE LOVE, REGISTERED DIETICIAN: Inflammation is your body's response when disease is cultivating and often there are foods that can actually help do the opposite of that in the body.

GUPTA: So, what are these super foods?

LOVE: Eating red helps decrease inflammation. For example, cherries, particularly tart cherries, red grapes, tomatoes.

GUPTA: Blueberries and strawberries also top the list as do leafy greens like spinach, even oatmeal.

LOVE: There's quite a bit of evidence that the fiber in oatmeal helps to lower cholesterol, so it's kind of one of those key disease- fighting breakfast foods.

GUPTA: If you're looking for a good snack food, try a can of nuts.

LOVE: Nuts are a good protein source, a good healthy vegetable fat source.

GUPTA: Avocados are also full of healthy, unsaturated fats that can help boost good cholesterol. Oily fish like salmon are rich in cholesterol-lowering Omega-3s which can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of clotting.

Then, of course, there's everybody's favorite, chocolate.

KATHERINE TALLMADGE, NUTRITIONIST, AMERICAN DIABETIC ASSOCIATION: The cocoa is full of compounds called flavonoids and produce a lot of benefits, relaxing blood vessels, reducing blood clotting, improving blood flow.

GUPTA: OK, but despite the benefits of chowing down on chocolate...

TALLMADGE: Keep sweets or sort of extra foods to about 10 percent of your calories per day.

GUPTA: So, here's to your heart health.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And to find out more, just go to CNN.com/fitnation.

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HARRIS: OK. Here's what we're working on for the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM.

Just in, we are hearing that there is a verdict in the case of Scott Roeder. We will bring you that decision when it happens right here in the CNN NEWSROOM. We're expecting it in 15 minutes or so.

Also next hour, President Obama reaches out to republican lawmakers. Can they bridge the political divide? Live coverage of the president's remarks at a GOP retreat.

And turning a passion for pearls into a successful enterprise. A small business owner who founded a jewel of an idea in the middle of a recession. I got to tell you, we have been featuring small business owners for months now who are not taking "no" and "can't" as an answer.

Those stories and much more next hour right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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HARRIS: OK, this just in to CNN. We are awaiting a verdict in an abortion opponent's murder trial in Kansas.

Scott Roeder, as you know, is charged with killing Dr. George Tiller, one of the few doctors in the United States who performed late-term abortions. Tiller was shot to death in his church. Roder testified that he killed tiller to save unborn children.

We will bring you that verdict as soon as it is announced in the court right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.