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Push to Get Food to Earthquake Victims in Haiti; 50 Years After the Civil Rights Movement Lunch Counter Sit-Ins; Pressure on Obama Administration to Move Terror Trial out of NYC

Aired January 31, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: There's a new push to get food to starving earthquake victims in Haiti. Part of the plan, give it only to women.

And we remember a turning point in the civil rights movement. 50 years after the World War lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. We will talk with one of the four.

You are in the CNN NEWSROOM, where the news unfolds live this Sunday, January 31st. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

It may sound like discrimination but to relief workers in Haiti it is the best way to get food to everyone. The World Food Program has started handing out bags of rice at 16 locations across Port-au- Prince but only to women.

CNN's senior international correspondent John Vause joins us now from the Haitian capital. John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. This is certainly a new plan, something I have never seen in a disaster zone like this. What we have seen in the last couple of days, the last week or so here in Haiti, whenever there have been a food distribution, quite often they descended into unruly confrontation and it was really the survival of the fittest.

It often meant that young men would push their way to the front of the crowd and that would be at the expense of women and the others. So the United Nations World Food Program and eight other aid groups and Christian groups as well as some NGOs decided on a new plan. They recognize the areas most in need. Yes, they distributed these coupons to women. They gave them to women knowing that they were the ones who are responsible for the cooking and for running the household.

And so then this morning, at various sites around Port-au-Prince, 6:30 in the morning, very early, these food distribution points were set up. There was security provided by the United States Army as well as by U.N. forces. It was all very orderly and there was no pushing, no shoving. In fact, in one distribution point, we were at, there was some spontaneous singing. Glory, glory hallelujah, which was joined in by at least one of the U.S. soldiers.

It was quite a contrast to what we had seen over the last week or so. Now, today they only got to nine of those distribution points here. The original plan was in fact 16. But because of security, two were canceled. Some other problems locating those coupons out to the other areas meant that they didn't go ahead, either they are hoping to have that sorted out in the next couple of days.

Eventually they will have enough to 14 points. The plan is to continue this for the next two weeks to feed two million people. One bag of rice, 55 pounds, can feed a family of about a fortnight. Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Wow, John, when you see eventually to 14 different locations, do we mean this week? Well before the end of the two-week period you referenced?

VAUSE: Yes. What they are saying is in the next couple of days - so just a few (INAUDIBLE) really with the coupons and a couple of security issues as well in city Soleil. One of slum areas here in Port-au-Prince. The plan is you about tomorrow they should have these 14 distribution points up and running. And in many ways this really a very big breakthrough in trying to get aid to the people who need it the most.

WHITFIELD: John Vause in Port-au-Prince, thanks so much.

Let's talk weather now. Snow in a big way. See right there. And the mid Atlantic states getting hit pretty hard. At this point in the weather. And in the winter. Bonnie Schneider, let's take a look at what we are seeing here.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, Fredricka. This has been a rough winter for places like Washington, D.C., we have a seen a lot of snow so far. The snow is done falling but we are still concerned. And here's why. Take a look at its current temperatures.

In Washington right now, it is 31 degrees. We may get close to freezing as we go through the afternoon, at least tether close to it. With the sun shining we will see melting. We're also going to see that down in southern Virginia as well as the Carolinas. But the problem when you have the melting is that you have the refreezing tonight.

So overnight tonight, a lot of places will see the temperature drop below freezing and that includes the Raleigh-Durham Chapel Hill areas of the Carolinas. The triangle. So that's where we are going to see a refreezing and winter weather advisories will continue until noon tomorrow. So the early commute, be careful we're going to see a lot of ice, particularly on bridges and overpasses where it gets very cold and icy. So watch out for that.

That's where the advisories persist. But when we take a closer look, at any more totals we are looking at is definitely some improvements in the forecast. That's for sure. All right.

Let's take a look at tomorrow's weather forecast. Here's what we're expecting. High pressure dominating. And we are going to be seeing sunshine in the forecast, looking much, much better, clearing out nicely with bright sunshine. Notice some rain down in Florida. So we are going to be seeing some wet weather there.

With all these sunshine that we will see that melting occur a little bit is going to be gradual and there's a reason for that. We're seeing high temperatures tomorrow that are still pretty cold, particularly where the snow has been falling.

So we'll be looking for some high temperatures, getting up to about 38 in Washington but most of the day will be in and around the freezing mark, particularly in the morning where temperatures are starting to warm up for example though in Atlanta up to 53, after a very chilly morning here. So, gradually we're starting to feel a little bit like we're getting closer to spring, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: I know. It felt like a very long winter, hasn't?

SCHNEIDER: Yes, it sure has.

WHITFIELD: And it isn't over yet. All right. Bonnie Schneider, appreciate that.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

WHITFIELD: All right. Overseas now. A plea from Afghanistan's president to the Taliban. Lay down your guns and accept Afghan law. This latest appeal from President Karzai is part of a program to get militants to abandon the growing Afghan insurgency. Karzai is making it clear his offer of reconciliation does not extend to Al Qaeda.

And in neighboring Pakistan, reports that the region's Taliban leader is dead. There are questions whether Sheikh Hakimullah Massoud is dead or alive. An unnamed Taliban source claims Massoud is alive and in hiding. U.S. officials want to know his status because Massoud is linked to some of the Taliban's deadliest attacks in Pakistan and the suicide attack in Afghanistan that killed seven CIA officials.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Pakistani military investigating a report that Taliban leader Hakimullah Massoud was buried on Friday. The report appeared on Pakistan's state-run (INAUDIBLE). Other Pakistani media outlets picked up on the story and reported it as well but senior government and military officials here say they cannot verify the report. We spoke to Pakistan's top military spokesperson and he said the military is investigating the matter in north Waziristan, in the tribal region, he said because access is limited there. It could be a while before they determine if there is any substance to this story.

Rumors of Hakimullah Massoud's death started swirling about two weeks ago. That's when intelligence officials here said Massoud was a target of a U.S. drone strike in North Waziristan. Back then, Taliban sources denied he was dead or injured. Going as far as releasing two separate audiotapes purportedly with Massoud's voice saying he is alive. Here is a portion of one of those tapes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VOICE OF HAKIMULLAH MASSOUD, PAKISTANI TALIBAN LEADER: The media right now is also a part of the war. The enemy through the media wants to demoralize the Taliban. At times this type of propaganda in the media that we have martyred Hakimullah. At other times they say they have completed the operation in south Waziristan. But this will never happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAYAH: If indeed this report is verified, the death of Massoud would be a big blow to the Pakistani Taliban. Massoud links to some of Pakistani's deadliest militant attacks. He is also linked to the suicide attack that killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan back in December. Hakimullah Massoud replaced former Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud when he was killed last August in a separate U.S. drone strike.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And here in this country he is the man who turned the table on the Democrats super 60 majority. And now he's on an open house tour.

And it is going to be a hot night for music. We will go live to the 52nd annual Grammy Awards show. Right now live pictures. This will eventually once they pull out, this will be kind of the red carpet area where you will see a lot of the stars emerge for some of the pre-show interviews. There you go there. A nicer shot there. It is Grammy time. Coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. The music industry's biggest names are getting all decked out in their finery for tonight's Grammy Awards and look for some special guest as the Grammy's pay tribute to the late king of pop, Michael Jackson.

Brooke Anderson is working the red carpet. Already there in Los Angeles. Looking dazzling.

BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Fredricka. Yes. It is going to be an exciting night. I'm going to get Michael Jackson tribute in just a moment but the Grammys really are considered the premiere music event every single year. And the telecast never disappoints. Because it brings together some of today's hottest musical acts for what is essentially a three-hour concert.

We were at the rehearsals for the telecast, a lot of them this weekend, including that of one of my favorites, Dave Matthews Band. DMB is up for two Grammys including Album of the Year. It's the first time they have ever been nominated in that category. It's for their disc, "Big Whiskey" and their "GrooGroux King." And Dave Matthews told us it is the west work they have ever done. That it is the clearest statement they have ever made and he's extremely proud of it. Dave Matthews also working on a new five-song EP to benefit the victims of the Haiti earthquake. We talked to him about that project and also his thoughts on the current situation in Haiti. Take a listen to what he told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE MATTHEWS, musician: That's when we are brought together by disaster, tragedy brings us together. It is sad that's what it take to bring us together. But it is also wonderful to see the entire world coming together and trying to really do something for a country that has for years, for decades, been horribly neglected and horribly ignored.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And those suffering in Haiti will be on everyone's minds and hearts here tonight. In fact, Mary J. Blige is teaming up with Andrea Bocelli for a fund-raising segment during the Grammys. They are going to sing the classic song "Bridge Over Troubled Water." It will be made available immediately after the telecast for download on iTunes, also at Target. All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross.

And another highly anticipated event tonight is that special 3-D tribute to Michael Jackson. It is actually the late Michael Jackson performing in a 3-D mini movie, the song "The Earth Song." It's a tribute to the environment. He was working on this video prior to his death. It was for his concert tour "This is It." The song, his performance, will be accompanied tonight by Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion, the great Smokey Robinson, Usher, and others.

Neil Portnow, the president of the Recording Academy gave us a real insight into this tribute. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEIL PORTNOW, PRES./CEO, RECORDING ACADEMY: Well, I can only say that I hope that everybody who is a fan and cares about Michael does tune in because it is going to be an extraordinarily emotional, moving, and fitting tribute and we are very, very proud of what is going to turn out to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And CNN has confirmed that Michael Jackson's two oldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, will be on hand. They will take the stage for that tribute. Their grandmother, Catherine, is bringing them here. They will not walk the red carpet but just be escorted backstage. So, Fredricka, it is going to be a special, very electric night, as always.

WHITFIELD: And I understand that Prince Michael will actually have a few words. He will actually take to the mike, right? ANDERSON: I understand that he will be saying a few things. And it is their first public appearance, you have to keep this in mind, since their father's memorial service, less than two weeks after his death. So it's going to be very moving and very emotional and Neil Portnow says that he hopes all of Michael Jackson's fans will tune in because it's going to be very special.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right. Brooke Anderson, thanks so much. We will, of course, be watching your coverage throughout the evening. And then Bonnie Schneider and I will be in the chat room talking a little bit more about the kind of girl power taking place at the Grammys tonight as well.

All right. Man's best friend finds himself in a tight spot, in the middle of a frigid ocean. A look at how he was rescued from what could have been an icy fate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. Mexico police are investigating another string of killings in Juarez. The bullet- riddled bodies of at least seven men were found in the city Friday. Police believe they were killed in separate attacks. It is not clear if the deaths are related to the ongoing drug war between rival cartels and the Mexican military.

And still no word on where the trial of the 9/11 mastermind and his four accomplices will be held. After all the criticism about how disruptive and costly it would be to hold the trial in a lower Manhattan courtroom, the U.S. Justice Department is looking at other locations. The president's senior adviser, David Axelrod, said today they are considering moving the trial out of New York City.

And the Obama administration says that the stimulus plan paid for nearly 600,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of last year. In total, the plan is touted as creating between 1.5 and two million jobs. Vice president Joe Biden says that it indicates the recovery package is on track to save or create more than three million jobs this year.

All right. Bonnie Schneider with me now. Because now enter the chat room. We are going to talk a little love, pets and music.

SCHNEIDER: Great topics.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Let's begin with the dog. The dog who made this incredible journey. 75 miles. Almost making its way to the Baltic Sea. Not because it wanted but somehow it got lost.

SCHNEIDER: Right.

WHITFIELD: And now we understand -

SCHNEIDER: The path was OK but the rescuers actually thought the dog had drowned. But the crew lowered a pontoon down the water and a crew member managed to grab the dog by the scruff of his neck and brought it to safety. Now the dog, of course, has been named Baltic. WHITFIELD: Oh, that is very appropriate. And he was on this ice flow all this time. It is amazing the dog is in pretty good condition. And, of course, looks really good once onboard the ship. And of course, I understand a gazillion people are coming forward to say that's my dog. I want to adopt that dog.

SCHNEIDER: I'm sure. Animals are so resilient.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk about love. We're getting close to Valentine's day. And people want to know, what's the secret to staying together, particularly for married couples. And this couple married 80 years and has some advice.

SCHNEIDER: They do have some advice. My grandparents were married over 52 years. Closer to 60. You know, these couple, they do have their secrets. Mitch and Mattie Aiken (ph) got married in 1930. Now she didn't know she was five years older until after they married. Now she is 103 and he's 97. They witnessed some of the greatest moments in history including the Great Depression and the civil rights movement.

WHITFIELD: Wow, they are pretty incredible. You know, one of her bits of advice, she was talking about be sure you treat your spouse, or husband, the way you would want your spouse to treat you. That's one bit of a advice. And then she also said have two rolling pins. One to keep the person in line. And the other to roll out the dough.

SCHNEIDER: Ladies watching, marry a younger man, right. Five years younger.

WHITFIELD: That's what she's saying too.

Grammys tonight. A lot of folks glued to their televisions sets whether to watch the Grammys or to watch our Brooke Anderson talk about what's taking place inside, during the Grammys. But just like the ladies night. In part, because of Beyonce and her many nominations. And because of the many nominations, we are talking now combined 23 nominations between Beyonce, Lady GaGa and Taylor Swift.

SCHNEIDER: Those are three terrific artists. All so different but all ladies. So it's ladies' night at the Grammys. I love here there.

WHITFIELD: Yes, you and a whole lot of people as I now included. So these women that I just mentioned, they're competing in three categories. Album of the year, record of the year, song of the year. So folks will be watching and rooting. But it's going to be tough because these are three dynamic women.

SCHNEIDER: Right. All different.

WHITFIELD: Musicians involved too but - SCHNEIDER: But I think what's nice about all three, you can be fans of all three of them even though they have different types of style and music, very different.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes. They're all very different, aren't they?

SCHNEIDER: And there's going to be great performances tonight. Lady Gaga who is nominated will be performing and Beyonce will be doing "If I Were a Boy." Alanis Morissette "You Ought to Know." I mean, those are going to be some really great interpretations.

WHITFIELD: Just consider it one big, you know, three-hour concert. Free concert coming to your living room.

SCHNEIDER: (INAUDIBLE) to be tuning in.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Bonnie, for joining us in the chat room.

SCHNEIDER: Any time.

WHITFIELD: All right. We will be talking to you a little bit later about some crazy weather across the country.

SCHNEIDER: Sure. Sounds good.

WHITFIELD: Also, they were called the Greensboro Four who helped launch a civil rights movement 50 years ago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: U.N. workers in Haiti are changing tactics so that women waiting for quake relief supplies won't get pushed aside. Emergency food rations are being given to female quake victims only at the present. The U.N. says experience has taught them that women will distribute the food more fairly. Young men have disrupted some aid lines with violence at relief sites recently there in Haiti. The U.N. hopes to feed up to two million people over the next two weeks.

Ten American charity workers are under arrest in Haiti, accused of child trafficking. They were stopped at the Haitian Dominican border. And they were reportedly trying to evacuate 33 children into the Dominican Republic. The group said none of the kids had passports. The charity workers are defending their actions saying that they were trying to get the children into a temporary shelter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA SILSBY, NEW LIFE CHILDREN'S REFUGE: We are just trusting the truth will be reveal because we know the truth ultimately is that we came here to help the children and know god will reveal truth. And we are just praying for that and trusting him.

We by no means acknowledge that charge because there's no - we would have no part of that, if anything, that breaks my heart. We came here to help the rest of the victims and the children that are enslaved. Not by any means to be a part of that horrendous trade.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Some of the children are sick and dehydrated. They have been taken to an Austrian-based S.O.S. orphanage. The officials are trying to determined if they have living relatives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE WILLEIT, SOS SPOKESMAN: We will reunite them with their parents or with their relatives. Because we already know that some of these children still have parents. Because a girl that might be eight or nine years old, told us crying, I'm not an orphan. I do have my parents. I saw them going to a boarding school or to summer camp. We don't know exactly - to the Dominican Republic. Do I have my parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The Americans from the Idaho-based charity New Life Children's Refuge say that the situation is a big misunderstanding.

All right. Well, it was a defining moment in the civil rights history. And tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary, February 1st, 1960, four black college students walk into a Woolworth's in Greensboro, North Carolina, sat at the lunch counter and stayed. Listen to this excerpt from a documentary that aired on PBS five years ago, marking the 45th anniversary. It was made by a video dialogue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: In 1960, things did change dramatically in Greensboro.

Greensboro, the origin of all of those events that occurred subsequent to February 1st, 1960. And I happen to be there. McNeil happened to be there (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was very difficult. Painstaking ordeal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are like the four musketeers. We are going to our deaths (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell you, one thing that I was certain of, that we weren't coming back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The 1960 protest played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement. The college students became known as the Greensboro Four. One of them retired Major General Joseph McNeil whose voice you heard there joins us now on the phone from Greensboro. Also with us Melvin Skip Austen (ph), chairman and co-founder of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

Also there, joining us via Skype with his son, Ryan. So General McNeil, on the phone with us from Greensboro, we know the weather is really bad. So we are glad you are able to be with us via phone. Give me an idea what that's like to hear your voice replayed on that documentary that you participated in, do you still feel the same way about February 1st than you did at the recording of that documentary?

MAJ. GEN. JOSEPH MCNEIL (RET.), PARTICIPATED IN THE 1960 WOOLWORTH'S SIT-IN (via telephone): Oh, it was a proud moment, Fredricka. Happy to have been part, happy to have done my small part in a big effort shows that even small things matter in the end.

WHITFIELD: At the time, while in the steam of things it seemed like a small thing, in your heart of hearts, did you as the four musketeers, so to speak, did you really know that this was a big thing that you were doing and that it would galvanize the Civil Rights movement in a very big way?

MCNEIL: We felt very strongly about what we were doing. And we were serious. By a law like segregation, meant that we had to have very strong convictions. So we were hopeful we would be able to make others aware of the evils of segregation. And while we are hopeful others would follow, we weren't exactly sure that would happen.

WHITFIELD: You said you were very serious about it. It seems as though that your actions were saying that you were more inspired by the potential than you feared any repercussions.

MCNEIL: That would be fair to say. I think we were too angry to be afraid. As my friend and colleague Frank McCain would say.

WHITFIELD: So now there is an international civil rights center and museum. Grand opening about to take place. One of the co-founders, Mr. Melvin Skip Austin. With us now via Skype, alongside of you, your son, Ryan, who I understand is also going to be helping with the tour guides. Give me an idea, Mr. Austin, what the meaning behind the museum is, how it will teach people what perhaps history books have not.

MELVIN "SKIP" ALSTON, CHAIRMAN, INT'L CIVIL RIGHTS CIR & MUSEUM: Well, it is -- it is a point where we want to celebrate what those four young men did on February 1st, 1960, 50 years ago; they sat down so the rest of America could stand up. This is a time when we wanted students, young people like my son here, as 18 years old now, he was only 2 years old when we started this museum.

And we wanted to make sure that his generation and generations yet unborn would be able to appreciate what these four young men did 50 years ago. So 50 years from now, they will be able to come to this museum and be able to see the lunch counter and appreciate what happened on that date so that they will be able to have the privileges they have today.

WHITFIELD: So Ryan, let me ask you your point of view. Because you will be one of the tour guides. What happened 50 years ago is so far removed from anything that you have experienced in your lifetime. How can you relate to what is being shared by way of this museum and what is being shared by General McNeil? RYAN ALSTON, INT'L CIVIL RIGHTS CTR & MUSEUM: I mean, the -- the museum is wonderful. My father and everybody who was involved in it, you know, very great job, hands-down performance. And, you know, the museum brings out a lot of things that I didn't even know with my father telling me history all through my life, the museum still brings out stuff that I didn't even know about the movie.

And, you know, I -- I just -- I'm happy that the museum could have taken places especially on the 50th anniversary. Yes. Once you get into the museum, it shows you a whole new light of everything that happened. It is a lot of old people -- well, older people, I should say, that have gone through the museum and have seen things they didn't even know. It brings a lot of light to the whole situation.

WHITFIELD: This museum -- sorry. This museum was 16 years in the making. General McNeil, was there anything that -- have you had a chance to see it, general?

MCNEIL: I have, Fredricka. It is a first-class museum and a meaningful experience. I invite everyone to see.

WHITFIELD: And the original counter is at the museum right?

MCNEIL: Yes, it is. It brings back many memories. All of you if you get an opportunity to see that appreciate what it means and makes you think and emote.

WHITFIELD: What were some of those emotions that came back to you when you saw that lunch counter?

MCNEIL: Well, the lunch counter brought back thoughts about the possibilities to preserve our rights and extend our rights. There's a portion of the museum that brought back some of the horrors we experienced in racial segregation. The lives that were lost, the dual school systems and all those things that are implied. The lynchings that took place in our country. It is an experience that, the awareness, and also conveys the promise of what we can do in the future to make our nation stronger.

WHITFIELD: And Mr. Alston you get the final word on this, this exhibit, this museum, does it bring mixed emotions for you?

M. ALSTON: Yes, it does. I mean, I was only 2 years old when those young men sat down there. And didn't know the effect it was going to have on my life. I'm glad we were able to save this building because it was getting ready to be torn down and be made a part of a local bank. We wanted the people here in Greensboro, and throughout this entire country, and the world to be able to come to this lunch counter and touch the lunch counter and see the lunch counter where these young men sat down so the rest of America could stand up with freedom, justice and equality.

WHITFIELD: Melvin "Skip" Alston, your son Ryan with you there. Retired Major General Joseph McNeil on the phone with us from Greensboro. Thanks to all of you gentlemen for joining us. One day prior to this 50th anniversary of the Greensboro four. ALSTON: Thank you.

MCNEIL: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Coming up, a few of the hottest viral videos. Josh, what do you have for us today?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is real. Balancing on chairs, better balancing on glasses over the Alps. I'm going to tell you who this is and what he once did over Niagara Falls.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: This has been a brutal winter for just about everybody. But particularly people in the southeast who are not used to it Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No. This storm system Fredricka brought the snow that we may have in the course of a year in one day. So in places that you are not used to seeing heavy snow, even Washington, D.C. on average --

WHITFIELD: That snow cannot be in the south right there.

SCHNEIDER: Well, yes, it could. A lot of places did see up to a foot. I want to show you what it looks like shoveling out the Lincoln Memorial. We have an I-report to show you what that looks like. Picture this - I had to take a double take when I saw this with the snowplow going over the Lincoln Memorial. Javier Garcia sent in these great pictures of the Lincoln Memorial, we have a couple more as we recycle through and you can see the snow. There's President Lincoln back there.

The snow covered the steps and a lot of people probably thought they had the best day to go out and visit. Right now we are not looking at any more snow at least in this region. Things have improved. However, we are not out of the woods yet. There's still a winter weather advisory. Check this out. Raleigh Durham, Chapel Hills this means you, temperatures tonight will go back to below freezing and during the day today we had sunshine. So there is a lot of melting going on. Remember there is about 7 or 9 inches of snow on the ground here and icing as well. So the refreezing as we go into Monday's commute, watch out there is going to be a lot of icy patches out there that you are going to have to contend with.

Temperatures also right now just to let you know very cold out there across much of the northeast and as we look towards early this week, we are going to be watching a brand-new storm system on Monday. That's down to the gulf that will bring rain towards New Orleans. But otherwise I think the week will improve. You can see that low just bringing some rain to Florida. They had nice weather while the rest of the country was freezing.

WHITFIELD: Right. Exactly. All right. Bonnie thank you.

SCHNEIDER: Sure. WHITFIELD: Let's take a look at the top stories one more time this hour. President Obama's new jobs program could cost $100 billion. That's according to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. He offered that estimate during an exclusive interview today on CNN's "State of the Union."

I like to play the lottery. Well you may have more choices this week. Up to now you either live in a power ball state or a mega- millions state. This week, 33 states will be selling tickets for both lotteries. Officials say they are testing the waters for combined national lottery that could begin next year.

Time to laugh or be shocked or feel Zen. We have a lot more news ahead. But first let's talk about some "Viral Video." Josh Les is back with that.

LEVS: Yes. Well you know what; let's get started with the first one. Lets just take a poll; I want everyone to see this. Check this out.

WHITFIELD: Oh, no.

LEVS: Quite a daredevil. He is on the Alps. This is real, folks. He is just dangling over a massive free fall. First chair you saw is on glasses. Then the chair is on top of those. He's balancing. It turns out this guy is a famous daredevil. His name is Henry Rephacin.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Look at that view.

LEVS: He actually does bike on this tightrope. Amazing. The similar thing with the chairs and then the biking across the Niagara Falls in the '70s. He has done it over Paris before. So Fred, that one all of a sudden is out there on the web.

WHITFIELD: Now it all comes together. I get it.

LEVS: Speaking of a shocking things most people would never do. Take a look at this guy. Mr. Flexible man he is now being called. Every once in a while one comes up --

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. What a contortionist.

LEVS: Laza Row Getwo (ph) is his name; this is from a French TV show. He pops up here and there. He is a contortionist. He can move in physically impossible ways. Let's move on. Sorry.

WHITFIELD: It is cool. It is cool.

LEVS: Yes, pretty Impressive. I got a couple more things for you. Because last week we showed you this video which is dancing storm troupers.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, yes.

LEVS: Listen to this.

You have to love it. This is in Seoul. A song called "Nobody" by a Korean girl through Wonder Girls. Now Fred when you saw this.

WHITFIELD: Thriller is next.

LEVS: You said thriller is next, right? Check the next video. There you go, Fred. We knew it was going to happen.

WHITFIELD: A large group gathering, dancing. "Thriller" is somewhere in the picture.

LEVS: Well it turns out and I didn't know until you said that. Then on Facebook they wrote me and said you know what, they already did the thriller thing. There they are.

WHITFIELD: It was the other song that was actually the encore.

LEVS: The other song. I lost you.

WHITFIELD: That they had already done "Thriller." The last thing we saw, the latest example was the latest after "Thriller."

LEVS: Oh quickly, here is how you can get the links. Everyone is writing me, why can't we get those links? I will post all the links right now. I will go to my desk. Facebook.com/JoshlevsCNN, they will be up there for you.

WHITFIELD: People just can't get enough of those viral videos. Thanks for bringing them to us, Josh. Appreciate that.

All right. Well we know that Scott Brown is a Republican. Get used to the name. We know that he won the Senate seat. Vacated by the death of Ted Kennedy. But this weekend he's revealing a few things that just might surprise you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Scott Brown is going to Washington. But before the Republican who won Ted Kennedy's seat makes the move, he's taking part in an open house tour. CNN's Kate Bolduan is in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Brown is holding a meeting and greeting.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there Fredricka. Yes he is meeting and greeting and doing quite a lot of it this weekend. You can see the crowd starting to build up behind me. Fortunately this is a big space because there are a lot of people that are expected to turn out, Scott Brown is expected to be showing up in the next few minutes to meet this crowd.

But really what you can call this is pretty much a thank you for a three-day victory lap as he crisscrossed the state really showing his gratitude and thanking all the people that really got him elected. It was a really surprise victory. We have some video of those other events and you can see people have really turned out. Estimates of 500 people at each of these kind of small locations.

And really they are very short speeches, Fredricka. Really getting out and saying I'm not here to talk policy. I'm just here to say thank you. So who is turning up to these events? Family, friends, neighbors they are saying that they are, as well as some of those independent voters who were critical in getting a Republican, Scott Brown, elected. Listen to one of them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATHLEEN MILLS: Ted Kennedy was a legacy for Massachusetts but guess what, that's history now. I mean, it is part of our history. And part that we respect. But it is history. Time to move on. That had no bearing on me at all. It wasn't Ted Kennedy's seat. It was the people's seat.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And the campaign slogan seems to really be resonating with people here and across the state was that this is not any one person's seat. It is the people's seat. We heard a lot of that since the special election took place. And remember Fredricka, President Obama won this state by 25 points. What we are hearing here at these events is we are talking to people, is very much against President Obama's agenda. A lot of people that we are talking to say that what they think in Washington is out of touch with the rest of America and they are putting a lot of trust and faith and confidence in the Republican Senator-elect as he prepares to head to Washington.

Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kate Bolduan in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Thanks so much.

This is a pivotal time, as you heard, Kate underscore for Brown and for the White House. Earlier we spoke with senior White House correspondent Ed Henry who says the administration is focusing on a lot this week, including the election of that Massachusetts Senator.

A couple of things on the newly elected Scott Brown. He's already said most recently in interviews this weekend I'm not going for health care. The White House, the president, still wants that front and center to be one of his top priorities and he also said the president that I'm not going the try to rush it through. However, is there pressure now before Scott Brown's swearing in to try to rush it through so the president actually has an accomplishment as it pertains to health care?

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: There's that pressure. But I don't think that they are going to rush it through. I mean it is such a market change from just a few months ago when the president was like got to get this done, there are deadlines, deadlines. Now there's sort of in the words of one top White House aide, taking a breath, trying to access the situation. I think what you will see play out basically is that now the White House has put all of its eggs in the basket of trying to get a jobs bill out of the Senate which they will be debating this coming week. So watch that very closely.

They hope to get that as a short-term victory for the president and more importantly, get some relief to the American people and then they hope to get back to health care at some point in February or March. But I was struck by the fact that in this State of the Union address it took the president about a half hour in a 70-minute address, by the way, to even touch on health care at all.

That signaled to me that while it is still a top priority for him, I'm not certain that he -- he has the muscle to push this through. I'm not certain he will put as much political capital as he did last year because, frankly, he has so much pressure from fellow Democrats to move on to other issues. They are still hopeful at the White House and Robert Gibbs to told John King today we are still inside the five yard line and we are trying to get that touchdown. But I think maybe they have been pushed back behind the five a little bit to play out this Super Bowl coming back. They are not doing as well on health care as they wanted to be.

WHITFIELD: It would seem that strategy would backfire, pulling back from health care when so much has been invested on this issue from the White House.

HENRY: That's the challenge. You are absolutely right. We heard from top White House people and senior Democratic strategists again and again as a way to try to push this through at the end of last year that if you go all this way and climb that mountain, and then stop, voters will punish you for failing to get it done. I think the problem for the White House, though, is that there are conservative Democrats in particular and the house and Senate who may be have calculated that stopping this legislation is the best thing for Democrats. Because they are afraid if it does get punched through, that there is going to be a real backlash because maybe the American people will rebel against this legislation.

I think the bottom line is that they have - the White House has to take this deep breath as I mentioned and kind of let the chips settle a little bit because they really don't have a clear path to get it passed. So I think at the end of the day, before these elections, they definitely hope to have some sort of a more middle ground piece of legislation so they can call the victory, but there's really no path to see that being passed right now. They still have a lot of work to do.

WHITFIELD: Bottom line, big worry about midterm election.

HENRY: Oh absolutely. You know, I was struck by something that Jennifer Granholm, the Democratic governor of Michigan said today on State of the Union. She was asked by John King, you know, she is going to be stepping down soon. She's done with her time as governor and John said basically, would you like to be a Democrat on the ballot this November? And she was very frank in saying no way. It is crazy out there right now. I wouldn't want to do it.

But her next sentence, I think, was just as important. She said I don't think it is safe for any incumbent, Democrat or Republican. The mood across the country is not necessarily anti-Democrat. It is anti- incumbent, anti-who is in power. Democrats broadly speaking are in power right now. But some of those Republican incumbents as well have to be worried. I think that may the best thing going for the president.

By loosing the super majority for him to get anything passed he has to get Scott Brown or some of those Republicans to meet him halfway. If they don't do that and he doesn't get any victories in the next few months he has to say look, some of these Republicans aren't playing ball either. I think that while Democrats are nervous, I don't think Republicans can be sitting pretty now. The mood of the country is very anti-incumbent.

WHITFIELD: All right. Scott Brown just said he wants to help lead the charge of bipartisanship. So let's see if that indeed helps the White House and helps Capitol Hill. Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry thanks so much.

HENRY: Thanks, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Meantime, we, CNN, made a little news ourselves today. CNN senior political correspondent Candy Crowley is the new host of "State of the Union." starting next Sunday. Go, girl. She will be replacing John King. He is moving on to a new CNN show starting later on in February.

One year ago, we couldn't take our eyes off of the pictures from the New York's Hudson River. We will be looking back now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. January ends today and February begins tomorrow. Can you believe it? Here are some of the things that actually happened this week in history. One year ago this week, US Airways flight 1549 hit a flock of birds in New York and its engine were shut down. Captain Sullenberger landed his plane safely in the Hudson River and became a national hero.

Twenty years ago, in 1990, South African president S. W. De Klerk (ph) lifted his government ban on the African national Congress and promised to free Nelson Mandela. It marked the beginning of the end of South Africa's a par tide racial policies.

Fifty years ago, in 1960, a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. Black college students began a sit-in at a white's only lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Sixty years ago, in 1950, President Harry Truman announced the development of the hydrogen bomb. Just a look at history this week.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Pressure is mounting on the Obama administration to move a major terror trial out of New York and out of the civilian court system. So what is going to happen? Don Lemon will look into that during the 6:00 p.m. Eastern hour of the NEWSROOM.

Right now time for Fareed Zakaria, "GPS" and a talk he will be having with the president economic advisor.