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Arizona Immigration Law Awaiting Governor's Signature; Goldman Sachs Big Profit; What's Hot; The Help Desk; Trump Speaks
Aired April 20, 2010 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes sitting in today for Tony Harris. Top of the hour here in the CNN NEWSROOM, anything can happen and often it does. Here are some of the stories we are highlighting today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to immigrate? Stand in line and do it right. We'll accept you with open arms.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I'm pulled over, I mean, it's ridiculous. It's unjust. It's immoral and it's inhuman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Arizona's strict crackdown on illegal immigrants. The measure will become law with the governor's signature.
Also this hour --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are the guys who told us we can get some bread and some meat. We couldn't afford anything, and I'm going start crying.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've had the same clothes on for the last four days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: These folks are exhausted, literally hostages to a volcano, running low on cash, clothes and patience.
Again, one of the strictest bills against illegal immigration in this country is a signature away from becoming law. It's happening in Arizona. The bill would make it a state crime to be in the U.S. illegally and would require local police to check people for documentation. Our Ines Ferre followed this controversial measure and this is where we are. What's the next step now? It has now passed, so where do we go from here?
INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right and it goes to the governor's desk and TJ, this debate on both sides of the issues has been so passionate with demonstrations from folks for and against the bill, some saying this is the way to crack down on illegal immigration in Arizona, other saying it will only increase racial profiling and hurt the state. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right now the way things are being targeted is that all Latinos are undocumented and that's absolutely not true. I'm a citizen. If I'm pulled over, I mean, it's ridiculous. It's unjust. It's immoral. It's inhuman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop illegal immigration. You want to immigrate, stand in line and do it right. We'll accept you with open arms. But this way, illegally, is illegal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRE: And yesterday the Arizona Senate passed the bill, 17-11. The House has already approved it. The Governor Jan Brewer has until 5:00 Saturday to act on the bill. She can sign it, veto it or do nothing. If she does nothing the bill becomes law. The bill says that if a cop has a reasonable suspicion that someone is here illegally, they're required to make a reasonable attempt at determining the immigration status of that person. A person would have to show valid documentation proving they're allowed to be in the U.S. If the person is not here legally, they could be arrested and would have to pay for jail costs and also a fine of at least $500. The bill also deals with day laborers, making it illegal to pick up day laborers off the street or to so solicit work on the streets if you're here illegally TJ.
HOLMES: You can only imagine what both sides on the debate are talking about now. Now moving to another stage of the debate. But while we were still discussing whether or not it was going to be passed, kind of some heated words from both sides.
FERRE: That's right. It was a heated debate. State Senator Russell Pearce saying this bill will help bring down crime and Isabel Garcia, an activist, saying it's a dangerous precedent. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So your premise here is that this is a crime problem and --
RUSSELL PEARCE (R) ARIZONA STATE SENATE: It's an illegal problem. It's a crime.
HARRIS: It's a crime problem. Right?
PEARCE: Yes. Well, it's a crime problem and they're taking jobs from Americans. Billions of dollars in costs. We spent a billion dollars in Arizona just to educate the children of illegal immigrants. It's a constitutional right of the citizens of this country to expect their laws to be enforced. We're going to enforce them.
HARRIS: All right. Isabel, I see you shaking your head. What do you want to say to this?
ISABEL GARCIA, PIMA COUNTY LEGAL DEFENDER: Absolutely. I think this bill represents the most dangerous precedent in this country, violating all of our due process rights. We have not seen this kind of legislation since the Jim Crowe laws. And targeting our communities, it is the single most largest attack on our communities. And Mr. Pearce is absolutely wrong. Immigrants have done nothing but contribute to this society.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRE: And, TJ, law enforcement is divided on this issue. Some folks saying that immigrants would be reluctant to come forward with information related to crimes or investigations in their communities, also saying that this is really a Federal issue. I spoke to the Arizona Police Association, the biggest police union in Arizona. They're backing the bill saying it will give police an additional tool to investigate crimes. And I also spoke with the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police and they're in opposition of the bill. TJ?
HOLMES: All right, Ines, thank you. Again, governor has until Saturday, I believe. We'll see what she decides to do, if she's going to put her signature on it. Ines, thank you so much.
We want to hear from our viewers out there. Go to cnn.com/newsroom. You can see that debate again and also chime in on what you think about it.
We want to turn to Europe. Planes are starting to fly again but certainly not in the same numbers we expected them to. Our Chad Myers is tracking the ash from our weather center. CNN's Gary Tuchman is near the volcano. Gary has been following this thing from close- up and giving us pictures like nowhere else you're going to see, quite frankly. Gary, what do you know now, some new information about what's happening there?
GARY TUCKMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: First of all, TJ, thanks for the nice words. The volcano over my shoulder is still erupting but we have news about what's going on with it. With me right now one of the top volcano experts in Iceland. His name is Magnus Gudmundsson. He is a professor, geophysics of the University of Iceland. What you told me before is that over the last three days this volcano has been weakening.
MAGNUS GUDMUNDSSON, PROF. OF GEOPHYSICS, UNIV. OF ICELAND: It has. Compared to the first three days, when it was creating all the ash particles, tiny particles going to Europe and causing the havoc. But the last two or three days, it is producing much less.
TUCHMAN: So is that a sign that perhaps the eruptions could be ending soon?
GUDMUNDSSON: I don't think we can take it as a sign of the eruption ending. I mean, this volcano, the last time it erupted, it went on for months. But I think we have probably seen the peak of activity and I expect that we will see less -- less ash production from now on. So I won't be surprised if we had -- well, I think the ash that's gone to Europe will decline because there is much less ash being produced at the volcano at the moment.
TUCHMAN: This is not something you can guarantee correct? The science of predicting volcanoes cannot be guaranteed?
GUDMUNDSSON: No, I have no control over volcanoes. I'm making these assessments on the basis of how volcanoes behave generally and what we know about this volcano. And then it is likely that we have seen the peak of activity. Now it's on a declining trend.
TUCHMAN: So is it fair to say that it's likely the worst is over?
GUDMUNDSSON: It is likely, but we cannot know for sure.
TUCHMAN: Is there in way to put a percentage on it or you can't even do that?
GUDMUNDSSON: No, it's impossible. Really, we just have to make do with that.
TUCHMAN: Thank you very much. I know you're flying up there again shortly. So we look forward to talking with you when you come back. OK.
One of the things, you know, that you've heard so much on TV, TJ, is people in London and people in Iceland and people in the United States giving all sorts of predictions. It's getting stronger. It's getting weaker. It's getting stronger. It's good to talk to a guy like this who makes his life's work, in summation, can't guarantee it but it's likely, emphasized likely, the worst is over. So people particularly travelers all over the world may be able to rejoice a little bit with that news TJ.
HOLMES: Yeah, you're absolutely right, good point you make there. People all over the world certainly being affected and making predictions. You guys are right there and some of the best information, again some of the best pictures you've been able to bring us. Gary, we certainly do appreciate it, continue to check in with us. Going to turn there to our Chad Myers who is there as well, keeping an eye on the skies. There is something in the skies above Europe right now.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
HOLMES: And that is a bit of good news. That map was a lot emptier than that.
MYERS: Correct. There are airplanes in airspaces that are approved, cautiously approved, but approved, mainly above 25,000 feet. The problem is getting to that 25,000 foot layer and having to fly through ash to get there and they won't let you do that. So a lot of planes are still grounded, a lot of airports are still closed. But the airspace above at 35,000 feet is wide open. So planes are over flying and it looks like we're filling up the map when in fact all we're really doing is just getting planes from one side of the continent to the other side of the continent. But at least planes are moving now. That airspace wasn't even open two days ago.
The ash is still coming out. You know, the question that I would have liked to ask that volcanologist is, yes, the worst is over, but for how long? This is an active volcano. Is the worst over for two days, worst over for two years or 170 years like last eruption was? I'm not sure this thing is over. TJ, I'm thinking this could go on for literally months or even a couple of years. And that any travel that you might have back and forth from Europe, Sweden, Russia area may be effected for years to come.
A couple of showers across parts of the southeast today affecting a little bit of rain shower activity in airports in Atlanta. Other than that, nothing compared to the activity and the problems they're having in the east there in Europe.
HOLMES: Affected for years to come. Come on, Chad. Just let us have a moment. Just let us have a moment to be optimistic.
MYERS: Sure. You can be optimistic all you want. My prediction is that this will affect the world travel for a long time.
HOLMES: All right. All right. Chad, we'll come back and talk to you.
MYERS: All right. I'll try and get something better for you.
HOLMES: Thanks buddy. We'll see you again here soon.
The ash cloud affecting some U.S. troops even. Airspace around the (INAUDIBLE) center in Germany, still closed. The Pentagon sending those critically wounded in Afghanistan to Iraq. Yes, you heard that right. Going from one war zone to another essentially. They'll be treated at the U.S. military hospital in Barad (ph) before heading state side.
Also since last Thursday, about seven million people had tickets to fly to or from Europe. They had to cancel their trips, stay put. Some stranded without money, others without medication. Residents in many cities are helping out, including in Las Vegas, they are stepping in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHERISE GOULD, STRANDED TRAVELER: Grocery store to get some bread and meat. We couldn't afford anything. I'm going start crying. I'm sorry. I start crying. Thanks to generous people in America that have helped us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That's Cherise. She (INAUDIBLE) like so many other people do, they go to Las Vegas to celebrate. She was there with her twin sister to celebrate their 21st birthday. And now she's in tears. Hopefully she'll get out of Vegas. But if not, I know some people you can call.
Moving on here. We've got the news out of Iraq. This was good news for American and Iraqi forces that two of the most wanted terrorists there had been killed. Will it be a devastating blow or will al Qaeda regroup and move on? We'll hear what the top U.S. military leader in Iraq has to say.
First, though, random moment coming up in 90 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Timmy and Lassie, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Timmy and Lassie.
HOLMES: Timmy had Lassie. I know Fred had Dino. I know that one though. I saw the "Flintstones," but Hunter now has Bucket and this is our random moment of the day. A Florida boy, his best friend is a deer named Bucket. Bucket likes to munch on corn pops cereal, popcorn and grapes. He even gets along famously with Hunter's dog Bear. A dog named Bear, a deer named Bucket. One day the two actually wandered off. To get Bucket back from the state wildlife officials mom had to spend $3,000 to become a licensed state of Florida game preserve. Becoming today's random moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: A potentially devastating blow for al Qaeda. America and Iraqi forces have killed the terror group's two mostsenior leaders in Iraq. One of them, Abu Ayub As Masri (ph) was the military leader of al Qaeda in that country and was considered Iraq's main connection to Osama bin Laden. Also killed Abu Omar al Baghdadi (ph), the leader of an umbrella group that includes al Qaeda in Iraq. Kyra Phillips here with me now, spoke to the top military official there in Iraq. A lot of people were saying this was a huge blow. What is he saying, important to hear from him.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here's what's interesting. Of course to take out any leader of al Qaeda is great, right? It's great for U.S. troops. It's great for the Iraq people. It's great for the war on terrorism. General Ray Odierno, he came to Iraq about four years ago. He was known as the tough general, no nonsense. We get in there with our men, our women. We take out the bad guys and that's it. The past couple of years, he said no, hold on a second here. We've got to take a more collaborative approach here and include the Iraqis more. They've got to be able to take over their country, military police wise, special forces, intelligence, you name it. When it came to these two kills he actually said, all right Iraqis get max credit. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, COMMANDER MULTINATIONAL FORCES IRAQ: It was their intelligence, their security forces let this operation. We provided intelligence support and we provided operational support to them as well. That's what's encouraging about this. If they have over time with our help developed the capability to conduct counter terrorism operations throughout the country and that's what we're looking for as we look to move out of Iraq here over the next year or so. That's exactly the kind of capability we want them to be able to conduct once we leave.
PHILLIPS: It was about a year ago that I was there. I had a chance to sit down with so many various members within Iraqi troops, from intel to the guys trying to be part of special forces, to just the guys working everyday patrol. And a lot of them said, you know, we're not ready. We need the U.S. troops. We've never dealt with terrorists like this. We don't know how to do intel. A lot of these guys are used to backshish (ph) and just getting paid off or doing certain things for the bad guy. I mean, really put in perspective, are these guys ready if you guys pull out come August in a large force?
ODIERNO: Well, Kyra, the bottom line is they are. I mean, the bottom line is, they've been -- this is something that happens slowly over time. And since the beginning of 2009, we have slowly been turning more and more responsibility over to them. And we've done it -- we call it thinning the lines. So we were in charge, solely we gave them a little bit more responsibility. And now today, they are in charge across the country. They are conducting (INAUDIBLE). We no longer conduct large-scale operations in Iraq. The Iraqis do it and we support them.
It is now appropriate and the right time for them to take over full responsibility. And that's why I think it's the time for us to get down to 50,000. I think they've proven that they can do this. We'll still have a significant force on the ground. And that force that remains on the ground will continue to train, advise and assist them. We'll continue to conduct partner counter terrorism operations. And we'll continue to allow them to move forward as a country until the end of 2011. I think it's time for us to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, you hear him there. And, of course, everybody is wondering whether or not Iraqi forces are up to the job. Something like this, he wants to give them credit. He want to put in Americans' minds and the Iraq's minds that Iraqi can secure that country. But no matter if they can or can't, American troops are coming home.
PHILLIPS: Bottom line. You heard what he said. He's going to stick to his philosophy that, OK, I'm here. My name is on this. My credibility is on this. Come August, I support the draw down of troops. But he made no bones about this point. He said, but let me follow-up, Kyra, and say in no way, shape, or form will we see a completely stable Iraq for possibly up to a decade. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ODIERNO: The bottom line is Iraq is going to take five to 10 more years to become what I consider a real stable country. So what I worry about is that we stay committed to them. I don't mean we have to stay committed militarily. I mean that the United States stays committed to Iraq across political, economic, cultural, educational lines and we build a strong partnership. That's our strategy. It's going to take five to 10 more years in order for them to build themselves up to a spot where they can completely stabilize and really start to develop as a country. And I just hope we have the patience to continue to help them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: He says that in a very patient manner. That's right. Patiently we need to be committed to Iraq to make sure we see this through. Not necessarily with troops exactly. But just that support and that comes in many other ways besides military force.
HOLMES: Very important things he's saying and it's good to hear somebody say it. Be blunt, we're going to be here guys.
PHILLIPS: He's always been that way.
HOLMES: He's always been that way, Kyra, you're always that way as well.
PHILLIPS: Yes, sometimes to my detriment.
HOLMES: Let's just take a commercial break right now before she says anything that gets either of us in trouble. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Taking a look at some stories making headlines right now. Word from Iceland, volcanic activity appears to be weakening. An expert telling CNN' Gary Tuchman it's likely the worst is over. Once again, planes are taking off and landing across parts of Europe. London was the exception here though. Airports there still closed because of all of that ash.
Also after 15 days and six million miles, the crew of space shuttle "Discovery" back on earth, the perfect touchdown this morning in Florida. "Discovery" is set to lift off again mid September on NASA's final shuttle flight.
Also, a ruling from the Supreme Court. The justices have struck down a Federal law banning dog fighting and other animal cruelty videos. They ruled 8-1 the law violates free speech. We'll get another check of some of the headlines coming your way in about 20 minutes.
A 10-year-old girl allegedly raped by her stepfather now four months pregnant and a national symbol in the abortion fight. This is not happening in the U.S. This is in Mexico. Our senior Latin American affairs editor Rafael Romo here with us. A lot of people maybe just catching up on the story, so walk us through kind of what has been happening in a debate that maybe a lot of people here haven't been paying attention to.
RAFAEL ROMO, SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: And TJ it's such a terrible, terrible story. Many people are still asking, wondering how something like this may have happened. The good news is that authorities in the Mexican state of (INAUDIBLE) , a man identified as 27-year-old (INAUDIBLE) Martinez there, you see him there, has already confessed to the crime. Martinez is behind bars for allegedly raping his 10-year old stepdaughter and being reported to authorities by the girl's mother. The girl became pregnant and is now in the custody of the department of children and family services in (INAUDIBLE).
The department's director says both the girl and the fetus are in good health and the pregnancy is just under 18 weeks. Authorities are trying to decide whether to release the girl to the custody of her mother or the biological father. It's not clear whether the girl or her mother wanted an abortion but her case has caused shock and outrage in Mexico, stirring up debates of sexual abuse of minors and reproductive rights, definitely a case that has many many people there very sad in Mexico.
HOLMES: What's going on with this stepfather now? Where is he? What kind of punishment is he looking at?
ROMO: He's arrested. He's behind bars. I was just talking to the state's attorney in that state, which is most Americans would know this state because it's the same place where Cancun is and he faces anywhere from 15 to 30 years behind bars. This is the man, we see him here. And there's no possibility of parole. And what the state's attorney was telling me was that he confessed when he was faced with evidence that includes biological evidence obtained after the rape, TJ.
HOLMES: Just a -- it's one of those stories you hear, you can't believe what you're hearing. It just hits you in the gut.
ROMO: Unimaginable.
HOLMES: All right, Rafael, we appreciate you always keeping us updated. Thanks so much.
ROMO: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Also what is on the menu in the school cafeteria today. Whatever it is, a retired military officer says it is making kids too fat to fight for Uncle Sam.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: School lunches have been called a lot of things, but never necessarily a national security threat. They've been called that now. A group of retired military officers says pizza, fries, corn dogs, nachos that are served in the lunch room have made 27 percent of young Americans too fat to fight. They say national security in 2030 depends on reversing obesity rates now. A school lunch bill before the Senate would mandate healthier options. The military officers meeting today with officials in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. GEN. NORMAN SEIP, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET): We, the members of mission readiness, believe that child obesity, this issue is so serious that it has become a threat to our national security. And we support efforts by Senator Lugar and Agriculture Thomas Milsap (ph) to get legislation on the books that would help reduce child obesity. The legislation would achieve three basic goals. First, get the junk food out of our schools, second, increase funding to improve nutritional standards and the quality of meals served in our schools and finally, provide more children access and their families, access to effective programs that reduce the number of kids who become overweight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Beverage companies have already announced they'll remove sugary sodas from school vending machines.
A farm equipment company can't (INAUDIBLE) a profit during these tough economic times. It's another example of small businesses building up America. CNN's Tom Foreman has the story from Kingman, Kansas.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, TJ. There are a lot of towns and states that rely on recruiting businesses from the outside to come in and bolster their economy. But Kansas is really not one of them. Most of what Kansas has to rely on is what it has and the people who are here, but it is still building up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN (voice-over): In a shower of sparks and hot metal, Terry and Debbie Schag are building success at Cannonball. Ten years ago they opened shop to make one of Terry's inventions, a fully automated hay loader and they are turning them out as fast as they can. Why do you think your business is doing well when so many others aren't?
TERRY SCHAG, CANNONBALL: Well, I think, number one is we have an excellent product. And we have personal contact with almost everybody we sell to.
FOREMAN: But there's more. The Schags could not get a loan when they started so they paid for everything. That kept them from getting too big too fast or sinking money into buildings or help and it prepared them for hard times. So you didn't have the loan money to work with but you also didn't have the debt to be saddled with.
DEBBIE SCHAG, CANNONBALL: That's correct. With us since we've always worked out of our pocket and always made our cash flow work, I think we weren't hit with that when all the banks started tightening up on their money.
SCHAG: At Wichita State, the small business development center says such homegrown success stories are critical to the state's rebound. Because, David Mace says, only a tiny fraction of new jobs come from out of state companies moving in. So what makes the difference between a small business that succeeds and one that does not? DAVID MACE, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER: I think the biggest thing is probably customer focus. And it really starts with, I think, identifying a real need that exists and going after it and meeting that need and really taking an outside-in approach to the market.
FOREMAN: He should know. Back in the late '50s two of the schools graduates borrowed $600 to start Pizza Hut. And 20 years later sold it for $300 million. Cannonball is not that big but it provides 18 full-time jobs with $3 million in annual sales and --
T. SCHAG: If I was 20 years younger I would double the size of it.
FOREMAN: It could be that big. You have that much business.
T. SCHAG: Oh, yeah. I could double it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: For a farm equipment maker in the middle of a recession, not a bad harvest. The Schags will tell you in a heartbeat that the real secret has been that, a focus on quality, good people, tenacity and slowly spreading out so that now they're serving markets all over this country and doing very well at it. TJ?
HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Tom Foreman as always.
One of Wall Street's biggest players facing legal action. Could it affect your bottom line?
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T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, some welcome news today for Goldman Sachs as it fights fraud charges filed by the SEC. The investment bank reported first quarter earnings. Our Stephanie Elam, of the Money team, she's live for us from New York.
Tell us just how big of a number this was, first of all, and then how Wall Street is kind of react to the report.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, T.J., it's a big number, no doubt about it. We're talking about $3.5 billion. The stock initially popped after this earnings report came out. That's nearly double what Goldman made in the first quarter of 2009.
However, right now, Goldman shares, they're off about a third of a percent. Nothing huge. Not a big slide. But keep in mind, on Friday, when that news dropped about those fraud charges, the stock dropped 13 percent. So it still has a ways to get back there.
Now, Wall Street may be satisfied with some of the comments from Goldman's executives during today's conference call. Goldman's lawyer downplays speculation about criminal charges from the Justice Department. He said the firm has only talked to the SEC about civil charges and there have been reports that SEC officials did not -- did not vote unanimously to bring charges against Goldman. Wall Street likes that because it shows that there's a chance here that this could go away. And the fact that that wasn't a clear decision really helped to calm investors today when you take a look at how this is playing out on the markets, T.J.
HOLMES: All right, playing out on the markets today.
Now, about the public backlash. A lot of people weren't happy with Goldman and some other big banks over some of these pay packages that they got. So, Goldman, how are they doing in that regard?
ELAM: Yes, that one -- that one's a little sticky. And it's probably going to continue to be one from a public relations standpoint anyway because Goldman set aside more than $5 billion for salaries and bonuses in the first quarter. Now, when you look at it as a portion of the company's revenue, it's actually less than they set aside last year. So $5 million is 4 percent -- I'm sorry, it's 43 percent of Goldman's first quarter revenue.
Last year, Goldman set aside 50 percent of its revenue. But because the company made more money this year, that means workers will get more money, too. And when it comes at a time like this when 15 million Americans are unemployed and they're already blaming Wall Street for things that have gone on, the reason why they're unemployed in the first place, it may not read so well. So it's not a surprise to see that Goldman has been taking a lot of flack about this one over the last couple of years. I don't think that one's going to go away any time soon, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. We'll take your word for it, and we know we can.
All right, Stephanie Elam, good to see you, as always. Thanks so much.
Well, you may have heard the news by now, that civil rights pioneer Dorothy Height has died. She was called the godmother of the women's movement and was on the platform when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I have a dream" speech. President Obama issued a statement today, quote, "ever since she was denied entrance to college because the incoming class had already met its quota of two African- American women, Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality. She led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, served as the only woman at the highest level of the civil rights movement witnessing every march and milestone along the way." Dorothy Height died this morning at Howard University Hospital in Washington. She was 98 years old.
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HOLMES: Well, the situation's better, maybe, but there's still a long way to go before air travel to and from Europe is back up and running like normal. That volcano you've been keeping an eye on in Iceland for the past almost week now still spewing ash that's blowing across parts of Europe. Our expert -- or an expert tells our Gary Tuchman that the volcano, just minutes ago, that the worst is likely over. Only about half the scheduled flights, however, on the continent of Europe expected to operate today.
The collapse of Lehman Brothers drawing some big names to Capitol Hill today. The Treasury secretary among them, Timothy Geithner. Also the Fed chairman, Ben Bernanke, among those testifying at a congressional hearing. It was the biggest, of course, corporate bankruptcy in American history. The hearing will examine what led to that collapse.
And Rahm Emanuel maybe wants a new job. Maybe mayor of Chicago. The White House chief of staff says he hopes Mayor Richard Daley will seek re-election and he will support Daley if he runs again. But if Daley doesn't, Emanuel says he would like to fulfill a long time aspiration and run himself.
Well, those big old oops that's going to be topping our look at what's hot today. Ines Ferre back with us again.
This is just -- everybody is buzzing about this story. And you can't help but do it. This is a pretty big oops.
INES FERRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, definitely, a big oops. This is big on cnn.com. Could this be the new version of the nest iPhone. An Apple employee reportedly left a prototype of this iPhone in a bar in Redwood City, California. It ended up in the hands of a gadget blog and now here you see it. Gizmodo.com received a letter from the Apple lawyer asking that the device be returned to Apple, saying, give it back and when can we pick it up. Gizmodo posted the letter on its website and said, now that we know it's the real deal and not some knock-off, we'll give it back to Apple. And techies have been really going gaga over this, T.J. The back's entirely flat. Made of some type of ceramic or glass. Some type of shiny plastic even they say. And also the edges are more square. They're really -- they're loving it.
HOLMES: They're loving it. And, you know, those Apple folks, they are so committed to some of these things, so you know they're itching and interested in this.
FERRE: Yes.
HOLMES: So -- something else that's really hot, the New York real estate market, really?
FERRE: Yes, well, what do you think of this condo? Our CNN Money team says it's the most expensive condo they've ever seen. And if you can find an even more expensive one, then, well, bring it on. At the top of the Mark Hotel, in the upper east side of Manhattan, sits a 9,000 plus square foot five-bedroom, eight-bath duplex penthouse with a huge terrace. The asking price, only $60 million. That's your condo. That's your next condo, T.J.
HOLMES: Only how much?
FERRE: Sixty.
HOLMES: You said only?
FERRE: Only.
HOLMES: Because you're just being funny when you say only, right?
FERRE: Yes. Not with my salary, yes.
HOLMES: All right. One more thing here. We're talking about this volcano a lot. We've been seeing lot of I-Reports come in. A lot of these people have been sitting around for a while. They've got some time on their hands to come up with some of these I-Reports.
FERRE: Very creative ways. OK. If you're stuck because of the volcano, how about some juggling. Mr. Marcus sent us this I-Report. Stuck in Qatar, been there for a couple of days and he says that he's been really board. So here he is explaining how to juggle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCUS HALBIG, I-REPORTER: What we need are a couple of socks. Here we go. Let's take these socks. Take one first and make it into a little ball and we'll just throw it from one hand to the next. One, left and right. A little higher than your head and that's it. Here we go. When that works pretty good, we'll take the second sock. Take the second sock too and then one, two. And always count, one, two. Yes, stop. One, two. When that works good, then we take the third sock. We should take fresh socks, but I don't have any more socks. All I brought was two pairs. I was only supposed to be here for two days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FERRE: So, there you have it, a whole juggling lesson.
HOLMES: We've got to get him home. We've got to get him out of there.
FERRE: Yes, I know. No kidding, right?
HOLMES: That poor guy. We have got to get him out of there.
FERRE: Yes. Crazy!
HOLMES: Ines Ferre, we appreciate you, as always. Thanks so much.
I do want to turn to something -- we're keeping an eye on Washington, D.C. right now, literally at the White House. It's not what you're thinking. What you're seeing here in this live picture, apparently six people have chained themselves to the fence outside the White House. This is along Pennsylvania Avenue. Apparently in protest of the president's policies on don't ask, don't tell. What I should say is, not oppose the president's policies or actually saying maybe the president's not moving fast enough. Of course, the president has come out and said he wants to repeal that don't ask, don't tell policy that prevents people from openly serving in the military, but some don't think he's moving quickly enough.
Some of the video you're seeing here, and you might recognize one of those gentleman. He just left the screen in that pan there. But his name, Lieutenant Dan Choi. He is one who did this same thing back in March and was arrested at that time, but he is one who came out and admitted that he was, in fact, gay. And once he did that, essentially did it on national television, was talking about it, they initiated proceedings to have him discharged from the military for violate that don't ask, don't tell policy.
But six people right now have chained themselves. Now the last time they tried something like this, they were arrested for essentially not obeying a police officer's order. They were ordered to uncuff themselves and get down. You're seeing the back view here of the folks there now. Another live picture. But they have done this. We've been watching this picture for the past several minutes.
But, again, I should also remind you that the president is not at the White House just yet. The president is on his way back from California. He was in L.A. for a fund-raiser for Barbara Boxer where, in fact, he was heckled about this very issue that the protesters have now chained themselves to the fence about. He was heckled out there about the don't ask, don't tell policy. But just something we're keeping an eye on. A quiet, a peaceful protest, yes, in fact. But again, people letting their views known on the don't ask, don't tell policy.
Also, he's outspoken and sometimes he's outrageous. Real estate tycoon Donald Trump chimes in about China buying up U.S. debt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP: Hey, look, I know lots of folks in China. They think we are the dumbest son of a bitches in the world, all right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: OK, maybe I should have warned you about that. More of Poppy Harlow's interview with The Donald. That's coming up in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We know you've got questions on how to improve your credit and get financial aid. And the CNN "Help Desk" has the answers. Here now our business news correspondent Stephanie Elam.
ELAM: Time now for "The Help Desk" where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this hour, Doug Flynn, a certified financial planner and founder of Flynn Zito Capital Management, and Rod Kurtz, he's executive editor of AOL Small Business.
All right, gentlemen, thanks for being here.
ROD KURTZ, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, AOL SMALL BUSINESS: Good to see you.
ELAM: First question is from Ayana. And she writes this, "I have had not so great correct due to not making enough money and having too much debt to credit." I'm sure she's talking about the ratio there. "I have a good job now and I enrolled in a debt consolidation program about three years ago so my debt to credit ratio is better. Is there anything that can be done about late payments that I made in the past? I want to buy a car and am considering buying a condo. With my credit score at 571, that doesn't seem possible. How long does it take to start seeing improvements?"
When people start feeling better, they want to do better. So what do you say, Rod?
KURTZ: Well, here's the good news. She's on the right track. She's doing the right things and I applaud her for it.
I think the first thing, when it comes to your credit score, and it sounds like she's done her homework, but you want to make sure that everything's accurate on the report. You could have late payments that you actually did pay. So that's one thing you want to resolve right away.
The second thing is, you want to pay off these things. It sounds like she's done it or are in the process of it. And once you do, you want to work with the collection agencies to actually get them, in the best case scenario, get them to scrub this off your credit report all together. If you pay in full, you know, chances are they will at least consider that.
The other option is, you know, there are different distinctions. If you do pay something, they can change it on your report, the collection agency, to paid in full. There are different distinctions that help improve your credit along the way. So you have to go in there and find the trouble spots, which it sounds like she's doing. And just make sure that what she's paying is actually reflected in the report.
ELAM: All right. Our next question comes from J.C. "The law school I plan to attend has a financial aid department and accepts financial aid. Can financial aid provide me with the full $27,000 I need annually to attend?"
What do you say, Doug?
DOUG FLYNN, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER: Well, the financial aid department, what it will do is, it will figure out for you how to get to $27,000. It might be a combination of some grants that you would be able to receive, scholarships, loans. There might even be a personal contribution. The difference between all the money that they've been able to accumulate for you and what the cost of the school is.
It doesn't necessarily come up with the money for you, but it's an exercise you should definitely do. We strongly recommend that you sit down with the financial aid department, have them walk you through there. At the end of the day, if the personal contribution, you can't borrow it or you can't find the money, the school might be unaffordable, but they do definitely try to figure out how to fill in the gap to get you all the way to the full school cost, but it might involve loans and things that you can pay back later.
ELAM: So talk to them, see if they'll help you out. FLYNN: Absolutely.
ELAM: Gentlemen, thanks so much.
All right, "The Help Desk" is all about getting your answers. So send us an e-mail to cnnhelpdesk@cnn.com. We might just have the answer to your question right here next week. You can also pick up the latest issue of "Money" magazine. It's on newsstands now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Real estate developer Donald Trump known for saying exactly what's on his mind. So what are his thoughts on the U.S. economy and beyond? Cnnmoney.com Poppy Harlow had the sit down with The Donald.
Poppy, you poor thing.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: He was actually quite nice, but I've got to tell you
HOLMES: No, we love Donald.
HARLOW: We do. I got to tell you, though, this man does not mince his words. Talk about a candid interview. Everything from the economy, to jobs, to his real thoughts on China. And we started out talking about the fall of the commercial real estate market, is it going to be worse than the housing market. So take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: In terms of commercial real estate in general, the fear is that it will be even worse than the housing fallout. Do you think that's possible?
DONALD TRUMP, CHMN. & PRES., THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION: No, I don't think it will be anywhere near.
HARLOW: Really?
TRUMP: I think that it will be severe, but it will -- nothing, nothing will be like the housing -- where it almost imploded our whole economy. The housing was a disaster. And it looks like it's now starting to come back. I see house prices are starting to go up. And I think this is a great time for people to go out and buy and house or buy an apartment or do something.
You're never going to have jobs because real estate is the biggest industry in the country. You're never going to have building. You're never going to have anything built unless the banks start loosening up. And they're very hard to get money from.
HARLOW: And you said the government has to get more involved than it already is? TRUMP: Well, when I say get involved, I don't mean get involved by butting up more money. They've certainly put up a lot of money. I mean get involved by marking the banks loan money to good developers. The problem is, with all of the billions and trillions even that the banks have taken in, they're not putting the money out. And if they don't put out the money, you're not going to have job creation.
HARLOW: Does this country need to be more business friendly in terms of tax incentives for companies to do business here?
TRUMP: I think we're the most -- I think we're the most friendly -- this country is so friendly and the biggest problem we have, like with China, is that they're sucking money out of this country. Hey, look, I know lots of folks in China. They think we are the dumbest son of a bitches in the world, all right. They think our representatives don't know what they're doing. They laugh at us behind our back. They're taking money out and then they loan it. So (ph), think of it.
HARLOW: Green job creation. It's been touted by the president since he was campaigning. Is it a realistic goal in this country to see massive employment thanks to green jobs? Would you put your money in alternative energy investments now?
TRUMP: Well, I think -- I'll all for green and I'm all for, you know, all of the things that you're talking about. The problem
HARLOW: But it's one thing to be for them and to put your money there, right? I mean, does it make sense?
TRUMP: The problem -- yes. The problem that we have is that, as an example they talk about, you know, saving energy and everything else and they talk about, you know, let's not hurt the atmosphere. China's not doing that. They talk like they are, but they're not. India's not doing that. Do you think in India they go and say, oh, we have to put all sorts of scrubbers on our chimneys so that the coal doesn't pollute the air? They don't care. They don't care. And it's putting our companies at a huge disadvantage. And I think something has to be done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: And there you have it. Candid as ever, T.J. Donald Trump saying stop borrowing so much from China and also saying the international community is not cooperating when it comes to fighting global warning. So, as I said, the guy doesn't mince his words, right?
HOLMES: Or his profanity at times either.
HARLOW: Right. I know, in the interview, exactly.
HOLMES: All right. Poppy, thank you so much, as always. We'll check in with you again soon I'm sure.
We're also going to be checking in with Ali Velshi. He's going to be joining us in just a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
