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Vacation Memories from Nightmare Cruise; Pie Throwing for Charity; Putnam County Norway Spruce Picked for Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree; Military Brides Get Free Designer Wedding Gowns; Sarah Palin Hosts New Show; Conan's First Week on New Show; Merger Between "Newsweek" and "Daily Beast; "Kill Castro" Plot in Video Game
Aired November 12, 2010 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, guys. Thanks so much. 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out west. Here's some of the stories that got us talking this morning.
A new investigation under way into the fire that crippled the Carnival's Splendor cruise ship. That fire broke out on in an engine room on Monday. It left 3,000 passengers without air conditioning and hot meals. The ship was finally towed into San Diego yesterday.
San Francisco's mayor expected to veto the city's ban on most McDonald's Happy Meals. The Board of Supervisors say toys entice kids to eat unhealthy food.
And "Newsweek" magazine may have adorned the coffee table when you were growing up but it has struggled to survive in the Internet age. In fact, in August it was sold for a only a buck. So what's next? "Newsweek" is merging with the popular online site "Daily Beast."
Well, we begin with those thousands of weary cruise ship passengers waking up from their first night on dry land after a day's long misadventure drifting at sea. Many of the 4500 passengers and crew members cheered, whistled, waved and chanted as a team of tug boats nudged the powerless Carnival Splendor into the San Diego harbor.
Some of the passengers say the cruise was hellish. Day after day of cold food, bad smells, and a lot of misinformation. But luckily, everyone is OK.
So some passengers are seeing the humor in the situation. Right along with our late-night comedians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The power blew due to a smoke fire. The toilets did not work. Our food was vegetables and fruit on the two- day return.
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "CONAN": Everyone knows the story by now because it's been covered exhaustively in the news. Adrift for three days. No electricity. Surviving on Pop Tarts and Spam. That's what they air-lifted to these people.
ANDY RICHTER, ANNOUNCER, "CONAN": Which is a delicious sandwich.
O'BRIEN: Yes. I know. That's what I did in college. I don't know what the big problem is. The ship was towed to San Diego safely docked. I'm told it's now ready and it's -- I think it's already going back out to sea. I think it's on the way --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
O'BRIEN: There it is. It's back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh wow.
O'BRIEN: Oh. Hey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at it.
O'BRIEN: Good luck, you guys.
JAY LENO, HOST, "TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": The president of Carnival cruise lines spoke to the press today. He said he has everything under control. But I -- did you see -- show the press conference today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First, the safety of our guests and crews is a top priority. Second, we want to get them home as quickly as possible. And third, trying to make it as comfortable as we can.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right. We're laughing but not all passengers think it's funny. As a matter of fact, a lot of them are complaining that they weren't even told about a fire that blew out the power. Here's what some of them are saying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just now they actually told us there was a fire on the boat.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You did not know that there was a fire on the boat until now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: So what did they tell you why that the boat suddenly stopped, you know, on your excursion?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They never told us what the issue was. All they told us was that there was smoke. There's lots of smoke.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was -- it was absolutely deplorable. My expectations were completely fell through the floor. I expected a really nice time and it was like "Gilligan's Island" or something. I felt like marooned on a prison ship, if you can call it that. Because I was in the dark and I had mayo sandwiches and backed-up toilets, and it was just bad. It was really bad all the way around.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Carnival was wonderful. The crew and everybody on it were just friendly and encouraging and big smiles and helpful all the time. They were great.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They did keep us informed of how long it was going to take us to get back to shore. We were surprised today when we heard that it was a fire. They kept telling us it was just flameless smoke. To keep us calm. I mean, we -- I understand now why they were saying that just to keep everybody calm. I think they handled the situation really well. But it is a shock to kind of learn there was a big fire.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was an adventure. I'll tell you that. I mean, from everything from the military to cold water showers to Spam, to salads every day. But, I mean, Carnival did great. They did a great job. You know? With just what the resources they had. So, I can't say enough, you know, the crew was great.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of things went wrong but it was really fun. We went to kids' camp. I met a couple of friends and it was just really fun.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's so exciting to see the land.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: As you can see, a lot of mixed emotions.
Now let's take a look at the home video once again. It was shot moments after the fire broke out. Now we actually hear the crew alerting passengers about a smoke situation but we don't hear anything about flames.
And that's got a lot of people talking today. Two passengers including the man who shot that video will be sharing their side of the story. That's coming up in today's "Talker" in just less than 10 minutes.
Now in Washington, there may be a deal brewing that would give tax breaks to Americans at all economic levels. Congressional sources in both parties tell CNN that a compromise could extend the Bush era tax cut which is are due to expire at the end of the year. But Republicans and Democrats are still divided over whether those cuts should become permanent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want to make sure that taxes don't go up for middle class families starting on January 1st. That's my number one priority. For those families and for our economy.
I also believe that it would be fiscally irresponsible for us to permanently extend the high income tax cuts. I think that would be a mistake. Particularly when we've got our Republican friends saying that their number one priority is making sure that we deal with our debt and our deficit.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, lawmakers from both parties are due to meet with the president at the White House next week to discuss their options.
In Alaska, elections officials still counting the write-in votes for last week's bitterly divided Senate race. But legal issues may keep the outcome in limbo. That's because a lawsuit filed by Republican nominee Joe Miller is causing about one in 10 ballots to be set aside at least for now.
He's asking that any write-in ballot that does not correctly spell the name of incumbent Lisa Murkowski be ignored. Elections officials would review those challenged write-in ballots in -- if a court sides with Wilson, rather, and the outcome of the race depends on those votes.
Stormy weekend ahead for parts of the Midwest and central plains. Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf keeping a close eye on that for us.
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Yes. That's probably the most scary thing about flying, is with the winds. It used to go up and down, and go back and forth --
WOLF: It can be a problem.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
WOLF: Absolutely.
PHILLIPS: So have you taken a Carnival cruise?
WOLF: I have.
PHILLIPS: You have.
WOLF: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Any issues?
WOLF: Nothing like that what we've heard.
PHILLIPS: Did you eat too much?
WOLF: I always eat too much. But you know they were saying that it smelled like rotted food and smelled like all kinds of bad things and very little power and water. Kind of like my college dorm. You know?
PHILLIPS: It's like --
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: Same thing, yes. Back in school.
PHILLIPS: That's true. Boys in school. Absolutely no difference.
WOLF: Not much of a difference.
PHILLIPS: Now we know all about Reynolds --
WOLF: There you go.
PHILLIPS: What he was like in college. He was not tidy.
WOLF: No.
PHILLIPS: Thank you, Reynolds.
Well, passengers on board the Carnival Splendor expected to be able to fill scrapbooks with a lot of memories of their Mexican cruise. Instead, they have photos like these. No, not the ones you'd expect. Long food lines. Smoky hallways.
We're going to talk to the passenger who took the photos.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, thousands of passengers on board the Carnival Splendor are finally back on land but they have vacation memories of backed-up toilets, smoky hallways, food lines. And they say they weren't even told about the fire that actually killed the power that left them stuck out there in the middle of the Pacific.
Listen to this home video of the crew's announcement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But just to show you that this is not anymore than it is, we do not, I repeat, we do not need you to bring your life jackets. This is not a situation anywhere close to that.
It is because we don't want you swimming -- it is going to go eventually fall through the (INAUDIBLE) part of the makeshift. So if you're smelling it, and it is affecting you, please come up to the open decks.
I am going to sound the general emergency alarm now and this is so that I can put all the crew members in position in accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard rules and regulations. So I'm going to recap one more time.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, a smoke situation as you heard. No mention of flames or a fire and that brings us to today's "Talker."
Joining me live from San Diego, the passenger that shot that video, Marquis Horace and fellow passenger Ken King. So you guys planned to take this trip to celebrate both of your birthday parties. I guess, Marquis, it was quite a celebration.
MARQUIS HORACE, PASSENGER ON CARNIVAL SPLENDOR: Yes. You could say it was like -- it was a bang because when the boat shuttered and all of the smoke came in, that wasn't for us, actually. You know? I guess the motors blew up or caught on fire is what really happened, is what we're being told.
PHILLIPS: And here's what's interesting. You guys were never told anything about a fire, just smoke.
So Ken, when did you guys actually find out that there was a fire?
KEN KING, PASSENGER, "CARNIVAL SPLENDOR": Actually, right before we disembarked. The CO came on the boat and said they were thankful for everybody remaining calm while they had the fire on the boat.
PHILLIPS: And so, when you --
KING: That was the first time they ever told anybody.
PHILLIPS: And then when did it -- how did everybody react at that point?
HORACE: Everybody gasped. As we were disembarking, we were standing in the lobby to disembark, and the whole lobby area gasped, because they were telling us it was a "flameless fire," which people were thinking that was ridiculous to begin with. And then, when he finally admitted that it was a fire, then everybody pretty much gasped, because we find of figured it was more severe than they were putting on that it was.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Let me play devil's advocate. Ken, now looking back, do you think maybe that was a good idea to do that, because it seemed -- people seemed to be pretty calm, they didn't panic, they didn't -- nobody went crazy, right?
KING: No one went crazy, but I think by the second day after they put out the fire, they could have at least told us there was a small fire. Growing up in the school, where there's smoke there's fire, you know? It's -- it's pretty easy to add the two together.
PHILLIPS: Now, Marquis, you actually called this a prison ship. Why?
HORACE: Well, because, it was -- we were in the dark. I mean, we had an inside cabin. We had no window. We were literally trapped. It was like we were marooned in the middle of the ocean. And the food was -- it was minimal. It was very minimal. It was like -- we had no control at all over anything. And it felt like we were imprisoned.
The rooms are not that big to begin with, and we didn't even plan on being in our room. We planned on being at port, doing fun things on the ship. But in actuality, what ended up happening is, a lot of times we just went in our room and we had to sleep because there was nothing else to do. And, yes, they tried to play games and we played cards, and we tried to make the best of the situation as we could, but there was so much down time that we just slept a lot of the time. And it was dark. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
PHILLIPS: You guys took pictures of food lines, smoky hallways. Ken, what do you think the worse part was?
KING: I think the worst part was standing in line for two hours, smelling vomit. The bathrooms, walking up to the food line. The spoiled milk that somebody had dropped that wasn't cleaned up or -- I don't know what was going on with that. And then, finally getting there after two hours and getting a piece of bread with, like, a small piece of meat or no meat at all.
PHILLIPS: You were even saying it was Vienna sausage at some point. You guys kind of stuck up for the whole Spam argument and said you didn't see any Spam, but you had Vienna sausages.
HORACE: I did not see one can of Spam at all. I honestly didn't. We -- when the navy dropped their supplies, we actually saw bean burritos. We saw that, and they were actually -- that was pretty good.
PHILLIPS: That was what we -- yes, I was going to say, we ate that in grade school.
KING: That was one of the best meals.
PHILLIPS: That wouldn't have been a bad thing, guys. Finally, I mean, obviously --
HORACE: Yes, it was good.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Isn't that sad, when you say a bean burrito -- we're excited to see a bean burrito? But, in all seriousness, they're offering up free cruises now. Would you do it again? I'm curious. Ken?
KING: As of right now, probably not. I had to think about it.
PHILLIPS: Marquis?
KING: And if I did, it would have to be an outside cabin.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
HORACE: I think that -- it was my very first cruise, and I was -- that was my first time being -- trying to be out of the country. And either I'm going to get back on the horse right away, or I'm going to hesitate. So, I'm not really sure yet. Still up in the air for me.
PHILLIPS: I don't know. You two might want to plan a weekend away to Paris, maybe. How about that?
KING: Yes.
HORACE: Sounds like fun.
KING: By plane.
PHILLIPS: Well, happy birthday, guys. Sorry it was a rough ride. Appreciate you sharing your stories.
KING: Thank you.
HORACE: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: OK.
All right. Let's go ahead and travel Cross Country now, shall we? First stop, a pie throwing food fight in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. Nearly 700 students of the Lawerenceville school actually hurled more than 1400 chocolate custard pies. But it was all for a good cause and, possibly, a new Guinness pie-throwing world record. The students raised $10,000 for a local soup kitchen. Now, they await word from Guinness, or the Guinness World Book of Records.
Next stop, upstate New York, where a 74-foot Norway spruce from Putnam County made the cut as this year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The tree was donated by a New York City firefighter and his wife. The lighting of that tree is set for November 30th.
Finally, Las Vegas, wedding dreams came true on Veteran's Day for some pretty lucky military brides. They got their pick of free designer gowns worth thousands of dollars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE TERRY, MILITARY BRIDE: I feel amazing. It's so pretty. I love it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really appreciative for this experience, this opportunity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now, those Brides for America program provide wedding dresses for military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Well, Sarah Palin has a lot of titles. Former vice presidential nominee, former Alaska governor, political commentator. And now, reality show star. We're getting a sneak peek of her new show.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, CNN photo journalists have been traveling across the country to highlight the service, struggle, and success of our men and women in uniform. And today, for our Veterans in Focus, we look at how some soldiers are welcomed home. Troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get a very special surprise if they come through Atlanta's Hart airport. They get a big hug, old-fashioned greeting from a woman affectionately known as the Hug Lady. Photojournalist William Walker caught up with her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETTE ROSE BOWERS, "THE HUG LADY": Welcome home. Where's home?
I'm a sucker for a man in uniform. And I hug them. Because I want them all to know that they're appreciated. I can't help but want to put my arms around these young people. I want them to know that they're cared about, and that we're proud of them. You're welcoming them home. They deserve a hug.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Veterans in Focus honors approximately 30 million adults who have dedicated their lives to serving our country.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN, HOST, "SARAH PALIN'S ALASKA": That whole misperception about being a diva, it kind of cracks me up.
There's a gnat stuck to my lip.
I would describe myself, my family, as just normal, average, everyday Americans. If you're planning on visiting her, she can visit you for, like, 20 minutes. Willow, come here. No boys, go upstairs. Willow? Willow?
I think that my kids will always call Alaska home. The opportunities that we have, the epic landscapes.
Oh, my gosh. Look at this.
I'd rather be out here being free.
This is what life is all about.
And on a really clear day, you can see Russia from here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: That's Alaska, Sarah Palin style. The former vice presidential nominee has a new reality series on TLC showcasing her entire family and her home state. We're talking about it with Howard Kurtz of -- the host of CNN's "Most Reliable Sources," and media critic for "The Daily Beast."
Obviously, there's a number of things we're going to talk about, Howard. But no political drama here. It just shows Mama Grizzly in her element. What do you make of all this, and how Sarah Palin is dabbling in everything and, now, reality TV?
HOWARD KURTZ, CNN HOST, "RELIABLE SOURCES": Message, she's not a diva. She said it herself. This is the best of all possible political image making, Kyra. Because it's not a political commercial. You get to see the wondrous beauty of Alaska. You get to see Palin with her family. She gets to make even more money.
I like when she says, "We're just an average family." Yes, she's got multimillion dollar book contracts and Fox News studio at her home. But it's -- it's probably going to get a big audience. It's good for TLC, and it kind of further solidifies her image as the kind of wild frontiers woman from Wasilla.
PHILLIPS: So, is this an interesting way to possibly gear up for running for a presidency? I mean, you bring up a really good point. We really don't get to know a lot of inside scoop of our candidates and our presidential candidates. This is just -- it's all out there to see.
KURTZ: Well, let's not get carried away. We all know that reality shows don't quite reflect reality. They are carefully edited, and it is not -- the image that you will see over these weeks of Sarah Palin and her native state is the image that pretty much she wants you to see. She has a say in how this is presented. And so, I think it's going to be fascinating, it'll probably draw a good audience, it'll probably be a money maker. But let's not assume that we're just kind of eavesdropping on what really goes on in the Palin family.
PHILLIPS: Point well made. There's probably a lot of drama we won't see. There has to be, with all those kids and everything going on.
KURTZ: Exactly.
PHILLIPS: Speaking of big money and big audience. Oh, my gosh. Conan O'Brien's first week, he just killed everybody else in the ratings. We wanted to pull one little clip, Howie, to see what you thought about this. Poking fun at his, well, we know. He says his new employer, but we know Ted Turner hasn't been around for a while. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "CONAN": Is there anything about this show that you like, Mr. Turner?
WILL FORTE, ACTOR, AS TED TURNER: Well, one thing I do have to congratulate you on is this beautiful set, yes. Now, officially named Turner Studio.
O'BRIEN: OK. No, our stage is just called Stage 15.
FORTE: It was. Until I entered it.
(TRUMPET BLAST)
(AUDIENCE CHEERS)
O'BRIEN: That's so stupid.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: So stupid, but he's doing so well, Howie.
KURTZ: Well, good for Conan, bouncing back from that humiliating fall from "The Tonight Show," which of course was reclaimed by Jay Leno. I wouldn't mind getting fired if I got $32 million in the process, but still. It was a hard thing for Conan to go through.
Here, on a cable network, owned by our parent company, Time- Warner, he doesn't have to do five million viewers a night, the way the pressure was on him on "The Tonight Show." He needs to draw a younger audience that will be profitable for this cable network.
So his competition, in my view, is not so much going to be Leno and Letterman, it's going to be Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, who also compete for those younger, hipper viewers on Comedy Central.
PHILLIPS: Finally, and you know, you're a "Daily Beast" guy. You're also someone who has read "Newsweek" for years, just like I have. It was on our tables growing up. And we're seeing this merger, it's a sign of the times, isn't it?
KURTZ: Four weeks ago, this merger appeared dead. But now Barry Diller's "Daily Beast" and Sidney Harmon, who just bought "Newsweek" magazine from "The Washington Post" company, my old employer, are merging. It's going to be a Web site and a magazine.
And look, this is a great challenge for Tina Brown, my boss, because she's in two years put together a terrific Web site at "The Daily Beast." But "Newsweek" has lost most of its stars, some of its circulation. It has been losing money for years. And it's going to take a special magic and maybe a little bit of luck to revive it as a print magazine. I'm very anxious to see how she does it and I would like to be part of it, as well.
PHILLIPS: She is quite a business woman. Howie, thanks so much.
KURTZ: Thanks, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right.
Stock sell-off spreading around the world. Stocks fell in Asia and Europe. And we're are next. Alison Kosik at New York stock exchange with more. Alison?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we've got global concerns weighing on stocks today. China's Shanghai composite fell more than five percent today. That's equal to about a 600-point drop on the Dow. Now, we're not expecting to see that today, but we are seeing a modest sell-off now that the opening bell has rung. Now, all started with China. Spooked the market with talk of raising interest rates which would slow its own growth and in turn slow the overall global recovery. Also hurting the market today, Europe. There are worries about Ireland defaulting on its debt and that it would need a bailout much like the one Greece went through last spring. So, you roll all together and we have got a really weak opening. Taking a look at stocks now, Dow Industrials down about 63 points. NASDAQ off about 14.
Now, before I leave you, Kyra, I want to leave you with this thought. Bernie Madoff's boxers. You can own them. You could also own his socks. Remember Bernie Madoff? He was the biggest fraud in Wall Street history. The government is putting more than 400 items up for auction tomorrow in New York City. They include personal care items like cuticle scissors and velveteen house slippers. But you can also get big stuff like a ten-and-a-half carat diamond ring valued at $350,000. And a Steinway piano, as well.
But I don't know. What are you going do? Go for those socks or the boxers? How about the Prada panty hose? That's a keeper, right?
PHILLIPS: That's ridiculous.
KOSIK: Yum.
PHILLIPS: Yes.
KOSIK: The boxers aren't used. They're new.
PHILLIPS: Although, that would be comfortable to sleep in. Let's admit. Alison, thanks.
KOSIK: Ugh.
PHILLIPS: All right. Half past the hour. Some stories that got us talking.
Extending the Bush-era tax cuts back on President Obama's priority list. President favors the extension of the middle class but is against permanent cuts for the wealthy. He plans to meet with leaders of both parties next week after returning from Asia. A compromise could be in the works.
Passengers aboard that crippled Carnival cruise say they weren't told that there was a fire on board until they arrived in California. They're also telling nightmarish stories of enduring three days with not having any air conditioning, hot showers or decent food.
And American video game where players try to kill Fidel Castro has sparked outrage in Cuba. A state-run Web site denounced the Web site for glorifying assassination. And a Cuban government site said what the U.S. couldn't accomplish in 50 years, they're not trying to do virtually. The game was created by a California-based company.
A case of bad timing has the creator of a Garfield comic strip apologizing. Take a look at what appeared in newspapers nationwide on Veterans Day. It shows a spider's thoughts asking a classroom of spiders, quote, "Does anyone here know why we celebrate national stupid day?" One panel has Garfield squishing the spider and saying, quote, "If you squish me, I shall become famous. They will hold an annual day of remembrance in my honor, you flat slob." Garfield cartoonist Jim Davis said he was created the strip nearly a year ago and had no idea it would appear on Veterans Day.
Before you board your next flight, you may find yourself revealing much more than you wanted to in a controversial, new body scanner. Pilots are fighting them, and one lawsuit is demanding they be pulled from U.S. airports.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the anger is building and so is the opposition to the heightened security measure that is are now going into places at airports across the U.S. The pilots' unions for U.S. Airways and American Airlines are urging members to avoid the newer, full body scans. They cite possible health risks from frequent exposure to the radiation and privacy concerns over the revealing images. Two unions represent more than 16,000 pilots. They're being asked to request private pat downs instead of the scanners.
And the fight against the body scanners is also being waged in court. A consumer privacy activist filed a lawsuit demanding the TSA demanding that it pull the machines from U.S. airports. Marc Rotenberg appeared earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARC ROTENBERG, EXEC. DIR., ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFO CENTER: There are a lot of objections here. There are health concerns, the privacy concerns. We're working with religious groups, and I think the whole thing is offensive and I think the American public has become increasingly frustrated. We can't let the TSA decide what its legal authority is. That's a decision that has to be made by a court.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR, "AMERICAN MORNING": Now, there's some question too, Mark, as to how effective these machines are and could they have detected the kind of explosive that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to employ on Christmas day last year? What are your thoughts on that?
ROTENBERG: Well, that's actually a critical question, John. I think it's one of the reasons we feel most strongly about the need to suspend the program. If we thought it was effective, that it really would guarantee the safety of travelers, we'd have a different view. But you see, before we filed this lawsuit, we filed another lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act.
And we actually obtained the technical specifications for the devices. And we looked at those specifications, talked to the experts and we all reached the same conclusion. These devices are not designed to detect the type of powder explosive, the PETN that was used by Abdulmutallab and others.
In other words, they're not even the right technology to deal with the current threats. And that, I think, is one of the most important points about this program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, there's an online campaign to rally all air travelers against the full body scanners. Various groups are asking fliers to refuse the scans on November 24th, the day before Thanksgiving and one of the busiest travel day of the year.
So, what do you think, to scan or not to scan? That's the debate over your body at the airport. We want to know what you think. Head to my blog, CNN.com/kyra and sound off. I'll read some of your comments on air next hour, right here, in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Michael Steele's got a rival. a Michigan Republican aims to take the RNC chair right out from under him.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about two big-name Republicans. One has a challenger. The other going out on tour. Senior political editor Mark Preston at the CNNpolitics.com desk. Mark, fill us in.
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Kyra. Michael steele, will he run again for another term as chairman of the Republican National Committee? Or is he going to go after two years?
Well, regardless of running or doesn't run, he's going to have a challenger now. Saul Anuzis. He is a national committeeman from Michigan. The former chairman of the Michigan Republican party announced this morning that he will in fact run for the chairmanship of the RNC. Saul Anuzis ran against Michael Steele back in 2009 for the chairmanship and came in third. Michael Steele, of course, won.
Interesting thing about Saul Anuzis, he's in his 50s, but he's one of these gentleman that has really embraced social media. So, in addition to the letter to the 168 members of the RNC asking for their vote, he also sent it out on Twitter. Just shows you how times have changed. That election will take place in January.
Talk about another big name. Sarah Palin is going to be crisscrossing the country again. Not necessarily stumping for candidates like we saw during the midterm elections. She is pushing her new book, "America By Heart." Of course, "Going Rogue" was such a huge bestseller. She went into certain states and reached out to certain constituencies that really embraced her ideology and her thoughts.
What's interesting about this that she's going to be going on a 13-state, 11-day tour. Some of those states are actually early presidential states, including Iowa and South Carolina.
So, is she going to run for president? Is she not going to run? This book tour might give us a little more insight -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And what is this about telling our friends at "People" magazine about her marriage? PRESTON: I'll tell you, it's just -- people can't get enough about the Palins, so I guess including us. There's this -- a tabloid rumor that, in fact, that they were going to break up and that Sarah Palin was going to give him a payoff of $20 million.
Now, Kyra, I have to tell you, as much as my wife loves me, I would have to tell you to take the $20 million if I had it and get out of the marriage. That's a lot of money. But they're laughing it off and they are telling our friends over at "People" magazine in -- that hits newsstands today that in fact that this is a big joke. Sarah Palin apparently was kind of frustrated by it but Todd has a bit of sense of humor -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. You've got to be -- when you're -- when you're the husband of Sarah Palin. Mark thanks.
All right. We're going to do the next political update in an hour. And a reminder: for all the latest political news, go to our Web site CNNPolitics.com.
A video game where players battle to kill Fidel Castro: it's an American game and Cuba is outraged about it. Saying it's a shame that gamers are encouraged to do what the CIA couldn't.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right.
We're scanning our "Morning Passport", now we begin in Moscow with the undercover world of spying. A respected Russian newspaper has identified a high-ranking intelligence officer as the one who exposed a Russian spy ring operating in the U.S.
The officer's information led to the arrest of ten Russian agents in several U.S. cities back in June. Among them, this red-headed bomb shell Anna Chapman, who could forget her. Many people had been secretly working for years in the U.S. and they return to Russia in July in exchange for four Russian prisoners.
Now, to Cuba where the American video game, "Kill Castro", is under fire; Cuba warns it will turn children into sociopaths. It's the latest exchange in a long history of strained U.S./Cuba ties.
More now from our Shasta Darlington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A new American video game literally takes aim at Cuba's Fidel Castro. One of the first missions in "Call of Duty Black Ops" is to rub out the young leader of Cuban revolution. And unlike in real life, players appear to do just that in disturbingly gory detail.
(on camera): No official reaction from the government here in Havana, but this state-run Web site denounced the game for glorifying assassination and inciting America's youth to behave like violent sociopaths.
(voice-over): The Cuban government site also ridicules the CIA. "What the United States couldn't accomplish in more than 50 years, they are now trying to do virtually, it says". In real life, Castro survived scores of assassination attempts and outlasted ten U.S. administrations.
Illness forced him to step down in 2006 but after four years of seclusion, Fidel Castro is back in action. He's not in power but he's got his trademark fatigues on and tours Havana delivering endless speeches about the risk of nuclear war.
Cuba has taken a different path when it comes to keeping the Cold War alive for its use. The attempts on Castro have been re-enacted in a big-budget TV series. In one episode the CIA has scientists develop a poisonous cigar for Castro's visit to the U.N. in New York. The plot is foiled when New York's police chief refuses to deliver them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're dead. We killed you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, you killed the double.
DARLINGTON: Even in "Call of Duty", Castro proves immortal at the end.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's my gift to you in honor of our new relationship.
DARLINGTON: Shasta Darlington, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, we're following lots of developments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with Mark Preston -- Mark.
PRESTON: Well, Kyra -- will your taxes increase in the New Year? Well, Congress returns after the midterm elections for the lame duck session next week and they're going to tackle this very sticky issue. More at the top of the hour.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Let me give you a snapshot of the forecast in parts of Texas. In Amarillo, Texas this morning they have some raindrops that now have switched over to snow and they may see one to three inches before the day is over. Parts of the Midwest, possibly up to a foot of snowfall as we move into the weekend. More on that coming up.
A.J. HAMMER, HLN'S CO-HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I'm "Showbiz Tonight's" A.J. Hammer in New York. The Latin Grammys take over Vegas. And there are some encouraging signs for a troubled star. All of that is coming up at the top of the hour.
PHILLIPS: All right, thanks guys.
Well, right now, a woman is living in a glass box. Her only contact with the outside world is social media. She's got a serious message, though, and we're going to talk to her about it in the next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Call it a comeback.
PHILLIPS: Call it a comeback. You're always making a comeback.
HARRIS: All right. How are you? Good Friday to you.
PHILLIPS: How are you? Good Friday to you.
HARRIS: Are you ready to do this?
PHILLIPS: Yes. But you mind we have a little fun before we start the sports segment. Not that you and I ever don't have fun --
HARRIS: Right, right, right. A little extra fun for Friday.
PHILLIPS: So three -- you know I don't know when your kids were doing when they were three.
HARRIS: They weren't doing this.
PHILLIPS: Well, check out 3-year-old Jonathan.
HARRIS: Right, right.
This guy -- my kids at three were sitting in front of the television watching Barney. This guy is taking on the First -- this isn't even the First Movement. Let me take out --
PHILLIPS: This is the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth.
HARRIS: Right, of Beethoven's Fifth. Right, right. You would think at three, he's going to take on the first movement. No. This kid, yes, he is taking on the really hard stuff.
PHILLIPS: Now he's on cue.
HARRIS: Yes, he is.
PHILLIPS: Watch -- watch this. Look at this.
HARRIS: Yes. But here's the thing.
PHILLIPS: He goes soft and then he gets, boom. He goes soft, and he's in.
HARRIS: Here's the thing. He's still three, right. There are few 3-year-old moments here. For example at some point in the movement, the house hold allergies start to kick in and he's all about his nose, all about his nostrils and the treasures within. Ok.
PHILLIPS: I don't know. I think Jonathan is moving on to great things.
HARRIS: Look.
PHILLIPS: You go Jonathan. Oh, there you go, he did wipe his nose. There he goes.
HARRIS: It's all about the nostrils here. Mom, the allergies, the dust mites too much for me, right?
PHILLIPS: Dust mites, explosion, Falcons/Ravens.
HARRIS: All of that last night. I go to bed a little early, I'm thinking the Falcons are going to take this one on the chin, right. And then we get this amazing comeback.
So here's how it begins. You get this play from Joe Flacco that puts the Ravens on top, and then you get this, closing seconds of the game, Roddy White, the hometown team wins on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Matt "The Miracle Brian" to the guy who a lot of people are saying might be the front-runner, nine games into the season for MVP. And that's Roddy White, who, for most of the week was hurt and we weren't sure he was going to be able to play and here he is with a game-winning touchdown.
PHILLIPS: Is the Miami Heat going to be able to play?
HARRIS: Now, you want to talk about a team at the top of its game right now and the Falcons is a team that is right there on that Mendoza line. Talk about mediocre.
Oh, I'm sorry. There is one other for another team -- the super team, Miami could be more mediocre if they lose another game and go to 500 5-5; they're 5-4 right now.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: You've got a lot of smack.
HARRIS: Well, Look at this play here. Emblematic of just how bad the Heat can be at times. Rajon Rondo of the Celtics goes right down the lane, slam dunk, there is not a Heat defender in site, and the one who is close doesn't want any part of it.
PHILLIPS: He's like adios. I'm not going up against these guys.
HARRIS: This was supposed to be the revenge gape, first game of the season the Heat goes into Boston and they lose that game. This was the revenge game and they lost this game, too -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: And the Celtics talked some serious trash. What was up with Paul Pierce?
HARRIS: Well, here's the thing. Paul Pierce --
PHILLIPS: What happens when you trash tweets?
HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes, yes. You remember at the time of the announcement, the big television special for Lebron announcing his decision to go, I'm going to take my talents to South Beach, right?
So at the end of this game, here is Paul Pierce. He sends this tweet out to everyone, "It's been a pleasure to bring my talents to South Beach. Hello! Good night! Exclamation point." There you go. Which one?
PHILLIPS: Here I'll take it.
HARRIS: Bang. There you go.
PHILLIPS: Nice shot. Happy Friday.
HARRIS: You are good with this.
PHILLIPS: All right.
HARRIS: You rock star, you.
PHILLIPS: Tony Harris --
HARRIS: Yes, have a good one.
PHILLIPS: Appreciate it.
HARRIS: I have to get back to --
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: We're going to cue the music. Give you a little out there.
HARRIS: I'm behind on my show prep.
PHILLIPS: Let me see a little something.
HARRIS: No, no, no.
PHILLIPS: Come on. Take your talents. Take your talents back.
HARRIS: I'll take them down to South Beach, all right. It is a weekend after all.
