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Pirates Release British Couple; Suu Kyi Seeks Talk with Junta; Lawmakers Prep for Hectic Session; Russell Simmons' New Venture; Suspended Over Facebook Photo; Sarah Palin's Next Move; Snowed In!; High-Tech Way to Keep Fit; Axelrod Avoids Talk of Tax Break Compromise; Shuler Calls Pelosi an "Unacceptable" Choice; DeMint Suggests It's Time to Replace Steele; Shock Therapy for Smokers

Aired November 14, 2010 - 14:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: This hour Sarah Palin's next move. Her new reality show premieres tonight, and that has a lot of people asking if she's gearing up for a White House run.

And at 4:00 Eastern, a family does what most of us only dream about. They cash in their investments, rent their house out, and then packed the kids and their bags off to see the world.

And then, at 5:00 Eastern time, a comic's take on the week's news from the man called the New Mr. Las Vegas.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We start with this breaking story out of Mexico. Right now, there's been an explosion at a popular tourist hotel called the Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. A security official there says that at least seven people were killed in the blast.

Then - this information coming in to CNN. Playa del Carmen is just south of Cancun. We'll bring you the latest on this breaking story as we get them.

And we're also following another developing story. A British couple has arrived safely in Kenya more than a year after being taken hostage by Somali pirates. The pirates released Paul and Rachel Chandler earlier today. We're getting this new video of the couple right now.

CNN's David McKenzie is at the airport in Nairobi. So, David, why were they released?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, finally, Fredricka, it come - came down to one thing. That was money. Around $750,000, according to local elders in Somalia, was paid for Paul and Rachel Chandler to be released after 388 days in captivity, by far the longest anyone in recent memory has been held by Somali pirates.

They were taken from their yacht over a year ago. They were kept in Somalia at gunpoint, sometimes they were beaten, they were separated, and now, finally, it's coming to a good end for the families and for the people in England watching this very closely and, obviously, around the world. Paul and Rachel Chandler here in Nairobi. They are safe. They, a few moments ago, came out of the high commissioner's residence in Nairobi, briefly came in front of the press, waved, smiled, arm in arm, and then went back inside. They will be back in England soon to be reunited with their families - Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, David, 388 days being held against their will. That's an extraordinary amount of time. What kind of condition do they seem to be in?

MCKENZIE: Well, very difficult conditions at times. They were taken onto the coast of Somalia. They were transported from one place to another.

You know, at first, when they spoke of a satellite phone or had videos sent in of them in captivity, they seemed in pretty good spirits. But, as the days and months dragged on, they certainly lost a lot of weight. They were very upset, feeling abandoned by their government, even.

But, you know, the British government has always said they could not pay any ransom, that it would just mean more people would get kidnapped. But, at this point, certainly a ransom has been paid, and it seems like the Somali community, particularly in England, had a lot to do with coming up with the money to help release the Chandlers and get them in - out of harm's way.

But, certainly, it was a very difficult time, such a long time to be held under captivity.

WHITFIELD: I'm sure they're feeling very lucky upon their release now.

Thanks so much, David McKenzie, in Nairobi. Appreciate that.

All right. One day after she was freed from house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi hopes to meet with Myanmar's rulers. Supporters mobbed the democracy advocate and Nobel Prize Laureate at the headquarters of her political party today. She told them that she's anxious to talk with her former captors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AUNG SAN SUU KYI, FREED DEMOCRACY ADVOCATE: They have treated me well on a personal basis. They have not acted in accordance with the rule of law, and that I shall always fight against, because I don't think that any country can survive as a prosperous and dignified nation unless there is rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Suu Kyi spent 15 of the past 20 years under house arrest in Myanmar, which is also known also as Burma. A government backed newspaper says she was pardoned for good behavior.

Meantime, President Barack Obama is headed back home after wrapping up a four nation tour of Asia. He is scheduled to arrive in Washington later on this afternoon.

The last stop of his trip was the APEC Economic Summit in Japan. At the closing session today, the president and 20 other world leaders pledged to work towards creating a free trade area in the Asia-Pacific region. The group also addressed climate change, saying it requires a joint international response.

Lawmakers reconvene on Capitol Hill tomorrow for a lame duck session that will include making a decision on the Bush era tax cuts. They're set to expire at the end the year, the tax cuts.

CNN's Kate Bolduan joins us now, live from Washington. So, Kate, how much is likely to get done before the new session of Congress is sworn in come January?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is a very big question. There's a lot on their plate right now. Congress returns, as you mentioned, for a lame duck session with some serious and tough business before them.

Probably the biggest and most heated issue is what to do about the Bush era tax cuts, which, as you mentioned, are set to expire in January. President Obama and Congressional Democrats want to make the tax cuts permanent for the middle and lower class but want to let cuts expire for individuals making more than $200,000 a year, and families make being more than $250,000 a year.

Today on NBC's "Meet the Press", President Obama's top adviser said the White House is sticking to its position, but he seemed to leave a little wiggle room.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: I'm telling you what the president's position is. We need to move forward on the middle class tax cuts. We cannot afford a permanent extension of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which would cost a $700 billion that we don't have over the next 10 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. But I know the - I know the arguments -

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: So note that David Axelrod there said that we cannot afford a permanent extension. President Obama has recently said that could be - he's open to compromise on the issue, and suggesting that maybe a temporary extension of the tax cuts for wealthier individuals would be OK.

You can be sure this is going to be a big fight. Why? Because many Republicans want all of the tax cuts made permanent, and emboldened by big wins in the midterm elections, they seem ready for a fight. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I think they should be extended until we're out of this recession. At such time, then we could look at - at other tax hikes.

But we're in a serious recession. I cannot believe that raising taxes is a good thing on anybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Will there be compromise? Will they stick to their positions? And we'll just watch because the next few weeks would be tough. We will find out and we're likely to get a better read of the priorities and, really, the tone for the lame duck session come this Thursday, when Congressional leaders on both sides plan to meet with President Obama at the White House - Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. Kate Bolduan. We'll see you again in the 4:00 Eastern hour. We're going to talk about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and if that is something Congress is likely to tackle in the near future. See you in a couple of hours.

BOLDUAN: Of course.

WHITFIELD: All right. Russell Simmons - he gives the public an inside look into his personal and professional life on a new reality television show. In part one of my "Face to Face" interview with the hip hop mogul, I asked about what kind of editorial control he has over the images and language in the show.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: You use the B-word. Your daughters, Ming and Aoki, would you want them to watch that? Do you want them referring to themselves as Bs or hearing dad refer to other women as Bs?

RUSSELL SIMMONS, CO-FOUNDER, DEF JAM RECORDINGS: I think that the show is a - is a real life example of 7th Avenue.

I'm comfortable with the different kinds of characters. I'm more concerned with the 10 billion suffering farm animals than I am language. I'm more concerned with the lack of interest in gay rights.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. The name Russell Cinnamon - Simmons is synonymous with music, fashion and overall enterprise. After co- founding Def Jam Recordings in the 1980s, the hip hop pioneer branched out in a big way. He launched clothing lines, a communications company, charities and now he's the focus of the newly-launched reality TV show called "Running Russell Simmons".

I talked with Simmons face to face about his new show and why he says it's important to keep his brand relevant.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Great to see you.

SIMMONS: Nice to see you.

WHITFIELD: You got a lot going on, as you always do.

SIMMONS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: So, this latest venture, "Running Russell Simmons."

SIMMONS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: I know you've been involved in reality TV before, with your brother, with your ex-wife, Kimora. What made you say, you know what? I'm ready to try this myself.

SIMMONS: You know, it's a fun process, and, you know, it's a - it's a good branding exercise in so many ways. And if you have things that you think are inspiring or that you want to share, what better way than to actually let them see it in the making, you know? And to be involved in so many philosophic and social, semi-political kind of activities, all of which I think are helpful to the communities and to people, and - and to me, right?

So it's like I have five charities that I run, and - and they all need exposure.

WHITFIELD: Do you think people will get that message? Because there are a lot of other - there are a lot of distractions from that message or those messages in -

SIMMONS: Well, you know, you can't - you don't want to hit them on the head. I'm a yogi, not a priest. I mean, I want to do things that are not harmful, and I don't - and I'm not quite so religious. So you may be referring to the fact that I operate out of 7th Avenue, and there's a lot of fun stuff going on, you know? Not hurtful stuff.

WHITFIELD: I'm actually referring to - I mean, there - there were a lot of theatrics involving the - the interns, you know? And there are images of women that - because your business, it seems, where you surround yourself -

SIMMONS: I'm on 7th Avenue.

WHITFIELD: -- by a lot of women.

SIMMONS: I'm on 7th Avenue.

WHITFIELD: Well, what does that have to do with it? What do you mean?

SIMMONS: I mean I'm in the fashion business.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

SIMMONS: So you mean -

WHITFIELD: You've got a couple of interns who were profiled very heavily in the show, and you even tease in the next episode. There's a "Basic Instinct" moment that's involving -

SIMMONS: That wasn't a tease. That was a little bit upsetting. But it was - it was kind of funny. It was kind of real life.

WHITFIELD: But decisions are made about, you know, whether to include that kind of material and if that will distract from the message that you're trying to send, especially -

SIMMONS: No. It add to ratings, so that the messages could be sold.

WHITFIELD: And is that a conflict, with the ratings versus the message?

SIMMONS: You have to have a balance. One foot in this world, and one foot in - in the real world, and the real worlds the spiritual one.

I noticed that Kim Kardashian has more Twitter followers than the president. And I sent it -

WHITFIELD: What does that say?

SIMMONS: And I sent it to Africa, to my school, and we raised a lot of money.

But I'm able to pull off quite a few fundraisers because of my celebrity.

WHITFIELD: And I just wonder if you are completely comfortable with all the images of women, particularly, in the show.

SIMMONS: Do you have a boyfriend?

This is the drama of life. I'm more concerned - you know, there's lots of judgment about the language.

WHITFIELD: Well, you use the B-word. Your daughters, Ming and Aoki, would you want them to watch that? Do you want them referring to themselves as Bs or hearing dad refer to other women as Bs?

SIMMONS: I think that the show is a - is a real life example of 7th Avenue.

I'm comfortable with the different kinds of characters. I'm more concerned with the 10 billion suffering farm animals than I am language. I'm more concerned with the lack of interest in gay rights.

WHITFIELD: Do you end up having these discussions with the network and the producers of the show? Does it become a real boiling point?

SIMMONS: It is - it is a boiling point.

WHITFIELD: About what to include, you know, what kind of political statements to make, how much control do you have about the content that ends up in the show?

SIMMONS: There is a - an ongoing battle. That's true.

I want to put a tweet in there. So can we put the tweet in?

WHITFIELD: Happiness comes from relieving the suffering of others. Do you think, though, when -

SIMMONS: (INAUDIBLE) we tweeted quite a bit.

WHITFIELD: When people are watching, though, and they're seeing that juxtaposition of that phrase up against the tease for the next show with the young girls that we're talking about, the "Basic Instinct" moment, and everybody remembers the Sharon Stone moment of crossing her legs and --

SIMMONS: Well, to her it was a Britney moment. When she got - when she gets in trouble and her - her mentors bring her into the office, and I'm going to fire her -

WHITFIELD: Are people paying attention to that written message? That's the powerful spiritual message that we are really wanting people to sit up and look at themselves and appreciate the show.

SIMMONS: I like (ph) this discussion.

Let me say this to you. So, I know the pop world - I don't regret being in it. And I don't have any misgivings about what is it. And I don't judge it so heavily. I live in it, and I have my instincts about what I can do with my relationships in there, and I'm - and I'm pleased with my results. I'm pleased, certainly pleased, with the show.

It has a little bit of everything. I think it's a very broad audience we're going after. I don't judge, right? In fact, I think - I liked to go speak at prisons more than I do - like to go speak at - at Harvard. I feel I have a better - I resonate better there. And in fact, you know, sometimes I like those people better.

My service is to - is not to, you know, those people who are sitting in church. You know? They're - they're really not. And - and I believe I'm a servant, and - and I believe that my messages resonate, and I believe you have to plant seeds where ground they - where the ground is fertile.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. "Face to Face" with Russell Simmons continues at 4:00 Eastern time. Yes, there's more. I'll talk with him about his new book, "Super Rich" - there it is - and why his definition of rich actually has very little to do with money.

All right, sharing photos on Facebook. What may seem perfectly innocent to you may not be to others. We'll look at what happened to one high school student this week.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, another painful lesson being learned, right? Another teenager in trouble with something that she put on her Facebook page.

But first, we'll have a look at the top stories.

All right. The U.S. might spend as much as $4 billion more to modernize America's nuclear arsenal. A senior administration official says it's under negotiation. President Obama already has included $80 billion over 10 years for it in his budget, but Republicans say they are not convinced that he's really committed to a strong missile defense system.

And a U.S. proposal to jumpstart the stalled Middle East peace talks may be a tough sell. The proposal calls for Israel to stop building new settlements in the West Bank for 90 days. In exchange, Israel would receive incentives, including guarantees of security.

And the U.S. must reduce its debt to remain an economic power. That's what members of the Deficit Commission are saying. They want to cut the debt from $13 trillion to $9 trillion by 2020.

On ABC's "This Week" Senator Kent Conrad says that's going to involve a bit of, quote, "shock therapy," and that could mean cutting social security and Medicare and increasing taxes.

OK, now that terrible lesson to be learned. How many times have you heard it? Be careful about what you post online. An Ohio teenager has been suspended from her cheerleading squad because of a photo posted on Facebook.

CNN student news anchor Carl Azuz has been looking into this. And, gosh, this is getting to be like a broken record, isn't it?

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) stories.

WHITFIELD: Be careful about what you put on your social networking site and it could come bite to - come back to bite you.

AZUZ: It absolutely could, and it certainly did in this case of an Ohio teenager.

I want to start off by showing you the picture that caused the uproar. Here it comes, right here. You have - Bree Vargo is a teenager. She's on the right hand side of your screen, appearing to drink out of a beer at a wedding.

Now, she and her mom say that her arm was actually crossed with the girl next to her. You can't see that in the photo, but they say their arms were sort of intertwined, and that she was appearing to drink out of the beer. She wasn't actually doing it.

However, this photo was posted on Facebook. Somebody sent it to school administration officials. Because she's on the cheerleading squad, they suspended her from the last two games of the season, and this is how Bree Vargo reacted to it. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BREE VARGO, SUSPENDED CHEERLEADER: That's not mine. I didn't drink there. I - my parents there were. It was at my sister's wedding.

They said it's in your possession. I said that's - that's the girl next to me, and said, well, you're still - like, you're suspended.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: OK. Now, that was her side of the story.

Administration officials had a different one. They said that the principal, the dean, the athletic director all interviewed Bree Vargo shortly after this happened, and they said that she admitted at some point during this wedding to have had a beer in her hand, and that, according to the superintendent, was enough for the cheerleading squad suspension. Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL YOCUM, CARDINAL LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: We have a - a guideline in our athletic policy which says either the possession of or the use of drugs, alcohol and so on, and if you're found to be in possession or using that, you're suspended for - it's either three games or two weeks, whichever is less.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AZUZ: It wound up being two games, and they were the last two games of the football season.

WHITFIELD: OK. So now what are other students saying about this? Because, I'm sure, a lot - for the - for starters will say I post pictures all the time about, you know, fun being had and don't think about the repercussions.

AZUZ: There are three main schools of thought we've seen, and certainly two of them are in line with that.

The first one I have for you is from a student named Kara. She says she's a cheerleader, and she actually sides with the school on this. Kara's saying that cheerleaders are respected. They need to fulfill their duties and doing the right thing, setting a good example, and that might mean not posting certain things on the Internet.

Now, on the other side of that is Brooke. She brings up privacy. And Brooke is saying there's no way. School administration should focus on things that could get kids in trouble like drugs, gangs, that sort of thing, not pictures taken and put online.

There's a third school of thought we saw it at CNN.studentnews.com, though, and that said - students are telling us you do not expect privacy with anything you put on Facebook. If you wouldn't show it to your grandma, you don't need to be putting it online. WHITFIELD: The students are saying that?

AZUZ: Students are saying that, and quite a few of them.

WHITFIELD: I guess that message is sinking because we're - we've been hearing that a lot from attorneys -

AZUZ: Oh, yes.

WHITFIELD: -- when we talk about the responsibilities and how far does it go? That's the mantra from a lot of attorneys. So, apparently, it's sinking with a lot of kids who are now trying to spread that word, that -

AZUZ: Right. Some of them are getting it, and some are still saying I still expect the privacy. But, they're definitely divided and they're definitely hearing different things.

WHITFIELD: All right. Carl Azuz, thanks so much. Always great to hear what our young people are thinking and what kind of lessons are learned from these real life experiences.

AZUZ: It's my pleasure.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.

AZUZ: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: OK, love her or not, Sarah Palin is proving to be a political powerhouse. That's what makes her next move so interesting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: OK, so this past week, it was almost impossible to turn on the television or pick up a newspaper and not see - you see right there? That woman right there. That's woman right there - Sarah Palin. She's everywhere. She has a new book coming out, and now this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER GOVERNOR OF ALASKA: OK.

"BRIAN": This is the most dangerous move we've done so far.

PALIN: Yes, it is. Oh, God help me. Here I go. Here I go, Brian.

"BRIAN": OK. I'm ready for you.

PALIN: I'm scared.

"BRIAN": Excellent.

PALIN: OK. That's scarier than I thought. Holy geez.

It wasn't until we got closer and closer to (INAUDIBLE) Rock that it started occurring to me how potentially dangerous this all was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK. So that's a clip from Palin's new reality TV show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska," debuting tonight on The Learning Channel or TLC. And - and there are plenty of pundits calling this Palin's next step toward running for president.

Let's bring in James Hohmann of Politico.com. He's written extensively about Palin. All right. Good to see you.

JAMES HOHMANN, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, POLITICO.COM: Good to see you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So, with the launch of this new show tonight, your interpretation it. Is it kind of more Alaska travelogue or is this Palin on a platform?

HOHMANN: This is Palin on a platform. She's trying to be likeable. She's trying to project herself and put her best foot forward.

But more over what we really see with the TLC documentary and with the book, which comes out right before Thanksgiving is Palin is trying to capitalize on her celebrity.

She's trying to profit off of it before she runs for president and isn't going to be able to make all that money herself. She comes from a family of modest means and with both the TV show and the book she's able to make quite a lot of money.

WHITFIELD: So how much of this have you seen?

HOHMANN: The TLC show?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HOHMANN: We've seen some of the early excerpts that they released in early previews.

WHITFIELD: OK.

HOHMANN: The idea is that it is more like a travelogue. It's a little bit of family stuff, just enough of the dynamic between her and her husband Todd and her family to make it really interesting.

And then a lot of time with them out in an RV traveling around Alaska showing off the state that Palin was governor for half a term of.

WHITFIELD: Does she talk much about politics or policy or social political economic issues?

HOHMANN: No, she really doesn't in both the book and the TLC program. She's talking more about Americana or Alaska generally. She's not talking about her political ambitions. She's not talking about 2012.

She's not out here to make news. She's trying to put the best foot forward to really show herself in a positive light to people who see her as an incredibly polarizing and divisive force.

WHITFIELD: So you do see this as a way or an avenue that she is taking to say I want you to like me and that coinciding with this recent Gallup poll, which says - says that among those who were polled her unfavorable rating seems to have risen to now to 52 percent just in the last couple of years that she became on the national scene.

HOHMANN: Absolutely. Palin is incredibly polarizing force. People either love her or they hate her and this really ultimately is a play to her base. She's trying to -- conservatives are the people who are going to watch this TLC show.

Liberals aren't going to watch it even she's not talking about politics. The idea is to fire up her own base, but also to try and soften some of the edges of the mama grizzly we saw on the campaign trail during the midterm elections when she had some pretty nasty things to say about President Obama.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and that grizzly thing happens to find its way into one of the first episodes as well. That grizzly kind of metaphor seems to find its way into this first episode I understand as well with them actually seeing a real grizzly or at least a real bear while they are fishing.

OK, now, let's talk about the book. You alluded to it "America by Heart, Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag." Now the launch of her book also coinciding with her cross country book tour and she just happens to be hitting some pretty pivotal potential presidential primary states like South Carolina and even Iowa, you're seeing the list right there.

HOHMANN: Not one but two stops in Iowa.

WHITFIELD: Yes, coincidence or certainly strategy, political strategy in your view?

HOHMANN: Political strategy, absolutely. Palin has been traveling to Iowa. She was one of the early people to endorse the Republican who was just elected governor in Iowa.

If she's going to run, Iowa is going to be the key state for her. It's the pivotal place where she'll be able to appeal to the social conservatives who like her and she's also making stops in some of the heartland states where her biggest conservative fans live.

This book is coming out almost a year to the day after "Going Rogue," her 2009 bestseller and it's really targeted at the people who love Sarah Palin.

It's going to keep her name out there. It's going to sell a lot of copies. It might be a number one bestseller again and she's going to be hawking it in places where she's going to need votes and support in just under a year if she decides to run for president.

WHITFIELD: All right. James Hohmann, thanks so much from Politico.com. Good to see you. Appreciate it. HOHMANN: Good to see you. Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right, Sarah Palin's Alaska tonight on TLC.

OK. Speaking of Alaska, you usually think snow. How about this? Picture of snow. That's not Alaska. It's Minnesota right there where they are already getting in a big way. Jacqui Jeras here now. You called it Minnesota yesterday. Like a foot of snow?

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, look at some of these numbers. It's been pretty incredible. A foot in Maple Grove that's a suburb of the twin cities, Duluth, Minnesota up there in the air had 10 inches as well as Mankato.

Lots of power outages in many of these areas and Shakopee 8 inches and 7.9 was the official total for Minneapolis International Airport and that was the record for the day.

Now take a look. You know, temperatures have been cold enough here that the snow is going to be sticking on the ground just a little bit and our I-Reporters have been taking lots of pictures.

This one from Eric Canott (ph) and go ahead and zoom on that. Such a pretty picture here. He lives in Woodbury, Minnesota. That's not Eric's I-Report. That's a different one, but I do appreciate you sending that one in as well. How about that?

The snow is winding down now so that's some good news and just some light snow showers can be expected here, really not much more than flurries in the twin cities. You might pick up a half inch or so along I-94 across parts of Wisconsin, but very little additional accumulating snow.

Now I want to talk about this weather system because even though the main low is going to be moving up into parts of Canada, we've got a trailing cold front associated with this and this front is producing a couple of showers today and some isolated thundershowers.

But what's going to happen on the tail end of this front down here in Louisiana is an area of low pressure is going to develop and this is going to be the storm system to watch as we head into the early part of next week.

This is going to bring some heavy rainfall across the southeast, a lot of this picking up in intensity late in the day Monday and continuing through Tuesday. Temperatures not too bad on the south side of the front, but getting cooler up on the north. We think we'll stay dry across the northeast for tomorrow, but you do have a chance of a few sprinkles especially late in the day.

We'll be watching for some of that heavy rainfall really needed in the southeast by the way. We've been dealing with drought conditions.

Last but not least, we've got the tropics. Yes, it's, you know, still hurricane season until the end of the month. Medium chance of some development here into western Caribbean. All models heading it towards Central America so nothing to worry about for the U.S. But we've had 19 named storms yet so yes --

WHITFIELD: All have gotten through the whole thing?

JERAS: Almost, we got two names left and if this one does get a name, it will be Virginie.

WHITFIELD: Virginie.

JERAS: Virginie with the "e" there.

WHITFIELD: OK, that's kind of cute Virginie. You almost want one to happen and let it be just to use the name Virginie.

JERAS: It's kind of sweet. Makes you think of grandma or something, Virginie. I digress.

WHITFIELD: Anyway, we'll talk a little bit more, you know, talk about all the snow, feeling very wintry. So when it is snowy and blustery outside, it means you have to be inside, but you still want to workout, right? Well, some hi-tech ways to keep fit over the holidays after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Coming up, gifts that can keep your weight down during and after the holiday season, but first a check of the top stories.

Kidnapped by Somalia pirates a year ago from their yacht, now the British couple was free and on dry land in Kenya. Paul and Rachel Chandler's captors released them earlier today. Local elders in Somalia say a $750,000 ransom secured their release.

And Arizona voters have approved a ballot measure legalizing medical marijuana. The proposition passed a racer slim margin. Supporters praise the vote saying patients with cancer, AIDS and other illnesses can now get some medical relief. Similar measures have passed in 14 other states and the District of Columbia.

An auction of Bernie Madoff's personal belongings have brought in more than $2 million, much more than expected. The big ticket items included a 10.5 karat diamond ring, a piano, and velveteen slippers with his initials on them. All the money will go into a fund for Madoff victims. The disgraced financier was sentenced to 150 years in prison for defrauding investors out of billions of dollars.

All right, big holiday meals and all those Christmas parties they can wreak havoc on your waist line, but there is a way to have some fun over the holidays and keep fit. Here's with the skinny on video fitness games, syndicated technology columnist, Marc Saltzman.

He's got his flash dance headband on. You got your weights ready to go. He's a maniac. All right, tell us. How do we get started?

MARC SALTZMAN, SYNDICATED TECHNOLOGY WRITER: All right. Well, I'll spare you the flash dance where I pull the cord and the water comes on me.

But, yes, we're going to talk about three video games, believe it or not that are part of this exergaming trend that what it's called exergaming. We'll start off with your Shape Fitness Evolved. This is from Ubisoft.

This is a -- I call at it game, but it's really an interactive fitness stimulator. It uses that connect peripheral for Xbox 360. It's a device that you plug in and it projects you in the game and it lets you use your body movements to control it.

So with your Shape Fitness Evolved you've got a virtual trainer teaching you what to do. You're doing yoga. You're doing martial arts. You're doing cardio and all these fitness routines are monitored in real-time. You don't need hold anything at all.

You can hold, of course, hold free weights like I am here to really bump up your work out, but you don't need to. You're actually exercising in front of the TV and seeing the results in real-time. It's pretty amazing.

WHITFIELD: That is fun stuff. All right, the Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout. What does this entail?

SALTZMAN: So this is the second game in the Biggest Loser video game series. In fact, there's two of them. There's one for Xbox 360 called Ultimate Workout that uses this connect peripheral, which is optional for the console and there's a Wii version called the Biggest Loser Challenge.

And both are also the same idea where you are in the game. You're exercising and you're getting real-time feedback on your performance. You can set your goals, whether it's to lose weight or get fit or increase your heart rate and plus because it's licensed, it's the Biggest Loser, it's got Julian Michaels and it's got Bob Harper.

And there are challenges involved. There's also a weigh in, you can manually type in your weight or if you're using the Wii version, you step on that Wii balance board, which looks like a white bathroom scale. There are even recipes in the game so it's all part of a healthier lifestyle.

WHITFIELD: OK, and then the EA Sports Active 2.0. What is that all about?

SALTZMAN: Yes, so there's a sequel to last year's hit fitness game and once again, it's for all three consoles. It's for the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3.

Now, the Xbox 360 version, it will work with this connect camera again so you don't need the leg strap. But the other two versions come with a heart monitor, a wireless heart monitor that you wear during the game. It's what they call a three-point system.

Again, all your heart rate, you're seeing it on screen, you set your goals, you got virtual trainers, making sure that you're doing your exercises. If you fall out of sync you're told in real-time.

It's like having a personal trainer beside you through the TV. The Wii version also works with that Wii balance board once again. There are mini-games such as cycling up the hill. You jog on the spot.

And it's - also there's an online component where you can set challenges and, you know, keep -- set your own fitness goals and if you like share them with friends.

WHITFIELD: That's very comprehensive. So what's the price on something like that because it's already sounding maybe a bit cheaper than your annual gym membership or hiring a personal trainer?

SALTZMAN: Well, it is, but you do need the video game consoles to begin with. So the first game, the Your Shape Fitness Evolved is $50. If you want to use it with the connect peripheral, this is 150 that comes with the game as well. I think we talked about this on a prior Tech Time segment.

The second game we talked about the Biggest Losers Ultimate Workout is also $50 and it works with connect. And the EA Sports Active 2.0 is $99, but that also includes some hardware. The heart rate monitor and for the PlayStation 3 and Wii versions, the leg strap that's wireless as well. So it's $100 for that bundle.

WHITFIELD: OK, so now we're trying to do the math here. It's up to about $450 roughly. All right, very interesting stuff. Yes, you keep working out there.

SALTZMAN: I'm trying.

WHITFIELD: I'm very impressed. You are in the spirit. I like it. Before the holiday season, Marc, before we've had, you know, a chance to go to all those holiday parties. You're ahead of the game.

SALTZMAN: If you want to indulge, if you wash down the turkey with eggnog, just have some fun in front of your favorite video game console.

WHITFIELD: Work it off before it comes in. All right, Mark Saltzman. Thanks so much. Good to see you via Skype as always from Toronto. Appreciate that. Keeping us fit.

All right, talking about Thanksgiving. Before you sit down and enjoy family and friends and the turkey, of course, you can do a little early Christmas shopping already in Wal-Mart or even in Sears. Let's just call it a holiday shopping overall.

Sears announced it will be open on Thanksgiving from 7:00 a.m. until noon on Thanksgiving. Wal-Mart will be open most of the day, but check ahead because some communities have laws against stores actually being open on certain holidays.

All right, taking aim at Nancy Pelosi, Republicans used attacks on the speaker to win control of the House. Now, one of her own is calling her quote, "unacceptable." Your CNN Political update next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, time for CNN Equals Politics update. Here's what's crossing the CNN Political Ticker right now.

White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod says a temporary extension of tax cuts for the wealthy may be necessary for the White House to reach their goal of extending tax cuts for the middle class. But he made no mention ever earlier comments hinting at a possible compromise deal on the issue with Republicans.

And one Democrat is vocally breaking ranks with House leadership. North Carolina Congressman Heath Shuler says Nancy Pelosi would be unacceptable in his view as minority leader in the new Congress. He says he also knows that he doesn't have the support to unseat her.

Michael Steele's days may be numbered as the RNC chairman if South Carolina's Jim DeMint has his way. He says new leadership is needed to capitalize on the success of Tea Party candidates.

The 9/11 attacks, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mortgage meltdown and the Wall Street bailout, they all happened when George W. Bush was president.

CNN chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, took an interview with the former president today. It airs tonight on a special edition of CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION."

Candy joining us right now from Coral Gables, Florida after spending time with the president and with his son, right, Jeb Bush?

CANDY CROWLEY, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: With his brother Jeb and the former governor of Florida who still lives down here.

WHITFIELD: Yes, his brother. I'm sorry.

CROWLEY: The former president who is down here pushing his book. Yes.

WHITFIELD: OK, what are the highlights? What was the president willing to reveal to you that perhaps isn't in his book or at least expound on that is in his book?

CROWLEY: Well, you know, one of the things I found the most interesting was a moment when I asked him -- he talks very movingly about some of the families of those soldiers who had been killed in either Iraq or Afghanistan and the encouragement that they gave the president even in awful times when they lost a loved one.

So I asked him the reverse, what about having people loved ones in their grief also going after you. He said yes. He told a story about that. Also it was interesting to watch the dynamic between the two Bush brothers. It's a big family. These are the two political Bush brothers.

Everyone is always talking about should Jeb run for president. Should he run for Senate and among those urging him to do it is the former president. But as of this moment, I can tell you that Jeb Bush says he's got no interest in that.

That he needs to make some money and that's what he's doing right now, but he didn't rule out politics forever, just for right now.

WHITFIELD: You know, it's interesting because both seem to be a little uncomfortable with the term, the political dynasty of the Bush family.

But I wonder if that's something that just publicly they are not comfortable with, but the reality is they do see that they are part of a special breed so to speak this presidency, this White House being in power.

CROWLEY: Right. I mean, listen, they are a privileged family. I think if you look at the average American family certainly the Bushes are not. However, die ask them in between, you have some time to chat with them.

I said do you all talk politics around the family table. You've got a father who was president. a son who was president another son who was governor, in fact both sons were governors.

No not really. We talk sports. We talk - because, you know, there's this whole other part of the family. They certainly hate the word Bush dynasty. Father Bush has started out in many interviews years ago saying I know I hate that term, I hate the term dynasty.

And remember that Barbara Bush, the mother said recently when someone said your son, Jeb will run for president she said I think the country is Bushed out. So I asked them about that as well and certainly for a while they are heeding their mother.

WHITFIELD: OK. All right, so tonight we look forward to that one on one interview with former President George W. Bush and also a cameo or two of Jeb Bush as welling tonight on a special edition of "STATE OF THE UNION," 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific. Thanks so much, Candy, for giving us preview of that. Looking forward to it.

CROWLEY: Thanks, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, shock therapy for smokers now. If pictures of dead or diseased bodies don't get smokes to quit then what will? At least that's the idea of this campaign being led by the FDA.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Pictures of corpses, diseased lungs, they could soon show up on cigarette pack as part of a new push by the FDA to get smokers to kick the habit. CNN's Susan Candiotti is following the story and we warn you it contains images that you might find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are graphic. They are meant to be blunt and the FDA wants them to make smokers think twice about lighting up.

DR. JOHN SEFFRIN, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: This is truly a historic event.

CANDIOTTI: Historic because cigarette warning labels haven't changed in 25 years. The proposed labels will be hard to miss.

SEFFRIN: These are pretty difficult not to pay attention to because it has to cover 50 percent of the front and back of the package of cigarettes.

CANDIOTTI: The warnings are required by law to show up on cartons by 2012. Yet, another tool including public service announcements meant to get smokers to kick the habit. More than 30 countries already use far more explicit images. This one from Australia. Another from Thailand.

SEFFRIN: They are not meant to offend anybody or to scare anybody off. It's meant to inform.

CANDIOTTI: We showed the proposed labels to young people who belong to an Asian-American group promoting good health.

(on camera): How powerful a message do you think this is, showing someone with a tracheotomy?

DANA RIBAUDO, STUDENT: I think it's powerful, but we're constantly being bombarded with images all day that over time we just become numb to them.

WILL LIAO, STUDENT: I don't think it's really effective either because looking at the picture. You're going to see how he did perform this kind of surgery and yet, he is still smoking.

CANDIOTTI: Do you think a woman who is addicted to smoking looking at this will think maybe I shouldn't do that?

RIBAUDO: No. They would continue doing it.

CANDIOTTI: Why?

RIBAUDO: Smoking is addictive. They can't stop.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): The FDA is taking public comments until January. Tobacco company, Philip Morris, says it plans to weigh in, but R.J. Reynolds is already suing of being forced to show labels like these. Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, if you would like to leave a comment for the FDA on this, logon to regulations.gov and type cigarette warning in the search box and follow the prompts. You have until Tuesday, January 11 so it is being encouraged by the FDA.

All right, here's a look at what's ahead at 4:00 Eastern Time in the CNN NEWSROOM. For anyone who has ever texted or tweeted under the influence and lived to regret it, there's a new social media sobriety test.

It locks you out of your devices if you are tipsy like your vehicle. No joke. 5:00 Eastern time, we'll have a few jokes from the comedian known as the new Mr. Vegas, George Wallace. He is here in the house. So he'll be giving us his take on the week's news.

I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "YOUR MONEY" starts right now.