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Airport Security Concern; Obama Calls NATO Summit a Success; New Book Drops Bombshell on the Pope; Sound Advice to Avoid Sickness this Season; Planning Ahead and Following the Rules Will Prevent Security Nightmares at the Airport

Aired November 20, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: The President of the United States calls the NATO summit in Lisbon a success with a new agreement settled on security in Afghanistan.

And a bombshell dropped in a new book on the Pope. Could the pontiff really be indicating a change of view on condom use?

And sound advice on how to avoid the sickies around you this holiday season. Stay well. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM where the news unfolds live this Saturday, November 20th. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Security procedures at the nation's airports are tighter than ever these days. Nearly 70 airports have those full-body scanners that you may have heard about. While security pat downs are being criticized as too invasive. Still, at least one public opinion shows most Americans don't mind the new added security measures.

CNN's Kate Bolduan joins us now from Washington's Reagan National Airport. Reagan is one of those airports with the full body scanner. So Kate, let's go through this. If you clear a metal detector, you're simply clear to fly?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's one scenario. As you come to the airport and you go through security, there are several scenarios. That is one scenario. You can clear the metal detector and off you go, just like as we say at this point, the old days.

But today with the new security procedures, there are the additional technologies that have raised a lot of eyebrows and a lot of criticism which are the full body scanners and these enhanced pat downs that were put into place on November 1st, specifically talking about the enhanced pat downs. Not everyone will be subjected to these pat downs.

Some people are calling them more groping than pat down. But you will be subjected to these pat downs if you opt out of the full body scanner, if you just refuse to go for whatever reason that you have. Or if you go through a metal detector or the full body scanner and an alarm goes off, really indicating that a secondary screening or additional screening is needed. Also, there are -- you can be randomly selected for these enhanced pat downs. So those are kind of the scenarios that would put someone in the position of being subjected to these enhanced pat downs. TSA says that's actually a very small percentage of the flying public on a daily basis, but two million people fly and TSA says that is actually a very small percentage of the people that are subjected to those pat downs.

But Fredricka, President Obama even himself was talking about the new TSA security measures today from Portugal. He was asked about it at a press conference in Portugal, and the president himself said that he understands the frustration of the flying public, but also said that it's a very tough situation, those are his words, for both TSA and the passengers. Listen here to a little bit from President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: At this point, TSA, in consultation with our counter terrorism experts, have indicated to me that the procedures that they've been putting in place are the only ones right now that they consider to be effective against the kind of threat that we saw in the Christmas day bomber. But I'm going to - you know, every week I meet with my counter terrorism team, and I'm constantly asking them whether is what we're doing absolutely necessary, have we thought it through, are there other ways of accomplishing it that meet the same objectives?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: And for its part, the TSA administrator says these policies are not changing even if, you know, people are criticizing it and there's a bit of public outcry over it. They defend these procedures saying that they're safe and that they're necessary in keeping the flying public safe. And that's, of course, a big issue, Fredricka. You've mentioned it and you were talking about it earlier as we are now heading into that favorite time of year, the busy holiday travel season.

WHITFIELD: Busy travel season. All right. Thanks so much, Kate Bolduan at Reagan National Airport in D.C..

BOLDUAN: Yes.

WHITFIELD: All right. Reacting to concerns and complaints from airline pilot unions. The TSA is making immediate changes to screening rules. Pilots traveling in uniform will now be allowed to bypass normal airport security in most cases by just presenting their I.e. but the TSA does say that there still could be some random screenings required even for them.

So John Pistole, the head of the TSA, will be on "State of the Union" with Candy Crowley, tomorrow morning 9:00 a.m. Eastern time and again, noon, Eastern time, right here on CNN.

The changing mission in Afghanistan took center stage at the NATO summit in Portugal today. NATO is making a long-term commitment to keep troops there, even after U.S. troops withdraw and change roles in 2014. President Obama talked about transition plans in Afghanistan at the Lisbon conference where we also find our Chris Lawrence. Chris?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, what all this means basically is that if you're sitting at home and you're thinking that American troops would be on their way home in the very near future, it doesn't look like that's going to happen.

Remember, earlier this year, all we heard was the year 2011, July 2011. That's when some American troops start to come home. But everything we're hearing from our sources here, sort of behind the scenes is that any troops that would come home next year by July would be more of a symbolic in number, not substantial large numbers of troops and some of the provinces are going to be turned over to the Afghans early on are provinces where there are few troops even there right now.

Basically, what's going to happen is the U.S. has agreed and NATO has agreed to keep a combat presence in Afghanistan through at least 2014. But when we asked a senior U.S. official whether the U.S. had decided that as a drop dead date, he made it clear that the president has not made that decision yet, that the U.S. combat role could very well extend beyond 2014. Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Chris Lawrence in Lisbon, thanks so much for that update on that.

All right. Meantime, a new book is out on the Pope and the Catholic Church. It includes comments the pontiff reportedly made on condom use. Many are wondering if it could present a shift in church policies.

Earlier, I spoke with CNN' senior Vatican analyst John Allen to get some clarity on the Pope's reported remarks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOICE OF JOHN ALLEN, VATICAN ANALYST: In this interview what the Pope said is that in a limited number of case where the purpose of condoms is to prevent disease and in particular, to prevent the transmission of HIV-AIDS, that they could be morally acceptable. Now, it should be said that this is an informal interview with a journalist, not a formal teaching document. So it doesn't make this binding Catholic teaching, but it certainly does suggests the Pope is open to it and that is interesting indeed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. the book where those comments are from is called "The Light of the World: the Pope, the Church and the Sign of the Times." The Catholic Church has long frowned at condom use. It is considered an artificial form of contraception.

All right. Business mogul Russell Simmons has made a lot of money but he has also given plenty back and is committed to making positive social change. Hear how the hip-hop pioneer is hoping to bridge a religious divide, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Russell Simmons' accomplishments are as numerous as they are varied. He co-founded one of the first major hip-hop labels, made millions in the fashion and communications industry, headlines a new reality TV show and has authored several books including "Super Rich" due out this January.

I talked face to face with the business mogul and discovered he's also deeply involved in philanthropy, including several of his own foundations and charities. It's a mission Simmons says he never could have imagined, taking up as a troubled youth.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (on camera): Giving is really at the root of who you are. And I wonder, has it always been there?

RUSSEL SIMMONS, CO-FOUNDER, DEF JAM RECORDINGS: No, I was in a gang. I sold drugs. I was in a gang. I'm very lucky to be here.

WHITFIELD: What was the epiphany? Where you said, you know what -

SIMMONS: I found something I was passionate about, music. And then over a period of time, I evolved some. When I was 30, I became totally sober. I'm 53. So I became sober at 30, and 10, 11 years, I stopped eating animals. 15 years ago I started to practice yoga. I ran my first charity how many year ago, 15 years ago. It was kind of the thing to do. And I started to fall in love with giving and seeing the results of my work in the people's faces. And I found that my resources and the more the celebrity became more and more valuable. I started to help other celebrities use their celebrity and build charities around them and with them and this life work is more fun. You know, that's what I do.

WHITFIELD: Do you feel like there's one big resonating moment in your business interactions? Your business enterprises that you're most proud of, that you feel has really cemented who you are and what your intention is all about?

SIMMONS: I wish I could answer that question properly. I don't really carry a lot of pride, and I don't really have one moment over the next that's so great. I'm lucky enough to enjoy what's in front of me. I have a rabbi hosting a forum on Islamophobia in a Muslim country and I know that's a ground breaking thing and I want to have more dialogue between people instead of less. In this country, as a chairman of a foundation for ethnic understanding, I get research, and this country, for the first time in 10 years, is going the wrong way.

WHITFIELD: What concerns you about the various displays of intolerance in this country and how, in the view of so many, it has become exacerbated?

SIMMONS: Well, in the view of everyone (INAUDIBLE) research is not good. One minute it's OK to start saying things and that you couldn't have said a year ago, racial or Islamic phobic, or anti-Semitic things, you couldn't say only a year ago. And the next minute, you know, anything can happen. We're not so conscious of our actions and we need to be, you know, for me, I want to be one of the people that can ring a bell, say it in such a way that people can digest it and maybe make them think about their actions a little differently.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Earlier this month, Simmons' group, the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, held an interfaith program bringing together members of more than 200 mosques and synagogues in 22 countries for a dialogue on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. For more information on the organization, logon to the www.ffeu.org.

And next week, face-to-face with Salman Rushdie, the highly acclaimed author is out with a new children's book, living a public life again after spending nearly a decade in hiding. It was the result of a fatwa, a death wish, put out on his life for writing the Satanic verses back in 1989.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD (on camera): How does one do that, go into seclusion -

SALMAN RUSHDIE, AUTHOR: Most difficult.

WHITFIELD: Or go into hiding for a period of time and then eventually emerge?

RUSHDIE: Well, it was tough. I wouldn't recommend it. If you can avoid being sentenced to death by a tyrannical leader of a country, you know, avoid it if you can.

WHITFIELD: Did you have a lot of security?

RUSHDIE: There was security, for nine years, nine years. I've talked to a lot of people who had to enter that world of security, including politicians and public figures. The thing that's worse about it is the loss of spontaneity. It's not that you can't do things, it's that you can't do them when you want to do them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Face to Face with Salman Rushdie, next weekend right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

All right. Is it really the beginning of the end? The first of the final two "Harry Potter" fantasy films opened in theaters this weekend. Movie reviews, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. "Harry Potter" sweeps into a theater near you. We have the weekend box office reviews. But first, a look at the top stories.

President Obama is defending controversial new air travel screening procedures. He says the TSA is under enormous pressure to make sure attackers don't slip onto a plane. The TSA is under fire for enhanced screening procedures that include full body scans and pat downs. Some travelers say they're too invasive and demeaning.

President Obama attending a NATO summit in Lisbon, Portugal. He called today's meetings extremely productive. At a news conference, Mr. Obama cited progress in several key areas, including Afghanistan. NATO leaders envisioned a gradual transition of security operations to Afghan forces by 2014. But they also promise a long-term presence in the war-torn country.

And a federal judge in California has given the green light to a class action lawsuit against Toyota. It's the first major civil action suit since Toyota recalled millions of vehicles for sudden acceleration and brake problems. In the suit, Toyota owners say their vehicles lost value as a result of the recall, and subsequent federal investigation.

All right. Let's talk about the movies now. Movie magic and suspense take over the theaters all across the country this weekend. Pete Hammond is with "Box Office" magazine. He joins us now this weekend from Los Angeles. OK. So "Harry Potter" fans are very excited about this, or maybe they're in mourning, because isn't this the - I guess the part one of a two-part finale?

PETE HAMMOND, "BOX OFFICE" MAGAZINE: Yes, exactly.

WHITFIELD: OK. So let's take a quick peek.

HAMMOND: It is part one.

WHITFIELD: It is part one. OK. Good.

We're going to take a quick look at it right now and I'll get your thoughts afterwards.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, this is different.

We're taking that becoming me. No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, nobody (INAUDIBLE). Forever.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone here is of age, Potter.

Fair warning. Tastes like goblin piss.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lots of experience with that, do you? Just trying to diffuse the tension.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: OK, I was about to say this is looking way to normal until that moment. OK, so thoughts? HAMMOND: Well, here's the thing. Part of the problem is, it is part one, and it is really long. It's 2 1/2 hours, and it's only half of the book. Look, anything I say here doesn't matter. The fans are going to go crazy for it. It's already breaking every imaginable record. But it is very, very slow and very, very dark. I'm just looking forward to the more emotional core that will obviously come in part two, because it's completely missing from this one.

WHITFIELD: So you read the books and you kind of know what's coming?

HAMMOND: Yes. You know, the Harry Potter movies are slavishly faithful to her books, and that may be part of the problem, too. I wish they would take a little more liberty with the films here. But you know, it's fun to see these kids grow up and we've watched it for the last 10 years. It's good, but it's not great. It's not my favorite "Harry Potter" by any means. Where's Hogwarts? It's not even in this movie. It's missing some of the magic, I think that we'll see in July when part two comes along.

WHITFIELD: OK. So what's your grade on this one?

HAMMOND: It's a B minus, but anything I say, again, anything I say doesn't matter. Fans are going to love it.

WHITFIELD: They're going to go. They're lining up anyway. The heck with what you say, right?

OK. Let's talk about the "Next Three Days." Some great names in this one. Russell Crowe, Liam Neeson, Elizabeth Banks. Let's take a peek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You'll need a passport, a driver's license and social security number and money. You'll need enough to last at least five, six years. You run out of money, you run out of friends. But before you do anything, you have to ask yourself if you can do it. And if you can't, don't start, because you'll just get someone killed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: All right. Two very intense actors in Liam and Russell. So what is this about, anyway?

HAMMOND: You know, he plays a community college professor whose wife is thrown into a life sentence for murder in prison, and he decides that he can't live without her, so he finds a way to break her out of prison, and it's really a nifty little adult thriller. It's based on a French movie called (INAUDIBLE), and Russell Crowe is great, because it's not Robin Hood, it's not "Gladiator." He's playing this professor who sort of goes over to the dark side, to the criminal life in order to get his wife out. And it's really well cast. He's terrific in it, by the way.

WHITFIELD: And your grade?

HAMMOND: My grade is a B plus. It's for adults. It's counter programming to "Harry Potter." If they don't want to go line up with everybody else with Harry Potter, this is a good bet. You know, if you're an adult looking for something different.

WHITFIELD: I like Russell Crowe. I know he'll never be that "Gladiator" character in this or anything else, because that just put him over the top in my view. But Liam Neeson, Russell Crowe, you kind of want to see that one.

HAMMOND: Yes.

WHITFIELD: And even more so now that you've given it a B plus. So that's good.

HAMMOND: Yes, go out and see it. It's good.

WHITFIELD: Pete Hammond, thanks so much and happy thanksgiving.

HAMMOND: Happy thanksgiving to you, too.

WHITFIELD: Fantastic. Appreciate it. Coming to us from L.A. today.

All right, so "Harry Potter" fans, they are turning out in force this weekend for that new movie. But for people who have no idea what a muggle or "quidditch" for that matter. I know I didn't say that right. Josh Levs, What is that?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Quidditch.

WHITFIELD: Quidditch.

LEVS: When you see this clip -

WHITFIELD: Quidditch.

LEVS: I love having you say quidditch. Let's do this. Take a look at the video and you'll know immediately what it is. It's from "Harry Potter," you read the book or seen the movies is where the kids have this sport, that's incredibly complicated, filled with all these rules, the amazing J.K Rowlings talks about this being an ancient sport. They fly around on their broom sticks. They have to do all these things.

Well, believe it or not, dozens of colleges around the country are now taking that concept and grounding it with their own quidditch teams. Here are some I-reports that we're showing you here of these kinds out there basically playing it.

And this is University of Georgia where I went yesterday where they've taken their own version of Quidditch and they have all these funky rules going on with Frisbees and dodge balls and all these stuff to make quidditch happen there. I spoke with a couple of the founders and I asked them - you'll see what happened. Take a look.

WHITFIELD: It's looking like ultimate Frisbee.

LEVS: Yes, take a look. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEVS (on camera): Talk to me here. Why create a game of quidditch? We all know, you can't fly a broomstick, you can't actually do what's in the movie.

LIZ SHELDON, UGA STUDENT: I mean, like you said, we grew up with "Harry Potter," we're the "Harry Potter" generation. When we came to college, this is like our favorite book and we want to make the sport happen and so, you know, we always liked doing weird things, and making weird sports. So we're like quidditch, we're going to make it happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEVS: They are making it happen. Look at that. In the "Harry Potter" universe, part of the game is catching this thing called a snitch, which is like this golden ball with sort of wings that fly around. So schools have different ways of doing it. And there are some schools, by the way, where kids are using running broom sticks, running around broom sticks between their legs and some are using flying helicopters.

Well, they at the University of Georgia, I love this, they went low tech with their snitch. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEVS: There he is, folks. This is the snitch. Basically you hide somewhere on campus, right? And they chase you for a while?

ALEX SQUIRES, UGA STUDENT: Yes, there's a defined area around the field where we play. The seekers look for me. Once they see me, it become a footrace to snatch the ball off my back.

LEVS: Do you ever get tackled pretty hard?

SQUIRES: No, not anymore. We used to but we changed the rules.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEVS: It was great spending time with them. The last thing I'll show you here is a little video of them attempting to teach me how to play. And honestly, it would take hours to understand the rules. You have to have one foot in place and if you get hit with a dodge ball, you have to spin five times.

WHITFIELD: It's a whole other level.

LEVS: It's a lot of fun, though.

WHITFIELD: It looks fun.

LEVS: Or maybe I miss college.

WHITFIELD: Yes. So in between those classes and library times, there's time for what is it?

LEVS: Quidditch.

WHITFIELD: Quidditch.

LEVS: Well, done, Fred.

WHITFIELD: Quidditch.

LEVS: And by the way, lots of information as always. I've posted them for you on Facebook and Twitter, Josh Levs CNN. You want to know how kids are playing quidditch, you can learn right there. I got all the details for you. And hey, go ahead and send Fred some pointers then.

WHITFIELD: I wouldn't mind getting back on campus for a little ultimate Frisbee but quidditch, that looks too complicated. For now.

LEVS: I hear you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Josh, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

LEVS: You bet.

WHITFIELD: All right. Holiday travelers, they may want to listen up before heading to the airport. Some of the screening and security guidelines have changed. You need to know how and why and what to do.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: For anyone traveling by plane this holiday, it's understandable that you may be worried about the new screening techniques. Let's bring in our Jacqui Jeras.

So, how can you get through that airport security quick and easy, or at least in the quickest, easiest fashion possible, given this is a very huge travel season.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's right. Because sometimes no matter how much you plan ahead, you know, it is out of your control. There's so many more people trying to get through security in a shorter amount of time than normally when you travel.

So some of those key things are to get there a little bit early. If you pack things like carry-ons and you know the procedures and familiarize yourself with them, it will be a little bit easier for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JERAS (on camera): The holiday season is the busiest time of the year to travel and it can be stressful. The rules and regulations have changed, so unless you're a seasoned traveler, you need to pay attention to some guidelines to help you get through security at the airport just a little bit faster. These are all by TSA.

Liquids is one of the big concerns that people have. You need to follow the 311 rule. That means that all liquids must be in a 3.4 ounce container, they must be in one bag, and that needs to be one quart in size, and it has to be see-through. So all of your shampoos, all of your liquid makeup, your toothpaste, everything in this bag. And ladies don't forget to grab the items out of your purse that are liquid, like lip gloss and hand sanitizer as well.

Now, what about electronics? Any laptops, any DVD players that you might be bringing with you; they need to be taken out of their cases and put through that security gate.

If you're traveling with children, things like carriers, as well as strollers, stuffed animals, they all need to go on the conveyer belt. You can't have those things on you or push them through security. So keep that in mind. That will keep things going a little bit faster. Also, formula for babies, things like medications, prescription medications, you can exceed those rules of 3.4 ounces but you have to declare them. So make sure you let the security people know about it and they should be able to let you pass through with some of these items.

Let's talk about your shoes. Everybody has to take their shoes off now. TSA recommends wearing slip-ons. So they're easy to get on and off. If you don't wear socks with those shoes, I personally would recommend bringing some booties with you. Think of all those bare feet, walking over the same area. Yuck!

Hopefully those tips will help you get through just a little bit faster. Prohibited items and all of this information, as well, is on TSA.gov if you need more information.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JERAS: Hopefully that will help you get through the holidays a little more smoothly.

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

JERAS: If you are traveling on the airlines. Also, CNN is your travel holiday headquarters and we want to help you get through the holidays easier. The story that you just saw is on line, if you go to CNN.com/travel, that's where you're going to find more information there. You can also follow us on Twitter, CNNTravel is our code there. And you can also Tweet us. We want to hear how long your security wait time was. We want to know how conditions were on the interstate for you. And also send us iReports and pictures, that is at iReport.CNN.com.

And we are going to be putting those on the air, Fredricka, throughout the week and hopefully getting people through this chaos, which it can be, from time to time.

WHITFIELD: Just remember to pack your patience, as well.

JERAS: It is very important.

WHITFIELD: Among those traveling quite a bit out there, Jacqui, our own Wolf Blitzer?

JERAS: Yes?

WHITFIELD: You know he gets around the world and he was just recently in Atlanta, as well. He was making some headlines on stage. He was a special guest of Doug E. Fresh, while on the "Soul Train Music Awards". Did you know?

JERAS: I missed this one.

WHITFIELD: Uh-huh.

JERAS: I think you are going to show me right now?

WHITFIELD: I'm going to show you that and I'm going to show you a little conversation that Wolf Blitzer had with Doug E. Fresh had in "THE SITUATION ROOM". And they were talking about the Doug E. Fresh, the dance that Doug E. Fresh kind of coined.

JERAS: OK.

WHITFIELD: Take a look, from yesterday's show on "THE SITUATION ROOM." It also takes you back to the "Soul Train Music Awards", that's right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: Can we get some music? Can we get a little Doug E. music right now? I want to see a little "Soul Train" THE SITUATION ROOM dancers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I didn't know. You can get into it, you know what I'm saying?

(LAUGHTER)

BLITZER: Let's bring Fred in. You don't see that every day in THE SITUATION ROOM that kind of live reporting going on. You believe what you see, though.

WHITFIELD: Real reporter involvement. You have taken that to the next level, too.

BLITZER: It was a lot of fun. I got to tell you when I was in Atlanta a couple weeks ago, I went to the "Soul Train" awards and it went on and on. This is going to be a fabulous show. I think a week from Sunday, on a Sunday night on BET and Centrick (ph), people will watch it and see the whole nine yards. They're going to enjoy it.

You know what I loved the most, Fred? And you will, too.

WHITFIELD: What's that?

BLITZER: It's great music and entertainers going back to the '50s, the '60s, '70s, '80s, all the way back.

WHITFIELD: Good classic stuff.

BLITZER: There's a lot of great stuff for everyone.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. I cannot wait. Of course, I can't wait to see you do the Doug E.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wolf Blitzer is just too cool for school, you know?

JERAS: You know, he pulls it off, doesn't he? Nice dance. I thought you were going to break out there for a second.

WHITFIELD: I know. He's got the moves. You remember seeing him on "Ellen"?

JERAS: Yes.

WHITFIELD: When he danced on stage with Ellen, and I guess it caught the eye of the producers at "Soul Train Music Awards" and they said, you know, that Wolf Blitzer, he's got some moves. We have to get him on there.

JERAS: Not everyone can pull that off.

All right, just in case you want to see more of Wolf Blitzer with Doug E. Fresh, you need to tune in to the "Soul Train Music Awards". That is next Sunday. The show airs 9:00 p.m. November 28th on both BET and the Centrick (ph) Network. You don't want to miss that.

This is the time of year when people tend to get colds, flues, other illnesses. It is really a drag, but straight ahead, we'll have some tips on how to stay healthy during the holiday season.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: After more than a decade, great relief for African- American farmers who were discriminated against by the Agricultural Department. The U.S. Senate approved a $1 billion settlement yesterday. The House has to take up the funding measure after the Thanksgiving break. It is expected to have an easy passage there.

The estranged wife of the man accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart testified he manipulated her into going along with the plan for fear of quote, "eternal consequences." Wanda Barzee is serving up to 15 years as part of her plea agreement in the case. Be sure to tune in for a CNN special "Taken: The Kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart" tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

Dutch authorities could have results as early as today on whether a bone found in Aruba could belong to missing American teen Natalee Holloway. First, they have to determine if the jawbone found near the Phoenix is human or animal. The Holloway family has already sent Natalee's dental records to the Netherlands. OK, so the holiday season is kicking off into high gear now, but some of the things that make the holidays fun can also make them hazardous to your health. What a drag.

Dr. Kimberly Manning, she is not a Debbie Downer, but she is an assistant professor at Emery University's Medical School right here in Atlanta, and with some tips now on keeping us very healthy during the holiday season. Because we're all in each other's company, we're sharing food, utensils, well, you know, serving utensils and stuff. So how do we keep all those little yucky yucks away?

DR. KIMBERLY MANNING, ASSIST. PROFESSOR, EMERY UNIV. MEDICAL SCHOOL: A lot of things are simple things, but it is a good time to be reminded of them.

First and foremost, hand washing, hand washing, hand washing. We start off with prevention of any kind of illness. So if you have any hand sanitizer in your house, that's fantastic. You need the little small ones to keep in your purse, and in your car. If your hands aren't cracking from hand sanitizer, it means you aren't using enough.

WHITFIELD: Really?

MANNING: And if you have small kids. You should be teaching them how to cough into the crook of their arm.

WHITFIELD: Right.

MANNING: And if anyone in your home is sick keep them at home and not take them out into the public, where everybody else can get sick.

WHITFIELD: Unfortunately this is the time when everyone gets together, but at the same time we're all in close quarters, you know we are sharing things. And that's exactly what can kind of put a real drag on the holiday. Does it also mean there are also a lot more food borne illnesses, too, because maybe you are not cooking something all the way through. Or maybe the utensils that you're using, you know, you are mixing vegetables with meat products, et cetera.

MANNING: Well, Fredricka, I think one of the real issues is that there's so many potluck dinners during this time of year, that food sits out. We cook, we leave things out. So the big issue becomes sometimes bacteria can multiply when things that are supposed to be hot, don't stay hot enough. And when things that are supposed to be cooled down, don't stay cool. So if you are serving groups of people, you really want to have those chafing dishes heating food up. When you are done preparing food, take that food, close it up and put it away. I know I'm guilty of dipping in and tasting a few things.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

MANNING: And that can really lead to some food-borne illness.

WHITFIELD: And then also, when you refrigerate certain items too soon, when they're still hot, that too can create -- I don't know what kind of bugs or bacteria that grow, but it can make you sick. MANNING: They can absolutely multiply and some bacteria actually create toxins. And those toxins are the things that really start to attack the body and cause everybody in the house to get sick.

WHITFIELD: We are talking about things like pork, say, pork or certain meat items. If they're hot, you shouldn't just refrigerate them right away.

MANNING: And really watch out for things that have mayonnaise in them. Because during the summer time, we know that during those cookouts to be very careful about those things. But just think about it, when you have a house full of people, and you have some potato salad out, and the room gets really warm, or there's a fire going, that can get too warm and those bacteria can really multiply.

WHITFIELD: Oh, man, what a drag. But in the end, bon appetite, right?

MANNING: Absolutely. And you know, rest is a huge thing.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yeah.

MANNING: And you should really watch for it too. If you're not getting enough sleep, sleep deprivation absolutely attacks the immune system. We know there's plenty of studies that support that, medically. So, getting your rest, the average American does not get enough rest, but over the holidays it's much worse.

WHITFIELD: Especially you're the one who is doing all the cooking. Which mean, you are up all night. You are up at the crack of dawn, checking on the turkey and some of the other sides. So you have to remember yourself and try and get a little snooze here and there.

MANNING: You do. That is the way to stay healthy, remember, you.

WHITFIELD: Doctor Kimberly Manning, thanks so much, appreciate it.

MANNING: Likewise.

WHITFIELD: Happy holidays.

MANNING: Same to you.

And we'll be right back with much more of the NEWSROOM after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Hello. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. Guess what, in about 11 minutes, more of the NEWSROOM, but this time hosted by my colleague Don Lemon. We're here on the sofa together talking about what's coming up next. All things interesting on radar.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: We're just hanging out, reading the newspaper.

WHITFIELD: What you've got coming up? You've got a lot going on here.

LEMON: I borrowed your pent.

WHITFIELD: Thank you.

LEMON: We're going to be talking -- this is our lead story. The lady who went through the airport and she had prosthetic breasts and had to go into another room.

WHITFIELD: Yes, pretty humiliating.

LEMON: And she had to show it and she had to take it off. When I was talking with our team members, I was like, can you imagine -- let's be honest, women have breasts, and if you don't, chances are it's because of cancer or something that happened.

WHITFIELD: She talked about it being a very demoralizing process.

LEMON: So imagine all the women who may have to go through that, who may have to go through that with all these restrictions and screening processes. As a woman --

WHITFIELD: Well, I think everyone is being subjected to these much more intense screening processes. But I think it sounds like that's an anomaly. There hasn't been a whole lot of people who have shared that exact same story. But there are other stories that people say they felt security measures went a little too far. And others who are also saying we think this is just fine. Remember there was a recent poll that says three out of four people believe that these more intense measures of scrutiny are OK.

LEMON: That it's OK. You know, everybody wants to be safe. But when you think about that, I mean, what do you do? You feel powerless when you go to the airport. I go to the airport and it is almost like if- there was a picture of a guy who was walking through the airport in like basically underwear and a T-shirt, because he feels it's so invasive when he goes in.

But you almost feel like you're getting naked when you go through the security line. No shoes, no belt, no jewelry, whatever. And then it is like your pants are falling down, and it is just-what do you do? Because you feel powerless, because you don't have any control over it.

WHITFIELD: What do you do? You follow the instructions otherwise you're not going to be flying.

LEMON: But do you want someone looking at your private area, as a woman?

WHITFIELD: Well, I think, at this juncture, if it's a matter of safety and these are some of the measures that we have to go through, then --

LEMON: Then that's it?

WHITFIELD: Yeah.

LEMON: But we're going to be talking with a psychologist about that. What it can do, especially to someone like this woman, because there is also a woman in St. Louis.

WHITFIELD: I think her case is very unique, so. If there were a number of people who have been able to articulate they've had the exact same experience, then probably the dialogue might be going in a different direction. This is her story.

LEMON: There are other people coming out. Yeah, there are other people coming out saying, in the St. Louis airport, saying I felt like it was sexual molestation. They said any other case, this could have been criminal charges, if someone had not asked to do that to me. So that is what we're going to be talking about with the psychologist and we are going to be relying on our travel desk.

I also want to tell people, we're going to give what the TSA says, what their response was. So we'll do that at 5:00 o'clock.

Okay, ready for this? Sadie, Sadie, married lady. I know you're married, I know your husband and your kid. Nearly 4 in 10 people think that marriage is becoming obsolete.

WHITFIELD: I heard that study. That's what the study says.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: I'm not part of that study. I'm married happily.

LEMON: Come on!

WHITFIELD: But I think because it is obsolete, that is based on the fact that fewer people are choosing marriage, not necessarily because they don't believe in marriage. But because lifestyles are such that sometimes people are waiting later, and they're also deciding maybe I don't want to know.

LEMON: And there are other things. There are social media, there is all this other stuff that we're going to talk about, all right?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

LEMON: OK, Fred, you can't hear, but I know you got to go.

WHITFIELD: I got to go.

LEMON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: We'll see you coming up at the top of the hour.

LEMON: I'm going to go back to reading my paper. See you later.

WHITFIELD: Eight minutes away for Don Lemon. See you soon.

WHITFIELD: Talk more about the TSA employees and how many of them have come under fire recently for a lot of those new pat down procedures, some of which we were talking about with Don here. Some people have even filed lawsuits. What about doing away with the TSA overall? Our Susan Candiotti reports. That's working out just fine for some airports in particular.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Denver, Colorado International Airport screeners and their counterparts in Rochester, New York. They look the same, but in Rochester, the people checking you through security work for a private company. It's been in place for eight years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's a win-win for an airport operator.

CANDIOTTI: Out of 450 airports nationwide, 16 applied for and won TSA approval to privatize inspectors. Rochester, New York is one of them. The option has been available for years. Sanford Airport near Orlando has been considering it. But with growing frustration over aggressive pat down, and revealing body scanners, others may, too. Proponents say it could improve efficiency and customer service. In Rochester where they handle 2.5 million passengers a year, it's boss says it also makes it easier to get rid of problem employees.

DAVID DAMELIO, GREATER ROCHESTER INT'L. AIRPORT: If we get complaints of screeners being a little rude, or maybe screeners just not performing in a professional manner, right away we're able to reach out to that contractor. And say listen, this is what we expect at our facility, and they respond immediately.

CANDIOTTI: TSA stands behind its screeners and remains neutral about privatization. But long-time critic Republican John Micah says change is needed.

REP. JOHN MICA, (R) FLORIDA: It's a massive bloated bureaucracy. It needs to be trimmed and tamed.

CANDIOTTI: Micah says studies show private screeners do a better job than TSA employees, but details are classified. A former TSA official during the Bush administration says there is no appreciable difference.

THOMAS BLANK, FMR. DEPUTY ADMIN., TSA: The studies we did, showed that they both provided, the federal screeners and the private sector screeners both provided the same degree of security performance.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Above all, there is no difference in screening procedures. Body scans or pat downs that can make anyone uncomfortable. Those rules remain the same, whether the person checking you out is wearing a TSA patch or one from XYZ Security Company. Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Time for CNN Equals Politics. Update right now. Here's what's crossing the ticker. Donald Trump says he's being pressured more than ever to run for president of the United States. He says that he is considering a run in 2012, but admits he really would rather not.

And next week's ethics trial for California Congresswoman Maxine Waters has been called off because of new information in the case. Waters allegedly steered bailout money to a bank that her husband has ties to and she denies any wrong doing.

And finally, Barbara Bush is taking a little jab at Sarah Palin. Speaking about Palin with CNN's Larry King, the former first lady said, quote, "She's very happy in Alaska and I hope she'll stay there." You can see Larry King's interview with George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush on Monday night 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

For the latest political news, go to CNNPolitics.com. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Don Lemon is coming your way.