Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Holiday Travel Forecast; Protest of New TSA Screening Procedures Could Mean Longer Waits for Thanksgiving Travel; Airlines Charging for Services Formerly Part of Ticket Price; Iran Postpones Trial for Two Americans Accused of Espionage; Ireland Seeking Bailout from European Union; Winter Driving School Teaches Special Skills Needed for Icy Roads; Russell Simmons Gives Back; 2010 CNN Hero Chosen; Interview with George Wallace
Aired November 21, 2010 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: So, if you're traveling this holiday week, you'll have plenty of company out there. The nation's highways and airports are already getting packed as Thanksgiving week kicks off. Jacqui Jeras has the holiday travel forecast for us. And how's it looking so far, Jacqui?
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Obviously, it's going to depend on where you're at, but there's some really nasty conditions out there right now. We've had problems all day long in Minneapolis-St. Paul. In fact, check out these pictures that we have for you from Minnesota, the Department of Transportation there reporting that that there were hundreds of accidents.
What happened is, we had a very light freezing rain and mist that came down overnight and throughout much of the morning. Temperatures did rise up just enough to clear the roadways, at least in town this afternoon. But now, those temperatures are dropping back down. We're going to continue to have more troubles, so take it easy, if you're traveling across the state of Minnesota.
This system is moving eastward, and you can see some of that moisture and some light freezing rain across north central parts of Wisconsin, so do expect some hazardous roadways here, as well.
The huge storm system that we're dealing with this weekend is across the west. And we're talking rain in the valleys and heavy snow into the higher elevations. We're talking feet of snow.
I want to zoom in right now and take you into Los Angeles, where we've had some spotty showers across the area throughout the day today, but we're starting to get some major problems on some of the roadways. This is from Traffic.com, and we want to show you what's going on right now.
Right here on I-10, this is the Santa Monica Freeway, east and westbound lanes are closed here at the 110 because of standing water on the roadway. So you can see, high impact and problems on some of the roadways right now in downtown Los Angeles.
All right. We are expecting to have more problems, we think, out west through about the middle of the week. We're going to have to wait until Wednesday before the conditions start to improve here. That's the big travel day, so that's great news for those of you out west that need to get around that day.
However, if things have been great in the east this weekend, not so much as we head into Wednesday and Thursday. We've got snowy conditions on the backside across the upper midwest and rain in places like Milwaukee; Detroit; Washington, DC; Atlanta; and Dallas/Ft. Worth.
We want you to become a part of the CNN travel team and put your stories on the air. Please go to cnn.com/holidaytravel. You can find out all kinds of tips and things you need to know to get you through your trip this season. Follow us on Twitter @CNN travel or tweet us. Tell us what your security wait time is. Tell us what the interstate conditions were like for you, and we'll put that on the air. And, of course, send your pictures to us, iReport.cnn.com. And I'm going to have one of those iReports, by the way, Fredricka, coming up at the bottom of the hour.
WHITFIELD: Oh --
JERAS: So make sure you stick around for that.
WHITFIELD: Good. We're going to look forward to that. Thanks so much. Of course, you mentioned, that holiday travel on the Wednesday or on the day of Thanksgiving? Well, anyone who actually flies out on the day before Thanksgiving knows that they are, indeed, in for a tough ride.
This Wednesday, it could be even worse. That's because of a grassroots protest aimed at disrupting the new TSA screening procedures. Let's bring in our Susan Candiotti. So, Susan, give me an idea. They are calling this protest, those who are organizing this, the National Opt-Out Day. And I wonder if they're serious about this, or is this really, potentially, a big old bluff.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough on Wednesday. It's hard to tell before then, I think we'd agree. But in a way, it's kind of counter-intuitive. Protest body scans and pat-downs by going out of your way to get a physical inspection. That's what backers of National Opt-Out Day are calling for.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Attention holiday fliers. Get ready to take off your shoes, unfasten your belts and, for some, brace for embarrassing pat-downs and body scans.
JAMES BAAB, NATIONAL OPT-OUT DAY: It's a horrible invasion of privacy.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): James Baab is part of a grassroots movement lighting up the internet supporting National Opt-Out Day, urging travelers to slow down lines by refusing body scans, forcing screeners to do more time-consuming physical inspections.
BAAB: I don't want people to be inconvenienced but, mainly, I don't want them to be irradiated and I don't want them to be sexually assaulted by TSA agents.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): The TSA has been taking a public relations beating over the newly-aggressive pat-downs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She told me she was going to reach inside my waistband, which sort of alerted -- I got really uncomfortable.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): The outcry included a predictable spoof on "Saturday Night Live."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want to feel contact in certain special places?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Then why not go through security at an airport?
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): President Obama says he's asking TSA to constantly evaluate its methods, but cited the underwear bomber from last Christmas as a reminder of what's at stake.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Since the explosive device that was on Mr. Abdulmutallab was not detected by ordinary metal detectors, it has meant that TSA has had to try to adapt to make sure that passengers on planes are safe.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Opponents of the new security measures argue there has got to be a better way.
BAAB: It's horrifying. It's just unacceptable, and this kind of invasive techniques that they're using, it has to stop now.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): But slowing things down during a holiday crush? One of TSA's biggest critics told CNN's "State of the Union" opt-outers ought to reconsider.
REP. JOHN MICA (R), FLORIDA: I'm not going to support that, but we need to get it right, and we will.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: Regardless of how many people join next Wednesday's protest, the best advice from travel experts? Get to airports early and, as always, pack a lot of patience, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, good advice always. Thanks so much, Susan Candiotti in New York. Appreciate it.
So, perhaps you haven't flown in a while. Well, you might be in for a few financial surprises as well, the next time you take to the skies. As CNN's Casey Wian reports, the published fair is just the beginning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): If you're taking a trip and checking two bags at the airport, on some airlines, it'll cost an extra $140 round trip.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We weren't really too happy about it, to be honest. I thought it was included in the price of the flight. I think it's kind of crazy.
WIAN (voice-over): An in-flight mean can be $6, an exit row seat, $19.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not real happy about, quite frankly. I think the service has gotten worse instead of better.
WIAN (voice-over): It's called "unbundling," the increasingly common practice among many airlines to charge for services that used to be included in the ticket price.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't say I like it, but I think it's the way that things are going these days.
WIAN (voice-over): Airline passenger advocate Kate Hanni says she knows why.
KATE HANNI, FLYERSRIGHTS.ORG: Well, the industry found out that they could fool the American public and the flying public into believing that the reason they were unbundling was because of the cost of fuel. When the fuel prices skyrocketed, the airlines decided that they were going to introduced ancillary fees, unbundling baggage fees and biscuit, water, aisle seat, window seat, everything under the sun that they could think of.
WIAN (voice-over): The airline industry says the practice is not new.
DAVID CASTLEVETER, AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION: What has changed is it's broadened its scope. You're recognizing that not all unbundle. Those that do will tell you that they have an insatiable need for revenue. We have come off nine years of multibillion-dollar losses. This industry has lost $58.2 billion between 2001 and 2009. Carriers needed the revenue to keep flying.
WIAN (voice-over): But lately, revenue and profits are soaring, $3 billion in black ink so far this year. The industry says it's profiting by giving consumers a choice.
CASTLEVETER: They're basically saying to you, "We're going to keep the base fare, the price you pay for travel, low. And if you want to check a bag, you'll pay for that. And if you want certain onboard services, you'll pay for that."
WIAN (on camera): Airlines have to pay a 7.5 percent excise tax on airfares into the aviation trust fund. But they don't have to pay the tax on charges for baggage, meals, or other extra services. Those totaled $7.8 billion last year.
HANNI: So about $600 million they avoided paying into the aviation trust fund last year alone. That means that vital safety issues at airports, like the taxiways being repaired, the modernization of the air traffic control system, expanding the gates, and care and maintenance of the airport won't be done.
WIAN (voice-over): Consumer groups and some lawmakers want more regulation and taxes on airline fees. The industry says it's already overtaxed.
CASTLEVETER: We want to be treated equally. We want to be on a level field with other industries that provide consumer services. We don't need government stepping in and trying to regulate an industry where decisions should be made by the people who purchase the product.
WIAN (voice-over): And the product is selling again. The Air Transport Association expects 24 million people to fly over the 12-day Thanksgiving travel season, 3.5 percent more than last year. Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Meantime, the US government is considering rules that would require airlines to be more clear about extra fees. There's no talk right now about banning them entirely.
Iran has postponed the trial date for two Americans. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were arrested for espionage 16 months ago after hiking from Iraq. Their companion, Bauer's fiancee, Sarah Shourd, was released in September. Bauer and Fattal were supposed to be tried this month, but their lawyer says Iranian officials have rescheduled the trial for February 6th now. That's a big disappointment for family members who hope a trial will lead to their release.
And Ireland is seeking a financial bailout from the European Union for its troubled economy. Yet to be determined, the amount of the loan. Earlier, I spoke with our international business expert, Richard Quest, about the impact this bailout could have on the US dollar.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, because, of course, Greece took the first bailout, this is now the second European economy that's required to be bailed out. And although we don't know the amount involved, we expect it's going to be in the tens of billions of dollars, according to the Irish finance minister.
And it's all because A., they've got a huge budget deficit, but B., Irish banks are just about broke. So now, the European Union, or euro zone, is going to have to stump up the cash. But, of course, it only comes along with a certain number of strings. It's going to be a very hard row to head for the Irish people, with further budget cutbacks.
And the totality of the effect, I think, Fredricka, is that, having said they didn't need the money, having said they wouldn't want or require a bailout, tonight, Ireland has effectively gone into reverse and said, "Yes, we'll take the money you've offered." WHITFIELD: So what, potentially, could be the ripple effect? Taking the money or, if, for any reason, there were a change of heart on that?
QUEST: The money -- well, what's going to happen tonight. First of all, the Irish cabinet has discussed it and has agreed to do it. Next, there'll be a telephone call or conference call with euro zone European finance ministers. Then, then G7, of course, which part of the United States is a major leading part of the G7. And if all that comes together as expected in the next few hours, Ireland will be promised the money.
The ripple effects are that it shows the depth and severity of the crisis. It proves that what happens in one part of the world can affect dramatically what happens elsewhere.
After all, just think about it. We've said this before, Fredricka, you and I. How could sub prime mortgages in Florida or in California explode the world economy as they did? And to such an extent, of course, that now we also see those over-lending, those mortgages in Ireland, those ghost towns that now exist, they literally blew up the Irish economy.
WHITFIELD: So, how would the US be directly impacted if Ireland does, indeed, need this bailout, takes the bailout? What would be felt on this side of the pond?
QUEST: I think, initially, obviously, there's no direct impact. It's not like A to B to C to D. But what I think you're going to notice is, for example, as attention in Europe, perhaps, shifts to other countries, Portugal, or Spain, maybe even Italy, the US dollar, which had been weak --
You know, the one thing, quantitative ease in QE 2, Ben Bernanke's printing money, has weakened the dollar. But I'll tell you this. It will be a jolly sight weaker if it wasn't for European crisis. They are literally -- the euro and the dollar are like two drunken men swaggering down the street on a late Saturday night. It really is a question of which is the weaker at any given point. They're propping each other up, but I would expect to see the dollar be a marginal gainer on this one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, Richard Quest. Roads coated in ice in this country and, now, the snow, apparently, so heavy that you can't even see where you're going in some places. Take a look at that right there. Driving in the winter takes special skills. We'll check out a winter driving school straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Parts of the country are already coping with snow and ice- coated roads, so driving in the winter can be extremely dangerous. This past January, our Reynolds Wolf got behind the wheel in some of the worst conditions in a training course sponsored by tire manufacturer Bridgestone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST (on camera): Do you know that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more accidents occur during the wintertime as opposed to during the summertime? In fact, 36 percent more happen during January as opposed to July, and this is the reason why. The ice and the snow, all that wintertime mess.
And it's the reason why we're here in Steamboat Springs at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School with Mark Cox. Mark, what are we going to do today?
MARK COX, BRIDGESTONE WINTER DRIVING SCHOOL: Well, basically, we're going to jump in the car, go out on the track, and teach you the skills that you need to get around safely and have a little fun in the worst possible conditions.
WOLF: It sounds scary and fun and amusing all at the same time.
COX: Winter driving should be fun. There's no need for it to be scary.
WOLF: Let's get to it.
COX: All right.
WOLF: How deceiving can winter conditions be? Snow on a road, ice on a road?
COX: Winter conditions can be really deceiving, because it may look like it's snow, and underneath, it could be just black ice. Just glare, shiny ice. And it's hard to tell. So, it's important that you, as a driver, make sure no one's behind you. And every now and then, hit your break and see how much traction is available.
WOLF (voice-over): And on this course, traction will be hard to find. Coated with more than 250,000 gallons of water, this experience is like driving on a hockey rink.
COX: The more slippery it becomes, the more you have to anticipate each action, from steering, to braking, to accelerating.
WOLF (voice-over): One of the first lessons? The weight transfer of your vehicle plays a bigger role in controlling your car than the steering wheel.
COX: No, don't turn more. Turn back straight.
WOLF (on camera): Oh, gosh, the compulsion was --
COX: See how when you turn less, it steers more?
WOLF: Yes. Wow. COX: It goes -- it's totally counter-intuitive, but sometimes, less steering is more effective. Choose just the perfect amount of steering, not too much, not too little --
WOLF: I see.
COX: And if the car doesn't turn, don't give in to the tendency to just keep steering more. It won't help.
WOLF: I see.
COX: In fact, it makes it much worse.
WOLF (voice-over): Another difference maker? The type and condition of your tires.
COX: You have to remember that a half-worn winter tire performs like an all-season tire. A half-worn all-season tire performs like a summer tire. And really, a summer tire has no place in winter conditions.
WOLF (voice-over): But Mark says the best thing to have in place when facing those icy roads is the wealth of experience.
COX: Like a pro. Nice. That's a wrap. There you go.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Reynolds the pro driver, now, learning some very valuable lessons at the Bridgestone Driving School, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
So, it's time for those annual performance reviews, right, at your job? Like it or not, they're a fact of life for many workers. Six things you need to consider, coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. Tips, now, for tackling your annual performance reviews in a moment. But first, a look at the top stories.
Some new worries about North Korea's nuclear ambitions. A report from a Stanford University scientist who visited North Korea says the country has a new uranium enrichment facility. He says it appears to be designed for nuclear power production, but it could be converted to produce bomb fuel.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is heading to the US tomorrow, but it's not a diplomatic visit. The 86-year-old monarch is seeking treatment for some health problems. The Saudis' health minister says the king has a herniated spinal disc and a blood clot that is causing him back pain.
And if you're traveling this Thanksgiving holiday, bad weather could cause a shift in your plans. Nasty storms are snarling air and ground traffic this weekend, and motorists going through the Sierra Nevada mountains are putting on snow chains. An early winter storm has dumped more than two feet of snow in some areas. Freezing rain and ice are also causing problems.
So, the topic today on reclaiming your career is something many of us face at this time. We're talking about annual performance reviews. Paula Caligiuri is a professor of human resource management at Rutgers University. She joins us now from New York. Good to see you.
PAULA CALIGIURI, PROFESSOR, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: Hi, Fred, how are you?
WHITFIELD: I'm doing just great. OK, so a lot of folks really kind of agonize over these annual reviews. But you say, you know what? There's a way to kind of step through this simply so you don't have to get a headache over it, and it begins with really knowing your accomplishments and knowing, I guess, how to suit yourself for this kind of confrontation with your annual review.
CALIGIURI: Certainly. And being prepared. I think a lot of people assume that they're boss is going to be really prepared for this, and they're going to have a clear indication of all the great things they've done over the years. This is really the time for you to be prepared for that meeting.
WHITFIELD: OK. And then you say, you've got to be ready to offer some praise, and at the same time, have some feedback. What do you mean?
CALIGIURI: Well, think about the good things that you've done over the year. Remember that your boss may remember the things that were most salient, which may, in fact, be negative, so you want to keep in mind that you want to help your boss remember the accomplishments, the achievements.
There's been some really interesting research on the way performance appraisals are rated, and people who are considered more helpful, people who are considered to offer better feedback to their colleagues, those are the ones who tend to be rated better. So, really, a good time to think about knowing your accomplishments, but really kind of knowing what you've done for your team, for your organization, and for your business unit.
WHITFIELD: And it's also a time where you need to think about your future goals. Use this as an opportunity not to just reflect on how your performance has been going, but you need to be thinking ahead. How do you get that point across?
CALIGIURI: Well, think about it this way. This might be your one opportunity to have a great conversation, a one-on-one conversation with your supervisor about where you're going with the company. It's a great way to show your engagement. If you can show that you know where your work unit's going, you know where your team's going, you know where your organization's going, and that you really want to be a part of it. You can describe your goals, and then, really get some feedback on how you can help meet those goals. WHITFIELD: And then, you don't take the feedback personally. Oh, gosh, I mean, you hear this all the time. People get the feedback, and then they're wondering about their performance overall or whether they're going to be able to keep their jobs. And how do you not take it personally?
CALIGIURI: That's a tough one. That's a very, very tough one. Because people in general aren't great at giving feedback. And, of course, it's going to be human nature, it's natural to take it personally. But keep in mind that even if the feedback is delivered poorly, keep in mind that some people are really -- they're really trying to coach you, and they're not trying to criticize you.
So take a great example. If I'm, maybe, very social. It could be that in one job context, my social skills are really a distraction for my coworkers. In another job context, my social skills might be critical for the job, with my customers or my clients. So, it's not me per se, it's me in the context of my job. So, don't take it personally, listen for that coaching, not criticism, and really ask for ways to improve.
WHITFIELD: All right. Don't get too many butterflies over these review periods. Thanks so much, Paula Caligiuri. Good to see you, and happy Thanksgiving.
CALIGIURI: You as well, Fred. Thanks.
WHITFIELD: All right. There's been a lot in the news over the past week. Some if it makes you cringe, some if it makes you laugh. And some if it is just very sobering. Comedian George Wallace, he's going to give us his take on all that's taken place in the last week.
(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 industries, and headlines a new reality TV show. And he has authored several books, including the latest one, "Super Rich," out in January.
I talked face to face with the business mogul and discovered that he's also deeply involved with philanthropy, including several of his own foundations. It's a mission Simmons says he never would 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 or did you evolve into that?
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, was 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. But 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 who's done 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's group, The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding held an interfaith program, bringing together members of more than 200 mosques and synagogues in 22 countries for dialogue on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. For more information on the organization, logon to www.ffeu.org.
And next week, face to face with Salman Rushdie, the highly acclaimed author is out with a new children's book. It's actually his second. And he's living a very public life again after spending nearly a decade in hiding. It was the result of a fatwa or a death wish put on his life for writing the Satanic verses back in 1989. Next week, Salman Rushdie face-to-face.
All right last week was a pretty good one if you were Prince William or Bristol Palin. Not so good if you were Brandy or Eva Longoria. George Wallace, Mr. Comedian, Mr. the new Las Vegas, checking his pockets there as he gets ready to travel. He's joining us with his take on the weekend news. George Wallace coming back at you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right so if you're lucky, you've gotten a chance to start your holiday travel, but if you're not so lucky, maybe it's because weather is in the way. Jacqui Jeras, there's icy stuff, there's snow, rain, it's all out there.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, and it's affecting a lot of major interstates right now too, Fredricka. We're talking over three feet of snow in parts of the Sierra. So this is a very potent winter storm. We've actually got two of them. So this is going to be a series of storms that's going to be impacting you in the West, probably early Wednesday. Late in the day Wednesday through your Thanksgiving Day, things are going to be a lot better.
But take a look at that. I do want to highlight a couple of interstates that we're having some big-time problems on. First of all, on Los Angeles, on the I-10, there's some flooding at the 110 Freeway, so that's the Santa Monica Freeway. We've got delays there and some road closures there. Scotts Flat to I-80, this is on Highway 20 in California, closed due to that snow. Snoqualmine Pass in Washington on I-90 for you, snow coming down and poor visibility, from Denver to Utah on I-70, reporting snowy roads, wet conditions, and some slick spots as well.
And along I-25 from Wyoming to Mexico, you know, it's clear and it's dry, but very windy. So you're going to be doing the white knuckle thing I think as you head along your trip.
Now if you're going by the airways, what kind of problems are we having there today? Chicago O'Hare, it's not a terrible day, it's a little dreary. We've got low clouds, and that's causing ground delays of just under two hours. And that's arriving into Chicago. So if you're trying to get out of dodge, you're doing OK. But getting into O'Hare is the problem. Teterboro, we've got some departure delays, about 45 minutes and it looks like those are on the increase. So that's not so great.
All right, CNN is your holiday travel headquarters. We want you to send us your i-Reports. Take a look at this one. This is my favorite thing of the day, by the way, Fredricka. Look at this, wild turkeys, this is from our i-Reporter Chris Dell (ph), he's from Winnipeg, Canada. And he tells us that he took these pictures outside of his kitchen window. He says it's kind of weird to have two turkeys there, because he lives in the suburbs. This wasn't out in the country. I don't know what you think, but I'm thinking, maybe they escaped America for a good reason, because we have a little holiday coming up very soon.
WHITFIELD: That's right! Good timing. They knew what they were doing.
JERAS: So send us your i-Reports, i-report.CNN.com. We want to hear your travel stories too. How are things going on the roadways as well as the airways for us? WHITFIELD: Hopefully smooth.
JERAS: So send us those, and if you Tweet, do you Tweet? George, do you tweet?
GEORGE WALLACE, COMEDIAN: I tweet.
JERAS: George tweets. @CNN travel, we'll Tweet you information and then you can Tweet us back to let us know how things are going for you.
WHITFIELD: All right, excellent, Jacqui Jeras, thank you so much. We'll ask comedian George Wallace about his travels because he's been on the road and continues to do so for the holiday. And he's also going to give us his take on the weekend news, including the royal engagement of the year, next year.
But first, a look at the top stories.
Iran is pushing back the trial of two detained American hikers. Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal were supposed to be tried this month, but their lawyer says Iranian officials have rescheduled the trial for February 6th now. Iran accuses them of espionage.
And Utah police are hoping a rifle, a backpack, and a blood-soaked T- shirt will lead them to whoever shot a Utah park ranger. Brody Young was shot multiple times Friday. The items were found near a car believed to belong to the suspect. And Young is still being hospitalized and is now talking with police as well.
And as Jacqui Jeras was mentioning, winter storms out West and in Colorado could keep you waiting this busy holiday travel week. Cloudy weather is already snarling flights in the Midwest at Chicago's O'Hare. It's not any better on the roads, either. Freezing rain and ice caused more than 370 crashes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Nasty stuff.
OK. So it's been a kind of 50/50 week for couples. A lot of celebrations, a lot of sobbing. Prince William and Kate Middleton are going to tie the knot, that you know by now. And Tony Parker and Eva Longoria, well, they're kind of splitsville.
Comedian George Wallace, he's here. He's back to give us his take on the weekend news. And I know you've been traveling all over the place, but this kind of made you stop in your tracks, the engagement.
WALLACE: I have been traveling all over the place. And you guys have been talking about traveling all day and talked about how they increased the fares? I'm not too much concerned about that, because I was in Denver earlier today, and have you ever been to the Denver airport?
WHITFIELD: I have.
WALLACE: Have you ever to downtown Denver?
WHITFIELD: Yes.
WALLACE: My cab fare was higher than my airfare to get downtown. So that's a crazy story right there. But I'm so happy about this Prince William and -- isn't that nice?
WHITFIELD: I know, the world is celebrating.
WALLACE: I don't know what I'm happy about because I don't know what they're doing. I know it's royalty.
WHITFIELD: And it's going to be a beautiful wedding.
WALLACE: And they're a beautiful couple. He's handsome and she's gorgeous and this works out all the time in California, in Hollywood, so I think it's going to work out.
WHITFIELD: Well, it doesn't always work out in Hollywood, does it?
WALLACE: But they're great, and I just think the media has gone crazy. People want to know what church, what florist, who's going to make the cake.
WHITFIELD: They want to book their flights, to be there.
WALLACE: I want to -- can we go? Can I go to it? Because I'd like to go. I already bought them a gift.
WHITFIELD: Maybe you won't be in -- wherever they end up having it, whether it's Westminster Abbey --
WALLACE: Somebody's watching in London right now. And you know, I'm George Wallace and Fredricka -- we will come up -- I bought them a gift already.
WHITFIELD: You did?
WALLACE: I bought them a George Foreman grill. And I bought them a big one in case the queen comes over. If the queen comes over, they can make some grilled cheese. So I bought them that. I think it's going to work out well.
WHITFIELD: I think it will work out nicely. Not working out so good for Eva Longoria and Tony Parker. What in the world?
WALLACE: I don't know what happened. And she's on a show called "Desperate --" is that right?
WHITFIELD: "Desperate Housewives."
WALLACE: And he plays for the NBA. I don't know what went wrong here. I don't know how they broke up. I don't know what's going on there.
WHITFIELD: There are a few rumors out there.
WALLACE: And she has a tattoo of him. What do you do when you get a tattoo of your spouse?
WHITFIELD: I always wonder. And then if you split.
WALLACE: Tony, is she going to make it tonight/
WHITFIELD: You can try and turn it into something else, because it's very painful to try to get it removed.
WALLACE: That's why I don't buy wedding couples a gift until after the 50th marriage.
WHITFIELD: Because you're not so sure if they'll last?
WALLACE: Well, if it doesn't last, you don't want people to be mad and you want your gift back. I think if you're married for five years, I'll present you with a nice toaster. If you want to hold back and go for the 10-year, I'll give you a blender.
WHITFIELD: You're not giving the gift hoping that -- I guess you're not thinking about the number of years -- of course everybody wants to last an eternity.
WALLACE: It needs to last at least 10 to 20 years. I had a friend that just got married down in Orlando, Florida, got married at the hotel called the Peabody. Ever been there?
WHITFIELD: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Actually in Memphis.
WALLACE: It's both. Memphis and Orlando. Two Peabodies. My friend got married, and he said I'm the only friend that did not give him a gift. I don't do it. I told him, listen I said I flew all the way down to Florida, $2,500, round-trip fare. The Peabody Hotel, $700 hotel a night, 5 nights, that's $3,500, OK? I wore a tuxedo and I served as an usher. And I said, you're looking at your damn gift.
WHITFIELD: Well wait a minute, he actually mentioned and reminded you that you hadn't given a gift?
WALLACE: Yes and he told me.
WHITFIELD: That was kind of awkward.
WALLACE: I think all that money -- from now on, why don't you just let me pay whatever you're going to pay the airfare and send you that.
WHITFIELD: So just don't even attend the wedding? Send money or something.
WALLACE: Yes, that's what I'm going to do.
WHITFIELD: I bet you some couples would appreciate that in a very big way.
WALLACE: See I don't give nobody nothing anymore. Are you getting married, or you're already married?
WHITFIELD: I'm already married.
WALLACE: How long have you been married?
WHITFIELD: Eleven years.
WALLACE: Oh, you've got a blender coming.
WHITFIELD: A blender, good. We've already got one.
WALLACE: I'm going to give you a high-speed blender.
WHITFIELD: That's OK. We don't need any gifts.
WALLACE: That is so cool.
WHITFIELD: We've got the gift of 11 years thus far.
WALLACE: But the news today and telling what happened over the weekend, what is that Monday night or Tuesday night they had "Dancing with the Stars"?
WHITFIELD: Yes, Monday and Tuesday. And we'll see it again, the finale, two-night finale Monday and Tuesday. "Dancing with the Stars," are you a big watcher of that?
WALLACE: I watched it because I had just gotten off the plane from somewhere, and I was thinking, everybody is complaining, and I watched Brandy, and she was definitely better. And everybody knows she was better and that's why everybody is so upset.
WHITFIELD: What's this all about anyway? Is it about being the best dancer? Is it being the most popular? What's your take on this?
WALLACE: Nobody can complain, and I can't complain. I need to shut the hell up. You know why? Because I didn't vote. Most people complained and other people didn't vote. So you need to shut the hell up. It's a popularity contest. Bristol Palin's fans called in, they voted, she won that night.
WHITFIELD: Period.
WALLACE: Period. That's the way I see it. That's the way it ought to be.
WHITFIELD: And we heard that from her dance partner who says, you know what, if you didn't cast your vote, then you really can't complain.
WALLACE: If they put me on "Dancing with the Stars," you know I'm not going to be the best dancer, but the people love me. They will call in and vote for me. I have like 15 million votes in one night.
WHITFIELD: So in the end, now it's down to Jennifer Grey, you've got cutie Kyle --
WALLACE: Is Kyle from Atlanta? Where's he from? WHITFIELD: His family is actually here.
WALLACE: I think so, yes.
WHITFIELD: We've got cutie him. Then we've got Bristol. So in the end, who do you suppose is going to take the mirror ball trophy?
WALLACE: You know what, it would be so nice for comedians if Bristol won the whole thing.
WHITFIELD: Why?
WALLACE: Because it would just be controversy and we would have something to laugh about and yell about. It would be very nice. As a matter of fact, yeah, I want Bristol -- Bristol, I want you to win. I'm going to call in and vote for you.
WHITFIELD: Because you think that's going to be good fodder for some good comedy?
WALLACE: Oh, hell, yeah. Look at President Obama right now, comedians can't do jokes about him because he's too smart. We can't do a joke, he's the smartest person we've ever had. Comedians are saying we can't say anything about him, he went to Harvard. George Bush, we were all over him every day. George Bush was a funny guy.
WHITFIELD: He went to Yale, he was a smart guy too.
WALLACE: Yeah, but he had this country so screwed up, we had people sneaking back into Mexico.
WHITFIELD: Oh boy.
WALLACE: That was another story.
WHITFIELD: OK, so now your Thanksgiving, you're going to be spending it how?
WALLACE: Oh, Thanksgiving.
WHITFIELD: That's coming up.
WALLACE: T.J. Holmes, is he on this network?
WHITFIELD: Well, yeah, he's on in the morning. He is in the morning.
WALLACE: Well something is wrong with him. He had a nutritionist on this morning. This is Thanksgiving! Let me tell everybody.
WHITFIELD: Yes, he was talking this weekend with a nutritionist, a doctor who was talking about how to do Thanksgiving in a very healthy way.
WALLACE: This is bull crap. This is Thanksgiving. You eat. Let me tell everybody this. This is Thanksgiving, this might be your last day on Earth. You go to your aunt's house, your uncle's house, everybody, you eat all you can.
WHITFIELD: Eat all you want.
WALLACE: You eat all the turkey, you eat pumpkin pie. White people eat pumpkin pie, black people eat sweet potato pie. But eat all you can. Get some Haagen-Dazs ice cream, eat everything you can. Just like Paula Deen says, if it doesn't have a stick of butter in it, it ain't no good. That's what I'm going to do.
WHITFIELD: OK George Wallace, happy Thanksgiving, always good to see you, appreciate it.
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Can you guys say hi, Kenny Latimer (ph).
WALLACE: Get out of here.
LEMON: Just say hi.
WALLACE: Kenny Latimer (ph), I know Kenny.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Yes, we're having Thanksgiving right here.
WALLACE: Fredricka, what's your name, sir?
LEMON: Oh, shucks.
WALLACE: Don, I'm coming to your house for Thanksgiving.
LEMON: My name is Don Wallace.
WALLACE: Don Wallace, that's my son right there. I'm coming to your house or I'm coming to your house.
WHITFIELD: Oh, man! Well, good to see you. OK, we're going to take a short break. Much more right about this. Good to see you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, much more of the CNN NEWSROOM coming your way this time with Don Lemon. He's here now with a preview of what you got.
LEMON: Hang on, I'm tweeting.
WHITFIELD: You're Tweeting.
LEMON: But, no, no I'm joking a little bit. But this is a very serious story that we're going to be talking about including a whole host of other things coming up in a little bit. So Bill Nye, the Science Guy passes out during a lecture. He's always on the University of Southern California. And then this comedian down in New Orleans called Messy Mya, gunned down in the middle of the street. Guess what the witnesses did?
WHITFIELD: For each of those cases?
LEMON: Both of those cases.
WHITFIELD: What did they do?
LEMON: Tweeted instead of helping.
WHITFIELD: Nobody tried to help.
LEMON: No one tried to help.
WHITFIELD: Or at least that wasn't the first response.
LEMON: That wasn't the first response. People were tweeting it and Messy Mya's photo ended up on a Internet in a Twitpic and he died in the middle of the street. Bill Nye laid there, who was only out for about 10 or 15 seconds and he said, I felt like Lady Gaga because I passed out. But people instead of -- I don't know what's going on. So we're talking to a social media guru and some other folks about what happens -- what have we come to where we don't rush to help people? Instead we start Tweeting about what we're doing. What is that?
WHITFIELD: Wow. That is extraordinary. And so any like preview of what your specialist is going to say? Are they saying this is seemingly the sign of the times or everyone needs a new lesson on --
LEMON: Everyone wants to be their own network. Everyone wants to be their mini CNN or the king of something on Twitter or on Facebook or something and they want to get it out there. So it's the rush to create your own content and some other things that are going on in our society.
WHITFIELD: All right, Don Lemon, we're going to hear more on that in the next hour. NEWSROOM coming up.
LEMON: That's right, Fred. Stars here, George Wallace.
WHITFIELD: Coming through CNN all the time. What can we say? We've got much more straight ahead, including CNN equal politics, an update right now. We're keeping an eye on all the latest headlines on the CNNPolitics.com desk.
So right now, here's what's crossing. Hillary Clinton says she will not run for president. In a television interview today, Clinton laughed off speculation that she might challenge President Obama for the 2012 Democratic nomination. She says that she's happy with her current job as U.S. Secretary of State.
Also, talking about 2012 today, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. He suggested that he won't be seeking the Republican presidential nomination, but he left the door open for a vice presidential race. And Republican Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty says the Tea Party is here to stay. He calls it a positive force that's driving accountability and change in the country and he says it will continue to play a large role in national politics. Also, a star-studded gala last night including movie and music stars, plus the rescued Chilean miners greeted the 2010 CNN hero of the year. Our Brooke Anderson was on hand last night as the winner was announced.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Chilean miners, the most inspiring story of the year, kicked off an evening dedicated to people from around the world who are changing the world.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: They are warriors against injustice doing battle for all of us.
ANDERSON: CNN's 2010 Top 10 heroes include a Cambodian man dedicated to clearing the land mines he was forced to plant as a child soldier, and a Scotsman whose program feeds hundreds of thousands of children in 15 countries.
MAGNUS MACFARLANE-BARROW, TOP 10 CNN HERO: Every child in the world should be able to receive at least one good meal every day.
ANDERSON: An ex-con and former drug addict who helps other women just out of prison stay out and stay clean, and a 74-year-old grandmother whose hospital in Juarez, Mexico is an oasis in that violent city.
GUADALUPE ARIZPE DE LA VEGA, TOP 10 CNN HERO: Do not be afraid, and never, never, never give up.
RENEE ZELLWEGER, ACTRESS: Seeing it through that commitment with no fear.
ANDERSON: A host of celebrities were on hand to pay tribute to each hero.
AARON ECKHART, ACTOR: It's inspiring for our young children and for me and for all those people out there who want to do good for the world.
ANDERSON: Sugarland, John Legend featuring Common and Melanie Fiona, and Bon Jovi provided the music, and nearly two million online votes provided the Hero of the Year.
COOPER: Anuradha Koirala.
ANDERSON: Anuradha was awarded an additional $100,000 for her work in Nepal rescuing thousands of girls from sexual slavery.
ANURADHA KOIRALA, CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: We need to do this for all our daughters.
ANDERSON: All ten heroes received $25,000 each, but the examples they set are priceless. Brooke Anderson, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: And you don't want to miss the whole thing. You can catch it in its entirety, "CNN Heroes" special. Thanksgiving night, the CNN Heroes all-star tribute with Anderson Cooper begins Thursday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. See you back here next weekend. Have a great Thanksgiving week. Don Lemon is coming up next.
