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Weather Issues Ground Many Flight In U.S., Europe; Charity Provides Care Packages For American Soldiers; Pakistani Taliban Takes Credit For Bombing That Killed Over 100; Some Stores Still Open On Christmas Day; "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" Makes Top 10 List Of Entertainment Stories of 2010; Stranger Buys Gifts For Family of Struggling Woman; Former Inmate Organizes Gift Giving Charity For Children of Inmates

Aired December 25, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning this Christmas Day. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Happy holidays to all of you.

Coming up this morning, take a look at this. Live pictures from Hartsfield-Jackson airport from here in Atlanta. Where is the activity? Not a whole lot happening there. We will explain why. You saw one plane take off. Why there aren't others taking off and whether weather may have an impact. Bonne Schneider will be along with us to give us more.

Also this morning, a story that could have had a bad ending, but instead it is saved by some good holiday spirit. It involves a would- be bad check and the kindness of a stranger.

First, a quick look at some other headlines.

At least 43 are dead in northwest Pakistan. The victims were waiting to get food at a World Food Program center. We will take you live to Pakistan for more in just a few minutes.

And if you have any goodies from Chicago's Rolf's Patisserie you may want to toss them out even if you received them by mail. The baker is recalled cakes, cookies, pies, and other products because some may contain staph bacteria. All of Rolf's deserts made after December 1st are affected.

And the man behind the controversial mosque proposed near Ground Zero may be coming to a city near you. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is planning a speaking tour to promote the project next month. He's visiting about a dozen cities, but most of the engagements will actually be closed to the general public.

Christians around the world are marking Christmas and the birth of Jesus with services and celebrations. In Vatican City this morning, tens of thousands of the faithful gathered for the Pope's traditional blessing. Pope Benedict led prayers for peace from the balcony at St. Peter's basilica, reading his message in 64 languages.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE BENEDICT, XVI: May your heart be filled with hope and joy, for the savior that was born for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

And closer to home in Washington, Christians marked this holy day with midnight mass. As always it was at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic Church in the western hemisphere and the eighth largest basilica in the world.

President Barack Obama and his family are spending the holidays in Hawaii. Before leaving the White House, he and the first lady delivered a Christmas message to America honoring U.S. troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Merry Christmas, everybody. Michelle and I just wanted to take a moment to say greetings from our family to yours.

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: This is one of our favorite times of year, and we are so fortunate to be able to celebrate it together in this wonderful home. In this time of family and friends and good cheer, let's also be sure to look out for those who are less fortunate, who hit a run of bad luck or who are hungry and alone this holiday season.

B. OBAMA: Today we are also thinking of those who can't be home for the holidays, especially all of our courageous countrymen serving overseas. So let's all remind them of this holiday season that we're thinking of them and that America will forever be there for them, just as they have been there for us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And while on vacation the president may get a better understanding of a Republican icon. He is reading the biography of former president Ronald Reagan by Lou Cannon.

Many people who planned to travel for Christmas are probably pretty upset and disappointed this morning to say the very least. Delta Airlines Cancelled 500 flights Christmas Day. Delta is also joining Continental, and Air Tran, in waiving penalties for those who have to reschedule over the weekend.

But you're looking at these pictures at Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta. There is no snow, no rain, none of the stuff that prompted Delta to preemptively cancel all these flights. So you know passengers are upset.

(WEATHER BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Now let's go overseas on to Paris where thousands of travelers woke up this Christmas morning stranded at the city's main airport. Hundreds of flights were cancelled because of a shortage of de-icing fluid disrupting travel for 30,000. But we are also getting word that things are starting to rebound at Charles de Gaulle Airport today. Joining by phone is CNN's Niki Cook. Niki, are you with us?

NIKI COOK, CNN'S PARIS BUREAU, PRODUCTION MANAGER, (via telephone): Yes, Fredricka. And it is better today. but there are about 300 people who slept over at the airport last night. But the weather is back up. Not a lot of ice. The planes are finally taking off.

WHITFIELD: So why did so many folks decide to stay at the airport, not knowing when flights would be going out, especially since so much was grounded because of no de-icing, they weren't going to get warmer temperatures? How did they manage in the airport?

COOK: That is a good question. Many people were in transit. It wasn't like they could hop on a bus and go back home. There was one particular situation, a family had been waiting for two years to make a trip to Tunisia and decided they would stick it out at the airport. I guess, have a strange experience of Christmas. Hopefully, the first they end up at the airport.

WHITFIELD: Yesterday the airport was trying to apiece folks in some small way, handing out chocolates, that's nice in the holiday season when you are stuck in an airport, and water. Did they have enough to go around?

COOK: Actually, they did. The terminals were empty last night. They handed out warm meals. There was even a mass celebrated there for the few that were there. A lot of folks ended up going to hotels last night anyway. The good news is they are finally getting on planes today and making it to their final destination.

WHITFIELD: That is good news. Niki Cook, thank you so much. Check back with you. Out of Paris, there.

In the meantime, on to Pakistan, where displaced by war are now hit again by tragedy. We are going live to Islamabad, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: At least 43 people are dead and 90 hurt in a suicide blast in Pakistan. The victims were lining up for badly needed food supplies. Lets' get right to Chris Lawrence who is in Islamabad. So Chris, what else do we know about what happened?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Fred, in the last hour or so, we have learned that the Pakistan Taliban have taken credit for the suicide bombing earlier today, and we're getting confirmation the death toll now is at least 40 people were killed.

And if you can probably imagine in a line, when people are lining up to get food, we are hearing that seven were killed that were women, and four were children.

The Pakistan military come into this area, it is part of the tribal area of Pakistan bordering with Afghanistan. And the Pakistani military clear out militants from that area, but the Pakistan Taliban had promised some sort of retribution.

When they had that fighting it displaced a lot of the families. Many are coming back to the area that is why the World Food Program set up the food distribution point for them coming back. They were giving away a month of food and supplies to the families. They were all lined up, about 300 people waiting to go through the security check point to get the aid, and that is when the suicide bomber blew themselves up and obviously caused tremendous damage there. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Chris, thank you so much from Islamabad.

Elsewhere, 31 people are dead in a series of bombings in Nigeria as people were celebrating Christmas Eve. Muslims and Christians have been at odds in Nigeria for years, but there is no reason for what the reason for this attack nor who carried it out.

And you are about to meet a couple that knows what it is like to be miles from home on the holidays fighting for their country. They want to make sure no soldier feels alone again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Look at the art work. "Dear soldier, I hope you are not hurt and sad."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Gifts for troops next.

Plus, some people doing last-minute Christmas shopping today. And Josh, where are they going?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Millions of people are doing literal last-minute shopping. If you are one of them, you have options. We'll show you where to pick up those gifts today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, a Massachusetts couple wants to make sure that every soldier knows that he or she is appreciated, and not just during the holidays. They run "Operation American Soldier" to make sure troops get the necessities and a few extras. Our Allan Chernoff explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF: For John and Wendy Rocca, every season is the season of giving. Each one represents an active duty soldier in need. It all began in 2003 when daughter Tracy was serving in Iraq and asked dad for help.

JOHN ROCCA, CO-FOUNDER, OPERATION AMERICAN SOLDIER: I said, what do you need? She said everything.

CHERNOFF: She told her parents, some soldiers never even get a letter from home. That is when the Roccas decided to send packages to total strangers.

JOHN ROCCA: The soldier behind the desk says, there is no mail. How do you feel? All of a sudden he says, sorry, by the way, here. Here is a package for you from a total stranger.

WENDY ROCCA, CO-FOUNDER, OPERATION AMERICAN SOLDIER: How can you say no to any soldier that is out there? They need support.

CHERNOFF: Soldiers began to refer soldiers, and from the Roccas home, "Operation American Soldier" was born. It has been seven years now. The Roccas and their volunteers have mailed packages to over 2,000 service men and women.

WENDY ROCCA: It lets them know there are a lot of people that support them.

CHERNOFF: Every package comes with a note of thanks, some from second graders.

WENDY ROCCA: "Dear soldier, I hope you are not hurt and sad."

CHERNOFF: Imagine being on the receiving end of that.

We spoke to their son Sergeant Tony Roca via Skype from Iraq.

SGT. TONY ROCCA, JOHN AN WENDY'S SON: It's great for morale. Even if it only lasts 30 seconds, you get to be somewhere else for that 30 seconds. The best, right here, some peanut butter, because travel food is not always that great.

CHERNOFF: A taste from home -- something they want every soldier to have.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So special.

You think by now everybody has their Christmas shopping done, right?

(LAUGHTER)

I can understand. Sometimes, you can't get it all in and you are hoping that you can get a good deal. On Christmas Day though? After Christmas, I get it, but on Christmas day?

LEVS: I was surprised. How many are shopping today? Look at this.

WHITFIELD: Spend some of the money you got for the holidays.

(CROSSTALK)

LEVS: We will tell you who is open today. I bet you are wondering the same thing. Walgreens, one of the stores that is open today. They have a bunch of places open throughout the day that are available. You can you pick up stuffed animals, perfume. You may be surprised at how many gifts you can find right there.

Also CVS, a lot of their stores are open 24 hours, even on Christmas, others are open 9:00 to 6:00. If you need last-minute gifts, you may be surprised. And they sell gift cards, one of the most requested presents that there are.

Blockbuster has stores open today. Get favorite movies, gift cards. Starbuck's, you may want coffee, what they have done, especially over the last couple of months, is stock up on gifting-type things.

And gas stations, if you go inside, you may find some things in the convenience stores, you don't have to say where you got it. Or maybe you want to.

Let me show you something, I posted links about it at my Facebook and Twitter pages. I'm at Josh Levs, CNN. Take a look. Let us know if you are shopping today, if you are one of those on the lookout for presents.

I will end with this -- how many are shopping online today. Look at this picture, 14 million Americans planning to do shopping online today. If you want to print something out and say I got you something, it is coming, you can do that.

WHITFIELD: People are doing that too, just print out a page?

LEVS: It is better than nothing.

WHITFIELD: You're right. That's very inventive. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that one.

(LAUGHTER)

So, are you spending time with family and friends over the holidays, and you are looking for an indoor activity perhaps that you can share with the whole gang. Well, we actually have that. Go to CNN.com and search for intriguing people. You will find CNN's list of those we consider the most intriguing of 2010. And you as a family can sit around and talk about that and, I guess, quiz and game on one another about who might be on that list. Of course, we will be announcing the winner this coming Thursday.

And I hope you are at a comfortable place today, not stuck in an airport. There are so many cancellations because of threatening winter storms. Let's check in with our Bonnie Schneider. Maybe people are calling in advance and they are not stuck at the airport because that would be so miserable.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, my best advice, leave tonight, leave tomorrow morning, because by the time we get to Sunday and Monday, we are looking at a major Nor'easter that will impact the northeast. But tomorrow, if you are waiting for years for a white Christmas, your dreams are about to come true. We'll talk about those places to see a white Christmas for the first time.

WHITFIELD: It is early, Christmas morning, so we have a bit to go before the end of Christmas day. Anything can happen weather-wise, right?

All right, also this morning, a woman was about to write a bad check to try to buy some Christmas gifts for her children. She found out there really is a Santa, a secret Santa.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking some of the top stories right now. This Christmas morning, a tradition, Pope Benedict delivered his blessings in 64 languages from the balcony of St. Peter's basilica.

And in their weekly addresses, both President Obama and Republicans singled out American service personnel for special thanks. They assured the troops their sacrifices is recognized and appropriated by all Americans.

If you are a ticketed passenger perhaps on Delta or flying in or out of Atlanta, you are not in luck today. Some 500 Delta flights have been cancelled because of impending bad weather due to hit the southeast.

(WEATHER BREAK)

WHITFIELD: An Indiana woman who was struggling to make ends meet this Christmas wants to thank an unidentified benefactor. Just when she thought her kids would not have much under the tree, the special someone stepped in and saved their holiday. We get the story from our Trevor Shirley of our affiliate WSJV in Elkhart, Indiana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TREVOR SHIRLEY, CORRESPONDENT, WSJV, ELKHART, INDIANA: Jennifer White knew she couldn't afford Christmas for her daughters, but still she headed into this Wal-Mart.

JENNIFER WHITE, RECEIVED UNEXPECTED GIFT: I normally don't do well around Christmas.

SHIRLEY: She knew she had no money in her checking account, and with Christmas looming, things didn't look good.

WHITE: I had a little bag of stuff, but it didn't add up to much.

SHIRLEY: She did her shopping coming to a grand total of $160.

WHITE: I have overdraft protection, so it was going to put me in the hole.

SHIRLEY: Jennifer stepped up to the register to buy what she could, and that's when fate stepped in to see her through.

WHITE: A gentleman walked up behind me in line, and he asked me and the cashier both if we were ready for Christmas.

SHIRLEY: Then Jennifer pulled out her empty debit card.

WHITE: I started to swipe it, and the gentleman said, no, I got this.

SHIRLEY: Stunned, Jennifer couldn't believe what was happening.

WHITE: I was floored, I was shocked. I couldn't even talk. I didn't know if he was serious.

SHIRLEY: But the man was serious and it didn't stop with buying her gifts. He then handed her another $200 in cash and disappeared.

WHITE: Before I had a chance to load up my stuff and follow him, he was out of sight. I didn't get his name, I didn't get anything.

SHIRLEY: Jennifer did manage to give him a hug, but that was it. She had no idea who her mysterious benefactor was or why he chose her.

WHITE: I couldn't ask for a better Christmas present. And to get it from a stranger is just phenomenal.

SHIRLEY: And with presents under the tree, Jennifer's daughter Trinity wishes she could meet the man who made it happen.

WHITE: Thank you, like, a million times, and give him a big hug. I would probably cry right there.

SHIRLEY: So while Jennifer has no idea who the mystery man was, what she knows for sure is that he saved her kids' Christmas.

WHITE: There is no way I could ever pay it back. I would give him so much if I could.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: So White has already started paying it forward. She put some of the money given to her by the stranger in a Salvation Army kettle and gave a bit to a homeless man as well. She hopes the stranger will step forward so she can thank him properly.

She was a winner at the Oscars but suffered a heartbreak at home. Sandra Bullock makes the top 10 list of the most popular entertainment stories of 2010. And who was the top of that list? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: There was plenty of drama in the entertainment world this year, and not just on the screen. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

A.J. HAMMER, HLN HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I am A.J. Hammer, host of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" with the top 10 entertainment stories of 2010. At number 10, we have Michael Douglas's cancer battle. He underwent eight weeks of radiation treatment. He told "People" magazine he is feeling stronger every day, but he still has a long road ahead.

At number nine, a shakeup on the set of "American Idol." Jennifer Lopez is hoping to lessen the blow following the departure of Simon Cowell. Aerosmith's Stephen Tyler and Randy Jackson join Lopez, the last original judge left.

Number eight, the late night wars got ugly. It was team Leno against team Coco, and it ended with Jay Leno leaving primetime to take back his seat on "The Tonight Show." Conan O'Brien ended up with a $30 million payday a new show on TBS.

Bristol Palin's dancing success comes in at number seven.

BRISTOL PALIN: I am grateful for those who voted for us and kept us here the whole time.

HAMMER: Some say her mother's political backers were stacking the vote during Bristol's run on "Dancing with the Stars." She finishing third.

At number six, "Jersey Shore" conquers the world. They were everyone's guilty pleasure as the new reality show captured our TV attention. "Newsweek Magazine" even called them America's new icon.

The top five entertainment stories of 2010 right after this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HAMMER: I'm A.J. Hammer. Now back to the list of the top 10 entertainment stories of 2010.

Number five is the amazing number of high profile Hollywood breakups. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar and then got a divorce. And Eva Longoria and Tony Parker also split. And calling it quits, Ryan Reynolds and his bride of just two years, Scarlett Johansson.

And number four is Lindsay Lohan's wild wide.

LINDSAY LOHAN, ACTRESS: I am not taking it as a joke. It's my life.

HAMMER: In between her missed court dates and inappropriate courtroom behavior, the fading starlet got sent to prison twice, but the second time was just for 14 hours. She is hoping to make a comeback, has to finish rehab first.

Charlie Sheen's troubles and triumphs are number three. In August he pleaded guilty to assaulting his wife and in October trashed a New York City hotel room, where a porn star said he attacked her. But he is sitting pretty with a massive paycheck from "Two and a Half Men."

Mel Gibson's relationship issues are number two. The voice sounds like Mel Gibson, but we haven't verified that it actually was.

And the number one entertainment story of the year is Gaga, Lady Gaga, that is. She was everywhere this year, from speaking out against "don't ask, don't tell" to wearing a meat dress to MTV's Video Music Awards. She also sold millions of albums and got six Grammy nominations and more than a billion people watched her videos on YouTube.

I'm A.J. Hammer and those are the top 10 entertainment stories of 2010.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: The tough economy has been a huge issue for years now. One of the often overlooked parts of the story is now charitable organizations are also suffering, a story even more powerful during this holiday season.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: You can count the flakes. It looks like a white Christmas after all in Washington, D.C. as part of the nor'easter is already underway in other parts of the country, including the southeast now. I guess they are expecting snow today, too. There is history to be made on this Christmas day, a beautiful day, especially on Christmas, a snowy Christmas day.

On this day, with so many sharing gifts with others, charitable groups need your help as well. They are trying to meet their fundraising goals, but the sluggish economy is not helping. So our Sandra Endo has been doing a little digging to find out what they're doing. To what lengths are they going to try to get people to donate?

SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The recession has been so hard on so many families that there is not a lot of extra money to give, especially to causes people feel really passionate about. And CNN did a recent poll this week saying that 58 percent of people in this economy are forced not to give to charitable organizations, they are cutting back. And 36 percent say they will give the same amount as last year, and six percent say they do not donate money to charity because they don't have a lot of money to give.

And it is a hard time for charities right now. And many charities are on a big push to tap into the spirit of giving during the holiday season.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ENDO: It is snack time for 15-month-old twins Dennis and Trinity Ford, born just a month after their father Derrick was wounded in Afghanistan. SGT. DERRICK FORD, WOUNDED VETERAN: Any parent will tell you, being around kids make you want to pull your own hair out, and you top that on top of being a wounded vet.

ENDO: Ford's injury resulted in the loss of his left leg, enduring more than a year of surgeries and physical therapy. His wife Michelle is juggling caring for their newborns and her husband.

MICHELLE FORD, WIFE OF WOUNDED SOLDIER: We are dealing with this situation where were just out of our comfort zone.

ENDO: The Ford's found help from the Military Heroes Fund which provided free daycare for the babies during his treatment. It raises the majority of its money in the holiday season, but this current economy, people have less to give.

According to a recent report from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, donations to the nation's 400 biggest charities dropped 11 percent in 2009 and ,any large charities say they don't expect this year to be much better than last. That's somber news.

MICHELLE FORD: The need is real and we are requesting support, especially in the season of giving.

ENDO: The foundation says a gift this holiday season could impact someone for a lifetime.

DERRICK FORD: We would have been complete train wrecks if it wasn't for the social support system around here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ENDO: And if you don't have extra money to give, there are other ways to donate and volunteer. Fred, you know so many can donate their time to volunteer in a soup kitchen. That is a way to give back.

And all of that extra old clothing you don't wear, you can donate it to charity. They are looking for food items and equipment that may be lying around your house it is another way to give. You do get that tax break. It is the season to give right now especially to charities who really need it.

WHITFIELD: Sure, there are lots of incentive, number one, that you are helping your fellow mankind SPITZER: in the season of giving. And I guess when people check their pantry, any of those nonperishable goods, they would be nice.

ENDO: And give to your firefighters, police officers, those working this holiday season is nice. And getting a home-cooked meal is good, right?

WHITFIELD: I say yes to all the invitations to that.

All right, thanks so much, Sandra, appreciate it. Merry Christmas.

ENDO: Merry Christmas

Of course, we saw a lot of big stories coming out of Washington this year, the GOP takeover of the house, "don't ask, don't tell" repeal. A look at what could be next year's political jaw droppers, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A first glance that looked like a hazy Washington, D.C. Instead it is a snowy nation's capital this morning.

Meantime, more than eight million American kids will wake up this Christmas morning with a parent in prison, but they are not forgotten thanks to a program called "Angel Tree." CNN's Kyra Phillips reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The smiles and laughter from these children may be one of the best gifts of parents serving time can receive. Angel Tree has brightened their Christmas and it all started with a convicted felon named Mary Kay Beard.

MARY KAY BEARD, ANGEL TREE FOUNDER/PRISON FELLOWSHIP: The headlines referred to me of the Bonnie Parker of Alabama, and my specialty was a double barreled sawed off shot gun, which I carried in a very attractive attache case.

PHILLIPS: She was known as a safe cracker, a gun packing bank robber that made the FBI 10 most wanted list. She was arrested in 1972. And while serving time, she noticed her fellow inmates, especially women with children, saved, sorted, and traded most donations that they had received.

BEARD: And I looked at the woman, the number of piles they had organized corresponded with the number of children they had. And that is what they planned to give their own children at Christmas time.

PHILLIPS: After her release, she began working with prison fellowship ministries.

BEARD: My first assignment was a Christmas project. I knew instantly it was the children that we needed to do something for, not the inmate.

PHILLIPS: Since 1982, her idea has grown, now helping an estimated 1.7 million children who have parents behind bars.

KEONNA SMITH: It is exciting. I wasn't expecting to get a lot of gifts.

PHILLIPS: Children like 10 year-old Keonna Smith.

CASSANDRA GRANT, CAREGIVER: It's making it possible for him to be part of her life.

PHILLIPS: But she is not the only one. Each child at this Angel Tree Christmas party received gifts, a token of love on behalf of an incarcerated parent.

Natoshia Quander signed up her four sons while in prison. She was released in July and is grateful for the support her family received.

NATOSHIA QUANDER, FORMER INMATE: Angel Tree did something I couldn't do, get presents for our kids.

PHILLIPS: Mary Kay said her mission meets every child's need, the need to feel loved by parents who can't be with them during the holidays.

Kyra Phillips, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Before lawmaker left Washington for the holidays, they managed to work together and pass a lot of last minute legislation. CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser looks at whether that cooperation will continue into the New Year. Paul?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Fred. The last couple of weeks in Washington with the White House, Democrats, and Republicans in Congress coming together to pass a lot of big bills in the lame duck session.

Not to be a downer this holiday weekend, but looking ahead to next year, I am not sure the holiday spirit will linger.

First off starting next month, we'll have a new Congress with Republicans controlling the House and Democrats with a weaker and smaller majority in the Senate.

And look at some of the issues coming up early in the new year. Expect big battles over the new budget. The measure the lame duck passed only keeps the government's lights on until early March. Then there is the expected fight over raising the country's debt ceiling, and don't be surprised to see House Republicans push a bill to repeal the new healthcare law.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I'm not naive. I know there will be tough fights in the months ahead. But my hope heading into the new year is that we can continue to heed the message of the American people and hold to a spirit of common purpose in 2011 and beyond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: That may be tough. It won't be easy for Democrats and Republicans to find common ground on any issues. And remember, hovering over all this, the next battle for the White House, which gets underway next year. Fred?

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much, Paul. The latest now from the world of sports, a suspension of two Mississippi State basketball players. Bernardo Sidney and Elegan Bailey our out indefinitely after fighting in the stands during a tournament in Hawaii. Their fight was caught on national television, of course. The roommates went at it for several minutes before teammates and coaches managed to separate them.

And later today on the hard court, the NBA match up, a lot of folks have been anticipating that, Kobe versus LeBron and company. The defending NBA champs the Los Angeles Lakers go face to face with the Miami Heat at 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

Our producer Andy Williams says he will be watching. He won't be there. That is what he would prefer, but he said he will watch it on television. You love me for that one, Eddie.

(LAUGHTER)

And then on to the NFL's Christmas showdown, the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.

It was really quiet. I am surprised I didn't have Eddie in my ear at that moment because that usually would provoke him to say something. It is quiet.