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Arrests Made in California High School Shooting; Arizona Shooting Surveillance Video Revealed; Positive Signs for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords; Senator Joe Lieberman Announces Retirement; Washington Welcomes Chinese President

Aired January 19, 2011 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to you all. I'm Brooke Baldwin. A lot going on this hour.

First, you have the Detroit police now telling CNN moments ago they have made an arrest in that serial rape case. Remember, I spoke with the -- the police chief just yesterday. He told me they were looking for, his words, a monster. Today, they have someone in custody.

Plus, there is video from the scene of the Tucson shooting. Police are not releasing it, but they are describing it frame by frame, as we are getting some very encouraging news about the recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

And, if you have been watching CNN, you have been watching these photo-ops really all day. You've heard from the leaders. We think it's about time we talk context. How important are these images of both President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao? Fareed Zakaria will be joining me in just a couple of minutes with his analysis of these photos.

And there are two arrests in the school shooting we were reporting at this time yesterday as breaking news. We will get to all of that in just a moment here.

But, first, just in here to CNN, we are getting word we have a statement -- we have a statement from Congresswoman Giffords' office. And if I may just cheat and look at my e-mail, they are saying the next phase of recovery for the congresswoman is likely to begin later this week -- this week -- when she will be transported to one of the best rehabilitation hospitals in the nation. The congresswoman is expected to move Friday to this rehab hospital in Houston, but, because they say they -- they describe it as a fluid situation, the exact day of the move will depend on the congresswoman's health.

So, that is incredibly encouraging news, obviously, for the congresswoman who was shot in -- through the brain just two Saturdays ago. We will have more on her condition, get an update for you, and talk a little bit more about the video -- the surveillance video from the Tucson shootings.

But I want to get to this, more on Tucson, all -- all of the shock, all of the horror, and amid the chaos, an act of selfless heroism. You're about to hear graphic details of the Tucson shooting rampage, every single second captured from multiple angles by surveillance cameras in and around that Safeway store where Congresswoman Giffords was greeting her constituents.

Richard Kastigar is the chief investigator for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. And he has seen frame by frame the surveillance video. And he describes the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords to us in clear detail in a way we have yet to hear it until now. I want you to listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

R.J. KASTIGAR, BUREAU CHIEF, PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: There's a portion of the tape where you can see very clearly that Jared, the suspect comes out on one of the doors, he walks around a table, a collapsible perhaps a six-foot table, and when he does so with very significant purpose.

He walks up to the congresswoman, points a gun at her face and shoots. She is barely in the frame of that -- of that video.

It was clear to me that he was within 24 to 36 inches of her face with the weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Well, the gunman is far from through. Within seconds, dozens more shots are fired and a life is lost in an effort to save another.

We're going to have more on what Kastigar, Chief Investigative Officer Kastigar, had to say about more of that video here and about Judge Roll's role.

But now I want to take you to Spokane, Washington, where federal authorities are on this manhunt. They're looking for the person, maybe persons responsible for what the FBI is now calling an attempt at domestic terrorism. Want you to take a look at that picture.

You see that? That's a backpack. Someone left it on this metal bench where an MLK Day parade was set to pass by. It reportedly had wires poking out of it. They obviously aroused suspicion enough so that police were alerted, called in.

Inside, they found a device wrapped in wires with a remote trigger device.

Here's what the FBI is saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK HARRILL, FBI SPECIAL AGENT: -- the unsung heroes in all of this. A lot of things fell into place to -- to thwart that attack and avert tragedy, but it started with those three employees there that -- that did the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Thomas Clouse has been digging on the story for the "Spokesman-Review" newspaper. He's going to join me right after the break from Spokane, Washington.

But, first, we will get you a quick break in here, in fact, more from the Tucson shooting, surveillance video, and we will speak with this newspaper reporter.

Also, we're getting word from Congresswoman Giffords' office. Again, her condition is so much so improved, she will be getting into that rehab facility later this week.

And did you hear what the governor of Alabama said right after being inaugurated? He is getting all kinds of criticism today, especially from non-Christians.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ROBERT BENTLEY (R), ALABAMA: I, Robert Bentley --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do solemnly swear --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I want to take you back to Tucson.

I mentioned just a moment ago that every most of the Tucson shooting two Saturdays ago is -- is captured from several angles from surveillance cameras. And the resulting videos have been seen only by investigators.

But one of those investigators was describing to us what he has seen on the videos. And, in fact, one scene in particular really stands out to him.

I want you to listen as the chief investigator for the Pima County sheriff's office describes what happens in the frantic seconds after Congresswoman Giffords is shot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASTIGAR: The suspect then turns to his left and actually kind of walks out of the -- the perspective or the video itself. And we know, from talking to witnesses, and others in and around that chaotic scene, that he fired indiscriminately from that point forward at people that were seated in chairs.

This would have been to the congresswoman's right. He then turns back to his right, and engages the aide for the congresswoman, Mr. Barber, you can see that he is shot up and around the face and neck area. At that very moment, as Mr. Barber is attempting to go to the ground perhaps as a result of the injury, or perhaps to flee. You can see the judge, Judge Roll, very purposefully put his arms over on Mr. Barber, pushed him down, in an attempt to have him crawl under the table but actually is an obstruction from the two of them for escaping that rests behind them.

And it's my estimation that the judge really, I think, offers himself, or helps a friend or a colleague by pushing him under the table, in doing so, he exposes his back to the shooter. The shooter then does shoot him in the back. And you can see before the tape finishes that they're starting to really retreat from the opposite side of the table.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hmm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Judge Roll was killed in that attack, but the man he was trying to help, Giffords' aide, John (sic) Barber, survived.

And I want to play you one more moment, talk about one more moment here from this video. Investigators say it indicates the shootings were very much so premeditated. The reason -- or at least one of the reasons? The suspect was wearing earplugs.

Here again, Chief Investigator Kastigar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASTIGAR: We know he was wearing earplugs, because when he was arrested, the earplugs were removed. And that suggests perhaps, in my mind, some understanding of what he was about to do. Actually, he was in the Safeway. There was even a video of him talking to one of the grocery clerks in there. He's pointing to his ear to indicate to the clerk that he can't hear because he's got earplugs in.

WHITFIELD: Hmm. Mm-hmm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Earplugs.

More encouraging news, though, today about Representative Giffords' recovery. It comes in an e-mail Giffords' mother sent to family and friends. And CNN was able to get this e-mail from a friend of the family.

In it, Gloria Giffords writes that the congresswoman -- quote -- "shows higher levels of comprehension and complex actions every day." And Mrs. Giffords reveals that her daughter will be moved to Houston, as we also -- I just read to you, in part of that e-mail on Friday, to begin what they're calling aggressive rehabilitation therapy.

And, just moments ago, the congresswoman's office confirmed that she will be moved to TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. The hospital has more than 40 years experience -- experience treating brain injuries like the one Representative Giffords received.

And this just in here: Police in Detroit, they are now telling us they have a person of interest in custody in that serial rape case.

In total, since the 1st of the year, there were eight attacks, seven of which -- of which were rapes, one was attempted, since January 1. I talked to Chief Godbee just yesterday here live on CNN, told me that they were warning families in the city of Detroit, be careful, particularly around bus stops late at night.

So, again, a person of interest is in custody in this Detroit serial rape case. And, obviously, as soon as they receive -- release more information this afternoon, we will bring it to you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

But checking some of our other top stories now, former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier, also known as Baby Doc, facing charges. There he is, though. You see him on that balcony. He was waving to supporters outside of his hotel Tuesday after being escorted to a Port-au-Prince courthouse for a hearing.

Now, the charges relate to alleged financial corruption and could include human rights violations. A lawyer for Duvalier says he has no plans to leave his homeland, and he plans to fight those charges against him. He also added Baby Doc might get back into politics.

Iran has executed 57 people since the beginning of this year. That is an average of one execution every eight hours, according to this human rights group. Iran state-run media reports 10 men, all convicted drug smugglers, were put to death this morning. China is the only country that tops Iran in terms of executions, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

And the U.S. House of Representatives is now debating whether to repeal President Obama's health care overhaul. Now, the House is expected to pass the repeal, but not the Senate.

President Obama, top Democrats are opposing any repeal. Republicans say, if they cannot repeal the legislation, they're going to try to stop funding for key provisions and perhaps craft an alternate plan.

In Washington this morning, we had all the pomp and circumstances today. Did you see this moment? It caught our attention this morning. Sasha Obama, you see her in the white jacket, white scarf, on a class trip, clearly one of -- one of several greeted by China's president. So, coming up, just how rare is it for the leader of China to reach out, shake hands with a crowd, like you're seeing him do there today?

Also, Joe Lieberman announcing he is retiring. So, when we come back, we will have more on his big announcement and what it means for the future of the Senate -- after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now to Spokane, Washington, where federal authorities are on a manhunt. They're looking for a person, maybe persons, responsible for what the FBI is calling an attempt at domestic terrorism.

Take a look at the backpack. Someone left it on a bench where an MLK Day parade was set to pass by. Reportedly, there wires were inside, some sort of package, that obviously arousing suspicion. Police were called in, and inside they found this device that was wrapped in wires with a remote trigger device.

Again, here was the FBI.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRILL: -- the unsung heroes in all of this. A lot of things fell into place to -- to thwart that attack and avert tragedy, but it started with those three employees there that -- that did the right thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Thomas Clouse has been digging on this story for the "Spokesman-Review" newspaper, joins me from Spokane.

And, Thomas, this was a very close call for your city, was it not?

THOMAS CLOUSE, REPORTER, "THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW": Absolutely.

One of the things the FBI said today was, through this thwarted attack, they're just simply looking for a suspect or suspects. They're not having to deal with the carnage, the loss of life that they had in Tucson and other events such as that.

BALDWIN: Thank goodness.

But I know you're -- you're talking to your sources, Thomas. What are you hearing as far as the specifics of this device itself? Do you know how it was made, how it would -- would have detonated?

CLOUSE: The FBI is not going into the specifics about the bomb itself, but they are concerned about the placement of it.

It was placed on a metal bench with a brick wall behind it, meaning that the blast would have gone out into the street --

BALDWIN: Hmm.

CLOUSE: -- where the march was intended to pass by.

BALDWIN: Yes, I think the FBI is quoted as saying multiple casualties -- multiple casualties there.

What about the bag itself? We described what -- what -- what they're saying about the device, but were there any clues left inside the bag? I was reading something about T-shirts that might help with -- with a lead.

CLOUSE: Well, there were some T-shirts left inside with some printing on them that -- that they're tracking down. They did issue a lot of information yesterday about the Swiss Army brand backpack and the T-shirts. And the FBI said today that they have gotten several leads based off that information. But they do not yet have anyone in custody.

BALDWIN: What about a reward, Thomas? Is a reward being offered?

CLOUSE: They're offering $20,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. They have multiple agencies, everybody from Homeland Security, ATF and FBI, investigating. They have cased the neighborhood, looking for anyone who has surveillance of that area between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

BALDWIN: And, big picture -- and again, we don't know what the motive was, we don't know who -- who left this backpack.

But, for decades, Spokane has really had this history of incidents involving white supremacy. We don't know if that's connected. But -- but give me some background there.

CLOUSE: Well, the FBI did point to that, saying that it's -- it cannot be overlooked that this was placed along a march route celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Obviously, we live near Hayden Lake, which for years was the headquarters for the Aryan Nations. We did have three successful bombings in 1996, all of which were either connected to Aryan Nations or white supremacists.

BALDWIN: Well, Thomas Clouse, if they release any of that surveillance video, do me a favor and call us back. We would like to have that and we would like to take a look at and --

CLOUSE: Well --

BALDWIN: -- shown anyone who might have been in the area.

Thank you, sir. Appreciate it.

Coming up here: Joe Lieberman making a joke as he announces his retirement today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: And I said: "Sweetheart, I want to make you a promise today. I promise you that, when Regis leaves television I will leave the Senate!"

(LAUGHTER)

LIEBERMAN: And here we are!

(LAUGHTER)

LIEBERMAN: Right? (LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And there goes Reeg, and, apparently, there goes Joe Lieberman.

When we come back, we are going to have more on his big announcement and what it means really for the future of the U.S. Senate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back.

Four terms in the U.S. Senate -- do the math -- that is 24 years in total, and Connecticut's Joe Lieberman says, that will be enough. Here he is today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMAN: I have decided that it's time to turn the page to a new chapter, and so I will not be a candidate for reelection to a fifth term in the United States Senate in 2012.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, here is a guy, you remember, he was Al Gore's running mate, the Democrats' nominee for vice president. And, today, there are Democrats out there who are popping champagne corks to see that Joe Lieberman is moving on.

Jessica Yellin, our national political correspondent, how did that happen?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh.

(LAUGHTER)

YELLIN: Well, Brooke --

(LAUGHTER)

YELLIN: -- you know, one year, he was at the Democratic Convention, as you point out -- out, as the Democrats' vice presidential nominee. Then, eight years later, he's on stage at the Republican Convention endorsing the Republican nominee.

So, at that point, the question becomes, you know, who are his natural voters, Democrats, Republicans, independents? Who's with him in this environment?

I will tell you that Democrats, as you point out, do feel that they have a solid chance of picking up -- they feel -- it's all -- you can never be certain, but they're going to pick up that seat in 2012 because he's retiring.

BALDWIN: OK. So, Lieberman today, we were talking Kent Conrad just yesterday, both declining to run in 2010. We have a Republican- led House now.

And now the Democrats' chances of holding on to the Senate just got a little smaller. I mean, big picture, balance of power here, what are we looking at?

YELLIN: Well, in the Senate right now, the Democrats control 51 seats. With the two independents, that's a total of 53 votes going with the Democrats usually.

In 2012, Democrats have to defend a lot more seats than Republicans -- 23 Democrats up for reelection, only 10 Republicans up for reelection. So odds don't look great for Dems based on that right now, but keep in mind, Brooke, that right around this time last cycle, a whole bunch of Republican senators announced their retirements, Kit Bond, George Voinovich, others.

Pundits were predicting there would be big Democratic pickups this time, but political tides changed. So, in politics, it's a long time between now and November 2012.

BALDWIN: Well, let me rattle off a couple of other names, because when we talk about endangered Democrats, we're talking about folks like Nebraska's Ben Nelson, Montana's Jon Tester, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and the always quotable Claire McCaskill, Missouri.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D), MISSOURI: They don't get it.

We have had a lot of Chicken Little around this building over the last few months.

These people are idiots.

Beg your pardon?

CROWD: (OFF-MIKE)

MCCASKILL: You don't trust me?

CROWD: No!

(SHOUTING)

MCCASKILL: We have a bunch of idiots on Wall Street that are kicking sand in the face of the American taxpayer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: OK, OK, so we couldn't resist a little Claire McCaskill and Chicken Little there, but I --

YELLIN: Part of why --

BALDWIN: -- digress.

YELLIN: -- we have always liked her, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Moving on, Jess, can we assume that these endangered Senate Democrats will see their fortunes improve should we see the economy improve?

YELLIN: Yes, but.

(CROSSTALK)

YELLIN: So, yes, it's still the economy, stupid, right, that old saying.

But they're all running in red or true swing states, these guys, so -- where it's always a fight for Democrats. So, even with an improved economy, it will be tough. This time around, you will have President Obama on the ticket. And, in some ways, that's a huge help for Democrats because he's a gifted campaigner. He will spend a lot of money organizing.

That also makes it trickier for some red state Democrats to distance themselves from the president if they need it. But, again, as I say, it's a long time between now and then, and it really does depend most, first and foremost, on the economy.

BALDWIN: Jessica Yellin, we will all be watching the economy together, hoping it will --

YELLIN: Yes.

BALDWIN: -- improve, for all of our sakes.

Jess, thank you.

YELLIN: Sure.

BALDWIN: And coming up next, this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN WORLD AFFAIRS ANALYST: This has now become a cliche, but China is the most important country in the world, other than the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You know that man. We normally see him Sundays, right? But Fareed Zakaria going to be joining me live in this show in moments to tell me exactly why China is so important and how unusual it was to see President Hu -- there he is -- going out, shaking some hands at the White House this morning. Plus, check this out: icy roads. Look at this SUV -- icy roads in Pittsburgh. More pictures coming up. Yikes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Have you heard what Alabama's new governor said in his first day in office?

Day one, Robert Bentley's comments reportedly came shortly after he took the oath of office there. According to "The Birmingham News," Bentley, a Republican, addressed a crowd at a church, saying people who don't have the same -- and I'm quoting -- "daddy aren't brothers and sisters."

So, what's that about? Well, the newspaper reports the governor explained it this way -- quote -- "So, anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister. And I want to be your brother."

Now, Bentley's comments at the church differed a little bit from what he said at his inauguration earlier in the day. Want you to listen to what he said then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENTLEY: All Alabama includes Republicans, Democrats, independents, young and old, black and white, rich and poor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Governor Bentley is expected to begin a news conference actually at any moment now. So, we will be watching for it. And if he brings up these controversial comments, you know we are going to bring that all along to you.

But coming up next, as promised, Fareed Zakaria -- there he is -- joining me to talk all things China.

Also, the show must go on, even with all these protests. We have been showing you video day after day in Tunisia. Filming continues on a Hollywood movie. And, yes, indeed, you recognize that guy? Antonio Banderas.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You know, we saw something happen at the White House today, and it definitely caught our attention. And we thought it was pretty interesting.

And I want you to see what you think here. Watch this with me. You see President Obama. He's welcoming Chinese leader Hu Jintao. But watch this, as the two of them -- there they go -- take a little detour and head to what we call the rope line. So, these are rival ceremonies. They tend to be pretty stiff. And to our best recollection -- recollection, we can't really remember a previous precedent.

But think about this. You know, this isn't a huge deal for our president, Mr. Obama. He's an American politician. This is what he does.

But what about the Chinese leader, President Hu? He is the head of China's Communist Party so, no, he maybe not in his job description is kissing babies and shaking constituents' hands, none of that. But here he is, watching him there alongside President Obama, working the rope line at the White House.

So, Fareed Zakaria joins me now live from New York. We know we normally see you on Sundays, your show "Fareed Zakaria GPS." What a treat to get you through the week. Let's talk about the pictures. It took us aback a little bit. Would these pictures be shown in China? And how do you think they'll be received by the Chinese?

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST, "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS": Oh, they will absolutely be shown in China. The Chinese places enormous importance on the state visit. Every time a Chinese president comes to America it is a huge deal. The incoming president, the guy who's going to succeed Hu Jintao, will probably come next year. That is another rite of passage. He has to come to America. That's part of the way in which they groom these people.

So absolutely, and it will be received very favorably in the sense that it will be seen as China being given enormous respect on the world stage. The Chinese are very status conscious, and this makes clear that President Hu is placed on a kind of equal status as the president of the United States.

But to be clear, before I move on, Fareed, this is not typical of President Hu. It's the people's republic of China, but he doesn't necessarily reach out and touch the people normally.

ZAKARIA: That's a very interesting point. China is run by an elite, people don't really focus on this, but the Communist Party of China, which used to be a peasant and workers' movement, has turned into a very elite kind of group of technocrats. All of these people, President Hu, included are engineers. The people who run China have very little practical political experience in the sense of democratic politics. They're all highly skilled engineers, great technocrats, often economists. This is an elite class. President Hu does a little bit of meet and greet, it is nothing like what American politicians have to do. You kind of wonder how the Chinese people will react to it.

BALDWIN: Just something I thought was pretty fascinating.

I want to talk about Ed Rendell and follow me because I have a point here. I know you know who Ed Rendell is, the outgoing governor of Pennsylvania. When a snowstorm canceled a football game, he said Americans are all a bunch of wussies. And then he said this. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED RENDELL, (D) FORMER GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA: Chinese are kicking our butt in everything. If this was in China, do you think the Chinese would call off the game? He's right. The people would have marched down to the stadium. They would have walked and would have been doing calculus on the way down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Fareed, if we assume, Ed Rendell is right and China is, to quote him, "kicking our butts," what is to blame for that, sir, a, our leaders, b, our system, or c, our people? Are we the American people being outperformed?

ZAKARIA: Look, I think that there is some truth to what Ed Rendell is saying in cha China is hungry. China is hungry for the movement up the economic ladder, the movement up the status ladder, the movement to world attention. And the United States is much less so.

Who's responsible for it? It's a little bit of all the people you said, but the truth is when you become rich it is more difficult to be -- to have the same kind of motivation level. Ask any rich person about their children and ask them if they have the same drive, you know, if those kids have the same drive that the person himself had, the father had when he was young and poor. No.

And some of that is just an inevitable phase of development where countries that become richer and more advanced lose some of that edge. It would be nice to have it. I mean, there's a big debate in the United States taking place about a book by a Chinese-American Amy Chua in which she says American parenting is too soft, too cuddly. We have to whip these kids into shape. That's what they do in China. There's a lot of this in the air.

BALDWIN: AKA, "the tiger mom" who we've seen all over the place.

But then there's the whole issue which you've covered on in your "TIME" piece about China, the psychology of being a superpower. What if China becomes number one by any measure? Is that the end of the world? Must we here in America always be number one?

ZAKARIA: Yes. We -- I think we have a very difficult time imagining a world in which we are not as dominant as we are. So much so, that one of the things I'm noticing now is we don't in the even when we're actually not number one in a lot of areas. You know, if you look at education, if you look at infrastructure, if you look at public health, if you look at broadband, the truth is we're not number one in any of these areas.

But we are so comfortable and confident in our image -- there was one test when the Americans and South Koreans took part, the Americans did badly and the South Koreans did very well. At the end ever the exam they asked the South Koreans and Americans, how did you do? The Americans said, we did great, the South Koreans said, we did terribly. So we may not be good at teaching our kids science, but we're very good at teaching them self-esteem.

BALDWIN: That is a fascinating point. Fareed Zakaria, I wonder, wonder why. I appreciate you imparting some of your global perspective and brilliance here on my show. I appreciate it. Feel free to come back anytime, sir.

I want to remind everyone if you haven't caught it, you should, Fareed's show, "Fareed Zakaria GPS" on Sunday right here on CNN.

One thing we didn't touch on in our discussion about China but it's worth taking a closer look at is China's rapidly growing military and the tension it is creating with the U.S. on that angle, here's CNN Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The unexpected first flight of China's most advanced fighter jet came as Defense Secretary Robert Gates was in Beijing, trying to encourage military openness between the countries. As surprising as the flight was, more surprising was the Chinese president admitting to Gates he knew nothing about it.

ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: This is an area where over the last several years we have seen some signs of -- I guess I would call it a disconnect between the military and the civilian leadership.

STARR: The test flight a signal of China's growing military ambitions. China's arsenal is backed by increased military spending, a 12 percent increase in just the last decade. Still, its annual spending a fraction of the U.S. defense budget.

The new J-20 fighter is just one of the most visible weapons. China's also building a missile that could attack far out at sea where American ships are on duty and a new aircraft carrier that could allow the Chinese military to conduct offensive missions far from its shores.

In a rare interview with CNN, China's vice foreign minister countered when asked why China is building an aircraft carrier.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, in that case, why does China need to develop, say, aircraft carriers or stealth fighters?

CUI TIAN-KAI, CHINESE VICE FOREIGN MINISTER: Why do you already have so many? We still don't have them.

STARR: China has already shot down a satellite in space. That means it could attack U.S. intelligence and targeting satellites. China is already heavily investing in electronics, radars, and cyber warfare to make their weapons more effective.

DAVID FINKELSTEIN, CHINS AFFAIRS EXPERT: If you're going to have a modern high-tech military, it is absolutely essential that you're able to pass information and all sorts of information quickly and accurate. STARR: U.S. officials believe China's strategy is to extend its reach across Asia. But is that a threat?

TIAN-KAI: Maybe the biggest misperception on the U.S. side about China is the so-called China threat. I really don't understand why some people in the United States always believe that China is posing a threat to the United States.

ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEF'S CHAIRMAN: What I just have not been able to crack is the why on some of these capabilities, whether it's this, whether it's anti-satellite, whether it's anti- ship. Many of these capabilities seem to be focused very specifically on the United States.

STARR (on camera): There will be plenty of diplomatic niceties between Presidents Hu and Obama, but not too far behind the scenes both militaries expect to be eyeballing each other politely but carefully. Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Staying in Washington, the new speaker of the House has said thanks but no thanks to the invitation to tonight's state dinner. A new poll shows John Boehner's favorability ratings keep going up and up. Wolf Blitzer will have more on that coming up.

Also, yikes, take a look at this video, icy video from Pittsburgh. We'll show you more next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: I feel like we talked a lot about snow lately, but let's talk snow in Pittsburgh. It has stopped falling, but the roads are treacherous. Look at this SUV careening down this hill. That's not the only car. It's a steep street obviously, but they keep coming. Just wait for it here, one after the other after the other. It's like -- what's that game, bumper pool? Some may say, don't you learn at an early age how to drive on ice and on snow? Perhaps it's not their fault, Chad Myers.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I know. This is Pittsburgh.

BALDWIN: Did they know they had all of that ice?

MYERS: I don't know because they were coming over that hill with a lot of velocity. So I'm thinking the other side of that hill had sunshine on it so the road was not nearly this. When they got to the other side -- look at the speed.

BALDWIN: Careening down hitting car after car, the pole, coming to a stop.

MYERS: Yes. This is beech view. The hills there are very steep. That picture may not do justice as to what that hill really was. My parents grew up in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, and there were hills where the salt trucks literally had to go backwards up the hill because the salt --

BALDWIN: I'm sorry, backwards?

MYERS: They had to book up the hill because there was no traction for the truck, the salt truck, to go forward. They would salt the road first and then continue to back the truck up the hill on the traction that they were making for themselves.

BALDWIN: For fear the velocity that would come down the hill if they went forward.

MYERS: They couldn't go forward at all. These rear wheel drive trucks had no traction and the salt was behind them. They needed the salt ahead of them. So these cars -- and the pictures were just crazy. We even saw -- you can let that roll. You don't need to see me, honestly.

There are kids getting out of cars, too. You have people like -- the only thing you can do when you know you're that far out of control is to try to let your foot off the brake and run up onto the grass, try to slow down. But this guy tries it. He's not using his brakes much and he's got nowhere to run.

BALDWIN: They have no traction.

MYERS: Wet ice, one of the most dangerous things to ever drive on. Ice is terrible. We kid how bad the drivers were in Atlanta last week. This is Pittsburgh. They have experience. They know what to do. And it was still that bad.

BALDWIN: Look, I don't care, I still feel for them. How do you do that? I would not be driving well on ice myself. Chad Myers, thank you. I think we've seen enough of the slipping and sliding. Let's move to California.

A lot of new developments on a story that unfolded live this time yesterday at this hour in CNN, that shooting in Gardena, California, at a high school. We have just learned that two more people have been arrested in this case. Police conducted weapons checks on students' backpacks and purses before allowing all of those kids back into school today.

Now, that is it even though yesterday's shooting was, for all intents and purposes here, an accident. In fact, here is how it went down. Police say a student had stashed a gun in his backpack, and it just went off when he set the bag down on his desk for health class. One bullet hit two students, one a 15-year-old young woman and a 15- year-old boy.

The girl was shot in the head and she is still in critical condition. But at least some good news here, she's opening her eyes, responding to commands to move her arms and legs. The young man was shot in the neck. Remember, one bullet. He could be out of the hospital by the end of the week. That's what we're hearing.

We're also told it would not have been difficult to get a concealed gun into this school because district policy only calls for schools to use metal detectors to check students at random.

A Hollywood star caught in the middle of all that rioting in Tunisia. On the right, who is it? That is Antonio Banderas. He is actually in a movie being filmed there right now. How's that going for him? We'll have more on that.

Also, it is designed to make you feel like you're walking the streets of Monaco, but, oh, no, it floe floats on the ocean. Coming up, I'll show you the world's most expensive yacht being built. Can you possibly guess the price tag? We'll tell you, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It is time for "Trending" today. First up, we have Regis Philbin who takes to twitter. Apparently he tweets, who knew, he doesn't understand all the fuss over his big announcement.

Plus, tons of drama in Tunisia, not to mention Hollywood filming near the rioting of we've seen the last couple of days. Kareen Wynter joining us from Los Angeles. But first, Kareen, talk to me about Reg. Apparently he's retiring and tweeting.

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: He is. He is doing a little bit of both. Let's get people up to speed in case they didn't hear. The whole world heard Regis' announcement yesterday. This is what he had to say on his show about calling it quits.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REGIS PHILBIN, CO-HOST, "REGIS AND KELLY LIVE": This will be my last year on this show. There is -- there is a time that, you know, everything must come to an end for certain people on camera, especially certain old people, so, anyway, folks. Just want you to know that. Plenty of room to go, this is going to happen at the end of the summer, the fall, whatever it is. We tonight know that yet, but just so that you know. OK?

KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, "REGIS AND KELLY LIVE": I can only speak for America and all of us here when I say it is been a pleasure and a privilege and a dream come true, and I wish I could do something to make you change your mind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WYNTER: Oh, Brooke, they will have us all in tears again. But, yes, it's an end -- the end of an era.

You know what's so funny? Leave it to Regis and his eternal humor. He's such a jokester. Doesn't know what all this fuss is about and took to the "Regis and Kelly" show twitter account saying "It's not like I'm dying. Just that I'm retiring from the show. By the way, do you have a job for me?"

(LAUGHTER)

If that wasn't enough, he also took to his personal Twitter account saying "I still haven't decided what I'll do after I retire. What should I do? Should I become a Las Vegas entertainer or a showgirl?" You know what's funny? A lot of people perhaps have seen Regis in drag on his show sometime last year, the middle of April. Remember that show that he did. It featured some stars on Broadway.

BALDWIN: Yes.

WYNTER: And there was Regis dressed in that -- that blond wig. That purple dress looking quite handsome. Yes, we know you can tap into your feminine side, but maybe sometime on the golf course would be more realistic.

BALDWIN: Looking handsome and trying to look like a woman, not the most handsome. I say no on the showgirl idea.

WYNTER: Not too sexy.

BALDWIN: We'll have to wait and see. But it's not the last we've seen of Regis.

WYNTER: Yes.

BALDWIN: Secondly, we've been talking a lot about the riots and the violence in Tunisia, and now who knew that there's some Hollywood A-listers in the middle of this mess.

WYNTER: That's right, Brooke. It's incredible. Some A-listers, been caught up in all the chaos we've been seeing playing out in Tunisia. Antonio Banderas, you're about to see him in costume dressed up as an Arabian leader in the movie currently being shot on location there. It's called "Black Gold," a movie about oil set in the 1930s. Anyway, Banderas stars with "Slumdog Millionaire Star" Frieda Pinto.

And there has been so much unrest in that region. You have an ousted president who has fled the country on allegations of corruption. What's really incredible, Brooke, in the midst of all of this, if you can believe it, our own crews, CNN's inside the Middle East, they were shooting an exclusive story on the film. This is the footage you're seeing here, getting all the great behind-the-scenes footage when things got out of hand with protests.

Of course, the stars were working on the film and those behind the scenes of this movie they are absolutely concerned about their safety. But listen to this. They did not stop production. A spokesman for the film said that the actors, they are keeping a close eye on all of this on TV, also on the internet, and they were even given the choice to leave but decided to stay put, so really so much, so much drama unfolding there.

BALDWIN: The show or the movie must go on in Tunisia. It's amazing.

WYNTER: It must go on and it will.

BALDWIN: Kareen Wynter from L.A., thank you. Have you heard about this new trend? It's disturbing and it's dangerous -- lasers being pointed into the airplane cockpits. The FAA says the number of incidents nearly doubled last year. What's going on? That's coming up.

Also, Wolf Blitzer joins me next with the latest political ticker headlining thinking how some of you Americans think the new speaker of the House is doing pretty well.

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BALDWIN: Now for your "CNN = Politics" update. Wolf Blitzer joining me live from Washington with the latest hot off the CNN political ticker. Wolf, you have some news on the polls?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Interesting poll numbers from this CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll. Let's go through some specific ones, and we'll try to decipher what they probably mean.

As far as Republican control of the -- of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republicans are in the majority right now, 50 percent of those we surveyed said it was good for the country, 41 percent thought it was bad for the country, and that's probably why the Republicans are in the majority right now, because more Americans thought it would be good for the country if the Republicans were in the majority in the House.

Who will have more influence over the United States? We asked that question, Brooke, 36 percent thought president Obama would have more influence, but 56 percent said the GOP in Congress would have more influence over the U.S. or U.S. policy.

But look at this, at the same time when we asked the question, who do you want to have more influence over the U.S., over U.S. policies, 50 percent said President Obama and 44 percent said the Republicans in congress.

So what does that mean? They think the Republicans will have more influence, at least in the coming weeks and months, but they still want president Obama to have more influence. Perhaps that bodes well for his re-election campaign, though we always have to issue the caveat it was way, way early.

BALDWIN: Way too early.

BLITZER: Almost two years to go.

BALDWIN: What about -- I know, Wolf, there are new polls out on the new speaker of the house John Boehner. What do they indicate? How are his numbers?

BLITZER: We asked favorable opinion of John Boehner. Right now at 45 percent job approval, favorable opinion right now. Back in December it was 36 percent. 30 percent November, 25 percent October and 22 percent back in September, so you see that number has steadily been going up, people having a favorable opinion of the new speaker. He's only been speaker for a week or two.

It's probably at least in part because a lot of people weren't all that familiar with him as the minority leader, but they are now increasingly becoming familiar with him as speaker of the House of Representatives. So that number is going up, and so far people seem to like what he's doing, at least a lot of people, not necessarily all by any means.

BALDWIN: Right, right. Wolf Blitzer, thank you so much. We'll check back in with you a little later on what's coming up on "THE SITUATION ROOM."

Meantime, we'll get another political ticker update in half an hour. You can go to CNNpolitics.com to see what they are writing and go to twitter at @politicalticker.