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Woman Solves Own Kidnapping; Mark Kelly Updates Press on Congresswoman Giffords Progress; Health Care's Impact on Jobs; Remembering Camelot in Pictures; Hot Off The Political Ticker; Wal- Mart On A Health Kick

Aired January 20, 2011 - 11:59   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: After 23 years, a mother and daughter are reunited. It was a startling revelation for Carlina White. She grew up unaware that she had been kidnapped as an infant from a hospital in New York, but she had this nagging feeling that she did not quite belong with the family that raised her.

So she went on a website for missing exploited children, she saw a baby picture there and she said, oh, that looks like me. She then called her real family, she called the Center for Missing and Exploited Children and they said, well, maybe you have something there. Took a DNA test and it revealed the true identity. It is a big talker nationwide.

On the phone with us right now, her grandmother, Elizabeth White.

Thank you for joining us, Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH WHITE, GRANDMOTHER OF WOMAN KIDNAPPED AS BABY (via telephone): Well, you are welcome.

COSTELLO: We really appreciate it, because we know how tired you are and I know you have been up for, oh, days probably. But take us through this.

WHITE: She said to her mother that, "I think you are my mother" And she said, "I'm going to send you some pictures."

So she sent the pictures through the telephone. And when Joy had seen her, she said, "Oh, God, that's my daughter. That's her."

So I told her -- I said, "Don't say that too fast," I said, "because you've got to get that DNA." She said, "Mama, I don't need no DNA or nothing." She said, "That is my daughter."

COSTELLO: I know you never gave up hope. Someone snatched her from the hospital, snatched Carlina when she was 19 days old.

Do you know anything about the person who took her?

WHITE: No, I don't know anything about her, but my daughter had given a sketch for -- she gave a description of the lady that the daughter -- of the picture that the daughter sent to her through the phone, and she said it was the same lady that she gave the sketch of. COSTELLO: Does Carlina talk about the family that raised her?

WHITE: She said something about the lady, that the fake mother that took her, her sister treated her nice or something, and I think that is the one that is in Atlanta. That's -- I don't know too much about all of this, but that is what I heard, you know, that the sister is in Atlanta, that the one that Carlina called "Aunt." And the mother, the one that stole her, I don't know where she's at. I don't know anything about any of that.

COSTELLO: Elizabeth, thank you so much for joining us.

We have to go live to Tucson now, because there is an update from the hospital. Mark Kelly, Gabrielle Giffords' husband, is speaking.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

MARK KELLY, GABRIELLE GIFFORDS' HUSBAND: -- southern Arizona, and our country.

I don't think we're ever going to fully understand the why and the how and the reason for what happened on the 8th of January. You know, it's a loss of innocent life, the injury of a dozen people, and the death of a 9-year-old girl, a federal judge, and the serious traumatic injury to my wife, Gabrielle. So, we will never fully understand that.

You know, emotionally, this has been a challenge for all of us. But what this has done is it's certainly shown me and I think not only our country, but the entire world, what Tucson is all about.

You know, it showed them a different side of Tucson, and I think all Americans are very proud of what they have seen. And I know that my wife, Gabrielle, would be very proud of how this community has responded to the tragic situation.

The memorials outside this hospital, in front of the Safeway, in front of Gabby's office, has been really a testament to what this community is all about. The love and support that we have received is a bit overwhelming. It's actually a bit difficult to even keep up with.

But we are very, very appreciative. And I want to apologize for all of those folks that have done so much for us that we haven't recognized yet. I know one of the first things Gabby is going to want to do as soon as she is able to is start writing "thank you" notes, and I have already reminded her of that.

I think, you know, as Gabby moves into the next phase of her recovery, you know, she is going to need to be -- continue to be strong, and she will really appreciate the support of this community. This is her home. This is the place she loves, the people she represents.

We looked at a lot of places to move her to. We considered rehab facilities in New York, in Arizona, in Chicago, in New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and also in Houston.

One of the best rehab hospitals in the nation, and one of the closest of the best, is in the city of Houston. And that's the Tirr Memorial Hermann rehab hospital. So it took a while to decide where to send her, and there were many factors that went into that.

Some of those other places could certainly provide her excellent care, and we did consider them all. Tirr has been one of the -- Tirr Memorial Hermann has been one of the top-ranked rehab hospitals in the country for over 21 years.

It's got an outstanding world class reputation. The doctors and nurses there are among the best at treating penetrating head injuries like Gabby has been dealing with.

So I want my wife to get the best possible care, and I'm convinced that she can get that at Memorial Hermann. It's also one of the closest top-ranked places to Tucson, but what really is a critical factor in this decision is the fact that it's going to let me be there by her side as much as possible, every single day. And I don't know how long this whole process is going to take, but if I want to, at some point, you know, address the situation with our children, who are teenage girls, going to school every day, and also be able to at some point consider the possibility of returning to work, it makes most sense that she is in Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas.

So I'm extremely hopeful that Gabby is going to make a full recovery. I have told her that. She recognizes it.

She is a strong person, a fighter. I mean, she is a fighter like nobody else that I know. So I am extremely confident that she is going to be back here and back at work soon.

I have been telling the hospital staff that they should expect to see her walking through these halls and into the ICU within a couple months. I'm sure of that.

So she will be back.

One of the reasons she is going to be back is because of the excellent care she has received here from Dr. Peter Rhee and Michael Lemole, the other trauma surgeons, the other neurosurgeons, the ophthalmology care. All the way up and down the chain here at UMC, she has received nothing less than perfect care. And that's the reason she is in the situation she is in now, with the fact that within two weeks of this very serious injury, is able to move on to the next phase.

I also want to thank her nurses, the ICU nurses that have attended to her around the clock. Tracy Colbert (ph), Amanda Berner (ph), Joshua Coleman (ph), Abrina Beckel (ph), Jocelyn Anashansly (ph), and Angelique Tadio (ph) have been by her side every step of the way.

I also have very strong feelings for the support we have received from the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the Tucson Police Department. There have been volunteer Tucson police officers in the ICU around the clock since we arrived, making sure everything goes as planned and that we don't have any other issues to deal with. The Capitol Hill Police have been with her around the clock as well.

I particularly want to thank the CEO of UMC, Kevin Burns, Mayor Bob Walkup, the University of Arizona president, Shelton, who I have known for years. I know each of them are deeply committed to this community. Their kindness and generosity of them and their teams have been just phenomenal.

But really, the bottom line is that I want to thank the people of Tucson for their support that they have provided for me, my wife's staff, our family over the last two weeks, is, you know, really beyond what I would have expected of anybody. So we are deeply and gratefully thankful for that.

So, I'd like to take a couple questions if anybody has them. And I think Pia (ph) is going to do that.

But right here, right in front.

Ma'am?

QUESTION: Could you talk a little bit about the logistics of moving her and whether that's likely tomorrow?

KELLY: Yes. So we're going to move her tomorrow. We are going through the planning process right now, how exactly we are going to do that.

And so we're still in the first phases of putting that into place. But by the time we move her, we're going to have a good plan.

Right over here.

QUESTION: Mark, has she spoken yet?

KELLY: So, that's a good question. I feel she has made some attempts. She has a tracheostomy. I also feel that she -- you know, intellectually, she knows that's there. She understands what that means. But she -- in my mind, she has made some attempts.

QUESTION: Does that concern you, or is that normal?

KELLY: This whole thing concerns me, from the time I got the first call, until the time that she -- until she makes a full recovery. Yes, I've got -- certainly I have a lot of concerns.

QUESTION: Do you know yet who will be leading the team in Houston in terms of her doctors there?

KELLY: The trauma doctor, Dr. John Holcomb (ph), and the neurosurgeon, Dr. Brian Ho (ph).

QUESTION: Can you talk a little bit more about what you mean that you know she knows that you are there and you know that she knows what is going on?

KELLY: Well, she will smile at me. She'll do a couple of things that she'll only do around me, like pat me on the face. She used to do that before, just very, very gently.

I can just look in her eyes and tell. I mean, she is well aware of who is around her. Just, you know, very aware of the situation.

QUESTION: Can you tell us exactly the moment you experienced when she was able to stand up and take a few steps on her own? And can you confirm that she was able to look out the window?

KELLY: Yes. So, you know, I think standing and steps, what the general public, or even myself would think that means, and what physical therapists, what the clinical definition of those two things, I think they are a little bit different.

So, you know, she can bear her own weight, which is a big step. I think just speaking for the doctors here, I think she has made a remarkable recovery at this point.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Last question.

QUESTION: You mentioned various moments (INAUDIBLE)?

KELLY: Many every day. Every time I interact with her, there is something quite inspiring.

So, you know, it's just stuff like that that she does over and over again. I imagine the next step here is she'll be walking, talking, and in two months, you will see her walking through the front door of this building.

Thank you.

COSTELLO: And you just heard from Mark Kelly, Congressman Giffords' husband, very positive. He said tomorrow, Giffords will be flown to the institute for rehabilitation and research in Houston. The very best doctors are there that can help her with her medical progress.

Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, is there right now.

Elizabeth, you listened to this update, along with me. He named two doctors' names who will be caring for her there. Do you know anything about them?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Actually, I'm going to be speaking with her doctors later this afternoon, and so I will be learning more about them.

You know, something that's interesting that they didn't mention in the press conference is that she is actually not going to the rehabilitation hospital, which is the hospital behind me. They're bringing her actually to a regular, what's called an acute care hospital, very similar to the one that she's in now, that's down the street.

And then they said they want to assess her and take a look, make sure she is still OK after being transported from Arizona to Texas, and that later they will send her into the rehab hospital. So I thought that was interesting, that she is not going directly into rehab. They want to just sort of take a look and assess. It's not clear to me why they are doing that, but it's interesting that she is not going straight into rehab.

COSTELLO: Maybe it's just the travel, because it sounds like transporting her will be difficult.

COHEN: Yes. I actually spoke to other doctors, doctors who aren't here, and I asked if that was sort of the way that you usually do it, when you have traveled, do you not send someone right into rehab? And they said that what they are doing here is not the usual way of doing things.

They said that, usually, you go straight into rehab, if that's what your goal is. So who knows why they are doing it? Maybe they are just being especially careful because her case is obviously getting so much attention.

But all of the things that they said in that press conference are so uplifting. I mean, to hear that she is making an effort to talk, one of the doctors mentioned that they feel like she's making an effort to talk. She can't really talk because she has a tracheostomy, which is basically a hole in her neck, and it would make it very, very difficult to actually get words out.

But the fact that she is making an effort, the fact that she's able to scroll through an iPad, the fact that she is making an emotional connection with her husband is huge, because sometimes after a brain injury, people's personalities change and they don't feel affection for the people they used to feel affection for. In fact, they're kind of different people. So she sounds like she is as much of herself as you could possibly hope for at this point.

COSTELLO: The last thing that Mark Kelly said, that in two months, you will see Gabby walk through that door, that sounded incredibly hopeful. Is it overly optimistic coming from a husband who obviously is so much in love with his wife?

COHEN: Right. Of course a husband would want that for his wife. And you know what? I've actually spoken to a cop who had a very similar injury to hers, and he was walking within a couple of months. So it does happen.

But, on the other hand, Carol, I'm sure you hear it, too. I heard a lot more concern from the doctors.

I heard the doctors saying we have been concerned from the very beginning, and we're not going to make predictions about how she's going to do. And that is the nature of a traumatic brain injury, is that you hope for the best, and the best really can happen, but you also have to be prepared that the best might not happen. COSTELLO: And just a question about how they will treat her when she finally gets to that rehabilitation center. What will that be like?

COHEN: Well, when she gets to the rehab center, they're going to focus on three things: physical, cognitive and emotional.

So, physically, are both sides of her body able to work, are they strong? Cognitively, can she think through problems? Can she do things like -- and I know this sounds silly, but draw a clock? Because sometimes patients with this kind of injury will draw a clock and put all the numbers on one side, and that's a sign that the brain is not functioning as it should be.

And then, emotionally, just like I was talking about before, they want to see if her personality has changed. That can happen when you have a brain injury. They want to see if emotionally, she is the same person who she was before.

COSTELLO: Elizabeth Cohen, live in Houston.

Thanks.

One other development to note in the Tucson shooting. A federal grand jury has formally indicted Jared Loughner on three counts. He's charged with attempted assassination and attempted murder. More indictments are expected. Loughner will be in federal court on Monday.

We're going to take a break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: He represents the world's number two economic power. Chinese President Hu Jintao wrapping up a visit with senators on Capitol Hill. He met first with leaders in the House.

Both sides of Congress have openly criticized China for its economic policies and its human rights record. House leaders were looking forward to asking him questions about those issues, but the Chinese president only had time for a couple of questions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: Well, we did have a good meeting with the president of China today. We did discuss our economic relationship.

I did express my concerns about religious liberty. I expressed my concerns about intellectual property, and the issue of North Korea. The president responded, and I would hope that the dialogue on all of these subjects will continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: On human rights, the Chinese leader again admitted more needs to be done.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. SANDER LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: He mentioned more broadly that human rights is an issue and that they need to improve. I think he said the same thing yesterday. And I think that it's welcomed, but we need to also get more specific.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin, actor Jackie Chan, designer Vera Wang, were among the celebrities at last night's State Dinner for the Chinese president. The dignitaries included former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. In all, 225 guests dined on what's an all-American menu -- poached Maine lobster, aged ribeye, and old-fashioned apple pie with ice cream for dessert.

Next on President Hu's agenda, he delivers a speech at a luncheon hosted by several U.S./China interest groups. It's his only public policy address during this visit to the United States.

You can watch it live at the bottom of the hour on CNN NEWSROOM.

(NEWSBREAK)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: They voted on the repeal. Now House lawmakers say they will work on an alternative to replace the health care reform law.

House Speaker John Boehner says he will ask congressional committee members to come up with commonsense reforms. Yesterday, as you know, the House passed the repeal legislation by a vote of 245- 189. Three Democrats joined the Republicans. The bill stands little chance of clearing the Senate though.

The Republicans' central argument against health care reform is pretty direct. The bill will destroy jobs, they say, at a time when the nation desperately needs them.

Stephanie Elam joins us now from New York.

And Stephanie, let's delve into that claim. Is it true?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you ask the Republicans, they will say yes. And to prove their point, they even named their bill "Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act." So they are making it very clear right up front, what they feel about it.

And here's the argument. Health care will discourage hiring because of the added cost for employers. And there is some truth to this.

Most economists we spoke to say we could see an impact on jobs, but, they say, the impact will be very small. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the law could lead some employers to hire fewer low-wage workers.

Now, on the flip side, the CBO also finds the bill might encourage the hiring of more part-time workers. And so if the law succeeds in slowing the cost of health care law, that could leave employers with more money for hiring.

There are still so many unknowns about how this is all going to play out, obviously, but that uncertainly could also cause some small businesses to hold off on hiring until they have more clarity on how this is all going to go down -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Is there any way to get an independent opinion so we have a definitive answer? Isn't that what the CBO is supposed to be about?

ELAM: Yes, I guess that's what everyone is wondering about. You know, you take a look at this whole debate, and people are always going back and forth, and that is what the CBO is supposed to do.

And there's no question that health care has been a huge growth area. And so that's obviously why these things keep coming up in the conversation.

Check out these stats. From the start of the recession through the end of last year, we lost more seven million jobs in this country. But during that same time, the health care industry gained 800,000 jobs.

An estimated 50 million people will enter the health care system when all of the reforms kick in, in 2014. So it's a fairly safe bet those jobs aren't going anywhere. But if the law reins in health care spending, it's possible the rate of growth in those jobs could start to slow.

So, the bottom line here, there remains a lot to be seen. And one economist we talked to says this whole focus on jobs is misplaced. She says any effect is going to be quite moderate compared to the huge changes we are going to see in the health care system.

But yes, Carol, at this point, it's a lot of "they say, they say," and what we will really see is probably going to be a whole lot different than what they're even talking about right now.

COSTELLO: Stephanie Elam, thanks.

China's president makes the rounds on Capitol Hill. Now American business leaders treat him to lunch. We'll have President Hu's remarks live in just a few minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: President Hu is about to take the podium here. That is not him, obviously. When he does begin to speak in Washington, we will take you to that event live. But for now, we want you to know that we monitoring that. In other news today, federal agents swept up more than 100 suspected Mafia thugs in raids across the New York area today. The raids targeted seven crime families, including the notorious Gambino and Lucasey (ph) clans. Some of the charges involve murders that happened 30 years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Their alleged crimes include numerous violent and illegal acts from murder and narcotics trafficking to extortion, illegal gambling, arson, loan sharking, and labor racketeering.

Now, some of the allegations are classic mob hits to eliminate perceived rivals. Others involve truly senseless murders. In one instance, a victim was allegedly shot and killed during a botched robbery attempt, and two other murder victims allegedly were shot in a public bar because of a dispute over a spilled drink.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: A baby stolen from a New York hospital back in 1987 has been reunited with her family. DNA tests confirm that 23-year-old Nejdra Nance is actually Carlina White. White discovered her true identity on a missing children's Web site, and police are searching for the woman who raised her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAT CONWAY, AUNT: Carlina was the missing link! We have gotten her back in name of Jesus. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

ELIZABETH WHITE, GRANDMOTHER: She was like just she had been around us all of her life. She was no stranger. She was just, you know, just fit right in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Slipping and sliding on ice and snow is what a lot of people across the country have been doing since the beginning of the year. And this is proof of how dangerous it is. Wreck after wreck on this ice-coated street in Pennsylvania.

And there's more snow and ice on the weather map today. Karen McGinnis is here with the forecast, and it just won't get better.

KAREN MCGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: If anything, it is going to get worse.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Oh, I hope that storm takes a turn. Away from Baltimore, anyway.

MCGINNIS: Probably not.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Karen.

Fifty years later, we are looking at the dawning of Camelot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, do solemnly swear --

EARL WARREN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT: That you will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States.

KENNEDY: That I will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We have been following this news out of Miami for you for the past couple of hours. We know that a couple of officers were serving a warrant in Miami to a violent fugitive. At least two of those officers were shot. We're now getting an update from commander Nancy Perez. She's with the Miami-Dade Police Department. She spoke to the reporters on the ground there just moments ago. Let's listen to what she has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COMMANDER NANCY PEREZ, MIAMI-DADE POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have two officers, two of our fine officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department that were involved in a police shooting.

OK. It is not U.S. marshals. OK, please do not report that the second officer is deceased. She is not. She is still undergoing surgery, OK, and we need to pray for her. The other officer -- we lost one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Commander Perez --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Well, an emotional press conference there at the scene at the shooting in Miami. The only thing we hear about the suspect is that the police are no longer searching for the suspect, so you can draw your own conclusions there. And when we get more information, of courrse, we will pass it along for you and pray for the female officer's recovery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNEDY: And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: Today marks 50 years since John F. Kennedy made the often-quoted inaugural address. Take a look at some of the amazing footage from that day. January, 20th, 1961, which is courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNEDY: Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: A new Opinion Research poll shows Kennedy to be the most popular former president of all time with a current approval rating of 85 percent. He is trailed by Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan. Even the search engine Google is honoring the anniversary. Check out the logo the Web page is sporting today.

And today in Washington, a tribute to president Kennedy in the Rotunda of the Capitol. Vice president Joe Biden, House speaker John Boehner, Senate majority leader Harry Reid and minority leader Nancy Pelosi all delivering remarks. A star-studded concert is planned for this evening at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

And in 1961 as the nation was listening to President Kennedy take the oath of office, Phil Stern was capturing it all on film. The 94- year-old legendary photographer still clearly recalls that special moment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, do solemnly swear --

EARL WARREN, CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT: That you will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States.

KENNEDY: That I will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States.

PHIL STERN, PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: To me, this was not just another assignment. This was a piece of history I was well aware of.

KENNEDY: Let the word go forth from this time and place that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

STERN: My name is Phil Stern. I have been taking pictures since age of 13 or 14. And I'm 92 now.

Kennedy was elected, and he appointed Frank Sinatra to do the entertainment of the inauguration of the gala.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

STERN: The normal scenario is that fans and people generally were awed of Sinatra. And in this case, Sinatra was in awe of the president. And it was very apparent.

I was introduced to Kennedy by Sinatra, and I said, hi. He grunted another hi. And based on that, I may write a book on our relationship.

The essential thing is that to get the moment, that flicker of expression of attitude, of demeanor or cadence that is significant, and that takes a lot of attention. Focusing on the image is the operable term. That is exactly what I was doing. I can't remember a word that was said.

Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy seemed like they were well prepared for it. They seemed like professional performers. In looking back at it, in recognizing that the event, although I knew it was history, I didn't size it up as the large dose of history it was. And looking back at it all, I can only say in retrospect, wow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Amazing pictures. Wow. Thank you for sharing, Mr. Stern.

The Obama presidency, success or failure? We will have the results of a new poll in our the political update.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Two years into his term, what do people think about the Obama presidency? Wolf Blitzer, part of "The Best Political Team on Television," live from the political desk in Washington.

So, what do the poll numbers show?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Our brand new poll numbers is sort of mixed for the president right now. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, Carol, shows that based on the first two years of his presidency, 45 percent regard it as a success so far, 48 percent regard it as a failure so far. So pretty evenly split between success and failure.

If we dig deeper in terms of age, the older you get, the less likely you're going to think that the president has succeeded. So far for those 50 years and under, under 50 years, so far 47 percent think it's a success, 45 percent, failure. But if you're 50 and older, 43 percent say success, 51 percent say failure. So it's a mixed bag. Still two years to go before the election in 2012. Still a lot of time for the president to recover.

By the way, his job approval numbers, how's he doing, our poll that we handed out yesterday, 53 percent, which is pretty good at this point in his presidency, 53 percent think he's doing a good job. On the issue of China, we're going to be speaking about that later today with Donald Trump. He's got some really strong news, you know, Carol, about U.S./China relations. He thinks the United States is basically a wimp in dealing with China. He says the United States has a lot more leverage than most of these so-called experts think, and he's got his strong views. We're going to be picking his brain on that, he says, in terms of the business relations. They need us more than we need them. So we'll go in depth --

COSTELLO: Does that mean, Wolf --

BLITZER: Yes?

COSTELLO: Does that mean, Wolf, he's not happy about China's gift of the pandas for five more years?

BLITZER: I think he's probably -- everybody's going to be happy about that. You used to live here. You used to live not far away from Washington. You go to the National Zoo. You can see the two lovely pandas. It's part of what they call the panda diplomacy. And the president, last night at that state dinner, announced a major diplomatic breakthrough. A new five-year deal, Carol, to keep those pandas here at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. How excited are you about that?

COSTELLO: Well, you know, I know Americans have this irrational love of pandas, but whenever I go to the National Zoo to see them, they were either sleeping or eating. They really weren't doing much.

BLITZER: Yes. Well, that's what they do.

COSTELLO: But they looked like big, living stuffed animals.

BLITZER: They're sweet, those pandas, you know. They're -- we like them here and we'll keep them here at least for another five years. You know, they've been in -- basically there have been some Chinese pandas here going back to the Nixon administration. You know, they started with ping-pong diplomacy and now we've got pandas. Who knows what's next.

COSTELLO: Thank God for those pandas.

Thank you, Wolf. Catch you at 5:00.

BLITZER: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: For the latest political news, go to cnnpolitics.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The nation's first lady and the world's largest retailer announce an initiative to make healthy food more affordable. Michelle Obama was on hand as Wal-Mart unveiled its plan to start selling healthier food. Mrs. Obama promotes health and fights childhood obesity through her Let's Move campaign. She welcomed the move by Wal-Mart. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: Efforts like this show us that, yes, we can improve how we make and sell food in this country. We can do that. And we can feed our kids better. Yes, we can give parents better information so that they can make better decisions for their families. We can do this. And, yes, there are CEOs like Bill Simon out there and so many others across this country who are willing to step up and help us solve this problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: I wanted her to say, "yes, we can." CNN's Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock -- didn't you think that was coming next?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, hey, you can say it. Go ahead, Carol.

COSTELLO: Yes, we can eat healthier. Wal-Mart's profiting from this, too. It's kind of cool that they're on this health kick, so to speak.

KOSIK: Yes, and they could have a huge impact, Carol. I mean, think about how many people shop at Wal-Mart. So what Wal-Mart's going to do is have this five year plan to offer its customers healthier food. For one, it's going to cut sodium and sugar in its house brand that's called Great Value. It's going to go ahead and get rid of all of its packaged foods that has any trans fats and then it's going to make another move and cut the price on all these items. Plus, it's going to cut the prices on the fruits and vegetables that it sells.

But before you think this is all about a goodwill effort, it's really not all about that. You know, of course it all comes down to money, as it always does, because what may wind up happening is it may move -- the move may push people to shop there more. And current shoppers and bring in new shoppers. And it really could make Wal-Mart even more of a one-stop shop. So, yes, you pick up the laundry basket, you pick up the broccoli all at the same place. It's all about convenience, Carol.

COSTELLO: Well, for consumers, though, it's great. But I guess for other businesses, it might not be so great. A lot of other companies have been cutting trans fat and salt, though, so why is this such a big deal that Wal-Mart is doing this, too?

KOSIK: Well, think about it, I mean Wal-Mart is really the world's biggest grocer. And analysts say Wal-Mart, because of that, has the power to shape the marketplace. What it's doing could wind up impacting farmers and what other grocery stores do and drugstores and warehouse stores and it could wind up putting pressure on those outlets to move faster towards making healthy food as well.

But critics say, wait a minute, a five year plan is a little slow to start putting these changes into place. Also there is -- they have a big sticking point that Wal-Mart's not making enough of an effort to cut enough sugar in soft drinks. Something that experts say is a huge contributor to childhood obesity.

Carol.

COSTELLO: A quick look at how the markets are looking before you go.

KOSIK: Speaking of Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart's up 1.5 percent. The broader market, though, take a look, is being hit by fears about China's strong growth. The Dow, right now, down about 13. The Nasdaq off 23.

We found out that China's growing at almost a 10 percent pace. We're -- here in the U.S., we're growing at less than a 3 percent pace here. The big fear is that China may take steps to curb its growth and that, in turn, could hurt our growth.

Carol.

COSTELLO: So complicated. Thank you, Alison Kosik, live from the New York Stock Exchange.

A pilot's concern on a flight from Atlanta to Little Rock causes a dramatic touchdown. We'll tell you why the pilot decided to make an emergency landing when we go "Cross Country."

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COSTELLO: Time to go "Cross Country" and check stories our affiliates are covering today.

First stop, Little Rock, Arkansas, where this Delta plane had to make an emergency landing last night. Oh, look at those sparks fly. The pilot says the cockpit light showed a potential problem with landing gear. The plane touched down safely.

Now to Orlando, Florida, where this TV news crew was having a very bad day at work. The broadcast mast on WESH TV's news van became jammed beneath an overpass. The driver and reporter got out safely. This video from WESH rival WKMG. And, oh, I bet those employees are in trouble.

And firefighters in Spokane, Washington, got an unusual call Tuesday morning from out of state after a disabled man turned to FaceBook for help when a toaster caught fire.

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BOB CHAMBERS, HAS MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY: I was online playing one of the games through FaceBook and I just started typing, this is not a joke, I need help. There's a fire in the kitchen. And tell the police to call the Spokane Fire Department. And I put my address on the Internet.

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COSTELLO: Bob Chambers says he is grateful to the person who called 911. He is safe today.

CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Ali Velshi.