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Some Call for CPAC Boycott; 'On the Case'; Power Outage At Newark Airport; Passengers Revolt On Flight; Rumsfeld's First Interview Since '06
Aired February 07, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: If you're born in this country, the 14th Amendment says you're a U.S. citizen, but some lawmakers in Arizona have a different idea. I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN (voice-over): Will former President Bush ever step foot in Europe again? President Bush's trip to Switzerland is cancelled after some human rights groups called for his arrest, so what are the chances? Could he? Would he really be cuffed?
Plus, she is the American convicted of killing her roommate during a drug-fueled sex game. Now, a new movie about Amanda Knox is sparking outrage. Which scenes have her parents so upset? We're on the case.
And be careful what you feed your newborns. You can be priming them for a lifetime battle against obesity. A new warning from doctors.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN (on-camera): All right. Here we go. Hour two. Hello. Once again, I'm Brooke Baldwin. If it's happening, and it's happening right now. You're about to see it. Rapid fire. Let's begin with this story developing now.
One of the massive power outage at Newark International Airport. Here's what we know. The outage includes terminals A, B and C. Also, the air train is not working. We're told several people are stuck. They're stranded on that train. And others have been rescued from solved (ph) elevators. So, we're making phone calls. We'll get you updates. We'll pass them along to you.
California, you remember this story. The city of Bell where officials including this guy. Robert Rizzo made hundreds of thousands a year running one of the poorest communities in the entire Los Angeles area. Well, those officials are heading to court this hour to hear the evidence against them. This is the first day of hearings to decide if they should stand trial on corruption and other charges.
Florida, biologists are trying to figure out what caused thousands of fish to die at a state park, and here's what they think. Too many fish are crowding together at the shore. They're using up all the oxygen in the water, and so, this type of fish, it turns out, is prone to dying from low oxygen.
Washington State. A brain surgery. Patient is recovering from a scary episode. The University of Washington Medical Center put the man in a taxi following his checkup. Well, the problem, he couldn't remember the correct address, wound up in some strange neighborhood and that is when people who live there spotted him just wandering around aimlessly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH SKILTON, FOUND LOST PATIENT: He was in a hospital gown in only socks. It was wet, raining, cold out. He had bandages and staples in his head still from his surgery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The hospital says the proper procedure was not followed. It is investigating. The family says it's filed a complaint with state regulators.
A fireball shot into the sky over Ohio yesterday. Look at that. This whole thing happened when a train carrying ethanol derailed. It happened just south of Toledo in the wee hours Sunday morning. People within a two-mile radius, obviously, had to be evacuated.
To Colorado, a kids' hockey tournament. Dozens of people hit with carbon monoxide poisoning. I'm talking teens, children, parents. This all happened at an ice rink in the western part of the state. All of the victims, they are expected to be OK, but still, no word yet as to what caused that leak.
And in Washington State, a convenience store robbery caught on cam, and I know you've seen that before, but have you seen one where the robber politely asks for the money, and then apologizes before he takes off. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you do me a favor?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you empty that till for me, please, and put it right here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you mean?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Put it right here. I'm robbing you, sir.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Hang on a second? Did you catch that? He said, I'm robbing you, sir. The guy got away with about 300 bucks. Police are looking for him. The polite bandit.
Indianapolis, take a look at this. A canopy collapsing in a parking garage at the airport, 100 feet wide, 2,000 feet long. The snow and ice shattering the windshields of several rental cars. Yikes. We are told, though, no one was hurt.
Back to Washington State, pike's place market to be exact. The taxi driver hits the accelerator a tad too hard and crashes into Rachel the pig, and there is the pig. Rachel, the famous landmark. A 550-pound bronze piggy bank that's been outside that market for 20 years. Rachel has a few scratches. Oh, poor Rachel, but she's OK.
To Texas where sexting could soon become a crime, at least, for teenagers. Lawmakers are proposing legislation that would make it a misdemeanor for kids younger than the age of18 to send sexually explicit messages. They call it a dangerous trend. In fact, we're going to have more on this when we get on the case with Sunny Hostin.
But first, to Austin, Texas, and this is what you get when you ask the public for help. You get some creative input. Check it out. City officials asked for suggestions for their not yet named new solid waste services department, OK? So, here are the top vote-getters, thus far. Third place, you have the Ministry of Filth. Number two, the Department of Neat & Clean, and here's their favorite and mine as well.
The best one with 26,000 online voters like the title. The Fred Durst Society of the Humanities and the Arts. Durst is the stinger of band called Limp Biscuit. The city will announce the new department name in April. Only Austin.
Massachusetts. A new mom and her baby. Oh. But hang on a second, that's kind of a big baby, as in 13 pounds and 2 ounces, to be exact. Meet Jonathan Patrick Rozzi born Thursday near Boston. Dad says the size of his bundle of joy was kind of a shock. You think?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC ROZZI, FATHER: Think of a baby until everybody started making a fuss and all the nurses kept coming in and the doctors kept coming in, and when we put the baby in the nursery, people kept coming in and walking by the window and saying, wow, this is a big baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Did you see the look in dad's eyes. He's a little dazed. Thirteen pounds, folks, but the good thing is mom and baby are doing fantastic.
And as we promised, we're following a developing situation for you. Newark International Airport out of power. I want to get to Allan Chernoff. He's live in New York. And Allan, what is going on?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, it seems what happened here is that the local utility PSE&G was upgrading a switching station right near Newark Airport in the city of Elizabeth. Well, it seemed to have had a little bit of an accident and equipment failure. Wow. Talk about impact. Three terminals. That's pretty much the entire airport. Terminals A, B, and C lost power at Newark Airport. So, major impact over there. The utility says 20,000 customers were affected. So, it's just not the airport, but the prime impact, of course, is at the airport.
It has certainly caused some delays over there. The FAA, though, is telling me that this is only at the terminals, and we have some good news to pass on. We've just gotten off the phone with two stores in terminal C. They say that their power has just come back on. So, hopefully, the entire airport will be restored before long. But Brooke, this all happened beginning at 2:30 eastern time.
BALWIN: OK. So, hopefully, the people we were just reporting who were stuck in the air train and maybe stuck in the elevators will be unstuck shortly.
CHERNOFF: Yes. We are hopeful that everything is going to be cleared up shortly, and this will be just a momentary delay, and, of course, at the airports, we're all used to delays.
BALDWIN: Momentary delay. Momentary outage. Well, let us know when it's all OK, Allan Chernoff. Thanks for the update.
And speaking of flying, all right, you're sitting on a plane and fellow passengers start to revolt. They're angry. They're not listening to the crew. This happened and 100 people got the boot. That is ahead.
Plus, Packers fans are on cloud nine today for obvious reasons. Take a look. But for one guy being a Green Bay fan saved his life. No, seriously. It did. You have to hear his story. Plus, hear what he was doing last night. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Are you tired of paying all the fees at the airport? Well, a group of passengers took their anger to a whole new level. Dozens of Belgian students booted from a Ryan Air Flight. They apparently got so upset after the crew asked them to pay extra for their oversized bags. So, the airline says they would not cooperate on board. They wouldn't settle down. They got so bad. We're told the pilot called the cops just before takeoff. In the end, 100 people, not allowed to fly.
Did you love the Super Bowl last night? Maybe not for you Steelers fans, but millions of others did, and one of them was Jim Becker. Talk about a super fan. In fact, he loves the Green Bay Packers so much, listen to this, for years, decades, he sold his blood, donated blood, to come up with the extra money necessary to pay for season tickets, and it turns out all that blood-donating for the Packers saved his life.
I'm going to get to that in just a minute, but I want to welcome Jim Becker who's joining me on the phone. And Jim, go Green Bay. Where were you watching the game last night?
VOICE OF JIM BECKER, LIFELONG GREEN BAY PACKERS FAN: Oh, I was watching the game in my favorite chair, just the wife and I. BALDWIN: Just the wife and you. So, not too many people around, you know?
BECKER: I can concentrate better on the game when there's not a crowd around. I turn the sound off, and I listen to the Packer flagship station on my headset, and it was outstanding.
BALDWIN: Well, I want to get to your love and your devotion for the Packers here in just a second, but we have to talk about this whole donating blood thing which I know you started doing years ago to make money. What was it, 10 bucks per pint?
BECKER: Pretty close for that. $10, $12 a pint, depending where you went right.
BALDWIN: And so, that ended up paying for season tickets. You had a lot of kids at home, 11 at one point in time, and so had you to save a little money for your football needs, right?
BECKER: That's exactly right.
BALDWIN: It ended up saving your life, sir, how is that?
BECKER: Well, back about 1975, I had a company physical, and the doctors determined that I was suffering from hemochromatosis which is too much iron in the liver, and the only way you can treat that is to your blood, and they said if I had not been giving those blood, I would not have been alive at that particular time. My father passed away at the age of 43, suddenly, from this disease.
BALDWIN: And so, you learned because of that and because of all the blood you've been giving that that really was the treatment to this disease?
BECKER: I did not know that until 1975 when I was 45 years of age. I did not realize that that was the treatment for it.
BALDWIN: That's amazing. And sir, how many -- I know you've kept count. How many Packers games have you been to in your lifetime?
BECKER: I went to three this past year, so I'm up to 211 now.
BALDWIN: 211, and I got to be honest. I'm a little surprised you're not out there at that Lambeau Field. Did you think about it?
BECKER: Well, you know, it's about 130 miles from here. I'll be 81 tomorrow. So, --
BALDWIN: Happy birthday.
BECKER: Thank you. I'll take this as a birthday gift from the Packers.
BALDWIN: So, it is a bit of a birthday gift from the Packers. Are you loving Aaron Rodgers now versus Brett Favre?
BECKER: I was in Rodgers' right from the get-go. I knew he was going to be a good ballplayer.
BALDWIN: Do you think Brett Favre is really, really done?
BECKER: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
BECKER: I don't know. The only way he'll come back is after two or three games some team that's really good loses their quarterback, and then they might get him.
BALDWIN: You still -- you still have the season tickets, sir?
BECKER: Well, they're in the family. I spread them around the kids. By the way, two of my kids are going to Green Bay tomorrow, so they're taking my place.
BALDWIN: Fantastic. Well, happy early birthday to you.
BECKER: Thank you.
BALDWIN: And go Packers for you. Thank you so, so much.
Could the guy behind WikiLeaks end up at Guantanamo Bay? Julian Assange's lawyers, at least, think so. Coming up, we're about to get answer.
Plus, could, former President Bush be arrested in Europe? He just cancelled a trip there after some groups called for police to put him behind bars. So, would that even be possible?
Also this, a guy runs 365 marathons. Just try to wrap your head around that number, first and foremost, but how about running those marathons in 365 days. Michael Holmes. He's not running. He's sitting by. We're going to talk about all those stories in "Globe Trekking." Stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: To Iran and the American hikers accused of spying, pleading not guilty at that trial, Iran detainees, Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal, and Sarah Shourd in 2009. The two guys are still behind bars. Shourd was released last fall because of a medical condition, and it's still not yet clear whether she will return to Iran. The trial is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
And plenty going on overseas today. For the first time in a long time, Egypt is not dominating international news. Michael Holmes is here from CNN International, and, of course, we're always keeping our eye on Egypt.
MICHAEL HOLMES, ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT, CNNI: That's still happening. Yes,
BALDWIN: It's still very much so happening, but the terms of other stories. We're watching Julian Assange, hearing today. They're still fighting extradition to Sweden.
HOLMES: My countryman. Yes. Yes. He's in a bit of trouble. He appeared on Monday. Well, this was a hearing to really decide whether he would be extradited on to Sweden, and this is still going on to face these charges of sexual misconduct. Now, the Swedish prosecutors want to question him about allegations of sexual assault and rape of two women in Sweden. Now, Mr. Assange says that they're overblown.
It's politically motivated. He's got a great QC, queen's counsel, Jeffrey Robinson, who's quite an amazing lawyer, and he's arguing all kinds of things. That the charges are trumped up, that the evidence isn't there, and the interesting thing, he's arguing that maybe Assange might just once he's in Sweden get extradited to the United States to Guantanamo Bay, no less.
BALDWIN: Because that's the fear. It's the step after Swedenon behalf of Assange.
HOLMES: And of course, this all relates to WikiLeaks and the release of all those government cables which have caused some embarrassment to the United States, and he doesn't want to go to Sweden. He thinks that these charges are nonsense, anyway, but he doesn't want to get forwarded on.
BALDWIN: What is this, day one of a two-day hearing?
HOLMES: Yes, a couple of days. And we will see what happen. There's still have to talk about, a lot of procedural matters and stuff like that, but some of the evidence came out. He had a bit of a chat afterwards and everything. And it's a bit of a do-or-die thing. Once he's there, he doesn't know what will happen?
BALDWIN: So, that's Julian Assange. Let me have President Bush here who was supposed to hop on a plane and head to Switzerland, and they yanked the trip because of security concerns because he could be behind bars?
HOLMES: Not the first world leader or former world leader that have to be careful where he goes. The former president, what he was doing was packing up for his first trip to the conference since leaving the White House. He was meant to stay in Geneva this weekend, but it got cancelled after the New York-based center for constitutional rights and some European human rights, by the way, said they were going to file a criminal case against Bush for torture charges once he got to their soil.
The organizers of the event say it was all about anti-Bush protests that were being planned, and they thought it might get violent, blah, blah, blah, and that's what made him stand behind, but these charges, these all relates goes back to like when they set up these -- a system to catch Nazis who had fled the country and go on to South America, whatever, to catch them. And it's not the first time that a world leader has faced the possibility of landing in somewhere else and being charged with something.
BALDWIN: But how realistic would this be that he would then land in Switzerland and being arrested?
HOLMES: He could claim diplomatic immunity, and there's an argument for that, but could it happen? The answer is maybe. It just could, and you notice that the other members of the administration aren't big world travelers these days. Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, they're not running around on the occasions around the place, too, that much.
BALDWIN: The third story and I pitched this just because, you know, I try to get up and run in the morning and this makes my little three miles look like chopped liver.
HOLMES: Why? Why would you do that?
BALDWIN: Insanity, my friend.
HOLMES: I drive -- Brooke Baldwin. I mean, this guy is insane. His name is Stefan Engels. He's --
BALDWIN: From Belgium.
HOLMES: He's from Belgium, and he set off and he did 365 marathons in 365 days. It's like 9,500 miles he did since setting off from his hometown of Ghent on February 5th last year, of course. He had races in Spain, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Britain, United States. I'm still working how he did that and got all the flights in as well because some of those places are bit of a trip. He did the run, have a physio, go to sleep, get up the next day and do it again.
BALDWIN: I mean, that can be --
HOLMES: It is a record.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: You think?
HOLMES: Duh.
(LAUGHTER)
HOLMES: Duh.
BALDWIN: Obviously, but, I mean, what would that do to your bones and your body and your muscles?
HOLMES: He's 49, too. Yes. He's no spring chicken like you.
BALDWIN: Like you, Mr. Holmes.
HOLMES: I told you. I don't run. I walk fast at best, unless, someone is shooting at me and then you pick up the pace.
BALDWIN: Then you're speeding along.
HOLMES: Yes. BALDWIN: Michael Holmes, we'll let you run out of here.
HOLMES: We will. I've got to go do a show.
BALDWIN: OK. I want to see you running. Thank you so much.
And we are getting our first look of the guy accused of robbing the Bellagio Casino. The impossible heist, some are calling. We'll get you that video ahead.
Also, will another member of the Bush family head to the White House? There is a new call for Jeb Bush to run. So, who's pushing him this time? Jessica Yellin is standing by. She is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: All right. Just in. It is going to be a rough commute for some people trying to get out of New York City tonight after a train derailment in one of the east river tunnels. Here is what we know. The Amtrak train heading from Washington, D.C. to Boston derailed shortly after noon eastern today. No one was injured. All 166 passengers were moved to another train to then continue on to Boston, but that train that derailed is now sitting there. It's still blocking one of the tunnels also used by the Long Island Railroad, so heads up there.
But here is some good news there on a story we've been reporting over at Newark International Airport. The power is back on. We are also told no one was ever truck on any kind of air train, so all is good. Green light there if you are headed to Newark. No issues with power any longer.
And now to Nevada. We are getting our first look at the suspect in a daring heist at the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. You remember the picture, right, of the guy running out of there in the motorcycle helmet who took $1.5 million in casino chips at gunpoint? So, now, you're seeing this video. This is Anthony Carleo's first court appearance since being arrested last week back at scene of the crime. Carleo is now due back in court in two weeks.
And to Washington, we go to Jessica Yellin who's joining me now with the latest news from the "Political Ticker." Jessica, what do you have?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke. You know, Mitch Daniels is the governor of Indiana right now, but he's also talked about his potential challenger to President Obama in 2012, and he's seen by many Republicans as one of their leaders on budget-cutting efforts. He has written a letter today in the "Wall Street Journal" that I find so interesting because it lays out his objections to the health care bill, but he does it in a way that finally gives us details on what the fight is about, why one side doesn't like it and what the other side says is unfair about that.
Here are some of Governor Daniels' points. He says, first, he would like the administration to let governors change the law so that the governors can pick which insurance companies operate in their states so that they do not have to follow certain, quote, "mandates" for what benefits are covered in the law and then, also to reimburse the states to full cost (ph) of implementation. Well, I talk to the administration, and those folks there are say, already the way it's written the exchanges can pick the insurance companies.
We don't even know what benefits are going to be required. That's under study. And reimbursement, 90 percent is being reimbursed. There's a 10 percent difference there and that's something to talk about, but what's great about this, Brooke, is those are details that can be worked out, debated, discussed and that you and I can understand so we finally have a little more light on what this whole fight is about.
OK. Now, going to some more straight politics. In Florida, Governor Rick Scott of Florida, he has announced he's going to cut $4 billion from the state budget there. Big breakthrough because they need to balance their budget, but here's something unusual. He announced his new budget plans while speaking in front of an audience of tea party activists. You don't see that so often.
And then finally, you mentioned this one in the tease. Jeb Bush, 2012, is it happening?
BALDWIN: Is it?
YELLIN: What do you think?
BALDWIN: What do you think? What do you think?
YELLIN: No. What do I think? Jeb Bush says absolutely no way, no how, but the "National Review" which is a big popular magazine among conservatives has a cover story and the author calls for Jeb to run in 2012. Everyone here calls him Jeb. Jeb Bush, I should say, Governor Bush. The bottom line is among conservatives, there is a big desire to recruit him for 2012, and this article says, now, the present is as good a time as any, but the former governor insists it ain't going to happen, at least not until 2016, Brooke.
BALDWIN: He said no way, no how until 2016, you say. So, never say never.
YELLIN: Yes, but politicians do change their minds.
BALDWIN: Yes, they do. Jessica Yellin, thank you.
Anyone born in the U.S. is an American citizen if you know your constitution, the 14th Amendment says so. Well, some in Arizona, they want to change that. So, what does that mean for the rest of the country? That is ahead.
Plus, Piers Morgan will join me live, and since he's a pretty good judge of talent, he says, I'm going to ask him what he thinks of Christina Aguilera's national anthem? We call that remix. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: There is a lot going on in the world today. There is a new front in the immigration battle, a Google executive missing more than a week in Egypt is released, a new obesity risk for babies, and Piers Morgan checking in with our own Anderson Cooper tonight.
Time to play "Reporter Roulette." I want to begin with Casey Wian in Phoenix.
Casey, talk me what's going on out there at the state capital in Phoenix.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're at the state capital inside, as we speak. Lawmakers are debating the merits of a bill that would deny citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants. Opponents have been out here by the dozen protesting all day. They are also inside voicing their displeasure at a bill that they say has already invalidated by the U.S. Constitution.
But opponents say -- supporters of this bill say that's exactly what they want to. They want to force a Supreme Court challenge, and they want the Supreme Court to rule on this issue that they say has never been ruled on before, Brooke.
BALDWIN: So, they want to get it to the Supreme Court. You've made that point. But tell me what you see behind you. Who are these opponents of this legislation?
WIAN: A large groups of opponents have been here. I mean, when I say large, moderate size compared to the protests we saw over SB-1070 last year. But these opponents tend to be Latino rights and other immigrants rights advocacy groups who say that this legislation is mean-spirited. It demonizes immigrants and demonizes people who are under the Constitution citizens of this country.
BALDWIN: Casey Wian in Phoenix -- Casey, thanks.
Next on "Reporter Roulette," Dan Simon in San Francisco.
And, Dan, I know you're reporting on one of Google's people, one of Google's executives who went missing from Cairo during all of these protests. Who is he? How long was he gone?
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, his name is Wael Ghonim. He is 30 years old. He was gone for 10 days. He is somebody who is described as a political activist and someone with really social media skills.
He is said maybe to have sort of rallied or sparked some of these anti-government protests, but to what degree he actually organized the people gathering there in the square we just don't know. But the bottom line is, he was released today, and Google announcing that on its own Twitter page -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: What is google saying, Dan, about this news?
SIMON: Well, Google, obviously, is relieved. That's basically what they are saying. But in terms of whether or not this may have violated company policy, his activities, they really haven't addressed that.
But, obviously, a lot of relief because there's really a lot of concern about this. He had been missing for 10 days, and because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding his disappearance, and the fact that he works, of course, for one of the best-known companies in the world, a lot of people are paying close attention to this story, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Very close attention, indeed. Dan Simon, thank you.
And next on "Reporter Roulette," Elizabeth Cohen. And she's been talking about this new concern for parents who are worried about childhood obesity -- Elizabeth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, obesity has reached epidemic proportions among kids in the United States and doctors, of course, want to stop it. They are looking for the reasons why.
Well, one of them appears to be that kids are getting solid foods at too early of an age. This study looked at babies who are taking bottles, they are bottle-fed babies, and when they were given solid foods before they were four months, well, they were six more times more likely to be obese on their third birthday -- obviously a huge problem.
And so, the message here for moms and dads is that before four months of age, give your kids just milk, preferably breast milk. Giving them solids before four months doesn't help them and, in fact, as we can see from this study, it may even hurt them -- Brooke.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Elizabeth Cohen, thank you. And our "Reporter Roulette" times four today. Well, extra plus, my new Twitter friend, New York, there he is, Piers Morgan.
Piers, good to see you. What -- no music today for your intro? There it is.
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": Well, unfortunately, it only gets you dancing, but we have to be careful with this.
BALDWIN: I know. It's a very, very touchy subject on Twitter and our dance conversation. So, we'll move away from that and we'll talk instead, Piers, about singing. And I know you watched this. Christina Aguilera last night, and you're -- you know, you've been a judge; your body Simon Cowell has been a judge. She flubbed. She screwed up.
How do you think she did?
MORGAN: Well, if you're going to screw up, you might as well do it in front of 111 million people, which is the record audience last night. It's the biggest TV audience in American history. So, I guess if that's the time to do it, that's the time to do it. Way to go, Christina.
I feel sorry for her, all the pressure.
BALDWIN: Do you feel for her at all? Do you feel for her at all?
MORGAN: Yes, I do. I do. I mean, I've watched -- what it showed to me is when we say to these contestants on shows like "America's Got Talent" or "American Idol," when you say, you know, I understand the pressure you're feeling under -- you know, they are appearing in front of a few people in a theater.
Christina Aguilera is one of the most famous and best singers in the world. But when you walk out and you know 111 million people might be watching, even for her, I saw Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas on earlier saying, you know, you've got to understand the pressure for even the professionals is huge. And I think she just cracked a bit under the pressure.
And I got to say, she sang magnificently.
BALDWIN: It was amazing.
MORGAN: But if you don't know the words to your own national anthem, you've got problems.
BALDWIN: And she sings it so many times, but it does sort of humanize her, you know? And we are so used to this singer, she is this mega superstar -- but, you know, needless to say, they're all infallible.
Let's talk about, Piers, did we lose you? Oh, you're still there.
MORGAN: I'm here.
BALDWIN: OK. I thought I lost you for a second.
MORGAN: Don't get -- don't get worried. I'm still here, Brooke. Don't you panic.
BALDWIN: Whew! Piers, about what, I know you're tweeting this morning, you were on with your -- I don't know if he's your friend, your enemy, your frenemy, Howard Stern. And --
MORGAN: Yes.
BALDWIN: How did that go?
MORGAN: Well, he still persists in calling himself the "king of all media," but I think he realizes that I'm on his case and I'm -- I'm coming up the rails, as we say in Britain. So, I intend to dismantle Howard of his crown.
BALDWIN: And so, a bunch of his listeners were calling you and they call you arrogant. How does that sit with you, Piers Morgan?
MORGAN: Yes. Extremely comfortably, thank you, Brooke.
BALDWIN: How did I know you would say that? You are un- embarrassable.
MORGAN: For Howard Stern -- for Howard Stern to call me arrogant is absolutely ludicrous. I mean, it's like being called, I don't know, a dizzy blond by Paris Hilton, you know? He'll have to get over that kind of insult in the spirit in which it was intended.
BALDWIN: Is he a friend of yours? Would you call him a friend?
MORGAN: I think we're closer. Yes. He sees me like an annoying little buzzard on his buttocks.
BALDWIN: Like a gnat, always zinging around. And then --
MORGAN: Yes, sort of buzzing around, you know?
BALDWIN: -- and then tonight, Piers, you know, I think we've done a really amazing job, CNN as a network, covering what's happening in Egypt over the past two weeks, and a lot of people have paid a lot of attention to our crews over there, including Anderson Cooper who just came home over the weekend. I think it was sort of tough for him to have to leave.
But he is back and you're talking to him tonight. And then, what's your first question to Anderson?
MORGAN: I think the first question is, you know, why did you come back? He made it clear on his Twitter that he didn't really want to. He came back with a heavy heart, and I think, obviously, one of the untold stories here is what some of these journalists have been through on the ground was pretty hair-raising and violent and dangerous.
And I think that, you know, it reminds everybody I hope that when CNN brings this kind of extraordinary reportage from the scene, exactly what the journalists go through together. I couldn't do what people like Anderson do. And I don't think many people could. And I think that's heroic.
And, you know, when a government like Mubarak tries to silence the world's media and stop the truth getting out, we rely on these people and the whole CNN team and the other crews from other networks to bring that truth, and it's a hugely important thing.
BALDWIN: And I just heard that you landed Arianna Huffington tonight. She's also joining you, right?
MORGAN: I did. I just spoke to the sexiest woman on the Internet who just -- well, she just got $315 million richer.
BALDWIN: Not too shabby.
MORGAN: So, I interviewed here and the boss of -- not too shabby at all -- and I interviewed her and the boss of AOL. And so, she's the queen of the Internet, and a very regal evening, I also have an exclusive interview with Queen Noor of Jordan, who's going to be coming in sitting her right in front of me, which is very exciting.
BALDWIN: Wow. You have a big night ahead of you, Mr. Morgan. We'll look for you at 9:00 live, right?
MORGAN: It's 9:00 live, and I know you'll be watching, won't you, Brooke?
BALDWIN: I will be watching. I will be watching. I can promise you that. Piers Morgan --
MORGAN: You never miss me, do you?
BALDWIN: Some days. Some days. There was Piers Morgan on last night and there was the Super Bowl. Did you watch yourself or did you watch the Super Bowl?
MORGAN: Do you know, unfortunately, I'm getting so exciting I had to actually tweet that I was so gripped that the unthinkable had finally happened. I wasn't watching myself on television.
BALDWIN: Can you imagine.
MORGAN: So, I'm not anticipating record ratings last night, I got to be honest.
BALDWIN: All right.
MORGAN: I saw the Super Bowl ratings last night. Maybe we'll leave last night.
BALDWIN: Yes, leave last night alone. But tonight will be an amazing night. I will be watching, so you can think of me tuning in.
MORGAN: It will.
BALDWIN: Piers Morgan, thank you so much. Always great to talk to you.
Oh, speaking of interviews. Donald Rumsfeld hasn't given one since 2006 until now. So, is he admitting mistakes during his time in the Bush administration? That is ahead.
And CPAC, it's the place where conservatives talk about who may be -- might be running for president come 2012. So, who is attending and perhaps more importantly, who's not there? Joe Johns has that "Political Pop." Joe is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Donald Rumsfeld back in the spotlight again after sparring with the media in a way that made him really must-see TV during his days at the Pentagon. Well, now he just did his first television interview in almost five years.
Joe Johns, our D.C. veteran, joining me there with our "Political Pop" today -- on what you're hearing from this interview, Joe.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, tons of social media today involving Facebook, Twitter, all involving the former defense secretary. First, he tweeted to followers to remind him that he's donating proceeds of his new book called "Known and Unknown" to veterans of charities that support the wounded and families of people who are killed in action.
He's also doing interviews, as you said, one with Diane Sawyer of ABC News, which included a very strange little moment in which he talked about the flawed intelligence that led the U.S. to believe Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Listen up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIANE SAWYER, ABC NEWS: You were wrong.
DONALD RUMSFELD, FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY: Oh, my goodness, the intelligence was certainly wrong.
SAWYER: If you had known he did not have them --
RUMSFELD: I didn't know.
SAWYER: If you had known.
RUMSFELD: I didn't.
SAWYER: If you had.
RUMSFELD: I have no idea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Well, no idea, seriously? I'd Love to ask him a little bit more about that, but apparently more of this interview is coming up later -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Of course. We have to wait for it. That's how they do things in TV with the teases.
So he's finally making the rounds in terms of TV interviews, but he's also making a pretty big appearance in D.C. this week.
JOHNS: He sure is. Later this week, the start of the Conservative Political Action Committee, CPAC, for short, which sound a little bit like a medical device, I know. But it's been around a really long time.
BALDWIN: It does.
JOHNS: The largest conservative gathering in the country. Also this year, seen by many conservatives as the kickoff for the Republican race for the White House.
Don Rumsfeld is going to be there signing books, also getting an award from the organization. They are presenting him with their Defender of the Constitution Award on Tuesday, a pretty big deal. Previous recipients have been John Ashcroft, who was the former attorney general, as well as Rush Limbaugh. So he's in pretty good company there.
BALDWIN: So a lot of big names at CPAC this week in Washington, but there's a little bit of controversy involved in this week.
JOHNS: Yes.
BALDWIN: Why is that?
JOHNS: Well, I mean, I've been sort of looking at this thing for quite a while. It's important to say first that CPAC is expected to have strong attendance, a lot of energy this year, with critics of this Democratic president really finding some common ground. They've got motivation to come to the conference. But that said, there's really been the sideline controversy about who is coming and who is not coming.
Sarah Palin not coming. Heritage Foundation, not coming, Senator Jim DeMint, patron saint, if you will, of the Tea Party, not coming. So, you know, there are a bunch of different figures, and everybody has different reasons for not coming.
But you, Brooke, may have probably heard most about the sort of controversy over a gay organization, and this gay organization has been involved in Republican politics for some time. It's called GOProud. CPAC decided to include them, and then there started to be these calls for a boycott.
So let's listen to one of the conservative messengers who has been pushing for a boycott of CPAC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK CANNON, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN PRINCIPLES PROJECT: We called for a boycott. It was because this group in particular wanted a downplaying of the social issues.
They put out releases calling for the Republicans not to deal with social issues. Two weeks later, they were the lead group out in front of the Republican side calling for the inclusion of the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the former active inclusion of gays in the military. They have attacked Senator DeMint and said that his comments on values as it relates to education have made him unfit to be a spokesman for the conservative movement. They have -- the leaders of the group have talked about how they would like to see traditional marriage overturned personally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Of course, the GOProud people, talked to them today. They say they are doing this because they are a gay Republican organization. It sounds like a little family feud to me -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: A little bit of controversy. A little bit of who is coming, who is not coming. Got it all in there in "Political Pop" today, Joe. I appreciate it. We'll see you back here tomorrow.
Have you heard about this young man? Goes on vacation with his family, goes to the Dominican Republic. While he's there, he is beaten to death. What happened, and who are the suspects? We're "On the Case."
Plus, extreme eating. Today's edition includes burgers. You've got to see this challenge. That is next.
Oh, my goodness.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Here we go. A high school sports brawl -- "You Gotta See This!" -- I'm talking players, coaches, ,parents, fans, all reportedly pepper-sprayed in the name of crowd control during a soccer match. This is Ocala, Florida.
Apparently, the altercation had been building the whole game. And the incident now is being investigated.
Look at them all. Players for both teams have had their eligibility suspended. One teen was even arrested. Yikes.
And look at this bad burger. What has six patties, 12 pieces of bacon and six eggs? Oh, my goodness.
This is called the Stellinator (ph), named after the bar where the burger was born. This food lover's challenge is a must see and a must try. Maybe to some people. Oh, and by the way, it also has peanut butter and jalapenos.
The mountain of meat has conquered every single challenger but two. Jalapenos and peanut butter? Come on, now.
Let's check in with Wolf Blitzer, who's getting set for "THE SITUATION ROOM" here.
Wolf, and I know today you're talking again about Egypt.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Egypt is still a huge story on the surface. Maybe things look a little bit quieter right now, but there are so many uncertainties, what's about to happen in the coming days and weeks and months, in fact. And the United States has enormously important interests in that part of the world. The region is watching right now as well.
The State Department spokesman, P.J. Crowley, is going to be joining us live here in "THE SITUATION ROOM." I've got lots of questions for P.J. about what the administration's position is on so many of these issues, as you know, Brooke, like, does the administration want President Mubarak to step down now, a week from now, or wait until the elections that are scheduled for September? What exactly is the Obama administration's stance on all these sensitive issues?
I'm a little bit confused. I know our viewers are confused. More importantly, I think Egyptians are confused right now.
And so we'll try to get some answers from P.J. We'll see how he does. That will be coming up, here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Brooke, back to you.
BALDWIN: We'll be watching for it and all of your questions, Wolf Blitzer. We'll see you in a couple of minutes. Thank you.
And I want to give all of our viewers a head's up. Tomorrow we're going to take a look at which Republicans may challenge President Obama next year. Do not miss our "2012 Contenders" series. That will be tomorrow.
And have you heard about this new Amanda Knox movie? I'm talking sex, nudity, murder. And that is just what they are showing in the preview. Well, some other people are livid over some of these scenes. So will the Lifetime network yank the movie?
Sunny Hostin is "On the Case." She's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Let me look at both sides here. One side says it is too horribly graphic. The other side says it's too harmful. I'm talking about the made-for-TV movie that neither side in this sensational murder case wants shown.
This is Lifetime's movie about Amanda Knox. She's that American college student convicted of murder in Italy. And the trailer is all over the Internet, and here's a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amanda Marie Knox --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A good person, a good student, and a good friend.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amanda Knox will be tried for murder. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We suspect that this started as some sort of sex game.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not true.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe Amanda orchestrated the attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin is "On the Case."
And, you know, Sunny, the victim's family, very, very upset about this movie. Amanda Knox's lawyers are upset about the movie.
So what does it show that is so objectionable to both sides?
SUNNY HOSTIN, "IN SESSION," TRUTV: Well, everyone's upset about this movie. That is for sure, Brooke.
And what it shows is the murder the way the prosecution alleged that it occurred. Of course, Amanda Knox says that is not what happened, that she maintains her innocence. But it is very graphic.
I mean, we just saw that trailer. Just in the trailer alone, you see the victim screaming with two men on top of her. Very, very graphic stuff here.
BALDWIN: So we saw the trailer. Obviously the movie is made. So what can, if anything, either side do to stop Lifetime from airing it?
HOSTIN: Well, Amanda Knox's attorneys have demanded that they sequester this movie. They have also demanded that the trailer be taken off the Web by February 10th.
If that doesn't happen, then they say they are going to court to try to stop the movie from airing, which it's supposed to air February 21st. We'll see what happens. I'm not sure that it's going to be a persuasive legal argument, but they certainly are going to try.
BALDWIN: One more question. We know that Knox is appealing this whole thing. Is the movie -- would the movie be shown in Italy? And would that hurt her case for appeal?
HOSTIN: Well, apparently, it's not going to be released in Italy, but with the Internet, even with this Web -- this trailer that's on the Web, there's no question I think that it will get to Italy. And I will say, just over this weekend, stills from the trailer have appeared in newspapers all over Europe, so certainly this could affect her appeal.
Let's face it, they say that one of the reasons she was convicted was because of the way the media portrayed her, as sort of "Foxy Knoxy." It can't possibly help her appeal.
BALDWIN: Story number two, we have this family. They get away from the snow. They go to the Dominican Republic. But it ends in tragedy because their teenage son, beaten to death at this nightclub at the resort. He was Jordan Morrison, 19 years of age.
And Sunny, what started the fight?
HOSTIN: A very sad story. Apparently, he was sticking up for a woman who was being harassed by another man at the nightclub, and they spat on her face. And he stepped in and was killed because of that.
BALDWIN: Are there any suspects yet?
HOSTIN: There are five suspects -- four Canadians, one Algerian that apparently lived in Canada. They have all been detained. Two have been charged with murder, Brooke. Murder in the Caribbean.
BALDWIN: Murder in the Caribbean. Is their legal process much different there than, say, the U.S. or even Canada?
HOSTIN: It certainly is different. The Dominican Republic, their law is based on the Napoleonic Code. Many people say it's corrupt, it takes a long time for things to go to trial.
That's one thing, Brooke, when you travel, it doesn't matter where you're from. Where you're arrested, or whatever crime is committed, you are subject to the laws of that jurisdiction. And so very different situation for the Canadians that have been detained.
BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin, "On the Case."
Sunny, good to see you. Thank you. We'll see you back here tomorrow.
I hope to see you back here tomorrow. For now, I'm Brooke Baldwin.
I'm going to send it up to Washington and my colleague Wolf Blitzer. "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts now.
