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'On the Case'; Chilling Terrorist Emails; Dior Designer: "I Love Hitler"
Aired February 28, 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: CNN Equals Politics, and, of course, Wolf Blitzer is joining me now with the latest from the CNN Political Ticker. And Mr. Blitzer, let's begin with a certain someone heading to Iowa.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: We're talking about the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Not only is he heading to Iowa, but all the sources suggesting within a matter of days he could announce the creation of what's called an exploratory committee to consider running for the Republican presidential nomination. Everyone sort of thinks he will do so, and it could happen as early as this week. He's going to Iowa next Monday for a major conservative conference. He'll be there, and other Republicans will be there as well.
So far it's not as if any of the front-runners have decided to create that exploratory committee yet. Newt Gingrich might be the first one to do so among the top-tier Republican hopefuls. So we'll be watching that closely.
Once he does that, we assume he'll have to give up his job as a FOX News contributor for which he's paid a lot of money, just as other FOX News contributors will have to give up their contributing role over at FOX if in fact they announce that they're running for the Republican presidential nomination -- potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars in income for Sarah Palin or Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum. They are all FOX News contributors. So, we'll be watching that closely to see if Newt Gingrich is ready to give up that income from FOX. That would be a significant development.
On another issue, the president of the United States is sort of praising Mitt Romney. He's not a FOX News contributor. But he's praising Mitt Romney for going ahead, for Romney's initiative when he was governor of Massachusetts in creating health care reform in that state. "I know that many of you asked for flexibility for your states under this law," the president told governors who come to the White House. "In fact, I agree with Mitt Romney," the president said, who recently said he's proud of what he accomplished in health care by giving the states the power to determine their own health care solution.
He's right. He's right. I'm not so sure, Brooke, as you know, that kind of praise on health care reform for Mitt Romney coming from President Obama is necessarily going to help Mitt Romney when he seeks, assuming he does, when he seeks the Republican presidential nomination. But that's certainly something to consider.
One final note -- and I know you saw this on Friday. You were here in Washington, Brooke. I interviewed the Libyan ambassador to the United States who has now gone and condemned Moammar Gadhafi. He's coming back today in "THE SITUATION ROOM." We have a lot more to discuss. He's now free to speak about his 40-year relationship with Moammar Gadhafi. And I think our viewers are going to be intrigued by what he has to say.
And finally, Brooke, it was good to se you here in Washington on Friday. We hope you come back early and often.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: I know. I had such a great time. In fact, coming up a little later in this hour, we're going to replay that moment you and I had in "THE SITUATION ROOM." So, for viewers on Friday who missed that, we will remind how fund it was.
BLITZER: What was that moment? What was that moment, Brooke?
BALDWIN: I don't know. We'll have to see that moment again, Wolf Blitzer. I thank you. I'll see you later on this next hour.
But for now, top of the hour, folks. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Developing right now: an airline worker accused of plotting terror attacks against the U.S., and apparently, the man he'd been talking with has a very familiar name.
I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
(voice-over): One thousand people said to be leaving Libya every hour. This as more soldiers turn against their leader Moammar Gadhafi. But who breaks first?
Also, al Qaeda takes a side. Will a divided Libya become a hotbed for terror?
Plus, the clock is ticking for Congress. If the Congress shuts down, wait until you hear what you will not be able to do.
And Charlie Sheen vents to the media. He says he's full of violent hatred and will only come back to his TV show on two conditions. You have to hear this bizarre interview.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Hi, there. Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
Let's get straight to this developing story here. One of one, then I want to take -- take a look at this gay. This is Rajib Karim, a computer guy from British Airways convicted today of terrorism charges, including plotting to blow up an airliner. Sentencing comes mid-March. But here's the deal, and this, folks, really is the story. E-mails divulged at this trial are shedding new light on the man now considered to be the world's most dangerous terrorist. Here he is, American-born Anwar al-Awlaki, hiding out somewhere in Yemen. And it turns out he is a hands-on terrorist and obsessed with striking this country.
Let me read something for you. Quote, "Our highest priority" -- this is one of those highly encrypted e-mails, "Our highest priority is the U.S. Anything there, even if on a smaller scale than Britain would be our choice."
Paul Cruickshank, CNN terrorism analyst.
Paul, is what we're now learning giving us even greater cause for worry?
PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, that's right, Brooke. This trial has shed a lot of light on the activities of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and particularly, Anwar al-Awlaki. He's not only the charismatic driving force behind al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, but he's now taken a hands-on operational role in terms of plotting terrorist attacks against the West, and especially against the United States.
He is hell-bent on attacking the United States, even in a small way. It's become an obsession for him. We're learning, in this trial that he's been in touch with this operative who has been convicted in the United Kingdom, soliciting key operation and giving key operational guidance, training this guy in the U.K. to become a cabin crew attendant so he could help plot attacks against American aviation, Brooke.
BROOKE: Yes, you say he was hell-bent, and given this evidence, it appears he is. We mentioned those e-mails. Let's take another look at the e-mail, Anwar al-Awlaki, grilling this man, who worked, as you mentioned, for British Airways. Here's what he wrote: "Specify your role, how much access do you have at airports, what information do you have on the limitations and cracks in the present security situation?"
So, Paul, this guy unlike, say, Osama bin Laden, he's apparently down in the trenches, you know, hands on, e-mailing folks, directing the nuts and bolts of some of these terror operations.
CRUICKSHANK: That's right. He's getting directly involved, and this is an organization in Yemen which in the last 15 months has twice attempted to attack the United States. We saw on Christmas Day 2009 an attempt to take down an airliner coming into Detroit. And we saw in October 2010 an attempt to bring down two cargo jets going towards the United States with package bombs, DHL and UPS-type packages, Brooke.
BALDWIN: And apparently, these e-mails, I think it was January and February of 2010. So, keep in mind, that is weeks after that failed terror plot into Detroit, right? So, this is all constant, week after week after week. Paul, you know, if you're coming at this from the perspective of an intelligence agency, security here, what's the biggest takeaway?
CRUICKSHANK: Well, the biggest takeaway is that this organization, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, is hell-bent on attacking the United States. That's their number one target, much more than a country, say, like France or Britain, that they want to launch an attack of the United States, however small, and they are trying again and again and again.
And, unfortunately, they do have a safe haven in Yemen right now. There are Western recruits traveling there for training. They have a range of other recruits receiving training there, and they are coming out with new types of attacks, like sending packages on cargo jets towards the United States, starting to take advantage of vulnerabilities.
We've also seen from this trial that they are using new communication tools, that they are heavily encrypting messages, much more deeply layered than we've seen before, much more sophisticated encryption. It seems from this trial, the Western intelligence agencies weren't able to intercept these messages. They only decoded them afterwards, after they arrested Rajib Karim, this convicted terrorism in the United Kingdom, where they're able to figure out what the messages were, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Yes.
CRUICKSHANK: And that is quite concerning.
BALDWIN: Some of those highly encrypted messages -- that were some of the e-mails that we read, as you mentioned, highly sophisticated -- very, very much so eye-opening for all of us. Paul Cruickshank, my thanks to you.
And now, if it's interesting, if it's happening right now, you're about to see it, "Rapid Fire." Let's go.
First to the Korean peninsula -- North Korea is threatening to turn the South into a sea of flames. That statement in retaliation for joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea that began today. These drills happen every year, and every year, North Korea denounces them.
Also, forecasters are confirming not just one but two tornadoes touching down in Kentucky. One ripped through Henry County, packing 140-mile-per-hour winds. It leveled two homes, including one of the ones there, and injured several people.
Also, fires are tearing across parts of the Texas panhandle. More than 120,000 acres have burned there. These pictures, those flames, this is Matador, which is just north of Lubbock. One family there told us they lost everything, everything they own as their home burned to the ground in just 20 minutes time. State forestry officials say a 5-year-old girl died in a multi-car accident. It happened because the driver couldn't see through the smoke. Rhode Island's flames of a different kind -- they are ripping apart an abandoned mill. You can see massive plumes of thick gray smoke. Crews evacuated several homes in the area because chemicals were stored inside. It is not yet clear what sparks that fire.
And a woman in Miami is recovering today after a run-in with purse- snatchers that could have turned deadly. They nearly -- watch this with me -- look at this, they're nearly running her over.
Here's the story: thieves steal the lady's purse from her car. She confronts them, obviously brazen, jumps in front of their car as she takes off. Fortunately, she's able to call for help after falling there to the ground.
And now, to somewhere a little bit far away. Well, maybe not necessarily that picture, but farther up in space. A couple of shuttle astronauts -- here we go, live pictures. International Space Station, some astronauts just taking a walk outside the ISS.
They are getting a couple of things done. The biggie is installing a power extension cable and moving a failed ammonia pump.
This is Discovery's 39th and final mission.
And his power appears to be shrinking, but Moammar Gadhafi is not going down. A Libyan jet bombs one of Libya's bases. Witnesses say Gadhafi's forces are shooting at protesters and Gadhafi soldiers even tried to attack a radio station. So, when will Gadhafi take a break?
Also, a high-profile designer is accused of racist rants. Have you heard this audio? John Galliano's comments, including why he apparently said he loves Hitler. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: We're going to take you "Globe Trekking" now, including a look as always at news overseas. Hala Gorani with CNN International with me to talk me through, of course, Libya.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Right.
BALDWIN: And we just heard in the last hour or so from Susan Rice, speaking at the White House press briefing, essentially addressing a question about these sanctions and saying that Gadhafi more or less is delusional.
GORANI: Right, and also, Moammar Gadhafi gave an interview to a U.S. network saying that his people love him, that they support him, that they would fight and die for him. And in response to that, a reporter asked Susan Rice to the U.N. to react to what he told that U.S. network, and she said, "If he can laugh while slaughtering his own people, it shows how, quote, 'disconnected' he is, and that he is essentially delusional."
So, this is, of course, all coming on a day when the United Nations, several days ago, passed a resolution imposing sanctions, a set of sanctions on Libya, aimed, according to the U.N. and Susan Rice, reiterated that point today, at stopping the regime's violence against his own people, the United Nations Security Council 1970.
BALDWIN: And part of the sanctions, the assets frozen, what $30 billion?
GORANI: Thirty billion dollars, which is the largest amount ever.
BALDWIN: Ever.
GORANI: Ever, right, of asset-freezing against a regime, against a government that is currently in power.
So, it's really all going to be a question of what happens next, and it's also a question of what these countries that must behind the scenes be discussing what comes after Gadhafi. Do thee want some of these defectors, the high-profile defectors --
BALDWIN: Right.
GORANI: -- I'm talking about the ministers, ambassadors to potentially organize themselves together in a transitional government? Or do they want the opposition to in some way or another form a coalition and put together a coalition government? I mean, it's just so many options are possible and so many pitfalls ahead are likely as well --
BALDWIN: A lot of moving parts.
GORANI: -- on their road to democracy.
BALDWIN: Moammar Gadhafi, thus far, says he will live and die in Libya. So, that's Libya for today, number two, and we were talking about this hours ago in makeup with John Galliano. What is he saying?
GORANI: It's just -- it just sounds like the man has just come undone when you look at this video. A few days ago he was accused by a couple in Paris brasserie, the La Perle, in Paris, of hurling anti- Semitic and racist rants. And then, as if it weren't bad for him, and now a new video surfaces. I looked into this story of John Galliano's rapid descent into just a very difficult situation.
Take a listen and take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI (voice-over): He is one of high-fashions golden boys, British designer John Galliano. He's been called a genius. He's been called an inspiration. But now, some are calling him a vile racist.
The head of French label Christian Dior, Galliano was arrested last week for allegedly hurling racist and anti-Semitic insults at a couple dining at La Perle brasserie in Paris. Christian Dior suspended him Friday, pending an investigation.
And if it seemed things couldn't get worse for Galliano, Monday, they did. Britain "Sun" newspaper obtained a video of what it says is another incident at same cafe in October.
JOHN GALLIANO, BRITISH DESIGNER: I love Hitler. People like you would be dead today. Your mothers, your forefathers would be (EXPLETIVE DELETED) gassed and (EXPLETIVE DELETED) dead.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God. Do you have a problem?
GALLIANO: With you? You're ugly.
GORANI: In the tiny world of high fashion, allegations of Galliano's slurring racist insults spread like wildfire. And at Sunday's Oscar ceremony, best actress winner Natalie Portman, the celebrity face of Miss Dior perfume, was asked about the controversially.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As the face of Dior, why do you wear Dior and what are your thoughts on John Galliano's suspension and these allegations that he made anti-Semitic remarks?
NATALIE PORTMAN, ACTRESS: I don't --
GORANI: But her people wouldn't let them touch the haute couture hot potato.
John Galliano's lawyers say they will fight charges of insult and defamation, but for the Dior brand, the scandal is damaging and the label's parent company acted quickly.
JAMES FALLON, EDITOR, WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY: I don't think LVMH could afford to wait until six months down the road to see the facts that came out, especially with the bloggers and tweeters and Internet and all of that as it already has gone crazy with the various accusations.
GORANI: If convicted of those charges in the latest incident, Galliano faces fines and even jail time. But perhaps for one of the most famous and successful designers in fashion history, it is not the loss of his freedom but of his reputation that will be hardest to recover from.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: And CNN has reached out to Galliano's lawyers and left several messages but didn't hear back. And Galliano's attorneys had filed a counter-suit against the couple at the center of last Thursday's incident, Brooke, for defamation, injury and (INAUDIBLE).
BALDWIN: Natalie Portman was like, what do I say?
GORANI: And then she was saved by the handlers.
BALDWIN: And then she was -- thank you very much.
GORANI: Yes.
BALDWIN: Hala Gorani, thank you so much.
GORANI: Thank you. BALDWIN: And now to one more story that everybody is talking about. What is going on with Charlie Sheen? In these explosive new interviews, he is going off on everybody, from Alcoholics Anonymous, to his own bosses at CBS. He even says he's going to come back to his show on a couple of conditions. But is Sheen really off drugs as he claims?
Coming up next, we're going to play some of these videos for you. And I'll speak with Ken Seeley, who used to star on A&E's "Intervention." I'll get his take on this. Don't miss that conversation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: So, just days after CBS shut down production on the highly popular current season of "Two and a Half Men," Charlie Sheen made his very first TV appearance in exclusive interviews with both NBC and ABC. And the actor talked about a possible lawsuit with CBS. His in- home rehab which he actually has a name for it, he calls it "Sober Valley Lodge." And he also talks about his family.
Sheen was very, very open to questions in both of these interviews, if you caught them, appearing sincere, very candid. Although some of his analogies were at best confusing. Sheen did manage to pass a court- certified blood lab test for several drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and alcohol. A separate urine test also tests him clean.
But when NBC's correspondent Jeff Rossen actually asked Charlie Sheen if he would be embarrassed when his children, you know, one day read about all of this -- here's what Charlie Sheen told him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: God no, we're talking about an education and then like this, and then that's the guy, and he's our dad and we can get all the answers and the truth, wow, winning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, that was NBC. He also sat down with the correspondent with ABC, and the actor said he -- the only drug he's on is himself. That was a quote from him, and when questioned about his current relationship with people that supply him drugs, a little dodgy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEEN: I am on a drug. It's called Charlie Sheen. It's not available, because if you try it once, you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body. Too much?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What about the people who supply you with drugs? Are they out of your life?
SHEEN: I -- again, I cannot speak about things that are sort of, you know -- I just -- that's really nobody's business. I think you know the answer to that, you know?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Also, just a short time ago. Charlie Sheen spoke with TMZ online, his longtime publicist Stan Rosenfield resigned today saying this, "I have worked with Charlie Sheen for a long time and care about him very much. However, at this time, I am unable to work effectively as his publicist and have respectfully resigned."
So, all of that said, let's talk to Ken Seeley in L.A., former interventionist. I'm sure you've seen him on the A&E show "Intervention," and founder of Intervention911.com.
So, Ken, right of the gate here, you saw the interviews. What were your impressions?
KEN SEELEY, FOUNDER, INTERVENTION911.COM: Yes, it's heartbreaking. What I first saw was, you know, what we saw years ago with Anna Nicole Smith. You know, these are the late stages of the disease, and if something doesn't happen quickly, I'm afraid we're going to lose him to this disease.
BALDWIN: That's sad, and it's sad to think about the end for Anna Nicole Smith. Let me ask you about the fact that Charlie Sheen was talking about, you know, his in-home rehab which he referred to as "Sober Valley Lodge" and he was asked about, you know, does he fear of relapse? And he actually said, false, trolls, weak defeated, they allow defeat to be an option. I will not.
What would you make of his, what would you call that, defiance?
SEELEY: Yes. You know, I see it every day. It's those people who think that they are above it, that, you know, it's not going to affect them, and these are the people that overdose and die from the disease. They are the ones that we see dying every single day, and it's heartbreaking.
I mean, he has to hit a rock bottom. He has to -- we have to create a scenario that is going to say -- he's going to say, I would rather be in recovery and stop all of this rather than living in this. We've got to create this.
BALDWIN: You say he has to hit rock bottom, which then tells me this is not rock bottom for him. What is rock bottom then?
SEELEY: Yes. Every single person is different, and I think his rock bottom is going to, you know, it's going to be really difficult to create because of his status. Financially, he doesn't need to work another day of his life. So, it isn't about finances. It isn't about, you know, anything. He doesn't have to go back to work.
So, what it's really going to be for him is that his family, his friends, the people that love him the most need to come together, be unified and create it. Turn a rock bottom into a reality because he's admitted he's doing illegal drugs. I would rather see him in jail than on the streets alive in his disease the way he is today. BALDWIN: So, Ken, we can't prevent to know what Charlie Sheen is feeling moment to moment or even what his father is doing to try to help him. But if you were tapped to lead an intervention with Sheen, you were sitting in that room. What would you say?
SEELEY: Yes, I would -- like I said, would I get all the family members and friends, gather them together, the work is already on the same page and come as a unified front in a loving and respectful manner and say, it's got to end here.
And it's got to be a consequence that means something to him, because without that consequence, he's not going to stop. He's enjoying it too much. He even says, you know, I'm not ready to stop. I'm still doing -- I'm in the scene and I enjoy partying.
He's not going to stop until there's a consequence that's effective -- strong enough that he's going to say, I can't do this anymore. And that needs to be created, because I don't think it's going to happen naturally. I think the natural rock bottom for him is going to, unfortunately, be death if somebody doesn't step up.
BALDWIN: Let's hope not. Let's hope not. We wish him the best, don't we, Ken Seeley?
Thank you, Ken. Appreciate it.
Coming up next: The president welcomes governors from across the country to the White House and he makes some news. What he had to say about health care. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: America's governors turned up at the White House today and I want to take a look at this here, the scene.
This is Haley Barbour. He's one of several Republican governors who might, maybe, perhaps want the president's job, thinking about running in 2012. Well, the president made a little news at this thing today. Want to give it to you short and sweet. I'm talking about health care reform. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You have a better way of doing it? Help yourself. Go ahead. Take that route.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That is the president announcing he now backs legislation to let the states adopt revisions to health care reforms beginning in 2014. That is three years sooner than allowed.
Right now, Jessica Yellin in Washington.
Jess, how did that go over? JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: (AUDIO BREAK) states can find their own way to get everyone covered by health insurance. They just don't have to follow this national blueprint. The kind of flexibility is something that most governors and especially those Republicans in the room have been demanding. So, they like the idea in theory.
But, of course, most Republican governors don't want the health care bill at all, so this on its own will not be enough to quiet the critics, Brooke.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: You mentioned the Republican governors in the room. There was a lot of red in the room, and before the November elections Democrats held, you know, most of the governorships, clearly not the case now. And a lot of the opposition to the president's agenda is coming from the states, is it not, Jessica Yellin?
YELLIN: Oh, yes, a lot. These Republican governors are driving the agenda, basically. Just look at Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana. The discussion there isn't so much about jobs and investment but about cutting. So at the governors' meeting the president dove into it and criticized some of the union-fighting governors, not by name, but the implication was clear. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't think it does anybody any good when public employees are denigrated or vilified or their rights are infringed upon. We need to attract the best and the brightest to public service. These times demand it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YELLIN: So, you know, some Republicans have criticized the president for intervening in the states' issues. But during the campaign the president then candidate actually promised to take to the streets to defend unions, so this is the very least what his supporters would expect from him.
BALDWIN: We mentioned and we showed a picture of Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi as having designed on the president's job. Who else might in that room today, Jess?
YELLIN: Well, there's Mitch Daniels of Indiana. He's considering a bid maybe. There's also Rick Perry of Texas and Chris Christie of New Jersey, both of whom said they are not considering one but a lot of attention focused on him.
There's also another interesting moment. The president gave no doubt unwelcome praise to former governor and likely presidential candidate who wasn't in the room. He gave a shutout to Mitt Romney, formerly the governor of Massachusetts saying he did a great job with his health care reform. And, you know, he reformed health care in Massachusetts that's not all that popular among Republicans, unwelcome praise.
BALDWIN: Jess, great to see you, happy belated birthday, by the way.
YELLIN: Thank you.
BALDWIN: The U.S. government could soon should down. That is affecting you and me. We're talking a deadline as in this Friday, here. Also a deadline of a different kind for state workers in Wisconsin. And have you hopped on a plane and flown any time recently? You may have been exposed to measles. They're lining up now. "Reporter Roulette" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A deadline looms in Wisconsin. The federal government is days away from shutting down, and a measles scare in the air. It's time to play "Reporter Roulette." I want to begin in Madison, Wisconsin, with Ted Rowlands. Let's talk about tomorrow. Why is tomorrow so, so significant over the budget battle in Wisconsin?
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the governor will tell you that it's a deadline of sorts. He says after tomorrow he's going to start laying off workers, and he says they are going to lose the citizens of Wisconsin a chance to restructure some debt.
Democrats say, ah, that's hogwash. If the governor was really concerned about losing jobs, that he would come to the table with them and make a deal. They say that there are two people here, two people playing.
Right now what you're looking at here is the fact that the capital has been locked and that people cannot get in right now, and you can see this line of police officers keeping the door and keeping people from getting in. A lot of frustration here, obviously, and the reason is, they say for safety. These folks out here don't buy it at all. They want to get in, but at this point they haven't been able to.
BALDWIN: I've gotten some tweets on that, Ted. What's the situation? Some people can't go in, but some of the protesters can come out.
ROWLANDS: That's what they are saying. There's a handful of protesters inside that spent the night in the capital police at this point, they are saying until they come out, other people can't come in. As you can see, a lot of anxiety.
BALDWIN: Ted Rowlands live in Madison. Thanks, ted. Next on "Reporter Roulette," the clock is ticking on Capitol Hill. Congress has a deadline, midnight Friday, to agree on a bill or the government shuts down. Dana Bash live on the hill. Dana, what's the latest on that deadline?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest is that House Republicans intend to have a vote tomorrow that will keep the government running by having a spending bill for two weeks. That is expected again to be tomorrow.
But the bill, Brooke, would cut $4 billion in federal funding. Senate Democrats don't want to cut anything to keep the government running, but what House Republicans are doing is making them an offer that's hard to refuse because the cuts that are in their proposal are the very cuts that President Obama put in his budget for next year.
So that's why we think at least temporarily this government will not shut down when the deadline comes on Friday. They will kick it down the road for two weeks. And at that time the democratic and Republican sources have said that they want to use that to try to negotiate the really big issue, which is the big gulf between the two sides on long term spending.
BALDWIN: You mentioned a significant word there, "temporarily."
BASH: Yes.
BALDWIN: So we need to remind everyone that this is a short-term compromise. If they work this thing out the prospect of a shutdown is not necessarily over long term, is it?
BASH: No, not at all. And as I mentioned, Brooke, you were talking about house Republicans passing a $61 billion -- a spending bill worth $61 billion in cuts, and Senate Democrats don't want to go anywhere near that.
The House Majority Leader Eric Cantor just health a briefing with reporters and sounded pretty dug in on the idea they don't want to go much further at all. Senate Democrats willing to have some cuts, but the differences are pretty big. Again, even if they do two weeks, it will be hard to see how they negotiate such an important compromise during that time. But the White House is expected to get involves in these cuts.
BALDWIN: Dana, thanks.
Finally here on "Reporter Roulette," a big-time measles scare at American airports. Elizabeth Cohen here in Atlanta. Elizabeth, yikes. Should I be worried?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You should be thoughtful.
BALDWIN: OK.
COHEN: And mindful if you were in four particular airports between February 20th and February 22 because that's when this woman, we don't know much about her, a 27-year-old woman, resident of New Mexico, had measles and traveled through these four airports. We're talking Denver, Albuquerque, Dulles and BWI. She was in those four airports between February 20th and 22nd.
Now, the chances that you would run into her and get measles aren't that high, but, for example, if I have measles and sneezed and I didn't cover my mouth, I can get you sick.
BALDWIN: That easily. COHEN: Yes, you can get sick at that kind of distance, did this and then touch the table and you touch the table, something like that, that can happen.
BALDWIN: So if I'm sitting there thinking I've been to some of these airports and got my vaccinations as a kid, am I OK?
COHEN: You are probably OK. And certainly if you were vaccinated before 1957 then there's even more of a chance that you're OK. But afterwards sometimes the vaccine didn't last as long as they would have liked and you should talk to your doctor. Again, this isn't for everybody to be anxious about, but if you were in those airports at that time, it's worth being mindful, do you have a fever, not feeling well.
BALDWIN: Quickly, does she know if she had measles when she hopped on an airport?
COHEN: One would hope that she didn't because that would not be time it's worth being mindful, do you have a fever, not feeling well.
BALDWIN: Does she know if she had measles when she hopped on an airport?
COHEN: One would hope that she didn't because that would not be very good.
BALDWIN: Elizabeth, thank you. That's "Reporter Roulette" for this Monday.
And now a guy who looks and sounds a lot like the President Obama rapping about life in the White House. Joe Johns and I, we were talking about this in D.C. on Friday. Today is the day, Joe Johns. We're getting the story on. Don't miss this. We'll be right back with political pop.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Just in here to CNN, take a look at the radar behind me. That is Georgia. A tornado warning has been issued in several counties in northwest Atlanta. Authorities are warning people to get inside. Keep in mind, several states are currently under the tornado watches including Tennessee, where at least one person has been killed in a severe storm. As soon as we get more updates I'll pass them along to you.
Thank you, Roger Strauss. Pictures outside looking pretty ominous over downtown Atlanta. Chad Myers working the computer. Yes. We'll have to wait and see. We've already seen two confirmed tornadoes in Kentucky. Here's hoping it does not come and hit us as well.
But let's talk political pop here. Last night, I don't know if you watched the Academy Awards, it wasn't just Hollywood. The stars in Washington got in on the act as well. And Joe Johns is here with the political pop. And we know, Joe, that the president made a few jokes about the Academy Awards. JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: That's right.
BALDWIN: What did he say?
JOHNS: Let's just say "The King's Speech" was winning the president was giving a speech of his own, and he wasn't having as hard a time getting it out.
Anyway, the biggest star in Washington, as you know, is still the commander in chief, and he did manage to get a couple of shout outs to the Oscars. He pretty much didn't upstage anyone. First, there was the black tie dinner last night for the National Governors Association. It went off without a hitch in the state dining room.
A couple of yucks, and in fact the president couldn't let the moment pass without talking about the fact that they were in that room while the Oscars were going on. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I know some of you may be confused and think that this is the Oscars.
(LAUGHTER)
There are some similarities. First of all, everybody looks spectacular. And the second thing is if I speak to long, the music will start playing.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Giving him the good rap.
JOHNS: Don't even think about it.
BALDWIN: Now, he actually made an appearance, sort of, in the Oscars. I think I missed it. I must have been getting my Chinese takeout. But what happened?
JOHNS: Yes. I mean, if you blinked you would have missed it, you know?
BALDWIN: Yes.
JOHNS: It was a little bit of a surprise. He popped up in this short sort of pre-recorded sound bite thing during this tribute to all-time favorite movies, and he picked a classic.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When it comes to just one song, you've got to go with "As Time Goes By." (END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: "As Time Goes By."
BALDWIN: Oh, "Casablanca."
JOHNS: Yes. Nice, huh?
BALDWIN: There is no segue to get us from "As Time Goes By" to this rap, so I'll just hand it to you. Finally, we're getting this on, Joe.
JOHNS: All right. Well, OK. It's all about music.
BALDWIN: Right.
JOHNS: The president has been called the world's biggest celebrity. There are a lot of people out there who have tried to cash in on it.
One of them is this pretty famous impersonator who's made a video that probably will not make the president's list of favorite songs. It's a rip-off of the late rapper Christopher Wallace, better known to all of us as Notorious B.I.G. It features Reggie Brown, who has made a name for himself impersonating the president.
So without further ado, let's listen.
(MUSIC)
JOHNS: Yes. And if you don't know, now you know. That's a good theme for "Political Pop," right?
BALDWIN: Yes. I like it. We should start that. That should be a new thing for you, Joe Johns.
JOHNS: Yes. We could do it often.
BALDWIN: Will you do me a favor and tweet me that link so I can tweet it out?
JOHNS: You've got it.
BALDWIN: Because I have a feeling people are going to want to hear the rest of that song, Joe Johns. Thank you.
JOHNS: Absolutely.
BALDWIN: Good "Political Pop" for this Monday.
And now here is something new. There is a big initiative to make court a more pleasant experience for suspected criminals. Wait until you hear what judges could soon be doing.
Also, there is another video you have to see. A dad applying for a job gets a rejection letter, but it's his baby that gets the last laugh. That's next. "You Gotta See This!"
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Now time for "You Gotta See This!" And you already got a little preview here.
This little baby got the giggles at his dad's expense. That paper you see there in his hands, they are ripping it up. It's a job rejection letter.
Let's listen.
So at least a silver lining. They have good humor. Good sense about it, not to mention the baby is adorable.
Also, in case you missed this Friday, I was fortunate enough -- thank you, D.C. bureau -- the baby is still laughing at me. I took a little trip to Washington and I couldn't resist doing this. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, as I mentioned a couple of times through this show, it's a real special treat to actually be coming to you live in Washington. And you know who I normally talk to right about this point of the show, a certain someone who does this show, you heard of it, "THE SITUATION ROOM."
So, since my studio was all of 10 feet away, follow me.
Welcome. Wave, guys.
Over there, the production guys. Come on in. This is Wolf Blitzer's neighborhood.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Let's give it up for Brooke.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: Let's welcome Brooke. She's here in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, thinking of Wolf Blitzer, there he is, the man himself.
Wolf, I had such a good time. And I think I do want to share one other -- it's not video, it's a picture. Your assistant was giving me the evil eye when I did this, but I did manage to make myself pretty comfortable at your desk.
Is that OK?
BLITZER: You look good there. It looks good. Yes, definitely. You're welcome to come in -- you can always come to "THE SITUATION ROOM" and "THE SITUATION ROOM" desk. BALDWIN: It was so wonderful to be up there, Wolf. So thanks for hanging out. And Friday night, watched basketball (ph) together.
BLITZER: You looked like you felt right at home here in Washington.
BALDWIN: I liked it.
BLITZER: You lived in Washington for a while, right?
BALDWIN: I did. I went to D.C. for a couple of years. Loved it.
BLITZER: Yes. So you can always come back.
BALDWIN: So we will be back.
BLITZER: Good.
BALDWIN: But on a serious note, shall we talk Libya? What do you have coming up here in "THE SITUATION ROOM"?
BLITZER: Well, you saw the interview I did on Friday with the Libyan ambassador, Aujali, who's now come out against Gadhafi big time. We had a lot more questions to ask him. Our viewers had a whole bunch of questions they wanted me to ask him.
So we've invited him back. He'll be joining us live, the Libyan ambassador in Washington. I don't know if he's still the ambassador. He's broken obviously with Gadhafi and his government.
But he's got stories. He worked for Gadhafi for 40 years, and we're going to get the inside story on Moammar Gadhafi from the Libyan ambassador. I think our viewers will be interested in that.
A lot of Libya stuff coming up. We're going there. We've got all our reporters standing by. I think it's going to be a strong two hours.
BALDWIN: Of course it will with Wolf Blitzer at the helm.
Wolf, wonderful to see you. Thanks again. We'll see you in eight minutes on "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Before I let you go, we have heard the personal side of Charlie Sheen's behavior. But what about the hundreds of people who depend on him to show up at work? The actor says he will only return under two conditions, but does he even have a case here?
Sunny Hostin is "On the Case." That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Charlie Sheen -- he says he's tired of pretending he's not special. So he wants just about a 50 percent raise to $3 million an episode -- he makes something like $1.8 million already -- to return to the TV show "Two and a Half Men."
Now, Sheen also says he's going to sue CBS for stopping production of the hit TV show. So let's talk about this a little farther.
We're "On the Case" with Sunny Hostin.
And Sunny, does Charlie Sheen even have grounds to sue CBS?
SUNNY HOSTIN, "IN SESSION," TRUTV: You know, it is very, very possible. It all depends on what his contract says.
It's being reported, Brooke, that his attorney, Marty Singer, sent a demand letter today to Warner brothers and CBS, demanding full payment for the cancelled episodes, roughly about $16 million. They're saying that Charlie was prepared, ready to go back to work.
They cancelled his episodes, and he wants his money. So I've got to say, I mean, it sounds insane, but it is quite possible that he could have some resource here.
BALDWIN: What about -- let's flip it around. Wouldn't it be more likely that CBS, maybe the producers of "Two and a Half Men," would sue Sheen?
HOSTIN: Well, again, I think it depends on his contract, but I foresee some sort of sue-fest going on here, Brooke. I mean, we know that CBS and Warner Brothers, last week, issued a statement. They said, "Based on the totality of Charlie Sheen's statements, conduct and condition," they were going to be suspending production for the remainder of the season.
Those three words, "statements, conduct and condition," sound like the words in a legal contract. So my bet is that they are thinking about perhaps suing Charlie. So I think we're going to see some sort of cross-litigation here.
BALDWIN: What about -- you know, in watching some of these interviews both on ABC and NBC, might there be, Sunny, any legal repercussions for some of what he said, including he basically confessed to recently possessing drugs? Could police listen and then act on that?
HOSTIN: You know, I don't think so. A lot of people in the psychological community were saying, you know, he should go to jail. We'd rather see him there than in rehab or dead.
I don't think this is a criminal case right now. We use defendant statements made all the time, but I think this is very much a civil case, and it's very much getting Charlie Sheen the treatment that he obviously needs.
BALDWIN: OK.
Case number two, we've all heard order in the court, but how about civility in the court? We've been reading this story about a pilot program to turn criminal court into a nicer place.
What's the program about, Sunny, and what's the impetus? What's the thought behind it? HOSTIN: Well, you know, it's an initiative that basically is moving the courts into a more holistic approach. It's an initiative funded by the Justice Department to the tune of about $400,000.
It's supposed to sort of boost defendants' view of the court system. They say 86 percent of the defendants that are part of the sort of holistic court system feel that they have gotten a fair shake, feel like they have been treated fairly.
I don't know. Maybe it's the former prosecutor in me, but court is not really supposed to be a real sweet and lovely place. I believe in scaring people straight. So do I think this is appropriate? I don't know.
BALDWIN: You want to scare them. I can only see you as an attorney.
HOSTIN: I want to scare them, Brooke. I don't buy this argument.
BALDWIN: You're a tough lady, but who would pay for the experiment and how much would it even cost?
HOSTIN: Well, right now they are saying it's a $400,000 grant. The Justice Department is sort of spearheading this. Ultimately, I guess the taxpayers are paying for it.
We don't want to see defendants of course being repeat customers to the criminal justice system. But, you know, "please" and "thank you" doesn't necessarily always work with hardened criminals. It certainly didn't work for me when I was a prosecutor.
So, I don't know. I can think of a lot better ways to spend $400,000 -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Yes. I won't even ask you if you think it's a good idea. I think we can read between the lines on that one.
Sunny Hostin, hey, good to see you. Thanks so much as always for "On the Case."
And before I go, we've been talking a lot about tornadoes the last hour or so. There were those two confirmed tornadoes, one in Henry County, one in Dubois (ph) County, Kentucky.
Well, hang on a second, because there has been a tornado warning that has just now been issued in several counties in north Georgia. That includes one metro section, a northwest section of Atlanta.
And so if you are in the neck of the woods -- and take a look at the sort of ominous sky there over downtown -- authorities are saying get inside. I'm sure we'll have more with Chad Myers, "THE SITUATION ROOM."
Speaking of, let's toss things over to my colleague Wolf Blitzer in Washington -- Wolf.
