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U.S. Troops Killed in Germany; Battle for Libya; Bombings In Libya; Galliano Sorry For Ethnic Slurs; Medical Marijuana Market; 'On the Case'
Aired March 02, 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: And now top of the hour. Here we go.
As I mentioned, here's the story out of Germany, two American troops shot and killed at a German airport. So who is accused of pulling the trigger and why? I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN (voice-over): Libya's defiant leader strikes back.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The plane made another turn and dropped a bomb.
BALDWIN: Moammar Gadhafi launches airstrikes against his own people.
They protest at the funerals of American soldiers, shouting anti- gay insults as families grieve. Well, today, why the Supreme Court says Westboro Baptist can yell hate in public.
Plus, is getting a pat-down at the airport a sexual assault? Find out who is taking on the TSA. We're on the case.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Hello. Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Brooke Baldwin.
I want to begin with brand-new developments in what President Obama is calling an outrageous attack on U.S. troops at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany. By all indications here, it was a lone gunman who stormed on to a clearly marked U.S. military bus, that bus there just outside of an airport terminal, and started shooting. He killed two American troops, wounded two more.
Marc Kohlbecher is there on scene at that Frankfurt Airport.
Mark, take me back. Tell me, what happened?
MARC KOHLBECHER, JOURNALIST: A man slipped into a U.S. Air Force bus that stopped in front of terminal two of Frankfurt Airport and opened fire. The bus driver and another G.I are dead. Two G.I.s are seriously injured. That is confirmed by German authorities. The German crime scene investigation is working at moment in the bus. That's the news. German police arrested a 21-year-old Kosovo Albanian. The suspect assassin ran with a gun after the shooting into terminal two. Policemen arrested him there.
The police is interviewing the suspect at the moment, but as far as we know, he says nothing about his motives. There was a rumor that he shouted, "Allahu akbar," "God is great" in Arabic, during the shooting, but that is not confirmed.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: OK. So we have a 21-year-old Kosovo national who was apprehended, now in custody being questioned by police.
I know that there are shuttle buses between Ramstein Air Base in Frankfurt Airport, a commercial airport, where you are, where this happened;. Was this one of the buses that goes in between those two locations? And were these military personnel in uniform or were they civilian clothes? I ask because I'm just wondering if the shooter potentially knew that these were indeed U.S. troops.
KOHLBECHER: I didn't see the dead bodies, so I couldn't say if they wear uniforms or not. As far as I know, the U.S. airmen came from England and they're on their way to Ramstein Air Base. A police source told me that the assassin shot at least nine times with a pistol, and he could see that these were American troops because the bus was marked as an American troop bus.
BALDWIN: It was marked. It was clearly marked.
Do we know if this 21-year-old was acting alone? Are police now searching for other possible suspects?
KOHLBECHER: As far as I know, he was alone. The gunman was alone, but sources told us that the suspect might have links to some Islamists in Frankfurt, but that is also not confirmed yet.
BALDWIN: OK. Well, we don't want to go with that if it's not confirmed.
Let me just ask you about Frankfurt International Airport. I have flown through there. I think a lot of people have and it's very well known for its security, its police presence. But tell me, where this bus was as you mentioned outside of terminal two, would there have been a heavy security presence there?
KOHLBECHER: No, it was in a public area, in a public parking yard. So everybody can go there. There are a lot of policemen.
But if he hides his gun, nobody could be aware that this guy wants to shoot there. But the police was very quick and arrested him after the shooting only one or two minutes after he stepped into the terminal two. BALDWIN: Oh, wow, that quickly.
KOHLBECHER: Yes. It was very quick, but not quick enough.
BALDWIN: You mentioned two killed. You said it was the driver and a G.I. Do we know, first of all, Marc, was the driver, he's also U.S. military personnel? And, secondly, you mentioned two injured. Do we have update on conditions?
KOHLBECHER: The driver is also a member of the Army or of the Air Force. And the two airmen who are seriously injured are in hospital. Doctors are doing an emergency operation at the moment.
BALDWIN: Wow. Marc Kohlbecher for me at Frankfurt International Airport -- Marc, thank you for the update.
I now want to show you some dramatic footage shot today by a CNN crew in Libya. A bomb dropped by government forces explodes near the oil city of Brega. Our crew was right there. Watch this.
CNN's Ben Wedeman witnessed the bombing. He was also the one, I believe he told me -- Ben Wedeman, correct me if I'm wrong -- you were the one who hit record amidst this bomb dropping right around you there in Al Brega.
Take me back to that moment. What was that like for you and your camerawoman?
WEDEMAN: Well, we were on the road to Brega with a group of anti-Gadhafi fighters who were preparing to launch a counterattack against government forces who had taken over Brega when we heard this jet flying overhead.
First, it dropped a bomb in the area of the town itself, and then a few minutes later came by, came back flying very low over our heads and dropped this bomb right next to the road. I mean, we all just sort of hit the ground when it happened.
That was the first bomb we were very close to, and later in the day after the town had been retaken by the anti-Gadhafi forces, there was a crowd of people, both fighters and just residents of the town, who were celebrating the expulsion of those forces from Brega when we heard yet again a jet overhead, dropped another bomb very close to us yet again.
In this case, there were casualties, but because of the danger in the area, we just jumped into our car and ran away. We did see men running with stretchers to the scene where the bomb had been dropped.
BALDWIN: And I know, you know, if there was any doubt within the international community, Washington, D.C., that, you know, there were not bombs being dropped on Libya, that perhaps Gadhafi's air force was dropping bombs, the proof is in the video you shot today, Ben.
WEDEMAN: Yes. In fact, just the other day, we also witnessed a similar air raid on an ammunition dump. Of course, we were not in the immediate vicinity, but, in this case, we were there. And it was really too close for comfort, and there was no mistaking what it was. It was a jet dropping a bomb on Libyan territory twice, twice today.
That was just a backfiring car exhaust.
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: Oh, gosh. I imagine I would be a little jumpy if I were you as well, given what you experienced.
Let me just ask you, if you could just sort of take your journalist hat off for a moment, and just asking you, Ben Wedeman, how are you doing? I know you have covered wars, but how are you, how are Mary Rogers doing, considering what you witnessed and how close, how uncomfortable close you were to this bomb today?
WEDEMAN: Well, this was more exhausting day than usual, but I have to tell you that basically since the very first of the year, the Middle East has been a story where the news is absolutely booming.
And we're not getting a lot of rest these days. We have a 24- hour schedule. And, today, unfortunately, is no exception.
BALDWIN: Kept you busy. My thanks to you, as always, Ben Wedeman. Thank you, live in Benghazi.
Now this. Does the Westboro Baptist Church have the right to shout anti-gay slurs at the funerals of U.S. soldiers? The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled on this today. The reaction is pouring in. That is ahead.
Plus, she is one of the biggest sports stars on the planet, but Serena Williams is reportedly going through a serious health scare. I will tell you about her emergency treatment and just how dangerous her condition is. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: You know, if you ever doubted that the First Amendment right to free speech covers everyone in America, listen to this.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling today that the family that calls itself the Westboro Baptist Church, yes, indeed, has a right to protest outside of U.S. military funerals. Westboro Baptist well- known for their protests. They carry those anti-gay signs. They shout angry slogans.
They were taken to court by the father of a fallen Marine whose funeral they picketed, they targeted. But, today, the highest court in the land ruled 8-1 that Fred Phelps and his family have a right to carry signs promoting a broad-message about society on public property.
Also this morning, Serena Williams tweeted, "Tough day," two words. Says a whole lot about what she's going through, understandable, because the tennis ace is reportedly recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering from a pulmonary embolism. That is a blood clot in her lung.
"People" magazine is reporting that Williams underwent treatment for it last week, but she then suffered complications from that, needed emergency treatment month at L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her reps told people that the 29-year-old player had what's called a hematoma. We're wishing her well.
And a critical turning point here in the urgent situation in Libya. Not only is Moammar Gadhafi now dropping bombs on his own people, as our own Ben Wedeman witnessed, but he says thousands will die if one thing happens.
Also, first, Gadhafi blamed drugs and bin Laden and hallucinogenic Nescafe for these protests. Now he's blaming the protests on something the Bush administration created. What could that be? That's next.
Plus, the famous designer who said he loves Hitler is not only responding. He's learning he will be going to trial. The fate of John Galliano -- next in "Globe Trekking."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: We're going to go "Globe Trekking" now taking a look at world headlines. Of course, Libya continues to dominate with another bizarre speech from Moammar Gadhafi today.
Also, an apology from an international fashion designer. I know can you guess who that is. We've been talking about this for days now. Hala Gorani joins me from CNN International. Briefly, I know we've talked to Ben Wedeman a couple of times about this tremendous, tremendous video he shot in Al Brega, the bomb.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
BALDWIN: But what about Moammar Gadhafi? What did he say this morning?
GORANI: Well, Moammar Gadhafi is defiant as ever with elements from a speech that he gave to his supporters. So, these are hand- picked supporters, of course, interrupting him with applause and cheers saying that you blamed outsiders once again, but this time, he's blaming former Guantanamo Bay detainees that were released to Libya and that were then subsequently released by Libyan authorities, and he said that those were members of al Qaeda sleeper cells, and they are responsible for this unrest.
Of course, our reporters on the ground and throughout the region have said many times that these are Libyans. In fact, Libyan nationals who in Benghazi, the eastern city, have announced the formation of a national council in anticipation of the fall of Moammar Gadhafi that would be a transitional authority leading to free and fair elections. This, of course, may be much, much further down the line in Libya.
BALDWIN: He also mentioned if the U.S. dares enter Libya, there will be blood.
GORANI: Exactly. The U.S., the Atlantic alliance meaning NATO, that essentially, if they enter Libya or if NATO entered Libya, they will be entering hell and that it would be a bloodbath leading to thousands and thousands of deaths. These are the types of -- these are the types of forecasts we've heard from him, from his son, in fact, indeed, as well, trying potentially to scare some of those who participate in the oppositional movements who are calling for some targeted aerial strikes against the Gadhafi forces.
BALDWIN: Continues that, and then, here's the update, the new developments here on the scandal surrounding designer John Galliano who was just fired from Christian Dior. I want to replay the conversation that we talked about a couple of days ago that got him in this all hot water. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you blond?
JOHN GALLIANO, DESIGNER: No. 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, huh?
GALLIANO: With you? You're ugly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You don't like peace? You don't want peace in the world.
GALLIANO: Not with people who are ugly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where are you from?
GALLIANO: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, that got him in a wee bit of trouble, and now, today, Galliano is saying sorry.
GORANI: He's saying sorry, but he's not saying sorry 100 percent because he's saying, "I completely deny the claims made against me." This is a statement released by John Galliano's people. "I fully cooperated with the police investigation." He accepts that the accusations made against him have greatly shocked and upset people.
BALDWIN: The accusations.
GORANI: The accusations, but, and then, of course, he -- it's difficult to deny that he said these things, but he's saying that the context, this was taken out of context but also adding anti-Semitism and racism have no part in our society. "I reservedly apologize for my behavior in causing any offense." Now, he's going to face trial. The Paris prosecutor has announced this. So, he is going to court over this for religious insults after the release of that video, but he is countersuing a couple in one of two incidents saying they attacked him first.
So, this is becoming a very complicated legal matter. If he's convicted, by the way, of this in France, he could face --
BALDWIN: What could happen?
GORANI: He could face a fine of 22,000 Euros which -- which is about what, $30,000 U.S. and six months in prison. And what's interesting is the Paris fashion week is going on now.
BALDWIN: So, that means no John Galliano.
GORANI: No, no. It doesn't mean that.
BALDWIN: It doesn't mean that.
GORANI: The show is going ahead. It happens on Friday, the autumn/winter 2011 show. He won't be there.
BALDWIN: Right. That's what I'm saying. He won't be there, but the show will go on, of course.
GORANI: But his Galliano brand is also showing. It's scheduled to show. The question is whether that will go ahead. The other question is how many of the journalists will boycott or the buyers because this is where buyers --
BALDWIN: Let us know. You used to cover fashion.
GORANI: A long -- many moons ago.
BALDWIN: Many moons ago. Hala Gorani, thank you.
GORANI: Thank you.
BALDWIN: Does President Obama want our gas prices to go up? That is actually what one high-profile Republican is suggesting. His reasons, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: CNN Equals Politics. Time for our quick "Political Update." Into that, we go to Jessica Yellin in D.C. Jess, what do you have?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke. Well, Mississippi governor, Haley Barbour, raised some eyebrows when he said in a big speech this morning that the Obama administration's policy is to drive up energy prices. He says they're doing this in the name of reducing pollution, but really, so that they can make high-priced alternative fuels more competitive. Well, what's he basing this on? He's basing it on old comments made by the energy secretary years and years ago before he became energy secretary when he said that we need to make alternative fuel more competitive with current gas prices by making gas prices higher, but the White House has pushed back saying, look, this is not our policy. We do not determine gas prices, and we are doing what we can to keep gas affordable in this country, but you can see, the outlines of a potential battle that might take place in the 2012 election should Haley Barbour get into the race.
He is one of those candidates who could declare later in the year. Looking back a little bit. Today, there's a familiar name, Bill Frist. He used to be the Senate Majority Leader under the George Bush administration. Today, he had a portrait unveiled here in the capital, and there's some big luminaries turned out for it, Cheney, Rumsfeld and George W. Bush himself. The former president made a little joke saying, "We all turned out to see you hang," and then he said I didn't mean it that way.
BALDWIN: Wah-wah.
YELLIN: Wah-wah. Fortunately, the portrait looks a lot like Frist. So, it -- everyone applauded when it was unveiled. And here's a light one. The new governor of Florida, Rick Scott, is showing what he'll do for his state. He is on a whirlwind tour of the country telling people to come to Florida. He's calling it the Rick Scott, quote, "Share a Little Sunshine Tour."
And at his stops, he's going to like Chicago and New York City, giving away vacation packages to Florida, oranges, and other prizes they don't name. I think I would opt for a Florida vacation, maybe Miami, would be my call
BALDWIN: I was in Sarasota like three weekends ago, fantastic.
YELLIN: Jealous.
BALDWIN: Love the Florida sunshine.
YELLIN: Yes, I know. Nice there.
BALDWIN: Jess Yellin, thank you very much.
YELLIN: So, go find Rick Scott. Maybe, he'll give you a free vacation.
BALDWIN: Oh, how about that. I like that. I like that idea. Some palm trees for the weekend. Thank you, ma'am.
Also, quick update, how about this from a "Political Ticker" item Wolf brought you last hour. Fox News and former Senator Rick Santorum, they have parted ways indicating Santorum may be making a run for president come 2012. He will be John King's guest tonight. Don't miss "JK USA" 7:00 p.m. eastern. I will definitely be watching for that interview.
But coming up here, some breaking developments in the shooting in Germany involving those U.S. troops.
Also, nine Afghan civilians, including children, killed in an air strike, and it's prompting General David Petraeus to issue a rare apology. That is next.
Plus, Apple introducing its iPad 2. So, what's new about it? How much does it cost?
Plus, perhaps, the most important item about that. Someone made a surprise appearance at that event. I'm sure can you guess who it was. They're lining up right now. "Reporter Roulette," next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: A couple of stories here now. We have General David Petraeus apologizing, a standup on Capitol Hill and a surprise appearance at the big iPad announcement. Time to play "Reporter Roulette," but first, I want to get to this. Some brand-new developments on the deadly shooting involving U.S. troops.
Fred Pleitgen hopped a flight out of Berlin and is now on the ground in Frankfurt, Germany. Fred, bring me up to speed. What are you learning?
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brooke. Yes, of course, a terrible shooting. Two U.S. service members, two Air Force members were killed in that when a man from Kosovo, a 21-year- old, opened up fire on a bus that they were in. Also, two U.S. service members are in critical condition in a hospital here in Frankfurt. What we hear is that the shooter used a handgun and then after shooting them with about nine rounds, he then fled into the airport terminal where he was apprehended by German security forces, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Obviously, one of the big questions is whether the shooter, this 21-year-old Kosovo national was targeting the members of the U.S. military. And, two, did police think that he was a lone gunman?
PLEITGEN: Well, so far police think he's a lone gunman, but it's really still up in the air whether or not he was directly targeting him or whether it's part of a bigger plot. Certainly, the German police are saying that it would be very strange for someone to show up at Frankfurt Airport having a handgun. And also, there were some bystanders who apparently heard him say some Islamist slogans. That hasn't been confirmed yet. It's not clear. But certainly, the Germans are saying that they are looking into every possibility at this point.
BALDWIN: I know there's such a strong sense of security, police force there at Frankfurt International, so amazingly they were able to take this guy down in a matter of a minute or two.
Fred Pleitgen in Frankfurt. Fred, thank you.
Next to Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon. And Barbara, we're talking about a NATO air strike that kills nine Afghan civilians, including some children. What more do you know?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, NATO is now acknowledging that at least some of the victims were children. They are not going as far as the Afghan government to say all nine victims were children. Only some of them.
This was an air strike that happened yesterday in a remote area of eastern Afghanistan. The strike called in after a U.S. base came under attack by insurgents. The military says there was some sort of terrible mistake between the site they were trying to target, the site they were trying to hit, and the helicopters who engaged in this air strike. A terrible incident of civilian casualties. Brooke?
BALDWIN: Terrible incident after which General David Petraeus is now apologizing.
STARR: Absolutely. Afghan President Hamid Karzai coming out very strongly, very angry about this incident. General David Petraeus issuing a statement of apology saying there will be a full investigation into what happened. We expect to hear more tomorrow from top commanders in Afghanistan.
This is another indication of how sensitive the situation of civilian casualties really is in this war. It's been off the front pages for some days now, but coming back front and center because of this incident. Brooke?
BALDWIN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.
Finally in "Reporter Roulette," we've got Republicans, Democrats, the White House, now getting ready to do big battle over the course of the next two weeks. Dana Bash live on Capitol Hill. And Dana, we know the Senate earlier today, they passed a bill to keep the government running for all of two weeks. But that's just temporary, so obviously, my question is what's next?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The hard part. That's what's next. And the reason why I say that is because now they have to figure out a long-term solution to this issue of spending through the rest of the year.
Now, so far Republicans do appear to have gotten the upper hand, Brooke, because they did force this measure today, which was not only spending for two weeks but had $4 billion in cuts, which not all Democrats wanted, but they -- they mostly reluctantly agreed to. So, today what Senate Democrats did was interesting. They tried to change the subject and move the ball forward and enlist the White House. They said that they are going to have Joe Biden lead the talks from the White House point of view to get involved and sit down with Republicans and have a final, long-term solution, at least funding the government for this year.
But Brooke, Republicans came back and said that they didn't necessarily that they were going to come to the talks. So, what we have here is Democrats and Republicans fighting over whether or not there will be negotiations. Never mind the substance, and I've got to say people listening to both sides saying that they want to have adult conversations and watching this probably are scratching their heads.
BALDWIN: Well, wouldn't that be a fun picture if they were. So the Republicans, do they have a point, that the Democrats really haven't exactly said specifically what they are in support of in terms of these cuts?
BASH: It is an interesting dynamic. We do know the house Republican position because they did pass a spending bill, which is $61 billion in cuts. The Senate Democrats, the Senate has not acted on that, and they haven't put forward a public position.
What Senate Democrats say is that they are -- they are willing to have some cuts. We don't know exactly how much, but what they did say today is that if and when the White House does sit down with Republicans, then Senate Democrats, the White House will have the official opening bid in terms of the Democratic position on how much cuts or how many cuts Democrats would be willing -- willing to take.
But it is interesting that you do have a very clear position on the Republican side, and it's a little murky on Democratic side, in part because there are differences among Democrats in terms of how far to go in cutting spending in order to keep the government running and philosophically, of course.
BALDWIN: Well, Dana, talk about serendipity. I got a little voice in my ear - thank you, Angie Massey (ph), telling me that the president has now signed this, so it's official. They are now kicking the can down to the road, so to speak here, in terms of the two-week extension to figure out -- so the government will not be shut down for at least two weeks. So, it's official.
The government has -- the president has signed this thing. Dana Bash, thank you.
And finally here on "Reporter Roulette," Dan Simon in San Francisco, where we got a rare glimpse of Apple CEO Steve Jobs today at the big unveiling of the new iPad. Dan
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Brooke. Here it is, the new iPad 2, they're calling it. As you can see, this version is in white. The new one coming in two colors, black and white.
The big difference between this and the original iPad is it's got cameras, a front camera and a back camera, so now can you do video chatting on the iPad. Steve Jobs himself introduced it this morning, which was a bag surprise to a lot of people. He's been out since January 17th with an undisclosed illness. But he came on stage and appeared his usual vigorous self, although he did, in my estimation, he looked painfully thin.
But back to the iPad for a second. This will go on sale March 11, much sooner than most people expected, and in addition to the cameras, it's also a lot thinner and lighter than the original iPad. Back to you.
BALDWIN: Hmm. I've been holding off. Might have to buy one. Dan Simon, thank you.
And forget about being a Connecticut senator. Now Chris Dodd gets the role of a lifetime, and it involves a little lobbying and schmoozing starlets. Joe Johns digs on this one in today's "Political Pop."
Also, kids, be careful about making those pranks calls. One state on the warpath after its government was recently embarrassed. Can you guess who I'm talking about there? Talking legislation there, that's next.
But first, forbes.com released a list saying America's most toxic cities. Could you be living in one of these metro areas? Let's find out. The list: rounding out the top five, you have Baton Rouge, Louisiana. And it will take more than an apple a day here at number 4, New York. Rounding out the top three, Fresno, California.
So, those are your top three. Who could be the top two most toxic cities in America? Find out after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Could you be living in one of America's most toxic cities? Have the top two metro areas for you right now. Did you guess this? Coming in at number 2, Bakersfield, California for the most you unhealthy air quality days in 2009. And the number one most toxic city with 11.3 million pounds on site toxic, is reported in Philly. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Well, let's talk Hollywood now, because it just snagged a former senator. Chris Dodd, who just finished up his last Senate term out of Connecticut, is now the new chairman of the MPAA. That's the Motion Picture Association of America, and Joe Johns is here with the "Political Pop."
So, Chris Dodd, huh?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Hollywood on the Potomac, Brooke. What could be more fun? Mixing it up with the Tinseltown crowd? You go out on the West Coast and come to Washington and hang out with the ruling class, and then you do it all over again and get paid lots of money for it?
Actually, it's probably not that much fun because there are a lot of egos involved, but that's what Chris Dodd, the former senator from Connecticut is going to start doing later this month as head of the Motion Picture Association of America. Basically doing the bidding of the major movie studios, Brooke.
BALDWIN: A lot, Joe, though has been written about this job. I mean, brought article one, two, three here up here with me. Almost a little surprising that a guy gets this job at a trade association could get so much attention. And out of all the lobbyists in Washington, why does this job with the MPAA get so much buzz?
JOHNS: It is weird, right? But you saw the Oscars. It's about the money, the power of the movie industry. They throw their weight around here, plus everybody has an opinion about film. And the other thing is Hollywood contributes a ton of money to politicians, most of it to Democrats.
The other thing is, this is one of those classic revolving door stories. Something like 300, believe it or not, members of Congress have left the Hill and gone to K Street and cashed in. And Dodd, for example, probably going to make at least $1.3 million a year. Pretty good change.
BALDWIN: Yes, not too shabby. Not too shabby at all, but you don't exactly associate Chris Dodd with the movies. You have to know something about the movies to be the head of the MPAA, right? I mean, what does he know about Hollywood?
JOHNS: A lot of people are wondering that, really. I mean, he was the Senate banking guy, not the Senate movie guy. But according to the Internet Movie Database, he's actually appeared in something like three documentaries playing himself, and one feature film even. The movie was "Dave," a romantic comedy set in the White House. I remember renting it, but don't remember seeing Dodd in the movie, so I don't know how big a role he played in it
BALDWIN: Yes, I missed that one. Missed that one. But I know with were actually talking about this end of last year, one of the original "Political Pops." We did a story on this who could be the next chairman of the MPAA? And we mentioned Dodd was in the running, but back then, there was a real question about whether he even wanted a job. And actually said in these articles, no lobbying, no lobbying. I might go teach, you know. And now he wants to become a lobbyist. What's up with that, Joe Johns?
JOHNS: Yes, well you know, know, things look a lot different when you're looking for a job, huh? Dodd had said as recently as last year in a Connecticut newspaper - that was where I first read it -- that he didn't want to become a lobbyist. He said he might teach or do something else. And he's actually been really very critical of lobbyists, so running MPAA kind of looks like he changed his mind.
But there is a legal answer here. The law actually says he's not allowed to directly lobby his former colleagues in the Senate for two years. He has got to restrict himself to planning strategy and so on. So, technically at least he can't be a true lobbyist for a while --
BALDWIN: For two years.
JOHNS: Yes, come on. I mean, that's a distinction without a difference.
BALDWIN: Come on, now. Joe Johns with "Political Pop." Thank you sir.
There was one college out there that will soon allow young men and women to live together in dorm rooms. So, coming up, how one student's suicide actually prompted that had change there. Also, a family is found living in a shed right behind their house. Now, two young girls are in custody of the state. We're going to tell you about this heartbreaking story. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Just in here to CNN, we've been watching the crowds of protesters the last couple of weeks out of actually Columbus, Ohio. You can see some of them there now. But news just in.
The full Senate has voted on Senate Bill 5SB5 by 17-16 margin. Senate Bill 5 has passed, and it essentially curbs collective bargaining capability for those thousands of state union workers. It affects their wages, their vacation days, so that is huge, huge news for people across the state of Ohio.
Now it goes to Ohio Governor John Kasich to sign.
And now, if it's interesting it is happening right now. You're about to see it, "Rapid Fire."
Let's begin with this. A fugitive daycare owner faces nine more charges in a fire that killed four toddlers. The woman there in the red, Jessica Tata, fled the country two days after last week's fire in Houston. She is believed now to be in Nigeria, where she has reportedly has relatives. Houston's district attorney is defending her prosecutors for waiting until Sunday night to file the first charge against Tata.
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PAT LYKOS, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Our staff conducted itself professionally and appropriately. This is such a horrible and tragic case, but the rule of law still applies.
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BALDWIN: Investigators say the children were alone and the daycare owner was shopping when that fire started.
New Jersey's Rutgers University will soon allow girls and guys to room together in dorm rooms. The school says the change will help make gay students feel a bit more safe, more comfortable.
You remember the story some months ago. Freshman Tyler Clemente killed himself. It was last year, after his roommate and another student allegedly watched him with another guy. Police say they streamed the video online. That new program with regard to the dorm housing starts in the fall.
And more than a week after an earthquake devastated New Zealand, crews find two time capsules there in the rubble. We're told they were from a statue in Christchurch. One of them, a glass bottle with a rolled up paper inside of it. The other, a metal tube that hasn't yet been opened. And one expert says there are only two years someone could have put them in there when the statue first went up way back in 1867, or when it was moved in 1933.
A heartbreaking story here out of Detroit. Police find a woman and her two young daughters living in a shed behind their home. We're told they lost that house to a foreclosure. It's still not yet clear how long the family had been living in that shed, but the two girls now in state custody.
What is usually child's play leads to serious charges for a man in Massachusetts. He is caught here on camera throwing snowballs -- can we see it? -- throwing snowballs at police. He is now charge -- there he goes -- now charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. Police say one snowball came close to the head of an officer responding to a call.
Baltimore, the original "Star Spangled Banner" poem left its place at the Maryland Historical Society for the first time in 200 years. A special crew took it to Annapolis, not too far away, for a special state assembly event. Then, from there, they're going to take it to Fort McHenry, where it will be on display for three months.
Have you ever heard of a farmers market for pot? Apparently, it's a hot place to go for some folks.
"You Gotta See This!"
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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN ALL PLATFORM JOURNALIST: We're outside Seattle's newest farmers market, and it's a little bit different because they only sell one crop, medical marijuana. It's happening here past this door and we're going to take you inside to take a look around.
(voice-over): Thirty minutes before the market opens, and people are lining up. To get in, all that's required is a recommendation from a health care provider that they take marijuana for a medical condition.
JOHN MUISE, MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER: I'm actually standing upright on my feet today because of cannabis. There's nothing else that I found in the medical field that would help me with my chronic pain issues.
OPPMANN: Marijuana is for sale. A lot of it.
(on camera): You know, this is the first Sunday market for marijuana in Seattle. It's already filled to capacity. Organizers said they get very little publicity, but people from all over the state, hundreds of people, packing in to buy marijuana in just about every conceivable form.
(voice-over): Vendor Ken Bell (ph) grows marijuana and takes it, he says, for back pain and a blood disorder.
KEN BELL (ph), VENDOR: Well, a lot of people think that it's just a bunch of guys sitting around getting stoned, where it's actually patients. Like I said, both my patients are in their 60s. They're using it for medication, not the actual effect itself, the euphoric effect, but the pain-killing effect and the ability to eat again. A lot of them have real problems with -- gastrointestinal problems, and they just can't eat.
OPPMANN: The growers here operate in a murky legal world. Unlike Colorado and California, selling marijuana for legitimate medical reasons is not legal in Washington. But under state law here, you can use what is called the "Medical Marijuana Defense" if prosecuted for marijuana possession.
Market organizers are pushing for full legalization, citing the tax revenue it would bring.
PHILLIP DAWDY, MEDICAL MARIJUANA FARMERS MARKET SPOKESMAN: They've fought budget gaps in Colorado with money from medical marijuana.
OPPMANN (on camera): do you think you can do that here?
DAWDY: Oh, yes. We want to do that here. We want to pay our taxes. We want to be taxed. We want to be regulated and taxed and be like, frankly, any other industry or business.
OPPMANN (voice-over): Organizers say they plan on holding more marijuana farmers markets in Seattle, but next time in a place that can fit more people.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Seattle.
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BALDWIN: I don't know how you feel about that, but what do you think about this -- is getting a pat-down at the airport a sex crime? Find out who is taking on the TSA.
Sunny Hostin is "On the Case." She's next.
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BALDWIN: Well, this gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "social network." A Columbia University sociologist spent a year following prostitutes in New York City. Take a look at what he discovered here. The women found a quarter of their clients through Facebook.
Folks, that's more than any source except for escort agencies. Craigslist -- you know the story there -- had been forced to pull ads for prostitutes. So, does Facebook have any responsibility to do the same thing?
Sunny Hostin has been digging on this one. She's "On the Case."
And Sunny, how easy is it to find a prostitute on Facebook? (LAUGHTER)
SUNNY HOSTIN, "IN SESSION," TRUTV: Well, it's the world's oldest profession, and they have found Facebook, Brooke.
Working girls are certainly on Facebook. This study really had a regional focus, only New York, but I got on Facebook and I found a lot of prostitution, and prostitutes having sort of pages on Facebook.
The study said 83 percent of prostitutes in New York had their own Facebook pages. I can tell you, I found a lot more than that. I think we have a picture of one of the prostitute's pages that I found.
BALDWIN: Yes, here it is. Yikes.
HOSTIN: Yes. Her name is Molly Ravish (ph).
Interestingly enough, since I talked about this earlier, this morning on "AMERICAN MORNING," she's gotten more friends, more traffic. They're thanking CNN for allowing them to find Molly. And, in fact, her page was deleted and taken down by Facebook, but interestingly enough, she now has a fan page.
I went on the fan page. It led me to her Web site. And Brooke, you know I was a sex crimes prosecutor.
I will tell you, I've done Internet sex trafficking. The stuff I saw on her Web page made me blush.
BALDWIN: Really?
HOSTIN: So, prostitutes alive and well, actually, on Facebook.
BALDWIN: So, Facebook yanked that original site you said. Is Facebook under any legal obligation to shut all of this stuff down?
HOSTIN: You know, they really aren't. There's a federal law that provides that Web sites can't really be held liable and responsible for things that are posted by third parties.
But Facebook really wants to be a good corporate citizen, and I think they are trying their best, which is admirable. They have 500 members, you know, a billion pieces of content downloaded a day, about 2,000 reports alleging foul play are filed every week. But they are really trying to do their job by policing this.
BALDWIN: But what about Facebook? I know you've reached out. What is Facebook saying?
HOSTIN: You know, I did. I got a statement from Facebook, and it's interesting.
I mean, I think we have a copy of it here, and they say that they " -- will take down content, disable accounts, may take further action, including escalating illegal activity to law enforcement." They say, "We strictly enforce this policy through proactive investigations and response to user reports."
So, again, while Facebook does not have to do this, they do do it. They are trying to be good corporate citizens, because isn't this what we want them to do?
BALDWIN: Absolutely. Of course, we do. Of course, we do.
Case number two -- and we're running out of time, and I hate this. But some people think those TSA pat-downs at the airports, they're criminal. That's what some say.
Now you have New Hampshire politicians who are considering this law that would turn some airport body scans and pat-downs into real crimes with real consequences.
So, there's a bill, Sunny. What's in the bill?
HOSTIN: Right. There's a bill.
Very quickly, the bill would make the touching or viewing with a technological device of a person's breast or genitals by a government security agent without probable cause a sexual assault. Those violators found guilty, they would become registered sex offenders.
Very significant, significant bill. Let me say this very quickly, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Yes?
HOSTIN: TSA is a federal-mandated agency, and so the states really don't have the power to do that to the federal government. So it's a big bill. It doesn't really have teeth.
BALDWIN: Yes, that was my question, over who would have the power there, and I think you just answered that one.
HOSTIN: Yes.
BALDWIN: Sunny Hostin, thanks so much, "On the Case." Fantastic segment. Thank you, ma'am. Have a wonderful rest of your day.
And now, thank you for watching. I'm going to hand things off to Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM" in Washington.
Wolf, to you.
