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The Battle for Libya; The Budget Ax; Rodney King 20 Years Later; NFL Players, Owners Can't Agree on Pay; Charlie Sheen's Kids Taken Away
Aired March 06, 2011 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Libya unrest: Gadhafi opposition forces claim major victory in a key city but supporters of the controversial leader have reasons to celebrate as well. We have reports from both sides of the battle and across the border where Libyans are fleeing to safety.
Twenty years after enduring one of the worst police beatings ever captured on videotape, Rodney King has a few things to say. He's going to join us live this hour.
And Charlie Sheen, did you watch his live webcast last night? Well, the latest move in his media blitz against CBS and the creators of "Two and a Half Men" didn't go as well as Charlie had hoped. What he's saying about it today?
That and more this hour in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Don Lemon. But, first, I want to get you caught up on today's top stories.
(MUSIC)
LEMON: Anti-Gadhafi rebels in Libya say that now are in control and they control more of the country. This was a highway checkpoint outside the town of Ras Lanuf which the rebels say they captured on Saturday. Farther to the west in the city of Misrata, the opposition reports pushing back government forces in a fierce battle in which more than 40 people were killed. The latest from inside Libya on the battle for control inside the country is just ahead here on CNN.
In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak may be history, but his legacy lives on in the form of a much feared state security. Many Egyptians on Friday stormed into security headquarters in major cities, including Cairo and Alexandria, and got into heated fights with officials inside. Citizens supposedly are seeking secret documents they fear will be destroyed to cover up decades of human right abuse under Mubarak.
Homegrown Islamic radicalization and its threat to America and the Muslim community -- that is the focus of congressional hearings this week and that has many Muslims concerned and even angry. Today, a community of interfaith, nonprofit and governmental organizations gathered in Times Square to protest what they're calling the demonization of the Muslim community. Many are worried the hearings could fuel Islamophobia.
Tensions today between the leader of Afghanistan and the general in charge of U.S. and NATO troops in the country. Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says an apology is not enough after the deaths of nine boys from a NATO air strike on Tuesday. General David Petraeus made the apology in a private meeting, according to a NATO official who asked not to be identified. Attack helicopters killed the boys mistaking them for insurgents.
Filmmaker and liberal activist Michael Moore is the latest celebrity to join the crowds protesting against Wisconsin's proposed budget cuts. Moore joined this weekend's marches outside the state capitol and he even compared the protests to the recent political uprising in Egypt. A smaller group of demonstrators gathered today in support of Republican Governor Scott Walker. The governor wants to close a budget gap by forcing state workers to pay more of their pension and health care cost, and by restricting their collective bargaining rights.
Federal authorities say they're seeing an increase in the number of Atlanta area homes being occupied by an anti-government group. This past week, a SWAT team was called to evict a group of so called Sovereign Citizens in Riverdale, Georgia. Deputies say the group had been living illegally in the home for months. The Sovereign Citizens group doesn't believe in paying taxes or abiding by state or federal law.
Now, we want to take you inside Libya right now where battles are waging all along the Mediterranean coast, from Benghazi in the east to Tripoli in the west, forces of Moammar Gadhafi are in a fight to the death against well-armed and highly motivated rebels.
CNN correspondents are covering all sides of this deadly conflict and we begin with our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson. He's in Gadhafi stronghold of Tripoli.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the road leading into Green Square. There's traffic all the way back here. People are coming out with their posters to show their support for Moammar Gadhafi.
Down in the road where this lady is standing, bullet casings, people are firing out of their cars in celebration, an absolute cacophony of noise here this morning, the sound of the car horns really taking over from the bullets being fired, more shell casings from gunfire. And everyone here is quite friendly.
How are you?
This is what we get to see. A lot of here, people come up and put his picture in your face.
(CHANTING)
ROBERTSON: Thank you very much. This is their support for Moammar Gadhafi. And this is the atmosphere here this morning. It's very surprising. It's quarter past 8:00 still. We woke up several hours ago to the sound of -- more celebratory gunfire going off down the street here. We woke up to the sound of gunfire and darkness in the city. It wasn't clear what was happening.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 20-year-old Ishmael (ph) was wounded Sunday morning isn't good. He was shot during a gun battle between opposition forces and the Libyan army in the village of Bin Jawad. The intensive care unit the hospital in Ras Lanuf, 20 kilometers to the east, usually doesn't deal with gunshot wounds. Libyan American neurosurgeon Rida Mazagri traveled from his home in Charleston, West Virginia, to do what he could to help his people.
DR. RIDA MAZAGRI, NEUROSURGEON: It seems to be there's a bullet in his brain. We don't have the facilities or we don't have a CT scan to know exactly what's going on. But when he came, he was unconscious, patient intubated, and part of his brain is coming out of his skull and bleeding with that too.
WEDEMAN (on camera): What are his chances?
MAZAGRI: I don't know.
(CHANTING)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Ishmael is like many of the young men who have flocked to the front full of enthusiasm. Their only prior experience with war came from video games.
West of Ras Lanuf, anti-Gadhafi fighters wait to move toward Bin Jawad. It's been their toughest battle yet against government forces. After gaining control of the town late Saturday, they were driven out Sunday morning; their inexperience and disorganization becoming blaringly apparent.
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But people keep streaming across the border from Libya here into Tunisia. More than 100,000 people have fled in the last two weeks and more keep coming. They're met by Tunisian volunteers who hand out food, who hand out water, and this is important because these refugees are hungry and thirsty and frightened. Many of them tell us that they haven't had any access to food and water for days and they've been charged exorbitant charges for transport to try to flee Libya.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And as you heard, some of the heaviest fighting today was in the town of Misrata. More than 40 people were killed as pro-Gadhafi forces try to retake from rebels who control the center of the city. A witness describes what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via telephone): For the last 50 minutes or so, I'm in the middle of gun fire, a live gun fire between pro-Gadhafi militias and the opposition. People have taken to the street It does seem like the fighting is taking place in the city center, what we describe as the courthouse. I believe that this has been the center of operations for the opposition.
And we had reports this morning, around 10:00, of three military groups, three pro-Gadhafi military security groups, coming to city from three different angles. And I have seen people confirming the report that tanks have been deployed in this attack. Six in particular is the number that has been mentioned frequently by people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And the troop is often the first casualty of war with both sides claiming victory in some places. It can be difficult to sort out who is in control.
Here's what we know and I'm going to take you around the region here. Most Libyan cities and most of the people are on the Mediterranean coast. The capital Tripoli is too far to the northwest. You see the capital of Tripoli far to the northwest.
The oil rich city of Benghazi is to the east. And then, by all accounts, Benghazi is firmly in rebel control. In fact, that's where a budding government is taking shape this weekend.
Tripoli is still Gadhafi's stronghold right there at the top of your map. Here's where it gets less certain. The cities of Bin Jawad, Misrata and Zawiya, all have been sites of fierce clashes and pitched battles in recent days. Rebels say they're in control in those places. Tripoli says its forces are in control. CNN has no way of verifying either account.
So Misrata, not definite. Zawiya is not definite, excuse me. And then Bin Jawad also not definite. Again, that's the region there and that's where all the cities where all the unrest, opposition, protests have been going on -- just to give you an idea where it is.
Indiana gets hit with rain and a lot of flooding. Our Jacqui Jeras will be along with that next hour to tell you what's happening and causing all these weather problems and what travelers have to do now.
And straight ahead, Rodney King whose beatings 20 years ago this week triggered racial unrest in Los Angeles. He's going to be here to answer your questions. You make sure you send them to me.
I'm online. I know you are, too. Check out my social media accounts. Let's connect.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Man, Indiana has been getting pounded by heavy rains and the worst may not be over yet. The rising rivers are submerging some roads and because the ground is so saturated, the water has no place to go. Flood levels in the southern part of the state are expected to be at their highest point so far this year. And extensive flooding is expected to continue along the Wabash River until mid-March.
So, the question is: any relief in sight? In more rain on the way? For that, we turn to our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras.
Jacqui, man, they've been getting it.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: They really have. You know, a little bit of rest (ph) in the rain, but you know, it takes a long while for all that rain to run off into the tributaries and it takes its time crusting.
So, we're still going to be looking at high levels of cresting. So, we're still going to be looking at high levels of the upcoming days. You saw that video there. Those are outside of Muncie, Indiana.
This is some new video that we just got in. This is from Ravenswood, Indiana. This is in the northern of Indianapolis and this is along the White River, which is expected to crest by tomorrow, early afternoon. There you can see it's impacting many residences. Lots of roads are closed.
And this is really the story not just in Indiana but across much of the Ohio River valley. We're talking places like Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania. And now, some fresh flooding can be expected in the upcoming days.
I want to show you this graphic that we put together from the HPC or the Hydrological Prediction Center. And these are the areas that they're going to be focusing on through Wednesday for potential flooding. We've already been seeing it for the most part here. So, this was imminent and occurring.
But new flooding may happen into the Northeast. And that's because we already have been seeing an incredible amount of heavy rain today. In fact, by tomorrow morning, we could see as much as two inches in total in some of these areas where it's really have been pouring down.
We're a little concern about what's been going on in North Carolina this hour. Not the heavy rain but the threat of tornadoes. Tornado warning has just been issued from Wayne and Wilson Counties. That's on the tail end here of these storms. But we don't expect widespread severe weather for today.
The streets getting flooded with plenty rain as this continues to come down here. If you're trying to travel today, not just the roadways, but check out the airways. JFK looking at two and a half hour delays. LaGuardia, over an hour. Newark, about an hour and half, as well as Philly; Boston, 45; San Francisco, out west, having problems, too, 15 minutes.
And look at all the flood warnings and advisories down that we have in effect. We're talking about 30-plus states dealing with flooding this weekend.
LEMON: That's a lot.
JERAS: That's a lot. And Hawaii too, by the way.
LEMON: It's good thing you say it with a smile because you're the bearer of bad news, Jacqui Jeras.
JERAS: I know, just the messenger.
LEMON: Thank you. See you later on this evening, Jacqui. Thanks again.
JERAS: OK.
LEMON: Education programs are being shut down across the nation due federal budget woes. But there's one program that enabled an immigrant to achieve the American Dream. That story is coming up.
But, first a company in Pennsylvania that specialized in building lightweight chairs for the military was on its last leg just a few years ago. Then a sales person got a call from a famous fashion designer and a whole new world opened up.
CNN's Tom Foreman has our "Building Up America" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In rural Pennsylvania, this is the sound of success -- aluminum chairs being shaped, tempered, polished. But a few years back, it was the sound of trouble for CEO Gregg Buchbinder.
(on camera): This company was ready to go out of business.
GREGG BUCHBINDER, CEO, EMECO: Right, right. The company was really on its last legs.
FOREMAN (voice-over): The Emeco Company started in World War II, making tough lightweight chairs for military ships. And for 40 years, that kept them afloat. But in the 1990s, the big contracts were drying up and Buchbinder, the new owner, was struggling to keep the doors open.
Then, one day, a salesperson slammed down a phone in a dispute over a small order.
BUCHBINDER: And I asked her, who was that? And she said, oh, somebody, Giorgio Armani. I suddenly realized there was more than just a chair for the government.
FOREMAN: He discovered the top designers were buying the chairs secondhand. They adored the clean line and excellent craftsmanship.
(on camera): It signaled the turning point for this company.
BUCHBINDER: Absolutely. Big turns point for us.
FOREMAN (voice-over): Aiming at this new market, Emeco developed new styles, some selling for a few hundred, some for thousands. On the factory, Dennis Tangent preached the old gospel.
(on camera): What you're selling here is fine American craftsmanship. DENNIS TANGENT, EMECO: That's all it is and it's preached every day, and everybody here is an inspector, and everybody -- my whole crew is very concerned about the quality of that item. It's not a chair. It's a work of art.
FOREMAN (voice-over): And sales soared.
ALEV LARSSON, INTERNATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR, EMECO: We have pretty much settled distribution in 30 different countries.
FOREMAN (on camera): Thirty countries?
LARSSON: Yes, 30 different countries.
FOREMAN: That's much bigger than it used to be.
LARSSON: Oh, that's definitely much bigger than I thought it would be, too.
FOREMAN (voice-over): From 15 employees a decade ago, today, Emeco has 70 in the factory alone.
BUCHBINDER: It's grown.
FOREMAN: Not a bad buildup from helping everyone else sit down on the job.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Hanover, Pennsylvania.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back, everyone.
Education programs are on the chopping block. It's happening all across the country as governments trim budgets. One of those programs is federally funded and it has helped an immigrant from Honduras build a better life in America.
CNN's Sandra Endo has her story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carolina Espina enjoys school lunchtime with her two kids. She's part of a language program called Even Start, geared toward low-income immigrants who want to learn English but can't afford to pay for classes.
While she's in class, her daughter gets to play in day care. When Espina first moved here from Honduras six years ago, she didn't speak a word of English.
(on camera): If this program wasn't available, what would you do? Do you feel like you would you be this far along in your English and being able to spend time with your kids? CAROLINA ESPINA, MOTHER: This program is great because you can stay and learn English. At the same time, we don't have -- I don't have worry about my daughter because my daughter is (INAUDIBLE).
ENDO (voice-over): But maybe not for much longer. While the program helped Espina, federal funding for Even Start just got cut in the recent two-week extension of the budget, after officials deemed the program ineffective.
Other programs cut included in the $4 billion spending reduction include election assistance grants, the Leap Educational Program which helps states give need-based student aid, and highway funding. The cuts also included many earmarks for homeland security, education and housing.
And the budget ax is about to fall again as lawmakers wrestle over more cuts as part of a long-term spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year.
RYAN ALEXANDER, PRESIDENT, TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE: This is going to be a contentious fight. There may be very deep cuts where there's going to be some immediate pain felt on the ground in communities, and it may be that they look at their own communities and try to protect those (ph) in their communities.
ENDO: For Even Start, they'll have to find other ways to stay alive.
JENNY LINDENHAUER, EVEN START: We will work very hard to make sure that the program continues to exist.
ENDO: Sandra Endo, CNN, Arlington, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It is time now to go across the country and check some of the stories our affiliates are covering.
First stop, right where we are, Atlanta. A restaurant customer has a waiter to thank for saving his life. Matthew McConnell performed the Heimlich maneuver on a customer who was choking. McConnell learned the maneuver as part of his job training and he saved that person.
You've seen the TV ads. Now, check this out. The Snuggie in all its glory at a pub crawl in San Francisco. There were lots of styles on display, everything from Notre Dame Snuggie to a Superman Snuggie. What will they think of next?
And nothing puts a damper on a Mardi Gras in New Orleans, not even torrential downpour. You just go into a restaurant and bar and you eat and drink even more. Partygoers didn't miss a beat in spite of street flooding the French Quarter. The festivities draw to a close at midnight on Tuesday, the end of Fat Tuesday.
He endured a police beating that sparked one of the worst race riots in U.S. history. Now, 20 years later, he reflects on the incident. That's next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: In tonight's "What Matters," we take a look at a man whose name for a generation has evoked memories of riots, flames and police brutality. And we're talking about Rodney King. This week marked the 20th anniversary of King's beating by Los Angeles police.
The officers' acquittal for the attack led to days of chaos and looting in L.A. and beyond, and years of racial introspection for the nation.
And to mark the anniversary, I spoke with Rodney King, asking him what he's learned after 20 years.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (voice-over): In the 20 years since his life was turned upside down, Rodney King has relocated to suburban Rialto, California. He's 20 years older and, according to him, a lot wiser. He admits his past is riddled with bad decisions.
(on camera): If you could do it all over again, what would you do? Would you go out that night? Would you --
RODNEY KING, POLICE BEATING VICTIM: I would have stayed home. I think I would have stayed home.
LEMON (voice-over): For years after the beating, Rodney King continued to have run-ins with the law. In 1996, he was sentenced to 90 days for a hit-and-run involving his wife. He was also arrested several times on charges related to domestic abuse, drug intoxication, and indecent exposure.
(on camera): Why after all that -- that's what people say, especially black people -- why after all that, Rodney, you're still getting in trouble?
KING: I guess the trouble they see me in is the part of my life that I'm working on.
LEMON (voice-over): And 20 years later, Rodney King still lives in fear.
(on camera): Years after the beating, you wore a vest?
KING: Oh, yes.
LEMON: You still wear a vest?
KING: Yes. I do, I do.
LEMON (voice-over): He wears a vest in large crowds because threats against his life were all too real. The FBI once infiltrated a white supremacist plot to assassinate King.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you constantly looking over your shoulder? KING: You know, I never feel safe, you know, just things that happened.
When you're part of history, it changes for the better. You've got a lot of devilish people out there that don't like it.
LEMON (on camera): When Rodney King had the blood on his face, that mug shot of you with the blood on your face, who was he then?
KING: Oh, man. A guy that was almost dead and just like happy to be able to still have that face to be able to see that face.
LEMON: And Rodney King now all cleaned up, trimmed goatee, beads around his neck -- who is Rodney King now?
KING: I consider myself a decent, you know, good human being.
LEMON: Are you able to forgive those cops?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Now this week, the anniversary of his beating, Rodney King made the news again after he was pulled over by police. I will ask him about it when he joins me live -- there he is -- after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. 20 years ago this week, Los Angeles police pulled over Rodney King, leading to the beating that forever impacted race relations in this nation. And just Tuesday, police pulled King over again. His fiancee tells CNN that police thought King ran a red light and they eventually gave him a ticket for not having his driver's license.
Rodney King joins me live from Los Angeles.
Rodney, how are you doing?
RODNEY KING, VICTIM OF POLICE BEATING: Pretty good, thank.
You should be the first one in line at the DMV. What were you doing driving without a license?
KING: Believe me, I have been back and forth to the DMV. The DMV would give me a license and once they found out there was a problem in Pittsburgh, they would take them back from New Castle, Pennsylvania.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: So when you lived in Pennsylvania you had a license and never returned it, that's why you're saying. So what's been happening?
KING: Yes. When I went down for a funeral, I got a ticket down there. And they wanted me to turn in my license. Although, I beat the case in court, the DMV still wanted me to turn my license in. And I never did turn my license in. Forgot to turn the license in, so the lawyers never did make it an issue for me to turn the license in. So they held on from me getting my license all this time. So California issued me a license. Then once, they ran it through a computer, they had to take it back. Now I'm waiting till April or May to get a license back. But off and on, because of the hold-up in Pittsburgh, New Castle, Pittsburgh, I haven't been able to get a license in California.
LEMON: How long -- that's been 15 years. How long have you been without a license in California?
KING: I would say -- once California find out that I don't have a license in Pittsburgh, they take the California -- they take my license away here in California. So it's been like a back-and-forth thing. And so now that I got caught driving with no license, I only had to go to April, May to get them back.
LEMON: I'm asking you how long this has been going on. This has been going on for 15 years, you've been off and on without a license?
KING: It's been going on for about 17 years without a license.
LEMON: So you're not sure if you've been driving with a license or without a license for 17 years?
KING: Oh, yes, I've been driving with a license.
LEMON: All right.
KING: With a license? Yes, I have been.
LEMON: Rodney. Let me ask you. This is the eve of the 20th year anniversary. You get pulled over. Did your heart jump? What did you think?
KING: Oh, my god. Oh, man. How do I experience -- it was a horrible feeling that went through me, because the police who pull me over, they was like my kids' age. And so they said somebody called in and told them -- which I'm used to somebody always calling in and saying something. And they was really trying to get to the bottom of it. So they found out I didn't have a license and they went through the whole -- I had to sit down on the curb and do the whole nine-yard thing again.
LEMON: Did they recognize you?
KING: Yes. They didn't until I told them. And then, when the sergeant came by -- well, the sergeant -- I knew one of the sergeants. In fact, he used to drink coffee and eat doughnuts at the 7-Eleven up the street where I used to live. So I knew the sergeant when the sergeant came out, so it went a lot smoother.
LEMON: Did you think you were going to go to jail?
KING: No. Once the sergeant came out there, it was -- it was a different -- you know, it was a different tone. Once the sergeant came out there, it was a different ball game. LEMON: Listen, by saying that, do you think things have changed when it comes to police, especially in southern California, in Los Angeles? Does it seem like it's a different department now? You didn't go to jail? You weren't abused? I would imagine they treated you fairly respectfully?
KING: Oh, yes. I would have to say police enforcement has been working on relations in Los Angeles County in California, period. It seems like. Since the beating, it's been a big, big difference in relations with -- public relations. Real big difference.
LEMON: What's the last week been like for you, since it's been 20 years? Was there something that went through your head, like, you know, what happened? 20 years is a big mark.
KING: I -- sometimes I wish I could like go through that little video of the beating and kind of explain, you know, what happened, you know. Like I say, when I -- like I say, when it first started, the blow to the -- from the highway patrol man kicking me in the temple and then me lying down there and waiting for the second beating to come on. When I went to get up, my leg was broke. I threw my hands up in the air. But like I say, the first blows came from the highway patrol cop that walked up to me and kicked me in the temple. And so -- but, like I say, that's just explaining, you know, what went on in the video, just to let everybody know. There was violence on my part whatsoever. But it's been a good thing seeing them show the video and coming to terms with, you know, what happened back in '91. and then, you know, turning it into a positive, you know, situation.
LEMON: So, Rodney, hey, listen. I've got run here. And I'm glad you think things are better. From our viewers -- people are tweeting me now and the number-one question is, Rodney King, are you OK? Are you clean? Are you sober? What do you say to people who with are asking that online?
KING: Yes. I'm clean and I'm healthy and I'm OK these days. You know, I'm taking my Max Life and my oatmeal every morning, you know, staying healthy as a real healthy American should.
LEMON: Yes. And also on your skateboard every day, too, as well.
KING: Oh, yes.
LEMON: Rodney King, thank you very much. Best of luck to you. Take care of yourself. Stay out of trouble, all right?
KING: No doubt. Thanks.
LEMON: All right.
Let's move on now. Pro-football player and owners can't agree on how to divvy up $9 billion. That's right. I said billion with a "B." Ray D'Alessio joins me next with the latest on the NFL labor talks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Oh, what a hit. What a shot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
LEMON: All right. So NFL players are locked out next fall. Maybe this will fill the bowl. I think a lot of people will like it. The lingerie football league says it's ready to sashay in to fill the void if they do go on strike. The league says it will move its games from Friday nights to give fans what they really want to see on Sunday.
Before I go read that, what do you think of that, Ray? Can you do that?
RAY D'ALESSIO, HLN SPORTS ANALYST: Well, I know one thing. The wife. The way the NFL is set up now, I get out of the honey-do list. If I ask her if I can get out of the honey-do list because of the NFL -- because of the lingerie league --
LEMON: You're in trouble. Stand by.
D'ALESSIO: Pow. I'd get slapped.
LEMON: Stand by.
(LAUGHTER)
So is it really going to come to that? The lingerie league, millions of fans going through NFL withdrawal in the fall?
Well, if you're counting on the White House saving the day, you'd better think again. Here's the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm a big football fan, but I always think that for an industry that's making $9 billion a year in revenue, they can figure out how to divide it up in a sensible way and be true to their fans, who are the ones who obviously allow for all the money that they're making. So my expectation and hope is that they will resolve it without me intervening, because it turns out I've got a lot of other stuff to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Joining us right now is sports anchor, Ray D'Alessio. He's from our sister network, HLN.
Ray, we're talking about billions of dollars they want to hang on to. Basically, what does the league want?
D'ALESSIO: The way things stand now, under the old agreement, the $9 billion in total revenue, the way it works out, I think of it as a big piece of pie, OK? The league gets the first cut of that $9 billion piece of pie right off the top. The remaining eight pieces they split 60/40 between the players and the teams. OK.
Now what the owners are saying is, look, we're not losing any money by any means. We're still making profit. But if we continue down the same path, we are going to start losing money. And what they're asking for is, let's go ahead and, off the top, we get $2 billion off the top and then we split the $7 million 60/40. That's less money for the players.
LEMON: OK.
D'ALESSIO: And that's one of the issues here.
LEMON: We're kind of joking around but when you're talking billions of dollars -- and the president was in a press conference with Mexico's Felipe Calderon. That was one of the first questions asked, was about this. And he responded to it. I want to make this clear. This is a possible lockout by owners. It's not a strike by the players. The owners say the extra billion is needed for the long-term stability of the league. They say the players show us the books. They want them to do that. And do you see that happening?
D'ALESSIO: That is one of the big issues. The players are saying, you know what, you're claiming you guys are in danger of losing the money. Well, if that's the case, show us the books. I don't see that happening, Don. NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, has already come and said he's not in favor of the teams opening up their books. He feels that there's enough information out there for the union. There's enough information at their fingertips to show them that we have to change the direction, the financial direction that the league is going.
LEMON: Listen, this is very important. One option for the players is to decertify the union and file an anti-trust lawsuit against the league. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees have agreed to be the lead plaintiffs if the suit is filed. How big is that?
D'ALESSIO: It's huge, Don. Let's face it, quarterbacks drive the NFL bus. You take three likeable guys, Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, all three have Super Bowl rings. All three very well respected. What's the one thing about quarterbacks? They're known for being chummy with management, coaches and owners.
(CROSSTALK)
D'ALESSIO: Guess what?
(CROSSTALK)
D'ALESSIO: You put them in a lawsuit, name them as the main plaintiffs, it's basically a message from the player saying, we're sticking together.
LEMON: I've got to run. Do you see this being all rectified and fine before --
D'ALESSIO: Of course, there's a seven-day extension. The new deadline is this coming Friday at midnight. I don't see it happening before then. I can see something getting possibly done by the draft, April 28. Maybe.
LEMON: All right. Thank you.
D'ALESSIO: OK, Don, good to see you.
LEMON: Are women benefiting from the uprisings in the Middle East? That conversation is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Now to our correspondents, from the nation's capital to Hollywood, with their preview of the big stories in the week ahead. We begin at the White House.
ED HENRY, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I'm Ed Henry at the White House. A big week for the president as he tries to stay on top of all these crises in the Mideast. Also on Monday, he's got a visit from the Australian prime minister. But even amid of all this talk about foreign policies, he trying to stay focused on his domestic agenda, that winning the future campaign. Tuesday, it takes him to a school in Boston to talk about education and the economy.
DAN BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dana Bash on Capitol Hill, where the fight over cutting federal spending willing spill onto the Senate floor this week. Congressional leaders in both parties have decided the best way to try to find compromise is to hold votes on the two competing ideas, a Democratic proposal to cut $6 billion in federal spending, and the Republican House bill, which slashes $61 billion, a very big difference. But leaders in both parties have decided that the rank and file, who are pushing them not to compromise, need to see that neither of these proposals is likely to actually pass. The measure currently keeping the government running expires in just two weeks.
POPPY HARLOW, HOST, CNN MONEY: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. The health of the American consumer will be key this coming week. Wall street will get reports that show just how much individuals are borrowing, how much we're spending, and really, overall, how we feel about the economic recovery. What we'll also get is earnings from a number of key retailers, including JCrew and the latest overall retail sales report. And investors, of course, are going to keep a very close eye on oil prices as crude remains above 100 bucks a barrel. We'll track it all for you all week on "CNN Money."
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: I'm "Showbiz Tonight's" Brooke Anderson. Here's what we're watching this week. More Charlie Sheen custody drama as Charlie battles his ex over their twin boys. And on Monday, a "Showbiz" newsmaker interview with Michael Jackson's sister, Latoya, speaking out about the trial of Michael's doctor, Conrad Murray. "Showbiz Tonight" is live at 5:00 p.m. eastern on HLN, and still TV's most provocative entertainment news show at 11:00 p.m.
LEMON: All right, let's get beyond our border, go beyond the borders. International desk editor, Azadeh Ansari, joins us with the big stories we're covering around the world.
We're covering the latest in Libya, but, man, that story coming out of the Ivory Coast.
AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: That's true. The violence keeps escalating, Don. And next week, U.N. forces, of the United Nations, will send an additional 2,000 troops to keep the peace, to maintain the peace, to help out with the peace, I should say. And this comes -- we saw this video last week, when the women were marching peacefully in the city of Abershan (ph). They were attacked, which left seven of them dead.
LEMON: And this situation is happening in the Ivory Coast. And of course, it just raises the spotlight on women and all of these uprisings, not the one in the Ivory Coast is connected to what's happening in the Middle East in North Africa, but it's putting the spotlight on women. And we're wondering, during this time of unrest, are women benefiting from this, are they getting stronger or becoming dangerous targets? Becoming targets like these women?
ANSARI: Well, a little bit of both. They're definitely feeling empowered to go out into the streets to ask for their own civil rights in a way. And collectively, they do have a larger voice. And actually, we should -- I want you to hear from the Zainab Salibi, who is the CEO and founder of Women for Women International. She had a very interesting perspective on this.
LEMON: All right. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZAINAB SALIBI, CEO & FOUNDER, WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL: Usually, women are a bellwether for the direction of the society. Violence often starts with women. And progress often starts with women. And we need to watch what's happening to women as a political indicator for the direction of that country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And speaking of women for women, on Tuesday, there's a big march. All over the world, really, 210 events.
ANSARI: Around 53 countries. It's the international -- well, actually, I should say in Egypt, they're planning a million-woman march. And this is thus, the 100th anniversary of International Woman's Day, which falls on March 8th every single year. And, again, it's a way of women celebrating their past, looking at their future. And there's still a long way to go, even though we have come this far.
LEMON: And, again, it's Women for Women, 210 events will be held in over 50 countries across 33 states, on famous landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, Sydney Harbor Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. I think it's a pivotal point in history right now for women. And I think, you know, obviously. there's violence, but I think women will become more empowered, hopefully, out of the unrest happening across the world, really. So thank you, Azadeh Ansari. Appreciate it.
ANSARI: Always a pleasure.
LEMON: Up next, Charlie Sheen takes his show live on the Internet. My conversation with Jane Velez-Mitchell about Sheen, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: If you thought Charlie Sheen was running off the rails before, you should have seen him last night. His live epic web cast wasn't just bad, it was unwatchable. Even Sheen tweeted today that it was, quote, "Treasonous to the movement. My bad."
The host of HLN's "Issues," with Jane Velez-Mitchell, spoke with me about Charlie Sheen's unwinning ways.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
So, Jane, here we go, another week, we're talking about Charlie Sheen and just in a sad moment, his kids taken away. Let's look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Are you going to share that apple with your brother? Are you going to share that apple with your brother? Give me some of that.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Bye.
SHEEN: Bye, buddy.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY: Bye.
(CROSSTALK)
SHEEN: I will see you soon, buddy. We'll see you soon, absolutely. We'll see you soon. You have my word. Pop don't lie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Jane, it's tough to watch. And you know, you talked about his addiction. Is it right for them to take his kids away?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, HLN'S ISSUES: Well, this is the incomprehensible demoralization of addiction. This is what happens. He calls himself a winner. Is that really what happens to a winner? I think not.
But I've got to ask the question, Don, are either of these parents fit to take care of these kids? It was two Christmases ago that the mother of the children, Brooke Mueller, accused Charlie Sheen of attacking her. He ultimately pleaded guilty to simple assault. And yet recently, she was with him in the Bahamas, partying, along with his two goddesses/girlfriends, and the reports are she has only been sober a short period of time and is reportedly in outpatient rehab. So does she really have what it takes to be a parent?
They're going to court, they're going to battle it out, but I've got to wonder, does water find its own level.
LEMON: And let's keep our fingers crossed and our prayers with those kids. They're the ones that really need looking out for. They're two adults. They can be responsible for themselves.
I want to talk more about Charlie Sheen. He's been all over the place saying, hey, I'm the one who is being harmed here. I'm going to sue CBS. Does he stand a chance?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He actually does. He says, pay me for the eight episodes. He gets almost $2 million so roughly $16 million he wants from the network, or he's going to sue. He has one of the best lawyers in Hollywood. And there have been many published reports, he has no morality clause in his contract, so he may have a good case.
And I will say this. The network knew who they were getting in bed with. His problems go back at least two decades, when he shot his then-fiance, Kelly Preston, in the arm. That's when he first went into rehab. Then there were the Heidi Fleisch girls. They knew who they were dealing with. So I think this idea that, oh, now, they're suddenly shocked at his behavior, I don't buy it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Make sure you watch "Issues" with Jane Velez- Mitchell every night, 7:00 eastern, on our sister network, HLN.
The next hour of the CNN "NEWSROOM" begins right now.
