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Gadhafi Rides through Tripoli; Gas Prices Shooting Up; House Debates GOP's 2012 Budget; Drug-resistant Bacteria in Meat; Georgia Passes Immigration Crackdown; Layoff Notices Sent to All Detroit Teachers; Colbert Targets Senator Kyl; Device Turns Water to Fuel; Royal Wedding Timeline Revealed; Woman Regains Voice after 36 Years
Aired April 15, 2011 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You too. You know I was just thinking that I didn't need to learn to be a princess. I just naturally thought I was one. I'm just kidding.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: There you go, right?
COSTELLO: Thanks to you, have a great week. Thank you.
It is 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. on the west. I'm Carol Costello. Sitting in for Kyra Phillips.
This morning millions of Americans are dealing with a violence storm or its aftermath. At least five people are confirmed dead in Oklahoma and in Arkansas. Today the threat of tornadoes hangs over the southeast.
A new study raises concern about the food we eat according to the findings published today in a medical journal. Nearly half of all the poultry and meat sampled were contaminated with bacteria.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen will join us with a closer look.
Los Angeles Police beefing up security of Dodge Stadium more than two weeks after a fan was beaten into a coma. The zero tolerance policy for rowdy fans led to 34 citations last night out of a crowd of 34,000.
But we begin in Libya. Western leaders are stepping up pressure today to get Moammar Gadhafi out of power. In a rare move, President Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote a joint opinion piece laying a vision for Libya's future.
In it they write, "It is unthinkable that someone who has tried to massacre his own people can play a part in their future government." They went on to say that leaving Gadhafi in power "would lead to further chaos and lawlessness. We know from bitter experience what that would mean. Neither Europe, the region or the world can afford a new safe haven for extremists."
In the meantime, in Tripoli, Gadhafi is as defiant as ever. His troops pounded rebel positions in the besieged city of Misrata today. And Gadhafi did appear in public, poking out of the sunroof of a car, pumping his fists, almost taunting the opposing -- the opposing rebels and the world as he rode through the streets of Tripoli.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in the Libyan capital.
So, Fred, are there any signs that the Gadhafi regime is really weakening?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly doesn't look like it, from our perspective, Carol. Yesterday, actually, after Gadhafi went on that spree through town where of course he was riding -- coming out of the sunroof, sort of pumping fists at his would-be supporters that were brought there.
Late last night his daughter Ayesha Gadhafi also went on Libyan TV at a demo that was held at Gadhafi's compound. She in that speech that she held there mentioned that it's absolutely absurd that Gadhafi was going to leave office. That's something that we've been hearing a lot from the government. They said that's simply not in the cards at this point.
And when you talk on background to Libyan officials here, they say that at this point in time they actually feel more secure in their positions than they did, for instance, two ago or three weeks ago when the rebels were marching towards Sirte and were taking more and more of Gadhafi's territory.
Right now that doesn't seem to be the case. They were saying they also feel they still have a lot in the way of military reserves left. Of course yesterday was the day where there was a lot of pounding going on here from NATO in Tripoli. They were brought to one site where apparently a military radar station had been bombed. But right now they're telling us they still feel pretty secure -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Fred Pleitgen live in Tripoli. Thank you.
Here at home how much have you spent on gas this week? CNN is taking a closer look at why it's so expensive right now and what you can do to ease the pain at the pump.
A year ago, the national average was $2.86 a gallon. Today AAA says it's $3.82 a gallon with the summer travel season still weeks away. President Obama says he knows these prices are painful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I understand how big of a strain this is on family budgets. And, you know, already we've got about $3.85 close to $4. That's tough.
You know, if you got to drive to work every day, and you don't have an option in terms of the car that you're driving, and it's taking more and more out of your budget, that's a problem.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It is a problem. CNN's Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange.
So, Alison, the record is $4.11 and it seems we're heading that way. When will it happen, do you think?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know your guess is as good as mine. And why is this happening? In a word, it's the main ingredient in gasoline, Carol.
And in just one year, take a look at what oil has been doing. Prices of oil up 26 percent. So we all want to know why it's up so much. And there are a few reasons in play here. First of all supply and demand. Some reports came out this week saying supplies are tight because of these conflicts in the Mideast.
And demand at the same time is strong because we're seeing economies around the world recovering. China is a big factor in this. It's one of the fastest growing economies. But you know the biggest problem here in this oil price spike may be -- might be speculation at this point.
Traders, they bet on what could happen if supply drops, because of the unrest m the Middle East. They bet on what if this, what if that. Because they're essentially speculating.
And finally, we've got the weak dollar in play, Carol. Oil is priced in dollars. It makes it a very cheap investment -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK, so I've heard that gas prices could go as high as $5 a gallon by this summer. What do you think?
KOSIK: Yes. I mean analysts are saying, you could see it average around $3.86 this summer, others see it above $4.
You know keep in mind we're getting into the busy summer driving season. Prices in June are usually higher than in April. But we could see prices (INAUDIBLE) a tipping point where people just cut back on how much gas they use. We're already starting to see some of that, Carol.
COSTELLO: I know. And that's the only sure way you can drive gas prices down.
KOSIK: Yes. And just not use it.
COSTELLO: Exactly. Alison Kosik. Thank you.
CNN is spending today looking at why prices are so high and what you can do to ease the damage to your wallet. In the next hour we'll have tips on finding the cheapest gas in your area.
And later this hour an inventor who says his device can increase your gas mileage by up to 40 percent. And in the noon hour, how changing your driving habits might help you eke out a few extra miles per gallon.
On Capitol Hill, the first major showdown on the budget battle now goes to the president for his signature. The Senate approved the 2011 budget compromise just hours after lawmakers in the House did the same thing.
The bipartisan deal cut more than $38 billion from this year's spending and averted a government shutdown.
So now all the anger and vitriol turns to next year's budget, the 2012 budget. This hour, the House begins debate on the GOP's blueprint. Its architect says partisan bickering is growing toxic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PAUL RYAN (R), CHAIRMAN, HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE: I expect that Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to come out, you know, with attacks. We didn't expect it from the commander in chief. And when the commander in chief brings himself down to the level of the partisan mash-pit that we've been in, that we are in, it makes it more difficult to bring that kind of leadership.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: CNN's Brianna Keilar is on Capitol Hill.
So, Brianna, the House votes on Ryan's plan today. And then what happens?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and that was an indication, right, Carol, that this is going to be a party line vote.
What happens next after the vote on this? That's the thing. Really, what happens with Paul Ryan's budget proposal? Nothing is really the answer, because of course Democrats control the Senate and President Obama has panned this plan proposed by the Congressman Ryan.
If you look at it, agree with it or disagree with it, and obviously Democrats don't like it, and Republicans don't like it, there are major changes that Ryan is proposing. He says it would save -- his budget proposal would save $4.4 trillion over the course of 10 years and the plan would be to completely overhaul Medicare and Medicaid, change it as we know it.
Medicare, changing it into a voucher system and he sees changes that we're actually going to see perhaps some difficulty with some Republicans supporting it, because you start touching those entitlement programs, and even though there's this understanding -- bipartisan understanding, Carol, that that needs to be addressed to rein in deficit spending, it's a very hard politically tricky vote.
President Obama, as I said, has panned this plan. He is also -- has a very different proposal, which includes letting those Bush era tax cuts expire for folks making more than a quarter million a year. And of course Republicans disagree with that -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. So we're in for another vicious fight. And Congress is about to actually go on vacation. Some voters might think that's a bad idea. KEILAR: They're going away for a couple of weeks. And the reason that some voters and a lot of folks would say that's not a great idea is because there's still quite a lot of work to be done.
And when it comes to the spending issue, there's a big battle ahead. We talked about it. It's raising the debt ceiling. The treasury, starting in May, mid May, would have to start taking measures, as the U.S. government heads towards that debt ceiling. The amount of money that they can spend, the treasury would have to start taking measures so that the U.S. doesn't default on loans.
And going away for a couple of weeks, that tells you, Carol, even though the ultimate deadline, as we understand it, is July, that Congress is only going to have a couple of week perhaps to deal with this before all of these question marks start floating around and perhaps some markets start to get a little concerned about this.
COSTELLO: I hear you. It will be interesting to see what happens as always.
Brianna Keilar live on Capitol Hill.
I have a frog in my throat.
Today is traditional tax day. Don't worry you have until Monday, the 18th, to finish your forms.
Let's head right to Washington and Paul Steinhauser.
Paul, take it away.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You got it. Brand new numbers, Carol. Brand new CNN Opinion Research Corporation poll numbers on whether you are angry about the taxes you pay. What do most Americans think?
Well, they're divided. About 40 percent say they're pretty angry about the amount of taxes they pay. And about the equal amount say they're no so angry. But look at that, 40 percent. That's up from 27 percent back in the 1980s. So it seems more people are getting angry or angry about the amount of taxes they pay.
But here's one thing Americans are definitely on agreement on. Go to the next number. Look at this right now. Seventy-three percent say that they think the government wastes their money, their tax money. They say the government wastes a lot of the money that they pay in taxes. Another 23 percent say some of that is wasted and only 4 percent don't think it's wasted at all. So I guess Americans are on agreement on that.
Carol, you said it's the 18th, right, that's this year. But you know most Americans think the 15th is the tax day.
So if you're a Republican candidate thinking about running for president, where would you rather be today than anywhere else? I guess at a Tea Party rally, protesting taxes. And that's what a lot of these guys are -- and women are doing over the next couple of days.
Today, you've got Rick Santorum, Tim Pawlenty Herman Cain at a Tea Party anti-tax rally in New Hampshire. Michele Bachmann, she gets into the game over the weekend so does Donald Trump who's of course talking about running for the White House. Mitt Romney and the rest of them all at rallies of one sort or another in some of those crucial early voting states -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. Thanks, Paul, for saving me. I appreciate it.
Paul Steinhauser.
STEINHAUSER: You're OK. You're OK. Good.
COSTELLO: I'm OK now. All of that talk about politics drove me into a coughing fit.
STEINHAUSER: OK, good.
COSTELLO: No wonder why.
STEINHAUSER: It happens. It happens.
COSTELLO: We'll have your next political update in one hour. And a reminder, for all the latest political news go to our Web site, CNNPolitics.com.
Elizabeth Cohen is standing by. Nearly half of U.S. meat may be contaminated with a drug-resistant bacteria. We'll have that for you next.
And Dodger blue takes on a whole new meaning. As police stepped up security following last month's near fatal beating outside the ballpark. We'll take you to Los Angeles just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: As you eat your turkey bacon this morning, let's just say we hope you wash your hands.
A new study in "Clinical Infectious Disease," is a magazine, found nearly half of all the poultry and meat sampled was contaminated with bacteria. Even worse, half of those contaminated samples were tainted with bacteria that's resistant to various antibiotics.
So should you freak out over your turkey bacon? Elizabeth Cohen is here to tell us.
What exactly did these researchers find? How did they come up with these findings?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: OK. They found something a tad different than what you just said so I'm going to say it a little bit differently.
COSTELLO: OK. COHEN: What they found was that half of the samples -- they went to 26 grocery stores in five cities and they looked at beef and chicken and turkey and other stuff, and they said -- pork. And they said half of them have staph bacteria and, of those, most of them are resistant to one bacteria -- to one antibiotic. OK? So they want all --
COSTELLO: Just one antibiotic, not all?
COHEN: Right. But look at this, 52 percent -- OK, so half of the samples had staph, and half of those were resistant to at least three antibiotics. So, in other words, if you had gotten sick from that bacteria, three antibiotics would not help you.
Now, there's one thing that I have to say here to make it really, really, really clear. Usually when we talk about bad stuff in food, we think about eating it and getting sick. That' that's not the case, here. The concern here is touching it and getting an infection on your skin. If you eat it, that's not really the issue. It's touching it, and then getting some kind of terrible infection.
COSTELLO: Which is why you should wash your hands, right?
COHEN: Yes, and an infection that an antibiotic might not do anything for.
COSTELLO: Still, for me as a consumer, to know that half the meat contaminated in my grocery store contains this stuff is disturbing. How did it get in there in the first place? Doesn't the federal government have guidelines in place that would prevent something like this?
COHEN: They don't look for staph, this staph bacteria, they don't look for staph the way that they might look for E. coli or salmonella or something like that. Staph is sort of in a different category.
And so, what these researchers are trying to say is maybe we should be doing a better job of looking for staph because, theoretically, if you handle that meat before it's cooked, and have a cut in your hand, you could get an infection.
But this is all kind of theoretical, and the food industry basically says that this is all very sensational and not something that people need to worry about. But -- but, of course, when you hear this, you think --
COSTELLO: What?
COHEN: -- I'm going to start worrying, right? But the issue is, should they be focusing on staph and figuring out a way to get it out of the meat? It's sort of naturally in the meat. You and I have staph in our bodies, probably. So, it's that this staph is resistant to antibiotics, which means, theoretically, if it gets on your hands, gets into a cut, you could be in trouble. But no one's actually proven that that happens.
COSTELLO: OK, so, to -- the prevention is washing your hands. COHEN: Well, the prevention is washing your hands, and some people even use gloves when they handle raw food materials.
And another thing that's really important is that when you're preparing meat -- OK, so you're cutting up your raw chicken, right? To put in your stir-fry. So you've got a little on clean surfaces immediately? Let's say you cut up a cucumber that goes in a salad right after it. It gets the chicken juice. You're not cooking that cucumber. That's a big problem.
COSTELLO: Got you. So, clean your surfaces or cut your cucumber somewhere else.
COHEN: Cut your cucumbers elsewhere, that may be the key to all of this. Right. Do not mix those two kinds of foods.
COSTELLO: Got you. Thank you, Elizabeth, we appreciate it.
COHEN: OK, thanks.
COSTELLO: Checking news Cross Country, now, in Arkansas, they are bracing for more severe storms today. At least three people were killed when storms moved through Garland and Pulaski counties before dawn.
Georgia, the newest state to approve a crackdown on illegal immigrations. Both houses of the Republican-dominated state legislature passed the measure. The bill allows police to question suspects about their immigration status.
In Detroit, every public school teacher will be getting layoff notices. The move is part of the city's collective bargaining agreement with its teacher's union.
In Washington, a school district is asking every parent to give a dollar a day to help bridge the state's budget gap. That would amount to about $360 a year for each student in the district. As if you couldn't do the math.
A wall of blue at Dodger Stadium, and we're not talking about fans wearing Dodger blue, but about cops, a lot of them. On foot, on horseback, in cruisers, in the stands. They were out in force looking for troublemakers.
The show of force comes after the beating of a Giants fan, Bryan Stow. He's still in the hospital, where doctors are now trying to bring him out of that medically-induced coma. Let's head to Los Angeles, though, and check in with CNN's Thelma Gutierrez.
Any trouble at the game last night, Thelma?
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, you can bet that all eyes were on Dodger Stadium last night. And I can tell you that 38 people were cited for minor offenses, like carrying an open container, but no major problems to report. Now, police say that this is all part of the zero tolerance program that they've now implemented. When fans arrived last night here at Dodger Stadium, they were greeted by a huge LAPD police presence. Some were on horseback, they were out in the parking lot making sure to enforce this no tailgating policy.
In addition, there were lights, cameras out in the parking lot. Inside, officers were combing the stadium, looking for intoxicated fans, again, making sure that nobody was unruly, and that nobody was about to get in any fight, that kind of a thing. They say this is all part of that zero tolerance policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE BECK, CHIEF, LOS ANGELES POLICE: Any criminal acts will not be tolerated. We are -- we will arrest -- you batter somebody, you throw a beer on somebody, you do any kind of assault, and you're going to be going to jail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: Now, police are still searching for the two suspects who allegedly, viciously attacked 42-year-old Bryan Stow back on March 31st. They released a brand-new composite sketch of the two suspects. One has a distinctive mole on his left cheek. And police are hoping that the public will come forward with some kind of information.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BECK: We've received hundreds of tips, but we are still far from solution. I'm imploring the public, I'm asking the fans that may have some information to please come forward. You know, this is an incident which should not define this city. This should not define this team. And this should not define this stadium.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GUTIERREZ: And police also reminded the public that there is a $100,000 reward leading to -- for information leading to the arrest of these two suspects.
As far as Bryan Stow is concerned, doctors say that they're reducing the sedation, hoping that he'll be able to come out of that medically- induced coma and be able to respond to commands. Carol?
COSTELLO: We hope so. Thelma Gutierrez, live in Los Angeles. Thank you.
Defiant words from Moammar Gadhafi's daughter. You'll hear what she's saying, plus we'll tell you about her ties to the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Moammar Gadhafi's daughter is speaking out, defiantly, just like her father. Ayesha Gadhafi told a cheering crowd in Tripoli, Western countries will not succeed in their attempts to oust her father because Libyans support him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD CHEERING)
AYESHA GADHAFI, DAUGHTER OF LIBYAN LEADER MOAMMAR GADHAFI: (through translator): Gadhafi isn't in Libya. He is in the heart of the Libyans.
(CROWD CHEERING)
GADHAFI: My father once said that "if the Libyan nation doesn't want me, then I don't deserve to live." The Libyans answered him in a united voice. Those who don't want you, don't deserve to live.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So let's head to London to talk more about this with Monita Rajpal. Monita, we don't often see Gadhafi's daughter. And I understand she's referred to as the Claudia Schiffer of Libya?
MONITA RAJPAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the 35-year-old mother of three has often been described in the Arab press as the Claudia Schiffer of North Africa with her long, blonde hair and glamorous looks.
She is Gadhafi's only daughter and, up until February of this year, she was a UN goodwill ambassador. That role was stripped when Resolution 1973 was passed.
Now, interesting fact, she had also reportedly worked on Saddam Hussein's defense team. Not from Baghdad, she was in Tripoli, reportedly saying it was too dangerous for her to travel to Iraq to be on his defense team, but she had, apparently, liaised with his lawyers from Libya.
Now, in an interview in October 2010, when asked about that, about Saddam Hussein, she said -- she was quoted as saying, "I felt duty- bound to defend anyone who feels he is wrongly accused." And then, when asked about her father in that same interview, she said, "He is a man of principle, and he believes in causes, defending the poor and underdog." Carol?
COSTELLO: Another woman is making international headlines, and we interviewed her not too long ago, this Muslim beauty queen. And I just wondered, is she still getting death threats?
RAJPAL: Yes, the 24-year-old girl from Manchester, England -- woman, I should say, Shanna Bukhari, she's continuing to get these hate mails and death threats online. People saying basically she's not a real Muslim because she is entering the Miss Universe pageant. She's going on to say just because she is entering this pageant, she is still a Muslim.
Muslim groups here in Great Britain are saying that Islam is very clear that women should dress in a modest way and guard their modesty. I guess they're angry the fact that in one of the rounds of this contest, she would have to wear a bathing suit. But she's saying that she's still a Muslim, just because she wants to enter this beauty pageant, and if she does, indeed, win the UK final on May 1st, she'll be the first ever Muslim to be in the -- to represent Britain in the grand finale in Brazil. Carol?
COSTELLO: Understand. Thanks so much, we appreciate it.
Slashing money from the federal budget. The debate is filled with huge numbers and lots of bluster, and plenty of big claims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JON KYLE (R), ARIZONA: If you want an abortion, you go to Planned Parenthood. And that's well over 90 percent of what Panned Parenthood does.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That number is wrong, way wrong. But the real embarrassment for the senator was yet to come. Stephen Colbert sends the internet a-Twitter.
And foodies, housewives, sports fans, they all have their own TV networks. Well now, rich guys are getting their own channel to turn to. We'll take you to the testosterone-filled place the New York Stock Exchange for details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: When it comes to TV, there are loads of options -- a network for animal lover, for garden lovers, and people who love old movies. But here's a new one for you, a network for rich men? You heard right.
Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange.
I can't wait to hear the details on this.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a good one.
So, Discovery is launching a network this year that's aimed at rich guy. The target audience: men who earn over $150,000 a year. And guess what? It's got a testosterone-filled name as well called Velocity. It's being touted as the first of its kind.
So, what do rich guys watch? Well, shows about cars, of course. That's one big focus. Also, they're going to have shows about multi million dollar auctions, high-stakes gaming, adventure sport, upscale sailing races -- you know, those adrenaline shows that guys like.
Now, there aren't plans for a network for rich women, but Discovery does have the Oprah Winfrey Network, and TLC, of course. And, of course, I think they're going to have a captive audience right here at the New York Stock Exchange. It's very much so male-dominated.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Now, it's interesting because the Discovery Channel thinks wealthy make over $150,000 a year. President Obama thinks wealthy people make over $250,000 a year. It just struck me as interesting somehow.
KOSIK: They should talk.
COSTELLO: They should talk.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Quick check of the markets?
KOSIK: Yes, we are actually starting to the upside -- a little mixed, actually. Bank of America came out and said that the mortgage market is still struggling. That echoes what JPMorgan Chase said earlier this week. Google, though, is spooking the market a little bit, at least with tech stuff. They said the costs soared last quarter because the company went on a hiring spree, shares of Google right now are down almost 6 percent.
Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Alison Kosik, many thanks as always.
Checking our top stories now:
An FBI helicopter will be flying over Long Island's south shore beaches today. Crews will be shooting high resolution photos in search of clues of that serial killing investigation.
A new study raises concerns about the food we eat. According to the findings published today in a medical journal, nearly half of all the poultry and meat sampled were contaminated with bacteria.
The House is set to vote today on the Republicans' blueprint for next year's federal budget. Budget Chairman Paul Ryan proposes slashing $4 trillion in spending, including big cuts to Social Security -- actually, big cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
"Not intended to be a factual statement." That now infamous statement by Republican Senator Jon Kyl has become part of our political culture, and not in a good way.
Kyl used that reasoning to explain why he said abortions represent over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does. That's not true. That's more like 3 percent.
His office rushed to his aid and it made things even worse.
They told CNN that Kyl's math was, quote, "not intended to be a factual statement."
Comedian Stephen Colbert took that and he ran with it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN COLBERT, "THE COLBERT REPORT": I decided to celebrate Jon Kyl's groundbreaking excuse-planation last night --
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: -- by tweeting round the clock non-facts about him. Such as, for the past 10 year, Jon Kyl has been two children in a very convincing Jon Kyl suit.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It's funny.
We bring this up, because of John Avlon, CNN contributor, and senior columnist for "The Daily Beast." He wrote an interesting piece for CNN.com on what passes for political debate today.
So, welcome, John.
JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good to see you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Good to see you.
It's not just Republicans selling untruths. Democrats are guilty of this, too. I know -- I think voters know this. So, why do you think it's such a big deal?
AVLON: Because it's getting worse than ever before. I mean, there's something breathtaking cynical about that statement from Senator Kyl's office that, you know, was not intended to be a factual statement. I mean, it really pulls the curtain back and exposes the fact, that, increasingly on our debate, it's not about whether something is true or not, it's whether or not it can scare people enough to have them remember it and become part of the talking points for a particular partisan or ideological agenda.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: And we have to remember he said this -- he said this on the Senate floor. So, it goes into the public record, right?
AVLON: Exactly right. I mean, if folks can't depend on statements of truth being said in the U.S. Senate, I mean, this is what happens when talk radio starts influencing political talking points. There's no sense of accountability. And there should be, which is why -- look, in a really insane spin cycle environment like the one we're in, satire is a pretty rational response, which is where Stephen Colbert comes in.
COSTELLO: That's right.
The other thing I wanted to bring up, I know Americans are confused by all of the information flying around out there. But it's difficult even when the media is responsible and corrects the misinformation, it's hard to convince some voters that the information they're hearing is inaccurate because some voters simply want to believe the untruths.
AVLON: That's right. I mean, look, people -- we're self-segregating ourselves in political realities, and people pick up political information that reinforces their own political prejudices.
But the overall problem is one that creates a crisis of trust in our institutions. You know, a lot of polls have shown that believability in media has gone down dramatically over the last several decades, exactly as the rise of partisan media has begun to affect things, it's gotten that C-SPAN is increasingly unbelievable to people. That is a problem to our political culture and we need to confront that.
COSTELLO: I know. So, what's the answer? I mean, is there a short answer?
AVLON: I think the answer is to stand up and call it out, whether satire or real news. You can't allow these mistruths, this deliberate misinformation, which is just a fancy word for a lie with an ideological agenda behind it to keep percolating.
So, whether it's Donald Trump talking this birther nonsense or not, it doesn't need to be indulged as one man's opinion. It needs to be condemned as a lie that in fact is.
COSTELLO: Amen, brother. You're going to be back soon for our political buzz. I look forward to it.
AVLON: Thank you.
COSTELLO: You can read John's entire column on this subject at CNN.com/opinion.
(MUSIC)
COSTELLO: All golfers have that one nightmare hole they like to keep a secret, but when you're on the PGA Tour, everybody knows about it. The harsh spotlight on Kevin Na playing the 9th hole at the Texas Open. He took so many strokes he actually lost count. Isn't this sad?
He hit it into a small forest at one point and he just had to keep whacking it away to get it out of there. After finishing the hole, he had to check the video to figure out what his score was. In case you're wondering, his score on that one hole, 16 -- the highest ever for a par 4 hole in PGA Tour history. And that's not a sports record you want to set.
But, baseball's Johnny Damon has a new one he's proud of. Plus, the Sharks and Kings go into overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Those stories and much more in sports 20 minutes away.
All day today, we're looking at ways you can soften the blow from those high gas prices you're seeing. Coming up: we'll talk to an inventor whose device turns water into fuel. I'm not kidding. He says stick it under your hood and watch your gas mileage shoot up by as much as 40 percent.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Better, right?
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COSTELLO: Unbelievable is more like it. After 35 years of barely a whisperer, you bet it's a lot better for that Kentucky woman. How doctors have her now saying "thanks" and a whole lot more. She hasn't spoken a word in decades.
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COSTELLO: Here's a look at stories making news later today:
At noon Eastern, here in Atlanta, relatives of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. join Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for the reopening of a restored Ebenezer Baptist Church. It's where the civil rights trailblazer preached until his 1968 assassination.
Four Eastern Time in Boston, former Minnesota governor and potential Republican presidential candidate, Tim Pawlenty, set to speak at a Tea Party-sponsored tax rally.
And later this afternoon in Phoenix, the Iraqi father convicted of murdering his daughter in a hit and run honor killing faces a judge for sentencing.
Gas praises $3.82 per gallon and rising, heading into a $4 a gallon territory. CNN is taking a closer look at why it's so expensive right now and what you can do to ease the pain. How about a little black box that turns water into fuel? Put it in your car and watch your mileage go through the roof.
Robert Guild said the device he invented can do just that.
OK, Robert, I'm skeptical. How does it work?
ROBERT GUILD, PRESIDENT, CT HYDRO: Good morning.
What it is, it's basic electrolysis, something we all learned in high school chemistry. And we're using a distilled water base and through electrolysis, turning it into hydrogen gas and then bringing it into the air stream within your car and truck, and burning it along with the fuel that you're currently using.
COSTELLO: So, your car partially runs on hydrogen, right?
GUILD: Correct, correct. You're actually introducing hydrogen into the air stream that your car is burning.
COSTELLO: So, hydrogen is explosive -- that was my first thought. Is this safe?
GUILD: Yes, it is. Actually, we have our cells coated with an explosion-proof coating which will keep it safe at all times even in an accident. We're not storing any hydrogen gas. So, by not storing it, we're just burning every bit that we create by the cell.
COSTELLO: So, can it harm your car in any way?
GUILD: No, it doesn't. Actually, the cars run much better on hydrogen. And we do have protection system that we introduce into the oil. Hydrogen is very explosive, as you might imagine and we put that in and it lasts about 60,000 miles and keeps the engine enjoying the hydrogen as it were and actually prolongs the life of the engine so far in our testing.
COSTELLO: So, how much can it increase the gas mileage?
GUILD: The highest we've recorded to date is 42 percent. And the lowest of 200 vehicles we've done so far, about 15 percent. So, somewhere this that range with, I say, 25 or 30 being the average.
COSTELLO: OK. So, how much does it cost, where can you get it, and how do you install it? Can you do that in about, oh, 30 seconds or maybe less?
GUILD: Sure. Absolutely. The average 4-cylinder car runs $1,500. To check to where we're getting it, we're doing it in Connecticut and, hopefully, we'll be across the country over the next 90 days. And just look at CTHydro.com and you should be able to get lots more information on how it all works.
COSTELLO: Oh, we appreciate your being with us this morning. Robert Guild, thank you so much.
GUILD: Thanks so much for having me, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
If you don't have an extra 1,500 bucks to spend on that fuel cell device, you just have to keep on pumping and keep on paying.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a joke. It's just -- and I feel really, really bad for the people that are not working, underemployed, really trying to struggle. I'm really fortunate that few cents doesn't make a lot of difference, but it really makes a lot of difference to most people. And it's just really horrible.
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COSTELLO: All is not lost, though. We're going to help you be an empowered customer, an expert gas hunter. Next hour, we'll have some tips on how to fine the cheapest gas in your area.
And the royal wedding is now just two weeks away. William and Kate will marry at Westminster Abbey. You know that, leaving nothing to chance. Everything to the minute will be orchestrated. Details on that, coming up.
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CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On April 29th, Kate Middleton marries into royalty. Not bad for a commoner like you and me.
Mark Saunders joins us now. You've been covering the royals for a quarter century now, Mark. And I understand they've released a minute by minute schedule of the wedding date. Minute by minute, really?
MARK SAUNDERS, ROYAL BLOGOSPHERE: Really, yes. They're very good at giving us information when they don't mind us having it. If you're -- if you're looking forward to the wedding and you really want to start watching at the right time; 10 past 10:00 London time, which is about five past 10 past 5:00 your time. That's when William and Henry -- Harry will be leaving the Clarence House. They'll be arriving at Westminster Abbey at 10:15. 10:20 is the arrival of the foreign royals and that's when it all really gets exciting.
I've got the schedule in front of me here. Carol Middleton, Katherine's mother will be arriving at 10:27. Katherine is actually staying at the Goring Hotel which is just around the back of Buckingham Palace, known locally as the boring Goring, actually a very wide open space in front of the Goring, so we should get to see the wedding dress at that point.
Katherine herself will be arriving around about 11:00 at Buckingham Palace and she obviously will be a little bit late, I would have thought and the Queen arriving just before that.
COSTELLO: So, I guess -- any word on her dress? I think that's what most people are wondering about is Kate Middleton's dress.
SAUNDERS: Well, the reports now are that she is actually having three dresses designed just in case one of the designs slipped out to the press. I don't know whether that's possible whether you can actually have three wedding dresses, but still the big money is on Sarah Burton from Alexander McQueen to designing that dress.
But as I say, we might get a glimpse of it when she leaves the hotel.
COSTELLO: Oh maybe so. We'll be watching.
Mark Saunders many thanks.
The countdown to the most anticipated wedding of the decade has begun and CNN has it covered like no one else. On Sunday, April 24th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, CNN takes you behind the scenes with CNN's Presents, "THE WOMEN WHO WOULD BE QUEEN".
And on Friday, April 29th at 4:00 a.m. Eastern, celebrate William and Kate with family, friends and the entire planet. We'll be covering the wedding; oh we'll be up, of course, London.
Finding her voice; 35 years after a car crash crushed her windpipe, hear what a woman has to say about her new found sound. That's next.
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COSTELLO: Checking stories making news cross country.
Delaware's governor is expected to sign a recently approved bill that legalizes civil unions. Delaware would become the eighth state to offer comprehensive domestic partnerships for same sex couples.
In California, lawmakers driving state -- state-paid vehicles are nearing the end of the road. The state's Citizen Compensation Commission voted to discontinue them saying it is an unnecessary expense. Lawmakers will get $300 a month travel stipend instead.
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JEN CHRISTIAN, REGAINED VOICE AFTER 35 YEARS: I feel like I'm finding myself again. You know I feel like part of me is coming, the inside's coming out and it's just -- I'm full of joy.
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COSTELLO: Talk about finding your voice. Kentucky's Jen Christian is doing just that after a car wreck 35 years ago left her with a crushed voice box, but doctors at nearby Cincinnati has surgically repaired her vocal cords allowing her to speak above the barely audible whisper of years past. One of the many things she's saying these days "Thanks".
We're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with Stephanie Elam.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Carol, if I say to you, needle and vinyl and you think music, not clothing, then I've got a story for you. We're going to talk about record sales. I mean the old big old school Beatle discs; we're going to talk about those coming up in the next hour.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Casey Wian in Los Angeles where gas prices are among the highest in the nation. Coming up, we'll tell you how you can find the least expensive gas even here.
MONITA RAJPAL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Monita Rajpal in London. Three words from three leaders, I'll tell you what message Barack Obama, David Cameron and Nicholas Sarkozy are sending to Libya's Moammar Gadhafi.
COSTELLO: Thanks to all of you.
Also ahead, a warrior returns home from battle but the demons of war follows. He finds his only escape in suicide.
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SUSAN SELKE, CLAY HUNT'S MOTHER: In my mind he's a casualty of war, and he died over here instead of over there. (END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: A family fights for his legacy and the comrades he left behind. Barbara Starr has this moving story in the next hour.
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COSTELLO: Topping sports this morning, Johnny Damon makes Major League Baseball history and he does it dramatically. Bottom of the 10th inning, Tampa Bay trailing Minnesota by one with a runner on base, Damon goes deep as you can see to right field for the game winner. Damon has had a walk-off homer for five different teams. And that is something that has never been done before. So he made history with that home run.
Hard to find better starting pitching than in Philadelphia, it's just not fair. Cliff Lee had 12 strikeouts against Washington last night, seven in a row in one stretch. His complete game follows one on Wednesday by teammate Roy Halladay.
NHL playoffs, Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks, the first game of their series goes into overtime. The Kings gave up the puck and the Sharks rush up the ice. Ryan Claw (ph) clears the way for Kyle Wellwood who sees the trailing Joe Kazelski (ph) for the winner for San Jose.
Oh, I hope I did that justice.
Staying in the Bay Area, San Francisco Giants face Tim Lincecum is helping a fan in dire need. Lincecum is donating $25,000 to the Brian Stow Fund. Stow as you know is the Giants' fan beaten at Dodger Stadium in the parking lot. He remains in the hospital.
And we have one more from the ballparks for you. New York Mets ball boy makes a leaping catch -- look at -- not only does he make a great grab, he keeps the ball from hitting some fans. Sign him up right now. Although I think some of the fans wanted that ball for themselves.
And there is renewed hope for an NFL season. A half hour from now players and owners sit down for a second straight day of court-ordered mediation.
