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Airport Security Screening Procedures?; President Obama Responds to Birthers; Human Rights Groups Accuse Bahraini Authorities Of Torturing Prisoners; Two Long Running Soap Operas Go Off The Air; House Votes For Ryan Budget Plan; Woman Sues Match.Com For Not Screening A Convicted Sex Offender On Their Site; Woman Sues Online Dating Site; "Boobies" Bracelets Ruling; Focus on the Positive; "Birther Bill" Fine Print; Obama Signs 2011 Budget Deal; Arizona "Birther" Bill Passes; Tornado Strike in Alabama

Aired April 15, 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 4:00 Eastern, watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Your every move is being watched at the airport. Wait until you hear what security agents are looking for to determine whether you're a terrorist. This is a CNN exclusive.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

(voice-over): They kill, they kidnap, they spread fear. But should drug gangs being considered terrorists?

Plus, Arizona passes the so-called birther bill. Could it change the way candidates run?

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I was born in Hawaii.

BALDWIN: President Obama responds to the firestorm over his birthday.

Two legendary soap operas are stopping the drama forever. What that means for the future of television.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Here we go, hour two. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

BALDWIN: This kidnapping of a young nursing student in this small town, Decatur County. Twenty-year-old Holly Bobo was snatched from her carport. She was dragged into the woods. This was Wednesday morning just this past week by a man in camouflage.

Now, the mayor of Decatur County, Tennessee, tells me these searchers and investigators, they are making some headway. Here's what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL SMITH, MAYOR OF DECATUR, TENNESSEE: We have located some new articles that we believe are of interest. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has asked that we return all of our teams to the area near the found lunch box. And they are doing a grid search of about four square miles.

And they have turned up several new items. We haven't removed any of them. We have flagged them. TBI has got their forensics team on the ground at this point in time and they are looking at those new items.

BALDWIN: I don't want to by any means compromise this investigation, but is there any way you can be more specific? What kind of items are we talking? We talking clothing?

SMITH: At this time, Brooke, I really cannot. While the forensics team is out there, it is not, at this point something I can divulge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Mayor Smith also told me the search is continuing this afternoon, despite the severe weather that Chad was just talking about moving through Tennessee. Volunteers are taking breaks for the storms. Then they are heading right back into the search area.

And now if it's interesting and it's happening right now, you're about to see it right now, rapid fire.

I want to begin with this. One day after Congress approved a last-minute deal averting a government shutdown, the House has now passed this Republican-backed budget plan for next year. So the GOP- sponsored proposal drafted by Congressman Paul Ryan calls for $4 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years, but critics say it would essentially eliminate Medicare and Medicaid.

Meantime, you have President Obama bitterly opposing that plan, which virtually has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Sand coats the air in Kuwait. Look at this iReport with me here. The country going through what they call a changing season. That's when hail, and heavy rain and dust, they all mix together. Very bad weather there, obviously.

But just to show you how big this thing is, here's a NASA image taken just this week and you see the tan color mixed in there. This is all throughout. It's all sand, completely blanketing the middle eastern part of the country.

And imagine now this. Imagine driving by this whirlpool in the middle of a highway. There is a highway there. This is a big chunk of a highway in Canada. It was covered in water for a lot of this week because of a lot of rain. At least six municipalities there have declared flood emergencies.

And now to Bahrain, where there are reports that protesters are being snatched up, they're being tortured and killed in prison. One woman says her husband and her father are locked up and she is refusing to eat until her parents are freed. We're going to hear from her minutes away.

Plus, it's considered a war, thousands upon thousands of people murdered just south of our border, as drug gangs in Mexico get increasingly violent. Should they be labeled terrorists? Think about it. One congressman just started this fiery debate. We will hear from him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: The number of dead from Mexico's drug wars is staggering, more than 30,000 in just four years alone. And now you have this Texas congressman is now proposing this bill that would classify Mexican drug cartels as terrorists.

CNN's Rafael Romo reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice- over): Should Mexican drug cartels be considered terrorist organizations? Representative Michael McCall, a Texas Republican, says they should, and not only that, McCall has introduced the bill that would add Mexico's six dominant cartels to the state department's foreign terrorist organizations list. This would allow law enforcement agencies to have increased powers to limit cartel's financial property and travel interests and impose harsher punishment on anyone who provides material support to cartels.

Responding to the bill in a letter to the "Dallas Morning News," Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan fired back saying, if you label these organizations as terrorist, you will have to start calling drug consumers in the U.S. financiers of terrorist organizations and gun dealers providers of material support to terrorists. Otherwise, the ambassador wrote, you really sound as if you want to have your cake and eat it, too.

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing last month, FBI Director Robert Mueller expressed concern about the danger posed by the cartels.

ROBERT MUELLER, FBI DIRECTOR: The extreme violence across our southwest border continues to impact the United States as we saw the murders last March of American consulate workers in Juarez, Mexico and the shooting last month of two U.S. immigration and customs enforcement agents in Mexico.

ROMO: Consular employee, Leslie Enriquez (ph) and her husband, Arthur Reynolds, were shot and killed in Juarez, Mexico, by gangs affiliated with a drug cartel, according to Mexican authorities. ICE agent Jaime Zapata was killed and another agent injured in February when they were ambushed on a highway in central Mexico.

JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Now, we remain very concerned about drug cartel violence in Mexico and we must vigorously guard against potential spillover effects into the United States.

ROMO: Mexican officials have repeatedly said that...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: So, Rafael Romo right here, is the bill now from this Texas congressman to list these cartels as terrorists, is it being taken seriously?

ROMO: It is being taken very seriously. And actually it has support from both sides of the aisle. You are talking about Democrats like Silvestre Reyes in Texas, in El Paso, across the border from Ciudad. It's one of the most violent cities in Mexico. And also Republicans like Pete King of New York are also strongly behind this bill.

BALDWIN: But then you look at the numbers, what, 30,000, right, 30,000 deaths in the last four years drug cartel-related violence. So then you have the pushback, right, from the Mexican ambassador, saying, hang on a second. This is taking it too far.

What he said about the fact that, well, look, if the people who are buying the drugs, then those are the people who should be called the financiers of the terrorist organizations.

ROMO: Exactly.

And I think point that he was trying to make is that he's not defending the cartels, but rather Mexico does not want to be in the company of other countries that harbor terrorist organizations. I'm talking about countries in the Middle East.

And so what they prefer is that these organizations be called transnational criminal organizations. In that situation, then Mexico is not one of those countries, which, as you can imagine, would have a lot of repercussions not only for tourism in Mexico, which as you know is a very big tourist country.

BALDWIN: And has taken a hit recently.

ROMO: Exactly.

And then when it comes to investment, Mexico needs right now all the investment it can get. So you don't want to be on that list of countries that have terrorist organizations.

BALDWIN: So it's the word terrorist?

ROMO: Exactly.

BALDWIN: Rafael Romo, good piece. Thank you for coming on. ROMO: Thank you.

BALDWIN: And now listen to this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMBER LYON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: My eyes are burning. It feels like I shot a lemon in my eyes. And you can feel it in your throat right now. It's hard to breathe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Remember, this was Amber Lyon? She was over in this village in Bahrain. She got tear-gassed when she went over there to shoot a documentary.

Well, some people there, they can't run away, like Amber was able to. There were accusations that protests are being rounded up and tortured and killed in some of these Bahraini prisons. And now one woman is refusing to eat and she's asking President Obama to step in to do something now. Amber Lyon has that story. She will join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Dramatic new video out of Syria. This is posted on YouTube today. It shows how violent the government crackdown has gotten there. This video appears to show Syrian security forces and you can see them beating, kicking some of these demonstrators there. And the detained protesters, they are on the ground, some of them have their hands tied behind their backs.

The video lends credibility to a new report that is just out today from the Human Rights Watch. The group says protesters have been tortured with electrical devices, cables, and whips.

Now to this, a similar story in Bahrain. The government has launched a merciless crackdown there in the last three weeks and is accused of beating demonstrators in the streets, hauling in human rights activists in for questioning. Human Rights Watch says Bahraini police forces have detained as many as 430 people just in recent weeks four of those activists who died in custody, many of their bodies showing signs of torture.

I want to show you the story of one woman whose husband and father have been detained and she's gone on a hunger strike. CNN's Amber Lyon with more on this. I know you were just recently in Bahrain. Before we talk about this 27-year-old woman, help everyone understand why Bahrain is so significant when you look at the relationship between the U.S. and Bahrain and a lot of that has to do with the Navy.

LYON: Yes, the Navy has a vital base there which provides support to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and it's considered to be a friend of the U.S., an ally. And like it or not people consider the actions of that government to be kind of U.S. approved. So if they are accused of torturing people, people think that the U.S. government is allowing that to happen.

BALDWIN: Now, you have this 27-year-old woman who -- tell me about her and she's essentially stopped eating. She's willing to starve because she wants her family to be safe.

LYON: Starve to death. Her name is -- she's 27-year-old Zana Alkowasha (ph), and she is the mother of a one-year-old daughter and she says that over the weekend security forces stormed into her home and arrested violently arrested, she says, her father, a prominent human rights activists.

In addition to that, they took her brother-in-law and husband, and she believes they were targeted for their human rights work. We tried to speak with Bahraini authorities, but they haven't commented object the issue yet. She definitely wrote a letter to President Obama asking for some type of help.

BALDWIN: Has anyone responded? Has the state department responded to this letter?

LYON: Yes, the State Department has responded. They said that they are aware of the case and they are calling on the Bahraini authorities to give him a fair trial and also to know why she has been arrested in the first place. There has been no arrest warrant served.

In addition to that, the state department has become more bold in speaking out about these claims of torture going on in Bahrain. As you said earlier, four bodies suspected of possibly being tortured have shown up in the past two weeks.

BALDWIN: What about the protests? I know you were there and saw Pearl Square, the big massive monument that was sort of obliterated. Have the protested quelled at all or is the momentum still there?

LYON: You are not seeing the massive protests that you're seeing in Syria and other countries because there is an intense military presence in Bahrain and the military has essentially taken over the square and turned it into a base.

But there is, as one source told me, a protest kind of seating underneath in Bahrain among the villagers who feel right now like they are being oppressed and that they are scared to leave their homes and terrified that the masked armed men are going to come in late at night and take them away without them being seen again, which is happening right now, as in the case of Zana and her family.

BALDWIN: You were in one of the villages and that's when we saw you get tear gassed. Many of your crew were able to leave but many are not. Amber Lyon, I appreciate you telling her story.

LYON: She's on day four now and she says that she's not going to take -- she won't even add sugar to her water. People on twitter were begging her to add sugar to her water. She says she will die unless she sees her husband and father safely released.

BALDWIN: Thanks, Amber. LYON: Thank, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Now to Washington, big, big vote today on Congressman Paul Ryan's budget plan. Senior political analyst Gloria Borger joins me now with the latest news hot off the CNN Political Ticker. And Gloria, no Democrats voted for the Ryan plan today. Is that right?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: None, absolutely. Remember the party of no? The Democrats used to call it the party of no. Now they are unified in voting against the Republican plan and no surprise there. It contains real changes in the Medicare program. There was nothing in it for the Democrats because they are going to use Republican votes for the Ryan plan against Republicans in the midterm elections the way Medicare cutbacks were used against them. Does this sound like high school, kindergarten, the way it was used against them in the midterm election. So no votes, none.

BALDWIN: We all just really live seventh grade forever and ever.

BORGER: We do.

BALDWIN: Yesterday we watched the vote, the House passed the deal that avoided the government shutdown through at least September and it was very interesting, no vote. Nancy Pelosi voted against the deal. President Obama and Harry Reid worked it out with John Boehner. What do you make of that?

BORGER: Well, that's very interesting. Nancy Pelosi has one strategic in mind and that's to win back control of the House of Representatives. The president did not need her vote to avert a government shutdown. In fact, they wanted Republicans to really provide the bulk of these votes for the resolution.

So I spoke with somebody in Pelosi's office. As long as the government was not in any danger of shutting down, she figured, you know what? There are lots of cuts in here that I don't support. Lots of things in here that I don't want to vote for. So she didn't even sort of get a really hard count on this because she knew it was going to pass without her vote and without a lot of Democratic votes. The Democrats split in half on voting for the continuing resolution.

So it's a very different position when you're not responsible for running the government. She's no longer a leader of a majority party in the House.

BALDWIN: And speaking of Democrats, the president is back home in Chicago doing a little fundraising there. And one particular private event they actually left open accidently the mike that a reporter could hear. What was said, Gloria?

BORGER: Love those open mikes.

BALDWIN: Love those moments.

BORGER: Well, he sort of was recounting, and don't forget, he's talking to tried and true Democrats recounting his bargaining with John Boehner, the speaker of the House in which he said, don't think I'm stupid. You're going to back door a repeal of health care reform. We're going to give you a vote, an up or down vote on it, but you're not going to do it on this measure.

And, you know, obviously nobody likes when there's an open mike, but I would argue this didn't hurt the president at all with his Democratic base because it was tough sounding talk. He was talking to a democratic constituency. So if you're the Democratic base, you're going to like to hear what the president said on that open mike. So no damage done, as far as they are concerned.

BALDWIN: Gloria Borger, thank you very much.

BORGER: Sure.

BALDWIN: And now fans, TV watchers are angry after two legendary soap operas got the ax. But did you know how big this business is? On top of that, this speaks volumes about what the future of television holds. Stay right there. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Two soaps get the ax. Fans, if you watch them, they are in mourning. This is a huge deal. A lot of people are talking about it. It's trending today. To make matters worse for daytime drama fans, "All my Children" and "One Life to Live" will be replaced with chat and lifestyle shows.

Let's bring in Lynn Leahey, editor and chief at "Soap Opera Digest." Lynn, I know a lot of people are saying, say it ain't so. "All my Children" and "One Life to Live," they are icons. It's the cancellation a sign of things to come for the remaining daytime dramas?

LYNN LEAHEY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "SOAP OPERA DIGEST": Well, I think everyone is pretty anxious. I think there's a recognition that things are going to have to change, that soap operas have been on in the afternoon, waiting for an audience sitting on the couch, but that audience is not sitting on the couch anymore.

BALDWIN: Those who watch soaps, they are hardcore soap watchers and so many people are devastated. Was this expected or is this just a total shock?

LEAHEY: You know, I think that there have been rumors going around for a little while and both shows cut at the same time that was the most stunning part of it all. And these shows, their fan base is not measured for years, but for decades people watch these shows.

BALDWIN: And they are being replaced with chat shows. Maybe it's because they are cheaper and maybe because they are more popular. What do you think?

LEAHEY: They are cheaper.

BALDWIN: Yes, bottom line. LEAHEY: Production costs -- yes, absolutely.

BALDWIN: Kelly Ripa started her career on "All my Children." let's look at the tweet. She said this is a very sad day for her. Go around. We'll do the long one. "The cancellations of "All my Children" and "One Life to Live, very sad day for me / love those shows." Who are other stars that got their starts on some of these soaps?

LEAHEY: Nathan also tweeted, he's on "One Life to Live," Demi Moore, Marissa Tomei, all kinds of actresses got their start on soaps. "All my Children" once turned Julia Roberts down.

BALDWIN: Soap opera digest, are you worried at all for yourself here? What are you going to write about?

LEAHEY: Maybe reality shows.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: I know. They seem to be more and more of those popping up. Lynn, thank you for coming on.

Still to come, your every move is being watched at the airport. Wait until you see what TSA agents are looking for. This is a CNN exclusive next.

Plus, here's a scary number for you. Nearly half of all of the meat in the United States is contaminated. This is according to a new study. Find out what to look for in the grocery store.

And a new TV network is launching and targeting a certain kind of man. "Reporter Roulette" is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Your behavior at the airport is being very closely watched. Also, a big portion of the country's meat is contaminated. And get ready to find out exactly where your tax dollars are going. It's time to play "Reporter Roulette."

I want to begin with Jeanne Meserve in Washington. Jeanne.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Brooke, according to information obtained by CNN, one of the indicators of suspicious behavior used by TSA behavior detection officers is, quote, "displays contempt for the screening process." Civil Liberties groups say it is un-American that complaining about government security could result in more government security. And some terror experts question whether it's even valid. They say a person bent on a violent act is more likely to blend in and avoid scrutiny than draw attention to themselves.

The TSA is not confirming what is on the list and says no one thing will in and of itself draw extra scrutiny. They say someone will have to show stress, fear, and deception. Brooke? BALDWIN: Jeanne, thank you. Next on "Reporter Roulette" a shocking report that nearly half of all of the meat that we buy is contaminated. Elizabeth Cohen, what is behind this?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Researchers went to 26 grocery stores in five different cities and bought samples of chicken, beef, pork, and turkey and they are looking for staph bacteria. If it gets on the hands and into a cut, it could be a problem.

Here's what they found. They found that nearly half of the samples have staph bacteria and half of those samples have bacteria that was resistant to at least three different types of antibiotics. That means if someone got an infection, that wouldn't work.

It's theoretical that a staph could give you a skin infection. The researchers say that they think there needs to be more work on this to see if people are getting skin infections from the staph that is present in meat.

BALDWIN: Elizabeth, thank you. Have you filed your taxes or you are now rushing to get them done to beat the ted deadline? Do you want to know where your money goes? Alison, show me how it is done.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The money that you pay does not go into a black hole. You have to go to White House.gov/taxreceipt, and choose an income level and it's most likely going to go to Social Security and Medicare.

And then what you pay for income tax, that's broken down more into other areas, including national defense, health care, unemployment, and food stamps. So it all kind of populates and shows you all of the amounts and you see that your money is earmarked to go somewhere. May not make you happy but it is apparently going somewhere. Brooke?

BALDWIN: And now to this, food junkies. They have their own food networks. I was watching a show called coal miners on spike television, don't me ask me but it was interesting. Alison, apparently rich men need a place to tune in as well.

KOSIK: Well, discovery is launching this network, Brooke, that you're talking about. It's aimed at rich guys. Their target audience is men who earn over $150,000 a year. And get this, the name of it is testosterone-filled, it's called "Velocity." It's the first of its kind network. Of course, we all want to know what kind of shows do they watch?

Cars is the big focus, shows about multi-million dollar options, high stakes gaming, adventure sports, sailing races, those adrenaline shows, the guy shows that they can sit down and have a beer and watch these shows. No plans yet for rich women, of course, but they have Oprah Winfrey network and TLC.

BALDWIN: We have our own little -- we have a lot out there. But "Velocity," OK. KOSIK: Velocity. Do you feel it?

BALDWIN: I don't know. We'll have to see. We'll leave it alone. That is your "Reporter Roulette" for this Friday.

There's a website where singles look for a little love and relationships. But one woman has a huge warning for anyone using sites like match.com, and it involves alleged sexual predator. You're going to hear her experience. That is ahead.

Plus, they are being called - am I going to have to say this, "boobie bracelets," and a federal judge has just decided whether kids can wear them a school. Sunny Hostin is on that case next. And I see Chad Myers moving around. We hear that a tornado has just touched down. We'll get that for you momentarily. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now, on the case, have you ever wondered about the people on those online dating sites? Maybe you've been to match.com, e-harmony. Who are they really, though? Is that a question you ask? What kind of screening do they go through? How can you be sure you're not dating a predator? Some of that is being exposed in the lawsuit against match.com. Sunny Hostin is on the case. Sunny, fill me in on the lawsuit. What does this woman want?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, you know, interestingly enough, she doesn't want money, Brooke. She wants online websites, especially match.com, of course, to screen for sexual predators prior to anyone joining the Web site.

This incident allegedly arose when she met someone on match.com. She says they had one date, and then they had another at her home during which he forcibly raped her. After the rape, she got online, looked at a few public websites, and learned that he had not one, not two, but six convictions for sexual battery in California. That is what this lawsuit is about.

I will tell you, Brooke, I get e-mails all the time from viewers asking about internet dating, asking how they can protect themselves. So this is a significant issue. She's also not only suing for herself but everyone similarly situated. This is a class-action lawsuit.

BALDWIN: So what is Match.com saying about it?

HOSTIN: I did reach out to match.com. I have not heard back from them, yet. But they did give a statement to the "Wall Street Journal," and they said "We are very disturbed to hear about incident. While incidents like this one between independents who meet on Match.com are extremely rare, it doesn't make them any less horrifying."

They go on to say, "We ask all of our members to pay close attention to the safety tips for meeting off line that are on our web site so we can do everything possible to prevent this type of thing from happening again."

Let me say this, Brooke. They aren't doing enough. I think if they want to be a good corporate citizen, it doesn't cost that much to do these sorts of background checks. Let's face it. They can pass it on to the consumers.

We want women, men to be safe from sexual predators. Match.com, if you're watching, do the right thing.

BALDWIN: Listen to you, Sunny Hostin. It's a valid concern. A lot of gals and guys, you know, hop on these web sites and I want to make sure that they are safe. So point taken.

HOSTIN: That's right.

BALDWIN: Case number two, whoever thought we would be talking about this, but this federal court has ruled that a school district cannot ban middle school students from wearing these bracelets. They say, "I heart Boobies." But keep in mind, they are made to raise breast cancer awareness.

So it's a great cause, where is the objection to the bracelets, Sunny?

HOSTIN: Well, know, these were past-sided schools at middle schools and the school administration said they were lewd. They said they were vulgar and said they were offensive and so that is really were the concern came.

They said that some of the boys were wearing the bracelets and they didn't really understand what the bracelets were about because, of course, it does say I love "Boobies" and people, you know, think that sometimes can be lewd and a little bit vulgar.

BALDWIN: Yes, I mean, look, we know how kids can be and maybe some of the boys are wearing the bracelets not for the right reasons, but at the same time, you know, they are there. Perhaps the slogan is reaching kids, you know, talking to their parents about cancer. I don't know.

HOSTIN: Well, absolutely. That's really what the court said in a 40-page decision, I might add. The federal judge said these bracelets are designed to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce the stigma associated with openly discussing breast health and we do have to start openly discussing this with our kids. I mean, let's all say, I love "Boobies," what is wrong with that?

BALDWIN: There we go. I love "Boobies." Thank you, Sunny Hostin. Breast cancer awareness unite. Thank you so much.

Arizona jumping into the debate over President Obama's birthplace. Coming up, how the state's so-called birther bill could change the way we vote and how candidates run for office.

Plus, I've a little bit of surprise for my colleague, Wolf Blitzer who I get to talk to every day here on TV. He's been asking me -- I'm going to go there. He's been nagging me to show this one particular piece of video. I've got it. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: OK. This is about that time when I talk to Wolf Blitzer about what he has coming up on "THE SITUATION ROOM." And Wolf, there he is.

So, Wolf, you know, look, I know you're a pretty important guy. You interview people like the Emir of the Qatar and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a single day.

But a little known fact about Wolf Blitzer is that you are this fan of "Dancing with the Stars." You've been nagging me about something for two weeks now, Wolf. So let's take a look back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Wolf Blitzer, are you a regular DWTS viewer?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": You got to get the tape. You got to get the tape because they did a fabulous dance to Cee Lo Green. You know, Cee Lo Green?

BALDWIN: I do know Cee Lo Green. Wolf Blitzer, a big fan of "Dancing with the Stars." I had no idea --

BLITZER: Did you get the video, Brooke, of two weeks ago when she did a great job dancing, the Cee Lo Green song?

BALDWIN: And down she went? Is that what you're talking about?

BLITZER: No, no. The week before, she did a fabulous job. Cee Lo Green, can you get that video? Play the video, instead of focusing on the negative, do the positive, she did a fabulous job on "Dancing with the Stars." Cee Lo green, get the video, show the viewers that Kirstie Alley is a great dancer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So now, Wolf, here is my gift to you.

BLITZER: Thank you. Thank you.

BALDWIN: There you go. Are you happy now?

BLITZER: I am rocking with her. Look at her. Can you dance like that?

BALDWIN: You know, we've been jib jab. We've got some moves.

BLITZER: You can do that, right?

BALDWIN: Of course.

BLITZER: She's fabulous. No falling down.

BALDWIN: No shoe issues. No wardrobe malfunctions.

BLITZER: Look at her. Let's let it breathe a little bit more. Go ahead.

BALDWIN: Keep it rolling, guys.

BLITZER: Yes, keep it rolling. Keep it rolling.

BALDWIN: We're out of tape. I'm told we're out of tape.

BLITZER: What do you mean? I thought we were going to play the whole thing.

BALDWIN: Sorry, Wolf. There's only so much time. I don't want to get into your show. I still have a little bit of my show to do, if you don't mind.

BLITZER: This is better than anything that you have.

BALDWIN: Really? I think you have something coming up on "THE SITUATION ROOM."

BLITZER: We do. We have really serious important news coming up. But Kirstie Alley did a great job of Cee Lo Green. Did I tell you that I met Cee Lo Green at the BET --

BALDWIN: No. Now this explains it all.

BLITZER: There's a history there. The Egyptian blogger who made history on the streets of Cairo, he is joining me in "THE SITUATION ROOM." He is the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. No Cee Lo Green in "THE SITUATION ROOM" today. No Kirstie Alley, but maybe one of these days, we will get them as well.

BALDWIN: Yes, we should work on that. Maybe we could do a little two for interview there. Maybe they're watching who knows, one day. Wolf Blitzer, there you go. Thank you very much.

And now to Arizona close to making the so-called birther bill official. Have you heard about this? It would force presidential candidates to prove they were born in the United States.

But have you heard that the candidates would actually need to show if they don't have an actual birth certificate. Joe Johns has been digging on this one. Joe is up next with the "Political Pop." Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Got some news here from CNN. We now know that the federal government will remain funded through at least the fiscal year of 2011, which means through the end of September. President Obama has officially signed that. We know the House and we know the Senate passed it yesterday and now it's gotten the president's OK.

And now to this here, Donald Trump breathing new life into the so-called birther movement and getting some help from folks in the Arizona legislature. Joe Johns here with the "Political Pop" and, Joe, what a story this is?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, you know, people are saying that the Arizona legislature's already done it again. Essentially managed to snatch an idea from what some would call the waste bin of history and give it a brand new gloss. They've just passed a bill requiring presidential candidates to provide long form birth certificates or two other pieces of documentation proving where they are born and there you can see the graphic right there.

It tells you what it requires. If you don't have the long form birth certificate, then you need an early baptismal or circumcision record and birth record, post partum, birth record given to the mother or an early census record.

So it's supposed to be in the name of transparency, but it sounds very much like it's about President Barack Obama.

BALDWIN: So those are the other forms of documentation that I guess they say would pass if you don't have the long form birth certificate. But, I mean, can they do this?

JOHNS: Well, you know, you talk to legal observers and they say, only the electoral college or the United States Congress can make rules having to do with the requirements for people running for president, but probably best to leave that to the legal experts.

BALDWIN: What about the Donald, though? Did he have a hand at all here in what happened in Arizona?

JOHNS: Well, you know, this guy has been going around the country saying that the president should produce his birth certificate or whatever.

And he actually did talk to one of the key supporters and sponsors of the bill, but he's also been going around the country saying, Barack Obama is like the worst president ever.

By the way, Obama is not the only president that he has said that about. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP: I think Bush is probably the worst president in the history of the United States. I always said the worst president was Jimmy Carter. Guess what? Jimmy carter goes to second place. Barack Obama has been the worst president ever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: And the president has pretty much been having fun with this. Let's just listen to what he said about it over the past couple of days or weeks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Most people feel pretty confident. The president was born where he says he was, in Hawaii. He doesn't have horns. I was born in Hawaii.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: It's starting to look like a laugh line now all of a sudden.

BALDWIN: Yes, I mean, at least he has a sense of humor about it.

JOHNS: Yes, what else can you do, right?

BALDWIN: What else can you do? Joe Johns, thank you very much. Have a good weekend to you.

JOHNS: You too.

BALDWIN: Before we go, let's go over to Chad Myers here because, Chad, let's take a quick look at some of the news with regard to Tuscaloosa. What are you hearing?

CHAD MYERS, METEOROLOGIST: We know that there was damage on the south side, now this cell is going to eventually get to Birmingham if it keeps rotating. I need you to be very cautious today.

Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, all the way down to Louisiana if you at all hear a storm coming, just pretend that there's a warning on it. Take precautions. A lot of these storms are producing damaging tornadoes today.

BALDWIN: OK, Chad Myers, my thanks to you. That does it for me. Brooke Baldwin here in Atlanta. Thank you for watching. Stay right there. My colleague, Wolf Blitzer, up next with "THE SITUATION ROOM" -- Wolf.