Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Tornado Flattens Missouri Homes; Crackdown in Syria; Peaking Gas Prices; Learning How to Make Weapons in the Middle of a War; Negotiating Your College Financial Aid Package
Aired April 25, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. I want to get you up to speed for this Monday, April 25th.
Syrian troops and tanks roll into the town of Daraa as the crackdown on anti-government demonstrations intensifies. Witnesses say that soldiers are breaking into homes. Bodies lay in the streets, and snipers are shooting at anything that moves. Syria says it's cracking down on "armed criminal groups."
Explosions rock the Libyan capital of Tripoli today. NATO unleashed some of the heaviest airstrikes in recent weeks. State-run TV reports the strikes flattened a building in Moammar Gadhafi's compound.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says NATO forces should directly target the Gadhafi government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: My recommendation to NATO and the administration is to cut the head of the snake off. Go to Tripoli, start bombing Gadhafi's inner circle, their compounds, their military headquarters in Tripoli.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Protesters took to the streets in Yemen again today. Dozens were reportedly injured when security forces tried to break up the rallies. Protests spread across 14 provinces over the weekend. Yemen's president has accepted a deal to step down, but he has yet to sign that agreement.
A search is under way for more than 400 prisoners who escaped from an Afghan jail today. Now, the Taliban is claiming responsibility for the prison break. A spokesman says Taliban fighters spend months digging a tunnel that stretched more than 1,000 feet. It is the second mass escape from that prison in Kandahar.
Classified military documents are shedding new light on al Qaeda's terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay. WikiLeaks got its hands on almost 800 documents. Now, according to "The New York Times," they show how detainees are rated based on the threat they pose or might pose if they were released. Well, the paper says most of the 172 prisoners still held are rated as high risk. Things are almost back to normal at the St. Louis airport after it was hit by a powerful tornado. The airport will be operating at 90 percent capacity today. Now, this storm, Friday, shattered windows, it knocked out power, sent passengers scrambling for safety.
Our CNN's Dan Simon, he surveyed the damage to the nearby homes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everywhere you look down the block, home after home leveled, and it's on both sides of the street. You see it on this side of the street, and look across.
And here's what's also amazing. When you consider that you have all these homes destroyed right in front of us, you have this home that's basically untouched, it has a little bit of siding that came off. But the people who live here, they're going to go back in there tonight and sleep there. They don't have any power, but that's just really amazing when you consider that you have this home destroyed, the one right next to it seems perfectly fine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Unbelievable.
The man suspected of placing a pipe bomb at a Colorado mall was released from a federal prison a week before the incident. Now, a law enforcement source says Earl Albert Moore served time for bank robbery. Authorities are searching for Moore in the botched bomb attempt at the mall. It happened on the 12th anniversary of the shootings at nearby Columbine High School.
The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected a request for a fast-track ruling on health care reform. Now, the high court denied the state of Virginia's petition for an early review of whether or not the law is constitutional. Several federal appeals courts are considering challenges to the health care law, and the Supreme Court could get the case this fall and rule in 2012, the presidential election year.
Want to get more details now on the situation in Syria. It is now spiraling out of control. The government there is slamming shut its border, cracking down hard on protesters.
Our own Arwa Damon is in neighboring Beirut, Lebanon, with the very latest.
And Arwa, we have watched for weeks as the Syrian government has gone back and forth between making promises to its people and then opening fire on protesters. What is taking place today? What is going on?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, what we're seeing unfold today that began in the early hours of the morning is arguably the most drastic measure that was taken by the Syrian government since these uprisings began some five to six weeks ago. According to a number of eyewitnesses that CNN spoke to, Syrian troops, as well as security forces, entered into the southern area of Daraa. It is there that these demonstrations initially had begun.
Eyewitnesses describe seeing columns of security forces, personnel entering from all parts of the area. They said that they began shooting indiscriminately, were breaking into homes.
Remember, at this hour, people were, by and large, still sleeping or making their way to the mosques for that first prayer of the day. They said that ambulances were being barred from reaching the dead and the wounded. They said that electricity and water had been shut off, phone lines cut, as well.
Those who we have been able to reach have, in fact, been risking their own lives by trying to go outside and speaking to us on satellite phones. One eyewitness in tears as he was describing what was happening around him to CNN, begging for help.
According to one activist who is with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least seven people have been killed in that one area alone. The death toll, of course, appeared to be significantly higher.
Also, in the Syrian suburb of Duma, one activist said that 15 of his friends there had been detained. He described the area as being awash with security forces, some of them wearing plain clothes, stationed on just about every single street, every single alleyway, describing life there right now as being as if he was existing inside a massive prison cell -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And Arwa, in the middle of all this violence, the government now is closing the border between Syria and Jordan today. Are people trying to flee? Are they trying to get away? What is taking place there?
DAMON: Well, Suzanne, it most certainly does seem as if the Syrian government and its security forces are doing just about everything that they can to choke off the population in Daraa. Most certainly, if people were trying to flee, they would not be able to do so, which, if what we're hearing from eyewitnesses is even the beginnings of a description of what is happening there, most certainly creating a very horrific situation for anyone who would be trying to flee.
Activists who we speak to continuously saying that it is these types of signs that are the indication of the Syrian regime's true intent, that all of its talk about reforms, that whatever reforms have already been put into place, are simply superficial measures to try to appease these demonstrations. But this continues to be a regime that is intent on using whatever brutal force necessary to try to silence the voice of the opposition -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Arwa, thank you very much.
And we're getting a statement from the White House now from our White House producer, Bonnie Capp (ph), who says here that, "The brutal violence used by the government of Syria against his people is completely deplorable, and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms. The United States is pursuing a range of possible policy options including targeted sanctions to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behavior is unacceptable."
This coming from the White House as they keep a very close eye on what is taking place in the Middle East, and specifically what is taking place in Syria.
Back here in the United States, it is Jesus and politics. That is the combination inspiring our own Carol Costello to ask the very provocative question.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes. It is a provocative question. And I'll be interested to see what people have to say about this, because coming off the holiest day in Christianity, politics is again rearing its ugly head.
Take President Obama, who was framing his budget battle with Republicans in moral terms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Their basic view is that no matter how successful I am, no matter how much I've taken from this country, that somehow I now have no obligation to people who are less fortunate than me
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The progressive "Sojourners" magazine, influential during the health care battle, is even bringing Jesus into the debate. They're asking, "What would Jesus cut?" Saying that increasing military spending should not come at the expense of the poor.
They're sending out letters to lawmakers. They're selling bracelets. They're asking people to follow their conscience. A panel even discussed the issue on Fox News, with guests saying, the "What would Jesus cut?" campaign is both silly and pure partisanship.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm still waiting for the passage where Jesus says I am the way, the truth and the light, and the OMB director. OK? This is an effort to portray Republicans as somehow less Christian and actually not to have a moral debate on what spending accomplishes and does not accomplish.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So, then, is politics really a moral debate? That's what some conservatives have been saying all along when it comes to things like abortion and same-sex marriage. This time, the political left is trying to steal a little religious thunder from the political right.
So, "Talk Back" today: Is what would Jesus cut appropriate or crass?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I will read your comments later this hour. MALVEAUX: It's such an interesting question. I know people on both sides who feel like it's a moral issue, the budget, whether or not people who suffer are going to continue to suffer and whether or not those who have more will give.
COSTELLO: Right. Right. But should we bring Jesus into the mix when we talk about these things? And is that really appropriate?
MALVEAUX: I can't wait to hear what people have to say.
COSTELLO: Me too. I'm excited for this one.
MALVEAUX: All right. Great. Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Here's what's ahead "On the Rundown."
Texas firefighters preparing for more dangerous weather. We're going to show you the incredible damage that it's done so far.
And large chunks of debris flying through the air inside an airport. A tornado's destructive power caught on tape.
Also, gas prices keep pushing up our patience, but there might be some slightly good news ahead.
And the royal wedding's got us wondering about the special relationship between the United States and our former ruler, England.
Also this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Once these makeshift rockets are put together, they're mounted on vehicles like this, and off they go to the front line. And look at this. This is how they're launched, these light switches, just remarkable ingenuity. But like anything that's put together by amateurs, there's never a guarantee that they'll work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Libyan rebels, arming themselves with weapons made by volunteers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We're checking stories we're watching across the country.
Arson investigators are back at the scene of a fire that killed six people in Vancouver, Washington, Easter morning. Neighbors say they heard a loud explosion just before the house went up in flames. Federal agents are also looking into the fire.
Well, gusty winds have returned to Texas. That, plus the hot, dry conditions, could spell more trouble for firefighters. They're still battling a number of wildfires, and the largest has burned more than 207,000 acres in west Texas.
In the northern part of the state it was storms, not fire, that had people running for cover yesterday. Several tornadoes touched down, but fortunately no one was hurt, no major damage reported.
That is not the case in St. Louis, where a powerful tornado hit the airport Friday night. Those huge windows you're seeing, completely blown out. Part of the roof was torn off the concourse. Sections of the airport are still now closed, but airport officials hope to handle about 90 percent of the flights today.
Our Dan Simon is in the nearby suburb of Bridgeton.
Where so many homes, Dan, are flattened. It is astounding, absolutely astounding that no one was killed.
SIMON: Boy, it really is. And Suzanne, I'm standing in what was a child's bedroom. The tornado sliced the upper floor of this house. This is what's left. And I'm going to show you what it looks like throughout this neighborhood.
This is the Bridgeton community. As you pointed out, everywhere you look, you see destruction. There are about a dozen homes on this one street, and most of them are destroyed.
We're going to talk to the guy who lives next door. This is Terry Hayes we're going to talk to in a moment. Terry has had a rough time.
Because -- how you doing, Terry?
TERRY HAYES, BRIDGETON RESIDENT: I'm doing fine, thanks.
SIMON: Terry has had a rough time. This is what was his house behind us. And Terry also works at the airport. He was there when the tornado struck.
Explain what happened. You could hear the wind, you knew there was some destruction. And then you got a phone call, right?
HAYES: Yes. It kind of went really dark. You heard this loud noise.
I was in A concourse, and the tornado actually hit C concourse. And within about 15 minutes, I get a phone call telling me that the tornado had hit my house.
So I left to come home, and I had to hike in because power lines were all down. And I came across to the top of that hill, and I looked to see my house, and all I saw was a space. And there it is. That's my house.
SIMON: Fortunately, you and your wife were not home. You have a couple of dogs.
HAYES: I have two dogs. The two dogs were the only ones at home at the time. Evidently, they went to the basement.
They both survived. My son got here before I did and he found the big yellow lab sitting up in what used to be the kitchen. The little one was still downstairs.
SIMON: So we see the demolition crews beginning to come in here, or at least trying to get the stuff out of the street.
What do you do today? You're trying to still look for belongings, looking for pictures, that kind of thing?
HAYES: We've got some mementos that we have that we still haven't been able to find, and they're fairly important to us. So, we're going to make a final look underneath as we lift up the debris. Perhaps we can find some of it.
Everything that is salvageable, we've pretty much taken out. The rest of the neighbors are getting theirs. Pattonville's school district, their teachers and some of their children, they don't have school today, so they're, throughout the neighborhood, helping pack up and move.
SIMON: And you told me you are going to rebuild in this one spot. And one thing I just want to tell the folks back at home, and this is pretty incredible, you work at the airport, which is about four or five miles away.
HAYES: Yes.
SIMON: And one of your personal photographs got swept up in the cloud and wound up at the airport, traveled four or five miles.
HAYES: It -- yes. One of the men that I work with called me yesterday morning. They found a picture of my daughter and one of her classmates from 1997. The wind had blown it, and it stuck to the window of the break room that I work in.
SIMON: Well, that is absolutely amazing.
HAYES: It sure was.
SIMON: Well, we're glad that you and your wife are OK. We know you're having a rough time here, but we appreciate you talking to us and we wish you the best of luck.
HAYES: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
SIMON: OK.
So, Suzanne, bottom line, people like Terry, just trying to figure out how they're going to basically go on with their lives. People are going to be talking to their insurance companies today, and every single person we spoke to says they plan to rebuild in the exact same spot.
Back to you. MALVEAUX: All right. Dan, thank you so much.
We certainly hope that Terry Hayes is OK. It's just an unbelievable situation that happened there with his home and the fact that he was working at the airport. We're glad he was able to at least get that photo that was important to him
(WEATHER REPORT)
MALVEAUX: Rising gas prices, well, could the worst finally be over? We're going to get a live report from the New York Stock Exchange.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Time now to reveal the choices for today's "Choose the News" segment. Tell us which story you'd like to see by texting 22360.
First, the presidential nomination game. "I'm running for president" sounds like an easy declaration, if you want to run. So, why are potential candidates avoiding officially throwing their name into the race?
Second, beating a ticket with technology. Are you one of those people who are sure you weren't speeding when you got pulled over? Well, meet one Maryland whose success at fighting his own tickets has others asking for his help.
Plus, supermarket waste, the unique way new companies are recycling tons of unused food from grocery stores that could soon be used to power your house.
Vote by texting 22360. Text 1 for "Presidential Nomination Game"; 2 for "Beating a Ticket" or 3 for "Supermarket Waste."
The winning story is going to air in the next hour.
Well, CNNMoney.com's lead story -- checking it here -- "The Last Default Showdown" here. You have former treasury secretary Robert Rubin and Clinton officials trying to figure out what it is that we learned the last go-round.
Also, a quick check of the markets here. The Dow Jones now down about 52 points or so.
We are also following potentially a break, a break from rising gas prices. So, sure, you know they're high right now, but some analysts believe that these prices might be nearing their peak.
Alison Kosik, at the New York Stock Exchange.
Tell me, Alison, could this be? Could we start actually seeing our gas prices go down?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, that is the hope, especially with drivers paying an average of $3.86 a gallon. That's the average right now.
You know, it's already the 34th day in a row that we've seen our gas prices go up. Now, here's a bit of optimism coming from Trilby Lundberg. She's the one who compiles all of this data about gas prices. She says that " -- prices may peak before the summer driving season" if they haven't already peaked.
So, the fact is, prices may have slowed, and it could take some time for it to really catch up to the broader -- to your gas station in your neighborhood -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Alison, we're just 25 cents away from the all-time high. Why do you think it's stalling right now, that we haven't reached that point?
KOSIK: You know what? Your gas prices are really directly related to oil prices. And in the past few weeks, especially you go back maybe even a month, we've seen oil prices really spike.
Well, lately, we've watched them kind of level off and maybe rise a little slower. So what you're seeing at the gas pump is really that earlier rise of oil prices catching up to those gas prices. So it's really a game of catch-up that you're watching. So, the fact is, with the slower rise of crude, Lundberg says that hitting that 2008 record of oil prices is not necessarily a sure thing.
Here's one more thing that could keep gas prices down from what we've been seeing. We could see weaker demand for gas prices because what essentially happens is consumers wind up pulling back from filling up their tanks. They say enough is enough, I'm not going to drive as much. And that winds up naturally pulling down gas prices.
We'll have to wait and see if that really happens in a bigger way. Some say we're seeing it happen a little bit right now -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: OK, Alison. Can hardly wait until those gas prices start to go down.
KOSIK: Me too.
MALVEAUX: Thanks. Appreciate the good news.
Well, the excitement around the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton is bringing attention to another high-profile relationship. Well, that is the one between the United States and England. We're going to take a closer look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's what's ahead "On the Rundown."
The list that everybody wanted to be on, we have got that list. We're going to tell you who's getting in to William and Kate's wedding and who is not.
Plus, appealing your child's financial aid package, who to turn to if they make an offer that you actually can refuse.
And building rocket launchers out of old spare parts. It's Libyan opposition forces do it yourself approach to winning the war.
With the royal wedding just days away, for many Americans the excitement is sparking new interest in all things British. But as our Kiran Chetry reports, the relationship between our two countries has always run deep.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID WOOLNER, HISTORIAN, ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE: It's that summer of '39 that you see the beginning of the birth of this special relationship that's been with us ever since.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): At the time, the spotlight on another royal couple. King George and Queen Elizabeth. The special relationship with the United States begins with letters between the King and President Franklin Roosevelt. And soon after, a visit. The first time a reigning British monarch tours the U.S.
WOOLNER: This visit then comes at a very critical moment. War is imminent. Roosevelt was looking for a way to strengthen U.S. bonds with great Britain. Especially the bonds between the American people and the British people.
CHETRY: Not long after, Winston Churchill is the first to use the phrase "special relationship" as the two countries fight together during World War II. A sentiment often repeated by other prime ministers and presidents throughout the years.
GORDON BROWN, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I come in friendship to renew for new times our special relationship.
CHETRY: Why does that relationship so special?
BROWN: It didn't start very well 225 years ago when you kicked the British out, but I think this shared purpose, the same values of liberty, democracy, responsibility to each other, fairness.
CHETRY (voice-over): Yet, the special relationship has not been without strains. The United States would not support Great Britain during the 1956 Suez Canal crisis and Great Britain refused to support the United States during the Vietnam War.
BROWN: We can have treaties that are broken, but this relationship it seems to me is unbreakable because it is based on something more than just sort of an assessment of your best interests.
CHETRY: Close ties between the two countries often correspondent with the bonds of friendship between the leaders, Prime Minister Harold McMillan and President John F. Kennedy fighting the cold war.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan, united during the fall of the Soviet Union. But Prime Minister Tony Blair's support of President George Bush's decision to invade Iraq was not without consequences.
WOOLNER: This became very, very unpopular, of course, among the British public and Tony Blair paid a price for this politically and still paying a price for this to this day.
CHETRY: But as the two countries move forward former Prime Minister Brown takes an optimistic view.
BROWN: Despite all the different problems that will arise, this relationship will endure and, perhaps, strengthen in the years to come.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Well, speaking of special relationships, Prince William and Kate Middleton have invited 1,900 people to the wedding. Take a look at the list. Figure out who received one of those prized invitations.
Was it former prime minister Tony Blair, Sarah, the Duchess of York, Paul Burrell, Princess Diana's former butler, or Chan Shingadia, the Middleton's grocer?
The answer after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Remember to vote for today's Choose the News winner. Tell us which story you'd like to see by texting 22360.
Text one for the presidential nomination game. It's fair to say Americans want their candidates to be honest with them, so why hasn't any potential candidate said the words, I'm running for president?
Text two for beating traffic tickets. A Maryland man puts his computer to work to battle several speeding tickets.
Or text three for supermarket waste. The food that you don't buy at the grocery store could soon be used to power your house. Interesting.
The winning story will air in the next hour.
Well before the break we asked you which of these folks actually got an invitation to the royal wedding? Let's see if our CNN's royal watcher Richard Quest can answer the question. He joins us live from London.
What do you think, Richard?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: All right. Let me go through the list as to who did and who did not get invited. I'll put you out of your misery, Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, did not get invited, much to people's surprise.
MALVEAUX: Wow. Didn't get invited? QUEST: Mostly because relationship -- well, Lady Thatcher and John Major, two former prime ministers did, but Brown and Blair didn't, largely because the palace says they're not members of chivalry, the Order of the Garter. Bit of a weak excuse there, Suzanne. Frankly I would have expected Tony Blair. But you know, the royals make up the rules, and it's their game and we have to play by them.
MALVEAUX: All right.
QUEST: Same for Sarah, Duchess of York. Look, her former husband, Prince Andrew will be there. Her children, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will be there. She's divorced. There was a scandal recently when she nearly went bankrupt and tried to sell access to her former husband. She is the definition of persona non grata with the palace. But, frankly, she I mean -- it's a bit silly not to have invited her.
Paul Burrell, Diana's -- he calls himself Diana's rock, the butler who was supposedly knew all the secrets.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
QUEST: The palace pretty much can't stand -- the palace can't stand him either for a variety of kiss and tell stories. And frankly, you and I stood more chance of getting invited than he did.
The answer -- Chan Shingadia is the -- this is -- we're moving into the realms of the bizarre here. The owner of the convenience store in Bucklebury where William and Kate shop, where they store William's famous ice cream, it's basically a spar convenience store, a 7-Eleven type store and that's where they do their shopping.
MALVEAUX: And so he got that invite. And what about the Obamas? They're not invited either. How did that happen?
QUEST: Well hang on. Hang on. Previously there have been invitations for heads of state to weddings. So, Reagan, for example, got in 1981 to Diana and Charles and Nancy Reagan attended.
But the fact is, this is not a state occasion. So there was no need to invite the Obamas, the Sarkozys, the Merkels and anybody else. And if you look at the list you'll see that's very much the case. The only people, politically, who have been invited, the governors general, the prime ministers of their realm, like Canada, Australia, New Zealand. Everybody else is an also-ran.
And not only that, let's put salt into the wound. People like the U.S. -- yes, the U.S. ambassador has been invited. But he's got to go stag. He's not been invited plus one.
MALVEAUX: Oh.
QUEST: So basically, you know, the rule -- look, Suzanne, any wedding, your viewers, you and I will know, there's always the question, should you invite Great Auntie Bessie, who you haven't seen for 10 years. It's exactly the same here.
MALVEAUX: They have a limited number. They've got a limited number.
QUEST: Of the 1,900, 1,000 seats are for the friends and family of Kate, Catherine and the families.
MALVEAUX: And Richard, why should Americans care about this wedding? I mean I know you do. I know you've been watching this very closely. Why should we get up at 4:00 in the morning and turn this on or DVR it or watch it?
QUEST: All right. All right. I care about it for a different reason than you do. I care about it because as a British subject, William will one day be my head of state. I've grown up with the family. The queen's face is on my money, on the stamps. Why do you care about it? Because in this day and age, we do live in a certain culture where people know everything about people. They are the people that the world knows about.
They are -- in an era of Libya, Syria, Japan, it's nice for us to be able to turn our attention to a wedding, not just any wedding, but a wedding where the Brits are going to put on the greatest show on earth. More than 160 horses, numerous regiments, the household cavalry, the coal stream guards, glass coaches, state landaus.
If you and I cannot take two to three hours on a day and say, it's worth watching that, then really, it's a sad state of affairs.
MALVEAUX: Richard, you sold me. You actually sold me on this. I'm going to get up. I'm going to be in my pajamas and slippers. I'm going to watch this thing.
QUEST: No, no, no. I'm not finished here. I'm not finished here. One more thing.
MALVEAUX: Quickly.
QUEST: Bit of news to bring you, a bit of news. It's going to rain probably on the day.
MALVEAUX: Oh, no. Really?
QUEST: See? I told you, you wanted to know that.
MALVEAUX: Oh, I didn't know it was going to rain. OK. Well, we'll see how that impacts everything.
Richard, we're going to be following every step of the way. Guaranteed you're going to be covering the royal wedding live this Friday. CNN's coverage begins at 4:00 a.m. Eastern. We're going to get up for that. Anderson Cooper, Piers Morgan, Cat Deeley, they're all going to be joining him, as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
The Obama administration has already begun their campaign for re- election but many Republicans, they're still weighing their options for 2012. Mark Preston, part of the best political team on television.
Great to see you, Mark, live from the political desk in D.C.
Tell us a little bit about perhaps some other folks who are weighing, jumping in the race?
MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Sure. One of the people that we're watching this week, Suzanne, is John Huntsman. He's the current U.S. ambassador to China. He's going to leave his position at the end of the week.
Now, John Huntsman is seriously looking at the White House and, in fact, there are several political operatives, seasoned Republican political operatives, that have built a campaign structure should he decide to run.
Now Huntsman hasn't really said anything too publicly about what his intentions are. He's given some hints. But we do know that he's going to be in South Carolina at the University of South Carolina to give a commencement address on May 7th. So he'll no longer be found by being a member of the president's cabinet. He'll be perhaps a candidate at that time.
Another candidate we're looking at this week is Haley Barbour, the Mississippi Governor. He has said that he will make a decision about whether he is going to run for president by the end of this month. Now Haley Barbour has been making visits to some key early states, such as Nevada, such as New Hampshire, and such as Iowa. So we should know something about Haley Barbour hopefully by the end of the week, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. And also, Donald Trump, he's been making the rounds, doing interviews.
Is he making any moves that we should know about?
PRESTON: Yes, he's making some tangible moves this week. He is going to make his first visit up to New Hampshire, where he's going to be meeting with party leaders, holding some other meetings. He'll be doing that on Tuesday. On Wednesday he heads to Nevada, another critical early voting state where he's going to speak to a women's group.
Now, I have to tell you, I've spoken to political operatives in both states and what they've said to me is that Donald Trump can do all the national interviews he wants and he can appeal to the Republican activists that way, but the fact of the matter is, he needs to start making these early moves, visiting these early states and we're seeing that this week, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: OK. We'll be watching. Mark, nice to see you. Thanks.
For the latest political news, you know where to go -- CNNpolitics.com. Many high school seniors have received their college acceptance letters in the mail, as well as their financial aid packages. But what if the package doesn't work out with your family's budget?
Well, Carmen Wong Ulrich is here to tell us what you need to know to try to appeal that financial aid package. And Carmen, I know, when I went to school and went to college, we did the same thing. We didn't have enough financial aid, we went back to the school, asked them for more money.
How should people do it now, this time around?
CARMEN WONG ULRICH, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: So did I. I did the same thing and it worked. Absolutely.
You know, Suzanne, according to the College Board an average now of $11,500 was awarded in financial aid last year to each full-time undergrad. Now that includes $6,000, a little bit more than that, given in grants that don't have to be repaid. Those are the ones that we love. We love those.
Now, but if the aid package you got doesn't work for your family budget, like it didn't for mine or Suzanne's, there are a few ways that you can ask for more. First, if since last year there's been more financial hardship in your family since filling out the FAFSA, that's the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, you can appeal for more aid.
For example if a parent was laid off, if there was a divorce or bankruptcy, or there have been unforeseen medical expenses, you can file an appeal. Schools call this a professional judgment review, or a special circumstances review.
Now, so how do you do this? Well, contact the school's financial aid administrator, whether the school is private or public, and provide documentation to prove that financial hardship exists. And request an adjustment to your aid, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And also, if your family's situation, what if it changes when you're in school? Can you try to change the financial aid package once you've already enrolled and you have a particular package there?
ULRICH: Oh, absolutely. I mean, after all, four years is a very long time. So if your child is already in college and your family's financial situation has changed, you can appeal for more aid.
Now, however, if your child is going to be a freshman this year and got a better financial aid package from one school than another, formally ask the lower award school to reassess their award package. By including the acceptance letter and the award package from the competing school, it shows that you're in demand as a student, that you really like to attend the school that's best for you and not base it solely on how much aid you get.
MALVEAUX: All right. Great advice, Carmen. Stay with us. After the break we're going to have you explain what you should not do when appeal being your financial aid package.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We are back with Carmen Wong Ulrich. We're talking about how to appeal college financial packages.
And Carmen, you and I are both saying it was successful for us back in the day when we were applying for schools. But there are some things that you should do, right, during this appeal process?
ULRICH: Yes, exactly. You know, appealing your aid package is not like haggling when you buy a car, but it is a process where you don't have to accept only what you've been offered.
Now go even beyond the paperwork. Do -- this is what I did. Get to know the staff at your school's financial aid office, yourself as a parent and as a student so that they know your story and know what you really need to make it through school.
Now some schools in this economy may not have the ability to be so generous but, you know what, you're not going to know unless you ask -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Good advice. It's worth a try.
All right. Thanks, Carmen. Appreciate it.
Politics and religion. This Monday after Christianity's holiest day, some are invoking Jesus in the debate over the federal budget. They're asking what would Jesus cut?
Now is that crass? Is it inappropriate or appropriate?
Carol, I know you have a lot of people weighing in.
COSTELLO: Hand it over to me. That's right. Our Talk Back question -- what would Jesus cut? is it appropriate or is it crass?
This from Marisa. "No, no, no. Religion does not belong in government. Follow the damn Constitution."
This from Eugene. "Jesus was a moral philosopher, he preached the virtue of voluntary charity. I don't think Jesus ever endorsed robbing Peter to pay Paul."
This from Kay. "The Republicans have long used the Jesus and Christian card. I think it is a hilarious back in your face move."
This from Tiffany. "As long as people are making laws and people are running this country then spirituality will always be a part of politics because people are moved to act based on their convictions."
And this from Diane. "Jesus would take one look at the Tea Party and would declare I say unto you, y'all are nuts. Work it out among yourselves. I'm going fishing."
Facebook.com/carolCNN. Continue the conversation and I'll be back in about 10 minutes.
MALVEAUX: OK. People -- they're serious, people have a sense of humor about the whole thing.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: You have to have a sense of humor sometimes or you'd cry.
MALVEAUX: Yes, yes. I can hardly wait to hear some of these other responses.
COSTELLO: Me, too.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks, Carol.
Well, learning how to make weapons in the middle of a war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you know what you're doing here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't have no idea. I don't have idea. But I'm trying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: A rare behind-the-scenes look at how Libyan rebels are arming themselves with makeshift weapons.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Libya's rebels face huge challenges in their fight against Moammar Gadhafi. For one, volunteers, not professionals, are actually crafting the rebels' homemade weapons.
CNN's Reza Sayah has this rare, behind-the-scenes look inside a rebel weapons factory.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two months ago, 20-year old Massoud Ojeli was in college studying English. Today he works at this secret makeshift weapons factory, welding together rocket launchers out of old spare parts for Libya's opposition forces.
MASSOUD OJELI, VOLUNTEER WEAPONS MAKER: Yes. It's very weird feeling. But I'm proud.
SAYAH: The rebels have granted us rare access to a place where elbow grease and ingenuity turn damage and dented old weapons into rough and ready killing machines.
(on camera): Two hundred volunteers here. They get in about 8:00 in the morning, leave around 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon. They don't get paid.
(voice-over): But there's no shortage of help. Massoud's father volunteers, too. His two little brothers offer moral support, he says.
OJELI: I'm doing this for my country.
SAYAH: Many of these are soldiers defected from the regime. Others are newcomers.
(on camera): Do you know what you're doing here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't have idea. I don't have idea. But I'm trying.
SAYAH: A few weeks ago, Rami Tarhouni (ph) was an insurance agent. Ali Abdul salaam was in pharmaceuticals. Jose Mansoor was a driver. People who've never seen weapons in their lives are making them from nothing, says Colonel Mohammed Al Garabeli (ph), who says he defected from Gadhafi's Air Force.
(on camera): What this used to be is an old weapons pod on a jet fighter. By the time they're done with it, if everything goes well, they'll turn it into 32 shoulder-fired missile launchers.
(voice-over): Soviet era rocket launchers are broken up to fit on smaller vehicles.
(on camera): Once these makeshift rockets are put together, they're mounted on vehicles like this and off they go to the front line. And look at this -- this is how they're launched. These light switches. Remarkable ingenuity. But like anything that's put together by amateurs, there's never a guarantee that they'll work.
OJELI: Yes. Sometimes we have something that doesn't work.
SAYAH (voice-over): Massoud says if he had his way, Gadhafi would be gone and he'd go back to college. Until then, he says he's keeping his new job.
Reza Sayah, CNN, Benghazi, Libya.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
