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Casey Anthony's Father Takes the Stand; Egypt Deploys Army as Protests Rage;, Protesters Battle in Egypt; Police: Nine Teens Attack Gay Man; Texas Hotel Shuts Down; MLB Try Nixing Dodgers' Loan; Fire Within Miles of Nuclear Lab; Newsweek's "Diana at 50"; Casey Anthony's Dad on Stand; Greece Approves Huge Government Cuts; Google Rolls Out its Social Network
Aired June 29, 2011 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: It is 10:00 a.m. on the east coast, 7:00 a.m. out west. I'm Kyra Phillips. You are looking at live pictures right now from the Casey Anthony murder trial. On the stand, her father, George. Let's listen in.
(BEGIN COVERAGE)
GEORGE ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY'S FATHER: -- things like that, but then again, anything that we ever did media wise was always to bring information about my granddaughter and other missing children. I always spoke about that. I always did.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And all of these media appearances stopped when the allegations of abuse came up, correct?
ANTHONY: I believe that, sir, was through you, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, do you recall finding out another way?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection, irrelevant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May we approach?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You may.
PHILLIPS: All right, as you can see, it has gone into side bar here at the top of the hour. Live pictures out of Orlando, Florida, where we are continuing to monitor the murder trial of Casey Anthony.
On the stand right now is her father, George. Sunny Hostin is following this for us as well, our legal expert. Sunny, just before the break, the questioning surrounding the media and the tense relationship between the media and George Anthony.
He was just trying to make the point, look, I had a lot going on. The family was being torn up. I just wanted to find his missing granddaughter. Let's take it from there and talk about the purpose behind these certain questions and what the attorneys are trying to do at this point.
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR, "IN SESSION" ON TRUTV: Well, I think what's very significant, Kyra, is that the defense is now delving in to the area that George Anthony is very sensitive about.
There was a suicide attempt here and he was asked not only about that attempt, but the note in which he expressed some guilt. We don't have the note in evidence yet, but certainly I know about the note having researched this case.
It is the defense's contention that one of the reasons why he expressed guilt and why he tried to commit suicide is because he allegedly sexually abused Casey Anthony and then helped in covering up Caylee Anthony's accidental drowning death.
That is the defense's theory. So a very, very testy exchange between George Anthony and Jose Baez and this is the first time, I think, Kyra, that we have seen this kind of emotion from George Anthony. I don't want to go so far as to say he came undone.
But this is a former police officer who is used to testifying, who has experience testifying and we see him crying on the witness stand. Using some sort of handkerchief to, you know, to try to stop his tears. So it's a very, very important critical part of testimony in the courtroom today in the courtroom.
PHILLIPS: All right, Sunny Hostin, appreciate it. We are monitoring those live pictures and that testimony as you can see right now the father of Casey Anthony on the stand. George Anthony giving his testimony at this time. We will continue to watch it.
All right. Also, this hour or actually next hour, President Obama is going to open the floor to reporter questions. It's actually his first solo news conference since March. He just faces a laundry list of thorny issues.
As you know, the debate over the national debt, the drawdown in Afghanistan and of course, the controversy over this mission in Libya, that's just to name a few.
CNN's Jill Dougherty is at the White House. Jill, you pointed out that the president wants to talk about the economy, but we are sure that he's going to get all types of questions.
JILL DOUGHERTY, FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: No question and to make this more complicated, Senate Republicans now say they are going to be holding a news conference roughly at the same time also on the debt.
So you may have some dueling news conferences here, which is a problem for the president, of course, but what he wants to talk about or maybe he doesn't want to talk about is debt and these discussions that he is now leading.
Remember Vice President Biden was doing it. Now it is the president's task to bring the two sides together and the question is, how can you do it when you have this philosophical divide on what is a tax?
Democrats say, closing tax loopholes versus the Republicans are saying no matter which way you slice it or define it that is a tax increase. And then you have jobs, a natural question. The president has been going around the country talking about that.
Of course, hitting some places that are important for the 2012 election and that is a prism through which some of this is going to be viewed today, Kyra.
And then finally international, the big news last night from Kabul about the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul and that raises questions about the timing of the president's drawdown on troops.
Just one more, the war powers debate in Libya. That continues to brew with people on both sides saying the president shouldn't have done what he did. So lots to talk about and notably domestic and international at the same time.
PHILLIPS: All right. Jill Dougherty, we will take that live as we said coming up in the next hour. You can see it right here on CNN.
So what should the president actually say to a nation that is confronting so many troubling issues right now? In just a few minutes, we're going to get some expert advice from David Gergen.
As you know, he served as an adviser to four U.S. President. What would he advise President Barack Obama if indeed he was there next to him just prior to this news conference?
All right, Sarah Palin was the star attraction at the premier of "The Undefeated." The movie that focuses on her time as Alaska governor, but as you know, many analysts are out there saying, there might be more behind the movie here.
CNN's Joe Johns is joining us from Pella, Iowa where the movie was shown last night. So, Joe, what's your take? I mean, some were saying she might take this as an opportunity to announce she's running for president, but it did not happen.
JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: It didn't happen. You know, everybody I talked to here had something complimentary to say about the movie, about Sarah Palin.
Frankly, this was an invitation-only crowd and it seemed at least some of them were handpicked because perhaps these are people who could help her down the road in Iowa.
Should she choose to get in, nonetheless, there were people who said they felt she had been caricatured by the news media over the years. And to some degree, this movie set the record straight, if you will.
But then you sort of have to ask the next question. What do you think about Sarah Palin? Do you think she should get into the race? What do you think of her political future?
We got some of the most interesting answers to questions once we took that conversation to the next levels. Let's listen to a couple of sound bites.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that now in this time period, especially because everything and all of the heat she has taken, I do not think right now would be the correct time for her to run.
However, there are definitely other things that I think she would succeed in. Just being a rallying point for the Tea Party Movement and the Republican Movement and the conservative side. However, I do not see her as a running candidate for the 2012 election.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If she isn't running, this is the greatest trick play in the history of trick plays. She is running. She's going to win.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: That, of course, is the $1 million question. Is she going to run? No answers to that here. Just a lot of speculation. It is funny.
There was a rolling news conference where she would stop outside the theater and talk to reporters and then move a little more surrounded by the crowd.
It really looked like a bit like she is enjoying all of the attention and the spotlight. How long it will last is anybody's guess, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Joe Johns in Pella, Iowa. Joe, thanks.
Now let's check on the travels of some other Republicans. Michele Bachmann campaigning in South Carolina where she's attending several rallies today. She scored points with her southern supporters yesterday when she and her husband danced to an Elvis Presley tune.
Herman Cain also made the same trip in New Hampshire to the south. Today, the former CEO plans to unveil his economic plan in South Carolina.
Texas Governor Rick Perry is in California. Perry has not yet announced his plans to run, but is looking and sounding more like a candidate with every public appearance.
Overseas now, in Egypt, a familiar scene, troops and armored vehicles on the streets of Cairo as police battle anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square.
CNN'S Zain Verjee following it at from London right now. Very familiar pictures that we're seeing, Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT, CNNI: Hi, Kyra. Anyone watching the pictures that are so dramatic and so violent from Tahrir Square may be wondering, hang on a minute, I thought this was all over.
They got rid of Hosni Mubarak. Now what's all these about? Well, people are upset. They're upset with the military because they're saying that the military is not reforming fast enough.
The reason for some of this latest violence, which has been the worst in recent months, something like more than 1,000 people were injured, many of them pretty severely. They are in hospital.
What has been happening is that many groups are accusing Mubarak loyalists for stirring up all of this tension and some of this violence because what has happened is that the local municipal councils have been dissolved by order of courts.
This is what is happening and they are just saying, look, we're going to stay in Tahrir Square until the military does something about it. By the way, they need to fix the reforms at a much faster pace because they promised to.
Take a look at the international headlines. There's one I have to share with you. It is with "The Guardian." The headline reads here in the U.K., "Battle breaks out in Tahrir Square once again."
It goes on to say, since the resignation of the former president, Egypt has been run by the armed forces who have promised a swift transition to a democratic civilian government.
But many fear that the pace of change has been too slow accusing generals of hijacking the revolution and failing to hold members of the old regime to account.
That's the problem with military rule, Kyra. The military knows how to do stuff that the military is trained for. They are not equipped or trained to run a country. Kyra --
PHILLIPS: We're going to follow this closely. Zain, I appreciate it.
She was a striking woman and she would have been 50 years old this week. Have you ever wondered what Princess Diana would look like or be like if she had survived? "Newsweek" magazine has. We're going to ask you what you think about the pictures.
President Obama preparing for his news conference. The nation awaiting on his answers in a number of troubling issues. Former presidential adviser David Gergen gives us some talking points on what the president needs to say.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right, checking stories across country. Springfield, Massachusetts, nine teenagers are accused of a hate crime assault on a gay man.
The oldest that you see is 19 and the youngest is 12. The 30- year-old victim says he was knocked down yesterday morning then punched and kicked over.
The suspects have been charged with robbery and civil rights violations.
The W Hotel in Austin shutdown because of falling glass. It happened three times in the past month. The glass panels have hit cars even the hotel pool, which injured two swimmers.
Major League baseball trying to block the L.A. Dodgers from borrowing $150 million from an outside lender. They've offered to provide the needed cash and now say Frank McCourt's ownership of the Dodgers should end because he never asked their permission to file for bankruptcy.
We have been talking about this all morning. Next hour, President Obama is actually going to hold his first news conference in three months and a lot has happened since then.
He has announced the drawdown in Afghanistan. Lawmakers are demanding that the president justify the mission in Libya and the national debt hangs heavy over Congress. He'll surely face a number of questions about all those topics.
So let's get an idea of the stakes and the talking points. David Gergen served as an adviser to four U.S. presidents. David, I'm curious, if you were to put yourself into the Obama inner circle just for a moment and you were the one advising him right now, what is the first thing he should say as he steps up to the microphone today?
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Especially after you haven't had a press conference in three months, it is really important that the president and his advisors know what is the headline they want on your show after it is over?
What is the headline they want in tomorrow morning's papers? They really need to focus on what message they are trying to get out to the American people. I trust on this particular issue he wants to come out and talk about the deficit and debt.
Either begin putting the blame on Republicans because he thinks there's going to be a very, very bad outcome or prepare the country for deeper cuts ahead.
PHILLIPS: So, what do you think the one thing is that the White House wants Americans to take away from today's Q and A?
GERGEN: Well, we are not privy to the talks, of course, Kyra. There has been a zone of silence around all of this. We don't know where the deficit talks are going.
From the outside, it appears that they are stumbling in these talks and they are not coming up with a big agreement, a mega agreement that would lift the debt ceiling and clear it through the rest of the president's term.
That would take over $2 trillion in agreement. I don't think they are anywhere close to that right now and the divisions are deep. More likely, he is facing the prospect of having some kind of patch.
And that is a short-term solution to lift the debt ceiling temporarily or possibly if he's really concerned, he's using this as a way to put the fear of God in the Republicans by telling the country, we are really in serious default that could cost us terribly.
Look what is happening in Greece right now. Look at the rioting on the streets. They are using tear gas in Greece even as the parliament has just passed narrowly its austerity plan.
PHILLIPS: You know, let me ask you. You say about putting the fear of God into the Republican candidates. You know, considering that GOP candidates are taking up all the airtime right now.
That's what we have been talking about, all of these campaign events from Sarah Palin's movie to Michele Bachmann announcing her bid for president. Right now, what do you think? Does the president of the United States still control the national conversation?
GERGEN: No, he does not. He tried last week on Afghanistan and that sort of flopped in terms of the critics. They jumped all over him from left and right on that. I think he is in the situation now where the news has not been very good over the last few weeks.
He seemed a little adrift. I think one of the big issues here, Kyra, when you get beyond the particular issues is exactly what you are pointing to. Can he become sort of the master of events again?
Can he guide and channel things in the next few months in his way? Because we are clearly -- it is not just the Republicans who are becoming highly political. The president himself has entered a very intense political part of his presidency.
As I pointed out in the press the other day, over a couple of weeks' period, he had nine fundraisers, but only spent an hour and a half with his Treasury secretary on the economic problems of the country and the deficit.
So you can tell where the heart and soul of the White House is right now in the 2012 campaign. He has to sort of restore his authority as president. That, right now, he is drifting a bit.
PHILLIPS: David Gergen, thank you so much. You can stay with us for President Obama's news conference next hour. I'm sure David will be watching it and so will we. We're going to carry it live beginning at 11:30 Eastern Time.
Firefighters in New Mexico racing to contain an out-of-control wildfire that is within miles of the nation's premier nuclear weapons lab. More than 60,000 acres have burned already.
The flames already brushing up against the south border of Los Alamos' 40 square mile facility. It is raising a lot of concerns about the safety of the nuclear materials right there on-site. But plants and fire officials insists the facility is safe and secure.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF DOUG TUCKER, LOS ALAMOS FIRE DEPARTMENT: Those are drums that can take some heat. They just have some waste in them. It is not high level waste. We believe that we can protect those. We can foam them.
If in fact they do catch fire, they have vents in them. They'll vent and with a heap-filter and there'll be no release of any toxic materials.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: CNN's Reynolds Wolf is joining us now from Los Alamos. So Reynolds, you know, how critical do you think it is? I mean, we're talking about thousands of people that have been evacuated and if the fire and wind picks up, I mean, you never know, it could pop one of those canisters.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely, that is a tremendous concern, but I have to tell you in terms of the people that live here. Their biggest concern really is not what is happening in Los Alamos because you have to remember at least what is happening over there at that facility.
A lot of the people that live in this community are near those chemicals and near that stuff every single day. Their biggest concern happens to be that fire the one you mentioned that has consumed already 60,000 acres. When you think if it started on Sunday until today that is roughly 20,000 acres per day, still only 3 percent contained.
Another big worry about Los Alamos, the community itself is one of the things that makes it so beautiful is that it sits on a series of three mesas. Between each of those mesas, you have these beautiful ravines, ravines that are filled with all kinds of lush vegetation.
Well, the problem is, Kyra, with the wildfires that we have out there and with the winds still very favorable for more development, for spreading those flames, the fear exists that those flames would make their way back into some of those ravines.
The heat carries those flames up and then possibly would burn some of the buildings that we have here in the community like many that you see behind me on the streets. Now speaking of these streets, this place, again, underwent a mandatory evacuation on Monday.
It is still filled though with a lot of firefighters. You have members of the National Guard, a lot of command vehicles who make their way through and of course, law enforcement. But everyone is hoping for the absolute best.
There are 341 men and women battling the blaze out there. You have four helicopters that have been dumping a bunch of fire retardant out there, a series of bulldozers trying to carve in some of those fire lanes to help keep those flames back.
So they're working in concert doing everything they can to battle this immense blaze. The problem is though the forecast again does not look favorable, very dry conditions. Humidity in single digits and of course, winds getting stronger each afternoon.
PHILLIPS: All right, Reynolds, we will keep checking in with you. We appreciate it.
So what if Princess Diana were still with us? "Newsweek" asks that question and answers it with pictures. The Diana at 50 controversy coming up.
Plus, swapping one blonde for a couple of more. Hugh Hefner bounces back from the wedding that wasn't.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: More than a decade after her death, Princess Diana takes a stroll with her son's brand new wife. Is this cover kind of creepy or what? What do you think? "Newsweek" imagines Diana at 50.
And Zain Verjee is covering the controversial story. Zain, what's the reaction?
VERJEE: Hi, Kyra. Well, whatever anyone thinks about this cover picture on "Newsweek" magazine, it is grabbing the headlines and the blogosphere is a blazed with people that love it.
But Kyra, they mostly hate it, OK. Here is a sample. Ingrid London says, "I'm no royalist, but, yuck." Someone called Lorie Vaus says, "I think that "Diana at 50" Newsweek cover is the most revoltingly, classless thing I have ever seen a publication do."
One more from Ryan, "Not often lost for works, but the picture of Princess Diana walking with Kate Middleton is just awful." If you buy "Newsweek" and open it, you'd also see kind of like a slide show thing that they have.
They're comparing pictures of Princess Diana's fashion and Kate Middleton's fashion then this fake Princess Diana Facebook page and there's also another doctored photo of her, Kyra, holding a white iPhone.
The article goes on to say that if she was alive all these years after her death, she would have remarried twice and she would have had more than 10 million Twitter followers.
CNN contacted "Newsweek" and Tina Brown, the editor in chief wrote this, "We wanted to bring the memory of Diana alive in a vivid image that transcends time and reflected my piece." Most of the reaction, Kyra, is just yuck.
PHILLIPS: Yes, and you pointed out that, you know, it is not just "Newsweek" that's the only one running this aged progression pictures. Why do you think that so many others are picking up on this and wanting to do it? VERJEE: Well, let me show you another one that has not caused as much outrage. Take a look at the picture from "The Daily Express" here. They ran this one and it is a similar one. It is a Photoshopped picture of Diana and what she would have looked like when she turned 50.
I think it's really because, you know, she is such an icon. After the royal wedding, so many people talked and said what if Diana was alive? What would have been like for Kate Middleton and her and Prince William?
You know, it plays on our emotions in a way that not many people can. She died so tragically. So I think placing her strolling down the street with Kate Middleton, you know, makes a point. It is emotional.
People pay attention, but not a lot of people like it. But just showing her face and an aged picture of her face is not causing as much commotion. What do you think? How did you react to it?
PHILLIPS: It shocked me. I have to say, when I first saw it. But you know, the first thing that went through my mind was she was stunning as a young teenager, as a young bride and she remained that way up all the way into her death. I mean, I think we can picture it ourselves. We know she would be stunning at 50. Thanks, Zain.
VERJEE: Right - all right, thanks, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Let's move on to showbiz, shall we? A husband for "Ugly Betty," a first look at "Mission Impossible 4" and another blonde babe for Hugh Hefner, imagine that.
"SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" host, A.J. Hammer joins us now. So, A.J., we have seen the pictures of Hef's newest girlfriend, but even folks who haven't probably could guess exactly what she looks like.
A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes, and Kyra, as Hef says, a new girlfriend is the only logical response to heart break and he believes one is good. Well, two must be better. Hugh Hefner has just unveiled his newest girlfriend. Her name is Shera Bechard.
She just happens to be "Playboy" magazine's November playmate and there are all sorts of coincidences here. Hef is, of course, supposed to be a newlywed right now, but his runaway bride, Crystal Harris didn't seem surprised that he was able to move on so quickly.
In fact, she just tweeted, I was replaced the day after I left. Expected. Well, some people are talking about how these two look a lot alike, but I think, you know, we've really established Hefner has a type.
He seems to prefer blondes, right? His other girlfriend, Anna Sophia Berglund hopefully doesn't have a problem with the relationship and according to Hefner he hasn't had a one-on-one relationship since the end of his marriage back in 1988. This is just how Hef rolls, Kyra. PHILLIPS: All right, since we are talking about marriage, more traditional Hollywood weddings shall we say for you to tell us about, the star of "Ugly Betty."
HAMMER: Yes, great news. America Ferrera did make it down the aisle. She married her long time boyfriend, Ryan Piers Williams. The pair met when Williams cast his now wife in a student film back at USC.
They got engaged last June. The 27-year-old "Ugly Betty" star tied the knot with her beau on Monday and what "People" magazine reports was an intimate setting among close friends and family. So, Kyra, we say congratulations this morning to America and Ryan.
HAMMER: Thanks, A.J. Well, if you want information on everything breaking in the entertainment world, A.J. has got it, every night on HLN at 11:00 p.m. right - on HLN.
All right, coming up, Sarah Palin tells her daughter Bristol to button her lip after Bristol says her mother has made up her mind about whether she'll run for president or not.
Let's take you live to Orlando, Florida. Casey Anthony, her murder trial and her father, George, testifying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- sex with a child under the age of 12 years old is life imprisonment --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relevance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sustained.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you aware of the possible penalties of child molesting, don't you, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection, relevance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sustained.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You, of course, would never admit to molesting your child, would you sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection, argumentative.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Overruled. You can ask the question again.
JOSE BAEZ, CASEY ANTHONY'S ATTORNEY: You of course would never admit to molesting your child, would you, sir? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Argumentative.
CHIEF JUDGE BELVIN PERRY, CIRCUIT JUDGE, ORANGE COUNTY: Overruled. He can ask the question if he can.
GEORGE ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY'S FATHER: Sir, I never would do anything like that to my daughter.
BAEZ: My question is, you would never admit to it, would you, sir?
G. ANTHONY: Sir, I would never do anything to harm my daughter in that way.
BAEZ: Only in that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Argumentative.
PERRY: Sustained.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move to strike.
BAEZ: Sir, do you recall when we questioned you the first time in reference to the gas can?
G. ANTHONY: Sir, I have been asked about those gas cans numerous times.
BAEZ: May I approach the witness, your honor?
PERRY: You may.
BAEZ: So there is no misunderstanding about which gas can we're talking about, Mr. Anthony. That is your gas can?
PERRY: What is the exhibit number?
BAEZ: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: State's evidence 2a, sir.
BAEZ: That is your gas can?
G. ANTHONY: Yes.
BAEZ: And on June 24th, 2008, that gas can was missing?
G. ANTHONY: Yes.
BAEZ: And you called the police?
G. ANTHONY: Yes.
BAEZ: And you reported that gas can as stolen?
G. ANTHONY: This gas can and another gas can that I had. Two were taken. BAEZ: And is that the first time you've ever reported a gas can stolen?
G. ANTHONY: Yes.
BAEZ: And prior to that, you, of course, knew your daughter had used those gas cans many times to put gas in her car?
G. ANTHONY: I had felt that way. I asked her about it. Yes.
BAEZ: And you can even see the gas streaks on the side of the car?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Asked and answered in prior testimony. Repeating ground.
PERRY: Overruled at this point. But let's get to the point.
G. ANTHONY: If I had knowledge that my daughter had used this gas can or another one and placed it in gas that was inside these, inside her vehicle, yes.
BAEZ: And do you recall in your testimony for the state -- when I questioned you, you stated that there was a gas can that you were shown in your deposition that did not have duct tape on it when you gave it to police?
G. ANTHONY: I don't believe I said that, sir.
BAEZ: OK. Did -- I'll ask you again, sir. Did -- when I gave the police that gas can, did you -- did it have duct tape on it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Given on two occasions. Counsel needs to specify which one.
PERRY: Sustained. Rephrase the question.
BAEZ: August 4th -- I'm sorry, August 8th, 2008. The very first time they took those gas cans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Counsel, it's August 1st that --
BAEZ: That's what I said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Demonstrates that.
BAEZ: That's what I said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought you said the 8th. You said the 8th.
BAEZ: August 1st, 2008, sir, did that gas can have duct tape on it when you gave it to the police?
G. ANTHONY: It possibly did. I don't remember. All I know is they came to my home with a search warrant and they took it from our farther shed on the south side of our home. I did not touch it at the time. They are the ones that reached in. They said they are here for it and took it.
BAEZ: And that was after you told them of this alleged argument you had with your daughter over these gas cans.
G. ANTHONY: That's not an alleged argument. Sir, it happened.
BAEZ: That's after this -- well, there's no one else that can testify to this, right? Except you?
G. ANTHONY: My daughter was there, sir. Her and I had a disagreement over the gas cans being stolen on the 24th. That's when I --
(CROSSTALK)
BAEZ: Was there anybody else there besides you and your daughter?
G. ANTHONY: Myself, my daughter and God knows the truth.
BAEZ: Right. Now anyone else on this earth? Dog? Anyone else you want to throw in there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection. Asked and answer. Move to strike.
PERRY: Sustained.
BAEZ: I'll withdrawal it. Now on August 5th, sir, of 2009, did you state when asked the question, OK, when they took it, is it your --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give a page and line.
BAEZ: Yes, 208, line 312.
PERRY: Page, line, date, who was there and then give counsel an opportunity to find it.
BAEZ: Yes, sir, 208, lines 9 through 12. Do you recall giving a deposition --
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: You're watching live pictures out of Orlando, Florida. We are following the Casey Anthony murder trial. We'll take a quick break. More right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. Time for "Political Buzz." Your rapid fire look at the hottest political topics of the day. Three questions, 20 seconds on the clock, and playing today, Democratic pollster, Cornell Belcher, Sirius XM political talk show host and comedian, Pete Dominick, and conservative talk show host, Dana Loesch.
OK, guys. First question, President Barack Obama has a news conference, as you know, an hour from now. We're going to take it here live right here on CNN. What should the first question be? Dana?
DANA LOESCH, CO-FOUNDER OF ST. LOUIS TEA PARTY: I think that the first question should be where is the budget from the Democrats? I would love to see that discussion. I would also love to see questions on a more detailed explanation on our mission in Libya. More on the ATF gun walker program. I could go on and on and on. But I seriously doubt we'll see all that.
PHILLIPS: All right, Dana got the first three questions.
Cornell, what would be the first one from you?
(LAUGHTER)
CORNELL BELCHER, DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER: The first one would be when are the Republicans going to join you on focusing on the economy? They seem to be focusing on everything except the economy. Economy and jobs are the number one issues confronting Americans. Republicans have not put out an economic plan. They have not told us one thing they're going to do to help create jobs and expand our economy. All they've showed us is how to destroy Medicare. When are they going to focus on the economy?
PHILLIPS: Pete.
PETE DOMINICK, HOST, "STAND UP! WITH PETE DOMINICK": Well, Kyra, I think, I'd like to hear him answer Al Gore's criticism on why he hasn't led on climate change. I'd also like to hear him be asked, you know, most Americans in most polls say they don't want the debt limit raised.
Has he led? Has he educated people? What would happen if we default on our debt? But selfishly I'd like the president to ask whether or not we've made contact with aliens. I think that's always an entertaining question. But that won't be asked either.
PHILLIPS: Now that you --
BELCHER: We don't want to know the answer to that.
PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly. Let's just leave that in Roswell.
All right. Bristol Palin said yesterday that her mom already decided if she'll run for president. And last night, Sarah Palin said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH PALIN, FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: What we say on the fishing boat stays on the fishing boat.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: OK. So is it time for Palin to make her decision public? Cornell?
BELCHER: You lame stream media guys are such suckers. She's not running for president. She's not running for president. Everyone knows she's not running for president. But we keep following her around, giving her all this attention. And she'll make more money off of this.
PHILLIPS: Dana?
DOMINICK: Apparently Cornell was on the fishing boat.
(LAUGHTER)
LOESCH: Yes.
PHILLIPS: I want to know what they were fishing for. Go ahead, Dana.
LOESCH: Yes, I don't think that she's running for president either. I think that her role -- she had a great record last election. I think she's better off as a kingmaker. I think she has more power that way. And so I think that her traveling around the country and doing events like the -- the really cool premier of "Undefeated" in Iowa is just sort of increasing her profile so she can continue to go on and be a kingmaker. So I think that's what the plan is.
PHILLIPS: Pete is not taking the bait.
DOMINICK: The Sarah Palin industry was alive and well --
LOESCH: I wasn't on the fishing boat, though.
DOMINICK: We're talking about it -- we're talking about it right now, Kyra. So she's not running probably, but she wants us to keep talking about her. That works for her. But I bet this was said on the fishing boat by Bristol Palin. Hey, mom, can we get off the fishing boat? This is really boring.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: As we know, as we've seen by the reality show, nothing in the Palin family seems to be very boring.
All right, your buzzer beater. Ten seconds each guy. Tom Petty tells Michele Bachmann to stop. Let's take a listen why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you for coming. Thank you.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: OK, can you name the tune? She's using his song "American Girl" on the campaign trail. And Petty has come out and said cut it out. So what song do you think should she choose next? Cornell?
BELCHER: "Still Crazy After All These Years?"
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: Dana? LOESCH: I think she should come out with Oingo Boingo's "Capitalism." She should have also gotten a roving license with Asch Kevin of BMI so Petty can't complain. And I used to think he was cool, now he seems like a (INAUDIBLE) who's screaming get off my lawn. That's it.
PHILLIPS: Pete. I remember seeing Oingo Boingo like back in the '80s.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: She's going retro here.
DOMINICK: Well, what song should Michele Bachmann use? Well, Cornell took mine. But I saw a video, Kyra, this morning of Michele Bachmann saying that women should be submissive to their husbands. So maybe Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" but I -- how about "Crazy Man, Crazy" by Bill Haley. "She Drives Me Crazy" by a Fine Young Cannibals. "Gone Crazy", Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy --
(CROSSTALK)
BELCHER: You guys are showing your age.
(LAUGHTER)
BELCHER: You guys are showing your age.
PHILLIPS: Showing your age.
Cornell, Dana and Pete, thanks, guys. A little music history there.
All right, in Greece, desperate times call for desperate measures. Take a look at these live pictures. Citizens pretty upset and revolting against the huge government cuts that were passed just last hour. The sacrifices may impact your wallet, too. We will explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Just about an hour ago, lawmakers in Greece did approve a series of deep cuts in government spending. And that may add to the rage that has already been simmering there on the streets.
Even before that vote, riot police had fired tear gas on stone- throwing demonstrators. They're enraged by the sweeping tax hikes and spending cuts even though both measures are needed to save that nation from bankruptcy.
Richard Quest has been covering this story for us from Athens. Let's talk about what the development means, Richard, to the U.S. economy. A lot of Americans back here at home wondering, how's it going to impact my 401(k)?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: All right. Before we talk about that, Kyra, let me just explain this somewhat unusual headwear. These goggles -- there is an enormous amount -- if we just show you the picture first of all way over into that side of the square, you'll see there's a huge amount of tear gas that is being blown into the square.
And Kyra, it doesn't matter which side of the square the tear gas comes from. Eventually it rise into the air. And we're on the eighth floor and eventually it will hit me firmly in the face. So I apologize for this slightly unusual look today.
Now what we're seeing underneath us here is the real hard core running battles now between these -- those in the black shirts, the anarchists, those who will do anything they possibly can to cause mayhem and disruption. And the riot police have been doing their best to clear the square. But I think with fires, with tear gas, with stun grenades, Kyra, we are now into the final game of them doing that.
Now as to your -- now your question, I believe, was about the economy.
PHILLIPS: Yes. You got it, Richard. I mean Americans here at home knew what happened last time we saw this uprising in Greece. Wondering now that the vote has been passed, what is it going to mean for our money here back at home?
QUEST: I think certainly things are out of the -- you know, the fire has been doused, if you like. Greece will get its extra money. There will be a second bailout. And the austerity measures will come into play.
Whether and how far and how forceful that, of course, is another issue and only the next 12 months we'll see.
From the U.S.'s point of view, the importance of the crisis of today is not going to happen. All that contagion is still a risk. It's still a risk for Portugal and for Ireland and maybe for Spain and for Italy. But if you're like everybody today has stepped back from the brink. Except of course the protesters who are determined to cause as much misery here as they possibly can.
PHILLIPS: Richard Quest, live out of Athens. Appreciate it. Richard, thanks.
And we're going to take a look at how Greece and that vote that happened today is impacting Wall Street right now right after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, the austerity vote has passed in Greece. That second bailout is going to happen. We've been wondering how that decision was going to impact our markets. Take a look. The Dow Jones Industrial is up 41, almost 42 points.
Also ahead, Google's latest attempt to get into the social media game. We're going to see how Google Plus compares to Facebook.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Let's "Fast Forward" take a look at news being made today. Next hour President Obama holding a news conference from the White House. You can watch it live right here on CNN 11:30 Eastern Time. And at 5:00 Eastern a court hearing for Arizona shooting suspect Jared Loughner. And tonight at the White House the president hosts a farewell dinner for departing U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
All right. Google is so good at what it does, the company's name has become a commonly used verb. But if you Googled biggest social networking site, you'd actually come up with Facebook. Well, Google is trying to change that. Again.
Christina Warren is a writer, Mashable.com. Google has been burned in the social media space before as we know. So why do they think that it's going to work this time?
CHRISTINA WARREN, REPORTER, MASHABLE.COM: Well, they're taking a really different approach with Google Plus. And they're focusing on user privacy and they're focusing on making it easy to use. And I think that that makes this different from some of their previous social attempts.
PHILLIPS: All right, so, Christina, Google got pretty roasted over its privacy issues when it tried this last time. So do you think that users will give it another chance?
WARREN: I think it depends on what value they can offer users. I think that we're willing to put up with some privacy snafus if we get value from something. That's why Facebook is so popular. But I think that will depend. If they can make it easy to share information with only the people you want to share with and if they can add some additional layers that will make it -- just fit in better with our regular Internet lives, then I think the users will give it a chance.
PHILLIPS: All right. So you're saying that the ifs and if it could, I guess a lot of people who are watching this saying, OK, why should I switch? What does this do that Facebook doesn't do?
WARREN: It's not really going to do anything that Facebook doesn't do, except make it easier to share information, photos, messages with only the people that you want to share them with. And that's something that Facebook has tried to do, but doesn't do very well.
So if I just want to share certain photos with a certain group of people, then maybe I want to share broader articles that I write with a larger group, it's more difficult for me to do that with Facebook. And Google Plus is trying to make that a lot easier.
PHILLIPS: Christina Warren, writer for Mashable.com. Christine, thanks.
WARREN: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Emotional testimony from breast cancer survivors and doctors to save a drug that they say will save lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe the lives of thousands of women would be compromised. They would actually die if you withdrawal Avastin from the market.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: So why is the FDA considering withdrawing approval of the drug? Suzanne Malveaux will have that story straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories "Cross Country."
Springfield, Mass. Nine teenagers accused of a hate crime assault on a gay man. The oldest that you see right here is 19, the youngest 12. The 30-year-old victim says he was knocked down yesterday morning then punched and kicked over and over again. The suspects have been charged with robbery and civil rights violations.
The W Hotel in Austin shut down because of falling glass. It happened three times in the past month. Glass panels have hit cars, even the hotel pool which injured two swimmers.
Let's take you live now to Orlando, Florida. We are told where we are going to be following the Casey Anthony -- there we go -- trial. Her father, George, on the stand now. Let's go ahead and listen in.
G. ANTHONY: Get through this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you need a break, Mr. Anthony?
G. ANTHONY: No, sir. I'm fine.
BAEZ: In January -- just let me know when you're OK.
G. ANTHONY: I'm OK, sir.
BAEZ: On January 22nd of 2009, Mr. Anthony, you went and got a gun. Didn't you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Objection (INAUDIBLE).
BAEZ: The counsel asked about this exact event.
PERRY: Overruled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May I approach the judge?
PERRY: You may.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: You are watching pictures now. This is the Casey Anthony trial in Orlando.
To the right of your screen, you see Casey Anthony there standing. And now she is sitting. Her father is on the stand, George Anthony.
