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Jury Begins Deliberation in Anthony Trial; Troops Celebrate July 4th in Afghanistan; 'To Catch a Serial Killer'; Clashes in Hama, Syria

Aired July 04, 2011 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: And it's the top of the hour, almost two hours since the jury in the Casey Anthony murder trial was given the case and instructed to render a verdict.

Holiday or no, prosecutors in Florida spent the morning rebutting defense claims that 2-year-old Caylee Anthony could have died by accident in her grandparent's pool and then the victim of a cover-up.

The state contends that Casey Anthony drugged her daughter with chloroform, smothered her with Duct tape, and then dumped her in the woods, where the body was found six months later.

You may recall that when the family first discovered Caylee was missing in June, 2008, Casey claimed a fictitious nanny had kidnapped the little girl.

Today, prosecutors replayed a jailhouse video in which Casey scoffs at the drowning claim which her defense is now based on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CINDY ANTHONY, CASEY ANTHONY'S MOTHER: Dad's blown up at the media.

CASEY ANTHONY, DEFENDANT: Yes, I heard.

CINDY ANTHONY: Well, someone just said that Caylee was dead this morning, that she drowned in the pool. That's the newest story out there.

CASEY ANTHONY: Surprise, surprise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Again, what's so fascinating about that is she said that she found her daughter drowned in the pool and that it was her dad who was with the child at the time. Well, Casey is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated child abuse, and four counts of lying to police. If convicted of capital murder, she faces the death penalty, but jurors could instead find her guilty of a non-capital murder of second degree or manslaughter, or they could, of course, find Casey Anthony not guilty. And while we wait for their decision, I want to bring in Richard Herman, an acclaimed litigator and criminal defense attorney who's been watching the Anthony trial closely.

Boy, Richard, you have got to wonder what is going on right now in the jury room. Do you think they took a show of hands as to where everybody stands on the issues?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I think they could have taken a quick vote on first degree. And this is how I think it's coming down right now. Again, pure speculation based on years of practice and what I'm sensing here.

I think at least eight of those jurors are already convinced it's first-degree murder. So they're ready to go on that one alone. The other four are on the fence, and those four are struggling with, at this point, was it an accidental overdose? And if it was, they know now they could find felony murder.

Number two, are they really buying the prosecution's motive for Casey to do this, to live the good life? I mean, couldn't she have just given the baby to her mother to raise? Wouldn't that have been a simple thing rather than kill her own daughter? And did she have to use Duct tape to kill her or chloroform?

Most of these mother/child murders are done by pillows or things like that. A pretty complex scenario.

So I don't know if they're buying all that. And again, the most important thing, the state's own medical examiner, Deb, still unable to determine the cause of death. The cause of death.

At least one or two of those jurors are absolutely troubled by that concept. Baez did everything he could to bring that up. And, you know, the behavior of Casey, the behavior, the lies, the lies, the behavior, those eight are set --

FEYERICK: Yes. I want to talk about that --

HERMAN: Yes. I mean, it's horrible.

FEYERICK: -- and how, if you're sitting in that room, and you go over all the lies that Casey Anthony told, the fact that she had a nanny which she never had, the fact that she had a job which didn't exist, the fact that she was dating a wealthy man who had a child Caylee's age, and that's why she and Caylee had not seen the grandparents in a while, Casey concocted this elaborate sort of sense around her of this world.

Do you think that the jurors are buying that? Or how much does that play into whether they believe she's guilty based on the fact, as you point out, that they don't know the exact cause of death and that there's no smoking gun like a fingerprint?

HERMAN: Right. A lot of the jurors, Deb, don't care. Those lies and that behavior is enough for them to take the leap and say she did it, she must have done it, I'm going to convict her for that.

That conduct was outrageous. And try, as Baez did, to say it was from molestation or from family dysfunction, come one. No reasonable juror is going to buy into that. So that was just horrible.

That conduct alone is damning. The prosecutor said today in the rebuttal, you know, those lies, that wasn't from a dysfunction, or that wasn't from anything other than Casey looking to protect herself.

FEYERICK: Right.

HERMAN: Looking for her to throw up red flags, send people in other directions.

FEYERICK: What's incredible is just listening to this trial. And it's sort of a secret addiction, because it's so fascinating. But Casey Anthony, she tells lie after lie. It's almost like a mythomaniac, believing that the lies she tells becomes the truth.

She even began to -- or her defense lawyer, anyway -- tried to at least create doubt by saying, well, no, it was the father or, well, no, it was the man who actually found the body. It just -- how does that factor in?

HERMAN: The Kronk claims that were brought out in his opening were completely destroyed, he didn't go anywhere with that. He tried to blow up George Anthony. I think he made a mistake going after him on the suicide, making light of that, making fun of that. I think that was bad. Some jurors are going to be very upset over that.

You know, it's just not falling in place. It didn't fall in place for Baez. He dug himself a hole in his opening. He didn't live up to what he promised in his opening.

Jurors are going to be upset with that. They're going to be upset with Baez and they're going to take it out on Casey.

If they come back, Deb, today or tomorrow with a verdict, it's going to be murder and it's going to go right into the penalty phase. They're sweating it out right now, the defense, the team, and the lawyers, and, of course, Casey.

FEYERICK: All right. Well, Richard Herman, thanks so much.

And of course the jury doesn't have to agree on whether it was premeditated or whether it's felony. They just have to agree that it's murder, and that, technically, the person who did it was the mother, was Casey Anthony.

OK. Richard Herman, thanks so much for keeping an eye on this.

HERMAN: OK. You take care.

FEYERICK: All right. You too, Richard. I was going to have you finish, but anyway, thanks so much.

Well, listen --

HERMAN: An accidental chloroform overdose or Duct-taping her mouth just to keep her quiet which led to death, that's also going to be murder, and that's what's going to sway any of those remaining jurors, I think.

FEYERICK: OK. Richard Herman, thanks so much.

Well, moving on, our "Sound Effect" is from a courtroom not here in the U.S., but thousands of miles away. A defendant on trial not for one death, but thousands.

Ratko Mladic is the former Bosnian Serb military chief who allegedly committed genocide during the Bosnian Civil War in the early 1980s. He was arrested in May after more than 15 years on the run as a wanted man.

Today, in his second appearance before the International Criminal Tribunal, Mladic refused to enter a plea, but had quite a lot to say otherwise. Here's the way it went down in The Hague.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE ALPHONS ORIE, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL (through translator): Under count one, Mr. Mladic, you're charged with genocide, punishable under Article 43-A --

Listen to this.

RATKO MLADIC, FMR. BOSNIAN SERB MILITARY COMMANDER (through translator): No, no, I'm not going to listen to this. I'm not going to listen to this at all. Without my lawyer, I'm not going to listen anymore. You're talking in vain. I'm not going to listen to anything.

ORIE: Mr. Mladic -- Mr. Mladic, the court orders that you be removed from the courtroom.

Could security please escort --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Still defiant.

Well, the judge entered a not guilty plea on Mladic's behalf. He put the proceedings on hold indefinitely.

Now other headlines.

(NEWSBREAK)

FEYERICK: And as spend the Fourth of July with our family and friends and our work colleagues, we take a moment to check in on the U.S. troops who are fighting for our freedom so far away from home. We go to Afghanistan in just a couple of minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And as we celebrate this Independence Day, we remember all the servicemen and women who are fighting for our freedom and safety overseas.

Jason Carroll is in Afghanistan with U.S. troops, and he spoke with our Kyra Phillips earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's great to be here, Kyra, with these guys. As you know, we've been following some of them as part of our series, our year-long series.

Some Familiar faces like Sgt. Randy Shorter. He's actually received a promotion since the last time we spoke. He's now First Sgt. Randy Shorter.

We also have Sgt. Anthony Cook. So, these are two familiar faces. You probably remember them from our series.

But we also have a newer member, as well, who has just joined the platoon. We want to introduce you here.

And just sort of give us a sense of what it's been like for you to be here in the platoon joining these guys, joining these band of brothers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely, Jason. I mean, from the moment I came in, you know, the guys kind of gave me that feeling out period -- hey, what's this guy all about? What kind of leader is he? And after a while, they kind of accepted me into the platoon. And it's just like being part of a family.

CARROLL: You know, we talk so much about family, and on holidays like today, you guys obviously cannot be with family, but you're with each other. How does that help?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, it helps because, you know, we're here together, thick and thin. You know, we go through the toughest of times, but, you know, we always pull each other together.

You know, in times like today, especially on the Fourth of July, we can reflect and think about the moments we had back home and the moments we're getting ready to have when we go back home.

CARROLL: Would you agree with that? Would you agree?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Jason. Like you had seen earlier today, we've just been hanging out as one big family, had a quick poker game going on, and everybody getting nice haircuts.

CARROLL: Yes, you cleaned up in that poker game.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So it's just good to have all these guys around with us, and I can't say enough about them. CARROLL: Very quickly, I want to give everyone a chance to say something.

So, first, I'm going to start with Lieutenant George Cain (ph). I want to give you an opportunity to speak to your family back in Seattle. Here's your chance to give them a shout out.

LT. GEORGE CAIN (ph), U.S. ARMY: Sure.

Everyone back home, mom, dad, my brother, Will, my sister, Sarah -- and you saw my family and friends in Seattle; Houston, Texas; St. Louis --

CARROLL: All right.

Also a shout out? I know you got an earlier one, but let's do it again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My wife, Cheryl, my daughters Milani (ph) and Arianna (ph), back in Fort Campbell. Hello. I love you. Can't wait to see you. Also to my sister, Amy, and my mother and brother, Robert, in California.

CARROLL: And I know your wife is already here, so you don't have to give a shout out to her, but you can if you want.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd just like to say hi to my family back home, Adrian (ph), Minerva Cook (ph) Cathy (INAUDIBLE), and my aunt and my cousin, Kimberly and Jessica Escovel (ph).

I love all of you all. Can't wait to see you.

CARROLL: All right. I wish we could give all the guys back here an opportunity to speak to their families, but if any of you out there are watching, you see a familiar face, they're here right now, they're safe, they're doing a good job.

And Happy Fourth of July to all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Always remember the sacrifices of those who stay at home. We hope they all stay safe.

Well, coming up next, how far would the feds go to catch a suspected serial killer?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Here in the Midwest, several young girls went missing. Some were found murdered. Others were never found at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: CNN's Brooke Baldwin went inside a chilling world to find out the plan is dangerous, it's daring, and it includes sending a convicted drug dealer inside prison undercover to get answers from the madman.

That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, "To Catch a Serial Killer." We've got a special report tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern looking at the case of Larry Hall. Police believe he's a serial killer, but they're lacking a key piece of evidence.

Here's CNN's Brooke Baldwin with a preview of tonight's special.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): Convicted drug dealer Jimmy Keene was 10 months into his sentence when federal prosecutor Larry Beaumont brought him in to talk.

JIMMY KEENE, CONVICTED DRUG DEALER: It scared me. I thought this was some trick.

BALDWIN: Keene watched nervously as Beaumont pushed a folder across the table.

KEENE: And I opened it up, and the first thing I had seen was a picture of a mutilated dead girl, and I flipped the page and there was a different mutilated dead girl.

BALDWIN: And there was a portrait of Tricia Reitler.

KEENE: At that moment, I looked up at Beaumont, and he said, "Jimmy, we need you to help with us this case."

BALDWIN: Beaumont wanted Keene to go under cover, to transfer from his low-security lockup to a dangerous prison, and to befriend alleged serial killer Larry Hall.

KEENE: He says, "If you can get solid confessions from him, and if you can help us locate the bodies that are still missing, we're willing to completely wash your record."

BALDWIN: Keene's mission, to learn where Tricia Reitler was buried.

LARRY BEAUMONT, FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: The purpose of this operation was to find that body.

BALDWIN: Beaumont made it clear -- no body, no early release. Keene would have to serve the rest of his 10-year sentence.

But Beaumont believed Keene could do it.

BEAUMONT: He's smart. He's articulate. He's not afraid. And I knew he wanted to get out.

BALDWIN: For Keene, it was a chance at redemption, to restore his family name, and says author Hillel Levin, to get his life back on track.

HILLEL LEVIN, AUTHOR: This deal was a way for him to get home, and it was also a way for him to do good, to kind of take this bad thing he had done and to somehow turn it back inside out and make it something that would solve a crime.

BALDWIN: But it wouldn't be easy.

(on camera): Fair to say, he was risking his life. He could have been killed.

BEAUMONT: It was dangerous. Absolutely.

KEENE: It was highly risky. These people on those types of places don't have anything better to do but try to hurt you and kill you, too.

BALDWIN (voice-over): Keene was unsure, but a phone call home put his doubts to rest. Keene's stepmother said his father had suffered a stroke.

KEENE: She said he's in bad shape. We wish you were here. This is terrible that you're on the spot when you're in right now because we could lose him.

BALDWIN: Keene needed to get home to Kankakee fast, and there was only one way to make that happen. He had to face an alleged serial killer first.

KEENE: I decided, you know what? However bizarre or far out or whatever this mission that Beaumont wants me to go on, I'm going to do it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: Well, Brooke Baldwin joins me now.

And this is incredible. How risky to put a confidential informant into prison to try to dig up dirt on this Larry Hall.

Tell me, what is it that -- why did they want to know where the body was? What did they want to know about Larry Hall?

BALDWIN: This had never been done before. I mean, this story has legs in so many different directions, because here you have Larry Hall, who's in prison for life for kidnapping and murdering a 15-year- old girl, but these investigators with whom our team has been talking to for months and months say this guy, he may have been capable of murdering many, many other young girls. In fact, I sat down with Larry Hall's twin brother, and he looked at me straight in the eye and he said, "Brooke, I believe my brother is the most prolific killer of all time." So, what happened was is they took this -- we have two characters. So, Larry Hall, who is in prison, in this maximum security lockup, Jimmy Keene, hometown hero, the guy's from Chicago, thought he had it all, starts dealing drugs.

He gets put away for 10 years in an easier situation, a different prison. And so, basically, the guy who put him away gives him the opportunity of a lifetime. Talk about a story of redemption, says, hey, if you can get in and get names and get locations of bodies, I'm going to let you go.

FEYERICK: Obviously, he's so frustrated, knowing that Larry Hall may have done murders than anybody can imagine.

BALDWIN: And he's confessed and recanted multiple times.

FEYERICK: So where do the cases stand now? They've got him on at least two murders. How many more do they think are out there?

BALDWIN: They have him on one. They're working on -- I think the latest number -- and this story has really been changing as Jimmy Keene's story has been coming out. Cold cases are being opened in the Midwest. It could be upwards of 30 girls. And think about the closure that these parents are hoping to get and are yet to have.

FEYERICK: That's remarkable, even if he can tell them where the bodies are buried.

Well, all right, Brooke. We are very excited to look at your special.

BALDWIN: Wait to see how it happens.

FEYERICK: Absolutely, 10:00.

BALDWIN: Ten o'clock tonight.

FEYERICK: All right. And of course we will absolutely be there. Thanks so much.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

FEYERICK: You can watch the rest of Brooke's special, "To Catch a Serial Killer," tonight, 10:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. And you don't want to miss it.

Well, it is now 2:23. Let's check our top stories.

The fate of Casey Anthony now with the jury. Prosecutors finish their final arguments this morning, ridiculing the defense claims that the death of Casey Anthony's 2-year-old daughter Caylee could have been an accident, followed up by some sort of cover-up. The state prosecutors contend that Anthony drugged her child with chloroform, then smothered her with Duct tape and dumped her in the woods.

And Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez returned home from Cuba, where he was being treated for cancer. He is shown right there with his two daughters. That image taken from state-run TV.

He says he is feeling well and happy. He announced last week that Cuban doctors had removed a cancerous tumor. There was speculation that it would be months before his return to Caracas.

And Prince William and his wife Catherine, they are touring Prince Edwards Island on this fifth day of their Canadian tour. The duke and duchess of Cambridge started the day with a visit to Province House, which is the second oldest active legislative building in Canada. And this hour, Prince William will join Canadian military search and rescue pilots in a helicopter emergency landing exercise.

Well, the last mission for the shuttle will also be the first space flight for a device you may have in your pocket right now. Find out what it is coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

FEYERICK: Well, now it's time to go "Off the Radar."

The last shuttle flight will also be the first for Apple's iPhone.

Chad, well, you've been following this. What can you tell us?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: What's the greatest part about an iPhone, I guess? Is it stability? Now there are gyros inside. They know which way.

You can actually get an application -- it's called an app. You get an iPhone or an iPad, all these things. You can point it at an airplane in the sky and the app will tell you where the plane came from, where the plane is going, how high it is, how fast it's going, just by pointing it up.

So, all of this maneuverability -- the upside-down, the GPS, what way -- they're going to use this in the shuttle. Now, they're not going to drive the shuttle with it, but they're going to take it up there, see how it reacts in zero gravity, see what it does for them up there. And then when the Soyuz actually brings people back in September, they will bring these devices back down, download what they found, and see if they learned anything up there, because that's what the ISS is all about in the first place, learning new things. Can they take that application? Can they take that iPhone, bring it back down here and make it even better?

FEYERICK: And just a naive question, perhaps, but usually you have to have a service plan with AT&T or Verizon. How do you get service on your iPhone like in space?

MYERS: I don't think you can call anyone.

FEYERICK: Pretty sure not, right? MYERS: Probably not. You know, and it's not an official thing. This is literally for scientific research, but if it doesn't happen, it's OK. This is it not some kind of -- it has to happen on the docket. They're interested.

There are so many great things these iPhones can do on land. What can they do in space? That's what they're finding out.

FEYERICK: All right. Chad Myers, thanks so much, as always. We appreciate you sticking around for that extra bit there. Thanks so much.

Well, don't forget to watch our coverage of the final shuttle launch this Friday. It begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. And we're gearing up for some very special coverage. And that's going to include our Chad Myers who knows so much about that space shuttle, it's going to be right here on CNN.

And U.S. Special Olympics athletes are showing off their gold medals, we'll tell you all about their impressive showing in Athens right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, it is 2:32. We're going to take a look at some of the headlines and the news that you may have missed. After weeks of tears, testimony, objections and arguments, the fate of Casey Marie Anthony is in the hands of the jury. Prosecutors finished their final arguments this morning, ridiculing the defense's claims that the death of Casey Anthony's daughter Caylee could have been an accident followed by some cover-up. Prosecutors contend that Anthony drugged her child with chloroform, smothered her with three pieces of duct tape and then dumped her body in the woods not far from her grandparents home so she could go out and live the single life.

Mexican law enforcement officials say they've arrested one of the founders of the Zetas drug gang who may be linked to the killing of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jamie Zapata back in February. Federal police captured Jesus Enrique Rejon Aguilar known as "El Mamito" Sunday. He's suspected of being behind numerous deaths in northeastern Mexico where the Zetas have been engaged in a turf battle with their former allies the Gulf cartel.

The U.S. DEA has offered a $5 million reward -- that was for any information leading to their arrest of this man.

And Libya's rebel leaders say he does not have a problem with Moammar Gadhafi remaining in the country once he resigns, as long as he remains under supervision. This report contradicts earlier opposition statements that Gadhafi's exit was an absolute prerequisite for fighting to stop. The announcement signals the possible willingness to negotiate with the Libyan leader to bring about an end to the month's long conflict. A spokesman for the Libyan government has said that they would welcome a peace deal from the rebels, but not one that rested on Gadhafi's departure. And here's something that will make you feel patriotic on this Independence Day and bring a smile to your lips. American pride on full display at the Special Olympics in Athens, Greece. They're celebrating several gold medal winning teams, including the USA soccer team from Maryland. Also winning gold, the U.S. softball team from Texas, and the USA basketball team. Team USA is also bringing home individual gold medal in aquatics, gymnastics and bocce.

It looks like they're having great fun there.

Well, three days after that huge anti-government protest in Hama, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he strikes back. That's one of the stories we're going to discuss next when we go "Globe Trekking."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And take a look. We're looking at live pictures from NASA TV. The Atlantis crew has just arrived at the Kennedy Space Center. They're going to spend the week getting ready for Friday's final launch. That launch, of course, set for about 11:26 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday. You can see them in their suits there, and they're going to be crossing their T's and dotting their I's.

And don't forget to watch our coverage of that final shuttle launch -- it's going to be historical -- this Friday, beginning 10:00 a.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Well, the Syrian government appears to be cracking down on the town of Hama, just days after massive protests there. That's one of the issues we're just discussing today in "Globe Trekking."

Ralitsa Vassileva joins me from CNN International.

Ralitsa, a human rights group says that Syrian security forces, they are raiding homes. They are arresting dozens of activists on the outskirts.

What is going on there? This was a huge demonstration over the weekend. Is this pay back from Assad?

RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: We're trying to piece together different narratives we're getting. From activists, we're hearing that early this morning at dawn, the security forces, which had withdrawn from Hama, that's why people were able to go out and protest. Hundreds of thousands turned out as you mentioned. On Friday, they came back.

You see these pictures that we received -- amateur pictures of the security forces, with tanks -- the military vehicles coming back, dozens of them at dawn. They broke into homes, they arrested activists.

The people realized what was going on. They got angry, started throwing stones. Clashes erupted -- and at this point we don't know exactly what's going on in this town, which is a very restive town, with a very bloody history with the Assad regime. President Assad's father in 1982 cracked down and crushed an uprising, an Islamic militant uprising in this town, in which more than 10,000, possibly 20,000 people were killed.

And it's unknown now why he decided to send back the troops in. He fired the governor of Hama also a few days ago -- we didn't know why he fired him, whether he did a good job, or whether he did a bad job, allowing these massive demonstrations. So, it's up in the air.

FEYERICK: And it's certainly interesting, because President Assad has basically said, well, we're going to do limited reforms. We're going to work with you. But it's interesting, maybe they just pulled out too soon and realized that there was way too much public momentum to take the risk. That this was going to go on or potentially spread, I would assume.

VASSILEVA: Yes, these were the biggest demonstrations -- it seems nothing the government has done has been able to halt these demonstrations, from increasing in intensity in the main cities, across the country, and spreading. People are risking their lives and they keep turning out no matter what.

FEYERICK: OK. Thailand, let's move on Thailand. First of all, they had a new prime minister. But not just any prime minister -- this is the sister of someone who was serving the exact same position just a couple of years ago.

VASSILEVA: This is the sister of the very controversial and divisive former prime minister who was ousted in the military coup in 2006. Her name is Yingluck Shinawatra. She has formed a government with four other parties, has a solid majority, says she wants to reconcile her country, which is very divided between those who adore her brother, the poor, the rural poor, to whom he has offered a lot of concessions and public support with public money; and the military establishment, the business people, the urban people, who also consider him corrupt and authoritarian and they hate him as much as he's adored.

So, he's a very divisive figure. He has been convicted of corruption, he's living in exile, self-imposed exile.

The big question, Deb, here is what will the military do, and what will Yingluck do? Some say she's doing her brother's bidding; she's going to try to get him amnesty. She says no, but there will be a reconsideration of the investigation and charges against him.

FEYERICK: Which that in and of itself is interesting, because maybe they'll find the charges against him initially were not legitimate charges, or perhaps they should have been handled differently.

And what's interesting, there's still obviously lot of problems in Thailand. You've got a separatist uprising that's going on there. And I don't know whether we have it -- we do. There was a car bomb explosion, they think separatists did it.

But the video is fascinating. Just take a look at this. This is -- you know, you use -- you don't usually see this in real time.

VASSILEVA: Yes, you see the explosion. The police officer is trying to diffuse this bomb. As he approaches, you see there, he's approaching, the bomb goes off. Take a look at that.

He's thrown off by the massive power of this explosion, and he walked away. You see him get up, he walked away. And we don't know the extent of his injuries. But obviously he survived this massive explosion in the south. There's a Malayan minority, Muslim minority in the south, which feels marginalized from the north, the mostly Buddhist Thai majority. And that's what this conflict is about.

FEYERICK: And, certainly, the new prime minister, she's going to have her hands full. But she did win the majority of parliament. So, that's one thing.

So, finally, I just want to get your thoughts, and this is fascinating. Hugo Chavez, he returns to Venezuela. He had gone to Cuba to have a cancerous tumor removed. He's back.

Now, what?

VASSILEVA: He's back as a surprise. This is a surprise. This is 2:00 a.m. in the morning.

After yesterday, we were reporting that his vice president said he would be gone for another possibly six months, recuperating, getting treatment for cancer in Cuba. And there he is arriving one day ahead of a very important date in his country's history. The bicentennial of their independence from Spain.

So, he's back, but he says he may not be able to participate in the celebrations, though, he is expected to speak at around 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. So, we don't know --we don't know the extent of his cancer, exactly what kind of cancer.

FEYERICK: Or whether he may go back to Cuba to finish up on chemotherapy or whatever, though you would think that maybe Venezuela would have a couple pretty good doctors too.

OK. Well, Ralitsa Vassileva, thank you so much. Always a pleasure to see you, and we'll check in with you. Thanks so much.

Well, when we think of July 4th, we think of fanfare, fireworks, family barbeques, but there's also a Declaration of Independence. Do you know when and who we declared our independence from? Well, you want to stay with us before you answer.

Stay tuned.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: I want to show you a couple pictures moments ago. These are the astronauts from the space shuttle Atlantis. They arrived there at the Kennedy Space Center. They greeted some reporters, took a look at a couple planes. They've got a big week ahead of them, talk about trying to get ready for an important mission, that's, of course, going to be last one. And that's going to happen Friday. Of course, CNN is going to be there for you to bring this historic event to you live.

Again, that was moments ago, one of the astronauts talking to some members who were gathered there in Florida.

Well, as we celebrate the fourth of July, I'm going to ask you a question, OK? And this may sound obvious. But in what year did the U.S. declares independence and from what country?

Quick, better answer. You sure, you really sure? Well, before you say yes, Marist College asked more than 1,000 Americans the very same question.

And according to their poll, an embarrassing number of U.S. Americans, well, of course, need to brush up on their history 101. Apparently, the historical truths are not so self-evident. And that brings me to today's big breakdown.

Only 58 percent of Americans knew the correct year the U.S. declared its independence; 26 percent weren't so sure about their answer, 16 percent were stumped, which is pretty surprising since the answer is drilled into our heads starting in elementary school.

That's what makes this surprising. Younger Americans are the least likely to know the right answer. Only 31 percent of adults, younger than 30, got the year correct. For adults between 30 and 44, it was 59 percent.

The age group who really knows their history, Americans 45 to 59. Three out of four of them answered correctly. The percentage dropped for adults 60 and older. And men 65 percent responded correctly versus just 52 percent of women.

Ladies what's up with that? We're too busy. Well, fine.

What country did the U.S. revolt against for our independence? Roughly one in four Americans were unsure or simply didn't know. Luckily, the other three quarters, well, they got it right. Maybe it's all time we dust off those history books or cram in the basement for a little refresher.

Oh, and by the way, the answer, date of independence, 1776, and who were we fighting from? Great Britain. You knew that right? I thought so.

Well, the famous Coney Island hot dog eating contest is coming under fire and doctors say it's a bad example. Shouldn't it ban? Our Stream Team is going to weigh in, coming up next.

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FEYERICK: Well, July 4th is a day for fireworks and family. It's also a good eating day. We all know that Nathan's famous hot dog eating contest at Coney Island -- well, it's a holiday tradition.

Just a couple hours ago, Joey Chestnut won for the fifth straight year. But for competitive eaters, this is just one of dozens of contests. They chow down on everything, from cupcakes to corn, deep fried asparagus to rocky mountain oysters.

At their annual meeting, the American Medical Association, they condemned competitive eating for condoning excessive eating and for wasting resources that could be used to fight hunger. So, we wanted to put the question to our Stream Team.

On that team that elect, select prestigious team is Sirius XM radio host and CNN contributor, my pal, Pete Dominick, and also, Kat Kinsman, managing editor of CNN's Eatocracy Food Blog.

So, Kat, what do you do think? Do you think these contests should be banned? Do you think they send the wrong message?

KAT KINSMAN, CNN'S EATOCRACY FOOD BLOG: Well, if you know, if you like I have been in the splash zone, while a cardiac surgeon is trying to keep down his 12th matzos ball, hopefully using the Roman message (ph), you are never going to want to participate in one of these so long as you live.

FEYERICK: I don't want even to participate, period. But, Pete, what is the harm? You're eating 60 hotdogs. How much damage can that do?

PETE DOMINICK, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Oh, I can't -- I can't imagine, Deb, what the harm could be. But how dare you ask should they be banned? This is American exceptionalism, eating 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Deb, that's like even a collective middle finger to the entire third world. Look how much food we have? Let's stuff in our body as quickly as we can. This is America.

FEYERICK: Well, you know, do you think the AMA has no real sense of humor when it comes to this? Are they taking this sport too seriously, Kat?

KINSMAN: Well, you know, it's not as if this is anything new. You go back to the ye olde blueberry pie eating contest at the state fair. It's just what this particular administration is trying to do, George Shea at the International Federation of competitive eating is just injecting a little bit of showmanship, Americana, a little bit of that sideshow carnival barker kind of ethos.

And I think once a year, it's OK.

FEYERICK: Right. Exactly. Those of us not competitive eating, we like to call it thanksgiving. But, anyway, you know, when you have to sit back on the couch and just let the world pass you by.

OK. We're going to switch gears to any hot day staple, and, of course, it's the beach. And a new study from the Website Trip Adviser asked people about what they thought about skimpy clothing on the beach. Thirty-five said, no, no, no to the Speedo; 29 percent said no to skimpy bikinis.

So, make sense of this one. Seventy-five percent of people said it's OK for women to go topless, I guess, because men do. But let me ask -- do you think there should be a dress code at the beach? Kat, what do you think about those Speedos? Yes or no? Thumbs up or down?

KINSMAN: Well, it depends on if they've been in an eating contest first. I think it has to be all or nothing. If you have that one guy walking across the beach in a Speedo, it's a little creepy. But if everybody is on the same page, why not?

If you love what you have, show it off. No harm done. Great body image.

FEYERICK: All right. Pete, what do you think? Am I going to see you walking around the beach in a Speedo?

DOMINICK: Well, I live by a double standard. I go to Europe every year, when I am in Italy, Deb, I'm going to admit, I do rock the mankini. Let's call it something else, because Speedo is a corporate name. That's corporate label. Many names, the banana hammock, the flong smuggler (ph), I like mankini.

Here's the deal, equality. Women get to be comfortable, that sand gets just as uncomfortable for men as it does for women. America needs to get over its obsession with masculinity and allow us to wear tight shorts at the beach at and the pool, Deb.

FEYERICK: That's exactly right. Tight shorts that look like scant underwear.

OK, all right. So, skinny bikinis, aren't we supposed to be -- well, I say we like in the collective we, not like we, me, personally -- but aren't you supposed to be able to wear skimpy bikinis at the beach?

KINSMAN: Well, you know, I'm seeing just as many of the gentleman out there who could use a bikini top as the ladies. I think if we all just had a healthier notion about bodies and what is right. You know, a lot of people look somehow less scandalous naked than they do when they're wearing a bikini top.

It all depends on the attitude you wear it with and how much confidence you have in yourself. Everybody can do it with a little bit more body confidence. Just love yourself, everybody's going to love looking at you. I don't see the harm in that.

DOMINICK: Yes. But it's not what they wear, it's what they do. I was just at the pool, the public pool, a lady was clipping her finger nails. You know what? If I'm at the beach, give me about six feet of space. Keep your music to yourself.

Wear whatever you want. But don't do whatever you want. Stay out of my space and don't do girl things. That's the problem I have. You can always look away otherwise.

FEYERICK: OK. So, you still have to maintain a little bit of dignity is what you're saying.

Pete Dominick, we'll see -- look forward to seeing you in that mankini, maybe.

DOMINICK: Yes. See you in New York.

FEYERICK: And, Kat, thanks so much. You guys enjoy the rest of the Fourth of July.

Well, a special July 4th celebration at the White House. Your CNN political update, coming up, straight away.

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FEYERICK: And time now for a CNN political update.

And CNN White House correspondent Dan Lothian joining us now.

Dan, busy day there or relatively quiet?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's always a busy day here at the White House. Of course, we're working, so that makes it busy, right?

But, certainly, this is a tradition that takes place here -- the president inviting members of the military and their family members here. Out on the South Lawn, they get to listen to music, concerts, get to watch the fireworks on the South Lawn, also eat good food at the barbecue.

Also members of the administration, their family members invited to the event.

President Obama will be making some brief remarks later this evening.

But as they've been setting up for this, cleanup crews have been busy cleaning up out here on the North Lawn when a big storm came through last night knocking branches off the tree, making one tree behind me kind of a little dangerous. They've had to cordon off an area, where you have to change how we enter the White House because of the possible danger of that tree coming down.

White House producer Emily Schultze took some pictures this morning of branches laying around out here at the White House.

So, they've had to do a little cleaning up as they've been getting ready for the military families to come here to the White House today.

FEYERICK: All right. Absolutely. And the military families obviously deserve the best. Very quickly -- Congress back to work tomorrow on possible debt deal. Where do things stand there?

LOTHIAN: That's right. You know, Senate back tomorrow. On Wednesday, House members return. They have made some progress, all sides will say, but still at odds.

You hear Republicans say, you know, no tax hikes. They don't want -- they want much deeper cuts than they've already identified. Democrats saying, listen, you know, we want to limit the amount of cuts, and they want some of the wealthier Americans to give a little bit up, perhaps lose some of the benefits they've been getting, the tax breaks.

So, they're at odds and the clock is ticking.

FEYERICK: Clock is always ticking. Dan Lothian at the White House, thanks so much.

Right now, we're going to go right to Brooke Baldwin, taking it away.

Go ahead, Brooke.