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Hope Rises for NFL Deal; "Gang of Six" Debt Plan Fades; Debt Ceiling Deadlock; Atlantis Lands in the History Books; Rupert Murdoch Reviews; NFL Labor Negotiations; Three Resign Over Pool Death; Abby Wambach Welcomed Home; Murdoch Scandal Probe Expands; "Why We Need Tabloids"; "Entourage," The Movie; Mila Kunis' Body Double; Beatles Pictures Get $350,000; Social Media Background Checks
Aired July 21, 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's 10:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 7:00 a.m. out West. Hello everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips.
A new warning from U.S. terror chiefs: they say private utilities in the U.S. may be the next target. Water, electricity, even nuclear power plants.
The space shuttle "Atlantis" lands in the history books. We'll have the predawn ending to the shuttle program.
The NFL owners gathering in Atlanta, a sign that they could soon have a deal. Professional football and its upcoming season have been in limbo since the lockout began in March.
We begin with the nation's debt crisis. Eleven days until the government runs out of money and lawmakers are quickly running out of options. On Capitol Hill, hopes appear to be fading for the bipartisan plan proposed by the gang of six.
Conservatives are rejecting the tax increases and liberals won't accept cuts to entitlement programs. Now members of both parties are turning back to the McConnell/Reid plan. The bipartisan proposal could dodge the deadline and prevent the country from running out of money.
Under the proposal, the president raises the ceiling and lawmakers would agree to the spending cuts later. Then there's this option. Some lawmakers want to cherry pick elements of both proposals and just form a new one.
We're covering the story from all angles. Brianna Keilar is at the White House, Kate Bolduan on Capitol Hill. Brianna, let's start with you. The president has changed his mind on whether he'd sign a short-term measure to increase the debt ceiling. But there's a caveat, right?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: There is a caveat, Kyra. The caveat is that it wouldn't be something for an extended period of time. It would be, perhaps, a few days to increase the debt ceiling if, really, the paperwork wasn't done on a more comprehensive larger deal to reduce the deficit. Right now, as you know, the White House is still really pushing this plan by the gang of six or some sort of large plan that could get bipartisan support with a lot of moving parts. Everything from tax reform to tax increases, which Democrats want and Republicans are resistant to spending cuts and entitlement reform.
They're still pushing that. Kyra, as you know, the clock is very much ticking. We're looking at really less than two weeks now and for a place really where, I mean, I think the heat index here today is going to be about 115.
Now we're finally watching the market starting to respond. The negotiators here are really starting to feel the heat both figuratively and literally.
PHILLIPS: And then Kate, there is a lot of speculation the gang of six plan might be a basis for a bipartisan agreement. Now, a couple days have passed since it was unveiled. How is it being received on the Hill now?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, a couple things on that, Kyra. The gang themselves, those six members plus a few more now, they're really pushing to gain more support. They really trying to gain momentum.
While leaders in both the House and Senate, they haven't closed the door to the idea, saying - many saying they like it in principle, they agree with it in principle. Members and senators, they seem wary that they haven't gotten more detail of the plan that they want.
Some frustrated with the simple fact of the matter, which is that even the members of this gang, Kyra, say that this plan, this gang of six plan, the large package is not ready for primetime. It's not going to be translated into legislative language in order to be the solution ahead of this August 2nd deadline.
So many are frustrated, if it's not the solution why are we still talking about it? But they're not completely closing the door on the idea possibly talking about folding some elements of this grand package coming from the gang of six into possibly that fallback plan of Senators Reid and McConnell, that they're working on.
But no word yet if that's actually happening so there are a lot of moving parts still up here in terms of that package and where else we're going to head.
PHILLIPS: Well, yes and Brianna, I mean, we're 12 days out from August 2nd.
KEILAR: That's right. We're so close. You know, certainly I know Kate can speak to the fact that Congress doesn't do anything on, you know, really short term. It takes time for legislation to go through Congress and there isn't even a breakthrough yet, Kyra.
We saw meetings yesterday between the president and he met with Democrats and Republicans separately, they came out of those meetings, no breakthrough. But I think privately what you hear from administration officials is that there's a lot that can get done in two weeks.
They're not ready to give up on a big deal and they feel confident that certainly some sort of fallback is going to be worked out. But certainly this is starting to get very nerve-racking because, like I said, no breakthrough yesterday. People want to see some action. The markets want to see some action and so far we're not there.
PHILLIPS: Brianna and Kate, thanks, ladies.
A smooth, safe and kind of sad homecoming this morning for the shuttle "Atlantis." Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROB NAVIAS, NASA PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE (voice-over): Having fired the imagination of a generation, a ship like no other, its place in history secured, the space shuttle pulls into port for the last time, its voyage, at an end.
CAPTAIN CHRIS FERGUSON, SHUTTLE COMMANDER (voice-over): Houston, after serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle has earned its place in history and has come to a final stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: NASA's shuttle program now officially retired. John Zarrella was there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The 135th and final space shuttle flight coming to an end in the predawn hours here at the Kennedy Space Center just before sunlight.
The shuttle "Atlantis" commanded by Christopher Ferguson coming in, in a perfect landing here at the shuttle landing facility and as wheels touched down and then Ferguson brought the vehicle to wheel stop, he had some poignant words on the end of an era.
FERGUSON: Flying in space is a real dream, but flying in space, it has a lot more to do with who you do it with than what you do. And these three folks, Rex and Sandy and Doug, I'll tell you. A commander couldn't ask for three better people to go and perform an aggressive and to a certain extent historic mission.
ZARRELLA: It took about an hour and a half for the astronauts to get off of the orbiter. But as soon as they did, they were greeted by members of the NASA family, the administrator Charlie Boldin meeting them, the launch director, Mike Linebach also meeting them.
Then Commander Ferguson went to the microphone and talked about what an extraordinary journey it had been, this shuttle program, and how he was now looking towards the future. FERGUSON: We're going to put "Atlantis" in a museum now along with the other three orbiters. For generations that will come after us to admire and appreciate.
And, hopefully, I want that picture of a young 6-year-old boy looking up at a space shuttle in a museum and -- and saying, you know, daddy, I want to do something like that when I grow up or I want our country to do fantastic things like this for the continued future. And if we set those steps right now and they continue with that, that next generation of space explorers then I consider our job here complete.
ZARRELLA: "Atlantis" will be towed from the runway over to what's known as the Orbiter processing facility where thousands of shuttle workers will be allowed to go out and look at the vehicle one more time up close. John Zarrella, CNN, at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: The end of the shuttle program is not winning the support of many Americans. According to the latest CNN poll, half of all Americans feel the end of the shuttle program is bad for the country. One-third say no effect and 16 percent believe the money can be used better elsewhere.
Rupert Murdoch's performance before that British parliamentary committee on Tuesday was good enough to bump his company's stock up. But the British and international press, not quite as impressed as investors. Monita Rajpal with the latest headlines as the scandal -- talk of the scandal lives on.
MONITA RAJPAL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra. It's not going anywhere any time soon. It's still the front page of many newspapers around the world. I want to share with you some of the headlines and what they're saying about this whole affair.
"Gulf News" out of the UAE has the headline, "Shameful for Murdoch to feign ignorance." Rupert Murdoch stands guilty today not only crimes carried out at the "News of the World" it says, but more by his shameful ignorance of them. Murdochgate is not about what Murdoch did, but more about what he did not do.
Then "The Guardian" newspaper here in Britain has the headline, "This scandal has exposed the scale of elite corruption." The paper goes on to say the real frenzy isn't the exposure of the scandal. It's the scale of corruption, collusion and cover-up between News International, politicians and police that the scandal has revealed. Kyra --
PHILLIPS: All right. Monita, thanks. Tabloid papers get readers by the millions, but the phone hacking scandal in the U.K. has some wondering if they've outlived their usefulness. In a moment, we're going to hear the argument for "no so fast."
And what you do on social media web sites could make or break that next job interview. The next generation of background checks is here. We'll tell you about it.
Plus, the NFL off season could get longer if owners and players can't strike a labor deal. We're live where the crucial negotiations are going on and a vote is expected.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. Pro football fans hope that the NFL's four- month old labor lockout ends today. Players and owners could vote on a deal that will the 2011 season. CNN's David Mattingly is live here in Atlanta where the negotiations are taking place. What's the word, David, any progress?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the owners were trickling in today. They're now behind closed doors right here behind me talking about what's going on. They had hoped that the players would have voted on and approved the labor agreement so they would have it in front of them as they got down to business today.
But that hasn't happened. So all eyes here in Atlanta with the owners will be watching what happens in Washington, D.C., where the player reps are, to see if and when they vote on that agreement. That could happen today.
And everyone we've talked to here expressing some optimism. Some owners, the ones, the very few that were willing to talk, did say expect everything to go according to plan. Particularly we talked to Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons. He said, don't expect any surprises today. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARTHUR BLANK, OWNER, ATLANTA FALCONS: I don't think there'll be any surprises to any of the owners in the room about the nature of the deal and the specifics of it.
Having said that, you know, it has to be vetted and there'll be discussions and what have you. But I'm optimistic we'll get a vote today and optimistically positive vote today and we'll be opening up training camps next week and looking forward to football.
MATTINGLY: My last question is how concerned are you about what's going on?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: So we don't have a solid answer yet as to when will there be some football. But we are looking at the possibility now that if there's no agreement reached today and it continues to push day after day, it's going to start encroaching on the preseason, affecting those preseason games.
Everyone very mindful of that because, Kyra, that's when it starts cutting into the money that comes into the NFL. That's what this fight has all been about. Kyra --
PHILLIPS: David Mattingly live in Atlanta. David, thanks.
Let's go and check some stories cross country now. In Kansas City, Missouri, the sweltering heat may be contributing to the 13 deaths that have happened already. Cooling centers around that city are open. The brutal temps are expected to continue through the end of the month.
In Fall River, Massachusetts, maybe you recall this grim story from last month. A woman drowns in a busy public pool. Her body sits at the bottom of it for more than two days before discovered. Then public pools are shutdown. Now an investigation reveals that cloudy water may be partly to blame for not finding her.
And up in Rochester, New York, a hero's welcome.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Abby Wambach!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Abby Wambach, we all know the name, women's World Cup scoring machine, one of the stars of the U.S. team that almost clinched the cup, but unfortunately came in second to Japan.
So what do you do -- or what you do, rather, on social media sites could actually make or break that next job interview of yours. We're going to take a look at the next generation of background checks.
In sports, Tiger Woods fires his long-time caddie, Steve Williams and Williams speaks out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: The media scandal that has outraged Great Britain widens today. We're learning police have uncovered enough information to expand their investigation beyond the Murdoch media empire.
It appears other tabloids and other companies may have used similar sleazy tactics such as hacking phones or bribing police officers. The concerns now ripple across the tabloid industry.
Surely only the most degraded, low minded people could produce this kind of news. That's exactly what a news analyst said back in 1936 when referring to tabloids.
Well, there's still a lot of people out there who feel that way especially given the huge hacking scandal in Britain. But our next guest says, hold on a minute. Before you judge, consider this.
He writes, tabloid journalism can actually be an important player in our modern culture. Ryan Linkof wrote an op-ed piece for the "New York Times," "Why We Need the Tabloids." He joins us live out of Los Angeles. Ryan, good to see you.
RYAN LINKOF, WROTE NYT OP-ED DEFENDING TABLOIDS: Good to see you. Thanks for having me.
PHILLIPS: All right. So you actually say the vast majority of tabloids carry out their coverage, quote, "above board." Give me -- give me an example of that.
LINKOF: Well, I think for me, what I think is interesting about the "News of the World" scandal is that I think people have used the very egregious and illegal tactics used by some of the "News of the World" journalists and editors to extrapolate broader claims about the tabloid press in general as if all tabloids act in that way.
But as we know, as with cases such as John Edwards and his infidelities, which were leaked by American tabloid newspapers, this was carried out in an above board way and actually was an important and revelatory story for all news not just tabloid readers.
PHILLIPS: But, you know, when people and that's a point well made because I think a lot of people were shocked that the "National Enquirer" actually broke that story and got it right.
Everybody followed up on that. It was interesting to see how people even questioned, you know, the fact that the paper broke that story. So you make a good point. But when you look at the covers of tabloids, and I think we've got a couple examples here.
Do we have -- here we go. Like the "National Enquirer." OK? 250-pound Kirsty collapses. She breaks down after new diet failure. I'm fat and look like hell. OK, that's an example of here in the U.S. then you've got "The Sun."
All right, exclusive baby face father of the dad at 13. I guess, when you see covers like this, you wonder, how is that, I guess, an important player in our modern culture? How is that above board journalism?
LINKOF: Well, it's -- I think that -- I think I'm glad you showed those two, actually. Because I think that the tabloids do, I think, two things simultaneously.
One of which is to tell stories about elites, about celebrities, about politicians, about people, about royalty. And to tell them in a way that allows a certain amount of access into their lives from people who are -- that live a much different way so kind of ordinary people are allowed to access the lives of the elite.
And also told in a way that is meant to humiliate and somehow degrade the people that are on display, which I think actually serves an important social function in the sense that it mitigates some of the social inequalities that are endure especially in Anglo American cultures.
And allows for, you know, the popular audience to feel a certain sense of mastery over social elites. I think that's one thing. I think the dad at 13 is interesting. This I think the tabloids also on the other hand are really about exposing private information about very ordinary people that happen to be involved in extraordinary circumstances.
PHILLIPS: Well, it's interesting points to make for sure because tabloids, you know, many times, you know, they've really hurt a lot of people with stories that in the end really don't matter.
It's an interesting read, for sure. Read it "New York Times" if you haven't seen it yet, you go online. Ryan Linkof, thanks so much.
LINKOF: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
Your showbiz headlines. It looks like "Entourage" will live on. At HBO's red carpet premiere of the show's final season, cast member Kevin Connolly was talking movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are going to get a movie.
KEVIN CONNOLLY, ENTOURAGE'S "ERIC MURPHY": Yes. It's just a matter of when. We just want to do it the right way. We can just go hammer one out, but we don't want to end a successful eight-year run on a show with a crappy movie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The normally cheeky actress Mila Kunis was a little less so in "Friends with Benefits." She tells Ryan Seacrest that that's not her backside exposed in the movie, which opens Friday. She says they actually used a body double. Kunis says she's not really going to let it all hang out on film just yet.
Take a look at these. Never before seen photos of the Beatles in 1964 from their very first performance in the U.S. at the Washington Coliseum. The pictures went for more than $350,000 at a New York auction.
What you have posted years ago on a social media web site could come back to haunt you if you're looking for a job. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange with more on this story.
Alison, it is kind of frightening that there are companies now that can go online and find out every single thing about you. You know?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Makes you feel smart, doesn't it, without that Facebook page of yours, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: See? Exactly. It's the first reason why I said that's why I don't do it. OK, this is giving me some justice, I guess.
KOSIK: There you go. So, yes, you talked about these companies that do this. One of them thinks this is really a new trend. It's called social intelligence. What this company does is it searches the Internet to find information about prospective job candidates. It actually compiles a file on that person. It collects both positive and negative information. You know, the good stuff like charitable work, the honors you've gotten.
And, of course, the bad stuff. The racist remarks you've made online, sexually explicit photos you've posted and the illegal activities that you've done, maybe looking for OxyContin on Craigslist.
What it does is it gives all this information to your prospective employer. Think of it as a pre-employment screening of sorts. The CEO says, guess what? There's a lot of interest, a little surprise there, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes, are there legal issues? There's got to be some.
KOSIK: Well, this is legal for this company to do. They only reveal what's allowed by law. The company does not provide information on your sexual orientation, your religion, your race, your political affiliation.
And it's important -- there's an important point here as well. You know, it has to let the job candidate know beforehand that it's going to do this. And the CEO says, you know what, most candidates they don't have negative things come out.
But there are a lot of sexually explicit pictures out there. Lesson to everybody, don't post those naked photos of yourself on Facebook. But the reality is here, most companies, they're going to Google you anyway.
Social intelligence, this company says this way is far better because it's more fair because if a company -- if the employer actually Googles you, they may find somebody else with the same name and confuse you or find information they're not legally allowed to consider like race, religion. The company says rely on us. We'll get you the legal stuff that you need to know before you decide whether or not you want to hire this person, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: It's amazing how much there is out there now and how easy it is to get it.
KOSIK: Yes, everything.
PHILLIPS: Alison, thanks. Michelle Obama talks a playful shot and jokes to a magazine that she's in better shape than her husband. Who would you rather work out with? "Political Buzz" is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: "Political Buzz," your rapid fire look at the hottest political topics of the day. Three questions, 20 seconds on the clock. Playing today, democratic strategist Maria Cardona, Sirius-XM political talk show host and comedian Pete Dominick and CNN contributor Will Cain.
First question, guys, John McCain warns GOP House members to remember 1995. That government shutdown is often credited for Clinton's successful re-election in '96. Will they listen? Maria?
MARIA CARDONA, FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO HILLARY CLINTON: I think they should listen unless they want to commit political suicide. Two things have come out in recent polls, Kyra, that the GOP needs to be concerned about.
The first one is that the majority of Americans believe that there should be both spending cuts as well as new tax revenues in any deal. The second one is that Obama and the Democrats have been much more willing to negotiate than Republicans have. Both bad things for the GOP.
PHILLIPS: Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Will they listen? I hope so as well. Let me just say this. The narrative, that there's been some grand bargain, some deal to be had, House Republicans are holding up just got blown up completely. Now that there's a real plan out there, the gang of six plan, who do we see putting up a big fight to it? The congressional black caucus. This is a bipartisan problem.
PHILLIPS: Pete?
PETE DOMINICK, SIRIUS-XM POLITICAL TALK SHOW HOST: Yes. I think John McCain is being a practical politician so are Maria's remarks just then. But I don't think that these Tea Party Republicans in the House are being practical.
They did not get elected to compromise. They didn't get elected really to govern. They got elected on this issue of cutting spending. They don't care about getting re-elected. John McCain and most politicians do. They don't care about the party. They care about the idea.
PHILLIPS: OK, guys. Day three of the Michele Bachmann migraine coverage, we're putting it out there. What do you think? Are there undercurrents of sexism? Maria?
CARDONA: Well, I think we should definitely keep an eye on it, but I think it's two things. I think that she hasn't really answered the questions as to how debilitating this is for her.
Secondly, she's not really saying anything else that's compelling that the media can cover. It's either going to be the migraines or it's going to be the reparative therapy that her husband and her clinic offer homosexuals. So take your pick.
PHILLIPS: Will? CAIN: Kyra, I don't think there's sexism. You know, at first, I was -- I thought, if this was Barack Obama or anybody else, it'd be just as big a story.
But I have to say at this point it has gotten a little blown out of proportion. But I don't think it's because of sex. I think it's because it's Michele Bachmann. I'm no fan of Michele Bachmann, but ask yourself this, if this story were about Hillary Clinton having migraines, would it be just as big?
PHILLIPS: Pete?
DOMINICK: Well, listen. George Washington had no teeth. Abraham Lincoln they say was bipolar. FDR had polio; his legs didn't work. JFK had chronic pain. Bill Clinton was addicted to women outside of his wife. Every presidential candidate gets scrutinized about everything. John McCain they said might have been too old.
Sexism? No. But may I say, Kyra, your hair makes you look exceptionally hot today. That's sexist --
(LAUGHTER)
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
DOMINICK: -- as opposed to me saying, you know, you're talented and you work so hard to anchor a NEWSROOM for two hours every day. That is a good compliment.
PHILLIPS: I'll take both, OK, as I turn really red here. Maria, I might ask you to weigh in and help me out.
All right, your Buzzer Beater. Ten seconds each, guys. Michelle Obama jokes to a magazine that she's in better shape than the president. Pete, no comments about my body, please. Who would you rather work out with? Will?
CAIN: I guess the first lady since it's apparently more of a challenge.
PHILLIPS: And Maria?
CARDONA: Kyra, I think you look hot, too, for the record.
(LAUGHTER)
(BELL RINGS)
CARDONA: But I would rather work out with Michelle Obama because I don't play basketball. I don't play golf. I am a gym rat. Have you seen the guns on the first lady? Would love to know what her workout is for her arms.
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
PHILLIPS: Show us your guns, Maria? And Pete, I'll let you talk while we look at her guns.
(LAUGHTER)
CARDONA: There you go.
DOMINICK: All right. Let me just be fair to everybody here. Maria, she looks great. And Will Cain is looking exceptionally hot.
CAIN: Talk to me.
(LAUGHTER)
DOMINICK: Look at this guy. Look at the hair.
Who would I rather work out with?
(BUZZER SOUNDS)
DOMINICK: I'd rather play basketball with the president, lift weights with the first lady. But I want to take both of them to yoga. Ohm. Ohm.
PHILLIPS: Peace. Meditate on that. Believe me, I need a little meditation today. Thank you, Pete, Will, Maria. You're all three hot. And I love everything about you (ph).
(LAUGHTER)
CAIN: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right. See you tomorrow.
Well, listen up, Gen Y millennial job seekers. Tired of trying to network on Facebook or LinkedIn? You got five minutes? You might want to give Network Roulette a whirl. It may be Gen Y's answer to landing a job, or at least making a connection. CNN's Deb Feyerick has the scoop.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEB FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In this hip Washington, D.C. cafe, connections are being made as fast as the lattes. The event is called Network Roulette. Like speed dating, but online, it pairs Gen Y'ers with job recruiters, mentors and peers offering advice.
Twenty seven-year-old entrepreneur Ryan Healy traded his job as a financial consultant to create BrazenCareerist.com. Built as a job support Web site for high achievers, the site partners with businesses. Some of them Fortune 500 companies willing to shell out thousands of dollars to meet millenials.
RYAN HEALY, CO-FOUNDER, BRAZENCAREERIST.COM: We provide a community where people can ask questions, answer questions of each other. You have five minutes to chat with them. You can follow up with five or ten of them and you add them to your network. You can say, hey, I'm interested in this job opportunity. FEYERICK: City recruiter Amy Ng is among 50 companies tapping into Gen Y online.
AMY NG, SENIOR VP OF H.R., CITI: It becomes a really efficient way for us to connect with a wide range of candidates that we might not otherwise meet.
FEYERICK: Candidates like these who brought their laptops and digital resumes to network and meet us in person.
By a show of hands, how many of you are employed right now?
This group includes a project manager, e-mail marketing manager, and social media analyst. All good jobs, but not quite perfect.
SANDI FOX, 27 YEARS OLD: We'll try the private sector and then we'll try nonprofit. We really want to put our mark on the world in multiple ways.
FEYERICK: That means holding on to a job about 18 months at a time.
TARICK WEST, 23 YEARS OLD: A lot of the jobs our parents' generation worked won't exist anymore, but it's also exciting because it also means we get to invent new careers.
LEONA CHAN, 23 YEARS OLD: I think our generation is trying to avoid (INAUDIBLE)
FEYERICK: Healy and his team say they've sponsored more than 75 of these events.
HEALY: People in Generation Y have been told they can be whatever they want to be and do whatever they want to do since they were kids. The goal is to be happy. To find meaning. And they're figuring that out as they go. You don't always get it right. You've got to try new things. And that's OK. Because you're searching for that thing that you really want to do. And you'll know when you find it.
FEYERICK: Finding it before the responsibilities of family and a mortgage kick in.
And all these young people really see the traditional job as going away. They're going to reinvent all these jobs. They're the next generation of competition. They're after your job. They're looking for work, but they're looking for meaning. They don't define themselves by what they do.
Ryan Healy said if you want to look for a job, the best thing to do, start a blog. All of those -- I want to call them kids -- all of those young people have them. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All your kids are blogging, Deb. It's true. They are. They're all very young. What the heck? FEYERICK: Exactly. It shows how they think, what they're doing, what they're feeling, what they're experiencing. So, they're really communicating in a way that, you know, that there's much less privacy. Because they're out there. They're living it.
PHILLIPS: Yes. I know. It gives so many people too much legitimacy many times, Deb. Thanks.
All right. They've been through a lot. Plenty of wins and a few losses. More on the big sports news of the morning. Tiger Woods fires his long-time caddie, Steve Williams. And Stevie is speaking out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Lots of wins. A few losses. And a sex scandal of epic proportion. Long-time caddie Steve Williams stuck with Tiger Woods through thick and thin. But somewhere in between, there was a division. Woods fired Williams. And, today, Williams is speaking out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE WILLIAMS, TIGER WOODS' FORMER CADDIE: I'm extremely disappointed. Given the fact that the last 18 months has been a particularly difficult time for Tiger. Obviously, the scandal, a new coach, swing change. The last 18 months has been very difficult. I've stuck by him through thick and thin. I've been incredibly loyal.
And then, you know, and then to have this happen, I mean, basically you could say I've wasted two years of my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Wow. CNN International's Don Ridell live in London with this developing story. And there's a lot of questions out there now, Don, wondering if he's that upset, I mean, can you imagine his tell-all book?
(LAUGHTER)
DON RIDELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESOPDNENT: Well, it's interesting, actually. What would he put in the book? Because of course, when the Tiger scandal broke, Steve Williams quite famously came out and said, "I didn't know any of this was going on." That will now be put to the test, won't it?
It's interesting hearing Williams talk there. He sounds a bit like a jilted lover. Obviously, he's the guy that wasn't responsible for the break-up. Tiger has also released a statement. I'm going to read that out to you now. He said, "Stevie is an outstanding caddie and a friend and has been instrumental in many of my accomplishments. I wish him great success in the future." Sounds to me like Tiger perhaps feels a little bit awkward about causing the split. Stevie Williams not taking it at all well. But, you know, these guys formed an absolutely formidable relationship. They worked together for 12 years during which time they won 13 major titles and 50 other PGA tour titles. I can't think of another golfing partnership that's been as successful as them.
But the tournaments have dried up, haven't they? Tiger hasn't won anything since the end of 2009. And often what happens in that situation, is the first thing to happen, the first thing to change is that the caddie goes.
PHILLIPS: Yes, and Don, you wonder, what is this telling us? Is Tiger imploding? I mean, he's got these injuries. He's not playing as well. He's losing all his sponsorships. His wife is dating now. And now he gets rid of his caddie who's, like, one of the only individuals that spoke out in support of him and was so loyal to him. Is it because he's going broke or he's just blowing up?
RIDELL: Well, who knows? It could be all of the above. I mean, some people within the golfing community still say that Tiger will return to his best. He was the world's number one for so long. Right now he's only the 20th best golfer in the world. As I said, he hasn't won for more than 18 months.
And the injuries he's got are really serious. This Achilles injury, this knee problem. He's had so many knee issues. Is he ever going to get back to his best? Who knows?
This might be a good thing for Williams, you know. He is considered to be the best caddie on the tour. He's now going off to work with Adam Scott, who's a really promising player from Australia. So, you know, in the end it might turn out that Williams has got the best deal
But of course, it's the golfer responsible for these decisions. It's Tiger's responsibility. He obviously feels he needs a change. Perhaps with a new caddie, he can return to his winning ways. But there are some within the golfing world who think perhaps Tiger really is past his best.
PHILLIPS: Yes. And the next person to talk to will be Adam Scott. He really scored big here. Don, thanks so much. Appreciate you weighing in.
Well, the nation's mortgage crisis, countless Americans lost hope. Many of them lost their homes. Now hundreds of thousands of people getting a check in the mail.
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PHILLIPS: Nearly a half million Americans will soon have a check in their mailbox. You may be among them. If you've been a customer of Countrywide Financial within the past few years, well, you might be in luck.
Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange. So, how much money are victims going to get, Alison? ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: They're going to get a total of $108 million. This is what the settlement is calling for. It's actually one of the biggest settlements in FTC history. And it's stunning when you think about that these Countrywide borrowers, 450,000 of them were taken advantage of.
Remember Countrywide? It was this huge company during the subprime mortgage meltdown. It was eventually saved by Bank of America.
All right. So, let's talk about the money. The average check that's going to go out is just about 240 bucks. But the FTC says some people will get a few thousand dollars. These payments will begin going out today. It covers borrowers, once again, who were overcharged by Countrywide. Kyra?
PHILLIPS: All right. Alison Kosik from the New York Stock Exchange, thanks.
Let's take a look at stories that are going to be making headlines later today. Next hour, former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf gives a speech on U.S.-Pakistan relations in Washington. Ties between the two countries have taken a turn for the worst since the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Then at noon, the crew of space shuttle Atlantis will hold a news conference to talk about their final mission. Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center around six this morning, ending the 135-year shuttle program.
And House Republicans calling on the Senate to pass the cut-cap balance spending bill. We'll hear from them this afternoon. They're scheduled to have a news conference, 12:45 Eastern time.
A Minnesota community divided by a school district's curriculum policy on sexual orientation. Now a federal investigation and a lawsuit by a civil rights group. We've got the story.
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PHILLIPS: So, when is talk about homosexuality OK in the classroom? Just outside Minneapolis, one school district's policy on the matter is igniting a culture war. CNN has learned the Departments of Justice and Education are investigating incidents of bullying and harassment in Minnesota's largest school district.
Here's CNN's Poppy Harlow.
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MICHELE JOHNSON, MOTHER OF SAMANTHA JOHNSON: Those are Samantha's swimsuits. Another one hanging here. I just can't put it away.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: A swimsuit hanging lifeless since November 2009 when Michelle Johnson's only daughter took her own life. JOHNSON: We believe that she was just hiding from everybody because she was feeling hopeless. Samantha was kind of a tomboy. And she -- she was perceived as gay.
HARLOW: Was she gay?
JOHNSON: No. We don't think she was gay. She was 13.
HARLOW: Samantha was the first of seven students to commit suicide in a single Minnesota school district in less than two years. Parents and friends tell us four of those teens were either gay, perceived to be gay or questioning their sexuality. And at least two of them were bullied over it.
Erica Hoops was Samantha's best friend.
ERICA HOOPS, SAMANTHA'S BEST FRIEND: Yes. She didn't feel safe anywhere. During volleyball, they would call her names like fag and be like, go over to the boys' locker room. You shouldn't be in here.
HARLOW: Was the bullying part of the reason, you think, Erica, that your best friend killed herself?
HOOPS: Most definitely. There's no question about it.
HARLOW: Allegations of bullying have brought unwanted media attention. And CNN has learned of a federal investigation to this quiet suburban community.
We're about 30 minutes outside of Minneapolis in Anoka Hennepin. This is the biggest school district in the entire state. But the reason we're here is because it has become a battleground over homosexuality in the classroom.
This is the only Minnesota school district we could find with a curriculum policy that bars teachers from taking a position on homosexuality and says such matters are best addressed outside of school. It's become known as the neutrality policy. And some teachers say it's part of the problem.
JERI SCHULTZ, ANOKA-HENNEPIN TEACHER: Because there's so much we can't do and say to help create a more accepting and affirming and welcoming environment that would eliminate some of that bullying in the first place.
HARLOW: In a school newsletter and in a voicemail to staff, superintendent Dennis Carlson denies any connection between bullying and the suicides.
DENNIS CARLSON, ANOKA-HENNEPIN, MN SUPERINTENTENT (on the phone): All of the information we've been able to gather, none of the suicides were connected to incidents of bullying or harassment.
HARLOW: Carlson says the district has a comprehensive bullying policy and has piloted a bullying tip line. He says the neutrality policy is a reasonable response to a divided community. CARLSON: It's a diverse community. And what I try to do as superintendent is walk down the middle of the road.
HARLOW: But one teacher is ready to take on the district.
Are you afraid that you could lose your job just being here talking about this?
JEFFERSON FIETEK, ANOKA-HENNEPIN TEACHER: Realistically, yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: And just this week, the Anoka-Hennepin school district announced it's keeping that neutrality policy in place, Kyra. The Southern Poverty Law Center, one of the advocacy groups behind this case, says any resolution must include a repeal, full repeal of the policy.
Now, the FPLC has just confirmed to CNN they are indeed filing a lawsuit today against that school district. The FPLC was present for CNN interviews involving its clients.
Now, the school district has asked the Southern Poverty Law Center and National Center for Lesbian Rights to help them in training school staff to support gay students. The advocacy groups tell us that is not going far enough for them.
CNN also learned the Departments of Justice and Education are investigating a complaint of incidents involving bullying and harassment in that school district. And while the school district tells us they've had, quote, "collaborative discussions with federal authorities," the DoJ confirms their investigation, Kyra, is ongoing.
We'll have a lot more on this story, the full investigation, this Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
PHILLIPS: Okay. Once again, tell our viewers, Poppy, that you can see this this weekend, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, right here on CNN. It's actually going to be a compilation of three amazing stories. It's something that we're calling a unique hour of razor-sharp journalism. So, don't miss the all new CNN presents Sunday night, 8:00.
All right. The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM, they're wired and they're tweeting. But is social media turning America's youth into the laziest generation? We're going to take a hard look at those millennials.
And some women stand by their man. But Rupert Murdoch's wife stood up for hers. And her fast action has already turned her into a cult hero in China. We'll learn more about Wendi Deng when NEWSROOM continues.
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PHILLIPS: "Cross-Country" for a few stories. Let's go near Cape Hatters, North Carolina. Pretty terrifying moment for a mom and her daughter. She was playing in less than two feet of water. Then the six-year-old was bitten by a shark right there in front of her mom. She's in critical condition, but apparently well enough to tell her parents, "I hate sharks and like dolphins better."
This is Denver's Bill Burnham. He's been doing what he's doing for a pretty long time. Giving blood. And he does it best. He was actually honored for donating 65 gallons of blood since 1984. That's enough to help about 1,500 people. It's also enough to fill about two big bathtubs full of blood.
And it's so hot in New Haven, Connecticut, that this bridge has literally been swollen shut. The Grand Avenue Bridge is a swing bridge that opens up to let boats go through there on the Quinnipiac River. The problem is the heat has caused the bridge to expand, and now it's stuck. So, crews are out there trying to shave about an inch off of it to get it open again before the weekend.
It's starting to sound like a broken record. The debt ceiling debate continues. Debt ceiling debate continues. CNN White House correspondent Brianna Keilar is going to say the same thing. The debt ceiling debate continues.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The debt ceiling debate does continue, Kyra. And after those meetings yesterday that the president had with Democrats and Republicans, no breakthrough. You've heard me say that before as well.
Senator Mitch McConnell, top Republican in the Senate, taking to the Senate floor this morning and really kind of blasting the president. He's working right now, McConnell is, on fashioning a fallback plan with Senate majority leader Harry Reid. He said on the floor that he pays more attention to what the president does than what he said. And he really questioned the president's recent -- I guess sort of overtures of being a compromiser and a fiscal moderate, essentially accusing the president of political posturing.
Kyra, as you know, the White House continuing to push for a really big deficit reduction package. Although the clock is ticking, and that's appearing more and more unlikely as time goes by.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, how are states preparing for this debt ceiling default?
KEILAR: Yes, they are preparing. They're getting loans. For instance, California has sought a $5 billion loan to make sure that it can cover its obligations. Because check out the kind of cash that the federal government gives state and local governments. Last year $478 billion. You can see how they're really relying on this influx of federal cash.
So, if states -- if there is a default, and mind you, Democrats and Republicans are insisting, Kyra - and I've said this before, too -- that there isn't going to be one come August 2. But if there were, states would be impacted. They could see delays in federal payments for Medicaid. They could see delays in money that they need for transportation and education. So, they're taking precautions. There's a really good write, a really good CNNmoney write on the ticker right now you can check out to see exactly what they're doing.
PHILLIPS: Brianna, thanks. We'll have your next political update in just about an hour. And a reminder, for all the latest political news, just head to your Web site, CNNpolitics.com.
That does it for us. We're back here bright and early, 9:00 a.m. Now we take it over to Fredricka in for Suzanne Malveaux today.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right good to see you.
PHILLIPS: Good morning. Good afternoon.
WHITFIELD: That's right. It is morning.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Yes, this is kind of brunch hour. Let's put it that way. All right, Kyra, have a great day.
