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Critical Debt Talks at the White House; Heat Wave Bakes Much of U.S.; Same-Sex Couples to Marry in NYC; Norway Death Toll Rises to 92; 4,000 FAA Workers Face Furlough; Oregon Representative David Wu in Alleged Sex Scandal; Famine in Somalia; 85 Killed at Norway Youth Camp; NFL Lockout Not Over; 'The Dress' Takes Center Stage

Aired July 23, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And to our viewers right now, we're just going to restart this thing and reset for you on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. Let me tell you what we are watching at the White House this hour.

President Obama and Congressional leaders are just beginning as we speak, scheduled to begin in 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, right now what they are calling an emergency meeting.

The president is demanding an explanation from lawmakers as the Republicans walked away from talks yesterday. We will take you there live in just a moment.

Also the other still-developing stories this morning, the death toll from two terror attacks in Norway continues to rise. A suspect is under arrest. More information is emerging as well about who exactly he is and what his intentions may have been.

Also, this triple-digit heat in the U.S., millions of people are trying to deal with this deadly heat wave. We'll tell you which states are suffering the most and when we can ever expect some relief.

But again, I need to go back to that still-developing story in Norway. The death toll is now up to 92 after a pair of terrifying attacks have sent this entire nation of Norway into shock. People are questioning or rather, police are questioning a man accused of planting a bomb in downtown Oslo, then opening fire at a youth camp on Utoya Island, that's some 20 miles away.

Local media reporting the identity of the suspect as 32-year-old, Norwegian Anders Behring Breivik. You're seeing his picture here. He's believed to be a right-wing extremist. They're still trying to determine whether anyone else was involved.

This is being called Norway's bloodiest attack; haven't seen anything like this World War II. It all started when a bomb went off near a government building in downtown Oslo. Seven people were killed there. Police say then the suspect traveled to that youth camp that was being operated by Norway's ruling Labor Party.

Listen now to how one survivor described what was happening.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

ADRIAN PRACON, UTOYA SHOOTING SURVIVOR: He was yelling, he's going to kill you all, and we all shall die. So he pointed then, his gun at me, but he didn't pull the trigger. He left and returned maybe an hour later when a few other people had found me and gathered around me. And then the people started running around, because they didn't know where to run. He suddenly showed up and he just shot almost everyone.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HOLMES: At least 85 people died at that camp. Again, this was a youth camp. The ones that attend this camp are usually between the ages of 13 and maybe up to 22. But certainly some young people were there. Norway's Prime Minister met at a hotel today with families of the victims.

The man arrested was at the hotel before that meeting. Reportedly, he had a knife. So this was another man arrested at the hotel, before the Prime Minister was there, reportedly had a knife. Don't know about any connection to the actual attacks.

Then in ten minutes, we are going to be going live to Diana Magnay. She has been reporting for us near that youth camp where most of this violence and most of the deaths took place. Stick around for that.

But meanwhile, let me turn now to the other major story happening literally right now.

President Obama, meeting with congressional leaders at the White House to talk about the debt ceiling. He called the meeting after the negotiations came to a screeching and dramatic halt yesterday. We've got live team coverage for you this morning.

CNN's Brianna Keilar at the White House, Kate Bolduan at Capitol Hill; we'll talk to them in just a minute. But first, an update on where things stand, House Speaker John Boehner walked away from those talks with the President. This was over the issue of tax hikes, we're told.

And he says he will now begin discussions with Senate leaders. Now, here's what both sides had to say after the negotiations broke off. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My expectation was that Speaker Boehner was going to be willing to go to his caucus and ask them to do the tough thing but the right thing. I think it has proven difficult for Speaker Boehner to do that. I've been left at the altar now for a couple of times.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: Now, let me just say that the White House moved the goalpost. There was an agreement on some additional revenues. Until yesterday when the President demanded $400 billion more, which was going to be nothing more than a tax increase on the American people.

But secondly, they refused to get serious about cutting spend and making the tough choices that are facing our country on entitlement reform. That's the bottom line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right.

Let me bring in our Brianna Keilar, our White House correspondent. Brianna, any indication that this meeting is officially underway?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: If it hasn't started, it is about to start. Because actually just a few minutes ago, the sort of condensed pool of reporters and cameraman was called in and I think they're standing by right now to go in the room and to get some pictures of it, T.J., so that we can see it.

I should also tell you, this was a meeting that was supposed to take place in the Oval Office. At the very last minute, the White House changed it. It's now in the Cabinet Room, which you'll recognize, because that's where all of the other meeting were.

No explanation on the room change. But we do know that President Obama obviously is going to be there along with Vice President Joe Biden. They'll be seated in two chairs, and then this is according to the White House, the President will be sitting next to House Speaker John Boehner and the Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi. On the Vice President's side will be Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader McConnell.

But we heard yesterday from House Speaker John Boehner. He said in a letter that he was going to now negotiate instead with Senate leaders. That he'd given up on negotiating with President Obama. And basically saying you know what, Congress is going to figure this out.

The President, T.J., sort of said, not so fast. Calling all of these congressional leaders here to the White House and he said he wants an explanation on how they are going to stop the U.S. government from defaulting. He also reiterated his demand that there be no short-term solution. Here's what he said last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: We have now run out of time. I've told Speaker Boehner, I've told Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, I've told Harry Reid, and I've told Mitch McConnell, I want them here at 11:00 tomorrow.

We have run out of time, and they are going to have to explain to me how it is that we are going to avoid default. And they can come up with any plans that they want and bring them up here and we will work on them. And the only bottom line that I have is that we have to extend this debt ceiling through the next election, into 2013.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So no short-term solution; that's what you heard the President say. A visibly frustrated, I should say, President Obama. He was questioning, T.J., whether Republicans will accept anything. He seemed to indicate that the plan that he'd been talking to the Speaker about was one that has rankled Democrats so much, he thought it might be something Republicans would go for.

Publicly, the President has said this plan that he was working on with Speaker Boehner isn't dead, but right now there's a lot more focus on the more modest plan, the fallback plan. Certainly it's a basis of negotiations that was being worked out by Harry Reid and by Mitch McConnell in the Senate -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Brianna you stay with me. Let me head up the road there to our Kate Bolduan, our congressional correspondent. Kate so much activity happening on -- at the White House, but what is the activity level? And even what is the mood and the buzz around the Capitol about really the dramatic events we saw yesterday?

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well the focus definitely at least on the part of House Speaker John Boehner and leaders up here, they believe that the focus has definitely shifted back to here on the Hill. That the leaders, Republican and Democrat, are now -- now are going to be working out the deal for a path forward.

We're told not only had the leaders has been in communication but staff have been in constant communication on since yesterday afternoon and yesterday evening. And that they will be meeting throughout the weekend and obviously communicating in order to find this -- this path forward, quite frankly.

And our producer, Deirdre Walsh, she just heard a short time ago that there's a 2:00 conference call between House Speaker John Boehner and House Republican leadership, with all of the members or however many members can get on the call in the House. So to kind of update them on the status of negotiations.

But there's a level of seriousness, you can be sure, amongst the leaders, because they have an eye on the clock, just like we all -- we all have an eye on the lock now, and they know that they are running out of time in order to get a deal.

What that deal is, according to the House Republican leadership aides that briefed me and other reporters yesterday, they really said very bluntly, they have no idea what the path forward is at this point. We know that they -- they're looking, as put by a couple of aides they're kind of looking at all options on the table again.

And at the same time as Brianna well noted, that fallback plan between Senators Reid and McConnell, that's also as I'm told still on the shelf, as one person put it, as a last resort. But as its latest formation, T.J., it doesn't look like it has the support to pass in the House.

So again, they are working very diligently at this point, this weekend to try to figure out where they're going to head next.

HOLMES: All right. And let me bring Brianna Keilar back in at the White House.

Brianna, we heard the President and you and I have been talking about this morning. He said, you all -- this is your assignment and it's due tomorrow. You need to come back in here and you need to show me how you're going to do this.

Do we have an indication that they actually have a paper to turn in this morning?

KEILAR: We don't have an indication, T.J. Obviously, we're hoping to have that by the end of the meeting. Details often on these meetings, as you well know, are scarce. But certainly this is the demand of the President's and we will be, of course, checking with the White House to see if he is satisfied with -- with what he is told.

But is there some sort of alternate plan that's going to solve everything? I think you're safely betting no, if that's the case.

HOLMES: Brianna and Kate, I want you to wrap this up for me. We have this issue of this deadline of August 2nd, sure. But we actually need to get something done or a deal or a handshake or something, because Congress needs to work through all the details and get it passed in time before we get to that deadline.

What are they thinking is actually the D-Day to get an actual agreement of some kind in the hands of Congress so they can work to get it passed by August 2nd?

BOLDUAN: Yes T.J., we should say this with a caveat of everything seems to be extremely fluid this weekend and can change on a dime, as we all know, last night. But what we're told is that there is an understanding and the assessment seems to be that House Republican leadership aides, as they've told us, they need to unveil as well as in the House and in the Senate, let's just put it that way.

They need to unveil something to their members by Monday in order to get it passed in the House and allow for what could be some procedural hurdles that they might have to jump through in the Senate or overcome in the Senate to get it passed in the Senate in time for the August 2nd deadline.

So it seems that they're, at least right now the view is, they need to have something to show their members Monday to get this thing -- get this ball rolling.

HOLMES: Well, as you said, this story can change on a dime, and apparently it changed just since the last time I talked to Brianna Keilar, things are happening there. You got something new for me -- Brianna?

KEILAR: Yes it's really just a logistical update.

HOLMES: Yes. KEILAR: Their travel pool has gone in and they have come out. So this meeting is underway, we are right now actually feeding in pictures of this meeting in the Cabinet Room so you'll be able to see the top of it.

As per usual, our pool folks asked questions. They wanted to know the status, how are things going, and repeatedly they got no response from any of those in the room -- T.J.

HOLMES: Well, it looks like we were trying to get that video queued up. If my folks in the back tell me we have it, I'll go ahead and toss to it -- if not we'll have it for our view -- no, as I'm told we have it right now. So we'll go ahead and take a look at that video Brianna was just talking about.

But there you go. This Saturday meeting, forgive us, we're rolling this and it's being queued up for us. But you get the idea here, but there they are. The two men who had dueling press conferences last night, sitting next to each other, enjoying coffee, just talking casually, but it was anything but casual and comfortable in their press conferences last night.

We'll have more of that here in a second. But Brianna and Kate, thank you, ladies both. Brianna, you have anything else or if you have anything else, let us know and we'll get you back in here. Ladies, thank you, both.

KEILAR: I'll let you know.

HOLMES: Thank you both.

All right and for the latest on these negotiations, you can also tune in to "STATE OF THE UNION" tomorrow, because Candy Crowley has the all-important guest, that man, the money man right now, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. He is the one who has been moving this money around, and getting the country to that August 2nd date. He is her guest tomorrow morning.

Well, 13 minutes past the hour now.

The search for victims continues in the aftermath of yesterday's bloody twin attacks in Norway. A live report from just outside the youth camp, where some 85 people were killed.

Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We turn back to Norway now at 15 minutes past the hour. That's where police are questioning a suspect accused in two attacks that killed at least 92 people yesterday. At least 85 of those victims died at a youth camp on Norway's Utoya Island.

CNN's Diana Magnay is there. Diana, is it possible we could see this death toll continue to rise? DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is possible. Police and the Red Cross are still continuing their search around the island of Utoya, in the waters, because many people, T.J., were shot as they were trying to swim out of the gunman's grip, and he shot at them in the water.

We've been talking to eyewitnesses who have gathered here at this hotel waiting for parents to collect them, waiting for friends who never turned up. And they've had some amazing stories. One of them, for example, escaping in a boat, two boats managed to escape from the island, but they all had to lie completely flat so that the gunman couldn't reach them, he continued to fire at them.

Another told us how he had to swim; let's just listen to that story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I started swimming on to the fjords and I got half way then I got cramps because I had been laying so long in the water, so some of the locals saved my life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you kind of hid in the water?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. It was the only place to hide. Because all of the other places were full of people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many people have you seen, people killed?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At first, the Norwegian said like four or five killed, and ten, but I saw like, maybe 30 get killed in a row, so. I don't know.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MAGNAY: You know, T.J., what's amazing is to hear the resilience of some of those survivors who say that they will not be silenced by this kind of shooting. That man we just spoke to, a young boy, in fact, a young man, saying that if this camp happens again next year, that he will want to take part and make sure that the spirit in which all of these young people gathered together to try to promote the principles of democracy, of freedom of speech, shouldn't be, you know, restricted. That they should live on, despite what has happened -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Diana Magnay, we appreciate you once again this morning. Thanks so much.

We're at 18 minutes past the hour now.

We're going to be turning back to news in this country now.

Dangerous and deadly heat in much of the country. You name the place and it's hot there. In some places, we are seeing an historic heat wave.

Reynolds Wolf will be up next to let us know how much longer we may be dealing with this. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right.

21 minutes past the hour now on this CNN Saturday morning. And in much of the United States right now, maybe you should just stay inside this weekend. This heat wave just will not stop. It's been hitting the Midwest and the South. It's breaking records on the East Coast.

Also, it has been deadly. More than two dozen deaths are blamed on the heat. Among the latest victims, six people dead in Chicago, ten in Tennessee. In Chicago, fire hydrants have been bursting. For some people, that's the perfect way to cool off as you see here. But it's causing water pressure problems for the fire department.

Also in many areas, it's so hot warnings are out for people to check on their neighbors, especially older folks. Newark, New Jersey, felt like Phoenix or Las Vegas yesterday. The city had its hottest day on record, 108 degrees.

Is that right, Reynolds? 108 degrees?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That is correct.

HOLMES: That's not the heat index I'm talking about?

WOLF: Air temperature.

HOLMES: Air temperature.

Also in eastern Canada, hot there as well. Look at this. Everybody's trying to cool off. It's important to keep an eye on the animals as well. Not everybody is able, as this guy, to find his own water. This is King Joseph, this horse you're seeing here.

But check on those pets as well. Other animals out there, but Reynolds, I was just asking you that question and I guess I hadn't seen that triple digit yet. But we've seen a lot of the heat index -- heat index that. But that was the actual air temperature.

WOLF: It's the actual air temperature. That's right. And then when you pile on the humidity, it's a big difference maker. You know that. You lived in Tennessee, you lived in Arkansas; you know that very well.

A lot of people in the country know this very well but the big question they want have is -- that they do have is, when is this going to end? When can we expect some relief?

The changes are going to come. We're going to see a lot of the temperatures begin to revert back to where they should be this time of year, into the 70s, the 80s, and in some places in the 90s. But trust me that's going to feel better than what you're going to get today. 99 will be your high, expected in New York today; 98 in Boston; 102 in our nation's capital; 90 in Memphis; 92 in Atlanta; 90 also in Chicago, back into Kansas City, 100 in Dallas. And the heat continues all through the front range of the Rockies, the central Rockies, and even back to the Great Basin.

Now, the big changes that we're going to see, from the highs form the 100s and into the 90s, even some of those are (INAUDIBLE) is going to come from the big dome of high pressure that we've had. That's been over at least half the nation.

We're going to see this big ridge begin to break down. And once it breaks down, it's going to create a void. When it does, something's going to replace it. What's going to replace it is going to be a frontal boundary that's going to usher in a blast of cooler air.

Now, it's not going to be frigid -- it's not time to pull out the big sweater or the cardigan or any of that kind of stuff. Instead we're going to take an edge of that heat in places like Detroit, back in Boston and in Chicago, New York and even in Washington, D.C. But it's going to take a little bit of time.

In fact -- take a look. For today and tomorrow, it's still going to stay fairly warm for you in Washington, D.C., those temperatures coming back to the lower 90's as we get in to Monday, Tuesday and then even into Wednesday.

As we have the contrast in those air masses, the high pressure and low pressure, right where they butt up against each other, that's where you often have some strong storms that could develop. That's what we've seen this morning in parts of Chicago. And with these strong storms, we've had delays.

In fact, delays still in Chicago at this time, up to an hour.

So hopefully we're going to see things improve, but more rough weather possible in that part of the world.

T.J., let's pitch it back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Reynolds, appreciate you, buddy. We'll see you again here shortly. Thanks so much.

Well, at 24 minutes past the hour, tomorrow is the day, the first day of legalized same-sex marriage in New York. Coming up, I am talking to one gay couple that wanted to be a part of history, didn't want to wait. Their wedding day is tomorrow. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. We're getting close to the bottom of the hour now.

And tomorrow in New York, hundreds of gay and lesbian couples who have pretty much lived as married couples actually get to make it official. Earlier, I talked to two who literally won the lottery to take their vows on the first day that same-sex marriage will be allowed in the state of New York. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCOS CHALJUB, GETTING MARRIED SUNDAY: Today is the day before our wedding day. And for many years, we've been thinking about doing this. We were just waiting for New York to pass that law. We wanted to get married in our state and in our city of Queens, and it's finally here. Tomorrow's the big day.

HOLMES: Gentlemen, tell me. Why do it immediately? Did you want to be a part of history? Are you concerned there could be some court challenges down the road? Why not just wait and do a big ceremony and plan it all out?

FREDDY ZAMBRANO, GETTING MARRIED SUNDAY: Well, again, just because we did have the idea of getting married already in our heads, we couldn't think of a better time than to do it at the most historical moment for New York, for that matter, and possibly the world.

HOLMES: It's a big, big day for you all and many other same-sex couples, but it's also a big day for people who are opponents of same- sex marriage. We know that there are some protests that are planned for tomorrow, but are you concerned at all about that element taking away from the day?

Of course people have their beliefs and they have a right to them, but are you concerned that your happy day could also be a hugely controversial day and some of that controversy gets a lot of attention as well?

ZAMBRANO: I believe it's always going to -- there's always going to be some controversy behind same-sex marriage, but, you know, everyone has their own opinions, their own views, and we respect that as we expect people to respect our beliefs as well, and our ways of being. But really, that's not anything that we'd really -- that at least I'm too concerned about. Everyone has a right to say something.

HOLMES: You all tell us as well, there was a lottery. They knew a lot of people would want to get married immediately and the courthouses just weren't going to be able to handle it. You decided to put your name in the hat to try to go for the lottery to get married on this day. How surprised were you that you found out you actually won that lottery and you get to get married on day one?

ZAMBRANO: We were elated.

CHALJUB: Definitely. I remember getting home and I checked my e-mail. And I had an e-mail from the county clerk's.

Freddy was still in the shower, and I just ran in there and I said, we got it! We're in. We're in the lottery. We're getting married on Sunday! We started crying, we started laughing and celebrating. A really good moment. ZAMBRANO: I almost slipped in the shower.

HOLMES: Last thing, gentleman, tell me how this is going to go tomorrow? I mean, what are what are your plans? Do you have suits picked out? Do you have family that's going to be there? I guess, just tell me about your particular ceremony?

CHALJUB: We're keeping it very intimate and it's just going to be us and our four witnesses, actually, until this is airing right now, nobody else knew we were getting married tomorrow. Just my sister and his best friend and my best friends. It's going to be very simple. We have an outfit picked out. We're elated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, New York is now the sixth state and the largest state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Well, about 4,000 FAA workers could be out of a job today, furloughed. We'll check in on that and why it happened, it has something to do with Congress. You know how that goes. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, just past the bottom of the hour now. Here are some of the stories making headlines.

Just this horrific story out of Norway. The death toll has now gone up to 92 after yesterday's twin attacks there, and authorities fear the number could go up. Seven people were killed in downtown Oslo and at least 85 people died at a youth camp run by the ruling political party. Local media identified the suspect in both attacks as 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik, who's been described as a right-wing extremist.

Also, the president is meeting with congressional leaders at the White House right now over the debt ceiling. The president called this meeting after Republicans walked away from debt negotiations yesterday over the issue of tax hikes.

The president says he wanted lawmakers to come to the White House today and he demanded that they explain how they're going to avoid default on the nation's debts after talks broke off yesterday, both sides clearly frustrated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It is hard to understand why Speaker Boehner would walk away from this kind of deal and frankly, if you look at the commentary out there, there are a lot of Republicans that are puzzled as to why it couldn't get done. In fact, there are a lot of Republican voters out there who are puzzled as to why it couldn't get done.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: Dealing with the White House is like dealing with a bowl of Jell-o. I'm not going to get into the partisan sniping that we heard earlier.

But I can tell you that there was every effort in the world to avoid the real cuts that we need to make in order to preserve the fiscal integrity of our country.

And frankly, real cuts that needed to be made, that need to be made to preserve our entitlement programs, which are important programs to tens of millions of Americans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, listen to this now. About 4,000 FAA workers could be furloughed today. Why? Congress got out of there last night without reauthorizing funding for the agency.

Now, we're told essential staff like air traffic controllers will remain on the job to keep the flying public safe, but FAA engineers, construction workers, others among those facing furloughs.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAY LAHOOD, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: One of the highest unemployment is in the construction trades. And why do we want to lay off, suspend more construction workers and our 4,000 employees who do a lot of good work are also going to be suspended.

And they're -- look it, they live on a paycheck and they have budgets to meet. We have the best aviation system in the world. This is not the way to run it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The government will also lose about $200 million a week in airline taxes, and it was held up because Republicans wanted to make it tougher for some of the airline employees to unionize. That apparently was a sticking point in making a deal.

Also, a Democrat from Oregon is facing heat over an alleged sex scandal. "The Oregonian" newspaper reporting that the daughter of a campaign donor is accusing Representative David Wu that's you're seeing there of an unwanted sexual encounter last year.

The paper said when confronted, Wu told aides it was consensual. Yesterday he issued this statement, quote, "This is very serious and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention, or stress to a young woman and her family." And according to reports, the young woman in the case is barely out of high school.

Well, at 37 minutes past the hour now. Coming up next, Nadia Bilchik will explain the politics behind those horrible attacks in Norway. That's next. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: OK, with people in their country, dying right now in the midst of a famine, why in the world would that country try to keep out aid agencies? That's what's happening right now.

Thousands of Somalis are struggling with severe drought and famine conditions. It's been declared a famine. They are in many cases walking miles to reach aid in nearby Kenya and Ethiopia.

But a group linked to al Qaeda, which runs or is in control of part of the south of the country is actually banning some aid agencies from coming in to help their own people.

And earlier I spoke with Kellie Leeson. She is with the International Rescue Committee in Nairobi, Kenya.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLIE LEESON, INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: The issue of agencies being blocked from providing aid, it does mean that more discussions need to take place about how to be creative, to get assistance, to people who are in need of services and in need of food, desperately.

HOLMES: And Miss Leeson, I'm going to take this down to a very, I guess, to really simplify this conversation. And it might seem a little silly, but we know that hunger, food, and security is an issue in many places around the world.

Certainly in Somalia, in this area of Africa, but then it goes up to another level when a famine is declared. Tell me the significance of a famine being declared and actually what that really means. What is a famine?

LEESON: Well, I mean, in terms of the work that we are doing, it doesn't matter what it is declared, because people are without food right now, and that's what we are focusing on.

A famine is typically declared when malnutrition rates exceed a certain level, and when mortality rates exceed a total level. And that's why this has been declared a famine in certain parts of Somalia.

But as I said, right now, you know, it doesn't matter to the person on the ground who doesn't have food if it's declared a famine or not, they don't have food.

So what we're trying to focus on is not also just the food crisis, we do want to get additional resources in to Somalia, but also where I'm working in the refugee camp, making sure that when people cross that border, they're able to get the services that they need.

But also in addition to the need for food, it's also really important that that is coupled with the need for health care as well. We do find you know, even when a big word like famine is thrown about, people are typically dying more of disease than actually of starvation. So it's important that those two things go together.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES: And you can make a difference as well. You can help the people of Somalia. Go to "Impact Your World," our page, it's on our website, cnn.com. You'll find links to aid groups and in depth information about the famine in Somalia.

Also, as we get close to a quarter to the top of the hour, 92 people massacred in Norway, 85 of them shot dead at a youth camp. Police say one man may be responsible for both attacks. But why would he attack a camp full of children?

Here now our editorial producer, Nadia Bilchik. We had this conversation in our morning passport. She explained that this camp may have been chosen because of who was running it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: The Labor Party is the ruling party in a coalition government. So we have a coalition government of the Socialist Left Party and the Center Party, but the majority is Labor.

And actually Utoya Island is owned by the Youth League. Do we have anything like this in the United States, well, the boys and girls club of America and the girl and boy scouts, but they're nonpartisan.

This is partisan. This is where they train youth from as young as 13 obviously with the philosophy, and clearly that became a target, but as young as 13.

And it's also interesting to note, in Norway, there is compulsory military service for young men after school. And it's between 6 and 12 months, not women, but men, and South Africa used to be like that.

When I grew up in South Africa, there was compulsory military service. But here in Norway, compulsory -- so one assumes that's the way he learned the gunman, the alleged gunman, became such a proficient shooter.

HOLMES: Now they say the camp has been going on for decades here on this island, is it fair to assume they have a fair amount of adults and whatnot there. We don't know the ages yet of the victims.

But you're talking about 80 plus people killed at a youth camp. Is it fair for us to assume, you're saying as young as 13, but all of these are maybe teenagers, the victims we're talking about?

BILCHIK: And yes, teenagers. And we've just heard from a member of parliament, just came on to CNN air to talk about the fact that he escaped. So if you think about it, at this youth camp, there would be people from the Labor Party who would be lecturing and talking and advising and guiding.

So we don't know the exact description. But, yes, for all parents who are watching today, imagine sending your child away to summer camp in a safe place, Utoya Island, as you said, nothing like this has happened since World War II. And one man disguised as a policeman walks in and they aren't as suspicious as we are in America. There isn't that sense of security because nothing like this has ever happened before.

HOLMES: That's a very good point.

BILCHIK: So a man walks in and wreaks absolutely havoc.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That's just one of a couple of developing stories we're watching today. The other big story being what's happening in Washington, D.C. The president meeting right now with congressional leaders.

He gave them an assignment yesterday, says, you need to figure out how we're going to avoid default. If you don't want to make a deal with me, you come here and you tell me how to avoid default.

I'm going to be right back and Fredricka Whitfield has entered the studio. There she is. She will take you through the rest of the afternoon starting at noon. But before she does that, she's kind enough to come up and have a little chat with me. We're right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Ten minutes to the top of the hour. Fredricka Whitfield standing by. We'll talk to her in just a second. That's her over there.

Just want you to know what you're hearing there. But what we're going to be talking about now, NFL lockout. You a big NFL fan in the first place?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Yay, go, Super Bowl.

HOLMES: All right, then.

WHITFIELD: Whenever it's Super Bowl time, that's when I get excited other than that, eh. It's cool.

HOLMES: We'll see you February-ish.

WHITFIELD: Yes, check in again then.

HOLMES: A lot of people are in tune right now because they're wondering when this thing is going to be over. Lockout been going on for several months now. The owners approved a deal on Thursday. This was their reaction. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERRY JONES, DALLAS COWBOYS OWNER: At the end of the day, you do get roughed up. And I don't mean that physically but you do get roughed up. That's what the negotiation is about. We didn't get where I might have dreamed we could get to and some of these things. But what I do know is that we did some things and we helped grow this league.

JEFFREY LURIE, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES OWNER: It allows for stability of the sport. The sport is already so popular, this allows us to just worry about football for the next 10 years, how to grow the sport, how to make it safer, how to make it more fun.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right, so the owners voted unanimously to approve a deal. We're waiting to hear from the players now, but many of them are saying they've been hoodwinked. They say, we were duped.

WHITFIELD: They say some of the language change.

HOLMES: Yes, that it's a PR move to throw it back to the players that make it look like they're the ones holding this thing up.

WHITFIELD: It's getting ugly.

HOLMES: Still they're going through it and they could still OK it, but --

WHITFIELD: So no August 7th game.

HOLMES: That's the only one that's been canceled, but we could miss some preseason games.

WHITFIELD: What are you going to do in the afternoon?

HOLMES: I don't care about the preseason games, but they lose about 200 million a week.

WHITFIELD: That's big.

HOLMES: That's huge. The fans -- as long as they have the regular season and you get your Super Bowl.

WHITFIELD: Yes. If I'm going to the game, that's another thing, but to sit in front of the television and watch, no, not doing it for me. I will watch tennis.

HOLMES: You watch tennis, OK. I'll give you that.

WHITFIELD: I will and any Olympic, you know, event. I'll watch.

HOLMES: Not basketball, not college football?

WHITFIELD: Not on TV. But you give me a ticket, I'm there and I'm excited. And that's fun because then you get to be loud and obnoxious, peanuts, all that good stuff.

HOLMES: Not now, though. Back in eight minutes to take over the top of the hour. WHITFIELD: Yes. And of course, Richard and Avery will be along. They're going to talk about something fun. Well, maybe it's not that fun.

There are some kids who are very upset about the idea in Lake County, Florida, that their appearance will be regulated to a degree, meaning none of the pink or the blue hair possibly, kids like to dye their hair fun colors or maybe even the false eyelashes, yes, even high school kids are wearing them now.

Apparently, there are for limitations the school district wants to vote on just in time for the school season to kick in. Our legal guys will delve into that, whether it's a violation of, you know, kids' privacy, of their right to expression, all that stuff --

HOLMES: What's the point? Why do they want to stop it anyway?

WHITFIELD: The school is contending or at least board members are contending that this has everything to do with security.

HOLMES: And they're telling us we only have 30 seconds left so I'll let you wrap it up.

WHITFIELD: We always want to know how to tighten the belt a little bit budget wise. We talked last week about things to do at home to save, utility bills, et cetera.

What about when you go to work and pay for lunches and lattes? Well, Karen Lee will be along to talk about other things you could be doing to save some money.

And then on counting calories, a lot of folks rely on the calorie count on the menus at restaurants. Well, guess what, Elizabeth Cohen says don't necessarily believe everything you read. It could be off by about 100 or even 200 calories.

HOLMES: But in the good direction or the bad direction?

WHITFIELD: Not-so-good direction, not if you're trying to keep the calorie count low. Trying to gain weight? Maybe that's good. I'm out of here.

HOLMES: Fredricka is taking over at the top of the hour. Always a pleasure, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, good to see you too.

HOLMES: Thank you so much. Well, the wedding fever is not quite over in London and it's all about the dress. Stick around for this one, Fredricka.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Close to the top of the hour and about to hand this thing over to Fredricka Whitfield. But before I do, it begins this weekend, "The Royal Wedding Fever, The Next Chapter" is what it's called here.

Britain's Duchess of Cambridge and her grandmother-in-law, the queen, took a preview yesterday of the annual royal exhibition at Buckingham Palace. That wedding cake you're seeing there, it's the real thing perfectly preserved.

I did not know they kept it. Look at this. These are the earrings worn by then Kate Middleton on her wedding day, but then, of course, the big thing, the star of the show, the dress.

Look at that. The super secretive wedding dress that kept royal watchers guessing for so many months, there it is and it's been shown off now. And CNN's Aisha Durgahee is in London for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AISHA DURGAHEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a wedding meticulously choreographed down to the balcony kiss. From the guest list to the most guarded secret of all -- the dress.

Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen received the commission of her career, fashioning the ivory and satin wedding ensemble. A skirt made of silk tool and a train measuring nearly three meters. Sarah Burton earned high marks from the design world.

(on camera): For most of us, the best view of Katherine's dress was probably on television. When her dress goes on public display here at Buckingham Palace, visitors will be able to walk all the way around it to see the intricate details for themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The beauty of the design is in the detail.

DURGAHEE (voice-over): The curator of the display has a front- row seat throughout the design process.

CAROLINE DE GUITAUT, BUCKINGHAM PALACE EXHIBITION CURATOR: It started off with the duchess trying on different shapes, that's important. The dress had to, obviously, be grand enough -- the environment of Westminster Abbey, but also the duchess very much wanted a sense of modesty.

DURGAHEE: Each individual flower was hand cut from lace with a Victorian design and a modern fabric, the dress blends old and new.

GUITAUT: It both looks to the past. We have a great sense of Victorian couture in this dress. If you think about the waist, the padded hip, the bustle at the back of the skirt, but also there's a very modern sense to the design. It's made from a very modern fabric, satin, which is kind of organza.

DURGAHEE: The dress won't be the only drawer at the annual summer place opening. Visitors will also get to see the tiara the duchess borrowed from Queen Elizabeth, a replica of the bridal bouquet and the eight-tiered wedding cake.

Like the dress, the cake has a floral theme, inspired by the duchess herself. But the star attraction will undoubtedly be that Alexander McQueen masterpiece.

GUITAUT: We were very pleased that she agreed that she would like to have her dress displayed here in Buckingham Palace, which was very much the centerpiece of the celebration.

DURGAHEE: As the wedding of the century fades into the pages of history, the dress that was the fashion world's best-kept secret is finally getting a very public outing.

Aisha Durgahee, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: OK. So, Fredricka, I'm glad to know that it's not just me.

WHITFIELD: What?

HOLMES: When you see the dress, it looks a little, kind of creepy. It's kind of -

WHITFIELD: That's what the Queen said. That was her word. She said that it was creepy. Just that, you know, there was that kind of suspended headdress, veil, with no head.

HOLMES: Like it was levitating in a haunted house -

WHITFIELD: Yes.

HOLMES: -- or something.

WHITFIELD: I wouldn't take it that far.

HOLMES: OK. I'm sorry. Of course, I would.

WHITFIELD: Now definitely - you've changed the vision of it there.

HOLMES: And, on that note -

WHITFIELD: With that levitating.

HOLMES: -- it's all yours.

WHITFIELD: OK. Thanks so much on that happy note.

HOLMES: See you, Fredricka. See you.

WHITFIELD: All right, T.J. You have a great day.