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Speaker Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Reid Offer New Budget Plans; Terror Suspect in Court; Maid Describes Alleged Assault; World Series Champs Honored; Cupcakes for Congress; Amanda Knox Evidence Disputed; President Obama To Address The Nation Tonight About The Debt Ceiling 'Stalemate'

Aired July 25, 2011 - 16:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Now that being said, watch this. One week left and no deal still. Will either side budge on these debt ceiling talks? Coming up I'll speak live with Congressman Phil Gingrey, Republican of Georgia. I'm Brooke Baldwin, the news is now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They can come up with any plans they want and bring them up here and we will work on them.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (R) SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Never once did the president ever come to the table with a plan.

BALDWIN (voice over): A whole lot of talking but so far, not much team work. Which side in Washington is willing to give? I'll ask a Republican law maker?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing like this has ever happened. We have never passed the point at which the Treasury has had enough money to pay the bills.

BALDWIN: Plus, the chilling manifesto believed to be that of a madman. Why this right-wing Christian extremist says the slaughter in Norway was necessary.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was scared. I think with this number two.

BALDWIN: Today, fresh concerns he didn't act alone.

And the sultry singer with a deadly addiction.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She needed but one thing, her whole life, and that was love.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a tragedy. I'm sick of this disease of addiction taking people's lives.

BALDWIN: We are learning new details on Amy Winehouse's final moments.

(END VIDEOTAPE) BALDWIN: I don't know how many times I have to say this here. Now we're eight days away from the day we've all been told, all financial hell could break loose unless Washington increases the nation's borrowing power. And what we are being offered up today, as I mentioned a moment ago, is we are again, waiting for the John Boehner plan to be revealed. There are two dueling debt plans, we have two very different paths to raising the debt ceiling and ensuring the continuing flow of checks to America's creditors.

You have this one plan that comes from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Democrats. It would raise the debt ceiling through next year's election. It contains $2.7 trillion in spending cuts over the course of 10 years. And the Reid plan would not such Medicare or other entitlement programs near and dear to the Democrats, and it would also not raise taxes. That is a key concern for Republicans and a concession among some Democrats.

But then you have -- and again, is this live, guys? No, this is tape. We're waiting live in the lower right hand corner.

There's the Boehner two-step plan from House Speaker John Boehner and the Republicans. They're about to speak any moment now. And we'll bring that to you live. What this plan would do is to cut spending by roughly $3 trillion. It would raise the debt ceiling in two stages. They would do it once now, with a vote on a second increase next year.

Let's talk a little bit more about this with my guest, the Congressman Phil Gingrey Republican from Georgia.

Sir, good to have you back on the show.

Forgive me if the House Speaker interrupts us at any point in time. We have a vague idea of what the house speaker will propose. If and when that comes to a vote, how will you vote for the Speaker Boehner's plan?

Here he is, let's go.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Today we discussed with our members our two-step approach to cutting spending, and avoiding an economic collapse as a result of a default. We believe it's a responsible common sense plan that meets our obligation to the American people, and preserves the full faith and credit of the United States government.

This legislation reflects a bipartisan negotiation over the weekend, with our colleagues in the Senate. And as a result of this bipartisan negotiation, I would call this plan less than perfect. But it does ensure the spending cuts will be greater than the hike in the debt limit. And secondly, there are no tax increases that are part of this plan.

It's not Cut, Cap and Balance, but it is built on the principles of Cut, Cap and Balance that can pass the United States Senate, as well as the United States House. Time is running short. I'm urging my House colleagues to support it and I'm urging my Senate colleagues to support it as well. And I think it would be irresponsible for the president to veto such legislation because it is a common sense plan and will help us avoid default.

It's time to get serious about solving America's problems and I believe that our plan is a good step in the right direction.

REP. ERIC CANTOR, (R) MAJORITY LEADER: The plan that we just introduced to our members is a well thought out and reasoned plan in which no side gets all that they want. We put out our plan as to what it is we want. The Cut, Cap and Balance plan last week. This plan is not that.

The president said that he wants higher taxes and he wants a vote through the election. This plan doesn't have that in it. This is a situation where no side gets all that they want. This is a responsible plan that addresses the urgency of trying to make sure we avoid default, which I know that we will, but then it sets in motion a process for real cuts so that we can live up to our obligation to the people that sent us here.

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY, (R) CALIFORNIA: As you heard from the speaker and the leader, this plan is not perfect. It shows a great contrast to what the president has laid out. The president continues to pick politics over people. His only concern when you listen to him is he brings up the election. We're more concerned about the policies and where this country is going.

This plan today is one where the speaker sat down with the other side of the aisle in the Senate. It's one that we worked together, it would make some current cuts, and put some caps in, for long term to put us on the right path. And it brings up the argument where the Republicans are here wanting a balanced budget with the opportunity to have it. I think what has to transpire now is the president has to change his ways. The president has to start putting people before politics.

(END LIVE FEED)

BALDWIN: All right, let's talk about serendipity. Let's go back to the Republican Phil Gingrey, Republican of Georgia. Your House speaker there, pretty much off the top said look, his plan is less than perfect. Do you agree with that? This plan is less than perfect and would you vote for it?

REP. PHIL GINGREY (R) GEORGIA: Well, it is less than perfect, Brooke. And no, I will not vote for it.

I feel that what we passed in the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote, 234 members voting in support of Cap, Cut and Balance, and we sent to the Senate. I think that's compromise enough to cut current spending, to cap spending in the future, and for future generations to have a balanced budget amendment; 49 out of 50 states have that. I feel quite sure if we get the 2/3 of majority in the House and Senate, to pass that on to the states that 3/4 of them will ratify it in pretty quick order. This is an opportunity in history. You might say leverage, choke point, whatever. But I think we're missing opportunity and I'm going to continue to hold strong for that vote.

BALDWIN: With all due respect, though-

(CROSS TALK)

BALDWIN: We watched the numbers last week, we know that the Senate did not get the appropriate number of votes to pass Cut, Cap and Balance.

GINGREY: Right.

BALDWIN: I think what we should talk about, which is what is on the table, which is the news today, which is this plan now unveiled by Senator Harry Reid and this plan also unveiled by Congressman Boehner. My question is -- you're saying -- what is it about Boehner's plan that you don't like?

GINGREY: Well, Brooke, you asked me a question, a very fair question, would I vote for it, and my answer is no. You are right in the way you frame the second question, in that I think what the speaker and what our majority leader, our leadership, have done in negotiations with the Senate, with the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in regard to this two-step plan, the next best thing, because as John Boehner points out, just momentarily, it has the principles of Cut, Cap and Balance. And I think there will be lots of Republicans in our conference voting support of this. I think we'll put up 218 votes in support of the two-step approach. I think most of them will be Republican votes. And I think John Boehner has got the commitment from the majority leader, the Democrats in the Senate to also support this, and send it to the president.

Then it's up to him. If he wants to continue to have that statement of administrative policy, he's going to veto anything that doesn't get him past the next election, in regard to debt limit increases, then he is playing politics with the American people. And shame on him.

BALDWIN: Let's talk, though, about the Democrats, Congressman Gingrey. Because It's not just Speaker Boehner who has as plan today, it's also Senator Reid. He's proposed raising the debt ceiling and this has been seen very much a concession to your party, not at all raising taxes. Would you support his plan, if it is passed by the Senate and comes for a vote in the House?

GINGREY: I would not support that plan. And you know, the interesting thing about that is the deal, the agreement really. The bipartisan agreement to come together and compromise, was made among the Republican leaders and Democratic leaders last night, as late as maybe 11:00 p.m. And all of a sudden this morning, Majority Leader Reid comes up with this other. All right, OK, we'll have $2.7 trillion worth of cuts and we'll give the president his $2.4 trillion hike in the debt ceiling. Where are you going to come up with $2.7 trillion in cuts if there's no tax increases, and there's no touching entitlement programs? You're trying to get that much cut out of, what, 12 percent of the entire budget?

BALDWIN: Congressman Gingrey --

GINGREY: It is not going to happen. So, I would not vote for that.

BALDWIN: Let me just ask you this one final question as we're all sorting through these numbers and these deadlines and these time limits and the debt ceiling. Help Americans, just in 30 seconds or less, understand why members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have waited this late to get this deal done.

GINGREY: Well, Brooke, this has been going on for a long time. The Biden commission - the Biden group, not commission - but Vice President Biden meeting with members with Eric Cantor and others, this has been going on for months. I think, you know, quite honestly, the Democratic president and vice president are moving the goalposts. What we thought was-this big deal, with or $4 trillion worth of cuts was agreed to by the president in talking with our speaker, with John Boehner, and all of a sudden the president tells his people no I have to have another $400 billion worth of revenues. In other words, he wants tax increases.

BALDWIN: Sure, and --

GINGREY: As John Boehner said yesterday, they're on different planets and unfortunately we are on different planets. They want to spend, we want to lower taxes, and let the economy stimulate itself.

BALDWIN: I respect your opinion and I know folks on your side that the goal posts are moving and on the other side, they say that end zone is way far in the other direction. But we have eight days and that is one number we can all agree upon.

Congressman Phil Gingrey, Republican of Georgia, thank you so much, sir, for coming on. Appreciate it.

GINGREY: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Coming up next, here, the man who says he is the one who slaughtered 76 people in Norway, does a 1,500-page manifesto hold clues to the puzzling question of, why, why. Why did he do this? CNN's Michael Holmes, standing by for me in Oslo. We are going to check in with him next.

Plus this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you say? With we're just like, so thankful he's alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: A brown bear and her cub maul this group of teenagers in the Alaskan wilderness. Wait until you hear how long the victims had to sit and wait for help, and what they did to save themselves.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Thousands upon thousands of people gathered in quiet reflection today in the city center of Oslo, Norway. They brought flower, they brought national flags to show their solidarity.

But most importantly, they just brought themselves. People held one another, they cried.

Norway's prime minister spoke to the crowd.

Look at this scene. About 150,000 people are estimated to have shown up. The prime minister said, quote, "Evil can kill a person but never conquer a people."

It's just three days since a bomb and shooting spree left at least 76 people dead in and near Oslo. And the man who confessed to it all appeared before a judge for the first time today.

Let's go live to the Norwegian capital, to my colleague Michael Holmes.

And, Michael, I saw you on television around 7:00 Eastern our time at that courthouse earlier. Now, you're in the middle of the city where I know thousands of people share their grief today.

Just talk to me about what life is like now in Oslo.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brooke, you mentioned the gathering that happened that's up in city hall, about a 15-minute walk from here. And so many people gathered up there. But they actually, the organizers actually asked people to stop the march or the walk early because there were so many people there.

As you say, well over 100,000 people. They made the 15-minute walk down to the cathedral. You can see behind me.

It's interesting, Brooke, you know, there's a carpet of flowers there that people are standing around there at the moment. It's going to be 40 yards or so by 20 yards wide. It's just such a moving thing, and flowers were the order of the day. It's a very solemn mood around and indeed all around the country. And they were other marches in other parts of the country as well.

People here are really coming together as this tragedy, or the fallout from this tragedy continues, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And they're coming together because of the horrific events that unfolded just a couple of days go because of this man.

Tell me about Breivik. You were outside the court this morning. I know press cameras were not allowed inside. What did he say? What is next in this legal process?

HOLMES: Yes, it's interesting. It's a very open judicial system here in Norway. It's a very open society. And the media thought we would be able to get in and hear the court hearing.

The police asked the judge to make it closed, which is fairly unprecedented. The reason being that they thought that Breivik might use the occasion to send a message to possible co-conspirators on the outside. Breivik apparently has said that he worked with two cells in organization of what he carried out on Friday.

The judge did meet with the media afterwards. He actually held a news conference and outlined a lot of the things that Breivik has been saying in the court hearing and also to police, things like he pled not guilty, but he did say that he carried out these things. He said he needed to carry them out to save Europe from multiculturalism and Islamic takeover, extremely radical stuff.

He's been remanded in custody for eight weeks. That's when he'll appear in court again. First four weeks of that in solitary, no newspapers, no television, no visitors, just his lawyers.

But, yes, some -- a lot of the stuff we've been hearing in that manifesto, just anti-Islamic stuff that he's been saying to police.

So, yes, eight weeks, he'll be back in court.

I was talking to a law professor earlier. He said that if the trial goes ahead, as it looks like it will, you might not get a verdict for another year. As I say, he pled not guilty? Why?

By pleading not guilty, he gets a trial and a stage to tell his side of the story, if you know what I mean. He'll be able to spread more of his -- the diatribe that he's come out with, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Right. But then, the other part of this, the stories that are coming out of people who did survive, the tales of heroism.

Tell me, Michael Holmes, talk to me about this amazing man you met who fortunately had a boat.

HOLMES: Kaspar Ilgaud, he's a bright guy. We met with him yesterday afternoon near the island where the shootings happened. He got a call from a friend when the shootings began. He and other people, these local residents jumped into the boats, went over to the island while this was going on, mind you, and started rescuing kids from the shoreline.

He took on 14 in his first trip. It's a pretty small boat. As you'll see, I think we got a sound bite of the moment that one girl on his boat turned him. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KASPAR ILGAUD, RESCUER: When the last trip (ph), the only girl starts crying and she looked at me and said, are you police? I said, no, I'm just a local resident. And she got a little relief by that and she looked at me and said, you know, it was a policeman with a uniform with a bald head who start shooting us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes, that's because Breivik, of course, was pretending to be a policeman when he went to the island. You know, Kaspar is a lovely guy. One of the saddest things I think he said, he went there three times.

And on the second trip, he saw these kids huddled together, three of them. And he tried to get their attention, and he said they were hiding. They wouldn't move. He went back the next time and that's when he realized that those kids were dead. I mean, he did amazing things. He took dozens of kids off and certainly the other people. Real local heroes, Brooke.

BALDWIN: It is unreal -- at least the death toll, once at 93, now down to 76. Michael Holmes for me in Oslo -- Michael, thank you.

And still to come, she had the voice, she had the stardom, but Amy Winehouse also suffered from a deadly addiction. Coming up, what today's autopsy revealed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: And after the death of Amy Winehouse, not totally unexpected, it's currently listed, her death is unexplained. That's what's trending today.

A court procedure to determine the circumstances of the singer's death started today, even as her parents identified her body and an autopsy was conducted. Now, an official cause to have death will have to wait until the toxicology test results do come back in a couple of weeks, but a family funeral will continue on. In fact, we're hearing it could happen as early as tomorrow.

And the death of this young woman with a soulful voice straight out of the 1960s, and a terrible drug problem, straight out of the '70s, is really ricocheting through the entertainment industry.

Russell Brand, he wrote a long post about Amy Winehouse on his own Web site. He's a recovering addict. He calls, "It for Amy." And in this whole thing, he talks about the phone call. It could be one of two calls that addicts and loved ones know too well.

This is what he wrote: "The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they've had enough, that they're ready to stop, ready to try to something new. Of course, though, you fear the other call, the sad nocturnal chime from a friend, a relative, telling you it's too late, she's gone."

And now, if it's interesting and happening now, you're about to see it, "Rapid Fire." Let's go.

Beginning with -- are you ready for some football? Four and a half- month-old NFL lockout is just about over. Member of the players association unanimously approved a new labor deal, reached with the league just today. The players still have to vote on the plan, but are expected to approve it. Details haven't been released. But it's said to cover safety issues and pensions. And team facilities could open as early as tomorrow with preseason games kicking off August 11th.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez not letting his cancer treatments keeping him from running for reelection. Chavez is quoted in a state- run newspaper as saying he hasn't thought, quote-unquote, "even for an instant" of pulling out of next year's race. Chavez had a tumor removed last month and he's currently undergoing chemotherapy in Cuba. He has not yet said, though, what type of cancer he has.

And raw video clips of Michael Jackson's final rehearsals will not be shown in the involuntary manslaughter of the late singer's doctor, Conrad Murray. Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly giving Jackson a fatal dose of a surgical anesthetic. Both defense and prosecutors wanted to show these particular rehearsal clips to jurors, just to bolster their own arguments about his health. But the judge shot down that request today.

And crazy turn of events after this alleged robbery in Houston. A man reportedly goes into an office, he demands money, then runs out of there with more than 800 bucks. But get this, one of the victims, a 72-year-old former Marine and owner of the business, hops into his car, chases the alleged robber down in a mall parking lot. The man fires at a car, misses. The ex-Marine then runs his car into the man, pinning him against that metal fence. He later died.

Authorities are still investigating that case.

And in Alaska, four teenagers are in critical condition right now after being mauled by a brown bear and her cub. This happened Saturday. There were seven boys in this particular group. They were out there in the wilderness, you know, trying to learn survival skills, not too far from the Denali National Park, if you're familiar with Alaska. They were out there on their own without an instructor for this particular trip.

And one boy has since spoken to a Colorado news channel said that he thought he was going to die when a bear went after him, actually bit him. He said the other guys made a makeshift bandage out of a garbage bag, fixed him up until rescuers got there.

Rescuers reached the group by helicopter around six hours after they managed to activate a personal locator beacon which identified their location. And then it took another four hours for another aircraft to get there and take the most seriously injured to the hospital.

And just in to CNN, President Obama will deliver a prime time address to the nation at 9:00 p.m. tonight Eastern Time on this debt deal. We're going to get you live coverage on CNN. Wolf Blitzer will lead our coverage, 9:00 p.m. tonight. "Best Political Team on Television."

You know I'll be tuned in and I know you will be as well.

And a shocking number of Americans are feeling doom and gloom about the economy. Plus, a Democratic lawmaker could be in hot water. Jim Acosta has all of that and more, coming up in your Political Ticker, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Before we check out the latest news hot off the Political Ticker with Jim Acosta, I just want to remind all of you, folks, we are eight days away from this debt ceiling deadline. As we heard both parties go back and forth, back and forth, we now have news that the president will be addressing the nation 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight.

In fact, according to White House Spokesperson Jay Carney he has Tweeted, he says, "POTUS to address he nation at 9:00 tonight." This is all regarding the "stalemate", this is the word he uses, the stalemate over avoiding default and the best approach to cutting deficits. Watch CNN, best political team, as always on television, led by Wolf Blitzer. 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight.

As we talk economy and a lot of jitters, let's go to Jim Acosta with some news off the Political Ticker.

Jim, you have some numbers on how Americans are feeling about the economy?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The president is obviously feeling the pressure about these debt talks. That is why he is having the address to the nation, this evening at 9:00 o'clock, as you just mentioned.

One of the items out there that is putting a lot of pressure on the president right now is the economy, the state of the economy obviously is not good. And public attitudes about the economy are pretty close, at or near, an all-time low. Take a look at this poll that we're putting out right now from CNN and ORC: 84 percent of the American people believe that the economy is in poor shape right now. Contrast that with 16 percent, and you may be wondering out there, who are those 16 percent out there. A lot of people looking at the economic situation right now. And some of that might be reflected by the fact that there is a lot of frustration with these debt talks going on in Washington right now.

Meanwhile, the other big story up on Capital Hill, besides the debt talks, if there is another story, it's a lot of puzzlement over the current predicament facing Oregon Congressman David Wu. House Minority Leader, the Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation into what essentially came out of an "Oregonian" report a few days ago that said that Congressman Wu made an unwanted advance towards a young woman. So it looks like the House will be investigating this. And at this point, Congressman Wu has not decided to step down, although there are some rumblings that he may not run for reelection. So his future is very much up in the air at this point, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, Jim Acosta I appreciate that.

Speaking of some late breaking news, we also have this piece here.

Jim, thank you

This news just into us here at CNN regarding Amy Winehouse. Her press agent confirm her funeral will take place tomorrow. We still don't know the where, the when. But we can have report now that it will happen tomorrow. We are told it will be small. It will be private. Just a few friends and family will be invited to attend.

Coming up next, did you hear about this? Because of some slacking last week, the federal government to can no collect certain taxes on your airfare. That should mean cheaper tickets, right? Not so fast. We are going to tell you why. Something is about to get cheaper. Several of your prescription drugs. Elizabeth Cohen is standing by to tell us why that is, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: A couple of stories we're juggling today. We have pro football getting a deal, the FAA funding expires, and some of your meds are about to get a little cheaper.

Time to play "Reporter Roulette" on this Monday. David Mattingly, let's begin with you here in Atlanta where NFL owners and players, or at least the reps of the players have reached a deal to play football again. Do we now officially have an agreement?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We essentially know today, right now, that the lockout is over. Everyone is proceeding now to just finish out the procedures that have to follow. They have to recertify their union. The players have to vote. But the player reps have enthusiastically endorsed this new deal, 100 percent. There was completely unanimous. Now everyone says let's play football. And that is what we are going to see the teams doing this week.

BALDWIN: Will the season start on time, A? And B, what is the economic impact of all this?

MATTINGLY: The only thing that's been a casualty so far has been the Hall of Fame Game. Which was the first pre-season game of the year. They're not going to be able to play that. But right now everything else is intact, the pre-season and the regular season. So from a fan standpoint, this season should not look any different than last one.

BALDWIN: OK. David Mattingly, thank you very much.

Next, on "Reporter Roulette", the big airline savings that never happened. CNN Senior Correspondent Allan Chernoff is at the New York Stock Exchange with this one.

And Allan, we know that funding for the FAA expired. That was last week. Some thought it would lower airline ticket prices. You know, what we have to pay for extra bags, etc cetera, but that didn't happen. Why not?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Because Congress didn't reauthorize the FAA, the government haven't been charging some taxes on airfare since Saturday. You'd think we would get a little savings. But it's not happening in most cases. Many carriers are not passing along that savings. Instead, what they've done is raising fares the same amount of the tax. This include most of the mainline carriers and discounters Southwest and JetBlue, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, so they are raising prices, so we won't be saving money, but we are hearing that there are some other carriers that are looking to capitalize on this, touting it as a tax holiday. Talk t me about that.

CHERNOFF: Maybe that's a good way to approach this from a corporate strategy. Not every single carrier has raised prices. Virgin America, Alaska Airlines, as well, they're saying have a tax holiday and Virgin has a great witty promotion. They say are saying, "Evade taxes, take flight". I love it.

BALDWIN: That is cute. Virgin is creative. Allan Chernoff thank you very much. We'll take it when we can get it, right?

Finally, here on "Reporter Roulette", your prescription drugs, speaking of savings, right? May be a little cheaper sooner. CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has more on why.

All right, Elizabeth, what drugs are we talking about?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: What you spend on airfare, you can save at the pharmacy.

BALDWIN: OK.

COHEN: Hopefully, I can be the counterpoint to Allan Chernoff here.

When a drug company invents a drug, it gets a number of years of exclusivity. It is the only one that can make it, so if they have exclusivity, what do the prices do? They're way high.

BALDWIN: OK.

COHEN: But a number of these drugs, and there are some really big ones, are doing what's called going off patent in the next year, which means that other people can make it, too. And you can have competition. Drugs are some big drugs. So, drugs like Lipitor, Plavix, Singulair and Lexapro, those will be all be going generic, or will be allowed to go generic sometime in the next 12 months. And so consumers can expect to see some prices drop.

BALDWIN: So, if you are sitting there and you recognize those drugs and you're taking them right now, what do you do?

COHEN: OK, first, let me tell you the savings that you can get. It's really going to be stunning when it does happen. Let's say you don't have insurance. You're go out to buy Lipitor, you are going to pay $185 a month--$186 a month. Plavix, $215, Singulair, $182, Lexapro, $117. That's the cost per month if you don't have insurance. Which a lot of people don't for prescription drugs. Once they go generic I can't predict exactly what they cost. But some of them may be on the $4 generic list.

BALDWIN: Wow.

COHEN: You know, at some point. Not immediately, necessarily, but relatively soon. It's a huge, huge price difference.

BALDWIN: Huge price. But let's say you go to the doctor, and before this comes generic, and you go to the doctor and the doctor prescribes you one of the pricier drugs. What can you do, if you don't want to pay it?

COHEN: There is a question you can always ask your doctor. You can say, doctor, do I need this drug, or is there something less expensive that will work just as well. For example, just to pull one out of the hat. Your doctor prescribes Singulair, which as we saw can be pricey. Say, is there, you know, it is for allergies. There are a lot of allergy drugs out there. Is there something cheaper, that would work just as well? Or Lexapro, which is an anti-depressant. There are plenty of $4 generic, not necessarily a $4 generic, but there are plenty of less expensive things you can ask about. So, just ask the question, is there something less expensive that might work just as well.

BALDWIN: Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions.

COHEN: And I think sometimes people are embarrassed because it's about money. You don't want to sound cheap about your health, but often times there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well, so just ask the question.

BALDWIN: Good advice, Elizabeth Cohen, thank you.

COHEN: Thanks.

BALDWIN: That is your "Reporter Roulette" for this Monday.

Still to come, she is one of the world's most powerful-she is accusing one of the world's most powerful men of sexual assault. Now the hotel housekeeper who said Dominique Strauss-Kahn attacked her, she is breaking her silence. She is not backing down. But is she, as she comes forward, is she telling the truth? We'll have more on that in a second.

But first, as we go to break, I want to remind you, the president will be addressing the nation tonight, 9:00 Eastern. He's going to be talking about the stalemate over the nation's debt. When we're talking about $14 trillion that America owes, who does that belong to? Who owns it? You have probably heard theories. We like to deal in good hard numbers. And the business insider crunched them. Here we go, here's a list: At No. 5, Japan owns a little more than 6 percent of America's debt. At No. 4, American households are not far behind, owning 6.6 percent. The top three will be revealed when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: So you thought about it. Some of you have already been tweeting me some of the answers, some of you are right. Who owns even more of America's debt?

At number three on the list of top debt owners, China with $1.1 trillion. Now china, topped only by the U.S. Treasury, which owns $1.6 trillion of the debt and the biggest stakeholder here? Number one, 19 percent ownership of our nation's debt, the Social Security Trust Fund with more than $2.5 trillion worth.

And the hotel maid who was accusing one of the financial world's most powerful men of sexual assault is now coming forward. She's breaking her silence. She is Nafissatou Diallo. She spoke with "Newsweek" magazine as and also to ABC News just recently about her claim against former International Monetary Fund Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

She said she is coming forward now because she wants Strauss-Kahn to face justice, including time in prison. Keep in mind, he has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges of sexual abuse and attempted rape. We learned just a couple of hours ago that Diallo's attorney does plan to continue on and file a civil case against Strauss-Kahn this week.

Prosecutors say they are still trying to determine whether to move ahead with the criminal case or simply drop the charges. They say they discovered evidence that Diallo lied about where she was after that alleged attack in that hotel back in May and lying about certain incidents from her own past.

But Diallo in this recent interview says that that does not mean she's not telling the truth now. I spoke with John Solomon. He sat in on this three-hour interview with this woman and co-wrote this article in "Newsweek" magazine. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN SOLOMON, NEWS AND INVESTIGATIONS EDITOR, NEWSWEEK: In the very beginning, she was very reluctant to talk about things in her past, where she had been in Africa, why did she lie on her asylum application for the United States.

And a very shy, often looking down and away from you. As when we got to the point of the attack, she became very animated and you could tell the passion and anger would come through in the interview. I remember her dropping to the floor on her knees at one point to show us what happened --

BALDWIN: When she was talking to you? She literally got on the floor to show you what happened?

SOLOMON: Literally dropped to her knees on the floor. At another point, she grabbed her head and you could see her moving her head thrashing it about.

And it was a very, very strong emotional moment when she talked and then at the end, I have a very strong recollection of how proud she was to be a maid.

She could tell you all the minutia of housekeeping and how she did her job. She was glad to be an immigrant who came to the United States and I think one of the questions you always ask is why didn't she fight more? Why didn't she do more?

She described a little bit more pushing and shoving. She was afraid to lose this job that she held so much in high regard and I think that was very insightful during the interview.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: The article is out on the cover of "Newsweek" I understand locally. Strauss-Kahn, by the way, is expected back in court on this case one week from today.

Coming up next, it is all debt talk all the time at the White House, it seems, but President Obama did make a little time for some very special guests today. We'll tell you who coming up next.

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BALDWIN: So my buddy, Joe Johns is off today. That's not stopping us from giving you your daily dose of "Political Pop." I want to begin at the White House. President Obama actually did take a short break from all this debt negotiation talks to play a little baseball sort of.

He welcomed these guys behind us. These are the San Francisco Giants. They're at the White House this afternoon. He's congratulating them on winning the World Series, but there is a back story to this visit.

Because I know you're thinking hello, it's July, why are we talking baseball. The Giants were actually scheduled to visit the White House months and months ago. This whole visit was postponed because at the time, the president had his hands full with the covert mission to kill Osama Bin Laden.

And semi-related from baseball to bakery we move. Cupcakes specifically, Nancy Pelosi was particularly excited for the Giants visit to the White House today that the California congresswoman reportedly splurged and bought cupcakes decorated with the San Francisco Giants logo.

She shipped them to the bay area members of Congress, as well as the first family. No word yet on what cupcake shop in D.C. she got them from.

And now for a quick look at what's coming up of "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer. Let's talk to Wolf. And Wolf, let's just get to this announcement, the president speaking to the nation 9:00 Eastern. I mean, what is he going to say like enough is enough?

WOLF BLITZER, THE SITUATION ROOM: You know, it's not just speaking to the nation from the White House, not the briefing room. It's the east room, that's the very formal setting. It's not at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, which is what he did the other day on Friday. It's at 9 p.m. right on primetime.

He's asked the broadcast networks for time, but we don't know how long he's going to speak, but he's obviously wants to make his case that it's not him, it's not the Democrats who are to blame, it's the Republicans, the conservatives, the Tea Party activists who are to blame for this mess.

Right now, as you know, Brooke, there are two plans on the table, the Harry Reid plan, which the White House now says it supports. The John Boehner plan, which calls for another vote at some point next year, the White House says that's a non-starter.

The president would veto that plan. Is there some common ground at this late moment with one week to go? They still have to have votes. Can they come up with some sort of compromise on middle ground?

Already Harry Reid and the Democrats and now the president, they've given up on any tax revenue increases, any tax increases that doesn't exist in Harry Reid's plan.

As far as some of the concessions that John Boehner is making. They're significant, some Tea Party activists not happy with him. We're going through all of that, starting at the top of the hour.

And a special show at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, I'll be anchoring that getting ready for the president to address the nation and indeed, Brooke, the world because make no mistake, the whole world is watching and listening right now.

BALDWIN: All right, we'll indeed be watching 8:00 for this special. Wolf Blitzer, I will see you then and I'll see you in a couple of minutes for "THE SITUATION ROOM." Thank you so much, sir.

Still to come here, it is a highly publicized trial. The man accused of making a 12-year-old girl his wife. How will they seat the jury in this case? Warren Jeffs is on trial starting today. We're on the case next.

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BALDWIN: On the case today, this could actually turn out to be a very good day for Amanda Knox. She's the American college student who's convicted of killing her British roommate in Italy.

Independent DNA experts were hired to take a second look at evidence that sent Knox to prison. They reported back to the court today. I want to bring in Sunny Hostin is off.

Robin Sax is in with us for her on the case. She's a former prosecutor. Robin, let's talk about these two pieces of evidence, right? They looked at the weapon, the kitchen knife, and also Kircher's bra clasp and what they found was, it was pretty shocking. Basically debunked the prosecution's DNA result on both.

ROBIN SAX, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, what's really amazing about this is that this independent review was actually ordered by the judges in Italy seemingly to turn around and finally do the right thing in this case and look at the evidence.

And what they have found was that the evidence that the prosecutors relied on at first was flimsy at best and that the DNA was contaminated, it did not show to be Amanda Knox's and didn't even have Meredith's DNA on the infamous bra strap.

BALDWIN: And also to be completely clear, I mean, this panel here, they were totally independent. I mean, no ties to either the prosecution or the defense?

SAX: That's absolutely correct. And this was done in a way that we use in lingo, mumbo jumbo world as trial to novo. That means if they looked at all the facts all over again. It was a fresh look at the case without a corrupt prosecutor, not a disciplined prosecutor, a new jury, and without having that media beating down on them, which they did in the first case.

BALDWIN: And this panel, I mean, this wasn't just a simple no, yes, there's DNA evidence. No, there's not. I mean, this was a 145-page report that they put out and it comes down very hard on the police in that initial investigation. I mean, talk about sloppy police work. Are you surprised at all by that that?

SAX: Well, from what I understand and I spoke with Ann Bremner (ph) who is one of the lead lawyers here in the United States hired by the friends and family of Amanda Knox who has been seeking justice for the last two years.

And what she said in her description of the crime scene photos was that this crime scene photo and the collection looked like a high school party. There was junk all over the place. The bra went from being a white bra and a black bra because it was thrown around the floor so many times.

So this would never have passed muster here in the United States and only is giving justice to Amanda finally. Hopefully, we'll see her released in September.

BALDWIN: Yes, I was talking to her mother on this show not too long ago and she was very hopeful herself. But if and when we see that, how early -- you said September is the earliest we could see her released?

SAX: Right. From what I understand, after four birthdays and three Christmases in prison, spending a year in an Italian jail before even being charged, the date that we're looking at and the date that Ann Bremner (ph) is telling us is September 5th.

That she could actually walk out of that prison, get on the plane and finally have the barbecue that she wants to have with her family in Seattle.

BALDWIN: Her family obviously waiting for that to happen. We'll stay on it. Case number two, quickly, Robin. Back in 2008, authorities raided that West Texas ranch. It belonged to Polygamus. They took all the kids away.

They believed these under-aged girls were being forced to marry these older men and the group's leader finally going on trial of sex assault charges. Warren Jeffs allegedly married to these girls. Talk to me just quickly here, 30 seconds. How difficult is it to seat a jury in this town?

SAX: Well, listen, they have sent out questionnaires privately to all prospective jurors, but don't underestimate the process. Jury selection is the most important part of this case and we know that prosecutors are going to do their darnedest to make sure that they have a jury that can be fair and neutral in this case. But we also have the history of seven other people already being convicted so the chances of him being convicted seem pretty great.

BALDWIN: Robin Sax on the case for me today. Robin, thank you so much. That's it for me. I'm Brooke Baldwin in Atlanta. Time to turn things over to my colleague Wolf Blitzer. "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts now.