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Georgia Pardons Board Denies Troy Davis Clemency; Charting Libya's Future; U.N. Tackling Diseases on the Rise; Consumer Groups Oppose Health Care Deal; Study: Diabetes, Alzheimer's Link; Troy Davis Clemency Denied

Aired September 20, 2011 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Thanks so much, guys.

We are going to continue this breaking news. And if you're just waking up and joining us at the top of the hour, we are learning that convicted cop killer Troy Davis will not be granted clemency. He now has less than 34 hours to live.

David Mattingly as you just heard got this information. Joining me now once again.

And you've been getting a number of statements, David, with regard to reaction to this because there's been a lot of support out there. You've been covering the protests. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide joining in to try to save this man's life.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And this all came about after the Georgia Pardons and Parole Board yesterday met for a very lengthy session behind closed doors. They were hearing testimony from both sides.

From attorneys representing Davis who were arguing that there are -- that they had seven out of the nine of the witnesses who testified against him have since recanted or recounted their stories. Some claiming that they were intimidated by police into testifying against him.

They've also pointed out that they've had people come forward saying that someone else was responsible for this murder. All of that was before the board. Everyone came back from that meeting with the board thinking that they got their point across, that the board was definitely listening, asking a lot of questions about this case.

Apparently, had they had done their homework and were very, very familiar with this case. So both sides coming out thinking that they had made their case very strongly. Of course, the people who had the last word before that board were the family members of the Officer MacPhail who was murdered that night in 1989.

They spoke to us after they had spoken to the board and they said that they wanted justice. They wanted to make sure that this execution went through. They have believed all along in the guilt of Davis. Contrary to what hundreds of thousands of other people have apparently believed.

The hundreds of thousands who have signed petitions in support of him. People including former President Jimmy Carter saying there's too much doubt surrounding this case for this execution to go through.

But now the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole have decided they will not be granting clemency in this case and Troy Davis will keep his appointment with lethal injection on Georgia's death row tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: OK. David, stay with us, we'll continue to follow this breaking news story.

Jeffrey Toobin, our senior legal analyst joining us now as well via the phone as we get this news.

What's the reaction, Jeffrey, among you and other attorneys in the legal realm? I mean there was so much doubt cast upon this case with regard to a number of witnesses coming forward over the years recanting their testimony.

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST (via phone): Well, you know, this has been an extraordinary legal saga since the murder in 1989 and two years ago the United States Supreme Court did something it almost never does. It instructed a district court in Georgia to take another look at the case, hold a hearing.

And a judge in Savannah did hold the hearing and then issued a 170-page opinion saying that even with the recanted testimony, there is no substantial doubt cast on the verdict. As far as this judge could tell, Troy Davis was as guilty as the jury found him. And, at this point, I know lawyers can be very creative, but I think Troy Davis is really out of options. I don't see an obstacle for his execution at this point.

PHILLIPS: So you are saying that he will die tomorrow night?

TOOBIN: I think -- you know I never can underestimate the creativity of lawyers, but certainly based on what I can see, based on my familiarity with the law here, I do think he will be executed tomorrow.

PHILLIPS: With a death penalty case, have you ever seen this much doubt? Have you ever seen so much protest over so many years surrounding a case?

TOOBIN: Well, certainly. You know if you go back to the Rosenbergs in the 1950s, the accused and convicted spies for the Soviet Union who were executed, that certainly generated even more international outrage. But in recent history, certainly the Troy Davis case has generated the most attention, the most outrage in the United States.

He's certainly the most -- the best-known person on death row. And what makes this case somewhat peculiar is that -- you know, this execution is taking place against the backdrop of many fewer executions in the United States and many fewer death sentences in the United States than there were even in the 1990s.

The death penalty is really fading in the United States. And there are a lot of disagreement about why that is, but, certainly, there are fewer executions than there used to be. But this one does appear to be going forward, even with all the protests.

PHILLIPS: Jeffrey, stay with me.

David Mattingly, are you still connected with me?

MATTINGLY: Yes, I still hear you.

PHILLIPS: OK. You know, just to sort of bring people up to date on this. Maybe folks that have not been following the case. Let's go back to the murder scene and the -- what had happened that night. At least from the witnesses that evening. And kind of take us through couple of the major events that sort of shifted the belief that Troy Davis possibly wasn't the killer that night.

MATTINGLY: Well, back in 1989 Officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia, was off duty. He was moonlighting offering security to a couple of businesses there. He saw a homeless man being beaten up and he came to that homeless man's aid, chased after the man's assailant, and that assailant turned and shot him and killed him there on the spot.

Officer MacPhail never even drew his weapon. And at the time of the murder, there were multiple witnesses that police had brought together and there was a very quick trial about this. The jury was able to reach a verdict in a matter of hours and in a matter of another few hours were able to reach a verdict for the death penalty.

So they were very definitive at the time of his guilt and of the need for an execution here. But in that time, it's been his family that really has kept the belief in his innocence going. They have been responsible for networking, for getting other people to look at the case and we saw this as a slow-acting volcano that has been erupting over the last 20 years coming to a head in the last few days.

Hundreds of thousands of people across the world signing petitions, thousands of people marching in the streets here in Atlanta, Georgia. People all over the country looking closely at this case and some very influential people, including former President Jimmy Carter, who have been looking at this saying that there are too many doubts about this man's guilt for this execution to go through. His family, of course, maintaining that he is completely innocent of these charges.

PHILLIPS: And David, I'm just being told that we have Anne MacPhail on the phone, the mother of Mark MacPhail, that police officer that was murdered in 1989.

Anne, can you hear me OK?

ANNE MACPHAIL, SLAIN OFFICER'S MOTHER: Yes, I can.

PHILLIPS: So tell me your first reaction?

MACPHAIL: After I heard the news today?

PHILLIPS: Yes, ma'am.

MACPHAIL: Well, the only thing I could think of, well, justice is done. That's the way I look at it, and that's what we wanted.

PHILLIPS: So you believe that Troy Davis is guilty of the murder of your son even --

MACPHAIL: I sure do. After all the facts that I've seen during the trial, original trial, I am very convinced that he is guilty.

PHILLIPS: And will you be there at the execution?

MACPHAIL: No. No. No.

PHILLIPS: And how did -- tell me how you made that decision not to be there?

MACPHAIL: That decision was right from the beginning that I said if it should come to this, then I will not be there. I have family members that will be there, and that's all I need.

PHILLIPS: Do you forgive Troy Davis?

MACPHAIL: Not yet. Maybe some day. I don't know. I can't right now.

PHILLIPS: What do you think of all the hundreds of thousands of people, Anne, that have joined forces saying that they believe Troy Davis should not die?

MACPHAIL: Well, I tell you what I believe and what I've seen and I have talked to some of it. To them the point is the death penalty. Ninety-nine percent have absolutely no idea who Troy Davis is or who Mark MacPhail was.

They just following their belief and the not to have the death penalty. Most don't even know what it is all about. They're just there because they're following what they believe in. So I do not take that personally. Everybody can believe what they want to. But they do not know the truth and everything that was involved that day when Mark was killed.

PHILLIPS: And you know the list of names that are out there saying that Troy Davis should not die. Former President Jimmy Carter --

MACPHAIL: Yes, yes.

PHILLIPS: Even the Pope has weighed in.

MACPHAIL: Well, do you honestly believe that he pays any attention to that? I mean, one of his people that work for him is going to answer that. I don't think the Pope will be -- has time to do any of the getting involved in the case of Troy Davis.

Mr. Carter -- President Carter, I'm not surprised he's not that type. But the rest of them, they don't even know. That's just against their death penalty.

PHILLIPS: And Anne, we've talked so much about Troy Davis and of course we -- in no way, shape we want to -- want to forget the death of your son. And we have video of you and you're showing all the pictures of your son, Mark, and talking about his background and the military and law enforcement.

Why don't you take a moment to remind people around the world about your son, what he stood for, and how you felt about him.

MACPHAIL: Oh, my son, well, he -- all of my children. Not just Mark. My pride and joy. I love them dearly. Mark was a very, very exciting young man. Full of life. He loved his country. He spent years in the military to protect us. He went into the police department to protect us. And that's what he was doing trying to help this homeless man that was pistol whipped.

Not just -- I mean, really. (INAUDIBLE) pistol whipped. Excuse me. So he loved his children. He loved his family. Any chance he had he would come home to be with us all. So he was quite a young man that we all loved dearly and always part of.

PHILLIPS: How are his children?

MACPHAIL: His children?

PHILLIPS: Yes. Your grandchildren.

MACPHAIL: Mark's children now, they're 22 and 24. I was with them yesterday.

PHILLIPS: What do they think about this?

MACPHAIL: Well, I would imagine I'm glad now it's over because my granddaughter has suffered pretty much, harder than -- Mark Jr. was only 7 weeks old when Mark got killed. So he has no memory. Nothing. All he knows is what his mother and I are telling him.

My granddaughter was 22 years old and it's amazing, couple things -- she comes to it, is suffering very hard, though, under this. Mark's death. And she fell apart again yesterday. But she did well at the hearing. But she just tried to so hard to control it and she missed her father. You know how it is. And Mark was an excellent father. He adored his children.

PHILLIPS: Anne MacPhail, I sure appreciate you calling in and giving us your reaction to the execution that is going to happen tomorrow night.

Anne, thank you so much.

MACPHAIL: You're welcome. PHILLIPS: And we'll continue to follow this story. Once again word coming in now that Troy Davis, a convicted cop killer, will die by execution tomorrow night.

Quick break, we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We are following history unfolding at the United Nations right now.

Next hour, President Obama is going to meet with the new leadership of Libya. That celebration of progress may be a bit overshadowed by a new crisis that's bubbling up in the Middle East. We're talking about the showdown that's looming over Palestinian statehood and the U.S. could become a lightning rod of international anger.

We're covering it from all angles. Briana Keilar is at the White House. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is looking at the rare example of health issue that's actually driving a debate within the world body.

Brianna, let's go ahead and start with you. What does the president hope to accomplish in his meetings with Libya's transitional government?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, he's really trying to sort of bolster the station of the Libyan transitional government, trying to make sure that this debut kind of goes well, because that's really what this is for the Libyan rebel government, now the Libyan transitional government. It was recently seated on the U.N. General Assembly to represent Libya, and this is sort of its entry into the international community in New York this week.

The president also trying to help garner some support as this government moves forward into this post-Gadhafi area. Obviously, the U.S. has very strong interest in making sure that that goes well and ask the U.S. is looking for help from a lot of its allies, looking for a lot of buy-ins.

So, what you'll be seeing is next hour, the president will meet with the head of the Libyan transitional government, Mustafa Abdel Jalil. They'll have a meeting, just the two of them. And then, there will be a meeting with a number of world leaders focused on Libya as it moves forward into this new phase. The head of the U.N., Ban Ki- moon will speak, Obama will speak, other world leaders will speak.

But, of course, Kyra, there's a huge challenge here. That's that the U.S. and the White House really tries to mark the achievement of this rebel government, trying to make sure that things go smoothly. The headlines are very much being stolen by the issues of Palestinian statehood.

And it's certainly hard to get a lot of attention for Libya when that's where all eyes are focused, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: But we'll be talking about all of it. That's for sure. Brianna, thanks so much.

Now, the medical angle -- diabetes, heart and lung diseases, cancer, all of those on the rise in countries least able to deal them.

CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, live at the U.N.

Sanjay, the U.N. taking on non-communicable diseases. Let's talk about what makes this meeting so historic from that perspective.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, as you said, global health has not been on the agenda for 10 years. In and of itself, this is a pretty remarkable thing.

I think what is interesting, and they opened one of the sessions, Ban Ki-moon talking about the fact that three out of five people who died today anywhere in the world, Kyra, not just in the developed world, but anywhere in the world die of these non- communicable diseases. And because of that alone, that makes it a priority for the U.N. General Assembly.

But I think the reason that they're talking about it now, 10 years after the last time they had global health on the agenda, is because not only is the scope of the problem better identified, but also some of the solutions, things that have worked in certain places on earth, to try and curb back people dying from these diseases too young.

You know, we think about these diseases as diseases of the affluent and you find in the developing world, young people develop these diseases, poor people develop these diseases. And as a result, generations of people are being affected here, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What's the action plan then?

GUPTA: Well, you know, it's interesting. Some of them are going to be the obvious things that people have been talking about for some time. Tobacco, for example, 1.3 billion people smoke in the world. That number is still expected to go up despite the tobacco programs all over the world. So, that's a big focus.

But, also, the idea that certain cancers, such as liver cancer, such as cervical cancer, something that's come up quite a bit recently in the United States can also be addressed through vaccinations, which they want to make more readily available.

And I think the idea of true prevention programs in terms of cardiac disease, in terms of diabetes -- these are being focused on, again, not just in the developed world, but also in countries that are typically thought of as resource poorer. Countries that are thought of where diseases like this are too costly or too complicated to treat. They're saying we can prevent this by spending millions of dollars now to avoid trillions of dollars of cost later on. And that seems to be the real focus here.

PHILLIPS: Sanjay Gupta at the U.N. -- Sanjay, thanks.

Still ahead, big concerns about the merger of two mail-order drug companies. If you get your prescriptions from Medco or Express Scripts, what you need to know if they join forces.

Plus, a viral video lets you stow away on the International Space Station. World class views, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Forget around the world in 80 days. How about orbiting the earth for 60 second? It's a new video that actually puts you inside the International Space Station.

And, of course, Zain Verjee, it's gone viral.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: It has. There's been 2 million people that have seen this piece of video on YouTube. Someone basically put about 600 images that the international space station took and that the NASA pictures. And take a look, Kyra, isn't this a beautiful shot of our lovely planet earth?

This video actually starts over the Pacific Ocean and it gets into North and South America and then when it hits daylight, it actually goes into Antarctica.

So, this is the result of all those great pictures, Kyra.

I also want to warn you, I don't want you to be afraid. There's a little bit of space junk that is coming down later this week and NASA is saying that it's a satellite and they're saying wherever it falls, don't touch it. It's not a souvenir. Don't pick it up.

If you see a piece in your backyard -- I don't know if you will in Marietta, Georgia, Kyra -- but they say just call the local cops to sort it out.

PHILLIPS: Let them -- yes, don't take it, yes, don't put it on the mantle, don't put it on eBay.

Now, if we look back at that video, again. My director, Scotty, was telling me the flashes of light that you see in this, I thought maybe they were alien spaceships flying through, but apparently when you see a start blinking, those are spots of lightning.

VERJEE: Are they really? I didn't know that. I would much rather to prefer think that they're alien spaceships but, yes, it is beautiful. They will come, Kyra. They will come.

PHILLIPS: They will come. Zain Verjee, thanks.

Well, Alison Kosik, she's coming our way now at the New York Stock Exchange -- following a $30 billion merger in the health care industry.

We've been talking about Express Scripts wanting to buy Medco, Alison. So, what's the latest?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: This is the whole regulatory process of this, Kyra. And the companies that we're talking about, these are the companies that manage drug prescription drug benefits for employers and for insurers.

And what's happening is the House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on this deal. The big issue for this deal is: will this stifle competition? Express Scripts and Medco, if these two companies merge and combine the first and third biggest pharmacy manufacturers, this would affect millions of people.

And as you can guess, just everybody has an opinion. You know, five groups including Consumers Union, National Consumers League, they're joining forces to oppose this deal. What they say is that it would lead to fewer choices. It would cause higher prices. It could limit access to new drugs.

But Express Scripts says, no, we're not going to be too big. There's a "Wall Street Journal" story out today saying that Express Scripts will come out today at this hearing and say that a combined company will have a 30 percent market share and that's actually within the range that's acceptable.

And they say, you know what, bigger is better because, hey, they'll be able to negotiate lower drug prices. You know what? There are all these different ways to debate this possible merger -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes. I mean, I'm just curious. What are the odds of this, you know, coming together? Could it, you know, somehow get holed up?

KOSIK: And you know what? You make a good point here, because those antitrust issues, they can either kill a deal, or they can delay it. You know, if there are issues, Express Scripts and Medco could wind up reworking the deal, to make it more acceptable for regulators to accept.

You know, Congress doesn't grant antitrust approval. But today, no doubt, it will help to open the debate, examine this deal, definitely all this little minutia in this deal. But keep in mind: this is going to be a long road, even if this deal goes through before consumers would see any changes to their drug plans -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Now, overnight, we heard that Italy's credit rating was downgraded. So, what do you think? Is this only adding more fear to Greece's debt problems?

KOSIK: You know what? I think investors really knew ahead of time about S&P's downgrade of Italy. They knew it was coming. It didn't come as a big surprise.

But what really is more urgent right now is Greece's debt crisis. Greece could run out of money within the next month. We did see some signs of hope yesterday. Late in the trading day, Greek officials talked with European finance officials who say they're close to a deal to get another bailout. Stocks are set for slightly higher open on those high hopes -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Alison Kosik, thanks.

Just ahead, the military ends its "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which banned gays from serving openly. We're going to talk to one vet, though, who did get kicked out, but wants to return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking top stories. President Obama at the U.N. today for the 66th Annual Session of the General Assembly. He's going to meet with the head of Libya's National Transition Council.

And Georgia Patrol Board just denied clemency for death row inmate Troy Davis. Davis is scheduled to die tomorrow night for the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer.

The Defense Department formally repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy today allowing gays to openly serve in the military. Advocacy group estimate that as many as 14,000 people were forced out of the military because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Well, the policy rather was in place for almost 18 years, but it was in the making for decades.

Chris Lawrence takes a look at the slow evolution of this law.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the tale of soldiers and sailors, politics and presidents. It begins in 1950 when President Harry Truman signs into law the uniform code of military justice, making sodomy itself a crime.

Years later under President Ronald Reagan, the Pentagon issues a directives stating that "Homosexuality is incompatible with military service." End of story until candidate Bill Clinton promises to lift the ban. His election sparks congressional hearing, and in 1993 a compromise emerges between Senate Republicans and the new president.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Joint Chiefs of Staffs have agreed to remove the question regarding one's sexual orientation from future versions of the enlistment application, and it will not be asked in the interim.

LAWRENCE: In other words, the military won't ask if you are gay, but you can't tell anyone.

Ten years later, the nation is at war and nearly 10,000 troops have been killed out for violating "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The government accountability finds the Pentagon spent nearly $100 million to replace them, although the Supreme Court effectively upholds the ban in 2006, all the Democratic candidates for president oppose it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you think it's time to get rid of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the U.S. military, raise your hands.

All of you agree on this.

LAWRENCE: After President Barack Obama is sworn in, more than 1,000 high-ranking officers sign a letter urging him to keep the policy in place. Others argue being gay didn't hurt military readiness.

JUSTIN ELZIE, RETIRED U.S. MARINE: I went on a ship in the tight spaces and I went out in the field as a platoon sergeant in the fox holes with my marines. And at the end of the day, at some points, it would almost became a laughable issue between all of us.

LAWRENCE: And the chairman of the joint chiefs takes a side.

ADM. MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS, CHAIRMAN: It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do.

LAWRENCE: The Pentagon begins a comprehensive review of the policy, including a major survey to hear what troops and their families think. But the review is preempted by a federal judge who rules "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional. That triggers a chaotic legal fight and raises the possibility that the courts might overtake Congress. So, even with some service chiefs testifying that it's still too soon --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would not recommend going forward at this time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My recommendation would be this is a bad time.

LAWRENCE: A lame duck Congress in its last days under full democratic control passes the repeal. And President Obama signs it into law.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Chris joining us now from the Pentagon.

So, Chris, you have to wonder how many members that were kicked out because of this policy, you know, will want to reinstate.

LAWRENCE: Yeah, exactly, Kyra. President Obama just released a statement, in fact, calling "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" a discriminatory law and say the nation values the service of those who were discharged because of it. That memo is no guarantee they're going to get back in. They have every right to apply, but some are now too old. Others were in specialties that just are no longer needed and some others are in jobs that are now fully staffed.

I mean, the bottom line is the military is getting smaller, not bigger. And with the current budget crunch, if you started giving a waiver to those discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," you would probably have to take away jobs or kick people out who are currently in.

Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon. Chris, thanks.

For many of the service members kicked out of the military for being gay, its repeal does not necessarily mean justice.

Mike Almy is former major in the U.S. Air Force.

And, Mike, even after all you went through, you want to return to the military, right?

MIKE ALMY, DISCHARGED UNDER "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL": I sure do. I grew up in the military. My father was a senior officer in the Air Force. I spent my whole adult life in the military. And that is where my passion is. This is my calling. I served for 13 years and just have found that I greatly miss the mission, the camaraderie, the men and women that I served with in the armed forces today are just absolutely the best, and I hope to get back to that and resume my career as officer and a leader.

PHILLIPS: Well, Mike, let me ask you about that because you have said in the past that he Air Force searched your private e-mails, and that's how you got outed and that's why you were thrown out.

So do you still trust the Air Force?

ALMY: I must say it's -- I do, certainly now that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been repealed and that gays and lesbians can serve openly. It's certainly, I have to put all that bitterness behind me.

I felt betrayed at the time because I never told the Air Force asked by searching my private e-mails. And even though I never made a statement, I was still thrown out. But I need to put that behind me and look forward.

Now that we have repeal, now is the time for gays and lesbians to serve openly and honestly in the military. We need role models and leaders. Officers and enlisted alike to serve right along their straight counterparts and show that they are no different. They are just as patriotic, they believe the same color of red, they love America and they love serving in the military and provide valuable contributions to our armed forces.

PHILLIPS: Well, Mike, if you do go back and serve, will you promise to come back and tell me if indeed you have witnessed change?

ALMY: Absolutely. I look forward to it.

PHILLIPS: All right. Mike Almy, thanks so much for your time.

ALMY: Thanks for having me.

PHILLIPS: We got breaking news to tell you about out of Afghanistan.

For the second time in a week now, U.S. Embassy staff in Kabul are being told to duck and cover. Reuters reporting right now the embassy sounded a security alarms. No word or information on the attack, according to Reuters.

CNN is making calls right now to our sources in Afghanistan. They're trying to get information for you as it's starting to come in.

All right, also coming up, President Obama's deficit plan leaves Social Security untouched. My next guest doesn't plan on touching Social Security either, because he says when it comes to retire, he doesn't want it. That's next.

And a new study with a new threat. The link between diabetes and Alzheimer's. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta joining us live from United Nations with details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Great Depression gave birth to Social Security. The Greatest Generation fed it and made it strong. Today the shared number of the baby boomers is slowly strangling it to death. That's the opinion of CNN.com columnist L.Z. Granderson.

In fact, L.Z., you say the thought of the government caring for you when you're older is frightening.

LZ GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Why?

GRANDERSON: Look at what is going on right now. I mean, I could remember sitting there during the debates and, you know, everyone is talking about how the Tea Party kind of cheered at the idea of this guy dying if he is uninsured. And I just looked at the eight Kennedys that were on stage, and no one was angry by the cheers. No one really said anything to those participants who were in the audience who cheered at this scenario.

And that to me said a lot. It told me that there was a lack of compassion on the stage for people, and that I really can't depend on the government as a whole Democrat or Republican to really care about me individually, and that includes Social Security.

PHILLIPS: So do you not trust President Obama when it comes to our Social Security?

GRANDERSON: No. Actually, I don't. I don't trust any of them. That's not to say that President Obama doesn't care about people. But that he's involved in politics. And anyone who's involved in politics is moving pieces along in order to get the things they think they want or things that they think are more important.

And I'm not altogether sure, especially since on Monday he unveils a plan that doesn't touch Social Security. I'm not really sure if he's really thinking about how this is going to impact people like me. Generation Xs, generation Y. People who also vote but doesn't seem to be as important as the people in Florida who are dictating what happens in the election.

PHILLIPS: So, LZ, what do we do? We're all paying into it?

GRANDERSON: Well, we better start thinking about plan B, C and D. And unfortunately, this is a real squeeze on the middle class, right?

I mean, how do you tell someone who is living check to check right now in their 30s and 40s that you need to have money square, you know, put away somewhere 20 years from now because Social Security may not be there for you in the same capacity? That's a very scary and frightening scenario. And the fact that we are not talking about this more, more aggressively, the fact that we're using this as a political tool is a shame. And I'm really, really am afraid for the middle class.

And I believe if these politicians really were concerned about us, if they were concerned about the middle class, they would talk about Social Security because a lot of people are going to be hurting in about 20 or 30 years.

PHILLIPS: Now I see why you married a sugar daddy. It all makes sense, LZ. You can read LZ's latest piece --

GRANDERSON: Back-up plan, girl. Back-up plan.

He's got his back-up plan, but it's not for everybody. Sometimes we're just stuck on our own.

CNN.com/Opinion. If you like, you can join the conversation, leave a comment for LZ. He will cherish it.

All right, more concerns today for people with diabetes. They could also be at risk for a disease that robs a person of cherished memories. Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains right after the break.

And actor John Travolta's vintage Mercedes-Benz stolen right off the streets of Santa Monica. How much could crooks get for it? I'll tell you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking stories "Cross Country" now.

After John Travolta visited a Santa Monica Jaguar dealership he went back to the car that he drove there in and it was gone. TMZ says there were no witnesses and that Travolta's vintage 1970 Mercedes-Benz could be worth about $100,000.

And in Central Florida, they're accused of stealing sequins, feather boas and fabric worth thousands of dollars, yes, they are no ordinary bandits. They've been arrested. They're described as a whole gang of drag queens. One store manager even said, quote, "They could wipe out a whole section of boas in seconds."

And a Florida teenager takes a fishing rod and reels it -- and reels in an 800-pound gator. 19-year-old Tim Straw reeled the giant in this weekend and had to use a 44 caliber bang stick in order to kill it.

Now, turning to health news: A new threat for diabetes or diabetics rather, is being revealed. A study just released shows diabetics are at an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's.

Our chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta live at the United Nations. So Sanjay, let's go ahead and explain the study.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is sort of interesting. For some time people have suspected that diabetes was a risk factor for a certain type of dementia. Dementia is often associated with minor strokes.

What this study looked at -- it looked at 1,000 people and found that if you had diabetes or even pre-diabetes, it put you at a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's like dementia. These are people over the age of 60 and what they found Kyra is that if they had diabetes you were twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's-type dementia within the next 15 years.

You're almost twice as likely to develop any other type of dementia as well over that time period. So this was -- this was interesting, Kyra. We've known diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease, for stroke. Dementia was always a little bit of a question mark and this study seems to confirm that very point.

Now, you know, diabetes, Kyra you and I have talked about this, by the year 2020 in the United States, they expect that half of American adults will have diabetes or be pre-diabetic and that's what makes this study so significant -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So, what should people do then, Sanjay?

GUPTA: Well, you know, I mean, I think a lot of the -- the same approaches to trying to take care of diabetes, you know, are still going to apply here. I think what is interesting is that any time you have a new sort of possible correlation, in this case between diabetes and dementia, it does open up new avenues, potentially of research.

Glucose, sugar is toxic to blood vessels and also toxic to the central nervous system. In that, in that finding there could be some potential new avenues with how to treat both diabetes and dementia and that's going to be obviously an area for researchers.

But I think this idea, you know, any time you tell people, look, diabetes puts you at risk for all these different things, you tend to -- to encourage people to -- to change their lifestyle and better behaviors, try and curb obesity, which is related to diabetes. This can help. People developing dementia at a much higher rate as a result of diabetes, if they know that, you can start to change behavior early.

PHILLIPS: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, live there at the U.N. Sanjay, thanks. New York Giants linebacker has an unusual way of spiking the ball, right at the head of a Giants' intern. Sports in seven minutes.

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PHILLIPS: Checking stories making news later today.

At 11:00 Eastern, additional details will be released about the five unidentified bodies discovered in the Suffolk County on New York's Long Island.

And then at 11:30 Eastern in Washington Joints Chiefs Chair Admiral Mike Mullen gives a speech on challenges for the U.S. military in Washington.

And 3:30 Eastern Time, a U.S. House subcommittee holds a hearing on plans by Express Scripts to purchase Medco as the nation's largest pharmacy benefits management company.

All right, we're following a lot of developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with political correspondent, Jim Acosta in Washington -- Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

GOP front runner Rick Perry is in New York. He is expected to talk to Jewish leaders in just a few minutes about what he calls the Obama's Administration's Middle East policy of appeasement. We'll have more on that in just a few minutes.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Brianna Keilar at the White House.

President Obama is at the U.N. General Assembly in New York and top on his agenda, trying to give a boost to the Libyan transitional government on the world stage. All of that at the top of the hour.

PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, guys.

Also at 10:00 a.m. a new look for Facebook. Why the site and iPhone app -- and the iPhone app rather is getting a facelift.

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PHILLIPS: We have reported just moments ago alarm bells being sounded at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. We now have received some more information. Apparently there's been some type of suicide attack or explosion at the home of a former Afghan president, which is relatively near to the U.S. embassy.

So far no claim of responsibility, no word on possible casualties. We are working this to get more details for you.

Well, the Rams on Monday night football for the first time in five seasons -- Jeff Fischel. JEFF FISCHEL, ANCHOR, HLN SPORTS: Yes and you know we saw some moments last night that remind you why it's been so long. You know there were four huge mistakes by the Rams leading to four Giants touchdowns. This is probably the worst. Rams' quarterback Sam Bradford throws a lateral, the backwards pass doesn't connect. It's a live ball. Giants' linebacker Michael Molly (ph) scoops it up and says thank you very much runs it for the touchdown.

Watch him spike the ball. He is throwing it against the wall but hits that guy. His name is Ryan Brown. He's a Giant's intern. It stung a little bit but Brown says he is doing fine.

PHILLIPS: He didn't bring him his coffee, that's what happened. Take that.

FISCHEL: Exactly.

This is the best catch of the season so far. Look at Eli Manning to Dominique Hickson in the end zone. Hickson bobbles and somehow hauls it in. The Giants win 28-16. Good thing they win. Teams that start the season 0-2 almost never make the playoffs.

All right. Let's move on, shall we? Let's do it.

Mariano Rivera, yesterday got save number 602 against the Minnesota Twins. He is now the all-time saves leader he passes Trevor Hoffman (ph) for number one on the list. The 41-year-old showing no signs of letting up.

Baseball has been around a long time. Mariano Rivera is the best relief pitcher ever, period.

Just how strong is Diamond Back's slugger Justin Upton? He hits a home run and busts his bat. The bat breaks but Upton still gives it a charge out in the left field and gone. Watch Pirates' pitcher Jeff Carson (ph) he can't believe it. He busted the guy's bat and he still manages to muscle a home run. And that was all the intended heated 12 strikeouts just one hit in eight innings and gets his 20th win. The Diamond Back's magic number to clinch the NL West down to just four.

And the opener of the chase for the Sprint Cup is running a day late in Chicago Land Speedway because of bad weather. A lot of drivers fast turning left. Tony Stewart wins his first race of the year. He's now won at least one race in 13 straight seasons. Stewart is now in second place in the cup race.

PHILLIPS: You didn't go to the race?

FISCHEL: It was in Chicago land.

PHILLIPS: Ok.

FISCHEL: But -- but this is the time when everyone starts paying attention because they're down to the final 10 races. There are only ten guys that really matter at this point.

PHILLIPS: Can you name all ten?

FISCHEL: Don't make me do that, right.

PHILLIPS: Can you tell I'm stretching. Jeff Fischel.

FISCHEL: Yes but seriously, talking about NFL. A huge start for the -- a huge win last night for the Giants because one of those teams was starting 0-2 and I think history tells us only 12 percent of teams that start 0-2 get to the playoffs.

So it was really a must win game. It's hard to believe in week two of the season but yes, it was a must-win game for the Giants and the Rams.

PHILLIPS: Jeff Fischel, thanks so much.

FISCHEL: Ok.