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Chris Christie Stirs 2012 Speculation; Sarah Palin on 2012; Chilling Jackson Audio Played in Court; Fugitive Captured after 41 Years; Iranian Naval Plans Revealed; Christie Keeps Supporters Guessing; Chilling Jackson Audio Played in Court; How to Fix a Broken Government; Sympathy Cards For Losing Your Job

Aired September 28, 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: That's why we're in journalism, guys. We never were math majors, guys. We don't know how to crunch the numbers.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Have a great morning.

All right, well, this morning, we're following two major stories for you. We're going to have the chilling sound of Michael Jackson's drug dissent. It's all captured in a riveting audiotape recorded just two weeks before his death.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL JACKSON, POP SINGER: When people leave my show, I want them to say, I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go, go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Our Don Lemon is live in Los Angeles. But, first, we begin with Chris Christie.

It's not often that a politician -- politician, rather, makes news for what he doesn't say. But that just proves the buzz surrounding the New Jersey governor and a possible run for the White House.

How many times does a guy have to say no before it sinks in?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: You folks are an incredible disappointment as an audience. The fact that that took to second question shows you people are off your game. That is not American exceptionalism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Jim Acosta, hopeful supporters still heard only one thing, he didn't say no. So is there any reason to believe that he's reconsidering now?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the buzz is exceptional, Kyra. Yes, there is reason to think that he is reconsidering for a governor who is known for his New Jersey brand of straight talk. Chris Christie never really came out and said last night whether or not he is running for president. Unlike what he has done in the past.

And he sounded very much like a candidate in a speech at the Reagan Presidential Library out in California. The New Jersey governor accused the president of dividing the country in order to win reelection. He even took a settled dig at Rick Perry when a woman in the audience asked Christie for his views of giving in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants. Christie said it's not heartless to oppose that policy.

But at least twice last night, three times if you count the woman from New Jersey who said, hey, I want you to run for president, he was asked whether he is reconsidering his repeated statements that he is not running. One woman got very emotional imploring Christie to run. Christie seemed to say, he is sorry, it's just not his time. Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do it for my daughter, do it for our grandchildren. Do it for our sons. Please, sir, don't -- we need you. Your country needs you to run for president.

CHRISTIE: It's extraordinarily flattering, but by the same token, that heartfelt message you gave me is also not a reason for me to do it. That reason has to reside inside me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And if you listen very carefully, Christie did not give a definitive answer. I talked to a close adviser of the governor yesterday who basically said only Christie knows what Christie is doing right now. Adding, quote, "The storm of speculation is incredible, but this is a decision that will come from Chris Christie on his terms."

So, Kyra, you can see the word there, decision, which seems to indicate that this is an open question right now. He doesn't have much time to make up his mind, though. There is about a month between now and when you got, basically, your first really big filing deadline for a primary in the 2012 nomination battle. That is for Florida.

So, if he does not decide by October 31st, this is over. And really, he has to decide before then. You cannot launch a presidential campaign on the fly like this. He's -- the clock is ticking.

PHILLIPS: All right, we're going to keep talking about it at least for another month then.

Jim Acosta, thanks.

And coming up at 9:15, we -- we are going to take a closer look at Chris Christie's plans and what they mean to the Republican Party.

John Avlon, CNN contributor and "Daily Beast" columnist, is going to join me with his thoughts then.

Well, Sarah Palin is also stirring speculation with some new comments. Our senior political editor Mark Preston joining us from Washington.

So, Mark, what exactly is she saying and what are supporters hearing when it comes to Sarah Palin?

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, you know, Kyra, she's doing very much what Chris Christie is doing, she's leaving it out there that she is still at least considering running for president. In fact, listen to what she said last night on FOX, where she is a paid contributor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: As a title and a campaign too shackling does that prohibit me from being out there, out of a box, not allowing handlers to shape me?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PRESTON: And there you have Sarah Palin last night who might be giving an indication, in fact, that she's not going to run for president. In fact those words, Kyra, sound more like someone who wants to be the leader of a movement and not necessarily president of the United States.

What's interesting is that she said the title is too shackling, but the fact of the matter is, you know, the president of the United States is the leader of the free world. So we'll see where she goes with that -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Meanwhile, apparently some news just came in about Florida moving its primary day? What do you know?

PRESTON: Yes, you know, Peter (INAUDIBLE), again, another big scoop for Peter this morning. Florida we expect now to hold their presidential primary on January 31st. This is very big news when you're looking at the Republican presidential primary calendar.

The reason being is because these contests were not supposed to start until February when Iowa was going to kick it off. What this all means is that the Republican presidential primary process, Kyra, is going to start in early January to mid-January. A month early than the Republican leaders had hoped -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Mark Preston, thanks.

We'll have your next political update in just about an hour. And a reminder for all the latest political news, just go to our Web site, CNNPolitics.com.

Back now to that shocking start of Michael Jackson's death trial. If you haven't heard it yet, prosecutors played a chilling audiotape of a drugged up Michael Jackson just weeks before his death. His speech slow and slurred. It was all captured on the iPhone of Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACKSON: When people leave my show, I want them to say, I've never seen nothing like this in my life. Go. Go. I've never seen anything like this. Go. It's amazing. He's the greatest entertainer in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: CNN's Don Lemon is following the trial from Los Angeles.

Don, you were right there in the courtroom sitting behind the Jackson family when this was played. How did they react when they heard that recording?

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, they were stunned. They were shocked. They were passing tissue down. The family was sitting there in a row and, you know, when you sit there, when you're inside the court as an observer, it's just like church pews. You're sitting really close. And I was right behind Katherine Jackson and Joe Jackson and Latoya next to her and the family, on and on.

They just started passing the tissue down and you could see them crying and they had to listen to it twice. Because the first time the audio wasn't up in the courtroom and then the second time, they played it, but you still couldn't understand what he was saying. We didn't see the words up in the courtroom and people were looking around them.

What is that? Is that Michael Jackson? And you know, this has nothing to do with Michael -- with, excuse me, Conrad Murray's guilt or innocence. Innocent until proven guilty.

But imagine, Kyra, I know you're a mom, you know my mom, we all have families. Imagine having to listen to that, your loved one in that state and then, you know, finally the picture. They saw that, as well. It was heart wrenching.

PHILLIPS: Don, is there any speculation to why Conrad Murray would even record this in the first place?

LEMON: No one knows. And that's what people in the courtroom and outside were wondering. Why would he -- why would he record that? What were the purposes behind that? And Kenny Ortega who was a producer and choreographer for "This Is It" the last concert said as much on the stand, that he didn't understand why.

But to his knowledge he thought it was right during the time when Conrad Murray started to treat Michael Jackson. So we don't know. I think that's probably something that may come out in the testimony. But, you know, again, it was tough, Kyra. It's real. Human emotion, it's real.

PHILLIPS: And you actually ran to Conrad Murray in the hallway. Did he say anything to you? Were you able to have any type of conversation with him?

LEMON: I didn't. It was -- it was just -- it was odd because you run into people. I saw the Jacksons in the hallway. Jermaine Jackson shook my hand. They watch CNN, so they recognize us and they said, hello. I asked Jermaine Jackson, I said -- well, she shook my hand and said, how are you doing? And he just -- he just put his hand over his heart and said, you know, it's tough, it's tough.

And then we were all waiting in the break to go to the restroom and get water and what have you and Conrad Murray was there with his security team and he walked out of the rest room and kind of gave me just a long stare like, oh, you know, you're the guy from CNN, just kind of looked at me, and said, facing Ed Chernoff who I know from doing the Jackson documentaries, as well, just kind of looked.

And this was after the prosecution presented their thing. It's just the sullen look like, oh, my gosh. And so he -- you know, he knows. He knows. But it was -- it's even tough for him because he cried in the courtroom, as well. And you saw that, too.

PHILLIPS: Don Lemon, we'll be talking a lot this week. Appreciate it.

And after four decades on the lam, he probably felt pretty safe. But George Wright underestimated the long arm of the law. The convicted murderer and notorious fugitive has been captured in Europe.

Our Deb Feyerick here with all the details. And if you look at this guy's life over the past 40 years, it's pretty remarkable what he has gotten by with -- Deb.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know it really is. And U.S. Marshalls started tracking George right about a decade ago, and they finally got the lead that they needed. Along with FBI agents and Portuguese authorities they arrested George Wright in Sintra, Portugal. That's a very charming tourist town, about an hour from Lisbon.

He had been living there under an assumed name. He is now fighting extradition. He does not want to come back to the United States. Why? Well, in the early '60s he was convicted of killing a World War II veteran who was a Bronze Star recipient and that killing taking place during a gas station robbery.

He was serving up to 30 years when he escaped a New Jersey prison in the warden's car, and he made his way to Detroit where he joined the Black Liberation Army. Then in 1972 Wright and four other Black Liberation members hijacked a Miami-bound Delta flight out of Detroit. Wright was dressed as a priest and apparently he smuggled a gun onboard in a hollowed out bible. Once the plane landed in Miami, Wright and the other hijackers demanded $1 million in cash. The highest ransom ever for this kind of hijacking. And that was for the safe release of some 80 passengers.

Well, FBI agents did deliver the money and they delivered it wearing bathing suits. That was a way of insuring that they were not carrying any sorts of weapons. The hijackers then forced the pilot to fly to Boston, where they got more fuel, took on another pilot, then flew across the Atlantic to Algeria where there was a strong headquarters of the Black Liberation Army. And they asked for asylum.

The government there briefly detained the hijackers and then released them. The million dollars was returned to the United States along with the plane. Four years later, the other hijackers were arrested in Paris. Wright stayed on the run. His next appearance now in a Portuguese court expected in about two weeks -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: OK. We'll be following it, Deb. Thanks so much.

And if you want more inside scoop on this case, we've got it. Tom Fuentes was assistant director of Office of International Operations at the time. He joins us live at the half hour.

Well, Iran's state-run news is reporting that Iran is planning to send ships near U.S. waters. An Iranian Navy with a bigger presence in the Atlantic Ocean.

CNN's Zain Verjee is following the story from London.

So what do you think, Zain? Smoke in mirrors or a real threat here?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: You know it's really difficult to know. If you think of Iran kind of like a kaleidoscope, when you're looking through it, you don't really know what's going on and it's constantly changing. They have so many different and very intricate and complex internal dynamics going on.

So hard to know. But it is significant and the threat shouldn't be taken likely and is unlikely to be taken so by the Pentagon, even though they haven't commented on this. Specifically what was said, the local news agency quoting a commander said that Iran is going to send ships to the U.S. Atlantic Coast and the quote that was given was that the Navy of the Iranian army will have a powerful presence near U.S. borders.

And also went on to say the world arrogant power, not naming the U.S., but we're assuming that is what is implied, is so close to us, so we want to be close to them. The U.S. has had ships in the Persian Gulf close to Iran, too. So, I think it's important to continue to watch this development.

You know, Iran just I think in February had sent a couple of ships to the Suez Canal that they hadn't done so since back in 1979. So there are significant developments. The Pentagon is likely to react to this sometime today. PHILLIPS: All right. We'll keep talking about it, Zain, thanks.

And the presidential plans of Chris Christie. He says no, his supporters say yes. And our guest says hold on just a minute.

CNN contributor John Avlon joins us right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie may have a unique credibility problem. No matter how many times he says he won't run for president, his supporters simply refuse to believe him. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: I don't feel ready in my heart to be president.

I don't feel like I'm ready to be president. I don't want to run for president. I don't have the fire in the belly to run for president.

I'm not stupid. I see the opportunity. I see it. That's not the reason to run.

I threatened to commit suicide. I did. I said, what do I have to do short of suicide to convince people I'm not running? Apparently, I actually have to commit suicide.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

PHILLIPS: And now, supporters are squeezing new hope out of his latest speech because this rising Republican star did not actually use the word "no" in his appearance last night.

John Avlon, CNN contributor and "Daily Beast" columnist joining me now with his thoughts.

So, John, you actually think this has reached the point of ridiculous.

JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I really do. I mean, the guy said no so many different times so many different ways. I mean, he tried to improve upon the Sherman-esque statement of denial by saying, do I have to kill myself? And even that's not enough.

Look, I think it's a -- the courtship of Chris Christie is a fascinating story. The way his supporters, especially a lot of big donors in the Republican Party, keep reaching out to him to run. And it's because, frankly, there is an admission that there is a serious weakness in the field especially in terms of strong leadership in the center right.

So, Chris Christie has the right record to run. He's been a great governor, albeit for only two years. He's got the right message and demeanor. He's unapologetic, he's engaging, he's un-ceremonial and he's a strong believer in executive leadership.

But he said over and over, he's not going to run. So, at some point, you got to listen to the guy.

PHILLIPS: So, it sounds like you're saying the donors are just stirring the pot here, but I'm also sort of hearing from you, you think this guy can make a great candidate.

AVLON: I do. I mean, if you listen carefully -- but that's very different saying he'll run. The speech he gave last night at the Reagan Library was a very strong speech. It was an honest speech. He talked about the importance of strong executive leadership, but also the importance of principled compromise in Washington.

So, he's not simply playing to the base, he's actually laying out a vision consistent with his record in New Jersey about how you get things done, recognizing that compromise is an essential part of the equation. Ultimately, when you're trying to actually make improvements and deal with a budget deficit as he's done in Jersey.

So, I think the party could use him. He's a national leader in the party. But at this point, the sort of frenzy speculation has taken on a life of its own and it's not bearing any reality to what he's consistently said.

PHILLIPS: OK. He's saying no, but final question here, and Jim Acosta even said he could actually say yes, but he's got about a month.

AVLON: Yes, well, there are certain just hard deadlines. You know, the reality is that you need to register to get in the Florida primary, which by all accounts is decisive by October 31st. I mean, there's a certain point at which you can no longer practically functionally run for president, at least on the Republican line.

Now, look, there will be all sorts of, you know, I'm sure there will be some fans says about him running as an independent down the line, too, because there is a hole in the field that Chris Christie could fit, but he's just, you know, he's said no so many different times. He's one of the most effective governors in the nation and I understand why Republicans like him. And just importantly, there are a very few guys in the center right who the Tea Party like as well.

So, there's a genuine groundswell of support, but it's not just going to happen. And the hard deadline is October 31st.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll be watching, of course. John, thanks.

AVLON: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: When you care enough to send the very best to the jobless, Hallmark unveils the new line of greeting cards offering a reassuring word to those out of work. Why some think it's not such a great idea.

And would you spend, rather, 600 bucks a night for a real hole in the ground? We'll show you a hotel suite that will have to take you to the mine shaft to reach.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's get to your "Showbiz Headlines."

While filming on a farm in Northern Ireland, pop star Rihanna was told to wrap it up, literally. The farm owner says he saw the singer stripping for her video, so he called it off. The farmer's wife says they're Christians and they don't want young people to see that sort of thing on their land.

George Clooney's ex Elizabeth Canalis and her partner got the boot last night on "Dancing with the Stars." Chaz Bono and his partner got the lowest score but the audience weighed in and saved Bono from elimination.

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" reality star Kyle Richards met Barack Obama at an L.A. fund-raiser. On Twitter, Richard's husband says that he spoke with the president and claims that he learned a surprising fan of the show, First Lady Michelle Obama.

Well, it's top of the line, yet still underground. There's a Swedish hotel offering a suite some 500 feet below the earth's surface. And you better plan on digging deep into your pocket to stay the night there as well.

CNN's Zain Verjee has more on this hotel's hole in the ground. Hello, Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hi, darling. It's either way or cool but it's definitely not the pits, Kyra. You need to go down a mine shaft to get into this hotel, at 600 bucks a night. If you're willing to do fork it out, you are doing it for the experience.

But just take a look at this picture. It is pretty luxurious. They have chandeliers. They have champagne, caviar, it's really great.

The only thing is, is that you have no phone signal, so there's no way to communicate with the outside world, if you're OK with that. In order to do so, though, they have the whole intercom system built, Kyra, that you can actually talk to people if you really have to or you really want to.

The only thing is if you want to take a shower, you've got to go all the way back up the mine shaft and go to the shower. If you want to go to the toilet at night, you have to wrap up really warmly because it's really cold.

That having been said, it's kind of cool. It's in Sweden. It's a different experience and it's way underground, about 500 feet.

Kyra, would you do it?

PHILLIPS: And way expensive, 600 bucks a night. I would need the shower and underground plumbing, thank you very much.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Thank you.

VERJEE: Kyra, you can give up your penthouse for a night to go down to the depths of a --

PHILLIPS: Oh, Zain, I don't know what world you're living in. Your head is definitely underground if you think that's the way we're living around here.

Zain, thanks.

VERJEE: OK.

PHILLIPS: Well, coming up: from the New Jersey state pen to a Portuguese resort and back again, a fugitive's comfy life on the lam is over after 41 years. The inside scoop from an FBI vet.

And you're paying 9 percent extra for your family health insurance premiums, but your boss is helping you out more than before. We've got that story and your market watch, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now.

An Iranian admiral says that Iran plans to send ships near the U.S. Atlantic coast. The admiral suggests the move would be in response to the U.S. ships near Iranian borders.

Engineers are still rappelling down the Washington Monument and inspecting for any damage caused by the August earthquake. Bad weather forced the work to be postponed yesterday.

And the CDC says 13 people have died from eating tainted cantaloupes. The outbreak of listeria has spread to 18 states now, making 72 people sick.

Well, if you get your family health insurance through work, you'd have to dig a little deeper to pay for it this year. But your boss is paying an even bigger share of that cost hike.

Alison Kosik explains from New York Stock Exchange -- Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes, Kyra, this is something that we can all relate to as medical bills come in. Health insurance is actually costing more this year than last year. I'm talking about 9 percent more.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a small part of the reason is because of President Obama's health care reforms, which gives health care insurance to more people.

But you mention the interesting point. Most of the increase is actually being paid by our bosses, our employers not us. Not the workers.

So, here's the breakdown. For family's annual health insurance, you see it there, costing an average of $15,000. Workers pay $4,000 and employers pay almost $11,000. So, you see how this hurt companies. They are more reticent to hire because they have to pay their fair share of health care and then workers, it hurts us because we're shelling out more money for those medical bills -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. How are stocks looking today before we let you go? Bell just rang.

KOSIK: We got -- yes, bell just rang. We got green arrows. It's more optimism about Europe getting a handle on its debt crisis.

What's happened now is that there more votes from the European Union. They're coming and approve of this overhaul of the European financial stability plan. That's actually the fund that gives loans to European countries.

So far, eight of 17 have approved the overhaul. So, what you're seeing is this progress kind of driving stocks higher all this week and driving stocks higher today -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, let's hope the numbers keep rising. Thanks so much, Alison.

Well, he killed a man at 19, broke out of prison eight years later in the warden's own car. Two years after that, hijacked a plane dressed as a priest with a gun hidden in his bible. George Wright got away with that, too. He fled the country and enjoyed decades of freedom, until this week when reality came knocking on his door. George Wright was just arrested in Portugal after 41 years on the lam.

Tom Fuentes served as assistant director of the FBI's Office of International Operations. So, Tom, you know, is this guy a criminal mastermind or did he just get lucky for 40 years?

TOM FUENTES, FORMER FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Hi, Kyra.

I think, pretty much lucky. He's no genius that we can tell. He was lucky and he took advantage of the fact that 41 years ago, we didn't have the technology and the global police relationships to really be able to go after him once he landed in Africa with the hijacked aircraft.

PHILLIPS: So, explain where the gaps were. How did this guy -- how was he able to commit so many crimes, even murder, and get away the way he did? I mean, he even escaped prison, I think it's remarkable in the warden's car of all things.

FUENTES: Yes, it is a remarkable story. He steals the car. The car is later recovered in Atlantic City and then he and his colleagues join up in Detroit where they're believed to have joined the Black Liberation Army.

A couple years later, they hijack a Delta Airlines flight bound for Miami, receive a million dollar ransom or extortion payment from the airline, and have the plane flown to Boston. They released the passengers for the exchange of the million dollars. And international pilots put on the plane to take them to Algeria.

When they land in Algeria, he assumes that Eldridge Cleaver, who was already living in Algeria at the time is going to help arrange for him to have asylum and be able to stay there freely. It doesn't turn out that way. The Algerians did not want to become a safe haven for U.S. fugitives, so they returned the aircraft and the million dollar payment back to the United States. But they didn't return him.

So, he was allowed to be released after a couple days in a hotel and then later, some of his partners were arrested in Paris. And, so, that's where the trail went cold all those years ago that they believed that he was in Europe.

PHILLIPS: Real quickly, Tom, just before I let you go because I saw the image on the Internet, we couldn't get rights to it, I really wanted to be able to show our viewers, but they can find it online. The FBI agent that actually delivered that $1 million in ransom up to the airport, that Delta flight that Wright had hijacked, Wright insisted that he do it in his bathing suit, basically wanting to prove that he didn't have any weapons on him or what have you.

Had you ever seen anything like that before? And why would the agent do that?

FUENTES: Well, I think that the bad guys had been watching Dirty Harry movies and didn't want someone to sneak on the aircraft and shoot them on the plane. So, in this case, the airline made the decision to pay the payment and the FBI then delivered it and that was the manner that they wanted it. They wanted the agent in a bathing suit so they could see he was not harmed. I don't think it was because it was a beauty contest to board that aircraft.

But also before I leave this, I'd like to say, the FBI in this case, they have a task force with the FBI, U.S. Marshals and New Jersey authorities that was begun several years ago to see if they could open a cold case and learn more about where he might have gone, use the global financial network to check transactions and phone records where relatives might be in other countries and the FBI wants to give a huge plug here to the U.S. Marshals. They developed the main lead that led to his location in Portugal.

And I also want to plug the FBI legal attache office in Madrid, Spain. That office covers Spain and Portugal and has the partnership liaison relationship with the Portuguese police who conducted extensive surveillance and investigative effort in the case to verify that it was him before they made the arrest.

And so, now, they'll go forward with a provisional arrest warrant, the extradition back to the U.S.

PHILLIPS: And we'll follow it. It reads like a novel, that's for sure.

Tom Fuentes, thanks for weighing in today. I appreciate it.

FUENTES: You're welcome, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, the chaos in Michael Jackson's bedroom after he stopped breathing is exactly what jurors are expected to hear today as Dr. Conrad Murray's trial enters day two. But yesterday, everyone was riveted by a chilling recording of a drugged up Michael Jackson that played in court.

Here's CNN's Randi Kaye.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once again, Michael Jackson had the world's attention. This time, though, he was wasted, slurring his words.

Listen to this recording by Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, made six weeks before his death.

MICHAEL JACKSON, KING OF POP: When people leave my show, I want them to say, "I've never seen nothing like this in my life."

KAYE: Prosecutor David Walgren says Jackson was drugged up and that Dr. Murray was not only aware of his addiction but continued to feed it, by supplying and administering drugs that eventually killed the pop star.

DAVID WALGREN, PROSECUTOR: It was Dr. Murray's repeated incompetent and unskilled acts that led to Mr. Jackson's death on June 25th, 2009.

KAYE: Prosecutors continue to hammer Murray's so called "gross negligence," leaving the room while Jackson was hooked up to a Propofol I.V., calling the pop star's body guard when he stopped breathing instead of 911, and urging him to hide the drugs and vials in the room.

And this bombshell: Prosecutor Walgren told the jury, as paramedics fought to save Jackson's life, Mr. Murray held back a critical piece of information that he had given Michael Jackson Propofol, the powerful anesthetic.

WALGREN: They were told Lorazepam and Conrad Murray never once mentioned the administration of Propofol.

KAYE: Then it was defense attorney Ed Chernoff's turn. He said there was nothing Dr. Murray could have done to prevent Jackson's death, because Jackson died at his own hand, taking more Propofol without Murray's knowing.

ED CHERNOFF, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Michael Jackson swallowed up to eight pills on his own, without telling his doctor, without permission from his doctor. And when Dr. Murray gave him the 25 milligrams and Dr. Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered the dose, an additional dose of Propofol and it killed him.

And it killed him like that. And there was no way to save him.

KAYE: And as Conrad Murray listened, he wiped away tears. The defense portrayed him as a good doctor, a friend to Michael Jackson, a friend trying to wean him off Propofol.

CHERNOFF: The evidence is not going to show you that Michael Jackson died when Dr. Murray gave him Propofol for sleep. What the evidence is going to show you is that Michael Jackson died when Dr. Murray stopped.

KAYE: Leaving Michael Jackson, according to the defense, to take the drug himself.

Later in the day, prosecutors called their first witness, Kenny Ortega, the director and choreographer behind Jackson's "This Is It" tour. Prosecutors attempted to show that Jackson appeared in good health. They played this rehearsal clip in court.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was his demeanor and condition on Tuesday, June 23rd?

KENNY ORTEGA, DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: He entered into rehearsal full of energy, full of desire to work, full of enthusiasm. And it was a different Michael.

KAYE: Two days later, Michael Jackson was dead.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: And sure to check out our sister network HLN for in- depth coverage and analysis of the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. It's your place for coverage throughout the entire day.

The latest CNN/ORC poll shows that Americans trust the government is an all-time low. My next guest says he's got some solutions, addressing our broken government, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, our CNN in-depth series continues on our broken government.

So, how do average Americans see it? Our latest CNN/ORC poll shows your trust in the federal government is now at an all-time low. Just 15 percent of you trust the government to do what's right always or most of the time.

So, what's the solution?

Author and lawyer Philip K. Howard has some suggestions. He's chair of Common Good, which advocates a good approach to running the government.

I read a number of your ideas, Philip. So, why don't we start with cleaning out the staples of government? I was reading, you say, entitlements, mandates, regulations, boom, out the window.

PHILIP K. HOWARD, CHAIRMAN, COMMON GOOD: Yes, the problem is, we've sort of all stuffed up with obsolete law so the regulations pile up over the years and the problem is not that we're re regulating the wrong thing. We don't want to get rid of environmental regulation, but you've got to let people take responsibility to actually meet their environmental requirements and give the freedom to enforce it.

PHILLIPS: Well, you talk about not understanding the law and that is one thing you say we need to do is radically simplify the law. I mean, they've got to be understandable in order to be effective.

HOWARD: That's completely right. I mean, there are 180 million words of binding federal law and regulation. Nobody can read it all, much less comply with it. We need to go back to old principles, which is basic responsibility.

PHILLIPS: How did we get out of touch with basic responsibility? It seems so simple.

HOWARD: You know, we had this idea that you could create a legal system that was like a software program. You know, if you, but humans don't have a hard drive and a processor. Humans are pretty good at getting things done. You tell them that they have to meet a certain standard pollution, they can figure out how to do it.

But if you give them thousands of pages to comply with, they'll just end up catching the pollution in the wrong place. So, that's happened at every level, really -- even teachers. Teachers are drowning in bureaucracy.

PHILLIPS: Well, and you actually point that out that we need revive accountability for public employees and you specifically address overhauling civil service and teachers' tenure.

HOWARD: Yes. There is a great deal to be made here. You can liberate, for example, teachers. You can let them be themselves, again.

Take back control of the classroom, be spontaneous and do the stuff that humans need to do, teachers need to do to -- to interest the children, but only if they can be accountable if they do a lousy job.

PHILLIPS: So Phillip, you've got about a few weeks. Why aren't you putting your hat in the ring and run for president? You seem to know exactly how to fix our broken government, my friend. What are you doing?

HOWARD: Well, you know, the American people know that it all boils down to humans. Rules don't make anything happen and -- and we are talking to the presidential candidates and President Obama has actually endorsed some of our reforms and some of the Republican candidates look like they're going to, as well.

So our goal is to try to change the dialogue and move it away from this partisan baloney towards the actual conditions under which we could break out of this paralysis and get something done.

PHILLIPS: Well, I can see why your book "The Death of Common Sense" is a "New York Times" bestseller. Phillip, thanks so much for weighing in this morning. I really appreciate it.

HOWARD: It's great to be with you.

PHILLIPS: You bet.

All right, for more on Phillip's ideas on government fixes, you can just check out his Web site, it's just his name, right there. There you go, there's his book, too, PhilipKHoward.com. And coming up all this week more of CNN's In Depth series, "Our Broken Government".

So what do you get for someone who just lost their job? How about a sympathy card? Well, some people question whether this gesture could be a bit misinterpreted.

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PHILLIPS: Checking stories cross country now.

Lots of debates broke out, but no fights at a controversial bake sale at UC Berkeley. College Republicans charged customers different prices based on race and gender. It was all designed to protest a bill in the State Senate which students say could result in reverse discrimination in college admissions.

In Arizona, a massive dust storm may have caused a multi-car crash on Interstate 10 that injured 13 people. Some forecasters say the visibility was between one and five miles.

And in Cape Coral, Florida, four siblings all celebrated their birthday this month. And an 8-year-old was so moved by September 11th Memorial that he convinced his two brothers and sister to give up their birthday presents and send the troops care packages instead.

Now people get birthday cards, anniversary cards, get well cards, but how about a sympathy card for losing your job?

Alison Kosik at New York stock Exchange, I guess this is Hallmark's newest offering. What is the response Alison?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. You know, if you think about a Hallmark trying to kind to change with the time and it's done that in the past. You know it's made cards for the Great Depression, the military draft, even losing loved ones on 9/11.

Well now, as you said, they're selling sympathy cards for people who have lost their jobs. You know it's meant to offer encouragement. Some may say, oh it's a little distasteful. But Hallmark says, you know what? Customers they ask for them. How do you say you feel bad for somebody who lost their job? People have trouble expressing themselves so they turn to Hallmark and they grab that card.

So I want to show you some of the ones that Hallmark has made. Here's a sentimental one. It says, "Losing your job does not define you." That's all sweet and nice. And then here's a funny one. I like the funny ones. "Life gave her a lemon, a really big lemon, she started to make lemonade but then she thought, well, what the heck and made a martini with a twist instead."

My personal favorite Kyra is the one we don't have on the screen. It says, "Don't think of it as losing your job. Think of it as a time-out between stupid bosses." Don't you like that one?

PHILLIPS: Now, ok. That actually would -- would make folks laugh, and wouldn't cause you to dwell too much on the -- on the reality. Oh it's pretty creative.

KOSIK: Yes, but when the boss pulled the -- when the boss pulls the rug right from under you, you want to laugh, right? So I see nothing wrong with these cards. You know, I don't think it's distasteful.

PHILLIPS: You want to laugh or you want to cry. Alison, thank you.

KOSIK: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Well, baseball's regular season ends tonight, but the wild card races could go on. The highlights from our big four games is coming in sports.

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PHILLIPS: All right. Checking stories making news later today.

At 1:30 Eastern, President Obama visits a Washington high school to deliver his third annual back-to-school speech.

At 3:00 Eastern a judge is expected to rule whether Casey Anthony's jail tape can be released to the public.

And at 4:30 Eastern a competency hearing for schedule -- is scheduled rather for Jared Loughner. He's the man accused in the deadly shooting rampage that wounded Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Well, we're following lots of the developments in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's check in first with our Don Lemon out there in L.A. -- Don.

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Kyra, it was a very emotional day in the courtroom for the Michael Jackson death trial and a number of bombshells dropped. What's on tap today? I'm going to take you inside the courtroom and tell you what's coming up at the top of the hour.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Jim Acosta in Washington looking at the question, what is Chris Christie up to? It's possible only Chris Christie knows. I'll explain in just a few moments.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: I'm Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Is the Iran Navy coming our way? We'll have all the details. Stay with us.

PHILLIPS: All right, guys. Thanks so much.

And Europe's soccer champs are putting on weight during their matches, Barcelona players, laying their new shirts for holding too much sweat. Next hour, we'll tell you what the team is going to do about it. And sorry, ladies, they're not going shirtless.

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PHILLIPS: Baseball's regular season ends tonight with four teams still alive for the two wild card slots. In the National League, the Cardinals spotted Houston five runs and they roared back. Pinch hitter Brian (INAUDIBLE) had the game-winning hit. Two run triple in the seventh inning. The Cards pulled them into a wild card tie with Atlanta.

And it's been a rough month for the Braves and for pitcher Derek Lowe. Lowe served up the first inning homer -- there go you to Phillies Chase Utley, Chase Utley rather, Philadelphia went on to win 7-1. Braves have lost four straight now, but if they win tonight and the Cards lose, you know the drill.

And the Yankees led Tampa Bay. They had the bases loaded in the sixth. No problem for the Rays. They turning a triple play to get out of the inning. The Rays come back to beat New York for the last American League playoff spot. Happy boys.

Well, the Red Sox had an unlikely hero last night. Brian Lavarnway caught his first Major League game and hit two homers. The kid from Yale looks like he belonged. Sox held on to beat Baltimore 8-7. If Boston and the Rays are still tied after tonight well, a one- game playoff tomorrow.

Same story for the Cards and the Braves.

It's a mouthful.